(Reaction to this from the BALLET GIRLS. CHRISTINE takes hold of HELENA nervously)

ANDRE (to GIRY)
Madame, I had hoped to have made that announcement myself.

GIRY (to FIRMIN)
Will the Vicomte be at the performance tonight, monsieur?

FIRMIN
In our box.

ANDRE
Madame, who is the understudy for this role?

REYER
There is no understudy, Madame – the production is new.

HELENA
Christine Kennard could sing it, madams.

FlRMIN
The chorus girl?

HELENA (to FIRMIN)
She’s been taking lessons from a great teacher

ANDRE
From whom?

CHRISTINE (uneasily)
I don’t know, madame …

FIRMIN
Oh, not you as well!

(turning to ANDRE)

Can you believe it? A full house – and we have to cancel!

GIRY
Let her sing for you, Madame. She has been well taught.

REYER (after a pause)
From the beginning of the aria then, mam’selle.

CHRISTINE
Think of me
think of me fondly,
when we’ve said goodbye.
Remember me
once in a while –
please promise me
you’ll try.

FIRMIN
Andre, this is doing nothing for my nerves.

ANDRE
Don’t fret, Firmin.

CHRISTINE
When you find
that, once
again, you long
to take your heart back
and be free –
if you
ever find
a moment,
spare a thought
for me

(Transformation to the Gala. CHRISTINE is revealed in full costume)

We never said
our love
was evergreen,
or as unchanging
as the sea –
but if
you can still
remember
stop and think
of me . . .

Recall those days
look back
on all those times,
think of the things
we’ll never do –
there will
never be
a day, when
I won’t think
of you . .

(Applause, bravos. Prominent among the bravos, those
of the young HENRY in the MANAGERS’ box)

HENRY
Can it be?
Can it be Christine?
Bravo!

(He raises his opera-glasses)

What a change!
You’re really
not a bit
the gawkish girl
that once you were…

(Lowering his opera-glasses)

She may
not remember
me, but
I remember
her…

CHRISTINE
We never said our love was evergreen

 or as unchanging as the sea – but please promise me,

that sometimes you will think of me!