Boudu Saved from Drowning (Boudu sauvé des eaux)

BOUDU SAVED FROM DROWNING

Anne-Marie,

you are as the nymphs.

Like them, you are lissom and could frolic in mossy glades,

drink at the springs, dance naked in the moonlit summer nights.

Bacchus would have presided at the nuptials of Priapus Lestingois,

and his Chloe Anne-Marie.

My good wife is quite unable to make me experience the joys of the flesh.

Must I therefore renounce them?

While the gods grant me the strength and inclination

and for as long as you are indulgent, little nymph,

I shall be your grateful lover

and my pipes shall sing till their dying breath,

the praises of Eros.

To think the upstairs maid's soldier never says a word

and the other who's just married a dumb coalman.

You are lucky, Anne Marie,

but you deserve to be, because you're pretty.

- I love you, Mr Lestingois. - And I am lucky too.

Go... go prepare the soup.

And don't forget the salt.

I won't forget!

While thinking of tonight!

Expectation is an indispensable condiment for dreary daily chores.

She's charming.

But I fell asleep last night before going to her.

There's no getting away from it, I'm growing old.

My pipes are weary

and some shepherd will soon lure her with his fresher flute.

Back already?

I arrived in time for The Aspersion.

- Ernest's burial was well attended. - He was your only friend.

- I walked around the cemetery. - A good appetizer.

- Come with me! - No!

Come! It's time to go!

Come on!

Have you seen my tyke?

A black dog with long hair... he must've come this way.

- Dream of a time... - Sure, sure.

...give a kiss.

The wild rose blossom feels its bud opening.

How dark it is in the valley.

Copper, have you seen my dog? My dog...

- A dog? - A black one with frizzy hair.

What else could you have but a frizzy dog?

He just cleared out.

You better clear out, too.

Cos if you don't, I'll run you in.

Tell me sir, have you seen a dog?

I lost it a moment ago and I'm so upset; it cost 10,000 francs.

- 10,000 francs? - But of course!

Hey, friends...

The lady lost her dog worth 10,000 bucks.

We'll look for it.

- What breed and colour? - It's a brown Pekingese.

Don't worry, we'll try to find it for you.

Thank you so much.

You look so sad, Miss.

Well, just imagine, I've lost my dog.

- How terrible. - To say the least.

Shall we search together?

Hop in, Miss.

Give this to the poor man;

one must always help the less fortunate.

- Why are you giving me 5 francs? - To buy some bread.

Here's 5 francs.

Are you crazy? Are you making fun of me?

To buy bread.

- How much is Lettres d'Hamabed? - 60 francs, sir.

- You find that expensive? - For my purse, yes.

- You're a student? - Yes, sir.

- You like Voltaire... - Yes.

- And with good reason. - He's the one with good reason.

- Here. Take it. - I couldn't!

You wouldn't deny me the pleasure.

- Yes, of course! - Wait a second.

Here it is.

- Take this, too. - But you don't know me!

I know you better than you imagine.

Your name is "Youth".

The next time you come, not a word of this to my wife.

- Give me that. - I'm doing no harm.

No, but you ought to be dusting the piano.

Mrs Lestingois will complain about the dust again.

Why do you have a piano no one plays?

I know no one plays it;

we have a piano because we're respectable people.

You're eyeing the ladies. I'm jealous.

You mustn't be, jealousy is a horrid sentiment,

worthy of neither your spirit nor your beauty.

In the winter forest the birds do freeze

their nests like graves amid snowy trees

April flies in on the wing

A thousand voices bless the spring

Your smile is my Spring, my heart feeling Cupid's sting

Your smile is my Spring

My Spring

Wait, wait!

Oh my goodness! Oh, he is beautiful!

I've never seen such a perfect tramp!

But what...? But, he's crazy!

- What's wrong with him? - He's crazy... crazy.

What is it? What a crowd.

An accident.

Look there!

I've seen so many, I don't bother anymore.

He's crazy, he'll drown.

A fine example of civic courage from a man of our class.

There's a dead body.

Wait.

Let me. Let me.

It's crowded here. Let's take him to my house.

- Is it far? - No, just over there.

What courage!

They're not taking that into my house.

Allow us to close the door.

Bring the bench, quickly. On the bench.

- It's draughty. - That's what he needs.

It rarefies the atmosphere, but it's crowded here. Let's go.

- You're soaked. - You noticed.

Hold his head.

The tongue... put it out.

Not yours, his; grip it with your handkerchief.

Meantime, I'll keep up artificial respiration.

Go get monsieur's old coat and trousers from the cupboard. Hurry!

And bring some towels.

You are a hero.

- Hitting him? - It's good for the circulation.

- This seat was just reupholstered! - I told you it could wait.

You've done a very fine thing.

The poor devil is breathing.

Sir, do change your clothes, or you'll catch cold.

I brought monsieur's old shoes too.

You, continue.

Slap his hands and face as much as you can!

Don't you belong to a life-savers club?

- No. Why? - We'll petition a medal for you.

- I don't want a medal! - Why not? You deserve one.

Quite right and we'll see to it.

I belong to a life-savers club, but,

I never saved anyone cos I never got the chance.

- You need luck. - And you need to know how to swim.

- You never learned? - My specialty was runaway horses.

How are you, my friend?

- Am I dead? - You're very much alive.

This is the man to whom you owe your life.

- He did it against my will. - He's not himself yet.

I'll just have to do it again.

- What did he say? - He may be crazy.

- Where are you going? - To drown myself.

- Again? - He means it.

Not after I pulled you out.

- Why'd you pull me out? - To save you.

It was to save myself that I jumped in.

I'm sick of life.

You were probably alone; with no one to resort to.

We'll rally round in support. Won't we gentlemen?

Certainly, neighbour.

My wife must wonder where I am.

So I'll be on my way. See you. Bravo again.

I left my door open. I'll see to the matter of your medal.

I'll leave you in peace now.

Now that we've met, I'm not going to abandon you.

You're no longer alone.

- Now, what's your name? - Boudu.

- What? - Boudu!

Well, Mr Boudu, come along with me. This way.

Undress.

Anne-Marie, fetch a nightshirt and socks from the wardrobe.

She's nice, is she your daughter?

Sit. Let me take your pants.

- I've got a cold now. - It's your own fault.

No, it's all his fault.

I'm hungry.

We'll get you some soup and poached eggs.

I don't like soup... and eggs hurt my stomach.

- What would you like? - Sardines, bread and butter.

We'll get it for you. Wait! I'm drying you off!

I want the lady to leave.

- Me? - Yes, you.

- You want me to go? - Yes, and faster than that.

Do as the poor fellow wants;

and open a tin of sardines for him.

- My back was turned. - Even so, you're embarrassing him.

She's embarrassing me.

Even with her back turned, she's embarrassing me.

- My suspenders. - They're worn out;

I'll give you some.

- No, no, I want mine. - But, they're worn.

- They work for me! - Ok, don't get excited.

I want my suspenders. They're mine, my suspenders.

Here you are.

- Here's a nightshirt. - Good, thanks.

It'll be too small.

Well, I wasn't expecting you.

- Go get one of my ties. - No!

- Don't you want a tie? - What is it?

It's a bit of cloth worn around the neck.

Around the neck? What for?

It's not an absolute necessity; if you don't want one.