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1
00:00:01,034 --> 00:00:04,034
Balzac!
2
00:00:08,708 --> 00:00:11,708
Balzac, where are
you hiding, you rascal?
3
00:00:14,447 --> 00:00:17,082
Come on, young man,
show yourself.
4
00:00:17,083 --> 00:00:20,083
How long have you been
a resident of Vendome?
5
00:00:20,620 --> 00:00:22,855
For four years, sir.
No, five.
6
00:00:22,856 --> 00:00:25,856
ln all this time, how often
did your mother visit you?
7
00:00:26,760 --> 00:00:29,061
Once. One time, sir.
8
00:00:29,062 --> 00:00:32,062
lncluding today's visit,
that'll be twice.
9
00:00:32,599 --> 00:00:35,200
Run to the visitors' room.
10
00:00:35,201 --> 00:00:38,201
But only for ten minutes,
not a minute more.
11
00:00:56,156 --> 00:00:58,590
Someone who is the 32nd
of a class of 34...
12
00:00:58,591 --> 00:01:01,026
Someonewhoisthe32nd
ofaclassof34...
13
00:01:01,027 --> 00:01:04,027
nor kisses.
14
00:01:10,203 --> 00:01:13,203
BALZAC
15
00:02:32,118 --> 00:02:35,118
Stop! You've lost
some of your load!
16
00:02:36,322 --> 00:02:39,124
l'm taking that to the dump.
17
00:02:39,125 --> 00:02:40,526
These books?
18
00:02:40,527 --> 00:02:43,527
All unsold copies.
No one wants them.
19
00:02:43,730 --> 00:02:46,165
But these are
books l wrote.
20
00:02:46,166 --> 00:02:48,600
-Whoa, stop!
-Hands off my horse!
21
00:02:48,601 --> 00:02:51,601
Hands off my books.
l killed myself writing them,
22
00:02:52,238 --> 00:02:53,639
and you're taking them
to the dump?
23
00:02:53,640 --> 00:02:55,841
Let go of my horse.
24
00:02:55,842 --> 00:02:58,410
Hey, what's going on here?
25
00:02:58,411 --> 00:03:01,411
This carter from hell's taking
my books to the garbage dump.
26
00:03:01,848 --> 00:03:04,848
But l won't let him.
Take a look at this.
27
00:03:06,119 --> 00:03:09,119
My books.
28
00:03:10,690 --> 00:03:13,258
lf you need
a credible witness,
29
00:03:13,259 --> 00:03:16,259
my name is Master Plissoud.
l'm a bailiff.
30
00:03:16,663 --> 00:03:19,663
This individual is
blocking the public road.
31
00:03:21,367 --> 00:03:24,367
Horace de Saint-Aubin,
is that you?
32
00:03:24,470 --> 00:03:27,239
And this Lord R'Hoone?
Who is that?
33
00:03:27,240 --> 00:03:29,575
That's me, too,
more or less.
34
00:03:29,576 --> 00:03:31,977
What do you mean?
Are you making fun of me?
35
00:03:31,978 --> 00:03:34,978
Which one are you?
36
00:03:35,048 --> 00:03:38,048
l write under both names,
but my real name is Balzac.
37
00:03:41,554 --> 00:03:44,554
BALZAC'S PRlNTlNG SHOP.
38
00:04:24,430 --> 00:04:27,430
He should have bought
a notary's practice.
39
00:04:27,433 --> 00:04:30,035
l'll never be
convinced otherwise.
40
00:04:30,036 --> 00:04:33,036
Come in, my dear mother!
41
00:04:33,139 --> 00:04:36,139
You, who doubted your son's
abilities so long, look around.
42
00:04:39,178 --> 00:04:41,680
All these machines.
43
00:04:41,681 --> 00:04:44,681
l see, l see.
44
00:04:46,052 --> 00:04:49,052
How disgustingly filthy.
45
00:04:49,155 --> 00:04:51,156
lnk is black,
not filthy.
46
00:04:51,157 --> 00:04:54,157
What will you print with it?
Death announcements?
47
00:04:55,094 --> 00:04:57,796
-No, books of course.
-Books?
48
00:04:57,797 --> 00:05:00,797
You haven't even
established yourself yet,
49
00:05:00,800 --> 00:05:03,335
but you already have
a publisher?
50
00:05:03,336 --> 00:05:06,336
l order the books,
because l'm the publisher.
51
00:05:07,006 --> 00:05:10,006
Of course, l suppose you
intend to write them, too.
52
00:05:10,643 --> 00:05:13,643
No, the first books l wrote
shall also be the last.
53
00:05:14,213 --> 00:05:17,213
Horace de Saint-Aubin
and Lord R'Hoone are dead.
54
00:05:18,151 --> 00:05:21,053
May those ne'er-do-wells
rest in peace.
55
00:05:21,054 --> 00:05:23,088
The name Balzac will not
make its name in literature...
56
00:05:23,089 --> 00:05:24,690
but in business.
57
00:05:24,691 --> 00:05:27,691
So after we paid for
your studies in law,
58
00:05:28,027 --> 00:05:30,729
you end up
peddling books?
59
00:05:30,730 --> 00:05:31,830
Here, sir.
60
00:05:31,831 --> 00:05:34,831
The very first copy
of my invention.
61
00:05:36,002 --> 00:05:38,103
You're holding the complete
Moliere in your hands.
62
00:05:38,104 --> 00:05:41,104
Amazing, huh?
63
00:05:43,476 --> 00:05:46,345
Whether amazing or not,
it's illegible.
64
00:05:46,346 --> 00:05:47,913
What do you mean?
65
00:05:47,914 --> 00:05:49,748
Look.
66
00:05:49,749 --> 00:05:51,616
Even with
a magnifying glass,
67
00:05:51,617 --> 00:05:54,617
you couldn't read
these fly droppings.
68
00:05:54,654 --> 00:05:57,654
No bookshop will sell
a single copy of your books.
69
00:05:58,624 --> 00:06:01,159
So how are you going
to pay your workers?
70
00:06:01,160 --> 00:06:04,160
When will you be able to repay
your father and me?
71
00:06:04,464 --> 00:06:06,064
Fly droppings.
72
00:06:06,065 --> 00:06:09,065
Fly droppings?
73
00:06:14,474 --> 00:06:17,474
Laure? What kind of
welcome is this?
74
00:06:17,810 --> 00:06:20,810
lsn't my angel home?
Laure?
75
00:06:21,080 --> 00:06:23,081
Yes, dear. l'm here.
76
00:06:23,082 --> 00:06:26,082
Why are you sitting
in the dark?
77
00:06:28,020 --> 00:06:30,589
Like a tiny flower
that hides its heart...
78
00:06:30,590 --> 00:06:33,258
beneath its petals
when night falls?
79
00:06:33,259 --> 00:06:35,093
Passionately...
80
00:06:35,094 --> 00:06:37,095
Stop it, Honore.
Behave yourself.
81
00:06:37,096 --> 00:06:38,597
Someone was here today.
82
00:06:38,598 --> 00:06:41,598
A client? Splendid.
Our lucky day.
83
00:06:42,602 --> 00:06:45,602
Here, look.
An order.
84
00:06:45,605 --> 00:06:48,605
"The Art of
Paying One's Debts."'
85
00:06:48,674 --> 00:06:51,674
-Three thousand copies.
-"'A Manual for the Bankrupt."'
86
00:06:53,546 --> 00:06:55,514
What a coincidence.
87
00:06:55,515 --> 00:06:58,515
Because it wasn't a client
who was here, but a bailiff.
88
00:06:59,585 --> 00:07:02,053
That's nothing new.
89
00:07:02,054 --> 00:07:05,054
But this time...
90
00:07:05,258 --> 00:07:07,592
Oh? He put his seal
on everything?
91
00:07:07,593 --> 00:07:08,827
Yes.
92
00:07:08,828 --> 00:07:11,828
His seal. He put his seal
on everything.
93
00:07:22,675 --> 00:07:25,675
You must be
the only man alive...
94
00:07:26,012 --> 00:07:29,012
who wants to make love
when on the brink of bankruptcy.
95
00:07:30,783 --> 00:07:33,783
He put his seal
on everything.
96
00:07:39,292 --> 00:07:42,292
What are you seeking
deep inside of you, my friend?
97
00:07:43,329 --> 00:07:46,329
Nothing inaccessible.
l already have love.
98
00:07:48,468 --> 00:07:51,468
l lack wealth and glory,
but l'll have that soon, too.
99
00:07:54,273 --> 00:07:57,273
Preserve your health first.
No, thank you.
100
00:07:57,477 --> 00:08:00,045
Then the rest will follow.
101
00:08:00,046 --> 00:08:03,046
l am appalled at the way
you wolfed down this dinner.
102
00:08:03,583 --> 00:08:05,617
Considering it's my second.
103
00:08:05,618 --> 00:08:07,552
l dined with Latouche...
104
00:08:07,553 --> 00:08:10,388
two hours ago at Figaro's
editorial offices.
105
00:08:10,389 --> 00:08:12,624
You don't listen
to my advice.
106
00:08:12,625 --> 00:08:14,259
You demand the impossible.
107
00:08:14,260 --> 00:08:17,260
Eat less, work less,
and drink less coffee.
108
00:08:18,531 --> 00:08:20,265
That seems
reasonable to me.
109
00:08:20,266 --> 00:08:22,067
lt's mean-minded.
110
00:08:22,068 --> 00:08:23,568
Nothing could be further
from my character.
111
00:08:23,569 --> 00:08:26,569
Do you know why,
my dear Nacquart?
112
00:08:26,572 --> 00:08:29,572
Because l am a giant.
113
00:08:31,277 --> 00:08:34,277
And upon that note, the giant
will retire to his bed.
114
00:08:45,091 --> 00:08:47,092
Honore falls asleep
when the world wakes...
115
00:08:47,093 --> 00:08:49,661
and wakes when it sleeps.
116
00:08:49,662 --> 00:08:51,396
lt must be exciting
to live with him.
117
00:08:51,397 --> 00:08:53,765
l merely live
next to him.
118
00:08:53,766 --> 00:08:55,767
Nobody exists
when he works...
119
00:08:55,768 --> 00:08:58,768
except the characters
he has invented.
120
00:08:59,605 --> 00:09:02,541
l'm jealous of them,
121
00:09:02,542 --> 00:09:05,542
and yet l am the one who
encourages him to write.
122
00:09:05,545 --> 00:09:08,046
Especially when
he doubts himself.
123
00:09:08,047 --> 00:09:09,915
Doubts?
124
00:09:09,916 --> 00:09:12,916
Yes. l suppose
he'll always doubt himself.
125
00:09:14,186 --> 00:09:17,122
Even if he becomes
a great writer?
126
00:09:17,123 --> 00:09:20,123
That depends on in whose eyes
he wants to be great.
127
00:09:21,260 --> 00:09:24,260
But that's his secret.
128
00:09:38,778 --> 00:09:41,778
My Napoleon.
Be careful with my Napoleon!
129
00:09:45,418 --> 00:09:48,418
My grandfather lost both
his arms because of him.
130
00:09:48,888 --> 00:09:51,888
And my father his life.
l don't like him, why do you?
131
00:09:52,458 --> 00:09:53,825
l admire him.
132
00:09:53,826 --> 00:09:56,826
What he achieved with the sword,
l want to do with the pen.
133
00:09:57,597 --> 00:09:59,364
You, too, want to
conquer Europe?
134
00:09:59,365 --> 00:10:02,365
Yes, but the Europe
of the heart.
135
00:10:03,636 --> 00:10:05,637
What time is it?
136
00:10:05,638 --> 00:10:08,506
-Midnight, sir.
-Then it's off to war.
137
00:10:08,507 --> 00:10:11,343
-Bring my ammunition.
-Ammunition?
138
00:10:11,344 --> 00:10:14,344
Yes, coffee, piping hot
and very strong. Go on!
139
00:10:32,565 --> 00:10:35,565
Hurry!
140
00:10:51,083 --> 00:10:52,651
Your mocha
is extraordinary!
141
00:10:52,652 --> 00:10:55,620
Even smoother than
the last time.
142
00:10:55,621 --> 00:10:58,621
And now, darling,
just taste this.
143
00:11:00,159 --> 00:11:03,159
Like a Baby Jesus
swaddled in velvet.
144
00:11:05,498 --> 00:11:08,498
l'll take two large sacks
of your Baby Jesus.
145
00:11:09,568 --> 00:11:11,569
Monsieur is a connoisseur.
146
00:11:11,570 --> 00:11:14,570
What about mixing it with
roasted Martinique?
147
00:11:14,607 --> 00:11:17,607
Absolutely not!
Only l do the mixing.
148
00:11:17,877 --> 00:11:20,311
As for your Martinique,
it's too bland.
149
00:11:20,312 --> 00:11:23,312
Your bourbon
on the other hand...
150
00:11:25,451 --> 00:11:28,451
-Who is that?
-Balzac.
151
00:11:28,854 --> 00:11:30,622
-A writer.
-Balzac?
152
00:11:30,623 --> 00:11:33,623
He floods the newspapers
with insipid articles...
153
00:11:33,626 --> 00:11:35,427
that no one reads.
154
00:11:35,428 --> 00:11:38,428
And between floods,
he courts Madame de Berny?
155
00:11:38,631 --> 00:11:41,631
What if l told you
he's her lover?
156
00:11:41,967 --> 00:11:44,369
Yes, after having
tutored her children.
157
00:11:44,370 --> 00:11:45,904
Who is this?
158
00:11:45,905 --> 00:11:48,339
Eugene Sue,
the great novelist.
159
00:11:48,340 --> 00:11:50,475
All my customers
are crazy about him.
160
00:11:50,476 --> 00:11:53,476
So that's Eugene Sue!
161
00:11:53,646 --> 00:11:55,780
He's better dressed than l am,
but l write better.
162
00:11:55,781 --> 00:11:58,650
But l was talking
about the woman.
163
00:11:58,651 --> 00:12:00,852
The duchess
Laure d'Abrantes.
164
00:12:00,853 --> 00:12:02,087
l knew she had no money,
165
00:12:02,088 --> 00:12:05,088
but imagine having to wear
a 20-year-old dress.
166
00:12:07,493 --> 00:12:10,493
Excuse me for
accosting you, but...
167
00:12:11,097 --> 00:12:12,597
But?
168
00:12:12,598 --> 00:12:15,598
Madame de Berny here tells me
that your name is Laure.
169
00:12:19,105 --> 00:12:21,306
My mother's name is
Charlotte-Laure.
170
00:12:21,307 --> 00:12:23,742
And my sister, too,
is called Laure.
171
00:12:23,743 --> 00:12:26,611
And Madame de Berny
is also called Laure.
172
00:12:26,612 --> 00:12:28,246
Amusing, isn't it?
173
00:12:28,247 --> 00:12:30,181
To be hounded
by these names.
174
00:12:30,182 --> 00:12:33,182
l'm not trying to hound you,
nor is my first name.
175
00:12:33,919 --> 00:12:35,687
Besides...
176
00:12:35,688 --> 00:12:38,623
isn't that just an excuse
to call me by my first name?
177
00:12:38,624 --> 00:12:40,992
Not right away.
178
00:12:40,993 --> 00:12:42,160
Not now, not ever.
179
00:12:42,161 --> 00:12:45,161
At any rate, l always give
women a new first name.
180
00:12:48,467 --> 00:12:49,834
Paradis!
181
00:12:49,835 --> 00:12:52,137
Sir?
182
00:12:52,138 --> 00:12:54,806
She's a duchess.
Her name is Laure d'Abrantes.
183
00:12:54,807 --> 00:12:57,807
Take this letter to her.
184
00:12:59,311 --> 00:13:02,311
Ladies, gentlemen,
put down your stakes.
185
00:13:05,451 --> 00:13:08,451
Nothing at all.
186
00:13:09,522 --> 00:13:12,522
Number 2.
187
00:13:13,492 --> 00:13:16,492
Put down your stakes.
188
00:13:18,430 --> 00:13:21,430
Number 7.
189
00:13:22,101 --> 00:13:24,135
lsn't that Balzac?
190
00:13:24,136 --> 00:13:27,136
l read the "'Silhouette"'
because of him. He writes well.
191
00:13:27,706 --> 00:13:30,706
l don't call that writing.
He edits articles.
192
00:13:31,577 --> 00:13:34,577
l assure you, writing is
more complicated than that.
193
00:13:44,256 --> 00:13:46,691
Here l am.
194
00:13:46,692 --> 00:13:49,692
You've shown up at
the appointed hour to save me.
195
00:13:49,695 --> 00:13:52,695
Tonight l'll lose
all l want.
196
00:13:52,698 --> 00:13:54,833
This is a gambling house?
197
00:13:54,834 --> 00:13:57,834
Why did you ask me to come here
on our first rendezvous?
198
00:13:59,305 --> 00:14:02,305
You are here to bring me luck.
You know the saying:
199
00:14:03,042 --> 00:14:05,577
''Unlucky in love,
lucky at cards."'
200
00:14:05,578 --> 00:14:07,712
Unlucky in love?
201
00:14:07,713 --> 00:14:10,713
Must l deduce from that
you intend to make me suffer?
202
00:14:12,518 --> 00:14:15,518
-Have you ever heard of biribi?
-Biribi, no.
203
00:14:18,023 --> 00:14:19,090
19.
204
00:14:19,091 --> 00:14:22,091
Lend me some money.
205
00:14:24,763 --> 00:14:27,565
That is all l have.
206
00:14:27,566 --> 00:14:30,168
We'll make do with it.
207
00:14:30,169 --> 00:14:31,603
lf the number comes up,
208
00:14:31,604 --> 00:14:34,604
we'll make 64 times more
than we bet, and it will.
209
00:14:38,644 --> 00:14:41,644
-Number 8 wins.
-What did l tell you?
210
00:15:06,272 --> 00:15:09,272
l'm tired of you and
this sinister place.
211
00:15:10,075 --> 00:15:12,143
Go and call me a fiacre.
212
00:15:12,144 --> 00:15:14,779
To take you back
to Versailles?
213
00:15:14,780 --> 00:15:17,081
But how can l
pay the fare?
214
00:15:17,082 --> 00:15:20,082
You've gambled away
the little l had.
215
00:15:24,390 --> 00:15:27,390
The situation is not
all that catastrophic.
216
00:15:28,360 --> 00:15:31,360
l will let you have
my room and my bed.
217
00:15:32,097 --> 00:15:34,132
You'll be very comfortable.
218
00:15:34,133 --> 00:15:37,133
l'll sleep in the drawing room.
The sofa is very comfortable.
219
00:15:38,304 --> 00:15:41,304
Do you know why l have
such a large, soft sofa...
220
00:15:42,107 --> 00:15:43,775
in the drawing room?
221
00:15:43,776 --> 00:15:46,110
Please spare me your
base reflections.
222
00:15:46,111 --> 00:15:49,111
But...
223
00:15:49,214 --> 00:15:51,115
Hot water and mustard seeds...
224
00:15:51,116 --> 00:15:54,116
will calm down the turmoil
in any soul.
225
00:15:56,255 --> 00:15:58,923
Turmoil? l'm not
at all in a turmoil.
226
00:15:58,924 --> 00:16:01,726
But l am.
227
00:16:01,727 --> 00:16:04,062
You're the most beautiful
woman in the world.
228
00:16:04,063 --> 00:16:06,030
Remove your hands.
229
00:16:06,031 --> 00:16:09,031
lf you wish.
230
00:16:10,235 --> 00:16:13,235
l don't need hands
to touch you. l just use...
231
00:16:15,441 --> 00:16:18,209
this...
232
00:16:18,210 --> 00:16:21,210
to touch a woman's heart.
233
00:16:21,413 --> 00:16:24,413
-Mine is tired.
-May l verify that?
234
00:16:28,253 --> 00:16:31,253
First my feet, then the tip
of my nose, and now...
235
00:16:32,524 --> 00:16:35,524
You're a fanatic. You can't
stand things to resist you.
236
00:16:36,695 --> 00:16:39,695
But, Laure,
you're not a thing.
237
00:16:41,166 --> 00:16:43,401
Weren't you going
to call me Marie?
238
00:16:43,402 --> 00:16:46,170
When you belong to me.
239
00:16:46,171 --> 00:16:49,171
But maybe the moment
has come for you?
240
00:16:50,809 --> 00:16:53,611
You must earn
the right to have me.
241
00:16:53,612 --> 00:16:55,313
How?
242
00:16:55,314 --> 00:16:58,314
You want to be a great novelist.
So start inventing.
243
00:16:59,418 --> 00:17:02,418
This is your point of departure:
a beautiful woman,
244
00:17:03,188 --> 00:17:05,189
l'm just repeating
what you said,
245
00:17:05,190 --> 00:17:08,092
who has been wooed
by all Europe.
246
00:17:08,093 --> 00:17:11,093
Kneeling at the feet of this
woman, a somewhat madman...
247
00:17:15,134 --> 00:17:18,134
who desires her
desperately and...
248
00:17:18,670 --> 00:17:21,670
Let me come to the point.
How would you describe this man?
249
00:17:22,641 --> 00:17:25,641
Rather ugly, rather poor,
rather fat.
250
00:17:27,813 --> 00:17:30,813
ln fact, on paper
he wouldn't have a chance.
251
00:17:31,083 --> 00:17:34,083
My God, it's a scene
for my book.
252
00:17:35,020 --> 00:17:38,020
l have to write it down
right away.
253
00:17:39,358 --> 00:17:40,958
Please don't be angry.
254
00:17:40,959 --> 00:17:43,959
The imagination is
an impatient mistress.
255
00:17:45,497 --> 00:17:48,497
lt respects neither
hunger nor sleep nor desire.
256
00:17:49,068 --> 00:17:52,068
l shall be back.
257
00:18:10,456 --> 00:18:13,456
Shut up! lf you speak,
l shall get angry.
258
00:18:15,627 --> 00:18:18,627
l do not want to dirty my poor
soul which l've come to purify.
259
00:18:28,140 --> 00:18:30,575
Honore, what do you want?
260
00:18:30,576 --> 00:18:32,276
A thousand francs.
261
00:18:32,277 --> 00:18:35,277
No, not a sou.
262
00:18:41,120 --> 00:18:44,120
What a lovely veil.
ls that Venetian lace...
263
00:18:45,491 --> 00:18:48,491
or lace from Alencon?
264
00:18:50,162 --> 00:18:52,930
l'm on the brink of
a huge success.
265
00:18:52,931 --> 00:18:55,931
l'm writing a book
on behalf of a duchess.
266
00:18:58,303 --> 00:19:01,205
Laure d'Abrantes has asked me
to write her memoirs.
267
00:19:01,206 --> 00:19:04,206
d'Abrantes.
268
00:19:04,776 --> 00:19:07,776
Aristocrats of the Empire.
269
00:19:08,480 --> 00:19:11,182
-Do you know her?
-l'm not the only one.
270
00:19:11,183 --> 00:19:14,183
-Half of Europe has had her.
-But which half?
271
00:19:14,620 --> 00:19:17,620
Princes, ambassadors,
generals.
272
00:19:18,190 --> 00:19:21,190
Just think of all
the secrets we will unveil.
273
00:19:21,560 --> 00:19:24,560
The book will
be a success.
274
00:19:24,730 --> 00:19:27,730
A book written on bedsheets.
275
00:19:28,200 --> 00:19:30,168
And not very
clean sheets either.
276
00:19:30,169 --> 00:19:33,169
l thought you had higher
literary aspirations.
277
00:19:34,139 --> 00:19:37,139
l can have those
when l'm rich.
278
00:19:38,844 --> 00:19:41,844
l need those
thousand francs.
279
00:19:45,250 --> 00:19:48,250
l don't have them right now.
Take me home.
280
00:19:49,588 --> 00:19:51,355
Thank you!
281
00:19:51,356 --> 00:19:54,356
Don't thank me.
282
00:19:54,760 --> 00:19:57,760
l am in the process of helping
you compromise yourself.
283
00:19:58,764 --> 00:20:01,566
But perhaps
you were made for that.
284
00:20:01,567 --> 00:20:04,567
You must have been made
for something.
285
00:20:27,859 --> 00:20:30,859
Frankly, l don't understand
the appeal.
286
00:20:31,230 --> 00:20:33,397
What? You don't like
this painting?
287
00:20:33,398 --> 00:20:36,267
No, it fits in
with the rest.
288
00:20:36,268 --> 00:20:38,536
l'm talking about
Madame d'Abrantes.
289
00:20:38,537 --> 00:20:40,671
But l'm not jealous.
290
00:20:40,672 --> 00:20:43,040
l just don't see
what you see in her.
291
00:20:43,041 --> 00:20:44,709
What l see in her?
292
00:20:44,710 --> 00:20:46,310
First, she's a duchess.
293
00:20:46,311 --> 00:20:49,080
l've never known
a duchess before.
294
00:20:49,081 --> 00:20:52,081
And this duchess is not
only a woman...
295
00:20:52,484 --> 00:20:54,652
but an epic
in her own right.
296
00:20:54,653 --> 00:20:56,721
And what an epic she is.
297
00:20:56,722 --> 00:20:59,722
She is the widow of
General Junot.
298
00:20:59,725 --> 00:21:02,725
She has experienced all the
splendours of the Empire...
299
00:21:04,162 --> 00:21:07,162
and danced in Napoleon's arms
before Moscow in flames.
300
00:21:08,166 --> 00:21:10,735
She's just an ember
of her old self.
301
00:21:10,736 --> 00:21:12,803
No, her embers are alive.
302
00:21:12,804 --> 00:21:15,804
She is ablaze with the desire
to write a book.
303
00:21:17,109 --> 00:21:20,109
"'The Memoirs of the
Duchess d'Abrantes."'
304
00:21:20,412 --> 00:21:23,412
She is not content to be
a duchess, a widow, an epic?
305
00:21:24,683 --> 00:21:26,150
And on top of that,
she can write?
306
00:21:26,151 --> 00:21:29,151
No, not her.
l'm guiding her hand.
307
00:21:30,122 --> 00:21:31,889
What prompted you
to buy that? Ugly.
308
00:21:31,890 --> 00:21:34,890
This painting? lt cost me
three months of writing!
309
00:21:35,994 --> 00:21:38,562
So now you equate
price with beauty?
310
00:21:38,563 --> 00:21:41,563
lf you knew that garret
where l first lived,
311
00:21:41,633 --> 00:21:43,134
you'd understand.
312
00:21:43,135 --> 00:21:45,136
The only beautiful things
l knew then...
313
00:21:45,137 --> 00:21:48,137
were the sketches
l made on the tiles.
314
00:21:49,374 --> 00:21:52,009
-Hear that?
-lt's the front bell.
315
00:21:52,010 --> 00:21:54,845
-l'm sure it's him.
-Who?
316
00:21:54,846 --> 00:21:57,846
Plissoud! That stupid bailiff
who's been persecuting me...
317
00:21:59,651 --> 00:22:02,086
as though l were
the sole debtor in Paris.
318
00:22:02,087 --> 00:22:05,056
l just don't have
any money.
319
00:22:05,057 --> 00:22:07,525
Listen, receive him
and distract him.
320
00:22:07,526 --> 00:22:10,261
l'll slip out
through the courtyard.
321
00:22:10,262 --> 00:22:13,262
lt's just the papermaker.
They've brought ink and paper.
322
00:22:14,599 --> 00:22:17,599
As for the bill, l've
just bought this painting,
323
00:22:17,602 --> 00:22:19,770
so l'm momentarily broke.
324
00:22:19,771 --> 00:22:22,771
Here, Paradis,
pay the delivery man.
325
00:22:32,851 --> 00:22:35,851
l'll pay all that
back some day.
326
00:22:55,841 --> 00:22:57,808
l don't want you to say...
327
00:22:57,809 --> 00:23:00,809
"'some day we'll do
this or that"' anymore.
328
00:23:01,179 --> 00:23:03,514
l am no longer certain
of the future.
329
00:23:03,515 --> 00:23:06,515
l mean, of my future.
330
00:23:08,687 --> 00:23:11,489
And to say that we love
each other and...
331
00:23:11,490 --> 00:23:14,490
And what, my love?
332
00:23:21,666 --> 00:23:24,666
You're crying.
333
00:23:25,070 --> 00:23:28,070
That's of no matter.
334
00:23:28,607 --> 00:23:31,607
Yes, it is. l can see
that you have sorrows.
335
00:23:32,210 --> 00:23:35,210
Not sorrows, Honore.
These are tears of regret.
336
00:23:39,418 --> 00:23:41,619
l'm getting
too old for this.
337
00:23:41,620 --> 00:23:44,620
Too old? Yesterday we were
so happy and made love.
338
00:23:45,223 --> 00:23:48,223
Why can't we
be happy today?
339
00:23:48,493 --> 00:23:51,328
Because you're
24 hours older?
340
00:23:51,329 --> 00:23:54,329
No, the truth is that
you no longer desire me.
341
00:23:58,837 --> 00:24:01,705
You see me for what l am,
and l disgust you.
342
00:24:01,706 --> 00:24:04,706
l have never loved you more
than l do at this very minute.
343
00:24:09,080 --> 00:24:12,080
Shorten the sleeve.
A bit shorter. That's it.
344
00:24:21,393 --> 00:24:23,093
Monsieur Hugo. Master.
345
00:24:23,094 --> 00:24:24,595
Hello.
346
00:24:24,596 --> 00:24:26,464
Come in.
Let me take your coat.
347
00:24:26,465 --> 00:24:29,099
Victor, how are you?
348
00:24:29,100 --> 00:24:32,100
-How are you?
-Good. l'll let you go ahead.
349
00:24:34,606 --> 00:24:37,606
Hurry, children, hurry.
Monsieur Hugo's evening clothes.
350
00:24:38,977 --> 00:24:40,611
So, it's true?
351
00:24:40,612 --> 00:24:43,612
Your friend d'Abrantes found
a scribe to write her memoirs?
352
00:24:45,116 --> 00:24:47,218
That famous Balzac?
353
00:24:47,219 --> 00:24:49,320
He's only famous
in his own eyes.
354
00:24:49,321 --> 00:24:51,922
He's an oaf,
a jack of all trades.
355
00:24:51,923 --> 00:24:54,058
His articles infest
all the papers.
356
00:24:54,059 --> 00:24:56,660
And he has an opinion
on everything,
357
00:24:56,661 --> 00:24:59,029
but that will pass.
358
00:24:59,030 --> 00:25:01,599
Go and look in
my pocket.
359
00:25:01,600 --> 00:25:04,600
He has just
published that.
360
00:25:07,372 --> 00:25:10,372
''The Code of Honest People"' or
"'The Art of Not Being Duped."'
361
00:25:12,377 --> 00:25:15,377
Such books are
no competition for us.
362
00:25:16,081 --> 00:25:18,082
Read it before you laugh.
363
00:25:18,083 --> 00:25:21,083
The acuity with which
he sees things is amazing.
364
00:25:22,587 --> 00:25:25,587
The lucidity with which he
judges our time and our world.
365
00:25:27,926 --> 00:25:30,926
That little book contains
fifty new ideas for novels.
366
00:25:31,429 --> 00:25:33,397
But he still
has to write them.
367
00:25:33,398 --> 00:25:35,666
He'll write them.
368
00:25:35,667 --> 00:25:38,667
With those fat, fingers of his,
Balzac will write them.
369
00:25:42,607 --> 00:25:45,209
Sorry, sir, you're in
the wrong place.
370
00:25:45,210 --> 00:25:46,844
This is a tailor's shop.
371
00:25:46,845 --> 00:25:48,846
Not only a tailor's shop...
372
00:25:48,847 --> 00:25:51,847
this is a temple of elegance
and Parisian flair.
373
00:25:52,417 --> 00:25:55,417
A temple of which you are
the high priest, Master Buisson.
374
00:25:59,624 --> 00:26:02,624
Good day, Monsieur Victor Hugo.
Good day, Monsieur Eugene Sue.
375
00:26:03,795 --> 00:26:06,795
My dear Buisson, l need you
to make me a wardrobe.
376
00:26:09,100 --> 00:26:12,100
Five or six frocks,
a selection of ties,
377
00:26:12,370 --> 00:26:15,370
shirts and vests,
a dozen trousers,
378
00:26:15,674 --> 00:26:18,674
a complete outfit that
corresponds to the way l write.
379
00:26:20,145 --> 00:26:22,246
And how do you
intend to write?
380
00:26:22,247 --> 00:26:25,247
Generously and
on a large scale.
381
00:27:00,619 --> 00:27:03,354
-My, how original.
-Do you like it?
382
00:27:03,355 --> 00:27:05,422
Your outfit?
383
00:27:05,423 --> 00:27:07,758
lt's the first time l've ever
seen one in that colour.
384
00:27:07,759 --> 00:27:09,827
Well, in all
those colours.
385
00:27:09,828 --> 00:27:12,763
l chose them all myself.
386
00:27:12,764 --> 00:27:14,565
l'm wearing this for the
first time in your honour.
387
00:27:14,566 --> 00:27:17,067
Buisson created it.
388
00:27:17,068 --> 00:27:18,736
That must have cost
a pretty penny.
389
00:27:18,737 --> 00:27:20,771
Not a liard!
390
00:27:20,772 --> 00:27:23,474
l have a head for business.
391
00:27:23,475 --> 00:27:26,475
Buisson decked me out for free
in exchange for which...
392
00:27:28,580 --> 00:27:30,447
l will include the following
phrase in my book...
393
00:27:30,448 --> 00:27:32,082
''An outfit made by Buisson...
394
00:27:32,083 --> 00:27:35,083
''suffices for a man to become
king of the salon."'
395
00:27:54,606 --> 00:27:56,874
An English cannonball
at Waterloo.
396
00:27:56,875 --> 00:27:59,875
Two-legged butlers have become
rather too expensive for me.
397
00:28:02,047 --> 00:28:05,047
Here, this will put you
in a better mood.
398
00:28:05,650 --> 00:28:07,551
"'Memoirs of
the Duchess d'Abrantes"'...
399
00:28:07,552 --> 00:28:09,053
by Honore de Balzac.
400
00:28:09,054 --> 00:28:11,722
How impressive.
401
00:28:11,723 --> 00:28:14,058
lmagine this bomb,
for it is one...
402
00:28:14,059 --> 00:28:17,059
in the hands of those who
once begged you for favours...
403
00:28:17,295 --> 00:28:20,295
before discarding you when
the wind of history turned.
404
00:28:22,834 --> 00:28:25,834
lngratitude, Madame.
There is nothing worse.
405
00:28:26,204 --> 00:28:28,806
lngratitude?
Truly a terrible thing.
406
00:28:28,807 --> 00:28:31,807
But, tell me, should your name
really appear on the cover?
407
00:28:33,144 --> 00:28:35,112
But, Madame,
l wrote the book.
408
00:28:35,113 --> 00:28:38,113
Yes, certainly,
but it's my story.
409
00:28:39,250 --> 00:28:42,250
lf you hadn't been around,
l'd have written it myself.
410
00:28:43,755 --> 00:28:46,755
My name on the cover would
cause much more of a splash.
411
00:28:48,827 --> 00:28:51,628
d'Abrantes is a name
that has had its hour of glory.
412
00:28:51,629 --> 00:28:53,464
Whereas Balzac...
413
00:28:53,465 --> 00:28:56,465
Who's heard of Balzac?
414
00:28:56,534 --> 00:28:59,534
And l thought l had
a head for business!
415
00:29:03,074 --> 00:29:05,709
lf l relinquish my rights...
416
00:29:05,710 --> 00:29:08,710
l assume l can expect
some kind of compensation?
417
00:29:10,682 --> 00:29:13,150
Such as?
418
00:29:13,151 --> 00:29:15,185
You know exactly
what l mean.
419
00:29:15,186 --> 00:29:18,186
Money?
420
00:29:18,423 --> 00:29:21,423
l wasn't thinking of
money at all.
421
00:29:21,693 --> 00:29:23,560
But be that as it may...
422
00:29:23,561 --> 00:29:25,662
l'll go for the money.
How much?
423
00:29:25,663 --> 00:29:26,897
Alas.
424
00:29:26,898 --> 00:29:29,898
''Alas"' is a word, Madame.
l was expecting a number.
425
00:29:30,869 --> 00:29:33,869
You know very well
that l have no money.
426
00:29:39,244 --> 00:29:42,244
All l have is this
little adorable Rembrandt.
427
00:29:42,413 --> 00:29:45,413
Oh, what
a splendid painting.
428
00:29:46,584 --> 00:29:48,385
Yes, isn't it?
429
00:29:48,386 --> 00:29:51,386
l'd be willing to give it to you
in recompense for your work.
430
00:29:56,728 --> 00:29:59,129
A man is asking
to see you.
431
00:29:59,130 --> 00:30:01,031
l'm writing, Adele.
432
00:30:01,032 --> 00:30:03,934
Duchess d'Abrantes
has recommended him.
433
00:30:03,935 --> 00:30:06,935
Do me a favour
by throwing out her protege.
434
00:30:07,272 --> 00:30:09,306
l cannot, Victor.
He is...
435
00:30:09,307 --> 00:30:10,707
Armed?
436
00:30:10,708 --> 00:30:13,708
Huge.
437
00:30:22,620 --> 00:30:24,655
What a beautiful home.
438
00:30:24,656 --> 00:30:27,656
This is exactly the kind
of house l'd like to have.
439
00:30:28,026 --> 00:30:31,026
Your writing has enabled you
to afford a house like this?
440
00:30:33,631 --> 00:30:36,166
Can l offer you a glass
of sweet wine?
441
00:30:36,167 --> 00:30:39,167
No, l'd prefer
some coffee.
442
00:30:41,506 --> 00:30:44,506
But make it strong,
very strong.
443
00:30:59,724 --> 00:31:02,724
''MEMOlRES OF DUCHESS D'ABRANTES"'
BY THE DUCHESS D'ABRANTES.
444
00:31:05,697 --> 00:31:08,697
My angel, this time, Victor Hugo
and l got on famously.
445
00:31:09,634 --> 00:31:12,603
l spent the entire
afternoon with him.
446
00:31:12,604 --> 00:31:15,105
His wife can't brew coffee
to save her life...
447
00:31:15,106 --> 00:31:16,840
but she's charming.
448
00:31:16,841 --> 00:31:19,841
Let's hope Madame d'Abrantes
isn't offended.
449
00:31:20,445 --> 00:31:23,445
To write someone's memoirs, one
must spend much time together.
450
00:31:24,716 --> 00:31:26,783
ln intimate company,
l mean.
451
00:31:26,784 --> 00:31:29,553
No, l see her,
but not like that.
452
00:31:29,554 --> 00:31:32,554
So she has
turned you down?
453
00:31:34,125 --> 00:31:37,125
lt's humiliating for me
that she doesn't want you.
454
00:31:37,128 --> 00:31:38,629
But then...
455
00:31:38,630 --> 00:31:41,630
if she were crazy about you,
l would be in despair.
456
00:31:43,768 --> 00:31:46,637
She doesn't want to,
l've stopped wanting to,
457
00:31:46,638 --> 00:31:48,405
and you're in the middle.
458
00:31:48,406 --> 00:31:51,208
What a beautiful, sad book
that would be.
459
00:31:51,209 --> 00:31:53,143
That doesn't make
for good literature.
460
00:31:53,144 --> 00:31:55,979
A writer must paint
the suffering of others,
461
00:31:55,980 --> 00:31:58,980
not the one he sees
in his mirror.
462
00:32:13,298 --> 00:32:15,599
No, not my desk!
463
00:32:15,600 --> 00:32:18,600
lt has witnessed my misery,
all my projects,
464
00:32:18,603 --> 00:32:21,104
it has heard
all my thoughts.
465
00:32:21,105 --> 00:32:24,007
Take this bust instead.
466
00:32:24,008 --> 00:32:26,109
How much do you think
this bust is worth?
467
00:32:26,110 --> 00:32:27,110
200 francs.
468
00:32:27,111 --> 00:32:28,812
What?
l paid 2,000 for it!
469
00:32:28,813 --> 00:32:31,813
Well, take it anyway.
470
00:32:32,116 --> 00:32:35,116
That Meissen clock.
l paid 800 francs for it.
471
00:32:36,120 --> 00:32:37,688
You were cheated.
lt's only worth 300.
472
00:32:37,689 --> 00:32:40,689
lnstead of trying
to fleece me, let me work.
473
00:32:41,125 --> 00:32:44,125
l need to work to earn money
to pay back my creditors.
474
00:32:45,897 --> 00:32:48,897
Stop buying these
bric-a-bracs.
475
00:32:49,100 --> 00:32:51,635
This worthless
jumble of oddments.
476
00:32:51,636 --> 00:32:53,370
You understand nothing.
477
00:32:53,371 --> 00:32:55,305
ln order to live in Paris,
a writer...
478
00:32:55,306 --> 00:32:57,975
Must write.
Then write.
479
00:32:57,976 --> 00:33:00,644
l'm not saying that for my sake.
l don't read your books.
480
00:33:00,645 --> 00:33:03,645
Till we meet again.
481
00:33:07,585 --> 00:33:10,585
Tomorrow, perhaps.
482
00:33:12,123 --> 00:33:15,123
l show why women in their 30s
whose dreams were destroyed...
483
00:33:17,095 --> 00:33:19,696
by the indifference
of their husbands...
484
00:33:19,697 --> 00:33:22,697
have no choice
but to take on lovers.
485
00:33:23,101 --> 00:33:26,101
What do you think?
486
00:33:26,104 --> 00:33:28,572
l'm not thirty, dear.
487
00:33:28,573 --> 00:33:31,573
You weren't much older when
you took me as your lover.
488
00:33:31,776 --> 00:33:34,776
But you were
my children's tutor.
489
00:33:35,580 --> 00:33:38,048
You must have had
an ulterior motive?
490
00:33:38,049 --> 00:33:40,250
No, absolutely not.
491
00:33:40,251 --> 00:33:42,719
l wasn't attracted
to you at all.
492
00:33:42,720 --> 00:33:45,255
l found you too...
493
00:33:45,256 --> 00:33:48,256
too bulky and
also a bit dirty.
494
00:33:48,393 --> 00:33:51,393
Moreover, you didn't
smell very good.
495
00:33:53,531 --> 00:33:55,832
And your nose.
496
00:33:55,833 --> 00:33:58,268
What about my nose?
497
00:33:58,269 --> 00:34:00,537
lt's huge.
498
00:34:00,538 --> 00:34:03,538
lt just made me laugh.
499
00:34:03,574 --> 00:34:06,574
And then one evening...
500
00:34:06,677 --> 00:34:09,613
one evening you kissed me.
501
00:34:09,614 --> 00:34:12,614
You did it without asking
whether l wanted to be kissed.
502
00:34:14,318 --> 00:34:17,087
During the first part
of the kiss, l thought,
503
00:34:17,088 --> 00:34:20,088
''l'll slap him for this."'
504
00:34:20,091 --> 00:34:22,225
During the middle,
l said to myself,
505
00:34:22,226 --> 00:34:25,226
''lt's not as unpleasant
as l thought."'
506
00:34:27,265 --> 00:34:30,100
And at the end
of the kiss,
507
00:34:30,101 --> 00:34:33,101
l was head over heels
in love with you.
508
00:34:42,680 --> 00:34:45,680
Dr. Nacquart is here.
There's been an accident.
509
00:34:46,150 --> 00:34:49,150
No, it's not
Madame de Berny, is it?
510
00:34:49,187 --> 00:34:52,187
No, not her.
l won't allow it!
511
00:34:53,758 --> 00:34:54,991
Am l too late?
512
00:34:54,992 --> 00:34:57,661
She'll recover this time,
513
00:34:57,662 --> 00:35:00,662
but l must admit
l'm very worried.
514
00:35:00,832 --> 00:35:03,066
But why?
What is ailing her?
515
00:35:03,067 --> 00:35:06,067
Her heart.
lt's tired, worn-out.
516
00:35:06,337 --> 00:35:09,337
Why worn-out?
She's not that...
517
00:35:10,641 --> 00:35:12,209
Can't you find
the right word?
518
00:35:12,210 --> 00:35:14,411
Fact is, she's old...
519
00:35:14,412 --> 00:35:16,646
or in the process
of becoming old.
520
00:35:16,647 --> 00:35:18,515
And what of it?
521
00:35:18,516 --> 00:35:21,516
lt's not a crime to get old.
We will all get old.
522
00:35:21,719 --> 00:35:23,553
l must hasten
to her side.
523
00:35:23,554 --> 00:35:26,554
She may not receive
any visitors.
524
00:35:26,591 --> 00:35:29,092
She needs rest,
lots of rest.
525
00:35:29,093 --> 00:35:32,093
You are expected
elsewhere and...
526
00:35:32,363 --> 00:35:35,363
l couldn't do anything
there, my friend.
527
00:35:49,614 --> 00:35:52,614
A liver abscess at 83 years
of age is always fatal.
528
00:36:02,460 --> 00:36:05,460
He didn't leave you
anything, of course.
529
00:36:06,063 --> 00:36:09,063
lt cost us a fortune when your
printing shop went bankrupt.
530
00:36:10,635 --> 00:36:13,069
l'm not even including
what we spent...
531
00:36:13,070 --> 00:36:16,070
on your whims and fancies.
532
00:36:17,041 --> 00:36:19,576
My whims and fancies?
533
00:36:19,577 --> 00:36:22,577
Your stubbornness to write books
that don't sell a whim.
534
00:36:25,049 --> 00:36:28,049
What a foolish idea to write
that novel about the Chouans.
535
00:36:29,020 --> 00:36:32,020
Who'll be interested
in that old war?
536
00:36:41,032 --> 00:36:44,032
l found a rag-and-bone man who
agreed to get rid of that junk.
537
00:36:47,338 --> 00:36:50,338
lf you want a memento
of your father, help yourself.
538
00:37:00,751 --> 00:37:03,286
But he looks like...
539
00:37:03,287 --> 00:37:04,988
That's perfectly normal.
540
00:37:04,989 --> 00:37:07,989
That's your father's brother.
His name was Louis.
541
00:37:08,192 --> 00:37:11,061
He got
a poor girl pregnant.
542
00:37:11,062 --> 00:37:14,062
To forestall a scandal,
he killed her.
543
00:37:14,131 --> 00:37:16,399
And you hid this from me?
544
00:37:16,400 --> 00:37:18,401
Your father and l
were afraid...
545
00:37:18,402 --> 00:37:21,402
you'd use the family secret
for one of your books.
546
00:37:22,673 --> 00:37:25,673
Thank God your uncle was
condemned under the name Balssa.
547
00:37:28,646 --> 00:37:31,646
Balssa was our name...
548
00:37:32,049 --> 00:37:35,049
until your father
changed it to Balzac.
549
00:37:36,153 --> 00:37:38,989
He thought that had
a nicer ring to it.
550
00:37:38,990 --> 00:37:41,458
Poor man.
551
00:37:41,459 --> 00:37:44,361
Father wasn't burdened
by the story.
552
00:37:44,362 --> 00:37:46,062
He wasn't too close
to his brother.
553
00:37:46,063 --> 00:37:49,063
So? The terrible thing
is this man...
554
00:37:49,500 --> 00:37:52,500
this Uncle Louis ended up
between two swords.
555
00:37:52,903 --> 00:37:54,704
-He was a murderer.
-So?
556
00:37:54,705 --> 00:37:57,107
Why should society
have the right...
557
00:37:57,108 --> 00:38:00,108
to murder a murderer
in cold blood?
558
00:38:00,111 --> 00:38:03,111
That's what it says
in the Bible.
559
00:38:03,247 --> 00:38:06,247
''He who lives by the sword
shall die by the sword."'
560
00:38:07,385 --> 00:38:09,185
l don't give a damn
about the Bible.
561
00:38:09,186 --> 00:38:12,186
That's blasphemy
and in front of him.
562
00:38:13,057 --> 00:38:16,057
Go away, Honore!
Leave!
563
00:39:04,175 --> 00:39:06,776
What a magnificent summer.
564
00:39:06,777 --> 00:39:09,777
Perhaps the best summer
of my life.
565
00:39:10,114 --> 00:39:13,114
We shall have
more such summers.
566
00:39:13,384 --> 00:39:15,985
No, there will not
be any more.
567
00:39:15,986 --> 00:39:18,986
You're not going to
start that again?
568
00:39:19,056 --> 00:39:21,391
l do not want to
become an old woman,
569
00:39:21,392 --> 00:39:24,392
someone you
feel sorry for.
570
00:39:25,262 --> 00:39:27,864
Honore, that will
never happen.
571
00:39:27,865 --> 00:39:30,865
So you prefer
to cause me grief by dying?
572
00:39:33,070 --> 00:39:36,070
lf l'm not too ugly
to look at on my death bed.
573
00:39:36,073 --> 00:39:39,073
But we still have some time
before that happens, don't we?
574
00:39:41,178 --> 00:39:44,178
Apart from swimming and fishing,
what did you do today?
575
00:39:48,152 --> 00:39:51,152
l finished a treatise
on the elegant life...
576
00:39:51,155 --> 00:39:54,155
which must get to Paris
tomorrow by stagecoach.
577
00:39:54,692 --> 00:39:57,692
What? A treatise
on the elegant life?
578
00:39:58,362 --> 00:40:01,362
Paris is under fire,
the king about to be toppled,
579
00:40:02,099 --> 00:40:04,100
and you write about elegance?
580
00:40:04,101 --> 00:40:07,101
That treatise will
bring in 600 francs,
581
00:40:07,471 --> 00:40:09,606
enough to enable us
to stay here by the Loire...
582
00:40:09,607 --> 00:40:12,607
till the end of summer.
583
00:40:15,546 --> 00:40:18,546
Are you angry at me?
Disappointed?
584
00:40:19,116 --> 00:40:22,116
No, as soon as night falls,
it gets a touch chilly.
585
00:40:22,520 --> 00:40:25,520
l just wanted to
get myself a wrap.
586
00:40:37,468 --> 00:40:40,468
l don't like it when you talk
about how time passes.
587
00:40:44,742 --> 00:40:47,742
But you've just
given me an idea.
588
00:40:48,712 --> 00:40:51,712
The story of a magical
piece of leather...
589
00:40:52,149 --> 00:40:55,149
that fulfills all
its owner's wishes...
590
00:40:55,152 --> 00:40:58,152
except that the leather shrinks
every time a wish is granted.
591
00:41:00,724 --> 00:41:03,393
Until the inevitable
day arrives.
592
00:41:03,394 --> 00:41:06,394
Can you imagine
how the story ends?
593
00:41:06,597 --> 00:41:09,597
lt's the story
of life.
594
00:41:12,470 --> 00:41:15,470
lt concerns a lot more people
than some riot in Paris.
595
00:41:17,541 --> 00:41:20,243
Make some coffee for me.
596
00:41:20,244 --> 00:41:23,244
l'm going to
write tonight.
597
00:41:23,280 --> 00:41:26,280
All right.
598
00:41:45,336 --> 00:41:48,336
They're right. Why don't you
print enough books for everyone?
599
00:41:49,773 --> 00:41:52,773
The papers say:
''To be of this era...
600
00:41:53,143 --> 00:41:54,644
''one must have read
this book."'
601
00:41:54,645 --> 00:41:57,645
Which era do you belong to,
Gosselin, to print so few books?
602
00:41:59,183 --> 00:42:01,618
How could l guess
''Peau de Chagrin"'--
603
00:42:01,619 --> 00:42:04,320
l told you it would
be a success.
604
00:42:04,321 --> 00:42:06,723
But that's what you say
every time.
605
00:42:06,724 --> 00:42:09,724
Nothing is lost as yet.
Come.
606
00:42:11,095 --> 00:42:14,095
Let's go.
607
00:42:16,467 --> 00:42:18,568
We're at your service,
Monsieur Gosselin.
608
00:42:18,569 --> 00:42:21,569
We can make reprints.
How many copies do you need?
609
00:42:21,939 --> 00:42:24,741
Not less than 6,000.
610
00:42:24,742 --> 00:42:26,676
Not one copy,
do you hear me?
611
00:42:26,677 --> 00:42:29,677
Not one copy shall leave
this printing house!
612
00:42:30,080 --> 00:42:32,615
Are you crazy?
Your book is a hit.
613
00:42:32,616 --> 00:42:34,117
Precisely!
lt's my book.
614
00:42:34,118 --> 00:42:35,618
l'm entitled to do
as l wish.
615
00:42:35,619 --> 00:42:37,186
What?
616
00:42:37,187 --> 00:42:40,187
l'm entitled because l am
its creator, its father.
617
00:42:40,624 --> 00:42:43,624
Call it the author's right,
if you will.
618
00:42:44,094 --> 00:42:46,129
These writers!
619
00:42:46,130 --> 00:42:49,130
Once you buy their books,
they forfeit their rights.
620
00:42:49,133 --> 00:42:51,267
Or would my draper
tell me...
621
00:42:51,268 --> 00:42:53,670
how to lie between
the sheets he sold me?
622
00:42:53,671 --> 00:42:56,671
Ethically, they could ask for
royalties on each sold book.
623
00:43:01,345 --> 00:43:04,013
Our literature would never
recover from that.
624
00:43:04,014 --> 00:43:07,014
Which pages
are being printed?
625
00:43:10,287 --> 00:43:13,287
The first four
of your text.
626
00:43:17,428 --> 00:43:19,095
Gosselin,
this adjective here...
627
00:43:19,096 --> 00:43:21,397
What?
What's wrong with it?
628
00:43:21,398 --> 00:43:24,398
There's a better word for it.
lt has to be replaced.
629
00:43:25,169 --> 00:43:28,169
Replaced? Couldn't you have done
that the day you wrote it?
630
00:43:31,342 --> 00:43:34,110
That day was a night.
A feverish night.
631
00:43:34,111 --> 00:43:36,679
Because you expect me
to write faster and faster.
632
00:43:36,680 --> 00:43:39,015
Faster and better.
Ever faster.
633
00:43:39,016 --> 00:43:42,016
So is it surprising
l don't know what l'm writing?
634
00:43:43,621 --> 00:43:46,621
That night, l reread my book
and knew it was all wrong.
635
00:43:46,824 --> 00:43:49,824
l must correct it, rewrite
everything if l have to.
636
00:43:54,632 --> 00:43:56,833
What's that?
637
00:43:56,834 --> 00:43:59,834
Do you mean my cane?
Fabulous, isn't it?
638
00:44:00,371 --> 00:44:03,371
A very lovely cane,
indeed.
639
00:44:03,374 --> 00:44:06,374
But what is that thing
engraved on the door?
640
00:44:06,510 --> 00:44:09,510
My coat of arms.
A marquis' crown.
641
00:44:09,647 --> 00:44:12,582
l can see that,
but you're no marquis.
642
00:44:12,583 --> 00:44:14,717
-Of course l am.
-Since when?
643
00:44:14,718 --> 00:44:17,718
That goes back a long way.
So l never told you...
644
00:44:18,222 --> 00:44:21,222
we Balzacs have a certain
Marquis d'Entraygues...
645
00:44:22,092 --> 00:44:24,093
among our forbears?
646
00:44:24,094 --> 00:44:26,095
You're related to
the Entraygues?
647
00:44:26,096 --> 00:44:28,631
That's what my father
always said.
648
00:44:28,632 --> 00:44:31,632
He must have had
a vivid imagination.
649
00:44:32,102 --> 00:44:34,604
lmagination doesn't
impede honesty.
650
00:44:34,605 --> 00:44:37,605
Surely you're not accusing
my father of usurping a title?
651
00:44:39,610 --> 00:44:42,610
lt just makes me laugh to think
l have to call you marquis.
652
00:44:45,616 --> 00:44:48,616
We can drop those formalities.
After all, aren't you a duchess?
653
00:44:49,787 --> 00:44:52,787
Only since the Empire, alas.
Whereas you, goodness gracious!
654
00:44:54,692 --> 00:44:57,160
But we're both from
the same world.
655
00:44:57,161 --> 00:44:59,462
We are both debt-ridden
aristocrats.
656
00:44:59,463 --> 00:45:02,463
Furthermore, shouldn't we now
call each other by first names?
657
00:45:05,369 --> 00:45:07,270
Do l dare?
658
00:45:07,271 --> 00:45:08,805
l hope Madame's audacity...
659
00:45:08,806 --> 00:45:11,806
pardon me, "'your"' audacity
will not stop there.
660
00:45:21,351 --> 00:45:23,386
No, stay here.
661
00:45:23,387 --> 00:45:26,387
l'm afraid of this place.
lt's so empty.
662
00:45:27,324 --> 00:45:30,324
lt's so very empty.
663
00:45:30,527 --> 00:45:33,096
l've sold all l could.
664
00:45:33,097 --> 00:45:35,598
And the little
that l still own...
665
00:45:35,599 --> 00:45:38,000
That horrible bailiff
Plissoud.
666
00:45:38,001 --> 00:45:41,001
That, too, we have in common.
He'll be punished.
667
00:45:42,039 --> 00:45:43,840
-No.
-Yes, he will.
668
00:45:43,841 --> 00:45:45,608
Bailiffs are
never punished.
669
00:45:45,609 --> 00:45:48,377
This one will be,
l promise you.
670
00:45:48,378 --> 00:45:51,378
l'll name one of the bailiffs
in my novel after him.
671
00:45:52,649 --> 00:45:54,584
ln 100 years' time,
672
00:45:54,585 --> 00:45:57,585
they will spit on the ground
when they read his name.
673
00:45:59,389 --> 00:46:02,389
l hope your books live
long enough for that.
674
00:46:03,327 --> 00:46:06,062
l've written so many,
675
00:46:06,063 --> 00:46:09,063
there must be one or two
immortals among them.
676
00:46:13,070 --> 00:46:16,070
Tell me, Laure...
677
00:46:16,740 --> 00:46:19,740
why did you finally
agree to be my mistress?
678
00:46:20,778 --> 00:46:23,778
Was it because
l have become a marquis...
679
00:46:24,982 --> 00:46:27,982
or because you are unhappy?
680
00:46:32,089 --> 00:46:34,590
Oh, no, Laure,
don't cry.
681
00:46:34,591 --> 00:46:37,591
lt is not l who asked you
that sly question...
682
00:46:38,095 --> 00:46:39,896
but the novelist in me.
683
00:46:39,897 --> 00:46:42,598
l always need
to provoke everyone...
684
00:46:42,599 --> 00:46:45,599
in order to get inside
their heads.
685
00:46:46,603 --> 00:46:49,603
And then you make use
of it, don't you?
686
00:46:49,640 --> 00:46:52,640
Will l recognise myself
in one of your books?
687
00:46:52,976 --> 00:46:55,976
Like the bailiff Plissoud?
688
00:46:56,613 --> 00:46:59,613
What will her name be,
the bankrupt duchess?
689
00:46:59,616 --> 00:47:01,184
The desperate woman?
690
00:47:01,185 --> 00:47:04,185
No, because the protagonist
of my next novel is a man.
691
00:47:06,056 --> 00:47:07,990
No, it's true.
You gave me the idea.
692
00:47:07,991 --> 00:47:10,991
What? While l lie all naked
and you gaze at me,
693
00:47:11,562 --> 00:47:14,562
you claim l made you
think of a man?
694
00:47:14,765 --> 00:47:17,533
Honore, you're horrible.
695
00:47:17,534 --> 00:47:20,534
No, Laure,
you misunderstand me.
696
00:47:21,071 --> 00:47:22,572
When l was writing
your memoirs,
697
00:47:22,573 --> 00:47:25,107
you told me about
a young officer...
698
00:47:25,108 --> 00:47:28,108
who was left for dead
on the battlefield...
699
00:47:29,580 --> 00:47:32,580
under a pile of cadavers
and the carcasses of horses.
700
00:47:34,084 --> 00:47:37,084
A young lieutenant,
l never knew what became of him.
701
00:47:37,855 --> 00:47:40,855
You'll find out when you read
"'Le Colonel Chabert."'
702
00:47:41,091 --> 00:47:44,091
You see, l turned him
into a colonel.
703
00:47:48,899 --> 00:47:51,899
Thank you.
704
00:47:53,937 --> 00:47:55,338
Do you like it?
705
00:47:55,339 --> 00:47:58,339
Poor Colonel Chabert.
706
00:47:58,609 --> 00:48:01,609
That duplicitous countess,
her treachery.
707
00:48:03,547 --> 00:48:06,547
She knew exactly that it was
her husband who had returned.
708
00:48:06,583 --> 00:48:09,051
Poor, poor Chabert.
709
00:48:09,052 --> 00:48:12,052
You, too, failed
to recognise me on occasion.
710
00:48:13,223 --> 00:48:16,223
l, too, was your
little Chabert.
711
00:48:16,260 --> 00:48:19,061
Except l wasn't
one of those soldiers...
712
00:48:19,062 --> 00:48:22,062
accustomed to suffering.
713
00:48:39,383 --> 00:48:42,084
What a stench,
that fumigation.
714
00:48:42,085 --> 00:48:45,085
Another fifty deaths.
Cholera is no laughing matter.
715
00:48:46,590 --> 00:48:49,590
ltaly, Germany, Poland...
716
00:48:50,827 --> 00:48:53,062
letters from
all of Europe...
717
00:48:53,063 --> 00:48:55,531
from women who have
nothing to do...
718
00:48:55,532 --> 00:48:58,532
but read your novels
and write letters.
719
00:48:58,669 --> 00:49:00,303
How l envy them.
720
00:49:00,304 --> 00:49:02,772
l'm no longer
the 3rd last in my class.
721
00:49:02,773 --> 00:49:04,807
You should be proud.
722
00:49:04,808 --> 00:49:06,909
One can't live
from admiration alone.
723
00:49:06,910 --> 00:49:09,910
There's even one
from Russia.
724
00:49:10,480 --> 00:49:13,382
You don't have to answer.
lt's not signed.
725
00:49:13,383 --> 00:49:16,383
Wait. She used a pseudonym.
"'The Stranger"'.
726
00:49:20,023 --> 00:49:23,023
Beautiful paper. l've never
seen anything like it.
727
00:49:23,994 --> 00:49:26,994
The watermark is
a coat of arms. A princess?
728
00:49:27,064 --> 00:49:30,064
You're coming up in the world.
After that nobody Berny...
729
00:49:31,568 --> 00:49:34,070
came that cheap
Duchess d'Abrantes.
730
00:49:34,071 --> 00:49:36,706
And now a real princess.
731
00:49:36,707 --> 00:49:39,707
Where is she from?
732
00:49:40,077 --> 00:49:43,077
Odessa. The Black Sea,
l believe.
733
00:49:43,080 --> 00:49:45,381
Another summons.
lt's the third one.
734
00:49:45,382 --> 00:49:47,416
What are you going to do?
735
00:49:47,417 --> 00:49:49,085
About what?
736
00:49:49,086 --> 00:49:52,086
You must join the army
for a month.
737
00:49:52,589 --> 00:49:55,057
As per a new decree issued
by King Louis-Philippe.
738
00:49:55,058 --> 00:49:56,892
lt's your duty.
739
00:49:56,893 --> 00:49:59,893
l didn't tell you about it
earlier because of your injury.
740
00:50:02,532 --> 00:50:05,532
Paradis, a fiacre.
Hurry!
741
00:50:07,270 --> 00:50:10,270
There aren't any.
There weren't enough hearses,
742
00:50:11,108 --> 00:50:14,108
so now they've seized
all the fiacres.
743
00:51:30,320 --> 00:51:32,621
ls your paper
published in Russia?
744
00:51:32,622 --> 00:51:35,622
"'The Daily"' is the only
French paper authorised
by Czar Nicholas l.
745
00:51:37,627 --> 00:51:39,628
l'd like to place
an announcement.
746
00:51:39,629 --> 00:51:42,131
l'll dictate it.
747
00:51:42,132 --> 00:51:45,132
Monsieur de B.
to The Stranger.
748
00:51:48,271 --> 00:51:50,840
Monsieur de B...
749
00:51:50,841 --> 00:51:53,841
has received the letter
that was sent to him...
750
00:51:55,645 --> 00:51:58,645
but regrets that
he doesn't know...
751
00:51:59,149 --> 00:52:02,149
to whom to address
his response.
752
00:52:11,595 --> 00:52:14,595
lnstead of tormenting
that poor oyster,
753
00:52:15,599 --> 00:52:18,599
tell me how you survived
the epidemic.
754
00:52:20,103 --> 00:52:21,837
l was shut away.
755
00:52:21,838 --> 00:52:24,106
lf l hadn't had such
pleasant visitors...
756
00:52:24,107 --> 00:52:26,175
l'd have gone crazy.
757
00:52:26,176 --> 00:52:29,176
Pleasant visitors?
What visitors?
758
00:52:29,613 --> 00:52:31,147
Honore, please.
759
00:52:31,148 --> 00:52:34,148
Don't play the jealous lover.
You aren't jealous.
760
00:52:34,518 --> 00:52:36,285
And l'm not so sure
you are my lover.
761
00:52:36,286 --> 00:52:39,286
l'll give you proof
of that later.
762
00:52:39,523 --> 00:52:42,523
Provided l still
want you to.
763
00:52:42,626 --> 00:52:44,093
l haven't seen you
for months.
764
00:52:44,094 --> 00:52:45,794
Cholera.
765
00:52:45,795 --> 00:52:48,795
You could have written
or sent me flowers.
766
00:52:49,132 --> 00:52:52,132
Roses don't
transmit cholera.
767
00:52:52,302 --> 00:52:54,136
l will not tolerate
indifference.
768
00:52:54,137 --> 00:52:56,305
Punish me
if l've misbehaved.
769
00:52:56,306 --> 00:52:59,141
lt can be pleasurable
to be made to suffer...
770
00:52:59,142 --> 00:53:00,643
by a fair hand.
771
00:53:00,644 --> 00:53:03,644
l have already punished you.
l've been cruel.
772
00:53:04,080 --> 00:53:07,080
Cruel?
l didn't notice.
773
00:53:07,184 --> 00:53:10,184
l'm curious as to how
you made me suffer...
774
00:53:10,654 --> 00:53:12,621
without my being
aware of it.
775
00:53:12,622 --> 00:53:15,622
lt's simple--
by spreading rumours.
776
00:53:17,127 --> 00:53:19,628
Among those who
came to visit me...
777
00:53:19,629 --> 00:53:21,997
there were people
who mean much to you...
778
00:53:21,998 --> 00:53:24,998
Hugo, Musset,
Eugene Sue, George Sand.
779
00:53:25,101 --> 00:53:28,101
No one knew what became of you
and asked me for news.
780
00:53:29,940 --> 00:53:32,940
l wanted to avenge myself
for your silence...
781
00:53:35,612 --> 00:53:38,612
so l told them they had
put you away in a madhouse.
782
00:53:40,116 --> 00:53:43,116
But that's true.
lt's the truth.
783
00:53:43,620 --> 00:53:45,187
l really was
in a madhouse.
784
00:53:45,188 --> 00:53:48,123
What?
You were at Charenton?
785
00:53:48,124 --> 00:53:49,491
Are you serious?
786
00:53:49,492 --> 00:53:52,492
Writing is like
being in a madhouse.
787
00:53:52,662 --> 00:53:55,662
You'd better eat, or all
the oysters will be gone.
788
00:53:56,633 --> 00:53:59,633
-Will you forgive me?
-Of course.
789
00:53:59,636 --> 00:54:01,637
But...
790
00:54:01,638 --> 00:54:04,638
it was also
partly your fault.
791
00:54:05,075 --> 00:54:07,076
Why did you abandon me...
792
00:54:07,077 --> 00:54:09,078
right after l had
given myself to you?
793
00:54:09,079 --> 00:54:12,079
Did you not enjoy
our night of love?
794
00:54:12,782 --> 00:54:15,084
You'd be the first
to complain.
795
00:54:15,085 --> 00:54:18,085
But l already told you,
l was engrossed in my work.
796
00:54:23,593 --> 00:54:25,594
Prince Murat and
Chancellor Mefternich...
797
00:54:25,595 --> 00:54:27,596
always had much to do,
798
00:54:27,597 --> 00:54:29,465
but that never
hindered them...
799
00:54:29,466 --> 00:54:32,466
from finding the time
to take me to a ball.
800
00:54:32,602 --> 00:54:35,602
Many people call exercising
power over others "'work"'...
801
00:54:37,107 --> 00:54:40,107
that is to say,
making others work for them.
802
00:54:40,110 --> 00:54:43,110
My work is something that
wears me out, exhausts me.
803
00:54:48,118 --> 00:54:51,118
Bloodshot eyes,
804
00:54:51,621 --> 00:54:54,621
hands cramped from writing,
a racing heartbeat.
805
00:54:58,128 --> 00:55:00,496
Did you think of me
from time to time?
806
00:55:00,497 --> 00:55:02,464
To tell the truth...
807
00:55:02,465 --> 00:55:05,465
no.
808
00:55:06,569 --> 00:55:08,570
But where are you going?
809
00:55:08,571 --> 00:55:11,073
l'm not hungry, neither
for oysters nor for you.
810
00:55:11,074 --> 00:55:13,575
You make me sick.
811
00:55:13,576 --> 00:55:16,576
Whom do you love
other than yourself?
812
00:55:16,680 --> 00:55:19,081
l don't love myself.
813
00:55:19,082 --> 00:55:21,850
l love only the works
l carry within me.
814
00:55:21,851 --> 00:55:24,851
Let us talk about your books.
More failures than successes.
815
00:55:26,556 --> 00:55:29,024
Do not judge
what is still to come.
816
00:55:29,025 --> 00:55:30,592
l forgot!
817
00:55:30,593 --> 00:55:33,593
Tomorrow you will be a genius
and pay all your debts.
818
00:55:33,596 --> 00:55:35,597
Tomorrow you'll
find time for love.
819
00:55:35,598 --> 00:55:37,099
Always tomorrow!
820
00:55:37,100 --> 00:55:40,100
l need time to write, to bring
my work to the eyes of others,
821
00:55:40,603 --> 00:55:42,604
to dazzle them.
822
00:55:42,605 --> 00:55:45,605
For a long time,
l had no idea what l was doing,
823
00:55:45,608 --> 00:55:47,309
but now l do.
824
00:55:47,310 --> 00:55:50,310
Once l've compiled and
sewn together all my books,
825
00:55:51,614 --> 00:55:54,614
you will see a vast picture
of our society, of our century.
826
00:55:57,120 --> 00:56:00,120
Laure, come here.
827
00:56:08,064 --> 00:56:09,598
l am writing.
828
00:56:09,599 --> 00:56:12,599
l'm writing
''The Human Comedy."'
829
00:56:14,571 --> 00:56:16,572
lt's always one excuse
or another,
830
00:56:16,573 --> 00:56:19,074
one pretext or another.
831
00:56:19,075 --> 00:56:22,075
At any rate, you're saying
it's your writing...
832
00:56:22,078 --> 00:56:25,078
that is preventing you
from loving me?
833
00:56:25,582 --> 00:56:28,582
Writing even
prevents me from living.
834
00:56:29,085 --> 00:56:32,085
Why are you killing yourself
for your work?
835
00:56:32,088 --> 00:56:35,088
The world lacks neither
books nor authors.
836
00:56:36,593 --> 00:56:38,794
One Balzac more or less...
837
00:56:38,795 --> 00:56:41,795
will not hinder me
from going to sleep.
838
00:56:42,599 --> 00:56:45,599
But what will hinder me
is a cold bed,
839
00:56:46,102 --> 00:56:47,870
because l am alone in it.
840
00:56:47,871 --> 00:56:50,105
You only have one bed,
841
00:56:50,106 --> 00:56:52,608
but l have thousands
of empty pages...
842
00:56:52,609 --> 00:56:55,609
before which
l stand alone.
843
00:57:04,053 --> 00:57:07,053
Shall l tell you
the truth, Honore?
844
00:57:09,559 --> 00:57:12,559
You weren't made
to write.
845
00:57:27,610 --> 00:57:30,610
Don't disturb me
while l'm working.
846
00:57:33,583 --> 00:57:36,583
l thought you'd be willing
to make an exception for this.
847
00:57:38,588 --> 00:57:41,588
lt's her, "'The Stranger"'.
l recognise her handwriting.
848
00:57:42,025 --> 00:57:45,025
She read my announcement in the
"'Daily"'. This is her response.
849
00:57:49,098 --> 00:57:51,133
ls she finally
revealing her identity?
850
00:57:51,134 --> 00:57:54,134
No, she refuses
to say who she is.
851
00:57:55,905 --> 00:57:58,841
"'l would be lost
if anyone knew who l was...
852
00:57:58,842 --> 00:58:01,842
and that l was
writing to you."'
853
00:58:03,546 --> 00:58:06,546
She was careful not to
put a stop to it...
854
00:58:07,050 --> 00:58:08,450
but to fan the fire.
855
00:58:08,451 --> 00:58:11,053
My poor Honore.
856
00:58:11,054 --> 00:58:13,121
What you took
for a noble heart...
857
00:58:13,122 --> 00:58:16,122
is nothing but a married woman
looking for adventure.
858
00:58:19,062 --> 00:58:22,062
The same old song,
isn't it?
859
00:58:22,565 --> 00:58:24,399
Why do you say that?
860
00:58:24,400 --> 00:58:26,435
Because l know
the truth.
861
00:58:26,436 --> 00:58:29,436
-About that woman?
-No, about you.
862
00:58:30,573 --> 00:58:32,574
But don't worry,
l won't judge you.
863
00:58:32,575 --> 00:58:34,977
After all, l said
unhappy women...
864
00:58:34,978 --> 00:58:37,978
could look for love
outside their marriage.
865
00:58:38,581 --> 00:58:40,582
What exactly
are you alluding to?
866
00:58:40,583 --> 00:58:42,084
To Henri.
867
00:58:42,085 --> 00:58:44,086
Your brother?
868
00:58:44,087 --> 00:58:47,087
You mean,
my half-brother.
869
00:58:47,590 --> 00:58:50,590
You always preferred him to me.
He was your love child.
870
00:58:52,095 --> 00:58:55,095
l was the child
of your conjugal duty.
871
00:58:59,602 --> 00:59:01,770
Honore, how dare you?
872
00:59:01,771 --> 00:59:04,771
You're the one who dared.
873
00:59:06,042 --> 00:59:09,042
But then your marriage
is none of my business,
874
00:59:10,046 --> 00:59:13,046
except that you make me pay
the price of your mistake.
875
00:59:14,050 --> 00:59:17,050
l look too much like my father
for you to love me.
876
00:59:19,055 --> 00:59:20,856
No, you're just
tolerating me,
877
00:59:20,857 --> 00:59:23,857
the way you tolerated
your husband.
878
00:59:25,361 --> 00:59:28,361
You're not qualified
to interfere in my affairs.
879
00:59:29,566 --> 00:59:32,566
How long have you
been brooding on that?
880
00:59:34,070 --> 00:59:37,070
Why did you wait until
l was a widow,
881
00:59:37,874 --> 00:59:40,874
old and overburdened
with worries,
882
00:59:41,477 --> 00:59:44,477
to strike me down?
883
00:59:46,082 --> 00:59:49,082
l haven't been brooding, Mother.
l've also suffered.
884
00:59:50,587 --> 00:59:53,088
And if l have
caused you pain,
885
00:59:53,089 --> 00:59:56,089
then forgive me
as l have forgiven you.
886
00:59:57,093 --> 00:59:59,595
l've done nothing
you have to forgive me for.
887
00:59:59,596 --> 01:00:02,097
Nothing at all.
888
01:00:02,098 --> 01:00:05,098
lt's true that l took a lover
who got me with child.
889
01:00:05,101 --> 01:00:07,102
But what of it?
890
01:00:07,103 --> 01:00:10,103
Madame de Berny
was also unfaithful,
891
01:00:10,106 --> 01:00:12,107
as you very well know,
892
01:00:12,108 --> 01:00:14,610
but that never
stopped you...
893
01:00:14,611 --> 01:00:17,611
from calling her
your angel and a saint.
894
01:00:17,614 --> 01:00:20,349
l never pretended
to be a saint,
895
01:00:20,350 --> 01:00:22,250
even though
l deserve to be.
896
01:00:22,251 --> 01:00:25,251
l've done everything for you.
l've lent you money.
897
01:00:25,622 --> 01:00:28,622
Now l have nothing left.
898
01:00:28,691 --> 01:00:31,691
l don't think you'll be able
to pay me back all too soon.
899
01:00:32,495 --> 01:00:34,463
Did you lend Henri money
as well?
900
01:00:34,464 --> 01:00:37,464
The poor man is
unlucky in business.
901
01:00:38,134 --> 01:00:41,003
lt's not easy to succeed
in Bourbon.
902
01:00:41,004 --> 01:00:43,138
lt's not easy
in Paris either.
903
01:00:43,139 --> 01:00:46,139
This will give me a chance to
breathe less foul-smelling air.
904
01:00:48,645 --> 01:00:51,146
She persuaded
her husband...
905
01:00:51,147 --> 01:00:54,147
to let her spend
a few weeks in Switzerland.
906
01:00:54,651 --> 01:00:56,652
l'll join her
in ten days.
907
01:00:56,653 --> 01:00:59,154
We're meeting each other
halfway.
908
01:00:59,155 --> 01:01:01,957
l tried to stop them,
but they want you.
909
01:01:01,958 --> 01:01:04,793
The bailiffs? Plissoud's
here with his retinue?
910
01:01:04,794 --> 01:01:07,794
Hold them up, Mother,
while--
911
01:01:08,097 --> 01:01:10,666
-Are you Balzac?
-Who are you?
912
01:01:10,667 --> 01:01:13,667
Mousset, dentist and a sergeant
in the National Guard.
913
01:01:14,103 --> 01:01:16,672
Seize this individual.
914
01:01:16,673 --> 01:01:18,507
Leave me alone!
915
01:01:18,508 --> 01:01:21,176
Unhand me!
916
01:01:21,177 --> 01:01:24,177
Let go of me!
Leave me alone! Let me go!
917
01:01:34,323 --> 01:01:37,059
The law applies
to everyone.
918
01:01:37,060 --> 01:01:40,060
You did not answer
any of the three summons.
919
01:01:40,830 --> 01:01:43,830
Because l thought
it was all a farce.
920
01:01:43,966 --> 01:01:46,068
l don't even know how
to hold a rifle.
921
01:01:46,069 --> 01:01:49,069
Alas, Monsieur,
but if you pay...
922
01:01:50,840 --> 01:01:53,575
lf l pay?
Just tell me how much.
923
01:01:53,576 --> 01:01:56,344
l'd pay anything
to be released from--
924
01:01:56,345 --> 01:01:59,345
lt's not about that. l'm
talking about your lodgings.
925
01:02:00,516 --> 01:02:03,185
lf you pay me, l'll get you
a cell of your own...
926
01:02:03,186 --> 01:02:06,186
where you can receive friends
and have food sent in.
927
01:02:06,723 --> 01:02:09,723
Paradis, don't skimp
on the portions.
928
01:02:10,259 --> 01:02:13,259
This feast must reflect
what it cost.
929
01:02:14,630 --> 01:02:16,998
The only pleasures
l have left...
930
01:02:16,999 --> 01:02:19,999
are spending money
and eating well.
931
01:02:25,641 --> 01:02:27,943
How long were
you sentenced?
932
01:02:27,944 --> 01:02:30,944
To an initial period
of six days.
933
01:02:31,347 --> 01:02:32,881
They could double
or triple it.
934
01:02:32,882 --> 01:02:34,249
Not long.
935
01:02:34,250 --> 01:02:37,250
lt's obvious you're not the one
behind bars, dear editor.
936
01:02:38,321 --> 01:02:41,321
Something important
is waiting for me outside.
937
01:02:41,824 --> 01:02:44,192
Balzac wants to
discuss our contract.
938
01:02:44,193 --> 01:02:47,193
This is more important than
two or three more books.
939
01:02:49,465 --> 01:02:52,465
For which Werdet will grant you
a handsome advance.
940
01:02:54,537 --> 01:02:57,537
Stop sniveling, Werdet.
You'll get your books.
941
01:02:58,508 --> 01:03:01,476
My courage has borne me
through my miseries.
942
01:03:01,477 --> 01:03:04,446
Now for once, happiness
is directing my writing.
943
01:03:04,447 --> 01:03:06,381
You're in love.
944
01:03:06,382 --> 01:03:09,382
Yes, with a woman who is
waiting for me in Neufchatel.
945
01:03:11,854 --> 01:03:14,854
A rendezvous on the banks
of Lake Neufchatel?
946
01:03:15,858 --> 01:03:17,926
How romantic.
947
01:03:17,927 --> 01:03:20,362
-Who is it?
-l don't know.
948
01:03:20,363 --> 01:03:22,364
What? You don't know?
949
01:03:22,365 --> 01:03:24,533
l've never seen
her face before,
950
01:03:24,534 --> 01:03:26,535
and l have no idea
how old she is,
951
01:03:26,536 --> 01:03:28,637
but l sense
she's wonderful.
952
01:03:28,638 --> 01:03:30,272
Do you at least know
if she's free?
953
01:03:30,273 --> 01:03:33,273
Her husband is a tyrant,
but so what?
954
01:03:34,076 --> 01:03:37,076
Let's assume she fulfills
the ideal of which you dream.
955
01:03:38,581 --> 01:03:41,581
Are you sure you
fulfill her expectations?
956
01:03:42,318 --> 01:03:45,318
She reads French newspapers
that poke fun at my physique.
957
01:03:46,322 --> 01:03:49,322
Those caricatures
are so awful...
958
01:03:49,325 --> 01:03:52,325
that she'll be delighted
when she sees me.
959
01:03:52,762 --> 01:03:55,363
How strange to love her
sight unseen...
960
01:03:55,364 --> 01:03:58,364
and to tell us about her
in this prison.
961
01:03:59,402 --> 01:04:01,369
That's the way l am,
dear Adele.
962
01:04:01,370 --> 01:04:03,705
My five-feet two inches...
963
01:04:03,706 --> 01:04:06,174
contain all
the contradictions possible.
964
01:04:06,175 --> 01:04:09,175
Those who thought l was vain,
extravagant, stubborn,
965
01:04:10,646 --> 01:04:13,646
conceited, careless, lazy,
lacking application,
966
01:04:14,884 --> 01:04:17,884
unthinking and
totally inconsistent,
967
01:04:18,187 --> 01:04:21,187
long-winded,
tactless, impolite,
968
01:04:21,591 --> 01:04:24,591
capricious and moody
are justified...
969
01:04:24,727 --> 01:04:27,162
in the same way
as those who say...
970
01:04:27,163 --> 01:04:30,098
l am thrifty, modest,
courageous,
971
01:04:30,099 --> 01:04:31,566
tenacious, energetic,
972
01:04:31,567 --> 01:04:34,567
consistent, hard-working,
taciturn, refined,
973
01:04:36,205 --> 01:04:39,205
polite, and always merry.
974
01:04:40,109 --> 01:04:42,811
Those who say that
l am a coward...
975
01:04:42,812 --> 01:04:44,846
are no less right
than those who say...
976
01:04:44,847 --> 01:04:47,847
l am extraordinarily brave.
977
01:04:49,051 --> 01:04:52,051
Nothing about me
surprises me.
978
01:04:52,154 --> 01:04:55,154
And nothing
should surprise you.
979
01:05:47,877 --> 01:05:50,877
Why are you staring
at those men?
980
01:05:51,247 --> 01:05:52,747
l'm staring at men?
981
01:05:52,748 --> 01:05:54,816
That's just a game.
982
01:05:54,817 --> 01:05:57,817
l'm comparing them to
our muzhiks in Wierzchovnia.
983
01:05:58,521 --> 01:06:01,022
A strange game.
Please put an end to it.
984
01:06:01,023 --> 01:06:03,458
lt's unseemly.
985
01:06:03,459 --> 01:06:06,459
Look, it's snowing.
986
01:06:08,164 --> 01:06:10,598
Excuse my boldness,
987
01:06:10,599 --> 01:06:13,599
but aren't you His Excellency
Count Wenceslas Hanski?
988
01:06:14,437 --> 01:06:16,504
So, you know me?
989
01:06:16,505 --> 01:06:18,707
Yes, well,
only by name.
990
01:06:18,708 --> 01:06:21,708
Let me introduce myself.
l am Honore de Balzac.
991
01:06:22,979 --> 01:06:25,979
Balzac? The name
means nothing to me.
992
01:06:26,282 --> 01:06:27,782
-But...
-Come, my dear.
993
01:06:27,783 --> 01:06:30,783
l know you by name
because l'm writing a book...
994
01:06:31,754 --> 01:06:34,754
about the Battle of Essling
where the Hanskis--
995
01:06:35,458 --> 01:06:38,458
The Hanskis have
never been involved...
996
01:06:38,527 --> 01:06:41,527
in any Battle of Essling
in any way.
997
01:06:41,530 --> 01:06:44,530
That's exactly why it's
a pleasure to meet you.
998
01:06:44,867 --> 01:06:47,235
Your family made it
a point of honour...
999
01:06:47,236 --> 01:06:49,304
not to take part
in that massacre.
1000
01:06:49,305 --> 01:06:52,305
And what a butchery
that battle was.
1001
01:06:53,142 --> 01:06:54,743
l bless the luck...
1002
01:06:54,744 --> 01:06:57,744
that allowed our paths to cross
on this promenade,
1003
01:06:58,114 --> 01:07:01,114
for l prefer the trail
by the bridge near the hotel...
1004
01:07:01,584 --> 01:07:03,284
that leads up the mountain.
1005
01:07:03,285 --> 01:07:06,285
l go there every afternoon
between three and four.
1006
01:07:13,562 --> 01:07:16,197
What a bore.
1007
01:07:16,198 --> 01:07:18,066
Really, my dear,
1008
01:07:18,067 --> 01:07:21,067
l long to get back to
our Ukraine and its solitudes.
1009
01:07:23,105 --> 01:07:26,105
Yes, our stay here
seems interminable.
1010
01:07:28,077 --> 01:07:30,945
Do you want us
to cut it short?
1011
01:07:30,946 --> 01:07:33,946
We shouldn't curtail the cure
the doctors prescribed for you.
1012
01:07:37,086 --> 01:07:40,086
What an admirable woman
you are.
1013
01:07:41,357 --> 01:07:44,357
l sometimes know
how to be reasonable.
1014
01:07:44,794 --> 01:07:47,794
You say he's gone?
But where did he go?
1015
01:07:49,498 --> 01:07:51,132
l thought
he was in prison.
1016
01:07:51,133 --> 01:07:54,133
They let him go.
He is in Switzerland...
1017
01:07:55,271 --> 01:07:57,205
at Lake Neufchatel.
1018
01:07:57,206 --> 01:08:00,206
atLakeNeufchatel.
1019
01:08:00,976 --> 01:08:03,244
He didn't want to
cause you any grief.
1020
01:08:03,245 --> 01:08:05,413
Grief?
1021
01:08:05,414 --> 01:08:07,816
He is sick.
A lung illness.
1022
01:08:07,817 --> 01:08:10,718
He's there to breathe
the Swiss mountain air.
1023
01:08:10,719 --> 01:08:13,719
His illness is called
Countess Hanska.
1024
01:08:21,330 --> 01:08:23,865
That name doesn't
ring a bell.
1025
01:08:23,866 --> 01:08:26,866
ls she a fan
of his books?
1026
01:08:27,603 --> 01:08:30,603
A foreigner.
1027
01:08:30,606 --> 01:08:33,606
Obviously his books are now
being read all over the world.
1028
01:08:37,446 --> 01:08:40,446
Did he tell you that
he loved this woman?
1029
01:08:40,783 --> 01:08:43,783
How does he love her?
l mean, whom does he love?
1030
01:08:45,287 --> 01:08:46,821
The woman
or the reader?
1031
01:08:46,822 --> 01:08:49,822
l should be delighted about
what is happening to you now.
1032
01:08:52,795 --> 01:08:55,795
God knows l detested you.
1033
01:08:55,798 --> 01:08:58,133
You have such
influence over him.
1034
01:08:58,134 --> 01:09:00,368
Had. l used to.
1035
01:09:00,369 --> 01:09:03,138
The damage
was done quickly.
1036
01:09:03,139 --> 01:09:05,907
You're the one who
encouraged him to write.
1037
01:09:05,908 --> 01:09:08,676
Without you, he would
have had a different life,
1038
01:09:08,677 --> 01:09:10,145
a real life--
1039
01:09:10,146 --> 01:09:13,146
a good profession,
a regular income,
1040
01:09:13,249 --> 01:09:16,249
and a house never constantly
under siege by creditors.
1041
01:09:26,595 --> 01:09:28,897
l cannot open
a single newspaper...
1042
01:09:28,898 --> 01:09:31,898
without seeing a caricature
of my son,
1043
01:09:34,136 --> 01:09:37,136
not to mention articles that
call him a "'slapdash scribbler"'.
1044
01:09:39,175 --> 01:09:42,175
Do you think a mother
enjoys seeing that?
1045
01:09:42,545 --> 01:09:45,480
Someday his country
will honour him.
1046
01:09:45,481 --> 01:09:47,916
Believe in him,
for if his mother--
1047
01:09:47,917 --> 01:09:49,784
His mother?
1048
01:09:49,785 --> 01:09:52,785
l'm his banker,
cleaning woman, laundress,
1049
01:09:52,888 --> 01:09:55,888
and when he's not home,
his concierge.
1050
01:09:57,593 --> 01:10:00,593
l should be jubilant that he
finally left you for another.
1051
01:10:03,666 --> 01:10:06,666
l'm the one who insisted on
his taking back his freedom.
1052
01:10:09,772 --> 01:10:12,307
You must love to suffer.
1053
01:10:12,308 --> 01:10:15,308
l simply love,
and you should do the same.
1054
01:10:17,846 --> 01:10:19,447
You're stifling him.
1055
01:10:19,448 --> 01:10:22,448
Don't you see he needs his
freedom to create new worlds?
1056
01:10:23,953 --> 01:10:26,953
He doesn't create anything.
He copies all he sees.
1057
01:10:28,290 --> 01:10:31,125
He takes his characters
from real life.
1058
01:10:31,126 --> 01:10:33,461
His next heroine
will be a Russian,
1059
01:10:33,462 --> 01:10:36,331
just like this
Madame Hanska.
1060
01:10:36,332 --> 01:10:38,466
Because she is Russian?
1061
01:10:38,467 --> 01:10:41,467
She always sends him
letters from Odessa--
1062
01:10:41,937 --> 01:10:44,937
passionate letters which
she signs "'The Stranger"'.
1063
01:10:45,874 --> 01:10:48,874
We also know that she is
married and still young.
1064
01:10:54,149 --> 01:10:56,884
Young.
1065
01:10:56,885 --> 01:10:59,885
So she could still
bear his children,
1066
01:11:02,091 --> 01:11:05,091
dance with him,
accompany him on his travels.
1067
01:11:09,331 --> 01:11:12,331
All l can do now is
go back to Nemours.
1068
01:11:12,835 --> 01:11:15,835
You'll tell him that
l was here, won't you?
1069
01:11:19,441 --> 01:11:21,309
You've become very pale.
1070
01:11:21,310 --> 01:11:24,310
lt's nothing,
just my heart acting up.
1071
01:11:25,414 --> 01:11:28,283
l'm a little sick.
l'm afraid of my illness.
1072
01:11:28,284 --> 01:11:31,284
The good doctor Nacquart
even told me l would die,
1073
01:11:31,887 --> 01:11:34,887
but all doctors
are fools.
1074
01:11:38,927 --> 01:11:41,927
Excuse me if you feel
this question is too indiscreet,
1075
01:11:44,633 --> 01:11:47,633
but could l read
one of those letters...
1076
01:11:49,538 --> 01:11:52,538
those written by that young
woman called "'The Stranger"'?
1077
01:12:05,788 --> 01:12:08,788
Under his pillow,
like a schoolboy.
1078
01:12:09,825 --> 01:12:12,825
How ridiculous
for a man his age.
1079
01:12:17,399 --> 01:12:19,967
Please put it back later.
1080
01:12:19,968 --> 01:12:22,968
l don't want him to think
l go through his things.
1081
01:13:03,779 --> 01:13:06,779
What will it be like
once she knows him?
1082
01:14:10,846 --> 01:14:13,448
Monsieur Balzac,
what a surprise.
1083
01:14:13,449 --> 01:14:14,882
Are you alone?
1084
01:14:14,883 --> 01:14:17,883
Yes, l managed to find some
chess partners for my husband.
1085
01:14:19,555 --> 01:14:21,889
The count is
a good player.
1086
01:14:21,890 --> 01:14:24,392
That'll give me
an hour of freedom.
1087
01:14:24,393 --> 01:14:27,393
One hour?
Merely one hour?
1088
01:14:29,431 --> 01:14:31,699
You are beautiful,
1089
01:14:31,700 --> 01:14:34,700
more beautiful than
l dared to hope.
1090
01:14:36,772 --> 01:14:39,772
We loved each other
without ever having met.
1091
01:14:40,108 --> 01:14:43,108
Let's continue loving each
other without touching.
1092
01:14:43,612 --> 01:14:46,612
But why?
ls it because--
1093
01:14:47,182 --> 01:14:50,182
No, l have no feelings
for Count Hanski.
1094
01:14:51,386 --> 01:14:53,888
That is...
1095
01:14:53,889 --> 01:14:56,889
no longer.
1096
01:14:58,327 --> 01:15:00,761
Then what is
holding you back?
1097
01:15:00,762 --> 01:15:03,762
My upbringing.
My family is very strict.
1098
01:15:04,233 --> 01:15:07,233
We Poles,
we see sin everywhere.
1099
01:15:09,171 --> 01:15:10,705
ls that so?
1100
01:15:10,706 --> 01:15:13,407
At any rate,
l am very modest.
1101
01:15:13,408 --> 01:15:16,344
Wasn't that obvious
from my letters?
1102
01:15:16,345 --> 01:15:18,679
Your letters
lit the fire in me.
1103
01:15:18,680 --> 01:15:21,680
But you are not going
to try to make me believe...
1104
01:15:22,918 --> 01:15:25,918
you didn't know they depicted
a woman hungry for love?
1105
01:15:26,488 --> 01:15:29,488
But l spoke of love,
of--how should l put it--
1106
01:15:31,293 --> 01:15:32,994
of something romantic.
1107
01:15:32,995 --> 01:15:35,229
Rubbish, my dear.
1108
01:15:35,230 --> 01:15:37,064
Why?
You don't like romance?
1109
01:15:37,065 --> 01:15:40,065
No, romanticism is
too sentimental,
1110
01:15:40,702 --> 01:15:43,204
and it's no longer
the fashion in Paris.
1111
01:15:43,205 --> 01:15:44,572
Oh, really?
1112
01:15:44,573 --> 01:15:46,908
So what is
''en vogue"' in Paris?
1113
01:15:46,909 --> 01:15:49,909
l am !
1114
01:15:52,548 --> 01:15:55,548
Anyway, it wasn't necessary
to tell me to come.
1115
01:15:55,651 --> 01:15:58,651
l am not to your liking perhaps?
Do l disappoint you?
1116
01:16:00,289 --> 01:16:02,823
l think l should go back.
1117
01:16:02,824 --> 01:16:04,525
My husband hates it
when l'm late.
1118
01:16:04,526 --> 01:16:07,526
Just tell him the garden was
beautiful and the flowers--
1119
01:16:08,564 --> 01:16:11,564
There are no flowers
in winter.
1120
01:16:11,800 --> 01:16:14,800
Come back, Eve.
1121
01:16:16,104 --> 01:16:17,772
Why?
1122
01:16:17,773 --> 01:16:20,773
l want to kiss you.
1123
01:16:26,782 --> 01:16:29,782
l know you will not do
any such thing.
1124
01:16:33,755 --> 01:16:36,755
Yes, l want to.
1125
01:16:39,294 --> 01:16:42,294
l cannot.
1126
01:16:43,432 --> 01:16:46,432
You have no idea
what you can do, Eve.
1127
01:16:54,810 --> 01:16:57,311
l have wanted this
as much as you.
1128
01:16:57,312 --> 01:17:00,312
lf you only knew what a life l
lead in that horrible Ukraine--
1129
01:17:01,917 --> 01:17:03,584
my life and that
of my poor Anna.
1130
01:17:03,585 --> 01:17:06,253
When it doesn't snow,
it's muddy.
1131
01:17:06,254 --> 01:17:08,756
And all those
stupid muzhiks.
1132
01:17:08,757 --> 01:17:11,559
But we will not have
to wait long to be happy.
1133
01:17:11,560 --> 01:17:14,528
My husband is getting old,
and he's also sick.
1134
01:17:14,529 --> 01:17:16,964
The doctors say he has
not long to live.
1135
01:17:16,965 --> 01:17:19,965
Russian doctors are dumb,
but what they say is true.
1136
01:17:20,736 --> 01:17:23,736
He coughs constantly and
has a pain in his chest.
1137
01:17:25,307 --> 01:17:27,274
My God, what have
you made me say?
1138
01:17:27,275 --> 01:17:29,110
l will burn in hell
for this.
1139
01:17:29,111 --> 01:17:32,111
Until you belong to me alone,
l will be the one in hell.
1140
01:17:33,782 --> 01:17:36,782
A wild desire,
an unfulfilled desire,
1141
01:17:37,853 --> 01:17:40,853
could inspire you to write
many a wonderful page.
1142
01:17:41,590 --> 01:17:44,590
l love what you write.
l love your books so much.
1143
01:17:46,328 --> 01:17:49,328
l will not write
another line.
1144
01:17:49,798 --> 01:17:52,798
Nothing as long as
you are not with me.
1145
01:17:56,805 --> 01:17:59,805
And if l were a character
in one of your novels,
1146
01:18:01,109 --> 01:18:04,109
what would you
have me say?
1147
01:18:05,213 --> 01:18:08,213
"'Well,"' she said, while
readjusting the veil of her hat,
1148
01:18:09,384 --> 01:18:12,384
''l shall see you tonight."'
1149
01:18:20,829 --> 01:18:23,829
Then l shall
see you tonight.
1150
01:18:35,277 --> 01:18:37,311
Who did this?
1151
01:18:37,312 --> 01:18:38,679
The bailiff Plissoud.
1152
01:18:38,680 --> 01:18:40,314
And you didn't
try to stop him?
1153
01:18:40,315 --> 01:18:43,315
l could have if
l'd had 45,000 francs.
1154
01:18:44,786 --> 01:18:46,854
45,000 aren't
the end of the world.
1155
01:18:46,855 --> 01:18:49,256
lt's not hard
to find 45,000.
1156
01:18:49,257 --> 01:18:52,257
l know enough people in Paris
who'd lend it to me.
1157
01:18:53,562 --> 01:18:56,562
l always do it that way.
l was just gone for a few days.
1158
01:18:57,232 --> 01:18:59,333
For several weeks.
1159
01:18:59,334 --> 01:19:02,334
l'd die of shame if l had
to go begging on your behalf.
1160
01:19:03,171 --> 01:19:04,839
That's akin to
acknowledging failure.
1161
01:19:04,840 --> 01:19:07,840
What failure? Everyone knows me
and reads my books.
1162
01:19:09,611 --> 01:19:12,611
But you have no interest
in my fame.
1163
01:19:13,582 --> 01:19:16,582
You hold fast to the idea
that l've ruined my life.
1164
01:19:17,452 --> 01:19:19,754
l don't ask
to be proud of you.
1165
01:19:19,755 --> 01:19:22,523
l could walk
with my head held high...
1166
01:19:22,524 --> 01:19:25,359
if l knew you had
paid all your debts.
1167
01:19:25,360 --> 01:19:28,360
At least l prevented them
from taking your desk.
1168
01:19:28,363 --> 01:19:31,363
And they left your bed as well
and a chair.
1169
01:19:32,768 --> 01:19:35,768
That bastard Plissoud.
He must have been jubilant.
1170
01:19:36,471 --> 01:19:39,471
Did they just seize the goods,
or have they begun selling them?
1171
01:19:41,076 --> 01:19:43,511
No, the sale will be
in three weeks.
1172
01:19:43,512 --> 01:19:45,579
And the notices
just read,
1173
01:19:45,580 --> 01:19:48,580
"'Bankruptcy Sale"'
and not our names.
1174
01:19:49,451 --> 01:19:52,219
Then l have enough time
to think.
1175
01:19:52,220 --> 01:19:55,220
l will go to Nemours
to see Madame de Berny--
1176
01:19:55,223 --> 01:19:57,792
-No!
-But of course.
1177
01:19:57,793 --> 01:20:00,694
You don't like her,
but she believes in me.
1178
01:20:00,695 --> 01:20:03,695
She has always supported me
whenever l was in trouble.
1179
01:20:05,901 --> 01:20:07,802
She knows l need
a calm mind,
1180
01:20:07,803 --> 01:20:09,436
free of worries,
in order to work.
1181
01:20:09,437 --> 01:20:10,805
No, l will ask her.
1182
01:20:10,806 --> 01:20:13,806
You dare ask that woman
for money...
1183
01:20:13,842 --> 01:20:16,842
when your body is still moist
from Madame Hanska's warm bed.
1184
01:20:19,281 --> 01:20:21,315
l thank God for having
watched over you...
1185
01:20:21,316 --> 01:20:24,316
and spared you
this malfeasance.
1186
01:20:26,822 --> 01:20:29,822
What are you
trying to say?
1187
01:20:29,991 --> 01:20:32,893
Madame de Berny
is dead, Honore.
1188
01:20:32,894 --> 01:20:35,894
What?
1189
01:20:36,565 --> 01:20:39,565
That's not possible.
1190
01:20:39,801 --> 01:20:42,801
But l told her to inform me
if anything happened to her.
1191
01:20:44,039 --> 01:20:45,506
To inform you?
1192
01:20:45,507 --> 01:20:48,507
She didn't even know that
you had gone to Neufchatel.
1193
01:20:48,643 --> 01:20:51,045
l had to tell her.
1194
01:20:51,046 --> 01:20:52,446
lt was a very painful
moment for her.
1195
01:20:52,447 --> 01:20:54,582
For me, too.
1196
01:20:54,583 --> 01:20:57,583
l sometimes ask myself
if that hastened her end.
1197
01:20:59,454 --> 01:21:02,454
What? You told her?
1198
01:21:03,291 --> 01:21:05,292
You did that?
You dared to do that?
1199
01:21:05,293 --> 01:21:07,795
She had a right
to know the truth.
1200
01:21:07,796 --> 01:21:10,796
The truth?
You didn't even know her.
1201
01:21:10,932 --> 01:21:13,634
You don't even know me.
1202
01:21:13,635 --> 01:21:16,303
l must get to Nemours
before dawn.
1203
01:21:16,304 --> 01:21:19,304
But why? For a plot of earth
that has been shifted?
1204
01:21:20,442 --> 01:21:23,442
She was buried
three weeks ago.
1205
01:21:25,480 --> 01:21:28,480
When l think that you let
that woman die all alone,
1206
01:21:30,118 --> 01:21:33,118
whom you claimed to have loved
with all your heart.
1207
01:21:34,656 --> 01:21:36,824
What will become of me
when l die,
1208
01:21:36,825 --> 01:21:39,825
l whom you do not love?
1209
01:22:09,958 --> 01:22:12,958
Forgive me, Honore,
if l hurt you.
1210
01:22:17,799 --> 01:22:20,799
l know that, deep down,
you are not bad.
1211
01:22:21,336 --> 01:22:24,336
But what is terrible is that
you don't understand me.
1212
01:22:25,540 --> 01:22:28,540
But now that that woman can
no longer come between us,
1213
01:22:30,879 --> 01:22:33,380
perhaps we can try
to get closer...
1214
01:22:33,381 --> 01:22:36,381
and understand
each other better.
1215
01:22:36,718 --> 01:22:38,319
Calm down, Honore.
1216
01:22:38,320 --> 01:22:39,420
My coat!
1217
01:22:39,421 --> 01:22:41,388
You are wearing it.
1218
01:22:41,389 --> 01:22:43,757
lt is late.
Are you going out?
1219
01:22:43,758 --> 01:22:46,694
To go where?
You've just come home.
1220
01:22:46,695 --> 01:22:49,563
lt's pitch-black outside.
1221
01:22:49,564 --> 01:22:51,332
Listen, if l caused you
any pain--
1222
01:22:51,333 --> 01:22:53,467
Pain?
1223
01:22:53,468 --> 01:22:56,468
You haven't caused me any pain
for a long time now.
1224
01:22:56,671 --> 01:22:59,671
You haven't made me cry for
a long time, my poor Mother.
1225
01:24:04,773 --> 01:24:07,274
Do not desert me,
Nacquart.
1226
01:24:07,275 --> 01:24:10,275
l don't know
what to prescribe.
1227
01:24:12,280 --> 01:24:15,280
No medicine will cure
black thoughts.
1228
01:24:16,785 --> 01:24:19,086
l can only prescribe
one remedy:
1229
01:24:19,087 --> 01:24:22,087
try to take your mind
off things.
1230
01:24:22,657 --> 01:24:24,725
Why don't you
go travelling?
1231
01:24:24,726 --> 01:24:27,726
How l would love to join
Madame Hanska in Bavaria.
1232
01:24:29,597 --> 01:24:32,433
That's an excellent idea.
1233
01:24:32,434 --> 01:24:35,434
But l don't have
any money.
1234
01:24:35,804 --> 01:24:38,505
How much do you need?
1235
01:24:38,506 --> 01:24:41,506
Nacquart, you would
do that for me?
1236
01:26:13,301 --> 01:26:16,036
Your mother wouldn't
recognise you.
1237
01:26:16,037 --> 01:26:19,037
She never saw me
for who l was.
1238
01:26:22,277 --> 01:26:25,277
But how will l find the woman
l came here to see?
1239
01:26:34,088 --> 01:26:36,089
There's George Sand.
1240
01:26:36,090 --> 01:26:39,090
Didn't l tell you that
we adore French literature?
1241
01:26:40,195 --> 01:26:43,195
Don't be surprised to find
yourself at the mercy of lions.
1242
01:26:43,431 --> 01:26:46,431
l'm hungry for you.
1243
01:26:46,734 --> 01:26:48,702
ls it you?
1244
01:26:48,703 --> 01:26:51,305
ls it really you?
1245
01:26:51,306 --> 01:26:52,873
lf he sees us--
1246
01:26:52,874 --> 01:26:55,874
There's a grotto
below the castle.
1247
01:26:56,311 --> 01:26:59,311
-Take the secret staircase.
-Where?
1248
01:26:59,847 --> 01:27:02,847
Hurry!
1249
01:27:31,012 --> 01:27:32,646
Where is my wife?
1250
01:27:32,647 --> 01:27:35,647
l haven't seen her
for a while.
1251
01:27:35,850 --> 01:27:37,784
l plead guilty,
Count Hanski.
1252
01:27:37,785 --> 01:27:40,785
l told her we have a pond
in the park with black swans.
1253
01:27:42,390 --> 01:27:45,292
She's never seen
black swans before.
1254
01:27:45,293 --> 01:27:47,527
ls it dangerous?
lf she leans over...
1255
01:27:47,528 --> 01:27:50,528
Don't worry about
Madame Hanska's inclinations.
1256
01:27:51,866 --> 01:27:54,866
Let's dance instead.
1257
01:28:07,415 --> 01:28:10,415
What is it, Count?
1258
01:28:14,122 --> 01:28:17,122
Are you all right, Count?
1259
01:28:23,331 --> 01:28:25,299
What's with this disguise?
1260
01:28:25,300 --> 01:28:28,300
George Sand doesn't have
a moustache.
1261
01:28:30,738 --> 01:28:33,738
Now l can kiss you.
1262
01:28:39,914 --> 01:28:42,649
Don't you want to
kiss me any more?
1263
01:28:42,650 --> 01:28:45,650
Oh, but l do.
Except that it hurts.
1264
01:28:46,521 --> 01:28:49,521
lnstead of soothing me,
your mouth is driving me mad.
1265
01:28:50,291 --> 01:28:52,893
Do you want to
caress me all over?
1266
01:28:52,894 --> 01:28:54,795
Like this?
And like this?
1267
01:28:54,796 --> 01:28:56,229
Oh, would l!
1268
01:28:56,230 --> 01:28:59,230
l desire you, too.
1269
01:29:05,606 --> 01:29:08,606
We're staying at the
Hotel Bohmerwald.
1270
01:29:09,110 --> 01:29:11,478
As soon as my husband
turns his back,
1271
01:29:11,479 --> 01:29:13,447
l'll let you know and--
1272
01:29:13,448 --> 01:29:16,448
That's too risky. What if
he returns unexpectedly?
1273
01:29:17,385 --> 01:29:19,753
Baroness von Galvenberg
is on our side,
1274
01:29:19,754 --> 01:29:21,455
so let's meet here.
1275
01:29:21,456 --> 01:29:24,456
Not here. l don't trust
the servants. They could talk.
1276
01:29:26,561 --> 01:29:29,561
But if you're too afraid
to meet me at the hotel,
1277
01:29:29,564 --> 01:29:31,898
l understand.
1278
01:29:31,899 --> 01:29:34,067
You're afraid as well.
1279
01:29:34,068 --> 01:29:36,136
We would end up
trembling like children.
1280
01:29:36,137 --> 01:29:38,605
Do you remember
what l told you?
1281
01:29:38,606 --> 01:29:40,540
As long as l'm married,
1282
01:29:40,541 --> 01:29:43,541
we will have to make love
in our letters alone.
1283
01:29:44,512 --> 01:29:47,512
lt's not the same thing,
but l do so love your letters.
1284
01:29:48,683 --> 01:29:51,683
Writing, always writing.
l spend all my life writing.
1285
01:29:53,221 --> 01:29:56,221
l would like to live
a real life...
1286
01:29:56,391 --> 01:29:59,391
and feel something
other than a pen in my hands,
1287
01:29:59,794 --> 01:30:01,695
touch something
other than paper.
1288
01:30:01,696 --> 01:30:03,697
Writing is dangerous.
1289
01:30:03,698 --> 01:30:06,698
Your husband challenged me
to a duel because of a letter.
1290
01:30:08,469 --> 01:30:10,504
Oh, Eve...
1291
01:30:10,505 --> 01:30:13,306
is he still
thinking about it?
1292
01:30:13,307 --> 01:30:15,709
More than ever.
1293
01:30:15,710 --> 01:30:17,844
But don't worry.
He is not immortal.
1294
01:30:17,845 --> 01:30:20,747
Neither am l.
1295
01:30:20,748 --> 01:30:23,316
And if we carry out
that duel...
1296
01:30:23,317 --> 01:30:26,317
Hanski is steadily
growing weaker.
1297
01:30:27,255 --> 01:30:30,255
Will he survive
the coming spring?
1298
01:30:30,625 --> 01:30:33,625
Our Russian winters
are so very cold,
1299
01:30:34,095 --> 01:30:36,897
so deathly cold.
1300
01:30:36,898 --> 01:30:39,666
Build happiness
on the death of a man?
1301
01:30:39,667 --> 01:30:41,868
He's been
wishing you yours.
1302
01:30:41,869 --> 01:30:44,171
-That's enough.
-What will you do?
1303
01:30:44,172 --> 01:30:47,172
l've written too much
on the freedom of women...
1304
01:30:47,241 --> 01:30:50,143
for you to be
treated thus.
1305
01:30:50,144 --> 01:30:51,845
l will speak
to your husband.
1306
01:30:51,846 --> 01:30:54,281
No! lf he knew about us...
1307
01:30:54,282 --> 01:30:57,184
-He knows about us.
-No, but he has doubts.
1308
01:30:57,185 --> 01:31:00,185
l shall erase his doubts.
What's he disguised as? Othello?
1309
01:31:00,855 --> 01:31:02,789
He's a Teutonic knight.
1310
01:31:02,790 --> 01:31:04,691
What does he look like?
1311
01:31:04,692 --> 01:31:07,692
Like Death.
1312
01:31:30,651 --> 01:31:33,220
l have something
to say to you, Count.
1313
01:31:34,220 --> 01:31:44,220
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