The Respectful Prostitute (La P..... respectueuse)

THE RESPECTABLE PROSTITUTE

Well... can't you help me for a moment?

You cannot stay here, madam.

Thanks for the man next to me. He is drunk.

I don't care if it's a child. But if it's a bumpkin?

In these times a woman can no longer travel alone.

You have to slap them. It is not my habit,

but there is a limit! Is he a pig or just horny?

This carriage is intended for black passengers.

What do you mean, I scare them?

- It is forbidden for white passengers. - All the better.

I will not bother about the imbeciles here.

Madam, you must sit with the whites.

You say we are in a carriage for 'blacks'? That is strange.

Alright. I will call the boss.

So... are you still angry?

My bag! You are sitting on my bag!

Smart boy!

Get him out of here, or I'll hit him again!

- Still not thirsty? - No! - Come on, drink something with me!

Leave me alone!

Leave me alone!

Let me go, you're crazy!

Does none of you want to help a woman?

- What kind of men are you? - They are niggers!

What are you waiting for? Many thanks.

Do you laugh about that, niggers?

- Get out! - You should get off, sir.

You can't be serious! Are you throwing me out now?

It is not right to act like this here!

You are in a negro carriage. You are not allowed.

I'll teach you. Get out of here!

- Let me go! - Are you giving me orders now?

You may not sit with us.

Do you want to make us an example of American democracy?

Go wild and get reelected... honest!

- Am I disturbing you? - No, we are exchanging thoughts.

Edward, your audience is becoming impatient.

One more rehearsal... and then I will go.

I only have the worst ahead of me.

And the people too!

Enjoy your meal, children!

Sorry...

Yes? Yes, it's me.

What?

A negro?

Transfer the call to my office.

Hello?

No, this is not the senator. This is Judge Algrine.

Algrine, the judge.

I will see what I can do for you.

I am going back to them.

A negro. Idiot!

The senator is not so stupid as to kill a negro?

A difficult case for him to solve.

Well?

A dirty case, Mr Clarke. A very dirty case! Does your father know?

- Yes, Algrine told him. - It won't be easy.

What is this?

Lizzie MacKay! Her statement is absurd!

What happened to the second attacker?

You waited 24 hours before coming to me!

We are looking for him.

Listen, Mr Barnes...

You know you can trust me.

Tell me what happened.

He challenged you, didn't he?

- Was it legitimate self-defense? - I am sick!

And you, Mr Foster?

After all, it is absurd that he attacked him like that!

- They had no respect for us. - Couldn't you stop him?

I tried.

You don't seem to understand that this can mean 20 years.

- Drink this. - I want a whisky.

- That is not recommended. - Just a small one.

Do you want to explain what happened?

Yes.

Well then.

It was self-defense, wasn't it?

Self-defense?

Say it was self-defense!

What did you do?

Good heavens, tell me. Were you attacked?

No.

Why did you hit him?

Because he was a dirty nigger!

You are witness that I did my best.

Call the girl.

- How much? - Excuse me?

How much bail do I have to pay to get him out of here?

Honestly I cannot let him go, Mr Clarke, I have

my orders. You must get a very good lawyer for him now.

Will this take long? Why are you keeping me here?

Just a moment, to give your testimony.

I bet! Here we go again.

Only three simple questions and you can go.

What do you do for work?

I already told you, I am a singer!

What are you doing here?

- An appointment at the "Blue Bell". - Do you have a contract?

A contract as a hostess.

I didn't say I was hired as a singer, I said I was a singer.

And in New York, did you work there as a singer or as a hostess?

- As a hostess. - Then why did you lie? - I didn't lie!

Where were you asked as a singer?

I'm singing for you now, huh?

- Did you leave your post? - Yes, on the twentieth.

Perfect.

Now explain what you were doing in that car for Blacks.

I had to move.

- Why? Is that against the law? - Yes, it is against the law!

It's even dangerous.

Well, today it was dangerous for the Negroes!

We do not joke about that.

Do you have anything else to add?

- No, nothing. - You can go.

While we're on the subject, and if it interests you;

Here, Prostitution means 1 month in jail.

I'm not interested.

Can you prove it? Good for you.

I told you I was there and saw a couple of Negroes get off the train!

Does that bother you?

Even if there was a chaplain with them. It makes you think!

Lizzie!

You scared me so much! Did they finally let you go?

- I was against them all! - What happened?

- I'll tell you all about it. - Get in the taxi.

It was some kind of reception, with all that nonsense.

You couldn't, Sidney.

You couldn't have walked away.

I couldn't stay.

I was alone with white men and the white woman.

But you could explain it!

For them, we're always wrong.

But you did nothing wrong. Is there nothing to be done?

How do I know what she told them? I have to know.

If she told the truth, then she can help me.

It's my only hope.

And if she lied?

Then I don't know.

I'm going to Rex.

But you didn't do anything, swear it?

I swear it.

They're here.

- I love you, Sidney. - I love you, Marilyn.

- Is your husband here? - I'm waiting for him. Why?

Don't you think your husband is late?

He didn't tell me when he would come back.

He must have already told you about that business on the train.

Yes, but he left right away.

Listen, if you care about him, tell him to come to us.

She isn't mean, she could really have hurt him.

And she had no reason to be polite.

- And what she says, they have to believe. - Even if she's wrong.

Tell him he has to stay.

If I work somewhere, I'll hang this on the wall. It's French.

The Prodigal Son.

He leaves his family, he's nice...

Everyone forgives him.

Isn't that nice?

I left my family too.

Oh, how chic that is!

And when I come back, they know it's for the fatted calf.

What does it look like?

But what's wrong?

It's that thing on the train.

I don't know anything about Negroes.

Here it's best if you don't talk about it.

How are the boys here?

- They're very nice, you'll see. - Oh, really?

- I don't think so. - I'm telling you!

- I like them at least. - But you like everybody!

- Are you singing now? - I've always sung.

Certainly in the bathtub.

So what?

Was that in the bathtub?

If I sing a blues, I'm in a good mood.

Do you remember when it was in the newspaper?

When they showed it to me, I wanted to steal it!

- Lizzie MacKay? - Yes?

- Well? - What are you doing here?

She works with me at the Blue Bell.

- Do you have a contract? - What?

A contract!

Of course.

Where are you going? I didn't ask you to have a bite to eat!

Will this business ever come to an end?

The band is thirsty.

Where did the waiters go?

What a disaster! The Negroes have fled.

It's not the end of the world.

- Why? - It doesn't look good.

Is it true that you were on the train?

I didn't see anything.

It still brings bad luck!

They're on edge!

For music we can use the jukebox, but who throws out the drunks?

If you need an attraction, I can sing.

Don't make me laugh.

I'm telling you I'm a singer!