Paquita

Act 1

Rural landscape near Zaragoza, in Spain

The sculptor is finishing work on a marble monument. The Spanish Governor Don Lopez de Mendoza appears with his niece Seraphine. They are followed by the French General d'Hervilly with his wife and son Lucien. French officers, ladies and cavaliers make up their retinue. The Generalexamines, in agitation, the inscription on the monument raised on his orders: To the memory of my brother Charles d'Hervilly, who was killed here with his wife and daughter.

Deviating from gloomy thoughts, he invites Don Lopez to think about the happiness of their children and betroth Lucien and Seraphine, to which the Governor agrees. Having concluded such an agreement, theygo to explore the surroundings, along with other guests.

Merry music heralds the arrival of the gypsy troupe headed by Iñigo. He examines his corps de ballet and is displeased to see that his beloved student Paquita is missing. He tells everyone to leave. Paquita soon shows up with a bouquet of flowers she has collected. The Gypsy King holds Paquita and explains that he is ready to become her slave if she desires so. However, the persuasion remains in vain, and the Gypsy King leaves in confusion.

Left alone, Paquita looks around at the surrounding landscape and takes out a medallion which she has kept in her bosom since she was a little girl. She thinks the man in the picture is her unknown father. She remembers that in this area her parents were killed and she was kidnapped.

Iñigo reappears and wants to kiss Paquita, but she eludes him and dances. The Gypsy King forces her to collect money after the performance. At this moment, Don Lopez announces the performance of the gypsy troupe. Iñigo takes out his artists. Horn sounds. Dancing follows.

Following this, Iñigo orders Paquita to raise money to which the girl strongly objects at first. Hat in hand, she stops in front of Lucien, and both are amazed at each other's beauty. Lucien notices the strange whiteness of her face, unlike the bronze faces of the other gypsies. He asks the girl who her parents were. Paquita wants to show the medallion, but Iñigo has managed to steal the relic from the girl, and now she accuses the Gypsy King of the loss. At this point dancing resumes.

After the dance, the Governor invites everyone to go to the laid tables, while he himself remains with Iñigo. He says that he does not want his niece to marry the son of his enemies. The Gypsy King doesn't like Lucien either. They agree that Iñigo will kill Lucien tonight, after which they go different ways.

Paquita enters. Lucien follows begging her to leave the camp and join him. Paquita cannot agree: she is a poor gypsy, and he is a nobleman. Lucien asks her to give him a bouquet as a souvenir — then at night he will come to her and talk about love. Paquita is ready to give him the bouquet, but Iñigo appears and separates them. He secretly watched the whole scene and tells the Governor what he has seen.

Don Lopez announces the departure of the guests. Рe tells the villagers to collect all the bouquets and present them to the guests. The Governor does not put Paquita’s bouquet in the common basket but passes it on to Inigo with a secret order. While everyone is getting ready to leave, Iñigo gives the bouquet to Lucien, saying it's a courtesy of Paquita. Lucien is delighted and informs his parents that he will be back later.

Act 2

A Room

Paquita enters — she is angry — Iñigo has pestered her again.

Someone is coming — She is hiding in a closet.

Enter Don Lopez and Iñigo — Iñigo must kill Lucien — The victim will be here soon.

Paquita hears the conversation between Iñigo and Don Lopez and understands that she is to serve as bait for another victim.

Iñigo shows Don Lopez a bottle of wine which contains sleeping pills.

Don Lopez pays the killer for his work and leaves.

Iñigo calls the assassins and gives them a task. It should happen at midnight sharp.

Paquita must warn Lucien and tries to sneak out of the house. She hits a chair and it falls. She is spotted!

Paquita does not admit that she has heard the conversation.

Two assassins hide in the fireplace, and the other two are behind the door.

Expectation.

A knock on the door — Lucien!! — Iñigo invites him in

Lucien shows the bouquet to Paquita. Someone has give it to him to come here at night and Paquita tries to explain that this is a trap.

Iñigo takes the coat from the guest and Paquita leaves with Iñigo to prepare dinner.

Lucien is alone and walks around the room. The door is locked.

Iñigo and Paquita set the table — A bottle of wine — A toast to Paquita.

She gives a sign to Lucien: you can drink.

Iñigo opens another bottle and pours Lucien a glass of wine. Sleeping pills are in there.

The sound of a broken plate.

Lucien swaps the glasses and drink. Paquita dances.

Iñigo falls asleep and drops the medallion stolen from Paquita.

Paquita picks it up and throws Lucien's cloak over Iñigo.

Midnight! — We have to escape! — Into the fireplace!

The fireplace wall turns — Paquita and Lucien disappear. The assassins appear.

The killer becomes a victim.

Act 3

Scene 1

The employee snack bar at the opera house during the evening ballet performance

Artists snack, gossip, watch TV. The Director of the theatre d'Hervilly with his wife and the patron of the theatre Mendoza with his niece Seraphine, a character dance soloist, come to the snack bar. Everyone is waiting for Lucien who is the director's son and the premiere of the troupe. He appears with the theatre's new ballerina Paquita. He was attacked last night and Paquita saved his life. Lucien says that he intends to marry Paquita, and not Seraphine, as his father wants.

A sports broadcast is interrupted by a news release: yesterday a monument to the businessman D'Hervilly, brother of the theatre director, was unveiled. 15 years ago, he and his wife were killed and their little daughter went missing. Paquita sees a photo of the murdered man and realizes that this is her father: the same photo is inserted into the medallion, which she has been wearing as a talisman since childhood. Unexpectedly, Paquita also recognizes Mendoza: the day before she overheard her guardian Iñigo talking to a stranger about attacking Lucien. The police break into the bar and arrest the patron. Paquita and Lucien are happy.

Scene 2

Grand Pas Classique