"Hurray, we can' t get out!" "Goody-goody!" "We'll have to go through the window!" "You think it's funny?" "!" " Yes indeed, mum." " Why?" "Because it's not like everyday!" "Don't you enjoy it, Amelie?" "Doors are made to get out." " Of course, but sometimes..." " Who's the kid?" "Don't you feel like going through the window with me?" "And cut the christmas tree with Jacques and Charlotte?" "As you like." "I'm sorry darling." "Does it hurt?" "No, but i have to take care, i mean who else but me, naturally." "It couldn't last." "Too bad, you will cut the tree without me." "See you later, my darling." "If our tree looks too nice, the children won't like their parent's anymore." " It's true." "We need a modest tree so that God loves it even more, just strong enough to hold the very few presents we'll hang on it." "We need a tree that fits our church." "Julien." "It's good enough this year, isn't it?" "It's too much!" "15 minutes later, it would have been all decorated, and a full surprise!" "It's too much, my friend." "I scarcely come to church, but when i do, i come with full hands, to redeem myself." "Your tree is too beautiful, the children won't like the one their parents did for them." "But it has to be better than home, to make them like coming to church." "This is a woman's reasoning." "One day, you'll ask for colored glass, statues, candles, a band why not..." "God is spirit" "Other is the seeder, other the harvester" "Why not come home, so that i can hear my piano." "I have a wife, a daughter and a piano." "All that should make some music, but it doesn't!" "I need you, Jacques." "The sleigh must be yoked." "Will you excuse me, my friends but i must leave." " Anything serious?" " A poor old woman has died." " Was she from here?" " No." " That's better." "The big star goes on top of the tree." " Was she your grandma?" " No." " A neighbour?" " Do you live next to her?" " No." "Who's keeping watch over her?" "Noone?" "Was she left alone?" "Are you afraid of me?" " Why don't you talk?" " To the right." " Are you sure it's the right way?" " Yes." "I think i used to ice-skate on a nearby lake." "I was your age." " There's a lake nearby, isn't it?" " No." "Is it still far?" " Is it there?" " Yes." "God my Lord, it's the first time i see this poor woman while you know her like all of your creatures, even the humblest one." "She never came to your church but i should have come to her." "It's up to the shepherd to look for the sheep." "Welcome her in your Goodness." "Chick. chick. chick" "She was alone." "Give her a family." "Chick. chick. chick" "May she celebrate Christmas among your Chosen Ones." "Amen." "C'mon chick, c'mon." " I'm the pastor." " I know you." " There is no parents, is there?" " No." " Well, there's the little girl." " Where is she?" "Where is she?" "She ran away i don't know where..." "C'mon chick, c'mon." " Maybe, she got scared." " It's hard to believe." "I thought she didn't even notice the old woman's death." " Didn't she see her?" " No, she's blind." "Call her again." " What's her name?" " She can't understand anything," " What will happen to her now?" " I guess she'll be put in an hospital..." "Where else?" "She's retarded." "Don't worry mr pastor, she'll be back to eat." "You see the hot soup is for her." "I have to go back home." "Such children would better be not born." "About the funeral, could it take place the day after chrismas," " if you don't mind?" " If you want." "C'mon chick, c'mon." "Chick-chick-chick." "Lord, persuade me that i can't leave this child, that You're asking me to take care of her," "to take her to You!" "We gave her a name; she's Gertrude." "She needs to learn everything, and first to walk." "Wonderful!" "She went down the stairs for the first time." "Not one mistake, a miraculous lightness." "Notebook." "Gertrude." "The pastor's bag." "The holy book." " How do you know it's the holy book?" " There are flowers in it." "The clock." "It's 11:15." "The butterflies collection." "The window." "The glass." "It's sunny." "I can feel it through the glass." "The chimney." "An other glass." " No" " Charlotte, keep quiet." "But It's the looking-glass." "Glass?" "but it's not as cold as glass." "This glass is something else:" "It's a smooth plane material which is used for decorating in houses." "You've never told me of it." "It's not worth it." "You can live very well without it." "Only fools think it's useful." "Let's go on." "The nice soap pot of aunt Amelie." "The pastor's hat." "His umbrella, the hat is wet, the umbrella is dry, the pastor forgot it once again." "She imagines everything." "She has overcome Charlotte in mind, keenness." "Here 's a sheet retired from his sheet job." "Like my mother used to say, it's no use but as a shroud." "She was not gay; you can also make diapers out of it." "Go play elsewhere with this trumpet." "You're hurting my eardrums." "This poor Elie isn't well at all." "I spent the afternoon at his bedside." "He wouldn't let go off my hand." "Charlotte, you will visit him, won't you?" "Yes i will, father." "Charlotte, i've told you a hundred times not to let the doors half-open." "It's horribly dangerous for Gertrude." "Don't shout at her, I did it." "Don't you remember when she hit herself?" "!" "Hello Pastor." "I thought you'd be in the garden." "It's still very warm outside." "I don't like staying in the garden when Charlotte and Amelie work." "I wish i could help them, but i can't." "It's embarassing." "Guess what i've brought to you." "Get up." "It's on the fireplace." " A litlle kitty!" " No." " A rabbit?" "!" " Yes." "It was running before me on the road." "Do you like it?" "You often ask me if i'm happy." "Can't you see it on my face?" "Well Gertrude, you don't smile." "How do you smile?" "Well, most of the time, you do it unwillingly." "Show me, pastor." "The mouth smiles, doesn't it?" "The mouth, the eyes, the whole face." "Teach me." "Now you're smiling." " Can you see me?" " Yes." "There i am." "Do i look happy, now?" "Pastor, please, am i pretty?" "A pastor does not worry about the beauty of faces." "Why?" "Because the beauty of souls is enough for him." " You'd rather let me think i' m ugly, wouldn't you?" " No." "Maybe, you think i don't need to know." "It's like when you wouldn't tell me about the mirors." "Gertrude, you know you're very pretty." "Are pretty women happier than the others?" " Not necessarily." " So, what's the use of being pretty?" " Well, they inspire a bit more happpiness around them." " How?" " You like them." "So, i'm happy to be pretty, because you'll always like me." " Jacques is coming." " Jacques?" " Yes, he's coming tomorrow." " Did he call you?" " Not me, this young lady." "She was so happy she hardly could talk." " Isn't true, Piet?" " No i wasn't mumbling, the line was very bad." " What did he say?" " Nothing." "Oh, you heard that." "He called from Paris." "He's coming at 10.I'll catch him at the station." " Is the pastor here?" " I'm fetching him." " Are you happy?" " I don't like you talking about Jacques before me." " You make me ridiculous." " I do you a favour." "He's not at his office." "He must have leaved and i didn't notice." "It doesn't matter." "When i walk holding up my hands, i always expect to touch yours." " They're so beautiful." " Don't say that, Gertrude." "Lord gave me these hands to bless." "Leave it to me." "Here's your wife." "I like your wedding ring." "If you were single, i wouldn't say all that to you." "Since you don't marry a blind woman, I may like you." " Do you think it's bad?" " No, there's no bad in you." "I know, so give me back your hand." "We'll take this little rabbit back to his forest." "So soon." "I couldn't talk to him." "He would be unhappy here." " Shall we cross the little bridge?" " As you like." " Will the pastor wear his coat or his cape?" " His cape." "Let me hold it." "It will be like i'm leading someone." " Are you going out?" " Yes, Gertrude has stayed inside all day." "Mr Casteran has come." "Jacques is coming tomorrow." "Why didn't you fetch me?" " Disturb us?" "!" "Gertrude, will you wait for me in the garden?" " Why didn't you fetch me?" " It's so hard to understand you, and not to judge you, which i don't want." " Have i done anything wrong?" " You, of course not." "Jean, please, don't blame me, but i'm not quite up to you." ""Have i done anything wrong?"..., of course no." "How could you do anything wrong." "You don't even know what wrong is." "Furthermore, let me tell you, Jean, that's what you lack." "I don't understand you anymore." "Speak clearly, please." " Is it still about Gertrude?" " Yes, still" " And our promenades?" "No, not about it." "It's about something else." "It's about everything, Jean." "Jean, understand me well, i know what Gertrude means to you, and all the joy she has given you," "may God prevent me from interfering in that work you have made up." "You're following your way straight, but think about the others, Jean." "About the ones who can't follow you, whom you're leaving on the way." "Gertrude hasn't taken anything from you or our children;" "You have four children." "How many times did you go with them on a stroll?" "How dare you compare?" "But you're helping her more than you ever have for any of us." "I had not to pull out of the night any of them." "Well, you are so right, i admit it." "I'm so selfish." "Don't blame me, Jean:" "I was not made to be a saint's wife, that's all." " Should i give up on that stroll?" " No, but don't come back too late." "I promise." "Gertrude is quickly tired." " Why don't you come with us?" " Go, go, go." "I don't have time." "Everybody hasn't got the luck to be blind." " Here they come!" " Wait for me!" "They're coming." "I saw them first!" "Mum, what's the place for Gertrude?" " Is Piet next to Jacques?" " Of course." " Here comes the car." " I saw it." " Wait for me!" " Jacques is coming!" "Come quick!" " I'd rather not come right now." "You're of the family as well as Piet, aren' t you?" "Wait, you'll see." "Tidy your hair a little, they're like a mad dog's hair!" "Jacques doesn't like it at all." "Let me help you." "First, let's talk seriously." "I have a surprise for you, my boy." "I mean the pastor has a surprise for you." "Yes, but on behalf of mr Casteran." " Do you still enjoy music?" " You have had a..." "I said nothing." "Love, delight, and organ." "Of course, it's meant for all the parish, but also for our local virtuoso." " It was my idea, you know." " Finally, you got what you wanted." "Only the statues and the candles are missing!" "An electrical organ, as you can see." "Now that i've played the first note, your turn, Maestro!" "What's going on?" "!" "It's the first time." " It's nothing." "It' s called an organ honking." " An organ honking?" " But it's still working good, isn't it?" " Let me see." "Who follows me shall not walk in the darkness" "Where have you been?" " I'm Jacques, Gertrude." " I know well." " Don't you kiss me?" " Yes of course." "See how good-looking she is." " What did you put in my hair?" " A little pet, big pet." "You didn't recognize her, did you?" "Girls grow up." "See my Piet." " Have i changed?" " Piet is now a woman." "Come on, there's a duck waiting for us." " Are you happy?" " Yes, very happy." "Noone has ever kissed that much in a church!" " I know what's new, now: you look happy." " At least, you notice it." " Have you been told before?" " I've been waiting for you to be ensured." "Don't you guess why i'm happy?" "If not, then i won't be." "It's not because of that excursion?" " Do you mind it?" " No, of course." "Before you came back, i was afraid you wouldn't like strolling the mountains with us anymore." "We'll sleep in barns." "Daddy planned it all greatly." " It's like the season's main event for him." " For me too, you know." " Will you come?" " Yes of course." " Now you have guessed it." " Guessed what?" " The reason why i'm happy." "You always need the answer." " I forgot the cigars." " I didn't." "You wait here." "As usual, she'going to fix it." "Would you like to dance with me, gertrude?" " Jacques, what an idea!" " I'll show you." "It's very easy." " I've never danced." " That's great." "No cigars?" "Call Piet and you have cigars." " Where's my cigar-cutter?" " Here, i've brought it too." "You see, she does it all the time." "What shall i become when she leaves?" "Since her mother's death..." "Mr pastor, Gertrude says she needs your permission to dance." "Dance?" "!" "Gertrude?" "!" " Jacques wants me to." " I see." "But she can't dance." "I'll lead her." " Do you really want it, Gertrude?" " I don't know." "I'm asking you." "I'd never thought of it." "Jacques, if you think that..." "Go my children." "Be careful!" "Gertrude's dancing;" "it's worth a look." " Yes indeed." " You come, pastor." "So what?" "Why stopping?" "I play a waltz for Gertrude." " Have you seen them?" " If i have?" "I'm not blind." " Well, Jacques has funny ideas!" " Why?" "How fogy you are!" " You see how easy it is!" " It's even nicer than music." " It's coming!" " I didn't know i could dance." " Jacques, why did they stop dancing?" " They're watching us." " I can feel it!" "I feel ashamed!" " Not me!" "Look at her!" "She does not look blind!" "He's leading her alright, indeed." "You would not have tought of teaching her this mr pastor." " Look!" "She's smiling." " Yes, for the first time." "She's smiling!" " See you tomorrow, Gertrude." " But tomorrow you'll be gone!" "You know i won't." " Is that you pastor?" " Yes." " Did you work well?" " Yes." " Noone disturbed you?" " No, noone." "Why don't you admit Jacques has just left?" "I don't mean to hide anything from you, but i don't want to hurt you." "Why would i be hurt?" "Am not i able to hear what he has said to you?" "He said nothing, but i can feel it without saying." "Pastor, i can't marry anybody, can i?" "Jacques knows it, doesn't he?" "!" "Don't worry, Gertrude." "Tomorrow, he'll be gone." "He just told me he'd stay." "He's wrong; he will go with Piet." "Don't you feel he must leave?" "I wouldn't want to hurt anyone." "Do you think he'd be hurt?" "He doesn't like me as much as you do." "What about you?" "Will you be hurt if he leaves?" "I think you're right, he'd better leave." "I really wonder if i want to go on this trip." "Jacques!" "The Casteran are counting on you." "That's the matter:" "I don't want to hurt them." "Why do you mean?" "I wonder if Piet is not a little in love with me, or his father believes so." "That is why i don't feel like going on this trip with them." "You may be right." "Jacques, come in my office, I 'd like to talk to you." "Jacques my friend, the reason you just gave isn' the right one." "You want to stay here in order to teach organ, don't you?" " I have to tell you too" " I speak first!" "Don't forget that Gertrude is still a child." "I will not let you take advantage of her innocence and disability." "I have to take care of Gertrude." "I'd rather see you leaving this house, to prevent you from hurting her." "So, i'm asking you to go with the Casteran tomorrow." "But father, i respect Gertrude just like you do." "Confusing a young lady without any chance of marriage isn't" " Who knows?" " You can't be serious!" "Why not?" " Did you tell her?" " No father, you first." "Praise God!" "Thank you for your trust, Jacques." "Sorry if i was mistaken, but let's think about it a little." " You don' t marry a blind girl." " But i could be very happy with Gertrude." "Yes you may be, but what about her?" " I don't fear that." " You don't seem to understand." "Only i know how much, care, devotion and love it takes to support a cripple." "A cripple is sometimes more disheartening than a sick person!" "It's like a sick person pretending not to be sick when you know it's a lie, every hour." "No, i'm sure you can't make it." "Of course, i know she's blind." "And you still love her?" " Yes father." " It's not enough." "You should love her, because she's blind!" "Love her night." "Get into her night." "But you can't cause you have eyes, and always will have eyes that will take you away from her." " I'll learn not to see." " No, you'll get weaker tomorrow, and she will know so well that she'll get ashamed of her own fears." "She won't tell but she'll want to hide herself." "But a blind girl can never hide." "How did you do?" "Me!" "?" "One day, i was given a poor little lost child with nothing to her." "I could give her something because she didn't expect anything from me." "I could only do good for her." "And see what i've made out of Gertrude." "Don't touch her, Jacques!" "She may be so fragile yet." "So, won't anyone ever love her?" "She's loved." "She's happy." "This happiness i made is worth the one you're pretending to give her." "I made it because nothing ever disturbed me." "My own happiness was already made." " You understand it all, don't you?" " Yes i do." "She will never leave you." "You will never allow it." " She can leave whenever she wants." " Why don't you let me talk to her?" "No, Jacques!" "I wish i didn't tell you, but she asked me to take you away from her." "Thank you for not telling me right away." "Well, i'll go at Piet's for the diner." "So you know why if i'm going with the Casteran tomorrow." "Now, i know his secret." "The poor Jacques believes he's in love with Gertrude." "You could guess." " You guessed and told me nothing?" " Not really, but you know i 've never accepted her living here among us." "I always knew something unwelcome would happen because of her." "So, you think it's unwelcome that Jacques thinks of Gertrude?" " Don't you?" " Yes, very unwelcome;" "I'm glad we agree on that." "We have spoken a long time." "I'm pretty sure he understands, and that he will leave tomorrow." "It's a way out." " Don't you read anymore?" " I thought i heard Jacques coming in." "Pastor, does he know that you love me?" "Who, Jacques?" "Of course." "Everybody knows that i like you." "Why don't you answer?" "Aunt Amelie knows it well, that is why she's so sad." "No, Gertrude, she is sad by nature." "You're always putting me at rest." "You're hiding something from me." "Pastor, i know i'm disturbing your work, but let me ask you one silly question:" "please, don't laugh at me, are a blind woman's children blind too?" "Why do you ask?" "Don't worry Gertrude, why should they?" "The gate." "It's Jacques's walking." "Are you sure?" "So what, Jacques?" "So, i'm leaving with the Casteran tomorrow." " Congratulation, Jacques!" " You're happy, ain't you?" " Very happy!" " You're free, ain't you?" " I'm still free, but anyway we are leaving." "I'm glad you're bearing it well, as usual." " Let's take the little path, Gertrude." " No, let's stay on the road." " No, i'd like to slide." " Your mother has entrusted you to me." " But i'm leading the way, you can't help it." "Paul, come back!" "Where are you?" "Where are you?" "Here!" "No, here!" "Gertrude, it hurts, i fell." " Where does it hurt, darling?" " Here, my leg must be broken." " Don't worry, it'll be fine." "Be careful!" "We must hurry back home." "I'm going to carry you on my back." "Why did you run away from me?" "You're going to lead me, Paul." " Where's the bridge?" " To the right." "Straight on." " Lead me well, Paul." " Don't worry, it's straight on." "My shoe!" "It doesn't matter, we'll come back." " Does it hurt?" " It's swelling up." "To the left." "What's happening?" "He fell, as usual." "Your anckle is like a melon." "It's nothing, my darlling." "What's happened?" "It had to happen." " It's my fault, i dropped him." " No, it's mine, i should never have entrusted him to you." "It's everybody's lesson." " Amelie!" " What?" "The kid is hurting right now!" " Where is his shoe?" " It's there, near the little bridge." "It's alright, it's over soon." " Is it broken?" " No, i don't think so." "It's called a sprain, my darling." "You'll stay quiet." " Do you have arnica?" " Let me handle this." " Or some sedative water." " Go put this poor gertrude at rest." " You've been a little harsh with her." " Well maybe, but it's so stupid." "Go!" " Will i be cured for the wedding?" " Yes, but you don't deserve it." "What a fear!" "You alone?" "!" "What's going wrong?" "Come on, let's not dramatise;" "It's not your fault;" "he's alright now." "It's nothing." "What come in your mind, Gertrude?" " I was looking for his shoe." " Is it why you ran away?" "At the edge of the torrent!" "Think of what could have occured to you!" "You're not sensible." "Here is his shoe." "Gertrude, tell me." "I could not even stroll with my children, if i had some." "I couldn't see if they lost their way." " It's not your fault." " I'm good for nothing." "Amelie is right." "No, she has forgotten now." "You're lying again." "You always lie." "You're too good a man." "One has to lie, but i can't stand it anymore." "I don't want to come home." "You're right, i'll come back anyway." " Are you so unhappy?" " You know well." "But, you often told me that" "Poor little girl." "I don't want a happiness which would never be like the others' one." "I would so much want to be unhappy like everybody else." "See, even my unhappiness is not like the others' one." "Hold me tight." " Hello, postman." " Hi mr Martens." " He's looking at us, isn't he?" " Don't be so anxious, Gertrude." "I'm sure he has seen me crying." "Like everybody else, he thinks that blind persons are happy, it's so easy." "It' also their fault, they don't dare saying the truth; it would be scary." "I don't care, i so much would like to see." "For one hour only." "Only to talk about it with you afterwards." "I 'd like to see as much as the others fear of becoming blind." "To see what eyes look like." "Hands are so silly." "You don't know what it's like not to be able to find a shoe in the snow." "Noone can understand." "Not even you!" "Yes, i can do it." "But i didn't know you knew." "Sorry." "It's over now." "Don't believe all what Gertrude tells you." "She won't do it again." "I'm ashamed." "Don't feel sorry, you who have made so much good to me." "I've been looking for you everywhere!" " Is the kid getting worse?" " No, i've settled him in his room." " Can i see him?" " Of course!" "Take this broth bowl to him." " May i?" " Of couse." " Thank you." "Pastor, forget what i said, i apologize." " You're cold, ain't you?" " No, i'm not." "Well, yes a little, but it's nothing." "What did she apologize for?" " I'm the one who should apologize." " You?" "!" "Why?" "Because we haven't done all that we could have done for her." "Please!" "I did!" "What?" "Does she complain?" " Her eyes..." " What about it?" "Of course noone thinks of it:" "a blind person has no eyes, that's it." " But i 've understood." " What?" "When you meet a blind person on a path, you give him a handout, but you don't take him to the doctor." "That's exactly what we have done with Gertrude for 10 years." " Don' t you mean?" " You have done nothing for a blind person until you have him cured, you have wanted to." " Do you believe that she could see?" " It's been 10 years since she could" " We have to show her to a doctor." " That's what we'll do, Amelie." "But don't mention it to her now, it's such a weak hope." " You never thought about it." " Neither did you." " No, i did." "I often thought she could be cured, if you had wanted it." " Why didn't you tell me?" " Because i knew you didn't want." " This is awful." " Yes it is Jean." "A telegram for Mr Martens." "Thanks, i'll give it to him." "Try to sing with the others." "If you're too hoarse, you'll stop." "The stove is on." "Hello, Suzanne." "Here, Gertrude." "A despatch." " It' not a bad news, is it?" " No, it's Jacques." " What for?" " He says he's coming on sunday." " So soon?" "!" " Aunt Amelie, Jacques is coming." " What's the occasion?" "You're waited for at the office." ""Great idea." "Immediatly met Dr Roux." "He will see Gertrude when you want." "Tenderly." "Jacques."" " You wrote to Jacques, didn't you?" "Didn't i ask you not to?" " I didn't." " So, if you have told nobody" " Nobody." " Piet?" " On the first night." "I heard Jaccques has written." "Is he coming?" "Why not?" "No Piet, it's something else." "He didn't waste much time." "You have told him about Gertrude, haven't you?" " Naturally" " Noone asked you, Piet." " I don't know what you wrote to him." " I know." "I didn't ask for so much, i asked him nothing." "Jacques has gone too far." "Yes, we have decided to take Gertrude to a doctor, but not for now." " Don't you agree, Amelie?" " No." "The sooner the better." "You see it has to be done now, anyway before our wedding." "What's the link?" "Mr pastor, i must confess something to you:" "i 've been very jealous of Gertrude." "What an idea?" "It's absurd." "Did Jacques ever tell you anything?" "I can feel it without saying." "Well Piet, let's say you may have thought, I know my Jacques:" "if he's got engaged to you, it means nothing else was worth to his heart." "Gertrude was blind at that time, and now, all has to be started again." " Start again?" " I don't fear that." "But first, she has to be cured." " Cured?" "Noone knows for now." "You're just as mad as Jacques with his telegram." "No, but i'm in a hurry." "Just like him." "She needs to see a doctor right now." "Do it for me, please." "Don't leave me." "You have to, you promised." "Tears are forbidden." " You know how scared i am!" " This little girl is not sensible." "I've known some who were more sick but showed more courage." "I've seen hundreds of cataracts." "There's no reason why it should fail." "That's not what i'm afraid of." "Pastor, a failure doesn't mean that i'll be unhappy." " You'll get healed, Gertrude." " It'll be better, won't it?" "Look at me carefully, pastor." " Are you watching me?" " Yes, Gertrude." "It's the last time i don't see you." "I 've taken you as far as i could, now, i'm leaving you to others' care." "Trust them as me." "I can do it by myself." "Don't worry Mr pastor, we'll treat your daughter very well." "Promise me that if i'm cured, i won't leave you." "Sharp on time!" "The hospital." "She can see." "I knew it." "I knew she would have her eyes for Piet's wedding." "Did you see her?" "Not yet." "Bye, Jacques." " Sorry, i forgot you were here." " It 's all right." "Let's have champagne!" "I was so confident that I had put a bottle in he cool box." "Leave her alone, i feel like crying too." "A visit." "Mr Martens." "The bandage was taken off only eight days ago, so don't stay too long." "Is that you, Jacques?" "Of course, Gertrude." "I'm Jacques." " Gertrude, listen to me." " Leave me alone, Jacques." "You're leaving?" "Very well, you are reasonable but you may have stayed a little longer." "I bet you didn't recognize him." "Will you take this big girl from us soon?" "As soon as possible." "The pastor is waiting for her." "She may leave the day after tomorrow, on sunday." "Would you like sunday, Gertrude?" "Sunday?" "As you like." "I'll come around two o clock." "Tell him i couldn't wait for him, i'm sure he'll understand." "You're not sensible." "What will happen when you turn up?" "Everybody knows me overthere." " Thank you, sister Claire." " Thank God." "Don't watch your feet, it gives dizziness." "Find a safe seat for her, next to an old lady, and tell the ticket inspector." "No, don't help me." "So, that's snow." "You're not yet at the church?" "You look at yourself in looking- glasses, Jean." "I often used to also." "You?" "Because you wouldn't look at me anymore." "Then, i gave it up." "Let's leave the mirors to Gertrude now, Jean." "I'm sure they like it better, they don't want us anymore." " Don't you find it a little sad?" " Not any more now." "Let's only think of Gertrude's joy, Jean." "Is this what you're thinking of?" "I think of us too." "No, only of you." "Do you blame me for it?" "Time for blaming is over." "Kiss me." "I'm late." "Now i'm leaving." "You're at the church." " It's beautiful, isn't it?" " Even more than i thought." "Lord, you let us gather to welcome in your house today one of your beloved chidren" "on whom you have put your mercy's hand." "Lord God, we thank you with her for your Grace." "Give us all the eyes of the Spirit, as you have given her the eyes of the body." "In the dark death's land, a light is shining." "You made me cry." "To see her seeing is deeply moving." "Miss Delagrange has got a great idea." "Why not let Gertrude take care of my three little orphans?" " Now that's she's more on her own." " You're too kind." "A great idea." "But isn't it a bit too soon?" " Not tomorrow" " No, indeed." "Think about it." "It's such a moral relief to be able to devote oneself to the suffering ones." "You are our best faithful." "You keep on going." "Don't talk." "Let's see if you can recognize her." "Stay quiet." "I'm not sure." "Vivianne, she wears glasses." "I wanted to wear glasses so much." " Francoise." " How can you guess?" "You have no ears." "Wait." "Sorry, but the hands are what i recognize the best." "Dominique." " What's wrong with my hands?" " It's yours." " Who am i?" " Mr Casteran." "Am i so easily recognizable?" "When you hear a glass tinkling, It's Mr Casteran." "Very good description." "This is white wine." "There is red one too." " Now, you will know." " I knew it by tasting." "Really?" "So what's the use of seeing?" "!" " It's going to make them drunk." " To the absents' health." " To the little Charlotte!" " She'll be here the day after tomorrow." "To our grand Jacques, whom you don't know yet." " Didn't you see him at the hospital?" " No." "Where is the cellar?" "I'll go." " Not alone!" " I'm used to it." "I'm going with her." "Gertrude, where is the light?" "I don't know." "I never used it." "Is it true Jacques didn't come to the hospital?" "He came but i was too tired to see him." "Be careful." "You wouldn't lie to me, for the first time, would you?" "I didn't see him." "Then you'll have to see him soon." "It means a lot to me." "I wanted you to be cured, so that Jacques could chose" "Not exactly the same." "You're so much prettier than me." " You shouldn't say that, Piet." " Yes, you know it well now." "So please don't make me wait." "I have had no life for two months, since i knew you would be cured." "Promise me you'll tell me if you love Jacques the first day you see him." " You swear?" " I swear." "Only then i can have my mind at ease." " Good evening daddy." " Good night, my children." " You're going out?" " Yes, i'll spend some time at the church." "Good evening, Gertrude." " So, we're not too ugly, are we?" " Don't have her lie already." " Are you falling asleep already?" " I'm so tired." "You can't know." "We're alone for the first time." "Don't you want to go to the church with me?" "You have nothing to tell me?" "The pastor's cape." " You have recognized it?" " This was easy." "What about the pastor?" "You have not recognized him, have you?" "You recognize me today." "Don't speak." "Go away." "Don't be afraid, i'm an honest boy." "I'm here to give you back that kiss wich was not for me." "No, that's too easy." " Did you open your door to him?" " You have nothing to blame on her, or me." "If someone is guilty here, if i must hide to come inside this house, it's his fault." "You hide because you feel ashamed." "He's the one who's ashamed;" "he never could hold my look, only could he hold a blind girl's gaze." " How do you dare?" " Someone must dare." "Now, i know why he said no when i wanted to marry her." "Shut up!" "You won't say that in front of me." "You haven't understood anything about your father." "He doesn't even know what evil is." "Now you're making it up, like the others." "If you were right, i'd have left, with my children." "If it were true, how could i have put up with Gertrude like i did?" "Let's say i heard nothing and you forgot what you've said to me." "Talk to him!" "Why don't you tell him?" "It is true, the pastor has never felt nothing for me but goodness." "I'd rather see you leaving without seeing your father, just as you came." "Yes, you must be right." "Go talk to him." "He's at the church." "We have both lied." "We had too, but don't believe you will marry the son, though." " When did you arrive?" " Just now." "Fine, you will give me some help." " There's no train at this time?" " I hitchiked a truck on the road." "Really, you were in a hurry, weren't you?" " Father, i must talk to you." " I'm listening to you, my boy." "What a shame!" "I almost fell down this morning." "God lives in such a poor house!" " I'm here to apologize." " What for?" "Please move, you're hiding the light." "Because i've thought you were bad." "That's not kind of you, though you may have been right." "I' m not perfect." "What have you thought?" "Oh no, it may be better not tell." "No, i'd rather say." "I thought that Gertrude was in love with you, and you..." "Well, i don't know well what i' ve thought... you wanted to lock her up here and keep her to yourself." "You see why i 'd rather tell you." "I thought that was the reason why you refused her to me." "It's not true, is it?" "Thank you for being frank." "I'll answer alike, Jacques." "It is quite normal and natural that a boy of your age judge his father." "I can't hold it against you, but i can for something else:" "you are still thinking of Gertrude." " I thought that" " You haven't answered to me." " Neither have you." " I want to marry her." "You forget you're engaged." "Don't talk about Piet, i 've always loved Gertrude, you know it well." "Now, if it really..." " Did you see her?" " Yes, just a moment ago." " What did she say to you?" " She asked me to talk to you." "You see, don't you understand that she just couldn't tell you the truth?" " Can you?" " Jacques, you are only half wrong." "Since you force me to say:" "Gertrude does love me." "I knew it well." "No, you don't know." "Don't start thinking things." "There is between her and me something you can't fight." "Neither can i or neither can anybody." "Gertrude has always loved me." " You did nothing against it." " Why deprive her of this joy?" "But what kind of joy?" "!" "Since you couldn't answer her love." "You're terribly unfair; what's worse, you don't want to understand." "You pretend to think that i want to keep her to me," "Gertrude is free." "She'll need me less and less." "She will leave when she wants, but not with you." "I can tell you this, can't i?" "I must be a little harsh, in order to spare us something worse." "If you married Gertrude, you would soon hate me, your wife, and i couldn't look at you both anymore." "Think about it." "I've said what i had to." "These are very scarce confidences from a father to his son." "But there's nothing i should be ashamed of, since i talked to you in this place." "Now, go to sleep." "You will take your decision tomorrow." "You think you've loved us, and you still believe it." "May be you love us, but you can't judge your father, it'd be to hard." "But i've understood and i'm leaving, like everybody else will leave." "You will be all alone." "Gertrude will leave too." "You will have lost everything." "Only my mother shall stay." "Alone." "Alone with you, alone," " you will keep on lying to one an other." " Jacques, i told the truth!" "You don't even trust me anymore." "You didn't say you love Gertrude." "Poor mother, i was right." "Kiss me strongly." "I won't be back for a long time." " Is Jacques going?" " You did a good job." " You can be proud of yourself." " It's not my fault, aunt Amelie." "I didn't know what to say, a while ago." "Anytime you say yes or no, you're hurting somebody." "Look around you now that you have eyes." "Use it." " Tell me what i should do." " There's nothing else you can do." "I should have thrown you out on the first day." "The pastor would not want." "You were so ugly, we didn't dare." "Unfortunately, you became pretty;" "what's worse, you have got cured!" "I'll go tomorrow, i swear." "You will go..." "Now that the bad is done, it's high time." "Yes you will leave, Gertrude;" "I'll personely go with you to the Delagrange's castle." " It's not far away, you'll be there often!" " Don't listen, Gertrude." "Are you still afraid she could be offended?" "Lock her up!" "With you." "Leave together, now," "What's the difference?" "She's heard all i have to tell her." "You're a freak, Amelie." "You're so vile!" "You have won." "She stays with you." " Are you asleep?" " Neither are you." "Where are you?" "Aren't you cold?" " What time is it?" " It's very late." " You should go to sleep." " I'm not sleepy." "I want to stay close to you for my last night here." "You'll come back." "I don't take you that far." "You don't understand." "I must go further than this." "You got scared but i promise you will be at rest again tomorrow." "Very well, but i must not see anybody anymore." "Not even you." "You don't like me anymore." "Please pastor, stop tormentting me." "Ask me nothing." "You all are questionning me, telling me things in a nasty mood." "I don't recognize your voices since i can see you talk." "Now, i have to leave you all." "You too." "That's what i had to hear on the first day." "I knew i would lose you when i'm cured." "I didn't know why." "I don't want to lose you." "If you leave this house, my little child, what shall i become?" "Have you thought about it?" "Alone." "I'll stay alone." "If i could leave this house with you, i would." "But i don't have the right." "I don't have the guts, either." "Stay with me, Gertrude." "If you leave me, i'm lost to myself and to the others." "Lost to God Himself." " I need you to love Him." " Stop talking!" "Before God can hear you." "I'm not worth you're offending Him." "Then, stay!" "I'm not talking much as a pastor anymore." "If you leave, there will be no pastor left." "It would be worse than death to me." "God would leave me as you do." "I wouldn't be able to pray, to bless anymore." "Let's not break up what God has put together." "Don't do that, pastor." "I kissed Jacques." "When i saw him, i knew you were not the one i loved." "You stop me from marrying him." "Go away!" "She's mine!" "Don't look at me anymore."