Laurent, clutching each other, watch as Camille drowns. Act 2 The Raquin family home - eleven months later Eleven months later, Laurent, considered a hero for "saving" Thérèse, works to secure Madame Raquin's blessing for their marriage. Suzanne, Olivier, and Grivet support it and feel that Thérèse's misery can be relieved only by a good marriage. Madame, resistant at first, eventually agrees. On her wedding morning, Thérèse wakes up screaming. Suzanne comes in to comfort her, and urges her to have faith in God. After the wedding, Madame and Suzanne prepare the bedroom for the wedding night. Olivier and Grivet arrive and announce plans to serenade the happy couple. Later that night Thérèse enters the bedroom trembling. Madame tries to comfort her with memories of Camille's childhood. Laurent arrives and tries to make love to Thérèse, but they are haunted by their crime. From the street, they hear Olivier and Grivet's serenade joined by the voice of the ghost of Camille. Frightened, they begin to argue and accuse each other. A few weeks later, Madame is visited by Camille's ghost in her haberdashery. He relates the truth to her and, when she finally recognizes him, she screams and faints. Thérèse and Laurent rush in and find her unconscious. They speak of their regrets about having drowned Camille. Regaining consciousness, Madame overhears. Enraged, she accuses them of having murdered her son. She has a stroke and collapses. Five months later, while his friends are playing dominoes, Laurent complains about how difficult it has been caring for Madame, who is seated among them, paralyzed and mute. Madame wakens suddenly and scrawls on a piece of paper, "Thérèse and Laurent are m ...." She loses strength and stops. The guests think she meant something complimentary and leave to let her rest. Thérèse and Laurent argue violently; finally, Laurent throws his wife to the floor and exits. On the verge of insanity, Thérèse kneels before Madame, and confesses her affair with Laurent and begs for forgiveness. She begins to think that Madame is willing to pardon her. She takes a knife from the cupboard and hides it in her skirt. Laurent enters and puts poison in a glass of wine, which he offers to Thérèse ... Recording Tobias Picker: Thérèse Raquin (Diana Soviero, Sara Fulgoni, Gordon Gietz, et al.; Dallas Opera; Conductor: Graeme Jenkins). Chandos 9659 References External links Thérèse Raquin at Schott Music