CYRANO, CHRISTIAN, ROXANE

[CHRISTIAN springs forward, and by way of the bench, the branches, and the pillars, climbs up to the balcony.]

[He takes her in his arms, and bends over her lips.]

[She disappears into the house. The FRIAR reenters at the back.]

ROXANE:

[coming out onto the balcony] Are you still there? We were speaking of a—

CYRANO:

A kiss! The word is sweet! Do not let your lips shrink from it! If the word burns your sweet mouth, what would the kiss itself do? Oh, don't let it frighten you or make you shy. You've already left playful banter behind and glided easily from smile to sigh, and then from sigh to weeping. Glide gently further still. It is only a heartbeat from tear to kiss!

ROXANE:

Hush, hush!

CYRANO:

When all is said and done, what is a kiss? It's simply an oath made more certain, a sealed promise, the heart's confirmation of a pact. It's a secret whispered to the mouth instead of the ear, a stolen moment that makes time eternal, a communion perfumed like the spring's wild flowers. A kiss allows for one to live through the beating of another's heart, and to taste the very soul of another on one's lips!

ROXANE:

Hush, hush!

CYRANO:

A kiss, Madame, is honorable. Even the Queen of France granted a kiss to her favorite lord!

ROXANE:

But what has that got to do with us?

CYRANO:

[speaking more warmly] I have suffered in silence just as Buckingham did. He adored a queen, just as I do. He was sad but faithful, and so am I.

ROXANE:

And you are as handsome as Buckingham!

CYRANO:

[aside, suddenly cool] Oh, yes. I forgot!

ROXANE:

Please climb up here and pick me as your flower.

CYRANO:

[pushing CHRISTIAN toward the balcony] Climb!

ROXANE:

Communion perfumed like spring's wild flowers…!

CYRANO:

Climb!

CHRISTIAN:

[hesitating] But somehow it doesn't feel quite right anymore.

ROXANE:

A stolen moment…!

CYRANO:

[still pushing CHRISTIAN] Go, blockhead, climb!

CHRISTIAN:

Ah, Roxane!

CYRANO:

Oh, what a strange pain in my heart! The kiss is so near! I am like Lazarus at the feast. But still a crumb or two falls down to me from the rich man's plate. Because it is my heart that receives you, Roxane. For, as you press your lips against his, it is my words that you kiss! [The lute play.] What now? Both a sad song and a happy song again? It must be the monk! [He begins to run as if he came from a long way off, and then cries out towards ROXANE'S house.] Hello!

ROXANE:

What is it?

CYRANO:

I—I was just passing by. Is Christian here?

CHRISTIAN:

[astonished] Cyrano!

ROXANE:

Hello, cousin!

CYRANO:

Good evening, cousin!

ROXANE:

I'm coming down!