"Pierre, urgent phone call from France." "After the concert." "It's about your mother." "THE CHOIR" "Remember me?" "Fond de I'Etang!" "My Dad's picking me up on Saturday." "I'm Pepinot!" "Of course..." "Pepinot..." "How long ago was it?" "Only about 50 years..." "Fond de I'Etang." "You're the kid in the middle, front row." "That's you!" "The supervisor..." "What was his name?" "Clement Mathieu." "Right..." "Whatever happened to him?" "Open it." "Fond de I'Etang." "1949" "It's the diary he kept at Fond de I'Etang." "His whole life." "Our lives, too." "It was meant for you." "I'd have rather given it to you in different circumstances, but..." "January 15th, 1949" "After failing in numerous undertakings," "I was sure the worst was still to come." "It was a boarding school for difficult children." "At least that's what the ad said." "Fond de I'Etang..." ""Rock bottom":" "Even the name seemed to suit me." "Hello." "You're alone?" "Why are you there?" "I'm waiting for Saturday." "Why?" "My Dad's coming to get me." "But today's not Saturday." "Pepinot!" "I'm Clement Mathieu, the new supervisor." "First time as a supervisor?" "I've taught in a private school." " Teaching what?" " Music." "You'll get on well with Rachin." "The principal." "A former trumpet player." " Hi, Pepinot!" " Hi!" "They're his daughters." "He lives there." "You've never met Mr. Rachin?" "Not yet." "Mrs. Boissemand got me the job." "Really!" "He was Old Maxence." "He said he was janitor, male nurse, supply clerk, and window mender." "What's he done?" "He's punished by Mr. Rachin." "2 weeks of housework." "He's the cleaning lady." "What are these kids like?" " You weren't told?" " No." "My infirmary." "I'll show you my garden." "A pleasure." "What've they done now?" " I'll help." " Clement Mathieu?" "The principal." "I'm Rachin, I run this place." "Sir, I'm sorry." " You're late." " I got the wrong bus." "We're sticklers for punctuality." "Yes, indeed." "Yes, "sir"!" "Yes, sir!" "Follow me." "First learn our house rules." "You'll take over the 4PM class, after my class." "What's got into you?" "Answer me!" " Take this!" " My eye..." "Another dirty trick!" "See what angels they are?" "Take him over there." "I can't see." "Don't overdo it." "Let me see!" "Yes, it's pretty bad..." "Go ring the bell." "School assembly." " Let's call a doctor." " They cost money!" "Did you hear me?" "The bell!" "Where is it?" "In front of you!" "Over the door!" "All right." "Assembly!" "Assembly!" "This happen often?" "Keep ringing!" "In double lines!" "Everyone into the yard!" "Assembly!" "Hurry!" "No talking!" " A baldy!" " Silence!" "Bullet head!" "Silence!" "Silence!" " I said nothing." " Silence!" "I ordered you out because Old Maxence was the victim of a cowardly assault." "The rule is:" "Action - reaction!" "The culprit will be punished." "If in 3 seconds I don't have his name, each of you will be locked up for 6 hours." "To continue until he confesses or is denounced." "Got that?" "One..." "Two..." "Three..." "Nobody?" "Of course!" "Come here!" "You Mathieu!" " Me?" " Come here." "Mr. Chabert, the student roll." "Thank you." "Your new supervisor doesn't know you yet." "Baldy!" "Silence!" "Being new, and impartial, he'll select the first to be punished." "Silence!" "Pick a name." "At random?" " May I advise you..." " Don't." "Pick one." "Boniface!" "Too bad." "Chabert, grab Boniface." " I did nothing, sir." " Shut up!" " You're lousy!" " Talk properly!" "Go on!" " I won't go!" " I'll boot you in there!" "Silence!" "Until the culprit confesses, no more class breaks or family visits." "So denounce him fast." "This encourages snitching..." "You're new here, you still have illusions." "We'll discuss it in a week." "Ask Mr. Regent, who you're replacing, to fill you in." "Clean sheets." "Thanks." "Why are you leaving?" "Ten stitches." "A scissors slash." "Because I confiscated Mouton's cigarettes." "Mouton?" "A boy called Mouton." "Is he still here?" "Here's a tip:" "Le Querrec booby-trapped Maxence's door." "I heard him say it a while ago." " Didn't you report it?" " I'd have missed the bus." "Maxence punished him for breaking windows, it was a vendetta." "That's how he is." "Le Querrec!" "Remember that name." "And Morhange, too." "He doesn't say much, but watch out!" "Face of an angel, spawn of the devil!" "Action - reaction." "That's all they understand." "I'm off." "Good luck." "Our benefactresses." "There's the class schedule." "The principal taught French and History, all other subjects were taught by a Mr. Langlois..." "Meet our new supervisor." "Clement Mathieu." "Supervisor at your age?" "I've taught, too." "Very well." "He's the most fun." "Go to your class, you're late." "No need to point the way!" "Here comes Baldy!" "Gentlemen." "No smoking in class." "That applies to everyone." "Even you, sir!" "Give it back!" "Give that back!" "Silence!" "Give it back!" "A fine start!" "Nice work, Mathieu!" "Sit down!" "As always!" "You, again!" "What did he do?" "Nothing, sir." "What do you mean?" "You'd punished him!" "No, sending him to the blackboard." "I'd asked for silence." "And it was sorely needed!" "Don't make me come back!" "You!" "Go in the corner!" "Very well." "Now that's behind us, let's get this straight." "There's a boy locked up alone in detention." "For nothing!" "I may look stupid, but I'm not so dumb." "I know who did it." "And he's got 15 seconds to come forward." "I'm waiting." "Too bad..." "Only 5 seconds left..." "Too late!" "Le Querrec." "Who's Le Querrec?" "Me, sir." "Really!" " You hurt Mr. Maxence." " No, sir." "I'm not asking, I'm stating." " I didn't do it." " We'll let the principal decide." "During my absence I need a boy to keep order while I'm gone." "My infallible flair tells me it should be..." "Morhange." "Come on." "Which of you is Morhange?" "Me, sir." "So you're the angel face." "Down front!" "You'll take the class while I'm gone." "Go on!" "Very elegant!" "Let your shirt hang out further!" "They say strong minds keep men in line." "Show us!" "You!" "To the principal's office!" "Have mercy, sir!" "Did you show mercy to the boy who's in there?" "Or to Maxence?" "I meant no harm." "It was just for a laugh." "For a laugh." "I'm sick of your escapades." "You'll get a thrashing you won't forget!" " Who's that?" " Leclerc." "It's the 3rd time he's run away." " He's going back into detention." " You'll have company." "Listen, maybe we can work this out." "You seriously hurt Mr. Maxence." "I won't punish you by taking you to the principal." "You'll work at the infirmary every day after class." "You'll nurse Mr. Maxence." "You look after him till he's well." "You agree?" "Not bad." "I can do better." "The chalk, please." "Sideways." "I'll give you a little smile." "You can turn around." "I forgot..." "A touch of color." "That's better." "Go to your place." "Good." "So I know you all better, write down your name, age, and what you want to be when you grow up." "Much to my surprise, they all did it." "All but one..." "You're not writing?" "How long have you been here?" "A long time?" "I don't know." "Write, little fella." "An exhausting first day." "What am I doing here?" "Rachin scares me, so does this building, even these kids..." "They may sneak into my room and do me in." "My blanket." " Can I have a drag?" " Shut up!" "Lie down." "I read the cards filled out by the kids." "They all dreamed of fabulous jobs." "2 firemen, 3 cowboys, 1 tiger-tamer, 1 fighter-pilot, 2 spies, 1 Napoleonic general," "1 hot-air balloonist, 3 foreign legion soldiers..." "But not a single supervisor." "Thanks for looking after me." "See, Doctor." "The new supervisor says this boy volunteered to nurse me." "Spontaneously!" "Wonders never cease." "Come in." "Mr. Mathieu, the new supervisor." " Gentlemen..." " Well?" "It's a nasty wound." "If you're their new target, God help us." "You're so patient with them." "I'm tough." "And I'm not the worst off." "Feel sorry for the kids." "We had a death here." "A death?" "His name was Mouton." "Jumped off the roof." "Luckily he was an orphan..." "It's like him." "Everyone says it's hopeless." "He's a good kid." "You've just got to know him." "Old Maxence is nice, huh?" "Le Querrec, I'm talking to you." "Old Maxence is nice." "Isn't he?" "Yes..." "I didn't hear you." "He's just shy." "He's very shy, like me" "May I speak to you, sir?" " Leaving us so soon?" " I'd like to try an experiment." "Really." "To do with Maxence's accident." "It was not accident." "I'd like to ask for 3 favors:" "Is that all?" "1:" "End the class punishment." "2:" "Let me deal with the culprit." "And... 3:" "Let me not reveal his name." "If you know it." "If I know it, of course." "You think highly of yourself." "You think you can just find out." "If you do, I'll end the class punishment." "But you won't find out." "Or I'm an idiot." "I know him, sir." "Really?" "So... who is it?" "I said I can't reveal that." "Very well." "Fine." "But I don't like this." "I want no trouble in your class!" "I've got them under control, sir." "It's too soon for that." "No nude girls." "I never said there were." "What's on your bit?" ""Ave Maria for soprano", by Clement Mathieu." "Mine says, "String quartet"" "by Clement Mathieu." "Looks like music." "How would you know?" " Could it be Morse?" " Secret codes!" "He may be a fraud!" "A spy disguised as a supervisor." "Quick!" "Baldy's coming!" "Give those back!" "What are they, sir?" " None of your business!" " Got a problem?" "Nothing... it's music." "What for?" "For a choir." "In the toilets?" "Get out, "choirboys"!" " None of that here, Mathieu!" " None of what?" "Don't act dumb with me." " You think I...?" " I saw nothing this time." "You see evil all over." "Here?" "Yes!" "Baldy, you are through..." "The rules won't be made by you." "Baldy, you are through..." "The rules won't be made by you." "The rules won't be made by you." "You copping out, guys?" "Are you Corbin?" "I did nothing, sir." "Yes, you sing." "No, sir." "I swear..." "You sing!" "And you sing off-key!" "You don't even know it." "Try again." "Go on!" "Want to sing in the principal's office?" "Baldy, you are through..." "Baldy, you are through..." "The rules won't be made by you." "The rules won't be made by you." "Know you can't carry a tune?" "Is that music in your briefcase, sir?" "None of your business." "And by the way... the next person who goes through my things... will pay dearly." "Now silence, get to bed!" "Fun's over!" "Sleep!" "That ditty stuck in my head." "Their singing's lousy, but they sing!" "I spotted some good voices." "Can't one do something for these kids?" "I'd vowed never to take up music again." "Never say never." "Something's always worth trying." "January 23." "A week after the accident, Old Maxence suddenly got worse." "The doctor had him taken to the hospital." "Is he going to die?" "No, he'll be saved." "That day Pepinot had a problem." "Pepinot, you're useless!" "Last question." "The last one." "How did Marshall Ney die?" "I'm waiting." "Out hunting?" "Zero!" "Write 100 times: "Marshall Ney was shot."" "Get out!" "Boniface, come here!" "Boniface!" "As a prize for your essay, you'll get a cookie from Marie." "You knew that Marshall Ney was shot?" "Yes sir, like Napoleon." "Get out!" "One moment, Morhange." "You took notes during class." "Such dedication from you is surprising." "Show me your book." "Charming!" "Read it." "Admire the spelling!" "Mr. Rachin eats cartloads of shit." "It says "Mr."?" "No." "Mr. Mathieu!" "Action - reaction!" "Punished!" "Go on!" "Gentlemen, enjoy your meal!" "Hungry, Pepinot?" "You're allowed to eat." "Pepinot?" "An orphan." "His parents died during the Nazi occupation." " How did they die?" " Dunno." "But he thinks his dad's coming for him Saturday." "Each Saturday, no one comes." "So we say: "Next week", and so on." "Why not tell him the truth?" "We told him his parents died together." "So we let him wait by the gates." "Why not?" "If he's happy." "Silence!" "See that?" "Action - reaction." "Meaning?" "Action..." "Reaction!" "Someone's here to visit Morhange." "Morhange is punished." "No visitors." "It's the rule!" "You go tell her." "Hello, Madame." "Hello." "I'm the new supervisor." "I'm Pierre Morhange's mother." "Clement Mathieu." "I know it's not a visiting day, but it's the only time I can..." "That's not it." "He's punished again?" "No, he's not punished." "He's not here." "What?" "An hour ago he was taken to the dentist." "Toothache." " A toothache?" " Yes." "Not serious." "He'll be back tonight." "I can't wait." "I'm due back at work at 5 PM." "Can I leave you something?" "Of course." "Her name is Violette." "Violette Morhange." "Unwed mother, despairing over her son, who is a thief, introverted, a chronic runaway from a State school." "He was sent here against her wishes, but she told the judge:" ""At least he'll get a hot meal twice a day."" "Jan 30." "The experiment begins..." "In Brittany, the hats are..." "In Brittany, the hats are round..." "That's why I'm Brittany bound." "Soprano, to the left." "Leclerc!" "He is born, the holy child, Let us greet His coming." "Almost in-key." "Alto, to the right." "Delaire!" "Three miles on foot, what does it use?" "Three miles on foot, eats up your shoes." "Start again." "Four miles on foot, what does it use?" "Four miles on foot, eats up your shoes." "Just what I thought." "Bass, to the right." "Ricoeur!" "I've got tobacco in my pouch." "I'll give it away, not today." "No smoking!" "Alto, to the left." "Illouz!" "Love is a gypsy child... that obeys to no one's laws..." "Soprano." "To the left." "Good." "Pepinot!" "I don't know any songs." "I'll teach you some." "Meanwhile, I name you assistant-choirmaster." "Go over there!" "Boniface!" "Marshall Petain, here we are!" "Who taught you that?" "My grandpa." "It's a bit dated." "To the left!" "Clement!" "Citizens to arms, display your charms..." "To the right." "My camp counselor's a jerk," "He doesn't do any work..." "To the left." "Cuckoo, booboo, cuckoo, booboo..." "Very good." "Alto." "On the downbeat!" "..." "Let's have it, Corbin." "C..." "D..." "G..." "C!" "C!" "C..." "C!" "Sorry, that note doesn't exist." "Come here!" "Mr. Pepinot, give me the score." "Thanks." "Open your hands like this." "I name you music-stand!" "Mr. Pepinot, my baton." "Thanks." "Now, with me..." "Once more." "That's it!" "1... 2... 3... 4..." "Le Querrec has hit the deck..." "Every night they rehearse a song I wrote for them." "Carpentier has lost his way..." "Fond de I'Etang is where we're stuck." "Just our luck!" "Fond de I'Etang is where we'll be, For all eternity!" "It wasn't art, but I had their attention." "To take it further, I needed help from above." "What?" "A choir?" "Mathieu, you're way off base." "You'll never get them to sing a note." "Please, sir, don't say that." "Why not?" "They already sing." "Really?" "Just a bit." "So why ask permission, if you're already doing it?" "I don't like your methods!" "Sir..." "You annoy me!" "I've got more serious problems." "Then again, why not?" "I could use a good laugh." "Go ahead, make them sing." "But if turns sour, you're fired!" "Thanks for your support, sir." "February 8." "Morhange is out, but Rachin won't let go of him." "He has to do a month of community service." "We'll take it from the top." "There was a man called Stockbridge" "Who went hunting for partridge" "Dear Mr. Stockbridge" "What is in your big white fridge?" "Cinderella!" "Make my bed, too!" "February 15." "Dr Dervaux, the psychiatrist, brought us a present today" "We took him out of St Fereol detention center, to see if he'll adapt to a less repressive environment." "Unlike his classmates," "Pascal Mondain reads and writes." "He speaks almost normally." "We gave him the Binet-Simon test." "The Binet-Simon test!" "He also did an inkblot test, and a TAT." "Very good!" "That test divides kids into 7 categories:" "Normal, satisfactory, limited, slightly retarded, medium or severely..." "And finally..." "Idiots." "Mondain's "limited", in other words, not insane." "But I must warn you he's a pervert with gregarious tendencies" "Really?" "What does that mean?" "Well..." "Doctor?" "A tendency toward cruelty, parasitism, destructive acts, and pathological lying." "There." "We've got lots of those." "But here, boys have access to a wider education." "I wonder how he'll adapt to your system." "We'll do our best to live up to your scientific expectations." "Take charge of him." " You'll stay for lunch?" " With pleasure." "Give him your full attention." "Action - reaction!" "No cigarettes here!" "For the experiment to succeed, I had to impose my authority." "You look like an asshole." "Behave!" "Or you're in for big trouble." "OK..." "Big trouble!" "You must know a song." "Sure, but..." "But what?" "You won't like it." "No harm in trying." "Go ahead." "I'm listening." "One summer day, I took out my knob, to give myself a nice hand-job..." "Enough!" "Up yours I go..." "That'll do!" "I told you so." "Not bad." "In time, you'll be a baritone." "What?" "A baritone." "It's not an insult." "It means a deep voice." "Go stand with the bassos." "Shit!" "Leave your shit out of it." "Laugh, and I'll slug ya!" "Any time, Mondain!" "Solitary is over." "Here's Pepinot." "You forgot him at the gate." "It's not Saturday." "By the way, in your letters to your parents..." "I got none." "I mean, for those who have them." "Remind them:" "Visits are the 1st and 3rd Thursday." "Morhange!" "Concentrate!" "What did I say?" "Dunno." "I said you could write your mom to visit you on the 1st or 3rd Thursday." "On both, too." "But no visits for punished boys." "So watch out." "I don't want to see my folks." "Morhange wants to see his mom." "He's not the only one!" "See, we've got a real choir." "Who cares!" "What?" "Let's hear your voice." "Want to go back there?" "Let's hear a scale." "C..." "D..." "E..." "F..." "G...?" "Being gross isn't your style." "We can't all be like Mondain." "Once more." " Where you going?" " To piss!" "Mondain, one moment!" " Corbin!" " Can I go piss, too?" "Then everybody out!" "Off you go." "And silently." "There was a man called Stockbridge..." "Who went hunting for partridge" "Dear Mr. Stockbridge," "What is in your big white fridge?" "You sing great, honey!" "Want some?" "You been left alone?" "I'll protect you." "Wait for me." "We're alike." "My parents are creeps." "So is your mother." "She wants to be rid of you, to have fun." "It's because she works." "So what they say's true?" "What?" "That she's a whore." "I'll fix your duff." "Get in there!" "You're a goner!" "Oh, yeah?" "That day Morhange missed roll call." "No one knew where he'd been." "But he'd come back, that's what mattered." "What are you doing there?" "I'm not allowed up." "You're not allowed?" "How come?" "I got no money." "It takes money to sleep?" "What's this?" "It's Mondain." "I can't go up unless I pay him." "We gotta watch out." "In my last place, I got caught." "I did in the supervisor." "How?" "With a bayonet." "I bled him dry." "You killed him?" "You bet." "Here I won't let Baldy bust my balls!" "Mathieu isn't so bad." "Sure..." "The singing's a cover for touching your pecker." "Scum like that should die." "Evening!" "Enjoy your meal." "I did nothing wrong, sir." "Nice company, Corbin!" "Get out!" "I'll turn a blind eye to that." "Think of it as a gift." "But I'm warning you:" "Never talk to Pepinot!" "Stay away from him." "Don't even look at him." "Is that clear?" "One look at him, just one," "I'll make your life a nightmare!" "See on your way..." "Forgotten kids who've strayed..." "Give them a helping hand..." "Lead them to new horizons, help them understand..." "Feel, in the depths of despair..." "A surging wave of hope..." "The fervor of life..." "The glorious path..." "What are you doing?" "Nothing, sir." "I thought I heard voices." "I must be tired." "Article 8 of our rules:" "Students are forbidden to enter classrooms alone." "Mr. Rachin'd make you copy it 100 times." "And he'd tell your mother." "To hell with my mother!" " Tell me what she did." " No!" "Wait!" "You won't get off that easy." "Everything has a price here." "Ask Pepinot" "You're doing things that aren't like you." "You pretending to be a gangster doesn't amuse me." "I won't play along." "As of tomorrow, you're in the choir, like it or not." "Music lessons every day!" "Go to bed." "Go on!" "March 3." "He doesn't know it, but I'm sure of it." "His voice is miraculous, an outstanding gift." "You can leave quietly." "I said quietly!" "Little by little, as I perfect my choir," "I'm taming my new student." "Childish delights" "Too soon forgotten and erased..." "A golden light that burns forever..." "At the end of the path..." "Feel, in the depths of despair..." "A surging wave of hope..." "The fervor of life..." "The glorious path..." "Take your arithmetic books." "Are you teaching those boys to sing?" "Yes, sir." " Is there a problem?" " Not at all." "On the contrary." "I love music." "I even sing sometimes." "Really?" "Why are we waiting, let's get happy..." "Why are we waiting, let's have a ball..." "Have a nice day!" "You too, dear colleague." "Arithmetic, page 27." "Hello, folks." "Hello, Madame." " Pierre's coming." " Something wrong?" "No, fine." "And his teeth?" "It worked out." "You told him I came by?" "No." "Why not?" "It was best not to tell him." "He's very sensitive." "And he has a talent..." "For being foolish." "Not only." "By the way, I should talk to you..." "Singing?" "But no one taught him." "He has real talent." "We must help him." "Hello." "I'll leave you two." "Be sure to visit him" "I didn't say you were punished." "I said, at the dentist." "So it seems you sing well?" "Yeah..." "He seems pleased with you." "Is he nice to you?" "OK." "Clean linen..." "I baked you a chocolate cake." "You glad?" "April!" "These kids inspire me." "I knew some day my music would be played." "I'm Clement Mathieu, a musician." "Every night, I compose for them." "Childish delights" "Too soon forgotten and erased" "A golden light that burns forever" "At the end of the path" "Feel, in the depths of despair" "A surging wave of hope" "The fervor of life" "The glorious path" "Get your arithmetic notebooks." "You're the one making them sing?" "Yes, sir." " ls that a criticism?" " Of course not." "I adore music." "Occasionally I even sing a little." "Really?" "Why are we waiting?" "Let's get happy" "Why are we waiting?" "Let's have a ball" " Have a nice day." " You too, dear colleague." "Arithmetic." "Page 27." "Good day." "Good day, madame," " Pierre has been told." "He's coming." " ls something wrong?" "Everything's fine." " What about his teeth?" " Not a problem anymore." "Did you tell him I came for a visit?" "No." "Why not?" "I thought I'd better not." "Pierre is very sensitive and gifted." "At acting like an idiot, yes." "Not exclusively." "By the way, I need to talk to you." "Singing?" "No one taught him." "It's a gift." "We have to do something." "Hello." "I'll leave you two alone." "Visit him whenever you like." "I told her you went to the dentist last time." "Don't give me away." " So you're a good singer?" " Yeah." "That man seems to think you're doing well." "ls he nice to you?" "He's all right." "I brought you some clean clothes and I made your chocolate cake." "Are you happy?" "April, Those children inspire me," "I knew that one day." "someone would play my music," "My name is Clément Mathieu," "I'm a musician and each night." "I compose for them," "Like a caress on the ocean" "Lightly lands the gull" "On the rocks of a sunken isle" "Ephemeral winter breeze" "At last your cold breath fades away" "Far into the mountains high" "Face the wind and spread your wings" "In the gray eastern dawn" "Find a path to the rainbow" "And spring will reveal itself to you" "Calmly" "On the ocean" "No good, sir?" "It was nice." "Very nice." "Move, you swine." "Little shit." "Move." "Move." " What did he do?" " He stole my watch." "I caught him in my bedroom." "So I brought him to Rachin." "Action-reaction." " Where are you taking him?" " Lock-up." "Fifteen days." "Move." " Wait." " Wait for what?" "He's my only baritone." "Yes, Headmaster?" "I found more graffiti in the..." "Forgive them, Headmaster." "It's just a wild ball." "Make way." "Mathieu, Chabert you're with me." "May, With each passing week." "I take in new victories," "Wake-up time." "Get up." " Leclerc." " Yeah?" " We're still friends?" " Yeah, why?" "Five and three add up to what?" " Fifty-three." " Are you sure?" " Yeah." " Thanks." "Perhaps it's an illusion, but even our headmaster seems to be changing," "Five." "Look, it's old Maxence." "Nobody move." "Smile." "Come on." "Come out, Mondain." "It's over, kid." "Come on." "One, two..." "Chabert, I just told Mr. Rachin that Mathieu's chorus is sensational." "Hurry up." " I'm tired." " You're always tired. 29." " What did he say?" " "Get lost." That's it." "Where's Mondain?" "You didn't notice he was gone before the run?" "He attended roll call this morning, Headmaster." "He left later." "No one goes out for the rest of the year." " How much did he take?" " Almost 200,000 francs." "How will I pay our suppliers?" "I should never have taken him." "All for the sake of an experience." "Experience my..." "Just like your music." "I won't order coal for the boiler until next week." "ln the meantime, I'm calling the police." "When Rachin in his coffin lay" "His cock was hard, they say" "His cock was his last bid to lift up the coffin lid" "Yes, indeed, he's a funny breed" "Singing is really developing their minds, Mathieu." "Very impressive." "They've spent three weeks without hot water." "Cold water activates the circulation." "Get out." "By the way, Mathieu, forget the chorus." " But, Headmaster..." " Thank you, Mr. Mathieu." "Give me the police." "I don't know what to do about the chorus, but for the kids, we can use wood." "We're out of wood." "Here." "The headmaster's private stock." "Chabert." "Action-reaction." "Chabert surprised me," "I used to think he was Rachin's zealous double, but I discovered that he was a nice guy for whom sports and music were the key elements of national unity," "Le Querrec, are you invisible?" "With his help." "I'm organizing the resistance," "Our chorus is going underground," "You tend to lower your pitch at the end of a verse." "For the last time, please detach every single note." "It's late." "Let's stop." "Sir, what about the second part?" " I didn't teach you the solo." " I learned it." "How could you learn it?" "All right." "Second part." "Get out." "On May 1 3, just after 3:00." "Mondain came back," " Where's the money?" " I don't know." " So who stole it?" " lt wasn't me." "Do you want more?" "So?" " He's been hitting him?" " For half an hour." " He's crazy." " And he's wasting his time." "The boy won't talk." "Very well." "Let's start from the beginning." "Where's the money?" "Speak!" "Where's the money?" "Let him go!" "Let him go." "Calm down." "Calm down!" "The boy just confessed." "Excellent." "I'm calling the police." "You're going to see new horizons, my boy." "With new guards and brand-new bars." "In order to spare the children's fragile trust, we hid Mondain's fate from them," "Officially, he had gone back to his old school," "One hen produces an average of 84 eggs a year." "Well-fed..." " ...and kept..." " I saw Rachin's daughters today." "Naked?" " No." " ...inside a well-ventilated and clean henhouse, the same hen will lay 150 eggs." "Under such conditions, how many more eggs could a farmer get out of her nine hens?" "Nice day." "It's nice to feel the sun." "Summer will soon be here." "Pierre is a constant source of surprise to me." "I wanted to thank you for helping him." "I'm doing it for you too." "I mean, if Pierre is doing well, you're doing well, so..." " Let me." " lt's nothing." "It's only ink." " Why are you such an ass?" " You want to send us to lock-up?" "What's going on?" "Why are you hitting him?" "Tell me, Bébert." "Because Morhange threw the ink." "You couldn't just shut up?" "I'm ashamed of you, Pierre." "Wait." "It doesn't matter. lt's only ink." "It's just pride because you're beautiful." "Beautiful?" "You're nothing like the other mothers who come here." "Because I live alone?" "So do I." " But you have no children." " No." "ln fact, I've got 60 kids." "When you come here, they see the woman of their dreams." "Well, the mother they've all imagined." "It's different for Pierre." "You are his mother." "Like any other child, he doesn't like to share." "We have to get him out of there." " He should go to music school." " I want him to learn a good trade." "Music is a good trade, as long as you've been well taught." "He could go to the Conservatory in Lyon." "I'd follow his progress to prevent any bad habits." "Even there, he could meet mediocre teachers." "And later?" "He'll become who he should be." "Pierre is special, and I'll do anything to help him achieve his dreams." "I need your help too." "I understand." "Thank you." "No, it's all wrong." "What's the matter?" "Are you asleep?" "Boniface, your posture." "How can you sing that way?" "Stand up straight." "From "Such a sweet concert"," "What about my solo?" "What solo?" "My solo." "Your solo, right. lt's gone." "Your voice isn't bad, but nobody's indispensable." "I don't care if you sing or not." "We can do it without you." "Listen." "Start from..." "Let's start from O night," "O Night" "Bring to" "The Earth" "The enchanting calm" "Of your mystery" "Mathieu." " You're going to get it, sir." " Mr. Chabert said he was in town." "Thank you, children." "You can go outside." "You do know that you're annoying me?" "Headmaster, I assure you, all their homework is done." "Our lady benefactresses heard about your chorus." "A personal letter from the Countess." "She's coming on Sunday, with friends." " They want to hear this." " Wonderful." "Well, it's nice." "I can imagine the scene." "Airs and graces, music." "Some pastries perhaps?" "I have to bear the brunt of your idiocies." "Headmaster, you have to admit music doesn't interfere with discipline." " We've had fewer problems lately." " Chance." " I don't believe in chance, Headmaster." " I realize that." "Who else could have told the Foundation?" "I did." "You can write?" " Mr. Maxence acted for the best..." " Spare me your comments." "I don't like your manners, Mathieu." "You don't like anything, Headmaster." "Mr. Rachin." "You're wanted in the visiting room." "Later." "This is for you." "Sometimes I think we should have let Mondain strangle him." "Violette was thanking me for helping her son," "She wanted to speak to me privately to share some important news at the Café de la Place." "on the 20th, at 4:00, I wrote to the Conservatory in Lyon." "I'm acquainted with the director." "He was very nice about it." "He'll be happy to give him an audition and if he's admitted, he'll try very hard to get him a scholarship." "I believe things are about to change for the better." "Really?" "Since I met you, I... well my life has..." "How can I say it?" "Changed dramatically?" "Yes." "Thanks to you." " lt's such a surprise." " I'd lost faith too." "Maybe I shouldn't get my hopes up yet." "You can trust me." "You did bring me luck." "Luck?" "I met someone." "He's an engineer." "From Lyon, of all things." "I met him at the café." "He's building a bridge in the area." "Are you all right?" "I'm fine. lt's a great opportunity for you and for Pierre." "Don't be upset, but I have to go." "I'd like the three of us to have lunch someday." "You can tell him all about Pierre." "Will you do it?" "Why not?" "Goodbye." "Goodbye." "Thank you for everything." "I almost forgot." "Don't tell Pierre right away." "Excuse me." "May I take the chair?" " Yes, of course." " Thank you." "Countess, a few flowers." "I didn't understand everything, but I got the feelings." "Thank you, child." "Take these." "Countess, let me introduce Mr. Mathieu, our prefect, who's in charge of the chorus." " Countess." " Well done, sir." "Mr. Rachin's humane teaching style is of great interest to us, and we thank you for your support." "By the way, who decided to form a chorus?" " Well..." " I did, Countess." "I did." "Indeed, Countess," "I'm very happy to help such an understanding headmaster." "Well, let them sing." "He's too modest to enjoy compliments." " Very true." " What are they going to sing for us?" "Rameau's Hymn to Night." "Countess." "It must be marvelous." "Excuse me?" "Who's the little boy standing aside?" "Has he been punished?" " That one?" " Yes." "He's a special case." "May I?" "O Night" "Bring to" "The Earth" "The enchanting calm" "Of your mystery" "The shadow which follows you" "Is so sweet" "It is such a sweet concert" "Your voices chanting hope" "Your power is so great" "Transforming all into a dream" "O Night" "O leave still" "To the Earth" "The enchanting calm" "Of your mystery" "The shadow which follows you" "Is so sweet" "Is there anything more beautiful" "Than a dream?" "Is there any truth" "Sweeter" "Than hope?" "Morhange's eyes followed my tempo, and in them." "I suddenly read many things:" "pride and the joy of my forgiveness, but also something quite new to him," "A feeling of gratitude," "First day of summer," "Our chorus has a new member," "I'm sorry, I missed the reprise." "My fault." "Go on." "All right." "Again." "In their eyes." "I can see the desire to flee, to build a hut way up in the sky," "This fine weather makes them sad," "You have to see this. lt's important." "While I was cleaning graffiti off the toilet walls, I lifted a stone and found this." " That's Corbin's harmonica." " And that." "It's 200,000 or more." "No one knew about your hideaway." "So don't tell me it was there by chance." "You know they expelled Mondain because of the theft." "I didn't know." "That's true." "You didn't know." "Now you know." "Why?" "What did you want to do with it?" "If I tell you, will you tell anyone else?" "No one." "I swear." "I wanted to buy..." "To buy what?" "A hot air balloon." "I don't know who took it, but it proves Mondain's innocence." "He'd never have left without the money." "I'll investigate when I come back." "But don't worry about it, Mathieu." "Even if Mondain was innocent, it won't last." "We can't help his type." " What about justice?" " Let her take care of him." "Headmaster, wait for me." "Wait for me." "Are you leaving too?" "I'm getting a lift." "I'm spending the holidays with relatives." "At my sister's house." "They have a piano." "Do you know why Rachin went to Lyon?" "I think he's supposed to discuss the balance sheet with the committee." " No?" " Yes." "But he's mostly going to run after a promotion and a medal." "Do you think he'll get them?" "He's really smart." "He's going to present an impeccable report without saying a word about all the horrible things." "He'll even claim the success of the chorus for himself." "Success?" "Certainly." "I heard them." "They're good." "Sir, is it true that Langlois left with the head?" "Yes." "Chabert and Carpentier have taken two weeks' holidays." " We're in charge." " There's no class today?" "No." " What are we going to do?" " Take a nap." "I have a better idea." "Thank you." "I don't want to..." " Your rosette?" " Yes." "The bird is in the nest, Mr. Rachin." "I can't thank you enough." "I'm sorry, Headmaster." "You're wanted on the telephone." "I'm sorry." "Headmaster!" " Do something." "My son is up there." " Let me through." "The fire had caught under the eaves," "The dormitories, where the children had last been seen, were in flames," "Sixty unfortunate children, caught in a snare," "Rachin saw his promotion and his rosette destroyed before his very eyes," "But, suddenly..." "After breakfast, we used the door leading out of the vegetable patch to avoid old Marie and the villagers." "We went to the forest of Lignan." "For what purpose?" "A treasure hunt." "They were so happy." "I don't need to tell you how disappointed I am, Mr. Maxence." "This was entirely my idea, Headmaster." "Mr. Maxence never stopped trying to dissuade me." "Not very convincing." "We could also consider the fact that we saved the children's lives." "If you hadn't left the school, it wouldn't have caught fire." "I don't even know why I'm listening to you." "Mr. Maxence, owing to your long years of service, I'll just suspend you." "As for you, Mr. Mathieu, you're fired." "For breaking the rules." "Then you should fire me too." "You don't get to decide." "It's nice of you, Mr. Maxence, but you're needed here." "Think about the children, since this gentleman never does." "I've settled up with you." "Here." "You're leaving right now, on the 6:00 bus." "You're allowed no contact with your former students." "None." " What?" " Mr. Maxence, see to it." "Get out." "Headmaster, before I go, I'll tell you what I think of you." " I already know, Mathieu." " You're an incompetent," " truly evil man." " What about them?" "They're not here by choice." "Neither am I." "I never wanted to be a teacher." "Don't tell me you wanted to come to that miserable place." " You had other ambitions?" "So did I." " Don't take it out on them." "Do you think I like being a warden?" "Someone has to do it." "Pack up your bags and go to Paris." "Make the Ministry rounds." "Knock-knock." ""Hello." "My name is Mathieu." "We need real teachers instead of washouts."" "Fight for the cause if you believe in it, Mathieu." "Saint Mathieu." "You're nothing but a failed musician." "A prefect." "A small prefect." "Small, small, small." ""What do you do, Mr. Mathieu?" "I'm a prefect."" "Small." "Small." "Small." "You're crazy." "I'm tired." "Go to the devil." "No, I'm leaving him behind." "I had hoped a few students would break the rules to say goodbye," "I saw no one," "The wisdom of these children came across as indifference," "And Morhange..." "Enough," ""See you soon, Mr. Mathieu."" ""Goodbye, Chrome Dome."" "On the first note, I recognized Boniface's careful script," "The spelling mistakes were Pépinot's, of course," "This one, filled with music notes." "came from Morhange," "And this one..." "And that one..." "Be silent!" "Make them stop!" "The door's locked." "Open up!" "Right then I felt a sudden burst of joy and optimism," "I wanted to share it with the entire world," "But who would have listened?" "No one even knew I was alive," "The great artist would soon give way to the ordinary man," "I'm Clément Mathieu, a failed musician." "an unemployed prefect," ""I'm Clément Mathieu, a failed musician, an unemployed prefect."" "What happened next?" "He never finished his journal." "But I can tell you the story." "Pépinot answered my questions," "The following day, on the way back." "my childhood caught me by the throat," "When Mathieu was fired." "my mother took me back home," "We left for Lyon, where I was admitted to the Conservatory," "The engineer tried to send me to boarding school," "She refused, He left us," "Chabert, Langlois and old Maxence joined forces to expose Rachin's abuse," "The children were questioned and Rachin was fired," "Clément Mathieu gave music lessons for the rest of his life, without courting notoriety," "Everything he did, he kept for himself," "For himself?" "No, not quite," "Mr. Mathieu." "Mr. Mathieu." "Wait a bit." "Mr. Mathieu." "What are you doing?" "Can you take me with you?" "Sir." "I can't do that." "You have to go back to school." "They'll punish you." "Please?" " Can we go now?" " Coming." "It's forbidden." "I can't take you with me." "Go back." "Go on." "Go on." "Pépinot had been right all along," "Mathieu was fired on a Saturday,"