The Comedians Page #7

but I'm not afraid of gods or of ghosts.

"I believe because it is impossible."

- A Christian saint said that.

- Yeah, well, I'm not a Christian.

Then come and see my gods in action.

My grandmother came from Africa,

and her gods are the only ones

that can help me now.

I've pretended to be Western for too long.

We meet tonight

at the voodoo temple near Kenscoff.

Come and join us, if you dare.

Come away, Joseph.

Monsieur Brown, go home.

I stay.

- Where's Joseph?

- I don't know.

- Where's Philipot?

- How would I know?

You saw Philipot last night,

and Joseph was with him.

I took Joseph to the voodoo ceremony.

I saw Philipot there,

but I didn't speak to him.

- I left before it was over.

- Why?

Because it sickened me.

At 4:
00 this morning,

a police station at Kenscoff was attacked.

- One of my men was killed.

- I'm glad.

Four will die for every one they kill.

Do not pretend courage.

You are frightened.

- Look how your face sweats.

- It's very hot.

What did Philipot tell you at the cockpit?

That Baudelaire's his favorite poet.

We can shoot you while resisting arrest,

but there should be a struggle first.

Of course, we'll show your body

to your ambassador.

Oh, I forgot.

We got rid of your ambassador.

All right, start. Knock out his teeth.

Vous etes tous cowards.

You woman striker.

Montrez-moi votre warrant.

Votre warrant, ou est-il?

Warrant?

Mrs. Smith, Concasseur.

You've met before.

Tell him he's a disgrace to his color.

You've told him enough already,

Mrs. Smith,

- and he does understand English.

- Then he'll understand this.

Get out of here,

and take your men with you.

We have our duty.

If you don't go, I'll wake my husband.

The presidential candidate

of the United States of America.

Come upstairs,

and I'll wash your mouth with Listerine.

Mr. Smith and I never travel

without a bottle of antiseptic.

All right.

It's you.

Really you.

I came as soon as I heard.

There was no one downstairs.

No one saw me come up.

- How long have you been here?

- Ten minutes.

I dreamt that we were quarrelling.

That's right. We did quarrel.

It's over.

Quarrels between us

are always such damned ugly things.

Does it hurt your mouth when we kiss?

It's a good hurt.

Did you go to Mere Catherine's?

I went, but that's all I did.

You see? This isn't just an adventure.

Yeah, I knew that in New York.

I was afraid you wouldn't come back.

"In the watches of the night, as I lay abed,

"I searched for my heart's love,

and I searched in vain."

The Jesuits taught me that.

- The Jesuits?

- At school.

It wasn't prescribed reading,

but it is the Bible all the same.

"That woman thou'st made my bride,

my true love.

"What a woman thou hast made

in this heart of mine,

"thighs well-shaped

as the beads of a necklace,

"belly rounded

like a heap of corn among leaves."

I think you're a defrocked priest.

My body knows no theology.

What's that?

Oh, some rally in town

ordered by Papa Doc.

Here, pour chapeau.

My dear, where are you all going

at this hour?

To the cemetery.

President have big meeting.

He say all children must go.

Very special privilege.

How strange.

Some Roman Catholic service perhaps.

Let's go see.

- What is it, dear?

- Now, wait.

Antilles Airways announces

the departure of Flight 40.

All passengers

for San Juan and New York,

please leave by gate number one.

And if he should ask,

you may tell the Minister

that even if he had offered me

the palace itself for my center, I...

You'd find the palace bloodstained, too.

- Mr. Smith came with such high hopes.

- And you, too, dear.

I suppose, Mr. Brown,

we must seem ridiculous figures to you.

No, not ridiculous. Heroic.

Oh, we're not at all made in that mold.

- Which gate is number one?

- There's only one gate.

You and the military are the only people

who have exit permits. This way.

Mr. And Mrs. Smith!

Mr. And Mrs. Smith,

I wanted to say bon voyage.

It was good of you to come.

Goodbye, Monsieur Petit Pierre.

I hope you have enjoyed

our lovely country.

It has been very illuminating.

"Parting is a little death,"

one of our poets said.

You come here. We make friends.

You go away.

So seldom in Port-au-Prince

we see our friends return.

- One day, perhaps.

- I always hope.

Poor old man.

Things will be sad now at the hotel.

Yes.

Mr. Smith? Mrs. Smith?

Brown, are you there?

Jones! Come on in. What happened?

- Where's Smith?

- They've gone.

Gone! Oh, God, I thought he'd help me.

- What's wrong?

- I've gotta get away from here.

The game's up. The Tontons are after me.

- What game?

- Well, I've done nothing.

It's my partner, Pike.

He's done a bunk with their bloody consul

in Miami and all the boodle.

They think I planned it.

Now, wait a minute.

Let me get you a drink.

What's all this about?

What have you and your friend, Pike,

been up to?

A simple arms deal, that's all.

Old army stock.

I see.

For Papa Doc and his gang, I suppose.

Well, you can't let the stuff rust away.

It's a crime to waste good weapons.

Brown, while we're talking,

they're after me.

Help me to get away from here.

Why should I help you?

- A fellow Britisher?

- Like your friend, Pike.

All right, I'll try to help you.

Not because we're fellow Britishers.

You wanna know why?

I don't care. We've got to get cracking.

Because I like you.

God knows why I should.

Car's in the garage.

I must try and get you

to the American embassy.

Oh, not there. They'll be watching there.

They'll be watching every place

if they know you've got away.

Well, there must be somewhere.

Yes, perhaps.

But how to get you in?

What's that?

Oh, it's only the cook. It's her night off.

Violette, come here a minute.

- The Ambassador expect you?

- Yes.

- Who is this woman?

- My cook.

The Ambassador's short of help.

I'm lending her for a few days.

- My wife is asleep.

- It's you I want to see.

Me? Then can't it wait till the morning?

You know, it's very late.

- I have a lot of work to finish.

- Yes, it's very urgent, sir.

There are two of us.

Who is this lady?

This is Major Jones.

His Excellency, the Ambassador.

I'm delighted to meet Your Excellency.

He's on the run from the Tontons.

He seeks asylum.

I understand. I understand.

I'll wake my wife.

Martha!

We'll get a room ready at once.

Have you eaten, Major?

Perhaps you'd care for some food, sir?

What is it, Manuel?

Mr. Brown?

My dear, our first refugee is

- Major Jones.

- Major...

Major!

I'll prepare

the blue guest room immediately.

Do come up, Major.

I'm sure

you must want to change your clothes.

I haven't brought much with me.

Didn't have time to pack a proper bag.

Well, I'm sure we can find

everything for you here.

Unfortunately, my husband's pajamas

would be too big for you,

and my son's, too small.

To tell you the truth, Mrs. Pineda,

I don't wear pajamas.

Cuts down the laundry bills.

Well, we don't charge for laundry here.

- Oh, well, that's good news.

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