The Black Tulip (La Tulipe noire)

Yes, French Revolution had its heroes ...

its martyrs and its Saints.

Historians, who have superbly told us about it,..

with almost miraculous insight, knew how to discover, get out of the shadows,..

obscure figures, seemingly irrelevant,..

and of whom, without them, we would have never known they existed.

Yet, by a strange phenomenon,..

there is an essential and determining character,..

whom they have unanimously ignored.

But, fortunately, cinema is here,..

with its camera exploring the time,..

its lens that pierces the mists of time.

Thanks to it, this great, underrated figure will finally be revealed!

Justice is going to be made !

It is June 1789.

In June.

That is to say that July 14 has not yet occurred.

Nor, moreover, the massacres of September. Of course.

But already, while Paris agitates and rumbles,..

the province stirs and jolts.

For it is in province, exactly somewhere in France, here,..

there, you see, that blows the wind of revolt.

Someone, but who?, foments this uprising!

Someone, but who?,..

worries, threatens, the nobles and their privileges!

Someone, but who?, acts on behalf of the people!

For the people!

The authority puts a price on the head of this someone.

In vain. Because the authority has no power.

Then, in panick, aristocrats prepare to flee,..

taking along the profits of their plunder,..

their entire fortune. "Well, goodbye, Mr. Baron!

And good luck!" But the other one watches.

This one is a valiant and determined man, as his name indicates.

The Black Tulip! Remember this name.

He will go down in history. In our own, anyway.

The Black Tulip,..

and his horse, Voltaire.

The Black Tulip

Come on, quickly!

Thank you.

He took everything! My fortune,..

my jewels, those of the Countess!

You hear, Mr. Lieutenant General of Police?

The exploits of the Black Tulip, they do not heat up your ears?

And do you think you might, one day, honor your role and your title,..

Mr. Lieutenant General of Police?

But Marquis, my zeal!

The head of the Black Tulip! I want his head here!

On this desk, before Monday.

You'll get it, guaranteed. The head and the rest!

I don't need the rest. The head will suffice!

And your diamonds will be soon returned, Count.

You seem so sure of yourself. - I'm not sure of anyone.

But I think, however, to have identified the Black Tulip.

Great progress! A low-born adventurer!

No, my lord! Someone you know very well.

Someone familial with your home. - A servant.

A servant is not a familial.

And Count Guillaume de Saint Preux is not a servant!

What? What do you say?

Saint Preux? Impossible! He is one of my friends!

You're raving, Mr. La Mouche!

The Count de Saint Preux! Nobody less than him looks like a tulip!

It's insane, it's unbelievable, monstrous. And it's ridiculous!

You know La Mouche latest stunt? - No. - Brace yourself, my dear.

He claims, this simpleton, that the Black Tulip is your friend Saint Preux!

Guillaume? - You said it!

La Mouche really knows little of botany.

And on what basis does he?

On his dislike for Saint Preux. He is extremely jealous of him.

And I understand him, however.

Right, what evidence have you against Saint Preux ?

My conviction. - His conviction!

Yes, my conviction, supported by some clues.

Of course, he is clever, and we need more convincing arguments.

But if we caught him in a flagrant act of banditry... - I'd be very surprised!

I have my plan. A trap, in my way.

Ah! Finally!

A moment please, as I complete this page.

You made me wait. Take turns.

What a welcome! After all trouble I have faced to come!

Pleasure is not obtained without pain, my dear.

It's not a right, it's a favor. Must be deserved.

Well, make yourself comfortable!

I don't really like being treated like a girl.

Imagine how you'd feel if I treated you like a mother!

There!

Now you can come. On my lap.

Hello Catherine

Hello, Guillaume.

Very good

You think this spot is apt for an honest woman?

Many honest women have being there, without repentance, as far as I know.

How long do you have? - 2 hours will suffice?

Two hours... Yes. We won't have time to do everything, but...

but it's okay.

First I must tell you, before I forget.

It's so funny! Imagine that my husband... - Oh, no!

Is this a place to talk about your husband? Have some dignity, get up!

I can fool him and still be respectful! Then, it concerns you, not him!

Get up anyway, because we are very thirsty!

So, your husband?

Well, my husband had a talk with baron La Mouche.

Guess what the Baron said? - Something silly, of course!

He claims to know who is the Black Tulip!

What's to do with me? - Wait!

He is sure that you and the Black Tulip, it's all one!

No! - Yes!

That's funny! - On my honor, he said so! La Mouche? - Yes.

And what does your husband think of this snitching?

That this shouldn't prevent you from being at Friday's meeting.

The envoy of Count d'Artois..

came specially from Paris to give us his instructions.

The Queen decided to do away with the 3rd State. - She's right!

It deserves a good correction.

No more than 1:50, my angel.

You think about it?

But, object of my pleasure, can't you see I only think of that?

That I look forward to honor you with my high favors?

You're beautiful, so dressed only in your virtue!

Only in your virtue... Finally!

What is it, my heart? - There, on the floor, a black tulip!

My God! What will happen to us?

Beware!

Go!

Go!

Well...

Down with the mask, Mr. De Saint Preux! Show me your face!

Marked. You are marked! You won't escape me more!

Voltaire!

He won't go far. Lieutenant, alert all police stations.

Blocks on all routes, and arrest anyone with a scar on his left cheek.

The Black Tulip will soon be plucked!

Vulture, rabble, scum! No, no, not talking about you!

I think of La Mouche. You, Voltaire, you are a brave man. Well, a real lion!

So, how is it?

Bad.

Here.

Bless you. - It's not me. It's the stomach.

So, what next? Shall we go to Paris? - What?

Marked as you are, you cannot remain here.

I have some scores to settle.

With that face?

Too bad you don't have a spare one!

Brignolle, get ready to leave.

Ah, you've become reasonable.

No! Not what you think, Brignolle.

I said "you get ready to go". Immediately.

Stop!

Your roadmap.

What's going on?

Shut up. - Ah, police!

Here. Okay.

You! Get off!

Get off? But why?

Get off! No arguing! - But sir...

Your face! - How? My face...

How about that! - Come on, move!

You'll hear from me! - Silence. Go, Go!

Julien!

It's great, You haven't changed.

You haven't changed either.

Well, Brignolle, what do you think of this?

Can't believe my ears! Looks like you even more than in the coach.

How do you like my little brother?

A handsome guy.

Thanks for us! It's true that with my scar...

Did he tell you?

He told me that you were injured. That you needed me.

I don't know more.

So, you came because you wanted to know more, huh?

No, no! I came because you're my brother.

And because...

Because you love me, old rabbit!

So say it!

Always so bashful, huh?

A real little sister, my little brother!

Brignolle, maje us an omelet!

- You know, I really changed in four years.

Indeed, you've grown up and almost caught up with me.

Yes, and then also... - And then, also?

I think I also ... I think I overcame my ... my ...

- Conquered! Who conquered what? Have you cut your tongue?

Overcome what? - My shyness!

You know, I wanted to be like you.

Ambitious, alright!

Oh, I did not envy you, no.

But I always admired you.

I always admired your force, your courage!

Your generosity! Oh, Guillaume, I so much wanted to resemble you!

Yes

Well, if you resemble me, you must have a ravenous hunger!

Yes, true.

And thirst? - Yes, I am thirsty.

To brotherhood! - To freedom!

To equality! - To justice! To law, and long live the nation!

You too? - What, me too?

Can it be? You too share my ideals?

Yes. And this omelette. Come sit down.