The Collection

Make him pay! Make him pay!

Make him pay! Make him pay!

Collaborator! -Make him pay! Make him pay!

-Make him pay! -Collaborator!

Let him burn! Let him burn! Let him burn!

Thank you.

Good luck.

Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up! Lock him up!

-(SIGHS) Is he coming down or not? -I will check, madame.

-More champagne? -No.

-A glass of water? -I don't drink water. Fish fuck in it.

-Have you got any vodka? -I will look. Pardon.

Oh, God, no. That's just gonna blanche me out.

What do you even call that colour?

I mean, this is Paris and there is nothing gay about that.

Will Monsieur Sabine be joining us soon?

Madame Sutter is waiting for him--

Tell monsieur to bring down the vodka. He knows where you keep it.

Monsieur, I didn't realise you were back.

-Can you please-- -He'll see her tomorrow.

She stopped in Paris to see him.

So, this is how it begins? With dolls?

This collection was created last winter for a show.

"Paris Is Back". I remember.

-This is from Trouvier? -It is.

His factories still produce the finest fabrics.

-So you have met him? -Me? No. No, but...

-Well, he's a legend. - So he's told me.

Forgive me, but I'm confused.

If Monsieur Trouvier wants me to design for his daughter--

For his daughter?

We want you to dress much more than his daughter.

The President's Office is searching for a designer to dress the world.

Starting with Paris.

Trouvier asked us to facilitate the right partnership.

If this administration is going to restore Paris as the fashion capital,

-we'll need your help. -Of course.

I'm happy to give it.

This is not an offer - yet. More of an audition.

You can understand why Trouvier is cautious.

He's been burned by some unholy alliances in the past.

Black marketeers. That sort of thing.

Many a hateful bargain made in those days we'd all like to forget, eh?

Well, fortunately fashion only looks forward.

Is that so?

Have you ever seen a lady enter a shop and ask for a dress

like the one she's already wearing?

Sorry, I thought you were alone.

Did you leave something here?

Ah, no. No.

Although if you do find a bag of cash lying around, then I'll take it.

Would you excuse me for a moment?

Oh, hello.

Hello!

-What are you doing here? -Jesus!

-What are you doing here? -The dragon changed my locks again.

What do you owe her? One month? Two?

Yeah, something like that.

How much do... Oh!

-That'll do me. -Claude!

-Claude. -God, why are you so jumpy?

Who is the weasel with the beady eyes?

Is he a tax collector?

Don't leave the way you came in.

What, you're not going to introduce me?

That is for making me leave by the fire exit.

Forgive the interruption, where were we?

I'll be back.

I'm sorry. I didn't mean to wake you.

Somebody pinch one of your photos?

No, I didn't take this. But I know the guy who's covering the trial.

Why bother? Everyone knows the verdict.

I don't expect there'll be too many folks sobbing over his grave.

Well, no, there is one.

But the Tribune cropped her out.

And this is the better picture.

The man's been charged with war crimes.

No one who reads our paper is gonna care or notice.

Relax, kid.

Life magazine sent you here to shoot pretty girls in pretty dresses.

Thirsty?

-What are we toasting? -My good taste.

-In women? -That, too.

-And where did you get this? -Don't ask.

It's been chilled twice.

I had a visitor.

From the President's Office.

I've been asked to restore France's faded glory.

-(HE GROWLS AND LAUGHS) -(LAUGHS) Oh, stop.

-Mm-mm. -What are you talking about?

Jules Trouvier needs a partner.

-What? The cotton king? -Mm-hm.

W... Why?

He's nervous about losing the international market to New York.

"You Americans are so greedy.

"We have to keep you in your place."

So he wants to be in business?

With us.

The world thinks Paris is finished,

and the richest man in France wants me to change that opinion.

Whoo-hoo-hoo-hoo!

-Mm. -What did Claude say?

Did you talk to Claude? Paul?

Doesn't your brother need to know about this?

Oh.

Congratulations.

* CHARLES TRENET: Boum!

Claude?

Claude?

-Go on, shoo. -(CAT SCREECHES)

Your old dragon gave me a key.

Mm. Well, she's helpful, isn't she?

She locks me out and gives you... whatever you want.

Maman says you've been out every night this week.

Did she steal a key, too?

-Plan on coming in today? -Uhh...

What's today?

Life magazine.

"Inside the house of Paul Sabine.

"What's beneath the dress?"

Their title, not mine.

-Americans. -How did that happen?

Marjorie Sutter opened her address book.

Might be a good idea for you to stay here and work.

Why?

I clean up pretty.

What's that?

Oh, they're um...

souvenirs.

I... I met a sailor who wanted to take my blood pressure.

Spend a quiet night at home.

Mm? With your cat.

We've got more than reporters studying us right now.

So I heard.

-Who told you? -Does it matter?

-You weren't rushing to. -I couldn't find you.

Well... Ohh. ...you don't look in the right places.

Yeah, well... you're right. I don't want to.

Are there any more sketches like the one I found on your desk?

Oh, God, no. No, that's um... That's half-baked.

Finish it. I need at least six.

-Si-- -I want to close this deal tomorrow night.

I've reserved the table at Mozambique.

Mr Trouvier wants to meet the whole family.

You'll bring Charlotte as your date.

Evidently, Trouvier's climbed into bed with the wrong people before,

so he's overly cautious, he's conservative.

He's a... family man.

Devoted to the Church.

Oh. So he's sleeping with his priest, too.

That's a big bed. Have fun.

You think this is funny?

-You need this as much as me! -(HE COUGHS) You prick!

If it weren't for Marjorie and her circle of fashion hounds,

we'd already be done.

Those bloody hat boxes are on the walls

because we couldn't afford a fucking painting.

And they're still empty, Claude.

I'm treading water. Living on credit.

Using my wife's connections selling.

Selling all the time, while you...

turn up your nose and piss on the very people who keep you in custom-made boots.

We need this man.

-And his priest. Get to work! -Fuck you!

I've got other plans.

Did he hear you this time?

Paul? How did it go?

Fine, Maman. He's back to work.

Has he eaten? Should we take him a meal?

I have to get back.

Marjorie Sutter has a fitting.

-Oh, the copper queen? -Cornflakes.

-Widow? -Divorcée.

Well, her first husband died. I've met her.

It was his only escape.

That's beautiful.

Wow.

Aw, Jesus, give it a rest!

Paris ain't going anywhere! It's still intact.

All sparkle and romance under blameless blue skies.

If you've got such a beef with this place, what are you doing back here?

Punishment. I stepped on the toes of the wrong senator.

Now I'm in a penalty box writing about ball gowns.

Hey, Rossi. This penalty box has a pretty great view.

And nobody said we had to play this down the middle.

Well, what are we playing?

I'm just saying we don't have to deliver what's expected.

I just passed this crumbling butcher's shop.

We go out, we get a shot of the ball gowns in front of that.

We do a phoenix rising from the ashes kind of--

-You need food. -We take the girls out at sunrise...

-I'll order for you. -...we drop 'em off on the streets,

we shoot 'em with their neighbours,

people still using their ration books.

I don't get up at sunrise, kid, unless I'm following a real story.

I think there is a real story here.