The Scarlet Pimpernel (musical) betrayed the Marquis de St.-Cyr, his friend, to the revolutionary government ("Wedding Dance"). Heartbroken, Percy is torn between his love for Marguerite and the knowledge of what she has done ("Prayer"). The Blakeneys' marriage grows cold. Percy determines to make amends for his friend's death by saving other innocents from the guillotine. He takes on the identity of the Scarlet Pimpernel and convinces some of his friends (subsequently called "bounders") to join him in his daring rescue attempts; Armand insists on being included ("Into the Fire"). The band pretend to be inane fops, effectively throwing off any suspicions about the
The Scarlet Pimpernel of Augusto Pinochet; this brought him into conflict with the regime, and he eventually was forced to leave the country. This name was also given to Nelson Mandela prior to his arrest and long incarceration for his anti-apartheid activities in South Africa due to his effective use of disguises when evading capture by the police. Raoul Wallenberg, a Swedish diplomat, was directly inspired by the film "Pimpernel Smith" to begin rescuing Hungarian Jews during World War II. Wallenberg issued false passports identifying the Jews as Swedish nationals, and is credited with rescuing at least 15,000 Jews. He disappeared in Eastern