Manina, the Lighthouse-Keeper's Daughter (Manina, la fille sans voiles)

THE GIRL IN THE BIKINI

Everything we know about the Phoenicians we owe to Herodotus.

He spoke at length about the distant toil of his hardy navigators.

According to him,

they founded 200 establishments across Spain and the African coast.

Even as far as the Atlantic coast.

Ptolemy tells a little-known story

that I have the honour of repeating

to my extremely large audience today.

In 225 BC,

Trolius's Phoenician sailors,

returning from a campaign on the lberian coast

and travelling through the Straits of Bonifacio

by the islands of Lavezzi and Cavalon, were caught in a violent storm.

They were at the very spot

where, 2,100 years later, the ship La Semillante would sink.

It too would go down with all hands.

Ptolemy tells of how

the galley of Trolius, which contained the treasure of the Phoenician Wars,

made up of golden sesterces

enclosed in traditional sandstone jars known as amphorae,

sank at this exact spot.

And that no one, since then,

has ever found out what happened to the treasure of Trolius.

The later Romans under Theodorus

tried to recover the treasure

but it was in vain.

The sea kept her secret...

and her prey.

Come in.

So, Mr Gerard, are you going to pay your rent?

You said you'd pay up last week.

Come, now, Mr Gorichet.

Here's what I think of your rent bill.

You ask me for 6,000 francs when, if I wanted, I could buy this entire house?

Do you know who Trolius is? No, he's not a new tenant.

He's a Phoenician.

Never mind. He lost his treasure 2,200 years ago.

And you know who found it? I did!

Thousands of golden sesterces, each worth 50,000 francs.

This treasure is worth hundreds of millions of francs.

And if you keep on like this, you won't get a sesterce!

Not a maravedis!

If you're nice to me and keep those rent bills away from me,

you'll get more than your fair share!

You'll have sesterces coming out of your ears! There. Goodbye!

Dear Trolius...

Hello, Mr Gerard. What a nice fish!

It's for you and your parents, Manina.

- Can you give me some water? - How much? A bottle?

- A little more, there are four of us. - Yes, I know!

Janine, go and tell Gerard to hurry up.

Go on, Henri, I'm setting out the cutlery.

OK, OK, I'll go!

- Tell him to bring some salt. - The lighthouse isn't a grocery store!

We can't keep asking Manina for stuff just because we give them fish!

What a brute! What are you doing with him?

- Doesn't Gerard annoy you? - No, it's not his style.

- He gives me a slap. - You accept that?

Well, they're not always on the face!

Manina's such a lovely girl.

Shame she's only 13, hey?

- I didn't say that! - No!

You thought it. I know you don't respect much but a 13-year-old's going a bit far.

You accusing me of going after Manina? You're crazy!

- He didn't say a word to her! - You always stick up for each other.

Don't take Matilda and me for fools.

I'll eat later, when you've finished moaning.

Me too! I can't wait till this holiday's over.

Come on, we'll catch the grouper.

- What did he say he was going to catch? - A big fish they saw.

They're too stupid to catch anything!

Did you see it? It went under the rock. Go on.

It's too deep for me. You have a go.

I didn't see the grouper, but I found this.

- What is it? - An ancient Greek or Roman amphora.

- What're you going to do with it? - Make it into a lamp or a vase.

- Let's show the girls. - Think it'll shut them up?

Hang on, my dart gun.

It's a Phoenician amphora, no doubt about it.

The long handles make it different from Roman amphorae.

Roman amphorae have a much shorter neck

and the body widens out right after the handles.

- Where did you find it? - I found it on holiday five years ago.

It was 18 metres underwater, by the little island you mentioned.

Lavezzi.

I took it home and when you talked about the wreck, it made me think.

I thought you'd find it interesting.

I know what you think but don't get too excited.

Before you, the Romans and the Carthaginians searched for this treasure.

Yes but they didn't have scuba diving then.

With compressed air, I can go down 50 metres.

There's something more serious.

The story of treasure-filled amphorae is probably only a myth.

It's all hearsay.

As long as it doesn't detract from your studies, why not look into it.

It'll be a nice trip, in any case.

All the same, this is definitely a Phoenician amphora.

I'd drink to this brave man and his treasure if I had some champagne!

- Mr Mouton will put it on the slate. - Yes, go on, he's got 500 million!

In that case, no need for a slate!

Right! But the 500 million are 50 metres under.

And Gerard knows where it is.

- It's all true. - Really?

That pot on the table is proof.

I'll put three bottles on the slate.

Sparkling wine. It's just as good.

And cheaper!

You have claimed your share.

He's recovered your expenses already!

Yes, go on, laugh!

Before long, you'll all come begging at my door.

But only those who believed in me and financed the expedition will be rewarded.

He's right. We should all help out. I'm signing up.

Here, 200 francs.

- You're on. - And keep the 500 francs you owe me.

- That's not the same. - Why not?

- It's not hard cash. - Makes sense.

Why do you need all this money?

I have a plan. I need a boat. Not a dinghy, of course.

Something pretty hardy.

I need an air compressor for the oxygen tanks.

All of which costs more than paupers like us can pay.

I just need enough to get out to the Mediterranean.

There are guys who traffic cigarettes. They have their own boat.

They're adventurous types. I want to get one of them on board

by offering half the loot.

Are you mad? I'm not interested in that case. Give me my money back.

Don't worry! The smallest pieces are worth 50 thousand.

Mr Berthet told me.

Berthet! That sour-faced ass!

Well, I don't have a boat so I have no choice.

At 50,000 a shot, it's worth a try, isn't it?

- Ignore her, she's tight-fisted. - What?

I'm in too... but you'll have to wait.

- I'm a little light at the moment. - That makes a change!

- I like an adventure. Can I come? - Of course, darling.

Pots of gold, like in the Louvre!

You make me laugh! You're all nutters!

Can't you see it's all fool's gold?

Yet another day for mugs!

Human credulity is limitless!

In any case, he won't have the money for my studies!

I prefer to drink it. Mr Mouton, bring on the cognac!

What about that? Is that fool's gold?

Ask Henri la Rue, he was with me.

Say what you like, this is a Phoenician amphora.

I'm not the only one after treasure.

Didn't you read about those men who went after Rommel's treasure?

They weren't crazy students. There was a lawyer, a notary and a police chief!

And what about the Gendarmerie colonel who searched for Mussolini's treasure?

You see? Treasure really does exist.

Come and see me later, when I'm alone.

Don't forget!

Silence! Mr Mouton is going to get the wine!

- So you think there are a lot of coins? - Loads.

- But there's a risk. - What?

- They might not be there. - I'm sure they are.

Mrs Mouton doesn't understand but I'd go with you.

Not underwater, of course, but up top, on the boat.

Here.

20,000 francs.

How many coins would you give me? That's worth at least 100.

100? Think about it. No, keep your money, that's 5 million.

How many, then?

Let's say 10. It's worth 500,000.

Go on, then, here's 20!

- OK, 20! - So, tell me.

Where are you going to get the boat?

In Tangiers. I've got a few contacts down there.

That's right! I saw a film about Tangiers once.

Tangiers, of course! I should've known.

As soon as you get there, send me a note, something innocent, of course.

A postcard with "Vive la Marine".

- "Vive la Marine"? - So I know you've got the boat.

That's very good!

As for the treasure, once you've found it, don't hesitate.

Send me a telegram, collect.

And to avoid any suspicion, write...

"The carrots are cooked."

- I'll understand! - Very clever!

Don't worry, it'll all be OK.

You're so lucky to take the train!

Here are some pork sausages. Eat them first. Because of the heat, of course.

Thank you, Mr Mouton, that's very kind.

You've all understood, keep this quiet.

If a journalist got wind of this... I'd get down there to find all of Paris waiting.

Hell! Your train's leaving!

- Say hello to Trolius! - Don't give half away!

The carrots are cooked!

You... You do cigarettes?

Can't you speak French like everyone else?

Sorry but everyone speaks Spanish here.

- Is sir from Paris? - Does it show?

As soon as I saw you, when I woke up, I said to myself, "He's a real Parisian."

- And that's why you spoke Spanish? - Yes. No! I'm learning the language.

I know one or two words.

- Can I serve you a whisky? - Yes, why not.

By the way, do you sell cigarettes?

That's a good one! If you can't find cigarettes in Tangiers...