The Scheming Women (Les Intrigantes)

THE SCHEMING WOMEN

- I think he's still breathing. - A dead man breathing?

- Was he old? - Yes, already at birth.

- Your director? - Yes, but we have another one.

- He will be mourned. - His money too.

- Was he rich? - Extremely rich.

Hi daddy.

Fatal fall in the theatre.

Albert Bazine falls from a catwalk.

Who pushed Bazine? Inspector Gosset leads the investigation.

The facts, Mr Rémi.

You and Albert Bazine walk on a catwalk 20 metres above the stage.

- One of you falls and dies. - Sad, but clearly an accident.

- Yes, for you it's clear. - Of course, I was there myself.

And I tell you what I saw. You know who I am, don't you?

My wife always talks about Paul Rémi. All the women in Paris.

- Theatre people are highly sought after. - By the police too.

- No one is accusing you of anything. - Then why am I here?

To make a statement.

And of course also because of this anonymous letter.

I also receive anonymous letters. They go to the filing cabinet.

We have the office of investigating judges here.

We are wary of anonymous letters, but we take note of them.

- He was a witness to the drama. - Accident.

He speaks of a drama.

When Bazine and I climbed onto the catwalk, there was no one in the hall.

Are you sure?

Maybe someone was there without you knowing.

- You don't just walk in like that. - You have staff, don't you?

- Actors. - Do you suspect one of my actors?

I know them inside out.

We think we know our loved ones, our wives...

our friends...

I have a rehearsal at 5.

Then I won't keep you any longer, for now.

There is one more thing.

A signature.

For my wife, she is crazy about autographs.

Hélène.

One more question...

In this case am I a witness or a suspect?

There are suspicious witnesses, and innocent suspects.

Idiot, can't you watch where you're going?

Tell me. Where does that letter come from?

It's anonymous. We're completely in the dark.

You're upset because of that investigating judge.

A little.

With investigating judges it's like with doctors. They always find something.

- Aren't you making it too dramatic? - I don't think so.

Drama is my profession, I live from it.

Where are we going?

To a miscarriage of justice. Straight at it.

Ten times Dryops' daughter cursed me. She left me at 18 months.

Yet I am Pan, despite everything, despite my mother.

I am Pan, I said. Which Pan, someone asks.

Because I am everything, if not more.

I am the plain and Aeolus, the wind.

Never mind, for all roads lead to Olympus...

I just can't do it.

To Olympus lead... damn it.

That's not what it says.

All roads lead to Olympus.

- Why not "lead to Olympus"? - Ask the writer.

What does it matter? For all roads lead to Olympus.

I, Pan, defeated the Persians...

and gave my name to panic and pantheism.

- Why is the nymph kissing me on the mouth? - Why?

Because it's a musical comedy. It says here:

Nymph number 7 walks by and kisses him greedily on the mouth.

Greedily? Disgusting.

Are nymphs male or female?

Female. Have you ever seen a nymph with a moustache?

I'd like that. But with mythology you have to be careful.

I, Pan, grandson of Maia, son of Atlas and of Zeus.

- Don't read during work. - What a story.

Paul Rémi before the investigating judge.

Surprised?

Antonio, start again from "Because I am everything".

Because I am everything.

I am everything, the plain and Aeolus, the wind.

But never mind.

You have to read.

Unheard of.

Look at that.

Antonio, for the hundredth time. Why do you breathe after "heavenly"?

You pronounce "heavenly fanfares" as if you're talking about harmony.

- Try to hear those fanfares. - And what do they play?

Ask Marcange.

- Mr writer. - Here I am.

What does the heavenly fanfare play? Wagner or Vincent Scotto?

That's a good one.

Two days before the dress rehearsal Antonio becomes funny.

At least someone who's funny.

Anyone not called Shakespeare does not exist for you.

He's dead and buried. Again, from "fanfares".

It reminds me of the Nanterre fire brigade.

I cut those fanfares.

You cut my fanfares, Mr Pakévitch?

Should I erase myself sometimes too?

No, suicide brings bad luck.

And then we must hold a collection for a wreath.

Very funny. Go get Paul Rémi.

No, he doesn’t come in anymore. Read.

Aren’t you coming home?

Nice going to bed, dining in bed..

And trying to figure out who could have written that letter.

I have to go there, otherwise it goes wrong.

- Will you manage? - Of course.

Darling, the registration certificate.

Luckily I have you. Do you love me?

Deeply. But I also love these anxious times...

because then I can help you and otherwise live with you.

Your setbacks make us equals. That is rare in a marriage.

Kiss me.

Actually you have little misfortune in your life. Especially at night.

Go now, big boss. Try to find your anonymous.

I will find it here in the theatre.

Mona.

And if what is in that letter is true?

If I really pushed Bazine?

Then it was unintentional, and I would still support you.

- Then you would be the only one. - I also want to be the only one, do you understand?

Adios, amigo.

Paul Rémi, the famous theatre director, refrains from a statement.

The director of the theatre where the accident took place...

Can you fall from a walkway without being pushed?

- Yes, due to dizziness. - Dizziness?

I believe in that even less than in Paradise.

- You have read Sartre. - Yes?

I have skimmed it.

Antonio, on Olympus there are no newspapers.

- It is a disaster. - No Pakévitch, a gang.

Yes, a disastrous gang, especially in act 2. And in 2 days we already perform.

Marcange must update Hermes.

He can be as well Pan’s father as Heracles’ daughter-in-law.

- It is one big Greek soup. - Again.

No, I do nothing again.

I am talking about rehearsal, not your quarrels.

- How sweet you are. - What a show.

I must go.

Because listen carefully...

I have gained enormous fame.

I have driven away the Titans by shouting with all my strength.

I have put the Persians to flight.

But where is he, my revered father? Do you know, old man?

Say it. I have been looking for him for years.

- What is the name of your revered father? - Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia.

- Then I am your father. - Impossible.

"Impossible"? It is not written.

He says it as if I ask: Who turned over the soup bowl?

How good he is, eh? Then just say you think it is a bad play.

Don’t start again.

Again.

Hermes, son of Zeus and Maia...

Then I am your father.

Are you my father, messenger of the gods?

I am.

- What are you doing? - I have found my father, Hermes.

- Is he Hermes? - Yes, I recognize his beard.

Embrace my father, nymph.

Do I have talent or not?

I was just wondering that.

If you read my play, it is light, sparkling like champagne.

- Now it is cheap red wine. - With lots of water in it.

- How sour you are. - Say bitter if you like.

No, not now.

This will be a disaster.

There is something bothering us.

We are thinking about the end of poor Bazine. Do you really want to be at the premiere?

- Shall I put on mourning clothes? - People will see you.

And?

Then they will talk again... about the accident.

They will speculate. Then you quickly have a scandal.

Soon the theatre will have to close.

- Are you not afraid of comments? - Just say I killed him.

Don’t be ridiculous.

I just think you would do well to keep quiet for a while...

- Quiet. - No, I don’t know why.

Enough. If you start too, I am leaving.

I am going. But first I want to say something to the people.

Silence.

When I just came in, a newspaper was circulating.

I also read that newspaper.

With a report with the boss’s photo included.

Exciting, eh?

The boss being questioned by justice.

What a sensation, eh?

If only you all knew...

that one of you has betrayed the case.

One of you wants to get rid of me...

and commits a terrible act for that purpose.

Accusing me without taking off his or her mask.

I am looking at all of you.

I think it simply cannot be.

And yet it is true.

It is one of you.

The eternal story of betrayal.

What is the face of that little Judas?

Is it one of my excellent technicians?

Or one of the men or women who can act so well?