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?
