The Discreet Charm of the Bourgeoisie

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THE DISCREET CHARM

OF THE BOURGEOISIE

Shall I wait here, Your Excellency?

There's not even a fire.

And the table isn't set yet.

But it's after 8.

Good evening, dear Alice.

- Don Rafael, how are you?

- Just fine.

- I'm so glad to see you again.

- So am I.

What a surprise!

Had I known you were coming...

You weren't expecting us?

No, not tonight.

Not tonight?

No. I was expecting you tomorrow.

Tomorrow?

But Henri's invitation

was for tonight.

I'm sure of that.

That can't be...

- because Henri is at a business dinner.

- Incredible!

But I was there when he invited us.

In any case, tomorrow night is out.

I couldn't have accepted. I've a

dinner at the Colombian Embassy.

I really don't know what to say.

I'd invite you to eat with me,

but nothing is ready.

- I'm terribly sorry.

- Don't be. It's nothing.

A slight misunderstanding.

Won't you sit down?

Have a drink.

Don't put yourself out.

We'll be going.

By the way,

I know a charming inn nearby.

I've dined there on occasion.

- Let's try it. Be my guests.

- Good idea.

Why don't you join us?

That's sweet, but I'm not dressed.

No matter. It's quite

an informal place.

- Then I'll just change my dress.

- Not at all. Come as you are.

Not very cheerful.

Put this on.

Maybe it's closed.

The food's good. I'll check.

It's nothing special.

Yes?

We'd like to have dinner.

Are you closed?

- Then we can dine?

- Of course. One moment...

What's the meaning of this?

Call the manager, Mr. Manuel.

The management changed

Good evening, Madame.

Please come in.

Let's go.

Not very crowded.

- A bad sign.

- Maybe it's early.

Let's sit here.

You sit there.

Shall we start with the wine,

my friends?

It depends on what we order.

What do you prefer?

Bordeaux? Burgundy?

Burgundy.

Whether I have oysters or fish,

I go with red wine...

''Snails cooked in Chablis.''

I don't care for snails.

I'd fancy a hare terrine,

but in restaurants

they tend to use too much salt...

There's melon.

Good idea.

I'll have a melon with port.

I'd have caviar, but lt might not

be very good here.

I prefer my own caviar.

What do they have for fish?

I adore fish.

There's grilled sardines,

fillet of sole,

fried whiting,

brown-buttered skate,

pike quenelles in Nantua sauce,

blue trout...

This restaurant's cheap.

A cheap, empty restaurant

is dubious.

Think so?

I'll skip the melon and have

a dry martini instead.

Nothing but red wine for you.

And Crmant to make

Picard happy.

- What's going on?

- Where are you going? Stay here.

That's being indiscreet.

We'll have

a melon with port...

a plain melon...

The lady here will have roll mops...

What's going on?

The owner, Madame.

He died suddenly this afternoon.

We were so fond of him.

- He died in that suit?

- But why keep him here?

We're expecting the undertaker.

But we remain at your service.

I'm leaving. I won't eat here.

- Why not?

- You can't be serious, Rafael!

I don't mind.

But I assure you,

you'll have a fine dinner.

- No, I'm going.

- As you like.

- What shall we do?

- Try another place.

If you don't mind, I'd rather

go home. Will you take me?

Yes, with pleasure.

Mr. Snchal and Mr. Thevenot

are here.

Show them in.

Hello, Henri.

Hello, Francois. Please...

What happened last night?

- Why did you come by?

- You invited us.

You're mistaken.

It was for tonight.

I could never have accepted.

I'm engaged tonight.

I don't understand.

Are you free for lunch Saturday?

Let me check.

Saturday's fine with Francois.

About one o'clock.

I have nothing planned.

We'll be expecting you, then.

Say...

there's quite a pretty girl outside.

Well, well...

What are you doing?

- Put that down!

- Stand back!

I know what I'm doing.

- Who is she?

- She's from Miranda.

Miranda?

She's part of a terrorist group

that's been after me for years.

- To do what?

- How's that, to do what?

To kidnap me, murder me.

You never know with terrorists.

Did you notify the police?

I'd rather not, for the moment.

You understand why.

I had some trouble at the airport.

They wanted to search

my diplomatic pouch.

l had to call the minister.

Search the diplomatic pouch...

Unthinkable!

Last month,

they arrested the ambassador of...

An ambassador carrying

An ambassador? Which one?

They hushed up the affair.

There are 15 kilos here.

It didn't get into the press.

It was the U.S. ambassador.

That makes the 4th ambassador

to be arrested.

We have to find another system.

- Want to test it?

- Harrison's radar?

- It's the best.

- I have a sample.

Your hand.

It's pure.

The finest.

I have the first payment.

You can count it.

I trust you.

The Marseilles gang

is getting suspicious.

They want to know

who our supplier is.

That's bad news.

It's no use worrying now.

Skip it.

Where will you invest the money?

Certainly not in Miranda.

Same place as you.

- What's the Deutsche mark at now?

- 3.17 to the dollar.

Shall I wait here, Your Excellency?

- Are Monsieur and Madame home?

- Yes, I'll let them know.

Smells good.

Surely a vol-au-vent

a la financire.

So about the population explosion...

I'll explain.

This is the Earth.

That's the zodiac.

Come on.

- Yes?

- The guests are here, sir.

We'll be right down.

Serve them drinks.

They can wait 5 minutes.

Come on...

- Not here!

- Why not?

You make too much noise.

What'll we do?

Don't stand there, get dressed.

They'll be right down.

Help yourselves to drinks.

Fine.

- What will it be?

- As you like.

- Same for me.

- How about you, Florence?

I wouldn't mind...

a dry martini.

My sister shouldn't drink.

You should've seen her last night.

She was dead drunk.

She threw up everywhere.

In the elevator, in the taxi.

It was awful.

- And her fingernails were filthy.

- They were not!

You're the one who...

Dry martinis for everyone?

There's nothing more relaxing

than a dry martini.

I read it in a woman's magazine.

I'll mix them.

I'm afraid these glasses

are out of style.

For a dry martini the classic

cone-shaped glass is best.

Here's one.

This is just about right.

The ice cubes come first.

They have to be first-rate.

Very cold, very hard.

About 20 to 30 degrees below zero.

Like these.

What are you doing?

Then we pour the gin.

Stir to cool it, then serve.

Rafael knows a dry martini

must be sipped like champagne.

We'll try something.

Get your chauffeur.

What do you want with him?

You'll see.

Honey, if you prefer

the 30's New York style,

you can add a few

drops of Pernod.

Maurice!

- Come in a minute?

- Right away, Your Excellency.

Do us the pleasure

of having a drink with us.

Thank you, sir.

- Your health, ladies and gentlemen.

- And yours.

That's fine, Maurice.

You may go now.

Did you see that?

That was precisely the way

not to drink a dry martini.

You're being hard on Maurice.

He's a commoner. He's uneducated.

No system can give the masses

the proper social graces.

But you know me,

I'm not a reactionary.

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