Douce

- Do you see him often? - Every day.

- Does he come to you or you to him? - We live under the same roof.

- One of the family? - No.

- A close friend? - No.

- Is there a class difference? - Yes.

A difference sufficient to preclude marriage?

A servant?

Believe me, this won't bring happiness.

I won't threaten you with Hell. You'll find your own way there.

- If I'm with him, I don't care. - One is alone in Hell.

Alone without hope or help. I beg you to think about it.

I have thought about it. We're running away together.

Run? Where will you run to? You'll be caught.

The police will catch you. You'll be separated.

He'll go to prison. And you'll be shut away for years.

- That is what awaits you. - No. Nothing can separate us.

- That's pride. Be more humble. - I want to be happy, not humble.

What do you want from me? Absolution?

In your present condition, I won't grant you that.

I knew my love would find only enemies.

You're the first I've spoken to, my first enemy.

I pray God to help you in your misery.

- What do you call it? - An elevator.

- Does it ever fall? - That's the risk of progress.

- Expensive? - Over 20,000.

She's 72. Say she lives another three years.

That's about 20 francs a trip.

20 francs to go up to her room. And she lives on the first floor!

20 francs? You can go up Mont Blanc for that.

For 40 sous, I'd carry her up on my back.

- Hell, I'd do it for 10. - Watch your tongue!

The way I see it, I'll still have to polish the staircase.

And as the interior is rosewood, you'll have to polish that too.

You're all so busy with that machine, you can't even hear the doorbell.

It's always the same. I have to come down myself.

Ah, the young lady's umbrella. She left it with you?

And you've got no umbrella yourself, poor fellow?

I'll lend you one. Not this one, or you'll have had a wasted journey.

Take mine. Don't bring it back until it stops snowing.

Otherwise we'll be doing this forever.

Ah, Mademoiselle! You left your umbrella at the chapel.

The sacristan, the mute fellow, brought it back.

- There are still honest people. - Yes, the simple in heart.

- You gave him something, I hope? - Naturally! Another umbrella!

You think it'll be easier with this egg?

- You've been to Trouville? - No.

Someone bought it for me when I was 12.

- A strange gift. - Yes. I was a bit disappointed.

- I wanted a boat. - A boat? Like that one?

Maybe not as pretty.

Take it. I'll give it to you.

Thank you, Douce. But I don't think I could play with a boat any more.

You could put it in your room. You have so little.

What a noise his leg makes at night. You hear it?

Doesn't it frighten you a little, in the dark?

When I was little, his leg scared me.

Poor papa!

He's so kind and sad. And that sound is so sinister!

You wonder when he'll ever stop.

- I pricked my finger. - Use your thimble.

- If I can find it. - Shall I lend you mine?

What is your thimble a souvenir of? Another beach you never visited?

It's a souvenir of my mother. Whom I never knew.

I'm sorry. I can't find it.

You're the most absent-minded girl I've ever known.

You know you took my umbrella to the chapel?

- Me? - Didn't you go to confession today?

- Yes. - Well you left it at the confessional.

The sacristan brought it back.

I'm sorry.

I've been very distracted lately.

- Your leg's noisy, father. - I walk as softly as I can.

But at night, everything seems louder.

I'll have the tip changed.

The elevator is ready. Would you care to try it with me?

Go ahead. I'll finish my stocking.

In England, there are boys in red who operate these machines.

Yes, bellboys. I can't imagine any sensible men doing that work.

Sensible men just tend to horses, I suppose?

When sensible men start earning 30 francs a month...

- Have you ever been in an elevator? - No, sir.

I had it installed for my mother. She gets breathless.

But as she'd never admit it,

I let her believe that the machine is mainly for me.

In fact, there's one at my club, but I never use it.

- Is everything working? - Yes, sir.

Please get in.

And sit down, please.

Do you suffer from vertigo? It sometimes has that effect.

- No, I'm very calm. - Let's go.

Cast off!

A nice way to get alone with a woman.

- I know a better one. - What's that?

Marry her!

- It's marvellous! - I love to see you laugh.

You laugh so little. I fear this house is too sad, too austere for you.

- I've never been so happy. - Really?

I so want you to be contented here.

It may be a little too fast for my mother.

- What do you think? - I'm sure Mme Countess won't complain.

She says that her horses never go fast enough.

What dreadful weather. So cold!

There she is.

There was one shop girl, acting as if they were giving away the goods.

Take these to my room. Now let's see this contraption.

- Can I go up? - Yes, Madame Countess.

How very inconvenient.

- And the parcels go on foot. - I'm going by balloon.

Gentlemen... The King!

Engelbert! This thing takes forever. I was dying of boredom.

- And I thought... - Do you think that at 72...

...I want to spend my last few years in an elevator?

My son pretends he installed that thing for his mother.

The poor boy needs it more than I do.

It will relieve his fatigue, and us of his tapping.

Estelle, give me my indoor bonnet.

And take those red balloons. I got them for your nephews.

- How old are they now? - 15 and 16, Mme Countess.

Strange. They always seem like little boys to me.

But they still play like children. Thank you, Madame Countess.

Shall we lay a setting for M Marani? Or is he only staying for coffee?

Lay a setting. At the far end of the table.

But he won't use it. He'll be delayed by the snow.

But I hope nothing worse than that. He has all the money from the farm.

- Dinner at 7, Mme Countess? - Of course!

I'm not going to wait for my steward!

I think that boy, on the rare occasions he eats with us,

suffers it like an obligation of his inferior position,

or simply like a stomach ache.

That would explain his greenish complexion.

He looks like this portrait, doesn't he? He's handsome.

Very handsome. But mediocre. What a pity!

Come in.

- A telegram for Mlle Irène. - With your permission...

May I be excused this evening? I wish to dine with a relative.

Young lady, I hate to refuse such requests. So please don't ask.

- It's a cousin who's visiting Paris. - A cousin, a cousin!

You're not thinking of introducing me to your family!

- You have your day off? - Yes, Madame, Friday.

- So your cousin can come on Friday. - I didn't go out last Friday.

- I thought, in all fairness... - In all fairness?

- ...that I could have my liberty... - Equality, fraternity. I know.

I'm too old to become a Republican!

My mother can be hard at times. I'll arrange it with her.

Tell the butler you won't be dining with us.

Julien, I shan't be dining tonight.

- I'll lay three places. - No, four.

M Marani will be dining with us. He's been held up by the snow.

He has a heavy load with him.

You know he's bringing me a Christmas tree?

Hot chestnuts!

- Is M Marani here? - Who?

Oh, it's you. Yes, he's waiting upstairs.

- A dozen. - And 2 dozen for M Marani.

- At 6 sous or 12 sous? - 12 sous.

At last!

Why did you send for me, Fabien?

Kiss me, Irène.

- We're leaving. - Leaving?

Our ship leaves from Antwerp. It's called The Ottawa.

An 8,000 ton steamer. Three weeks at sea.

And at the end of the voyage, Canada. And in Canada, Quebec.

And in Quebec, my cousin Battisti, with his fur business.

- You haven't forgotten, Irène? - No, of course not.

- But the tickets? - Here they are.

- The passports? - Here too.

Look. Here's yours.

Blonde hair plaited, dark eyes, medium mouth.

A little scar at the base of the neck.

- An emigrant. - Don't worry about that.

I got an emigrant's passport as I didn't know if we'd have money.

But you'll be travelling in second, Irène - like a lady!

I've got money. Here!

- What's this? - 20,000 francs. I won it at poker.

- But you never play. - It's my lucky day.

Didn't you feel a little shock at 4pm? What were you doing at 4?

- I was having tea with Douce, as usual. - No, Irène, not as usual.

Today was your last tea with Douce.

That was the last toast you buttered for Mlle Douce de Bonafé

All that's over. You're mine now. My wife.

- You've been drinking. - I should think so!

And you, too, are going to drink. To our good fortune!

- No. - You don't believe in our fortune?

No. You stole that money.

- Yes, Irène. - It's the money from the estate.

- Yes. - A thief, a pathetic little thief!

- And you thought I'd follow you? - You have something better in mind?

- What's happened in the last month? - Nothing.

So why didn't you write to me in Normandy?

I knew something was going on. What?

Tell me! Irène, I want to know.

I'm not leaving with you.

Douce! What are you doing here?

- May I borrow your window? - Of course, Douce, but why?

You can see the street from here. That's what I am, a street girl.

There's only a window between us.

- It's still a window. - But it can be broken.

- Did you dine with your cousin? - Yes. So?

Nothing. Marani didn't show up.

- He'll come later. - How do you know?