"Sleep my little sister, sleep." "Sleep through darkness, sleep so deep." "All the rivers find the sea," "My little sister, sleep for me." "Dream my little sister, dream." "Dream, I am here, now dream your dreams." "All the things you want to be," "My little sister, dream for me." "Somewhere there are meadows," "Somewhere there are hills." "Somewhere horses run," "And sheep are still." "Sleep my little sister, sleep." "Hold my hand and sleep so deep." "I will never leave your side," "My little sister, close your eyes." "– Christine!" "– Lea!" "Little honey!" "– How did you do it?" "– Shh, later." "Very good." "150 francs a month," "Sundays free until four." "I don't believe it!" "How did you do it?" "How did you get them all to agree?" "I told her that it will be more money for her this way." "You're so clever, you're so smart." "I said that till you learned, you had to have someone to protect you." "That was you, Christine!" "The room is cold." "So, my dear... – What do you think?" "– About what, Maman?" "What do you mean, "about what, Maman"?" "About her!" "About what else?" "Don't you at least express an opinion, Isabelle?" "You know how I value your opinion." "Yes, Maman, I know." "Remember what you used to call me?" "My feet still get cold at night, they get like ice." "You still have this old thing?" "I don't care, it has nothing to do with me." "Don't you like it?" "I never liked Maman's sewing, it's vulgar." "Christine, what's the matter?" "I throw it away if you want, I don't care about it." "I'm just happy to be with you." "I'm happy, too, little 'cold cat'." "We are together now, that's all that matters." "We'll put the blanket right here." "Sisters..." "And two, for almost the price of one." "I'm saving everything." "And they didn't want two rooms." "Just this lost little corner." "Nothing like a convent girl." "Such embroidery, such a needlework." "Sewing, that's all they ever teach them." "You didn't have to go to the dressmaker's." "What luck!" "Look at that pink!" "Brightens up the room." "– She liked it." "Did you see?" "– She likes everything you do." "She sees everything." "This veal looks delicious!" "Of course, you love veal." "Don't you?" "You know I don't." "It's too heavy in the middle of the day." "Besides, I've heard it ruins the complexion." "Where did you hear that?" "I read it." "Isabelle, if you continue it this way, you're going to ruin my meal." "Wait till the Blanchards come to dinner." "The best cook we've have had in years." "You have no idea how lucky we are, Isabelle." "Those servants I've known in my day!" "The older one fascinates me." "I've never had anyone like her." "Totally trustworthy." "I like the younger one." "She is almost pretty." "Well, just quiet." "I don't say that's a fault though." "Quiet?" "She never speaks!" "Neither of them do." "Well..." "I suppose they must talk between themselves." "I can't imagine about what." "Well, maybe they pray." "That's how it is when you're brought up by the nuns." "Now stop that, Isabelle." "Look at your plate." "They are so discreet." "Not the slightest prying." "You don't know what it's like to have a prying maid." "When you have someone going through your things." "When your father and I God rest his soul... were first married..." "Oh, she was something, that one!" "But these two are different." "You mark my words." "We are so lucky, Lea." "The other houses I've been, they come into the kitchen and interfere." "Madame knows her place." "Madame checks everything." "I like that." "Do you?" "It scares me, the way she checks." "Oh no, I like it." "It's better that way." "Madame is so precise, so careful." "But she doesn't let us get away with a thing." "Why should she?" "It's her house." "You'll see, the whole town will envy us." "We have pearls under our hands, Isabelle." "Two pearls." "Come on, Lea." "Come on." "– I polished the banister yesterday." "Did you see?" "– I saw." "You're disappointed, aren't you?" "I'm sorry I came." "Lea, don't be silly." "Maybe this was a mistake." "I'd slow you down." "Stop it, Lea." "You're so quick!" "Sister Veronica said, I'd never been as quick as you." "Sister Veronica, what did she know." "When you were at St. Mary's, you thought she knew everything." "That was a long time ago." "I've got over all that now." "When I was at St Mary's" "I was so scared I could never go down the stairs like the others." "I could never take a step with my left foot." "It was always my right, my right..." "I used to envy them running down the stairs when it took me forever." "Christine..." "Tell me a story." "Just one before we go down." "– Which one?" "– Um... when I was little." "– You're still little." "– No, I mean really little." "– The one with the horse." "– Don't you ever get tired of it?" "No, tell me." "When you were just a tiny thing," "Maman sent me out one day to get bread." "You came with me, the way you always did." "And as we were walking, you let go of my hand and ran into the street." "Tell it slow, you're telling it too fast." "It was a long, narrow street." "You remember?" "On a hill." "And at the top of the hill, a horse and carriage was galloping down, right towards you." "I ran into the street, I pulled you across," "I pushed you down in the gutter with me." "What a noise when the horse galloped by!" "And everyone was screaming." "When we stood up, we were both bleeding." "But it was the same wound." "It started on my arm and went down across your wrist." "Look, we have it still." "– And Maman, what did she say?" "– Maman?" "You know how she gets." "She screamed at us." "And then what happened?" "Then there was a gypsy." "– Mad Marguerite, they used to call her. – And what did she say?" "– Oh, you know it so well." "– But tell me again, Christine." ""They're bound for life", she said. "Bound in blood."" "Let me see, Isabelle." "Nice, very nice." "Coming along, bit by bit." "You know, you can't rush these things, my dear." "Believe me." "A bag like that could take ...two years." "Maybe more." "But there's no hurry, is there?" "Nothing to hurry for." "You've got all the time in the world." "Listen to that rain!" "It's been raining like that for a week." "It could go on for a month." "That's all we need." "Are you listening to me, Isabelle?" "I'm listening, Maman." "Maybe we will go up to Paris this year." "– Maman, could we?" "– For a little shopping." "Maman, when?" "Oh, I don't know." "The things they wear in Paris..." "And you don't look well in those clothes, Isabelle." "You know you don't." "How could you?" "Even I don't look well in them." "Pass me the scissors, would you." "There, behind you." "On the table." "What's the matter with you?" "No, no..." "Besides, I don't like leaving the house." "Why, Maman?" "What could happen to it?" "A lot can happen to a house, when you're not there." "Paris..." "I think we just have to forego Paris this year." "You don't have to give it all to Maman." "It's bright enough that we have to go there every Sunday." "– But Maman needs it." "Maman- – Maman, Maman..." "Always Maman!" "Christine, what...?" "When I was little, she hated it when I cried." "She got rid of me as soon as she could." "I had to work, I had to make money." "And she took all of it." "She placed me and each time I got used to it, she moved me on again." "Oh, yes, Maman..." "Beloved, precious Maman!" "Come on, Lea." "We don't keep Maman waiting." "– Who is that?" "– Shh!" "Let me listen." "Who could it be in this weather?" "Oh, post." "Anything for me, Maman?" "Look at that!" "No return address." "Who do you think it could be from?" "– Well, it's not a wedding." "– Maybe a funeral." "Who is that one though?" "Another letter from the little Shepherds of the Mount." "Will they never stop asking for money?" "Those children must be eating out of golden bowls!" "You really think it's going to rain straight through the winter?" "Well, you never can tell." "But it looks it, doesn't it?" "Still, don't complain, Isabelle." "At least we don't have to go out." "What is it, Lea?" "Another letter from Maman?" "Go on then, read it." "– I'll read it later." "– Read it now." "Read it out loud!" ""Lea, my pet, my little dove."" ""I know I'll see you and Christine on Sunday as usual..."" ""but I miss you, little Lea."" ""You'll always be little."" "Poor Maman." "– Christine, Maman just-- – Just what?" ""You can't wear your hair like that anymore, Lea."" ""Like a child, all that long hair."" ""Next Sunday I'll fix it for you." "It will be better that way."" ""Like Christine's, it won't fall in the soup."" ""Or get Christine to fix it for you, but tell her to be gentle."" "I'm never going back." "– You can go if you want to. – You know I wouldn't go without you." "You still care for her." "She loves you." "Maman loves you, too." "She is just" "What?" "– Scared of you." "– Scared of me?" "You never stick up for me!" "But that's right." "Defend her, take her part like you always do." "Don't be angry with me." "– I'm not angry with you." "– Your face, it looks so" "What?" "What's the matter with my face?" "Nothing is the matter with your face." "It is just..." "There's nothing wrong with your face." "It is beautiful!" "I'll fix it for you, just like she says." "If we didn't go back, we could spend all our Sundays together, just to ourselves." "We could walk, we could go to the station to watch the trains come in." "We could sit in the park..." "But you wouldn't want that, would you?" "You want to go back, don't you?" "Don't you, Lea?" "That, I like that." "That's what she meant." "Don't you like it?" "I hate it!" "Stop it, please!" "I hate it!" "I am a monster, aren't I?" "Just like she said." "You're not a monster." "Here... let me..." "Let me do it." "Please." "Please." "What did you mean when you said my face was beautiful?" "What I said." "What's beautiful about it?" "Tell me one thing." "This time we're not giving it all to Maman." "Christine, we can never get back." "Not you, Lea." "She will never stop loving you." "But why shouldn't you keep your own money?" "She will forgive you, you'll see." "She always has." "And Lea..." "You know what we'll do with the money?" "We'll save it." "We'll save it all from now on." "We'll put it together, yours and mine, and save it... and someday... someday..." "Look." "Remember what I said." "From now on we'll spend all our Sundays together, just the two of us." "And Lea, you can decide." "Whatever you want, we will do." "Promise." "I promise." "Hold this." "Pull!" "Pull!" "Pull!" "That's enough, we have to go down." "But it's not time yet." "Don't you want to play anymore?" "What do you think of mine?" "Amazing." "Well, together, I must say we make quite a pair." "Come on." "Come, how long is it." "Hurry up!" "The door." "Look at this hem." "I'll never sew like you." "All these years with the sisters and I never learned." "Sisters didn't know how to teach you." "Remember when I used to visit you at the convent?" "You waited by the gate." "You were so little and so hungry all the time." "You're still hungry all the time." "– Christine." "– Umm?" "Can I..." "Can you what?" "Can I look at the lace?" "Of course you can." "It's all yours." "No one sews like you." "Look." "It's almost finished." "Try it on." "Don't you want to?" "Yes, I want to." "I close my eyes." "I want to be surprised." "Christine..." "You can look now." "It's beautiful." "It's you who are beautiful." "I'm cold." "I know." "Christine!" "Christine!" "Christine!" "Lea, look at me." "It's not even dented." "Don't be frightened." "Nothing is broken." "Look at me!" "My angel." "And now..." "Hurry!" "This will make a lovely photograph." "You're sisters, aren't you?" "Yes." "I knew right away." "Did your mother always dress you like that?" "– Like what?" "– Twins." "Not twins." "I am five years older than my sister." "Five years?" "How about your sister?" "Cat got her tongue?" "She is shy." "Well, I've always wanted a sister, shy or not." "A sister sticks by you, even when you're in trouble." "Such a shy thing." "I bet you are your mother's favourite." "No, I..." "What a sweet smile!" "Still a child, isn't she?" "Please, now both of you smile." "And look at me." "Splendid!" "That will be fine." "No one would ever know the two of you were servants." "– At the Danzards, aren't you?" "– Yes." "I hear their daughter is going to be married soon." "Of course I've been hearing that for years." "You two certainly are discrete." "Come on, Lea." "Don't be slow." "Madame Danzard makes you work hard enough, I imagine, for the money she pays you." "– 50 francs, didn't you say?" "– For you girls, I'll make it... 25." "50 is what you said, 50 is what we pay." "I see." "Very well." "– Hurry, Lea." "– Thank you." "1, 2, 3, start!" "I've got nothing to start with." "Oh, I did not see that seven!" "Wait a minute now." "Just a moment..." "What's happening over there?" "That six is still sitting there." "– And a nine." "– What nine?" "The 9 of diamonds over the 10 of clubs." "What's the matter with you?" "– Please, I can't concentrate!" "– What are you talking about?" "Of course you can concentrate." "This is a game of concentration." "You have to concentrate on every little detail." "Otherwise, all will be lost." "That's perfect!" "Where is that ace of diamonds?" "I've got the ace of spades, and the 2 and the 3!" "Oh, Isabelle, how could you?" "Blocked again, it's incredible." "I'll be gone in a minute." "Have you noticed?" "They don't speak anymore." "The older one walks by me as if I'm not there." "The older one was always that way." "Every Sunday they've been in that room." "It's amazing." "And they've always kept to themselves." "They haven't seen their mother in months." "That's just as well." "9, 10, jack!" "What's wrong with them?" "She has put too much salt in these again!" "Have they forgotten the Flintons are coming?" "You know that yesterday when I was coming back from the Loupins," "I saw them sitting in the park." "– At 11 o'clock in the morning!" "– Unbelievable!" "11 o'clock in the morning!" "I mean, I didn't say anything, but they knew." "– Yes or no?" "– Take a chance, Maman, go ahead." "Clubs, just what I was waiting for!" "Ace, 2, 3... 6, 7, 8..." "Christine..." "Maman?" "Do you see?" "Of course I see." "Do you think I'm blind?" "What on Earth allows her to think she can wear a garment like that in this house?" "I can't believe my eyes!" "A cardigan like that must have cost..." "I wonder if I pay them too much." "You told me I could wear it." "When I gave it to you, I never told you you could wear it downstairs, did I?" "What were you thinking?" "Why would you want to wear that sweater anywhere but in our room?" "– I was only thinking of us." "– You're lying!" "I have eyes, I can see." "When you polish the stairs you're looking off into nowhere." "When you sew, you prick your fingers." "When you wax the floor, you get wax on your shoes." "You drop plates, you chip cups, you burn yourself with the iron!" "– I dropped that plate six weeks ago!" "– What about the cup?" "The cup was chipped when we came here." "I do things, I get things done." "And you keep yourself perfect, don't you?" "Your collar just right in front... your cuffs folded just so." "And why?" "Do you do everything for her?" "She will take you with her when she goes." "I've always dressed this way." "Look at me!" "You're different." "Believe me, I know." "Now I see." "Handmade..." "That wool!" "You didn't think it was from Dupin's, do you?" "Such an extravagance!" "Imagine if someone had seen." "Maman, you go too far." "Oh, do I?" "Do I?" "My dear, you don't know this town like I do." "You think I go too far?" "No, my dear." "You haven't lived here nearly long enough." "What did I tell you?" "Perfect!" "You really should trust me, Isabelle." "Have I ever chosen anything you didn't like?" "Eventually?" "It looks better at home." "Of course it does." "Everything always looks better at home." "I can't wait to see a certain someone's face, when you walk" "Oh, put your arm down, Isabelle!" "Remember how long she took last time." "What about my iron?" "It's the second time since October it has had to be repaired." "Well, it's another five francs out of her pay this month." "Incredible, how long it takes to do a simple hem." "You know, my dear, I really think this is too tight around the chest." "You can't wear these things too tight, therefore your wedding dress, of course." "Now how I'm going to take you to the Flintons with a crooked hem?" "The neck needs to be lower." "Definitely lower." "This is impossible!" "Really." "With crepe at 7 francs a metre." "Next time we'll go to the dressmaker's!" "There was nothing wrong with that hem." "Nothing!" "You saw it, that hem was perfectly straight." "Wasn't it?" "– Wasn't it?" "– Of course it was." "She sees things." "Things that aren't even there." "Her and her daughter." "You will go, will you?" "Go?" "Where would I go?" "Even if she goes, you won't go?" "Lea!" "You're thinking about it all the time, aren't you?" "This is why you're always dreaming." "Always off it that other world." "There is no other world, Christine." "Don't be upset." "You heard Madame." "You heard what she said." "– What did she say?" "– You heard her." "Don't pretend that you didn't!" "– I didn't hear anything!" "– Nothing about her daughter?" "– Mademoiselle Isabelle, you mean?" "– Who else?" "Christine, don't be like that." "You sound just like Maman." "– You smiled at her, I saw you." "– I didn't smile." "Promise me that you won't go when she goes." "If she goes." "She may never leave, she may never get married." "Just answer me." "Answer me!" "Do not just keep saying "Christine"!" "You're all I have, Lea." "You are all I'll ever have." "Sometimes I think we will never have enough time." "Sometimes..." "Every morning I imagine things that you..." "Oh, Lea, there'll never be enough time for us." "Come, sit with me." "I tried to talk to her." "– Who?" "– Sister Veronica." "I waited for her, after morning Mass." "I waited for her." "But she wouldn't talk to me." "Her shoes get clicking on the stone." "And she wouldn't stop." "She wouldn't turn around." "She never turned around." "You never told me." "Christine." "Yes?" "Let's pretend I am her." "Close your eyes." "You can look now." "Did you see them?" "Coming back from church in that white gloves." "And those hats." "They don't even look like maids anymore." "But they're losing their looks, my dear." "Have you noticed how thin they've become?" "Especially the younger one." "And those circles under the eyes..." "It's as if they never sleep." "– Look at this, Maman." "– What?" "There, right there." "Don't you see?" "They're getting careless." "Lea..." "Someone behind me, pulling me..." "Before I turn around I know her arm around mine..." "I can feel all her little bones..." "Shh." "Try to sleep, Lea." "She snatches me..." "into the house and..." "I run from corner to corner, but... she gets everywhere first." "Sleep my little sister, sleep." "Dream, I am here, now dream your dreams." "All the things you want to be" "You will never leave me, will you, Christine?" "You won't, will you?" "Dream my little sister, dream." "I don't think I could bear to live alone in this house." "In any house." "Do you hear me?" "I'm so scared." "When we came back from the park," "Madame was waiting for us." "Weren't you scared?" "Madame never speaks to us anymore." "She hasn't said a word in weeks." "She never did." "Christine, she never did." "Somewhere there are meadows," "Somewhere there are hills." "Somewhere horses run," "And sheep are still." "Sleep my little sister, sleep." "Sleep through darkness, sleep so deep." "All the rivers find the sea," "My little sister, sleep for me." "Christine!" "Christine!" "What is it?" "What happened?" "The iron..." "I was in the middle of the satin blouse..." "Did you burn it?" "What will Madame do?" "What will she do to us?" "How can Madame be angry?" "It was not your fault." "Let me see the blouse." "Is it alright?" "Is it?" "Is it?" "Don't worry." "Are you sure?" "It's alright." "What will happen now, Christine?" "Nothing will happen." "We just have to wait." "How much money do we have saved?" "Not enough." "I know it's not enough." "But it will be one day, won't it?" "Won't it?" "Rest now." "And then..." "Then we will go away from here." "And..." "Yes, my Lea." "Someday." "I burnt it, didn't I?" "Tell me." "Tell me." "My angel." "My love." "It's alright." "Where are they?" "How should I know?" "Don't answer me like that." "Go and find them!" "Do you hear me?" "This is absurd!" "She should be here to take the packages." "She should've been here to open the door." "Five o'clock in the afternoon." "What time is it, anyway?" "– Quarter past five." "– 5.15!" "I mean, really." "5.15 and not a sign of them!" "I never had anything like it." "Go and look in the kitchen." "They must be in there." "Lea, listen!" "Well, what took you so long?" "It's them." "Oh, no..." "They're not there, Maman." "– And... – Impossible, I'll go." "They must be there." "And what?" "There's a glass in the sink, broken." "Broken?" "Enough." "What on Earth can they be doing?" "Maybe they'll go away." "Listen!" "What will we do, Christine?" "– What will we do?" "– Lea..." "Maybe they're upstairs." "I'm going up there at once." "We have to go down." "Wait!" "Maman, wait!" "– Wait?" "What for?" "– I don't think you should." "Do you want them to come up here?" "This is my house, of course I'm going upstairs at once." "You don't have to come, if you do not want to." "If I don't go down, they will come up." "I'm frightened, Christine!" "Don't leave me!" "What's this?" "The lights are off up here." "Oh, this is really something." "Madame..." "Madame has come back." "What is this?" "How dare you expect me to come back to a dark house?" "It was the iron, Madame." "It blew the fuse." "Again?" "Unbelievable." "That iron was just repaired." "What about my satin blouse?" "Your sister didn't burn it, did she?" "She didn't burn my blouse?" "Mademoiselle's blouse isn't finished yet." "Not finished?" "She's wearing it to the Blanchards!" "I came back to change into it." "Why weren't you downstairs?" "Where's your apron?" "I finished early, Madame." "Don't lie to me." "I won't have a liar in my house." "Madame knows I don't lie." "She is lying, I can tell." "You disappoint me." "Send your sister down with my daughter's blouse at once." "Madame can't see my sister now." "– What?" "– Just listen how she speaks to you!" "Let me see where your sister is instead." "Then she will explain how she can have ruined my iron." "I've already explained to Madame about the iron." "– You call that an explanation?" "– It wasn't our fault." "No?" "Then whose fault was it?" "Did you hear that?" "I heard." "Who knows what else they've been doing." "If Madame doesn't trust us..." "She thinks...?" "We'll leave this house." "Leave?" "And just where do you think you'll go?" "We'll find another house." "Will you?" "Not after what I've seen tonight." "Madame has seen nothing." "Nothing?" "That hair, that face..." "You smell of it, my dear." "– Oh, Madame... please." "– Not another word out of your mouth!" "Breaking my iron!" "My house in darkness!" "I already told, Madame." "It wasn't our fault." "Going to church every Sunday, thinking you are a child of God?" "Madame, you have no right!" "No right?" "You must be mad." "She is mad." "Just look at her." "It's you who have no right, Christine." "Maman!" "Just look at that sister of yours." "You'll never work with her again." "God forgive me for what I have harboured here." "You dirt!" "Scum!" "Scum sisters!" "Not my sister!" "Maman!" "Not my sister!" "The bodies of Madame and Mademoiselle Danzard were found in the hallway." "On the floor were fragments of bone and teeth, a diamond earring, hairpins, a handbag, a set of keys, a package of meat." "The walls and doors were covered with slashes of blood, up to 2 metres." "Madame Danzard's body lay face up," "Mademoiselle Danzard's body face down." "The coat pulled up, the skirt pulled up, the undergarments pulled down, revealing deep wounds on the buttocks and multiple slashes on the calves." "On the last step of the staircase a single eye was found intact, complete with the optic nerve." "The eye had been torn out without the aid of an instrument." "What did you have against Madame and Mademoiselle Danzard?" "Was Madame good to you?" "Did anything abnormal happen between you and your sister?" "You understand me, don't you?" "Was it simply sisterly love?" "Speak." "You're here to defend yourselves." "You will be judged." "Lea..." "I want Lea." "I beg you." "Bring me my sister." "Give me Lea." "Lea!"