Original subtitles

Do you know that Armand is madly in love with you?

Really?

He loves you.

He really does.

Well, I can only thank you.

Did you hear that, Verville?

You've kept quiet on the subject.

I've known you barely a year.

And this gentleman just 5 minutes.

Back to Armand.

Go and show it to Monsieur Dumas in his box.

What's wrong?

It's nothing... it'll go.

- You're unwell? - It's nothing. Let's dance.

Annette... some water.

Stop the music.

It's nothing.

Stay close by.

I'll join you presently.

Monsieur Dumas, does this woman have to cough up her lungs

until the fifth act?

No, It's not obligatory.

This unpleasant scenario only occurs in the fifth act.

As it's new to me,

Excuse me, maestro, I should ask your help more often.

She wasn't some grand lady, Mademoiselle.

But she was far superior to the work she did.

The model for this character was called Alphonsine Plessis

and she never had such tragic adventures.

I invented that part.

But she would have loved to have lived them.

Ok, thank you.

Everybody in position. Start again.

From the top. Places, please. Scene Two.

Take it away, Gaston.

Do you know that Armand is madly in love with you?

- Really? - He loves you.

Madame, I'm hungry.

Look down.

Look down.

You have beautiful eyelashes.

What did he say to you?

If I see you begging for alms,

I�ll tell the police.

Let's see.

You did well, Alphonsine.

Bravo!

- It's OK? - Rain, like gold,

brings back my taste for life.

Is Monsieur Plessis in?

Alphonsine... is your father there?

He's busy.

You know Madeleine?

Well... he gave her some stuff.

I need some too.

Oh yeah... come on.

Is he sick?

No, he's very well.

These are cough tablets.

Sometimes he gives me some when there's nothing left to eat.

It cuts your thirst and your hunger.

You feel really happy.

That's 2 francs.

2 francs.

Let's hope it works.

I�ve already got 5 kids:

3 boys and 2 girls.

When it's that time, if I say no

my husband beats me.

It should be up to us to decide when we get rolled over in bed.

Otherwise...

Do you want me to look down?

Where's your licence, Plessis?

Plessis!

I want to see your licence.

Did you sell Mathilde a mixture

to bring on her periods?

What's happened to her?

Just hurry up. Don't ask questions.

This isn't about medications...

can't you read? - No.

He was asleep.

I sold it to her. I thought it was rose water.

You and your father make a good team.

But from now on we'll be keeping an eye on you.

Tomorrow you'll present yourself to the sergeant.

And you, my pet, will be off to the reformatory.

Puts some pants on when you're sleeping with your daughter!

Quiet! Lie down!

Come in Plessis.

Come through.

Nothing discourages you, Plessis.

- Good morning, Countess. - You've dared come here.

I�ve turned you out the door and you've come back anyway.

I haven't come for myself but for...

Your daughter?

Yes. They want to put her in the reformatory.

And you don't want that to happen?

No.

Because they're subjected to abuse,

made to work,

not given enough to eat?

Yes.

Or because you could easily lose

the means of ensuring your livelihood?... Eh?

What went through your mind?

That by seeing her, I was going to be moved...

just because we're related?

No! I know neither this tramp, nor this beggar woman.

I dislike her anyway.

But in a few years when she's more beautiful,

I won't like her at all.

- Come on... - Wait!

Me?

My poor sister wanted to indulge herself

the luxury of an escapade with a stable boy.

She enjoyed it for a few months.

But she ate poorly

til the end of her days.

When you taste the pleasures of the flesh,

you pay a price.

Try not to forget that.

This was your grandmother's, Alphonsine.

At least her handsome stable boy,

didn't manage to pawn

this pin.

Come on.

Thank you.

Listen.

Monsieur Bernier says you can stay at his place.

At least that would solve our immediate problem,

and keep you out of the reformatory.

And you?

Me?

I�ll come and see you every day.

When should I go?

Right away. He's waiting outside.

Off you go.

- It's you, Plessis? - Come on.

Alphonsine isn't feeling well.

What's up with her?

She's been complaining all day.

Then she went to bed.

- Is she asleep? - I think so.

Maybe it's not good for her here.

Maybe... I should take her home with me.

Plessis, what are you after... raising the price?

She's my daughter.

I can take her back whenever I like.

I'd like a lamp.

What for?

I wanna go back upstairs. I wanna lamp.

What's up?

- Tell me. - No... lemme be.

- You want me to come up with you? - No thanks.

Don't touch me.

Plessis.

No need to cry or be afraid. There's no reason.

It happens to all women.

Usually there's a friend who can explain it.

But since there's only the two of us...

It happens to all women... when they become women.

And then it goes away.

And then it comes back.

When it happened to your mother, she pinned a nice red flower

on her dress.

Like that.

So I knew

and I left her alone.

Then there was a time when I didn't see the red flower.

9 months later you were born. You understand now?

Take one... you'll have sweet dreams.

Look at her... she's worn red flowers on purpose!

Send her back to Bernier's!

Get out!

Go away!

- Give me my crown! - You heard... it's shameful!

Send her home!

Chase her out!

Stop ganging up on an innocent girl!

Without the Christian religion, what would you be?

You make me ashamed.

And you dare to pray.

The procession is for the honour of our Lord.

Not to fight over a garland of red geraniums.

If the boys annoy you, maybe you're responsible.

Doing what?

You don't know?

And Monsieur Bernier?

You can go to bed. I�ve not finished.

The kitchen's very tidy. Good night.

But if you don't want to talk to Monsieur Bernier,

I don't want to force you.

- Monsieur Bernier... - Yes?

Well, he makes me undress.

Then he looks at me.

He looks at me.

He almost always ends up by falling asleep.

He's very rich.

And if he wasn't rich?

He wouldn't give money to my father, for my company.

Madame Dumesnil said:

"Who sleeps well eats badly. "

I eat well every day.

Don't see what's wrong with that.

From tonight you won't go to him anymore.

- You want me to go back to my father? - Wouldn't you like to?

Yes. I like living with my father.

Other men don't like him

Women run after him all the way home.

I hide, and I watch them.

I�ll speak to him. I�ll tell him what you do.

He already knows.

And...?

And nothing.

He carried on doing it. All he was wearing was socks.

I�d never seen how a man was made.

Then he beat me, but we made peace straight away.

Tonight you won't go to Bernier.

You'll stay here with Delphine.

After... we'll see.

- Coming? - Yes.

You'll sleep here.

I�ll bring you a mattress and sheets.

- Delphine! - Yes?

Alphonsine's sleeping here.

All right.

Scared?

- Is this the book that you read in church? - Yes

Can you read to me what it says?

"How beautiful you are, How beautiful you are

Your hair is like a herd of goats

Your eyes are like doves

Your lips are like scarlet ribbons.

Your cheeks are like pomegranate skin

"Your breasts are like twin fawns

"grazing among the lilies.

"Your love is more sweet than wine.

"Honey drips from your lips, you have

"honey and milk under your tongue"

Alphonsine.

Alphonsine, what happened to you?

What happened to you?

- What is it? - We gotta leave.

- Why? - The police are coming.

- They're looking for me. - Let's beat it!

Hurry! Quick!

Quick.

Come on.

- She's a witch. - They both have to go.

I hate the people here. And they detest me.

There's got to be a better place than this.

- What's up? - I�m hungry... are you?

Cover yourself, Ania.

You going to the fair at Avalon?

Don't know anything about it. We aren't down for any special reason.

My daughter was tired from walking.

So we took the boat.

You're young for a father.

- Where I come from, we start early. - So it seems.

What's the use of wasting time? Have a cigar?

What's there in Avalon?

There's a lot of people.

A lot of... hurly-burly.

I�ve always done good business at the fair.

A bit of a spiel.

Cakes, pastries.

In my travelling kitchen.

I think it dates from Napoleon.

It serves as home and a shop.

They go crazy for my candy floss.

It's said to be the best in the district.

Is there a pharmacy at Avalon?

Do you need something?

Yes. Certain pills that make life happy, even when it isn't.

I�ve got better than that!

- You wanna try? - Yes.

- Really? - Yes!

Ania, eat something.

Ania sweetie, come on... eat!

Here.

You have it.

Thank you.

Don't laugh... it upsets you.

Stop it, darling.

Stop it.

Ania sweetie, calm down, be sensible.

Over it?

How old are you?

What's your name?

Alphonsine.

"Alphonsine"...

Cover yourself.

As well as the same eyes...

you also have the same first initial as Ania.

I�m leaving you with him. He's a good man. You'll learn a trade.

He'll also give you a wage. Not for the first months... he's given that to me!

I�ve taken the pin. Don't you worry.

This boy won't bother you, and he'll take you to Paris.

Goodbye!

Hurry, hurry, ladies and gentlemen. The last ones!

Get my lollipops!

Get my lollipops!

Running out fast!

Last ones!

A lollipop.

"A lollipop. "

Maxence's delicacies.

They're bright red.

Who wants some?

My delicacies

Would you like one?

Can't you be careful?

It's okay. We'll fix you up.

You'll see... it'll go away... right away!

- Still sore? - A little bit.

You see... my remedy works.

You put them in boiling sugar?

Those are naturally sweet.

- Who's girl is that? - Girls don't interest me.

70 francs... Not bad for 1 day!

That's for you. Your pay.

What if we left right away?

- "Right away"? I want to be in Melun tomorrow morning.

You listened behind the door?

I�ll harness the horse.

My grandmother was a countess, but my grandfather was a groom.

I�ll drive and you take a rest. But don't try anything!

When my father left, he said: "He's a good man. "

So?

He added: "You'll see. He won't bother you. "

Let's hope he stays lost.

All the same, that's the way it is.

You haven't tried to...

You've never been amorous?

Don't you want me to talk about it?

For me to fall in love,

I have to be sure the whole thing's impossible,

that nothing good will come of it,

and I�ll not be able

to eat or sleep.

When I�m sure it will be a disaster

I throw myself into it... and I�m in love.

- And then? - Then it's better you walk away.

In Paris you'll get a job.

Beware of falling in love with someone impossible.

Beware of falling in love at all.

Now you're going to let me sleep.

Now girls, no dawdling.

We've got to have 30 pairs finished by tonight.

It's the lady at her window

she'll be upset in a thousand years or two

Spin the wool, spin out the days.

Present arms!... at ease!

Tell us who'll obey you, pretty zouave? Blonde or brunette?

It's going to his head!

Could you talk about something else?

They're the things that inspire us.

If you want us to talk about Virgin Mary, give us a nun's outfit!

She enjoyed the smell of a fresh flower

- Are you sure about that? - Yes.

Are you scared?

No. But I�m most afraid of finishing up in hospital.

Look.

I gotta get a client...

Otherwise the nursemaid will put my son on the pavement, this evening.

But you can't... you're sick.

Who's gonna notice?

In the middle of the night, up against a wall.

They'll find out later, and you'll finish up in trouble.

I spend my evenings at the theatre.

If you want to come, you'll be welcome there.

Something different... playing the whore, eh?

Go on... come along.

Day and night.

"Day... and night. "

I wish I could tell you that I love you.

"I love you. " Christine.

That enough?

It'll do.

I�m waiting.

I don't often think of you.

But I dream about you.

Even if I don't always remember what I dreamed of.

"what I dreamed of. "

And I cannot get to sleep.

Not because I�m afraid.

But sad.

When I think of you...

...it's without remorse.

I want to remember

...that love song...

...that you sang to me.

You were wrong to do what you did.

Not that it was bad.

At least that's what I think.

I finish on that note.

Your very affectionate...

Alphonsine Plessis.

- What's the address? - Nonant-le-Pin, Orne.

Who is it to?

The priest at Notre-Dame des Champs.

I give my word I love but you

Your towel.

Your ladyship.

The younger one's Professor Martin's wife,

She always misses when she pisses!

Second on the left is Count Olympio Aguado,

the Marquis of Las Marismas. He's kept by women.

The tall fair guy is Count Ag�nor de Guiche.

The 2 Montjoyeux brothers.

Twins, great hunters of wild boar and under-age girls.

They're heavily into opium.

Over there are the three richest virgins in France.

Mademoiselle de Val-Noble!

Quickly! Quickly!

She's an ex milkmaid, done time in prison...

I never knew her real name.

The poor thing suffers from colic.

Who are you looking at?

Him? That's Count Perr�gaux.

No one knows what he likes.

He spends every winter in Algeria.

He's what I�d call an interesting person.

Everything's in order

for the transfer to the cemetery.

We just need you to identify the body.

Count Perr�gaux, is this your wife?

Close the coffin.

No need to whore with soldiers to supplement our wages.

Ah, it's finished.

You haven't answered me.

Do you want to come to my place?

That's where I want to be.

Not here.

I enjoyed making love with you.

- How old are you? - 21.

Feel 100 most of the time.

Your feet are dirty.

If you don't like girls with dirty feet,

you shouldn't be looking for them at Les Halles markets.

Alphonsine!

Sit down.

Is it good? Can I have some?

Lucky girl!

I believe the young lady will be staying several days.

Would you like a fire?

This your bedroom?

My mother's.

She lives in the country.

Comes here maybe once a year.

Do you really like common people, Agenor?

More than most else.

Provided they stay people.

You've changed me already.

Since I�ve known you, I�ve been washing my feet.

So I�ve noticed. You don't eat with your mouth open.

You don't use a knife, eating fish.

But I�ve done much worse.

I�m learning to write.

Haven't you noticed I�ve been stealing your small change?

It pays for my teacher.

I saw you'd been taking my money.

I was happy about it.

Now that I know why,

you'll look smarter, be smarter...

and you'll become a bore.

Life chews you up, Alphonsine. Life wears you out.

It's more my fault than yours.

Those women who come to this place are all decrepit.

Even the very beautiful and very young ones.

I look at them at my mother's balls, loaded with gold

staggering under the weight of their necklaces, on the grand staircase.

Tonight I want to see you nude.

It will be a vision of life itself.

Come on.

Come on.

I wanted to present you to my friends.

Given that sooner or later I�ll end up in bed with these gentlemen,

that seems fair.

Christian.

See that lady over there?

Ask her if she'll join me.

You shouldn't have had to move.

I should have come to you.

Since the last time I saw you,

your clothes have become very visible.

That's why you noticed me.

I only saw my daughter's eyes.

I�m surprised to see you here.

The hotels are full of people spending their money on amusement.

We follow them.

Where do you live?

In a furnished room.

I have a suite at the hotel,

one I�ve been taking for years,

when I came here before the death of my daughter.

Now it's too big for me,

too empty.

I�d be delighted to ask you to stay.

My clothes aren't too noticeable?

They can be changed.

What else must I change?

I don't want to make any promises...

nor abuse a man who I�ll betray.

I�ll be happy just to have your charming self there

to spend some time there.

When you get bored you can leave.

Don't tell me anything...

And I won't ask.

Women can do anything... as long as they know how.

Ah, Your Excellency.

Are you ready?

Just a few touches. Watch out!

Mademoiselle Alphonsine... I didn't know if should agree or not.

She wants that your velvet cloak to be lined with mink

and the gloves with ermine.

Perhaps she should have asked for your approval.

Do you want to see?

Allow her the pleasure of opening her treasures.

Good morning, madame.

- I�m here for the showing. - Of course.

Take this flower.

What'll I do with it?

Give it back to me.

But when?

When it's wilted.

And how soon?

"The flower lives as flowers live... "

for a morning or a night.

I love you.

Say it again.

I love you, I love you!

Go... now.

Margaret, I don't know what influence you'll have on my life,

but I know there's no other woman I love more than you.

I�m happy.

One or the other.

Who's the young man in the doorway?

He's a young man without a present or a future,

but he has his father's name... Alexandre Dumas.

Au revoir.

Au revoir, madame.

Who's that?

A whore.

La Plessis. Count Stackelberg's new pet.

She knows where the money is.

You still don't know how to come down a stairway.

What have you decided?

Would you prefer dinner or the theatre?

Dinner and the theatre.

Do you want me to recite the poem set by my elocution teacher?

The title is "What have you done?"

You have my heart I have yours.

A heart for a heart, joy for joy.

Yours is returned I have no other

Yours is returned, mine is lost.

What have you done, O mighty one?

You want us to continue our reading?

Yes.

We were up to a passage that my daughter liked.

She never tired of hearing it read.

"Oliver, being left to himself in the undertaker's shop,

"set the lamp down on a workman's bench,

"and gazed

"timidly about him,

"with a feeling of awe and dread,

"which many people a good deal older than he

"will be at no loss to understand.

"An unfinished coffin

"on black trestles, which stood in the middle of the shop,

"looked so gloomy and death-like

"that a cold tremble came over him, every time his eyes wandered

"in the direction of the dismal object:

"from which he almost expected to see some frightful form,

"slowly rear its head, to drive him mad with terror.

"At that moment, Oliver Twist... " - Serge.

Yes?

I�ve run out of money.

I know, you gave me 30,000 francs yesterday.

Today I spent 5,000 buying two Irish horses.

Etienne didn't like driving a carriage with only one horse.

You're so rich. You know

I don't expect you to believe me.

How can you believe someone you pay 50,000 francs

a month...?

You know I could love you...

or for all the things that you've given me.

You'll never know.

What are the names of the horses you bought?

Adorable and Crinito.

You wouldn't have been able to resist them, either.

Back to the shop...

"Against the wall were ranged,

"a long row of elm boards cut in the same shape:

"looking in the dim light, like high-shouldered ghosts

"with their hands in their pockets...."

Serge, I�m very tired.

'Til tomorrow, my friend.

Like this?

Too high.

Let the man bow down.

I am Count Edouard de Perr�gaux.

I�m sorry Mademoiselle,

He insisted on coming in.

That's alright, you can go.

You heard what I was saying to my protector,

...Count Perr�gaux? - Yes.

I couldn't do otherwise.

It was for you that I was speaking.

I wanted you to know that despite his generosity,

I still manage to build up debts.

That doesn't frighten me.

Your money won't be spent badly.

Men enjoy themselves a lot in bed with me.

Do you know why?

Because I enjoy myself a lot in bed with them.

That'll be 2 francs.

Thank you, monsieur.

What would you like? Some angelica ointment...

with linseed meal, for poultices.

- Give me some gauze too. - Right away.

I�ll fix it for you.

I�m so happy to know you.

You can't know how much I love you.

Count...your excellency... come in please.

Pardon me for walking ahead of you.

- And Madame? - I was going to advise you...

Madame left a letter for you.

She decided to consult a big specialist, and she's left.

Very well Clotilde.

I feel like something hot.

I�ll get it.

Where are we going?

Back to Paris.

But where were we?

In England. Don't you remember anything?

Wait...yes.

Yes... there was a landing stage

You carried me in your arms.

You've been dreaming. Then...?

We were in a room.

Yes. And afterwards?

Somebody said something to me I couldn't understand.

He asked you in English:

"Will you take this man

"as your lawful husband?"

Did I say yes?

You said yes.

Countess Perr�gaux.

Are you enjoying seeing the real Algeria?

No...I'd rather imagine it.

Up until I met you,

I'd spent most of my life in Algeria.

In a tent in the desert?

There are very beautiful gardens.

And the sky is almost always blue...

serene... warm.

I like the cold.

I like snow and grey skies.

I ship out in a few days, Alphonsine.

You aren't asking me to go with you?

No, I'm not asking you.

You have obligations

to me.

I know.

I've been your wife, for several days.

Even if it... if it seems strange to you,

I'm asking you to leave me...

If you do not want to follow me,

and let me lead my life as I've always done,

then I ask you to let me be free.

But I have many demands.

So you won't be able to say

you weren't warned.

It's your sincerity which most won over me.

My handwriting is still shaky.

But I think the idea is clear.

"I want to tell you in writing that you are free.

"I wanted to tell you to your face

"and here I'm repeating it.

"Signed Alphonsine. "

The conditions?

I will only use your title.

You'll continue to lead your life and I mine.

From now on,

the men who want to show off at the theatre or the races

with a countess in their arm, must pay me more.

That's all.

I must find another name.

Countess... Alphonsine Duplessis.

Countess of... "Alphonsine" doesn't sound right.

Don't you agree?

Need another name...

don't know...

...another name...

Alphonsine...

don't know...

I'll find it...

Countess Marie...

Subtitles: FatPlank [RLB] for KG