Return of the Hero (Le retour du héros)

RETURN OF THE HERO

Elisabeth!

There you are.

Tell your sister her dress looks exquisite!

She won't believe me.

I look like a baby.

Yes, but it's not the dress.

Elisabeth!

Not on a day like today!

You're right, on a day like today... best say nothing.

He's here! The captain's here!

I can't wear this dress. Get it off me!

Be careful!

Burgundy, 1809

- Miss Beaugrand. - Captain.

I thought soldiers were punctual.

No, they're courageous.

As proof, I stand before you.

How inobservant I am.

You're insolent as well.

- I have many qualities. - I hope so, Captain.

Too many men think a smile will get them anywhere.

Too many indeed.

Mr. Beaugrand.

Madam.

Pauline.

No need for vain words,

we all know the reason for my visit,

so I shall get to the point.

Sir, I solemnly request your daughter Pauline's hand.

We accept with pleasure!

What a happy day! What joy!

We must set a date at once.

Captain.

I have orders for you.

You must join the 3rd Army Corps on its way to Austria.

Dry your tears, Pauline.

The Emperor will crush the Austrians. We'll return in no time.

Will you write?

Every day. I promise.

But of course, the Captain never wrote.

Pauline waited for weeks and then months,

hoping each day to have news from him.

In vain.

She refuses to eat.

A plague upon that devil.

He's fighting a war. Perhaps he's busy.

Busy? No.

He forgot her the minute he left the estate.

He's a philanderer, nothing more.

A philanderer.

Sweetheart...

Hello.

My mother asked me to...

Forgive me, I'm Nicolas.

Nicolas Bonvallet. I believe this is for your mother.

Hello.

Pneumonia.

Oh my god!

Tell us the truth, Doctor.

It all depends on her.

If she has something to live for, she'll fight. Otherwise...

What I did that night, I did for her.

It was a bad idea. A very bad idea, but...

1 did it anyhow.

Father! Mother!

Pauline received a letter!

Let's see.

"My dearest Pauline...

My dearest Pauline,

since..."

"My dearest Pauline,

time has flown since our hurried adieus.

You must think I'd forgotten both my promise

and your pretty face.

How wrong you are!

You know the guilty party...

it's the war.

I am grateful that it grants me

time to write to you at last.

I wish to tell you, dear Pauline,

how often I think of you.

These thoughts sustain and soothe me,

even in the torment of battle.

My feelings for you are the same as the first day.

I long for only one thing, be with you and see you laughing,

happy and strong.

Imagining you this way gives me more joy

than any of our victories.

Live, my beloved. Be strong, happy and beautiful.

I send you my sweet,

tender and sincere regards.

Charles-Grégoire Neuville."

Thank you.

For a philanderer, he's quite thoughtful.

Eugénie, a pen and paper! I'll reply now.

That's impossible.

And why's that?

Because...

- You don't know where he is. - ldo.

You must send the letter to the Central Army Command.

My sister writes to my nephew there.

There you go.

Everyone out! I need to be alone

to write my fiancé.

Yes, sweetheart.

Your wishes are our orders.

Eugénie, I must run an errand for Father.

I'll post Pauline's letter at the same time.

I'm afraid I cannot share the content of this letter

in which I discovered my sister's unsuspected talent...

for erotic prose.

Dear Pauline,

thank you for your sweet letter...

Your cheerful good mood warms my heart.

I must leave for battle again.

"If I had one last wish,

I should be reunited with the well-brought-up girl I know,

my sweet, innocent Pauline,

whose manners are irreproachable."

As if he could doubt it.

He's a bit distant, isn't he?

You can soon ask him in person.

The Emperor has signed the armistice. He's on his way back.

Are you sure?

It says so right here.

Dear Pauline, I am sad to announce

I will not be returning with our victorious troops.

I've been entrusted with a highly-confidential mission,

and am currently on my way to...

India!

"I must travel to Pondicherry in Southern India

to protect our colonies, for the English

are hotly disputing this territory.

As you imagine, this journey does not fill me with joy,

but orders are orders...

and a soldier must obey."

"Dear Pauline,

life in Pondicherry is easy and prosperous..."

Perhaps I went too far at times...

carried away by my imagination.

I hear Captain Neuville has bought tobacco plantations.

No! He sold the tobacco plantations ages ago

with a 20,000-franc profit!

Now he has elephants, a whole farm full.

"The tiger burst forth!

The hunters panicked and ran for their lives.

I admit, I did not escape without a few scratches,

but as I sit here now,

the horrible beast is my bedside rug."

But that night,

I understood it had to stop.

Pauline,

my Pauline,

my luck has turned...

"For several weeks now,

the enemy has been secretly amassing troops at our borders,

and they attacked us by surprise.

Our losses are high.

Only a handful of us remain, holed up in a fort,

surrounded by 2,000 soldiers

who will launch an attack within hours.

I am injured.

Should this letter reach you, I greatly fear that...

I shall no longer be with you.

At this tragic moment, only one thing counts for me,

your happiness.

Do not give up your youth, Pauline.

Forget me,

and look around you.

The future is right there.

I clasp you to my heart.

Adieu."

Come now, my dear.

Get the smelling salts!

Eugénie!

Exit Captain Neuville...

enter Nicolas.

All's well that ends well.

Well, almost.

Arhay-Luduc, one hour stop!

Stinks in there.

My luggage, please.

- Give me a drink! - Get lost.

I can pay!

Get out of here!

Sorry.

Let me help you.

Don't touch me!

Hang on...

- I know you. - No.

- Yes, I do. - Let go of me!

- You don't know me! - Yes, I do.

Beaugrand.

Not at all.

The elder sister!

She's the elder Beaugrand!

Shut up.

Shut up, I said.

- About what? - Come here.