French Cancan Page #2

He bought me a beer,

then I went home.

- Good day, Henriette.

- Hello, girls.

- Have you been shopping?

- What have you got there?

Veal. My boyfriend

has a delicate stomach.

He only eats white meat.

Six months ago

she carried baskets, too.

Some have all the luck.

But she didn't rush into it.

She found out all about him first.

- What about you and Paulo last night?

- What about it?

- You treat him horribly.

- I like him, but he's too young.

Can you see him with a family?

- But he's nice.

He'll be nicer when he's the boss.

Young or old, I'll take

the first who comes along,

provided he gets me out

of that laundry... by respectable means.

Hey, there's your dancer from last night.

- Oh, heavens!

- He's following us.

- You think so?

You have all the luck.

He's loaded!

He's a wonderful dancer.

Come on.

I've got a pebble in my shoe.

You do not.

Look, you got your way.

I did it for you.

Would you like

to become a dancer, miss?

- Everyone knows what that means.

- She's my daughter.

I'm very interested in her, madame.

My daughter is an honest girl.

I don't doubt it.

What does she earn working for you?

She's not for sale.

I want to give her a career.

She already has one.

What kind of career?

The finest of all, dear lady.

The theater.

But there's nothing I can do.

We'll teach you.

And don't suck your thumb.

What would you pay her?

Three francs in training,

100 sous when she appears on stage.

A hundred sous! What luck.

A hundred sous?

When does she start?

- At once, if you like.

- She must finish the day.

Then I'll call for her tonight.

All very well,

but how do I know you're serious?

Here's an advance.

Hold it right there.

I've got a say in this.

What's your name

and where will you have me dance?

My name's Danglard.

At the moment I'm running

the Chinese Screen.

And by tomorrow I might -

well, that's another story.

So, shall I come for you later?

Good-bye.

The pleats in this blouse

are a disgrace.

How's the pleat in your backside?

It's expected among theater people.

You have to do it

or you get nowhere.

- That's what bothers me.

- If I were in your shoes -

I always dreamed that Paulo

would be the first.

I'm afraid of looking foolish

with Danglard.

You've still got time

to take a lesson before tonight.

Listen to you!

- Where's your uncle?

- Asleep upstairs.

My little Nini,

now you're my wife.

It's nothing to cry about.

I'm not crying.

I'm just happy.

Come on.

No need to be frightened.

Say ol with more passion.

Where are we?

At Guibole's, your teacher.

Then this is really about dancing?

What did you think?

Well, I thought I'd have to -

It's not like that anymore.

You're behind the times.

A pupil?

Better. An idea.

Let's see your idea.

Come into the light, child.

- I'm not a freak animal.

- I do the talking here.

What do you want to make of her?

You'll be astonished.

Remember your cancan triumphs?

Is that your idea?

Yes, and not just for her.

For all your girls, and others besides.

You've lost your marbles.

No, I haven't.

Imagine a line of pretty girls

in fancy dress with faces like this one.

The cancan is dead.

What could she do with it now?

Why not a minuet?

We'll find a new name for it.

They only go for English names now.

Macadam, Macfarlan,

Pickpocket, Lavatory.

Poor old cancan.

French Cancan.

Not bad.

The only thing is, these kids

will never be able to do this.

My gosh!

Only you can revive

the cancan, Guibole.

- Oh, stop.

- I'm serious. Play, Oscar.

Quiet down!

I can't sleep with all that racket!

Shut your trap, philistine!

Help me up.

Off with you.

Isn't this better than washing clothes?

- Yes, but I'll never manage it.

- Sit down.

Sit still.

It's not funny!

- She's flexible.

- So you'll start tomorrow?

- Be here at 8:
00 a.m.

- Yes, madame.

Good night.

Hello, Danglard.

Look at the pretty ribbon I found.

Vanity will be your downfall.

And you'll always be a prince.

Do you know her?

That's Prunelle, Queen of the Cancan.

The toast of Paris

before you were born.

- Good night, Monsieur Danglard.

- Night, sweetheart.

I was down in the dumps.

But seeing her skip

along the street was a revelation.

Do you know what I'll give them?

A taste of the low life for millionaires.

Adventure in comfort.

Garden tables, the best champagne,

great numbers by the finest artistes.

The bourgeois will be thrilled

to mix with our girls

without fear of disease

or getting knifed.

But where?

- I just bought the White Queen.

- With what?

Well, with drafts, promises,

a lot of hot air.

There's no lack of money.

It's just getting it

out of backers' pockets.

May I make a suggestion?

Just a little song.

Ancient heroes were lauded

by a chorus.

Aren't our heroes today

worthy of the luxury?

I'll be your chorus.

Nice idea, right?

Money is as shy as a turtledove

Money can be wooed

like a maiden's love

Money hides shyly beneath widows'beds

Money mounts up in misers'heads

Millionaire, banker, courtesan

bigot, aristocrat, holdup man

There's all that money

to be shaken from trees

What's money for Danglard

but shooting the breeze

Forward! Charge the windmills

Soldiers, hold your positions

Forward! Capture the pretty frills

Shake the temple's columns

Soldiers! Remember that from the top

of the Moulin de la Galette

Forty centuries look down upon you

- Casimir, I'm pleased with you.

- Long live the emperor!

Zizi, I bring a sinner

eager to repent.

Forgive me, but I can only

offer you the edge of my bed.

I'm punished by my own sins.

Lola has told me about your idea

of a Chinese Screen for the masses.

High life for modest purses.

The illusion of high life.

Society needs its illusionists,

so I've decided to help you.

First, I'll return your furniture.

No, I'd rather live in a hotel.

In my profession,

a home means family and such,

a luxury I can't afford.

As you wish.

I'd like to clear up certain

delicate points in our relationship.

Casimir, would you leave us?

You're not going to fight?

Don't be silly.

As you well know, my dear friend,

it wasn't jealousy

that provoked me.

I'm not jealous.

Adrien, don't you love me anymore?

Lola, I adore you.

The precarious modern world

judges by appearance only.

Respect them,

and I'll remain your supporter.

Appearances. What do I care?

I do as I please.

Yes, you can afford

to indulge yourself.

In the future, when you provoke

the resentment of our Belle Abbesse,

see that it doesn't happen in public.

Sounds like a plan.

- The Prussians!

- Fear not, dear lady. I am here!

Magnificent explosion, Baron.

- The Cossacks have arrived!

- There's no peace anymore.

- They're demolishing the White Queen.

- It's Danglard's doing.

A harmless meeting place for maids,

destroyed for Danglard's den of vice.

I won't set a foot inside.

- It's progress, Commandant.

- That's enough.

- Once more, just for me.

There's no favoritism in dance.

She'll never get it.

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