Original subtitles

THE CHILD THIEF

Your attention, young ladies, young gentlemen …

Watch closely, as Miss Picodelle continues her ascent of death for you.

The only caprine in the World—I said in the World!

To attempt, and to succeed in, this achievement.

Well done, Picodelle!

Pay attention …

… The hardest part remains to be done, the most perilous,

what am I saying, even the most deadly … the descent.

Concentrate Picodelle, one false step and you end up as a leg of lamb.

And then what would become of me?

Bravo, there you go.

Bloody feathers.

Come on, come on, hurry up.

And now, come in, you young people.

Overly sensitive souls should leave the room.

Witness the struggle between reason and brute force,

the unequal bareknuckle fight between man and beast.

Come on … Hup!

Gérard, I can't find my costume. What do I do?

- A chimpanzee who's a maths champion.

- Tell me, where is it?

- Where's that chimpanzee? Goddamn it! Damnation!

- The chimpanzee can't come, he has a cold.

Ostriches always remind me of my homeland.

And this one walks like a real one, look.

- Bravo.

Deliver it to the same address as the other day, if you please, M Armand.

- With a note, Colonel? A card? - No.

Max. Max.

Max, I can't do it. Max, come on.

Max, come here!

I can't do it, Max, I'm suffocating.

Oh no no no. Come here, come here.

I get it.

The maths champion …

Hang on, I'll take it off, you can't do it by yourself.

Oh, you're really skinny, aren't you.

And what's your name?

- Alex. - Alex?

That's such a pretty name.

Here. Come with me.

Come on, Alex.

Another one.

- He's my brother. - Oh really? Very good.

There are two of them.

Two, don't you see, is very good.

It's better on foot.

Everything's fine, M Jules. Two little cousins ​​from my homeland there.

Desposoria, look.

- Two? - Yes.

This one's Alex, but as for the other, I don't know yet.

- Max.

He's Max. - Max, Alex, that's pretty.

But look at them. Almost two boys, but not quite.

They're fine. Healthy and valiant.

Now then. - A little dirty.

I drowned a few fleas.

- One metre 30, more or less. They're both the same.

Round the waist … 60.

The neck … 22.

What's the matter, Max? Alex?

How do we know which is which, Alex?

- Little idiot, he doesn't know.

- Joseph, come on … - Forgive me, my dear.

- You don't have to be afraid, here.

If you want to go home, I'll take you back later.

Or tomorrow morning. - Or Thursday!

- Thursday even, but first, eat a little, it's good.

Well? - He's right, it's good, it's not poison.

You can eat it. - Yes.

Narciso, our cook, prepared it.

You know who Narciso really is, don't you?

- He's Daddy's sergeant in Argentina!

- Yes, far beyond the sea.

Yes, that's fine. Now sit down and eat.

- I think he's falling asleep.

- Daddy, who's Max? Who's Alex?

- That's easy, I put Alex on my right and Max on my left.

- They swallowed a magnet when they were babies. And now bang! They stick to each other all the time.

- They really are the same, aren't they? - They do everything the same.

If they mix themselves up all the time, we won't ever be able to tell them apart.

- We just have to make a mark on Alex.

- No no no we eat at the table. Whenever you want.

Good. - Do you have parents?

Do they live in Paris?

- Where are your Mummy and Daddy?

Maybe they'll be worried?

- Mummy? I don't know. - I don't know.

- Look, he's got a mole on his ear, but the other one hasn't.

- That won't help. - Where do you live?

Don't you remember?

They abandoned them to me, poor babies.

- I finished everything. - Two more, two less …

We're a big family, my dear.

We miss the pampas around us and a ranch all in white.

We'll go back. - Yes.

I promised you. - Yes.

We'll go back. Volveremos.

Do you remember when you gave birth to Simon?

That midwife who didn't come, and you were suffering.

I thought I was going to go crazy.

Don't you think Simon has a bit of a … a sugarloaf head?

Because of the forceps? - No no. He's fine.

Don't worry, Philémon.

- I have to be by myself tonight. Do you mind? - No.

Where were you kidnapped? - In a garden.

- There are monkeys there. It's not far.

So he didn't kidnap us. He took us with him.

- Don't bother, we were all kidnapped.

- I was kidnapped outside the Galeries Lafayette.

- Daddy kidnapped me in a hackney carriage.

- Why do you call him Daddy?

- He's my Daddy.

Where did it happen for you?

- In my bed.

- At the circus for me.

- I was kidnapped in front of a police station.

- That was really daring.

- Lucky you. - You're lucky.

- Ten! There are ten of them now.

Ten boys.

You were going on your way, my little friends.

Until when?

Until the moment … This way, little ones!

Colonel Philémon Bigua jumped headlong into your destiny.

Well, yes, well, there we are. I like round numbers.

Oh, by the way, Colonel.

You have to get a notary to come tomorrow.

And the will has to be changed.

There are two more. Well, yes.

Oh René …

What are you doing here? It's time to sleep.

Ah, I get it.

You had a bad dream, my darling.

Come on, kids, you'll be late. Hurry up!

You have to pay to cross the border!

That's it, Mummy's awake.

Here he is.

Antoine. Antoine Thoin.

His mother sees him today … What day is it today? Wednesday.

When did I start sending the toys? Three weeks ago! So, it's time.

No no, I already know what you want to tell me.

I won't let him suffer in his overly well-furnished, overly-heated apartment.

It's too late. His father is dead.

His mother is completely uninterested in him.

So, he'll be fine here. I'm going to adopt him.

He liked the ostrich, good.

Thanks.

I'll be right back.

Mum!

- Excuse me.

I didn't know, I thought this table was free.

- Be careful, Antoine, you're messing up my hair.

Come on, let me go, I have an appointment.

Come on, be nice.

- One more minute, please.

-Come now, I just came to give you a little hug.

I'm off.

You're a big boy now. You're not going to cry, are you?

Have a nice walk. - Goodbye, Madame.

Come on, don't be sad.

Wouldn't you like a little cake? See how good it looks!

You like chocolate. Eat up.

Eat up.

He's beautiful, isn't he?

Look at that gesture of the wrist, the delicacy, the sensitivity.

- What are you whispering like that for?

You're afraid he'll hear us?

- Let's not joke about this delicate mechanism.

He might be offended if I tell you his little secrets.

But I haven't introduced you to each other yet.

Colonel Bigua.

- A pleasure, Monsieur. - A great friend of artists.

Maestro Zalini.

Made by the great Robert Houdin himself.

He had a little accident. I operated on him.

He's doing great. You don't even notice the scars any more.

Yes, he's magnificent, yes.

Right.

It's coming, it's coming, it's coming.

- No, a movement every time.

Yes, there's a little vibration of the arm before he bends down.

There you are, I managed to make him laugh.

Police! Open up!

Open up!

- My God, I knew it!

- What do we do?

- Oh my God— - I'll go.

- Wait, wait, all of you! Hide yourselves, kids!

- That's ridiculous.

Did I scare you?

- Be careful, don't ever do that again.

Or you might end up more scared than me. Come in.

I forgot my keys, Mother darling.

Joseph is growing up fast at the moment, haven't you noticed?

- Oh yes, adolescence is getting to him.

- Yes, maybe, maybe, yes.

- You know, there comes a time when children are no longer children.

- I have my doubts about that one.

I'm ashamed to tell you, Desposoria, but …

… but when I look at him, I have my doubts, yes.

And what if he were the son of a … a thief, a murderer?

- I know it's my fault.

If I could have had a child, we wouldn't be here.

We wouldn't have to cheat.

- We made him do Latin and Greek,

so he could forget the gutter I pulled him out of.

And no, no, he doesn't want to adapt.

Like a little aspirin that won't dissolve in the bottom of a glass.

Yes.

And if he has … What if he's inherited a tendency for syphilis?

- These men are all like that. They rebel against their father.

Can you imagine him deciding to prove he's stronger than you?

- No no. No, stop.

- He could have had you arrested for good tonight.

Philémon, there's danger in our house.

- When all's said and done, I sleep next to danger.

I have breakfast with danger.

I caress it, I breathe danger.

I need it … to live.

- Then … tell us you're disappointed. Tell us, Philémon.

- What can I say?

It's an ordeal to walk in Paris.

There are old people everywhere.

- Policemen in uniform and even in plain clothes.

- There are … There are old people in the park,

in the gardens, in the woods, at the circus.

They've taken the place of children, you know.

To me, these French people who refuse to procreate,

They disgust me.

You married the wrong woman, my poor friend.

- What are you talking about?

Do you know many women who'd have been able to give me ten children in six years?

But where did all these children come from? - From all around the area.

- Are you forming a troupe, Maître?

- No, Colonel, I'm looking for a partner.

I tell myself that there's an absolutely awe-inspiring vanishing trick.

Here, little chap, you can get in. Go ahead and try it. Come on, in you get.

Because I had a vision of it. It woke me up last night.

There, that's fine. And you, you can go.

You've never seen such a trick in Argentina.

I left my homeland, Argentina, my children,

because of the jealousy of the President of the Republic.

This man who was almost a brother to me betrayed me.

I fought for him, for our homeland.

Teofilo and Roberto were with me, they can tell you.

No one in France knows,

but I was the moral victor of the Battle of Las Delicias.

- That's more beautiful than an opera.

Do you see the flag there?

That … That was the front line.

A dazzling advance. Forward!

The President envied me my popularity.

People threw flowers as I passed.

People named stallions after me, even a ship.

El colonel Bigua el Magnifico.

Come in.

People mention your name a lot over there, Colonel.

- Rumour, rumour. Huffing your King.

- Be ready to return to Argentina, amigo. They might have need of you.

- Sooner than you think, Colonel. - Hush! Not so loud!

Why Hush? We're in a free country.

- Revolutions have failed because of such indiscretion!

- Concentrate on your game.

- When I get back home, I'm going to eat a whole raw ox.

And then gallop for three days through the pampas in a straight line.

- I already miss the women of Paris, my friends.

- I have a notion to bring a Parisian woman there.

The woman of our dreams, in the country of our dreams.

- Come back down to Earth. Wait for the legislative elections.

- Miguel, take my place, I've had enough.

- Hey, at least finish the game.

Right, I need to walk.

Look, he's eating peanuts.

Sorry, Madame.

Look, he stole his banana.

Look, he's eating peanuts.

Wait.

Antoine!

Antoine!

Did you get lost, Antoine?

No no, don't be afraid of me.

You'll see, we know each other.

Move, move.

Listen, do you want to come home with me while you wait to find your nurse?

Would you like to get in my car? Look, it's beautiful.

Come on.

- I have a little surprise for you.

- Isn't that a chicken egg? - Can't you guess?

- Did my ostrich lay it?

- Here.

It's not working. This way.

Come on.

Everything all right?

This is your new friend.

Antoine, come here.

Be careful, especially.

Let's check his height.

One metre 28.

The waist.

- Antoine.

43. I'll make you a nice suit.

- Antoine. - Here, you won't be bored any more, Antoine.

But if you want, I'll take you home right away.

- Go on, dry yourself, then go and play with the others.

- Yes, yes, go and play. Run. Jump.

Here, anything goes.. You have to make a noise.

Desposoria, there's a good chance we'll be able to go back to Argentina.

- Oh my God! - I don't know when, but I have hopes.

-Are you serious?

- But first, we're going to have a little reception to introduce Antoine to our friends.

- A reception?

That's madness, darling. Are you looking for trouble?

- Of course not. - Listen—

- No. Adopting a child is permitted, it's even approved of.

- Well yes, I agree, let's really adopt this one.

- A new suit to start a new life.

- Since the mother doesn't want him, she'll accept.

- No no, too much paperwork, too many formalities.

Besides, the bourgeoisie don't do that.

They kill the children, if necessary, but they don't give them away.

- How many more are you going to bring me?

We can fill a boat before we go back to Argentina.

- You're mistaken. This is the last one.

I swear it, yes, I'll never bring any more boys home. It's finished.

Yes.

This one belongs to me. I've found my son.

Yes, my heir. I must remember to change my will.

Did you notice how much he looks like me?

He hasn't laughed once. But what am I saying, he doesn't even know how to smile.

Mummy. Mummy.

Are you sleeping, Mum?

Mummy? Are you sleeping?

Rosalinde.

Did you go looking for me, Rosalinde?

Did you fall from up there?

I want to stay with you.

- I'll send your mother a telegram tomorrow.

To tell her everything's fine, not to worry.

What's this?

- You must have made a mistake, it wasn't an ostrich egg you gave me.

It was a turtle egg.

Did you see? She's broken her shell.

She's mine now.

Please, the egg was mine. Now she's mine.

- All right.

What's this?

They need a sister, all those boys.

I'm going to bring home a Parisian girl for them.

Yes, a real Parisian girl.

Oh no, that's no good, too young.

I'll turn her into a South American in three weeks.

The girl has to maintain the spirit of Paris.

Come on, come on, faster.

Not a word to my wife, it's a surprise.

They don't look Parisian. The nose displays a lack of spirit.

They must come from the Province.

There are traps. Yes, there are traps!

Monsieur? - Ah, hello.

I've lost my little girl and I was wondering …

Well, of course. Look...

LOST CHILDREN

Three at once. I can't do that to Desposoria.

One day, my children,

we'll go on a wonderful journey on a transatlantic liner.

We'll caress the World in all its length.

First, the North Pole, the whales.

Then, New York.

And then, we'll continue south to the Tropics.

- When are we leaving? - Soon?

- For good? - Is it a big boat?

- Yes.

Imagine a four-storey building like ours.

Well, the boat is the same height, but much longer.

In short, a floating city.

In the evening, we dress up to go to a concert or to the theatre.

There are shops, a swimming pool.

We can do everything.

Rowing, tennis,

horse riding, yes, on mechanical horses.

- And boxing too?

- And gymnastics?

- Yes. - But don't we go to school?

I want to go to school.

- On a transatlantic liner, it's party time.

What if there's a storm? What if we sink? And what if we don't know how to swim?

- No, there's no danger.

At night, the risks at sea are hitting an iceberg.

That's what happened to the Titanic.

Sometimes, we come across a ghost ship abandoned by its crew,

drifting with all its lights off.

- But once we've crossed the Ocean, can we come back to France?

- You can always go wherever you want.

Charlie, Mireille, this man is a satyr!

Help! Police! Police!

He's kidnapping two little girls. Catch him!

Help, Police! Do something!

Catch him! Help!

One, two, three, four, five,

six, seven, eight, nine,

One, two, three, four...

Can I help you, Monsieur? - Thank you, Mademoiselle, thank you.

I heard a piano, have you come from a dance class?

Not likely! Corrective gymnastics. I have flat feet.

Which way are you going? May I go with you?

- Thank you, that's kind.

I know the way. Goodbye.

- How do you manage without a white stick?

I thought all blind people had a white stick.

- I can manage, I can manage.

You're less picky with boys, aren't you?

Come on, mothers, little children. You're going to see the Devil!

If you dare to look him in the face!

Mephistopheles himself!

- Come in! You'll get the shivers!

Come in ladies, come in, little children, mothers,

little children, mothers, little children, mothers!

I'm going to die, my children! You must be brave!

My little ones, my darlings, what will become of you?

This bird is the misfortune descending upon us!

Make a pact with me!

Sell me your soul.

And your children will never be hungry again!

Sign!

Sign!

- I cannot! - Indeed?

- Oh good Lord, have pity on us!

- Forget the good Lord.

You're about to feel my true power!

Next!

It's shameful to attack children. Shameful!

Next!

My little one, my little one …

Vade retro, Satanas!

Vade retro, Satanas! Vade retro, Satanas!

I've come to rescue you.

They're going to lynch you.

We'll go out the front, I'll pass you off as my driver.

- They're angry, are they?

- So much the better, so much the better!

I like when people believe the story!

- The performance was good, wasn't it. - Yes, yes.

Tonight is the last time I'll hear that.

Tomorrow, curtain dropped, finished, washed out.

Goodbye, Colonel. Wish me luck.

But I'm going to miss you.

- What d'you mean, washed out? You've had a triumph, Maître Armand!

- I haven't paid my theatre rent for six months.

Nor my actors, in fact, when I have any.

Look at my sets, my costumes, they're moth-eaten.

I'm broke, Colonel.

- Just like that, all of a sudden? - If you had known me twenty years ago.

Now ladies and gentlemen, the highlight of the evening.

The one you've all been waiting for.

The exceptional, inimitable illusionist Armand Lenoir.

- Armand! Armand!

- What? - Come! Come!

Come on!

- To you, I can confess.

The automatons ruined me.

I bought dozens of them.

They were rarities, splendours, beauties, Colonel.

I repaired them, little by little.

But when everything I had, everything I earned, goes in—

- Let me help you. No no no. Don't deny me the pleasure.

I'm not doing it for you.

It's for the theatre. And for the creatures of Monsieur Robert Houdin.

- No no no! No money. I am not yet sunk so low.

- Listen to them! - Come with me, Come.

Do you still want to help me? - Of course. Anything you want.

- I must save what is most precious to me.

I don't want it taken away, damaged.

Do you have a big house? With plenty room? - Of course!

- What do you want me to take? The automatons?

- My daughter, Colonel. My little Gabrielle.

You've already adopted children, I know.

And some of them not always adopted.

I've seen you pass by here every afternoon.

- No no. What do you mean by this?

- I'm not going to denounce you, don't worry. I want to entrust my daughter to you.

I can't say it clearer, can I?

I have a lot of respect for you, Colonel. You're a good man, that's rare.

I don't want her to see me in decay.

- But I didn't know you had a daughter.

- She lives with her mother. I see her from time to time.

However, we separated two years after she was born.

My wife was an actress. Still pretty, but she lives off her charms.

You understand?

She wants to set my daughter on the same path— Calm down, calm down. All right.

I'll adopt her, even though I haven't seen her. - Thank you.

I knew it. Thank you.

I knew it.

I can't do anything for her.

Gabrielle! Gabrielle!

Gabrielle, my angel.

Gabriel, my darling. Come here, my pretty one.

Gabrielle. Come here, my sweet.

Be quick.

I haven't yet introduced you to Colonel Bigua.

- Good evening, Gabrielle.

- My friends, we have to go.

Because I'm afraid that … that things are going to end badly here.

Let's go. Come on. Quickly!

Monsieur Bigua, thank you.

Your account will be debited at the end of the month.

Director.

Good evening, Monsieur.

There you are.

There you are.

- From this moment, you are the father of my daughter.

The one I always wanted to be.

- No no no, Maître Armand.

You are still Gabrielle's father. I will always be in second place.

- Take good care of your child. - Of our child.

Our child.

- Please, Colonel. - No, no, dear friend.

Let's respect the rights of nature. - I won't accept.

It's you who takes all the responsibilities now.

Gabrielle, come here! Where are you? Gabrielle!

Gabrielle!

Where is she? - Who?

- Who who who! There was a girl with us.

Are you tired of me already? Where do you want to go?

- Home with you, what a question.

A kiss, my darling.

- I want to be with you.

- But it's for your own good. I've already explained it to you. Be reasonable.

- Please, Daddy— - You're going!

Excuse me, it just slipped out.

Come on, come on. Off you go, my dear. - Get in.

Goodbye.

Desposoria!

That's strange, no one's here.

They're usually here by now.

You can hear noise.

A lot … A lot of noise, of shouting.

- You're not French?

- No, Argentinian.

I come from a land of savages.

Why did you run away just now?

- I don't know.

- Was it because of … men you saw entering your mother's house?

What about me? Are you no longer afraid of me?

Right, go and amuse yourself. Sit on the sofa.

Have fun until my wife gets back.

You've seen my turtle. She's called Rosalinde. I'll lend her to you.

It's a girl.

It's a girl. - It's a girl.

You could have warned me.

- I had no way of knowing.

Listen Philémon, I've never blamed you for anything.

- You've been a wonderful companion.

- Let me speak! Don't confuse me. I don't know where I stand any longer.

You promised me. You swore to me and you lied to me.

- No, that's not true. I'm being honest.

She's not a boy.

I didn't want the girl.

I was almost forced to take her.

It's not my fault, do you believe me?

- As always.

I think she's old enough to have a bath by herself.

83, 69, 91.

No need to go in.

I advise you not to make her a pair of shorts.

For once, we could go to a store.

There are very good things in the ladies' department.

- Joseph …

She must be Joseph's age.

More or less.

Desposoria, I wanted to ask you something …

Desposoria, where did you end up putting her?

Desposoria, where have you put our little girl?

Have you found her a room, by the way?

Damn, she's capable of placing her right there.

Ah-ha … Homer? Virgil?

- No, Karl Marx. Are you interested? - Yes of course.

- The bourgeois declamations.

About the family.

- Good work and good luck for the future.

Now?

What about the children?

Such silence.

You're very quiet, this evening. Eat up.

To my dear colonel.

I was scared the first time, you know.

I still thought you were handsome.

I love your black hair.

And your black eyes.

I want to kiss your eyelids.

Go away!

It was only a joke …

- You're interested in girls, at your age?

That's not very nice! - I didn't know.

- Don't hurt them.

- Get to school, you brat!

- Don't hurt them.

Tell the story of Spring Eve in a romantic way.

This morning, I opened my shutters on a golden day.

A blackbird watched me, whistling on the branch of an apple tree in blossom.

This is nice.

Very nice.

Gabrielle! Quick, Gabrielle! Come here!

Gabrielle, come and see! Gabrielle!

Gabrielle! You're not going to school in your clown shoes!

Daddy doesn't want you wearing them! - Yes he does!

Be nice, take off your shoes.

Can I go to my class?

- Right, children, shall we go?

- Get to school, or else you'll be late.

- So sorry. - Excuse me.

Why are you always looking at my feet? - No no, I'm just thinking, that's all.

- Is my hair a mess? - No, not at all.

Then my hair's fine? - Yes, it's pretty, very pretty.

Go ahead, after you.

By the way, good morning. - Good morning.

Desposoria.

Poor baby, oh God! Poor baby!

She doesn't deserve this.

Oh, Desposoria.

She doesn't deserve this.

Poor, poor Desposoria.

She doesn't deserve this. We don't deserve this.

Ah, Desposoria.

Of course, in this 3,000-franc apartment,

no horse, no cow,no ostrich, no turtle, no fenced-off enclosure.

A woman. A real one.

Yes, yes, she combs her hair. She raises an arm.

She eats at my table with her little dress.

Her future is contained in that little dress.

And so is mine, And that's where it went to hide.

I absolutely need a woman.

Oh yes, a real one, a French woman.

To the bordello!

Did you run?

It's very kind of you, M Lenoir, to come and see Gabrielle.

I'm sure she misses you.

- Oh no.

She's much better here with … with all of you.

I pay tribute to you, Madame.

- Why does she have two?

What do you think of your daughter?

You eat, you drink, and you don't tell me anything.

Delicious.

Delicious!

Delicious!

Don't worry, dear Madame.

Professional deformation.

Joking aside, your daughter is charming, Colonel.

- The credit belongs to you, Maître Armand.

- But she owes her elegance to you.

How's the business going? - I have big plans.

- I must make a friendly confession to you.

I saw you lose your cufflinks and everything else.

And I was suddenly afraid you'd also lose an eye in front of me.

- I think I'm going to give up the theatre, Colonel.

I can't tell you anything yet because I'm superstitious.

But I'm going to surprise you.

Times are changing, I have to be resolutely modern.

Your daughter has excellent manners, Colonel. Yes. Congratulations.

Nothing beats a real mother for raising girls.

Now you've made her a young lady, you should think about getting her married.

She can find a good match. - Don't let your imagination run away.

Your daughter is still young.

Let her finish her studies first.

Having a solid general culture in life helps.

When you have beauty, you know, you have everything.

- Mummy has everything.

- To your daughter. May she make a good marriage.

- May she give us lots of children.

- Yes …

Now that we're alone …

- I don't know if I should.

Let's call it an exchange of good feelings.

Mummy! Mummy! Mummy!

- Antoine!

Oh my baby, my angel.

I've looked everywhere for you.

I couldn't sleep, I could barely live.

- So, is it him?

- Weren't you happy with me?

Answer me, my angel. Answer.

- Can she come and live with us? With Rose?

- What can one say?

- Talk to me.

I just want to understand.

- Listen, Madame, we didn't want to hurt Antoine.

We didn't want to hurt him.

- Does he have two, too?

- Madame.

Madame, what's the matter?

Madame.

Say something, Madame.

She's stopped breathing.

She's stopped breathing.

She won't leave you for anyone now. Your mother is all yours.

Help!

Help! Help!

- Be quiet! - Help!

- Be quiet, Madame, don't panic. Don't panic.

Help! Help! Help! Help!

- Be quiet! Be quiet, Madame! - Help! Help!

I'm prepared to surrender.

My card.

- Philémon! We must leave, come quickly!

Come quickly!

- But what will become of me?

- I beg you—

- Leave me alone, you! There! They're here, they're coming!

I'll tell them.

- Madame, I beg you, there must be a way.

- Yes, it's true that we need a governess.

M Armand, I think you recently came into an inheritance.

- Oh yes, absolutely. Oh yes, yes.

Absolutely, yes.

Dear Madame, you seem charming and easily understood.

- They're coming!

- I could share your pain and you could share my good fortune.

Do you know what we're going to say, Colonel?

We're going to tell the police …

… that your little Antoine has left to join his uncle in England.

- Yes! - Are you with me?

- Go on, go on, I'll take care of it all. I'll take care of them. Go on, go on. Quickly

I can't sleep. Can you lend me a book?

- Go to your room.

Go to your room!

At least you looked at me.

Daddy! Mummy!

I'm here, little chap.

- It's starting again. - Let me do it, I'll take care of him.

It's over, it's all over.

All over.

Darling, my love, did you see, I grew up last night, darling, did you see?

- What a man!

You're worth two all by yourself.

You have to pay to cross the border. A kiss to cross the border.

- Out of the way, you, come on, stop it.

Come here!

What's going on?

Well?

Has someone died? Someone sick?

- No, Philémon, no one is sick. No …

I'm going to marry you when I'm big.

- Antoine, you're going to be late for school.

I don't want to see you hanging around here again.

- It's Thursday. - Yes.

Jump! Go on, go on, jump! Jump! Go on, jump!

- I'm coming, I'm coming!

- Don't be afraid, Nicolas. - Go on, jump, go on!

Go on, jump, go on! Jump! Go on, jump!

- Come.

You're crazy, all four of you!

Do you want to die? What game are you playing?

- But … We're playing love.

- The wings are confiscated. Go to your rooms!

It's Maurice.

- What's got into all of you? Well? Is this a madhouse?

What are you thinking, all of you? A little more consideration!

I fought at Las Delicias for peace and order.

I've restored it everywhere, except at home.

I … I … I've had enough of all this chaos!

Be … Be careful.

What book is that?

Are you taking private lessons?

No, I was going to get another one from the library.

But I don't feel like reading now.

See you tomorrow. - See you later.

Here, look … your key. - I don't care, I'll call Dad.

- I'll call the cops. He's the one who's scared.

Wait til you see his face, the winner of Las Delicias.

This way, no more trouble.

Neither of them can get in.

- Didn't you hear a big bang last night, Mummy?

- It was the elephant.

- Is he crazy? An elephant?

- I swear, I saw it! Banging against the carriage entrance.

- I thought it was an earthquake. The chandelier moved.

Didn't you hear it, Gabrielle?

I bet it was a car that had an accident.

- Daddy, did you see the elephant?

- No, my room is too far away.

It was chipped. It's not hygienic.

And weren't you supposed to go to the hairdresser?

- Tomorrow.

- Go today, take your mind off everything. Go out for a bit.

It's the furniture … the furniture fell.

Shit … That's what the noise was. Yes, the furniture.

And what if she … What if she was pulling my leg?

No no, she would have defended herself.

Or it fell during lovemaking.

The furniture fell, yes. From joy, from joy! It fell.

She's her mother's daughter, that one. The apple doesn't fall far from the tree.

What an idiot I am. I'm so stupid!

A thousand times stupid.

That'll teach me to play the father. The father …

The father-of-virtue.

And all that for this little rooster.

I should never have set foot in this house.

- You're leaving? What's got into you now?

- You should know.

I don't keep my eyes in my pocket. - So?

Did you see Joseph? Did you see him going into her room?

She wouldn't be the first that's happened to, it's their age.

Monsieur … Monsieur Joseph …

Monsieur Joseph …

Excuse me, Monsieur. Monsieur Joseph …

Forgive me.

Go away! I don't want to see you any more.

- You're quite right.

Gratitude, good feelings, it makes me sick.

You take, you throw away. What are we to you?

Pretexts to play the Good lord?

The paternal instinct? My eye!

You'd have liked to be in my place with her.

Lock your door tonight, Gabrielle.

Look, I've installed this big chain. I'll show you how it works.

See? Simple.

And there you are.

- Now that Joseph's gone, who am I defending myself against?

- A young girl always locks the door at night.

It's a good habit, you understand? Plus it's an order.

It's part of your education.

If we agree, let's shake hands like old friends.

Here you are.

- Who rang the bell earlier? Was it the police?

The police? Joseph reported us.

- it was the doctor, calm down. - The doctor?

So it's Rose, she suspects something.

- No no, don't worry. I told her about your deliveries.

That you suffered for the twins and since then you've always been a little fragile.

Come on, besides, I even told her our last one was premature, that's it.

- God!

God! Why didn't we go home to Argentina?

You promised me, Philémon.

You promised me.

So, I will die …

- No, don't die, Desposoria.

We'll leave when you're cured.

Hold on for a little while.

Desposoria, we've lived together for 15 years.

The two of us are bound by …

… by something strong, are we not?

- So why don't you call it Love?

- Love? Yes. Yes. Love.

Love.

Yes …Yes, it's Love.

What's going on here?

- Spanish flu, no doubt about it. It's bad.

- I told the governess it was essential to separate the sick children from the rest,

in order to avoid contagion.

Where's your wife? - Next door.

- I didn't know what to do, Monsieur.

M Joseph's room was too small to put all the boys.

So, I thought that …

… maybe you could take it yourself?

Since there aren't any others.

The shoes …

And the key!

Come. Come, come. Come.

Can I sleep with you?

Roberto! Roberto!

- Colonel, what is it? I don't feel well.

- You'll get more peace if you come and sleep in my room.

- As you wish, Colonel.

- No, you sleep here. - Very well, Colonel.

I leave …

My fortune …

To my children …

Adopted children.

Joseph … No, Joseph, crossed out! To all my other children.

The two little ones,

Lucien, René, Maurice, Antoine, Michel, Benjamin and Max-Alex and …

… and Gabrielle.

My wife, Desposoria …

Will have … the usufruct … until her death.

There. It must be fate!

But … The wallet! The will! The will!

Hey! Help! Take the wallet!

Take the wallet, please!

Help! Help!

My children! My children!

I beg you! The wallet!

My children! Don't leave me!

Aren't you suffocating in here?

Still in this room after two months?

Should we go for a little walk?

- I wouldn't know how to behave outside now.

- It's not that complicated.

Is it true Bigua is a bird's name?

- Yes.

- What does it look like?

- It's a large peacock of the ramphastidae family.

It lives in Subtropical America.

The bigua has a long triangular tail that beats like this.

And a huge beak.

But a little too light.

The base of the beak is bigger than its head.

- And does this bird fall in love easily?

- It loves only once.

And with an inflexible love.

- When they're very young or much later?

- That depends on the individuals.

Is it to look more like a bigua that you wear dark glasses in the house?

- My eyes are tired.

- Isn't that because you're afraid to see things more clearly?

- Is there something to see?

- Yes.

Something has changed in me.

I'm not doing well.

I'm pregnant.

I'm pregnant.

Don't cry. - You're the one crying.

You know, when Joseph came into my room, I'd rather it had been you.

I can tell you that now. - It's too late, isn't it?

We can't go through the same door twice.

But so much the better, so much the better!

Yes, that's how I want you.

Not too close, not too far.

I'll be able to look at you, to touch you.

Come here, my little girl, come here.

So I have to be a grandfather in order to be your father.

But then, it's true.

A little thing like you, you're bound to have a child.

It is true? You're not just saying it to please me?

- No, I've already felt it move.

This one will be mine.

He'll be born in our own land!

Desposoria!

He'll be born in our own land!

Desposoria! Desposoria!

He'll be born in our own land!

- That's wonderful! - It's wonderful!

Our land! Our land!

They called me back, did you see?

You did see, I told you they'd call me back.

- It's the big day!

Welcome aboard, my friends! Welcome aboard!

I have a surprise for you, Colonel!

The theatre is dead! Long live the cinema!

We're going to conquer America! - A new life begins, Maître Armand!

Armand! - Memories …

Memories, attention!

Desposoria, what are you thinking about, my dear?

- About the baby.

This time, the delivery was less difficult.

I didn't suffer too much.

English subtitles by jeremys and Marseille

TNT 2025