MADEMOISELLE
It's a fine day.
Yes.
On a maiden, we'd call it bride's blossom.
Now those buds will never bear apples.
- In the old days there was a bigger turnout. - There are too many unbelievers.
They're at home guarding their crops.
Too many foreigners.
One of them is carrying the Holy Virgin today.
Some swine's been setting fires. The police are useless.
They can't act until they catch him red-handed.
Quick, to the village!
Girls, continue the procession!
Come on, get going.
Papa!
I was worried about you.
Mademoiselle.
Mademoiselle. Who gave the alarm?
I don't know.
Two fires in three weeks, and now this flood.
Must be the same man, a madman.
You turn up when it's over.
We're doing our job.
Once I can understand, but three, four times!
It's your job to stop them.
- Where did the flood start? - Somebody opened the sluice gate.
Let's go.
We need your help, if you don't mind.
Of course.
Don't worry, this time we'll get him.
Do you have the key to Town Hall?
I'm tired.
I'm going to bed.
I left the banner in the field.
I'll go get it.
Let the priest do it. It's his job.
"The stable was" what "flooded"?
"Deliberately."
Yes, of course.
I don't get it.
You all beat around the bush.
At this rate, we'll lose all the farms one after the other.
I can't act on mere supposition.
We'll continue our investigation.
Didn't you find anything by the sluice?
Not a thing.
- Nothing at all? - No.
I looked everywhere. He knows what he's doing.
Everyone says it's the Italian. They're sure of it.
Because they want it to be him. And you know why.
They can smell him on their wives.
Manou has no motive.
Maniacs like that don't need a motive, they just want to destroy.
No, it can't be him. He couldn't do that.
- Why not? - He has blue eyes.
Bring me some hot water.
Go on, more!
Good evening.
- You're pretty strong. - I'd better be.
I need to ask your son some questions.
Where were you during the procession?
- Where were you? - Nowhere.
- That's no answer. Tell the truth. - I told you, nowhere.
Don't be like that. Just tell us where you were.
It's not him.
You know that.
That's enough. It's no one's business where he goes.
Leave him alone and get out!
No need to get excited.
You heard me. Get the hell out of here.
Where were you?
Don't forget, we're foreigners.
They blame us for everything.
Because they're cowards, and they're scared to death.
Why are you wearing my pants?
Take them off. I told you not to wear them.
It's a girl's?
The water flows into the bathtub at the rate of one liter per second.
The bathtub empties at the rate of one liter...
...per four seconds.
The bathtub holds...
Bruno, go stand in the corner.
The bathtub holds 200 liters.
- Are you deaf? - I haven't done anything.
Don't answer back.
What did I do?
How many times do I have to tell you? You're too old to wear short pants.
Those filthy knees are ridiculous.
Can't your father buy you trousers?
If the bathtub isn't plugged, how long will it take to fill?
Remember, the water enters the bathtub at the rate of one liter per second...
We're finished.
Thank you.
Close your books. Class dismissed.
She picks on you. She wants to keep you after school.
Leave me alone.
Don't let her fool you.
Bruno!
Go stand against that tree.
Stay there until the end of recess.
Face the tree, hands behind your back.
- Finished? - I've had enough.
Let's go!
Carry me on your shoulders.
- You'd rather spend all day in bed. - And you, all night.
At least one bed's enough for me.
Aren't there trees in Italy?
"Soon...
"...we will plunge ourselves...
"...into...
"...cold...
"...into cold...
"...shadows.
Farewell, brig ht warmth
Who said you could get up?
Poor thing. What a life.
What do you mean?
You know what I mean.
Chastity can be a source of virtue.
Of virtue or of suffering.
- It depends. - On what?
On God's will.
You seem to forget that I make your bed.
I prayed for the victims.
- What victims? - Of the flood and the fires.
You'd have done better to pray for the criminal and the state of his soul.
Fire!
Wake up!
- This is no place for you. - You should go home.
But I want to help, please let me.
Go away, this is no place for you.
Go away!
Take this!
Quick! Come help me.
Proud of yourself, aren't you?
- What do you mean? - Playing the hero.
He loves to come and stick his nose in.
To impress the ladies.
- Anybody know where it started? - Over there, in the barn.
Just ask that filthy Italian.
This is no time to argue. Look around, see what you can find.
What's happened?
Another fire.
- They find anything? - Nothing.
- I can guess who they all suspect. - So can I.
Where's Bruno?
Why isn't he back?
Perhaps he's with a girl.
- I'm going to bed. - Stay a while. Have a drink.
- I'm worried. I'd better look for him. - Wait a bit.
He'll come back.
You're right.
I think it's best to leave.
No, I want to stay.
Soon they'll realize they were wrong.
Now that Bruno's found somebody to help him, this Mademoiselle.
He needs to settle somewhere, and so do I.
In a place like this, you'll always be in trouble with the women.
It's not my fault.
They always get the best of me.
If they even look at me, I can't resist.
That's why the men hate you.
Only she could stop me.
Now she's dead, and you're starting again.
Where were you?
Come here.
Was anything left after the fire?
Almost nothing. A few bits of furniture.
He looked handsome, though, in the fire.
In the water, too.
You're not going to get him, you know. The police will arrest him.
- Do you really think it's him? - I hope so.
Why?
He scares me.
Look at this! Scram!
Get out of there!
- Wasn't your daughter watching them? - I don't know where she is.
I'll tell you, that Italian's screwing her.
That's a dirty lie.
Lie or not, look at this mess. I'm going to the police.
He's taking forever.
- Are you scared? - No, I didn't do anything!
- How many? - Four Our Fathers, four Hail Marys. You?
Two full rosaries. He's in a bad mood.
- You'll certainly catch it. - You don't have to tell me.
He's convinced it's Manou - He didn't set the first fire.
I know that.
Say an extra Our Father for chatting in church.
Say your prayers or go home.
Who's next?
- Found anything yet? - The investigation continues.
The investigation... Did you look in the forest?
- Where do you mean? - Where the Italian works.
What is it?
- Is it bad? - What happened?
It's nothing.
Cut my hand off, that's all.
Wearing your father's pants?
He wants to take my place.
Where were you last night?
- Where'd you go? - To the fi re.
But before that, when I came home earlier you weren't there.
Where were you before the fire?
Be careful.
Understand?
How's work?
Fine.
Nice job you have, I must say. Better than ours.
You go where you please. One week here, one week there.
We don't like moving that much.
Pity.
Stop fooling around!
Scram!
It's not so quiet, out in the country.
- That's no news to you. - That's right.
You know, they're not bad people here.
That is, when things are normal.
But now, they're worried. Frightened.
- You understand? - We've done nothing.
I'm not accusing you, but as a precaution...
- They say-- - Who are "they"?
No one in particular, but there are rumors.
- Will Mademoiselle be there? - Yes, and we're late.
In Paris, she'd be a nobody. Here, she's a goddess.
There are no goddesses in Paris - That's what I mean.
- What are the kids saying? - Nothing.
They must talk about it at recess.
Not to me.
But between themselves?
Nothing. Just like their parents.
What do they say?
Rubbish, that's all.
We're going round in circles.
Six attacks and the same name crops up every time, Manou.
Without any proof.
He always has a solid alibi.
Plus, he's saved many lives.
What devotion! Just to put us off the scent.
He risked his life.
Are you tired?
No, it's nothing.
The children are on their own. I must get back.
Let her go, it's not her. I know who it is, it's Mademoiselle.
How do you know?
Because she smokes. I saw her.
Are you waiting for him to burn down the whole town?
Be quiet. There's his boy.
Late for school, eh?
But if he leaves...
He must go. It's the only solution.
But...
...he's the only one who risked his life.
He was a real hero. I saw him.
He outshone the fire.
The fire seemed as if it was made for him.
If he stays, he'll be in danger.
No, we'll be the ones in danger.
If you continue, you'll pay for it.
I must go now.
The children are waiting for me.
She's lived on her own too long. She gets carried away.
When she talks like that she's almost beautiful.
You were late. Why?
Answer me.
Have you nothing to say?
I had to bring my father his lunch.
That's the way you come to school, dressed like a gypsy?
Those ridiculous trousers, tied up with a bit of string.
Grass in your pocket.
Go into the yard. Go.
Don't come back until you look respectable.
Get out.
Get out, I said.
Don't come near me. Go around.
I'm leaving. I'm leaving for good.
I'm glad that I'll never see you again.
You make me sick.
Dirty whore!
I hate you!
You're on the wrong path.
Why?
That path leads to the forest, and that's where the wolf is!
Good evening, Mademoiselle.
Good evening.
My son has been giving you trouble.
I'm sorry.
Sometimes he's late for school.
It's because he helps me.
Ever since his mother died, we've had to move often to find work.
That's why it's so difficult for him to learn.
I want Bruno to learn, to get a diploma.
Little tramp...
I found him today in the sun.
He's nice.
Look.
Are you frightened?
You shouldn't be, he's harmless.
Touch him.
It's actually the first time we've met.
Met, and spoken.
Yes, I know.
I've seen you sleeping in the forest.
- Do you often sleep in the forest? - In the forest?
TOBACCO SHOP
Thank you.
- Good morning. - Good morning.
Some coffee. Ground, please.
Who's that boy?
He's the son of one of the Italians.
- What Italians? - The woodcutters.
Every year, they come to work in the forest.
Don't you remember them from last year?
No, it must've been before I arrived.
Come here, you slacker!
Get back to work.
Slacker.
Look, a girl!
Why haven't you come to school?
You're the only one, you know.
All the other children come.
I'm not from here.
Attending school is mandatory.
You must come to school tomorrow morning.
"To see."
The verb is s-e-e, but the past tense is s-a-w.
With a "w". All right?
I'll never get it.
Never say never.
- What is it? - Nothing.
He's not here.
I wanted him to look at my machine, my sewing machine.
Don't you have a husband? Why can't he take a look at your machine?
If I told your father...
Come back tonight.
By then he'll be back from Vivotte's.
Don't you like me as much today?
- When did you see the fire? - We didn't see it, we smelled it.
I heard someone whistling.
Couldn't it have been the man sleeping in the barn?
He looks marvelous, and he's mine.
Yours and everybody else's.
- So? - He's dead.
We can't get him out.
Idiot!
Look out.
This is no place for you. You'll catch cold.
We're bringing out the body. Go on home. It won't be a pretty sight.
The Dauphin had three marshals:
La Hire, La Tremouille and Gilles de Rais.
Who knows about Gilles de Rais?
No one?
I'll tell you.
Gilles de Rais was a wicked man.
Very wicked.
Cruel.
When the war was over, he returned to his fortress in Brittany.
He would send his servants into the country to kidnap children.
They were imprisoned in cells.
When he felt like it, he'd choose one...
...and hang him, alive, over a furnace...
...and watch him slowly burn to death.
Sometimes, by night...
...Gilles de Rais set fire to people's homes and farms while they were asleep.
He set entire forests on fire.
From the top of his tower...
...he would watch the farms and forests blaze.
Everyone knew he was guilty...
...but no one accused him. No one dared.
Bruno, who was queen at that time?
You don't know, of course. You don't know anything.
Come here. Look at your knees, they're filthy.
Take off your shoes.
Look at your feet, they're filthy.
You're disgusting. Go stand in the corner.
The queen was Isabella of Bavaria, a shameless strumpet of a queen...
...her lice-ridden body bedecked with gold and pearls.
They were all disgusting: Gilles De Rais, Charles VI, and Lady Isabella.
But at the same time, there lived an innocent girl...
...a warrior and a saint: Joan of Arc.
Destined to be burnt at the stake, but saved for eternity.
- Good evening, Mademoiselle. - Good evening.
Is Benares by the sea?
No, it's on the Ganges River.
- It's arsenic. No doubt about it. - Everybody here has some.
Not this kind.
They have arsenic salt. It would take bags of it to kill all those animals.
No, this is the anhydride, white arsenic.
A few grains would be enough, but normally, nobody has it.
- Manou must've stolen it. - There's no proof--
They all say it's him, they're sure. They're out of control.
Tomorrow at mass, a sermon against violence might be helpful.
Who'll listen? The little girls?
He's made fools of both of you.
Whose side are you on? His or ours?
Better ask the sergeant.
Unless you're scared...
You heard what the vet said. Where's the evidence?
It's staring you in the face.
Everybody knows but you.
What are you going to do?
We're wasting our time. Let's go.
They won't arrest him.
They're scared to death.
Let's go to his house.
We can't do anything, we've no right.
No right? What about our animals?
Let's go to his house.
What if he's got a gun? No, you're right.
- We'll get our guns. - You'll regret it.
I won't regret anything.
- Where has he been working? - Same place in the forest.
Maybe he's still there.
His kid is here somewhere. He'll know.
Once we get him, I'll make him talk.
I found him!
I found Bruno in the shed.
- What are you doing in there? - Where's your father?
- Tell us. - You know where he is.
- What's going on? - It's the kid.
He'll answer.
Come with me.
Wait for me!
Damn rain! I'm soaked.
We've got to keep going. We'll find him.
All I want is to get my hands on him.
I get him first.
No luck, Sergeant. We only found his friend.
Antonio! What happened?
Nothing.
- Somebody got there before us. - We'd better get a doctor.
- Take the kid home and stay with him. - Okay.
- No. - It's better for him.
Perhaps you're right.
Go on. I'll wait for the doctor.
- What will they do to us? - Nothing.
I'll stay with you until your father gets back.
- It's not my father. - How do you know?
I swear it.
You know who it is, then?
No.
Is that your mother?
- What were you doing in the shed? - Nothing.
You need rest. Try to sleep.
We'll find your father. Nothing will happen to him.
No?
I'm leaving tomorrow with Bruno.
I've had enough. I'm going home.
- Come look. It can't be. - What?
Isn't that Mademoiselle?
Yes, it is.
Look, it's Mademoiselle.
- What happened? - Who did this to you?
Look at you!
It's all right, we'll take you home.
- That's his doing. - No doubt about it.
Was it him?
Yes.
You heard, it was him!
I knew it!
Good morning. How are you?
- Fine and you? - Fine.
No, we've no news. We've searched everywhere.
We'll stop the inquiry. It's a waste of time.
He'd never leave like that.
He wouldn't abandon his son.
There's no sign of him. He's disappeared.
I don't believe you.
You're all lying.
You know something.
We know one thing, since he's gone, the trouble's stopped.
- The car's on its way. - Thank you very much.
Let's all recite the multiplication table for six.
Nice and slow. Begin.
Six times one is six.
Six times two is twelve.
Six times three is eighteen.
Things are quieter now, aren't they?
Idiot.
We'll walk to the road.
It's only two kilometers.
There's a bus at 7:00.
We'll find work elsewhere.
We'll be all right.
I know.
There's nothing else to do.
Have a good trip, Mademoiselle!
Good-bye!
Let's go.
Begin!
Six times one is six.
Six times two is twelve.
Six times three is eighteen.
Six times four is twenty-four.
Six times five is thirty.
THE END