Chocolat
Dialogue Transcript Transcript written by and used with the courtesey of Angela Sugden
Woman 1 Bonjour, Monsieur.
Woman 2 Bonjour, Monsieur. Say bonjour.
Narrator Once upon a time, there was a quiet little village in the French countryside, whose people believed in tranquilite. Tranquility.
Paris hioners Come Holy Ghost, Creator come, From Thy bright heavenly throne, Come take possession of our souls, And make them all Thine own, Far from us drive our…
Narrator If you lived in this village, you understood what was expected of you.
Paris hioners …unto us bring, And through all…
Narrator You knew your place in the scheme of things. And if you happened to forget, someone would help remind you.
Pere Henri The season of Lent is upon us. This is of course, a time of abstinence. Hopefully, also a time of reflection. Above all, let this be for us a time… a time of sincere penitence. It is a time to stand up and be counted.
Narrator In this village, if you saw something you weren’t supposed to see… you learned to look the other way.
Pere Henri This is a time for Christ. When you reflect, he knows what you reflect on.
Narrator If by chance your hopes had been disappointed… you learned never to ask for more.
Pere Henri He knows for what you must be forgiven. So in this year of our Lord, 1959, things…
Narrator So, through good times and bad… famine and feast… the villagers held fast to their traditions. Until… one winter day, a sly wind blew in from the north.
Pere Henri Where will we find truth? Where do we start looking? Where will we find truth? We will find it…
Armande Who the hell are you?
Vianne Oh, er, we’re here about the patisserie. We’d like to rent it, and the apartment above.
Armande Where are you from?
Vianne Well, we, er, lived in Andalucia for a while. Let me see. Before that, er, Vienna, and before that…
Anouska Before that…
Vianne Athens.
Anouska Pavia.
Vianne Pavia, yes.
Anouska Pantoufle hated it there.
Vianne Pantoufle is her kangaroo.
Anouska But he can’t hop.
Vianne Bad leg. War injury, huh?
Armande I’ll expect you to keep it in good condition.
Anouska What a nice town this is. Don’t you think so, Mama?
Vianne It’s a lovely town.
Anouska Mama, Pantoufle wants to know how long we can stay.
Vianne Oh, tell Pantoufle not to worry. Time for bed. What story tonight?
Anouska Pantoufle wants to hear about grandmere and grandpere.
Vianne Not tonight, Anouska.
Anouska You always say that. Tell about grandmere and grandpere.
Vianne Not tonight. How about the princess and the pirates?
Anouska Okay. Prepare to fire! All hands on deck! Ready, aim… fire!
Comte de Reynaud Forgive the intrusion.
Vianne It’s a pleasure.
Anouska Sorry, monsieur. Pirate attack.
Comte de Reynaud Of course. What is your name?
Anouska Anouk. What’s yours?
Comte de Reynaud I am the Comte de Reynaud, at your service.
Anouska A real one? Like the Comte de Monte Cristo?
Comte de Reynaud Ah-ah! He was not a real one.
Vianne To what do we owe the honour of your visit?
Comte de Reynaud Well, as mayor of Lansquenet… I want to welcome you to the community, and to invite you to worship with us at mass on Sunday.
Vianne That’s very kind of you, but actually we don’t attend. We’re glad to be so near the church though. We’ll enjoy singing with the bells.
Comte de Reynaud The bells are not intended as an entertainment, Madame. They are a solemn call to worship for…
Vianne No, no. Mademoiselle.
Comte de Reynaud I beg your pardon?
Vianne Mademoiselle. I’ve never been married, but feel free to call me Vianne. I do hope you’ll stop by when I open for business next week.
Comte de Reynaud Yes. Yes, opening a patisserie during the holy Lenten fast. I could imagine better timing.
Vianne Oh, but it’s not going to be a patisserie.
Comte de Reynaud Then what do you intend to..?
Vianne It’s a surprise.
Narrator The Comte de Reynaud was a student of history, and therefore a patient man. He trusted the wisdom of generations past. Like his ancestors, he watched over the little village… and led by his own example… hard work, modesty, self-discipline.
Comte de Reynaud I have completed the eighteenth century. Madame Clairmont.
Mme Clairmont Your letter to the editor, Monsieur de Comte. This paragraph about family and tradition, it’s… it’s beautiful.
Comte de Reynaud Oh. Well, thank you. I, I value your opinion. May I ask, have you been in contact with your mother recently?
Mme Clairmont Why?
Comte de Reynaud She seems to have rented out the patisserie.
Mme Clairmont Oh. Well, I haven’t talked to my mother in quite a while.
Comte de Reynaud Oh, I’m sorry. I did not mean to pry.
Mme Clairmont Oh, don’t be silly. I have no secrets from you. How is the comtesse enjoying Venice?
Comte de Reynaud The comtesse? Oh, she’s fine, thank you. Yes, yes, she’s enjoying it very much. Venice.
Woman I heard she was some kind of radical.
Boy 1 I heard she’s an atheist.
Boy 2 What’s that?
Boy 1 Don’t know.
Monsieur Blerot Come on, Charly. Come on. Come on.
Mme Clairmont Oh! You should be more careful!
Boy 1 So sorry, Madame.
Boy 2 I’m sorry.
Vianne Are you all right?
Mme Clairmont I’m fine, I’m fine.
Vianne I’m sorry, I’m sorry. Do you want to come in and sit down?
Mme Clairmont No, no. Please don’t trouble yourself. I’m fine.
Vianne No, it’s no trouble. I’m Vianne Rocher.
Mme Clairmont Caroline Clairmont. I’m the daughter of your landlady. This is my son Luc.
Vianne Oh, hello. And this is my Anouk. Come in, please, where it’s warm. Try this. I bet you’ve never had hot chocolate made from a two-thousand year old recipe.
Mme Clairmont Thank you, but no. Luc. No.
Mme Marceau What’s this?
Anouska What do you see, Madame, in this?
Mme Marceau Sorry?
Vianne What does it look like to you? Just say the first thing that comes into your mind.
Mme Marceau Erm, a woman riding a wild horse?
Vianne Ooh!
Mme Marceau Oh, silly answer.
Vianne Oh, no. There are no silly answers. The pepper triangle, that’s for you. A tiny hint of chili pepper… to play against the sweetness. Tangy, adventurous.
