Carnival of Sinners (La main du diable) (1943)

[bunniefuu]

CARNIVAL OF SINNERS

- What's wrong?
- I'm as hungry as a wolf.

It's hours before dinner!
- The road is cut off!

Yes. but my appetite isn't!

- The avalanche broke away there.
- We were there the day before yesterday!

Was it beautiful?

- Too much snow!
- It was risking death for nothing!

It's a risk we've been
all called upon to take!

- I'd rather knit!
- Tomorrow, I'll organize a team

...of volunteers to clear the road.
We'll gather at a.m.

...with a cold meal in a musette bag,
a quarter-litre of hooch, and no sluggards!

Before dinner, Monsieur Notary,
tell us the story you promised yesterday.

The notary was ordered by the innkeeper
to ruin our appetites!

Tonight, the story of Michel
Higelin and the Dames Blanches.

- Impatient, M. Perrier?
- I am hungry.

Beautiful lady, don't you see?
- See what?

- That I'm eyeing you greedily.
- That will cost you extra!

Ah! Here's the husband! A little late...

The innkeeper!
What is there to eat?

The same thing every day!

You don't give a damn
for military correctness.

- Colonel!
- I promised you a surprise.

- What's that?
- Haven't you ever heard g*nshots...

Smugglers again!

Just like in "Carmen": delightful!

It's an area they favor,
as it straddles the border!

The man who pays customs duties

...is naive.

Well, what is it?

- Nothing, nothing at all.
- Will it prevent us from having dinner?

Finish the story, notary!

- Where was I?
- When the old man

...said to Michel: "The road -
your horse knows it better..."

At that moment footsteps were heard
and a knocking at the door...

I don't like that!

- Is this the Hotel de l'Abbaye?
- Yes.

- Do you have a room?
- Monsieur is alone?

I hope so... Close the door!

Do you have a problem
with my hand?

Haven't you ever seen
a one-handed man?

- By which road did you come?
- Does that concern you?

- I'm asking because the road is cut off.
- Are you certain?

Yes. You have no luggage?

- No, nothing more than this.
- Is that all?

- Where are the ruins?
- The hotel is the same structure as the abbey.

- And the cemetery?
- There is none.

- Has any excavation been done?
- Monsieur is an archaeologist?

No.

Did you just hear two g*nshots?

- No.
- Strange!

What would I know about g*nshots?

If Monsieur could please
fill in this form...

A pen!

Don't touch that!

Since you go over my card
to inform yourself about me:

"Roland Brissot...

" age ..."

- You thought I was older?
- No, Monsieur.

- "Artist-painter"... Here!
- Length of stay?

What a funny question! Do you know
what you're doing tomorrow? I don't!

- Show me to my room.
- This way, Monsieur!

- What an odd fellow!
- A madman, perhaps!

I wouldn't like to run into him alone!

Ladies and gentlemen!
Have you seen a bizarre little man

...all in black,
who was carrying a long box?

He was shot just above here.
- He fled this way!

A traveler arrived recently but
he does not fit that description.

A... a little fellow... in black?"

We couldn't see him well -
he was running as if his pants were on fire.

- Did you come across him?
- No.

- Come on, Nick, lie down!
- Would you like something to drink?

No, duty calls! Since we can't find the man
I'm going to look for the box.

Sorry for the trouble, good evening!

Shall I show Monsieur to his room?
Dinner is about to be served.

I don't have time, I must go.
Where are the ruins?

- It's too dark, Sir. Tomorrow is another day.
- For you, perhaps.

Too bad, I'll wait.
Here or elsewhere!

Ladies and gentlemen, if you wish,
proceed to the tables...

- I'm not hungry any more!
- Strange guy!

- It wasn't the dog
that he was afraid of!

Ladies, a word of advice:
lock your doors tonight!

- Prunes again?
- He's not coming down?

He has to eat! Primum vivere.

- How does he paint with that hand?
- You don't need two hands to hold a brush!

- Clemence, take the prunes!
- Yes, Maman!

- An avalanche!
- A madman!

And prunes!
The evening is completely spoiled!

- Will you be able to sleep?
- In an instant, Madame!

- I'm going to sleep in my clothes!
- Shhh, here he is!

Did he lose his hand in the w*r?

- What is in that package?
- A souvenir of his wife?

He looks as if he uses narcotics!

And if it was a stock of heroin?

M. Brissot, you're wanted
on the telephone!

- L?
- Yes, he asked for Monsieur Brissot.

But no one knows...

He just asked for you
by name, very politely.

Very politely?

Hello!

Hello?
Who is calling?

Whom are you asking for?

Hello!

Win'.!

- What's happening?
- Careful of the glass!

- Don't move, Mimi!
- The light!

- Clemence, where are you?
- Candles, Mme Denis!

Help, I'm choking on these prunes!

- The light!
- The light!

Move over!

Oh!

Ah! Ouch! Ouch!

Would you leave my nose alone?

Clemence,
don't be afraid!

It's not too soon! If I find

...whoever it was who took
such liberties with my wife...

I got a strong kick

...in the backside!
- Someone twisted my nose!

- What's going on?
- I have no idea.

A blown fuse, probably
- Hello, hello!

- The fuses are intact!
It must have happened at the plant.

And the telephone?

Dead.

- Like I said, the plant...
- Hello?

They'll call back.

- It happened at the plant!
- Yes, and the kick

...to my rear end as well?

I've been robbed!
I've been robbed, who...?

I left it there. Who did this?

- We didn't see anything!
- We were in the dark.

- After those g*nshots...
- But what was taken from him?

His box!

It's vanished.

- I consider it essential
to notify the police!

- When the blackout occurred,
Monsieur was in the phone booth!

- Where are the fuses!
- They were intact.

Can Monsieur consent to tell us
what was in the parcel?

That is highly unlikely!

The notary': stories have
accustomed us to such things!

- I can't.
- The gendarmes!

No, wait!

The gendarmes
can't do anything.

No one can do anything more for me.

Not even a gendarme.

- Not even a colonel?
- I'm afraid not.

Well, too bad!
Listen, Messieurs!

Believe me if you want,
judge for yourselves!

The story!

Hmm...

No "hmm" - facts,
dates! One date.

It began... a little over a year ago,
quite recently.

And still, it seems to
take me back twenty years behind.

One year ago I was a painter
without talent.

I had ideas, I even had
too many of them.

Ha, I painted many canvases
in my head'.!

I wanted to render still life's as if
they were actually alive,

"to paint flowers with their perfume

...and vegetables with their vitamins!

Naturally, gallery owners
politely refused me

...any place in their windows.

So I ate my vegetables and
offered my flowers to my models.

I told them my ideas as I lay stretched
across my bed, and we had

golden dreams.

(became a specialist in studies of dogs...

My poor puppy was the victim of it.

I acquired a certain amount
of celebrity in Montparnasse.

I took care of my feigned negligence,
and changed my soiled shirts every day.

I had adopted a
hairstyle that was... personal.

And I was building up
very personal theories as we".

People turned around to Kook at me
on the street... not because...

... )' my talent, but because of how
I was dressed. But that flattered me.

One day I had a great idea.
I went into a store that sold gloves...

There were several
saleswomen there.

- May we help you, Monsieur?
- I would like... No.

What would Monsieur like?

I chose one with the certainty
that is called "random."

Mademoiselle!

- Yes, Monsieur?
- Gloves, white ones.

But a beautiful white, with a little green.
With dark glints, a bit of color.

Forgive my curiosity but
for what will they be used?

- A wedding.
- In that case, we have...

...a very handsome glove in suede...
Excuse me for one second!

Is that appropriate? It will be
a grand wedding at the Madeleine!

With Swiss Guards, red carpets,
candles... lots of lights!

And then... the bride, in a veil,
nearly in a haze, her arms...

...full of flowers. And finally,
the geometric line of the procession,

...all of that must be conveyed
in a pair of gloves! You get it?

- What would you do in my place?
- First, I wouldn't get married.

- You don't believe in marriage?
- Not for myself.

May I still ask to see your hand?

- Why would you do that?
- I'll give it back to you!

Ha, funny! Am I the thousandth
person to whom you said that?

- No, the first.
- Thank you!

I've only been here since yesterday.

I'm glad I came today!

I just want to know your size,
not your future!

- But it's not I who's getting married!
- You talked about it with such passion!

- Are you the groomsman?
- No, I'm a painter.

- I will paint the wedding!
- With white gloves?

No, I want to paint the gloves!

- Ha!
- You see?

They're not your size.

You understand?
I want to symbolize with a still life...

whatever is alive in such a ceremony!
Each finger will come to life

...as if it were a character
able to touch the public's eye.

- You get it?
- You are a great painter!

- I'm talked about in Montparnasse.
- Are you also a portraitist?

I would like to make yours...

I began her portrait

...and I courted her.

But I made no progress with either.

Irene was discouraging.

And I remained there,
indecisive, asking myself

...what colors to use to paint her
and what steps to take

...or words to use to seduce her.

Everything went difficultly that year,
ant" the feast day of Saint Irene.

Ha!

Finally!

- Am I late?
- An hour.

- Awful!
- Did something happen to you?

No... Someone.

"Someone"?

Don't worry, we spoke only
of unpleasant things.

- Flowers? What's going on?
- It's the feast of Saint Irene!

One more year, charming.

- And that?
- That's a surprise.

What?

Oh! Gloves!

They're suede!

I see only that all day long...

I had thought that...

They foisted old stock on you.
You can return them.

They are a symbolic gift.

Yes, the Madeleine, the Swiss guard,
loves, delights and organs!

- Thanks for the symbol!
- Don't tell everyone our business...

Am I speaking too loud?
It bothers you?

Chef! Chef...

- Come here please!
- Yes.

- What is it?
- What is it? It's inconceivable.

A soup with too much pepper,
a roast with a bad smell...

- Sulphur!
- Sulphur?

A scorched sauce...
and a bill that's been fiddled with!

- It's a curse, Monsieur!
- Is that your excuse?

I brought connoisseurs...
What do I look like now, Monsieur?

- I'm sorry...
- The check, stick it somewhere!

I beg your pardon!

- Why don't you want to marry me?
- Don't ask me that.

You would be my wife, my mistress,
my inspiration...

- Anyway, that's my idea of it.
- You don't lack ideas.

Today my dog gave me
an extraordinary one!

I will paint life as seen by dogs.

It will be a new and
hallucinatory vision of the world!

I will also paint people...

...as seen by a horse, a lark,
a fly, an earthworm...

Earthworms don't buy paintings.

- Oh, me, money!
- Yes, sure...

The only worthwhile goal is glory!

I asked someone what he thought of you,
and he didn't even knew you.

And that someone... is someone.

- He must be jealous.
- Of you?

- My poor friend!
- I have friends that believes in me.

Your friends! Do you know
what they call you behind your back?

..."Never Shuts Up."
- Envious people.

Roland, take my advice.
Go back home and take a look around.

You will be horrified,
it's a gallery of rubbish.

You can't make anything but crap.
You are powerless!

Oh, you're harsh...

But you're right,
you've opened my eyes!

Until now, I was at the prey of scruples,
but now I understand.

I'm going to make a great portrait of you!
In three months, it will be in the Salon!

A nude. A beautiful nude.

I can imagine...

The Salon passing by the bedroom...
But it's too late.

A month ago, you had your chance.

I told myself: "A painter? Why not.
He has talent

...and I have ambition.
Together we can do things!"

- Yes...
- "Yes"! How one deludes oneself!

- Just give me a few weeks!
- I don't want to lose time!

- A few days!
- I don't want to be a salesgirl forever!

What do you want?

Would the lady and gentleman
like to order? It's getting late!

What do you have?

- We have goat.
- In the form of a glove?

Ha, ha! No Madame, a roast!
With a puree of chestnuts.

- The specialty of the day!
- A bad day!

People come from far to eat it!

You don't have boar or venison instead?

I had enough leather for today.

- Oh... give us whatever you wish.
- Thanks, Monsieur.

Let me prepare you
a great meal!

In life as well, you let others
compose your menu!

So don't invite anyone to dinner
and don't wish them happy birthday!

- He wouldn't have offered me gloves.
- Who is "he?"

Someone! He hasn't
offered me anything, anyway!

- Not even to marry you I guess?
- He was a man who knew what he wanted!

- And I know as well!
- What?

To live! And far from you!

Let me go!

You're tall enough to hurt me
but too small to make me afraid.

- Too small?
- Yes.

A small painter in a small atelier,
eating at small tables,

making love to small women
in small beds and you'll end...

...your small life in a small casket!
Farewell, my little one!

Take all that away!

- Bring me a brandy.
- A brandy for table !

There's trouble brewing...

Viola  Monsieur, the house brandy!

Enjoy that for me!

It warms the heart and
it cools the mind!

- May I sit down?
- If you wish.

Santa Madonna! You drink that
as if it were water!

Cheers to you!

- I don't like to see my clients unhappy.
- I'm not unhappy.

But everyone is unhappy!
Everyone!

Except me.

Me, I'm very happy-

Excessively happy-

You don't appear so.

- Me? But it's happiness!
- About what?

Simply happiness! Listen...

I find you very congenial.

- I'll sell it to you!
- You're too friendly.

- Cigarette?
- No, thank you. I make my own.

Gosh! With the left hand.

I never knew how to roll a cigarette.

It's the talisman that makes it possible.

- A talisman for rolling cigarettes?
- Yes, Monsieur.

An extraordinary talisman!

It bestows skills, success, talent

...and women.
Everything!

I'll sell it to you.

Your talisman gives you all that
and you want to sell it?

- I have to sell it.
- Why?

Because...

If don't sell it before I die,

I will be damned. You hear me?
Eternally damned!

Now, now!

And every day beneath my ovens,
I have a foretaste of Hell!

- You don't say!
- Don't laugh!

If it was that astonishing, not even Hell
would keep you from selling it!

- Yes it does.
- Why? Is he so expensive?

- No, just one sou.
- Indeed, it's not expensive.

I purchased it for two sous,
so I can only resell it for one!

Why?

Because it must be sold
under the price it was bought.

That's funny.

Come and see it. It will
interest you, you, an artist!

How do you know I'm an artist?

Always the talisman, Monsieur!

Come.

I'll show you the way.

Don't buy it, Monsieur,
don't buy it!

Quiet, you filthy caster of spells!

Don't buy it!

Don't buy it!

- Who is that guy?
- A poor madman!

His name is Angel so he believes
that he's the guardian of the world!

In here! Excuse the mess!

- Look.
- That's your talisman?

It's only his box, the coffin.
The thing is inside.

Don't be afraid,
it won't do you any harm.

Ain't so?

It's only a hand...
A left hand.

In Latin, "Sinistra Manus."

"Sinistra"...

Look, Monsieur, admire it!

Make a fist!

Play the piano.

Snap the fingers.

See for yourself, Monsieur.
Don't be afraid, it does not scratch.

It's a weird thing.

You'll fell a gift, a charm, a force...

...that fills your own hand
and makes a new one of it.

More expert, more skillful.

- Do you believe in it?
- Why not?

Flip an electric switch
and light comes in!

A phone rings and you get
a table for six. So why not?

Turn on a button
and you hear some music.

- There's no connection!
- I owe it my genius as a cook.

A genius that your customers
seem to doubt!

But Monsieur, when Hell is watching you,
you lose your heart for everything!

I'm always
thinking that I'm going to die

...today, tomorrow,
without having sold it!

My soul will boil in the pot
for all of eternity!

- Poor cook.
- Buy it from me!

I have to sell it to someone.
Only one sou!

Everyone to his trade!
I'm not a cook.

She does everything:
painting, music...

For a musician,
incomparable fingering!

And for painters?

Take it, and you will create a Mona Lisa
even more beautiful than the original!

- It's... it's stupid, but it's not expensive.
- Think of it!

Health, success,
fortune and... love!

- Buy it, Monsieur, buy it!
- Don't buy it!

Don't buy it!

Everything! For just one sou!

- Alright!
- Santa Madonna!

Lord Jesus, may Heaven forgive me!

I haven't hidden anything
from you, eh? You understand?

- That I'm going to lose a sou, yes.
- Sell it before you die!

- Otherwise...
- Hell?

- Hush!
- I don't believe in either God or Evil.

Quiet! Maybe he hears us!

He has time on his hands!
Take it...

- ...here's your sou.
- Wait!

Give me your left hand.
Sinistra Manus.

And with your other hand, give me
the sou and say: "I'm buying it from you."

- Ha, what a strange drama!
- Say it! Say it!

I am buying it from you.

' Ha!

- What happened?
- The power has passed to you.

I knew it.

- Are you in pain?
- No, it's a good thing.

A relief... Here, take it!

Listen, Monsieur... there is in all
of this something...

I'm returning your box; it was a joke.

A "joke", my dead hand gone?
Ha, ha!

Too late, Monsieur! It's done!
To buyback my hand?

You're a wise guy!
Thank you, Santa Madonna!

Now, leave with your spells!

Don't come back here!

'Jade retro, mamas!

Vade retro...! Go away!

Hey, Tim?

What's the matter with you?

Don't you recognize me?

He ran away as if the Devil
were at his heels!

Monsieur!

Monsieur Brissot!

Well, M. Brissot,
what happened to you?

- What is it?
- Don't be afraid, it's me.

I came to dust
and found the door open.

I didn't want to disturb you.

But I had to wake you up.

I thought you were ill.

No. I'm not ill.

Apparently last night
you made a racket.

The neighbor complained...
You moved around the furniture,

...talked to yourself
and dragged your feet around.

- I don't remember.
- Sure!

It's musty in here.

I'm going to open...

No! Don't open!

OK, then.

Monsieur Brissot is not here?

Hello!

Hello.

But what is wrong with you?
- Me? Nothing.

I forgot to tell you that a man came.

Plump with a head
like a loaf of sugar, for you.

He asked about you.

- About me?
- The police?

No.
More likely...

...a bailiff.

Wait, he's still there.
Come and see!

Maybe he's an art dealer.

They say that fortune comes

...while you're asleep!

I don't know him.

What's this box?

- Is that for me?
- No.

What's inside?

Let go of it!

What a brute!
You hurt me!

I'm sorry
It's a secret.

Keep your secrets!

Eight days ago you were incapable
of wrapping a package...

Are you making fun of me?

Perhaps.

Did you paint last night?

- Me?
- Damn!

- Oh, yes...
- It's strange!

- Is that a cloister?
- You see it!

In the Alps.

It seems to be.

You know about mountains?

Not at all...
I imagined it.

Ha, it's surprising!

What a dreadful night!

I don't much believe in
the softness of the moonlight.

And this shadow behind the pillar,
whom is it spying?

I don't know.

You don't know what
you wanted to depict?

And that, what is it?

- It looks like the Pont-Neuf.
- On the same night.

The same moonlight.

What is this man holding?

- A knife.
- And on the knife?

- It's blood.
- And again the same shadow behind him!

Enough!

But it's very beautiful!
I was right to push you to work...

Kiss me!

- It's not you!
- What's wrong with you?

I have the right to be proud of you.

Sign them and take them to Gibelin!

- Gibelin has never taken anything from me.
- Sign it.

I'll take care of it!

You men don't know how to get by!

You're painting with your left hand?

Are you left-handed?

It's an old habit.

Tell me, Irene,

...to be damned

...does that mean anything to you?

Hmm? I was fixing my hair.
What were you saying?

Nothing.

Have you finished?

That's your signature?

"Maximus Leo?"

Why "Maximus Leo?"

I don't know!
I signed it that way without thinking.

What a funny pseudonym!

- Careful, it's not dry.
- Let me do it.

He will give you good money for it.

You can rest easy.

They're going to pay for the merchandise!

"The Moonlight, The Shadow,
and the Knife."

It's not my hand.

Irene!
My box!

I beg your pardon a thousand times!
Did I hurt you?

I was distracted, I'm sorry.

Here, young man!
Take one of my little leaflets.

Advice is valuable,
and two opinions are better than one.

Straight ahead!

The hand of man is in that of God.

Behold the hand of Alexander, that of
Hannibal, that of Napoleon.

If they had known!

Pasteur and assassin Franzini.
One hand cures, the other kills.

And those two?

Those two form only one:
Romeo and Juliet.

Past, present, future, eternity?
Which one you choose?

The past.

Is your memory so short?

Or my hand got so long...

Give it to me.

Get out!

Get out!

Don't ever set foot here again!

Is Monsieur satisfied?
This way to the exit, if you please!

That impresses you!

It's by little Brissot?

Now hurry,
or we're going elsewhere!

Wait!
Grangier, come here!

The prince of critics!

- Mademoiselle!
- What do you think of this?

Oh, Good Lord!

- "Maximus Leo"? Don't know him!
- Alias "Roland Brissot!"

The painter of perfumes and vitamins!

He changed.

We're starting from scratch!
For a revelation, it's preferable!

I've brought it back to you.

How did you find it?

It's my profession.

- It's done, sold!
- What?

Your paintings, what else?

At Gibelin they are delighted!
They want more!

Irene.

- You're going to stay here.
- Yes.

Tonight I'm going to work
on your portrait.

Yes.

And you'll never leave me.

Whatever happens.
- No...

The weeks passed so quickly
that we scarcely even noticed.

A year later,
the gallery Gibelin opened...

...with the first show of a young
terrific painter:

Maximus Leo!

It was truly n beautiful ceremony.

Eminent personalities were
in attendance.

An official procession of members
of the Institute of Tired Poets...

Women of the world...
All of Pan's society and the idle rich.

And also many people who
had come for the buffet...

- The Hieroglyphics of Poetry...
- Yes... Excuse me!

Long live M. Gibelin!

It works! It works!

I was the first to believe in you.
I knew it.

- Ne you MW!)-
- 'Jew.

- Not jealous?
- Jealous?

- Of my success.
- But it's mine as well, my dear!

You said to me: "You will be my wife,
my mistress, my inspiration."

Thanks to me,
you became what you are!

- But what am I?
- Listen to them, they will tell you.

Absolute genius!

This breath of profundity!

- Surrealistic horizons!
- A composition of the absolute...

A bit earlier I heard an old bag saying:
"All this with his left hand!"

Gibelin makes a ridiculous
publicity out of this.

You're foolish, he's right!

So, lovers...
Are you happy?

How far you've come,
thanks to me!

- And a little thanks to me, no?
- To you, to me... Thanks to us!

We can't do much without each other.
Grangier, come here!

This is M. Maximus Leo,
whose work you admire so much!

M. Grangier,
whose criticism you admire!

I salute the king of the celebration!

And here is his queen!

Doubly: It's her feast day.

- Saint Irene, that's me.
- Congratulations!

- The spirituality...
- You're very kind!

And my show?

- An event.
- This grand piece.

It has a foreknowledge of the past...
A strange look...

! The musketeer.

- There, the pursuit of the dramatic...
- .

- That's all?
- It's a bit small.

Monsieur!

Pop the cork, so it will make noise.
Only publicity matters!

I'm ashamed to be seen naked
in front of these people.

- Naked?
- Yes, in the painting!

Bravo!

It's the most beautiful gift
you could gave me for my birthday.

- You think so?
- Are there others?

- That's a mystery.
- Where are they?

Nothing in the hands,
nothing in the pockets.

This evening, the two of us, at home...
Shutter closed, curtains pulled shut...

To your health, Madame!

Thank you, Gibelin!

Ah, impromptu.

To the health of Irene.

Her father was from Suresnes,
her mother from Charleroi.

But her soul is my queen,
and her body is my king.

It's unpretentious, but nice!
Don't you agree? Yes?

Look, pal.

Do you see that little
fellow down there?

When that sort of provincial notary
becomes interested in a painting

...of which he understands
nothing whatsoever, that's Glory!

He knows you?

Just a minute!

- Bravo, my dear!
- Congratulations!

What is it you wanted to do,
you little rascal?

- Excuse me!
- The c*ck's at Cocteau!

What is that?

- A commission, Monsieur.
- Who ordered it?

A little man in black.

He said it was to be delivered
to the church of Saint Irene.

- Saint Irene?
- It's funny, one is truly...

Yes, I know.

Would Monsieur like anything?

No, goodbye!

At your service.

I don't know what happened.
He's not with you?

Ah, here he is!
I'll call you back.

I looked for you everywhere,
mad with worry! Where were you?

- I don't know.
- What?

Gibelin is furious.

I went for a walk. I had enough of
those people who don't know

...what painting is but
who speak so much of it!

You won't get angry at them
now that you have succeeded...

No, we got it now.

It's what you struggled for.

- Irene!
- Yes?

- We have to leave.
- Leave?

Yes.

I feel that we must leave.

Let's go, I don't know... to the country.
Anywhere.

Anywhere?

Do you love me?
Are you happy?

Put your arms around me
and I'll tell you!

Yes.

Could you give up all this,
Pan's, and the luxury?

- Have you done something bad?
- No.

Have we become poor?

No, we're rich, but we have to go.

- Wherever you wish!
- Thank you.

Let's leave tonight.

Tonight? But my surprise,
and the party you promised?

I was looking forward to that,
like you, but it's too late.

Get ready!

You know that If I undress,
we're not leaving...

- I will be courageous.
- For two?

What is this?

A man is waiting for Monsieur in the study.
He forced his way in.

- It's a madman!
- Perhaps!

I beg your pardon.

I wanted so much to get to know you.

I, as well, Monsieur!

Happy feast day!

What do you want from me?
Why have you been spying around?

Amusing language
from a debtor to a creditor!

- Do I owe you something?
- A small thing...

- What?
- Your soul.

I come to make its acquaintance,

...as a property owner comes to see
his harvest.

So, you are...

The devil is not always
at the door of a poor man!

That's impossible!

But everything is possible.

You bought the hand one year ago.
Did you sell it back?

- No.
- I am therefore authorized to think

...that your soul will come to me
after your death.

Who pays his debts becomes rich,
and he who says nothing, consents.

But I do not consent! I never saw
my soul and one does not sell

...what one does not know!
- Pardon me!

The law is strict: Only what
doesn't exist, can't be sold!

- Are you a lawyer?
- I have to.

Men have always sough
to swindle me!

Resign yourself, you only
bought it for one sou.

You will not be able
to sell it any cheaper.

- There are centimes.
- That is no longer the exchange rate.

You should be delighted
to have found a connoisseur

...for this tiny part of yourself,
in which you do not believe.

A moment ago, no.

But a moment ago,
I didn't believe in you, either!

And here you are!
- And even a little there!

Well...

I'm thinking that life is short...

...and that damnation is eternal.

A good stand is better
than running away!

Happiness on earth, that's important.

But eternity!

Your awkward situation touches me.
You want to buy your soul back?

- Are you playing games with me?
- No, I'm a good devil!

- How much?
- One sou.

- Here!
- Be careful!

The hand gets back to me, and you'll
lose your precious advantages.

Yes! You're a man who's made it,

...master of a beautiful woman
that everyone envies you.

But tomorrow, you will go back
to being a little failure.

Of course, that requires reflection.

So, take your time...
Think about it.

But I am not a philanthropist.
We are going to make a deal.

Today one sou,
tomorrow two sous, etc.

That should help
for your decision.

sous, sous, sous, sous,
, , , , ...

Always doubling,
until infinity.

Do you know what infinity is?
I do, I've been there.

It's very nice.

Voila!

Is the hand really in there?

- You don't trust me.
- I've learned not to trust men!

- Yes, it's fine
- ?...

I thank you.
- No, don't thank me yet.

We'll see if your soul is worth
a mediocre and wasted life.

I beg your pardon!

I thought you were done with Monsieur!

Please introduce me.

An old friend of the family
My wife.

She is charming!
My fraternal compliments!

We saw him a year ago at my atelier.

Please...

- What?
- Leave me alone!

Do you want to wrap
this box up again?

Don't worry, Madame,

...I'll leave you both to your happiness.

But allow me to make this
modest contribution to your feast day.

This is not for me, it's not possible!

Oh, a black diamond!
Sublime.

My pleasure.

So, this package?

You no longer know
how to wrap a package?

For the love of God,
give me a break!

Well?
Are you keeping it?

No!

As you wish.

Poor little one!
You will be missed.

Goodbye, Madame.

Goodbye, Monsieur,
and thank you again!

Roland, say something.

You remain there
like a sad soul.

Thank you so much!

It's really nothing, Madame.
There are plenty left in the ground.

See you soon.

Look!

- Give me that ring!
- Why?

- It carries evil.
- Are you crazy?

- I don't want it.
- You're jealous?

Irene!

Tell me that you believe in me,
that you love me!

Just like that, on command?

- Don't you want me to kiss you?
- Do it and I will hate you.

For God's sake listen to me!

My hand...

My hand that caressed you,

my hand that painted,
it was not my hand.

It was not me.
It was a gift, a talisman.

It was the hand in the box.

It's not possible, you're drunk!

- Only Champagne...
- Charming anniversary!

So, I'm returning it to you?

Yes.

You're right.

She's charming, your wife!
A beautiful sinner!

Listen.
Her soul interests me.

Give it to me in exchange,
and we'll be even forever.

What?

Can I talk to her?

Do you want me
to kick your teeth in?

As you wish.
But don't forget, it doubles!

And for how many days?

Three weeks, doctor.
It began the night of my birthday.

I'm very worried.

What are the symptoms?

Obsessions: money.
Doing his accounts all day long.

He marks off the days with crosses.

Due dates!

I don't believe so!
He locks himself in his room.

For three weeks, he's been sleeping
in a separate room.

I hear him talking to himself.

It doubles!

It doubles!

Yesterday, doctor, he accused me
of being an evil spirit.

He wanted to strangle me.

- Strangle you?
- Yes. Afterward he was sorry but...

- I'm so afraid that...
- Let's go see this.

But he must not suspect anything...

Don't worry.

No! Don't come in,
leave me in peace]

What do you want?

- Good evening, M. Brissot!
- Hi.

Your wife was anxious,
she called me about her health...

It's for me that she made you come!

She believes that I'm mad.
And you think that too.

It's neither my body
nor my mind that are in danger.

It's my soul!

My soul, do you hear?
And I am not crazy!

Ha, finally, you're here!

You wished my presence?

I've been expecting you.

So... have you reflected?

Yes!

- Have you made a decision?
- Yes!

You can take back
your talisman!

You no longer need it?
And your paintings?

And your fame?
- I know art dealers now!

With my name I can paint
with any hand, they won't care.

And your wife, you're not afraid
of losing her?

MY Wife?

Alas, I lose her a little every day.
She's afraid of me.

Why should I sell my soul
If I don't keep her body?

Who's there?

- Are you coming to dinner?
- No. I'm not hungry.

Do you need me?

No!

As you wish...

- Do you have the money?
Yes, I have it.

Today's the rd, isn't it?

Let's count.

How much is that in francs?

francs...

...and centimes.

- I'll write you a check.
- No.

It's Saturday.
At this hour, the banks are closed.

I anticipated that.
I have cash.

Someone has opened my safe!

francs are missing!

That's not possible...

Irene!

Where is the money?

- What money?
- francs are missing!

- I took them.
- You did that?

For my fur.

Don't you realize?

Because of you I will be damned!

Stop, you're hurting me,
the money is there!

- How...?
- Yes, the furrier didn't come,

...it's in the drawer!

- How much is left?
- .

Saved I

I have the money!

Wait!

Wait...

.

Viola .

, francs are missing!

How do you know that?

It's my business.

I'll get them.
The chambermaid...

Pardon me.

- Midnight? Impossible!
- And yet...!

Twelve o'clock...

... minutes... seconds.

Time seems short to you
in my company!

But beware, it's no longer
, that you owe me,

but , francs.

See you tomorrow.
Don't forget: It doubles!

Irene!

Irene!

Irene!

Irene! Irene!

francs, francs.

I repeat that figure to myself
through streets and directories,

...while calling friends
who were never there.

For example...

Monsieur is not in!

Monsieur does not receive!

No, Monsieur!

francs! francs!
francs!

The sum was always increasing,
implacably, mathematically!

Teased by the shopgirl': smile,
I tried the National Lottery!

Alas...

Maybe the Chef who it sold to me...
DECEASED

I francs! I francs!

I francs!

Everywhere closed doors
and dosed faces too...

One night, alone,

...abandoned to my despair...
when...

Hello! Who?

Irene?

Hello? Yes, it's me.
I heard that you needed money.

I have it for you.
A lot of money.

Don't ask me howl

Hello?

There's someone on the line!
Hang up, Monsieur!

Hello? Did you hear me?
Yes, a lot of money.

I took back my old room at
the Hotel du Poirier, number .

Can you hear me alright?
Number .

Yes, Madame, strangled!

- Who was she?
- A young woman.

They don't know who did it.

The room was pillaged!

- You can't come in, Monsieur!
- Why?

The police is in, Monsieur.

"Cannes, Nice, Monte-Carlo...

"Spend the winter
on the Cote d'Azur."

What?

It's in the newspaper.

- Publicity!
- No.

It's an advice.

A good advice,
that you should follow.

Go to Monte Carlo,
and make a stop at Nice.

At the Hotel du Palmier Nain,
ask for M. Verdure on my behalf.

Verdure is the owner.
He has a betting system for roulette!

It will make you money.

It's your last chance.

Who are you?

Don't you remember the
dishwasher from Chez Melisse

...more than a year ago?

My name is Angel.

Will you remember?

Angel...

I lost another day with the inquest.

And when I arrived at Monte-Carlo
I owed the little sum of...

, francs.

Place your bets!
Attention, the bets are done!

Rien ne va plus!

black, odd and in a low slot!

I was winning!

The chips piled high
in front of me!

People hurried to my table...

believing that I was carrying luck.

I was going to escape
from this nightmare...

When u woman at my table...

How cold it is suddenly!

The bets are placed?
Rien ne va plus!

"Rien ne va plus", indeed.

The bets were done...

I was loosing all I had
under the pitiless rakes

...of these
gardeners in tuxedo!

I left the gaming room
like a ghost.

A gambling inspector believed
that I was going to commit suicide.

Don't worry...

I don't even have
the means to k*ll myself.

- Are you an employee here?
- Yes.

Naturally, we will give you
a little something

...so you can get back home.

Where do you live?

Huh? In... In Nice.
Hotel du Palmier Nain.

- A charming residence!
- At the height of the Carnaval?

But Monsieur,
aren't you at the age

...for laughter and games?

Return to Nice: there I'm sure
you'll meet a nice person

...with an eccentric costume

...and who won't be
too much reasonable.

"UNHAPPY in game,
happy in love."

I don't have the heart for kidding.

A wound caused by money is not mortal.
Don't despair, believe me.

What do you care?

Men are connected
in the same chain.

A chain of mysterious workings.

A broken link
damages the following one!

A "chain"?

It's curious that you
mentioned that word.

I'm also part of a chain,
reduced to several men.

But they... they were happy!
They benefited from it!

Me, I have to pay!

In the name of God, is it fair
that I have to pay for all the others?

Do not blaspheme. Just take back
your place in the Ring of Masks...

My Package.

- Did Monsieur win?
- No.

- Lose a lot?
- Everything.

Your key.

- You should have a dinner.
- I'm not hungry.

Don't hesitate.
You've paid in advance.

Monsieur!

You don't plan on doing
anything stupid?

It's a renowned Hotel here.
We tolerate everything but that.

Don't worry.
I don't even have the right to die.

Go have a look in this room,
there are very funny masks.

It will amuse you.

Good evening, Roland Brissot.

Here we are, all present,
my seniors and me,

...all the former owners
of the talisman.

We, the links in the chain,

...joined like
the fingers of a hand.

You invoked us,
and we responded.

I'm in for another hit!

We're not yet too rusty!
, , , ... Hup!

Your servants,
I and my invincible sword!

I was a musketeer of the king.

It was on the eve of a duel that
cowardice took hold of me,

...so I bought from a rascal alchemist
that damned talisman.

Since then I was invincible.
No enemy that I could not defeat.

Until the day, alas,

...when I let myself provoke

...and k*ll my best friend.

So I got rid of the hand to a
thieving beggar on the Pont-Neuf.

I was that nondescript beggar.

Thanks to the hand,

I became the greatest thief
and counterfeiter of my time.

I accumulated a large fortune,
but without really enjoying it.

Because what amused me
was to take and to steal.

To counterfeit money
and identities.

My reputation grew to the point

...that His Majesty
entrusted me with his finances!

Until the day that the good people
got angry

...and made me pay for my skills
with my life.

But I had the time to pass the hand
to a certain master of juggling

...who had helped me
balance the budget.

I bought it and became
the greatest juggler of my time.

I had always
loved balancing.

When I was younger,
in my native country,

...I had practiced
on all sorts of jugglings.

Filled with a mysterious power,
I soon became the greatest juggler

...and even Kings
wanted to see me.

One day at the Spanish court,
I was asked to juggle with eggs.

I don't know what mad impulse
suddenly took hold of me...

I was hanged after
having been subjected to the strappado.

Just before, I had the time
to foist off the hand...

It was I who bought it.

And I became the greatest illusionist
of my time.

I summoned ghosts,
I made tables speak,

...I put astonished audience
into trances.

One day I put the daughter of a prince
into sleep but was unable to revive her.

The prince ordered me beheaded.

But before the execution a surgeon
wanted to buy my body.

I refused him my body,
but I sold him my hand.

I was that surgeon.

The poor bodies that all their lives
had suffered

...became for me
a wonderful field for experiments.

Thanks to me and them

...surgery evolved
with new operations.

Alas, one day,
I tried and experiment

...on a woman whom I loved.

And I k*lled her,
by my fault.

I sold the hand for a few sous
to my young laboratory assistant.

I was that young assistant.

It was the beginning of boxing.
At the Fair of Trone, I amazed the crowd.

The strongest man in the world!

My manager taught me
that with strength and good publicity,

...one could earn a lot
of money.

He taught me the rudiments of boxing.

The training gave me
breath and endurance,

...which would insure victory.

Finally came the fighting
under the light of the reflectors.

All with the shouts of the crowd,
and the glory.

World champion!

Not for long, alas.

Little by little I became blind.
One day, I knocked a referee senseless.

A time of misery began.

Still, I had to live.

I sold vegetables
from a little barrow.

I sold the hand
to an unlucky restaurateur.

Santa Madonna!

Melisse!

The hand saved me immediately.

In a great competition
with all the chefs,

...I won the gold medal,
which gleamed like a saucepan.

And my restaurant became famous!

But the fear
of damnation pursued me.

The food was made
with no heart anymore.

Fortunately, one evening a poor devil
of a painter came in

...who was heartsick.

I was that poor devil of a painter

...and I'm struggling hard
to buy back my soul.

This evening I owe more than
six million francs.

And it's very close to midnight.

We are here to help you.

We will not rest as long
as a part of us is alive.

As long as this hand
might damn you!

But each day, it doubles!

We must win
the ransom of his soul!

What can be done
by a musketeer?

- An illusionist?
- A juggler?

A poor cook
with a handful of beans?

Fortunately, I'm here.

Salute, gentlemen,
the Twentieth Century.

Armed robbery, fraud,
burglary, blackmail, gangs...

Welcome the Twentieth Century
and let me do.

I will print the money
that you need.

So, fellow, do you intend
to teach me my business?

Am I suppose to settle for this
monkey money? Me, the Devil?

Believe me, Roland Brissot,
give up!

Your time has come.

- Hey, are you my alchemist?
- Nothing can be hidden from you!

You're hiding something:
the owner of the hand!

- From whom did you take it?
- But, I...

Where is he, the one from whom
we have all benefited?

I know who he is.

He signed my paintings
as "Maximus Leo."

What?

Maximus Leo!

Glory to God in the highest
and peace on earth!

I was born in the year
of our Lord ,

...son of an Alpine woodcutter,
Maxime The Lion.

The Carthusian monks
of Saint-Bruno raised me

...and I was very young when
I entered the abbey of Allevard

...under the name of
Maximus Leo.

The Lord had blessed my left hand
with a divine power.

You could have been the best
woodcutter, the best man of w*r,

...the best artist of your time.

But I lived in the mountains,
far from the world's dangers.

And he boasts about it!

All my life, a little man dressed
in black lurked near me

...to tempt me and buy my power.

But this hand remained
next to the other,

...joined in prayer.

So then he came to find me
in the silence of the tomb.

He cut off my hand
and stole it from me!

- Zounds! And it was I
to whom he sold it!

- Thief!
- Ingrates!

Was it better to settle for being
timid, naive and dissatisfied?

- At the cost of their soul!
- No!

The contract that each of you
agreed to with him had no value!

He did not sell you anything!

One can't sell anything
that didn't belong to him!

The Devil himself
couldn't do it!

And he knows it!

Thief! Thief]

I am saved!

- I am saved.
- Your soul is saved.

Monk, forgive me
and take back your hand.

No.

Let it go back through the course of
ages until it reaches me!

Rest in peace!

- Rest in peace!
- Rest in peace!

Rest in peace!

Rest in peace...

Ha!

Roland Brissot,

...you are the only one still living
of our circle of shades.

We are only appearances.

My soul has pardoned you,
but my body remains mutilated.

Carry his hand back to his tomb
in the Dauphine.

Then you will be freed

...from the last link of the chain.

In the morning
I found myself alone.

There was empty dishes,
and overturned bottles,

...as if many people
had passed through there.

Yet, I was alone.

And in place of my left hand,
I had only a stump,

...and a pain throbbing
throughout my arm.

On the ground, in the place
where I had seen the monk,

I picked up the fossilized
and desiccated hand

...that had been his.

I returned it piously to the box.

Since then I have been
searching these mountains

...for the tomb
of friar Maximus Leo

...to return it
to his mortal body

...and to grant him
eternal rest.

And it's the same box
that was stolen from you earlier.

Around us there is
an entire invisible world!

Still, Monsieur,
I don't know...

You won't make us believe
that in the th century...

Denis,
what do you think of this?

We in the mountains

...don't view things so simply.

- And you, Colonel?
- It seems foggy to me.

Your report
is not very clear.

Since your soul has escaped

...you should be at ease.

"At ease"

Monsieur,

...I am the only man alive
who swindled the little man!

And he does not forgive those
who have offended him!

My soul is saved, that's true,
but not my life!

Not my body!
He is pursuing me!

He will k*ll me
as he k*lled Irene!

The customs agents said
that he's the man in the coffin.

- He's there!
- Oh come on...

Don't open it, don't open it!

It's the wind, the branches

...hitting the wall.

Don't go!
Auguste!

There is no more devil
than fire on my hand!

There on the door!

The imprint of a hand!

A real hand.

With what could one do that?

There he is! Over there!
There he is!

- What happened?
- He saw something!

I felt a current of hot air
around my legs!

- He runs away, the rat!
- He has the Devil on his tail!

- Do we go?
- Be careful!

He does not have
a clear conscience!

There he is, down there!

How he runs!

Whom is he with?

With a little man.

They're fighting!

Good Lord!

- What happened?
- My God!

I'm staying here,
I can't see this!

Is he dead?

Dead.

A fractured skull.

Poor devil!

Have you heard?
He's dead, the poor wretch!

Oh!

Here, the box!

It's empty-

Look!
It's a grave.

Bring your lantern closer, Denis.

- "Maximus Leo."
- It's the grave of the monk!

The cycle is closed.

The last link in the chain
has joined the first.