Apache (Apachen)

As far back as I can remember,

it has always been there,

buried deep, deep inside of me,

lurking in the shadows,

ready to strike.

They thought locking me up would destroy it

but the burning rage within me is uncontrollable.

And it will become their worst nightmare.

As a child, I'd made myself a promise:

to never accept my lot like the poor,

back bent,

belly empty.

Me,

I had a plan.

A plan that would change everything.

That kid there is Paulie.

Go on, Paulie.

His mother abandoned him one winter's night.

We found him the next day,

all blue but gurgling away.

Paulie wasn't the type to complain.

So we took advantage.

Here's the woman we were waiting for.

The great Sarah Bernhardt.

It was said that she collected wild animals and lovers.

Rumor had it she slept in a coffin.

And she always wore her jewelry.

That's what Paulie had to check.

- Here she is! - Sarah, please!

- A word for the press? - Did you enjoy the tour?

Should we be giving the statue to America?

Sarah Bernhardt, do you like the statue?

Shit...

You're known for your excesses and independence.

Is that why the world loves you?

Everyone needs to dream.

So you make people dream?

Clear off, you!

Nice work, Paulie!

- Let me through. - One last question!

The boy getting an eyeful is Tricky,

my darling big brother.

The idiot was the bravest of us all.

He'd do anything to prove his courage.

Stand back!

What do you want?

My necklace?

The press was right for once.

I wouldn't if I were you.

Sarah Bernhardt had class.

Stop that child!

What's that?

I should have just accepted my lot?

And remained an invisible street urchin?

You know what they say, eh?

Better to die standing than live on your knees.

CHAPTER ONE THE LOST CHILDREN

It's me.

You get it?

We could be rich.

You know I'm right.

Don't say stuff like that!

You're afraid of him, huh?

I'm afraid of no one.

Not even you!

I dunno what you're planning, but wait for me here.

Wait for me?

This old dive was Widow Raquin's.

The widow had been dead so long no one remembered her.

It was the gangs' hangout.

The fella bragging about not touching water...

Not a drop since I turned 18!

Is Soak.

The bent copper, with the lady, is Blind Eye.

Lucky in love, unlucky at cards.

The fool was in debt to the Apaches.

The big bruiser is Bear.

The friendliest fella, the sort who says...

I'm a nice boy, but it doesn't stop me killing folk.

And this is Nadja.

Rumor had it she'd spent years in Paris's human zoo

entertaining the bourgeoisie.

It had driven her half-mad.

These nice folk worked for Jesus.

Stop, Jesus.

Leader of the Wolves of Montmartre.

Off you go, I'll deal with this.

The rumor was he had toiled in a textile mill as a kid

then set it alight and vanished.

It had given him a sense of style

and a hatred of the system.

Come here.

Here.

I hope you're joking. The city's coppers are looking for it.

No one will risk buying it.

Take your money, and beat it.

You're lucky I don't turn you in.

Tricky wanted to treat himself to a good time with Big Bertha.

We didn't object.

He'd longed to for years.

This is Marius.

Hello, old man!

Don't run in church!

- Dinner's ready. - Coming!

This old alcoholic priest took care of us.

I never knew my parents.

Cholera had dealt with my mother and my father was long gone.

Tricky used to tell me about his adventures in America.

He said he'd bring us so much gold we'd never have to work again.

AMERICA IS YOURS

There's just enough left.

I knew you had a plan.

You pretend to believe, right?

You're pretending.

I made up all those tales about gold diggers and cowboys.

Pa isn't in America.

Pa is a loser who boozes to drown his shame.

He's drunk so much he's forgotten us.

You know what?

You're right.

We're going to get those tickets to America.

Let's go first thing tomorrow. We'll start a new life.

We could even change names.

I'll call myself Jesse.

And you...

Billie, like Billy the Kid.

Children, did you throw a dead pigeon out of the window?

No. Why?

It landed in the neighbor's stew.

The look on her face! Get into bed.

We are.

That's mine!

Goodbye, old man.

Hurry up, or we'll miss it.

Hey there!

Well, well, well, kiddies.

Where are you off to?

Come with us.

Jesus wants a word.

In you go!

Soak, deal with them!

Stay here, kids.

Stick around. What's the hurry?

Drink it.

What's your name again?

Tricky.

Do you know Tricky?

He's an inventor.

- Really? - A true inventor.

He's going to get rich.

Isn't that right?

Explain your sausage thing again.

- A sausage invention? - Give him one.

Sounds interesting. Catch!

It's simple. You take a hunk of bread,

stick the sausage in it, then close it.

Right.

Someone had to think of it!

What do you call it?

A hot dog. It's American.

A hot dog?

Never heard of it! Have you?

Why a hot dog?

I dunno. That's what they call it in America.

- You invented it, right? - Yes.

But it already existed in America.

What an idiot!

An out-and-out idiot.

You know what I think?

I sometimes think...

you take me for an idiot.

I hope you don't.

No.

- Are you sure? - I swear, Jesus.

Okay.

I know you're a gentleman.

You're a gentleman, ain't you?

You're a gentleman, ain't you?

I think so.

- You think so? Aren't you sure? - Yes.

You don't sound too sure.

I'm really sorry, Jesus.

Let's vote.

Vote on what?

- Can't you stop them? - Stay out of it.

Come on.

Don't look so glum.

You can prove you're trustworthy.

Like this.

Stay here, you!

Come on!

One,

two,

three.

To settle his debt with the Apaches,

Blind Eye made sure I disappeared.

Did you hear the news?

I was charged with Tricky's murder.

You are guilty of murdering your own brother...

The word of an urchin against the word of the police.