Angel’s going to pitch a fit. She’s my aunt…and much more. She raised me.
And I’ve had plenty an occasion to give her grief.
Hey, Pops, there you are!
She used to worry herself sick the nights I went fishing by the light of the moon.
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My poor Angel!
you’re about to miss those days, when visits from the fish-and-game warden were your only worry…
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…Because now I’ve got the French Militia and the gendarmes on my case!
Yes you are -- Very handsome. Now roll over and let me sleep.
I’ve been on my feet for 48 hours. we’ll play tomorrow if that’s all right!
Goodness me! Julien! How on earth did you get in?
Yes, you’re a handsome boy, Pops!
Through the window!
The window? What next?!
That’s sweet, but not very sensible. You could have killed yourself!
You’re the one who’s not too sensible, leaving that window wide open. Anyone can get in.
I didn’t want to wake you.
All the same, I have Pops!
You’ve kidding!
if I hadn’t stepped on his tail, your dear Pops would still be asleep!
Poor thing! it’s true: he’s no spring chicken!
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He’s losing it a bit… just like I must be!
I was positive you’d left for Germany yesterday. Well, you surely can’t have eaten!
Why? Did they exempt you?
You weren’t wrong about Germany… but I’m not going, after all.
Want some coffee? it’s real!
No, I exempted myself actually.
No, Angel, of course not…
Oh? You can do that?
This is all well and good, but now what will you do?
But no one saw you, right? Stay out of sight, of course! if they catch me, you can bet they won’t let me jump off any more trains!
in fact, that’s the problem!
No one, don’t worry… except Pops. you won’t say a word…will you, Pops?
Cut the comedy, young man…
You’re not exactly off to a great start. you left your suitcase outside all night!
This time they’ll send me straight to the salt mines…in Silesia.
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Your dog doesn’t bite, does he, Madam?
are you Angel Fourcadelle?
Yes, that’s me. Why? Has something happened?
I have unfortunate news for you… Your nephew…
Shit, the bulls!
They’re here already!
Good Lord! What’s he done now?
Well…it’s a sensitive matter…You know he was called up for work duty in Germany…
I didn’t… until now, monsieur…
…I’m so very sorry, Madame Fourcadelle. This is the kind of task we’d happily do without.
They’ll search the house, for sure!
Julien?
Anyway … Here are his papers.
What a predicament!
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Oh… of course!
Yes…and they returned your papers!
Julien?
See? I was sure I’d lost them when I jumped from the train!
You can come out now! Where can you be, my pet?
What did they want? They left already?!
My darling Julien, I have some bad news. You’re…
…no longer among the living! it seems the train taking you to Germany was bombed…
Don’t even think about it, Angel. Everything’s fine…
…and your wallet was found on one of the victims!
That poor boy… Stealing your papers wasn’t very good luck for him!
But you certainly have a nose for these things! You do realize that if you’d stayed on the train… Oh! Good Lord!
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…I know a place in town where I can hide out for the duration!
Tonight, at Angel’s, we’re celebrating my last rites. My worst fear…to run into someone at the cemetery and give them a heart attack. I can only imagine: [it was kind of you to attend my funeral this morning!] So I detour around the village.
Basil, that devil! And Serge, with his ego! He must have just loved being brought down a peg like that in public!
Really! Luckily, Edward drove away before it all went sour.
CÉcile ?
Yes, CÉcile ! CÉcile Cadrieux, Serge’s cousin…You know exactly who I mean.
Listen, speaking of Serge…I didn’t see CÉcile … it’s strange that she didn’t show up…
She must have had a reason…
Uh… well, sure!
I guess so…
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is that all you have to say? And yet, last year…
Well, it seemed to me that, last year, you and CÉcile --
What about last year?
Look, more guinea fowl for you, or shall I finish it?
Excellent!
Have you two fallen out? perhaps if you’d written to her as often as you wrote to me…
I should hope so!
Fine, too bad for you! The guinea’s all mine.
After Laval’s last speech, Mademoiselle Goucagnolle tripled her poultry prices!
Because the most expensive part of your funeral was the guinea fowl…
in any case… I know it’s not too important, but…
CÉcile didn’t come because she’s not feeling well!
She sent word:a very sweet note, in fact…
She’s not well? What’s wrong?
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Oh, so now you’re interested?
CÉcile , you knew Julian well. You and he were about the same age!
OOh la la! Such a crying shame.
is that all you have to say, Edward?
We were born two months apart, Father… You should have seen the two of them at catechism, always a good ten minutes late. When they weren’t laughing like maniacs, they babbled endlessly. Of course I had to split them up!
Correct me if I’m wrong, but it was surely your premier Laval who had the great idea of sending our boys off to Germany to get bombed to bits!…
Don’t look so innocent!
Well now, you hear that, Fernand? Any more and it’ll be my fault if-Gentlemen, gentlemen! You’ve forgotten the house rules:No alcohol every other day, and no politics any day!
What can I get you, Monsieur Basil?
Terribly sorry, but today’s the dry day! …if not on the way, then when they got there! So, let me repeat:Don’t look so bloody innocent!
That’s not bad, Fernand! You should have it engraved on top of the bar!
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Anything! A pastis!
Oh? it doesn’t matter…just give me tomorrow’s share!