Heartbeat

You are the most beautiful of flowers!

It's this one, like in that song!

Thank you.

My hat!

Good morning, professor.

Good morning. Good morning.

Before we begin our studies, I have some sad news to tell you.

Your fellow classmate Hector is no longer with us.

And do you know why?

The fool! Idiot! He got himself pinched!

They nabbed him in the subway for trying

to relieve a man of his wallet... and as ungracefully,

I say, as a hippopotamus.

I warned him. I told him.

Hector, I said, you haven't practiced enough.

Your fingers are too stiff!

The sap'll be lucky if he gets all but three months in the clink.

How many times do I have to remind you

that I will tolerate slang in my classroom?

Or the mention of prison, either.

Louis, draw the curtains. Lock the door.

This unfortunate incident proves that you're not

paying the proper attention to your studies.

Martin Number Two, go on. You too, hurry.

We start today with the inside coat pocket,

the one that cost poor Hector his freedom.

Thank you. All right, come on.

All right, Henri, you try it.

Me?

Yes, you, of course. Come on, hurry!

He isn't going to open his coat for you.

The right hand, the right hand.

The right hand brushes lightly.

Very flat. Come on, go to it!

Well, I can see where Hector is going to have company.

Look at these fingers. When you came here, they were long and graceful.

Now they're like sausages.

Trouble is I keep you too well. Silence!

Be seated.

Marie Annette, you come here.

Bravo, bravo!

Did you notice the dexterity of her fingers, the graceful touch?

If you were all as serious as Marie Annette,

if you applied yourselves and really worked hard...

Who is it? Professor, can you spare a moment?

Someone downstairs.

Continue.

Good day, sir. Monsieur?

Oh, I've come in answer to the ad you ran in the paper. "Jobs..."

"Jobs with a brilliant future for hardworking,

serious young people", huh?

That's it.

I wish I could have a chance at it, but I have no money for fees.

I take care of expenses while you're learning.

In exceptional cases, my students are even housed and fed.

Oh, it sounds good!

What's your trade?

Unemployed, but I used to be a mechanic.

Identification papers?

Oh, I need papers?

Oh, what do you think?

Of course, uh... they... but I must have left it at home.

Home? Where is your home?

Well, it's... uh, you know... You have no home.

I'm afraid you are right.

No home, no papers... I'm sorry, but under the circumstances...

Please, sir, won't you change your mind?

It's no use. No home, no papers... impossible. Good day.

But I will do anything. I will...

Good. Good, I was afraid you'd gone.

My man, I have reconsidered.

Oh, you have? Yes. By the way, what's your name?

Yves Cadubert.

Yves Cadubert.

Well, my dear Yves Cadubert, you may call me Professor.

And now, my dear Yves... but first give me back my 50 francs.

Oh... what 50 francs?

Listen, a short while ago, there was a 50 franc note here

on this desk, and now it's in your pocket.

But I swear... Good!

Good. Very good. And the expression!

The indignation is perfect.

It would fool anybody... but not me, nor the police.

Do you know what they'd do with a little bit nobody like you,

without identification papers if a respectable gentleman like me

reported that you'd stolen his 50 francs?

Professor, don't turn me in, please.

It's the first time I ever stole anything.

Excellent, simply excellent. You certainly show possibilities.

But no more nonsense. Now give me back my 50 francs.

Come on, come on.

Enough. Come on.

It's only by constant practice that members of our profession

can develop their sense of touch to the skill needed

to make a decent livelihood.

Nimble fingers are the first essential.

Without them... remember Hector.

All right, let's get to work on today's lesson.

Hurry, hurry! Take your places.

Come on. That's right.

He's eating too much. He's getting heavy.

Oh, Mimi, you look so beautiful. You're wonderful!

You look adorable this morning.

Come on, come on. Take your places. Hurry, now.

Get out of there. Get out of there. Keep moving, come on.

Everybody working. Over there. Come on, you.

Go on. Let's get going.

Bravo!

Quick and casual, that's the

Professor.

There's someone downstairs.

Good day, Monsieur. I, uh...

I came in answer to this.

Splendid. Sit down, would you?

Um, "Job with a future..."

Yes, yes, I know. I... I wrote it.

You're of age?

Oh, do I have to be?

Of course. You have to be 21.

Well, I'm 21.

Naturally, you have identification papers.

I didn't know I had to have papers.

Of course.

Um... Where do you live?

Well, I, um I did Oh.

Too bad. Too bad.

I'm afraid I shall have to, uh excuse me.

I'll be back in a moment.

But, uh, don't be too hopeful.

No home, no papers.

Well, my dear, I think we shall get along famously.

Really? You think so, Monsieur?

Yes. What's your name?

Arlette. Arlette Lafon.

Arlette Lafon. Well, my dear Arlette, I uh, first of all,

give me back my 50 francs.

50 francs?

Yes, my 50 francs.

What are you hiding?

I'm sorry, Monsieur, but I was so hungry, and

but you will give me the job, won't you, please?

I thought I could, but you disappointed me.

But I'm a good worker. Please give me the job.

I was so hungry, and I--

Yes, I'm just as sorry as you are not to be able to use you.

You're frank and honest. I like that. But it's not enough.

- Good day, Monsieur. - Oh wait a minute.

What's this?

Oh, that's that's just a handkerchief.

Yes, a handkerchief.

Right out of reform school. I know the kind very well.

When did you escape?

So, eh, you're number 497, eh?

Yes, Monsieur. I lied to you. I'm only 18.

When my parents died, I went to live with my aunt,

and she was mean to me. She beat me.

Then she got married and there were two to beat me.

That's why I ran away.

They had me put in that reform school

and it was just like a prison.

That's why I ran away from there, too.

Oh, please, Monsieur, don't turn me in. I'm not a bad girl.

You couldn't be, with those eyes and that expression.

Let's see your hands.

With these hands and what I can teach you,

there's no limit to your possibilities. Come along.

All right, now that you've been caught in the act,

what would you do?

Come on, what would you do?

Put it away.

Arlette, my dear, what would you do?

Uh, ask forgiveness and swear never to do it again.

No, no.

Play innocent. Deny everything.

Play innocent and deny everything.

That's right, that's right.

Of course, you must deny everything.

And you must deny it not only fervently but convincingly.

But don't rely on your voice alone.

Complete innocence must be written all over your face.

And to achieve this effectively,

we'll once more run through those exercises which

are somewhat similar to those used by professional actors.

We'll start with you.

Me, sir? You're mistaken, sir. It's not me.

I swear it on the head of my father.

Zero. -

Henri, we'll try you.

But, uh, with a little hint of emotion, please.

Yes, sir.

Me, sir! You're mistaken, sir! It's not me. It's not me.

I swear it! I swear it!

I swear it on the head of my father, I didn't do it!