"THE PHANTOM CART" "HERE..." "THERE..." "OR ANYWHERE..." "Wait, don't push." "He was in front of you." " There's enough for everyone." " Thank you, beautiful." " What's the grub today?" " Rice and potatoes." " And tomorrow?" " Beans." " With sausages?" " Perhaps." "Good." "I haven't eaten sausages for years." "I wouldn't like to die without recognizing their taste." "It's first class, and well-seasoned..." "The best seasoning for food is a pure heart." " You understand nothing." " What?" "Quiet." "Eat, my children." "Come on, Granny, move closer, don't be afraid." "Move, she's talking to you." "Pardon me." "I couldn't hear because of the noise." " What noise?" " A noisy cart." "Georges, I'm hungry." "Are we going?" "No." "Why?" "Aren't you starving?" "Yes, but it disgusts me, it's shameful." "Shameful, speak for yourself." "You went to school." "I almost went to school." "I never quite made it." "And you, David?" "I'm just starving." "Fellow slaves, I go reluctantly because of my empty stomach, and then I'll spit in the plate." "It gives me strength." "I need it." "I must visit my grand-daughter." "She lives far away." "I turn 80 on Midsummer's day." "If only that cart would stop grating." "Of course they haven't oiled the wheels for a long time." "It grates...that noise is ear-splitting." " Can you hear?" " No, nothing." " She's mad." " Perhaps it's in my head." "Or you're all deaf." "It's coming." "It'll run me down." "Thank you, you're so kind." "What do you hear?" "What's coming?" "Can't you hear it too?" "The cart." " The cart?" " She's mad." "Mr. Benoit!" " You forgot the announcement." " That's true." "My brothers in Jesus, I have good news for you." "Because of Officer Edith's devotion, the Salvation Army will open in a few days, close to the river, 7 Rue Newton, a night refuge, with beds, showers, prayers, music, every comfort for body and soul." "It's for those who don't have a home on earth." "We'll welcome them as God's messengers." "Our life of luxury starts now, doesn't it, Sister?" "What a pity it's not open tonight, on Christmas Eve." "They would've had a nice night." "It'll be ready soon." "I installed the showers myself." "See you tonight." " Are you going?" " I have my calls to make." "Tonight at 9, don't forget." "An unofficial opening." "Sister Edith will make some tea." "Come, she'd like you to." "It'd be nice." "Heaven will bless Sister Edith and the poor." "It's snowing again." "I like snow at Christmas." "I feel there's never enough." "It warms you up." "What's wrong?" "Do you still feel bad about the charity soup?" "No." "What are you thinking about?" " The cart and the old woman." " If that's all there was!" "It caught my attention when I read about it in a book." " What did you read?" " Tell us, we want to learn." "It's an old cart with a broken axle." "The wheel keeps turning." "The wheels have never been greased, so they grate." "They grate..." "There's also the carter with his rusty scythe..." "He's the Servant of Death." "Of course it's a dirty job he's doing, collecting the tramps, the derelicts, the dying, and the corpses." "No one can hear the grating of the cart, but the one who's about to die." "I don't think the old lady will last till tonight." "I'm not superstitious, I believe in nothing." "It makes me shiver when I think of the cart." "Student, they're just tales." "I don't think so." "His name's Student." "He knows what's found in books." "In fact I can't read..." "On one hand it hampers my promotion... but on the other hand, it makes life less complicated." "Goodbye now." "All this talk repulses me." "The gear and the cart never change, but the carter does." "Listen to this." "Every year, on New Year's Eve, whoever dies at the stroke of midnight, must take the carter's place." "He becomes the new carter of death." "He takes over for 12 months, and he drives the cart." "And he sees misery, disease, despair..." "I can't help thinking of that on December 31." "And I become cautious." "I don't want to die at the stroke of midnight." "You, an emancipated man, believe all this nonsense?" "David, I believe in nothing." "But in that..." "Let's go, I'm thirsty." " We're broke." " Don't worry." "Hi, guys!" "There's work!" "It must be unloaded before dark." "It's 4 F an hour." "Okay." "David, I don't recognize you." "You make me feel ashamed." "You forget what I taught you." "Working is dirty, tiring, and shameful." "You, a glass-blower, an artist, working as a docker!" "But we could have earned some money." "Money!" "Working has never brought anyone money." "Do rich people work?" "No." "So, you see." "Madame, we are three poor unemployed men." "Work eludes us." "We humbly implore your charity, we humbly beseech you to give alms." "You know the Lord will reward you a hundredfold." "If you give us plenty it'll be worth your while." "You may leave." "Well!" "That is work." "With that, we'll drink and forget." " Forget what?" " The cart." "I'll never make it." "The noise of the cart..." "It's in my head." "Of course, it's in my head." "What's happening?" "What do they want from me?" "My dear grand-daughter, I think that I..." "Prisoner, come out of your prison." "Shut up, kids!" "Stop yelling!" "Christmas is one big lie." "Stop it!" "Go home!" "Excuse me, sir, excuse me, those kids aren't..." "You clown!" "Give us some brioches." "Give us some chocolate." " Little bastards!" " Leave them alone." "My brother's in the middle." "He's not bad." "He just likes drinking." "You won't drink, will you?" "No, because I'll be happy." "Yes, we'll be happy next year." "The bad times will be over." "You'll find a job." " We'll get married." " I wish it was next year now." " Only one more week." " That's a long time." "I'm going to bash him up..." "That's enough!" "There'll be no fighting today." " You're scared." " I'm scared of nothing." "Not even of death, today." "And the end of the year is here." "Your tale!" "Unless I feel alive on New Year's Eve, at the stroke of midnight, I won't feel at ease." "He may turn nasty." "When he's drunk, he's crazy." "I'll bring him home." " Will you come and see me?" " I promise." "The four of us, one, two, three, four..." "The four of us can give him a good thrashing." "Enough!" "Here you are, Pierrot." "We must celebrate Christmas." "A glass for the gentleman." "No, I need to talk to you." "Drink that down first or I won't listen." "Another for the gentleman." "He's an orator." " Listen..." " Don't carry on." "To your love!" "You would insult me by not drinking to your love." "By removing the tables, it becomes a meeting hall." "As you can see, Captain, everything's nice and clean." "I can find no fault with the way it's set up." "The poor may enter this place." "Are their beds ready?" "Yes, thanks to Sister Edith." "No..." "God gives Sister Edith anything she asks for." "She did everything." "Mr. Benoit helped me a lot." "As the labourer helps the builder." "As the soldier helps the general." " As the insect..." " That will do." "We congratulate Sister Edith with joyous hearts." "She seems weak, yet strong." "She is humble, yet victorious." "Sister Edith got it for free from the manufacturer." "Now the dying won't suffocate from clouds of dust." " How many beds?" " 102." "What a pity they can't be used tonight, on Christmas Eve." "The kitchen stove won't be ready for a couple of days." " I'd have really liked..." " Be patient, my child." "Sister Edith seems sweet, but her soul is on fire." "A glorious, fighting soul." "Mr. Benoit decorated the dormitory." " He's an artist." " An artist..." "It's beautiful." "It depicts the Hebrew camp during the Exodus." " I know." " Really." "It's symbolic." "The people sleep, and Moses watches over them." "It's a good likeness of Moses." "The plumber posed for it." "Let's continue." "The showers are Mr. Benoit's best efforts." "Ultramodern devices." "You pull the chain, and the water rushes down like God's blessing." "May I?" "You'll see." "Sorry, an unexpected leak." "Sometimes God's blessing spurts out capriciously, and foils human expectations." "You've done wonders, Sister Edith." "God bless the refuge." "It will be the poor people's palace." "In memory of this evening, Sister Edith, may I give you this little plant." "I don't know its name, but it will flower in spring." "The gardener assured me." "Mr. Benoit, thank you, I'm very touched." "Now, Sister Edith, we'll retire, but we won't desert you." "When men gather in neighborly love, God is present." "Good evening." "As you're going to sleep here, cover yourself up well." "It's very cold." "I know how to count." "I used to be an accountant." "Good luck to you, old accountant!" "Ace of diamonds again, between the queen and the king." "Murderer!" "Police!" "Pierrot!" "Come on!" "What?" "It's cold." "I hope Mr. Benoit's plant doesn't freeze." " What sort is it?" " Be patient." "I was so happy." "Now they've left I'm sad." "Loneliness makes one cold." "No, it's something else." "Sister Maria, do you want us to pray before going to sleep?" "Open the Bible anywhere and just read." ""I punish those whom I love." ""Arm yourself with zeal and repent." ""Here I am at the door, begging to come in." ""He who opens the door, I shall enter his house..."" " Don't open it." " We must open it." "God's sending a messenger." "God's giving His blessing to our work." " Good evening." " We aren't open yet." "Come in, all the same." "He's drunk." "He's God's messenger." "There's hardly anyone here." " Are you thirsty?" " No." "I want to sleep." "Leave me alone, I want to sleep." "Fine chap, God's messenger." "Don't touch it." "It's full of germs, sweat, tobacco, alcohol..." "What a pity the sterilizer isn't working." " I'll mend it." " You can't do that." "It's too cold tonight, and with all those germs..." "Sister Maria, go to bed." "You'll need all your strength tomorrow." "Good night." "Good evening." " Am I going to die?" " No." " Is it serious?" " We'll cure you." "I don't want to die unless it's right now." "I'd rather die right now." "I won't wait for the cart." "Calm down, just rest." "I won't stay in the hospital." "It's for the dying." "I don't want to stay here." "Sir, you can't leave just like that." "My name is not sir, it's David Holmes." "David Holmes, you can't leave just like that." "We have coffee and bread." "I'm not hungry, I'm thirsty." "You don't like reading." "Not this type of book." "Thank you." "I wasn't very polite last night." "I was confused." "I didn't even see you." "Women like you are rare." "What do you do in here?" " What about you?" " Me..." "No sermonizing, sales talk is a closed book to me." "You welcome anybody here." "We welcomed you, and you weren't very appealing." "You were drunk, we can still see it in your face." " If you could see yourself." " I don't want to." " Drinking's not good..." " Here comes the sermon." "I won't wait for your coffee." "I came early to repair the shower." "The shower is like a punishment for me." "The Lord wanted to make me humble." "To make Captain Anderson wet!" "I went to the hospital." "They didn't need me." "Nothing special last night, except a fight in a bar, and a wounded man." "Tell me about it." "I'll get the coffee." "Come along." "A guy was stabbed." "His name is..." "I'm sorry." "Did you sleep well?" "Sit down." "It won't cost you a cent." "Don't burn yourself." "It's boiling hot." "Who was the guy wounded last night?" "His name is Georges, nicknamed the Student." " Do you know him?" " Yes." "Well..." " Is he dead?" " No." "The police are looking for men who were with him at the bar." "I see." "It's better not to hang around the hospital." "That's right." "You know about life." "Eat." "We can't refuse you anything." "That's true, we can't." "I resist when someone tries to win me over." "Well, I say that." "You must have come across many lost souls." "Yes, many." " Guys like me." " Yes, just like you." "But you're different." "That's kind." "Returning the compliment, your coffee is very good." " Do you have a trade?" " I'm a glass-blower." " A fine trade." " Glass is beautiful." "It stretches, it sparkles, it has a beautiful shape... it gives pleasure." "Well, why don't you work?" "Here's the good advice again." "We were having a friendly chat." "Why am I not working?" "Fire ate one of my lungs, and I'm coughing it up." "I want to poison everyone with it." "You all disgust me with your vile hypocrisy." "You only have one life, and then nothing." "You must live your life, even if it's a lazy, drunken life." "Yes, speak out." "I don't believe you." "You try to be clever, but you're not who you think you are." "You're different from the others." "You'll see, we'll get on in the end." "That's enough." "So much for your night's work!" "I'm not used to being well-dressed." "I have my opinion." "Holes and dirt are my scene." " I'm sorry for your efforts..." " Listen." "Promise me you'll come next year on New Year's Eve." "A promise won't cost you anything." "A voice told me the first to visit our refuge... would have a happy year which would finish well." " I'd like to know..." " You'd like to know." "I promise." "We can refuse you nothing." "I'll show you how little your God cares." "See you next year." "Well, dear Edith, shall we open up?" "Everything's ready." "Let them come in." " Well, Eternal Father!" " Ever faithful." "There wouldn't be a palace opening without me." "Quiet, please." "In honor of the opening of the refuge, and the end of the year, we can all have a shower." "A hot or cold shower, an ultramodern system." "Who will be first?" "No...the shower first." "You know, these things..." "One day, I nearly drowned." " Aren't you eating?" " I am." "Please understand, you're waiting on me." "Well, I must take my time," "I'm knocked out by a woman like you." "Sister, tell me, are you staying here tonight?" " Yes, why?" " Tomorrow is New Year's Day." "A kiss from you would bring me luck." " We'll see, Eternal Father." " Thank you, sister." "I'm coming just to please you." "But promise it won't kill me." "To finish the year underwater!" "Well, I never!" "I'm sorry, I'm amazed." "Look." "That's wonderful!" "It's spring." "Sister Edith, where's Sister Edith?" " How many potatoes left?" " Scarcely 50 kg." " Carrots?" " Hardly any." " The rice has gone bad, almost no bacon left." "As for coffee and sugar, they are but memories." " What are we going to do?" " Don't worry." "It'll work out." "We can see you aren't in charge of the kitchen." "It'll work out." "Sister Edith!" "The thing, the plant has flowered." "Really?" "You see, Sister Maria, it's an omen." "We received a donation for the 3 refuges in the area." "Here's your share." "You see, I knew it." "Our refuge will overcome all difficulties." "I knew it from the first day, since Christmas Eve." "Yes, when David Holmes was here." "David Holmes..." "I've seldom seen a man as drunk, and yet I've met many like him, so coarse, so irascible." "He was the messenger, Captain." "His look was so wild and so despairing." "Each time someone knocks on our door at night," "I think of that first caller, David Holmes." "He's a rogue, a drunkard." "He abused Sister Francoise, who was selling our journals." "He insulted her coarsely." "The day after we took him in." " The day after?" " Yes." "As if in revenge." "I don't understand why you show an interest in him." "He's cursed, really cursed." "The righteous don't need to be looked after." "Eternal Father, leave it." "Meanwhile, your David has never come back here." "He'll be back." "My advice, Sister Edith, don't count on it too much." "It makes me unhappy to leave you." "I'll say goodbye until autumn." "It's spring, and I can't bear being indoors." "I'll run through the fields, I'll live in the woods..." "Spring is like love, your blood runs faster." " Doesn't it, Captain?" " Love..." "Love goes away, but spring doesn't." "Spring comes every year..." "You're wrong not to have some rest." "I know there must be people like you devoted to the poor." "But don't overdo it." "It becomes, one could say, a sin in itself." "You don't need my advice." "Thank you, Sister." " Come back." " Yes, Sister." "Sister Edith, I'd like to talk to you." "Eternal Father is sensible." "Be wary of all excesses, even sacrifice." "Don't play with danger." "You haven't had a day off since the refuge opened, since David Holmes arrived, not one day of peace." "Sometimes we're called, we answer this call, a sudden call..." "Yes I know, but in moderation, Sister Edith." "God doesn't ask so much." "I'm sorry, but I'm late for my calls." "Pierre!" "Here you are." " They released you." " Yes." "Four months in the clink, in detention, because I picked up a knife." "Fortunately they found the murderer." " What are you looking at?" " The door." "It's nice to see a door that opens, after that jail." "It's as nice as spring." "Come on, let's rush into the fields." "I feel like seeing the grass and flowers." " You're leaving?" " Yes." "Pierre Holmes, my fiance." "Pierre Holmes." "I know a David Holmes." "He's my brother." " I saw him last at Christmas." " So did I." "I've been in jail." "I have no news." "Could you tell me where I can find him?" "At the Bar Pomme." "He hardly moves from there." "But it's no place for you, nor is the company, you know, bad people." "Thank you." "I'll be back tomorrow." "Go and see Toto, he's great." "Don't go in to lead my customers astray." " I'm looking for David Holmes." " Who?" " David Holmes." " David?" "I haven't seen him today." "But his friend Gustave might be able to tell you." "David and he are as thick as thieves." "Thank you." "Calm down, this is not a sacristy." "What a nice chick!" "Are you soliciting for Jesus?" " I'm sorry, Madame." " 'I'm sorry, Madame.'" "You must be joking!" "She wants to teach us manners." "'My lady..." "I'm sorry, Madame.'" "I know you." "You're Paul's grandmother." "Such a a beautiful child." "Yes, he's so nice, isn't he?" "I'm sorry..." "Don't mention it." "Mr. Gustave." "That's me." " Are you David Holmes' friend?" " I could be." " Where is he?" " I'm not an information center." " He could be at his home." " Where is that?" "I'm in a good mood, I'll tell you, but on one condition:" "have a drink with me." "Here are two schnapps." "No, it'll go to my head." "I'm too disgusting, you look down on me." " Who told you that?" " Drink, or I won't tell you." "Madame would rather take it with music." "Drink with us, don't make a fuss." "To your health!" "Go, this is no place for you." "Listen..." "David... lives in the big house, Place du Vieux Marche." "It's the log cabin." "You can't miss it." "Thank you." "We have a meeting at 9 this evening at the refuge." "I'd be very pleased if you'd come." " At 9?" " Yes." " I don't know if I can." " I'm sure you can." "See you this evening." "The chick has made a hit." "I'd like to speak to David Holmes." "He isn't here, but I am his wife." " His wife?" " So?" "Are you surprised?" "That's the way it is, just my luck." "Tell me what you want from him." "We know how poor he is." "We're here to comfort him, to help him and his family." "Come in anyway, it can't do any harm." "He's his spitting image." "That's promising." "David wouldn't like to see you here." "Religion and sermons aren't to his liking." "He's right." "What are you spying on?" "If God did exist, would He allow this poverty?" "My kids are starving to death." "He beats me like the lowest..." "Poor Mrs. Holmes..." "I don't like being pitied." "This can't go on." "I'll leave." "I'll leave him." "I don't want him coughing germs on the kids, maybe he does it on purpose." "He should die alone." "Keep him for your army if you're interested." "You mustn't leave him, we all have our faults." "Are you going to forgive him?" "No, but we can save him, we'll try, we'll work on it like allies, Mrs. Holmes." "To be homeless would be the end for him." "He's not entirely corrupt, he's just bitter and rebellious." "Of course, he hasn't always been bad like that." "He's well educated, and intelligent." "That goes against him, it ferments like poison." "But he's gone back to work." " When?" " Since New Year's Day." "He was strange, worse and better." " Since New Year's Day?" " It didn't last very long." "But you see what I mean." "I thought he'd change when Georges died." "Georges was his demon." "He was led by him." "He was a good worker." "He blew me a beautiful crystal dish." "Of course he's broken it since." "Look, there's a picture taken in the early days of our marriage." "Of course it's hard to see, there's so much dust." "It was a fine, hot day." "Those days will return." "Don't leave him." "Stay." "I'll give you support." "It'd be your fault if there was trouble." "You can take it from me." "See you soon." "Filthy beast!" "Hey, you." "So you had my address." "It's strange." "You haven't forgotten me since Christmas, and yet we can't say I spent a lot on you." "That's right, I'm the same, my looks haven't improved." "You don't look so good either." "Why didn't you come back to the refuge?" "Why?" "I promised to on New Year's Eve, not before." "I thought of you." "I looked for work, too." "Maybe because of you." "Because you spoke about my work." "But blowing glass with only one lung..." "You worked because of..." "Yes, because of you." "Come on, make a show of modesty, with eyes like that." "Eyes downcast, yet wishing to command the world." "No, commanding is not my way, only doing good deeds here and there." "So you..." "I'm not worth it." "Actually, nothing's worth it." "Nothing is ever wasted... the least effort..." "No..." "We don't live in the same world." "It looks as if we meet, but we don't really." "We always bump into each other, when we least expect it." "You're better off not looking after me any more." "You'll give yourself a headache." "You'll tire yourself, and that bothers me." ""In the body of this man was an unclean demon, who cried out:" "'Leave us!" "What is Jesus of Nazareth to us?" "'Have you come to destroy us?" "'" "But Jesus said to the demon:" "'Be silent and leave this man.'" "The demon flung himself on the ground and left, having done him no harm." "All who witnessed this were awed, saying..."" "She mustn't think I'm scared." "She told me about the meeting." "Here we are." "We'll have a good laugh." "We have nothing to risk." ""...asked to be allowed to remain with him." "But Jesus refused, saying, 'Return to your home, and tell them all that God has done.'" "He went, and broadcast throughout the town what Jesus had done for him."" "May the demons leave you, my brethren." "May they leave, chased off by the Word." "Confess your sins at the altar of repentance." "Come forth!" "Come closer!" "Fall upon your knees." "You shall be as children, born again, cleansed for a new life." "We shall sing a hymn, for the souls who deliver themselves to the great fight." "I'm a slut!" "I have sinned!" "I'm a slut, a slut!" "Woe is me." "Listen to me." "Listen to me!" "I came to make fools of you." "I wanted to try to be smart." "I can hardly talk, I'm so drunk, but I have to speak out." "Listen to me, my friend, I'm more of an animal than you." "I'm the worst among the worst." "I'm the lowest of the low!" "But that's the end." "I'm fed up with being rubbish!" "I want to get away from the devil as the Sister said!" " Have you finished?" "Let's go." " Leave me alone." "I'm drunk, but believe my words." "An Angel took my hand." "They're loonies and hypocrites!" " Horrible friends!" " No scandal." "No, my child, stay." "He's the prey of the devil." "You love a scoundrel." "I love the soul within him." " I beg you." " No." "I order you to stay here." "Blame David's crimes on me." "My poor child." "I'll avenge myself." "I'll make her pay." "You'll see." "Mummy!" "Help!" "You need to blow your nose." " Where are the Easter eggs?" " We're giving trousers today." "I'd prefer some chocolate eggs." "Don't you prefer being well-dressed?" " I don't give a damn." " You're not being very polite." "Being polite..." "Don't make me laugh." "She's been coughing like that since Christmas." "She caught a chill the night she repaired Holmes' coat." "Fortunately he's in jail." "I hope they'll keep him there." "Sister Maria, have a look." "Another one." "That's a...bug." "It's had it." "You see, Martin, I know about fleas, bugs..." "I was a second-hand clothes dealer." "I drove all over the place." "I saw a lot of them." "And then one day I saw the light." "The car and I joined the army." "Of course, I won't be the one to blame God, but He created a lot of these animals." "Cimex lectularius... commonly known as the bedbug." "You're a genius." "I used to love geology." "Mr. Benoit, do you have the key to the Easter-egg cupboard?" "Yes..." "I'll go." "Here you are." "Continue burning your Cimex lec..." "What a name to give it!" "You should have treatment, this cough is serious." "I was looking at you earlier." "It seems you've lost weight and become pale." "Does your temperature rise at night?" "I don't know." "I feel a bit tired, and worn out at night." "When you cough, do you taste blood in your mouth?" "At times." "You must rest." "If we listened to ourselves, we'd fail in our duty." "If you allow me, if you trust me enough, I'll listen to your chest." "You, Father Martin?" "Sorry, I forgot..." "And yet I'm a doctor of medicine too." "I had a busy practice." "I was highly regarded." "And one day, things went downhill." "Mr. Martin, who could have known?" "Because of a woman." "The downhill path is a fast one." "You're killing yourself here... for bastards who aren't worth it." "No one is worth the price of your life." "I'm telling you that because you deserve the truth." "Humanity should be burnt like we burn beds, with all the vermin attached to them." "Doctor, how long do I have?" "It's difficult to say without checking." "About how long?" "A few months." "I just want to hold on till the end of the year." "I have an important appointment I don't want to miss." "That's cutting it a bit fine." "You're Mr. Gustave!" "You're terrific!" "You look so smart." "I thought I looked awkward." "Of course not, does he, Captain?" "I bought the uniform with my savings." "I stripped the old man..." "It fits you like a glove." "I'm happy, Captain." "I feel clean and full of glory." "You must christen this uniform." "Here is a list of addresses." "All kinds of donations are at our disposal, furniture, clothes..." "Would you like to go with Mr. Benoit?" "The car is ready." "Yesterday I bought some petrol." " Sister Maria will come." " Excuse me, Captain..." "Sister Edith should go." "She badly needs fresh air." "You're right." "Tell her." " What are you thinking about?" " Nothing." "What's wrong?" "I don't like it when you get that look." "Come." "Pierre, what have you done?" "I had to." "I'm sick of starving." "I went to jail." "I haven't found a job since." "Of course, a guy just out of jail!" "And yet I was innocent." "I had done nothing." "It's better not to be innocent." "Suzanne, it's not my fault, don't be cross with me." "A car is the perfect image of a Christian." "The steering wheel is there to stop swerving, the petrol is the soul waiting for eternal light, the carburetor..." "Are you listening?" "No?" "Too bad." "I'd like to tell you, you saved my life." "That day you looked at me at the bar, I understood." "You were...you were like a light." "I didn't save you, God did." "Of course, but He chose you as an intermediary." "Providence has its own plan." "It wanted maybe for you and me..." "You understand what I mean." "Make it easier for me..." "Mr. Gustave, there's too much suffering." "I must look after all souls." "Many of our comrades have united their destinies." "My role is to belong to everyone." "While we breathe fresh air and we enjoy the sun, there are sick children in the slums, and prisoners in cells." "I see, David again." "You're thinking of him." "No." "But I followed you, I became someone else." "Now you've lost interest." "We must always love those who need us most." "You've caused me no remorse or sorrow." "Forgive me if I distress you." "You're free to go." "It's two months today." "Take it easy." " Is it a nice day?" " Terrific." " Is my wife waiting for me?" " I don't know." "Warden!" "Certainly, Father." " Would you come with me?" " I..." "Just for a moment." "Look." "Why?" "He was drunk." "He killed a man." "Pierre..." "You poor thing." "You're the one who should be there." "You're the one who led him astray." "You're the one who made him this way." "What can I do?" "Pierre," "I ask for your forgiveness." "I'll change." "I'll make up for it." "Goodbye." "How happy I am." "I thought of you many times." "Have you seen my wife?" "Is she coming too?" " David, I must warn you..." " Don't be afraid." "The man just out of prison is different now." "Alone in there, I thought..." "I understood, Sister Edith." "And I also...saw Pierre." "Tomorrow I'll see my old boss, I'm sure he'll have me back." "Then I'll forget and make up for all the wrongs I've done." "You'll be proud of me." "That prison...brought me closer." " David, how happy I am." " Why isn't Anna here?" "She couldn't have known when..." "Let's go home." " David, listen." " Later, she's waiting." "Hurry!" " I'll come with you." " Of course." "She's gone." "Without telling me." "Without one word." "David, I must..." "And I was snivelling away..." "I've made mistakes, of course, but running away like this!" "She's neglected me, and hastily too." "What a slap in my face for my good intentions." "But you knew." "It shouldn't be like this." "You know where she is!" "For God's sake, tell me!" "I'm sorry, I thought I was stronger..." "This is it." "This is it." "I chased the devil away." "I promise the good life will start again." "There will be sunny Sundays again, with the children, by the lake." "Come on, tell me where she is." "You can't delay her happy moment." "Should I believe you?" "We've thought about you a lot these last months." "We agreed you should spend some time at the refuge, just enough time to calm you down." "Because you're so bad, really bad." "If you'll come, it'll mean a lot to us, it'll be a comfort." "Always some little schemes, I don't know where I stand." "What do you want?" "To keep me for yourself?" "What else could one think?" "I am to blame." "I can't reply." "We've found her work in our children's center." "I'll take you to her." "It's on the other side of town." "You won't find it." "The bitch...she'll pay for this." " I can't keep up with you." " I'm in a hurry." " Can you hear that?" " What?" " That noise." " What noise?" "It sounds like a cart." " Can't you hear it?" " No, David." "So, is it a vision?" "I'm sure it's the death cart." "The death cart?" "We hear it when we're about to die." "I was told about it, but I hear nothing." "We must run away from it." "It mustn't follow us." "I'm out of breath." "Quick!" "Tell me where Anna is." "I must hurry." "We're nearly there." "On top of the hill." "I'll make her pay." "No one leaves Holmes." " David!" " It's all your fault!" "How beautiful she is." "She looks like a queen." "David..." "Send for David Holmes." "He may have forgotten." " What time is it?" " 10 o'clock." "Send for David Holmes." "You can't bring that wretch here." " We can't deny her this." " We can't." "She has no power over him." "Maybe God will help her now." "I'll go." "You know where to find him." "Yes, I'll come too." "Five to midnight." "Five more minutes and we'll drink to it." "If you see the year out with a drink, your supply of drink is supplied for 360 days." "365 days in leap years." "We mustn't miss out." "Last year the snow stopped us celebrating outside, on New Year's Eve." "There was a lot of snow." "That reminds me of Georges." "Remember he told us about the death cart." "Whoever dies on New Year's Eve will drive it." "What a story!" "What became of him?" "They say he died around then." "He fell from the hospital roof, breaking all his bones." "How do you know?" "He was a learned man too." "It didn't stop him from dying." "Don't you ever think about Georges' story?" " What story?" " The cart." "Never." "You're not superstitious." "I forgot I have a message for you." "Gustave is looking for you." "It's about Sister Edith." "The poor little thing isn't very well." "Apparently you promised to meet her on New Year's Eve." "I won't go." "That's not very nice." " No, it isn't." " I won't go." "The last wish of the dying is sacred." " Of course it is." " Shut up!" "Sister Edith is an angel." "She's a little saint." "I'm just a filthy old man, but I'd do anything for her." "I'm telling you!" "You must go!" " I'll drag you there!" " Get away!" "A saint, dear Lord, a saint!" "As a saint, she can die." "Bastard!" "What's wrong?" "Is it serious?" "You don't know your own strength." "His carcass is all eaten up inside." "Let's make a run for it." "Midnight." "I don't want to die." "I refuse." "What is it?" "It's a joke." "A bad joke." "I don't care." "I don't believe in the cart." "They want to scare me." "I never think about the cart." "Here I'm lucky." "The cart can't get through the wall." "It really can't." "It's a joke." "A bad joke." "Jokers, you can come, you can't catch me." "Georges..." "So you're not dead!" "Always joking?" "David, David Holmes!" "So it's you I have to collect." "That fancy-dress outfit really suits you." "All this year I've wanted to talk to you." "I wanted to make up for my deeds." "To teach you what I know now." "Last summer, one day, on the road," "I walked beside you to warn you." "Last summer..." "So that grating sound was no vision." "If you could've only understood the warning..." "David, I've paid my dues." "It's your turn now to take my place." "You're going to meet... the results of the wrongs you've committed." "That's enough!" "I don't feel well." "Since you have a cart, take me to the hospital." "I can do nothing more for the living." "No..." "I'm not dead, it's a nightmare." "Come." "No, I won't, I don't want to die." "Prisoner, come out of your prison." "Listen..." "I must go to Sister Edith." "I promised to meet her." "The time hasn't yet come." "This is my place." "What are we doing here?" "You wanted me to see them one last time." "Why come here?" "No one's going to die." "That depends." "I feel no more hatred for her." "That's strange..." "What's she doing?" "What?" "She wants to kill herself." "Why?" "She won't be unhappy now I'm not coming back." "She wants to destroy the children too." "Yes, David." "She mustn't." "There's no point, you know it's pointless." "Can't you tell her it's pointless?" "She can't hear me." "Have mercy, Georges," "I have sinned, I really have sinned, but spare them." "I'm not the Master." "So there's no one to hear me." "Anna..." "Not now..." "Let them have their sleep." "First thing in the morning, at dawn." "It's only a respite." "Come, they're waiting for us." "But we must find a way to stop her and save her." "Come." "We must obey what is written." "Why has no one brought David?" "We haven't found him yet, but Gustave will." "Yes, Sister Edith, and then you'll get better." "So it's you, Mr. Benoit." "How's the plant?" "It's doing very well, extremely well." "Move aside, Mr. Benoit." "There's someone behind you." "Have you come to fetch me?" "As you can see, I'm not afraid." "All I want is to follow you." "But let me have another hour or two, to fulfill my duty." "I loved David, he wasn't free." "I fought against it, I prayed..." "I was humiliated because of my love for a poor wretch." "But I always believed... he had some good in him." "You can't take me until I've spoken to him." "You have no power over this man." "Tell him, tell him that I'll always love him." "Prisoner, come out of your prison." "Edith is dead, and now I'm sure I've always loved her." "But my heart was full of violence and anger." "Have mercy." "I must help Pierre's sick girlfriend." "I must go home to stop Anna." "I must save the children." "How can I beg you?" "What prayer must I..." "I've forgotten how to pray." "It's too late." "You must take my place." "You're the carter of death." "It's your punishment." "So I can't..." "You can do nothing for the living as you are, unless someone takes your place and drives the cart." "But who will accept?" "I've been a bad person." "I will, David." "I led you astray." "I owe you this much." "You?" "Prisoner, go back to your prison." "Anna!" " Who is it?" " It's me, let me in." "No, David, later, after the dawn." "No, let me in." "Sister Edith is dead." "I have changed." "I'm a new man now." "It's hard to believe." "Yes, believe me." "You're weeping." "I've never seen you weep." "Because you can weep, come in, David." "Thank you, Lord." "Subtitles:" "Guy A. Casanova Renee Goossens" "Subtitles Copyright SBS 1991"