INT. CATHARINE'S FLAT, DRAWING ROOM-NIGHT

A group of MIDDLE AGED PEOPLE in evening dress people are gathered in the drawing room of Catharine's flat. The living room is decorated in the Second Empire style with elaborately carved dark wood and shades of teal, dark blue, gold, and purple. It is stuffy and the expensive and ornate furniture looks uncomfortable. Large Chinese pots filled with peacock feathers are placed throughout the room.

The behavior of the group of older people is as still and formal as the decor. Mimi is sitting closest to the fireplace and having a conversation with one of the guests. Catharine is sitting closest to the door and is looking over the people who are gathered in her home and is sipping from a flute of champagne.

A MAID brings in a tray of hors-d'oeuvres, unnoticed by Catharine, Mimi, and their guests.

INT. CATHARINE'S FLAT, LIVING ROOM-NIGHT

A group of beautiful and glamorous YOUNG PEOPLE dressed in stylish and expensive evening dress is gathered in the less formal, more comfortable living room. Some are sitting on the sofas and armchairs, gossiping, drinking cocktails, smoking, and looking at photos from Edmond and Mathilde's honeymoon cruise which are shown through a projector. Others are dancing to music coming from a Victrola phonograph.

The Maid brings in a tray of hors-d'oeuvres. Marianne comes over and takes one.

Mathilde and MATHILDE'S FRIEND (late teens-20s) are looking over at her, judgmentally.

MATHILDE

Didn't she wear that same dress at the wedding?

Mathilde's friend laughs. Marianne has been listening to their conversation.

MARIANNE

We can't all have husbands with rich daddies.

Marianne goes over to a sofa where Gabriel is sitting, trying to listen to a radio play of Cyrano de Bergerac. She sits down beside him.

MARIANNE

I didn't know you were going to be here.

GABRIEL

Edmond invited me.

He looks over at Edmond, who is changing the record on the Victrola and watching Mathilde dance with some friends. He steals a glance at Marianne's exposed neck and shoulders.

MARIANNE

I'm glad you came. Now I have someone to talk to.

She now notices that Gabriel is listening to a radio play.

MARIANNE

Cyrano de Bergerac. What part are we at?

GABRIEL

The lecherous Count de Guiche wants the beautiful Roxanne for his own but for the sake of respectability, he wants to marry her off to the compliant Viscount Valvert.

MARIANNE

Can I ask a favor of you?

GABRIEL

Anything.

MARIANNE

I need someone to come with me to a trial next week. It would be improper if I walked into the courthouse by myself.

GABRIEL

Who's on trial?

MARIANNE

A friend of mine's been charged with robbery.

Edmond turns to look at Marianne again. He has overheard their conversation. Mathilde walks over to where Gabriel and Marianne are sitting.

MATHILDE

Gabriel Renault, it's been way too long.

GABRIEL

I was at your wedding back in May

MATHILDE

It seems like just yesterday that we were all playing crusaders and Saracens at your family's farm.

MARIANNE

(giggling)

You were a horrid little boy, Gabriel. You would always push me over.

MATHILDE

I remember once, about a million years ago, you teased her so badly that she finally had enough and pushed you into the cow pond. You would have drowned if your father hadn't gone to rescue you. Marianne never could take a joke.

MARIANNE

(Under her breath)

Only the ones that aren't funny.

GABRIEL

I was pretty awful as a kid but Marianne never tattled on me.

MARIANNE

And break one of the cardinal rules of childhood...never.

Edmond comes over and takes Mathilde by the hand.

EDMOND

Babe, come and dance with me.

Laughing, Mathilde goes off with Edmond and they dance. Gabriel turns to Marianne.

GABRIEL

About your question...of course, I'll go with you to your friend's trial.

Marianne claps her hands and gives him a kiss on the cheek.

GABRIEL

That is, under one condition: you give me this dance.

Marianne leads him over to where other couples are dancing.

INT. CATHARINE'S FLAT, LIBRARY- NIGHT

Marianne has gone into her aunt's library to get some peace and quiet. The thick walls of the library muffle the noise of the party outside. She sits down on a comfortable leather loveseat and slips off her shoes before putting her feet up.

When she is comfortable and relaxed, Gabriel creeps in, closes the door behind him, and smiles at her. Marianne is startled.

EDMOND

I didn't mean to disturb you. We've run out of cigars and I was told your aunt kept some in here.

Edmonde begins to look around the library for something that might contain cigars. He circles around the room in a predatory way. Marianne is uneasy. She sits completely still, like a mouse trying to avoid being eaten by a snake.

EDMOND

(laughing)

Don't be afraid.

He sits down next to Marianne on the loveseat, too close for her comfort.

MARIANNE

They'll be expecting you with the cigars.

EDMOND

Let them wait, I want to talk to you.

He puts an arm around her.

MARIANNE

About what?

EDMOND

About everything that's happened between us.

MARIANNE

I've grown up a little over the summer and I find I can put it all in the past. I hope we can be friendly, Edmond.

Edmond touches Marianne's chin with his hand. He leans in and kisses her, pushing her onto her back with one hand up her skirt. Marianne sits up abruptly.

MARIANNE

Edmond, what are you doing?

EDMOND

What do you think?

He grabs her by the shoulder, pushing down one of the straps of her dress, and begins kissing her neck.

MARIANNE

Mathilde's in the other room.

EDMOND

What about it? Why should you care about Mathilde? She's never given a damn about you.

He continues to push her onto her back, kissing her mouth and neck and putting his hands up her skirt. She struggles and tries to push him off of her.

MARIANNE

Stop! You're hurting me!

He stops his advances on her and leaves the room laughing.

INT. CATHARINE'S FLAT, LIVING ROOM- NIGHT

Marianne walks into the living room where the party is still going strong. She sneaks in, unnoticed.

Mathilde and her friend walk over to where Mathilde's younger sister, AGNÈS (17), is sulking on one of the sofas. Agnès is pretty but her constantly pouty expression spoils her looks.

MATHILDE'S FRIEND

What's the matter with her?

MATHILDE

She's pining away for that American boy we met in Naples.

MATHILDE'S FRIEND

You told me about him. Wasn't he from Nebraska, or someplace like that.

AGNÈS

He's from New Mexico.

MATHILDE

She speaks!

AGNÈS

You were the one who insisted that we leave Naples early.

MATHILDE

It was getting boring there.

AGNÈS

You never could stand to see me enjoy myself, could you?

Mathilde and her friend laugh off Agnès's moodiness and go over to a sofa where Edmond is sitting. Edmond looks over at Marianne and smiles as they shared some naughty secret. She flushes red with anger and embarrassment.

Marianne walks over to a table spread out with hors-d'oeuvres and cocktails. Gabriel is standing there, sipping a drink.

MARIANNE

(to Gabriel)

Will you take me home?

GABRIEL

Of course.

Marianne grabs a silk piano shawl embroidered with a pattern of birds from off of a coat rack and the two of them walk out of the room.

EXT. METRO STATION, ENTRANCE-NIGHT.

Gabriel and Marianne walk towards a metro station with an elaborate, green, art nouveau entrance sign. As they are about to walk down the stairs, he stops her with a hand on her shoulder.

GABRIEL

What happened back there?

MARIANNE

Nothing. I'm not feeling well, that's it. I have a headache.

GABRIEL

(scoffing)

A headache named Edmond Danton. I saw the way he was looking at you all evening. No newly married man should look at anyone other than his wife that way. Did he try anything with you?

MARIANNE

Yes, but I turned him down. That's all.

They begin walking down the stairs into the metro station.

INT. METRO STATION, TRACK-NIGHT

Gabriel and Marianne are sitting on a bench inside the metro station, waiting for their train to arrive. There are only a few other people inside the metro station. Someone is playing a saxophone and everything is calm and almost sleepy.

GABRIEL

So when is that trial you want me to take you to?

MARIANNE

Thursday at noon.

GABRIEL

Who's on trial?

MARIANNE

His name is Augustin Lerou.

GABRIEL

Is he guilty?

A train pulls up to the track and Gabriel and Marianne get on board.

INT. PALAIS DU JUSTICE, COURTROOM- AFTERNOON

The JURY at Augustin's trial has returned with a verdict. The mood in the courtroom sours: its not good.

Augustin rises from his seat. He stands in front of the JUDGE, looking pale and emotionless as the jury gives its verdict. 

JUROR 1 

Guilty!

JUROR 2

Guilty!

JUROR 3

Guilty!

The judge is at the stand, ready to give out Augustin's sentence.

JUDGE

Augustin Lerou, you have been found guilty on five counts of pickpocketing and one count of robbery. You are hereby sentenced serve a year for each of the counts of pickpocketing and ten years for the count of robbery. That's a total of fifteen years.

The judge pounds his gavel and guards begin to take Augustin away. Augustin is stoical and self-composed.

The CHIEF PROSECUTOR steps forward to speak with some REPORTERS, flash bulbs going off in his face.

CHIEF PROSECUTOR

I think this sends out a strong message: that in difficult times, no criminal behavior of any kind should be tolerated. Augustin Lerou will be spending the next fifteen years in La Santé.

Marianne and Gabriel and Maude and Léon are sitting among the crowd. We see them as Augustin is brought out of the courtroom. Maude begins to cry.

MAUDE

My boy.

AUGUSTIN

I'm sorry, Tante Maude.

Marianne goes over to Maude and comforts her. She looks up at Augustin as he passes by. He gives her a look as the guards show him out the door.