01x04 - Elite Dog

[bunniefuu]

Elite dog

-Belfort, I beg you,
make an effort.

Let's give it another try.

Sniffing complete.
Turn around, please.

Now...

where is the handkerchief?

Ah, that's it, carry on.

Come on, Belfort,
you're going to make it.

-Is he for real?

It's not difficult!

-No.

No, no, no and no!

-Tane, our poor brother

wouldn't be able to smell a rotten
cheese even on his own truffle.

-Please, Belfort,

you've got to succeed... or the king will
send me to the galleys!

Let's stay calm.

Bazire!
His Majesty the King is asking for you!

-His... His...
His... His Majesty!

Don't wander off, I’ll be
back as soon as possible!

-It's as easy as easy
as pie! A game for puppies!

-Belfort could make an effort.

-But I do! It's my
nose, it's not working!

I can't help it if I was born
without the sense of smell.

-Oh, what a shame!

Our master Louis will be
very disappointed when he

sees Belfort fail the tracking test
this afternoon. A real shame!

-In any case,

I can't wait to see what a pitiful
performance our brother is going to put on.

-No way. I can do it!

I'll never make it,
my dear Lupin!

Never, do you hear?

I'll be the laughingstock of Versailles.
-Whoa, whoa, whoa...

Relax, buddy.

What are you talking' about?
I don't understand.

-Louis, my master, has ordered
that my sisters and I

participate in a tracking demonstration
this afternoon.

-Okay, and what does that mean?

-Tane, Ponne and I have
to find a handkerchief hidden

in the park
and bring it back to my master,

to show that we are the elite

of royal dogs.
Like our mother.

-It's okay, actually!

Seems easy!
Well... except for you.

-You've got it all figured out.

My sisters will complete
the challenge trouble-free.

They'll sniff their
handkerchiefs, but me...

with my non-working nose, I'm
going to disappoint my master.

-Well, he doesn't have to leave
his handkerchiefs lying around!

Don't look so down. If it's
so important, I'll help you.

-But how? No one will ever be

able to give me back my sense of smell!

-Never say never.

Do as I say and I'll
make you a champion.

-You will? Do I really have a chance?
-Hm hm.

-Oh!

My dear Lupin, you're
wonderful. Where shall I start?

-Of course, Majesty.

Your 3 young dogs will be
fully prepared for the challenge.

If you'll excuse me, I have to prepare
our champions.

Oops-ie.

Belfort, we must
resume the exercises!

Belfort!

Where's Belfort?

Damn it! Why?

This time for sure,
I'll end up in the galleys

-First exercise: you have to find
your way out of the forest.

-Really?

You are really underestimating
me, my dear Lupin.

My sense of smell is flawed, but
I have a good sense of direction.

Hm...

-No, no, no.
Not so fast, Belfort.

You're missing an accessory.

-I must confess your
method is original

I hope we won't run
into anyone. I'd be embarrassed.

Don't worry, we won't bump
into anyone here.

It's all right, my champion.
Keep on going, you'll make it!

-Oh, sorry!

Oh! Ouch!

-Congratulations, Belfort,
you're out of the forest.

Well, on the other hand,
not thanks to your sense of smell.

-Apart from the shocks,
I didn't smell a thing!
*Note: "Senti" in French can be used as "Smell" and as "Feel".

-We'll find another way.

-It feels good to breath in
some fresh air!

-I get it now, we first need
to go over the basics.

-I'm listening?

-A good tracker
has good posture.

Firm on the hind legs, head straight,
nose up,

left front leg raised, tail parallel
to the ground, on the lookout.

And sniff.

Head to one side, looking for the wind

and sticking out your tongue.

Bêêêêê!
-Bêêêêê!

-That was a joke, the "bêêêêê"!
-Ah yes, very funny!

-Come on, let's get back to it.

Wiggle your nose,
close your eyes, inhale...

As soon as you spot a scent,
follow it!

Hey!

-Oh, sorry, Lupin.
I did everything like you said,

but I didn't smell anything.

I'm sorry, Lupin.
-So, we're hungry?

Good timing, me too.

It gave me an idea.

Next exercise:
find something to eat.

-That's easy!

What would you like?
Stew, cheese, cookie?

The king's cook

is kind to me.

-Eating in the kitchen
is cheating.

You have to find food
in nature.

-Do you mean
out in the wild?

-Yeah, with your nose.

-But Lupin, I couldn't possibly
hunt an innocent little rabbit!

And I'm not hunting
any other animal.

-No, you won't, nobody's
going to eat anybody!

No need to! Versailles is an

open-air buffet, with food everywhere!

-Oh, what a relief.

Let's go !

-And the queen
asked for more chocolate.

-You've got to be kidding me!
-Too bad the king doesn't like it.

-OK, try the truffle lower down.

Well, I wonder if we'll be eating the
day after tomorrow or the day after that.

But...

Er... Er...

-I just don't get it.

It's like there's nothing to
eat in all of Versailles.

-Here my friend.
-Thanks, Lupin!

-Belfort, I'm not going to lie to
you, tracking's not looking good.

To wake up your truffle, we're
gonna have to use the big g*ns.

-The big g*ns?

-Oh dear,
my poor little feet.

-Oh?

-Two hours wandering the gardens,

all of that to find...

Belfort!

-Belfort, the scent you're about
to smell is the worst in the world.

I'm sorry about this,
but we've got to do it.

-Belfort thinks he doesn't have to train,

that the king loves him too much
to be angry with him.

But he's wrong.

And if Belfort fails the tracking test,

I'll end up in the galleys!

-OK...

This will unclog your nose
or my name isn't Lupin.

It's up to you.
And above all, good luck.

-I'm sorry, but...

what am I supposed to smell?

-This can't be happening!

There must be some mistake.

-Bernard stepped on his rake again.

-This can't be! You
must have smelled something!

It's burning all my nose holes!

-Believe me, I'd like to say I smelled it,
but I didn't.

-If you can't even smell
Bazire's old shoes,

we're really screwed.

-We can't give up. I refuse
to disappoint my master.

You must have another exercise.

Oh no, the tracking
test is about to begin!

-Oh! This is a disaster!
A disastrous disaster!

I'm devastated.

-It's okay, we'll find a
solution. Lupin's word.

-Do you have another idea?

-Maybe I do.

To succeed,

you have to bring back a handkerchief
to your beloved master?

-Yes, I must.

-But you don't stand a
chance of finding it on your own.

So I'll find it for you.

Once I find it, I'll put it in a corner

where you'll be sure to see it.

-Lupin, are you
offering to cheat?

-Oh... No, come on! What
can I say? Just a little.

-No way!
I refuse to lower myself to that!

My nose doesn't work,
but I'm a

King's dog, and King's dog

don't cheat.
-Oh là là...

Belfort, don't take it like
that! Belfort, come back!

He's really stubborn, when
he puts his mind to it!

-Oh...

Oh, Belfort!

Where have you been?
I've been looking for you!

-I can't believe it, he came.
-The fool!

-His Majesty the King!

-My faithful companions, I am

delighted to see you at work.

And I have no doubt that each of you
will be able to retrieve

the handkerchief we've hidden in the park.

-HM!

-Hm...

-Smell recorded!

-Come on, let's go, Belfort!

You can do it!
-You already know it won't work.

No one will know if I help you.
-I said no!

It's still no.

I've got to succeed on my own,

even if I have too look all over the park.

If not with my nose,
I'll do it with my eyes.

-Hm?

What is he doing?

I'm sick and tired
of your principles.

Bingo!

You've got to be kidding
me! Is he doing it on purpose?

What's he doing?

My good-for-nothing brother trusted

his lousy friend to save his nose?

-It's my idea to help him.
That's what friends are for,

but you don't know what I'm talking about.
Are you going to stop me?

Two against one,
it's no game!

-Oh man, oh man...

-Are you going to let go?

-Lupin!

-Bernard stepped on another rake.

-Tane, look at this.

He runs like a jackrabbit
and hides in a rabbit hole.

Weird wolf!

-Anyway, the poor little
wolf has no escape!

-Excellent! All right, that's enough fun.

Help me out.

-Hm... No.
-Another day, perhaps!

-Hey, be nice! You're
not leaving me in here!

Hey, oh!

-Lupin! Lupin!

-Oh...

Look, there they are!

-Bravo!

-Tane, Ponne, bravo.
You've passed the test.

Bazire?

You'll reward them
as they deserve.

-Of course, Your Majesty.

-Well done, my children.

Hm...

-Lupin!
Where are you? Lupin!

-Belfort?
-Lupin!

This way!
-I'm here, I'm coming!

Lupin!

How did you get in there?
-It's a long story.

-Oh!

You tried to help me,
when I told you not to?

-Of course I wanted to help you!

Because I know it's important for you
not to disappoint your master.

-So you had
no confidence in me.

-Belfort, open your eyes:
you can't do it.

-Hm? Too bad, then.

I'll fail, but with my head held high.
-Belfort !

Wait! Take the handkerchief!
Belfort!

-Ah, here it is!

-Belfort! Oh...

-Well, my good Belfort,
where's the handkerchief?

What's the matter with
you? Calm down, Belfort.

Guard with me,
it seem Belfort wants me to follow him.

The rest of you, wait here.

-Wait for me!

-Quiet.

-Be careful, it's a wolf.
-Stop! If Belfort

warned us of this beast's distress,

it's not for us to harm it.

For some reason, this
wolf deserves our help.

-Oh!

-Well,

my loyal Belfort,

it seems tracking isn't your thing.

-Oh...

-My dear Bazire,

we can praise Belfort's attitude.

Who else would have given up

the test to save this creature?

What a noble spirit.

-How does Belfort always manages to
win the king's good graces?

-When he hasn't brought
back his handkerchief.

-My daughters,
you have passed the test,

so don't doubt it:
you have the qualities of elite dogs.

As for you, my son, I
share our master's opinion.

You have shown nobility
and that quality honors you.

-HM!

-However, I would be grateful to
choose your company more carefully.

I will not tolerate my son making

friends with an animal of inferior rank.

-Hm...

Hm?

-Oh!

Is that for me?
Smells great! What is it?

-A cookie.

I don't know what it
smells like, but it's delicious.

Not so fast!

I'll gladly give it to you,

as long as you never
help me cheat ever again.

-That's a promise. Thank you
for getting me out of that hole.

-Bon appétit, my dear Lupin.

-Wow! That's crazy!
Actually, kitchens are nice!

-Louis XIV,

the Sun King, loved animals,
especially dogs.

In his kennel

lived over 300 hunting dogs.

In particular, these included

hounds, pointers and spaniels.

The king's favorite dogs
lived inside the castle,

in the dogs' antechamber,

a place which still exists today.

It housed

carved wooden
doghouses, lined with velvet.

Dogs had their own valet to pamper them.

Louis XIV loved so much
his 4-legged companions

that he had portraits made of them,
visible today in several museums.

The royal pastry chef prepared
little cookie called "biscotins",

that the King himself liked
to give to his favorite dogs.