Original subtitles

My dear Fran�ois. l just received your letter from Amsterdam.

These written conversation with you are my comfort.

The mildness of springtime seems cruel to me,

as if it weren't meant for me.

Joachim is completely absorbed by his work.

As if he wanted Jean and Sophie to be the heralds of his art.

l admit your idea perturbed me, but why not?

lt will hurt Joachim, but we know it's inevitable.

My friend, l'm expecting you with the utmost impatience,

and, as you know, l'll welcome you with joy.

Louise, don't you recognize me? -Mister Fran�ois!

Madame, sir...

Fran�ois, you'll find him changed.

Shall we tell him about Scotti? -No, let's wait until tonight.

Well, old fellow, surprised to see me?

Glad to see you back, Fran�ois.

l didn't write. l was afraid you wouldn't let me in!

What about Sophie? -Brilliant!

Perfect? -Not yet perfect, but very soon!

Uncle Fran�ois!

Happy Birthday, Joachim!

Five, ten, twenty...

...thirty, thirty-six...

...forty-three and a dash more!

This, Joachim, is my present.

Listen.

lt's distorted, but you'll recognize your own voice.

Want to hear it?

Not really. You see...

l'd feel as if l were my own echo.

No, thanks.

Would you like to keep Jean's voice?

Or Sophie's?

Yes.

Then admit that some people would like to keep yours

and the piano which accompanies it sometimes.

You'll see, Joachim,

the testimony of voice will soon replace that of writing.

Yes, there's one other thing that concerns all of us.

This is for you.

Prince Scotti is honoured to invite you to the song contest

which he is organizing at the Ch�teau on May 1st and 2nd.

We sincerely hope you will participate and that your teacher will be present.

Scotti? Who's he?

We know what you think of him. Nevertheless, it's an opportunity

that neither Jean or Sophie should miss.

Everyone in the music world will be there.

lt may be the start of a career.

Will you refuse this invitation? -They're the ones who are invited.

Who is this Scotti? -A very wealthy patron of the arts.

Also a great music lover

who finds his pleasure in making and unmaking reputations.

You knew about this?

His song contests are renowned. Many a career started there.

You knew about this.

But he's Joachim's particular enemy! -Enemy?

He sang twenty years ago. -And he no longer sings?

He broke his voice trying to surpass Joachim in a memorable duel.

l thought you weren't coming.

Why did you accept?

He has that much influence? -l fear so.

Yet he wasn't able to destroy your career.

Because you were the best.

No, because he thought he was the best.

How does it feel seeing him after all this time?

l probably won't see him.

We were expecting you, Mr Dallayrac. -Don't bother. l'm not staying.

Charles, we're leaving.

But you can't...

Now, you're in for it and you can't back out.

This is the list of the guests we're still expecting.

The Prince is absent. He has reserved the best rooms for you.

The gentleman's room.

The Prince is sorry he could not welcome you.

You already told me that.

Some fruits, perhaps? -No, thank you.

Please turn out the light.

When did he arrive? -Hardly half an hour ago.

My absence must have annoyed him. -Hardly.

He left directly after bringing his pupils.

Joachim surely talked about me. l'm the Prince...

Prince Scotti.

Pardon me if l am embarrassing you. lt's not my intention.

l have the greatest respect for youth and talent.

And a pupil of Mr Dallayrac, unhoped for an art lover as devoted as l...

Devoted and ruthless!

Pity he couldn't stay longer.

We'd have had so many things to talk about.

But we'll have plenty of time to talk tomorrow.

l talk and talk... when, in fact, l invited you here to listen to you.

l haven't even heard the sound of your voice.

No harm done! -Pardon?

l said : No harm done!

No harm done!

Nothing's ready! The violins are too high and the piano too low.

Say something! -Say what?

Anything. For instance...

Say : No harm done!

No harm done.

Once more. -No harm done.

What's going on? Explain this!

Go on singing.

Remember: l want you to be worthy of my reputation.

Be absolutely perfect!

l can't sleep.

lt's this place that... -lt's the storm...

lt's beautiful here, isn't it?

Have you seen the prince?

Charming. A little odd, but quite different from what Joachim told us.

l hate storms. l find this place eery.

Do you?

l think this place will suit me.

Over there, l felt as if l was just passing through.

l'm frightened.

Do you miss him already?

l too am frightened.

Kiss me.

Take me.

You drove all night long? -We stopped on the way.

And you left them alone? -Yes. You were right. They're ready!

Charles, the luggage!

You're going to rest, Joachim. We are going to rest.

You're dreaming again! A penny for your thoughts!

Do you really think he has the same voice as l?

Yes, exactly the same.

Surprising, isn't it?

Absurd! Two identical voices don't exist!

Anyway, you are the best!

ls this why l spent two years preparing for this contest?

l know how to handle this young man.

As soon as he enters the hall, you'll start singing.

Mr Dallayrac's pupils have come to rehearse.

But, sir, Arcas intended to rehearse right now!

He'll have to wait. l promised. -That's unfortunate.

Arcas has almost finished. -Let him finish then.

Do you mind? -Not at all.

Who is this Arcas?

He's been the Prince's pupil for 3 years.

Want to listen to him?

Has he sang already in public?

Quite often. The audience is very important.

Capturing the attention of an audience...

Did you often sing in public? -Never.

Dallayrac! l'm not surprised!

Well, everyone has his methods!

But... that's your voice!

No one is unique.

No one.

You should reason with him.

Either you control your emotions or you become vulnerable.

l chose you to open the contest.

We would be very disappointed if we couldn't hear you.

You were perfect. He has met his master.

l almost feel sorry for him. lt's hard to be beaten.

And l know all about it!

To my mind, we won't see him again.

lt was a trap. Let's go! -No.

This proves he's afraid that l might be better than his prot�g�.

l want to leave. lt's a trap.

They'll make mincemeat out of us. - We're not leaving!

You're going to sing. -What about you?

l'll wipe the floor with that Arcas!

What's the use? They're too strong! -l have my plan.

You must sing.

l need you. You must sing.

l wish l could sing like her.

A little more there. One also sings with one's eyes.

You mustn't deny the audience that!

He told me that one day. -He told me that often.

These contests bore me. Always the same faces!

Worse: always the same voices!

l feel as if l've been writing the same article for the last ten years.

l didn't think she'd appear.

lt's risky opening a contest! -Especially your contest!

You knew how to handle this boy and he trapped us!

This must bring back strange memories to the Prince.

What do you mean? -lt's an old story.

Dallayrac's pupils had to be at their best.

That young man is already the talk of the town!

And you're doing nothing! -We can still turn the tables.

lt depends only on you.

You'll all have noticed the strange similarity

between the voices of Mr Dallayrac's pupil

and our prot�g�, Arcas.

Yet, two voices are never exactly the same,

especially when singing.

Who's the best, by the way? -You must confront these voices!

A duel? A tempting idea.

lf they were masked, we could judge them fairly.

Masks?

Then masks it shall be!

As for me, l accept.

Have contracts prepared for tonight.

With your talent, you have nothing to fear. You were wonderful!

But your hand is cold as ice. Come and sit down.

As for the audience, today they love you, tomorrow they'll kill you.

The audience is the most ungrateful mistress.

She's ignored me for twenty years, and yet, l can't leave her!

l'm prepared to offer you the greatest career.

l have the power to do so.

But on one condition:

l want to know how Joachim taught you to sing.

Why is it that all he touches is incomparable?

l want to know why music submits to him.

l want to know his secret and l know that you hold it.

Think it over. We have plenty of time.

Well' do great things...

...together.

Now l hope that time passes quickly.