Original subtitles

My little one.

Who has stolen the child's dream?

It's Krank, the wicked scientist.

The story's become a nightmare,

the genius is vexed, he's yelling out loud,

the genius is in a sorry state.

THE CITY OF LOST CHILDREN

Roll up, ladies and gentlemen.

Don't be scared, come and look.

Roll up, look at these chains.

They're made from the same steel as anchor chains.

Yes, ladies, take a look, don't be frightened...

At the end of the corridor of shadows,

you will enter the world of the chosen.

Abandon your powers of sight.

I see thousands of you gouging out your eyes.

As his brother, barely three years old, passes amongst you,

he will perform his great feat.

And for your great pleasure, after the bone,

he will endeavour to shatter his chains,

and he will do this by the strength of his lungs alone.

Quiet, please, ladies and gentlemen, for the demonstration.

I beseech you, for your own safety, do not look into his eyes.

His powers of concentration are such

that, in some cases, they can cause a concussion.

Mr One is ready...

Prepare yourselves...

Little thief!

Stealing the artists' money!

Give me that, hand it over!

What's the matter?

He's not feeling well.

Help him.

MISSING STOP THE DISAPPEARANCES!

Don't move! Don't move or I'll plug you.

Grub!

Grub!

Kill him! Kill him!

Kill him!

Kill him!

- Who's this? - The strongman from the fair.

Don't know.

What are you doing here?

I've lost little brother.

Your strongman brought some friends.

Working, are we, kids?

Doing very good work, I see.

It was nice of you to wait for us.

Thank you.

Thank you.

Remember, tiddler,

my ears are so sharp, I can hear you think.

Get yourselves some lollipops.

Aren't you going a bit far?

Move your bum.

Come on, come on.

Let's go.

Pick it up, we're going.

Hurry up.

- Cyclops bastards. - We know where to find them.

What about him, Crumb?

You've been useful. Take that, we're quits.

Do you know where to find the Cyclops?

Go away.

Get lost!

Happy birthday Here's our wish

May this cake Your happiness make

May the whole year...

Wait till we've blown out the candles!

Be together once again.

Happy birthday, uncle!

A cake for me?

You're really too kind.

Are you ready, children?

Not you, you've got a cold.

One... two...

What is the reason for this bawling?

It's Irvin's birthday, my little one.

Irvin's birthday, of course. How could I have forgotten?

Let us enjoy ourselves. Let us rejoice.

Let's sing, let's shout, let's yell!

Come back, Krank! I had an idea last night.

If the children yield only nightmares,

the evil may be inside you.

A molecular study of your own tears

might reveal the cause of your torments.

Who is capable of making me cry?

We can, boss.

We can make you cry with laughter.

A dwarf am I Mind my eye

I play the fool The whole day through

A glass of beer To bring me cheer

No more sorrow On the marrow

A dwarf am I Mind my eye

I play the fool The whole day through...

You mustn't mind your brothers. They're trying their best.

My brothers.

May I try, Krank?

Go on then, you slug.

Once upon a time,

there lived an inventor with a gift for giving life.

He was so gifted...

A fairy tale.

I can feel the tears welling up inside.

Having neither wife nor child, he decided to make them himself.

His wife's gift was to be

the most beautiful princess in the world.

Alas,

a bad fairy gene cast a spell on the inventor

so that when the princess was born, she was only three inches tall.

He cloned six children in his own image,

faithful and hard-working,

so similar you could hardly tell them apart.

But the bad spell meant that they all had sleeping sickness.

He needed a confidant,

so, inside a fish tank,

he grew a brain that had many migraines.

Finally,

he created his masterpiece,

more intelligent than the most intelligent of men.

Alas, the inventor also gave him a flaw.

He couldn't dream, not even a little bit.

It made him so unhappy that he grew old unimaginably fast.

Boss...

There!

There!

- A dropper, quickly. - A dropper!

- A dropper, quickly! - A dropper!

Then, the poor masterpiece became so demented

he thought a teardrop could save him.

After committing many cruelties, he died in dreadful agony,

having never had a single dream.

Get out! All of you!

Get out!

Bye, uncle.

SEE YOU TONIGHT

Silence!

Vegetable!

What's the use of that?

Not worth a hook to hang it on.

It's pretty.

Stop showing off.

Baldie won't always be there to bail you out.

Go on, scram.

- Is that it? - Looks like it.

That's it, answer back. And you'll see.

There are plenty more orphans where you came from.

Come now, Tadpole.

Do you want to go into the hole?

It's cold in there, and dark, and full of spiders.

Do you, Tadpole?

There we are.

You see, when you want to...

All right, second shift.

It's a quiet neighbourhood, but be careful.

You enter through the courtyard, with all the equipment.

Upstairs, there are three doors, one of them locked.

You'll have to force it open. Behind it,

you'll find what we want.

Here it is.

He keeps his hoard in one just like it.

It takes two hours to open.

We'll get nicked!

You've no choice, unless you know someone who can carry it.

Someone got in.

- Someone got in. - Cretin! He's here.

Are you paid to sleep on the job? Who is he?

- How should I know? - The strongman from the fair!

The one who breaks his chains.

Are you thinking what I'm thinking?

Well done, beast.

One not like whistles. One not thief.

Thief? What do you mean?

- Not thieving, just borrowing. - What'd he say?

Take the safe back if you want, it's not so heavy.

Little brother.

Abandon your powers of sight...

- He's crazy! - The Octopus'll kill us.

Tell her I'll bring him back. I won't be long.

One!

Where are you going?

Truck, Grub. Little brother.

What about the truck?

Truck Cyclops.

Kidnap Grub. Kidnap little brother.

You won't find the Cyclops truck that way.

By the time you get there, the wolf will have gobbled him up.

Take a rest. No point wearing out your shoes.

I know where the truck's gone.

Crumb and One, together.

And what else?

And anyway, how old's your little brother?

Little, little brother.

Found.

One night...

One heard rubbish bin crying.

One go closer.

Lift lid.

OK, I know.

It's as I thought. He's so young, it's no use.

Come on, we've just enough time to get back.

One stupid!

Imbecile! Cretin!

Stop that racket!

He cracked my china and rattled the chandelier!

Have you calmed down now?

One...

look for Grub.

Bye.

Don't just sit there, stupid.

Gone? Where?

I don't know! It's the strongman's fault.

- Crumb changed when he came. - He has the jewels?

That's all he wants.

You were getting ideas, poor Tadpole.

Are you falling in love

like the others? Go to bed!

Damned children. All the same.

They can't be trusted.

Raise ravens, they'll peck out your eyes.

The best ones always leave. She won't be the last.

Always the same. Remember Lucas six years ago.

And Marco before that. That's right. I'd forgotten.

When you think. After all we've done for them.

She wouldn't have had an accident?

Who knows?

Then, the winkles unscrew their shells

and use them as loud-hailers to announce the concert.

Winkles... shells...

And then, at that moment,

all the Winkles unscrew their shells,

and use them as loud-hailers to announce the concert.

The winkles unscrew their shells?

Go on, go on.

With the colours.

Yes, yes.

The shark plays xylophone with the bones of the catfish,

the walrus plays the harp with the sperm whale's braces.

The sea is sky blue.

And the sky is as blue as the South Seas.

I don't know if I'm swimming in the sky

or floating at the bottom of the sea.

I'm shivering all over.

Shivering! Shivering all over!

And the igloos! Tell me about the igloos!

The igloos that turn into mushrooms.

Ah, it's you, my boy. I was expecting you.

Watch out, the boss might hear.

The boss! He came out of a test tube just like the rest of us.

Put the kid in the sarcophagus and come here.

Earlier...

- You promised... - What's eating you, boy?

You were telling me how...

one of us is the original clone, different from the others.

Is that true?

Of course.

The others are merely vulgar copies. The original is unique.

- Unique? - Yes.

- And... do you know who it is? - You really want to know?

Wire yourself up to the child.

- To the child? - Yes.

Wire myself up to the child? But... I can't.

It's not allowed.

Exactly.

The others wouldn't dare, but you can.

You're the original.

Me?

I'm the original?

Doesn't it get lonely after a while?

All the penguins and the millipedes, everybody claps.

But even climbing up into the trees,

it's impossible to catch the candyfloss.

So everyone climbs to the top of a mountain,

except the giraffes, who stay where they are,

nibbling the clouds.

Sleep...

Sleep, my little one.

I am the sandman,

you cannot resist me.

Your eyelids are so heavy.

Sleep, my little one.

Sleep.

The snowflakes melt and turn

into hailstones...

in the farmyards...

And the turkeys... pounce...

on the hailstones...

To peck at them.

Each time, the children shout, "Help",

and the hens, it's so horrible...

There we are. Now he'll come back nicely.

- Who? The boss? - No, the kid.

He's a real nightmare factory.

- Blast! A fuse. - Perfect.

Be careful! Someone will hear you.

It's hard being original.

Now throw that message, that bottle, into the sea.

Quickly! Go on!

Let someone heed my call. Let this thing be finished with!

- Brachygobius-Xanthozonus. - Hyphessobrycon-Gymnocorymbus.

Brachygobius-Xanthozonus.

Hyphessobrycon-Gymnocorymbus.

I, Gabriel Marie,

I came into the world with my eyes open.

And I saw the world

and it was a world of dogs

and lust

And so the Creator sent me to Earth

to regain the power

which men have usurped.

My brothers,

you who have joined me in the struggle,

know that we must fight...

humans on their own terrain,

the world of appearances.

I thought we'd agreed on half a dozen.

But, you know, things are getting more difficult.

People are suspicious, they're putting up posters.

In any case, these ones are in the first bloom of youth.

Not one of them is more than five years old.

Listen, give us a few more hours.

And we'll get what you want.

The third eye alone

permits us to enter

the world of appearances.

But beware!

For this abject world of temptation, of perversion,

is also the world of desire.

Try, brother Ange-Joseph,

to discover it

without losing sight of

the true light.

Be strong!

My brothers,

the superior race

will reign once again on Earth.

And on that day, the third eye

will become useless,

for the world of appearances

will be abolished.

It's Grub!

I can see.

I can see.

I can see!

What's that?

That, brother Angel Joseph,

is a woman.

- A woman? - Do you mind?

What's that?

He is under sentence of death.

Come back when these imbeciles settle the account.

Search her!

What is that?

- Execution! - She's nothing on her.

Tomorrow night! At number 24!

One hundred thousand.

We won't even get half.

And some information.

A little girl in a red dress. And a big oaf.

They were carrying these.

But there's much less than...

What are you going to do with her?

Food for the fishes. Tonight, at Quay 24.

Food for the fishes!

- Irvin? - I've got a migraine.

Irvin, you know about feelings.

Won't you help me?

Tell me why these children dream only nightmares.

Because you are their nightmare.

You can persecute

every child on Earth,

but there's one thing you'll never have.

What?

A soul.

Do you think... that you have one?

You don't even have a body.

The man who created us made us monsters.

No, Krank,

you're wrong. You alone are a monster.

Shut up! It's his fault. It's nothing to do with me.

Nothing!

In any case,

thank you for your help.

Get busy! And don't break any decorations.

Very good. Mind you don't out yourself.

- Are we sure it's the right idea? - Of course, all children love it.

Lift your elbow.

Don't worry, Krank. If you're sincere, you've nothing to lose.

Everything all right, Marcello?

- What's it to you? - We need you.

And your little beasties. Are they as clever as ever?

Don't ask for anything more. I've already paid dearly.

You've got a nice place here, Marcello.

It hasn't changed much.

MARCELLO AND HIS FREAKS

It's funny, I never liked the blue of the cage.

You were always so good to us,

it's only natural that we should look after you.

A little girl in a red dress and a big oaf. It's him we want.

- What shall I do with her? - Her?

Food for the fishes.

My little flea.

There you are. Not too fast.

Food for the fishes!

Shut up!

Cretins!

- It wasn't me! - I don't care.

Sort it out amongst yourselves.

Hitting the original?

You? With your mug? I don't think so.

Crumb...

One...

die.

If you're born in the gutter, you'll end up in the docks.

Crumb too little.

Not that little.

- 5,000 on the girl. - 10,000 on the monster.

There are stones in your pậté.

They're not stones, they're bones.

- Where did he come from? - Why's he creeping around?

Now then, Brutus.

- I can't see. - Don't you like the music?

What's going on?

I can't see.

No, I don't want to be dead!

Go on, jump!

Quick, save Crumb!

Crumb!

No!

FOUND QUAY WEST

ST JOHN'S EVE

Miracle!

She's come back!

Spit it out!

Is that better? Look at me.

You were lucky I was there.

Haven't I seen you somewhere before?

I doubt it.

No one's ever seen me.

- I've never been to the surface. - Why?

There's danger up there.

- He wants my skin. - Who?

I can't remember anything any more.

Some people lose their marbles, I'm losing my memory.

But you're in the right place.

With all the stuff I pick up, there's plenty here for two.

Look!

You see? I'm a great seeker.

The city's history is here.

Everything they throw away and forget.

- So I see. - But I'm here to date and classify.

- That's the money-lender's safe. - I found it only yesterday.

This is Nine-Fingered Vito.

They thought he'd run off with his fortune...

What are you doing?

I stole them. I'm taking what's mine.

Don't go back up there.

It's dangerous.

You're just a kid. Stay with me.

Thank you, but I have to go now.

No, not that way.

The children!

What? Do you know something?

He takes them. The demon takes them.

With the boat.

- Takes them to hell. - What hell?

The tattooed man knows where he takes them.

The map!

He's tattooed with a map of the minefields.

It's my fault!

What a weirdo!

Damn! There's little brother.

Crumb!

Do something, I'm out of ideas.

What's wrong, handsome?

You mustn't be so sad.

What...? Yes, yes...

The girl drowned, she won't be back.

- You'll be doubly happy. - Don't sniff.

Sniff? Yes, I caught a cold.

The car will be there in 15 minutes.

15 minutes?

Cyclops truck kidnap little brother.

Kidnap Grub!

Very clever. What are you doing here?

You shouldn't disappear like that.

- I had amazing adventures with One. - No kidding.

The Cyclops steal the kids.

Oh, yeah? If you must know, One couldn't care less.

- He's partying with girls. - What did you say?

Pipo saw him,

didn't you?

In the bar.

Looks like you're much better already.

I must say, there's a lot of you, isn't there?

And solidly built.

Can I touch?

Not bad, huh?

When I go by, the guys catch every crumb.

Crumb?

Little angel!

Little angel.

Life's a bitch.

Better?

Not cold?

Not likely. You're a real radiator.

Ra...

Radiator.

Aren't you ashamed of yourself?

- Crumb? - Yes, Crumb.

Who'd you think? Santa Claus? Can we have a little talk?

No problem. I'll be off.

See you later, Mr One.

I know where your brother is.

Crumb?

You're totally trashed.

Is it really you?

- How did you do it? - You wouldn't believe me.

- You have to tell me. - No time. I have to take him.

He's so big and the state he's in, you can't carry him on your own.

Maybe you can help me?

Me?

Properly this time.

I'm ashamed.

I didn't do it for the money, you know.

I'm not a rat.

What's she playing at?

Quick! Run away!

Drowned as drowned is. Go back to the fishes.

We've got to do something!

- Bring him down! - Down!

Down!

Lower!

Grab him!

Look out!

Yes!

- Job done. - Hooked like a big fat fish.

- What's he ever done to you? - What's he done to you?

- Seems like you're in love. - Think you're funny?

He's a grown-up, Crumb, you know.

He's not that grown up.

And maybe you're not so little, either. Or you, or you.

I am.

OK, Crumb, we get it.

- Bye. - Bye, Crumb.

Go on, Tadpole. It'll be dark soon.

One.

Are you asleep?

What did you do, before?

One sailor.

Harpoon whales.

One night,

One hear whales sing.

After,

always missed target.

One lost job.

What does it mean to have a little brother?

It means...

running.

He can't say he's not wanted.

Grub, little brother.

Crumb,

little sister.

What are you doing?

Radiator.

Are you all right?

Nasty dream?

I saw the woman from the other night.

You know, the child-stealer.

There was a big ball in the sea.

Full of spikes.

A mine?

The tattooed man knows where he takes them.

He's tattooed with a map of the minefields.

One...

You're a sailor, you must know about tattoos.

A big guy, an oaf? He can't remember?

Red hair and ape-like hands?

He said he'd be in the truck, but what was there?

Nothing!

I saw him, he took him away!

Shut it!

Don't hurt my fleas!

Hurt them? Us?

On the contrary. Finish him off.

Bitches. Always on my back.

Yes, yes!

Boss...

- He's eaten your dinner. - It doesn't matter.

You must have been hungry, my angel. Come here.

No violence, Mishinka.

After all, this young man is our guest.

The singular burden of loneliness spares no one,

not even great minds.

I mean, I do so appreciate

so spontaneous a visit as this one.

It's worth not having ears to hear such twaddle.

Mishinka, it's very late for Irvin.

He's starting to tire.

Sorry, uncle.

Tell me.

Are you susceptible to the influence

of the full moon

and of the werewolf?

No.

You are susceptible only to your nutritional urges.

You aren't in the least afraid of me.

We were made to understand one another.

You're the boy I need.

Mishinka, let everybody know!

Over there. Tattoo man over there.

It'll only be the fifteenth...

Hey, caveman, wait a minute! I'm worn out.

I take three steps for every one of yours.

Say, One...

Once you've found your little brother, what will you do?

Don't know.

Find work.

House.

One day...

take wife, maybe?

What kind of woman?

Not in hurry to choose.

Take time to find shoe that fits.

Glazier!

Glazier!

CRUMB FOREVER

You don't remember?

A sailor, you tattooed a map of the minefields on him?

He will be most honoured to answer your question.

What can it be, Mum?

Can't be a submarine, it's going through the mines.

It's the Messiah who's come to save us.

The Messiah walked on the water.

We're stronger together, aren't we?

Hello, Crumb.

No...

Don't say you'd forgotten us.

Day after day with no news, we were starting to worry.

There's no need.

We'll never come back. Will we, One?

How right you are!

Hand over the jewels, quick.

Well, there they are.

And now we'll play you a little tune.

To say farewell. What do you say?

He's killing her!

Be quiet, will you!

Be quiet!

Accident!

ARTISTS' ENTRANCE

The naughty little things have got away.

But it's not over yet!

They're hiding.

Why are they hiding? Because they don't want to play.

They're hiding.

It's you, my little flea.

Where have you been?

How dreadful!

What's the Octopus up to?

Scratch... scratch...

Again? Again.

Be careful.

You've been bitten, you bitch.

Bitch yourself! Drop dead.

You're hurting me!

You're crazy!

I don't look like you, you look like me.

Look like you, you old hag?

Stuck-up cow!

I'll rip your nose off!

Get away from me!

I'm going to kill you. You always know best.

Always knowing better than everyone. Always showing off.

No migraines tonight.

I need you to be on top form.

How touching.

Is the child responsible for your mood?

A self-contained little beast, totally uninhibited.

Tonight's my last chance.

Well?

The thing's here, Mum.

- On our doorstep. - The thing's on our doorstep.

What shall we do?

Don't panic.

Are you men? Yes or no?

No.

All right, that's enough! Inspection and report!

The explosives.

The explosives!

They've disappeared.

Over there. There must be a way in.

Too small. Mouse hole.

Exactly. I'm going in.

Starting to get attached?

Concentrate on my voice, Krank.

You are slipping into sleep.

You are sinking ever deeper into nothingness.

Together, we will open a door.

One!

Crumb?

Don't hurt me.

Don't hurt me!

Goodbye, grasshopper.

You, professor?

There's no more professor.

Just a terrible mistake which must be erased.

I recognise you.

So, you little shrimp. Funny kettle of fish you've ended up in.

Go! Go before you get a good hiding.

- Does it hurt, Mum? - I'm allergic to iron.

Don't worry. He'll erase everything, like a mistake.

You'll feel better afterwards.

He knows what he's doing. He's the original!

What are you doing?

- I found him! - Where?

There!

The original! Weird, isn't it?

The original. He's the original.

But I'm the original.

- I am! - Here, boys, smell this.

One third nitrate of soda, 20 per cent glycerine, 802.

That's odd. You remind me of someone, all of you.

Anyway, come on, let's get to work.

What about the kids?

The kids.

Of course, the little children!

That's why I'm here. I brought them this.

And this.

And this.

Give them to the children.

Help me! Where do I go?

Miss!

Miss...

That passageway.

Take the key.

Don't hurt him.

And save...

the children.

And about time too.

I've been waiting a long time.

Anyone there?

It's me talking... In the tank.

Come closer. Don't be frightened.

Is it you talking, sir?

The mines, the rig in your sleep, do you remember?

That was my message.

Don't think you can fool me, too.

Get up, little brother. Time to go.

- Wake up, for God's sake! - No!

You'll kill him!

He has him in his clutches.

There's only one way.

You have to go and get him,

from the claws of evil,

inside the dream.

Look, no hands!

I don't believe this.

What am I doing?

Don't worry, everything will be fine.

If you say so, sir. But it's true, I don't even know little brother.

But I know you.

Little brother might have been yours.

Don't be frightened. Relax.

Now, close your eyes,

follow my voice, and sleep.

Sleep.

Be brave, little one.

Who are you?

What are you doing inside my dream?

- Why his dream? - He's not afraid of me.

Let me take his place.

What would you gain in return?

A brother.

If I take his place,

I might be able to find the elder.

Wouldn't you try to possess me?

What have you got to lose?

So be it.

Well, my little chick?

Sometimes it's good to end up in the shit!

Hurry up, because pretty soon it's all going to blow!

Crumb...

Crumb!

I had a strange dream.

I was very old.

And you were dead.

Nothingness equals the infinite!

Uncle!

Heave-ho!

Heave-ho!

Get a move on! It's following us!

What do you mean?

Untie the rope, you idiots!

Heave-ho!

Come back!

It's me!

Your creator!

I conceived you!

Irvin, do you hear me?

I order you to come back!

Come back!