The Singer from Mexico (Le Chanteur de Mexico)

There is a place in France where everyone is happy

where people already know how nice it is in heaven.

If you're lucky, you come from that area

and you feel like you're on vacation your whole life.

When you were born, people were playing the pelota game.

When you were little, customs was already after you.

When you were a teenager, the girls smiled at you.

People sing and dance even when they get older

and in the evening

in our

mountains

we sing

around the campfire

and the wind

comes

from Spain

and blows a cheerful melody this way.

I need something to drink. I'm getting thirsty from that trumpet.

Come on, then, quickly.

- What's the name of the man who just sang? - Vincent Etchebar.

- Etche-what? - Etchebar, a French-Basque name.

I know him from somewhere.

- Beautiful voice. - Yes, wonderful. And I'm an expert.

That'll be 40 francs then.

That's fine. Wait a moment.

- Could you send the singer here? - Okay.

Here's his best friend. Bilou, he wants to talk to you.

Me?

- Take a seat. - What can I do for you?

I'm Cartoni, a theater agent from Paris.

Oh, I see.

- What do you think of this? - A deserved success.

- So do I. Did you hear my high C? - Of course. But your breathing...

What's wrong with it?

- You still need to work on your volume. - Listen to this.

Say, have you gone crazy?

- Is that enough volume to hire me? - I'll go deaf at this rate.

Do you already know what you want?

I want you to leave and to send your friend.

Okay then.

Don't you ever need a trumpeter?

Yes, probably on Judgment Day.

- When is that? - It's not scheduled yet.

Then just call me. And don't worry about my breathing.

Excuse me, I have to go again.

I have to go. Give him my card. I'm staying at the Hôtel de Londres.

- All right. - Thanks.

- Bilou. - What's the matter?

- Don't keep running off. - It's urgent.

- You're here to play the trumpet. - It's really urgent. I'll be right back.

- Are you looking for someone? - Yes, Vincent.

- I just saw him by the... - Okay, thanks.

He's gone now. He just went to the church. But he's gone from there again already.

- Where did he go? - No idea.

- It's hot, isn't it? - Sure is, pal.

Still, thanks.

Come with me quickly.

- No, I'm getting 1,000 francs for this. - I'm talking about millions.

Really, a fortune for you. For us.

- Come on, I'll explain it then. - I'll be back in ten minutes.

- Well? - He was just here.

And now he's gone?

Are you looking for that man from Paris? He's staying at the Hôtel de Londres.

- London is quite far. - The hotel is called London.

- We can go there tomorrow. - Wasn't he joking?

What a job.

If you come to sing in my country, you'll never want to leave. Mexico is very nice.

Let's wait and see what my agent says.

Cartoni? He'll surely like it. It pays well.

And then you can still court me.

Maybe.

- Would that be a success? - Certainly.

- I mean the operetta. - Me too.

- There he is. - Sorry I'm late.

The road was busy.

- I heard a terrific singer. - Another great discovery.

- This man... - surely won't go unnoticed.

Eva and I have already exchanged a few ideas.

- He made me an offer. - A good offer?

- It's good in several ways. - Tell me.

- I want to stage your latest operetta. - The Singer from Mexico? Where?

- In Mexico. - Great idea.

It was a great success in Paris,

so it will surely be one in the country where it's set.

You must hire the two lead actors.

- Eva Marchal. - And Miguel Morano.

I think he's Mexican.

Yes, he toured there a few years ago.

You have to let Miguel know so we can sign.

No need, we have an exclusive agreement.

Then we can discuss the terms. We'll celebrate tonight at the casino.

I wanted to ask if you wanted to come to Lesaka.

- Where to? - To the village I was just in.

I want to hear that singer again.

- I'd rather go to the casino. - Me too.

We're here.

- It's big and beautiful. - A little too big for us.

- Shall we go? - No, you dragged me here.

- We're not leaving. - Okay, you go first then.

- What do you find intimidating? - It's so chic. And there's a general.

- That's the doorman. - He'll throw us out any minute.

We'll see. Come on.

You idiot.

Excuse me, Mr. Receptionist.

- Go ahead. - We're here to see Mr. Cartoni.

He left for Paris this morning.

- Do you want his address? - We already have it.

- What now? - We'll take the bus.

- To Paris? - You're crazy. To Lesaka.

Then you'll miss out on a fortune. If we go to Paris...

- Do you have the money for that? - No, I hope you do.

- Just to get there. And then? - Then I'll go to my cousin. He's rich.

Bidache was married to Otto's daughter and was the

brother-in-law of Chagabia, the cousin of Chabalais.

So if he sees me, his second cousin on his mother's side,

because his mother was my mother's cousin...

Your cousin has a lot of family.

He's the only one who got rich, so we'll go to him until you're famous.

Really.

- This is important, Miguel. Listen. - I'm listening, aren't I?

- Why do you hesitate? - I'm just not interested.

- But I've already signed for you. - Just like that? That's not allowed.

- We have an exclusive agreement. - For Europe, but not for America.

It's not about money, but about principles.

- This is my final decision. - I'm leaving now.

- But Mexico? Have a good trip. - No, to Cannes.

Lucie, buy a train ticket for tonight.

- That's going to be difficult. - Sort it out.

Don't be sad, I'll be back soon.

I'll think of you every day in Paris.

I'll come back with lots of money and give you a present.

A leather collar with a brass bell. The others will be jealous.

Have you said goodbye?

- We're going to miss the bus. - I've already packed.

- Packed? - I have a lot to take.

I'll bring them in.

- Who looks after them? - Aostelier.

- Did you let it slip that we're leaving? - No.

Don't tell anyone. People will laugh at us if it fails.

It'll work. Trust me. I'm with you.

- Why? - To support you.

I can't do any more. Real friends are worth their weight in gold.

- I know, Bilou. - Come on, let's go.

As two friends who are always together

walking hand in hand along the same path

they arrive safe and sound

and stand stronger when times are hard

on bad days and on good days

friendship is worth more than love

we will always agree, forever and ever

because we are friends

we were born in the same village

on the same day, in the same season

since we were little

we go the same way

when we were still at school

- I was the best in the class. - And I was the worst

and when we were in the army

- I was a soldier. - And I was a sergeant

In romantic relationships, it's the same.

- They say yes to me. - They say no to me

but we couldn't live any other way

me without you

you without me.

As two friends who are always together

walking hand in hand along the same path

they arrive safe and sound

and stand stronger when times are hard

on bad days and on good days

friendship is worth more than love

we will always agree, forever and ever

because we are friends.

What happened to you?

A stupid waterski-ing accident.

- That's a disaster. - Afraid so.

I definitely shouldn't go to Mexico.

- Watch out, behind you. - What?

- You're just pretending. - That's right, but don't make such a fuss.

- Is Eva with you? - No.

She doesn't know that you don't want to come.

I'm taking this torture device off.

- What's wrong? - Sit down.

- Whiskey? - Yes, please.

I fled from Mexico 5 years ago

for a reason.

And for that reason, I'll never go back.

- The police? - Worse.

- The tax authorities. - Worse.

There's nothing worse.

See for yourself.

- Who is that? - Tornada.

An impressive woman who runs a ranch.

She rides like an Amazon

with a revolver, like a cowboy. She wants to tame me with her whip.

- Why? - I had promised to marry her.

- And you didn't keep that promise? - No.

If I go back, she'll force me. Then it's all over.

- She's forgotten you after 5 years. - That's what I'm trying to avoid.

- Should I tell Martinez that? - No, I was thinking.

I've only done one tour in Mexico.