The Eleven O'Clock Woman (La dame d'onze heures)

A melancholy northern landscape...

Accident? Or crime?

Mystery...

Death, in any case.

And fear.

The eleven o'clock lady...

Why the eleven o'clock lady?

Why not?

Curious character... And character who is curious.

- You heard shots? - From the canal bank.

This is a strange business.

- I don't like that doctor. - You must prefer the nurse.

- Hush! - What became of the young girl?

Do you believe in magicians?

He doesn't!

She... could almost make one believe.

They don't care.

The investigating magistrate...

May believe nothing...

And discover everything.

Luckily, he's not alone.

No oe he's not alone.

There they are, all together...

The characters of this drama.

Let's turn back time.

The pescara case doesn't yet exist.

There's just a man returning from a long exploration in Africa...

And planning to take a vacation.

Papers, please.

- What did I do? - Just checking.

Stanislas ocuteu... - Octave.

Octave seminario.

Aka s.O.S.

S.0.s8.? Stanislasoctave seminario: S.0.S.

- Born in cambo. - Basque country.

- Your ID's a mess. - Five years in Africa... very sweaty.

- Occupation? - Explorer.

Then, journalist. Now, in a hurry.

- Where to? - Mr. pescara's, bagnoles-de-i'orne.

If you want to get there this evening, you'd better hurry.

Yes. Look, another customer for you!

Hands up!

- Just what I needed. - Get out!

Such a kind invitation.

Wallet.

It's a souvenir of a crocodile I was very fond of.

- Are you hurt? - No, thank you!

Let me introduce myself: Stanislas-octave seminario.

Paul wantz.

Probably best to get out of here.

Thanks again... hope I can return the favor! - You never know.

Mr. s.0.5.! What a pleasure!

Likewise, dear Guillaume.

They say that for an idle man the days are long and the years short...

I don't do much, but these five years without sir seemed long to me!

Brigitte, take Mr. s.0.S.'S bag to the red room.

The red room? That's very bad for sleeping.

I'm merely an instrument here, sir.

- Your brigitte isn't very cheerful. - No one is, here.

Mr. pescara has been worried lately... So have I.

Country life is not my style.

Not by a country mile!

It's dirty, full of insects, there are no sidewalks...

The animals here are raw.

That is, living... Before they go to the kitchen.

- Will have you have these cooked? - Not these innocent creatures.

Twenty-seven of them! A litter?

A rescue. This one's name is mitron.

Miss Muriel doesn't want them drowned. I don't know where we'll put them all.

- How is Muriel? - She's a lovely young woman now!

We have a guest who's very sweet on her.

That's nature for you!

I gave him the yellow room.

And Mr. Charles?

When we left for the country, he just disappeared!

That was three days ago.

- Woman troubles? - No. I'd know about it.

S.0.s.!

- Hello, Muriel. - Hello.

Come along, they're playing chess. Who's "they"?

What, you?

This is the man I was telling you about!

Hello, s.0.S.

Small world, brigitte! They know each other.

I believe Mr. s.0.S. Saved his life in Africa.

Pardon me for going on with the game, dear s.O.S.

I'm trying a new method... The "mad knights" lead, as in life.

Not that I'm so fond of chess...

But it focuses my mind so I can forget everything else.

- What's wrong with him? - I don't know... you must help us.

- On my vacation? - Don't joke... it's serious.

Come with me. We're taking a walk in the garden!

- What's going on? - You'll see.

That stone wasn't there before.

- Well, someone put it there. - Don't laugh, s.O.S.

- May I? - It's not the first.

What do you think of that?

- What dates are those? - Charles's birthday, and mine.

And that one?

The day my father received the first anonymous letter.

- What are these letters? - I don't know.

- Muriel! - Here we are!

I was looking for you!

Another one.

Muriel told me.

I don't know what she told you... It seems less serious to me.

It's been going on for a year, but nothing bad has happened.

- I don't know that man... who is he? - The new gardener.

- How long has he worked here? - A little over a year.

You're right... I don't like his looks.

That's for dinner.

What shall we do with the letter?

Not very tactful to hand it over ourselves.

- Open it? - No, I'll put it in the mailbox.

She's sweet.

No denying it.

Odd woman, your maid.

Guillaume says she's a somnambulist.

She does have visions.

- What does she see? - Someone in the park, nights.

- But the dogs never bark. - Perhaps it's someone they know.

- What's that? - Charles, perhaps?

Well, Guillaume? There's no one, sir!

Hear that?

Yes, but I don't see anything!

Go to the gate! Are you afraid?

No, but there are lots of horrid little winged creatures.

Poor Guillaume.

I'm unfair to him.

I wouldn't have survived the trenches without him.

- Well? - There's no one, sir.

I hate this.

Between brigitte who has visions and Guillaume who sees nothing...

There must be a happy medium.

Well, Guillaume?

Two letters, sir.

- For me? - Just one, sir.

For me?

Don't enter this accursed family

what are these letters?

Nothing... solicitations for charity.

From well-wishers.

- That will be all, Guillaume. - Shouldn't we...

Go to bed.

I'm so happy to be here, Muriel, so I can protect you.

You're wonderful, Paul.

Threats don't frighten me. No one can separate us.

Even your brother is against us. Why do you say that?

I know he doesn't like me. I wish it weren't so.

What do you think of s.0.S.?

Nice... but not the brightest.

Sorry, sir.

- Not asleep, Guillaume? - I was just going to fix coffee.

Good idea... I need waking up.

If I were sir, I'd sleep.

- Do bring some coffee. - Very good, sir.

- Here it is, sir! - Thanks, Guillaume.

There was a Canadian guest who called me "William"...

Because "William" means "Guillaume" in english.

- I know. - I didn't!

I wish people called me William... Guillaume!

- But that's life. - Guillaume!

How is your coffee, sir?

- Not very good... bitter. - Brigitte gave me Mr. pescara's tray!

He takes bromide in his coffee.

Would sir take my arm to go upstairs to his room?

- You think I should? - I don't think, sir, I know.

Could I ask sir a question?

In Africa... what's Gabon like? Very nice.

So much the better, sir.

Mr. s.0.S.?

I brought mitron to amuse sir.

- How did you get in? - By the door, sir.

- I locked it. - The lock doesn't work.

Charming.

It's better... suppose someone dropped dead in the room?

You're in top form this morning. No coffee?

- I tasted it, sir. - Very thoughtful, Guillaume.

If sir could only call me William!

Oh! Mr. Charles!

- Hello... I'm glad to see you. - Likewise.

- Yes, very glad. - You don't look it.

I've just come from Paris and haven't slept.

- Sir has! - That's enough!

Tell me, Charles... Strange things are going on here.

Guillaume told me you left suddenly... Is there a connection?

Guillaume is a perfect valet.

Thank you, sir!

Perfect but overenthusiastic. I was in Paris on business, that's all.

But tell me about your travels and your return.

- What's wrong? - Nothing. Go on, tell me!

What's this? You use a stenotype? Yes.

- Always some new accomplishment! - I'm on holiday, but I might use it.

Have you brought back interesting stuff?

- Two anonymous letters came last night. - Two?

If I could only tell you... Go ahead!

No... it's a secret that isn't mine to reveal.

Come in!

Pardon me... Mr. pescara would like to see Mr. Charles right away.

Fine, I'm coming.