"Hello." "My friend Jacques Becker has recreated a true story in all its detail." "My story." "It took place in 1947 at the La Santé prison." "Face forwards." "COURT" "Go ahead." "Send him in straightaway." "Im in a rush." "Okay." "Come stand over here." "Maurice Gaillarbois, 32 years old." "Block 13, cell 35." "The inmate has been refusing to eat for 48 hours." " Why are you hunger striking?" " Im innocent." "If you're innocent, you'll get a fair trial." "Until then, eat something." "I dont want to eat, and I want the Judge to know Im not eating, because its his fault." "Okay, but the Judge is eating, and knowing that you're not wont lessen his appetite." "I wont eat!" "All right, well tell him you won't eat." " Next." " Go ahead." "What's this?" "Gaspard, Claude, number 6028." "'Hid a cigarette lighter, supposedly gold-plated." "You know very well that lighters are forbidden." "even without fuel, sir?" "even without fuel." "Strict regulations." "Someone must have told you when you first got here." "I had it in my pocket and forgot about it." " And then you found it." " That's right." "So why didn't you give it to a guard?" "It would be returned to you upon your release." "Youre right, sir, but this lighter has sentimental value." "I like to look at it from time to time." " You say it's made of gold?" " Yes, sir." "It's valuable." "It will be returned to you later." "You deserve 15 days of mail-holding, but Ill turn a blind eye this time." "Thank you very much, sir." "Nice guy." " Thanks." " You're welcome." "You'll get your lighter back once you're released." " New inmate." " There are already four of us in here." " And now there are five." " We're expecting work." "We're getting cardboard to make boxes." "It'll take up a lot of room." "Nobody's forcing you." "Work here is voluntary." " You don't like us working?" " Dont be smart." "We have the right to work if we want to." "I said you have a new cellmate." "No arguments." "Ill argue." "There are already four of us, and were waiting for work." "You, put your things down, and you, shut up." " Im being polite, boss." " Let it go, Manu." "That's Just the way it is." "That's right." "We'll bring you a mattress later." "Im sorry, but I didnt ask to come here." "Forget about it." "My name's VosseIlin, but you can call me Monsignor." "It's my nickname." "Im Claude Gaspard." "I was in block eight, but they moved us because of repairs." "You'll be fine here." " Thats not the impressión I got." " I told you to forget about it." "Let's not start that again." "Whats done is done." " Roland Darbant." " Hi." "This is Geo Cassine." "Hes new." "Moved from block eight because of repairs." " Hi." " 'Hello." "Manu Borelli." "You'll be Just fine here." "Bring your bag over." "Dont worry. well put your things away." "Put this on the bed." "You probably had a wardrobe at home, huh?" "Yeah, why?" "We all had a wardrobe, and a wife, too." "Have you got a wife?" "Dont answer that." "You dont have to talk about yourself." "I dont mind talking about it." "Are things good between you and your wife?" "No." "I'm in love with someone else." " Is she a good lover, the other one?" " Geo, leave us alone, will you?" "Why?" "It's good to talk about love." "Its healthy." "You see, Geo's interested in love." "Women are interested in it, too, dont forget." "Hes a specialist." "Much in demand." "Would you believe he had to hide whenever he wanted to sleep alone?" "Hi, lads." "We've brought you your work." "Let's go." "What spirit you have." "It won't last long." "We get bored in here." "Stop." "Youre going to make me cry." " Weve brought you 5,000 sheets." " We know we can count on you." " Lucky us, huh?" " Go ahead and laugh." "I mean it." "Sure you do." "You wont even have time to eat." " Well, good luck." " Good night." "Hes right." "This is a hell of a Job." "It'll be good for us." "You hear me, Geo?" "Lazy arse!" "Hell do it." "Come on, Manu." " Do you mind?" " Go ahead." "It's crazy, but I'm starting to enjoy this." "Did you all ask for work, or Just you three?" " All of us." " Geo, you have to do some work." " Yeah, yeah." " You promised, Geo." "Hold on, not yet." "Theres the soup trolley." " Whats this?" " Chefs vermiceIli special." "All of you in the kitchen are dirt bags." " You know, I..." " Its not his fault." "I said they're dirt bags." "That's Just one man's opinion, right?" "This is inedible." "It looks foul." "Disgusting." "Im not going to force myself to eat it." " Its not that bad." " You're always hungry." "'Here, help yourselves." "There's enough for everyone." "That's nice of you, but we have all we need." "Put away your food." "You're our guest." "Your little mistress spoils you." "Dont answer him." "Come sit." "Is it good?" "It's disgusting." "Here, eat." "help yourself." "Foie gras?" "You're not messing around." "Yeah, look at this." "Honey, strawberry Jam with real fruit, chestnut spread." "Manu likes the chestnut spread." "I thought you guys needed money." " Because of this stuff?" " Well, yeah." "Normally only guys who need cash ask for work." "Guys who are bored do, too." "That's true in cells where the inmates dont get along." "But that's not the case here." "You can't expect me to believe that that's why you want work." "So what do you believe?" "I dont know." "Im surprised you work, that's all." " Really?" " Yes, really." "Tell us about your mistress." "That'll keep you from talking shit." "Pass me that spoon, please." " So you share everything?" " As you can see." "That's great." "Im glad Im here with you guys." "The pleasure's all ours." " I can never tellif hes Joking or not." " That's my charm." "Have some." "Dont be shy." "All right, if youll share what I get." "You're a good man." "Were glad to have you." "A cigarette to top it off?" "Thanks." " What about Manu?" " Manu doesn't smoke." " Gaspard, Claude?" " Thats me." "There's a package for you in your old block." "Take this." "You look happy all of a sudden." "Why?" "I like this new guy." "Go ahead." "Manu, we have to decide." "Do we tellhim or not?" "We tell him." " Geo?" " You're in charge." "You decide." "Manu, we have to tellhim." "You, too?" "We havent got a choice." "We need to get started." " Youd rather wait." " Yes." " Are you crazy?" " No." "I dont trust strangers, and what a stranger he is." " What do you know about him?" " You'll see." "So you're going to wait to be tried, sentenced to death and beheaded?" "I have to deal with the courts, too." "Think about the rest of us." "Manu, I don't give a shit about this new guy, but if it weren't him in here, it'd be someone else, and he could be a pain in the arse." "Gaspard, Claude, block eight, cell 26." "Whats this?" "Youre in block 11, cell six?" "Yes, boss." "I was in block eight before." " What happened?" " My cell was changed." "Ill check on that." "Gaspard, Claude, block 11, cell six." "Thats right." "Smells good." "It looks like rice pudding." "Must be, boss." " Enjoy." "Next." " Thanks, boss." " I see Geo's at it." " You see right." "I got some pretty good stuff." "Chitterling sausage, smoked fish, vanilla rice pudding." " Made by your sweetheart." " Exactly." "Who likes rice pudding?" "I do, but Im not hungry." " Whats going on?" " Nothing." "Why?" "I dont know, I Just have this feeling." "We talked about you while you were off getting your package." "Listen, were used to living here together, Just the four of us, and then you show up." "Of course were going to talk about you." "Sorry, but Manu wanted to say something." "Id like to hear it." " We don't know you, and you don't know us." " That's right." "But we took you in right away, or almost right away." "You're very kind." "Without knowing it, youve landed in a cell that's a bit special." "We're not all in here for the same reason, but in court, the luckiest one of us will get 10 years." "As you can see, my friends and I have a lot on the line." "You do." "So wed like to know what youre up against, Gaspard." "Im accused of attempted first-degree murder." "That could get him 10 years easy." "Do you mind?" "Who's charging you?" "My wife." "One night at our house in Neuilly..." " Congratulations!" " Shut up, Monsignor." "Go on." "I was with my wife and her sister." "We were arguing, and my wife threatened me with a shotgun." "I wanted to take it from her, but it went off and she was wounded in the shoulder." "That's your story." "Your wife must tell a different versión if you're in here." "My wife says I drew the gun to shoot her." " She was angry, huh?" " Very." "How old is your wife?" "Thirty." "Three years older than me." " And your sister-in-law?" " Shes Just a kid." "Seventeen." " Was she there?" " Yes." "She backed my testimony." "But hers was ruined by a servant." "Bitch!" "She hates me, that woman." "She told the Judge that Nicole was upstairs with her." "You said attempted first-degree murder." "Why do they think it was premeditated?" "There were three shotguns in the gun rack, and only one was loaded." "What were you arguing about?" "Money." "In principle, anyway." " Does Nicole screw well?" " What?" "See, he screws, too." "Geo, that's enough." "Were they regular lead bullets or buckshot?" " Regular lead." " Less fatal." "Pity." " What happened to your wife?" " Nothing serious." "Her left shoulder was hit." "Shes Just having a bit of a hard time right now." "And she accuses you of wanting to kill her?" "Thats harsh." "What can you do?" "Was it you who loaded the gun?" "Is your wife rich?" "Rich enough." "Whats your official income?" "That's all that counts in court." "I sold cars." "In other words, you lived off your wife's money." "I guess." "You'll get 20 years of hard labour." " You think so?" " At least." "Are you sure?" "Your case is awful." "You wound your wife, who supports you." "You sleep with her sister." "You sell used cars." "Judges can't stand that." "Twenty years of labour is a long time." "What's the matter with you?" "We wanted to know what you were up against because we're risking a great deal waiting here quietly for our appeals." "What?" "We're going to escape." " From here?" " From here." " You think were crazy." " No, not at all." "Go on, Roland, tell him all about it." "He knows what hes doing." "Hes already escaped three times, right, Roland?" "When I think that if I hadn't changed cells, I wouldn't be going with you..." "Im a lucky man." "As long as you trust us, you'll be lucky." "So when do we start?" "Itll be lights-out soon." "We can't dig the hole at night." "We have to take advantage of the outside noise during the day." "Obviously." "Tonight well eat well." "Pass me that rice pudding." "Pass me the box, Roland." "We'll share everything." "Dinner is served." "It's funny how you rub your hands together." "It suits you." "Of course it does." "I come from a long line of clergymen." "My uncle was a bishop." "No kidding." "I was wondering why you were called Monsignor." " Well, Im going for it." " Be my guest." "We do nothing around here but eat." "Whats the matter?" "Nothing." "I was thinking about my grandmother." "Shes the one who raised me." "Was she rich?" "Bloody Gaspard." "You were a happy kid." "Yeah, I had everything I wanted." "You only ever talk about your grandmother." "What about your parents?" "My mother died when I was born, my father five years later in a car accident." "So you had no one but your grandmother." "I had paternal grandparents, too, but they couldnt afford to take care of me." "Is your grandmother still alive?" "No." "Why?" "So youre her heir." "Youre rich." "I was, yes." "You pissed it all away." "Then you met a rich woman, huh?" "My wife has money, but that had nothing to do with it." "Dont get mad." "Id have done the same thing." "Only if I'd married a rich woman, I wouldn't have shot her." "That's where you went wrong." "You're starting to get on our nerves, Monsignor." "It's okay." "No harm done." "You're getting on my nerves, too, with all your crap." "I want to go to sleep, so shut the hell up." "Got it?" "Okay." " Emile!" " Yes?" "Here, Mercier, you can finish up." "Did you sleep well?" "It feels weird to be here." "That always happens when you change cells." "I was thinking about everything." "Didnt get much sleep." "Don't worry about it." "Look, theyre sleeping like babies." " Good morning." " Good morning, Roland." " Does anyone need the doctor?" " I dont think so." "Rise and shine." "Give us the sugar and biscuits." "Here you go, Geo." "Thanks." "It's a good thing theres sugar." "Their coffee tastes like hell." "Thanks." "This one's good." "Make sure you get all the slivers so we don't cut ourselves." "One thing at a time." " Whos the oldest one here?" " Me." "Stay here. everyone else, get out." "Handkerchief." "All right." "That's all?" "Next." "Your turn." " Give me that." " 'Hurry up." "All right." "Who flushed the toilet?" " I did." "Id never done it from out here." " Quit messing around." "All right." "Move over." "Out of the way." "Let's go." "You can come back in." " They didnt spare us." " Now everythings a mess." "On the contrary." "It's good for us." " 'How so?" " They won't be back for a while." "Put that stuff away." "Ive got work to do." "See, this little thing acts as a periscope." "Its perfect." "You can see both ends of the corridor." "We've already been searched, so we're okay on that front." "We can start digging today." "It's coming from number eight." " Im listening." " Package for number four." "Ready?" "Wait." "Tellthem were waiting for the masons and cant send anything else on until further notice." "Swing it." " Ready, number four?" " Yes." "Okay, send it over." "Listen, we can't send anything else today." "We're waiting for the masons." " Did you hear that, number eight?" " All right, thank you." "This way well have some peace." " Lets go." "Whos the lookout?" " I will be, if you like." "Okay." "But stay sharp and tell us everything you see." "You can count on me." "Go on working." "I don't need you right now." " Someones coming." " What?" " Some guys with blankets." " Screw it." "Its not for us." "Let me see." "It's heavier than youd think." "It will do." "Geo, come on." "Move over." "Thisll take too long." "You have to hit it harder." "I think youre right." "Theres no other way." "In one hour, we'll either break through or be caught." "You're crazy." "This is impossible." "If anything saves us, itll be the noise." "They're coming." "They're here." "They passed by." "Your turn, Geo." "Monsignor, it's no use looking out, you know." "Are you crazy?" "Why?" "If they come now, we're busted anyway." "Whats wrong with you?" "I cant see a thing." "Give me a piece of cardboard." "We did it." "We'll go down tonight." "May I?" "Okay, you've seen it, now move." "We need to throw all of this back in." "Let's give it a try." "Well?" "Not bad." "Try to pull the string more gently." "Im trying, but it only works one way and not the other." "Dont pull so hard." "Roland, its closing time." "Gentlemen, its closing time." "clean the cell up before you go to bed." "All right." "We have 15 minutes before the first round." "Hes coming." "Quick, get in bed." "Let's go." "He was early, damn it." " All right?" " All right." "Come on down." "Monsignor." "Take the string and the rock." "Okay?" "That's another underground chamber like this one." " Thats the main cellar." " Why is it lit up?" "Listen." "It's deserted." "No one comes here at night except the patrolman." "Ill cut through this bar." "That should be enough." "What if the guards come by and hear us?" "Ill file it 20 times, then stop to listen, and so on." "Finish it, Roland." "There we go." "Let's go." "That's a corridor." "There's a lot of Junk down here." "This is where they store their material." "The patrol must come down here." "Another corridor." "They have to punch in." "See this?" "I'll cut it here and make a skeleton key." "Her husband sold rabbit furs." "Yet another trade thats vanished." " She was beautiful." " Really?" " 'Here." " Thanks." "One day he caught us." " It was a real mess." " No kidding." "I thought he was going to fight me, but nothing happened." " 'He turned around and left us there." " And afterwards?" "Afterwards, I saw the girl two or three times." "Then I got posted to Paris, so obviously I stopped seeing her." "They left through there." "We'll do the same." "Where are we going?" "Look." "This is a rough layout of the prison basement." "We came in through here." "At every corner of the prison, there's a similar room, and they're all connected by corridors like this one." "I see." "But wheres the sewer shaft?" "Maybe in one of the rooms." "Maybe in the corridors." "There might be more than one." " They only have one type of lock." " Yes, like the cell doors." "It's so the guards dont need a hundred different keys." "Give me some more light." "There we go." "Look at this beast." "Here comes your snack, love." "Watch this." "See you soon." "What the hell were they talking about?" "I didnt understand a word they said." "Look." "That's the door to the shaft." "Only this is a goddamn spring lock." " What are you doing?" " I'm filing off the hinges." " The door won't hold." " Let me do it." "But they check on it." "Look at this." "They won't notice." "Fantastic." "Give me one of those hinges." "Give me the other one." " And now?" " You'll see." " All right?" " All right." "That way we'll know if they came by while we were below." "Right." "Give me that." "Your turn." "It works." "This is concrete." "No use trying." "Lets check the other one." "Do you think they come down here a lot?" "No, Just the sewage workers, and probably not very often." " They've got us trapped." " Is it that hard?" "See for yourself." "Thats not concrete." "It's cheap cement." "It'll give." " What are you talking about?" " We're right in the curve." "We'll tunnel around the plug." " That'll take weeks." " No, it's a matter of days." "We'll come back tomorrow with tools." " They came by." " Yes." "Put the door back." "Okay." "This isn't the way we came." "Its shorter this way." "We've almost come full circle." "We'll use this as a crowbar tomorrow." "Only five more cells." "This isn't going to work." "Theyve already taken away the boards." "Hurry up, they're coming!" "Im coming." "Hurry!" "Come on, Roland." "Hurry!" "Quick, the dummies." "Good morning." "Hi, boss." "Theyre all sleeping." "Well, you've got to dream, boss." "Are you sleeping fully dressed these days?" "Ive always been sensitive to the cold." "Well, what happened?" "Why are you already dressed?" "Funny man." "We were getting ready to go down the hole." " Theres nothing like trust." " Tell us what happened." " We found a way out." "Isnt that right?" " I think so." "Why didnt you come up earlier?" "Do you have a watch?" "No?" "Well, neither do we." "But this can't go on." "Now, let's not make life difficult, shall we?" "Life!" "You could say she came at me full on." "The clap and the slammer all at once." "It's a lot for one man, I tell you." "Stay away from women, kid." "Thats the secret." "To each his own." "Right, Doc?" "Stay away from men, too." "Thats a good one." "So you manage by yourself?" "Listen, do you want a punch in the face?" "Settle down." "Lets see your nose." "Just a drop." " Thanks." " Anytime." "At your service." " excuse me, boss." " Oh, right." "excuse me, boss." "Arms up." " Boss..." " Stop playing games." "Why did you take this sand?" "To scour our bowls." "Whats wrong with that?" "We have to keep things clean, and since we have nothing..." "Thanks, boss." "Exactly 30 minutes." "Every half-hour we flip it upside down and make a mark." "That way we can tell the time and be safe." "That's great." "The block is about three feet wide." "We'll have to dig a 10-foot tunnel." "Lets set up the boards." "Give them to me." "This way we won't block the grooves with debris." "Hand me that one." "Let me see." "You made a real key." "This way the others can move around the cellar without me." " Manu." " What?" "It's 2:00." "We have to get back." "The guards." "Come on." "They Just came by." "Hurry down." "Roland's waiting for you." "This is not easy, let me tellyou." "See you later." "Go ahead." "It's over there." "It's over there, Geo." "I Just spent 28 minutes getting you and coming back." " I'm warning you, it's hard work." " We'll do our best." "Good luck." "Id better get some sleep." "Dont forget the time." "Remember the hourglass." "Go get some sleep." " 'He's incredible." " Yeah." "Okay, Ill start." " You know, Manu, its amazing." " What is?" "Ive never experienced this." "What?" "It might seem strange to you, but this is the first time in my life Ive ever felt right." "I swear to you, its true." "It's great being with people like you." "I think Ive changed, and I think its because of you and Roland." "So what did they have to say?" "Itll be fine." "Theyll do as well as I do with the key." "You know, Geo handles the shaft door very well." "He managed to replace it in one go." "I wouldnt have thought he was capable of that." "everything's fine in the corridor." "Im going to lie down." "He should go down, too." "Ill take him tomorrow night." " Okay." " Get some sleep." "You need it." "Thanks, Manu." "The faucet's leaking more and more." "The Joint's rotten." "It could burst at any time." "If it happens at night, we'll have some visitors." "True." "We need to take care of it right away." "Monsignor, go knock." "It's a pain in the arse having the plumbers here." "We have no choice." "You dont like workers, do you?" "Go to sleep, Geo." "This guy." " 'Hi, boss." " Well?" "Our faucet's leaking." "It's a waste of water." "Great." "They broke the faucet." "Now I have to call the plumber." "This one isnt dead, is he?" "We like you too much to give you any trouble." "If we wanted to die, we'd wait till you were off duty." "These guys are capable of suicide." "Of anything, really." " Capable of the best things, too." " Well put." "Youd have made a good lawyer." "All right, I'll send the plumbers." "In the meantime, get ready for your walk." "Its almost time." " 'Hello, boss." " 'Hi." " Hi." " 'Hello, lads." "Hello." " Try to fix this, and hurry." " Yes, boss." " So it's leaking?" " As you can see." "It runs day and night." "Its driving us mad." "Time for their exercise!" "Stupid bastard." "Always in a hurry." "Let's go." "It's time for your walk." "Behave yourselves on the way over." "Time for your walk." "Move it." "Time for your walk." "Move it." "Behave yourselves on the way over." "Time for your walk." "Move it." "See, it stopped leaking." "Try not to break it again." "Thanks, boss." "Now well have some peace and quiet." "They were surprisingly fast." "They didnt even wait for a tip." "Yeah, that's strange." "Usually these guys beg." "That's it." "They stole my cigarettes." "Mine, too." "A brand-new pack of Gauloises." "And they pinched my stamps, two whole sets." "That's it?" "They didnt take anything else?" " I'm not missing any food." " Me, neither." "I'm lucky." "I dont think they touched my stuff." " What are you doing?" " Let it go, Manu." "Its not worth it." "I think it is." "What do you want now?" " Is Mr Grinval here, boss?" " Yeah, I Just ran into him." "Why?" "Do me a favour and ask him to stop by." "All right." " Who's Grinval?" " Block chief." "Hello." "'Hello, Mr Grinval." "excuse us, but heres what happened." "The plumbers were here while we were out in the yard." " And?" " They're smoking our cigarettes right now and mailing their letters home with our stamps." "What were they doing here?" "Our faucet was leaking." "This faucet's too stiff now." " I'll be back with the plumbers." " Thank you, Mr Grinval." "Now well get our exercise." "You asked for us, Mr Grinval?" "Go on in." " Take a look at the faucet." " We Just fixed it, Mr Grinval." "See you later." "Geo." "Here, friend, have a fag." "What do you want from us?" "That's enough, Geo." "Youre being vicious." "Search him." "Hand over the goods." "Arseholes." "Next time, ask." "It'll cost you less dearly." " Is the Job done?" " Yes, Mr Grinval." "Thanks." "Thank you, sir." " You can Join the work team in block three." " Yes, Mr Grinval." "Let's go." " Is everything all right?" " Perfect, boss." "Thank you." "Well, well, well." "That was fun." " 'Here are your fags." " Thanks." "You really told them." "You were fantastic." "Thanks, Manu." "You've got good paws, Geo." "You cant be serious, Manu." "With everything that's going on, youre acting like a kid." "Oh, relax." "Roland, I'm not leaving with you." "What?" "Im staying here." "You dont trust us any more?" "On the contrary." "I know you'll make it, and that's why I'm staying." "I dont know if I ever told you this, but when I was arrested, my mother almost dropped dead." "If I escape, the police will go to her again." "That might kill her." "So Im staying." "Im not going to tell the others yet." "Let me have a drink, Geo." "It's going well." "Were not far now." "It's a shame youre not coming with us." "Im going to work now." "How are you doing?" "We must be getting close." "Its getting hard again." "Geo!" "Geo!" "Geo, answer me!" "Geo!" "Hes awake." "Did you sleep well?" "Youre filthy." "You must have really been hitting it hard." "We sure were, weren't we, Geo?" "Next." "Hello?" "Who?" "Gaspard, Claude?" "Hes right here." "I'll send him over." "Visiting room." " Lucky you." " Kiss her for me." "Gaspard, Claude." "Number one." " 'How did you do it?" " Through the lawyers secretary." "I know how to take care of things, unlike you." "You can't even find a way to send a letter." "If only I could write to you." "Tell me, are you still staying with your sister?" "Of course." "The house is as much mine as it is hers." "But we don't talk." "We eat in separate rooms." "Shes still madly in love with you, you know." "I hear her sobbing in bed at night." "If you'd agree to see her, she'd come right away." "What makes you say that?" "If you'd ask her yourself, shed drop the charges." "That's not what the lawyer told me last time." "He said she flatly refused." "She wants to punish us." "Listen, I've been thinking." "Im going to go to england for a year." "It'll calm her down." "Why england?" "To learn english." "Ive always wanted to." "Nicole, if you knew how much I want..." "I want it." "Ill come back when you get out." "Then we could..." "And you?" "Do you want it?" "You're very curious." "Dont be coy, Nicole." "It annoys me." "You!" "Where are you going?" "Im going..." "Sorry, Chief." "I made a mistake." "This is my old cell." "Let me see your pass." " You're from block 11, across the way?" " Yes." "I ought to put you in the hole." " Let me explain." " What are you going to explain?" " That you were going to make a deal?" " I assure you it was a mistake." "Whats going on?" "Sir, this is an inmate from block 11 on his way back from a visit." "Instead of going back to his own cell, he came here." "Im sorry, sir." "I was Just about to explain." "I am from block 11, cell six, but before that I was in block eight, cell 26." "You want the Warden to believe you spontaneously lost your memory?" "Im sorry, but that's exactly what happened." "I was coming back from a visit and was feeling confused." "These things happen, don't they?" "It seems to me we've met before." "Yes, sir." "Ive already bothered you once over a trifle." "I kept a cigarette lighter, a golden one." "Oh, yes, thats right." "Whats your name again?" "Claude Gaspard, sir." "Yes." "Go back to your cell." "And in the future, try to be more attentive." "Absolutely, sir." "Thank you." " Want some?" " No, thank you." "Later." " Our friend isn't feeling talkative." " Neither are you." "We havent had a visitor." "So you want the whole story?" "No, Just tell us if she's a blond or a brunette." "Come on." "Yes, I Just saw a woman." "Is that what you wanted to know?" "Can I ask one question?" "Just answer yes or no." "Ask away." "I'm not promising anything." "After you make love, does she pick your blackheads?" " Does she or doesnt she?" " Shit." " What a pleasant visit." " Isn't it?" " You don't trust us, do you?" " Yes, I do." "We know you're model inmates, but we do have our duties." "That's good, because we appreciate you." " Oh, really?" " Don't we?" "Absolutely." "All the same, I don't see why you came here so suddenly." "We didnt mean to." "We've been to see Freddy across the hall." "What did he do?" "We're looking for a file hidden in a desk blotter." "And?" "I see you that you havent got a desk blotter, but you do have cardboard." "You could make one." "All we make here are boxes." "No desk blotters." "So did you find the file?" "Curious one, aren't you?" "You want to know everything." "You'll see Freddy one day and hell tellyou." "He must have been worried when he saw you." "everyone worries when they see me." "It's kind of you to clean up." "Dont Just stand there." "Move." "Pierre!" "Come on, we're leaving." "Goodbye." "I thought we were done for." "Terrible." "Roland, we have to dig through and get out of here." "Tonight or tomorrow." "Otherwise, we're screwed." "Gaspard!" "What is it?" "This is it!" "Look!" "We're on the other side." "Hand me my Jacket." "Let's go." "Theres an exit." "Come on." "Come have a look." "Look at the prison." "Imagine that." "A taxi!" "We almost could have taken it." "Listen." "6:00." "Lets go get the others." "Go on." "It's done, Roland." " What?" " You won." "We got through." "We were in the main sewer, then in the street." "The street?" "Yes, the street." "Gaspard even wanted to take a taxi." "Tonight well be out of here." "Just a second." " The youngest one picks." " Why me?" "Because youre the youngest." "Pick." " Monsignor." " Bravo, Monsignor." "Good." "The eldest will lead the way." "Go ahead, pick another." "Geo." "Go on." "Manu." "Go on." "Roland." "And Gaspard." "You're going last, kid." "But if you want my place, its okay with me." " Hell take mine." " Why?" "Theres no reason for that." " Yes, there is." "Im not going." " What?" "Im not going." "Roland already knows." "Since when?" "Since I told him." "I did the work, didnt I?" "I did my share." "There's nothing for us to say." "You're old enough to do what you want." "Yeah, I'm old enough." "Gaspard goes second instead of Geo." "Hello." "Are you Gaspard, Claude?" " Yes, why?" " Come with me." " Where to?" " You'll see." "Take your Jacket and button your collar." "Mr Grinval, where are you taking him like that?" "You're too curious, Borelli." " Are you ready?" " Whenever you are." "What's the meaning of all that?" "It means that the Warden Just summoned him." "What for?" "I dont know." "This way." "Gaspard, Warden." "Thank you, Grinval." "Have a seat." " Are you feeling well since Yesterday?" " Very well, sir, thank you." "You don't have a good sense of direction, do you?" "If it weren't for me, you'd have ended up in the hole for a week." " I apologise again, sir." " You're very educated and very nice." " That helps in life." " I haven't noticed." "Ill prove it to you." "I looked into your case and found out something that will interest you enormously." "Whats that, sir?" " In a minute." " Pardon me." "Here is the official charge against you." "Attempted first-degree murder." "Im accused of wounding my wife with a gunshot." "How did that happen?" "Listen, Im not interrogating you." "That's not my line of duty." "This is a private conversation." "I know, sir, and I'm very appreciative." "With your permissión, Ill tellyou all about it." "Go ahead." "In short, my wife and I had a fight." "She threatened me with a shotgun." "I wanted to take it from her, but it went off and she was wounded." "I wish it had been me." "Anyway, she recovered quickly." " As quickly as that?" " She's as good as new." "So why didn't she drop the charges?" "Because the committing magistrate, Mr Labourdette, advised her not to." "You see, sir, I'm not everyones cup of tea." " So you think it's the magistrate?" " My attorney certainly does." "You believe a magistrate can pressure a witness like that?" "Particularly a woman, Jealous and in love?" "How do you know my wife is in love?" "Because she dropped the charges yesterday." " So Im going to be released?" " Probably." "As soon as the magistrate dismisses the case." "It might not happen tomorrow, but it will soon." "You dont seem very pleased." "What are you thinking about?" "Tellme." "Perhaps I can help." "Hello?" "Im on my way, sir." "All right." " Back to your cell." " Yes, Mr Grinval." "What are you waiting for?" "Arms up." "Something incredible has happened." "My wife dropped the charges." "It's completely beyond me." "Can you imagine?" "How do you know?" "The Warden Just told me." "What do you think about that?" " So youre not coming with us?" " Of course I am." " Are you crazy?" " Listen." "I know what's going on better than you, dont I?" "My wife dropped the charges, but I'm still in for at Ieast five years." "What makes you think that?" "You told me yourself that the court wont like my story one bit." "For me not to go to court, the magistrate has to dismiss the case." "Magistrate Labourdette definitely won't do that." "The Warden told you all this?" "No, but I know it as well as he does." "What the hell were you doing in his office for two hours?" "Hes a nice guy." "Hes interested in my case, that's all." "Right." "That's why he kept you for two hours." "He does it all the time." "every day he summons an inmate Just to chat." "Did you have tea?" "What are you saying?" "Tellus what happened." "You went to see the Warden." "He told you the good news, and then what?" "Tellus." " Tell us!" " What's the matter with you?" "Tellus what you told him." "Manu, youre crazy." "You think I betrayed you?" "Is that what you think?" "I thought you were my friend." "Im sorry." "It's okay." "Hes almost here." "Go on." "Are they already asleep?" "That's right." "I'm the only one around here who does any work." " You're one to talk." " I swear." "All clear." "What a tie." "A piece of blanket will always be a piece of blanket." "Go on." "Goodbye, Geo." "Come on, Roland." "Manu!" "No!" " Get out of here!" " Quick!" "Dont touch me, for Gods sake!" " Let go of me!" " It's no use." "Undress them. 'Hurry." "Are you okay?" "Do you need any help?" "No, thank you." "Ill manage." "Its all over." "They'll go into solitary confinement." "Were done in here." "Come out the other way." "It'll be easier." "Cell number seven." "Poor Gaspard."