Madame Curie

Fifty years ago

Paris was a light-hearted city

the goal of many a traveler

but some came not

for gaiety but to work

to study at one of the world's

most famous university

the Sorban.

To its lecture room and classes

came students

from all over the world

and among them was a young girl.

She was poor. She was beautiful.

She had left her

homeland and family

and here in Paris, she was alone

haunted by

dreams and invincibly eager

To go out alone into space.

Go out alone.

In one hundred years

one hundred students

but when it is time

for you to think

you, too, will be alone

like the author of this equation

like Newton

let us say your Galileo.

Probably will not be your

good fortune to reach the sky

to catch the stars

in your fingertips.

To catch a star

in your fingertips.

But this you can share with them.

You can learn to

be alone with nature

with the ray of light

piece of earth

drop of rain

you can become aware

that the earth's swirling

about the sun

at the rate of

Aware that the...

What... what's that?

You are feeling better? Sit.

Sit still a moment. You fainted.

I... Im sorry I interrupted

the lecture so stupidly.

You can get the notes

from some other students.

Your name is Marie Scholoscka?

Yes. You are working

in two master degrees.

One in physics and one in mathematics.

You passed first in the...

mathematical examination

last year.

What did you have to eat today?

Eat?

Yes, eat.

I don't remember.

I have some lunch.

What did you have?

Salmon. All sort of things.

You have a pleasant room?

Yes, monsieur.

Good.

What time did you have that coat

Come along.

Come along, please.

This is rather unusual to have no

friends here in Paris.

I have little time for friends.

Usually, there's some young men.

I'm interested in physics

and mathematics.

Yes, so am I.

Yet, I have a wife and a home

a daughter

and two granddaughters

I'm afraid

I will not be up to that.

Your desire is to

go back to Poland and teach?

Yes.

Your parents are still in Warsaw

My father is a physics professor

He is old.

When I have my degrees

I shall go back and live with him.

You love Poland.

Oh, yes. I love Poland.

Physics and

mathematics and Poland.

Yes.

Eat your soup.

Thank you very much.

The Society of Natural Industry

has asked me

to recommend someone

to make a study of the magnetic

property of rare steel.

I would be glad to recommend you

if you wish.

There would be some

cumbersome costs

I don't know exactly what.

Oh, it wouldn't matter.

Really it wouldn't.

I would be so grateful.

Of course, that our cumbersome

equipment too cumbersome

for our laboratories, I'm afraid.

However, I know a scientist

of great merit

who works in the school

of physics and chemistry.

Perhaps he might have

recommendation available.

Come and have tea Sunday

with my wife and me.

I will ask him to come, too.

You probably know his name.

It is Pierre Curie.

Oh, thank you so much. Thank you

You have been very kind.

Not at all. Not at all.

Good bye then. Until Sunday.

Sunday. Good night.

Good night.

To catch a star

at your fingertips.

Ah. Madame Poirot.

You are Mdme. Scholoscka.

I knew it.

Yes.

We've been waiting for you.

My husband has told me

all about you.

Ah. Professor Curie. How nice?

Madame.

You two had met?

Have not had the honor

in the hallway.

This is Mdme. Marie Scholoscka.

professor Pierre Curie.

My husband said

you have no friends in Paris

but that's impossible, child

We must remedy that.

Please Professor...

Come in. Come in.

I'm sure you know everyone here.

In Paris

you must have many friends.

I want you to meet

all these charming...

May I introduce you to...

This is Mdme. Scholoscka...

What time?

Always hard to meet, gentlemen.

Dr. Curie

Good afternoon.

I had no idea that

it was going to be a party.

No... I believe you, monsieur.

They're pulling up suddenly

these parties

out of the goodness of

women's hearts.

My wife wishes the young student

of mine to make many friends.

Well, I... I'm very bad

at parties.

It's impossible for me to focus.

My mind won't follow the

most simple thought.

Oh, I beg your pardon.

You are quite alright.

Maybe I'll come back

some other day.

No... I want to talk to you

about this student of mine.

Perhaps we can find

a quiet corner

where we can talk.

Of course. Of course.

And as this student has

very little money, and is

I believe, extremely talented

I thought you might have

room available

at physics and chemistry.

Oh, I should be very glad.

Unfortunately at the moment

we are extremely

crowded ourselves.

In that case...

However, my workroom is

quite large.

I would hesitate to ask you

to share your own laboratory...

I have shared it

with students before.

You have?

Yes, and some of them were

very quiet and pleasant.

On the other hand

one fellow was most troublesome.

He used to whistle constantly.

Well, I can assure you that

this student is very serious.

Then I should be very happy.

I think you will find that

she is very sincere.

She?

Oh, my God.

These are my granddaughters.

Excuse me.

But...

Mademoiselle. Mademoiselle.

Bon Appetit. A coffee?

Yes, thank you. Tea.

That's coffee.

That's coffee, too.

Oh.

Please sit down, everybody.

Sit down. Wait a moment.

Come along... children.

It's time for your performance.

Would you excuse them, Dr. Curie.

They are going to play the piano.

Come along... There they are.

This is the student of whom

we were speaking.

Mme. Scholoscka.

Dr. Pierre Curie.

We have already met.

Dr. Curie is gracious

in consenting

for you to work

in his laboratory

I am very grateful.

Of course, I have no idea

that is...

Would you sit down, Madame?

Oh, would you please excuse me.

I feel my grandchildren are about

to entertain.

Would you care for tea?

Thank you. I've just had some.

It's coffee.

I appreciate very deeply

Dr. Curie

the privilege of working in

your laboratory.

Playing incredibly badly

don't you think?

Very badly, Dr. Curie.

Of course, I'm no judge.

Professor Poirot is an

excellent scientist.

Oh, good morning, Dr. Curie.

Good morning, David.

The furnace is taken down

and I'm beginning to set up

for room temperature readings.

I have the sulphates

all ready for you.

Thank you.

No one has arrived yet?

Here at the laboratory? Yes.

No, sir.

Are you expecting someone?

Well, a pupil of Dr. Poirot

who's going to do some work here

for a short time.

Yes, sir.

Her name is Marie Sc...

Funny, I was introduced

to her twice.

Scholoscka.

She's a girl.

I didn't find out in time.

Always the continuous struggle

against woman, David

When we wish to give

all our thoughts to some work

which is strangest to humanity

we always have to

struggle against woman.

Yes, sir. And women scientists

are particularly unattractive

I find, sir

Women's love in life is the

living of it.

In the world of

abstract research

she's a danger, destruction.

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