1. Breaking the serious atmosphere of work and discarding concern for their survival in the face of civil war, Irma orders Carmen to help her transform herself in anticipation of the arrival of the Chief of Police, to which Carmen responds with alacritous glee.

Almost certainly just having sent Arthur to his death, Irma attempts to divert her attention from the worrying progress of the revolution by preparing for what she hopes will be the immanent arrival of the Chief of Police. She moves from the door upstage to the mirror downstage. Carmen is doing Irma’s accounts for the day at a table on the lower level.

• Triumphantly, Irma orders Carmen to help her prepare for the arrival of the Chief of Police.
• Excited, Carmen leaps up from the accounts, asking Irma playfully what she will wear.
• >>> Irma decides to wear a negligée, savouring her own immanent sexiness in a romantic flight of fancy