Topaze Page #6

The morgue refrigerating.

You're avoiding the point.

No, I'm not. This is the point.

The truth is,

you're ungrateful.

So that's it,

your sling was a mere maneuver.

Sir.

A wicked maneuver

to cover blackmail.

Well, it's disgusting.

Rgis!

You dare suggest that...

I wasn't born yesterday.

I did it before you.

Then you know the strength

of my position.

I've got you over barrel, it's true.

But tell me:

what would you think of me

otherwise?

I'd think you were my friend.

Roger, you are a friend.

Yes, I'm a friend.

But I want your esteem:

a million or nothing.

Listen to me!

I don't like being played with.

No million, no 500,000, no 100,000.

It'll be nothing.

I'd rather renounce

than deal with a madman.

Cancel the loans.

We'll do without sweepers

because you're a bad citizen.

You're being hard.

And a bad Frenchman.

You attack my honor!

It's not your honor I aim,

but your heart.

Mr. Roger de Bersac,

won't you make a small sacrifice

for our street sweepers?

Think of these unfortunates,

every day at dawn,

sweeping debris into the gutter

with coarse broomsticks.

In the 20th century,

can we stand seeing

these men, electors,

wasting their strength

on demeaning tasks?

When machinery allows us

to replace them with a truck,

clean, efficient, smart-looking.

Can we stand for this?

Can we stand hearing

his town councilor's speech?

If you make fun of such things,

then farewell!

Don't get upset over nothing.

I'm an elected member,

I won't be insulted.

Who's insulting you?

This shark could show some respect

for my function!

Madam, I cannot stand this.

My respects.

You haven't tasted your drink.

No! No more drinks,

no more sweepers, no more agency.

He can starve on a street corner

for all I care.

Tell him to get lost!

In your family, you get lost.

In my family, we take leave.

Madam.

That's how you bungle

a fabulous deal.

Shouldn't you have been more wary?

What can I say? I'm too honest!

Crookedness always astounds me.

Times are getting tough.

My dad never trusted friends,

but I thought accomplices were safe.

That's changed too. What a world!

I hope you won't cry?

A missed opportunity, that's all.

That's all you have to say?

What else can I do?

You must know other frontmen?

Try to reach Mntrier.

He's gone. Someone gave him

a nice mountain range in Tananarive.

- He went to sell it to the locals.

- Then who else?

I'm thinking.

What about Malaval?

His cover's blown.

And Faubert?

Faubert, that would be a dream.

Such a nice kid.

A clever, devoted collaborator.

So reputable.

Wagram 8602.

Not now, he's in jail.

And Picard?

Why not? He'd be perfect.

He's serious, he has connections.

Why not him?

He's my wife's lover.

Sorry, I didn't know.

The whole town knows.

You're the only one who doesn't.

Shows how little I interest you.

I knew she had a lover,

I just didn't know who.

I'll reread.

"When Boabdil", comma,

"King of Granada left

the kingdom of his people", comma,

"he stopped on a hill

overlooking the valley

"and tears welled up in his eyes."

Period. New paragraph.

It can't be that hard

to find someone.

I see you haven't examined

the problem.

Nothing is more delicate.

If you take a morbidly honest man,

he'll refuse most deals.

And a modern-minded man

can push modernism so far

as to rob us.

The deals are all in his name.

And we can't take him to court.

In short, we need someone honest

to do dirty deals.

Let's use innocent words

to cleanse our mouths.

We need someone to do business

today in yesterday's manner.

Or a relation.

Someone we hold something over.

An honorable name,

or a sense of family obligation.

Like your sister's lover,

if she only had one.

Your brother,

if he didn't have a record.

Or your father,

if you knew who he was.

How much would you pay?

I'd pay up to 500,000

for the street sweepers.

- And for the agency?

- 1 0%.

Could I keep the difference?

- Yeah, what's your idea?

- Topaze.

Who's Topaze?

Gaston's teacher.

The bearded fellow?

This isn't a new idea,

I've been thinking of it.

With him there's no danger.

Why not?

We hold something over him.

- Which is?

- Me.

Sure. You think that and...

If I ask him,

he'll sign eyes closed.

He's badly dressed

so he's honest?

I've known blackmailers

who looked poor.

But if he agrees, he'll keep silent.

When he's done a few deals,

he'll be inoffensive.

We can always try.

Open quotation marks.

"Cry like a woman over that

which you did not keep as a man."

End of quotation. Come in.

Madam wishes to see you.

- Right away?

- Yes, right away.

Very well, I'm coming.

My dear friend,

let me introduce you to Mr. Topaze.

Mr. Castel-Vernac

is an important businessman.

I'm very honored.

The honor is all mine.

You're very kind.

Not at all, not at all.

Sit down and have a drink with us.

It's a great honor, madam.

I spoke of you to Mr. Castel-Vernac.

Madam, you're too kind.

And he wants to help you.

Sir, I'm very grateful.

Not at all, it's only natural.

Madam has spoken of your value.

- Oh, you know...

- Yes, yes!

Value that is currently unemployed?

Yes, that's it.

Mr. Castel-Vernac

wishes to exploit this value.

He wishes to exploit this value.

Are you keen to stay in teaching?

Keen to stay in teaching?

Yes, madam.

Why?

Because it's

a highly respected profession

which is not tiring

- and rather lucrative.

- Rather lucrative?

This wine is strong.

Yes, rather strong.

What can you earn teaching?

Certain private tutors like myself

earn up to 1 8,000.

Per month?

Yes. But teachers must invest

in clothing.

They are sometimes called upon

to mingle in high society.

- But when you earn 18,000 francs...

- It's fine.

The question of earnings

is a bit vulgar, but important.

Money doesn't bring happiness,

but we're happy to have it.

The situation that Sir

might propose you

would enable you to earn more.

Not a lot more,

but a little bit more.

I could offer you a fixed salary,

plus a percentage.

You'd earn 40,000 francs on average.

- A month?

- Yes.

- For me?

- Yes.

For what kind of lessons?

It's not lessons.

I need someone to carry out

certain functions that are...

I wouldn't say difficult,

but delicate.

Would I be capable of carrying out

these delicate functions?

We shall see.

May I look at you?

Naturally, sir.

A few questions?

- With pleasure, sir.

- Do you have family?

No, I'm alone in the world.

All alone.

That's perfect.

I mean, how sad, but that's destiny.

- Who are your relations?

- My colleagues.

I mean my former colleagues

from the Muche school.

And an old army comrade

who's a waiter.

Please see these good people

as little as possible.

- And never in our offices.

- Naturally.

But what would my functions be?

My dear Topaze,

may I call you "my dear Topaze"?

- It's a great honor for me.

- Sit down.

My dear Topaze,

I'm creating a new business agency.

But since I'm overwhelmed with work,

I need a right-hand man.

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