Opera Plots I - MDC Faculty Home Pages

jealous anger of her rough friends by letting them find the distrusted stranger in her house, Minnie
makes Johnson hide behind her bed-curtains; and then she admits the clamouring miners, who
rush in excitedly, and are relieved to find her safe, declaring that they have discovered that the
stranger, Johnson, who had visited the "Polka " that evening, is none other than Ramerrez, the
infamous chief of the " Greaser " band, who evidently intended to rob them of their gold, but had
been prevented from so doing by the presence of Minnie herself. Fearing lest he had now followed
her to her home, they have come to assure themselves of her safety, and to continue their search
for the robber. Minnie is struck to the heart on thus learning that the man to whom she has given
her love is a thieving bandit; but being nevertheless unable to betray him, she controls her feelings
for the moment, and contrives to despatch the miners once more on their search. When they have
gone, however, she turns upon Johnson, and scornfully denounces him for obtaining her love
under false colours; but the wretched man implores her forgiveness, declaring that his love for her
is sincere. He explains that he has been brought up in this evil course of life by his thieving father;
but now that Minnies sweet and pure influence has come into his life he is determined to make a
fresh start and earn an honest living. Minnies outraged feelings and pride, however, are not easily
soothed; and Johnson recklessly rushes outside to give himself up to the prowling miners. He
instantly receives a pistol shot in the dark and falls wounded; and Minnie, unable to let the man
she loves be taken after all, rushes out and drags him back, half-fainting, into the house. She just
has time to help him into the loft above when Rance, the Sheriff, enters, declaring that she is
hiding the refugee, since he saw him fall outside her door after the pistol shot. Minnie holds him at
bay for a short time; but drops of blood fall upon the Sheriff from above, and in triumph he drags
forth the wounded man. Minnie, in despair, now makes the bold proposal that they shall play a
game of poker - the best two out of three - which shall decide the fate of the captive. If Rance wins
his reward shall be the mans life and her own hand into the bargain; and if Minnie wins, Johnson
shall be hers. Rance agrees, gambling being his greatest passion; and the game begins. Minnie
manages to conceal a set of high cards about her person; and after she has gained one point she
complains of faintness, and whilst Rance is fetching brandy for her from the shelf, she has an
opportunity to place the concealed cards in such a way that they shall fall to her, and consequently
she wins the game and wager. Rance keeps to his bargain, but departs in rage and disappointment.
Minnie nurses her lover tenderly for a week,, until he has recovered from his wounds; and then his
hiding-place having been discovered by the miners, Johnson is forced to take to flight.
In Act 3 an exciting chase takes place, which ends in Johnson being captured by the miners, who,
furious at the robberies he has committed, clamour that the summary justice of lynch law shall be
meted out to him. The Sheriff, Rance, readily agrees; and as the noose is being prepared, he
triumphantly boasts over his fallen rival. Johnson faces his awful position calmly; and he only
begs the miners not to tell Minnie of his fate, but to let her think he has escaped. Just as the
lynching is about to take place, Minnie herself rushes to the spot, and flinging herself in front of
her lover, she entreats the miners to spare his life, telling them that he was even now on his way to
another country, there to earn an honest livelihood. Finding the sullen men still obdurate, she begs
them for her own sake to release their victim, reminding them of her loving devotion to them in
the past, which they can now repay by granting her request. This last appeal is effectual, and the
miners over-rule the baffled Rance and set their prisoner free; and as Johnson and Minnie depart
hand in hand to seek a new and better life together elsewhere, the rough men are left sad and
forlorn, and are overcome with the deepest emotion as they realise that the Girl of the Golden
West has now passed out of their lives for ever.