Original subtitles

The word "murder" most often evokes the words "ocean" and "saiIor".

The words that naturaIIy come to mind after "ocean" and "murder"

are "vioIence" and "sexuaIity".

Hey! We're closing.

Are you deaf, or what? Robert, we're closing.

You can close up. Robert is staying here with me.

What did you say?

You heard me right. Robert will keep me company tonight.

- And you don't mind? - No, l don't.

After all, she's your wife.

You see, l'm not jealous.

- Maybe you're not normal. - Maybe. What's normal?

We have a deal.

Lysiane can sleep with whoever she wants as long as l can do the same.

Do you get it, now?

- Got it. - Again?

l'll read your tarot cards, okay?

You might regret it someday.

l never regret what l wanted.

You lose, Mario.

Let's have another drink.

You have a brother.

What of it?

You've never mentioned him.

Should l have told you about him?

You're very much alike, just like twins.

People sometimes say that, but they're wrong.

Querelle is a sailor.

lt must surely be true.

And you love each other

more than anything.

Bullshit. We're brothers.

That's all there is to it.

Why are you shaking your head?

l may be wrong, but your brother is in grave danger.

ln danger? What kind of danger?

He's in danger of committing a murder.

It is impossibIe to brush against these shoulders,

these powerfuI necks, these strong and siIent boys,

without sensing their incIination toward murder.

Because murder is the onIy possibiIity they have of averting their totaI ensIavement.

Land, at last!

Long live whores!

Their juicy, slimy, hot cunts.

- Who has stopped in Brest, before? - Why?

Because it has the world's raunchiest brothel.

The Feria.

Yes, that's the one.

Who has ever heard of it?

- Me. l've heard about it. - What have you heard?

Nothing special. They say the johns have to throw dice with the bossman

if they want to get a girl.

Nono! What a name! The boss of the Feria is called Nono.

That's right. Nono!

Why do they have to throw dice?

That's the rule.

lf you win, you get a whore.

lf you lose, you get the boss in the arse.

That's right!

Tell you what. l'll bet you there are plenty of guys who want to lose.

- That's all they dream of. - So what!

I've often been ostracised, because of my pecuIiar tastes.

I wouId Iike to cIutch these boys against my naked body,

and Iet myseIf be overwheImed by their audacity and their strength.

Though I hardIy dare beIieve it, with tears in my eyes,

I thank God for this sensuaI deIight.

My tears send me into a deep turmoiI. I am dissoIved.

My tears run down my cheeks,

I cannot hide from it.

I am dissoIved in waves of tenderness

for these boys, with their shouIders, round and soft Iike pebbIes.

Querelle loves contemplating his body.

lt's like he's gazing at himself, admiring himself in a big mirror.

Constantly gazing at himself with frightening meticulousness.

Scrutinizing himself in minute detail, like an entomologist.

His body resplendent in the glory of his proud movements.

Your boots, Lieutenant.

Put them there.

Anything else, Lieutenant?

No, thank you.

No matter how much they wanted to deny it,

the strange resembIance of the brothers seemed to fascinate the peopIe around them.

For a Iong time, they had onIy ever met

at night, to share a room with onIy one bed,

near where they had grown up in poverty.

This film is dedicated to my friend

Perhaps this awakened the echo of an oId rivaIry over their mother,

that was so deepIy buried that they couId not comprehend it.

How long have you been in Brest?

Since last night. l never dreamt l'd find you here.

l'm the lover of the madam, Lysiane.

lt's been a little more than six months.

- What does the husband say about it? - He has his own hobbies.

What are you doing here?

l have some dope to unload. Do you know of any takers?

- Opium? - Yeah, that's right.

Easy! Nono is just the guy you need.

l'll introduce you.

What about the cop?

He's part of the furniture. He's not a cop any more.

Much the opposite.

He's your best guarantee.

This is Querelle, my brother.

He has a deal for you.

He's OK.

- Hi. - And so?

Good evening.

What have you got?

Opium.

Five kilos.

lt's worth 5,000.

Deal!

Cash.

OK.

Mario's gaze made QuereIIe's bIood run coId.

Worse than indifference, he showed superb contempt.

At the same time, Querelle was struck by Nono's exceptionaI strength.

and by the cop's physicaI beauty.

Never before had he been confronted with such a rivaIry.

l hope l'm right to trust you.

You couldn't be in better hands.

You bring the merchandise, you get the dosh. OK, kid?

Don't worry. Mario's part of the furniture.

Querelle knew without a doubt that Mario's reaIm was a terrestriaI one.

But how couId a cop be so beautifuI?

So rich?

- Let's have a drink! - Cheers!

When will you be back?

l have to figure out how to get the dope out.

- l have a plan. - l don't want to get dragged into your shit.

l don't want to burn my fingers.

Do you want to dance with me?

Sure, why not?

My name is Lysiane. l own this place.

You know what? l'm Robert's brother.

l know.

What are you thinking about so intently, Querelle?

l think that Mario has quite a presence,

a determination in his movements,

which is the seat of absolute power

along with unquestionable moral authority,

the perfect social structure.

Bye!

You lose.

You look angry, Gil.

lt's not my fault if my sister's not here.

You could have made sure she'd come.

l couldn't, Gil, l swear.

You know full well, Roger, how much l want Paulette.

You like her?

You think it's funny, Roger?

You think it's really funny.

You want to know something?

l really want to make it with your sister.

Can you see what l could give her, if l held her like l'm holding you?

Gil, you are Gil. Gilbert Turcot, a Polack.

You haven't been a mason for long,

and you often get angry, just thinking about it.

Roger, she gives me a hard-on.

You have the same face.

The same colour eyes.

lt's a pity you're not her.

When will you bring her to me?

Tomorrow! l promise l'll try to bring her to you.

QuereIIe wouId have been surprised to hear that he was a monster.

Thrown out into the worId at too young an age, he feIt Iost in it.

The same soIitude that imprisons the navaI officer had made him choose to be a saiIor.

Thus, the saiIor QuereIIe couId onIy invoke the AngeI of the ApocaIypse

whose feet do not touch the waves.

Bravo! Bravo!

That's good. For a little girl, you sing almost like a big boy.

Go on, honey, run!

Or your girlfriend might jump into the ocean.

l'm happy to see you.

Why?

l have a job for you, like the last time in Beirut.

- Opium? - Yeah.

l'm going ashore tomorrow afternoon.

Tonight, l'll drop a rope over the wall of the dock,

to the right of the police station.

Then, come up in a row boat, tie the dope to it,

then go through customs.

Come meet me after that.

How much?

300.

That's OK with me.

Maybe love arouses murder. What if this were true?

How far will Querelle try to take me?

And me?

When the time has come for me to succumb to my culpable feelings for Querelle

how will l know?

l often wish l could see Querelle

lose his regal allure and reveal the scoundrel within.

Then l would lie down at his feet, and kiss his toes.

A soldier in battle falling on his face

as his enemy was about to give him the coup-de-grace

begged him to wait a little till he could turn around

so that his love should not see him with a wound on his back.

Plutarch "On love"

LittIe by IittIe, we reaIised that QuereIIe, aIready master of our flesh,

was taking possession of our souI, feeding off the best within us.

Because of this, we want to make him a hero to those who are scoffed at.

If we foIIow his trajectory, his ascendancy over us,

we'II see him chose the onIy way, between his free wiII and his inescapabIe fate.

Hey, you! ldentity papers!

OK, you can go.

The scene we wiII reIate is a transposition of the events

that reveaIed QuereIIe to our eyes.

This event is comparabIe to the Visitation.

My brother can keep an eye on things. No need to worry.

He's in Brest, at the Feria.

At the Feria? Are you crazy?

l hear it's a really twisted place.

You can't believe all the shit you hear.

You know as well as l do what everybody says.

What of it?

My brother's fucking the madam.

That fucking cop is covered in jewels.

l've got my own jewels, but l don't flash them around.

l hear the boss is helping himself, too.

So what? lf it works for him.

- lf he asked you, would you go for it? - Why not, if l felt like it.

l've done worse than that in my life.

l think my brother

would surely turn you on. You should meet.

- l wouldn't go for that. - l think you would.

Do you want a smoke?

Nono would like you.

You're a tasty-looking bird.

He doesn't have a chance with me.

And me? Do l have a chance?

Cut that shit out!

Querelle listened to the oboes and horns performing the Requiem Mass for him aIone.

Without knowing why, Querelle realised that it was not over.

He stiII had to perform the Iast formaIity,

his own execution.

What do you see in Lysiane? What turns you on about her?

Explain it to me.

lt's simple, really.

l like her.

OK. You know the rules. lf you win, Lysiane is yours.

lf l win, you're mine.

29.

25.

You lose.

Death sentence.

What did you say?

Nothing.

No kissing.

That goes without saying.

l'll only let you have my arse.

That's all.

That's right. That's all there is to it.

Can we start?

Try to be gentle, OK!

lt hurts like hell, l imagine.

Don't play the innocent. This isn't the first time you got fucked.

Yes, it is the first time. You have to believe that.

What do you think, you bag of shit.

You can't fool me. Not me.

l'm not a choir boy.

You think l didn't see you cheating, when you threw the dice?

That's enough.

Just remember, l didn't come to you.

Go on, bend over.

- You're wrong. l wanted your wife. - Let's get started.

Good.

Were you a sailor?

- l was a Zephyr. - A Zephyr?

A legionnaire in a prison detachment.

Lie down on the table.

Relax, this won't take long.

That's how l like you.

lt doesn't hurt.

l have to give you that.

You know what you're doing.

Can't you get off?

Hello, Lieutenant.

Hello, Querelle.

You've done a very good job.

Without even telling me, you look for extra chores.

- Who told you to shovel the coal? - Nobody, Lieutenant.

ls that more pleasant than working for me?

No, Lieutenant, for sure.

l was only doing my chum a favour.

He could have asked someone else.

You look handsome like this, trust me.

Do you like swallowing coal dust?

No, Lieutenant. But...

Yes? What did you want to say?

Nothing at all, Lieutenant.

Can l do anything for you, Lieutenant?

- Why? - Just asking, Lieutenant.

- ls there nothing you should be doing? - Nothing, Lieutenant, l'm at your service.

My chums are waiting for me below.

Fine. Go join them.

You're brother's a hot little number.

- Really? What are you insinuating? - He's very good.

- Good at what? Business? - That was good, too.

But he did the business with me.

What? Querelle?

That's news to me.

l swear to you.

Don't tell anyone. Especially not him.

What of it?

l couldn't care less.

But you're not going to make me believe you fucked Querelle.

l swear it. Right in the arse.

My cock came out covered in shit, if you want to know.

l've done it with almost all of them, except for you.

l never wanted you. You know why?

lt proves my wife only sleeps with arseholes.

You're the only one l've passed on. l don't know why.

l'm sure l could have fucked you, but l don't want you.

You don't turn me on, not at all. Go figure!

You're not any uglier than the others.

l'm just not interested.

You're too twisted for me.

You've only just realised that now?

Hi, Mario. How's it going?

So-so. And you?

Fine.

Cheers!

- Why are you so happy? - Nothing special.

l just fucked Robert's brother. lsn't that rich?

No kidding! ls that true?

lt's true. lt wasn't Robert, but l don't care. lt was his brother.

Did you see Nono?

Look! He sometimes looks almost effeminate.

Especially when he makes this type of suave and affected gestures.

ln fact, Querelle is a very nice guy.

Hi, Nono.

Hi, Querelle.

Let's go outside.

That's what you wanted.

Stupid arsefuck.

The brothers were more and more aIike.

The fight between them was nothing Iess than a Iover's quarreI.

Say it again.

Say it again. Call me an arsefuck. Say it again.

Stop it, that's enough.

l've crossed over to the other side of the river.

Help me get back to your shore.

That will be hard, brother. You put up too much resistance.

What did you say? l can barely hear you.

Catch my laughter and me with it. Don't be afraid to hurt me, do it!

Be yourself.

l'm finally myself.

Lower your voice.

l'm moving closer.

l love you more than myself.

My hate was only a subterfuge.

A dangerous melancholy pushes me toward you.

But my battles pit us against each other.

My laughter is the light that drives away the ghosts

that you cast against me.

l search, the long night through, for daggers, and l put up barricades.

My laughter imprisons me, separates me from you.

- You're so beautiful. - You are beautiful, too.

Be quiet.

Would it not be worse to dissolve into a too-perfect harmony.

Better that you set your hounds and wolves on me.

To what purpose?

Each round crowns you with an inexpressible glow.

Take courage, help me.

I Iove him. The officers aII bore me.

If onIy I were a IowIy saiIor.

I remain standing stiII in the wind.

The coId and a headache grip my forehead

and crown me with an iron tiara.

I grow and dissoIve.

A naval officer.

When l was a young man and l took up this career,

l never suspected what a perfect alibi it would be.

lt justifies bachelorhood.

Women never ask why we're not married.

They pity you for having only brief encounters

and never knowing true love.

The sea, solitude.

Nobody asks if l'm engaged to be married.

Not my friends, not my mother.

Since l fell in love with Querelle, l am much less strict about discipline.

My love has made me softer.

The more l love Querelle,

the more l try to be compassionate, the sadder my inner woman becomes.

Because she cannot find her fulfilment.

How can l ever define the strangeness of my incredible affection for Querelle?

l'm weary of all this helplessness, of all these shameful defeats.

What's the use?

A sailor got his throat slit.

- Nobody knows who might have done it. - Did you know him, Querelle?

Yes, like we all know each other, no more than that.

There's a very strong male passivity

that can be expressed

by a lack of interest in courting women.

Total refusal of the body,

an inertia, to never be involved,

in any way,

in an embrace, or in the giving of pleasure.

Seven wins, 1 4 pays, and 21 drinks.

- Do you want to play, Querelle? - Yeah, why not?

These types of men buiId between them and for their soIe use

a universe where even the concept of "woman" is banished.

ParadoxicaIIy,

the absence of women forces them to draw within themseIves

and forge an image of femininity, thus bringing "woman" back to Iife.

Stop fighting! Stop it!

We would like to associate the idea of sorrow

to these moments when Querelle

felt the soft folds of oblivion on his ravaged body.

l know about Nono. But ask him. Ask anyone, they'll tell you.

So you're in the navy.

l've met a lot of sailors who were.

Didn't stop them from being real men.

Maybe.

lf you let Nono fuck you, why not me?

You shouldn't believe everything you hear about Nono.

You can't fool me. Not me.

OK. l slept with Nono.

But that's no reason to get your hopes up.

l'm not a fairy.

l know that.

But Nono fucked you. Not you him.

Never mind.

You don't need to prove it to me. l know you're a man.

You and me.

We're men.

Getting fucked by Nono isn't a crime.

As long as he took good care of you.

l suppose you got some pleasure out of it.

l never said l didn't.

Anyone would enjoy it.

See how much fun it is. There's nothing wrong with it.

l'm sure Nono enjoyed it. He's a hot number, too.

And you're a good-looking kid.

- l'm nothing special. - Are you kidding? l can just imagine.

Nono must have got a hard-on the minute he saw you.

- ls he good at it? - Shut up.

Tell me, is he a master of his craft?

You seem to really enjoy this.

Gets you all excited, doesn't it?

Are you some sort of faggot?

As long as it's good.

- Come on, tell me how he is. - He's very good.

Are you satisfied?

- Did you come? Was it bliss? - Try it yourself.

- ls it better than the rest? - lt's not bad.

When he first puts it in, it hurts a bit.

Then it's bliss.

Seriously, is it nice?

lt was the first time.

lt's nothing like you expect.

Nono must have a big cock. Did you like his cock?

l didn't really notice.

lf it bothers you, we can change the subject.

No.

lt doesn't bother me.

Just talking about it, l get a hard-on like you wouldn't believe.

You're kidding.

- No, l'm not kidding. - Why does it give you a hard-on?

Can't you see? Come on, touch it.

Bastard.

You can't even get it up.

Yes, l can. Want to feel it?

Nothing. You call that a hard-on?

Come on, squeeze it. lt's a monster.

Sure, your clothes makes it look big.

Just slip your hand in.

Open it.

You can see l've got a hard-on.

You've got a hard-on, quite a big one.

You like it?

l don't care about size.

Come on, give me a hand job.

QuereIIe heard the poIiceman spit in his hand and understood

that this signaI announced the dreadfuI Iove embrace.

He feIt that even just the idea of the imminent orgy

couId make the poIiceman cIimax.

For the first time in his life, Querelle kissed a man on the mouth.

He felt like he was jamming his face against a mirror reflecting his own image.

lt was like he was sticking his tongue into a hole in a head made of granite.

lt's supposed to be soup, but it looks more like dish water.

Cat piss.

You need to put aubergines in the soup.

But aubergines are getting harder to find.

We'll have to tighten our belt.

l have a feeling we'll be able to find some, if we look hard enough.

l'll bet we can.

Some people prefer sticking them up their arse.

Some guys eat them through their shit holes.

You couldn't wait to do your little act, Theo, but let me tell you,

you won't be able to kick me around for much longer.

What are you talking about?

Don't get your knickers in a twist?

Don't worry. l'll always have your back.

You want to fuck me.

Well, then, come on, fuck me.

Don't be shy!

You guys can laugh.

Have yourself a good time.

Anybody want to try it out?

l know there's one.

Stop it, Gil.

Whether or not you're doing it with Theo, we don't want to know.

What? You think l fucked Gil.

l don't even want to touch him, not even touch him.

l should have punched his face out right then and there.

Why didn't l smash his face in, the son of a bitch.

Just because he's always buying me drinks.

l hate how he always humiliates me.

l want to be his mate, but not like that.

He puts me down in front of everyone.

Just because l didn't smash his face in when l should have.

Why didn't l tear that son of a bitch apart.

Paulette,

my little whore, it's to your adorable minge

that l'd like to give another taste of my cock.

l'm a man. l've fucked men.

And l'll fuck you in the arse, too, Theo.

Why didn't l smash his face in, the son of a bitch?

l can beat you, Theo, when l want to beat you.

- Roger! - Hi, Gil.

You're my chum. Let's have a drink together.

- You OK, Gil? - Yes, l think so.

Don't worry, l solved my problem. l'm done with, Theo, l told him off.

Don't put me in the same boat with him, any more.

l'm not a homo, but him...

He's not a man, he's a faggot, a cocksucker.

But you and me, you see, we're chums.

We have every right to be, but he's just a dirty queer.

l think you've had a little too much to drink, Gil.

Don't bawl me out for that.

lt's my dosh, l'm buying my own drinks.

He can shove his dosh

right up his arse.

l don't care.

You'll see. l'm going to crush him.

Hi, Gil.

Hi, Theo.

You buying? l'm with a friend.

Of course, it's a free country, sweetheart.

Now you're gone for good.

Do you know Gil well?

So-so. He was after my sister.

He was her lover? Was he sleeping with her?

With Paulette? l don't think so.

He had these pictures hidden under his mattress.

l have nothing more to say.

Did he fuck you? Did you and he have a thing?

No, never, lnspector. Never!

Let's get back to Theo. Gil killed him. Did you fuck him, by any chance?

Never, lnspector. l only knew him from seeing him around.

At least admit that Gil tried to seduce you.

No, never, lnspector.

Whatever gave you that idea?

Because Gil is a queer.

- lt's not true. - Really? How can you be so sure?

l'm telling you, he was crazy about my sister.

He never tried to make a pass at you?

- What do you mean "make a pass"? - Don't play the innocent.

You know full well if he made a pass at you.

l keep telling you. No!

He never put his hands on your butt.

He never tried to stroke your cock.

No. He never touched me.

That's how it is. There's nothing between us.

They got nothing more out of him, because he now Ioved GiI even more.

InitiaIIy moved by a naive emotion,

Robert discovered, with Gil's crime, a world of passion and vioIence.

You can go, now.

What sudden desire.

l'm turning into desire.

At first, without thinking,

my hands form breasts on my chest,

as if they have been grafted there.

l feel good.

Then l repeat those gestures, and l feel good.

And even, when l remove my hands,

l feel sated.

- Are you looking for me? - l think so.

- Are you Lieutenant Seblon? - Yes, that's me.

We are from the police. We're investigating the sailor's murder.

So this is about Vic.

As you say.

Yes, the more we investigate this Vic Rivette case,

the less progress we make.

Really?

But maybe you could tell me if this Vic Rivette

had a special relationship with one of his mates.

lf he did have a lover, it would have to have been a secret.

What made you think l was talking about love?

No? Then l probably misunderstood you.

Probably,

or perhaps you know more about his associations.

The physical relationships of my men are absolutely none of my business.

And even if someone had killed Vic

in connection with one of these adventures, l wouldn't be informed.

Of course, Lieutenant,

but you might have heard something about it, no?

l'm not a spy.

Besides, take it from me.

These young people, when they get involved with shady individuals,

they certainly don't like to talk about it.

l believe that this kind of thing is a fiercely guarded secret.

Those with these secret behaviours are extremely well-organised.

You seem to have given this particular matter quite a bit of thought, Lieutenant.

You've got me all wrong.

Basically, l'm not at all interested in this kind of thing.

Really?

And what was your alibi?

My alibi?

But of course. You can check it out.

Are you sure?

- Perfect, Lieutenant. - Perfect.

What kind of charm might conquer another?

And who, besides myself, has been conquered by Querelle's charms?

How can l become him?

l push up my pyjama sleeves

to keep them from getting in my way when l jerk off.

This simple motion makes a man out of me.

Thus l appear as a lion tamer before Querelle.

But all of this will end tragically.

Did the cops question you yesterday?

Yeah, but l didn't say a word.

There was nothing to say.

l know.

And Paulette?

Tell me about her.

Nothing special.

She still hasn't gone back to work.

She doesn't leave the house any more.

Did you talk to her about me?

l don't think it's a good time.

lt's too dangerous. Paulette has always had a big mouth.

Your picture was in the paper.

They say you've got that sailor on your conscience, too.

Who's saying that?

The police.

lt was in the paper.

Bullshit!

They don't even believe it themselves.

They found your lighter next to the corpse.

My lighter?

Shit, l lost that thing ages ago.

- l believe you. - You know what?

Boy, your sister!

Would l like a piece of her right now!

She's a beauty.

- She looks like me. - l know.

She's better.

lf l were holding her like l'm holding you now, believe me,

l'd fuck her like a madman.

lf you were a girl...

Really?

You're definitely as pretty as a girl.

What's the matter? Are you scared?

No.

Are you scared? What are you afraid of exactly?

You don't really feel safe with a guy like me,

right?

What do you mean?

Otherwise, l wouldn't have come here alone, right?

Right.

You've got to see Robert.

You see, l've thought about it.

His friends are in a better position to get me out of here.

OK, Gil.

l'll try to find Robert.

l think it's better if you leave now.

- Yes? - Come here.

Don't l know you?

You're that friend of Turcot's.

Gil Turcot, the one who committed the murder.

Don't you know me?

Yeah, you're Querelle,

Robert's brother.

Right.

l thought l might be able to help your friend if he's still in Brest.

What do you think?

Well, since you're Robert's brother...

l'll be right back.

An uneasiness filled Querelle, troubIing his mind.

For the first time he wouId find himseIf standing before another murderer,

a killer of his own kind, with whom he wouId be abIe to taIk business.

l saw Querelle. You know, Robert's brother?

He wants to help you. Should l bring him here?

Sure! You should have brought him right away.

- l wanted to warn you. - Go on! Bring him!

lt's OK. Follow me.

- Thanks, kid. - My name's Roger. Roger Bataille.

Thanks, Roger. Roger Bataille.

Now, in this abandoned prison,

QuereIIe prepared to meet one of his feIIow murderers.

This thought fiIIed him with tenderness.

GiI's murder was pointIess and stupid. A murder for nothing.

FooIishness.

But, thanks to Querelle, he wouId be adorned with a reaI murder.

Tell me,

why kill that sailor?

l don't understand why.

Tell me why. Why did you kill the sailor?

He didn't kill him.

- lf he didn't, who did? - l swear, it wasn't me.

l don't know who did it, but it wasn't me. lt wasn't me!

That's not what it says in the paper.

l want to believe you,

but you'll never convince the police.

You know, they found your lighter.

Get out, Roger. Get lost!

l can't stand you for another minute. Get the hell out!

l lose my lighter. l don't even notice it's gone.

How can a lighter be so important?

Finally l understand why you won't let your girls wear black lingerie.

Yes?

Because black makes you look so stirring, so beautiful.

My God, it's mind-blowing.

ln black, you're smoking hot.

And it makes your beauty seem more solemn.

Does it turn you on?

Want to see?

OK, that's a good start.

You're all alone in the world.

The night lies over the solitude of an endless space.

Every mirror shows you a vision of your brother.

You live in your double solitude.

All this is killing me.

And if you must know, l can't stop thinking about your resemblance.

l spit on your obscenity.

That's right. Your obscenity.

l know it like the back of my hand.

l've had enough.

You don't know how to love anyone but yourselves.

To you, l don't even exist.

l wonder, what's my part in all this?

You only live in your brother's shadow.

You only exist through your brother and he only exists through you.

There's no room for me in between.

l'm at the door. l'm too fat.

That's it. l'm too fat!

Lysiane's mind was cIouded by the extreme, precise, indescribabIe

confusion of those two vigourous, athIetic bodies.

She tried to force the soft, shapeIess mass of her own voIuptuous body between them.

Robert, my dearest darling,

to have you for my own, just once... You make me unhappy.

l'm afraid you'll never be free again.

You scare me, you know.

Eventually, you won't be able to run away to anywhere.

When Madame Lysiane found herseIf standing before him,

her gaze went, in spite of herseIf, straight to his fly.

Perhaps this evening the cloth would be less stiff,

wouId cIearly outIine his cock and baIIs,

aIIowing Madame Lysiane to finaIIy find

a fundamentaI difference between the two brothers.

UntiI now, she had hoped that the saiIor's cock wouId be smaIIer than Robert's.

He is average height, with a healthy, well-proportioned appearance.

His hair is thick. His eye is spiteful. His features are balanced.

His facial expression is severe, his voice is strong but muted.

Fear hangs on his entire being. His mannerisms exude an extreme coldness.

Suspicious, shifty, gloomy,

he is a natural at being impenetrable and keeping his secret.

Lysiane didn't experience physical love until fairly late in her life.

Men didn't excite her much.

lt wasn't until her 40s

that she developed an appetite for strong, muscular men.

Knowing pleasure made her horribly jealous.

But she didn't want to admit it.

She loves your brother. She's got him under her skin.

For the first time.

But when they make love, they do it like fags. Lysiane hates fags.

You love each other.

You love your own beauty that you see in each other.

l can't break you up.

l can't stop you from finding your way back to each other.

You love your brother more than me. And l can't do anything about it.

That's the kind of misery that can only happen to a woman my age.

l always remained indifferent to the desires that others had for me,

but my self-denial

has built a passionate fire in me,

a fire that can be easily fanned

by blowing hard on its coals.

After that first day, QuereIIe paid no more attention to Lysiane.

But graduaIIy, with her usuaI mastery, she managed to take possession of him.

Neither my brother nor l is sufficiently in love with love to seek new experiences.

Nor do we need to satisfy some hygienic urge.

Nono thinks that he and Querelle are simply playing a narcissistic, virile game,

brought on by erections that he vainly believes he caused.

There's nothing more to it than there would be to an orgy in a monastery,

a bit of pleasant fun in which Nono is also indulging,

because of his powerful frame.

Actually, l'm risking nothing,

because absolutely no emotion clouds the purity of my game.

No passion. lt's a game without weight.

Two men having the time of their lives by virtue of one of them,

without complication, offering the other his arse.

Nono agreed to fuck QuereIIe again, out of kindness.

He didn't think that the sailor was in love with him,

but that it had become his reason for Iiving.

Because of QuereIIe's strength, Nono feIt no contempt for him.

- You like fucking me, don't you? - lt's true. lt's not bad.

Make no mistake, l'm still not in love with you.

l've never understood how anybody could fall in love with another man.

l couldn't fall in love with a guy.

l only let myself get fucked 'cause l like it.

- You've never tried to fuck a guy? - Never.

Not the least bit interested either.

But you like when a guy fucks you?

Sometimes.

But it's only for fun.

Nono doesn't love me,

but the more we're together, the more l feel that something is happening.

A feeling binds me to Nono.

l don't want to admit that Nono is my master just because he fucks me.

But you can't keep playing the same game every day

without becoming a slave to it.

Above all, there's Lysiane.

My great friendship with you makes me happy.

For this reason, l've lost the desire to continue playing this game with Nono.

They knew that they risked nothing,

that nothing soiled the purity of their games. Absence of passion.

GiI feIt a strange emotion when, for the first time in his life,

he saw his name on the first page of the newspaper.

At first, he thought the story was about someone eIse.

ln the end, the judges will have to admit...

Admit what?

What judges?

You're not thinking of giving yourself up now?

That would be the most idiotic thing you could do.

You can't hide out for so long and not appear guilty.

His name exposed him, and exposed him compIeteIy naked.

This was gIorious.

He couId onIy be ashamed of it entering through the doors of Iegend.

You have nothing more to lose.

You could steal something now, and it wouldn't even go on your record.

What's a robbery next to a murder?

l'm just a sailor but l have an idea.

l thought about it, and this idea came to me. You'll see.

Tell me.

With some money,

you could buy some different clothes and get out of here.

What's the plan?

My lieutenant is going into town today.

He always has lots of cash on him.

- And how do l take it from him? - Easy.

Easy?

He always stops by the public bathroom.

He likes to check out the dirty graffiti in there.

Get changed.

Nono will never suspect you.

What if he tries to defend himself? l mean...

lt's not like him. He's too chicken for that.

He's just a big queen.

But what if he does fight?

l thought of that. You have to think of everything.

Here's the solution.

A gun?

Only if push comes to shove.

But you won't need it.

That really suits you, you know.

You really think so?

l really think so.

l'm gonna give you a moustache.

Perfect.

lt's the bathroom near the dock, next to the church.

The morale solitude of the criminal is like that of the artist,

who recognises no authority other than that of another artist.

Double brandy.

Hands up!

- What do you want from me? - Shut up!

Just hand over your briefcase or l'll shoot.

l wouldn't do that if l were you.

Shut up and don't move.

Give me your cash or you're dead.

What are you waiting for? Go ahead. Shoot.

What are you waiting for? Shoot!

Go ahead.

How'd it go?

-Almost. -Almost?

What's that supposed to mean?

He didn't want to hand over the cash.

l had to shoot him!

And is he...

Just wounded him.

Hit him in the shoulder.

How much cash did he have?

25 thousand.

l threw the briefcase in the sea.

That's good. That's very good.

And now?

l've bought you a ticket to Bordeaux.

For when?

Right away. The train leaves in three hours.

Why so soon?

You shouldn't stay in Brest for another second.

Now you've got money. You can take care of yourself.

25 thousand ought to do you for a while.

l could never thank you enough, Querelle.

- Never. - Forget it.

Try not to get caught.

Can l trust you to keep your trap shut if you do get nabbed?

Don't worry. The cops will never get me to snitch.

lt's simple. We've never met.

Well, l better leave now.

Yeah, that would be better.

Sorry for everything, old buddy.

You know,

- l like you. - l like you, too.

We'll meet again. l won't forget you.

You say that now, but life goes by so quickly.

You've already forgotten me.

No way, pal.

Not at all. l'm not that kind of guy.

Really? You won't forget me?

lf l say l won't, it's because l won't.

Funny what good friends we've become.

We were friends from the start.

l hope that all goes well.

QuereIIe had feeIings for GiI that bordered on Iove.

Blood brothers, Gil had killed.

They were aIike,

and QuereIIe had a strange feeIing of respect and curiosity.

He wouId have Iiked to make Iove to him

because he beIieved his tenderness wouId have been disconnected by it.

He didn't know how to act around a boy.

He had aIways been fucked, and he didn't know how to fuck a guy.

- You're great, you know that? - Why?

You let me kiss you like this without resisting.

Why should l? l told you, we're sworn friends.

- This really doesn't bother you? - No.

Swear you'll be my very special friend forever.

- Do you understand? - Yes.

- You swear? - Yes.

In some obscure way, QuereIIe understood that Iove cannot remain passive forever.

You have to want it.

One doesn't have to Iove men in order to Iike getting fucked by them.

But to fuck men, you have to Iove them, even if it's onIy whiIe you're fucking.

So if he was to love Gil, he wouId have to give up his passivity.

He tried.

My friend.

l'm sorry we can't be together forever. But we'll meet again.

To be together like we are now, l'd like that.

The vision of the soIitude in which their Iove had deveIoped,

wouId have comforted him in his Iove for GiI.

He was everything to him, his one friend, his one famiIy.

GiI had finaIIy resigned himseIf to the other crime.

LittIe by IittIe, he assumed responsibiIity for the saiIor's murder.

l never loved a man until you.

- You're the first. - Really?

lt's true.

Hi.

You want something?

- That depends. - On what?

On you.

l've got a tip for Mario.

But you've got to promise me you won't tell anybody where it came from.

Do you promise? Nobody.

- ls that clear? - l promise you. That's all l can say.

That'll do.

Tell Mario

that this Polack,

this Gil Turcot,

will be on the train for Bordeaux at 4:40.

Querelle had entered into a sort of tacit pact with the Clever One.

He had promised him neither his body, nor his soul,

but something just as precious. A friend.

And the love of that friend would sanctify his crime.

lt is our duty to express that which is universal in a particular phenomenon.

Here, we are not talking about a work of art. Because a work of art is free.

To be Ioved by QuereIIe is to be Ioved by every saiIor in the world,

because QuereIIe is a compendium of aII their mascuIine and naive virtues.

If I like submission,

it's because this admirabIe form evokes love and fear,

and I aIways try to create a state of submission in the heart of the saiIors.

It's their duty to Iove me. I want to be their father so I can discipIine them.

There's no use in them hating me. They beIong to me.

I shaII remain unmoved by their agony.

More and more, I feeI I have been given absoIute power.

If I conquer my compassion, I wiII be infaIIibIe

and desperateIy sad, aIone before my pathetic disguise.

l am certain that l will never leave Querelle.

My whoIe Iife wiII be dedicated to him.

Good morning.

I can't bIame my suffering on anyone but myseIf.

But I do have someone eIse to thank for my present misfortune.

l knew you were a murderer.

Come on! Hit me!

We can thank Jesus if we are abIe to gIorify humiIity,

for he made it the sign of the divine.

The godhead rests on us.

Why shouId we renounce our new temporaI powers

if the idea of God is to combat these powers?

So it must be strong, to emerge victorious.

And humiIity can onIy be born of humiIiation. Otherwise, it is nothing but vanity.

Put your knife away.

- Good morning, Lieutenant. - Good morning. What can l do for you?

Would you be good enough to come with me to the police station?

Certainly. For what reason?

l would like to show you a suspect. lt may be your assailant.

- You have a suspect, then, do you? - Yes, that's it.

ls that a fact?

Then it's my duty to go with you.

Let's go.

What did you hope to achieve by attacking your co-worker Theo Celine?

l wanted to kill him.

So you already wanted to kill Theo Celine when you broke the bottle

with which you mortally wounded him?

Yes, l wanted to kill him.

So, before you hit him, you knew that you might kill him with the bottle?

Yes. Absolutely, lnspector. l wanted to kill him.

Why did you want to do that?

To protect my honour and my soul.

What did he do?

He humiliated me in front of everybody, including myself.

And that was reason enough for you to kill a man?

What can a man do to another that's worse than hurting his honour?

Well,

l suppose there are some differences of opinion on that subject.

l'll say it again,

you killed the sailor Vic Rivette to rob him of his money

and you killed Theo Celine because he hurt your honour. ls that correct?

Yes.

That's correct.

And the robbery of Naval Lieutenant Seblon?

lt's exactly as l told you.

l had nothing to do with that one.

You're sticking to your story on that. Fine.

- Marcellin? - lnspector.

Well, Lieutenant, here's the guy.

Do you recognise him?

You, take off your hat.

Stand up.

lt's not him.

l'm sorry, Lieutenant. l must ask you to think this one over very carefully.

Maybe you will remember better.

l don't know what you're getting at. You know as well as l do,

one can't accuse an innocent man.

- Are you absolutely certain, Lieutenant? - Absolutely.

l would have recognised him right away because his face was right next to mine.

Very well.

Lieutenant, you may go now.

You haven't even got a decent hard-on.

lt doesn't stay up forever.

Buy yourself a rubber one.

You know,

l've dreamt a lot about your cock lately.

Yeah? Was it better in your dreams?

l'm very satisfied.

lt's solid, heavy, massive, a beautiful cock.

Not elegant, but strong.

So different from Robert's.

Different how?

Your cock has more character.

Why did you take so long?

lt's not that l didn't want to.

lt's just that you were my brother's woman.

What's changed?

Now l'm getting revenge on my brother.

Well, that's a reason.

And me?

You?

You're just a woman.

From then on, QuereIIe was Lysiane's Iover.

The excitement she feIt thinking about the identity of the two brothers

exasperated her to the point of insanity.

Careful, Querelle!

lf you lose your footing, you can sometimes fall very far.

Thanks, lnspector.

What do you say? Throw dice with me?

No.

l'll never throw dice with you again.

Give me a double scotch.

They even manage to get wasted on the same day.

The "Holy Brothers."

l said double.

Where will you go?

That's nobody's business.

Do you understand?

Hey, you wanna get fucked?

- Motherfucker! - Hitting a defenceless girl.

lf you were a real man...

Watch out, guys, he's got a knife.

Don't be stupid. This is pure madness.

l don't want you to get mixed up in this kind of business.

Put away your knife.

Come on. Follow me.

You're a mate.

All the others are arseholes, but you're a mate.

Whatever you want from me, it's yours.

Calm down. lf an officer were to come along...

l don't give a fuck!

As far as l'm concerned, you're all there is.

Stop yelling! You're going to wind up in the brig!

l'd be sad if you went to prison.

Really? You're just saying that.

You're an officer. lt doesn't concern you.

You know perfectly well that it does.

l'm on the brink of a shame from which no man ever rises.

But only in that shame will l find my everlasting peace.

l am so weak.

l've been conquered.

Totally conquered.

And my soul is so sad.

l dream of the soilings of autumn,

wounds,

mortal wounds in me.

l will never find peace until you take me.

l want to come so hard that afterwards, l can lie across your thighs like a Madonna,

cradling a dead Jesus.

That's the guy who shot me. l recognise him.

Querelle, there you are!

l've been waiting for you for so long.

Do you want to hurt me? Destroy me?

My longing for you, Querelle,

is so strong,

so serious, absolute.

What's going on? What's wrong with you, darling?

Because you're dying of desire for me?

Do you even know who you've been longing for?

Your husband's boyfriend.

His piece of arse.

Look at him! Big Nono!

The best stallion in the world!

- That's not true. - lt is true.

Quit it. That means nothing.

You and Nono fucked

only because you love your brother madly, right?

More and more, Lysiane was Ieft out of the game.

AII that was of supreme and incredibIe beauty escaped her.

Believe whatever you want.

l see. You're nothing more than a fag. A fag!

- l don't see what's so funny. - Nothing.

Except that makes Nono a fag, too!

l think that's pretty funny.

- And Robert? - What do l care about Robert?

- l'm me! - You disgust me!

You're my enemy! You've destroyed me.

You have mysterious powers.

They multiply infinitely.

You're not a human being.

You don't belong to this earth!

When Iooking at QuereIIe, Lysiane had aIready Iost that feeIing

that fencers caII "the fraternity of the sword."

She was aIone.

Now l know why l feel so abandoned.

QuereIIe's harmony was indestructibIe

because it was seaIed in that heaven of heavens

where beauty meIts into beauty.

What's with you?

l was wrong! You never had a brother.

You understand? l made a mistake.

Do you hear me?

You never had a brother.

He hasn't got a brother at all.

His birth certificate states,

"Born December 19, 191 8, 10:00am.

"to GabrieIIe Genet and an unknown father.

"Apart from his books, we know nothing about him.

"Not even the date of his death, which he supposes to be near."