At the
beginning we see only a large feathered hat in the first row of the audience. Slowly,
with great difficulty, a ghostly theatrical star rises and to a background of
Maria Callas singing “Manon Lescaut”, clumsily makes her way toward the stage.
Heavily made up, covered with lace, she clings desperately to the illusory
thread of life, and turns as if to cast a last glance upon her past before
staggering onto the stage, quietly ascending towards death. She covers the
ground with her cape and gently lies down upon it to die.
Death is
followed by birth: the old woman recalls her childhood and is transformed into
a young girl-La Argentina-who throws herself joyfully into youth and life.