Original subtitles

- Hello, Mr. Rondin! - Hello!

- How are you? - Well, thank you.

Say, the works are coming along!

- Yes. - They're everywhere!

Yes. I feel like… That keeps falling.

It's like being on a rock when the tide comes in.

It's scary.

Have a seat, my friend.

I found-- Oh, sorry!

- Don't worry about that! - Sorry, let me move those.

I found something for you.

- Really? - Yes.

- Look. - Let's see.

They're old photos of Paris.

How extraordinary!

Ah! This is Place de la Bourse, Rue du 4 septembre.

The Vaudeville Theatre doesn't exist anymore.

Even then there was a car park!

That's the Paris Opera.

- This must have been around 1900. - Yes.

That's where Avenue de l'Opéra begins.

How interesting!

This would have been around the end of the Second Empire, 1870.

Yes, that's right.

And this? Oh, it's Place de l'Italie!

It's changed a lot since then.

You can't park here.

What?

I said you can't park here.

I'm doing my job.

- So am I! - Move along, grandpa!

That's enough! Move your truck right now!

- What? - Right now!

Alright, alright. Calm down!

Bless you. Got a cold?

No, no. It's just hay fever.

The slightest draft in winter

and I catch a cold.

Of course you do!

You're always leaving the door open.

Yes, Mother!

You see? I'm like a little child.

This is Marie-Hélène, my daughter.

- Hello, sir! - Hello!

I don't think we've met, miss.

Is that Paris?

It was Paris.

I'll get you a coffee.

Thank you!

Hello? Postman!

Hello, Mr. Postman.

- Mr. Rondin? - Yes!

- Here. Can I have a quick word? - Yes.

- Listen, your book? - Yes?

I sold two more.

- You sold two? - Here.

That's great, thank you.

I'm happy to help!

I'll take two more.

Honestly, are you managing to sell them?

You, a writer, me a postman…

We're both messengers.

True.

See you around!

Hey! What's all this?

I ask you… what's the world coming to?

It never stops.

As they say, "When construction is thriving, everything thrives."

Summer in Paris means bulldozers and pneumatic drills everywhere.

Today, on one of the capital's largest construction sites,

The Minister of Public Works will be giving journalists

updates on the latest construction developments.

You can see the progress of these works all through the streets of Paris.

Plans for future projects

will also be revealed this afternoon.

at the Ministry of Public Works.

Gentlemen. In 25 years, we will have reached the year 2000.

The future is coming.

We have to move forward and that's precisely what I'm doing.

Minister, have you run into many difficulties?

Difficulties? Not only difficulties but threats!

Aubier! The anonymous letter.

Thank you.

Listen to this tripe.

"You're a disgrace to Paris. Stop drilling holes or else…"

They're referring to my grand project as "holes."

But once I start something, nothing can stop me.

Follow me, gentlemen. Albert!

First issue on the agenda: traffic.

It's terribly simple.

We just need to fill the Seine with concrete,

paint a white line down the middle,

and you have a highway worthy of our capital.

A photograph, Minister?

Not you, Aubier!

Thank you.

Now come and take a look at this.

I'm not only interested in efficiency.

I want to leave my mark on history.

On either side of the Notre Dame,

I'll build two towers from concrete and steel!

The Middles Ages meet the 20th century in perfect harmony.

Gentlemen, to conclude:

Paris is a problem that must be resolved!

Give me the necessary weapons and I will wage war on Paris.

I'll build a wall around the left wing of Belleville,

I'll demolish the Place de Contrescarpe,

I'll block the Porte des Batignolles,

I'll charge bulldozers through Hotel de Ville

and I'll win the Battle of Paris.

I will win!

And it's with these images from the Minister of Public Works

that we come to the end of our final news bulletin of the day.

Thank you for watching and goodnight.

Mr. Rondin! You're not still working at this time?

Goodnight, Mr. Rondin.

He's great. He's written two books!

BOOKS, BINDING, ENGRAVING

Come on, Marie-Hélène! Come with us.

No, I can't. I'm almost home.

Yes you can, it's too early to go home!

No, look, it's almost midnight.

My dad will be worried about me. See you tomorrow.

- Bye! - By, Marie-Hélène! See you tomorrow.

Bye!

BIBLIOPHILY DOCUMENTATION

BOOKSHOP J.P. RONDIN

We said goodbye here, at midnight.

She said, "Dad will be worried."

But the bookshop is just there,

you would have seen her.

CONSTRUCTION WORKS

Maybe she fell down?

No, there's a fence.

It's not very deep, either. It's just roadworks.

We sometimes do works with the post office but we don't make such a mess.

Maybe it's EDF?

Do they not think to work together?

The gas board makes a hole then closes it,

then someone else comes along and makes another…

Hey! You're blocking the sunlight.

Excuse me, is that the radio?

Are you listening to the radio?

No, this is my music.

Really?

Get out of the way! Scram!

Are you okay, Mr. Rondin?

- Hey! Watch it! - It's okay.

Hello, Chief.

I'm not a fan of kidnapping cases.

Right. Surname, please?

Rondin.

- First name? - Jean-Paul.

- Married? - Widowed.

Profession?

Er… put… put bookseller.

What else do you do?

No… yes, I…

I also write books. I mean I'm an author.

Oh. We'll put bookseller. That's much better.

Your daughter's name?

Marie-Hélène.

- Her age? - Twenty-two.

Twenty-two?

Ah! Well that changes everything. She hasn't been kidnapped.

She's gone for a stroll!

She's been kidnapped.

No, no. Look how nice the weather is! No, no.

She'll be with someone.

No. You don't know her.

Neither do you.

You never really know your children.

A twenty-two, she'll be out with someone.

She's run off. A runaway.

Montel and Bougras?

No, still nothing, sir.

Ah… two of my men went missing three days ago.

Two of them, you say? Two? They've run away.

Two cops? Together? No.

Were your officers on bikes?

- Yes. - When they disappeared?

Yes. And?

So was my daughter!

That's irrelevant.

You don't think it's odd? Cyclists going missing?

Please, let it go. Your daughter is in Deauville or St. Tropez.

Don't worry.

I'm telling you, she's been kidnapped.

No, she's just gone for a little walk.

Give it a week.

We'll start an enquiry if she hasn't come back.

Goodbye, Mr. Rondin.

Twenty-two…

How funny that she just disappeared…

I mean… It's not funny.

You know, Mr. Rondin,

for a while I've been hearing stories.

Some rather unorthodox events have occurred at the convent, for example.

The nuns say they've seen vegetables vanishing into the ground.

- Into the ground? - That's right.

And not far from here,

Mr. Bouru's wine cellar.

You know, the wine merchant?

Well, his wine keeps going missing.

Nobody knows where. Good bottles, too.

The door is double padlocked.

I always have the keys on me.

And still they take it!

Have they taken a lot?

They must have taken 150 bottles within a few months.

Haven't you been to the police?

He laughed in my face.

He said it's probably the rats

coming to get plastered.

They must have damned expensive taste.

They won't take any old bottle.

It's not the cheap plonk they want.

Château Margaux '66. Do you know how much it costs?

- Ah, it's a mystery. - Yes, a mystery.

Here you are, Mr…?

- Rondin. - Mr. Rondin.

The guy from the bike shop says they've been swiping

his bike frames!

- Bike frames? - Bike frames.

People are crazy.

I bet it's youths.

Why youths?

Because they're young.

Here, try this. A nice Gamay.

Obviously it's not a Château Margaux.

But it's not bad.

Lovely color.

- Cheers! - Cheers.

Not bad, is it? Great color.

SEWAGE MAINTENANCE

A cow?

Yes! A cow.

Surely not, in the sewers?

There's more than sewers.

You wouldn't believe what's under the sidewalk.

Galleries, tunnels…

Look. The subway alone.

It's over 100 miles.

A hundred miles?

And the quarries. The district is one giant termite mound.

They dig for limestone, clay… even coal.

To build houses above ground they take stone from underneath.

Oh, wow…

And look at this. For years

they grew mushrooms down there. Button mushrooms.

And there's this.

The revolution of 1848.

Rebels hid in the Montmartre quarries.

It's amazing, isn't it?

Even in Les Miserables.

Look who we see walking through

the depths of Paris:

Jean Valjean.

Something's happening beneath the streets of Paris.

My daughter is down there. I just know it.

Now for the news with Patrick Beaulieu. This August 1st,

the streets of Paris

are filled with tourists as Parisians flee

for the holidays.

Meanwhile, in international news…

Come in!

Hello, Chief Lalatte.

Hello. What was your name?

Balzac. Hervé Balzac.

That's a popular name!

There's Balzac street, Balzac cinema

Balzac school…

The writer, Balzac…

Him too. Anyway.

Thanks for covering. You'll love it here.

Quiet district?

Oh yes! It's the center of Paris.

The local louts are fairly docile. You won't find any mafia here.

When do you leave?

Tonight, with my wife and kids.

We're going to Perros-Guirec.

The car's there, we're going right away.

Ah! Robineau, the traffic warden.

He likes to be thorough.

- Chief! - No! I'm on vacation!

Ask Inspector Balzac.

No Chief, this is serious.

Twenty tourists are missing.

Twenty tourists?

They went to visit the Catacombs and never came back.

- And you are? - Merlin Marcel, born in--

No, what do you do?

I'm a coach driver.

I was on Place Denfert-Rochereau.

Right then, Balzac, I hope it all goes well.

This is a bit out of my league…

No, we see it all the time. They'll be out walking.

- Runaways. - Runaways?

But they've been missing for a while.

Maybe you should take a quick look.

You think?

Twenty tourists…

Right, let's go then. But make it quick!

There you are. We got a ticket, see?

Yes, I'll deal with it.

I hope so. Now let's go!

Listen Ginette, give me five minutes.

Are you off work or not?

Yes, but this is important.

It'll only take five minutes. Let's go!

See Chief? He's the only one left.

One old Japanese guy.

He stayed because his feet were hurting.

Chief! You'll never guess what just happened.

153 people went in but only 133 came out.

- We need to go and see. - Yes.

- I said we need to go and see! - Oh right, sorry.

STOP! THE EMPIRE OF THE DEAD

"Stop!

this is the empire of the dead."

Off we go.

As they used to say: "O tempora! O mores!"

What does it mean, Chief?

Huh? It's Latin. A dead language.

Oh my…

Where could they have gone?

What?

You're whispering.

You're whispering!

I said where could they have gone?

I have no idea.

- You can't get lost. - Why?

Because it's just one street all the way.

What about these gates?

They're always closed.

Look! There's a shadow.

Let's keep going.

Look! An open gate.

I just passed it! I'm sure it was closed.

You can never be sure.

Paris scarf.

Definitely a tourist.

Where did you come from?

Police!

Where are we?

That can't be right.

- Where were you? - Me?

Yes, just now.

- Where was I? - Yes, just now.

I was in there, sorting the cables.

So you didn't see anything?

- See what? - Tourists.

- Tourists? - Tourists.

What tourists?

Never mind. Follow me.

- Ginette… - You said you'd be five minutes!

- Something's going on. - Come on, let's go.

Have you seen any foreigners?

I've seen nothing but.

Three hundred have come and gone.

Come on, let's go!

I have to see to something.

- What's that? - Evidence.

Paul, you're on vacation.

It'll only take a minute.

We'll be in Perros-Guirec before dinner. Trust me.

You know me, you can trust me.

Yes, I know you alright.

Hello, Mr. Rondin!

Hello, Mr. Postman.

Is your daughter back?

No.

Aren't you opening today?

No.

Off on vacation?

I'm going down there.

Where?

Underground.

And I'm only telling you.

Until the revolution, the church owned all the land here.

There were passages between

the convents and chapels.

It's amazing, there was a whole network.

Last night I found an entrance. Hold this.

So you're going down?

- Yes. - Alone?

- Of course. - Is it deep?

I don't know.

It's like a dungeon!

Great… could you do me a favor

and close it after me?

But don't lock it! I want to get out again.

- Alright. Bye. - Bye.

Wait, Mr. Rondin?

- Yes? - Will you be gone long?

I don't know, a day or two. I need to find my daughter.

What if you don't come back?

I'll be back. Anyway, it's not as though you could tell a family member.

She's in there!

It was a package trip. Eight days in Paris.

And the passports?

- Here. - Frankenfeld, Fuji, Von der Nel, Nixon.

Nixon?

Averell Nixon, not Richard.

He's from Washington! He must be family!

Boy, oh boy… I can forget about my vacation!

This is a political issue!

Right, all of you out!

- But Chief-- - Out! Out!

Off you go.

Look, it's Dad!

It's almost sorted!

Five minutes?

Not even!

One of the tourists is called Nixon,

boss. Nixon…

This could escalate to national level!

What should I do?

Whatever you do, don't tell anyone. Keep it quiet.

Do what you can to keep it in hand.

I'm afraid I'm leaving Paris right away.

But I'm trusting you, Lalatte. OK?

So, Chief? What's going on?

Nothing. Nothing at all. Everything's fine.

- Jean Valjean! - The unnamed soldier!

The angels of our land

Sing this sweet melody

It echoes through… Oh, shit… through the mountain

Gloria

In Excelsis Deo

Good morning, Eva!

Good morning, Father.

Crop coming along OK?

The leeks are splendid this year.

Leeks are the lilies of the field!

Even King Solomon in all his glory could not match their splendor.

Gloria

in Excelsis Deo

Oh, that's not safe. Look at that!

Look at it! You wouldn't want to fall down that.

Hola!

Who was that?

Some kind of soldier?

Did he come through here?

We'll have to fill this hole.

Do you know what time it is?

Ginette, the case is much worse than I thought.

The first day of vacation.

I know. It's best if you go home.

- Forget it. - Just for tonight.

- Because tomorrow, I promise-- - No!

Did we hire this car specially?

- Yes. - Yes.

Are the cases packed?

- Yes. - Have I covered the furniture?

- As always. - Are the kids waiting?

- Ah, the cuties. - Right.

So we're not going home.

So you're waiting here?

In the car.

- How will we eat? - In the car.

How will we sleep?

In the car.

But what about the kids…?

Shut up!

- Officer? - Chief!

Take everyone's details and send them away!

Chief!

What about the stray Japanese guy?

Did he pay upfront?

- Yes! - Then take him for a ride in your coach.

Goodbye!

Thank you.

I'm going to take you in the coach, sir, OK?

It's quite incredible. This could only happen to me.

Twenty tourists kidnapped, one of them a Nixon.

And no ransom note.

WE'LL FREE YOUR TOURISTS WHEN YOU STOP DRILLING HOLES

- What are you doing? - Putting on a tie.

- Why? - To see the Minister.

Oh no…

Hey!

Hey!

Hey!

Is there anyone there? Hey!

Oh shit. That's just great.

Well…

Hey! Father! Please, Father,

tell me if I'm far from the Pantheon?

The Pantheon…

Nobody wants to help you these days.

Hey! Where are you going?

Don't worry, I'll be right back.

WE'LL FREE YOUR TOURISTS WHEN YOU STOP DRILLING HOLES

The holes…

I think the message is for you, Minister.

I can see that. You can clean it off now.

It's evidence.

I know that, but it's ugly. The French are on vacation.

There's no use them fretting. No photos, no journalists.

What will you do, Minister?

What do you mean, what will I do?

About the holes.

I don't dig holes, Chief.

I organize excavations.

Finding the tourists is your job.

It's not my job to negotiate with a subversive organization!

Honestly.

Holes…

Shit…

Minister, the reception at the embassy.

I'll go later.

Later there's the Italian gala.

We'll see. This is very serious.

It's me they're mad at.

And you're getting on my nerves!

Please just sit down.

They picked the wrong person to attack.

I will accomplish my mission!

What in the… what is it?

I need to see the Chief.

- Is there a war? - No, there's no war.

They said Chief Lalatte was here with the Minister.

Let me through, I must see him!

- Is he expecting you? - For the love of God!

I want to see the Chief!

Chief! Mr. Lalatte!

The Chief, where is the Police Chief?

I need to see him.

- You will not! - Where is he? Chief!

What's all this? What is the meaning of this?

What's all this?

What's all this?

Oh! It's Mr. Rondin!

It's me, Chief.

Something's going on beneath the streets of Paris.

What are you saying?

There's a whole other world under there.

What world?

I don't know… people…

I saw people working in a tunnel.

- In a tunnel? - I saw a woman on a ladder.

Picking leeks.

You've gone mad!

Chief, my daughter is down there!

- Be qui-- - I'm certain. They took her!

You daughter's on a trip.

No, she's under there, damn it!

Chief!

This is interesting, soldier.

Yes, Minister. It is interesting.

- Come! - Minister

He has a screw loose.

What if the tourists are being held in the Catacombs?

- No, they got out. - What tourists?

Never mind. Go home!

Do you mind?

Soldier, what did you see?

Minister,

I saw a mysterious building site.

He just found the subway!

Please!

How do we get down there?

Montparnasse cemetery.

Chief, we have to go now.

He's making it up!

No stone must be left unturned! I'll go with you.

Like that? In tails?

This way, Minister.

What are you playing at? A building site?

Mysterious people?

It's true, I saw it!

We would know about it.

But they're in hiding.

Not from the police.

They're there.

Even if we didn't know, our bosses would.

Ladies, gentlemen.

I know. Believe me,

I'd rather not be here either.

Right. This way?

Yes, that's where I came from,

- Minister. - Off we go.

Here, friend, take this.

Do you know your way?

Yes, this way.

I hope…

Gentlemen, it's getting rather damp.

Yes Minister, let's retrace our steps.

No, Chief! We must go forth.

I'll just have to ask you

for a little assistance.

To think! All of Paris above our heads.

Have you been to Venice, Chief?

No. I wish I could.

What a pity!

If the soldier comes back, he'll never find us.

Aha! The floor seems drier here. Thank you, gentlemen.

This is definitely the way?

Yes, I think so, yes.

You came from this direction?

Yes, Chief.

I'm fairly certain, yes.

You have to be sure!

- I said yes! - Alright, alright.

- I can't be any clearer. - Alright, let's see.

It's a dead end!

Yes, it is…

Are you sure?

Yes, I mean…

Break down this door! Let's see what's behind.

Come on, break it down.

If you're wrong about this!

Just break it down!

You'll see! Gentlemen, please!

Get me some light!

Good.

Turn off your torches.

Ah! So this is the subway!

Sorry, Minister. It was a false trail.

Thank you, Rondin, for the little outing.

What a fascinating place!

Minister, I'll call for a car.

Chief, nothing would amuse me more

than to take the subway to my gala.

Subway!

STOP DIGGING HOLES… OR ELSE!

Curtain! Curtain!

Mr. Sopranelli!

It's deep…

Hey!

You're sure of yourself?

Yes, Chief.

I came this way.

This is definitely it. I recognize it.

A draft…

Aha! Here it is.

- Here to visit someone? - No! Just taking a walk.

No! Gentlemen!

I'm going!

No, no!

Hey!

Bravo! Bravo!

What a wonderful artist you are, sir.

It was spectacular.

- Really? - Yes.

It's not often we see such a high quality performance.

It was mostly improvised, I haven't practiced with the orchestra.

Still, it was marvelous.

I hope you don't mind me inviting you

in this rather strange fashion.

No, it was very fun.

As long as you're having fun, that's the main thing.

To show me there are no hard feelings, please accept this small gift.

Oh!

Up you come!

Ah, yes. Sorry.

Oh, it's marvelous!

You like it?

I assure you it's authentic. It came from the Louvre.

Thank you so much!

Can I go now?

Ah subito, Maestro! No, wait, there's just one thing.

Just a little precaution! We'll show you the way.

- Yes. - Goodnight!

- Yes, thank you. - This way, straight ahead.

There you go.

Friends!

I hope you've had as much fun

with us tonight

as I have had with you.

And now, my little Gaspards, back to work.

Everyone to the scaffolding!

There's Marie-Hélène! Marie!

Marie…?

One! Two! One! Two!

One! Two!

Come with me.

One! Two!

- Hello. How are you? - Hi.

Wait, that's Jean Valjean and Cosette!

No, that's Marcel Chouilloux and Lucienne.

Chouilloux? It's not--

- Come on, this way. - Chouilloux…

Hi!

- Hello! - Hello.

- Here he is. - Hi.

Sit.

Thanks.

Fresh batch!

- Thanks. - Who do we have here?

We have Rondin.

Does he want coffee?

He'd like a drop, yes.

Who sent you?

No one.

No one gets here by accident.

I got lost.

When was he found?

Yesterday, during the concert.

Where?

On the grand staircase.

He came from the northern tunnel.

With all these holes,

this place is becoming a magnet for walkers.

We'll tell Gaspard he's here.

But for now, let's put him to work.

Can I at least have a bit of bread?

Have we met?

No, I'm new here.

Oh, when did you arrive?

Yesterday.

What's going on?

There's a hole in the site.

So now it's raining bricks?

His brother works up there.

Hi there, kids. Bon appétit.

We've found ourselves a nosy little rascal.

Hello, sir.

Hello, sir.

Looks like he's in good shape.

He looks like he'd have good cycling legs.

Let's put him to work.

Ah! He's the soldier we saw yesterday.

The one who brought the police in?

Why did you come here?

I'm looking for… I mean I'm looking. Just visiting.

Oh, sure you are.

Mathieu, the northern tunnel is getting dangerous. We have to close it.

Yes, sir.

And did you come alone?

Yes, the police didn't believe me.

We are rather unbelievable.

And what's his name, nosy over here?

Rondin. Jean-Paul. Bookseller.

Jean-Paul Rondin? The historian?

Er… yes. I mean, historian sounds a bit grand.

But I am interested in what Paris used to be like.

You wrote an exceptional book.

I certainly didn't sell many.

This explains everything, Mathieu.

This man knows the district very well.

Your description of life

in the district under Louis XV was beautiful.

Yes, it's hard to imagine the 14th district in the 18th century.

Please, take a seat.

I'd love to.

- Sorry. - Sorry.

Take the armchair, Mr. Rondin!

Are you sure? Thank you very much.

It'd be an honor to have you sit there.

And I don't say that very often.

- That's kind, thank you. - What shall we do with him?

Well Matthieu, I'm going to have a little chat with Mr. Rondin.

You may leave.

I'm delighted to meet one of my favorite authors.

My name is Montfermeil.

I come from an old family from Auteuil.

Of course! There was a Lieutenant Monfermeuil

who lived there around 1740.

Correct.

He managed the quarries.

Correct.

How do you think I discovered these caves?

- Sorry. - Take a look.

- Remarkable! - Isn't it?

Remarkable.

I see! Now I understand.

- So we must be-- - Thank you!

Sorry.

My name is Gaspard de Montfermeuil.

It's rather amusing that my father called me Gaspard.

Do you know what Gaspard means in French slang?

Yes, it means rat.

It is indeed a rat.

In fact, that's what I call them: My Gaspards.

"Gaspards of the night.

Far from the crowds and the noise."

Are you trying to find where we are, Mr. Rondin?

You must have an idea.

Not really, no.

Good. We're a secretive bunch,

my friends and I.

Are there many of you?

Philosophers are a rare species.

Philosophers?

Yes, hermits and wise men

who have given up their lives up there among the insane.

Yes. Plus there's no tax.

And no cars!

Do you ever recruit?

What do you mean?

I just mean…

Pardon?

Do you sometimes go looking for people up there?

Young girls, for example?

What an odd question.

- General? - Yes!

- May I show you something? - Yes!

We found the right way.

- The right direction? - Exactly.

Then continue digging in that direction.

Herr General!

That's Helmut von Sturmunddrang.

One of our best men. He was here long before me.

He took refuge here when Paris was liberated.

That was 30 years ago.

You never told him the war is over?

I neglected to mention that little detail. Dear old Helmut!

He's happy here. The air is clean,

the temperature is remarkably constant. He's our construction works manager.

Construction?

Yes. Would you like a tour?

Yes!

But don't your Gaspards ever want to leave?

Sometimes they go for a walk in the fresh air.

But up until now they've always come back. This way!

What are you looking for?

Nothing! Just looking.

Look all you like, Mr. Rondin!

So I'm free to…?

You can go wherever you like!

I had them collapse the tunnel you came in through.

Oh.

That's thorough.

Try to understand me.

If I don't let you go, it isn't you I'm keeping here.

It's me.

I don't like this place. I hate the sun.

Was it a well before?

Yes. The water dried up a long time ago. The hole is in the park in…

Anyway, that's enough of that.

Hello, children!

Who here likes sweets?

Here.

Everyone OK?

- Yes! - Go on.

Off you go.

- Where did they come from? - Up there.

They're neighborhood kids who found us.

Have they told their parents?

Yes. No one believes them.

Imagine. "There are people living underground!"

It sounds like a kids' story.

Yes.

Public Works, take one.

Minister! Aren't you going on holiday?

I'm the only minister who doesn't leave Paris during the month of August.

That's precisely when my work really begins.

My patch ends here, Mr. Rondin.

This is where the empire of terror begins.

Listen to the silence.

Ahh, it's starting again!

Another construction site.

They're digging holes everywhere!

Paris must have more holes than Swiss cheese!

But what they don't know

is that cheese attracts rats.

And we rats won't sit back and watch while they slice the place up!

Rats!

Mathieu!

Here we go again, another building site!

The time has come, my friend.

- Is the hole ready? - Almost.

Make sure it's ready in an hour!

Yes, sir.

Ventrebleu, monitor the power station.

No, give me your torch. I'll go myself.

Come with me, Mr. Rondin. You might like this.

Mind the hole!

Our friends are back!

Did they go out?

No, Mr. Rondin. They just went and helped themselves.

That's the good thing about being down here.

We can take what we like from beneath.

- Sorry? - The foundations of the big stores

have no locks or alarms. We're philosophers, but we can be pests.

- Cheers! - Cheers.

This way.

Look.

Have a taste, yes yes yes! Have a taste, no no no.

Let's see if the wine is good.

This is how we generate electricity.

The joys of bicycling without the dangers of the road.

Come on, come on! You're falling asleep!

Come on!

Let's have a bit of fun! Altogether now!

Aren't you singing, officer?

- I am singing! - Go on then!

You like the accordion?

Ah, the accordion! You know, Mr. Rondin, the tourists

like to hear the accordion in Paris.

Oh! The tourists.

Yes. Come on! The tourists.

Bury me in a cellar Where there's lots of good wine

How beautiful!

Good!

See? They're having a whale of a time.

The music of Pigalle beneath the streets of St. Germain.

Hi, Mr. Gaspard!

How are you? You seem well.

I am, I feel very well here.

Up there, they call me a dirty cop.

- No, really? - Yes, yes.

"Dirty cop! Dirty cop!" Here, people call me Georges.

That's great. Carry on Georges, my man!

Dad!

Did someone say "Dad"?

Yes.

Miss Rondin?

Oh! Please, come down.

I'm delighted to see you but sorry to see you here.

But these are troubled times.

You see, we're in a war of sorts, Mr. Rondin.

I admit, I needed bicycles and cyclists.

Come on, don't be cross.

Keep up the tempo!

- Come on, come on! - You're on a bicycle in Paris, be happy!

the wine is good! Knights of the Round Table!

Let's see if the wine is good!

Hello? 128 here, I'm listening.

215 speaking.

Speak up.

You have to admit,

you don't hear much about us up there.

They attack, we defend ourselves.

Look! They're encroaching on our territory.

Look, Mr. Rondin, look inside!

Okay! Over and out.

How low will they go, I ask you?

So the minister isn't stopping his works.

Now I'm angry.

One moment.

Let's have a bit of fun with a harmless practical joke.

This one's the gas, this one's the water.

There's also the electricity and the telephone lines.

I quite like to mix them up.

Hello?

After you.

This is Pamela.

Miss Pamela Pendelton Pumpkin.

She's one of our best underground experts.

Would you be so kind as to let Miss Rondin

have your room for a moment so she can rest?

- A little, she's a little cold. - Yes.

You were hiding this from me! Sunlight and blue skies. Dear me.

My Gaspards sometimes get a little nostalgic.

Thanks.

Make yourself at home.

It's quite basic, I admit,

but we have running water. A spring.

But we're not immune to pollution.

There's a soap factory above.

Perhaps you'd like to change, Mr. Rondin?

My wardrobe is in the next bedroom. Please, help yourself.

Dad!

Come, Mr. Rondin.

My humble abode.

I have catarrh and my eyes are weak.

Weak?

I believe you'll find

something to your taste, Mr. Rondin.

Are you going to stay with us?

I don't know.

Oh, Gaspard doesn't like it when his guests leave.

Marvelous?

Yes! There's no noise.

Ah! Mr. Rondin.

Welcome to my quarters.

The Kiss, Gustave Courbet. I have some rather nice things here.

Borrowed from the Louvre.

Of course, because…

This way.

You seem to have found something suitable, Rondin.

Yes, yes…

Very good! Very good.

Here we have a polychrome Virgin Mary. We like to call her Our Lady of the Deep.

Plus a few interesting works here.

Tell me, is that a periscope?

Yes.

So you… you look outside?

- Rarely. - Okay.

- Could I take a little look? - Go ahead.

Okay. But will I recognize where we are?

I don't think so.

A little corner of Paris.

It's the only way we can ventilate the place.

Otherwise, we couldn't breathe.

So every half an hour there's a little draft that comes in.

Bless you!

Sunday Times. That's it!

Now the wind has subsided, my dear Rondin, let's eat.

Do the honors, Father.

Benedicite… Amen!

Ah, friends. I'm so pleased to have you all at my table.

Deep in the earth, in our castle of the abyss.

If my poor father could hear me!

God rest his--

No Father, he's not dead. He lives on the Côte d'Azur.

He's a fresh air and sun sort of man. A former admiral.

- It takes all sorts! - True.

When I was a child, he'd lock me in the cellar as a punishment.

He was the one who gave me a taste for darkness.

Pass me your glass, miss.

Nice piece, isn't it?

Last year at the Petit Palais,

there was a silverware exhibition.

I couldn't resist.

White, Father?

Yes, please.

Ah! The first course. Do you like carrots?

Yes.

Well, these ones were freshly picked this morning.

And, in your honor, we have some underground delicacies.

Greek and Russian style mushrooms,

mushrooms à la provençale, à l'andalouse, à l'anglaise,

mushroom croustade, mushroom marinade,

and a simple mushroom salad. Rondin?

Aren't you hungry, miss?

No… I'm sorry it's just that

it's not even midday, so…

I know. To try and avoid the noise we have to eat

at the same time as them up there.

Rondin… Mr. Rondin!

Oh, shut up!

What? My friend's down there!

Yes? Yes? No.

Thank you.

Yes?

Mr. Lalatte is in the antechamber, Minister.

Send him in.

What about the tourists, then, Chief?

No news, Minister.

And the Italian singer?

He's lost it.

But is he talking?

No. He's singing.

That hardly helps us.

Take a seat, help yourself.

Oh Minister,

No, it's nothing fancy.

Durum wheat porridge and beansprouts.

Wonderful, Minister.

You shouldn't judge a book by its cover!

When I saw you, I had you down as a meat and two veg type.

Quite the contrary.

Excellent!

Some cutlery for Chief Lalatte, please.

Now, if you please, let's have a little taste.

I've been taking wine from the Paris Bishop's wine cellar.

A saintly man with excellent wines, right, Father?

But recently, we discovered

a local supplier in our district,

which is much more practical. Pamela?

In the district?

Château Margaux, 1966.

Bravo, Rondin!

Look out, friends. The wind's picking up.

I think we'll have to skip dessert.

God bless you!

Thank you, Father, thank you.

And now, ladies, in your honor,

- a little music. - Yes.

Rondin?

Gentlemen: the "Trout Quintet" by Schubert.

How many bars to begin?

Two bars, as usual, Father.

And so it continues.

Well, Minister!

We're about to play you a different kind of music.

Gentlemen, this is war!

Now it's our turn! They want to make holes?

Well so do I! I'll give you holes…

Do you know what's up there? Above us?

The Ministry for Public Works.

Stand back, children, stand back.

Out the way, fatty.

Mathieu, my boy, take the dog.

Watch out!

With my regards, Minister.

Beautiful.

No, no, no! I will not leave!

I'm evacuating the ministry!

Then I'll stay here alone!

Here in this office? It's like a capsized ship.

And a captain goes down with his ship!

I'll do what I have to,

but I will not give in to blackmail. Will you help me?

Ah! Aubier! Aubier!

I don't want your help anyway!

I… I… I can't.

You may leave.

Thank you, Minister.

Er, if you could just give me your hand…

because otherwise…

POSTBOX

- 202? - I can't hear you very well.

Call me on the other line.

- 202? - Yes?

It worked! They've toppled the Ministry!

Excellent. First warning. Well done!

I think this time, we've won.

They'll have to stop the construction work.

Where's Rondin?

The power station!

For crying out loud! The tourists have stopped.

It's Rondin.

Have they gone?

Mr. Gaspard, I didn't want to cause trouble.

How kind of you!

You should have kept them here, brazen idiot!

There were 20-odd!

It would have been better to explain.

You shut up for one minute!

It's not an easy job!

Right, get on.

Get on! I need light, now!

We'll do our best, Mr. Gaspard.

Dirty cop!

Let's have a harmony!

Knights of the Round Table Let's see if the wine is good!

This must be… it's the theatre! This way.

No dawdling. Quick! This way.

Now I'm positive.

The threat is coming from below!

This is where we have to look. The whole area.

Thank you.

That crackpot Rondin was right. Where did he get to?

- He disappeared. - Then find him!

He knows things…

I'll have the bookshop monitored.

Usher!

Galmier!

No, thank you!

Ah! I'd like to know what's going on down there.

Ah! I'd like to know what's going on up there.

Your friend Rondin must be up there.

He knows things…

Yes. We need to find him, Mathieu.

You can count on me!

The tides are turning, Pamela.

What's going on here?

Hey! Wait, open up!

What's going on?

Open up! Open!

- Ah! Help! - Sir!

Help!

Officer!

Officer! Something's going on in the Catacombs!

Don't say you've lost another 20 tourists?

No, this time there are 22 too many.

Say, it's Mr. Rondin!

- Are you Mr. Rondin? - That's me.

Follow me.

- Come on, the Minister is waiting. - Bye, darling, I'll be back.

Ah! Mr. Rondin.

Mr. Rondin.

Mr. Rondin.

Welcome, Mr. Rondin.

Please, do come down.

I'm impressed with your ability to remain upright.

Yes! I've had a few drinks, that's why.

- Please take a seat. - If I may.

I apologize for the state of things, but the situation itself…

Ah! Come in, Mr. Lalatte!

We need your help.

Me?

Your opinion is very valuable to me.

You've seen what they've done to my ministry.

Yes, there certainly has been a…

a landslide.

No, it was an attack.

You were right.

Something's going on in the bowels of Paris.

Oh, you think so?

I believe you, Mr. Rondin.

Your daughter was kidnapped by the underworld!

How kind of you to worry, Minister.

But she's back. She was on a little trip.

Oh, I'm delighted.

Absolutely delighted.

But the missing tourists.

They must be right under our feet.

Actually, I saw the tourists.

They were blown away by Paris.

Wait…

Rondin, these mysterious construction works underground, did you see them?

I don't mean to disappoint you,

but you know.

I rarely go out, I'm astonished by the slightest thing.

I'm sure it was just subway construction works.

Well I'm convinced you were right!

There's an organized gang beneath our feet.

And we're going to wipe them off the map!

Chief, what do you propose?

Well Minister, I'm, er, leaning towards…

My inclination, would be…

Could we smoke them out like moles?

What a strange idea, hiding away underground.

What's that?

I said what a strange idea to go underground like that!

Why?

- Because we're better off here. - What's that?

Because… oh, never mind.

- Postman! - Hello, Mr. Postman.

Marie-Hélène! Am I pleased to see you!

We were worried about you!

Feeling better, Mr. Rondin?

- Thank you. - Here.

I sold two more.

That's great, thank you.

They're going to have a field day down there.

Have you seen?

Oh! The riot squad.

Riot squad, police, fire service…

They're in the subway, the sewers.

They're going to drown them.

Look at that! Oh boy.

They're well-equipped this year.

- I'm going down there. - You're going down?

I have a big rope, look.

Back to the Gaspards?

Just to warn them.

But they'll escape!

I hope so. It's their only chance.

But Dad, what if they hurt you?

No, sweetheart. They're not brutes.

They're just big, troubled kids.

I mean… They're also a bit crazy.

You pull this lever, open this valve,

pull out the pin and off it goes! Child's play.

And does it release enough smoke?

One cubic centimeter per second on the lowest setting.

Don't worry, Minister. It's just a little leak.

Perfect! How do you stop it?

What?

- How do you stop it? - What?

I said, how do you stop it?

What?

Don't you know how?

Five minutes, I swear!

Get ready for Perros-Guirec!

- Riot squad! Riot squad! - You're asking for it!

Don't you dare lay a finger on them! That's enough, you two.

One moment, Father.

Ready?

Heave-ho!

Wait for me! It's Mathieu!

- Ah, it's Mathieu. - Hurry up, Mathieu!

Allow me, Father.

Our Lord was a carpenter, like his father Joseph, chaste husband

to the Virgin Mary!

Right.

There are people everywhere up there.

What about Rondin?

I couldn't get anywhere near the bookshop.

What about Germain? And Luc?

They won't be coming back.

Ah. The rats are jumping ship, Mathieu.

But the mice are faithful.

Hallelujah, hallelujah…

Hello, Mr. Gaspard.

HELMETS MANDATORY

If you're going down, Minister,

You ought to wear a helmet.

You're right, Chief.

Carelessness must not be mistaken for courage.

You never know what might happen.

I can't hear a thing with the helmet!

The only problem is I can't hear you in this helmet!

I didn't hear what you said, Minister.

I said I couldn't hear what you're saying.

Ah, that's precisely what I was saying.

Ah! Very well.

You have to escape! They're going to smoke you out like moles!

We'll block the tunnels.

They'll flood the place. You'll drown!

- Do you like Chopin? - I love Chopin.

But Wagner would be more fitting.

You're right.

Gaspard…

Evacuate the tunnels! The police have blocked everything!

- Everything is blocked! - Ah.

- Is there an exit? - No.

You're forgetting something. The lake.

- The lake? - The lake at the far end.

They're coming!

The lake, Ventrebleu, of course!

Everyone to the lake. Come on, girls.

Hands up!

Get in line!

The whole gang has disappeared.

But we've found their power station.

- One! Two! - One! Two!

- One! Two! - One! Two!

It's beautiful!

We're going to do great things here.

What's going on up there?

It's your construction site.

Stop that immediately!

You can't make holes here!

Not in such a wonderful place.

- OK, Minister. - Honestly…

Ah! See, Mr. Gaspard? The coast is clear.

It's a beautiful sunny day outside.

Don't worry, it'll blow over. To the light!

Aubier, in three months,

I'm going to open the world's biggest carpark.

Send in the guard!

Hey!

Splendid!

- Dad! - Yeah!

Are we going?

We're going. It's vacation time!

Thank you!

So are we really going this time?

We're really going.

Hey! You need to watch out!

Hello, Mr. Rondin!

Ah! Hello there, friend. How are you?

Nod bad, not bad. The streets are quiet, aren't they?

Yes. I don't know where they are now,

but at least the noise has gone.

Are you closing early today?

Yes, we're closing early.

See you later, Dad.

Don't be late, dear!

I'll be with Averell.

Alright. See you later.

- Come on! - Bye.

Bye Mr… what was the name?

- Nixon. - Ah, Nixon!

- God bless you! - Thank you, Father.

Ah, Jean-Paul. We were waiting for you!

Sorry, I couldn't close the shop. There were too many people!

Good, I'm glad!

Take a seat. Ready, children?

- How many bars to begin? - How many times, Father? Two!

Two bars, as usual. Ready, Jean-Paul?

- Ready. - Attention.