Tales of the Night (Les Contes de la nuit)

TALES OF THE NIGHT

Let's suppose I'm a werewolf.

- Not exactly sympathetic. - Sympathetic?

As a werewolf everyone'd be afraid of me. I'd enjoy that.

In legend, he's portrayed as a monster in pain,

a slave to the full moon and his urge to kill.

Perhaps I wouldn't have to kill.

Oh, I think you would, if you want to eat. You'd just do it.

Hmm, the innocent deer that you found in the woods.

I've decided to play a werewolf, even if I am cursed.

Your dreadful secret must be concealed from everyone.

Your fiancé especially.

I have a fiancé?

Good. Let's have two sisters, They're deadly rivals.

When does it take place?

Let's say in the fifteenth century. The court of Burgundy.

It's magnificent!

- Wow. - Oh yes! That is so cool.

The Duke was richer than we can imagine.

That headdress is wild.

Personally, I prefer this one.

Hey, they're wearing turbans.

My costume is finished.

Add a cape. More hero-ish.

I'll have a long dress. I love them.

Very elegant! Ready?

- Ready. - Ready.

Night of the Werewolf.

As the noble knight Jan

has declared his love for my daughter,

I declare them formally betrothed.

I drink a toast.

- Long live love -To the happy couple.

The most handsome weds the fairest!

-They're made for each other! - An ideal pair.

Long life and happiness.

Darling daughter, do not cry.

Your turn will come.

No, it won't.

I was meant for him.

I love him, he loved me.

Who could not love you?

We wondered which of you he'd choose,

but it's customary for it to be the elder sister.

And what you don't know is that she fed Jan when he was imprisoned

and everyone else had deserted him.

She saved him from freezing by sending him her fur.

But it was I who did that!

You're sad and don't recall the truth.

You were very young, and confused.

I remember at the time you even lost all your jewellery.

At last they've left us alone.

And tonight we shall walk under the full moon together.

- No! - What?

I am yours, body and soul, forever.

But when the moon is full,

- I must be alone. -Tell me why?

That is a dreaded secret which I cannot tell to anyone, not even you.

On the day of our betrothal,

you coldly confess to me that you do not trust me?

- You know I didn't mean that. - Is this how you repay me.

for all I did for you in prison, when everybody else had abandoned you?

I know. I shall never forget that.

It was the beginning of my feelings for you.

Very limited feelings, obviously.

If there is no trust, I suggest we part.

- No! - Goodbye, sir.

Don't go! I will give you

absolute proof of my feelings for you.

My fate will lie wholly in your hands.

I am...

a werewolf.

When the moon is full, this chain,

which you see I always wear,

starts to burn intolerably - I take it off,

and am transposed into a wolf.

In the morning, I must put the chain on,

to become a man again.

If I cannot find the chain,

I shall stay a wolf forever.

Now you know why I must face this night alone.

You must not. You need the support Of a true love who understands.

No, I couldn't bear that.

I'll see this happening.

Tonight. Or I'll break our engagement.

I hide my chain here, among these nettles.

I feel it beginning to burn.

Please, look away.

- No. Do it. -Then... farewell.

Help me! There's been a terrible tragedy!

Jan was attacked and devoured

by the giant wolf of the BlackWoods.

Alas, my beloved!

Horror!

Strange, as that wolf has never been a man-eater.

Well, he is now.

We must organise a hunt and kill the beast

before others suffer the fate of my poor Jan!

My life is over.

So is mine.

He ran that way. We can corner him at the cliff.

You stay here. I want no more victims.

All I desire is that the wolf eats me as he devoured Jan.

The spring where Jan and I used to drink.

May I ride on your back?

Surely I'm dreaming.

Though you don't understand, Wolf,

I'll tell you about Jan.

He died not knowing it was I who saved him in prison.

He was falsely accused Of a dreadful crime and left to rot.

My sister told everyone that she'd always known he was a monster.

His prison cell was wet and dark,

and he'd die there slowly of cold and hunger.

By pleading and bribing,

I got his jailers to pass in the food I sent him.

I'd soon spent all my money, so piece by piece I sold my jewels

and was forced to lie, saying that they'd been lost.

My sister threw out a fur stole, last year's fashion.

I rescued it and sent it on to Jan.

It was just what he needed in his freezing dungeon.

One day, the real culprit was found.

Jan publicly thanked the unknown person who'd kept him alive,

and whose identity he had guessed.

I never doubted for a second that it was me he meant.

He recognised the fur as my sister's and assumed she had sent it.

He named her.

This forest is filled with memories of Jan.

There was a secret place we had,

a bower filled with perfumed honeysuckle,

overlooking a lake with flowering lilies.

In the parcels to my imprisoned love,

I'd put sprays of this honeysuckle we both adored.

Enchanted wolf, who are you?

My mind is full of confusing thoughts,

but I will sort them out.

What's the commotion?

Spurred on by my sister,

- Jan's family is hunting for the wolf. - She's leading them?

She's tucked up in Jan's house as mistress.

Father, I've been with the wolf in the wood all night.

But that's madness.

When you left me, a bear appeared and would have eaten me,

except for the wolf who fought and killed it.

Then the wolf lay at my feet and let me get on his back.

All night, he carried me through the forest,

like a gentle, faithful hound.

It's impossible that he ate Jan.

I find the idea just as doubtful.

Father, I have to ask you this. Don't be angry.

If you love truth and justice,

if you love me, you won't refuse.

- Stand aside. - Yes, madam.

Father. You sent for me?

Yes. There’s someone here I'd like you to meet.

- Jan! - What do you mean?

You just called out "Jan"!

No. What I did was cry out in shock.

You confront me unexpectedly with this monster who ate my fiancé,

then you reproach me for letting out a scream.

You cried out "Jan"!

This wolf is Jan!

By some devilish witchcraft, she's changed Jan into a wolf.

No! He did it all by himself.

But there will be no changing back.

I have thrown the chain that could have made him human again

into the deepest palace well.

How could you do such a cruel thing?

How could I live with such a monster?

You were promised to him in marriage.

Exactly. Somehow I had to break the contract.

- How did you find out his secret? - He entrusted it to me.

- I would never have done that. - Oh, he resisted.

But I know just how to get round men.

He even let me watch his horrifying transformation.

And now he must change back.

- His chain must be returned. -Too late.

When something goes down that well,

that's where it stays.

The water was so far down, so deep, so cold and dark.

But the chain glistened so, I managed to find it.

You've saved me once more.

Demon sister, I don't want anything more to do with you.

You really think I want anything to do with you?

Who would? Is there a woman in the world

who would even look once at you?

- Yes. Me. - Poor little fool.

You delude yourself you’ve got your white knight back again,

whom I didn't want.

But he's a werewolf.

You forget that your young sheep

will become a wolf again at the next full moon.

But I love him in his wolf's clothing.

What do you say we do a Caribbean story?

Great idea!

With lush tropical trees and flowers,

luscious juicy fruit,

spicy food and bright colours everywhere.

And pretty girls in gorgeous dresses.

And I'll play a lazy, no-good, smart-aleck kid.

Here's the story. He wanders into a cave