Chocolat
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.
