Original subtitles

- Cold, what? Cold?

- Yes, Papa. - Alright, darling.

Now don't cry.

Don't cry.

- Hurry, Jean.

I wonder what it could be, monsieur.

We'd better be careful these days.

Keep the light behind the door,

the raid is still on.

What is it, monsieur?

- Is this Mr. De Marnay's house?

Yes.

- Fernand De Marnay, the lawyer?

Yes, monsieur.

- I want to see him at once.

- I'm sorry, at this hour?

It's impossible, perhaps tomorrow.

- No no, tomorrow will be too late.

I must see him now.

- Right now. - Monsieur!

- Now, I must see him now!

- What is this?

How dare you force yourself into my house.

- Fernand.

I'm Verin, Paul Verin.

Don't you remember me?

We went to school together,

College Con Dorsay.

- Why, yes.

Yes, Paul Verin.

I remember.

- Yeah, my face.

People don't forget my face.

- Papa, I wanna go home to Mama.

- Yes, yes, darling.

Now, you shake hands with Mr. De Marnay.

- No, Papa! - Now darling,

please do as I tell you.

Shake hands with Mr. De Marnay.

- Leave her alone, Verin.

She's shy.

- Well, I don't want her to be shy.

She mustn't be.

I was shy.

It's been my curse.

- Come in, Verin. - Take me home.

- Yes, darling.

Come, just come with Mr. De Marnay.

Darling, you lie down here

and go to sleep whilst I talk to Mr. De Marnay.

I want to go home to mama.

- I'll be outside, monsieur.

- Well Verin, tell me,

what brings you here?

- It is a-it's a strange story

that I'm going to tell you, De Marnay.

So strange that I want you to promise

to listen to me to the end.

You have my word.

- Only an hour ago, I was, I was still-

It was so sudden.

You know, a man is driven into a tragedy.

- Please Verin, before you reveal any confidence,

I must tell you that I cannot take on

another case at this time.

I have more work than I can handle.

- No, but you can't turn me down.

I need you.

You are the best lawyer in Paris.

There's no one I can go to but you.

- I'm very sorry, it's next to impossible.

- But don't you remember at school?

You were the only one who was kind to me,

respected me.

- Come come Verin, you had a brilliant mind.

What have you done with it?

- Done with it?

Years ago, I worked on a paper

called the Bordeaux Radical, you remember.

Yes, it was very influential.

Important paper while it lasted.

- Oh, yes.

While the important ideas lasted,

a big mind behind it.

A very important paper.

This is an important world,

this world of ours.

Important liars, cheats, hipo-

Nothing matters, nobody matters.

Not even God.

- Well?

- Do you believe in premonitions?

Yes, resentment sometimes.

- Warnings, De Marnay.

Warnings.

I was warned, you know,

certain sounds always preceded

everything that ever happened to me.

There was the-

well, I didn't understand.

Nobody understands.

Yes, of course.

To be sure.

- Papa! - Jean,

bring us some brandy.

- Papa. - Coming, darling.

- This man is insane.

Get the police, hurry.

- Poor darling, she's all I have now.

I'm all she has.

- Isn't her mother living?

- Her mother?

I don't know.

You know, the living may be dead

and dead may be living.

What was I saying?

- Go on now, finish what you were saying.

What became of the Bordeaux Radical?

- It died, shortly after I left the staff.

It couldn't survive without me.

I see.

You were its mind. - Yeah.

As you were at school.

- Yeah. Yeah, I've always been the mind.

Look.

- Verin!

No, Verin! Verin!

- No no, you promised you'd listen to the end, De Marnay.

Yes. Yes.

- It started in Clichy,

on a summer night,

during the fair.

I was coming home,

Hello, Laurent!

- Good evening, Monsieur!

Look at you! - Yeah, I'm prepared.

You see the man on the stilts?

He's as high as the clouds!

He's trying to unhook the moon, Laurent!

You should go out in it,

it's fun.

Get yourself a big head.

- My head is big enough.

Someone was here looking for you.

- Mm-hm? - A gentleman,

he didn't leave no name.

Maybe he did, but I forget.

- A gentleman to see me? - Yes,

but I didn't believe it when I saw his car.

- His car?

The people I know walk, Laurent.

- "Paul Verin, the author." He said.

And he described you to a t.

A short fella, with the- - I know,

a classic face, fine Grecian lines.

- But that's all right, monsieur.

Me, I never took no prize for beauty.

And besides, only good looking people grow old.

- Then you'll die of old age, Laurent.

- Oh!

Why darling, I thought you'd never come home.

I got caught in the crowd.

- Yes, you did.

You went miles out of your way to avoid them.

Has Linette gone to sleep yet?

- Yes, thank heaven.

I thought she never would.

May I have a look at her?

- And kiss her, and pet her and wake her up?

After I've been more than an hour coaxing her sleep?

She can be very stubborn,

that daughter of yours.

Just like her father.

And lovely like her mother.

I bought her something.

What?

Here.

- Oh, how sweet!

Don't you dare wake her.

And hurry, dinner's ready!

- I'm hurrying.

I'm sorry.

- Oh, don't close it, Paul.

I love the noise.

- Not while we are eating, cherie.

A good dinner should be heard.

- Please don't.

Oh, it's all so wonderful.

Always alive and gay.

And the sky!

Look, Paul, it's a deep purple.

Oh, how I love the Paris sky.

Makes you feel like reaching out for something.

Don't you miss the sky

in Mount Prevent, cherie?

It wasn't shut in like this.

Adele, I remember a little girl

with wooden shoes and a milk pail,

as the sun set on our peaceful farm.

Don't you miss it sometimes, cherie?

- I love being in Paris.

It seems as if everything that happened in the world

happens in Paris.

Come dearest, you must be hungry.

I'm famished.

- Good.

Onion soup!

- With cheese?

- Yes monsieur, and cold lamb and-

- I know, unborn beans.

- Very tender and green, like you.

And green salad and cherry tart.

- And champagne.

- Champagne!

Paul, are you crazy?

- Don't you know what day this is?

We have an anniversary to celebrate.

- Our fifth.

Oh Paul, how could I forget?

I'm terribly sorry, darling.

- What's the difference, cherie?

As long as one of us remembered.

- Think of it, married five long years.

- Five short days.

- Paul! - Now let me

say these things to you.

- Oh, but my ears burn so!

- Many happy returns.

- And many more, Paul, darling.

- My sweet.

- Our soup's getting cold.

- Madam.

- Is it proper to kiss the head waiter?

- Oh, perfectly, madam.

This is my lucky day.

Duflo bought my articles.

- Wonderful, did he pay you?

- I read him a chapter of my book.

He was-he was thrilled.

But did he pay you

the money he owes you, Paul?

- "Give me the child's mind

for the first 12 years of its life

and I'll sweep war from the face of the earth."

No, he didn't pay me.

- Did you ask him to?

No.

- Oh Paul, Paul.

Champagne! - Yes, cherie.

Careful, don't spill it.

Too precious.

My dear-

- Look at that view,

have you ever seen such perfect bliss?

- Oh Paul, isn't he funny?

- Please understand, on carnival nights,

you are sane only when you act crazy!

- Good evening.

Well, won't you all sit down?

- No, we are going to take you out!

- Out to the carnival.

Out into the night!

- Come on!

- If you don't mind,

we were having a quiet little celebration of our own.

Quiet is right!

And we intend to put a stop to that!

Oh, come on!

Let's celebrate outside!

Crowds, music, dancing!

Oh you must come outside, please monsieur!

- Would you like to, cherie?

- Oh, I'd love to go, Paul!

If you'll come too!

- Well I'm sorry,

I have some work to finish, but,

well, you go my dear,

if it'll make you happy.

Oh, do come, he doesn't mind, do you?

Just for a little while.

- No, of course not.

- I haven't anything to wear!

Ah, we thought of that!

- Oh, its a pierrette!

Look Paul, isn't it adorable?

- Yes, it's very pretty.

Oh, do hurry, Adele.

We don't want to miss anything.

Can I help you? - No thanks,

I'll only be a minute.

- I'm very glad to see you all so happy.

- Help me, Paul.

- Yes, I'll come my dear.

If you'll excuse me.

- Champagne!

- Don't come home too late.

- No, no, I won't.

I just wanna see what it's like.

- Say, aren't you afraid you'll catch cold?

It seems terribly low.

- It's not low in front, look.

- No. - How's the back?

- There isn't any.

- Can you find the hooks?

- Ah, yeah.

Could you keep still, darling?

Darling, I can't.

That's it, no.

There.

- How do I look?

- Lovely.

- My pierrette!

Come, let's get going!

- Follow the leader, mademoiselle.

- Come on!

Come in.

- Hello, Verin!

I hope I'm not intruding.

- You're Henri Dumont.

Of all people.

- Well, this makes me the man

who found a needle in a haystack.

- Well, how did you find me?

- Pure deduction, my dear friend.

I chanced to read some editorials

and I knew that only one man could have written them.

Simple, huh?

Well now, you haven't changed.

You look younger than ever!

- Well, neither have you changed.

Still handsome and distinguished.

- Oh, well, - Won't you sit down?

- Thank you.

I note the feminine touch.

Married?

- Yes.

- Well, I hope that family life

hasn't caused you to drop your interest in politics.

- Oh, I gave up politics

the day I left your Bordeaux Radical.

- And you know, the paper gave up too.

- Yes, still, you've done pretty well.

You're a rich man from all accounts.

- Well, my ambitions go beyond publishing.

- How high do I aim this time?

The ship of state?

- Possibly.

Verin, what would you say

if I told you I needed your help?

- Have you forgotten the circumstances

surrounding our last association?

- Oh yes, I know I behaved pretty badly,

but let's forget that.

I'll start with a confession:

I owe a great deal of my early success

to your keen political judgment.

How very kind.

- Now Verin, I've just bought the People's Advocate,

the perfect paper for your talents and conviction.

- But as Henri Dumont, hm?

But think what we can accomplish!

- We?

Yes, we!

Don't tell me you've no ambitions.

- None that are beyond my limitations.

For many reasons, Dumont,

this world discomforts me.

Yes, and saddens me,

so I keep as well out of it as I may.

- Well, I'm not afraid of people

but I lack the one thing that you have: your mind.

- I'm sorry, Dumont.

I'll never again sacrifice myself

to the ambitions of an individual.

Why should I?

I'm a happy man.

I have my wife, my child,

and my mind.

- Give me that, Verin.

I'll pay you for it.

Wait, you haven't heard my terms.

- Curly, don't!

We'd better get back to the others.

What'll they think?

- Ah, what do I care?

- Stop it, Curly!

You're too fresh.

- Hey, wait a minute, don't!

Adele, Adele!

All I ask is that

you reconsider your decision.

- Oh, I beg your pardon.

- My dear, this is Mr. Dumont; my wife.

How do you do, madame?

- Monsieur.

- I've been having a pleasant talk with your husband.

I've been trying to tempt him with the lure of riches.

I'm afraid I haven't been very successful.

I hope I may have the pleasure of meeting you again soon.

- Thank you.

- Well Verin, your terms are my terms.

If you do change your mind,

drop me a line.

Here's my card.

Au revoir!

Goodbye.

- Au revoir.

- Did you have a good time, cherie?

- Oh, yes.

Who was that man?

- Henri Dumont, the publisher.

Wanted me to work for him again.

- Are you going to?

- No.

- Well, he said your terms would be his terms.

I heard him.

Isn't it worth considering?

- Well, our freedom means more, cherie.

That's why we are happy.

We own nothing, but well, nothing owns us.

- We own nothing and never will.

Oh well.

- Don't you understand how I feel about the offer, dear?

- No, I don't.

- Really? It means giving up my identity.

- Oh, it's all so hopeless.

So discouraging.

What is, my dear?

- Oh, I don't know, everything.

When I see other people,

the way they live,

the things they enjoy,

never having to worry about anything.

And here we are, counting pennies.

Paul, how much would Dumont give you?

Would you get a salary every week?

- This doesn't sound like you, cherie.

- No.

Maybe I'm changing.

It's Paris, I suppose.

But it isn't only us I'm thinking of,

there's Linette, her future.

- And you're not happy, my dear.

- Yes, I'm happy.

I have you and my child and my home,

but I get tired sometimes.

I wanna grow, Paul, change!

I wanna be proud of our home

and the things we do, and-

Forgive me, dear.

I didn't mean to hurt you.

I couldn't help it,

it just came out.

Don't be angry, please.

- I'm not angry, cherie, not with you.

I'm angry with myself for being so blind.

I've been living in my own heaven.

One shouldn't.

But it can't be true!

- Here it is in black and white!

- Outrageous! - Sure,

they cooked up the Balkan war with scares and lies.

Played one country against the other.

Dumont says that's how they always do it.

- "Your only hope of happiness

lies in the preservation of peace in Europe."

- The country could use more men like him.

That's what appeals to us business men.

Crazy waste, war.

50,000 francs to kill one man.

- My, my only one man?

Yes!

We mothers are grateful to Henri Dumont.

- Excuse me, excuse me.

- Young man, there's a man

for you to shape your life after.

There's a fine head on them shoulders.

- Yes, yes.

Listen to this,

this will interest you.

In a leading editorial today,

Henri Dumont advocates lifting the burden of taxation

from the shoulders of the poor

and placing it on the shoulders of the rich!

- How do you do, Dumont?

- Hello, Charlus.

How are you doing, Marchant?

- Sorry to miss you at the apartment,

I hope we are alone.

- Quite.

Sit down. - Well,

we can only stay a minute.

You know, we're on our way to London

and from there we go to Berlin.

Yes, we're quite pressed for time.

We have a plane waiting.

- Rather urgent, huh?

In what part of the world

are you gentlemen planning to sell the next war?

My readers will be terribly interested.

- You'd serve your readers better, Dumont,

if you more if you stopped calling our people

Merchants of Death

and told 'em that preparedness

was the surest guarantee of peace.

- Or the surest guarantee of dividends, eh?

- Oh, if God gave the hand,

let not man withhold the sword.

- That's a very pious thought.

Well, I suppose munitions must have

a little stimulating these days.

Whiskies, anyone?

- Thank you.

Do you know, Dumont,

I think I'm a better pacifist than you are.

- You? - Yes.

If we could once release

the energy contained in an atom,

two armies could blow each other to bits in one second,

then we should have seen our last war.

- Well, that's pacifism with a vengeance.

Munitions makers don't stand

very high in your estimation, do they?

- Hardly.

May I congratulate you.

In the short space of a year,

your speeches and editorials

have made you the hero of the rabble.

- You mean I've demonstrated

that people could be made to clamor for peace

as well as for war.

I'm told you also did

an effective job back in Bordeaux.

- I wonder, Dumont,

if our interest in your talents

is altogether unexpected, hmm?

- Sorry, but you can't go in.

- Mr. Dumont expects me, as usual at this hour.

- But Mr. Dumont is in conference.

He's especially engaged.

Won't you please wait?

- Thank you.

- To get down to cases,

our people have decided

that it's high time to take measures.

Measures that may affect your political fortunes.

- What do you mean, Charlus?

Frankly, high office

is almost within your reach.

It'll be a pity indeed if almost was the slip

twixt the cup and the lip.

- The point, Charlus.

- You know what's at stake.

If you continue, quite naturally,

they may be compelled to, well,

shall we say, check you?

- Well, I'm not easily intimidated, Charlus.

- Oh, it isn't that as yet.

At the moment, it's entirely

a matter of making arrangements.

- As to what?

Dumont, there's no telling

how far a man like you could travel

with proper associates.

- And just exactly what do you expect?

- Very little, really.

Just a change in the policy of your paper.

Of course, this thing will have to be handled

gracefully, tactfully.

Your article should continue,

but deftly warning the people

against the dangers of disarming.

- But gentlemen, you're asking me

to make a terrible decision.

For the security of your native land?

- There's only one intelligent decision to be made.

Make it, Dumont.

- But it involves so much,

it's so very, very serious.

May I have a little more time to consider?

- Of course, of course.

Take your time.

We'll drop in on our return.

- Well, goodbye Dumont.

Very glad to have seen you.

Until next week.

- Au revoir, gentlemen.

You may go in now, Mr. Verin.

Hello, Dumont.

- Hello, Verin.

- Aren't your ears burning?

The fine things they're saying about you

down in the street.

- Sit down, Verin.

- Why, you should see the crowds,

their enthusiasm, their excitement.

Even in London, it's on the front page of the Times.

Look, "Dumont, The Man of Peace."

That's what they're calling you in London,

in Vienna, everywhere.

Our second attempt has prospered beyond our dreams.

- Hmm.

Verin, I wonder if we may not

have gone just a little too far.

I mean, I think it might be advisable

to tone down on your editorials.

- But why?

- Well, we have to consider the fact

that in the minds of a great many,

preparedness is still

the greatest guarantee of peace.

And you are creating an unrest

that might lead to serious complications.

- The danger lies in ignorance.

The people must be told who their enemies are:

the unseen foe that maneuvers nations into war.

They must know the duplicity of the men

who profit from human misery and death.

- Oh, I know, I know.

But we have to do it gradually.

- Gradually?

When every minute matters?

As long as munitions stay

in the hands of private enterprise,

war will always be around the corner.

- But our policy is peace.

We are not attacking the individual.

Our policy is to attack

the organized conspiracy to block peace.

- Oh, I know, I know.

I'm merely discussing the need for tactics.

Tactics, man.

For instance, now:

what do we gain from personal attack? Hmm?

- War mongering is a pretty personal matter

to millions of potential widows and orphans.

Now here's a personal item

that's featured in my next editorial.

Look at it, Dumont.

It's an advertisement.

Do you see what it offers for sale?

A new shell.

Let me read you their description.

"The shell is exploded by two poison acids

and the explosive acids saturate the steel fragments.

Consequently wounds caused by them

mean death in frightful agony,

since there is no known antidote

that will counteract the poison."

That's one of their shameless advertises.

- Oh, horrible.

Horrible.

But we must choose our time.

Now I advise hold them at a reserve,

no use firing off all our guns at once.

It's dangerous to inflame the masses.

- Do you hear them?

This is no time to hesitate.

Oh, don't be carried away.

That mob spirit is dangerous.

- We cannot let the people down, I won't.

I shall continue the campaign.

- Manipulating me as if I were a puppet?

- Do you resent my interference?

- I resent your assurance.

- You engage me to help you attain your political goal.

I've kept my share of the bargain.

And unless I can accomplish what I'm striving for,

well you don't need my services any longer.

- Oh, come, come, Verin.

You know I need your services.

What I'm saying is a little diplomacy

will advance our cause much further.

- You're mistaken.

Now's the time to drive the campaign hard,

and you'll be just where I promised to put you.

What's the matter?

Afraid?

- Afraid? I?

- Or are you losing faith in that political insight

that always made you do the right thing

at the psychological moment?

- No, no, no.

I'm not and I've implicit confidence in your judgment.

But what I mean is-

Oh, well now come, come,

don't let us discuss this matter any further.

You are in no mood

and I have important matters to attend to.

I'll see you later.

Au revoir, dear friend.

Because good little girls

should be dressed before lunch!

- Was that funny?

Come on, one, two, three!

Oh, what a fat girl!

Are you ticklish?

Are you ticklish?

- You're wanted on the phone, madame.

- Thank you, Louise.

Hurry up now and get dressed for lunch, quick!

Oh, come along!

- Hello?

Yes, this is Madam Verin.

Who?

Oh, Mr. Dumont!

How do you do?

You're quite a stranger.

No, Paul isn't here.

- No?

Well, it's about Paul.

Oh, no, no, no.

Nothing serious.

Could you arrange to meet me for tea?

At Antoine's.

Hmm? Ah.

Goodbye.

Albert.

- Oui, monsieur.

- I'm sorry I kept you waiting,

but it was unavoidable.

- I've enjoyed myself,

watching the people.

- I rushed to get here and I'm amply rewarded.

You look lovely.

You know this restaurant?

- No, I don't.

It's charming.

- I hope you'd like it.

- Oh, I do.

But Monsieur Dumont,

I've been terribly upset ever since you telephoned.

What has Paul done?

- Oh, I didn't want to alarm you.

It isn't as series as all that.

Only Paul has become a little,

oh, what shall I say?

A little difficult?

- Do you mean he's neglecting his work?

- Oh no, I don't say that,

but he's not as contented as-

- Oh, he is, Mr. Dumont.

Paul is very happy.

- Has he ever suggested giving up his work?

Never.

- Thank you.

Will you answer a question frankly?

Yes, of course.

- Wasn't it your persuasion

that Paul accepted my offer?

- It was.

Paul demands so little of life,

it takes so little to make him happy.

And so much to make you happy, hmm?

You're ambitious.

- Yes.

- Fortunately.

I'll say we have that much in common.

Isn't it odd, two people like we are,

so intimately associated with someone so unlike us.

- Oh, I know Paul is strange at times,

but he's very good, very kind.

I'm certain of that.

- He's been working very hard,

between his books and his editorial.

They tell me the book's finished.

- Yes, Duflo intends publishing it.

- Duflo? Hmm.

He's a strange man, Paul.

He'd rather write a book that won't sell

than be the best paid journalist in Paris.

Oh, shall we dance?

- Love to.

- I feel so important.

Everyone's watching us.

- They're looking at you.

- Please don't say those things

or I'll believe you.

- I want you to believe me.

- I don't know, I'm a little afraid of you.

- Afraid?

What can I do to charm you?

- Laurent? - Yes, monsieur?

- Has madame returned yet?

- I think madame, she's dressing.

You look tired.

- Yes, I'm weary.

- Oh, too much work if you ask me,

but you don't.

- 'Cause I asked you once.

- Well, all I say,

all you get is a kick where you don't like it.

In the meantime, will you sit down?

- You're incorrigible.

Laurent, come on.

Give me that paper.

- Paul, oh, I have so much to tell you!

There you are.

Laurent, just looking at her rests me.

- Yes, monsieur. - You'll never guess

where I've been today.

- Where, cherie?

- Oh, there was music and dancing!

You should see my new beau dance!

- New beau?

- Took me to Antoine's.

Who, cherie?

- The most famous man in France.

- Did your new beau tell you his name?

Monsieur Henri Dumont.

- Dumont?

He telephoned and asked for you.

- I see.

- It was wonderful.

The music, the excitement, the people!

Oh, I love Paris.

Give me Paris, Paul.

- Still the same child, Laurent.

- Yes, monsieur.

She'll never grow up.

- Oh yes, I will, someday.

You're not displeased with me, are you dear?

- Never, my darling.

All I want is to see you happy.

- Dinner is served, madame.

- Come, come to dinner.

- Yes, darling.

There, darling.

- Thank you.

- Thank you, Laurent.

Laurent, if you ask me, which you don't,

who told you you could go?

- Well I have to- - Now what would you say

if madame and myself requested

the pleasure of your company for dinner?

- I would say that I have my social position

to think of monsieur.

Please do us the honor.

- I cannot refuse madame.

- Monsieur.

- Louise, the sherry.

Yes, monsieur.

- Sit down, Laurent.

Tell me darling,

what did Dumont have to say?

- He talked about you most of the time.

He has such faith in you and-

you're happy, aren't you Paul?

- Why'd you ask then?

Are you?

- Of course I am.

- Then we're both happy.

- So, to Henri Dumont.

- Our friend.

I drink to you, Monsieur Verin,

and to you, Madame.

May you always be happy.

- Papa!

- Why darling!

Darling, why aren't you asleep?

- I can't sleep, I'm afraid.

What are you afraid of?

- The gardener told nursey there was going be a war.

Why, no, darling.

- What's a war for, Papa?

It's not for you, my sweet.

Now don't you worry your sleepy little head about it.

There isn't going to be one, I promise you.

- Thank you, Papa.

Where's Mama?

Mama's out.

- I don't want Mama to go out.

- Come, uncle put you to bed, yeah?

Come on, come on.

Come here!

- Papa, make it play!

- What are they playing tonight at the opera?

Is it Pagliacci, my prima donna?

- Let me see, oh!

- Is it, darling? No.

That's all right, that's all right.

We know what it is, don't we darling?

That's not it.

Here, it's Tristan and Isolde.

Now darling, I'm gonna play-

darling, I'm gonna play for you

what Mama's listening to right now,

and then you are going to bed

so that Papa can do his work.

Does that suit you?

- Oh, isn't it wonderful?

I wish Paul were here.

- I'm pleased you like it.

Oh, I do, I do!

I never wanted that act to end.

- Oh, you're such a child.

- It was so nice of you

to ask us tonight, of all nights,

when you have such important things on your mind.

- You're the one person in the world

I wanted to be with tonight.

I needed you to help me forget.

- Me?

You.

- You know, everywhere I go,

I hear your name.

I just can't believe that I'm here with you.

- Oh, you're so adorable, Adele.

I may call you Adele, mayn't I?

- Please do.

- Thank you.

- The best part of the show's in the boxes.

General, ambassadors.

Look, there's Henri Dumont actually blushing.

- Who'd have thought

that a miserable little journalist like that

would rise like a rocket.

- Miserable?

He's the biggest man in the country.

- He's a puzzle, that man.

You know, I'll never forget.

He was called upon once

to make an extemporaneous talk.

It was ghastly, a commonplace affair.

Why, the audience almost left.

But by Jove, that very same address

appeared in his paper the next day

clear, brilliant, warm.

- My dear,

I think I have guessed your secret.

- What?

- You are afraid of yourself.

- Yes, I am.

- Why?

Is there anything more normal?

Perhaps someone else might not think so.

- You mean? - Paul.

But because he hides away in corners, must you?

- His work absorbs him so.

It's important right now, isn't it?

- Yes.

But a woman has her destiny too.

Especially in this connoisseur city of the world.

- Say, wait a minute!

You know her, Curly?

- Know her?

I should say I do.

Come on!

- It's only a play, you know.

She didn't really die.

- Wait till she sees me!

She certainly was strong for me

when she didn't have anything

but a funny looking husband.

Hello!

You're more charming than ever.

- You certainly swept it off her feet.

- She was delighted to see you, Curly.

- Has taste, that girl.

She likes mature men.

- What a little upstart.

- Oh, good evening.

Still working, huh?

- Still.

How was the opera, cherie?

Did you have a good time?

- Oh, Paul, what you missed!

In the last act, when Isolde dies,

I just couldn't-I cried.

- Then you did enjoy yourself.

- This has been of a very great pleasure.

- Thank you, Dumont.

- You must come with us sometime.

You know, you're working too hard.

Need your rest.

- Not while they sound war drums.

By the way Dumont, that's the keynote of your speech.

- Please, if you're going to discuss business,

may I be excused?

So tired, darling.

- Of course, my dear.

You go to your bed.

- Good night. - Good night.

- Thank you.

- Well, as a matter of fact old man,

I'm feeling a little tired myself.

Must be fit for that speech, you know.

- It'll be finished tomorrow.

- Fine.

- Come and have a look at this chart, Dumont.

Now when I told you that 50 men

had combined to manufacture wars,

you said you needed proof.

Well, there it is.

It tells the whole story at a glance.

- But the proof, Verin, must be absolute.

- The documentary proof exists

in every patent office.

Here, photostatic copies.

It's all the proof you need.

What a ghastly joke.

The emperors who are even now so busy mobilizing

are principle stockholders,

they'll be enormously enriched

by the slaughter of their people.

- Let me see those, Verin.

- This speech will be our last appeal for peace.

If you succeed in impressing the people,

we may turn the tide yet.

- I'll take this with me, if I may.

- Ah, do.

You'll take good care of them, won't you?

- Oh, yeah, I certainly will.

Excellent work, Verin.

Well, I'm glad you're happy, Henri.

- You're not like Isolde,

you're like Faust's Marguerite.

With your hair down

and a far away look.

- A sleepy look.

- I haven't seen you all day.

You saw me this morning.

- Just for a minute.

The day's lost when I don't see you.

- Paul, must you always depend on me

for your happiness?

Always.

- Isn't it tragic to love that way?

- It's heaven.

I love you.

I'll go along and finish my work.

- Cut that one.

- Which one, Darling?

- That one!

- You mean this one?

- Uh-huh. - Oh?

There, that's for mama.

- Now Bunny, roses aren't to eat!

They're to be looked at and smelled.

Now make up your mind young woman,

which you're gonna carry, flowers or Bunny?

- I made up my mind, Papa,

- I'll carry them both. - Oh.

- Now pick one for me,

a great big one!

Is that big enough?

Oh, I could eat you!

Extray-extray!

Archduke Ferdinand assassinated.

Extray! Extray!

Read about it!

Extray, extray, Archduke Ferdinand assassinated!

Read about it,

the Serbian frontier closed.

Extray, extray,

Archduke Ferdinand assassinated!

Extray!

Serbian border closed.

Extray read about it!

Extray!

- Elysee 2484, hurry, please.

Monsieur Dumont, please.

Paul Verin speaking.

Hello? I must get into touch with Mr. Dumont at once.

Oh yes, it's urgent, I tell you.

- Mr. Dumont was called away last night

and he's not expected until tomorrow.

- But I must reach him immediately!

Didn't he say where he was going?

He didn't?

Away at a time like this.

- Your excellency.

- Oh, yes. Thank you.

Would you pardon me?

Gentlemen, "All countries cancel army leaves.

France denounces German army maneuvers

as disguised mobilization."

That's in the beginning.

What is Serbia doing?

Has Austria set a time limit on her ultimatum?

- Gentlemen, allow his excellency to conclude.

- Yes, yes, it's quite exciting.

"Russia encourages Serbia to oppose Austrian demand."

- Good, that's Stanislavsky's work.

- "Five Austrian army corps

stopped with the frontier."

That means the fights in the fire.

Organization is the midwife of war.

- And there is one last little bit to the dispatch,

which I hardly think will interest you gentlemen.

"Munition stocks boom on all exchanges."

Hardly.

- The launch has just brought Henri Dumont.

- Ah, that's good.

Then we can proceed.

- Yes, is his new chain of newspapers

ready to function?

- Immediately.

It practically delivers public opinion.

- Monsieur Dumont.

- Ah, Dumont!

We waited for you.

- I appreciate your confidence, your excellency.

- Gentlemen.

- Well gentlemen, war is a matter of a few days.

- By the way, Dumont,

my directors think you should give us a big rebate

for that newspaper stock.

5,000 Francs a share is staggering.

- Well tell your directors, Monsieur,

that the demand for ammunition will be staggering.

- Yes.

Well Dumont, our first problem will be

to decide the best moment to press campaign.

- Well now, will you let me be

the best judge of that, your excellency.

- Leave it to Dumont.

He put over the arm piece very efficiently.

- Yes, yes, yes, yes. Splendidly.

- Yes, I can assure you gentlemen,

we shall enter the wall with traditional fearlessness.

- I hate to think of all that blood being spilled,

my dear countryman.

I wonder just what is the duty of patriotism?

- And you're the man who makes liquid fires.

Well, what would conference bans it?

- Oh, they'll forget all those silly scruples

as soon as the first shot's fired.

- There's no such thing as civilized warfare.

In fact, the deadly efficiency of modern armament

is merciful.

It makes for a short war.

18 months, I'd say.

- I'd say three years.

- No, no, no.

I'd say five years.

Patriotism is a very stubborn quality.

- What happens to our gentleman's understanding

during the period of the war?

Does the price agreement still stand?

- I urge the continuing of our rule

against competitive bidding.

How do you gentlemen vote?

Let me see the hands in favor?

The ayes have it.

And we shall continue to root all bids

through the Swiss agency.

- There's danger of a disastrous scandal

if it leaks out that we are selling arms to the enemy

through neutral dummies.

- Fair enough, it's reciprocal.

There's danger of a far greater scandal.

You have all pooled your patents with enemy plants.

If that fact leaks out, extremely dangerous.

- We need each other's patents.

It's much more efficient to pool our interests.

Yes, and coordinate our manufacturing methods.

- Well, I advise all concerned

to surrender those holdings,

of course to the Swiss agency.

- That's very sensible and discreet.

And now, gentlemen,

we come to our most serious problem.

How to protect our essential plants and mines

against the very aerial bombs

that we are all manufacturing.

Take a very obvious case.

Here, the B Iron basin

lies in the line of fire on one side.

There, the L iron field

lies in the line of fire on the other.

And if bombardment should cripple these works,

we lose our plants and we end the war.

- Well, it's merely a matter

a cause of mutual exemptions,

easily accomplished by a general understanding

to conserve all our natural resources.

- You mean-

- I mean, your excellency,

our oil, our copper,

our cotton, our coal,

and naturally our iron.

- I think it is not anticipating

over the course of events too soon to congratulate.

Gentlemen, a toast.

To Henri Dumont.

- People, we must listen to Dumont!

Mobilize before the enemy gets started!

- I agree with Dumont.

He wants peace!

As he says, "Pacifism at this time

would be treason!"

We must defend our country!

- Stop! Dumont is swaying your minds.

He's influencing you with mob psychology!

This means war!

You're cheering for mass murder!

Down with war!

Down with Henri Dumont!

- Don't stand up for him,

he's nothing but a spy!

- Get off the man,

keep off the man!

Don't you see, he's insane with fear?

Driven insane by the same fear

that's driving you to murder!

- Go on, keep moving.

Go on, go on!

Go on, go on, go on!

- Hello Verin, sit down.

Hello?

Yes, please do.

Exciting times, Verin.

- Rather.

- It seems as if the entire nation

is wanting to congratulate you, Mr. Dumont,

if I may say so.

- Thank you, Andre.

Well Verin-well on earth has happened to you.

- I recall that you once warned me

against the mob spirit.

- Yes, you were always a difficult man to advise, Verin.

Sit down.

- Thank you, but I can say

what I have to say better standing.

Our second collaboration ends like the first:

- in betrayal. - Do you realize

what you're saying?

- I gave up everything I hold most sacred

for the happiness of one

who means more to me than my own life.

Well, you've paid me.

Here's the speech you asked me to write,

you never intended to use it.

Instead, you call for war.

Everything we've built up,

- you've torn down. - I saw my duty.

- Your duty was to wait until the government acted.

I stood for my country!

I refuse to offer its heart

to the bayonets of the enemy.

- Words, Dumont, words.

You saw your opportunity to ride to power

on the wave of war hysteria.

Only a short while ago,

they were clamoring for peace.

- Excuse me, Monsieur.

Germany has declared war on Russia.

German troops have crossed the French border.

Goodbye, monsieur.

I'm called to the colors.

- Goodbye, Andre.

Good luck, my boy.

- Thank you, Monsieur.

- Well, it's here.

God help us.

A musket will be thrust into my hands.

I shall be instructed to kill,

to protect our homes, our land, our lives.

But my convictions still remain, Dumont.

What I've been striving for

will be born out of all this.

And then, with the help of God,

humanity will know of peace one day.

And Dumont, there'll be a reckoning;

a terrible reckoning for the betrayers.

So once again, the partners part.

But when you lose me,

you know what you lose.

I'll go back to my work a failure, perhaps,

but proud of my integrity.

- Paul, Paul!

They're all going mad.

Tearing down signs, breaking windows.

What is it?

What's happened?

Nothing, dear.

- But you're bruised.

Your clothes.

- Oh, I got caught in the mob.

I'm all right, dear.

I'm all right.

- Oh, it's all so horrible.

Tearing at each other, destroying, killing.

You can't go,

I won't let you.

I need you.

We all need you.

- You're not to cry, dear.

Adele, you're not to cry.

And darling, if anything should happen,

you're to carry on for me.

They've suppressed my book.

- No, who?

- I don't know.

Get it published for me.

It may help towards peace.

You will, won't you?

- I promise, Paul.

But you're coming back,

you've got to.

What is it?

Why do you look at me like that?

- Adele, have you been happy

in this new life of ours?

Would you miss it if we went back to Clichy?

I've been very happy here, Paul.

- Then it doesn't matter.

Nothing matters as long as you're happy.

Oh, hold me close.

- Hiya, boys.

At it again, are you, Corporal?

Don't you ever stop?

- Ah, but the pen is mightier than the bayonet,

hey Corporal?

- As a matter of fact, lads, I saw some of it.

It's a long speech.

- Yes, it's long as a donkey's yawn.

But nevermind, Corporal.

Curiosity gets the better of my friend.

- Hello, hero.

- Hey Corporal, remind me,

I owe my mama a letter, will you?

- How are you, Leon?

- Fine.

Well, you win.

- Corporal Paul Verin.

- Yep.

Thank you.

- What is it, Corporal?

- Transfer, Verdun.

- The graveyard of millions.

Mama, where are you?

- Here, darling.

- Letter from Papa!

Oh, give it to me.

Give it to me quick.

- Madame!

- Forgive me, madame, but is it a letter from monsieur?

- He's safe.

- Thank the good Lord.

- Mama, read me Papa's letter.

Please Mama, read me Papa's letter.

- "Safe and sound as you see, my darlings.

We're shifting to a new sector,

which may make letters late,

so don't worry.

And as I'm writing to you,

my precious Adele,

I see you in our home

with Linette at your side.

Tell her to put her arms around you

and hold you close for me.

And to love you above everything in the world."

I do.

- I love you, Mama.

I love you like Papa, don't cry.

Oh, darling.

- Nothing much, I'll have it fixed in no time.

- Come on, men.

Let's get across the station where it's warm.

You honk us when you're ready, driver.

Let's go, boys.

Hard going around here.

How's the road to Compte Piene?

- Worse, this is war.

All aboard for Paris.

All aboard, Paris.

- Halt, Danglas.

Curly, old boy!

Well, what are you doing so close to Paris?

- On leave, lungs.

- Ah, liver is worse.

- Got a cigarette?

- Sure.

- Well, what's new in the city of joy?

Anything?

- Not much.

Nothing left but stray cats and women.

- Well, women.

- Yeah.

Making love to a woman in mourning

is like drinking champagne out of a sock.

- What's new with the man of the hour?

That warrior pacifist?

Dumont?

Oh, he'll wind up a multimillionaire.

Why, haven't you heard?

He owns a chain of newspapers now.

How he got them, nobody knows.

Except rumor that he sold out to the munitions crowd.

Now everything's a game, huh?

Even in war.

All aboard

for Paris. - Say, tell me,

is Dumont still running around

with that cutie from Clichy?

- What cutie?

- Oh, you remember, don't you?

The one that married that little fella.

Oh, yes.

You mean the sweet little thing who snubbed you?

You know, there's a funny story going around about them.

Yes?

Yeah.

Seems that whenever the husband applies for leave,

Dumont pulls the wires and keeps them at the front.

- Hey, pretty smart.

- Yeah, working the husband and playing the wife.

Truck is ready, Corporal.

Where are you going, Corporal?

- I'm headed back to Paris!

- Good evening, Monsieur Dumont.

- Good evening, Laurent.

Madame home?

- Yes, monsieur.

- Hmm.

- Monsieur Dumont.

- How are you, Adele?

- If the madam wishes anything?

Thank you, Laurent.

Why did you come?

Didn't you get my letter?

- Well, you didn't expect me

to take it seriously, did you?

I meant every word of it.

- Oh, why must we always analyze ourselves?

Have you no regard for my feelings?

- What mood is this you're in Adele?

What's troubling you?

- You promised to bring Paul back.

- Adele, those things take time.

I can't- - With your influence?

No, you're not even trying.

You don't want him back and I know why.

- Why?

- Because you're afraid to face him.

- Afraid?

Oh, don't be absurd.

- I know that you are, Henri.

All Paris knows it.

- Don't you know that the man in public life

is always exaggerated?

- You lied to Paul, tricked him.

You destroyed his life's work.

Have you gone mad?

- No, you hate Paul.

Always have.

Because you feel so small,

so helpless beside him.

You owe him everything you are.

Now you don't need him anymore.

You want to destroy him.

I owe your husband nothing.

- There's nothing more we can say, is there?

We understand each other now, don't we?

- I only understand what I feel about you.

- You don't.

I don't want you to touch me.

I'm not afraid, not anymore.

How stupid I must have seemed to you, how stupid.

- At any rate, you've improved

the quality of your emotion.

- You've done more.

You've taught me what you are, what Paul is.

From the beginning, I've meant nothing to you.

And you succeeded in hurting him through me.

- Adele!

- I was the one more thing you could take from him.

- Oh, my dear.

To see you so wrought up.

Oh, of course I understand,

we all suffer from it.

It's war nerves, dear.

Makes us believe any rumor,

no matter how fantastic.

Only you matter.

- Stop it, let me go!

Let go of me!

Stop!

Paul!

- Verin!

- My wife is not included in our bargain, Dumont.

Stop, stop him!

He's gone mad, mad!

Paul, don't!

- No, no! No!

- Paul, no! Don't!

Paul, don't!

Paul, don't! Stop!

- Then it seemed to me that Henri Dumont was I.

That my love, my life, were his

because my brain was his.

I wanted back what was mine.

What was mine!

That's it, that's all.

This, is there nothing we can do now, is there?

- Nothing, except a trial.

- A trial?

Everything I cared for most

to be discussed,

judged,

condemned?

No, no, there mustn't be a trial.

No one must know why I-

- Where you going?

- Let me go, Fernand.

Let me go.

You can call it shell shock,

that'll make it easier for her.

- And to accomplish that,

you're going to kill yourself.

- She gave me the only happiness I've ever known.

- That's why you must live.

I'm going to defend you,

fight for your life! - No!

- You've earned the right

to life and happiness.

- One must be born to it.

I wasn't.

Now I can't try any longer.

- You are forsaking those who need you.

What will become of her?

- Linette?

- Paul.

- One moment, please.

I ask you to treat this man

with the utmost consideration.

Verin, I consider this case a privilege.

I doubt if there's a judge

or jury who will condemn you.

You're not the accused,

you're the accuser.