The Frontier

In a quiet French village perched on the edge of the Vosges, the Morestal couple watches the shifting lines of a contested frontier. A newly felled German post at the Butte‑aux‑Loups marks a fragile truce, and the couple’s banter reveals a lifetime of uneasy peace and lingering grievances. Their domestic routine—dusting, tea, and endless talk of the past—contrasts sharply with the tension crackling across the border.

When a letter arrives announcing the return of their son Philippe, the household stirs with anticipation. The young man, accustomed to wandering the Alpine paths, promises to arrive despite the storm that has battered the region, hinting at a journey fraught with both personal and political obstacles. As the evening approaches, the quiet terrace becomes a stage for whispered plans and the promise of adventure that will test loyalties on both sides of the line. Listeners are drawn into a world where ordinary concerns meet the looming uncertainty of a border on the brink of change.