Gimme a beer.
Forestier?
Charles Forestier. Yes.
Georges Duroy.
With the Sixth Hussard's, Algeria, '95.
Yes. Georges Duroy. Yes.
You look terrible.
Let me buy you a drink.
When's the last time you had a proper meal?
'Scuse me.
Champagne.
What have you been doing all these years?
I only just got out.
I'm hoping for better luck in Paris.
You couldn't look for a better time. Paris is filthy with money.
Rotten with it.
If you can't succeed here, you might as well lie down and die. Yes.
Even the whores are getting rich.
And me, ex-soldier,
living on the Boulevard Hausseman.
Political editor of the 'La Vie Francaise'.
We're going to be the newspaper that brings down the government.
I'm working as a clerk at the railway office.
I don't have your connections, Charles.
Had to make money somehow.
And we can't go on looting spree anymore, we're not in the desert.
Why don't you come to dinner. Tomorrow night.
Come and meet my wife.
Well, the thing is, uh...
I don't have any evening clothes.
Well, here.
Buy some, hire some, come at 7:30, yes?
Yes. - Good.
Georges Duroy.
What name shall I give? - Georges Duroy.
Mr. Georges Duroy.
I am Madeleine Forestier.
You're married to Charles?
Of course. Charles told me all about you.
Madame François de Marelle.
Madeleine. - Clotilde.
You look lovely.
I'm Clotilde.
You can call me Clotilde.
Madame Pierre Rousset.
He's frail. Gout's going to his kidneys.
He'll become a member of the Academy for the rest of his life.
And so everyone will be satisfied.
You're awful.
It's this knife, Duroy.
What?
He's not used to eating like this.
I believe you've only just returned from your posting in North Africa.
You were in Algeria?
Yes.
Charles and I were first there together...
...five - five years ago? - Five years.
He was a little thinner then.
Where were you garrisoned?
I was garrisoned at the frontier.
Very edge of the Sahara.
I once heard a very foolish story about the desert.
May well be a myth but I find it rather romantic.
I was told that the sands - sing?
Oh, it's true. It's an effect of the wind on the dunes..
it makes kind of music.
And what does it sound like?
It sounds very sad and mournful.
At least it does to a lonely soldier.
Euw...
But how could you be lonely? In there, the women are divine.
The women are ravishing,
and yet, I was still homesick.
Sand storms and mangy dogs, that's what I remember.
You could run something extra-ordinary about this.
I think it would be timely. - Timely? Why?
Don't you read the newspapers? - No.
The government are trying to take Morocco.
Yes.
'For the good of the Moroccan people', of course.
But surely, nobody wants war. - That won't stop them.
No, but we will.
Think of it. An eye-witness view.
A handsome young soldier on the frontier.
Homesick and alone.
His adventures,
his insights.
The diary of a cavalry officer.
What do you think, dearest?
What fish are we having?
Oh, yes, let's change the subject.
I can't bear politics.
Men talking about men, fighting with men about men.
Bores me stupid.
What does interest you?
Well...
I like enjoying myself.
What do you enjoy?
Well, I don't know...
Everything.
All right, you.
'Diary Of A Cavalry Officer.'
I want the first article in the morning.
You realize he's never written a word?
I'll help him get started.
We'll write it as a letter to a friend.
Dear
Henri,
I'm sorry I haven't written for so long.
It is almost a month...
...since I first set foot...
...in this glorious land.
I do not know that the heat would agree with you, dear friend,
but I know you would share my enthusiasm for the people.
If only I could convey to you the true wonder of the souq.
The scent of cinnamon and saffron,
heavy on the warm air.
She was wearing a simple dress,
and a shawl against the sun.
The color of... pomegranate blossom.
She needed no other ornament.
The simple perfection of her face and the beauty of her smile
I cannot describe.
All I know is, that with one look,
and one look alone,
I was hers.
I like being a journalist.
I hope you don't think I'm going to write...
...all your articles for you.
No.
I would never presume...
I meant something quite different.
I know what you meant.
Let's be clear.
I have no interest in being your mistress.
There's nothing more boring to me than an infatuated youth.
I know perfectly well that love for you is an appetite.
Makes idiots of you all.
Look at me, please.
I will never be your mistress.
You understand?
Yes. - Good.
Then we can be friends.
Real friends.
Now I can give you some advice.
The most important people in Paris are not the men.
The most important people in Paris...
...are their wives.
Call on Madame Rousset.
She likes you.
Madame Rousset likes me?
Not like that.
Never like that.
No.
Her husband values her opinion above all others'.
One good word from her is worth ten years of groveling to him.
But you may very much enjoy a visit to my friend Clotilde.
She's such wonderful company.
And her husband is very often away.
If there's ever...
...any way I can repay your kindness...
May I present Georges Duroy?
We're helping him get on his feet.
This is the Comte de Vaudrec.
The Comte is our best and closest friend.
Duroy.
Mr. Rousset.
You remember Georges Duroy?
'Diary Of A Cavalry Officer.'
Your article was a success. Write me another.
Put him on a payroll, Forestier.
If you think so...
You'll get five francs for this article,
five for the next.
And two hundred a month.
Plus ten centimes a line,
any articles you manage to place.
Here. Give this to the Chief Cashier.
What's the matter? Can't believe your luck?
Hello, I'm Laurine. You're George.
Please sit down. Maman will be down shortly.
What's your favorite game?
Tag.
Tag?
Well...
...you...
...are it.
Who's it?
You are. - I'm going to catch you.
Get Georges.
Tag.
Who's chasing who? You're chasing us.
It is time for Laurine to take her lunch. - I want to stay with Georges.
Well, perhaps you'll permit me to call on you again.
Come soon, Bel Ami.
Kiss.
Bel Ami. She never hugs anyone.
I'm so glad you called. - When can I see you again?
I'll come to you. Tomorrow.
You should come today.
Well, I hope you haven't gone to too much trouble.
Would you like a drink? - Yes.
Yes, I would.
I'm a bit nervous. - So am I.
Do you think it'll take the both of us?
I'd like to do this again. - I'd like to do this now.
I mustn't come to your room, you know. Anyone might see.
I can't risk a divorce. I would lose Laurine.
And I don't want to embarrass my husband.
He's a good man.
A love nest is what we need.
A little place where we can go to be alone.
From time to time?
I would pay for it.
My money...
...to spend on me...
...on something I want.
What you're reading? It's a letter for my father.
Every week he puts on his best suit and goes to the priest.
And the priest writes a letter for him.
And every week it's the same thing.
Your mother sends her blessings...
Pigs have diarrhea...
When you're getting married?
My father's a peasant.
He's never left his village.
And he's asking me for money.
I'd like to see where you grew up.
I'd like to see you there.
Promise me something.
Don't bring your other women here.
I don't have other women.
All men have other women.
Not me.
Honestly? Don't lie to me.
Honestly and truly.
Champagne.
Hello. - Hello.
I was talking to your friend here.
Georges.
I think you've mistaken me for somebody else.
So I see.
Not so friendly after all, are we?
Now that you're not looking for a cheap fuck.
Clo.
Don't you dare touch me. - That was before I knew you.
Clotilde.
All you had to do was say hello to me.
Who are you to speak to me?
Who am I?
Beggar.
Duval. - Yes?
No.
You still owe me forty. I need to eat too.
Why don't you try earning it?
'Diary Of A Cavalry Officer.'
Whatever happened to that?
Perhaps you can get my wife to write it.
Perhaps you think you can draw your salary,
and she will do your job for you.
Now I - I brought you into my home,
I fed you, I clothed you.
And how do you repay me?
By learning to play Cap'n Bo- I mean, My Go-
You shut up, I'll write it now.
You will, will you?
There you go, Forestier.
Did you really write this?
Yes.
You write like an errand boy.
Rousset shall see this.
Forestier.
Pompous idiot.
He can talk.
Couldn't even write his own name...
...without his wife to spell it for him.
You know what they say about her.
What?
You know,
Vaudrec?
You shut your mouth.
You don't know her.
Mr. Rousset regrets to inform you...
...that your services are no longer required.
Pack up and get out.
You're on your own, Duroy.
No women to help you here.
Madame Rousset.
I hope you'll forgive me for intruding.
Mr. Duroy.
I wanted to make a gift to you, these pears,
I received from my parent's orchard in Normandy today.
How very kind.
Would you care to join us?
I would, thank you.
Will you eat a pear, Madame Rousset.
Well, um... Yes, I think I might.
Head of Gossip.
Head of Gossip?
Ah, Duroy.
You remember my wife.
Mr. Duroy.
Now, do you remember Madame de Marelle?
Of course.
Well, Bel Ami.
Don't you have a smile for your old friend?
Let's go in to dinner, ladies.
We have pages and pages of gossip for you.
Madame Forestier.
Bel Ami.
I thought you'd forgotten me. - Impossible.
I missed you so much.
Why didn't you come to me?
I thought you didn't want me anymore.
I'll always want you.
I must go.
My husband will be wondering where I am.
My other husband.
Your rich husband. - The father of my daughter.
Will you lace me up?
Don't forget to tie a double bow.
Like your husband does it?
Poor Charles.
He won't live to see another spring.
Madeleine has taken him to the sea, but it won't help.
Poor thing.
She won't be a widow for long.
Thank you for coming.
You're the only one.
How is he?
I brought him to Cannes to make him better.
But I'll bury him here.
They're my favorite.
Thank you.
You come to see me die?
No.
Just come to escape the city.
Because I'm gonna live. - Yes.
I am.
I'm going to live. - Yes.
Help me.
I want to go...
...for a drive.
You're not strong enough. - Help, help...
I want you to listen to what I have to say.
And try to understand. Don't be angry.
I only want you to know that with one word you can make me happy.
You can make me your friend,
your brother,
or you can make me your husband.
My heart and my body are yours.
You have to understand,
I am not like other women.
Marriage to me is...
...partnership, contract between equals.
I will not accept authority,
jealousy,
questioning my conduct.
I insist on being free. - Of course.
You must give it more thought.
It is an important decision for us both.
Clo.
Just tell me.
Tell me quickly.
I'm getting married.
Of course, you must.
Who is she?
Madeleine Forestier.
You've chosen exactly the woman you need.
Yes.
And you love her.
Clo. - No.
No. I'll be fine.
The government insists that it is abandoning its set eyes on Morocco.
No, no, better.
The government insists that it's listened to the will of its people...
...and abandoned its set eyes on Morocco.
Georges. The papers.
This is so boring. This endless to and fro.
They say this, we say that.
Yes, you're right.
It's as stale as old bread.
Wasn't there a deputy? Who was it? I know it's here somewhere.
He bet his mustache the government was lying.
Sarazin.
We should give Sarazin's mustache a column of its own.
Georges.
It's brilliant.
That is brilliant.
Rousset will love it.
I've been thinking...
...the political editor...
...of a leading newspaper,
should have a more memorable name.
Something...
...a bit grand.
Where are your parents from?
My parents are from Cantelaux.
You remember? We didn't have our honeymoon there.
Georges...
Duroy de Cantelaux.
No, it's not quite right.
Duroy de Cantel.
Madeleine, I'm from Cantelaux.
I prefer that.
No, no, no, listen.
Georges
Duroy...
...de Cantel.
Say it again.
Georges
Duroy...
...de Cantel.
Madame
Duroy...
...de Cantel.
'Sarazin's mustache'.
This is exactly what we need.
Originality of thought. Print.
Sit.
They're for my wife.
Georges.
Oh. Thank you.
You know how I love them.
One can never have too many.
The Comte was just leaving.
Oh, not for my sake, I hope. - No, no.
I have business to attend to.
Thank you, Paul. Thank you.
And give my regards to your wife.
I wish her better health. You are too kind, Mr. de Comte.
That'll be all.
What did he want?
It's Tuesday.
He always comes on Tuesday.
And when are your politicians arriving?
In half an hour. - In half an hour.
Yes.
In half an hour.
I invited Laroche.
You must pay special attention to him.
He's going to be Foreign Minister one day, I promise.
Georges.