EXT. HÔTEL VERTE, BACKYARD-MORNING

Louise and Marianne are tending the garden behind the Hôtel Verte, wearing overalls over camisoles. Louise is hoeing a patch of dirt while Marianne is tying some tomato plants to wooden stakes in the ground.

Gui comes into the backyard through the alley that runs past the house. He approaches Louise.

GUI

Need any help in the garden, Madame Verte?

LOUISE

I could use some help with the weeding, but I don't have any money to pay you. I baked some bread yesterday, I could give you a loaf as payment.

GUI

That'll be enough.

He turns to Marianne

GUI

Are you working at La Première Étoile today?

MARIANNE

I have a shift this afternoon at three.

GUI

Will Manon be there?

MARIANNE

(laughing)

Stop it! Leave her alone.

Gui laughs then kneels down into the vegetable beds and begins to pull up some weeds.

EXT. LA PREMIÈRE ÉTOILE, BACK ALLEY- EVENING

Gui is leaving the back door to the kitchen of the cafe, with his daily rations of food from Manon. He passes Augustin, who recognizes him from a few days before.

AUGUSTIN

Did you have any luck finding work?

GUI

A few things here and there. And you?

AUGUSTIN

Nothing! What are you doing at the back door?

GUI

A girl who works here gives me some of the leftovers every day.

AUGUSTIN

Is she a pretty little blonde?

GUI

No, you must be thinking about Marianne.

AUGUSTIN

Yes, that's her name. Is she working here today?

GUI

No, you just missed her.

AUGUSTIN

Do you know if she's working here tomorrow?

GUI

Of course not, tomorrow's Sunday. Why are you asking after her?

Augustin takes Marianne's ring out of his pocket.

AUGUSTIN

I have something she lost. Can you help me return it to her?

INT. HÔTEL VERTE, MARIANNE'S FLAT- MORNING

The room is dimly lit with the bright morning sun peeking in through the closed curtains.

Marianne is brushing her hair in front of her mirror while Johnny is curled up on the foot of her bed, snoring. She gets up off of the stool in front of the mirror and goes over to the window to open the curtains.

EXT. HÔTEL VERTE, STREET FRONT- MORNING

Augustin approaches the house. He looks up at the window in the tower, seeing Marianne as she opens the curtains. He smiles to see the lovely girl in only her underwear with her hair loose. Marianne sees him and blushes then closes the curtains in a huff.

EXT. HÔTEL VERTE, FRONT DOOR- MORNING

Marianne, now properly dressed in a simple but pretty summer frock, hat, and gloves, exits the house, followed by Johnny. Augustin approaches her and politely removes his hat.

AUGUSTIN

You looked prettier with your hair down.

MARIANNE

What are you doing here?

AUGUSTIN

I was hoping the fair damsel would come down from her tower.

MARIANNE

And why's that?

AUGUSTIN

Because I have something she might be missing.

He takes her hand and puts the ring in her palm.

AUGUSTIN

I have money for a couple of sodas, care to join me?

MARIANNE

I visit my aunt on Sundays, she'll be expecting me.

AUGUSTIN

I'm sure she wouldn't mind if you were a little late.

MARIANNE

She's strict with me and will ask a lot of questions.

AUGUSTIN

I think she'll understand.

MARIANNE

I'm sorry, but I can't.

Marianne scoops up Johnny into her arms and walks off.

INT. MIMI'S FLAT, KITCHEN- MORNING

Mimi is in her bright, airy kitchen. A kettle is boiling on the stove. Mimi gathers her tea things and neatly arranges them on a tray.

INT. MIMI'S FLAT, LIVING ROOM-MORNING

Mimi's living room is pleasant and well decorated. The furniture has a comfortably worn appearance. Paintings hang on the wall. Framed family photographs, potted plants, and Catholic religious icons cover the shelves and table tops.

Mimi puts the tea tray on a low table in front of the fireplace, next to a large vase filled with flowers.

There is a knock at the door. She gets up and goes to answer it. Marianne comes in. The two women give each other air kisses on each cheek.

MIMI

How was your week?

MARIANNE

The same as usual.

Mimi sits down in an armchair next to the fireplace. Marianne seats herself on a sofa on the other side of the table from Mimi, who begins to pour and prepare the tea.

MARIANNE

Have Edmond and Mathilde left on their honeymoon yet?

MIMI

They left for Marseilles on Friday to catch a ship.

MARIANNE

Where are they going?

MIMI

First, a cruise around the Mediterranean, then a trip down the Nile

MARIANNE

(Bitterness evident in her voice)

Sounds exciting.

Marianne takes a biscuit, dips it into the tea, and takes a bite.

INT. L'ÉGLISE ST. SULPICE- MORNING

Candlelight and incense fill the lofty church as an organ plays a hymn.

Marianne walks over to an alcove containing racks of votive candles. Each of them has a framed photograph and a brass plaque over it. Marianne looks for a specific one and finds it. The photograph is of a sweet-faced blonde woman with a decided resemblance to Marianne. The plaque reads: "Madeleine d'Aubrey Beaumont; 1890-1926."

Marianne lits the candle before getting down onto a kneeler and making the sign of the cross.

MARIANNE

Salve Regina, Mater misericordiae...

Once she has finished the prayer, Marianne makes another sign of the cross and gets back up on her feet. She goes and joins Mimi in a pew

MIMI

I miss her too.

Mimi kisses Marianne on the forehead.