ROXANE, CYRANO. Then LE BRET, CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX, the CADETS, RAGUENEAU, DE GUICHE, etc.

[She hesitates.]

[A shot is heard outside, but CYRANO keeps talking.]

[He whispers something to him.]

[More shots are heard.]

[She goes up to look outside.]

[Some CADETS enter, trying to hide something they are carrying. They huddle close around it, preventing ROXANE from seeing what it is.]

[She rushes up, pushing everyone aside.]

[ROXANE flings herself down by CHRISTIAN. Sounds of gunfire, clashing of arms, and beating of drums are heard outside.]

[He rushes over the embankment, followed by the CADETS.]

[RAGUENEAU rushes up, bringing water in a helmet.]

[ROXANE tears a piece of her dress and dips it into the water. She then presses it against CHRISTIAN'S wound, trying to stop the bleeding. CYRANO whispers quickly into CHRISTIAN'S ear while she is distracted.]

[CHRISTIAN closes his eyes.]

[She opens it.]

[Musket shots ring out, along with shouts and noises of battle.]

[Trumpets sound in the distance.]

[There is a great tumult, with shouts and screams from all sides. CADETS reappear, wounded and falling. CYRANO, rushing to the battle, is stopped by CARBON DE CASTEL-JALOUX, who is streaming with blood.]

[The FIFER plays. The wounded try to rise. Some CADETS, falling one over the other down the slope, group themselves around CYRANO and the little flag. The carriage is crowded with men inside and outside. Surrounded by muskets, the carriage is protected like a fortress.]

[The CADETS fire.]

[There is a deadly volley of fire from the enemy. The CADETS fall on all sides.]

[His voice is drowned in the battle.]

Curtain.

ROXANE:

What is this urgent news?

CYRANO:

[in despair] He's gone! [to ROXANE] Oh, it's nothing! You know how he sees such importance in the most trivial things!

ROXANE:

[warmly] Did he doubt what I said? Ah, yes, I can tell—he doubted.

CYRANO:

[taking her hand] But did you really speak the truth to him?

ROXANE:

Yes, I would love him even if he were…

CYRANO:

Does it embarrass you to say that word in front of me?

ROXANE:

I…

CYRANO:

[smiling sadly] It won't hurt me! Say it! You'd love him if he were ugly!

ROXANE:

Yes!

CYRANO:

[passionately] Even if he were hideous?

ROXANE:

Hideous! Yes!

CYRANO:

Disfigured?

ROXANE:

Yes!

CYRANO:

Grotesque?

ROXANE:

He could never be grotesque to me!

CYRANO:

You'd love him the same way?

ROXANE:

Yes! No—even more!

CYRANO:

[losing command over himself, speaking in an aside] My God! It's true! Maybe love really is within my reach! [to ROXANE] I…Roxane… listen—

LE BRET:

[entering hurriedly] Cyrano!

CYRANO:

[turning around] What?

LE BRET:

Hush!

CYRANO:

[letting go of ROXANE'S hand and exclaiming] Oh, God!

ROXANE:

What is it?

CYRANO:

[to himself, stunned] It's all over now.

ROXANE:

What's the matter? Listen! Another shot!

CYRANO:

It's too late! Now I can never tell!

ROXANE:

[trying to rush out] What's happened?

CYRANO:

[rushing to stop her] Nothing!

ROXANE:

Those men… [CYRANO tries to draw her away.] You were about to tell me something…

CYRANO:

Tell you something? Oh, it was nothing, I swear! [solemnly] I swear that Christian's soul, his nature, was…[quickly correcting himself] is the noblest and the greatest—

ROXANE:

Was? [with a loud scream] Oh!

CYRANO:

It's all over now!

ROXANE:

[seeing CHRISTIAN lying on the ground, wrapped in his cloak.] Oh, Christian!

LE BRET:

[to CYRANO] Struck by the first shot of the enemy!

CARBON:

[with sword in the air] We're being attacked! Get your muskets!

ROXANE:

Christian!

VOICE OF CARBON:

[from the other side] Quick! Prepare yourselves!

ROXANE:

Christian!

CARBON:

Fall in line!

ROXANE:

Christian!

CARBON:

Ready your matches!

CHRISTIAN:

[in a dying voice] Roxane!

CYRANO:

I told her everything. She still loves you.

ROXANE:

Yes, my love?

CARBON:

Draw your ramrods!

ROXANE:

[to CYRANO] He's not dead, is he?

CARBON:

Open your charges with your teeth!

ROXANE:

His cheek is growing cold against my own!

CARBON:

Ready! Aim!

ROXANE:

[seeing a letter in CHRISTIAN'S jacket] A letter! It's for me!

CYRANO:

[aside] My letter!

CARBON:

Fire!

CYRANO:

[trying to disengage his hand, which ROXANE is holding on her knees] But Roxane, the battle is raging!

ROXANE:

[detaining him] Please stay with me for a while. He's dead. You were the only one who really knew him. [weeping quietly] He was a wondrous and beautiful man, wasn't he?

CYRANO:

[standing up, with his hat off] Yes, Roxane.

ROXANE:

An inspired poet.

CYRANO:

Yes, Roxane.

ROXANE:

With a pure and brilliant mind.

CYRANO:

Yes.

ROXANE:

A heart too deep for shallow minds to comprehend; a spirit both subtle and charming.

CYRANO:

[firmly] Yes, Roxane.

ROXANE:

[flinging herself on the dead body] He is dead!

CYRANO:

[aside, while drawing his sword] Yes, and let me die today as well. For, unknowing, it is I that she mourns, over his body.

DE GUICHE:

[appearing on the embankment, bareheaded, with a wound on his forehead, in a thunderous voice]
That's the signal! The French are bringing provisions into camp! Hold out a little longer!

ROXANE:

There is blood on the letter, and tears!

A VOICE:

[from outside, shouting] Surrender!

VOICE OF CADETS:

No!

RAGUENEAU:

[standing on the top of his carriage, watching the battle over the edge of the embankment] The danger is at its greatest!

CYRANO:

[to DE GUICHE, pointing to ROXANE] I will join the charge! You take her away!

ROXANE:

[kissing the letter, in a faint and choked voice] Oh, God! His tears! His blood!

RAGUENEAU:

[jumping down from the carriage and rushing toward her] She's fainted!

DE GUICHE:

[on the embankment, to the cadets, with fury] Stand fast!

A VOICE:

[outside] Lay down your arms!

CADETS:

No!

CYRANO:

[to DE GUICHE] You've proved your valor, Sir. [pointing to ROXANE] Now, hurry out of here and save her!

DE GUICHE:

[rushing to ROXANE, and carrying her away in his arms] I will do so! If you can hold out, victory will be ours!

CYRANO:

Good. [calling out to ROXANE, whom DE GUICHE and RAGUENEAU are carrying away in a fainting condition] Farewell, Roxane!

CARBON:

We're losing ground! I've been wounded twice!

CYRANO:

[shouting to the CADETS] Gascons! Never turn your backs! [to CARBON, whom he is holding up] Have no fear! I have two deaths to avenge: my friend Christian's and my own happiness! [They come downstage, CYRANO brandishing the lance with ROXANE'S handkerchief attached to it.] Fly proudly, little lace flag embroidered with her name! [He sticks it in the ground and shouts to the CADETS.] Fall on them, Gascons! Crush them! [to the FIFER] Play, fifer!

A CADET:

[appearing on the crest, beaten backward, but still fighting] They're climbing up the embankment!

CYRANO:

Let us salute them! [The embankment is instantly covered by a formidable row of enemies. Imperialist flags are raised.] Fire!

A CRY FROM THE ENEMY'S RANKS:

Fire!

A SPANISH OFFICER:

[taking off his hat] Who are these men who are not afraid of death?

CYRANO:

[reciting, erect, amid a storm of bullets] The bold cadets of Gascony, of Carbon de Castel-Jaloux! Brawling and swaggering boastfully— [he rushes forward, followed by a few survivors] The bold cadets…