Beauty and the Devil

THE BEAUTY OF THE DEVIL

Based on the legend of FAUST,

who sold his soul to the devil.

Gentlemen, our joy is mixed with

sorrow as we celebrate...

...the fiftieth year

at this university...

...of a man...

...who has devoted his whole life

to increasing human knowledge

Our dear Dean,

Professor Henri Faust.

Henri Faust, your daily life

among us...

...has been a model for all

our students and for us too.

You have despised riches,

refused honours...

...and denied yourself

the simplest joys...

...in order to devote yourself

to the service of the intellect.

The time has now come...

...for you to face

these great problems...

...alone in peaceful retirement.

May God...

...bless your work and guide

your steps...

...along that path of science

where you precede us.

Faust, why are you running away?

Don't you want to see me?

Why slam that door?

You know full well that,

despite doors and walls...

...I can steal into your home

and worm my way into your soul.

What's the use of studying

those books...

...that reveal none of the secrets

you wish to discover?

Think back.

In fifty years of solitude,

what have you learnt?

Nothing, I know nothing.

Don't exaggerate.

You're a great scholar.

But you won't discover nature's

secret forces in those books.

- Soon you will die.

- Having achieved nothing.

Whereas if you accepted

my help and called me...

...you could succeed

in your great experiment.

And if I called?

I'd come at once.

I didn't call you.

It's not time yet.

Yes, it is, sir.

Dinner is served.

You're not eating, Professor?

I'm not hungry.

You're only hungry for knowledge.

Be quiet.

I didn't say anything, Professor.

Faust, you're wasting

the last hours of your life.

Your knowledge only serves

to measure your ignorance.

All you've learnt is that,

without me, you'll know nothing.

I could show you everything

but you're scared.

You're scared, Faust.

I'm not scared of you or

your ridiculous disguises.

I'm not scared of your horns,

your cloven hooves...

...your claws or bat's wings.

Poor devil.

You think you scare me?

I'm your equal and

I can be your master.

- The time has come?

- Yes, I order you to show yourself.

That's right, order me -

on your knees.

No, don't show yourself yet.

Go away! I didn't call you.

Too late.

I obeyed and I'm here.

- Where?

- Turn around and you'll see me.

What do you look like?

I've neither cloven feet nor horns.

Come out of that corner.

- Open your eyes.

- I see nothing.

I'm not in your book.

Are you scared of yourself?

The devil looks and sounds like you.

I did my best to please.

You might at least welcome me.

Lucifer, go away!

Not Lucifer. Just one of

his humble lieutenants.

My name is Mephistopheles.

That's not very nice

when I've come so far.

Maybe you'd prefer me disguised

as one of your students?

Do you remember how respectfully

I bowed to you?

You took me by surprise but you

don't scare me. I order you to go.

You're supposed to obey me.

My only wish is to be

your obedient servant.

But before I disappear...

...just one word.

Look at your old decaying body.

It's falling apart. It smells

unpleasantly of death.

Do you know how long

you have left?

- Don't tell me.

- The thought of death scares you?

No. It's the thought of

my useless life.

I can give you another life.

In exchange for what?

Hell doesn't make presents.

Sign this pact with your blood...

Never!

...and I'll do anything you say.

Did you feel that?

It's gout. I always get it

before a storm.

How distressing. My poor man,

one foot in the grave already.

Listen to your heart. And look at

your veins. That's a bad sign.

- With your great discovery so near.

- I won't sell my soul.

Lucifer my master, may I make

an exception for this great man?

Listen.

I'll give you time to finish

your research.

Without a pact?

- I won't mention one until you do.

- There's a catch somewhere.

I'm not asking for a commitment.

I'm giving you youth for free.

Look at yourself in the mirror.

What do you see?

The sad picture of my old age.

And now?

Now I see smoke and flames.

Look again and you will see a face...

...whose youth you envied.

It's yours now.

You're seeing yourself.

Your wish has been granted.

Where are you?

Call me and I'll come back.

My name is Mephistopheles.

Come back!

Sign our agreement and I'll be

your obedient servant.

Good luck, Faust. Enjoy my youth.

Is he better?

I think so.

It's the best medicine.

What happened to me?

You seemed to be gesticulating at

someone and then you passed out.

So we carried you in here.

So it's true.

Here he goes again.

Have some more medicine.

- What is it?

- Brandy.

I drank some of that

a long time ago.

- A very long time ago.

- Is that so?

- I'd like to stand up.

- Stand up then.

- Do you think I can?

- Try.

See that?

My legs really work.

It's quite amazing.

What?

Youth.

For many years, all I saw

through my glasses...

...were papers, words and figures.

I had forgotten there were...

...trees...

...stars...

...girls' faces.

Mademoiselle, how do I look?

Like a young man who doesn't know

what he's saying.

You said young?

Did you hear my voice?

- You're hurting?

- Sorry. I don't know my strength yet.

That'll teach you to know

your own strength.

My God!

Help!

I suddenly felt so weak.

A strange emptiness.

Maybe he goes hungry sometimes.

- You think i might be hungry?

- When was the last time you ate?

It's a sort of vertigo, isn't it?

A crampy pain, a feeling of being

cold, is that right?

- It happens to you too?

- More often than I like.

I'm hungry. I'm hungry.

It's fantastic.

Let's drink to what men

never appreciate enough.

To youth!

Who will pay for all this?

The young man.

He invited them all.

Why the smile?

It's as though everything

were whirling around me.

- Earth, sky, the present, the past.

- It's the wine.

Don't blame the wine. When I think of

all those years I drank water.

Friends!

Let's drink to an old fool with

a white beard who was never young.

Professor Faust!

Before we part...

...I drink to a person

who shall remain nameless.

So generous, he never

demands payment.

- That's you.

- You think so?

I'm sorry but you're mistaken.

No refreshment without payment.

Don't worry,

I'll see you're paid.

Just a moment.

I'll be back with the money.

Thank you, Mephisto!

He's not in his room either.

Let's have a look this way.

A thief!

Don't be scared.

It's me.

- It's only me.

- Help!

Don't be scared.

I tell you it's only me.

Don't worry.

I'll be right back.

Where is he?

He was in there taking

some money. He must have run off.

Here's your money.

- Is singing forbidden?

- It's late.

What are you doing here?

Yes, what is man doing on earth?

That's a big question.

- What are you doing on this bench?

- Thinking.

You've no home?

How shall I put it?

I have one.

And I don't have one, any more.

What's your name?

- If I told you, you wouldn't believe me.

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