Beauties of the Night (Les belles de nuit)

BEAUTIES OF THE NIGHT

Don't wait for me. Go home.

Yes, dad.

- Roger. - Boss?

- Where's the spanner? - I'm coming.

- I'll finish it. - We're doing fine.

That's much louder already.

Too loud, I'd say.

Your friend is a real pain with his piano.

They'll hear you all right now.

Progress is wonderful.

But noisy.

Some people love noise. Watch.

Why tease him? He's unhappy.

- Dreaming as usual. - He was working all night.

Writing music isn't like a job.

You call what you do a job?

Piano lesson time.

What a bore.

Hurry up.

- Who wrote that lovely piece? - I did.

- You write music? - I've even written an opera.

- To be performed when? - I don't know. I sent it to Paris.

Come along. I know the Director of the Paris Opera.

You haven't had my letter?

I've been waiting six months.

Dear sir, I cannot understand...

...how my letter went astray.

Forgive me.

Without further delay, I will perform your opera.

He'll perform your opera.

I will perform your opera.

He'll perform my opera.

I'll perform...

...your opera.

Stop here.

- Where are we? - You're with me.

- What day, what month, what epoch? - The epoch of our destiny.

That's not true. None of this is real. It's a dream.

- Why worry if you're happy? - I won't be if I no longer see you.

You'll see me as often as you wish - every night.

You will see me every night...

...waiting in the shadows...

...in the depths of your dreams.

You will follow my memory...

...to the ends of the earth, through the dark of the night.

Within the walls of our chamber...

...our love trembles at every sound.

Each little noise reminds us...

...that soon the cruel sun will rise.

Farewell. If you are faithful to me in your dreams...

...you will see me again every night.

The lesson seemed long to me.

Not long enough to me.

Here you are.

No, Madame, some other time. Not today.

It's about the piano.

- I want my money. - You're disturbing me.

Tomorrow I'll disturb you more. I'll take my piano back.

Can't we have something else?

- Hold on. What is it? - A radio.

No, that tune. Do you know it?

I do.

- It's an old waltz. - What's it called?

I've forgotten. It's so old.

- It's from my youth. - The good old days?

Not like today. Crises, wars, that's all there is. It's terrible.

What with all their taxes it's terrible today.

The old days were better.

- How would you know? - Everyone says so.

You think they didn't have their problems?

Forget all that. Let's have some fun.

Do be quiet.

Watch this.

Leaving already?

Claude, don't forget your hat.

Very clever. You should be ashamed, playing games at your age.

Waiting in the shadows, in the depths of your dreams.

You will follow my memory...

...to the ends of the earth, through the dark of the night.

- Here you are at last. - I was expecting you.

I was afraid I'd never see you again, never find my dream and your hand.

I was in a horrible world without love.

Forget it. That world is just a bad dream.

I was a poor music teacher in a small town and everyone made fun of me.

Here, everyone loves you. You're a famous composer.

All Paris will applaud your music.

They're rehearsing. They're waiting for you.

A GREAT MUSICAL OCCASION

Listen.

You're so lucky to live in 1900. I drink to the best of epochs.

Tell me, young man. What epoch do you mean?

Today.

You call 1900 the best of epochs?

Crime, new taxes, talk of war, that's all there is. Terrible times.

If you knew...

The best time was when I was young.

In 1830, under Louis Philippe. What good times.

Men of property were happy...

...as they watched properties go up.

It was so wonderful to be twenty when our young soldiers...

...with their bugles and drums...

...went to pacify Algeria.

When will you come? My heart cries out.

When will love tell me what my mirror reveals?

What use is beauty if love cannot find it?

Is your face as lovely as your eyes?

- Who are you? - A musician. I've written an opera.

Then your victory is complete.

Even though I should resist.

Just one look from him and she is ready to surrender.

I'm sorry. I saw the light was on. I didn't think you'd be asleep.

What do you want?

You seemed upset. I wondered if I could help in any way.

If you want to help, let me go back to sleep.

As soon as possible.

I brought back your hat.

He fainted. Fetch some cool water.

Wait, his eyes are opening.

- What happened? - I was far away from you.

You're not safe here. The battle is not yet over.

My brothers will kill you. Hide!

A French soldier never hides.

Our army is coming.

The French are coming. We must go.

When will I see you again?

I shall find you. Goodbye.

I forgot my bugle.

How fortunate I am. What wonderful times.

You find this war wonderful?

I joined the army under Louis XVI. It was quite different in those days.

Life was different too.

Those who didn't live before that damned revolution...

...don't know the sweetness of life.

The sweetness of life?

The sweetness of life...

...is for lovers.

How my soul delights in the sweet protestations of love.

Soft as the wool...

...the wool of my sheep.

The shepherd who loves me is not a king's son.

But this very day, I will give him my heart.

I can't wait for your opera.

Soft as the wool...

...the wool of my sheep.

If he is bashful, I will show him pity.

I will show him that I love him too.

Suzanne, does that song express your feelings?

Do you still doubt it?

True love can never change.

I will be his shepherdess since he is the shepherd.

No one suspects our love. Please be discreet.

Do not tell anyone our secret.

Tomorrow we shall leave.

We shall go and live near his sheep.

Soft as the wool...

...the wool of my sheep.

- You're making excellent progress. - Yes, towards a convent.

Men, throw this peasant out.

My intentions are honourable.

You dare talk of honour? Out with him!

I'm not a gentleman but love ignores the differences imposed by...

By a decadent society.

I'll chase him out myself.

You will never chase love from lovers' hearts.

Do as I say!

- I like what he said. - It's a revolt!

No, Marquis, a revolution!

Simple souls know privilege has had its day. We must destroy tyranny.

We must open that prison whose walls are wet with innocents' tears.

- We'll take the Bastille! - To the Bastille!

Listen to that cannon. A great day has begun.

- I'll bring a friend to help me. - Good.

I can't hear a thing. Rev up.

He's a nuisance, with his motor.

How long will you be?

Rev up!

- Can't you knock? - I did.

At this hour?

Why did you come?

You can collect it from the post office.

- Something wrong? - Shut up!

- That's not very nice. - I want to sleep and never wake.

Can't you watch where you're going?

You think you own the street? Remember the revolution!

Leave him alone.

What's wrong?

I'm worried about him.

I can't afford another pair.

You'll have your class tomorrow.

Sorry, I didn't recognize you. How are you?

Fine, thanks.

- What are you doing here? - The same as you.

Today we meet at the post office but last night we met elsewhere.

In my dreams.

Shall I tell you?

Sorry, darling, I forgot my stamps.

You know my fiancé?

- You're engaged? Congratulations. - Thank you.

- Be careful! - I couldn't know you were there.