Original subtitles

A DESSERT FOR CONSTANCE

Based on the novel by DANIEL BOULANGER

DIRECTED BY SARAH MALDOROR

Lot 118, a basket

which includes tweezers, rotisserie oven accessories

and an old book:

Cooking Monograph.

New illustrated edition

1898.

The book belonged to none other than Mr. Jules Topin.

updated version with several unpublished recipes

glossary of wines and utensils

with tips for the kitchen trade and the table setting

as well as indications on the preparation and presentation of coffee.

Starting price 15,30.

Monsieur offers 15,30. Does anyone bid more?

15.30. Once, twice ... Sold!

Lot 118 for Monsieur Armand, for 15,30.

Lot 119.

A musical vase, a curiosity.

Mozart, Beethoven, Bach!

Come, I have something for you.

I'll give it to you for 100 francs.

Plus, I give you a cookbook.

I do not read.

Further...

It's not even worth the paper to wrap meat with.

Take it.

Alright.

- See ya. - See ya.

Here it is!

I got what I was looking for.

Hey, clean all this. Be careful, eh?

It's good quality.

Here.

I brought you something.

For your studies.

A second-hand book? Oh no, what horror!

What filth. God knows where you have been.

None of that.

Read a book sometime, it gives you ideas.

Wait, a book!

Come, look!

Cooking Monograph, by Constance Cabriolet.

C'mon! Let's see.

Look! With unpublished recipes!

Look! Tips for rice. Rice with lamb.

Rice in a pressure cooker. Rice with...

Chocolate rice! Rice with raisins!

- Imperial style rice! - Imperial?

That does not interest us.

Mamadou! Mamadou!

The truck is waiting!

This is not a university!

See ya, brother!

How can I help you?

- I want a cheese. - Yes.

The roll with the cane.

You're crazy, Mamadou!

With the cane it costs double!

- With cane. - A Sainte-Maure.

18 francs. Anything else?

Thank you.

Eighteen... and twenty.

- Thank you. - Thank you!

We're back!

We bring bread

and cheese!

Oh! No dinner for Bruno?

No, he's still sick...

Are you sick boy?

Yes... everything hurts.

I can't work.

- Everything hurts. - You have to eat something.

- Guys, today I found something! - Again?

A cookbook with many recipes!

It is not just any book! There's like forty recipes just for rice.

- Forty? - Yeah.

- Does rice with raisins sound familiar? - No.

- Chocolate rice? - No!

- Rice soufflé? - No!

Top the inside of the deep mold with currant jelly

- Currant jelly? - Yes, yes.

And let it rest until the next day in a cool place.

We can do it this winter! Everything will be very fresh.

What a guy!

Hey! What if you take out the cheese?

- That! - Yeah.

The cane thing isn't right. It raises the price a lot!

I already told Mamadou!

You can buy two without a cane for the price of one.

Yeah, yeah, yeah! But with the cane we can make music.

It's the neighbors...

We exist.

- What are you reading? - The cookbook.

- What about? - What to serve after a soup.

Madère, Xérès, Balzac or Sauternes.

Madère, Xérès, Balzac or Sauternes.

Mamadou, why are you reading that?

- You will never drink Sauternes. - I'm interested!

You know what's served between the first serving and the second?

Rum sorbet is served.

There are eight servings.

- Eight? - Yes.

The first is soup; the second, an appetizer after the soup.

the third, the starters; the fourth, the roast

the main dishes, the salads, the garnishes and dessert.

It's noon, brother! It's time for union break!

Union break!

Ah, this sun!

One would think that we were in Africa...

Oh yeah.

- So? - Yes, that will be fine..

- Mamadou. - Yes?

It's Mister Volker's watch, I found it under a bench in the plaza..

- Will you give it to him? - Yes, I will take it.

Quiet.

Mamadou, sweep...

It's better, you know?

Ebony... It is very hard.

I want to return to my land, to my house.

Everything hurts.

- Do not leave me alone. - No, no, no.

I'll stay with you. Don't worry, I promise

that in hospital they will take care of you and you will return to Africa.

Don't worry.

There's no problem.

You have to go home.

I saw it in his eyes.

We need to get money for the trip.

It will not be easy..

Yes?

Come in!

Good day, Monsieur Volker.

- Ah, good morning. - Good morning boss.

To what do I owe the pleasure?

It's your watch...

Bruno found it under a bench in the square.

Who would have thought? It is my watch!

And I lost it under a bench in the square!

Ah, this Bruno!

You have a good eye!

Good eyes, yes. He is one of our best employees.

Paris can have faith in that sweeper.

Yes.

Precisely, Monsieur Volker. We wanted to tell you...

Bruno is not well at all.

He was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

I think he would like to return to Africa.

But, if it's okay with you, we can fill the position between us two.

- You two? - Yes sir.

Boss...

We are always together, we ebony folk work together.

Ebony, oh how beautiful, ebony!

But do you have experience as sweepers?

- Yes or no? - Aye, Mr. Volker!

- The carpentry of black folk, sir ... - That has nothing to do with it!

You'll have to attend the school of sweepers.

Each profession has its tricks!

See if you have a good hand.

I'll wait for you Monday at seven in the Félix Eboué square.

That is where I teach.

Thank you, Mr. Volker! Goodbye until Monday!

Thanks boss. See you Monday.

Not bad, for our first time!

Each art has its tricks!

If you hold the handle as God commands

if you turn your torso when necessary, without contracting it

you can do three broom passes per minute.

Left hand up high on the handle

right at knee height.

Oh, yeah!

Hey, you left-hander!

Don't do it below the leg! Later you and I will talk.

Come on, one more time! Smooth movement!

There you go! That's it.

For the love of God, you're going to break the handle!

What's this? Can't you stand straight like a person?

We aren't beating coconut trees!

- Excuse me, boss. I was a little tired. - Now, now.

Collecting paper

is like fishing for sharks with a harpoon. It's all in the knee's bend!

Come on, Bokolo!

Very well! Come on!

Hop! Perfect.

Is this okay, boss?

Bravo, Mamadou! Bravo!

You will go far!

With men of your calibre, Paris sanitation is secure.

Bokolo and Mamadou, you start tomorrow in Montmartre.

I hope I don't regret assigning you to a quiet neighborhood.

Thank you, boss.

Good morning, madam! It's a good day today.

The sun is starting to hit!

See you later!

Good morning, comrades.

What's up? Taking a stroll?

We are all civil servants of the city hall of Paris.

Same here!

Do you understand, Bok?

The society of obstruction this is.

We take away and they put it on.

- Bye, comrades. - Have a good stroll!

Well there's plenty of time to whet our appetite.

Hey, Bok?

Let's see.

Ah, the eggs!

Scrambled eggs. That we do know.

Yes, we already read it.

Jewish style eggs ... We already read it.

And the soufflé omelette? Does it ring a bell?

The secret is a constant temperature.

Constant temperature. And you shouldn't toast too much

if not, you will have problems.

To your health!

In no time you will know all the recipes!

And just the same, you can't make a pate sandwich.

Bok, when the break is over We start by cleaning this up.

The inspector does not come until a quarter past two.

It's not worth it! This lemon is already squeezed.

The lemon is already squeezed and the skin is already pulled.

One, two, three...

...four, five, six...

If you want to play, come now.

Hey guys, hey!

Beans are not going to pay for Bruno's journey.

Well, we play the lottery.

It's easy, and you can make a lot of money.

Come on, I'm sure you can think of some ideas.

An idea? Let's go find oil!

If everyone thinks something, we're sure to get the money.

Give a little coconut!

At least we can bring you pineapples. They look good, and they are good.

Hello, Rachel.

Little Bruno is very ill.

Will you give something for him?

He has to go back to Africa.

Hasn't he improved?

They haven't given me the scholarship. I can give you 10.

Thank you sister. Good luck.

- Hello, Momba. - Hello.

We have a problem, Momba.

Bruno is very sick. He has to go back to Africa.

- Can you give something for the trip? - Ah ...

The only one who could find money

is Pentecôte, you know?

Pentecôte Séné

the one who sells hats.

- Maybe he can help. - Thank you.

I hope the you catch the plague, Momba.

The boys have nothing.

Halama and his wife gave me 100 francs.

Well, let's continue.

Séné

Bruno is very sick. Could you give money for his trip?

I don't...

I can't give you money. You better work ...

It is not for us. It is for Bruno, who is sick.

Well then! Better get to work.

- I have nothing to give you. - You don't believe us!

No, I believe you. I have no money, none!

To work!

You rascals!

You have to work!

What a pair.

The sweepers here have there work cut out for them.

Yes, they have to be good.

- We come to see our friend Bruno. - Bruno what?

Bruno, you know.

"Yuno" with a 'y'?

No, madam. Bruno, with a B.

You should have said that in the first place!

Mr. Bruno Gérard!

Building E, zone G, stair A, floor C, room D.

What was that?

E for Étienne, G for Gérard, A for Anatole, C for Camille, D for Denise.

It's clear, no?

Remember well, Bokolo.

E for Ethiopia, G for Guinea, A for Abidjan, C for Conakry, D for Dhaka.

It's pretty clear, no?

Very clear.

Madames, Mademoiselles, Messieurs. Hello!

We return to our Sunday afternoon program

which you are certainly expecting impatiently

Our exciting program Sunday afternoon

The Game of Lent!

Presenting today...

If I could go home ...

Be quiet! You'll see your mother again

Chef Bacchus

in episode 235 of our program.

A reminder that you can call in to the progam...

or, better yet, sign up to participate

on next Sunday's show!

You will see your mother again. I promise.

We will find a way.

Twelve thousand, three hundred and twenty-five!

Twelve thousand three hundred twenty-five francs

What a prize! Who will take the saucepan?

We'll find out soon!

Today Chef Bacchus

has prepared a batch of questions over sauces.

And this is the first question for the first contestant!

Our first contestant

tall, handsome, young, very young!

But as Corneille would say

Taste has nothing to do with age!

Good. Let's get started, Chef Bacchus.

What is the difference between a white and yellow roux?

Ah, very good question!

As always, the contestant has three minutes.

I know this!

A white roux sauce from a yellow.

White...

But how to say it!

You don't even know they're not the same!

Just quickly stir flour in butter!

No! Don't let it burn!

The three minutes have passed...

Dear lord, he went and lost...

Second question for the second contestant. Bacchus?

What is the difference between a Maître d'hotel cold sauce

a Maître d'hotel cream sauce?

Parsley, chives, shallots!

Chop very fine, add the butter, the lemon...

...the flour, and a cup of water!

If you are so smart, go on the show!

Get this sick man out of here.

Thank you, doctor.

What a ride, you two.

Now go away. You have to rest.

And above all, don't even think about coming back next sunday.

Don't worry, Bruno.

We will return, and you will go to Africa.

Don't worry, Bruno. Do not worry.

You will return to our land.

- Will I be able to see mama again? - Of course yes.

Bruno is very ill.

We have to get him home.

I think he is going to die.

Do you remember how much there was in Chef Bacchus's saucepan?

Twelve thousand francs, more or less.

We have more important things to think about now.

Next Sunday the pot will be big enough

to pay the trip and a place in Africa.

What are you up to?

What are you up to now? The robbery of the century?

Neither saucepan nor robbery.

The sauces are the ticket.

We know everything there is to know about sauces.

We knew all the answers.

With the sauces, we've already won.

On the television?

Yeah, on television?

Okay, the sauces we know.

But... what if they drop in some hors d'oeuvres?

The hors d'oeuvres we don't have under control, Mamadou.

We still have ten days, friend.

I'll take care of the hors d'oeuvres myself.

And you are going to study

the sauces, the ragout, and the marinades.

Okay, let's give it a try.

With Constance Cabriolet we will win for sure!

The carrots...

- What? - Do not forget carrots.

Do not forget carrots, onions...

One of them seasoned with three cloves...

- What? - One seasoned with three cloves.

One of them seasoned with three cloves!

The sauce

for the squabs needs three hours...

The sauce for the squabs, Spanish style

it must simmer for three hours.

Before this

you have to make a reduction over high heat

a sirloin steak, a quarter of pork tenderloin,

and two adult partridges in a bottle of white wine.

and add a cup of gelatin to it.

Add a cup of gelatin, and do not forget

carrots, onions, one of them spiced with cloves.

Make the reduction

and marinate with the juice...

Marinate in the juice and a roux sauce.

- That's it! - More or less good?

Yes, yes. Perfect.

Keep going, then.

The sauce for the squabs needs to...

Now that we are registered to participate

Mamadou... we have to go!

Yes! And win!

We can't break down now.

Desserts, meats and sauces are under control.

Yes, yes, I know...

But there is something that worries me.

There are still eight days.

Yes, but there are still words that we don't fully understand.

Words like colatura, jambelette...

What exactly is colatura?

Do you think they will ask that?

You have to consider it, that's for sure.

Do you know what we need?

Dictionaries.

Mamadou, look up "colatura".

Colatura...

Let's see...

Cocoon... Coffee... Coiffe...

- Here it is: colatura. - And what does it mean?

Colatura: filtration whose objective is to separate from a liquid

the most solid elements.

Filtered liquid following this procedure. That's it!

I understand already!

For example, a green bean colatura...

The national library is on another street, yeah?

I'm here to sell books.

I'll distract him. You search for the words.

Jambelette and Thai.

Monsieur... do you have Tintin in the Congo?

I don't know ... I'll go look in the back.

Mamadou...

The oars are already up!

And it's still 11 o'clock.

... half an ounce of powdered chicle,

ounce and a half of sifted sugar well undone,

beat hard with a wicker whisk...

What wicker whisk or what wicked kid?

Ah! Caught red-handed!

A little rest is fine, But don't overdo it.

It's still 11! To work!

- We were about to go, boss. - It's not about that!

Come, each one to his zone and to his sidewalk.

Bokolo, you to the right.

Mamadou, you on the left. Come on, graceful!

Marshall!

Cooking Monograph... ha!

So we have some cooks, eh?

They spend all day chatting, taking things from their master...

They eat rotten books over there...

They must have stolen it!

- I thought you had it! - And I thought you did!

The antique dealer would take it.

No! Surely they threw it in the trash.

What happen to you?

A catastrophe has occurred.

A catastrophe?

What catastrophe?

- Bruno? - No.

The TV!

The contest! The award! The trip!

- It's all fucked. - What's fucked?

We have lost the cookbook.

But hey! If you know everything by heart...

The mushrooms! The ragout!

The Spanish style squab!

The partridge stew with sauce!

Partridges yes, man.

But we have no idea about the hors d'oeuvres!

- Zero! - And desserts...

We don't know anything.

- Just the whipped cream. - But look, Mamadou.

It can be fixed.

Do you know where you could have lost it?

Yes, more or less.

Well tomorrow morning

let's all look for it and we will surely find it.

It's not here.

I haven't seen it. And yet I'm sure it's here.

There it is! Come here!

- Hello! - Hello!

Charmed.

Hello, hello!

Look, we have a problem.

You usually pick up books. Have you found ours?

I'm going to make you tripe with poulette sauce.

I prefer a ham brochette. Really!

Ah, here you two bums are!

Eight days without coming to work, without warning.

Without anything!

And not even sick or hurt in an accident!

How am I supposed to clean the streets, huh?

You stay at home reading novels!

It is an administrative desertion! Utter bullshit!

No, boss! It is not a novel, It is a cookbook.

Cooking Monograph.

Cooking! What an excuse!

Cooking is our worst enemy!

It generates waste, debris, papers full of fat!

And eggshells! What a horrible thing, the eggshells.

And who will clean all that up? That is my question!

- Hello, boss. - Yes?

Boss, let me explain.

There is nothing to explain.

Paris doesn't need cooks, it needs sweepers!

But we are not cooks, boss!

- Let us explain. - There is no worthy explanation!

Okay, boss.

They are not cooks, but experts in cooking.

They know everything about sauces!

- Appetizers! - And soufflés!

They are on a kind of special mission

and they have been exempted from work.

So they can study!

In order to win the contest.

Tomorrow is the big day! They are already registered to participate.

Tomorrow at three, on TV.

- On television? - Yes, boss.

Ah! You should have said so before!

Sit down, boss.

- Television! - Yes, yes.

The television!

Yes!

Yes, boss. My friend Bokolo and me.

- Television! - Yes, boss, it's true.

With what do you stuff the ears of a suckling pig à la bourgeoise?

- I don't accept the question! - Sir, the game has its rules.

Just as in cooking, there is a timer running.

Look at the hourglass, your last boiling egg will soon be hard.

It's an absurd question!

I put whatever I want in the piggy's ears!

It's a matter of taste and intelligence!

Be that as it may, you are eliminated.

I'm really sorry, but that's the game.

Come on, back to your seat!

Moving on! Next contestant.

Come on down, monsieur.

- Hello. - Hello.

Hello, monsieur.

Dear friends from our old African possessions

France is undoubtedly a grateful country

with grateful stomachs, of course!

Dear friend, what is your name?

My name is Bokolo Ngol.

- Ngol, Bokolo Ngol. - Ah, like de Gaulle!

Just like our illustrious general!

Exactly, monsieur.

My father called me that in honor of de Gaulle.

Fantastic!

Well then dear friend

welcome to our 235th program, I wish you good luck

well now, Chef Bacchus will ask you a question.

Thank you, monsieur.

What is the secret for tripe with poulette sauce?

- I know! - You know it.

Mamadou! We have won!

Tripe with poulette sauce!

Tripe with poulette sauce.

25,000 francs!

Twenty-five thousand old francs!

Monsieur Ngol, we don't have time!

Just the three minutes it takes an egg to boil!

The sand is falling!

You have a minute left, hurry up and respond!

The secret of tripe...

- Oh! You've been eliminated, sorry. - No, it can't be!

I feel terrible, but the rules are the same for everyone.

Rules are rules. Go back to your seat.

Thank you very much for participating.

Our final candidate also hails from the old colonies.

- Monsieur... - Mamadou Kanya

-... originally from Senegal.

Ah Senegal, what a beautiful country!

And even so, you know French cuisine.

Yes, sir. I learned with Constance Cabriolet

And I know everything about cooking.

Ah, Constance Cabriolet! The wife of both of you, no doubt.

Sorry?

Be that as it may, Chef Bacchus will ask you a question

thanks to which you may take... the pot!

Anytime, Chef Bacchus.

Name seven aromatic substances

used in the distillation of ratafía.

What?

Name seven aromatic substances used in the distillation of the ratafía.

Angelica, anise, vanilla

nutmeg, lemongrass, juniper...

Juniper...

And cilantro!

Yes, monsieur, cilantro!

You have won the pot!

Twenty-seven thousand, two hundred and fifty francs!

Bruno, you're going to Africa!

You're going to Africa, Bruno!

My friend, Mamadou!

The colonies bring luck, and some ratafía too!

You won the pot, yes sir! 27,250 francs!

Thanks for coming. Please come in.

For Bruno!

Boss

What do you think of African cuisine?

It is curious. These potatoes... They're sweet, right?

They're not potatoes, boss! They're bananas!

Well, now

we have to announce the news back home.

I thought we could send a postcard.

Ah, París!

Yes, the Eiffel Tower!

Dear Bruno...

is very sick,

the doctor says the wind goes through him same as the Eiffel Tower.

We have won...

a cooking contest

We are going to send Bruno back home.

From the city of Paris!

And this is from us.

Thank you, brother, thank you!

Thank you, Bok.

- Don't open until you're on the plane. - Okay.

- At last. He's off already. - To die.

The important thing is that he's gone.

No brother. The important thing...

is never laboring in the midst of loneliness and contempt.

You are right, Mamadou. You're right.

Subtitles translated from the Spanish and synched by Muriel.