Le grand Meaulnes Page #4

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Frantz's flying record.

All his planes are called Excelsior.

Excelsior 1, 2, 3.

I see.

I'll be going.

Thanks so much.

Come again when you like.

I'll gladly call again.

Thank you.

Who told you about Quarry House?

You didn't come just like that,

nor out of simple courtesy.

Someone told you about us, the piano.

You knew there were no children here.

Someone who never found the way back.

A long time ago?

Fairly long ago.

There was a party.

Are you married?

Engaged?

It's not quite the word.

If you see him, tell Augustin Meaulnes

I haven't forgotten.

He sent you, didn't he?

He spent months looking for you.

Here and in Paris.

Then he heard you'd married.

I'll be back.

But not alone.

What are you afraid of?

Come into our chteau.

I hate chteaux.

What an idea!

I could never live here

between such cramped walls.

With the windows open, walls vanish.

You know nothing about me,

my background,

why I was outside the De Galais home.

I lied to you.

I lie all the time.

I'm just a milliner's apprentice.

I'm not two years older

than you, but three.

It's not funny.

I know the De Galais family.

Especially the son.

His name is Frantz.

Which Frantz?

The one who almost married.

Shut up.

He's like you, gullible.

- Not interested.

- I met him because it was raining.

I'd made a delivery to a rich customer.

He had me get into his carriage.

And I said

I'd been to a friend's and left

my umbrella at the Grand Hotel.

My father is a businessman.

Etc, etc.

He swallowed it all, lie after lie.

The mills in Bourges,

the Ballets Russes, the Spanish...

what the papers said about high society.

- He liked what I said, so he liked me.

- Stop it.

Finally, he proposed to me.

And I ran away on the wedding day.

I hid at my parents' for six months

so he couldn't find me.

Now you know the whole story.

Why are you telling me this?

Why don't you keep quiet?

Why?

Why did you ruin it all?

I have my pride.

I don't want you to live with a liar.

I feel relieved now.

It's all over between us.

I have to find Frantz.

I made a promise.

He loves you, and you love him.

Do you understand?

I love you too, Augustin.

I'm looking for the home

of Madame Meaulnes.

It's that house there.

Of course I remember you!

Franois from St. Agathe.

You've become quite a little gentleman.

Are you thirsty?

I'll get you a drink.

You were his best friend, you know.

His only friend, I'd say.

He'll be so glad to see you.

What a surprise!

It's the same as ever.

I never know where he is.

I'm sure he hasn't written you much.

He was living in Paris,

and he even had jobs...

In a printing shop,

then...

in a small foundry for artists.

And you know where else?

He worked on the Metro

construction site. Yessiree!

The Paris Metro.

Police came about his military service.

But I couldn't tell them much.

Know what I said: His own mother

doesn't know where he is!

But you're in luck,

he just came home.

Here he is.

You said she told you

about Yvonne's marriage.

Yes.

- And so?

- So...

She isn't married.

She lied.

She's not married?

I saw her and spoke to her.

She's waiting.

Look, Franois,

time's gone by.

We were still children then.

She was my reason to live and hope.

When I realized it was over

and accepted ordinary happiness,

I opted for the simple life

that everyone lives.

I can't tell you everything.

Besides, you wouldn't understand.

- Know where Frantz is?

- Who cares?

I promised to bring you back.

She kept her word.

She's waiting for you.

If you don't love her now,

go and tell her so.

You have to go... in person!

- I won't be your messenger.

- Fine.

Stay the night.

We'll take the train in the morning.

Why'd you keep looking?

I found it by chance.

I don't believe you.

You kept looking!

I told you to forget it all.

Forget it!

It's not the same life

for me anymore, Seurel.

I'm stopping. She's changed.

Go alone.

You must be joking!

You dragged me around for months,

going on and on : the piano, her beauty!

You made my head spin!

And now you think you can say

"Forget it" to erase it all?

Tell her so she stops waiting.

I see now!

It's as clear as day.

What's clear?

Why you want her to know.

To know that she's free.

- You're in love.

- Me?

Yes, you!

You're in love with Yvonne de Galais!

Recognize it?

Yes.

But I didn't come this way.

Things are rarely as beautiful

as our memory of them.

We're not here

to compare dreams and reality

but to hear you speak to someone.

Nothing to say?

To anyone?

I believed in you.

I was proud to be your friend.

I'd often think,

What would he do in my shoes?

You've changed so much- -

Leave me alone!

I don't have to answer to anyone.

Not to you or her...

Tell her.

Turn around and tell her.

Show some guts.

Tell her.

Hello, Mr. Seurel.

You're a man of your word.

And I recognize Augustin Meaulnes.

The ideal would be

a mechanical invention.

The ideal would be

a mechanical invention.

We invent it, patent it, sell it.

Marketing it ourselves would be ideal.

I have several in mind.

The perpetual watch, for example.

The prototype is on my desk.

Unfortunately, it keeps stopping.

Is all this boring you?

A mechanical invention,

yes, that would be nice.

Have you heard from Frantz?

My poor mad Frantz.

He kept looking for that girl...

Valentine, who stood him up

on their wedding day.

No luck, not a trace.

So he felt it was all his fault.

She's the one who lies

and he's the one who feels guilty.

He was afraid she'd drown herself

or God knows what.

At the worst,

those little ladies sink into sin,

or find consolation with soldiers.

Then one day he gave up.

After that,

it was the new craze,

aviation, setting records.

Others go as far as possible.

He goes as high as possible.

What an awful thought:

At any moment your child can fall

from a point in the sky

never reached by another human being.

There's no consolation in that.

Mr. Seurel,

I have something for you.

Come with me.

I hope I get the Neuville position.

We'd see each other often.

I thought of something.

You could bring your children over,

and I could teach them piano.

And with the warm weather,

you could hold class on our grounds.

You should teach your pupils punctuality.

Some people think they're so important

that others will wait for them forever.

I must be going.

Thank you for your hospitality.

Hurry. If it gets dark,

you may get lost again.

I'll never forget you.

Be happy.

The wedding took place in the fall.

Augustin asked me to be his witness.

Frantz was Yvonne's witness.

Grandfather looks very tired.

He couldn't have stood a big wedding.

It was a wonderful day,

with the people I love.

You don't talk to me anymore.

You're absent.

You've changed since your conversation

with Frantz.

I know exactly at what point,

with what word...

The word, oath.

That's where boys are weakest.

To commit themselves to noble deeds,

they make an oath.

Don't worry.

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