Original subtitles

CARNIVAL OF SINNERS

- What's wrong? - I'm as hungry as a wolf.

It's hours before dinner! - The road is cut off!

Yes. but my appetite isn't!

- The avalanche broke away there. - We were there the day before yesterday!

Was it beautiful?

- Too much snow! - It was risking death for nothing!

It's a risk we've been all called upon to take!

- I'd rather knit! - Tomorrow, I'll organize a team

...of volunteers to clear the road. We'll gather at 5 a.m.

...with a cold meal in a musettte bag, a quarter-litre of hooch, and no sluggards!

Before dinner, Monsieur Notary, tell us the story you promised yesterday.

The notary was ordered by the innkeeper to ruin our appetites!

Tonight, the story of Michel Higelin and the Dames Blanches.

- Impatient, M. Perrier? - I am hungry.

Beautiful lady, don't you see? - See what?

- That I'm eyeing you greedily. - That will cost you extra!

Ah! Here's the husband! A little late...

The inkeeper! What is there to eat?

The same thing every day!

You don't give a damn for military correctness.

- Colonel! - I promised you a surprise.

- What's that? - Haven't you ever heard gunshots...

Smugglers again!

Just like in "Carmen": delightful!

It's an area they favor, as it straddles the border!

The man who pays customs duties

♪ Is naive,

Well, what is it?

- Nothing, nothing at all. - Will it prevent us from having dinner?

Finish the story, notary!

- Where was I? - When the old man

...said to Michel: "The road - your horse knows it better..."

At that moment footsteps were heard and a knocking at the door...

I don't like that!

- Is this the Hotel de 'Abbaye? - Yes.

- Do you have a room? - Monsieur is alone?

I hope so... Close the door!

Do you have a problem with my hand?

Haven't you ever seen a one-handed man?

- By which road did you come? - Does that concern you?

- I'm asking because the road is cut off. - Are you certain?

Yes. You have no luggage?

- No, nothing more than this. - Is that all?

- Where are the ruins? - The hotel is the same structure as the abbey.

- And the cemetery? - There is none.

- Has any excavation been done? - Monsieur is an archaeologist?

No.

Did you just hear two gunshots?

- No, - Strange!

What would I know about gunshots?

If Monsieur could please fill in this form...

Apen!

Don't touch that!

Since you go over my card to inform yourself about me:

"Roland Brissot...

"age 35..."

- You thought I was older? - No, Monsieur.

- "Artist-painter"... Here!! - Length of stay?

What a funny question! Do you know what you're doing tomorrow? I don't!

- Show me to my room. - This way, Monsieur!

- What an odd fellow! - A madman, perhaps!

I wouldn't like to run into him alone!

Ladies and gentlemen! Have you seen a bizarre little man

...all in black, who was carrying a long box?

He was shot just above here, - He fled this way!

Atraveller arrived recently but he does not fit that description.

A... alittle fellow... in black?"

We couldn't see him well - he was running as if his pants were on fire.

- Did you come across him? - No.

- Come on, Nick, lie down! - Would you like something to drink?

No, duty calls! Since we can't find the man I'm going to look for the box.

Sorry for the trouble, good evening!

Shall I show Monsieur to his room? Dinner is about to be served.

I don't have time, I must go. Where are the ruins?

- It's too dark, Sir. Tomorrow is another day. - For you, perhaps.

Too bad, I'll wait. Here or elsewhere!

Ladies and gentemen, if you wish, proceed to the tables...

- I'm not hungry any more! - Strange guy!

- It wasn't the dog that he was afraid of!

Ladies, a word of advice: lock your doors tonight!

- Prunes again? - He's not coming down?

- He has to eat! Primum vivere,

- How does he paint with that hand? - You don't need two hands to hold a brush!

- Clemence, take the prunes! - Yes, Maman!

- An avalanche! - A madman!

And prunes! The evening is completely spoiled!

- Will you be able to sleep? - In an instant, Madame!

- I'm going to sleep in my clothes! - Shhh, here he is!

Did he lose his hand in the war?

- What is in that package? - A souvenir of his wife?

He looks as if he uses narcotics!

And if it was a stock of heroin?

M. Brissot, you're wanted on the telephone!

- Yes, he asked for Monsieur Brissot.

- But no one knows...

He just asked for you by name, very politely.

Very politely?

Hello!

Hello? Who is calling?

Whom are you asking for?

Hello!

Again!

- What's happening? - Careful of the glass!

- Don't move, Mimi! - The light!

- Clemence, where are you? - Candles, Mme Dens!

Help, I'm choking on these prunes!

- The light! - The light!

Move over!

Oh!

Ah! Quch! Ouch!

Would you leave my nose alone?

Clemence, don't be afraid!

It's not too soon! If I find

...whoever it was who took such liberties with my wife...

I got a strong kick

...in the backside! - Someone twisted my nose!

- What's going on? - I have no idea,

A blown fuse, probably - Hello, hello!

- The fuses are intact! It must have happened at the plant.

And the telephone?

Dead.

- Like I said, the plant... - Hello?

They'll call back.

- It happened at the plant! - Yes, and the kick

...to my rear end as well?

I've been robbed! I've been robbed, who...?

I left it there, Who did this?

- We didn't see anything! - We were in the dark ,

- After those gunshots... - But what was taken from him?

His box!

It's vanished,

- I consider it essential to notify the police!

- When the blackout occurred, Monsieur was in the phone booth!

- Where are the fuses! - They were intact.

Can Monsieur consent to tell us what was in the parcel?

That is highly unlikely!

The notary's stories have accustomed us to such things!

- l can't, - The gendarmes!

No, wait!

The gendarmes can't do anything.

No one can do anything more for me.

Not even a gendarme.

- Not even a colonel? - I'm afraid not,

Well, too bad! Listen, Messieurs!

Believe me if you want, judge for yourselves!

The story!

Hmm...

No "hmm" - facts, dates! One date.

It began... a little over a year ago, quite recently.

And still, it seems to take me back twenty years behind.

One year ago I was a painter without talent.

I had ideas, I even had too many of them.

Ha, I painted many canvases in my head!

I wanted to render still lifes as if they were actually alive,

..to paint flowers with their parfume

...and vegetables with their vitamins!

Naturally, gallery owners politely refused me

...any place in their windows.

So I ate my vegetables and offered my flowers to my models.

I told them my ideas as I lay streched across my bed, and we had

...golden dreams.

I became a specialist in studies of dogs...

My poor puppy was the victim of it.

I acquired a certain amount of celebrity in Montparnasse.

1 took care of my feigned negligence, and changed my soiled shirts every day.

I had adopted a hairstyle that was... personal.

And I was building up very personal theories as well.

People turned around to look at me on the street... not because...

...of my talent, but because of how I was dressed. But that flattered me.

One day I had a great idea. I went into a store that sold gloves...

There were several saleswomen there.

- May we help you, Monsieur? - I would like... No.

What would Monsieur like?

I chose one with the certainty that is called "random."

Mademoiselle!

- Yes, Monsieur? - Gloves, white ones.

But a beautiful white, with a little green. With dark glints, a bit of color.

Forgive my curiosity but for what wil they be used?

- Awedding, - In that case, we have...

...a very handsome glove in suede... Excuse me for one second!

Is that appropriate? It will be a grand wedding at the Madeleine!

With Swiss Guards, red carpets, candles... lots of lights!

And then... the bride, in a veil, nearly in a haze, her arms...

«full of flowers, And finally, the geometric line of the procession,

...all of that must be conveyed in a pair of gloves! You get it?

- What would you do in my place? - First, I wouldn't get married.

- You don't believe in marriage? - Not for myself.

May I still ask to see your hand?

- Why would you do that? - I'll give it back to you!

Ha, funny! Am I the thousandth person to whom you said that?

- No, the first, - Thank you!

I've only been here since yesterday.

I'm glad I came today!

I just want to know your size, not your future!

- But it's not I who's getting married! - You talked about it with such passion!

- Are you the groomsman? - No, I'm a painter.

- I will paint the wedding! - With white gloves?

No, I want to paint the gloves!

- Ha! - You see?

They're not your size.

You understand? I want to symbolize with a still life...

...whatever is alive in such a ceremony! Each finger will come to life

...as if it were a character able to touch the public's eye.

- You get it? - You are a great painter!

- I'm talked about in Montparnasse. - Are you also a portraitist?

I would like to make yours...

1 began her portrait

...and I courted her.

But I made no progress with either.

Irene was discouraging.

And I remained there, indecisive, asking myself

...what colors to use to paint her and what steps to take

...or words to use to seduce her.

Everything went difficultly that year, until the feast day of Saint Irene.

Ha!

Finally!

- Am I late? - An hour,

- Awful! - Did something happen to you?

No... Someone,

"Someone"?

Don't worry, we spoke only of unpleasant things.

- Flowers? What's going on? - It's the feast of Saint Irene!

One more year, charming.

- And that? - That's a surprise.

What?

Oh! Gloves!

They're suede!

I see only that all day long...

I had thought that...

They foisted old stock on you. You can return them,

They are a symbolic gift.

Yes, the Madeleine, the Swiss guard, loves, delights and organs!

- Thanks for the symbol! - Don't tell everyone our business...

Am I speaking too loud? It bothers you?

Chef! Chef...

- Come here please! - Yes.

- What is it? - What is it? It's inconceivable,

A soup with too much pepper, a roast with a bad smell...

- Sulphur! - "Sulphur"?

A scorched sauce... and a bill that's been fiddled with!

- It's a curse, Monsieur! - Is that your excuse?

I brought connoisseurs... What do I look like now, Monsieur?

- I'm sorry... - The check, stick it somewhere!

I beg your pardon!

- Why don't you want to marry me? - Don't ask me that.

You would be my wife, my mistress, my inspiration...

- Anyway, that's my idea of it. - You don't lack ideas.

Today my dog gave me an extraordinary one!

I will paint life as seen by dogs.

It will be a new and hallucinatory vision of the world!

I will also paint people...

...as seen by a horse, a lark, a fly, an earthworm...

Earthworms don't buy paintings.

- Oh, me, money! - Yes, sure...

The only worthwhile goal is glory!

I asked someone what he thought of you, and he didn't even knew you.

And that someone... is someone,

- He must be jealous. - Of you?

- My poor friend! - I have friends that believes in me,

Your friends! Do you know what they call you behind your back?

..."Never Shuts Up." - Envious people.

Roland, take my advice. Go back home and take a look around.

You will be horrified, it's a gallery of rubbish.

You can't make anything but crap. You are powerless!

Oh, you're harsh...

But you're right, you've opened my eyes!

Until now, I was at the prey of scruples, but now I understand.

I'm going to make a great portrait of you! In three months, it will be in the Salon!

A nude, A beautiful nude.

I can imagine...

The Salon passing by the bedroom... But it's too late.

A month ago, you had your chance.

1 told myself: "A painter? Why not. He has talent

...and I have ambition, Together we can do things!"

- Yes... - "Yes"! How one deludes oneself!

- Just give me a few weeks! - I don't want to lose time!

- Afew days! - I don't want to be a salesgirl forever!

What do you want?

Would the lady and gentleman like to order? It's getting late!

What do you have?

- We have goat, - In the form of a glove?

Ha, ha! No Madame, a roast! With a puree of chestnuts.

- The specialty of the day! - Abad day!

People come from far to eat it!

You don't have boar or venison instead?

I had enough leather for today.

- Oh... give us whatever you wish, - Thanks, Monsieur.

Let me prepare you a great meal!

In life as well, you let others compose your menu!

So don't invite anyone to dinner and don't wish them happy birthday!

- He wouldn't have offered me gloves. - Who is "he?"

Someone! He hasn't offered me anything, anyway!

- Not even to marry you I guess? - He was a man who knew what he wanted!

- And I know as well! - What?

To live! And far from you!

Let me go!

You're tall enough to hurt me but too small to make me afraid.

- Too small? - Yes.

A small painter in a small atelier, eating at small tables,

making love to small women in small beds and you'll end...

...your small life in a small casket! Farewell, my little one!

Take all that away!

- Bring me a brandy. - A brandy for table 12!

There's trouble brewing...

Voila Monsieur, the house brandy!

Enjoy that for me!

It warms the heart and it cools the mind!

- May I sit down? - If you wish.

Santa Madona! You drink that as if it were water!

Cheers to you!

- I don't like to see my clients unhappy. - I'm not unhappy.

But everyone is unhappy! Everyone!

Except me.

Me, I'm very happy.

Excessively happy.

You don't appear so.

- Me? But it's happiness! - About what?

Simply happiness! Listen...

1 find you very congenial.

- I'll sell it to you! - You're too friendly.

- Cigarette? - No, thank you. I make my own.

Gosh! With the left hand.

I never knew how to roll a cigarette.

It's the talisman that makes it possible.

- A talisman for rolling cigarettes? - Yes, Monsieur.

An extraordinary talisman!

It bestows skills, success, talent

...and women, Everything!

I'll sell it to you.

Your talisman gives you all that and you want to sell it?

- I have to sell it. - Why?

Because...

If don't sell it before I die,

I will be damned. You hear me? Eternally damned!

Now, now!

And every day beneath my ovens, I have a foretaste of Hell!

- You don't say! - Don't laugh!

If it was that astonishing, not even Hell would keep you from selling it!

- Yes it does. - Why? Is he so expensive?

- No, just one sou. - Indeed, it's not expensive.

I purchased it for two sous, so I can only resell it for one!

Why?

Because it must be sold under the price it was bought.

That's funny.

Come and see it, It will interest you, you, an artist!

How do you know I'm an artist?

Always the talisman, Monsieur!

Come,

I'll show you the way.

Don't buy it, Monsieur, don't buy it!

Quiet, you filthy caster of spells!

Don't buy it!

Don't buy it!

- Who is that guy? - A poor madman!

His name is Angel so he believes that he's the guardian of the world!

In here! Excuse the mess!

- Look, - That's your talisman?

It's only his box, the coffin, The thing is inside.

Don't be afraid, it won't do you any harm.

Ain't so?

It's only a hand... Aleft hand.

In Latin, "Sinistra Manus."

"Sinistra"...

Look, Monsieur, admire it!

Make a fist!

Play the piano.

Snap the fingers.

See for yourself, Monsieur. Don't be afraid, it does not scratch,

It's a weird thing.

You'll fell a gift, a charm, a force...

«that fills your own hand and makes a new one of it,

More expert, more skillful.

- Do you believe in it? - Why not?

Flip an electric switch and light comes in!

A phone rings and you get a table for six. So why not?

Turn on a button and you hear some music.

- There's no connection! - I owe it my genius as a cook.

A genius that your customers seem to doubt!

But Monsieur, when Hell is watching you, you lose your heart for everything!

I'm always thinking that I'm going to die

...today, tomorrow, without having sold it!

My soul will boil in the pot for all of eternity!

- Poor cook, - Buy it from me!

I have to sell it to someone, Only one sou!

Everyone to his trade! I'm not a cook,

She does everything: painting, music...

For a musician, incomparable fingering!

And for painters?

Take it, and you will create a Mona Lisa even more beautiful than the original!

- It's... it's stupid, but it's not expensive. - Think of it!

Health, success, fortune and... love!

- Buy it, Monsieur, buy it! - Don't buy it!

Don't buy it!

Everything! For just one sou!

- Alright! - Santa Madona!

Lord Jesus, may Heaven forgive me!

I haven't hidden anything from you, eh? You understand?

- That I'm going to lose a sou, yes. - Sell it before you die!

- Otherwise... - Hell?

- Hush! - I don't believe in either God or Evil,

Quiet! Maybe he hears us!

He has time on his hands! Take it...

- ...here's your sou. - Wait!

Give me your left hand. Sinistra Manus,

And with your other hand, give me the sou and say: "I'm buying it from you."

- Ha, what a strange drama! - Say it! Say it!

I am buying it from you.

- Hal

- What happened? - The power has passed to you.

I knew it.

- Are you in pain? - No, it's a good thing.

Arelief... Here, take it!

Listen, Monsieur... there is in all of this something...

I'm returning your box; it was a joke.

A "joke", my dead hand gone? Ha, ha!

Too late, Monsieur! It's done! To buy back my hand?

You're a wise guy! Thank you, Santa Madona!

Now, leave with your spells!

Don't come back here!

Vade retro, Satanas!

Vade retro...! Go away!

Hey, Tim?

What's the matter with you?

Don't you recognize me?

He ran away as if the Devil were at his heels!

Monsieur!

Monsieur Brissot!

Well, M. Brissot, what happened to you?

- What is it? - Don't be afraid, it's me.

I came to dust and found the door open.

I didn't want to disturb you.

But I had to wake you up.

I thought you were ill.

No. I'm not ill,

Apparently last night you made a racket.

The neighbor complained... You moved around the furniture,

.talked to yourself and dragged your feet around.

- I don't remember. - Sure!

It's musty in here.

I'm going to open...

No! Don't open!

Ok, then.

Monsieur Brissot is not here?

Hello!

Hello.

But what is wrong with you? - Me? Nothing.

I forgot to tell you that a man came.

Plump with a head like a loaf of sugar, for you.

He asked about you.

- About me? - The police?

No. More likely...

...a baillif,

Wait, he's still there. Come and see!

Maybe he's an art dealer.

They say that fortune comes

...while you're asleep!

I don't know him,

What's this box?

- Is that for me? - No,

What's inside?

Let go of it!

What a brute! You hurt me!

I'm sorry It's a secret.

Keep your secrets!

Eight days ago you were incapable of wrapping a package...

Are you making fun of me?

Perhaps.

Did you paint last night?

- Me? - Damn!

- Oh, yes... - It's strange!

- Is that a cloister? - You see it!

In the Alps.

It seems to be,

You know about mountains?

Not at all... I imagined it.

Ha, it's surprising!

What a dreadful night!

1 don't much believe in the softness of the moonlight.

And this shadow behind the pillar, whom is it spying?

I don't know.

You don't know what you wanted to depict?

And that, what is it?

- It looks like the Pont-Neuf, - On the same night.

The same moonlight.

What is this man holding?

- A knife. - And on the knife?

- It's blood, - And again the same shadow behind him!

Enough!

But it's very beautiful! I was right to push you to work...

Kiss me!

- It's not you! - What's wrong with you?

I have the right to be proud of you.

Sign them and take them to Gibelin!

- Gibelin has never taken anything from me. - Sign it.

I'll take care of it!

You men don't know how to get by!

You're painting with your left hand?

Are you left-handed?

It's an old habit.

Tell me, Irene,

...to be damned

...does that mean anything to you?

Hmm? I was fixing my hair, What were you saying?

Nothing.

Have you finished?

That's your signature?

"Maximus Leo?"

Why "Maximus Leo?"

I don't know! I signed it that way without thinking.

What a funny pseudonym!

- Careful, it's not dry. - Let me doit,

He will give you good money for it.

You can rest easy.

They're going to pay for the merchandise!

"The Moonlight, The Shadow, and the Knife,"

It's not my hand.

Irene! My box!

I beg your pardon a thousand times! Did I hurt you?

I was distracted, I'm sorry.

Here, young man! Take one of my little leaflets.

Advice is valuable, and two opinions are better than one.

Straight ahead!

The hand of man is in that of God.

Behold the hand of Alexander, that of Hannibal, that of Napoleon.

If they had known!

Pasteur and assassin Franzini, One hand cures, the other kills.

And those two?

Those two form only one: Romeo and Juliet.

Past, present, future, eternity? Which one you choose?

The past.

Is your memory so short?

Or my hand got so long...

Give it to me,

Get out!

Get out!

Don't ever set foot here again!

Is Monsieur satisfied? This way to the exit, if you please!

That impresses you!

It's by little Brissot?

Now hurry, or we're going elsewhere!

Wait! Granger, come here!

The prince of critics!

- Mademoiselle! - What do you think of this?

Oh, Good Lord!

- "Maximus Leo"? Don't know him! - Alias "Roland Brissot!"

The painter of perfumes and vitamins!

He changed.

We're starting from scratch! For a revelation, it's preferable!

I've brought it back to you.

How did you find it?

It's my profession.

- It's done, sold! - What?

Your paintings, what else?

At Gibelin they are delighted! They want more!

Irene,

- Your'e going to stay here. - Yes.

Tonight I'm going to work on your portrait.

Yes.

And you'll never leave me.

Whatever happens. - No...

The weeks passed so quickly that we scarcely even noticed.

A year later, the gallery Gibelin opened...

...with the first show of a young terrific painter:

Maximus Leo!

It was truly a beautiful ceremony.

Eminent personalities were in attendance.

An official procession of members of the Institute of Tired Poets...

Women of the world... All of Paris society and the idle rich.

And also many people who had come for the buffet...

- The Hieroglyphics of Poetry... - Yes... Excuse me!

Long live M. Gibelin!

It works! It works!

I was the first to believe in you. I knew it.

- Are you happy? - Very.

- Not jealous? - Jealous?

- Of my success. - But it's mine as well, my dear!

You said to me: "You will be my wife, my mistress, my inspiration."

Thanks to me, you became what you are!

- But what am I? - Listen to them, they will tell you.

Absolute genius!

This breath of profundity!

- Surrealistic horizons! - A composition of the absolute...

Abit earlier I heard an old bag saying: "All this with his left hand!"

Gibelin makes a ridiculous publicity out of this.

You're foolish, he's right!

So, lovers... Are you happy?

How far you've come, thanks to me!

- And a little thanks to me, no? - To you, to me... Thanks to us!

We can't do much without each other, Granger, come here!

This is M. Maximus Leo, whose work you admire so much!

M. Granger, whose criticism you admire!

I salute the king of the celebration!

And here is his queen!

Doubly: It's her feast day.

- Saint Irene, that's me, - Congratulations!

- The spirituality... - You're very kind!

And my show?

- An event. - This grand piece.

It has a foreknowledge of the past... A strange look...

50 000! The musketeer.

- There, the pursuit of the dramatic... - 15.000.

- That's all? - It's a bit small,

Monsieur!

Pop the cork, so it will make noise. Only publicity matters!

I'm ashamed to be seen naked in front of these people.

- Naked? - Yes, in the painting!

Bravo!

It's the most beautiful gift you could gave me for my birthday.

- You think so? - Are there others?

- That's a mystery, - Where are they?

Nothing in the hands, nothing in the pockets.

This evening, the two of us, at home... Shutter closed, curtains pulled shut...

To your health, Madame!

Thank you, Gibelin!

Ah, impromptu.

To the health of Irene,

Her father was from Suresnes, her mother from Charleroi.

But her soul is my queen, and her body is my king.

It's unpretentious, but nice! Don't you agree? Yes?

Look, pal.

Do you see that little fellow down there?

When that sort of provincial notary becomes interested in a painting

...of which he understands nothing whatsoever, that's Glory!

He knows you?

Just a minute!

- Bravo, my dear! - Congratulations!

What is it you wanted to do, you little rascal?

- Excuse me! - The cocktail's at Cocteau!

What is that?

+ A commission, Monsieur. - Who ordered it?

A little man in black,

He said it was to be delivered to the church of Saint Irene,

- Saint Irene? - It's funny, one is truly...

Yes, I know.

Would Monsieur like anything?

No, goodbye!

At your service,

I don't know what happened. He's not with you?

Ah, here he is! I'll call you back.

I looked for you everywhere, mad with worry! Where were you?

- I don't know. - What?

Gibelin is furious.

I went for a walk, I had enough of those people who don't know

...what painting is but who speak so much of it!

You won't get angry at them now that you have succeeded...

No, we got it now.

It's what you struggled for.

- Irene! - Yes?

- We have to leave. - Leave?

Yes.

I feel that we must leave,

Let's go, I don't know... to the country, Anywhere.

Anywhere?

Do you love me? Are you happy?

Put your arms around me and I'll tell you!

Yes.

Could you give up all this, Paris, and the luxury?

- Have you done something bad? - No.

Have we become poor?

No, we're rich, but we have to go.

- Wherever you wish! - Thank you.

Let's leave tonight.

Tonight? But my surprise, and the party you promised?

I was looking forward to that, like you, but it's too late.

Get ready!

You know that If I undress, we're not leaving...

- I will be courageous. - For two?

What is this?

Aman is waiting for Monsieur in the study. He forced his way in.

- It's a madman! - Perhaps!

I beg your pardon.

I wanted so much to get to know you.

1, as well, Monsieur!

Happy feast day!

What do you want from me? Why have you been spying around?

Amusing language from a debtor to a creditor!

- Do I owe you something? - A small thing...

- What? - Your soul,

I come to make its acquaintance,

...as a property owner comes to see his harvest.

So, you are...

The devil is not always at the door of a poor man!

That's impossible!

But everything is possible.

You bought the hand one year ago. Did you sell it back?

- No. - I am therefore authorized to think

...that your soul will come to me after your death.

Who pays his debts becomes rich, and he who says nothing, consents.

But I do not consent! I never saw my soul and one does not sell

...what one does not know! - Pardon me!

The law is strict: Only what doesn't exist, can't be sold!

- Are you a lawyer? - I have to.

Men have always sough to swindle me!

Resign yourself, you only bought it for one sou.

You will not be able to sell it any cheaper.

- There are centimes. - That is no longer the exchange rate.

You should be delighted to have found a connoisseur

...for this tiny part of yourself, in which you do not believe.

A moment ago, no.

But a moment ago, 1 didn't believe in you, either!

And here you are! - And even a little there!

Well...

I'm thinking that life is short...

...and that damnation is eternal,

A good stand is better than running away!

Happiness on earth, that's important.

But eternity!

Your awkward situation touches me. You want to buy your soul back?

- Are you playing games with me? - No, I'm a good devil!

- How much? - One sou,

- Here! - Be careful!

The hand gets back to me, and you'll lose your precious advantages.

Yes! You're a man who's made it,

...master of a beautiful woman that everyone envies you.

But tomorrow, you will go back to being a little failure.

Of course, that requires reflection.

So, take your time... Think about it.

But I am not a philanthropist. We are going to make a deal.

Today one sou, tomorrow two sous, etc.

That should help for your decision.

4 sous, 8 sous, 16 sous, 32 sous, 64, 128, 256, 512, 1024...

Always doubling, until infinity.

Do you know what infinity is? 1 do, I've been there.

It's very nice.

Voila!

Is the hand really in there?

- You don't trust me. - I've learned not to trust men!

- Yes, it's fine - Sol...

I thank you, - No, don't thank me yet.

We'll see if your soul is worth a mediocre and wasted life,

I beg your pardon!

I thought you were done with Monsieur!

Please introduce me,

An old friend of the family My wife.

She is charming! My fraternal compliments!

We saw him a year ago at my atelier.

Please...

- What? - Leave me alone!

Do you want to wrap this box up again?

Don't worry, Madame,

...I'l leave you both to your happiness.

But allow me to make this modest contribution to your feast day.

This is not for me, it's not possible!

Oh, a black diamond! Sublime,

My pleasure.

So, this package?

You no longer know how to wrap a package?

For the love of God, give me a break!

Well? Are you keeping it?

No!

As you wish.

Poor little one! You will be missed.

Goodbye, Madame.

Goodbye, Monsieur, and thank you again!

Roland, say something.

You remain there like a sad soul,

Thank you so much!

It's really nothing, Madame. There are plenty left in the ground.

See you soon.

Look!

- Give me that ring! - Why?

- It carries evil, - Are you crazy?

- I don't want it. - You're jealous?

Irene!

Tell me that you believe in me, that you love me!

Just like that, on command?

- Don't you want me to kiss you? - Do it and I will hate you.

For God's sake listen to me!

My hand...

My hand that caressed you,

my hand that painted, it was not my hand.

It was not me. It was a gift, a talisman.

It was the hand in the box.

It's not possible, you're drunk!

- Only Champagne... - Charming anniversary!

So, I'm returning it to you?

Yes.

You're right.

She's charming, your wife! A beautiful sinner!

Listen, Her soul interests me,

Give it to me in exchange, and we'll be even forever,

What?

Can I talk to her?

Do you want me to kick your teeth in?

As you wish, But don't forget, it doubles!

And for how many days?

Three weeks, doctor, It began the night of my birthday.

I'm very worried.

What are the symptoms?

Obessions: money. Doing his accounts all day long.

He marks off the days with crosses.

Due dates!

1 don't believe so! He locks himself in his room.

For three weeks, he's been sleeping in a separate room.

I hear him talking to himself.

It doubles!

It doubles!

Yesterday, doctor, he accused me of being an evil spirit.

He wanted to strangle me.

- Strangle you? - Yes. Afterward he was sorry but...

- I'm so afraid that... - Let's go see this.

But he must not suspect anything...

Don't worry.

No! Don't come in, leave me in peace!

What do you want?

- Good evening, M, Brissot! - Hi.

Your wife was anxious, she called me about her health...

It's for me that she made you come!

She believes that I'm mad. And you think that too.

It's neither my body nor my mind that are in danger.

It's my soul!

My soul, do you hear? And I am not crazy!

Ha, finally, you're here!

You wished my presence?

I've been expecting you.

So...have you reflected?

Yes!

- Have you made a decision? - Yes!

You can take back your talisman!

You no longer need it? And your paintings?

And your fame? - I know art dealers now!

With my name I can paint with any hand, they won't care.

And your wife, you're not afraid of losing her?

My wife?

Alas, I lose her a little every day. She's afraid of me,

Why should I sell my soul If I don't keep her body?

Who's there?

- Are you coming to dinner? - No. I'm not hungry.

Do you need me?

No!

As you wish...

- Do you have the money? Yes, I have it,

- Today's the 23rd, isn't it?

Let's count,

How much is that in francs?

209 715 francs...

...and 20 centimes,

- I'll write you a check. - No.

It's Saturday. At this hour, the banks are closed,

I anticipated that. I have cash,

Someone has opened my safe!

20 000 francs are missing!

That's not possible...

Irene!

Where is the money?

- What money? - 20 000 francs are missing!

- I took them. - You did that?

For my fur.

Don't you realize?

Because of you I will be damned!

Stop, you're hurting me, the money is there!

- How...? - Yes, the furrier didn't come,

.dt's in the drawer!

- How much is left? - 15000.

Saved!

I have the money!

Wait!

Wait...

700.

Voila,

8,20 francs are missing!

How do you know that?

It's my business.

I'll get them, The chambermaid...

Pardon me.

- Midnight? Impossible! - And yet...!

Twelve o'clock...

...0 minutes... 40 seconds.

Time seems short to you in my company!

But beware, it's no longer 209 715, 20 that you owe me,

but 419 433, 40 francs.

See you tomorrow. Don't forget: It doubles!

Irene!

Irene!

Irene!

Irene! Irene!

400 000 francs, 400 000 francs.

I repeat that figure to myself through streets and directories,

...while calling friends who were never there.

For example...

Monsieur is not in!

Monsieur does not receive!

No, Monsieur!

800 000 francs! 800 000 francs! 800 000 francs!

The sum was always increasing, implacably, mathematically!

Teased by the shopgirl's smile, I tried the National Lottery!

Alas...

Maybe the Chef who it sold to me... DECEASED

1600 000 francs! 1 600 000 francs!

1600 000 francs!

Everywhere closed doors and closed faces too...

One night, alone,

...abandoned to my despair... when...

Hello! Who?

Irene?

Hello? Yes, it's me, I heard that you needed money.

I have it for you, Alot of money.

Don't ask me how!

Hello?

There's someone on the line! Hang up, Monsieur!

Hello? Did you hear me? Yes, a lot of money.

I took back my old room at the Hotel du Poirier, number 23,

Can you hear me alright? Number 23.

Yes, Madame, strangled!

- Who was she? - A young woman.

They don't know who did it.

The room was pillaged!

- You can't come in, Monsieur! - Why?

The police is in, Monsieur.

"Cannes, Nice, Monte-Carlo...

"Spend the winter on the Cote d'Azur,"

What?

It's in the newspaper.

- Publicity! - No.

It's an advice,

A good advice, that you should follow.

Go to Monte Carlo, and make a stop at Nice.

At the Hotel du Palmier Nain, ask for M. Verdure on my behalf.

Verdure is the owner, He has a betting system for roulette!

It will make you money.

It's your last chance.

Who are you?

Don't you remember the dishwasher from Chez Melisse

...more than a year ago?

My name is Angel.

Will you remember?

Angel...

I lost another day with the inquest.

And when I arrived at Monte-Carlo I owed the little sum of...

6 510 886, 40 francs.

Place your bets! Attention, the bets are done!

Rien ne va plus!

17 black, odd and in a low slot!

I was winning!

The chips piled high in front of me!

People hurried to my table...

believing that I was carrying luck.

I was going to escape from this nightmare...

When a woman at my table...

How cold it is suddenly!

The bets are placed? Rien ne va plus!

"Rien ne va plus", indeed.

The bets were done...

I was loosing all I had under the pitiless rakes

...of these gardeners in tuxedo!

I left the gaming room like a ghost.

A gambling inspector believed that I was going to commit suicide.

Don't worry...

1 don't even have the means to kill myself.

- Are you an employee here? - Yes.

Naturally, we will give you a little something

...50 you can get back home.

Where do you live?

Huh? In... In Nice. Hotel du Palmier Nain,

- A charming residence! - At the height of the Carnaval?

But Monsieur, aren't you at the age

...for laughter and games?

Return to Nice: there I'm sure you'll meet a nice person

...with an eccentric costume

...and who won't be too much reasonable,

"Unhappy in game, happy in love."

1 don't have the heart for kidding.

A wound caused by money is not mortal, Don't despair, believe me.

What do you care?

Men are connected in the same chain,

A chain of mysterious workings.

Abroken link damages the following one!

A "chain"?

It's curious that you mentioned that word,

I'm also part of a chain, reduced to several men,

But they... they were happy! They benefitted from it!

Me, I have to pay!

In the name of God, is it fair that I have to pay for all the others?

Do not blaspheme, Just take back your place in the Ring of Masks...

My package.

- Did Monsieur win? - No,

- Lose a lot? - Everything.

Your key.

- You should have a dinner. - I'm not hungry.

Don't hesitate. You've paid in advance.

Monsieur!

You don't plan on doing anything stupid?

It's a renowned Hotel here, We tolerate everything but that.

Don't worry. I don't even have the right to die.

Go have a look in this room, there are very funny masks.

It will amuse you.

Good evening, Roland Brissot.

Here we are, all present, my seniors and me,

...all the former owners of the talisman,

We, the links in the chain,

...joined like the fingers of a hand.

You invoked us, and we responded.

I'm in for another hit!

We're not yet too rusty! 1,2, 3, 4... Hup!

Your servants, 1 and my invincible sword!

I was a musketeer of the king.

It was on the eve of a duel that cowardice took hold of me,

...50 I bought from a rascal alchemist that damned talisman,

Since then I was invincible, No enemy that I could not defeat.

Until the day, alas,

...when I let myself provoke

...and kill my best friend.

So I got rid of the hand to a theiving beggar on the Pont-Neuf.

I was that nondescript beggar.

Thanks to the hand,

I became the greatest thief and counterfeiter of my time.

I accumulated a large fortune, but without really enjoying it.

Because what amused me was to take and to steal,

To counterfeit money and identities.

My reputation grew to the point

..that His Majesty entrusted me with his finances!

Until the day that the good people got angry

...and made me pay for my skills with my life.

But I had the time to pass the hand to a certain master of juggling

...who had helped me balance the budget.

I bought it and became the greatest juggler of my time.

I had always loved balancing.

When I was younger, in my native country,

...I had practiced on all sorts of jugglings.

Filled with a mysterious power, I soon became the greatest juggler

...and even Kings wanted to see me.

One day at the Spanish court, I was asked to juggle with eggs.

I don't know what mad impulse suddenly took hold of me...

I was hanged after having been subjected to the strappado.

Just before, I had the time to foist off the hand...

It was I who bought it.

And I became the greatest illusionist of my time.

I summoned ghosts, I made tables speak,

...I put astonished audience into trances.

One day I put the daughter of a prince into sleep but was unable to revive her.

The prince ordered me beheaded.

But before the execution a surgeon wanted to buy my body.

I refused him my body, but I sold him my hand.

I was that surgeon.

The poor bodies that all their lives had suffered

...became for me a wonderful field for experiments.

Thanks to me and them

..surgery evolved with new operations.

Alas, one day, 1 tried and experiment

...on a woman whom I loved.

And I killed her, by my fault.

I'sold the hand for a few sous to my young laboratory assistant.

I was that young assistant.

It was the beginning of boxing. At the Fair of Tréne, I amazed the crowd.

The strongest man in the world!

My manager taught me that with strength and good publicity,

...one could earn a lot of money.

He taught me the rudiments of boxing.

The training gave me breath and endurance,

...which would insure victory.

Finally came the fighting under the light of the reflectors.

All with the shouts of the crowd, and the glory.

World champion!

Not for long, alas.

Little by little I became blind. One day, I knocked a referee senseless.

Atime of misery began.

Still, had to live.

1 sold vegetables from a little barrow.

I sold the hand to an unlucky restaurateur.

Santa Madonal

Melisse!

The hand saved me immediately.

In a great competiton with all the chefs,

...I won the gold medal, which gleamed like a saucepan.

And my restaurant became famous!

But the fear of damnation pursued me.

The food was made with no heart anymore.

Fortunately, one evening a poor devil of a painter came in

...who was heartsick,

I was that poor devil of a painter

...and I'm struggling hard to buy back my soul.

This evening I owe more than six million francs.

And it's very close to midnight.

We are here to help you.

We will not rest as long as a part of us is alive.

As long as this hand might damn you!

But each day, it doubles!

We must win the ransom of his soul!

What can be done by a musketeer?

- An illusionist? - A juggler?

A poor cook with a handful of beans?

Fortunately, I'm here.

Salute, gentlemen, the Twentieth Century.

Armed robbery, fraud, burglary, blackmail, gangs...

Welcome the Twentieth Century and let me do.

1 will print the money that you need.

So, fellow, do you intend to teach me my business?

Am I suppose to settle for this monkey money? Me, the Devil?

Believe me, Roland Brissot, give up!

Your time has come,

- Hey, are you my alchemist? - Nothing can be hidden from you!

You're hiding something: the owner of the hand!

- From whom did you take it? - But, I...

Where is he, the one from whom we have all benefitted?

I know who he is,

He signed my paintings as "Maximus Leo."

What?

Maximus Leo!

Glory to God in the highest and peace on earth!

I was born in the year of our Lord 1422,

...son of an Alpine woodcutter, Maxime The Lion.

The Carthusian monks of Saint-Bruno raised me

..and I was very young when I entered the abbey of Allevard

...under the name of Maximus Leo,

The Lord had blessed my left hand with a divine power.

You could have been the best woodcutter, the best man of war,

...the best artist of your time.

But I lived in the mountains, far from the world's dangers.

And he boasts about it!

All my life, a little man dressed in black lurked near me

...to tempt me and buy my power.

But this hand remained next to the other,

...joined in prayer.

So then he came to find me in the silence of the tomb,

He cut off my hand and stole it from me!

- Zounds! And it was I to whom he sold it!

- Thief! - Ingrates!

Was it better to settle for being timid, naive and dissatisfied?

- At the cost of their soul! - No!

The contract that each of you agreed to with him had no value!

He did not sell you anything!

One can't sell anything that didn't belong to him!

The Devil himself couldn't do it!

And he knows it!

Thief! Thief!

I am saved!

- I am saved. - Your soul is saved.

Monk, forgive me and take back your hand.

No.

Let it go back through the course of ages until it reaches me!

Rest in peace!

- Rest in peace! - Rest in peace!

Rest in peace!

Rest in peace...

Ha!

Roland Brissot,

...you are the only one still living of our circle of shades.

We are only appearances.

My soul has pardoned you, but my body remains mutilated.

Carry his hand back to his tomb in the Dauphine.

Then you will be freed

...from the last link of the chain,

In the morning I found myself alone.

There was empty dishes, and overturned bottles,

...as if many people had passed through there.

Yet, I was alone.

And in place of my left hand, I had only a stump,

..and a pain throbbing throughout my arm.

On the ground, in the place where I had seen the monk,

I picked up the fossilized and desiccated hand

...that had been his,

I returned it piously to the box.

Since then I have been searching these mountains

...for the tomb of friar Maximus Leo

...to return it to his mortal body

...and to grant him eternal rest,

And it's the same box that was stolen from you earlier.

Around us there is an entire invisible world!

Still, Monsieur, 1 don't know...

You won't make us believe that in the 20th century...

Denis, what do you think of this?

We in the mountains

...don't view things so simply.

- And you, Colonel? - It seems foggy to me.

Your report is not very clear.

Since your soul has escaped

...you should be at ease.

"At ease"?

Monsieur,

...I am the only man alive who swindled the little man!

And he does not forgive those who have offended him!

My soul is saved, that's true, but not my life!

Not my body! He is pursuing me!

He will kill me as he killed Irene!

The customs agents said that he's the man in the coffin.

- He's there! - Oh come on...

- Don't open it, don't open it!

It's the wind, the branches

...hitting the wall.

Don't go! Auguste!

There is no more devil than fire on my hand!

There on the door!

The imprint of a hand!

Areal hand,

With what could one do that?

There he is! Over there! There he is!

- What happened? - He saw something!

I felt a current of hot air around my legs!

- He runs away, the rat! - He has the Devil on his tail!

- Do we go? - Be careful!

He does not have a clear conscience!

There he is, down there!

How he runs!

Whom is he with?

With a little man,

They're fighting!

Good Lord!

- What happened? - My God!

I'm staying here, I can't see this!

Is he dead?

Dead.

A fractured skull,

Poor devill

Have you heard? He's dead, the poor wretch!

Oh!

Here, the box!

It's empty.

Look! It's a grave.

Bring your lantern closer, Denis.

- "Maximus Leo." - It's the grave of the monk!

The cycle is closed.

The last link in the chain has joined the first.