Leading Lady

MARCEL
The perfect leading lady:
Unique and true and towering!
Magnetic, overpowering!
The star the crowds adore!

If they could only know you:
Your humor and humility...
Your strength and your fragility...
They'd love you even more...

Tonight was a wonder!
All the dreams we've worked for
Have come true!
My shining leading lady!
Bravo, bravo, bravo!
I owe so much to you.

Now, to top it
All, you'll never guess
Who's turned up --
You'll never recognize him!
Twelve years on and still as handsome...

ROSE (oblivious)
Later --
Don't I ever get a minute to myself?
I'll see him later.

Alex! It's Alex!
How long have you been standing there?
You are a fool!
You should have told me!
Come on, let me see you!

ALEX
You were amazing!
Now that's more like an audience!
This time I must have been the only one
Who didn't throw you roses!

ROSE
Now Hugo, be a dear
And get our guest an armagnac.
It's on the bottom shelf --
Why not have one yourself?
Where to start?

ALEX
It's been so long...

ROSE
Come, have a seat and tell me all your news!

ALEX
Let me see...

ROSE
George will love to hear it all!

ALEX
How is my uncle?

ROSE
He's at the house in Pau with Jenny.
They really love it.
I can't wait
To leave all this and be with them again!
No more stuffy dressing rooms!

Tell Jean-Michel to bring my car round.
We leave this evening.
It's such a long and lonely journey --
Why not come with me...?

ALEX (after a pause)
Are you sure you want me to accept?
Very well, then.
I accept.
Here. Have some armagnac.

ROSE
Hugo, I'm afraid that your trip is cancelled.

ALEX (to ROSE)
Let me just make a very quick phone call.

HUGO
I know how it is with old friends...

ROSE (to HUGO)
Well, join us by train in a week.

ALEX (into the phone)
Janet?
Janet, it's me here.
Look, I don't think I can make it.
It's not that I don't love you, but...