Makes me feel cold and numb as if it were pouring over me. I'll drown a Pharaoh in Revenge. (to Rodolfo)
What are you doing?
Rodolfo
I'm looking at Paris
Seeing the skies grey with smoke from a thousand chimneys
And I think of that no-good, hateful stove of ours that lives
A gentleman's life of idleness
Marcello
It's been a long time
Since he received his just income
Rodolfo
What are those stupid forests doing, all covered with snow?
Marcello
Rodolfo, I want to tell you
A profound thought I've had: I'm cold as hell
Rodolfo
As for me, Marcello, I'll be frank: I'm not exactly sweating
Marcello
And my fingers are frozen as if I still were holding them in that enormous glacier
Musetta's heart
(A sigh escapes him, and he leaves off painting)
Rodolfo
Love is a stove that burns too much...
Marcello
Too fast
Rodolfo
Where the man is the fuel...
Marcello
And woman the spark...
Rodolfo
He burns in a moment...
Marcello
And she stands by, watching!
Rodolfo
Meanwhile, we're freezing in here!
Marcello
And dying from lack of food!
Rodolfo
We must have a fire...
Marcello
(Seizing a chair)
Wait...we'll sacrifice the chair!
(Rodolfo keeps Marcello from breaking the chair. Suddenly he shouts with joy)
Rodolfo
Eureka!
Marcello
You've found it?
Rodolfo
Yes. Sharpen your wits
Let thought burst into flame
Marcello
(Pointing to his picture) Shall we burn the Red Sea?
Rodolfo
No. Painted canvas smells
My play...
My burning drama will warm us
Marcello
You mean to read it? I'll freeze
Rodolfo
No, the paper will unfold in ash and genius soar back to its heaven
A serious loss to the age...
Rome is in danger...
Marcello
What a noble heart!
Rodolfo
Here, take the first act!
Marcello
Here
Rodolfo
Tear it up
Marcello
Light it
(Rodolfo lights the part of the manuscript thrown in the fire
Then the two friends draw up chairs and sit down, voluptuously warming themselves)
Rodolfo and MARCELLO
What blissful heat!
(The door opens and Colline enters, frozen, stamping his feet
He throws some books on the table)
Colline
Signs of the Apocalypse begin to appear
No pawning allowed on Christmas Eve
(Surprised) A fire!
Rodolfo
Quiet, my play's being given...
Marcello
...to the stove
Colline
I find it sparkling
Rodolfo
Brilliant
Marcello
But brief
Rodolfo
Brevity, its great merit
Colline
Your chair, please, Mr Author
Marcello
These intermissions bore you to death
Get on with it!
Rodolfo
Act Two
Marcello
No whispering