Eyes without a face (Les Yeux sans Visage)

EYES WITHOUT A FACE

The professor?

No, not yet.

I'll tell him, once he's finished.

Is not the greatest of man's new hopes

that of physical rejuvenation?

This hope comes with the heterograft.

But the heterograft – in other words, the transplanting

of living tissue or organs from one human being to another –

has only been possible until now

when both subjects in question

were perfectly identical from a biological standpoint.

This means biologically modifying

the nature of the host organism.

One method involves using heavy X-ray irradiation

to destroy the antibodies that create resistance to the heterograft.

Unfortunately, this irradiation requires such a high level of intensity

that no human being can survive it.

So we resort to exsanguination.

We drain every last drop of blood

from the subject exposed to radiation.

- You just had a call, Professor. - From whom?

The medico-legal – You know, the morgue.

They want to see you right away.

Oh, Professor, your lecture was so invigorating.

Thrilling, wasn't it, Carlo?

What a wonderful future you've shown us.

The future, madame, is something we should have started on long ago.

He's changed so much since his daughter vanished.

He says such strange things.

It's a strange business, but that's how it looks to me.

When Génessier's daughter vanished from the clinic,

her face was an open wound.

True, the missing facial tissue confirms your theory.

The car accident,

the facial burns, the long immersion in the river.

And the rats, Doctor. Don't forget the rats.

True.

Still, the drowning victim's description also fits that of Simone Tessot.

I called the Tessot girl's father down.

Something doesn't quite make sense.

What's odd is the body was fished out naked... in a man's coat.

Why should Génessier's daughter,

distraught at her disfigurement,

feel the need to strip naked in mid-winter before drowning herself?

And that large open wound where the face should be –

it's strange.

The edges are as smooth as if someone had taken a scalpel to them.

Here he is.

Dr. Lherminier.

Detective Parot, of the Missing Persons Bureau.

I'm so sorry we had to meet under such unfortunate circumstances.

Let's hear it.

This morning, bargemen fished a girl's body out of the Seine.

The time of drowning coincides

with that of your daughter's disappearance.

The description also fits.

The damaged face... Only the eyes are intact.

IDENTIFICATION ROOM

It's her.

Christiane.

Mr. Tessot is here, Doctor.

Tell him she's been identified beyond a doubt. It's not his daughter.

I called him in, in case...

Of course.

Excuse me, Professor. I'm Henri Tessot.

I'm also here about my daughter.

The custodian said she was yours.

Are you really sure, sir? Are you very sure?

Sadly, sir, only too sure.

It was such a shock when they phoned.

I thought I'd go mad.

It's been 10 days since we last saw Simone.

Something must have happened to her.

How odd I should have to comfort you.

You still have some hope, at least.

She's looking for a room.

With age, he looks more and more like his father.

Remember Génessier, the attorney? No beanpole, either.

He sure has had a string of bad luck.

Losing his wife four years ago... now his daughter.

Paris, fame, fortune – what's it all add up to?

Who's the young man?

The girl's fiancé.

A doctor. He works with the professor.

And the woman?

His secretary, it seems.

A foreigner.

She looks deeply affected.

Go home, son.

No, let's go.

I like order.

Let's go! I can't take any more of this.

Shut up!

TO MY BELOVED DAUGHTER

DR. GÉNESSIER'S VILLA

NO ADMITTANCE BEYOND THIS POINT

Where did you find this?

I don't like your snooping around.

I have no time to explain it to you just now.

Sure, you see your name with a black border around it.

What can you possibly be imagining?

I don't have to imagine a thing.

I see horrible things. I'm living them!

What have you done now?

What had to be done.

For your own good.

Always for your good, Christiane.

An obituary notice.

Names were simply substituted.

Since that girl died after the operation,

I took an additional risk.

I made everyone believe it was you.

Everyone thinks you're dead. They won't look any further.

They won't come around asking what happened.

Christiane, your mask!

Get into the habit of wearing it.

Where did you hide it?

The habit...

I only meant the habit of wearing it

until we succeed.

Please don't cry, darling.

I'll succeed, I promise you.

I don't believe it anymore.

There's no reason for you to doubt me.

I know my abilities, don't I?

You'll have a real face.

I promise you.

They've removed all the mirrors,

but I can see my reflection in the glass

when the windows are open.

There are lots of shiny surfaces...

a knife blade,

varnished wood...

My face frightens me.

My mask frightens me even more.

Have faith, Christiane.

Look at me.

Didn't he succeed with me?

But you had a face.

Damaged, maybe, but not destroyed like mine.

He's lying to me, because he knows it was his fault.

His fault?

It was a car wreck. It was an accident.

Accident? He has to control everyone, even on the road!

He drove like a lunatic.

The crash nearly killed me. Why did he try so hard to save me?

I wish I were blind.

Or dead.

Who is this?

Say something!

I see you're alone, miss.

I have an extra ticket.

My friend didn't show up.

I'd be delighted, madame,

but I planned to buy an inexpensive seat.

Don't worry. I'm not asking you to pay.

Sorry I'm late. My class ran overtime.

It's all right.

I was so anxious to give you the good news.

I found you a room.

I can't believe it! I'm so glad.

How can I ever thank you?

First take a look at the room. I think you'll like it.

What neighborhood?

A lovely neighborhood.

The same for the young lady.

I'll drive you there. The owners are friends.

It's surrounded by trees.

It seems very far.

I took the long way.

The traffic's heavy at this time of day.

That's the train that will take you to Paris.

In less than 20 minutes.

Don't you feel lonely, so far from your family?

A little, sometimes.

Those dogs...

How many are there?

You see? You'll be well protected.

Miss Edna Grüberg.

Mr. Dormeuil.

Delighted.

Some port to refresh you after the drive?

No, thank you, sir. I don't want to stay too long.

Come now, there's no hurry.

I'll show you your room.

It looks out over the trees.

I'm sure you'll like it.

I don't know. I have to think it over.

First, you really must see the room.

Of course, at night it's hard to judge.

It's not that, but the suburbs aren't very convenient for me.

What do you mean?

The suburbs are very convenient. Very convenient.

Maybe so, but...

I don't want to get back to Paris too late tonight.

I'm meeting a friend. I'll let you know tomorrow.

Tomorrow will be too late, my dear.

Open up, quickly.

I'll start after dinner.