Télégramme

It's a telegram for Marie Belage
In the courtyard, stairway B, fifth floor
Third door on the left, two steps down
Knock hard so she can hear you

The little mailman climbs up four at a time
An old maid comes to open the door
In a harsh and grumpy voice
She says thank you and then steps back
She opens the message, trembling
In general, we don’t like this
She reads it out loud, her throat dry
Then she reads it ten times quietly
"Will be at Orly - eight o'clock - May second -
I’m anxious - I’m crazy with joy -
I adore you more than ever -
Love - kisses - signed - François..."

She goes back twenty years in time
How they loved each other twenty years ago
But her parents, alas, refused him
He didn’t have a dime to his name
"I’ll come back when I’m rich," he said
"I’ll wait for you," she replied
"I also want you to promise me"
"That you’ll never forget me"
He left - the months, the years go by
She’s all alone facing life
Beauty, freshness, youth... all fades away
And no more money, so no more friends...

The travelers arriving from Mexico
Ah there he is! Look how tall he is!
His gray temples give him a poetic air
He’s more handsome than twenty years ago
She’s all pale and her hands are burning
As his poor heart beats hard
He comes toward her, he bumps into her
"I beg your pardon!... Tell me, porter!"
"I’m looking for a lady, elegant and very beautiful"
"With big blue eyes, blonde hair"
"Rather short… Wait! I think that’s her..."
"Ah! No, that’s not her…
I beg your pardon!..."

Haven't you seen a blonde lady -
Elegant - very beautiful -
Haven't you seen a blonde lady -
Elegant - very beautiful -
Haven't you seen...