The Grand Maneuver Page #7

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How's it going to make me look?

- Three misses. I'll be a joke.

- No one will find out.

What you said about my fiance.

Did you mean it?

Of course not.

I was talking nonsense yesterday.

I was a bit upset.

Marie-Louise?

Yes.

- It's starting to get serious, then?

- It's not starting.

It's over.

- Definitely Leroy and de la Verne?

- They quarreled yesterday.

- And one of them is dead?

- So they say.

Be off with you. And mind your tongue.

- What a business.

- Fighting is what soldiers do.

- On Miles wedding day.

- We mustn't mention it.

No, we mustn't mention it,

especially not to Mlle.

Nearly done?

We have to leave in two minutes.

- So? Which one of them is dead?

- We don't know.

- If it was Mr. de la Verne.

- No one must mention it.

On the very day of the wedding.

- You said nothing to Mille Alice?

- What about?

About the duel.

- You didn't know? Don't mention it.

- What are you talking about?

- Two officers fought...

- Who?

Mr. Leroy and Mr. de la Verne.

They say there was an accident.

If Mille Alice knew about it...

- Please, Mr. Duverger.

- I beg you, sir.

- You are the bride's witness.

- As you represent the law.

My respects, Mme.

Armand.

- Claude.

- Alice.

Victor.

Couldn't you have stayed until the end?

Where did you go?

- I was here.

- All afternoon?

- Yes, if you must know.

- Well, well.

Will you dine with us?

- I don't know what I'm doing.

- You said it.

- Good evening.

- You're going out?

Would you like to change the ribbons?

What if we put flowers on it instead?

No, not flowers. Autumn's on its way.

Maybe some fruit?

Fruit? If you wish.

Mr. Duverger. Lovely wedding, wasn't it?

But fruit, once winter's here?

Maybe flowers instead.

I'll think about it.

- You know that I've tried to see you?

- Yes, I know.

You left the church without a word.

- You'd heard talk of a duel?

- Yes.

There was no duel.

No doubt it was another

of Mr. de la Verne's jokes.

And it's because of him

that you're crying.

It's because of you.

You're my only friend

and I'm going to lose you.

You won't lose me.

I can still protect you from yourself.

It's too late.

You loved him that much?

And you believe that he loves you?

Yes.

Then I have no right to remain silent.

You should know why

you've sacrificed our happiness.

- Please go, I beg you.

- I will go. You'll never see me again.

I've been a coward.

I waited and hesitated for too long.

But it would be too cowardly

to remain silent now.

Say what you like,

but let's get it over.

- Mr. de la Verne never loved you.

- Believe that if you wish.

- He wanted to win a wager.

- It's not true.

You're the object of a wager

and the prize is an officers' dinner.

All the town will know it soon enough.

The night before they go on manoeuvres.

This very night, your name will be

taken in vain by a table of young men.

You're lying.

You're just like everyone else...

Is it proof that you want?

Read this.

Mime Riviere, I've been thinking.

I'm not sure that flowers...

Perhaps you're busy.

Should I come back another day?

- Yes, Mme.

- Mr. Duverger?

Another day.

Come back another day.

And you, Mime Monnet.

- This is none of your business.

- My husband will hear of this.

He should hear of other matters

which would interest him more.

Marie-Louise, forgive me.

Did you fight a duel?

- Yes, sir.

- No, sir.

- Did you go to the dueling ground?

- Yes, sir.

- So one of you is lying?

- No, sir.

Enough.

Leave us, Leroy.

No sooner do you come back

than a new scandal erupts.

You will remain under house arrest

until it's time to leave tomorrow.

- Olivier.

- Colonel, may I say...

- This evening...

- You will stay in your rooms.

You're getting off lightly.

- What is it?

- You shouldn't be so hard on him.

- That's my business.

- Mine too.

- People will say you're jealous of him.

- Jealous? Why?

Don't pretend.

You were spotted at the cafe-concert.

- And so?

- With that singer.

Confound you, woman.

So sorry, my dear. I'm busy.

La Verne, I'm prepared

to be lenient once more.

- I'm lifting your house arrest.

- Thank you, sir.

What are you doing

that's so important?

Nothing. Just a dinner party.

- Quiet.

- He's going to tell us.

- The time has come.

- Bring us the bill.

- It's the only way to get the truth.

- Armand, who's paying?

- You are all my guests.

- Which means you've lost.

- He didn't say so.

- Maybe he's won.

- He's won.

- He's lost.

Let him speak.

The man who accepted this wager

a month ago no longer exists.

I'm paying his debts.

- He's becoming serious.

- He's changed.

- He's a monk.

- Tell us all.

- Battle stories.

- We want to know.

- Details.

- A full confession.

I have only one confession to make.

Thanks to this wager, I've met

the first and only love of my life.

- Bravo.

- Three cheers.

- And now, the lady's name.

- The name. The name.

I'll tell you.

I'll tell you the name

she will soon bear.

Mine.

We've just been had.

- What a joker.

- Maybe he's serious.

- Great news, Mathilde.

- Mr. de la Verne is getting married.

- Did he say so?

- Just this minute.

Then he's not getting married.

You can't take him seriously.

- Where's he going?

- What is it?

- A lady's waiting for him in a cab.

- A lady?

- Another one.

- Let's go and find her.

Marie-Louise, my love.

Armand. Don't forget about us.

What are you doing here?

You wanted to see me again?

One last time.

I so wanted to see you again, too

I can't believe my happiness.

And you?

I can't believe it either.

- Armand.

- Lieutenant de la Verne.

- Hurry up.

- Don't forget we're leaving tomorrow.

- Can you hear them?

- Yes.

Fellow officers.

You were dining with them,

the night before you go on manoeuvres?

They're just having fun.

- Because I'm here with you?

- They don't know who you are.

- You haven't told them yet?

- Never.

- I'm sure you spoke to them about me.

- But without naming you.

- You see?

- I told them:

"The woman I love

is the only love of my life. "

- And they believed it?

- Yes.

You seem to doubt me. Why?

Why?

- That's enough.

- Come back, you'll find another.

Tell me.

Let me look into your eyes.

- You're hiding something from me.

- And you?

Look into my eyes. Remember

when you told me you could...

Read minds?

But not yours.

In your "always"

In your "never"

Not that song.

Be quiet.

Go back to them.

Go and have fun with them.

There's nothing more to say.

Nothing more? Are you quite sure?

Everything that you could say

I know already.

No, you don't know everything.

Mr. de la Verne.

Your friends say the lady should

come and drink some champagne.

Drive on.

Tomorrow, when the regiment marches

through the town, open your window.

I will leave knowing you forgive me,

that I haven't lost you.

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