Suite Francaise Page #2

I put great emphasis

on placing like with like.

Of course.

And all the people of Bussy

have to be subjected to the law

like everyone else.

Even if you're the mayor

and viscount.

I'm sure you appreciate that.

It's about my wife.

She feels uncomfortable with the

thought of anyone living with us.

Maybe we could offer something other

than our living quarters.

What about my first lieutenant?

I'm sure we can find him

somewhere else.

He can stay at the Labarie farm,

it's on our estate.

Get inside, girls.

We'll have to get used to it, I'm

afraid, along with everything else.

There had been no men

in our town for so long.

The mothers of French soldiers

looked on with disgust

and begged God to curse them.

But the young women just looked.

You are beautiful.

What is your name?

Celine. C-E-L-I-N-E.

Celine, could I have a word

with you, please?

Can I carry those bags for you?

I'm going that way anyway.

You can say, "no, thank you."

That's not for in here.

You're not going to like this.

If it makes you feel any better

everybody who can afford

to is doing it.

My mother-in-law pretended

we were united in war,

but the well-off

continued to reap their own wheat

and count their own money

and to hell with everyone else.

Others like Benoit and Madeleine

wouldn't have hoarded even

if they'd had the chance.

This is for you. It's

just we have food to spare...

if you know what I mean.

You must miss Gaston, miss having

someone else to talk to.

Yes I do.

Do you write to him?

- We don't know where he is.

- Well you should write anyway.

Make you feel better.

Benoit would do anything to swap

places with Gaston,

...to have fought like a man.

- Really?

If you don't believe me you

can ask him yourself.

You...

- Can we help you?

- Mesdames.

There has been a change of plan.

I have been billeted with you.

I apologise for the inconvenience.

But they said that we were too far

from the village to have anyone.

I was surprised myself.

I was staying at the chateau.

- You're an officer?

- A lieutenant.

But this is just a farmhouse.

The rooms won't be good enough.

We haven't even got

any running water.

You needn't worry about me.

This will do nicely.

Here.

This young officer

relished his power to disrupt

Benoit and Madeleine's lives,

as if their lives

weren't difficult enough already.

And what about our soldier?

Every night I heard him.

Always the same unfamiliar music.

I was meant to resent him, yet there

was relief in his presence

after months of silence.

Bubi.

Sorry to disturb you.

The dog isn't mine. We found him

in an abandoned village.

At least he's a Frenchman.

May I'

Your house is beautiful, Madame.

It isn't mine.

It's my mother-in-law's.

The piano is yours, I imagine.

And what makes you say that?

I don't believe you mother-in-law

is a music lover.

My father gave that piano to me.

- Do you play?

- I do.

But Madame doesn't want

any music in the house

until my husband's home to hear it.

You mind if I sit?

The piece you keep playing...

- I don't recognise it.

- You wouldn't.

- I've studied music, you know.

- Not this.

You wrote it.

I was a composer before

the war, when I first got married.

- You're married?

- I've been married four years.

And a soldier four years.

She must miss you.

No, not really.

Not anymore.

Hello?

Bubi, here.

- What are you doing here?

- I thought I'd left something.

So you come in without asking?

I can't hear you.

I'm sorry.

- Did you look at any of these?

- No, I promise. -Read one.

Read one.

Out loud.

"To whom it may concern.

Monsieur Blanc is a married father

of five children.

For several months he has had...

sexual relations with a young woman

half his age."

"He should be charged

with public indecency."

"Monsieur Dubois is trading food

on the black market."

"Monsieur Acar is a communist,

a liar and a homosexual."

"The refugee at mass pretends

to be a Catholic when she really

...is a dirty Jew.

- What are they?

They are from your neighbours.

They were waiting for us at the

Town Hall when we arrived.

They're gossip. Nothing more.

They are just people settling

old scores. They should be burned.

If I had my way, they would.

My Major has ordered me.

It is my job to read them.

You can go.

I don't know why you ever

married him. Was it the land?

Your father lost all of his so he

sent you looking for someone else's.

No.

My father was dying.

He wanted to f...

find me a good man.

A rich man.

What have I done?

I see everything that goes

on in this house.

Please, he only asked

to go into the garden.

You should have stood up and left.

Do you expect me to be confined

to my bedroom?

- I expect

you to be a faithful wife. -I am.

Then how can you speak,

how can you even breathe,

when you know that your husband

has been hunted

down by these animals?

When I see them,

I want to rip their eyes out.

What's happened?

We've just heard that...

Gaston's unit is in

a labour camp in Germany.

Your husband is a prisoner of war.

This German is our enemy.

Do you understand?

Yes.

Madame.

I can't talk to you.

I should have believed you.

I think this is

why you came into my room.

I'm sorry.

Thank you.

Remember you're doing the rents

today, Lucile.

Come on, Marthe.

We're going to be late.

I'm going for a swim.

Can you swim?

The Viscount doesn't

let the villagers swim in the lake.

Oh, sorry I didn't mean... I meant,

with your infirmity, can you...

What happened?

My horse fell.

My leg was trapped.

- Otherwise you would have fought?

- Yes, I would.

Nietzsche said a man

is made to be a warrior.

Have you read Nietzsche?

He also said a woman...

is made to please the warrior.

His leg, did it happen before

or after you were married?

After.

Beautiful scent.

Perhaps I could buy

a bouquet for my bedroom,

cheer it up a little.

Madeleine,

we've got to bring the animals in.

Hey, a vase by my bed,

if that's no trouble.

It's all there, Madame Angellier.

You'll get double

that next door now.

I learned that piece

when I was young.

My father taught it to me.

Anna's father taught her too.

Oh. Is he...

He and my other daughter

got separated from us.

But they'll be joining us soon.

That's enough practice for today.

Why don't you go outside and play?

Stay close to the house.

- She's lovely.

- Thank you.

Excuse me, please could

I borrow some soap?

To wash...

Nice weather?

Thank you.

I'm sorry.

It's just hard with them living

so close to us.

Sh*t! Some bastard has stolen

our uniforms.

F*** you.

F*** you.

- What? -This can't be happening.

Yes, everything is gone.

Come out you f***er!

I'm going to kick your arse!

Benoit. Please.

I thought you'd handed in your gun.

I did.

The one that was registered.

People have been killed for less.

- I need it. -Why don't you tell her

why you're here?

The German, in my home,

he's chasing after Madeleine.

The officer that lives here

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