The Song of Bernadette Page #2

I won't catch cold.

We don't need you anyway.

Come on, Marie, let's go.

Stay there till we get back.

BERNADETTE:

But three can carry more than two can.

JEANNE:

But what if she's not there?

I can't carry this heavy bundle

all the way back into town.

MARIE:

Bernadette! Yoo-hoo!

JEANNE:

You see, I told you she'd sneak off.

MARIE:
No, no, she wouldn't do that.

She's here somewhere.

There she is. Bernadette!

Bernadette, come on.

We've got to go home.

JEANNE:

Bernadette, come on, now.

- What are you doing?

- Bernadette!

Maybe she's dead. Holy Mother,

maybe her asthma's killed her.

Nonsense.

If she were dead, she'd be lying flat.

A dead person doesn't kneel.

Why doesn't she speak?

She's trying to be funny.

I'll show her.

Bernadette!

What's the matter?

What's the matter?

That's what we're asking you!

I thought your asthma had killed you.

JEANNE:

Don't just stand there.

Come on, you know we've got

to get home before dark.

I'm coming.

MARIE:
We're not gonna wade through

that cold water again.

You go down that side of the river,

and we'll meet you at the bridge.

What cheats you two are.

This water is as warm as dishwater.

- Bernadette!

- You've got bats in your belfry.

That water's freezing.

Well, it isn't now.

Look, my toes are not even white.

What were you doing over there

kneeling in the rocks?

Didn't you see anyone?

Who?

Was somebody with you in that cave?

Somebody was,

and you were praying for forgiveness.

Jeanne!

Come on, tell us who it was.

Well, if I tell you,

you must swear not to give me away.

If Maman should hear of it,

she might take a stick to me.

I swear.

I give you my word, but I won't swear.

Swearing is a mortal sin.

You don't want me to sin like that

just before my First Communion, do you?

Come on, tell us.

Well, I saw a lady.

- And she was all in white.

JEANNE:
A lady?

And she wore a blue girdle

and had a golden rose on each foot.

I've never seen anything in my life

so beautiful.

Oh, piff!

What would a beautiful lady be doing

in a filthy place like that?

I don't know, but she was there.

Truly she was.

Come on, let's get away from here.

You take that bundle.

No, I'll take this one.

It's bigger, and you must be tired.

The girls are not home yet?

No.

Madame Millet's coachman was here.

Said there wouldn't be

any more washing for you to do.

Where, then, is the food

going to come from?

Don't ask me. I've been laying here

worrying about that all afternoon.

Bernadette, where have you been?

I've been worried to death.

But we got wood, Maman.

Three bundles. Enough for days.

There are other things to be done

besides that.

Sweeping, cleaning, water to be fetched.

- I'll fetch the water.

LOUISE:
I'm at the end of my rope.

Bernadette.

Bernadette!

- Don't run!

- See you at school tomorrow.

Maman, please take this.

She has no business running like that.

MARIE:

She ran all the way home.

We couldn't even catch up to her.

She'll be coughing all night.

Bernadette's all excited...

...because she says she saw a lady

at Massabielle...

...all dressed in white,

with golden roses on her feet.

- What on earth are you talking about?

- That's what she told us.

Golden roses on her feet!

She said this lady was standing

on a rock and smiled at her.

She had a rosary of pearls

and a golden crucifix...

BERNADETTE:

Marie!

You told on me,

and you said you wouldn't.

Maman asked me.

- What's this foolishness Marie tells me?

- It's true, Maman.

In the cave at Massabielle,

I saw a most beautiful lady.

A lady? What lady?

I don't know.

Suddenly, she was there,

and then, suddenly, she disappeared.

- Nonsense.

- Oh, no, Maman, she was there.

Her face was so beautiful.

Just to look at her made me feel...

Soubirous!

You hear what she says?

SOUBIROUS:
I heard,

and I know why she says it too.

She's showing off.

Makes up a story to feel important.

It always starts the same way,

with fairy tales.

Golden roses on her feet. Indeed!

No, Papa,

I really and truly saw the lady.

Truly, I did.

[KNOCKING]

Come in!

It's for you, dear friend,

for saving my baby today.

Compared to a child's life, it's not much,

but we want you to have it.

Oh, no. No, I can't possibly...

CHARLES:
It's the only way we have

of repaying you. Please.

Yes, Louise.

If our friends

are good enough to offer...

...then the least we can do is accept.

But you need the food

as much as we do.

No, my aunt came today

with much more than this.

We are merely sharing

our good fortune with you.

May God bless you both.

Why, this is food enough for days.

BOY:
Sausages!

- Just like in the butcher's window.

SOUBIROUS:

What a great omelet the eggs will make.

CHARLES:
Ah, Louis!

- Mesdames, monsieur.

SOUBIROUS:

Louis, it's good to see you.

What brings you here,

besides a cold rump?

- You heard about Doutreloux?

- The stableman for Cazenave?

- A horse kicked him, broke his leg.

- The horse broke his leg?

No. Doutreloux broke his leg,

three places.

CROISINE:
Mercy, that is bad.

- Mercy, that is good.

Shame on you, Louis!

I mean, it is bad for Doutreloux,

but it's good for your husband.

Cazenave offers you the job.

That's why I'm here.

It pays two francs a day and your lunch.

- Soubirous!

- Two francs a day!

CHARLES:

The lunches are hot.

JUSTIN:

Can I ride on the coach with you?

JEAN:

Me first. I'm older.

Why, you seem surprised.

It was agreed between Cazenave and myself

that I should fill the first vacancy.

But stableman...

Well, I suppose even a miller

can't be too choosy these days.

You may tell Cazenave that I accept.

He knows it. He wants you to be there

at 5:
00 in the morning.

Tears, Maman?

Only because I'm so happy.

I'm happy too.

We must celebrate.

- You'll all stay to dinner.

ALL:
No.

Nonsense. Dine with us.

- But tonight? I hadn't planned.

- So we change our plan.

We have food, I have a position...

We accepted your eggs.

You must accept our omelet.

I will not hear another word.

Children, help your mother.

A succulent omelet,

with sausages, Maman.

Maman! Maman! Maman!

What is it?

Bernadette...

Speak. Speak!

- She's dead or something.

- What?

She's all white and sick-looking.

Where is she?

They're taking her to Madame Nicolau.

NICOLAU:
Oh, please, please,

wait outside. Outside, all of you.

Please leave her at peace.

ANTOINE:
It's all right, Maman.

She's opening her eyes.

- Do you feel better now?

- Yes, thank you, madame.

I'll fix you some warm milk.

Thank you very much,

but I don't need anything.

What was the matter? What happened?

The lady was there a long time,

and she spoke to me.

She spoke to you?

What did she say?

She said,

"Will you render me the grace...

...of coming here each day

for 15 days?"

And then she added, " I cannot promise

to make you happy in this world.

Only in the next".

So after church we asked Bernadette

to come with us...

GIRL 1:
Well, did you see her?

GIRL 2:
No, none of us saw her.

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