The Thief of Paris Page #4

Excuse me, gentlemen.

The office of Monsieur Courbassol.

Laugh if you like, but I had a close call.

All for a pearl necklace.

Stop your complaining.

It's a magnificent piece.

I can get you 5,000 pounds,

and what's more,

you have a foothold in politics.

What kind of student was Mouratet?

Always number one, the dunce.

I had lunch with your uncle the other day.

He was almost rude.

He's going from bad to worse.

He's become caustic and bitter.

His skin is yellowing.

He's out all night, going out with

young girls, a man of his age!

It's sickening and ridiculous.

And Charlotte, tell me how she is.

Your cousin is bored.

- Hello, Georges.

- Hello.

- Father.

- Good day.

Have you heard the news?

You're wounded?

The police, in Holland, my boy.

They shot at us like a pack of foxes.

I was lucky, but Marcel was picked up.

- Marcel will keep still?

- He's a good man.

Did you get him a good lawyer?

The best in Amsterdam.

Would we do any less for him?

I was fond of Marcel.

Why do you talk about him

as if he were finished?

I'll start up a little bank account

for when he gets out.

What a hell of a break!

Bust an arm just as my father

lines up a pushover for me.

Delpich, the banker. Here, read this.

Delpich? He's well known.

What do you say?

Are you interested?

Yes, I might work alone.

That's right, you're a lone wolf now.

It's not my cup of tea.

There's something dirty about it.

What makes you say that?

I don't know, really.

If you go, will you see our parents?

You'll kiss them for us, okay?

They'll look after you.

Don't tell them I'm wounded.

They worry too much.

A small world, isn't it?

I've always wanted to travel.

And Broussaille,

she isn't working too much, I hope?

It's so easy to tire in her line of work.

They were nice people.

I gave them nothing but good tidings

of Roger and Broussaille.

Dinner was delicious,

the conversation a bit labored,

and I almost forgot

about the banker Delpich's safe.

Well, I'm sorry to tell you, but duty calls.

You're right.

Be careful.

And tell Broussaille to write more often.

If you could read her letters...

We can't sleep, we laugh so much.

- Please, sir, have pity!

- Don't yell, Madame.

- Please don't kill me.

- Will you keep quiet?

Please, don't hurt me.

Another word and I'm going to.

You broke my tooth.

Let me see.

It's nothing. Who are you?

Who are you?

I am Madame Delpich.

Were you going to steal

from your husband?

He asked me to watch over

his office while he's away.

You watch it with this?

Monsieur, help me get out of here.

He's a monster, a maniac.

If you knew what torture I've known.

The worst.

Would you like me to tell you?

No, Madame, I'm busy now. Unfortunately.

With these little things

you'd have never had a chance.

What are you pouring?

Acid, Madame.

Oxysulfithermia. It's a new German trick.

Unfortunately, it only works

on certain alloys.

Does it take long?

A few minutes.

It's a very dirty business

you're in, Monsieur,

but most interesting.

My name is Genevive.

How do you do?

You've put me in a bad spot, Monsieur.

My husband will kill me, no doubt.

I'll be murdered on account of you!

- Stop exaggerating.

- Lf you only knew what he is like.

I don't hope to, Madame,

but you have no need to worry.

What are you doing?

I'll knock you out, tie you up,

and your honor is saved.

Don't touch me! You are a brute.

I only wanted to protect you, Madame.

He never keeps jewels there, just cash.

I know.

Do you still want to leave your husband?

Of course, especially now.

This will pay for your trip.

Thank you, Monsieur.

You are a man who understands women.

Yet, you seem so terribly sure of yourself.

My husband's so stupid.

Are you thirsty?

Yes.

What would you like?

Nothing.

Never at work.

After I finish, I go.

Let me go with you!

Lmpossible, Madame. I'm sorry.

I'm innocent!

It was horrible.

Those are the rules of the game.

Do you mean you can play that game?

Sometimes I want to blow

the whole thing up,

instead of these inane, stupid trifles.

But if you don't accept the world as it is,

where is our place in it?

Destroy property?

Do you want to bite

the hand that feeds you?

I am afraid I do.

Sometimes, I do too!

Somebody's looking for you.

- Who?

- A lady.

- What's she like?

- A redhead.

She's brought her baggage.

Didrt I warn you to beware of women?

Finally!

How nice of you to give

a false name, a false address,

after all we've been through.

You don't deserve to be kissed.

Where did you get my address?

Through your tailor.

His label was printed on your vest.

And I was curious.

He was very helpful. Really kind.

He'd made four suits

with the same cloth as yours.

I've seen three charming gentlemen.

You were the fourth, and here I am.

That was a mean trick.

It's rude to lie, and dangerous as well.

A woman scorned?

We lived together for several weeks.

I began to neglect business.

Genevive took up all my time.

When the men stare at me, I feel thrilled.

It makes me feel needed.

Women always manage, you know,

if they're not afraid.

- And you are never afraid?

- Never. Be glad.

You'd do anything, huh? Go with anybody?

Provided I have money, and happiness.

There are so many things to do!

I'm like a wild plant, natural.

Let's have a look. Walk faster.

Shorter steps,

your knees supple,

head high,

back arched straight, not too much.

Genevive was a woman of action.

She wanted the world.

She needed victims.

I took her out in society, to Mouratet's.

- All right?

- Fine.

Randal, how are you?

Madame Randal, I suppose.

No.

Fine.

I'll introduce you to my wife.

Darling, meet Georges Randal.

Excuse me. Something just struck me

as incredibly funny.

My husband's often spoken of you.

You expected something else, didn't you?

How true.

Excuse me, please.

What do you think of her?

Childlike in some ways, isn't she?

She looks like a lot of fun.

She's a pearl. She knows everything,

and she puts it to good use.

And in bed, a world wonder.

By the way, Urbain Randal,

is he your uncle?

Yes. Why do you ask?

- He comes over now and then.

- I know.

Oh, there's Courbassol. Forgive me.

Good evening, Monsieur Randal.

Monsieur Courbassol.

It's an honor to meet you, sir.

Mouratet's been more than flattering

in speaking of you.

You're an architect, I hear.

Public buildings, right?

No, houses.

All mixed up, that Mouratet.

A fuzzy thinker.

We've had enough of that in politics.

We need some bright young men like you.

I'll be in my district on Monday, in Dieppe.

Why don't you come?

I will introduce you to my friends.

There are great things in the making.

I count on you.

You moved right in.

Ah, my dear architect,

you have your instruments with you?

Don't take them out, for heavers sake.

A surprise like this doesn't

come along every day, I must say.

Let me introduce you

to a few of your victims.

There are three here this evening.

You're playing with fire, Rene.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes