Camille Page #9

You see this woman? You know her?

Then listen to what I'm going to say.

I accepted her favors

because I thought she loved me.

I let her make sacrifices when there

were others who had more to give.

But bear witness, I owe her nothing.

Take it. Go on, take it!

Buy camellias. Buy diamonds, horses

and carriages! Buy moonlight! Buy a grave!

I congratulate you, monsieur. You know

how to treat a woman as she deserves.

Like the cheat this one is.

You shall answer to me for this!

Send me word when and where.

- Come, gentlemen, let's continue our play.

- Come, come, the game is continuing.

Place your bets, gentlemen.

Please, please make your bets.

He's safe.

Thank God. Oh, thank God.

But the baron is wounded.

It means Armand must leave the country

to avoid arrest. He's already on his way.

- My letter?

- I'm sorry. He sent it back.

He wouldn't open it.

Who's here we know?

- Oh, there's someone now.

- Come in.

- Armand!

- Armand Duval!

- Well...

- Do sit down.

- When did you get back to Paris?

- About a week ago.

- Why hasn't anyone seen you?

- Where have you been, anyhow?

- All sorts of places.

- It's good you didn't kill the baron...

...and have to stay away for years instead

of months. Have you seen Marguerite?

- Oh, I'm sorry, I meant...

- Well.

How does Paris look to the traveler?

The same as it looked six months ago.

The same girls singing the same song

on the same stage.

And I'm still wearing

the same dress, alas.

Don't hint.

Nobody's going to buy you a new one.

Only, Marguerite isn't here.

However, I suppose

there are worse places.

- I said, Marguerite isn't here.

- Don't shout. We all heard you.

- Do you know she's been ill, Armand?

- Stop teasing Armand, Gaston.

Can't you see that he isn't interested?

- Aren't you?

- No, not particularly.

After all, why should he be?

It's nothing new.

Marguerite is always ill

or pretending to be.

You really have a nasty tongue,

haven't you?

Why, if you mean to insinuate

that I haven't been a good friend...

...to Marguerite Gautier, ask Prudence

what I've done for her. Just ask her.

It's true. That angel has been buying

Marguerite's things, all of her jewelry...

...one after another.

- Look.

- Why?

- So she could raise some money.

Since the duel with the baron,

he's refused to see her.

Shut up, Olympe. I know more

about that than you do.

Marguerite won't see the baron,

or any other man who might help her...

...in spite of all my motherly advice.

- Well, that's what you say.

Only, this... Last week, I bought this.

Look.

Oh, you couldn't get it for 5000

at the jewelers. How much?

Two hundred Louis. Am I smart.

Shall we go around afterwards

and ask how she is?

No.

I couldn't.

- Hello, Nanine.

- Monsieur.

- How is she tonight?

- Oh, I don't know, monsieur.

The doctor tells me nothing.

Oh, forgive me, monsieur,

but these are bad times.

- There must be something I can do.

- There's nothing anybody can do...

...but watch and wait.

- Well, I'll watch and wait...

...while you get some rest.

- Gave yourself all the good cards.

You'll have to get out of here,

my men.

We're here for the creditors,

by order of the court...

...to see that nothing's taken out of

the house, and here we're going to stay.

There's a passage outside.

Wait there instead.

This room still belongs

to Mademoiselle Gautier.

- Our orders are to see...

- You can see nobody goes out that door...

...with a piano in his pocket

as well there as here. Get out.

Get out.

Lie down.

I'll call you the minute she stirs.

- Is it morning?

- Yes, dear child.

- Any letters?

- No. It's too early for the postman.

Who are you?

Gaston.

Nanine's sleeping. I made her lie down

when I looked in after the theater.

Dear Gaston.

So you've been here all night?

Well, I was thinking of taking you

for a drive, or maybe for a bit of lunch.

You still make me laugh.

Not today. Some other time.

All right, another time.

How kind you are.

You know, I used to think

you were such a gay fellow...

...with no other thought but for pleasure.

Forgive me.

But you were right.

Here, drink this.

It'll do you good.

Nothing will do me good anymore,

Gaston, except Armand's return.

- Armand's return?

- Yes.

That's what I'm waiting for.

That's why I live.

- He will come back, won't he, Gaston?

- Of course he'll come back.

How could he come to Paris

without coming straight to you?

Here, drink this.

I feel better already.

It's all right, Nanine. She's awake.

- Poor Nanine. Were you tired last night?

- Oh, a little, madame.

That Madame Prudence is here

on her way home from a party.

I'll get rid of her.

So that's why you ran away from us,

you naughty boy.

Hello, my child.

Why, I expected to find you dying,

and you look better...

...than I've seen you look for months.

How are you?

- Much better.

- You certainly look better than I feel.

Oh, heavens, what worries I've had

this past week.

I couldn't, by any chance,

borrow some money from you, could I?

If you don't know how little money

there is in this house, you should.

Well, I've simply got to get 200 francs

from somewhere.

I didn't intend to ask you for it. In fact, I

didn't intend popping in on you like this...

...but as I passed your door,

I just remembered you still owe me some.

- I didn't know, Prudence.

- I can show it to you on my ledger.

If you look around,

you'll find my purse somewhere.

You'll see I haven't

but a few francs in the world.

Why, it's full.

A thousand francs.

Well, I'll just help myself.

Did you know Armand Duval

was in Paris?

Armand?

- When did he get back?

- Why, almost a week, I gather.

Gaston told him you were ill,

but he didn't seem terribly interested.

Oh, men are funny. Goodbye, my dear.

Goodbye, Gaston. Goodbye.

- Gaston?

- Yes?

- Thank you for filling my purse.

- That was nothing.

- Will you do me one more favor, Gaston?

- Of course.

Send for the priest.

Where is she? Let me see her.

Make her see me.

Oh, my dear boy, if you only knew

how happy, how happy...

- Nanine? It's not too late?

- No, no, let us hope not.

Let us hope you'll make her well again.

No, no, no, wait.

Let me prepare her first.

Madame.

I've good news, madame.

There can't be any good news now.

But there is. Only, you must be calm.

You mustn't get excited.

- He's here, madame. He's come back.

- Yes...

...he's back.

- But he won't come to see me.

- But he has come. He's here.

He's here, madame.

He's here?

- Are you telling me the truth?

- Yes, yes.

- Only, be calm, and I'll call him.

- No, no. Not yet.

He mustn't see me like this, Nanine.

- Help me to the mirror.

- You mustn't think of getting out of bed.

Brush my hair. Get me some rouge.

Help me, Nanine.

No, no. What will the doctor say?

Oh, what does it matter?

I must look my...

Nanine.

Nanine. I beg you, Nanine, I must...

You must help me, Nanine. Come on.

I beg you, Nanine. I beg...

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