Désiré

Ladies and gentlemen,

I made the film we are about to present.

Please come and leaf through this album with me.

This is madame.

This is monsieur.

This is Monsieur and Madame Corniche,

friends of monsieur and madame.

Here are the three of us: The maid...

the cook...

and yours truly.

There's another gentleman who isn't in the film

but whom I must mention. Here he is.

He's a composer.

The music you hear is his.

And I must mention Mr. Bachelet, who lit the film.

He's the director of photography, and a remarkable man.

Mr. Gernolle, who recorded the sound, also deserves credit.

Let's also mention the continuity girl, Jeanne Etiévent,

the editor, Myriam,

our assistant director, Gilles Grangier,

and Guy Lacourt, our production manager.

You've probably guessed that the sets were designed by Mr. Jean Perrier.

I hope I didn't forget anyone.

And now, ladies and gentlemen,

I wish you a pleasant time in our company.

Coming!

Chartreuse, my love?

Some wine?

No.

No, thanks.

I'll have some.

People usually offer what they want themselves.

What else is there?

- What are you reading about? - Those stolen emeralds.

They suspected the maid, of course.

- And it wasn't her. - Actually, it was.

What now?

Just to keep her on her toes.

Let's talk about our trip tomorrow so she hears.

I can understand your impatience,

but Deauville without a valet

is a frightening thought.

Did madame ring?

Our benedictine?

Sorry, madame.

Let's have a look at the news.

"Good cook, 35. Cannot leave Paris.

Write to A.B., 11 bis rue Marbeau."

Augustine's leaving her new job again.

She never stays put.

Adèle will handle the sitting room and dining room,

Madeleine will serve,

and I can have a woman come in to help clean.

It's all decided. We're leaving tomorrow.

Sorry about the benedictine. I completely forgot.

One must never forget anything, Madeleine.

Let that be a lesson.

"Valet, 42, 1,200 francs a month."

He's asking a lot.

What did they want? I forgot the benedictine.

Seven liqueurs in there, and they want something else.

She wasn't far from the cabinet,

but she had to bother me to "teach me a lesson."

And then they expect us to like them!

What were they talking about?

What were they talking about? Us, of course.

What do you think?

Anytime we go in, bosses are talking about us.

If they stop talking, it was bad.

If they keep talking, it's so we'll hear.

They pretend they haven't seen us

and drop little nuggets like,

"Madame So-and-so has found a gem for 600 francs a month!"

Or... "People who steal from me don't last 24 hours."

This is my ninth position,

and all my bosses ever talked about

was money and servants.

Unless they were fighting.

And that bachelor you worked for for a year?

That was different.

He married the girl after me. Didn't I tell you?

I found out a week ago.

- Anyone we know? - No. She's Belgian.

Why didn't he marry you?

Maybe he wasn't ready two years ago.

Or she got pregnant. I say you left too soon.

I'd had enough.

I stayed 18 months,

and what did I get, besides wages?

Twenty francs a time.

It wasn't that often either.

Anyway, I'm not keen on that with employers.

They get too many ideas.

We think they like us as women... but no.

They say, "No, keep your apron on."

In the end it's just lust, and that never turns into love.

Sometimes they marry one of us.

So they get everything free.

So what were they talking about?

- Their trip to Deauville, of course. - And?

She says they're leaving tomorrow come what may.

With no valet? I'm not going!

Don't go flying off the handle!

They said it in front of me to sound us out.

They're not stupid.

They wanted us to talk about it. Then let's talk!

Calm down. You can get so hot and bothered.

It must be the stove.

When I help her get undressed, we'll talk,

and I'll tell her what I think. What will you say?

"Has madame considered

that Deauville is four times larger than here?"

Exactly.

"And with two guest rooms, and six people at dinner,

we can't do our work properly."

Tell her this for me:

A cook can't work outside the kitchen and still cook well!

Of course.

I want to know if we're going... no lastminute surprises.

- That's the third one today. - No, the fourth.

- They have one hope left. - What's that?

They said a valet would be coming by tonight.

It's already 10:00. He won't be coming now.

She was crazy to sack Emile. She won't find another like him.

Maybe she doesn't want to.

Between you and me, Emile went a bit far.

- You'll burn yourself. - It's okay.

You can't pinch a cigar every single day.

Yeah, that wasn't smart.

He was like that with everything. Remember the liqueurs?

Know what I really didn't like?

He drank straight from the bottle. That's just not right.

I tell you, I've never touched her powder puff.

If I'm out of powder, sure, I'll take a bit of hers,

with the shoe horn.

But her powder puff is hers, see? I do.

I'll go and act like I'm tidying up,

or else they'll get up to you-know-what and keep us longer.

- Listen, how was my coffee? - Fantastic.

- What about theirs? - She called it vile.

That's a bit much, but it is bad.

She wants us to eat first,

so of course the second pot tastes like dishwater.

I'm sorry to stand in your way...

but I'm adamant about this.

- May I clear? - If you like.

It's madness to go without a valet.

I intend to entertain, and I want a man to wait table.

No offense, my dear,

but I don't think a woman has the physical strength.

I should apply for Augustine's job, since she's leaving.

If I may, a lady in your situation

shouldn't be without a valet in Deauville.

You see?

Tongues would wag in the other villas.

Butter...

How much was the butter today?

Thirty-four francs.

Eggs...

36.

Leg of lamb...

67 francs, and cheap at the price.

Things are bad in there!

Monsieur insists they can't go without a valet.

Good! Then we're staying.

- I have two questions. - Go ahead.

- How much is seven and eight? - Usually 15.

And do you think they really love each other?

Them? You gotta be joking!

They have too much to gain from being together.

She just wants him to marry her.

That's all she's been after for three years.

She gave up acting.

I hear it was no great loss for the theater.

If everyone with no talent gave up acting... -

Anyway, it was a sacrifice for her.

She wants to be Madame Montignac.

The thing is, all her efforts seem to put him off the idea.

But he is fond of her.

You can sense he's flattered to have such a stylish mistress.

But really love each other? That's a different kettle of fish.

Maybe if the stakes weren't so high.

Love for more than one reason isn't love.

- You're very smart. - I think so.

- But will he end up marrying her? - When he doesn't love her anymore.

What's this? That can't be my man yet.

- Madame Cléry? - This is the place.

I've come for the valet position.

What? Am I too late?

No, your timing's perfect.

Good Lord, you shouldn't shout like that.

I'll tell madame. Who sent you?

The agency on rue Boissière.

What's she doing?

I got a message to be here before 11:00.

I'm in time. Yes. They're expecting you.

Have a seat. I'll let madame know.

Was that you?

Let me ask you: What's it like here?

- In what way? - As a place to work.