French Cancan Page #5

hovering between life and death!

- Another foreigner.

- Can't do without 'em.

Poor Alexandre.

- It's really most upsetting.

- Indeed.

Let me finish my story.

After he stitched her up, the surgeon

realized he'd lost his monocle.

And you know where?

Stitched up inside my poor mother.

Be quiet.

This isn't the time for jokes.

We're not at the White Queen.

I make jokes when and where I wish.

Once I leave the office -

I know:
"Curtains."

But you are a symbol of our class.

Appearances are all

that can save us.

That's called hypocrisy.

- I admit it.

- You're a gloomy sort.

Of course. Poor Alexandre.

Ah, yes. A remarkable chap.

- A considerable fortune.

- A future king.

- A real gentleman.

- Descended from Mahomet Ali.

Have you wailing women

finished your act?

To think this is my fault!

I'm disgusted with myself!

- My dear!

- What a sensitive heart!

Our little spat is pure vanity.

Nothing but hot air.

After what I've done,

you might not believe this,

but I'll say it anyway.

If things work out,

I'll join you again.

I owe it to Alexandre.

Nini, I'd be happy

to have you as my friend.

I hope you'll be happy

with Danglard.

I can never be happy again.

Don't be angry with me.

When I'm in a rage,

I don't know what I'm doing.

I'm not angry with you.

Who could resist such

a scene of burgeoning friendship?

Danglard, let's forget our quarrels.

If you need a backer, I'm your man.

Have you turned into a statue?

So we move ahead

with the Moulin Rouge?

Miracles never cease.

Barjelin has understood.

I have faith in miracles,

but not in surgeons.

Suppose Alexandre dies.

His father, the king,

inherits the Moulin Rouge.

He presents it to the archbishop,

who turns it into a convent,

and it's curtains for our cancan.

If I were Danglard,

I'd recover the deeds to the site.

And I know who

I'd send on that mission.

Think of your pals, Nini.

Don't count on me.

An unremarkable case.

The top surgeons aren't interested.

He's saved!

The patient is asking for

Mademoiselle Nini.

- Does it hurt?

- Not even that.

I've always been clumsy.

I've not only been clumsy,

I've been -

What?

Nothing.

Allow me

to be less modest than you.

What do you think of my little

demonstration? Not bad, eh?

Alex, you're so much better

than the rest of us.

No better, no worse.

Just different.

Animals in the jungle

keep to their own species.

They don't mingle,

under pain of death.

I stuck my nose where I shouldn't have,

but I survived. I was lucky.

How well you talk.

Will you give me a present?

A present? Me?

Before I leave, give me

a make-believe memory of Paris.

Let me pretend for one evening

that I'm the boy next door

taking you out

for the first time,

and that you allow him to love you

in silence.

When I'm old,

I'll dazzle the younger generations

with my wonderful Parisian romance.

- Where shall we go?

- Everywhere.

Madame Arthur

set tongues wagging for so long

She'd no need of newspapers

or advertisements

To entertain an army of lovers

Madame Arthur

set tongues wagging for so long

You should have seen her dance

With all her charm

And yet I love you

And yet I love you

But you drove me crazy

And set me wandering the globe

- Lovely, isn't it?

- Yes.

So much grief embedded

In my poor wandering soul

You who pass

through this arbor

Come in and drink

Drink, young soldiers

Drink the wine of victory

You ruby-red rascal

Unequaled nectar

You fill our hearts with courage

O wine of hope

Drink, my friends

this victory wine

Be kind, unknown lady

For whom I've so often sung

Any small offering is welcome

Please give what you can

Be kind, unknown lady

For whom I've so often sung

I welcome you always

O unknown lady

Good-bye, Alex.

You'll soon forget me.

- This is just a story for youngsters.

- Yes, Grandmother.

Don't rub it in.

I feel like I've aged ten years

since I left the laundry.

We're both veterans of that famous

campaign called the Moulin Rouge.

Let's kiss before we part

as veterans do.

Good-bye, Alex.

One more thing.

I'm going home

to a difficult profession.

Here I am, incapable of managing

my own little affairs

and one day

I must lead millions.

Tobacco, sheep and roses.

No more roses -

they were reserved for you.

I ask you to accept the only heart

I can still offer.

It's too beautiful.

I'll never dare wear it.

Mere pebbles.

One soon gets used to them.

I almost forgot.

I think you'll find these useful.

The deeds to the Moulin Rouge.

I've put them in Danglard's name -

it's simplest.

Evening, Paolo.

Let me by!

You can't say I've bothered you

since I got out of jail.

Prunelle is dead drunk.

Me too.

We've both drowned our sorrows.

Poor old woman.

Have you really forgotten

all about me and the bakery?

My uncle's retiring.

I'll be the boss.

We could go out on Sundays

and take vacations in the country.

Of course.

We could have children.

We could have been

happy together,

but I'm not the same Nini anymore,

my poor Paulo.

You'll do fine as you are.

But after your debut,

it'll be another story.

I don't want a wife who gives herself

to thousands every night.

Sorry. I've made my choice.

You'll end up like Prunelle

when Danglard doesn't need you anymore.

- He'll never leave me.

- Think about it.

The moment you appear in public,

you've lost me.

Amd!

Hurry.

I want to see Nini dance.

- Why not the pope?

- He doesn't dance.

We must be mad

to pay to see Nini's thighs.

- Is she the one who shot the prince?

- Idiot!

A person who commits suicide

shoots himself!

- His father's a king.

- They're called czars.

She had a jailbird boyfriend, too.

We could well see bloodshed tonight.

Then let's leave.

I don't like dramas.

Stars don't have dramas,

only scandals.

No luck. I give up.

- Shall we see Nini?

- Mustn't be left out.

They messed up my dress.

It has to be redone.

It doesn't matter. Put it on!

The solo violin kills my act.

It's the violin or me. Make your choice.

Get out of here!

Copper's crashed in New York!

We're ruined.

That carpet should have been

down an hour ago.

- You told us to buy.

- It's your fault.

Am I your keeper?

Lend me a hand with that carpet.

- This better be a success.

- Have we got much money in this?

Rest assured, the Moulin Rouge

will profit us more than it will Danglard.

Thank you, but hold your applause

until you've seen the show.

I see several uniforms

of the Russian navy.

Doubtless men from the Prince Orlof,

now anchored at Brest.

It's my pleasure to tell

these fine sailors

that Catherine,

Empress of all the Russias,

in celebration of

the Franco-Russian alliance...

has come to review the troops

of the Moulin Rouge.

So we've rallied our troupe

to honor her.

Catherine's been dead a century,

you'll say.

But we here at the Moulin Rouge

attach no importance to such details.

Catherine the Great

had a hearty appetite

Her mouth began to water

when a real man came in sight

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