The Thief of Paris Page #3

What's all the hubbub at Broussaille's?

What the devil?

Broussaille!

- Ah, my little brother!

- Are you moving out?

Don't look so cross.

I'm only a foolish girl.

I borrowed more than I could pay again,

and the creditors

are taking everything away!

Well, that's getting here

in the nick of time. I have more to burn.

I mean, solid sterling, sir.

We'll buy your furniture back.

- How much?

- Expenses included?

Yes, of course.

My name's Broussaille.

Georges Randal.

This is Ida. She's from Paris.

May I take your things for you?

Thanks.

It's all taken care of.

But this is the last time, you hear?

Thank you, love.

I cost you money, don't I?

And you work so hard to earn it.

But you'll see, one day you'll get it

all back, and we'll go to Venice.

It's his dream.

Here's to us!

Wait! Eenie meenie minee mo,

catch my brother by the toe,

one, two, three, let's go!

The other day I met the girl

that I introduced to Canonnier,

the one with the addresses you can use.

- She has one that's a pushover.

- I'll buy it.

I'm off the Paris tomorrow.

Will you come with me?

I can't this week. I'm going to Spain.

I promised to help Marcel.

That's fine.

- Will you come, Monsieur Randal?

- I will indeed, if you'd like me to.

Would I ask you if I didn't?

Do you have a home in Paris?

I did have, but not anymore.

Well, come and stay with me.

No strings attached.

You'll find it charming.

One of the rooms is like a madam's parlor.

Hey, Roger.

He's sweet, your new friend.

She fell, right under the wheels.

The train passed over her.

Sad end for the mother of a family.

It makes me shiver.

It's cold anyway.

Why don't they heat the cars!

The boa!

What boa?

The one I got in Brussels.

A stolen boa! I'd be afraid to wear it.

It looks better on you than on me.

You're so gallant, Georges, but beware.

Women could be your ruin.

Ida had a dress shop in Paris,

rue de Berceaux.

She rendered other services

to her customers on the side.

Her shop served as a letter drop

and a meeting place.

She is here.

Remember what I told you.

Canonnier gave her 33%, not a cent more.

Come in, please.

Madame.

Monsieur, I'm embarrassed.

I don't know how to say it.

- Did you want to meet me?

- My situation is desperate.

But you don't look desperate, Madame.

May I trust you?

Of course. I keep my word.

I've found a real gentleman at last!

Do you know what you should be in?

Why, in politics.

I am flattered.

You look so respectable.

I can't imagine you with a burglar's

jimmy in your hand. How romantic.

- Lf I were a man...

- That would be a shame, Madame.

Monsieur, I have my defects,

I don't deny them.

But life is hard for a woman

of the world these days.

You men promise us

the world upon a platter,

but after a few days of pleasure,

it's all over.

All around me I see only inconstancy.

Like my last Englishman...

- An Englishman?

- Yes, an Englishman.

A brute, a savage!

He left teeth marks on my shoulder,

then disappeared.

Dirty bounder! How heartless he was.

How understanding you are.

My name is Rene.

It's difficult to pronounce.

Try it once, you'll see.

Rene.

Ah, that's beautiful.

Much better than my husband.

My husband's in politics.

What does a husband mean?

Children do mean something,

but they're so expensive.

I must say I'm lucky.

Ida put me in touch with Canonnier.

An incredible man! It was he who

persuaded me to use my friends.

What are friends for?

Well, why not? I have friends

all over Paris, the countryside.

I know about their coming and going.

I used to give Canonnier information

and I received 50% of the loot gross,

a small percentage but the going price.

No, Madame, that's not the going price.

The price is 33%.

Thirty-three?

No thief won'th his salt

will propose you more than that.

Thirty-three percent's not much.

Fifty is what I asked.

Well, suppose we make

a compromise at 45?

Neither 45 nor 40. Thirty-three, Madame.

You have no pity for me?

You don't understand women.

Think how we struggle to make

ends meet. I'm ashamed to tell you,

but do you know how much my husband

gives me per month? A pittance.

And he demands that I dress elegantly,

that I get new dresses, new hats...

And don't forget the underwear.

Look! But I have to. You know that.

- How much is the information won'th?

- Thirty-three percent.

And some say thieves are generous.

I have two addresses to offer you.

One in Paris, the other at Maisons-Laffitte.

Life was beautiful. We had plenty of work.

When circumstances demanded it,

we worked as a gang.

We went against the tide.

Summers, far from the beaches.

Winters, far from the cities.

Let's go.

Are they moving out?

Do you know anything, Madaleine?

- They didn't tell us anything.

- That's very strange.

Really, it's quite extraordinary.

If you're so interested,

why don't you give us a hand?

That thing weighs 500 pounds.

Well, we're in a bit of a hurry.

Let's go, Maurice. Hurry up!

Just a little more.

I took to the work like a fish to water.

I had imagination, good reflexes,

and I was indefatigable.

But even then, what I really liked best

was to work alone.

Are you free these days?

I have some time.

I'm delighted to hear it.

I have something interesting, a superb job.

And you are up to the mark now.

A necklace of pearls belonging

to Madame Goulet,

a pious woman.

The job's to be done right here, in Paris.

- And in broad daylight.

- Why not at night?

Because Madame wears it to bed,

to preserve the luster of the pearls.

Tell me, whers the House convention

for its next session?

The 29th of September.

Some very good bills coming up.

Randal, my word! It's Randal.

Are you here to see me?

Nice to see you.

This is Professor Boileau.

Meet Georges Randal,

an old college chum.

How kind of you!

You didn't forget your old friend

after all these years.

- But, how did you get my address?

- No trouble.

I've found you

and I'm not letting you get away.

Amicus amicum fricat! Let's drink to that.

- I'm a little late.

- You have a few minutes.

He just arrives and off he goes

like a breath of air.

- Help! I've been robbed!

- What happened?

Robbery in broad daylight. Extraordinary!

Will these evildoers ever call a halt?

It makes one wonder.

Monsieur Mouratet, you haven't seen

anyone leave here?

No one. Did you?

No. He might have left by the roof.

The ingenuity of those scoundrels

is really most distressing.

Their arrogance is something appalling.

Ah, Georges, still the same as ever,

well dressed, absent-minded.

You haven't changed. What do you do?

- I'm an architect.

- I knew it! In public buildings?

- No, private houses.

- There's a fortune in it. Splendid.

My necklace! My necklace!

Quite a looker, eh?

That reminds me,

do you know Courbassol?

- The politician?

- Himself. I'm his right arm.

The mars a leader, an inspiration.

I tell you, he'll soon be in the government.

He is indispensable. I'll introduce you.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes