INT. LA SANTÉ PRISON, CELL BLOCK- MORNING

Augustin grasping the bars of his cell. He has a cut on his right cheek and one of his eyes is swollen shut. Two GUARDS stand over him.

AUGUSTIN

(Whimpering)

Please keep him away from him.

GUARD 1

Who, Camille Dupont? He seems friendly enough.

AUGUSTIN

You know what he's been doing to me.

GUARD 2

He likes you. You should be flattered.

The matron brings Marianne in.

GUARD 1

Hey Lerou, your other girlfriend's here.

The guards and matron walk out, leaving Augustin and Marianne alone. Augustin reaches through the bars of her cell to put his arms around her waist. He notices a folded piece of paper hidden under her hat then pulls it out and stashes it under his shirt.

AUGUSTIN

Hey Chère, it's New Year's Eve, what are you doing tonight?

MARIANNE

My aunts are having a masquerade party tonight.

AUGUSTIN

Wow, that sounds like fun.

MARIANNE

It really isn't. My stuck up cousin and her awful husband will be there.

AUGUSTIN

Then why don't you skip it?

MARIANNE

I think I'll be able to leave early.

AUGUSTIN

Are you working today?

MARIANNE

I have to be at work in an hour and I'll be there until six.

The Matron returns.

MATRON

Time's up, Mademoiselle.

MARIANNE

Goodbye Augustin, Happy New Year.

Augustin kisses Marianne. The Matron begins to lead Marianne away.

AUGUSTIN

Happy New Year, Chérie?

Left alone, Augustin pulls the piece of paper from out of his shirt. Leaning back against his cot, he unfolds the note and reads its message: "We're coming tonight. Be Ready." He quickly stashes the note back in his shirt and reaches under his bed for a piece of wood carved to look like a pistol. He begins blackening the fake pistol with shoe polish.

EXT. LA PREMIÈRE ÉTOILE, ENTRANCE- MORNING

It is rainy, foggy, and misty January morning. Charles is sitting under the patio awning of La Première Étoile.

Marianne approaches the front door. Charles stands up and stops her.

CHARLES

Marianne.

MARIANNE

Oh, it's you, Monsieur.

CHARLES

It's nice to see you, Marianne.

MARIANNE

Wish I could say the same.

CHARLES

Is that any way to speak to your father, young lady?

MARIANNE

(scoffing)

My father's name was James Beaumont.

CHARLES

I was James Beaumont years ago, but then I became Charles Prideaux.

MARIANNE

And you're also the Count of Monte Cristo.

CHARLES

No, but something very close.

MARIANNE

So, how did James Beaumont become Charles Prideaux?

CHARLES

Did your aunts tell you the story of how I was a German prisoner during the war and how your family thought I was dead and why I didn't come back?

MARIANNE

Yes.

CHARLES

I was in America during that time. Because I could speak French, I used to drive up to Quebec and smuggle cases of whiskey back over the border for some gangsters.

MARIANNE

Did you know Al Capone?

CHARLES

Of course, Capone and I were the best of friends.

Marianne chuckles.

CHARLES

I had to return to France in '29 because I was wanted back in the states for Prohibition violations. That's how James Beaumont became Charles Prideaux.

Charles reaches into one of the pockets of his overcoat and pulls out something wrapped in tissue papers.

CHARLES

I have something for you; something pretty. Consider it a belated Christmas present.

Marianne unwraps a star-shaped Art Deco brooch.

MARIANNE

It is pretty.

CHARLES

I want you to know that I loved your mother and you a lot...I love you a lot... and I did what I thought was best for you. The tragedy is that I've found you again at the point in your life when I should be letting you go, but if you need my help, I will be there for you.

Marianne looks over the brooch and hesitantly pins it to her coat.

MARIANNE

Happy New Year, Monsieur.

Marianne goes inside. The lights of the cafe twinkle in the stones of her brooch.

INT. CATHARINE'S FLAT, ENTRANCE HALL-EVENING

Marianne is putting on a masquerade mask decorated with butterflies in front of a mirror in the front hall of Catharine's flat. She is wearing an updated version of the blue evening dresses that she wore to the other formal occasions. After putting on her mask, she adjusts the brooch that Charles gave her, which twinkles in the light.

Reflected in the mirror is Mimi, sitting on the stairs. Marianne is in the middle of the telling the story of her interaction with Charles.

MARIANNE

...he said some nice things but where has all this concern been for nineteen years. He's going to do better than an "I'm sorry" and a piece of jewelry.

MIMI

My advice is to forgive him, if not for his sake, then for your own. You cannot change what's happened; you can only come to terms with it and make peace with it.

Marianne smooths the skirt of her dress.

MIMI

That's nice, is it new?

MARIANNE

It's my old dress; I've remade it.

She adjusts a butterfly-shaped hair comb at the back of her head.

INT. CATHARINE'S FLAT, DRAWING ROOM-EVENING

The GUESTS are gathered around the piano to listen to Mathilde, who has a lovely soprano singing voice, sing. Agnès accompanies her on the piano.

MATHILDE

(singing)

Les anges dans nos campagnes ont entonné l'hymne des cieux et l'écho de nos montagnes redit ce chant mélodieux. Gloria in excelsis déo, gloria in excelsis déo.

https://youtu.be/_Ap-zj7H23g

The guests clap for Mathilde, who goes and sits down next to her friend. Marianne walks into the drawing room and joins the group, sitting next to Gabriel.

MARIANNE

(to Gabriel)

Happy New Year. How was your Christmas?

Mathilde turns and looks at them and then turns back to her friend.

MATHILDE

(whispering)

A year ago, she was throwing herself at my Edmond and when he didn't take the bait, she set her cap at Gabriel, not to mention that little robber she's been fooling around with.

MATHILDE'S FRIEND

So she's the one Edmond's been talking about.

Marianne overhears them and walks to confront them.

MARIANNE

(to Mathilde)

Oh, and what has your husband been saying about me?

Edmond gets up from where he is sitting and puts his arms around Marianne to hold her back.

MARIANNE

Let go of me!

MATHILDE'S FRIEND

He's been saying you're a filthy slut who's been screwing around in the gutter.

Agnès gets up from the piano seat and goes to Marianne's defense.

AGNÈS

(to Mathilde's friend)

Don't act like you're any better!

MATHILDE'S FRIEND

Who asked you?

MARIANNE backhands Mathilde.

MARIANNE

That's what I think of you and your filthy minded husband.

MATHILDE

You were always jealous because Edmond loves me.

MARIANNE

And you were always stupid, Mathilde. You think he loves you? Edmond Danton is incapable of loving anyone. You're just like that shiny car in his garage, although I think the warranty on that is longer.

EDMOND

(to Marianne)

And you should go now. No one wants you here, slut!

Gabriel stands up and goes to confront Edmond. He grabs Edmond by the collar.

EDMOND

(to Gabriel)

Who do you think you are?

GABRIEL

Her friend.

He's about to punch Edmond but Marianne intervenes.

MARIANNE

(to Gabriel)

Stop! He's not worth it.

Gabriel lets Edmond go.

EDMOND

I'll let this slide, Renault, Since you've obviously been drinking.

Edmond picks up a glass of champagne and takes a sip.

EDMOND

Maybe if you're patient, she'll spread her legs for you next.

Gabriel advances on Edmond and punches him. Catharine walks into the room, carrying a tray of crêpes and oysters, and notices the two young men fighting.

CATHARINE

What's going on here? Gabriel, I invite you into my home and you start fights. Go home, if you're going to start trouble.

Marianne steps forward.

MARIANNE

He was only trying to defend me, Tante Catharine.

CATHARINE

Defending you from what?

MARIANNE

From slander.

CATHARINE

I see, people whispered so you had to scream. You couldn't have just ignored it. You had to go and start trouble.

MARIANNE

And let people push me around and spread lies?

CATHARINE

You must learn to be the stronger person, my dear.

Agnès brings Marianne a cocktail.

AGNÈS

Don't let my bitch of a sister and her son-of-a-bitch husband get you down.

CATHARINE

Agnès, watch your language.

AGNÈS

(to Marianne )

Come dance with me.

Marianne takes a sip of her cocktail and goes off to dance with Agnès. She tries hard to have fun.

EXT. LA SANTÉ PRISON, PRISON YARD-NIGHT

Augustin and some other PRISONERS, including Anton, are shackled together. They are returning inside after shoveling snow. A police car and two POLICE OFFICERS approach the GUARD in charge of the chain gang.

POLICE OFFICER 1

We would like to see these two.

He points to Augustin and Anton.

GUARD

(suspicious)

Let me see your credentials.

POLICE OFFICER 2

Here they are!

He takes out a gun and fires bullets into the guard's chest. The guard falls down, bleeding.

GUARD

Damn you!

The two police officers go through the guard's pockets and grab his keys. They begin to unlock Augustin and Anton's shackles. Other guards (GUARDS 2 and 3) rush into the yard. Guard 2 grabs Augustin by the arms. Augustin tries to fight them off and reaches into his shirt to grab the fake gun he made. He sticks the fake gun into the ribs of the guard who had been trying to restrain him.

GUARD 2

Don't do it, Lerou.

Augustin pistol whips the Guard 2, knocking him out. Policeman 2 shoots Guard 3, incapacitating him. Augustin grabs Anton's arm and the two runoff, following the two policemen.

EXT. Boulevard Arago- NIGHT

Augustin, Anton, and the two policemen rush into a waiting police car and drive off at full speed.

INSIDE POLICE CAR

Policeman 2 bullets down the street. Policeman 2 removes his cap and smiles and laughs at Augustin and Anton.

POLICEMAN 2

Faucherie sends his regards, boys.

He hands Augustin and Anton each a change of clothes.

INT. HÔTEL VERTE, FIRST FLOOR ROOM-NIGHT

Marianne peeks into Papa Verte's sitting room. Papa Verte is sitting in his rocking chair and smoking his pipe. Gui is also in the room. He is sitting by the fireplace, warming his feet. His socks and shoes are off; his heels are tattooed with wings.

GUI

Evening, Maid Marianne. Did you see your Robin Hood today?

MARIANNE

I saw him this morning.

PAPA VERTE

You're home early.

MARIANNE

I wasn't feeling well.

PAPA VERTE

Take care of yourself, My Dear. We don't want you getting sick.

MARIANNE

I will. Good night, Papa Verte. Good night, Gui.

She closes the door.

INT. HÔTEL VERTE, MARIANNE'S FLAT-NIGHT.

Marianne has changed into her pajamas. She is sitting by her window, teasing Johnny with a piece of leftover chicken.

There is a knock on the door. Marianne drops the piece of chicken and gets up to go answer it. Augustin stands in the doorway.

MARIANNE

How are you?

She strokes his cheek.

AUGUSTIN

Glad to be out. Glab to be here.

Augustin comes into the room.He throws his coat and hat onto a chair.

Augustin and Marianne go and sit in the window seat; he lays down with his head in her lap. Johnny, with the piece of chicken in his mouth, jumps onto the window seat and curls up next to Augustin, who pats his head. Marianne runs her fingers through Augustin's hair.

MARIANNE

You know, I said that I wasn't feeling well so I could leave my aunt's party early. I keep thinking that someone, somehow, will figure out what I'm really up to.

AUGUSTIN

Are you that terrible a liar?

MARIANNE

No!

AUGUSTIN

Well, I'm glad my little bird could fly the cage tonight.

MARIANNE

I could say the same for you. I wasn't the one who was locked up for months.

The bells of Saint Sulpice chime midnight.

MARIANNE

It's midnight, a new year begins.

AUGUSTIN

Here's to 1934.

He reaches up and kisses her. Marianne yawns.

AUGUSTIN

Are you tired?

MARIANNE

I have to get up early tomorrow morning.

AUGUSTIN

(smiling)

Then come to bed.

Marianne smiles and blushes.

MARIANNE

I'll close the shutters and put out the lights.

Marianne closes the shutters of the bay window and then flips the light switch by the door, off. Augustin kisses her, then picks her up and brings her over to the bed. She lays back against the pillows and he begins to unbutton the shirt of her pajamas and kisses her face and neck. He guides her hands to undo the buttons of his shirt and take it off. He slides his suspenders down his shoulders and she throws her arms around his neck.

Once they are undressed, he kisses her stomach. She runs her fingers through his hair; he takes her hand and playfully nibbles her fingers. She pulls him on top of her and leaves a trail of kisses down his chest. He embraces her tightly and her legs wrap around his hips.

Her hair falls around him as holds her closes and kisses her face, neck, and shoulder. She cries out. He strokes her cheek, wiping a tear from her eye.

MARIANNE

Shhh, it's alright.

Her fingers are entwined in his hair.

INT. HÔTEL VERTE, MARIANNE'S FLAT- DAWN.

The pale, greyish light of early morning peaks in through the closed shutters.

Augustin yawns, stretches, and sits up in bed. He has a tattoo of a rooster on one of his hips and a tattoo of a heart with an arrow through it on one of his arms.

AUGUSTIN

Are you alright, Chérie? How are you feeling?

MARIANNE

(smiling and blushing)

I'm just wonderful

Marianne covers herself with a sheet and sits up. Augustin shifts so that his head is resting in her lap. She strokes his hair off of his forehead.

AUGUSTIN

(yawning)

Goodmorning.

MARIANNE

I have something to tell you, I ran into my father yesterday.

AUGUSTIN

I thought that he died during the war.

MARIANNE

That's what I was always told... it's a long story.

AUGUSTIN

Let's hear it then...

MARIANNE

He was only ever missing in action. He remarried after my mother died. His new wife is my age, if she's a day. And who knows how many other Circes and Calypsoes Wily Odysseus ran into along the way.

AUGUSTIN

Who are you talking about?

MARIANNE

Not familiar with Homer are you, my love?

AUGUSTIN

Who's that?

MARIANNE

I know the right thing would be to forgive him but I just can't. I can't tell if its loyalty to my mother's memory or simply stubbornness and pride.

AUGUSTIN

No one ever said doing the right thing was easy.

He gets out of bed and starts putting on his clothes.

AUGUSTIN

I have to go.

MARIANNE

Must you go so soon?

AUGUSTIN

Everyone'll be up soon and I don't want to get caught here.

MARIANNE

What are you going to do now?

AUGUSTIN

As soon as I can, I'm going to flee abroad to the colonies. They say a man can strike it rich there as easy as anything and no one asks any questions. In a few years, when I'm a rich man, I'll bribe whoever I need to and get a pardon. Someday soon, I'll be as respectable as can be.

He finishes putting on his clothes and kisses her forehead.

AUGUSTIN

You always deserved more than whatever I could give you. You'll find something better.

Marianne kisses him.

MARIANNE

Goodbye Augustin.

AUGUSTIN

Goodbye Chérie.

Augustin turns to give her one last look walking out the door.

THE END.