Don Juan

No, the world is not a mushroom that sprang up by itself overnight.

There is something admirable in man

that cannot be explained by our scholars.

Take yourself, for example. Here you are.

Didn't it take your father to sire you with your mother?

A vast question.

Hold, my good fellow.

A word with you, please.

Which is the way to town?

Follow this road.

Then turn right at the end of it.

Be on your guard.

l see, your advice comes from self-interest.

l'm poor, sir.

l will pray God

gives you his blessing.

Ask him to clothe you, and don't worry about others.

Damnation!

My God, my God, my God...

Master, man in this world is like a bird on a branch.

What penetrating eyes.

What do you believe in, then?

What do you do here?

l pray to God all day.

Then you must be comfortable.

A man who prays to God all day

must be fortunate in his dealings.

l haven't a crust of bread.

How strange.

You are ill-rewarded for your pains.

l'm going to give you a gold coin.

Provided you utter a blasphemy.

Do you want it or not?

lt's yours for a curse.

Go on.

Now swear.

That, or nothing.

Go on, take it!

Here.

Take it, l say.

Swear!

l'd sooner starve.

Swear a bit. There's no harm in it.

l'll let you have it for the love of mankind.

Look, he's coming.

A messenger said he followed this coast.

We tracked him for days, but lost his trail.

Would it be indiscreet to ask your business?

To avenge an offense--

Our sister, seduced and abandoned!

ls the offender Don Juan Tenorio?

He must die.

Mercy, brother.

When pride is mortally wounded,

nothing must stand in the way.

l have imagined 100 reasons for his hasty departure.

We imperil our vengeance if we delay it.

l was good enough, l confess,

or foolish enough,

to lie to myself.

All this talk is superfluous.

lt's an unequal match.

We must proceed by ruse.

Let's separate.

Sganarelle?

Speak.

Why his sudden departure?

l have no answer.

Tell the lady.

lt matters little who tells me.

What can l say?

Her conquered heart had to come seek him here!

l'm afraid her devotion will be ill-rewarded.

Has your master confided in you?

l can see how the land lies.

- Can a man of his rank stoop so low? - You don't know Don Juan!

My master is the greatest scoundrel who ever walked the earth.

A man of his rank!

A wicked nobleman is a terrible thing.

l must be faithful to him in spite of myself.

A man of his rank...

An Epicurean pig, a debaucher!

A bestial brute...

He believes in neither God, nor saint,

nor werewolf!

Who was that?

Not Doňa Elvira's man?

Sort of...

What brings him here?

Our departure left him mortified. He asked the reason.

- And you said...? - That you gave none.

But what do you think?

That you have some new love in mind.

- You think so? - l do.

Right you are.

My God.

l confess that another has replaced Elvira in my thoughts.

l know Don Juan inside out, the greatest of rakes.

Am l not right to be?

Oh, well...

What could be more pleasant?

lf that's what you want.

But if not, that's another matter.

You have my permission to speak your mind.

Then l'll be blunt. l don't approve of your methods.

lf you believe in nothing...

Speak.

You have your reasons.

You know what you're doing.

But there are certain upstarts on this earth

who are libertines and don't know why.

They play at being clever because they think it suits them.

lf l had a master like that, l would tell him, looking him in the eye,

''You dare mock heaven?

''Don't you tremble to deride that which is most sacred?

lt's just like you, you little worm, you little louse... !''

l'm speaking to this other master.

Peace.

l didn't mean you.

Peace!

- You didn't say she was here. - You didn't ask.

Will you acknowledge me? Will you deign to turn your face toward me?

Madam, l admit l am surprised.

l didn't expect you here.

l can see that.

lndeed you are surprised, but not in the way l had hoped.

ln my love, l sought excuses for your dying affections.

l paid no heed to my suspicions or the inner voice that denounced you.

l indulged in a hundred fantasies

in which you appeared innocent.

This meeting leaves no more doubt.

But l would gladly hear the reason for your departure.

Speak, Don Juan. Please.

Let us see how you justify your behavior.

Sganarelle.

Sganarelle can tell you why.

Me? l wouldn't know.

Answer, l say.

- Madam... - What?

You mock your servant.

Madam, to be honest--

For a courtier you defend yourself poorly.

Your confusion is pitiable.

Why not put on a brazen air?

Swear that your feelings are unchanged, that nothing can separate us...

except death.

Tell me

that urgent business obliged you to leave

without warning.

That you long to be with me again.

That our separation torments you like a body without its soul.

Plead thus. Don't stand there dumbfounded.

l confess l have no talent for dissembling.

My heart is sincere.

l realize that to wed you, l stole you from the cloister.

l was stricken with remorse.

l feared the wrath of heaven.

l must now forget you,

and allow you to return to your first devotion.

Can you deny such a pious thought?

Now l see you as you are.

Your crime shall be punished.

The very God you mock shall avenge your treachery.

God again, Sganarelle!

Oh, yes! But it's no concern of ours.

The lovely young creature l mentioned is betrothed.

l saw these two lovers by chance.

Never have l seen a more radiant couple.

l was moved by their mutual ardor.

l was struck to the heart.

My jealousy led to love.

Spite kindled by desire.

Today the ''spouse'' is treating his mistress to an outing at sea.

l will resort to extremes.

What is that?

l will abduct the beauty in this skiff.

God will punish you for your offense.

lf God inspires no fear in you,

then tremble at a woman's wrath!

God, God, God...

What?

Do l still have your permission...

to say l don't like how you spread your love around?

Must we be bound to the first object we fancy?

Give up the world for it? Shut our eyes to all else?

Constancy is for fools.

l delight in beauty everywhere,

wherever l find it.

l easily surrender

to its sweet violence.

l cannot refuse my heart to all that is adorable.

After all, new affections have a charm

that is indescribable,

and all pleasure of love comes with change.

How exquisite it is to besiege

a young beauty with tributes

and note the progress we make day by day.

To moan, weep and sigh as we overcome

the innocent modesty of a besieged soul.

But once we have conquered, what more is there to wish for?