Madame Curie Page #3

This plate was lying

in this drawer quite by accident.

I didn't even know it was there.

It's the drawer that I keep

some of my specimens in.

And when I was putting my rocks

back into the drawer

one of them must have fallen

on this plate

without my knowing it.

I discovered it yesterday.

This is the rock that

I have not yet exposed to the sun

it's a piece of mineral

called pitch blende.

To be sure

there could be no mistake

last night I myself

hide in this room

in complete darkness.

Took this rock, which had never

been exposed to the sun

and placed it

on a photographic plate.

I put this metal key

between the stone

and the plate like this

so that it would be photographed

if any light rays

came from the stone.

Half hour ago

I developed the plate.

This is the result.

You mean, then, that...

there is something about that rock

that gives off rays of its own.

Rays powerful enough to go

through black paper

and affect this photographic plate.

That, Monsieur, must be so.

Incredible.

It is incredible.

It's as if they were

a piece of the sun

locked up in here.

Strange. Very strange.

What could it be? What could be

the nature of radiation?

What could be the origin of it?

Perhaps we shall never know.

It was very kind of you

to take me

to Dr. Becquerel's laboratory.

Not at all...

Dr. Curie

I want to thank you

also for allowing me

to do my experiments here

in your laboratory.

I couldn't have done this

if it weren't

for Natural Science Industry

for allowing me of your kindness.

You finished that already?

Yes, I had to do it quickly

because I should not

have much time from now on

to come to the laboratory.

Why? What do you mean?

From now on, I shall spend

most of my time studying.

My examination's coming up

in less than two weeks, you know.

So soon? I haven't realized.

Yes. I have been here

six months.

It's the middle of June.

The term is nearly over.

How fast it goes.

Yes.

You know a short time ago

that tree was a skeleton.

I always used to look forward

to my summer in my country

but I'm only there

at stray moments now

when I go to visit my parents.

They have this small place

outside of Paris at Sol.

I used to take long walks

towards the woods there

with my brother, Jacques.

So nice to be walking

in the country.

My father loves to walk.

Your father?

Is he here in Paris?

Oh, no. In Warsaw

but we get out of the city

now and then.

Warsaw. But you're not thinking

going to Warsaw.

Of course.

But when?

As soon as

I finished my examinations.

But for how long?

Why for... Why, Dr. Curie.

You forget that if I passed

my examinations

I'm going back to Poland

to teach.

Well, I knew that...

wish I knew when we first came,

but everything is changed now.

You are making experiments

of your own

I know it.

I shall miss Paris, too.

But this is absurd, fantastic.

Why, it never occurred to me.

Oh, I...

I haven't planned on this at all.

How could you dream of

doing such a thing

abandoning science

when your making such progress.

My father is getting old.

He misses me.

If you stay on in Poland

you can't possibly go on

with your studies.

Anyone can teach

but you can do more

much more.

You have a talent

a definite talent

and it's your duty to use it.

We've so much to be done

so much to

that's still undreamed of.

Oh, Mademoiselle.

I beg you to reconsider.

Why, that's very kind of you

Dr. Curie

I'm really flattered.

I'm afraid

I can't give up the entire plan

that I have had for so long.

I thought, of course, you knew.

I do not understand

how anyone

with a scientific mind

can entertain the thought of

abandoning science.

I know.

But there are other things

that are important, too.

Dr. Curie?

Yes, Mademoiselle.

I've been meaning to ask you.

I supposed you wouldn't care

to attend my graduation?

Well, I should enjoy very much

seeing you get your degree

but, well, I have, ah...

there's such a crowd always.

Of course...

I understand perfectly.

I feel exactly

the same way myself.

Well

I should be coming in again

of course to see to a few things

Good bye, Dr. Curie.

Good bye, Mademoiselle.

We may well expect to hear

again and again.

It will always be

interested for you to look back

and try to recall

the personality of...

your classmate

who have won faith.

Above all

it's the mother of learning

And her children come through

all the corners of the world.

They come, they are nourished

and then

they returned to their homeland

to impart what

they have instilled to others.

Pride is not deflated by

what they take away.

The whole world is in fact

enriched by what they learned.

And am proud in particular gained

more than she gives

to the very earnest students.

Professor Constance, chairman of

the committee on scholarship

has gone over all the awards

and will read the name

of the successful candidates.

It is my pleasure to introduce

Professor Constance.

The names of those who have been

awarded degrees

will be read

in the order of merit.

For the degree

the master of physics.

First...

Marie Scholoscka.

Hello, Dr. Curie.

Oh, hello, David.

Isn't she wonderful?

First place in physics.

Did you know we have that

all that time in the laboratory?

Yes. It's very gratifying.

Here she was bright...

You haven't seen any of

Mmde. Scholoscka, have you, David?

Yes, I saw her.

Had a nice talk with her.

Congratulated her and everything.

She went straight home.

Had some packing to do.

Packing?

Well, she's leaving for Poland

on Tuesday.

Oh.

Good bye, Dr. Curie. Oh.

Awfully glad I run into you.

Good bye, David.

Ah! Dr. Curie.

How do you do, Professor?

Lovely, wasn't it?

Packing.

Yes... Wasn't it lovely?

Come in...

Dr. Curie.

How do you do?

I missed you at the

Graduation Exercises.

I looked all over for you.

You were there?

Yes.

Then you heard.

Yes. My congratulation

Mademoiselle.

Thank you. You know, I was...

never dreamed that I would...

I was even afraid that I might

may not...

Oh, I'm glad you were able to go.

Won't you sit down?

Thank you

I met David and he told me that

you were leaving Poland

on Tuesday

Yes.

I see.

Then you haven't reconsider

Mademoiselle.

I'm afraid not.

Of course. Of course.

Perhaps you might have.

You were packing?

Yes.

Oh, yes... naturally.

Well, then...

since you are leaving

so soon on Tuesday

I presume there'd be no time for

something I had in mind,

that is...

my father...

He is a doctor, you know.

He is very short only, you know.

but intelligent.

And my mother is quite gay.

I think you'd enjoy knowing

both of them.

But of course that would be

impossible

because you'd be busy packing and

doing one thing or another.

I had meant to

ask you down before

but it slipped my mind.

Still, I thought it would be nice

for you to take away with you

some of Paris' countryside

since we were speaking of

the country

the last time I saw you

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