ACT 1
SCENE 2 : LE SORT DES HOMMES (SONG No 1: George IZAMBARD)
George Izambard, alone in its empty classroom (1870’s style), prepares its very first day as
rhetoric teacher at the College of Charleville. He has not met his students yet. What surprises
could bring this group of young students to that new teacher? Some geniuses, some trouble
makers, some low profile average students? Who draws the fate of each and every one?
SCENE 4 : FILS DU SOLEIL (SONG 2 : Arthur RIMBAUD)
Under the sometimes derisive eye of the other pupils, the young RIMBAUD presents to his
professor, intellectually seduced, his poet's aspirations. They are still in the classroom.
SCENE 7 : PARCE QUE JE L’AIME (SONG No 4 : Mathilde VERLAINE)
Meanwhile, in Paris, a young woman, MATHILDE VERLAINE, walks in a room, a little bit
dreamy, in her wedding dress. She comes from a wealthy family so the appartement is quite
well decorated and a bit luxurious. She will soon get married with the famous Parisian poet
named Paul VERLAINE. She knows he could be a little violent and unpredictable but she
loves him. She believes that he can change for good.
Rimbaud is in his bedroom, writing a poem at his desk near the window, totally
concentrated and with powerful imagination and images going through his mind.
SCENE 9 : BUVONS LA GUERRE EST À NOS PORTES
Arthur’s inspiration is interrupted by Ernest who comes suddenly in his modest room to
announce that the state of war with the Prussia is now declared. The College of Charleville
will close its doors for the greatest pleasure of both boys!
SCENE 11 : CHARLEVILLE MON SOUPIR
Ernest is under Arthur’s poetry charm, once again. He announces to Arthur that professor
Izambard has left Charleville to go back to his hometown, Douai. Arthur is upset, persuaded
that he has just lost a precious ally. He can’t wait to leave Charleville. He’s now dreaming of
Paris and all its great poets. The song talks about his great desire to move on to another life,
another destiny. At the end of the song he sneaks out the room by the window and runs away
towards Paris.
SCENE 12 : TREIZE FRANCS DE CHEMIN DE FER
George, back home in Douai, reads Arthur's letter. He may be outside of his house, near the
entrance, in a so called « non-land » or directly in his house but isolated. We will not see the
entire set at this precise moment. Rimbaud is imprisoned in Mazas. He asks his teacher to pay
for his immediate repatriation. George will comply to his request.
SCENE 14 : REMONTRANCES
George and Arthur arrive finally in Charleville. The young poet is welcomed by a violent slap
in a the face from his mother. Even the professor undergoes the anger of Vitalie.
SCENE 18 : LE RÊVE DE BISMARCK
Rimbaud walks among the ruins of Charleville. He’s looking for Ernest, reported missing for
several days. People walk on rubble in search of survivors or of personal effects. Once found
Ernest, Arthur announces him his intention to go to Paris and join the circle of the Poets
« Parnassiens ». He’ll send one of his poems to Paul Verlaine, wishing to be invited to Paris.
ACT 2
1. LE DÎNER DES VILAINS BONSHOMMES
Once a month, poets, sculptors and artists of any kind are meeting there. It’s called Le Dîner des Vilains
Bonshommes. It’s a very festive and loud reunion. Ernest is discovering a new face of
Arthur : the boy has changed a lot, he’s under drugs influence and he’s acting in a very
scandalous way.
2. LE PACTE MAUDIT (AILLEURS)
At the end of a quite chaotic night, Arthur and Paul, still drunk, are reaching the rooftop of the
hotel. With the nice parisian night in the background, Arthur tries to convince Paul about his
own poetic theory of a new universal langage. They will have to try every experience, god or
bad, to acheive their goal.
7. POUR OUBLIER
Mathilde is talking about his husband’s long time problem : alcoolism. Paul is drinking
because he’s trying really hard to forget his poor condition, his perpetual weakness. At the
end of the scene, Mathilde falls asleep, exhausted. Paul asks quietly for forgiveness. He feels
ashamed. A couple of seconds later, Arthur appears at the window. He invites Paul to join
him once again. Arthur puts an end to Paul’s hesitation by kissing him passionately. Once
agin, Paul is choosing his young friend instead of his own family. Both poets are leaving right
away for Brussels, in Belgium.
9. TENTATIVE DE RÉCONCILIATION
Meanwhile, in some Brussels hotel, Verlaine is working at his table when Mathilde’s entering
the room without knocking. That’s the ultimate reconciliation attempt. She proposes him to
leave right away for the New Caledonia to start all over again. Mathilde’s kissing his husband
tenderly. Confident, she’s leaving the room for a minute. In the mean time, Paul leaves the
room and disappears once again. He’s leaving for London with his young companion from
hell. When Mathilde comes back in the room, she realised that Rimbaud will always comes
first in his husband life. Her marriage came to an end...
10. DES NOUVELLES DE LONDRES (BABYLONE-SUR-TAMISE)
Ernest is quite excited. He just received a letter from Arthur. He’s in London with Paul,
discovering the beauty and energy of the england amazing capital, the greatest city on earth at
that time.
12. SAUVER LES APPARENCES
Vitalie is now in Paris. She comes to « visit » Mathilde with one main goal : getting back
some letters that could put his son Arthur into big troubles. She tries to save her own
reputation as well. Mathilde, cold as ice, is not cooperating at all. But for one single moment,
both of them kind of find a common aspect of their personal tragedy. No matter what, they
will have to find a way to keep their heads up despite the adversity.
13. LE DRAME DE BRUXELLES
Paul has left London. He’s now in Brussels. Desperate, he writes a suicidal note to Mathilde,
Vitalie and Arthur. Rimbaud has come to Brussels to meet his friend Paul. Once again, he’s
making fun of Verlaine’s decision to leave this world of pain. Arthur is telling Paul that
writing will always comes first for him. Feeling a true rage, Paul takes his gun and shoots 2
rounds with his eyes closed. Arthur’s been shot in the wrist. Everybody’s panicking.
19. REVOIR VERLAINE then LA POSTÉRITÉ
(1875) Paul is meeting Rimbaud on a small hill in Stuggart (Germany), more than a year after
they met in Brussels. Paul is giving his most recent poetic book to Rimbaud. Arthur tells that
he has stopped his so-called writing carreer. For good. Paul tries to convince him to get back
to the poetry but it’s too late. The poet is dead. For ever.
