Coco avant Chanel Page #3

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What is this outfit?

Where's the dress I gave you?

At my window.

I felt like a walking curtain.

Too bad. You almost looked feminine.

Disappointed?

They'll think I'm a cheap date.

Not bad.

Dear aunt,

allow me to pay my respects.

Excellent, Etienne.

Take this, auntie.

They come less for the actress...

than for the tart

who ruined this count or that heir.

No one cares about my acting.

It's relaxing, like being

a tourist attraction or a monument.

Ever get stage fright?

Yes, but less and less.

Not a good sign.

Come see the play.

We perform every night.

Can you make me another hat?

-The first was a smash hit.

-Of course.

By the way, bravo.

For the length of your stay.

You're breaking my record.

Soup's on.

Vintage 1882.

Worth swooning over.

I'm lodging a drunk.

So Balsan found you in a saloon?

Not at all.

It was an exclusive cabaret.

She has a marvelous voice.

Really? I'd love to hear you.

Yes. Come on, Coco, sing for us.

Does anyone know "Coco"?

Go on, sing.

Has anyone seen Coco?

Coco in Trocadero?

Come on, sing.

Sing.

We're bored.

Make an effort.

Make it look like you're having fun.

You're here to entertain. So sing.

She's accepted your invitation.

Do you know "Coco"?

Or else, no more riding.

Just bread and water.

Can I see?

Your book.

Even stupid books

have some truth to them.

Think what the other books

can teach you.

I was looking for you.

I knew I'd find you here.

Books are meant to be read,

aren't they?

And horses to be mounted. Come on.

Coco. Get dressed.

You're elegant.

You all right?

Nothing scares you.

What's your name?

Gabrielle. But everyone calls me Coco.

They call me Boy.

But in England, I'm Arthur Capel.

The problem with nicknames

is that they stick.

You're stuck with it.

My father used to call me Coco.

He'd wake me up shouting,

"cock-a-doodle-do."

It soon became Coco-doodle.

And it stuck.

Has any of you seen Coco?

Her big number at the saloon.

Nice choice, right?

Her Coco, me Rico. Cocorico.

Am I interrupting?

I was admiring her style.

Her style.

Don't overdo it or I'll lose my tailor.

She likes dresses with no corsets...

shoes with no heels...

hats with no feathers.

That's my Coco.

You're right to opt for simplicity.

You think so?

I like things when they overflow.

No meat on these bones.

Stop it.

No.

I disagree.

You're right.

Her look is rather pleasant.

Stick to your horse dung.

-Are you sick?

-No.

So be nice. Get up, get dressed

and come downstairs.

They're all waiting.

Good for them.

What's wrong, Coco? Hm?

I hate entertaining your degenerates.

I'm tired of your mood swings.

The lord of the manor is tired.

What's new?

Don't use that tone.

-I'll speak as I please.

-No!

Just shut up.

You're the boor.

Without your money

you'd lose your friends.

Okay.

Forget it.

Come down when you're calm.

I'll never calm down.

What do you think?

Play with your rich scions,

dumb jockeys and whores.

All I do is perfect my gallop

and screw a drunk.

The gate's open.

You're not forced to stay.

When people see us,

I know they wonder...

how can this elegant woman

love such a fat man?

I'm not that fat.

I'm losing weight at the moment.

Yes, but you're not very attractive.

I'm kind.

You're more than that.

You're understanding,

talented, charming.

Such is my dilemma.

My lover is more like a husband.

Okay, let me think.

You're not shapely...

but you're attractive. And amusing.

There's Romain Neuville. Great family.

Cultivated. He'll show you around.

Get you out of the stables.

Who's this?

But he's not much fun.

I know a duke also.

On the old side, but generous.

I want to work.

To make a living.

To be an actress.

You're too old to be an ingnue.

And work, what a strange idea.

You're famous. You know people.

You can find me something.

Something....

What did you do before Balsan?

Nothing. Some sewing.

That's easy enough to do in Paris.

Not a bad idea.

You're talented.

Everyone loves your straw hats.

You can work at a hat shop.

I don't want to.

You want, but you don't know what.

milienne, help.

Does Balsan know your plans?

Hurry back to the castle.

Tell him I asked you to come here.

Don't tell him you want to leave.

Tighter.

Don't take it badly.

Balsan is easygoing. You're lucky.

Make the most of it.

Lucky?

Hungry?

Muffins.

Perfectly tasteless.

The English adore them.

Boy, what about all that coal

you had me buy?

Because with all due respect...

war is brewing.

-I hope so. I'll resell it for a fortune.

-Buying coal?

I think Mr. Capel would do anything...

to become England's

leading businessman.

Sell my coal. I pay you well.

Without his advice...

I'd have to work, like Montlaur.

Montlaur, what a clod.

Work is a vile word.

Worse ways to make a living.

Yes, but none more tiring.

Mr. Burton is here.

The breeder from Cardiff. Let's go.

-Coming?

-I'll join you.

You'd better.

Because my English is shoddy...

and Heart of Darkness

is a horse for me.

By the way, don't frighten her.

She has the annoying habit of...

vanishing.

I was afraid I'd never see you again.

Aren't you happy here?

You should go.

It seems you're indispensable.

Why won't you answer?

If I had to answer every question....

Do you work or just pretend to?

You tell me.

No one works here.

Perhaps I'd like to have pretended.

I had no choice.

My mother was lacking...

a little something...

so my father would marry her.

An aristocratic name...

as you say in France.

I was raised by foreign hands.

Don't make that face.

Do I seem unhappy?

Otherwise, I'd never have...

read a book,

traveled or learned anything.

But perhaps you'd like me more.

It's too austere.

You asked for orphan garb.

What do you know?

Orphans wears rags.

Poor things are half naked.

Rip my dress a bit.

Please.

You're no fun.

The point is to see thighs, breasts.

It's more exciting to imagine them.

Stubborn as an ass.

Gabrielle?

You're beautiful.

It's nice to see you.

How do I look?

Plain.

Who wants to be plain?

This is a disaster.

-Still the boy?

-Less disorienting for you.

And I stuck to horse dung.

Can you fix this? It's too baggy.

It's to let you move about.

I can feel my fat jiggling inside.

I want it tighter.

You'd prefer not to breathe?

She has an answer for everything.

Good-looking pirate.

Hello.

Captain John Rackham.

What can I do for you?

Nothing.

I don't believe in your happiness.

All I need is a job.

You must have one with all that coal.

Nothing really suited for a woman.

What's the point

in being a businessman?

To impress you.

Who do you think you are?

Caught one.

Caught one.

Caught one.

And what a catch.

Stop, Hubert. I'm not playing.

That's enough.

It's a dormitory here. So quiet.

You were right.

My orphan outfit drives them wild.

Ever been in love?

It never made me happy.

What is it like?

What do you feel? Good, bad, what?

Where did you come from?

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