Thank you. Mademoiselle.
- That's Clorinde. - Otherwise known as the pianist.
She had two fingers missing but she played beautifully.
It was her dog who bit her fingers off.
The Châtelet sacked her so she ended up here.
Don't pity her too much. She ran away with a banker.
- An Englishman. - He was nice.
- He was a nut case. - Nonsense.
Camélia's right.
The guy made her paint her face like an old lady and go by his mother's name.
You're confusing her with Martha.
The mummy's boy was an officer out in the Indies.
Clorinde's banker was the one who liked eating her shit
as much as we like eating Lardoix macaroons.
You've put me off macaroons for life!
- Enough! - You should see yourself!
Did you search their room like I asked you to?
Morphine. Opium tablets. A few coca leaves.
Where has it all come from?
All Camélia's clients know her tendencies.
I can clean up the dormitory if you like.
No. At least they're fucking.
300...
350. 400.
That makes total takings of 420. 440 if we count Olympe's suspenders.
What about the stall?
I'm going to put tobacco up to 60 centimes and...
Calvados to one franc.
Perhaps we should put the tokens up to 11 francs?
Véra is still a first-rate whore.
She has never turned me on.
And when were you last turned on?
It's like with my mother.
Cleaning and selling fish put her off eating it for life.
Here.
This is for all your hard graft.
I'm delighted to see that your friends at the Jockey Club
allow you the time to come and pay me a visit.
Well?
That bunch of snobs rejected your candidature.
Yes. I am well informed.
I am to be involved in resuming the building of the opera house.
Once it's finished. They'll be begging me to join the Jockey Club.
Don't you worry about me or about France.
I have come to talk about projects and investments.
I think we should start with the clients.
And ascertain who they are and what they want.
So you'll be wanting a list of my clients?
It would seem to me to be essential.
And if some of the gentlemen on it were members of the Jockey Club.
That would be even better. Eh?
I read that Baron du Plessis' circle has remained loyal to the establishment.
Why don't we start with them?
I thought a rejection by the Jockey Club meant
that you couldn't reapply for another ten years.
I could sack you. Hortense.
What about your wife and future sons?
Don't you want to protect them from what I might tell them.
You know I have never succumbed to blackmail.
In the past. You have had nothing to lose.
- Mademoiselle Anne-Louise Diaz? - She is here.
- Take us to her. - What is this about?
She has been denounced by a receiver of stolen goods.
She sold him a necklace that Baron du Plessis had on him when he died.
Go ahead. Please.
This way.
The pigs are here.
Louise. You haven't done anything stupid. Have you?
They're talking about a necklace stolen from Du Plessis' corpse.
Listen to me. Louise.
Louise!
You found the necklace in the street. All right?
Okay? Louise. Do you hear me?
Anne-Louise Diaz?
That's me.
You're quicker off the mark to collar us than to protect us.
- What happened to her? - A jealous lover. A tragedy.
But I insisted on keeping her on here as a maid.
Wait. It's me you're looking for.
My name is Ernestine Ferrier. Alias Angèle.
I asked Louise to sell a fancy necklace for me.
I found it in the street. The girl hasn't done anything wrong.
Then we'll take you both to the station.
Mother.
I didn't steal anything.
- I found the necklace. - I believe you. Angèle.
I'll take care of your man.
Shit!
What did you just say to her?
What with Valentine in Saint-Lazare and Angèle and Louise in prison.
Those two junkies will hardly keep us from the brink of ruin.
This all started because of your spat with the boss.
- What are you talking about? - Come off it. Véra.
This stolen necklace works in your favour.
The filth will home in on Brise-Caboche. Bringing them closer to Hortense.
You dykes always put a spanner in the works.
Do you think Hortense gave me any choice?
If we shut down. Will our debts be written off?
Are you stupid or what?
The brothel might shut. But your thighs will remain firmly open.
- What did you say to her? - I just told her I trusted her.
"I believe you. Angèle." Yes. I heard that.
- What did you whisper in her ear? - "Crooks and scoundrels."
Crooks and scoundrels?
It's an expression we use in the brothel.
What did you mean by it?
That I knew she was trapped by a man and that I understood.
What man?
- A client. - Who?
It's common knowledge that Jules Steiner...
appreciates Angèle's natural disposition.
- Tell me about her fiancé. - No.
Then I'll ask Mademoiselle Derville myself this afternoon.
She's just the first of your girls to be questioned in connection with the Baron.
His name is Brise-Caboche.
Communard?
- I'd say so. - Sympathiser or partisan?
Partisan. From what I've heard.
Where can we find him?
I kept telling Angèle to be careful.
- Her man is a lone wolf. - You seem to know him well.
You know. During the events.
Such chaos reigned that I sometimes had to call on men
whose reputation I wasn't able to check out first.
As for Anne-Louise Diaz.
Her statement matches that of Ernestine Ferrier.
She sold the necklace without knowledge of its provenance.
She risks little and should soon be out of here.
- Good. - Do you wish to take her back?
Just as I thought.
Rose isn't your real name.
Why don't you use the name your mother gave you?
You no longer have a mother.
Do you?
Do you know my mother?
She was called Floriane.
- Is she dead. - I don't know.
Some girls just disappear.
They... Do they leave the profession?
They rarely leave the profession to live by the sea.
Are they bumped off?
Perhaps. Yes. Sometimes.
But more often than not. They break the hourglass...
and kill themselves.
I heard that Hortense went to buy her back from the Colbert.
When I came to the Paradis. She had already gone.
All I know is that she didn't go far.
I'll talk to Hortense about her.
Be careful not to reveal too much to that old spider.
She already rules your arse. Don't give her your heart. Too.
Come here.
I'll have to find a former client. Then.
So how long has Francis Demarzet been working at Thiers?
He doesn't work at Thiers.
Whatever made you think that? Thiers!
Hortense!
Hortense?
What did you expect me to do?
- This is his house. - So you've made your mind up?
- You might at least try to convince me. - Why? Has he bothered to do so?
He owns this place and he has money.
Enough for me to never need any of yours.
You're with me or with him. Against me or against him.
Do you understand?
Have you ever worked for a man?
You hate them as much as I do.
And yet women aren't to your taste. Either.
It's a cruel world. Isn't it?
That's where we come in.
You see? We understand one another after all.
So what shall I say to him next time he corners me?
Didn't you know where the necklace had come from?
So you're prepared to die for him?
- Brise-Caboche... - Don't you dare mention his name.
The coppers already know it. Dummy. Everyone's looking for him.
What did you tell the filth to let you come here?
Just that you're like a sister to me.
And the fact that the necklace came from the Baron
had nothing to do with it?
I'm 35 years old. I've got a 16-year-old daughter.
I was going to be free. Angèle.
Free.
Don't you want to be free?
Of course I do.
If Brise-Caboche drops Hortense. He can survive this.
Brise would never kill for the mistress.
Not for the mistress. For the mistress's money.
- You don't understand. - Then explain it to me.
You don't see it. You...
You're in love. Is that it?
I'm sorry.
Perhaps Brise-Caboche didn't tell her he was acting on behalf of Hortense.
Or even that he'd killed the Baron.
A guy like him doesn't need to be ordered to kill.
I can assure you. On this occasion he was acting under orders.
Hortense would stop at nothing to stop the Baron taking me away.
Meanwhile. Your friend is carrying the can.
Don't you find Hortense Gaillac's behaviour at all strange?
It's understandable that she would seek to protect her establishment.
You would only have a man killed for love.
And you don't think me capable of inspiring such love?
Get away from me or I will have you arrested.
Forget this sordid affair.
Whatever your boss has done. You are no better than she is.
"Here Is my heart, where your hand should strike me
"Impatient already to expiate its offence to meet your arm
"I can feel It now advance
"Strike
"Or If you think It not worthy of your blow
"If your hate refuses me such sweet torment, so
"Or If your hand by my vile blood would be stained
"Instead of your arm, lend me then your blade
"Offer lt"
Bravo!
- You are too kind. - Not at all.
It's my favourite play.
On the Cape. There were so few of us who spoke French.
I mainly performed it for people at the embassy.
But your repertoire must be more contemporary.
I see Corneille as an eternal contemporary.
Wasn't it Racine who wrote Phaedra?
- Didn't I say Racine? - I think you said Corneille.
Really?
A careless mistake. Forgive me.
You are so sparkling and beautiful.
And clever.
My brother is very lucky.
You mentioned "clever" last.
Don't tell me you have self-doubt?
I only wish Pierre didn't doubt me.
I'm quite sure he doesn't.
- I shouldn't be telling you this. - On the contrary.
- I know so little about men. - Ah. Men.
There is so little to know.
What if Pierre heard us talking like this?
He'd be most reassured. Believe me.
Steiner and Angèle?
Grandet has a vivid imagination.
- They occasionally went up together. - What?
Perhaps the Jew was hiding his true feelings.
I was engaged once to a Jew.
Really?
But I didn't know it.
- Wasn't it obvious? - No.
What you don't seek you won't find. That's all.
And this was Berry. You know.
Did you break it off?
No. The bastard left me.
And what's more. He had his fill of me right up until the day before the wedding.
The next day there was nothing for it but to wipe myself dry with my dress.
Bastard Jew.
When I found out later who he was. I understood.
To them. The mother of Jesus was as much a whore as the rest.
They say she wasn't even a virgin.
Virginity for them...
No. No. No.
It's not same as it is for us.
Nothing's the same.
- Fancy a drink? - Go on. Then.
You were seen going into the police station.
What were you doing hanging around there?
Telling Angèle we're all behind her.
How is she doing?
Badly.
Did she talk?
The coppers are looking for you anyway.
I know. There are two in the street.
What is your role here? To be the Angel of Death?
You stab my man and you land Angèle in it?
Don't compare yourself to Angèle.
Your Angèle's is so beaten up. She looks like a rotten apple.
They're looking for a culprit. The real one.
Don't they read the newspapers?
- That banker guy stabbed your Baron. - Nonsense. And Steiner's not a banker.
So?
You can't leave your fiancée in the lurch just like that.
Anyway. They'll catch you in the end.
Meanwhile. It's Angèle who's paying the price.
- That girl knows what she's doing. - What she's doing is dying.
I'm going to get her out of there.
How much did Hortense pay you?
You're wide of the mark. Sweetheart.
It's Hortense you're protecting. Not yourself.
If you spill the beans. She'll get it in the neck.
You could avoid the scaffold and run away.
Stay out of it. Sweetheart. This is bigger than you and me.
What are you talking about?
Listen to me.
The Commune isn't over. There will be others.
And next time. We'll win. Angèle knows that.
- I told you. She's dying. - And your Baron was a scumbag.
His patent leather shoes were full of our comrades' blood.
We should have cut the throats of the whole family.
Angèle knows I'm with her. Forever.
That means bringing justice to the people.
So that her martyr's statue can one day grace Brise-Caboche Square.
Named after the famous revolutionary?
You take care of yourself. Véra. And forget about Angèle.
I can assure you. Deep down you are more alone than she is.
Do you want my advice?
Drop it.
Even if you're right. You'll never be able to prove it.
So you said.
Hortense always wins. She'll outlive us all. You'll see.
She's come so far. She's scared of nothing.
Are you in love with her or what?
You're mistaken. Marguerite. Hortense inspires fear. Not pleasure.
- Winning's not about giving pleasure. - I say it is.
I say it is and I can prove it to you.
Whip.
Torture.
Su...
One...
- Two... - Sublime.
- Sublime! - No. No. No.
Sorry. My dear. Adjectives are strictly forbidden.
Go on. Go on. Go on!
Right. Cloud.
Thunder.
Gale.
Ocean.
Ow! Wave.
Jolt.
Thunderstorm.
- Gale! - Ah!
Go on!
Go on. Go on. Go on!
Marcel? Where is Marcel?
Hello. Marcel.
- Hello. Grandet. - Blondin.
Ladies. I hope you appreciate that you have among you
one of the country's most brilliant writers.
My dear Véra. This article will force the authorities to finally take action.
The justice system needs the press like a blind man needs his stick.
Our friend Grandet has just put that imposter Steiner in his place.
I doubt he'll ever get back on his feet. Bravo. Grandet.
Steiner madly in love with Angèle. Killing and robbing a rival?
That's ridiculous.
Quite in keeping with that pathetic man.
Kill Du Plessis a second time. Why don't you?
My father and Grandet are vultures.
Don't stoop to their level.
Poor Angèle.
She was a ray of sunlight in this house.
And she taught me so much.
- Good evening. Madame. - Monsieur.
So our dear Camélia is back among you?
One second.
Haven't you got work to do?
Joncourt is here.
Not him. You know that.
Then get a move on and bag some clients.
I'll go.
No. You won't.
The General is here.
- So? - They say he's the jail's oldest client.
- What of it? - He's bound to have known my mother.
- Edmond? - Yes. Sultana?
I need to get out of here.
Set you free? I don't have the funds your Baron had.
No. You don't get it. Now. Just for an hour.
- I want to go and see Angèle. - Angèle?
All right. What do I need to do?
Tell Hortense you want to take me back to yours.
It will cost you.
Will you really come?
Yes. After I've seen Angèle.
- Do you know Athéna? - From the Chabanais?
She's said to be one of the best lays in Paris.
A real hellcat.
- Have you heard of Lord Farber? - No.
A rich and powerful man.
One wife. Two mistresses.
Two years ago. The night before he died. He summoned me to London.
He wanted to be alone with me.
His wife led me to his room so I could administer his last rites.
For a man of that stature to choose your fanny as his final vision.
You don't just need to be one of the best lays.
You need to be the best lay.
What an extraordinary coincidence.
Athéna recently told me more or less the same story.
Only I think her conquest was an Italian bishop.
I don't think she mentioned a wife.
What if I organised a little competition.
At my house tonight. With one or two friends of mine.
To see which of you is the best lay?
The result will be conclusive.
What do you say?
Go and see Hortense.
I'll get ready.
- Good evening. Marguerite. - Mr Steiner.
- Everything all right? - Very good.
- Is Grandet here? - The mistress doesn't want you to meet.
Just tell me what you want to do and with whom and...
You louse!
I'll make you snort your filthy spunk out through your nostrils!
- I am confused. - The show won't wait for me. You know.
I was so racked by doubt. I felt I had to come straight away.
I am surprised at you. Mademoiselle.
When I read that it was a Mauboussin necklace.
I realised there had been a terrible mistake.
Look.
It is similar but it is not the necklace the Baron game me.
The jeweller has confirmed the sale.
The necklace he had on him when he died was not a Mauboussin.
It was a very common model.
I could prosecute you for perverting the course of justice.
- And I could make your life impossible. - I am at entirely at your disposal!
Please sit down.
Your sending me this letter has led to the arrest of your friend. Angèle.
Perhaps you were hoping she would rapidly denounce her fiancé.
Or that he would easily be arrested.
Only Angèle is digging her heels in and may end up being convicted.
Madame Derville.
I do not wish to see Angèle die in jail any more than you do.
It is Brise-Caboche that I want.
And if. On arrest. That scoundrel denounces Hortense Gaillac.
Rest assured that she will join him on the scaffold.
Here is what I suggest. Stick to your story.
Help me track down Brise-Caboche. And for my part.
I will release Angèle on bail.
What do you say?
I don't need to tell you that he must avoid any excitement.
Of course.
Thank you very much. Doctor.
What about Valentine?
We can't be sure of anything until she's out of quarantine.
How is the chancre developing?
Favourably.
Is there any ulceration?
Even if Valentine avoids syphilis. She will only recover with plenty of rest.
I am aware of that.
Perhaps she could go back to her family.
Her mother is in prison and her father is an alcoholic.
I can assure you she'll be well looked after here.
I will take care of her myself.
As you wish. Madame.
What did the doctor say?
When will I get another hard-on?
Camélia?
Go on!
- Mademoiselle? - I haven't had a chance to thank you.
- What for? - For helping to get me in here.
I didn't realise then that you were seeking work.
Work and pleasure.
I'm sorry. But don't count on me for that.
You think too much. This is where it all happens.
Will you come with me?
I'm sorry. Young lady.
I swear you won't find a worse-bred man next-door than me.
- But none of them knew my mother. - What? What did you say?
So your Marie-Jeanne was Floriane. Then?
What was she like?
I didn't like your mother much.
Why not?
She was complicated. Temperamental.
Véra is like that. Too. And yet you seem to like her.
Véra is an actress.
Prostitution is theatre. Mademoiselle.
- Of course. - Don't say "of course".
You still have a lot to learn about this world.
Don't go thinking that women on the other side are happier.
Don't think that.
I believe your mother made that mistake.
Did she seem unhappy?
She didn't know how to love.
But that might have been a function of her status.
Her status?
Her status as the favourite.
Why did my mother have privileges if she was such a bad worker?
Ask Hortense.
She was already in charge at that time.
She can tell you better than anyone.
Steiner and Grandet have just fought like two young dogs.
I've been following Grandet's campaign. It's utter codswallop.
Not enough to prevent Steiner from becoming a minister.
Is that what you think?
- It's what everyone is saying. - That's interesting.
Do you advise me to form links with him. To choose Steiner over Grandet?
Do as you wish.
Knowing how ill-intentioned you are towards me.
My tendency would be to do the opposite of what you suggest.
Which should drive me to go and see Grandet.
On the other hand.
You may have anticipated that I would ignore your advice.
So I should ignore my instinct to ignore your advice.
And do what you have advised me.
These petty quarrels are so complicated.
I think I am going to go home.
By the way...
Elizabeth was delighted to have met you.
We are going to become true friends.
Friends who have no secrets from one another.
Don't worry. I am in no hurry to hurt you.
Camélia?
Camélia!
That lunatic ravaged me.
Do you know what he wants us to call him?
The surgeon.
I'll be right back.
There's nothing to be done. It just needs to heal up.
He was a surgeon in the army. So he knows what to do.
I can't work any more now.
Not here anyway.
Matron will sack me.
A farewell gift.
Here.
It's good stuff. It's made with opium.
Take it.
You'll see. We're both going to be all right.
We're going to be all right.
Véra?
Hello.
Monsieur.
Pierre.
I have you tell you.
I fancy you and I want you badly.
But I have just had rather a passionate night.
- Did you at least win? - I'm sorry?
The competition for the best whore in Paris.
Edmond was so chuffed. He told everyone. Including his father.
Tomorrow the capital's children will be talking about it in the playground.
- A unanimous victory. - Bravo!
I am tired. But the men are good for a week in a sanatorium.
Véra. I adore you.
I told you. Last night...
I see.
I promised my sister I wouldn't touch you.
What I want is for you to touch her.
I know the sum of your debt. This wad of notes will cover it.
If you agree. I'll give you ten notes a week
and in three weeks you'll be free.
But I want you to make my sister happy.
Does her unhappiness pain you?
Her spitefulness wounds me.
You are assuming that love melts hearts.
I'm not sure it does where she is concerned.
Your love?
It will melt her heart like ice in the sun.
You would disappear overnight.
A departure worthy of your legendary status.
She'll be none the wiser.
And you will be there to console her.
Why the hesitation?
Is it because you still love her?