Next time I won't pay this much.
The competition from Italy is killing me.
This barely pays for the fertilizer.
Next year we'll grow chick-peas.
I'll miss having drinks with friends like you.
What's all this barking about?
I won't steal your herd.
Move over.
Leave me my bread!
Here, we'll share my lunch.
Well, now what will I eat?
Go on, move.
Bernard, what did you do today?
I explored the hill.
Look what I found.
Lignites. This area is full of them.
Very interesting.
And I saw some unattended goats.
Must be the hunchback's daughter's herd.
I haven't seen the little savage since her dad died.
She hides from us.
I've seen her. She's beautiful.
Her mother was a real beauty.
That hunchback hatched a lovely daughter.
Who was he?
You didn't know him.
It was before you moved here.
He was a city intellectual who played at being a farmer.
He was a nut.
He wasn't all that nutty.
I didn't say he was an idiot.
He just wasn't practical.
He tried breeding rabbits by multiplying numbers on paper.
Why? Because he had no water.
But you found some. Your carnations are doing well.
On holidays, mostly Christmas and Mardi Gras.
Easter is good too.
And the dead. Aren't they good business?
Not bad. Funerals bring good income.
Let's go. Hurry up!
Thanks.
Here's a letter.
My darling...
Tonight we're doing Aida in Bordeaux.
I sing a small role, but I'm thrilled.
If only you were with me, I'd be truly happy.
Your loving mother.
You can't stay here forever.
You should go join your mother.
No hare or rabbit or partridge in sight.
Maybe I'm going deaf and blind.
Next time I'll bring the butcher's dog.
That hare won't get away!
Galinette!
Do you know it's five o'clock?
That's some nap.
I think I got sunstroke.
No, you're not red.
You must be needing sleep.
Come outside.
She can't hear, but she guesses everything.
What I'll say to you concerns only us two.
Galinette...
You're past 30, and you're the last of the Soubeyrans.
I know all that.
Don't interrupt!
If I keep saying it, it's your fault.
I'll say it until you understand.
We Soubeyrans were this region's most important family.
On Grandpa's birthday...
There were 30 of you.
All Soubeyrans, with cans of gold hidden throughout the house.
Everyone respected us.
It didn't last, but don't blame me. That's fate.
There's no such thing as fate.
Good-for-nothings always blame fate!
It was the fault of our elders.
Because of pride and greed, they married among themselves.
Cousins married cousins.
An uncle married his niece.
That's bad for rabbits, and not good for people.
What's the result?
Two madwomen and three suicides.
Now there's only us two.
I don't count anymore.
So you're what's left of the Soubeyrans.
You want me to marry.
Why didn't you take a wife?
I wasn't cut out for it.
Mind you, I almost did...
but it didn't work out.
I joined the army in Africa, on a whim...
and when I came back...
If there had been a child, I'd gladly have married her.
But it didn't happen.
I'm like Anglade's cherry tree.
Many blossoms, but never any fruit.
So I should marry instead of you.
You have to, Galinette.
But why? Why?
You're asking me why?
What about the Soubeyran fortune?
It's not banknotes that rats eat.
It's gold!
Cans full of gold coins. Understand?
And I own them!
That's from savings, skimping and hard work.
You'd throw it all out?
Of course not. I love gold.
Then don't leave it without an owner.
You can't ask me to start a family just like that.
I've asked you for ten years.
But not as seriously as today.
Besides, I have my own ideas.
You have someone in mind?
Maybe.
Won't you tell me who?
Listen, I was in the sun all day.
I feel woozy.
I'll tell you, but be patient.
Fine. I like you, Galinette.
Just one more thing.
In choosing a wife, think of the children.
What do you mean?
Don't be enticed by a pretty face.
What we need is wide hips, long legs...
and nice, big tits.
It's like choosing a brood mare.
What if she's also pretty?
If it's also, I won't mind.
On the contrary...
she'd be the Soubeyran beauty.
I'd enjoy looking at her.
Over here, Noe! Come!
Why is it always my turn? The water is for everyone.
Cleaning the basin twice a year won't kill you.
This red sand and the dead leaves.
People need clean water.
So do vegetables.
This is strange.
Looks like clay, but it's not.
No...
it's bauxite powder.
A mixture of iron and aluminum.
Where does it come from?
From the spring, after big storms.
It settles here...
and never reaches the fountain.
After a rainy night...
my spring water turns red and the stones look rusty.
It is rust, since it's iron oxide.
Then it can't hurt.
No. It's actually good.
Where's your spring in relation to this basin?
What do you mean?
Is it higher up or below?
That's hard to say.
The Romarins valley is above here.
Then the village water comes from the same valley.
It's ten o'clock.
I promised they'd have water by noon!
That's two hours away.
But it takes an hour before it reaches the village.
I enjoy your company, but I must report to the mayor.
Don't keep him waiting, teacher.
Someone's throwing stones!
Wasn't that lightning?
You saw lightning? You must have started drinking real early.
I swear I drank only coffee this morning.
That's my knife.
I lost it a few days ago.
- Around here? - No. I haven't been here before.
That's strange.
The shepherdess returned it to you.
- Where is she? - What shepherdess?
- You mean Manon? - The hunchback's Manon. Who else?
Is she hiding here?
No, she ran away.
Too bad. I wanted to thank her.
Some other time.
Thank her with a little kiss.
I don't know her, but I dreamt about her.
In my dream, I even kissed her.
Did she let you?
In my dreams, women don't resist me.
Aren't you eating?
I'm not hungry.
You haven't looked well lately.
I've lost my appetite.
Probably from that poison.
What poison?
The one I spray on my carnations...
to kill the red spiders.
I'll do it for you.
No. It has to be done at night.
Daylight is no good for it.
It weakens it.
It kills its effectiveness.
You work nights, but you don't sleep days.
You're never home. What do you do all day?
I hunt.
I walk around on the hill.
I breathe in the fresh air...
to clean out my lungs...
- from that poison. - That's true.
It's good for the carnations, but bad for you.
Still, you should eat and sleep.
Want a doctor?
No. I'll be all right.
See? I'm eating.
She's going to Aubagne to sell my birds.
He's nuts.
Who is it?
It's me!
Yes, you're going crazy.
- Who is the woman? - What woman?
The one you visit in Aubagne.
I've watched you for days.
You keep collecting birds. What for?
I see you prancing and talking to yourself as if you're crazy!
Are you in love?
That's a good sickness.
Who is she?
You won't tell me.
Then she's either a tramp...
or she's married.
That's it! She's married!
She's married!
Open up!
No, I won't!
- We can talk through the door. - Why?
If I don't see you, I might tell you.
You're as dopey as your poor mother.
Now, tell me.
I don't want to tell you anything.
Ask me questions.
Tell me who she is.
I won't tell you that.
A city girl?
Quite the opposite.
Even better.
Do I know her?
Actually, no.
What does that mean?
You're too clever. After four questions, you'll know.
- Then... I do know her. - See? I don't want to tell you.
You act like a cop, but I won't tell you.
Why not?
Because!
It's my secret.
My first love secret, and I'm keeping it.
Keep it. I'm leaving. Good-bye.
No! Stay!
I want to talk about her.
I don't even know who she is.
But I do, so I like talking about her.
Papet, did you leave?
No. I'm rolling a cigarette.
So, you want to marry her?
Yes, but she won't want me.
- Why? - She's pretty and I'm ugly.
Does she have money?
Not much.
- Is she healthy? - Yes.
She's strong as a horse and has good little muscles.
She would do a better job on my carnations than me.
And she's educated too.
How do you know?
She's always reading books. Sometimes for a whole hour.
That's no good.
A poor girl who reads books. I don't like it.
Besides, a beautiful wife could mean trouble.
Is she honest?
She's the Holy Virgin of the hills.
If she'd marry me, I'd be happy as a king.
But she won't.
No poor girl ever rejected a Soubeyran.
Unless she's crazy.
If she said yes, would you consent?
I can't say until I know who she is.
You idiot! Open up and tell me!
I won't open the door!
I have to think!
Papet...
I may tell you, but first, swear by all the Soubeyrans...
that when you hear her name, you won't say a word.
- As you like. - No! Swear it!
I swear it by all the Soubeyrans.
Good! Now I have to decide.
I won't open the door. I'll take out the key.
Put your ear next to the keyhole.
It's Manon, the hunchback's daughter.
Twenty years from now, you'll be too old for her.
- She'll have lovers. - She wouldn't do that.
She's like all the others.
But never mind.
By then you'll have a house full of sturdy little Soubeyrans.
Since she's pretty, I give my consent.
You've seen her?
Yes, I have.
What's your opinion?
She's very pretty.
She seems mature for her age.
She must be 18 by now.
Know who she's like?
Nobody.
She looks like someone you never knew.
She looks exactly like her grandmother.
You knew her grandmother?
Florette Camoins...
the beauty!
Miss, I'm glad to meet you...
to thank you for my knife.
How did you know it was mine?
I saw you eating with it one day.
I'm the new teacher.
I'm collecting minerals in the hills...
to teach my pupils the composition of their land.
There's no gold here.
It's Jurassic cretaceous from the second Quaternary era.
You're well-informed for a shepherdess.
I'm just quoting my dad.
I'd like you to keep this.
I've got one.
That one's too fancy for me.
No.
A shepherdess should have a shepherd's knife.
It has four blades, an awl and a nail file.
And small scissors.
I know, because I used them.
It's the first one I snared.
It's a baby. The big ones get away.
That hare is my present to you.
My class starts soon. I have to leave.
I'll leave this on a rock.
Someone is bound to find it.
She doesn't want your knife.
I'll keep it if you take the hare.
All right.
Thanks.
Papet...
How does one talk to girls?
I don't know any words of love.
So you've made up your mind?
Yes, I must hurry.
She could meet a man in Aubagne who might take her from me.
Where will you court her?
In the hills.
I'll pretend to look for mushrooms or snails...
as if I didn't see her.
Not so fast.
If you're looking for mushrooms or snails...
it makes you seem poor.
If you're rich, show it.
Don't wear your old clothes.
Wear a new suit, a real hunting outfit...
with leather leggins and a matching hat.
And above all...
wear suspenders.
Excuse me.
I'm looking for a hare I shot that must be wounded.
Aren't you Manon, the daughter of Monsieur Jean?
I see you don't remember me.
That's because I've changed a lot.
I'm Ugolin...
your poor father's friend.
You've changed too.
You're a real young lady.
I hardly recognize you.
You may wonder why we never met before.
I'm too busy to hunt because of my carnations.
Did you know I grow carnations?
I've been very successful.
I've earned lots of money.
The money's all in gold coins!
In two years, with my savings, I'll be worth 50,000 francs.
Would you like to move back to Romarins?
I'd stay in my Massacan house...
and you and Baptistina can tend my carnations.
Manon, listen to me!
I know why you don't want to!
It's because you're proud.
But your pride is no problem.
Carnations need watering, picking, and women know all about that.
I'll pay you! I'll pay you very well!
It isn't to have you work.
I was lying.
It's because I love you.
I love you with all my heart.
Manon!
I want to marry you! I'm all alone. I have no one!
My grandparents are dead!
My father hanged himself. My mother died of the flu!
There's only Uncle Papet!
He's rich. He's old!
He's going to die!
He'll leave it all to me, and it'll be yours!
Because I love you! I love you!
My love for you is choking me...
making me ill.
I saw you bathing in the water holes.
I watched for hours, you were so beautiful.
I was afraid I'd commit a crime!
- You spoke to her? - I didn't see her.
She must have gone to Aubagne.
Then do it tomorrow.
Maybe. First I've got to get used to this outfit.
You look great!
Like a hunter from Marseilles.
Look! Do you see what I see?
A beautiful thrush.
That trap must belong to the hunchback's daughter.
- Are you sure? - Yes.
That is her herd. She must be around here.
I won't touch it. Other people's traps are sacred.
Especially hers. That's her only livelihood.
She sells them at the Aubagne market. She's proud.
We've already hurt her enough.
We didn't mean to. We're not responsible.
We're all responsible.
We knew there was a spring at Romarins, but we said nothing.
Why didn't you speak up?
Because of Amelie.
- You want a bite? - I sure do.
When I used to hunt at Romarins, I'd see...
that poor hunchback look for water with his rod.
Once he was right above it, but the rod didn't bend.
Then he dug in the wrong spot.
That night I was upset...
so I told Amelie.
What a scene! She flew into a rage!
It was none of our business... hunchbacks are bad luck...
he was an outsider from Crespin, etc., etc.
You know how she is.
She made me swear to say nothing.
- So you didn't? - No.
Ugolin and Papet are real bastards.
In that whole business, we were all bastards.