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.
Anouska What do you see?
Luc I see teeth. I see blood… and a skull.
Vianne Very dark. Bitter chocolate. That’s your favourite.
Mme Clairmont Ah, which will have to wait five weeks more. Lent. Thank you.
Vianne Oh.
Mme Clairmont We must run along. It’s been nice to meet you. Come.
Vianne My pleasure.
Anouska Pantoufle, come on! Pirate attack!
Mme Marceau How much are those… chili things, please?
Vianne Four-fifty a box.
Mme Marceau Could you put a ribbon on it?
Vianne Mm-hmm.
Mme Marceau Then I can pretend they are for my husband.
Vianne Of course.
Mme Marceau Josephine Muscat. She waltzes to her own tune.
Vianne And these… are for your husband. Unrefined cocoa nips from Guatemala… to awaken the passions.
Mme Marceau You’ve obviously never met my husband.
Vianne Well, you’ve obviously never tried these.
Mme Marceau Don’t be pathetic.
Mme Clairmont Luc, you’ve got a tiny error in problem six. Oh, Luc.
Luc It’s nothing. It already stopped. Mother… the new teacher… wants us to correct our own mistakes.
Mme Clairmont I didn’t tell you how to correct the mistake, I just told you that you made one.
Mme Rivet Not hungry, Monsieur le Comte?
Comte de Reynaud The Lenten fast, Madame Rivet.
Mme Rivet Are you not supposed to eat something?
Comte de Reynaud It’s all right. Leave it.
Josephine (Mumbling to herself)
Vianne Hello. May I help you?
Josephine It’s expensive. I don’t waste money.
Vianne I have a knack for guessing people’s favourites. These are your favourites. Am I right? On the house.
Josephine I think I’d better… (Mumbles to herself).
Mme Audel Well.
Old Woman 2 This is certainly different.
Old Woman 3 Yes. Very different.
Mme Audel Look at that. Oh!
Monsieur Blerot Oh. I’m so sorry.
Mme Audel Bonjour, Monsieur Blerot.
Monsieur Blerot Bonjour, Madame Audel. No, not that way, Charly. Come on.
Vianne Come in! Please. Come on, boy. I’ve got something for you. What’s your name?
Monsieur Blerot Charly. He’s fourteen years old. That’s ninety-eight in human years.
Vianne No, I meant your name.
Monsieur Blerot Er, oh! Guillaume Blerot. You’re very kind. He has so few pleasures left.
Vianne Er, would you care… Would you care to buy… something special, for your lady friend?
Monsieur Blerot Lady friend?
Vianne Uh-uh. The lovely woman your dog was so fond of. Her favourite is chocolate seashells. That’s my guess.
Monsieur Blerot Oh, no. I mustn’t. Madame Audel is in mourning for her husband.
Vianne Oh, I’m sorry. When, when did he pass away?
Monsieur Blerot The war. German grenade.
Vianne Well, it’s been fifteen years since the war, so surely…
Monsieur Blerot Not that war. Monsieur Audel was killed on January the twelfth, nineteen-seventeen. It was quite a blow to Madame Audel.
Vianne Apparently so.
Comte de Reynaud Bonjour, Mesdames.
Ladies Bonjour, Monsieur le Comte.
Comte de Reynaud I wish all my tenants were as reliable as you, Madame Drou.
Mme Drou How is the Comtesse enjoying Italy?
Comte de Reynaud Uh… She may be extending her trip.
Mme Drou Ah, very nice.
Comte de Reynaud Have either of you seen the new shop across the square?
Mme Audel Oh, the chocolaterie? Yes.
Comte de Reynaud Shameless, isn’t it? The sheer nerve of the woman… opening a chocolaterie just in time for Lent. The woman is brazen. My heart goes out to that, poor, illegitimate child of hers. Bonjour.
Pere Henri You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, Cryin’ all the time, You ain’t nothin’ but a hound dog, Cryin’ all the time, Well you ain’t never caught no rabbit, You ain’t no friend of mine. Yeah.
Comte de Reynaud A new addition to the liturgy?
Pere Henri I have a weakness for American music Monsieur le Comte.
Comte de Reynaud How long have you been with us Pere Henri?
Pere Henri It will be, er, five weeks.
Comte de Reynaud Your predecessor, Pere Michel, he was with us for… five decades.
Pere Henri Yes, well… I only pray I can live up to Pere Michel’s example.
Comte de Reynaud Yes, that’s my prayer also. I looked at your sermon, as you requested. I’ve made one or two notes.
Pere Henri You’re very kind.
Comte de Reynaud Not at all. Oh, er, one more thing. If you haven’t seen the new chocolaterie, perhaps you might like to take a look. It’s important to know one’s enemy. Don’t you think?
Vianne Hey, where’s my kiss?
Armande Watch where you’re going!
Anouska Excuse me!
Vianne Hello. Morning.
Armande What’s the décor… Early Mexican Brothel? Huh? No! If I need help, I’ll ask for it.
Vianne What do you see in it?
Armande Not a damn thing.
Vianne Come on. It’s a game. What do you see?
Armande I see a cranky old woman too tired to play games.
Vianne Hmm. I’ve got just the thing for you.
Armande That little girl of yours, does she mind it?
Vianne Mind what?
Armande The way you move her from place to place.
Vianne Oh. She’s doing fine. I think it’s good for her. You know, seeing new places, meeting new people.
Armande Your cinnamon looks rancid.
Vianne Well, it’s not cinnamon. It’s a special kind of chili pepper.
Armande Chili pepper in hot chocolate?
Vianne Mm-hmm. It’ll give you a lift. There.
Armande It tastes like… I don’t know.
Children Hop, hop, hop, hop! Where’s your kangaroo? Hop, hop, hop! I’m your kangaroo now!
Teacher Stop it! Stop it! Anouk!
Anouska Ow!
Teacher In this school we are civilised. We do not strike one another.
Anouska But they insulted Pantoufle.
Teacher I don’t care. Didi, Dedou, come along! And be quiet.
Didi Where’s Pantoufle?
Anouska Ssh.
Dedou My mother says you don’t have a father.
Anouska Sure I do. We just don’t know who he is.
Armande …I was out all night with him. We swan naked in the Tannes. At dawn, when I returned to my house in my bed, my mother poked her head in and said, “Wake up, sleepyhead.” She had no idea I’d been gone. Sure you didn’t put booze in there?
Vianne Nah. Something better.
Armande Perhaps you should give it to my daughter. Melt that chilly disposition of hers.
Vianne You and Caroline have a problem?
Armande Do we have a problem? She won’t let me see my grandson. I’m cut off from him.
Vianne Why is that? Armande, why is that?
Armande Oh, I’m a bad influence. ‘Cos I don’t like her treating him like a trained poodle. I swear that boy doesn’t piss without her permission. Ever since her husband died, she’s been so… The way she frets and fusses over that boy. If only she’d let him run, let him breathe… let him live. But she worries that he will over-exert himself. Not much danger of that. She won’t even let the poor kid ride a bicycle.
Vianne Do you think he, he’d like to see you?
Mme Marceau Do you have more of those bean thingies, please?
Vianne Oh, sure. Um, how many do you want?
Mme Marceau How many have you got?
Serge Jack of hearts is a better hunter that you, eh? Shoots the trump from right out under your nose.
Vianne Are you Serge Muscat?
Serge The one and only. What’s your pleasure?
Vianne Is your wife here?
Serge Josephine? Well, it depends what you want with Josephine.
Vianne Oh, she left this at my shop.
Serge Well, let me have it. I’ll give it to her.
Vianne Oh, no, no. I’ll, I’ll give it to her myself, thanks.
Man 1 Got to go. I’m late for supper.
Man 2 But the game’s not over yet.
Man 3 You wanna play? You know Belote?
Anouska Of course I do.
Man 3 Sit down.
Vianne Josephine? Hello?
Josephine What do you want?
Vianne You forgot this.
Josephine What do you want?
Vianne To be your friend.
Josephine I don’t have friends. Does Serge know you’re here?
Vianne Does it matter? Do me a favour. Try one of these rose creams. Tell me if you think it’s a little heavy on the Cointreau.
Serge Josephine!
Josephine I’m coming! He talks about you. He says you’re indecent. He says you’re, you’re an influence. You’re a bad influence for someone like me.
Vianne Josephine, I don’t have to listen to a word your husband has to say.
Josephine No, not Serge. Not him. Reynaud, the mayor. He… he talks about you.
Vianne Time to go.
Anouska Look what I won.
Vianne That’s good. Come on.
Man Bonsoir. You see? I said they’d be here.
Vianne Luc, mind if I take a peek?
Luc Oh, um… It’s not really…
Vianne Show me. Oh.
Luc Well, I exaggerated the angle of the head.
Vianne You draw beautifully. What’s your going rate?
Luc What?
Vianne To do a portrait? How much would you charge?
Luc Oh, I… I couldn’t. I’m… I’m not really a…
Vianne Fifty francs? Sound reasonable?
Luc It’d be great.
Vianne When could you come by my shop?
Luc Oh. I’m… I’m really sorry, but… the Comte forbids it. Er, he… he spoke to Mama this morning… and a lot of others.
Vianne Whatever you say.
Luc I, I wish I could. I really do.
Vianne Thanks for showing me your drawing.
Luc Wait.
Vianne Am I breaking any laws? Tell me! Am I hurting anyone?
Comte de Reynaud You’re asking my opinion?
Vianne What exactly have you been telling people about me?
Comte de Reynaud Only the truth, mademoiselle.
Vianne Well… if you’re expecting me… to just shrivel up and blow away… you’re going to be highly disappointed.
Comte de Reynaud Let me try and put this in perspective for you. The first Comte de Reynaud, expelled all the radical Huguenots from this village. You and your truffles, present a far lesser challenge. You’ll be out of business by Easter. I promise you that.
Vianne Aagh! How long have you been standing there?
Josephine I forgot to pay you for something the other day. I’m sorry.
Vianne No, it was a gift.
Josephine No. People talk. No, people would lie about me. I don’t steal. Not on purpose. I…
Vianne Yes, I know. It’s nice to see you. Would you like to come in for some chocolate?
Josephine This is for you.
Vianne How sweet of you. Thank you. Hmm, it’s lovely.
Josephine I heard you don’t go to church.
Vianne That’s right.
Josephine You won’t last long here. People talk. Oh, sorry. I’m behaving badly, aren’t I?
Vianne No, it’s okay.
Josephine You don’t misbehave here. It’s just not done, did you know that? If you don’t go to confession, or if you don’t, dig your flower beds, or if you don’t pretend… if you don’t pretend… that you want nothing more in your life than to serve your husband three meals a day, and give him children, and vacuum under his ass, then… then you’re… then you’re crazy. Oh, you must think I’m stupid to stay with him.
Vianne No, I don’t think you’re stupid.
Josephine Well I am. I… I’m weak. I don’t love my husband and I lie.
Vianne Things could be different for you, Josephine. Serge doesn’t run the world.
Josephine He night as well.
Vianne Is that what you believe?
Josephine I know it.
Vianne Oh. Then it must be… must be true. My mistake.
Josephine You make the most wonderful chocolate.
Anouska Pantoufle wants to hear the story of grandmere and grandpere.
Vianne Oh!
Anouska Don’t say, “Not tonight.” You always say, “Not tonight.”
Vianne All right, all right. Your grandfather… George Rocher… was the young apothecary of the town of Aulus-Les-Bains.
Narrator It was Anouk’s favourite story. Always told in the same words. George was honest, prosperous, and trusted by his customers. But George was not content. He felt there should be more to life than dispensing liver oil. In the spring on nineteen-twenty-seven, the Societe Pharmeceutique formed an expedition to Central America to study the medicinal properties of certain natural compounds. George was the expedition’s most eager volunteer. But his adventure took a turn he did not expect. One night he was invited to drink unrefined cacao with a pinch of chili. The very same drink the ancient Maya used in their sacred ceremonies. The Maya believed cacao held to power to unlock hidden yearnings, and reveal destinies. And so it was that George first saw Chitza. Now, George had been raised a good Catholic… but in his romance with Chitza, he was willing to slightly bend the rules of Christian courtship. The tribal elders tried to warn George about her. She was one of the wanderers. Her people moved with the North Wind, from village to village, dispensing ancient remedies, never settling down. Not a good choice for a bride. George did not heed their warning… and for a while, it seemed that he and Chitza might lead a happy life together in France. Alas, the clever North Wind had other plans. One morning, George awoke to discover that Chitza and the little girl Vianne had gone away. Mother and daughter were fated to wander from village to village dispensing ancient cacao remedies… traveling with the wind. Just as Chitza’s people had done for generations.
Vianne Just as Chitza’s people had done for generations.
Anouska Will it just go on for ever?
Vianne Night, Mama. Oh, I appreciate you coming in, Armande.
Armande All right, what’s so important that I had to postpone my nap?
Vianne I’ve got some chocolate cake.
Luc Grandmother. Grandmother… bonjour.
Armande May I… Would you like a cup of, er…
Luc No. No, thank you. I’m just here to, um, do a portrait.
Vianne Mm-hmm.
Armande Whose?
Vianne Yours, actually. Is the light okay where she’s sitting?
Armande I have something for you, boy. I’ve been carrying it around since your last birthday. It’s a book of poetry.
Luc Oh. Thank you.
Armande You don’t like poetry?
Luc Oh, no, no, no. Of course… I do. Yes.
Armande Neither do I. It’s not that kind of poetry.
Monsieur Blerot And, in a moment of weakness… I prayed to the Virgin Mother, to soothe Charly’s soul in his hour of suffering.
Pere Henri You understand an animal has no immortal soul.
Monsieur Blerot I understand, mon pere.
Pere Henri Yet you flout God’s law.
Monsieur Blerot I’m weak and a sinner.
Pere Henri What else?
Monsieur Blerot Impure thoughts. The woman who runs the chocolaterie.
Pere Henri Vianne Rocher?
Monsieur Blerot Er, she suggested I buy chocolate seashells for the widow Audel. And, well… I guess that got me to thinking about the widow Audel.
Pere Henri At her age? At your age?
Monsieur Blerot Yes. And yes.
Pere Henri And just what were you doing in a chocolaterie during lent?
Monsieur Blerot It was for Charly.
Pere Henri Again you flout God’s law.
Monsieur Blerot Well, but if Charly has no soul… then there’s no harm in him breaking Lent. Isn’t that so, mon pere?
Pere Henri Ten Hail Mary’s, twenty Our Fathers.
Armande Will she never have done, then that ghoul queen of a million dead bodies? I see myself again, skin rotten with mud and pest, worms in my armpits and in my hair.” It’s perfectly wretched, isn’t it?
Luc Perfectly.
Vianne Would you like some cake?
Luc I’m not supposed to.
Armande Don’t worry so much about not supposed to. Live a little.
Luc Oh! Her hair appointment’s almost done. I have to go.
Armande What about my picture?
Luc Um, next time. Thank you for the cake.
Armande Don’t look so damned pleased with yourself.
Vianne Stay here.
Josephine I did it. I did it. He… he was so drunk. He, he, he woke up. He woke up. He saw me packing, but… So he tried to come after me, but I had already tied his feet with his belt, and… Boom! Right on his face. Right there on his big, red face. It’s so stupid, isn’t it? I never blame him. Sometimes I even… for get what really happened.
Vianne Now, now, now, now. Now, now, now. Ssh.
Serge I saved her! You remember her father collaborated with the Germans? Nobody wanted to touch her. Except for me. And this is the way she repays me?!
Comte de Reynaud Your anger is understandable.
Serge Anger? Everybody’s gonna be laughing at me!
Comte de Reynaud That is not your concern. Your concern is the sacrament of marriage.
Serge Yeah, of course. The sacrament.
Comte de Reynaud Yes.
Vianne Dip the ganashbe into the white chocolate.
Josephine Like this?
Vianne Good. Yes, shake it… a little. Good. Put it on the parchment sheet. You’re doing great. Oh. I’ll be right back. Oh. Good morning. Can I interest you in some Nipples of Venus?
Comte de Reynaud Rumour has it that you are harbouring Madame Muscat. Is that true?
Vianne You make her sound like a fugitive.
Comte de Reynaud She is a fugitive… from her marriage vows which have been sanctified by God.
Vianne Josephine! Come out here a minute! Let His Radiance have a look at you, hmm? Is that sanctified enough for you? It’s not the first time.
Comte de Reynaud I’m truly sorry. You should have come to me. Your husband will be made to repent for this.
Josephine Tell him to repent on someone else’s head.
Comte de Reynaud Come on. In!
Serge Monsieur le Comte!
Comte de Reynaud I’m going to make an example of you. In there. He’s ready.
Pere Henri Well, but confession must be made in the spirit of contrition.
Comte de Reynaud Have you come in the spirit of contrition?
Serge Contrition, yes.
Comte de Reynaud He’s ready.
Dedou Licentiousness, idolatry, sorcery, gluttony and drunkenness.
Pere Henri Correct. And what are the three conditions for mortal sin? Serge?
Serge Mortal sin… is the sin whose object is… committed by… deliberate… consequence.
Pere Henri Incorrect. Didi?
Didi Mortal sin is the sin whose object is grave matter, which is committed with full knowledge and deliberate consent.
Pere Henri Correct.
Vianne So how do you know if the coverture is properly tempered?
Josephine Er, first you check to see if it’s… at body temperature. Then you dip the palette knife, to see that the coverture hardens on it evenly.
Vianne Correct.
Comte de Reynaud Closer.
Narrator In the village, time passed. And the chocolaterie did not go out of business. The Comte de Reynaud felt himself being drawn into a strange crusade. His struggle to transform Serge into a gentleman, became more than an act of good will. It became a test… a holy war between chateau… and chocolaterie.
Luc Each time I, I tell myself it’s the last time. But, then I, I get a whiff of a hot chocolate. Or, it’s usually those moon things, or chocolate seashells.
Mme Audel So small, so plain, so innocent. I thought, well, just one little taste, it can’t do any harm. But it turned out that they were filled with rich, sinful…
Mme Marceau …buttery filling and it melts, God forgive me… it melts ever-so-slowly on your tongue, and tortures you with pleasure.
Pere Henri Against you alone, have I sinned and done what is evil in Your sight. Indeed, I was born guilty, a sinner when my mother conceived me. You desire truth in the inward being, therefore teach me wisdom in my secret heart.
Narrator Now, the Comte was no fool. Thought he hoped to redeem Serge, he knew that his redemption alone would not be enough to regain control over the village. He understood that some, larger lesson needed to be taught. Some greater problem needed to be identified and solved. Little did the Comte suspect, that his greater problem would arrive one quiet afternoon… in the dull green waters of the river Tannes.
Dedou You’re it!
Didi Hey, look!
Dedou I’m over here!
Vianne You’ve never really told me what the problem is between you and Caroline.
Armande ‘Cos it’s none of your damn business. I’m an embarrassment to her. I swear, I, I read dirty books. I eat and drink what I like. And sin of sins… I refuse to go to Les Mimosas.
Vianne Huh?
Josephine When I was a kid we used to call it Le Mortoir.
Vianne Oh.
Josephine It’s a nursing home for old… It’s in Toulouse.
Armande Caroline loves the thought of a nurse with a clipboard recording my bowel movements.
Anouska Mama, Mama, come quick! They’re here! They’ve come to Lansquenet!
Vianne Slow down, Anouk. Who’s here?
Anouska Pirates!
Mme Marceau Come on.
Dedou Why can’t we stay?
Mme Marceau Come on!
Dedou But why can’t we stay?
Mme Marceau Okay, enough.
Didi But, Mama, just a little bit.
Mme Marceau Come on.
Vianne Hello. How are you?
Anouska Anybody got a sweet tooth? I bet he’s the captain.
Vianne Anouk, don’t do that. Anouk, don’t do that, please.
Roux How do you do?
Vianne Sorry.
Roux I’d like to apologise. For all of us. Sincerely.
Vianne What for?
Roux For whatever it is you’re here to accuse us of.
Vianne Oh. And why would I do that?
Roux Well, because we river rats are the dregs of society. With horrible diseases and criminal impulses.
Vianne Sounds terrifying. Is it true?
Roux It’s what you townspeople always seem to think, isn’t it?
Vianne Oh. This is not my town. Sorry.
Roux Well then, what do you want? Are you here to save us? Are you the Catholic Aid Society? French Family League? Communist Workers? Which idea are you selling?
Anouska Chocolate.
Roux I’m sorry, chocolate?
Anouska What’s a river rat? Is it like a pirate?
Roux Yeah, you could say that. You could. Have a look at my treasure chest.
Vianne Let me guess, they’re for sale.
Roux As a matter of fact, they are. For a mere thirty francs apiece. You laugh? I can get fifty for them in Paris.
Vianne Then go to Paris. We’ll take two, please.
Roux You’ll take two?
Vianne Yes, please, absolutely.
Roux Okay.
Vianne I don’t know if I have the right change. Just a minute.
Anouska They’re beautiful.
Roux Ireland’s finest.
Vianne Thanks.
Roux Thank you. Listen… I should probably warn you. You make friends with us, you’ll make enemies of others.
Vianne That a promise?
Roux It’s a guarantee.
Man What’s he up to? Maybe he’s joining the circus.
Josephine Sorry, we’re closed!
Serge Josephine, you look different.
Josephine So do you.
Serge I just want to tell you that I am so sorry. For everything. But I’ve changed. You see, God has made me a new man. I ask you, I… I beg you, please accept my apology.
Josephine I accept.
Serge I promise, from now on, everything will be different.
Josephine Everything already is different, Serge.
Serge Well, I mean, when you come home.
Josephine Home? Thanks for the apology. The flowers are, lovely.
Serge No, please don’t, Josephine. We are still married in the eyes of God.
Josephine Then he must be blind.
Council Chairman The council has no legal authority to force them to move. The riverbank is public land. The mayor wishes to say a few words.
Comte de Reynaud If I may, ladies and gentlemen of the council. These people are rootless, Godless drifters.
Townspeople That’s right!
Comte de Reynaud Their’s is they way of slovenly pleasure. They would contaminate the spirit of our quiet town. The innocence of our children. Now, the chairman of the council is quite right. We cannot force them to leave.
Man Why not?
Comte de Reynaud But we can help them to understand… that they are not welcome.
Serge Josephine? Josephine, you think you can just walk out on me?! You stupid woman! Worthless cow! You’re nothing without me. You can’t even use a skillet! Can’t even put a… goddamn meal on the table.
Josephine He’s inside. He’s here. Oh, God.
Serge Josephine, I need to talk to you. Please open the door. I know you…
Anouska Mama!
Vianne Come on, help me!
Serge Open the door. Open the door. I just want to talk to you.
Josephine Go sleep it off, Serge!
Serge Ah, you shut up, you bitch! You’ve caused enough trouble already! You… Open this door!
Anouska Mama!
Josephine Oh, my God!
Serge Stay away from me. Come here now!
Josephine Aaah!
Serge You, you meddling bitch! You…
Josephine Who says I can’t use a skillet?
Comte de Reynaud Wonderful. Come on. Up, Serge. Come on. Come on.
Armande His skull can’t be as thick as we thought.
Vianne It was like swatting a fly.
Armande Oh. The worst is over. He found out what you’re made of.
Josephine So did I.
Luc Hi.
Vianne Hey.
Armande How long have we got?
Luc She’s at the hairdresser for an hour.
Mme Clairmont Fuffi? Fuffi. I’m so sorry, but I have to break the appointment.
Mme Drou Is something wrong?
Mme Clairmont No. I volunteered to distribute these. I promised the Comte I’d have them out by the end of the day.
Mme Drou Count me in. Not that I expect any of them to stop by for a hairstyle.
Mme Clairmont It’s not just that. The Comte feels we must stand firm. We cannot trust these people. Before you know it, they’ll be doing jobs for food. They’ll be begging at our doors.
Mme Drou Not at this door.
Mme Clairmont Good, Fuffi, good.
Armande Rub, rub. Rub harder. Rub. Rub, rub.
Man Bonjour.
Mme Clairmont Bonjour.
Armande Rub it. Hard. Keep your head still. Aha!
Vianne Bravo!
Armande Hello, Caroline. If you want to blame someone, blame me… corrupting him with cocoa.
Mme Clairmont Oh, how dare you, Mother?
Armande He’s happy. He’s fine. Look at him.
Luc Mama, I…
Mme Clairmont Well, what about you, Mother? Are you fine? I bet she has conveniently forgotten to tell you.
Armande Carol.
Mme Clairmont Why don’t you show them, Mother? Are you afraid to?
Armande Ah!
Mme Clairmont Why don’t you show? Insulin shots. She has diabetes… very advanced. She could be blind within a year.
Armande Yeah. Couldn’t you call me a drug addict? It sounds a lot more glamorous.
Mme Clairmont And you… you, you sit here feeding her sweets.
Armande There are worse ways to die.
Mme Clairmont Why don’t you just give her rat poison? It would be faster.
Armande Carol has a flair for drama.
Mme Clairmont She needs to be in a place where she can be taken care of.
Armande Me Mortoir?! I’d rather be in hell.
Mme Clairmont You may get there, Mother. Luc, come with me.
Luc I don’t want to.
Josephine He, he’s, he’s happy here. It’s good for him.
Mme Clairmont I will decide what is good for my son, Madame Muscat.
Armande Give me another. It’s my life. Let me enjoy what’s left of it. Fill ‘er up.
Vianne Armande, why didn’t you tell me?
Armande Is this a chocolaterie, or is it a confessional? Don’t you dare pity me.
Serge Sorry, we’re closed.
Roux She just wants a soda water.
Serge I don’t serve animals.
Roux Right.
Vianne Hello. I just made a fresh batch of monduon. Anybody interested?
Girl My tummy hurts.
Vianne Oh? I’ve got just the thing for that. Come in.
Roux What about boycotting immorality, then?
Vianne Come in. An old remedy. From the cocoa tree.
Girl Tastes strange.
Vianne Mmm. Maybe your daddy would like a taste?
Girl He’s not my daddy. He’s my pony.
Anouska Here. It’s a lot better than those leaves.
Girl Tastes good.
Anouska Come on. Pantoufle wants to meet you. He’s my kangaroo.
Vianne Go ahead. It’s your favourite.
Roux What makes you so sure?
Vianne Go on. Taste it.
Roux That’s fantastic.
Vianne Oh, thanks. I have a knack for guessing.
Roux It’s good. Not my favourite.
Vianne Sorry?
Roux All right. Thanks very much. You know, I could fix that, if you like. Not with glass, but… I can make you a nice strong one out of wood.
Vianne That’s nice of you… but I insist on paying you for your work.
Roux Well, that makes two of us, then. Bye. Thanks again.
Comte de Reynaud She’s laughing at us. Now she’s got one of those river people working for her.
Pere Henri Is that a problem? After all, Christ teaches us…
Comte de Reynaud Look at this. She’s soliciting for stalls and street performers for a fertility celebration on Easter Sunday. She’s cackling at us. When are you going to do something about it? Oh, there.
Roux What part of Australia is Pantoufle from?
Anouska A small town, outside of Sydney.
Roux What does he eat?
Anouska Leaves, bugs… and worms, of course.
Roux What about chocolate?
Anouska Kangaroos don’t eat chocolate.
Roux Has he ever tried it?
Anouska Have you ever tried chocolate? He’s not interested.
Roux Not interested? Mr Pantoufle, you surprise me. A world traveler such as yourself not interested in new flavours? You should be ashamed.
Josephine I have a very nice truffle here, if he wants to try it.
Anouska You’re wasting your time.
Josephine Oh, I’m sorry.
Roux How do you know you don’t like chocolate if you refuse to try it?
Anouska Do you like worms?
Roux What?
Anouska How do you know if you’ve never tried one? Ugh!
Roux Subtle. Zesty. Disgusting. Go on, my little friend. Be free.
Anouska You tricked me.
Pere Henri Satan… wears many guises. At times, Satan is the singer of a lurid song you hear on the radio. At times, the author of a salacious novel. At times, the quiet man lurking in the schoolyard… asking your children, if he might join their game. And at times, the maker of sweet things… mere trifles. For what could seem more harmless… more innocent… than chocolate?
Roux A bit of a squeak.
Vianne Hey, Guillaume! I’ve got something new Charly’s gonna love.
Monsieur Blerot Come on, Charly. Come on.
Roux It’s me. I should go.
Vianne No, it’s not you. Where have you been? I was worried. Hey! I’m talking to you.
Anouska It’s just like all the other towns.
Vianne Anouk. Anouk. Just tell me what happened.
Anouska Are you Satan’s helper?
Vianne Well, it’s, it’s not easy being different.
Anouska Why can’t we go to church?
Vianne Well, you can if you want, but, but it won’t make things easier.
Anouska Why can’t you wear black shoes like the other mothers?
Armande He’s a fine piece of work, out little nobleman. No wonder his wife goes gallivanting off. She’s been in Italy for months. Did you know that?
Vianne Armande, the whole town’s against me. What can I do?
Armande Throw me a party.
Vianne What?
Armande Wednesday’s my seventieth. Let’s show the bastards we’re ready to go down dancing.
Vianne But a party? You’re not well. You have to face it.
Armande Okay, okay, okay… But you do this for me, and I promise… I’ll check into Le Mortoir the very next morning without a care in the world.
Vianne If I threw a party in this town, no one would come.
Armande They don’t need to know who’s throwing it.
Vianne Armande, listen, I…
Armande No, no, no. You listen. I need this. Huh? When I need help, I ask for it.
Woman Boys, bring me some more wood.
Vianne My mother used to sing that song… when I couldn’t sleep.
Roux And did it help?
Vianne I still didn’t sleep, but, yes, yes it helped.
Roux How’s the door?
Vianne It squeaks.
Roux Does it? How’s Anouk? Is she well?
Vianne Oh, she’s better. She’s fine.
Roux Good. How are you?
Vianne I’m, throwing a party… If anyone shows up.
Roux Thanks. Who’s invited?
Vianne A bunch of townspeople.
Roux Tell me something. Why do you give a damn about what these narrow-minded villagers think? You’re not scared of them, are you?
Vianne Coming to the party or not?
Roux I can’t. There’s a boycott against immorality and, I must respect that.
Vianne That is a problem. Well, then, I’ll leave you with this test of your convictions.
Roux What is that?
Vianne Your favourite.
Roux My favourite?
Vianne Hm-mm.
Roux Is that right? Thank you.
Vianne You’re welcome.
Roux I’m undone… but not my favourite.
