Topaze Page #7

The agency will be in his name,

in a certain sense,

he'll be the director.

This would be your post.

Your trust honors me,

but I fear you don't know

my capacities.

You're a teacher, Mr. Topaze!

Precisely, madam, I am a teacher.

Outside of the classroom,

I'm good for nothing.

- You can dictate?

- Oh, that yes!

You'll dictate letters

and check spelling.

Spelling I can take care of.

- And you can sign your name?

- Of course.

My signature is not pretty,

but it's hard to imitate.

No student has ever succeeded.

Then you'll sign for me.

What do you think of this proposal?

I think it's the chance of my life

and it's all thanks to you.

Oh no...

- I forgot.

- What?

- Where were you born?

- In Arles.

The sweepers are off.

Why? Because I'm from Arles?

- We've no time to get his papers.

- That's true.

- Here they are.

- You carry them with you?

Only by chance,

Mr. Muche gave them back to me.

- That's amazing!

- You see, God sent him!

No madam, it was only Mr. Muche.

What do you say?

We have everything we need.

He can sign for the sweepers?

I find myself in an unknown world.

This isn't too fast?

I want to go fast, don't hesitate.

- What do we risk?

- Nothing.

I'm not sure to succeed,

but we can try.

- You take full responsibility?

- Absolutely.

So be it.

I'll give you my signature first.

Oh, thank you.

"Pay to the order of Albert Topaze

the sum of 60,000 francs." Why?

Your commission

plus a one-month advance.

60,000 francs?

It's too good to be true.

Sit down.

Now you sign these papers for me.

Madam, sir,

it is with great emotion

and everlasting gratitude

that I sign these papers.

Under your name write:

"Business Agent".

Thank you, dear director.

I have to run, I'll be right back.

If you care to wait,

we'll have time to chat.

I hope you're happy.

Madam, how can I express

my devotion?

By fulfilling your function.

For the moment,

you sign and keep quiet.

Keep quiet?

In business,

discretion is everything.

Very important!

Professional secrecy.

Like doctors.

I'll need other signatures later.

May I borrow Madam?

With pleasure, sir.

- What do you mean with pleasure?

- I mean...

He's incredible.

Director...

Dear director...

60,000 francs.

429 lessons at 140 francs.

Business is amazing.

If Tamise saw me,

he who called me a social climber.

Maybe he was right.

- You like painting?

- I'm rather curious.

- Do you paint?

- No, sir.

- Are you an art merchant?

- No.

I'm in business.

Me too.

A friend of Castel-Vernac?

I can't say a friend,

though he's very friendly.

I'm a mere collaborator.

For a long time?

Only several minutes.

But I hope for a long time.

The sweepers, it's you?

The sweepers?

Sir, in business,

discretion is everything.

- Especially for such deals.

- Perhaps.

Not perhaps, surely!

I know about the sweepers.

I know someone else who could've

done it for cheap. Like you.

For cheap? Like me?

Between us,

how much is he paying you?

This I can answer

because it concerns myself.

Take a look.

60,000? That's your commission?

My salary and commission!

- You think it's funny?

- A little, yes.

I had no difficulty obtaining

this sum,

he offered it to me.

In business,

it's often useful to act dumb,

but you push it rather far.

I find it painful to be called dumb

by someone I hardly know.

Out of respect for our hostess,

perhaps we should stop here.

Such respect for a man

who'll send you to criminal court?

- Criminal court?

- Maybe sooner than you think.

It's not me who'll denounce you.

But there are other people

who could spill the beans.

If you agreed to be a man of straw

for this sum, it's regrettable.

You talk about this affair

as if it were dishonest.

I demand an explanation.

Of all the rascal's dirty deals,

the street sweepers

is by far the most dangerous.

To whom, in your mind,

does the term "rascal" apply?

Our brilliant town councilor.

What town councilor?

You didn't know Castel-Vernac

was town councilor?

No.

Then you don't realize

what he expects?

I must assist him and sign papers,

no more.

No more?

That's a good one.

What is your background?

- I'm a schoolteacher.

- I should have guessed.

If I were you, I'd grab my hat

and run. You've no business here.

You cannot slander people

without elucidation.

What has my benefactor done?

Your benefactor

uses his political mandate to vote

the purchase of anything at all.

Which he then supplies

via a frontman.

- That would be corrupt practice!

- Maybe.

The most shameful form of theft!

He didn't invent it, it's the basis

of all democratic systems.

- And others too.

- Proof! Give me proof!

I'm happy to enlighten you,

but never say who told you.

If it's true, I promise silence!

This being the enemy's lair,

I'd rather invite you

to a charming little bar nearby.

If teaching hasn't ruined you,

one glance at these papers

and you'll understand.

If you've lied, I'll denounce you.

And rightly so. But follow me first.

The coast is clear.

That's it.

The tender's been submitted.

Where's your protge?

I think he's giving a lesson

to Gaston.

This boy's perfect. I like him.

The stereotype of an idiot.

Madam,

do you know who Castel-Vernac is?

- Who I am?

- What a strange question.

Do you know what I just learned?

What is this bad joke?

This man, whom you trust

and honor with your friendship,

this man is dishonest.

- What?

- Think before you speak.

Listen carefully to my words.

Mr. Castel-Vernac is a corrupt man.

Therefore, it is necessary

to put him in prison.

- Farewell.

- Where are you going?

- To see the state prosecutor.

- Wait a moment.

Don't worry, he's in my room.

I'll take care of it.

Mr. Topaze, do you wish my loss?

- You?

- Me.

- Your fate's entwined with his?

- Yes.

You're the accomplice of that shark?

Good Lord!

You understood too soon.

You know now

what I wanted to say later.

Which was?

My story, my stupid story.

- We have little time, listen.

- I'm listening.

When I met Castel-Vernac,

I was a child.

He knew my father,

he was our financial advisor.

He was a lawyer and politician.

- Naturally.

- Yes, naturally.

When I found myself alone,

I turned to him,

for he was the executor

- of my father's will.

- I see.

He advised me to sell everything:

factory, land and castle.

I entrusted him with my fortune,

which he invested for me.

What a story, good Lord.

But I didn't know.

Periodically, he had me sign papers

I didn't understand.

Only that they were city contracts.

- And you signed?

- Yes.

You should have cut off

your right hand.

Yes! But I signed without realizing.

Like you, earlier.

Yes, like me earlier.

- When did you understand?

- Too late.

Too late? It's never too late.

It was too late to save myself.

Who would've believed me?

You needed only relate

the painful tale you just told me.

One cannot mistake sincerity.

Maybe I should have denounced him

at once.

But now it's too late, I'm lost.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes