Hello my beauty. How are you?
A GOOD LITTLE DEVIL
What's going on? What's going on?
Never you mind, and get inside.
Did you get the milk?
Er, I had a little accident
It's a squirrel! My house is bewitched. The devil is living with me!
The truth is that they've come into my home,
and they have devoured everything.
They are rats, rats... but there's nothing to nibble on here.
Ah, there you are, you little thief! My throat is all dry from crying.
There's nearly nothing left to drink in this water bottle!
You little rascal, little thief! You drank everything!
I fell down...
I'll give you a good slap! Talk about accidents!
You have the devil in your belly!
You broke my beautiful fruit dish! Ah! Ah!
You'll see what you're going to get!
Betty! Betty! Come and help me. Ah, I'll end up killing him, that one.
Where is he? Where is he?
Ah, there he is, the monster.
Come and help me. I'll end up giving you a real trashing.
- Little guttersnipe! Get out of there! - No! No, my cousin!
Come on, go, go. Come on.
I've got a surprise in store for you, go.
I hope that this will serve as a lesson!
Ham, lard, chops, sausages...
Would you like a carrot?
You don't want any? Aren't you hungry?
You know, at least you're kind. You're not like Mother Macmiche.
Here you are, here you are, my darling. Oh, you don't want any?
Oh, you ate too much, and yes, you don't want any. Oh, he's adorable, this cat.
Go for a walk, my little pussycat, go for a walk. Ah, yes, I adore you.
Will he be staying with us for a long time?
We don't speak while we're eating!
Otherwise, all that good food you're gorging
yourself with wouldn't do you any good.
So, it would be just like throwing money out the window.
You have to be charitable and likeable with the cat, just like I am with you.
Do I reproach you for hunkering down and my place? For using my sheets?
For devouring my meager savings?
Did I hesitate for a single second
to take charge of you when your parents died?
I'm hungry.
I saw the cat: he's as fat as anything.
Shut up! All fat people are sloths, lazybones.
So you want to end up like Betty... not able to move when you're called?
Betty! Betty! Come on, clean up.
I'm not finished.
You'll have to hurry up instead of being argumentative
and wearing me out with all your talk that leads nowhere.
Come on: help me clean all this up.
I put the legs aside for you. There's also the more leftovers.
I had hidden them in the bottom of the salt box, but I think she's found them.
For that she's tried to pull my hair out.
She's treated me like a dirty robber!
This is good chicken. I'll go and find some vegetables for you.
Hello.
Hello. How's it going this morning?
- Have you seen Donald? - No, no.
Hello my boy, you're on your way?
- Hello Donald. - Hello, would you like a shellfish?
No, no thank you.
Hello.
Thanks.
- How are you? - I'm fine.
Yes, hey cousin. Wake up.
What is it? What, what is it?
Cousin, look. Look over here.
So, what are you doing?
As you can see, my cousin.
You're crazy! He's crazy!
Because we're hot, eh, my cousin! The wind is blowing hard tonight.
There's nothing like the wind to fan the flames.
You can't... you can't... you wouldn't dare!
Charles!
Charles,
I assure you on the memory of your poor, dear parents.
Ah no! Leave my parents out of it, and me too.
He's choking me!
I'll make you scream like an old grasshopper if you don't promise me.
- Never! - No!
Yes, yes I promise...
You promise what?
Anything you want, my little Charles.
My dear little Charles. My darling child.
I believe you, so I'll extinguish the flames.
Let's make peace, do you want to?
Kiss me.
I'm an old grasshopper, eh? Good for grilling.
My cousin, you promised me...
Promises made to criminals like you have no value, my boy!
I'm an old grasshopper! All night in the dungeon! You'll learn.
My God, how dirty Madam is, or rather, how flushed Madam is!
I'm pale because I have seen death up close.
I'm flushed because I have vanquished the demon.
He wanted to burn down the house.
- Ah, that doesn't surprise me. - What are you saying?
He had forewarned you?
But speak then, instead of waddling about like a big, stupid goose!
We don't pronounce the names of these creatures! It brings misfortune.
- What? What did he say? - The entire village knows about it.
- See you again, my little cat. - See you again, Madam.
Hello, Mr Judge.
Come over here.
Why are you rummaging about in this old street?
I've come to say hello to the lady on the corner.
What?
I call her that because I don't know her name.
You're dreaming, you're dreaming. That's really what bothers me.
The so-called mistreatment that cousin Macmiche inflicts on you,
are they not also imagination?
What? And that? Are they plums?
Yes, yes, very well. Let's go. I saw, I saw.
You risk catching a cold with this hard breeze.
Hello, Master Simon.
Ah, hello, my little Charles, you know Madam Macmiche's
collection of swifts is giving me a bad conscience.
This time, there's an order to be placed.
- Will you give me credit? - Oh! That's okay.
- Well then, I need a whip shield. - A what?
A whip shield. They don't stop the blows of the whip,
but it makes it so that they can't be felt.
And how does it work, this thingy?
A very thick lining which has to be sewn into my pants.
Come on, come on, isn't that foolish!
Ah, my little dolly, it isn't foolish, eh? Not foolish at all.
What good food are you making for me tonight?
It's one of Madam Rugard's recipes...
a mixture of walnut oil, spider webs and duck droppings.
It does wonders for bruises and contusions, it seems.
- Come on Charles, drop your pants! - No thanks, there's no need to.
But after the correction you just received...
The correction? What correction?
Look at this.
Ah, keep quiet... The judge who saw Macmiche, he succeeded in confusing her,
and all you were given was thirty lashes with the cane! Thirty, I counted them.
And she could have given me 300. I don't give a hoot about it.
- What is this? - A whip shield!
Finally, these biscuits, my biscuits.
In any case, it wasn't the cat that ate them. It was the lout.
The thief.
He had to have eaten them.
I was sure of it.
Look, the scraps.
Look, look, look.
They say too, that he isn't very strong, the idiot.
I hope that he doesn't wiggle about as usual...
Take that. Sweet dreams!
For 24 hours, no cleaning yourself, no washing your face!
I'm afraid, I'm afraid...
Where are you taking me?
Come, it's my secret.
Look at the pretty headband my godmother gave me.
Do you want to help me put it on?
- No. - No?
I have to come close to you. And I'm not anxious to come close to you.
- What you say it's spiteful. - No. I smell bad, like a pig.
And I know that I still smell bad.
It's that odor that just doesn't want to go away!
You don't smell bad at all. I assure you.
Don't move. Give me your hand. Don't be afraid.
- Me? - Don't be afraid. I'm with you.
Sit down.
- You are very pretty. - And you? You don't look yourself.
I'm unhappy. And nobody wants to help me.
The Macmiche dumps cherries in the brandy
and the judge hits me with a stick.
Marianne finds that this judge is a brave man,
but that he doesn't want any problems.
He's careful. Look, maybe he's like the good Lord...
The good Lord?
I say a prayer every night for him to give me good eyes.
For the moment, he is deaf.
But I persist. I'm sure that he'll finish up by listening to me.
So then, you're coming for a love letter?
The delicate part of the thing is that the person is a widow.
This person has property.
She owns three schooners that fish for cod on the banks of Newfoundland.
The Marie-Adélaïde, the Marie-Béatrice, the Marie-Astaïde.
The schooners are armed to the gunnels.
Each one weighs three hundred and fifty tons.
Last year, they unloaded six hundred tons of fish.
Doesn't that mean a thing to you?
Yes it does. Has this woman been widowed for a while now?
Oh no, only for ten days. Her husband will only be buried tomorrow.
And you want to send her a love letter already?
Oh no! My condolences.
My little sister Juliette can help you.
Hello. Miss.
For this letter, this lady must be made to understand how I feel for her,
as the sentiments would express.
Hello Juliette. Hello Marianne.
Has anything happened?
Nothing.
Juliette, take Charles with you.
I'll take care of this gentleman and I'll catch up with you later.
50,000 francs! 50,000 francs in pieces of gold.
That's a mighty handsome amount!
- Do I have pieces of gold? - Yes.
Under my mattress? Is that why it's so hard?
When they died, your parents left 50,000 francs to your cousin Macmiche
so that she could continue her studies, and to feed and clothe you.
Are you sure of what you say, Marianne?
Oh yes! A public letter writer, that says a lot of things!
And not always pleasant things, either.
So tell me, Juliette, 50,000 francs, is that a lot?
I don't know. I have no idea.
There. It's all ready.
The marks of the devil. Do it.
I just hope all that won't bring us bad luck!
As to the stove that you delivered, it smokes enormously,
and it practically doesn't burn.
No, Marc, it doesn't burn at all.
If it smokes a great deal, it's because it burns at least a little.
Keep your thoughts to yourself, you would!
And be careful not to lose the chickens.
I'd be doing less of it if I were going to school.
Little misery, you don't know what school is.
I'd have to buy you books, scribblers, ink, pens...
One could buy a lot of things with 50,000 francs!
What 50,000 francs?
Mine!
Madam Macmiche is going to die!
Don't touch me! I'm not going to die at all!
Little idiot! And leave Betty out of all this.
Why did you say 50,000 francs, eh?
Because my parents entrusted you with 50,000 francs.
That's a lie!
Marianne told me. And Marianne never lies!
Did she see it, the 50,000 francs?
She has proof of it.
Naturally, Marianne told this ridiculous story all around the village.
Oh no, only you and I know about it.
I'm going to teach you how to run! Little tale tellers.
Oh my God! My God, my God, my God!
Oh my, the devil, there on his body, the marks of the devil, by Lucifer!
We are lost, Madam!
- My little Betty. - But calm down Madam, calm down.
I've seen the devil...
Somebody wants to drown me! Betty! Betty!
It's holy water, Madam. The opposite of water.
- Where did the monster go? - Gone, disappeared, flown off,
somewhere in the house where the powers of evil must give him orders
- to torment me once more! - I know what remains for me to do.
Madam will correct it? Oh, Madam is wrong.
The demon will avenge himself.
The demon will punish us.
Thank you, Madam Macmiche. Thanks for your trust.
It's about your nephew, isn't it?
About my young cousin, sir.
About your young cousin. About her young cousin.
Ah, it's her young cousin oh, rest assured, leave us a toddler,
and we'll give you back an accomplished young man, who'll call you Madam.
- That's admirable. - It's 600 francs per quarter.
Payable in advance.
Six hundred francs? But Charles is still only little.
He's growing, madam!
The cracks of the whip will take care of that.
If we whipped the dwarfs, Madam Macmiche,
we'd make giants out of them.
Six hundred francs?
The recess bell is ringing, Madam Macmiche.
All right then, let's say 500 francs, and we leave it at that.
Charles is a frugal lad. He's used to making do with little.
So then, 450.
Wait. Since I'm leaving my cousin with you
I don't need to keep the servant anymore.
She lives on scraps, and even on nothing at all when there aren't any leftovers.
She is young, vigorous and sturdy. I leave her to you.
You are a woman of business, Madam Macmiche.
It's a pleasure to do business with you.
Let's say 375, with the servant.
375 with the servant.
Will she agree to remain here?
Betty? She's very attached to Charles.
And sir, she's only a stupid thing.
Charles will surprise you. Would that be only because of his relations.
The most extraordinary relations.
He frequents the fairies, sir.
Perhaps even the devil.
Well, then it's 600 francs.
600 francs.
You're not coming in! I'm telling you not to come in!
Do you have something to hide from me, my cousin?
I don't have anything to hide at all.
Just stay where you are. Don't come near me.
Calm down, my cousin. I wanted to help you.
I've decided to work as an apprentice.
My poor boy, you don't know how to do anything. Who would hire you?
Nobody! I'm the only one to support you.
An important man would like to take me on at his place.
He'll come and talk to you about it.
What do you want? Don't come close.
I wanted to kiss you, and to say thank you.
You can kiss me from a distance.
Oh, there was one of these that drove over land, my cousin.
But, but, dirty thief!
Don't touch that, you little thief! It's mine. It's mine, give me all of that!
Give it to me, give it to me. I'm telling you, give it to me.
Oh, give it to me, and get out of here.
Get out of there. I don't want to see you anymore.
Robber, scoundrel, get out. I'm telling you.
Get out and close the door. Close the door!
What a strange idea, bringing me to the doctor so late.
If I look sick it's because I don't eat enough.
I don't understand anything that the doctor said, it's making me sick.
Would both of you please keep quiet? You're driving me crazy with your talk.
Now where are we going?
Through the great forest,
then we come to the wayside cross, then you take a right.
We're going to give the horse a rest. Madam Macmiche, I'm going no further.
Well, we'll continue on foot. We're nearly there.
It's just at the end of the road.
Let's go, come on all of you.
Let's go, let's go, hurry up, they're expecting us.
I have the feeling that the doctor has turned into a ghost.
You mustn't leave without me, otherwise I'll sue you, and you'll go to prison.
I have the impression that the horseman's not afraid of anything.
What if I don't want to go there?
You forget that I am your guardian, and that I have all rights over you.
What about me, Madam?
My girl, if you refuse, you'll find yourself out on the street.
Charles, you won't say goodbye to me?
You who were so anxious to kiss me yesterday?
Here's the room, the first door on the right.
There won't be much time to sleep because
wake-up time here is at 5:30 in the morning.
Go on, get in there. I'm the one who wakes you with the bell.
There it is, go on.
Get undressed and go to sleep, wake-up time here is at 5:30, go on!
It's always the same ones who sleep.
Did you think I was sleeping? I fooled you!
- I'm cold. I can't go to sleep. - Ah, is it cold? I'll warm you up.
Ow! I won't do it anymore!
I won't do it anymore!
Oh, oh, my skullcap!
Ok, now my coat.
Hand me my cane.
How I slept, my Lord, how I slept. Let's go!
Well, you, the new one there, well, yes, life's like that. Let's go, hurry up.
We have no time to lose here. Go on, you.
As for you, sir, it won't hurt you to wait.
You'll come and see me in my office at the 10 o'clock recess.
Let's go, get a move on!
Hurry up. Faster that that. Go on.
Did you see my cane, did you see it, eh?
Is it always like this?
There's still room in the dungeons!
Do kids tell on each other here?
If they do, they get balls of bubblegum.
Quickly, quickly.
They're coming!
- I'm going to the toilet. - Hmmm?
I'm going to the toilet!
It's full of vermin here. The soup is like dishwater!
And I don't have a bowl.
I'm coming, my little one.
- We have to find a means of escape. - Yes, but how?
By a ruse, don't forget, I am the devil.
You'll see what happens when you're not wise.
Thank you, little one.
Mathurin,
Victor,
Hugo,
Vigo,
Benjamin.
- What did we eat today? - What?
What did we eat today?
You'll do like all the rest, it's the law!
Yes, yes, yes!
You don't know who I am. I'm Charles Lance.
I made a pact with the devil.
Oh! With the devil? Then, let's listen to him.
- If you have something to say, say it. - Yes!
Well, my new friends, I'll tell you what his name is.
Tomorrow, my friends, I'm sleeping in. The bell won't ring.
What do we have to eat today?
I didn't hear the bell. It's the heart of the day.
Let me pass.
What's happening?
Well, sir, the bell didn't ring.
I hope he isn't dead.
Oh, he's sleeping! He's sleeping!
You didn't ring the bell. It's scandalous.
- We're hungry! - Since you slept, you can't be hungry.
We're hungry!
There you are gentlemen, the new servant will bring you your soup.
We'll serve you swift soup!
There's something! I assure you that I felt something.
Hey you, come here.
- Me? - Yes you.
That's my hat!
Oh, that is my hat!
You know what? I think it's my hat.
I'll prove to you that it's my hat.
It's begun, Betty. War has broken out.
The farmers believe that there's a ghost in the boarding school.
They call it the "Black Spirit".
- Oh, really? - Yes.
- I need your help. - I'm your man.
Today, at noon, I'm with you.
Mr. Bauxerre, Mr. Bauxerre.
Mr. Bauxerre, I have a tummy ache.
- Then go and take care of it! - Thank you, Sir!
Mr. Bauxerre, let's go and see what the boarder is doing? He's taking too long.
He has a throat like pumice stone.
I'll be right back.
Ow! You're here, right? Where are you? Are you there?
Ah! But, but what did he do to you, what's happening?
- Something's wrong. You go there. - Poor me, always me...
You send me because I'm the eldest.
The others went there, and they didn't come back up.
Mr Bauxerre! Mr. Bauxerre! What are they doing...
Stop, listen to me.
Calm down, friends. Relax. There's no danger.
The Black Spirit has struck again.
I don't want to die by drowning!
Stop yelling. I'm not deaf.
Let's go, come on...
They're rats, big rats.
No we're not rats at all, Mr. insolent one.
We are prisoners of this horrible cave.
Yes, prisoners of this horrible cave.
- Come on, open the door. - Let's open the door.
Come on, master, my good teacher. Master, you are imprisoned in the cave.
There was a fire in the boarding school!
There was a fire?!
There's a fire! There's a fire!
You're the one who has the key!
So, it's the black spirit who took it.
Oh, stop talking about this black spirit.
We'll set you free. It won't be long, master.
Is there someone there?
Judge, you scared me.
Madam Macmiche, I have good news for you.
Your cousin Charles Lance has come back. And Betty too.
But... that's impossible.
I ascertain that you have arranged it so that Charles would never come back.
According to him, the Nick Brothers Academy is more like a prison
than a boarding school.
At 600 francs per term.
When I leave here, you'll be poorer by 50,000 francs.
The 50,000 francs which belongs to Charles Lance,
and which I summon you to give me immediately!
I don't have it.
Really.
That is to say, in order not to be tempted to touch it, I hid it.
And there you have it Judge. I no longer have any idea of where I put it.
For that to hold, we will search together.
And if by chance, it was too well hidden,
I could always call upon a stonemason.
A stonemason!
Oh yes, so that he could loosen one by one all the stones of your house
until we put our hands on this money.
Let's go, come on.
With all the costs being borne by you, naturally. Let's go...
Let's go, let's go!
When we look, we find!
There it is, 50,000 francs.
Yes, Judge.
Less the amount I had to withhold to feed myself, clothe myself,
heat, light for this little ingrate,
during all the years that I was like a mother to him.
Ha ha! So, he shouldn't be missing much, eh?
Farewell then, monster!
And you, vile person, you'll have my death on your conscience.
I'm here, Madam Macmiche. Quickly, quickly.
I've suffered a long agony due to hunger and cold.
She's still breathing.
It's not too serious. I'll come back later for news about her.
She'll get over it.
She's thick-skinned.
She must look beautiful when I come back with the doctor.
Betty, is that you, Betty?
Yes. She'll come back.
Since that sad night, I've been thinking about you ceaselessly.
Yes, yes. The proof is that...
I bought a new mare for my cart.
It's an old hack, but I can still be useful.
How is it going, Betty?
Perhaps you're thinking of flirting?
I'm taking good care of her.
I'll take good care of you, too.
Ah, like an old hack who is no longer useful, is that it?
Tell me then, how much did you pay for that beast?
Oh, well, I made a good deal. 25 francs.
25 francs? For only 20 francs I could've made a better deal!
Look, when we will be married, I'm the one who will look after the finances.
When we'll be married...
Because... you mean to say that...
Where I come from, when a guy fathers a child with an honest girl,
he has to make amends.
But, I didn't make you...
You didn't give me one child, you gave me 25!
In the Nick Boarding School there were 25 kids.
Who made their meals? Who washed their rags? Who coddled them?
Eh? And who, who drove me there?
It wasn't me, it was Madam Macmiche.
That which is said, is said.
It's too difficult for you.
You know, it's disgusting.
That's love.
You and me, in love!
Ugh, it's disgusting.
We're children, but maybe one day...
You think I'm going to kiss you, like Donald and Betty?
There...
You're not saying anything else?
Ah, how complicated life is. Let's go, come on.
With regard to Madam Macmiche,
where the girl Betty is provisionally living,
I received the marriage contract between...
Judge, is all the nattering really necessary?
But... this is the proper procedure for...
I don't want that old woman out there to end this when she wakes up.
Our deal is simple.
Donald, my future, present here,
brings an old, rickety cart and a mare that isn't worth much.
This deal... it is, nevertheless,
about our marriage, that's what we're talking about?
Yes, we're speaking about it, but we haven't done anything about it yet.
I'll continue. I bring the farm of Val Bossu...
The farm of Val Bossu?
Yes, with his 50,000 francs, Charles, who is a good little devil,
gave me 12,000 from it.
With that, I purchased the Val Bossu farm,
with 30 egg-laying chickens, six dairy cows...
Tell me then, do you want to be a farmer?
No, you'll be the farmer. I'll do the counting.
I'll count the milk, the liters of milk.
I'll count the eggs. I'll count the little calves and the big money.
Look, do you want me to help you or not?
Good, the affair is clear. I have everything and he has nothing.
It isn't worth it to waste a good paper to consign all that.
Good, then I'll wake up the old shrew.
- See you later, Judge. - See you later.
Well, my poor friend.
Me? Poor? Not with a great wife like that.
- To your health, Judge. - To your happiness!
Hello.
Hello, Sir. I would like a pair of boots.
Do you have some for very large feet? They're size 30!
Oh boy, how's that going?
When you get married, you'll have 14 kids.
- Hello Ma'am. - Hello.
Can I have a mask please?
Which one would you like? This one? This one?
I'll take that one with the funny mouth.
It's the good Lord, Madam Macmiche.
No, I don't want it!
You don't want to receive our Lord?
I would certainly like to receive Him, but I don't want Him to receive me.
I want to remain on earth. I don't want to die!
Madam Macmiche, a good little confession never killed anyone.
But, I have nothing to confess, a poor old lady like me.
I never did harm to anyone.
Even a lamb that has just been born has something to reproach itself for.
Its greediness for the milk of its mother.
- Greediness? - Yes...
- Did you say greediness? - Yes...
I remember having put my lips to a drop...
How?
- To a drop of wine... - Ah, some wine... but yes, and?
- And to have nibbled on a few sweets. - You see!
Hypocrite! She makes fun of people after all the harm she did me!
Oh my, oh my goodness... I brought death to a living creature.
An innocent creature.
With a knife.
With a knife, a kitchen knife.
She could hit hard, she struck me hard, but to kill something!
I didn't know that you were living with a murderess!
And where did you... you know...
- The body? - Yes.
I hid it in the kitchen.
Charles, my little Charles, come with me.
I found it.
That was your pet?
I feel like I'm slipping...
I'm going...
I don't know where I am...
it seems like it's far away.
I am... all alone.
I don't want to die!
I'm here, Madam Macmiche. May the good Lord forgive all your sins.
It's finished, my little one.
Don't forget that I'm the one who decides the savings.
Here, my little one.
We say thanks.
Thanks.
Father, would you like a little drink?
No, no, I'm on my way. My partner has prepared me
a nice little rabbit for this evening.
Then I'll drink a nice little shot.
Certainly, Father.
Thank you.
To the health of Madam Macmiche.
May God rest her soul.
You're not going to toll the bell, Father?
It would disrupt the celebrations.
But Madam Macmiche is dead.
Life goes on.
I really would like another little shot!
Certainly, Father.
She's dead.
Step aside my boy, this is how the event must be announced.
Ah, we'll still have a good day, my children.
- Donald, what's that? - Well, it's a feast day, Judge.
But we're not going to carry this poor woman
to her last resting place in that cart, are we?
Well, yes it's this or nothing else.
Isn't it a strange idea to choose for the funeral
for Madam Macmiche the day when you marry!
I'm going to the cemetery.
Oh, my goodness, my Donald, you are a elegant as a prince!
I'm hurrying to get all dolled up, and I'll catch up with you on the way there.
A beautiful bride, eh?
Come on, let's get going.
Well, you too, are you dressed up for the wedding?
Look at Charles: he looks so down.
Ah my Betty, you are truly the most beautiful!
You are early... Let's go!
Thank you, my little one you are very kind.
Excuse me, you went too early.
Are we going to the party too?
Yes! To dance!
- You are starting out well. - There are those who finish so badly.
- I killed Macmiche's pig. - Well then, there they are together!
Oh, over there, it's my sister!
Go on. Get out of here. It isn't true.
Are you sure you don't want to go dancing?
I can stay by myself. I'm used to it.
Oh no, I observe. I learn dance steps that way.
On my wedding day, I'll be the one who dances the best.
If you get married, you have some time to go.
Oh, it's coming soon.
And do you already know with whom?
How do I know? A woman who will be a good cook.
And while she's doing the dishes, I'll go and smoke my pipe in the garden.
- You won't help her? - No, no.
That's too bad.
I'm going to marry you.
You know very well that it isn't possible...
You're crazy.
I love that idea!