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Synopsis
Unexpectedly, General Alfredo relents and orders the women and Father
Arguedas to leave. Father Arguedas insists on staying with the hostages. As
the women begin filing out, General Alfredo roughly pulls Roxane from the
line and announces that she must stay. Christopf, delirious, attacks him and
is shot and killed by one of the soldiers. The generals are furious, for they had
ordered that there be no shooting.
Carmen prays in Quechua, the indigenous language spoken by most of the
rebels; Father Arguedas prays in Latin. Hostages and captors alike express
their shock, and the hope and sorrow that is Peru (“There is no death”).
ACT II
SCENE 1
General Benjamín adds another stroke to the wall, indicating another two
weeks have passed. Hostages and captors engage in ordinary activities:
hanging laundry, reading the paper, conversing.
A fog the Peruvians call
la garúa
settles over the mansion. Father Arguedas
explains that
la garúa
has been worshiped as a sacred visitor since the time
of the Incas. All solemnly welcome the fog (“La garúa”).
The mood is broken when the rebels begin a rowdy game of soccer in the
living room (“The game”). Roxane muses with Mr. Hosokawa about the days
they have lost in captivity (“Lost days”).
Another day passes. A frustrated Messner arrives with supplies to find Mr.
Hosokawa playing chess with a soldier, General Alfredo selecting newspaper
clippings, and Roxane at the piano. Among the supplies is sheet music for
Roxane. There has been no progress in the standoff. Another day passes.
Outside the mansion, the women hostages released earlier hold a
candlelight vigil (“Libertad”). Carmen says a prayer (“Santa Rosa de Lima”),
then goes to Gen and begins to caress him.
Another day. Mr. Hosokawa plays chess with General Alfredo. With Gen
interpreting, the Russian hostage Victor Fyodorov awkwardly professes his
love to Roxane (“An art book”). Mr. Hosokawa watches and muses on his
own love for Roxane (“Waking to her voice”).
Another stroke on the wall. Searchlights shine through the windows and
a muffled megaphone is heard. A worried Messner confesses to General
Alfredo that the negotiations are going nowhere (“They’re making threats”).
Furious, General Alfredo slaps him, and Hosokawa intervenes. Messner asserts
his neutrality (“Diplomacy”).
The next day, the soldiers Ismael, Beatriz, and César hear a report on the
radio news and argue about the effectiveness of their mission (“The news”).
Frustrated, César leaves the others and, alone, remembers his former life
in the jungle and the day he discovered his ability to sing (“La voz de
los arboles/The voice of the trees”). Roxane overhears his singing and is
drawn to his voice. When he realizes she is listening, he runs to the door,
embarrassed. He flings it open, and the room is flooded with light. The fog
has lifted.
SCENE 2
A month later. Messner, looking disheveled and overworked, enters with
supplies and fresh clothes. He finds the generals and one of the soldiers
playing cards with Fyodorov. Father Arguedas is cutting bread, the vice
president is mending a military jacket, Beatriz is decorating her rifle with
flowers. Meanwhile, Roxane gives César a singing lesson with Gen translating
and Mr. Hosokawa looking on. Messner is aghast that all are complacently
going about their lives despite the untenable situation (“Entering Utopia”).
He tries to shake them from their stupor, warning that the government is just
biding its time (“The end of Utopia”).
Saying he’s failed everyone, Messner tears off his Red Cross armband and
implores the generals to save themselves and give up the seige (“Save
yourselves”). He collapses, shivering, and some of the captors gently help him
to bed.