Le grand Meaulnes Page #5

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I won't ask what yours is.

I know that at your age,

nothing resists an oath.

Like Frantz, who swore to fly higher

than the highest mountain.

To be like the angels.

And do you know what wish angels make?

Never to come back down.

Here, we all have lead in our souls.

- Do you love me?

- Yes, I love you.

Truly love me?

Truly, infinitely.

- You could change.

- No.

Truly, infinitely, eternally.

Come what may?

Come what may.

"My love,

Only you can understand me.

"That's why we found each other.

"You know what a promise is.

You believed mine.

"And now you are my wife.

"I'll bring Valentine back to Frantz

as I promised.

"A thousand kisses,

"Augustin."

Flown the coop, my friend.

Meaulnes has decamped.

Decamped?

You mean he's gone?

But where?

To do what?

Maybe you'll know more than me soon.

How can anyone do this?

It's the oath he made to Frantz.

Valentine.

He told you about her?

He was like a lost child,

distraught.

He couldn't find any release.

I helped him make a decision

so remorse wouldn't poison his life.

And his life is also mine.

I just didn't think he'd go so soon.

Conditions are ideal.

He could beat his own record.

Where are you going?

You have no business here.

Frantz de Galais.

There. He's trying to beat

his own record.

Can you imagine?

Stop!

I brought Valentine.

As I promised!

What's going on?

Nothing.

Just some troublemaker.

Contact?

I brought Valentine!

I kept my word!

I bet you didn't do your service.

You look like a deserter.

And with a war coming...

He can think things over in prison.

- Who are you?

- His wife.

Go on.

Keep going.

Augustin is back?

I'm going to have a baby.

I'm sure of it now.

You're the first to know.

A baby?

What baby?

I'm going to have a baby.

Meaulnes's child!

You must be happy.

So happy.

So happy.

No one knows what it is:

their size, the way they hold

their head, their gaze,

but some people

exert an irresistible attraction.

Grandfather says they're birds of prey,

or pirates.

And you?

I think they're princes.

Princes who travel in disguise.

That's too easy!

I waltz in, I love and I leave!

Yvonne here, Valentine there.

Your grandfather's right.

A pirate, an adventurer.

That's my opinion.

The adventurer starts an adventure.

Meaulnes left to finish an adventure,

give aid, save someone.

I'd have been ashamed to hold him back.

Of course. Besides,

who could have held him back?

Me, I think.

A girl. A big baby girl.

Nearly six pounds.

You can look.

How are you?

I'm fine. Just fine.

Lift the curtain.

She's a beauty.

You're sweet, but she's not.

She's all red and ugly.

When she's prettier

we'll show her to her daddy.

I just saw Dr. Morin.

What is it?

We thought we were going

to lose them both last night.

The doctor said the child is saved.

But he's only a doctor.

He went to get ice at the hospital.

But by the time he gets back...

But, ice or no ice...

Poor Franois.

I ruined his Sunday.

I'm not well,

but the child is out of danger.

Oh, my God!

It's like a knife!

Don't tell Augustin

how ugly I was before...

Before what?

You know.

I wish I could have waited for him.

I forbid you to...

You don't say it...

You don't even think it.

Poor Franois

thinks he can still tell me

what not to do.

You'll see.

One morning, Augustin will be back.

Tell him I couldn't wait.

Tell him...

Tell him I was never angry with him.

I'm not sad, you know.

Don't be sad either.

Promise to be happy.

We're all so awkward

when it comes to happiness.

With the first cold spell of winter,

Mr. de Galais expired peacefully,

after making me the child's guardian

until Meaulnes returned.

I moved into Quarry House

to be with the darling girl we had saved.

- Yvonne...

- I know.

Her name's Jeanne.

Jeanne Augustine Marie Meaulnes.

They imprisoned me the day

I took Valentine to Frantz.

Nothing's changed.

Everything's changed.

- The flowers?

- That's my doing.

Every two or three days.

We loved her so much.

Field manoeuvres at Salbris.

- Even at night.

- Manoeuvres...

They're not just manoeuvres.

Mobilization is around the corner.

I saw the posters.

They're itching for war.

She won't sleep.

You naughty girl.

- Jacquet, Oliver.

- Present.

Despointes, Guy.

Delouche, Jasmin.

Roy, Grard.

That's me!

He'll never change.

Seurel, Franois.

Meaulnes, Augustin.

Come back to us.

Wait for me, guys.

While we're at it...

Hurry up.

Where's Bourges?

My wife is delivering at Christmas.

We'll be home long before then.

What's he up to?

- Delouche, hurry up.

- Coming.

Let's go.

A stag beetle

For Dutremblay's sister's hat.

Over the cherries.

- It's moving.

- It's alive.

Delouche is dead!

Meaulnes is hit!

Help me.

Don't leave me, Meaulnes.

You can't go like this.

Speak to me.

Don't leave me.

"I SEEK ESCAPE TO DREAMT-OF LANDS.

THAT, AFTER ALL, MAY BE DEATH."

Henri Alain-Fournier

Le Grand Meaulnes (2006)

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