Provided by explosiveskull https://twitter.com/kaboomskull
Rémi NOBODY'S BOY
Want some whisky?
No, thank you, sir.
You can call me Rémi.
Yes, sir.
I too
was scared of storms at your age.
You like singing?
- Pardon? - Singing.
It calmed me down
on nights like this.
What did you sing?
A lullaby.
My lullaby.
At the time
I had no idea where it came from.
As if it had always been there.
At Chavanon, where I lived,
I hummed it over and over
to my sweet, patient Roussette.
Let's go inside, beauty.
On stormy evenings like this one
my mother, "Mum Barberin"
always made me sing it.
Over and over
until I forgot everything around me.
As for my father,
gone to Paris
years before,
I only knew him from letters he sent my mother
with fellow workers
returning home.
Alas,
one day a letter came
announcing a terrible accident.
"My darling,
"I think that
"I will never again work as a stone mason.
"But I am sure to receive handsome compensation.
"To represent me, my lawyer asks 400 francs.
"If I calculate rightly
"our savings cover this sum.
"Send it quickly, darling,
"and pray for a happy outcome."
As we're neighbours, I'll take her at this price.
Only those who have lived with country people
know the sorrow and pain
these three words hold:
"Sell the cow".
Roussette was not only our milk.
She was my friend,
my best friend,
my only friend.
From then on,
not an evening passed
without a visit to her.
I forget how many whips
I stole from the neighbour!
Easy.
It's me.
Who's there?
Mum!
I saw a man, he was huge! He tried to grab me!
Calm down, Rémi!
What's going on?
Jérôme...
This is Rémi.
Rémi...
This is your dad.
You kept him?
Jérôme...
I see why we lacked money for my case.
Mum!
Don't call her that!
She's no more your mother than I'm your father!
How could you?
Keep him without telling me.
Spend all our money on him.
You said to keep him until his parents came for him.
I kept his clothes so they'd recognise him!
Dimwit! Didn't you realise they'll never come?
What was I to do? Abandon him? In an orphanage?
It would've been simpler.
I'll never let you take him! Never!
We've no choice!
We have no money to feed him.
No! You have no right!
We have no choice!
My baby!
Forgive me.
That night, after consoling me,
my mother told me the story.
It was 10 years ago on a February morning.
Jérôme was leaving for his Paris stone yard...
Watch your step!
Seeing your beautiful clothes,
Jérôme brought you to me, not to the orphanage,
hoping your rich parents would one day find you.
Hello, baby.
Don't get too attached.
We'll have to give him back.
I named you Rémi.
Like the child we had lost.
Here.
These are your baby clothes.
They're yours.
Look.
I don't want to go to the orphanage.
Don't let him, please.
Don't worry. I won't allow it.
Forgive me!
Rémi!
Wake up, I've something to tell you.
We thought all night, and wondered
if the town hall would give us an allowance
for the time we cared for you.
And if the Mayor refuses?
He has to play by the book.
Thank you, Mum.
We could sell my baby clothes to get more money.
With that money, we could buy back Roussette.
Her new master beats her.
Where are you going
We're not stopping here.
Why? Where are we going
You know where.
To the orphanage.
But you said...
Shut up!
I lied to her.
The town hall don't care about people like us.
We've no money. We can't keep you.
You're hurting me!
So I'm taking you there.
No!
Dirty brat!
Rémi!
Grab him!
Who's there?
Open up!
How did this child upset the whole village?
That doesn't concern you, sir.
He won't go to the orphanage.
Careful, kid!
Or my friend will grab you.
The orphanage?
Tell me your story.
So, you want to get rid of him
so that he won't cost you a penny more.
But...
How much could he bring in?
Bring what?
Money?
How?
How much?
30 francs.
I don't understand.
I'm offering to hire this child.
A year to begin with.
And if I'm satisfied, I'll keep him longer.
What do you say? 30 francs seems reasonable, no?
Sir...
What's your name?
Mr Vitalis, travelling artiste and showman.
You met Capi.
That's Joli-Coeur.
We travel the country to earn a crust.
As you can see, we can't complain.
But I figured that a child like this
skinny and puny, could attract pity from the public.
All right.
60 francs a year.
35.
- Too bad. - Wait.
Agreed.
Don't stop!
Mum...
Mum!
Rémi!
Let me go. Mum!
Rémi!
Mum!
Let me go, please!
Come along!
Let go of me!
Rémi!
She told me to come and listen.
That's not true.
She did well.
Come join us.
Dry your tears.
That's better.
Did you manage to escape?
During the day, it would have been hard.
But when we stopped, at nightfall...
First rule of the travelling showman.
Never,
never go into the woods
after sundown.
Fear not.
I've never hit a child, I won't hit you!
You don't understand?
My intent is not to harm you.
Without me, you'd be at the orphanage.
Come on!
Get some rest.
Come!
Here we'll find clothes for your new life.
You don't like them?
I do.
It's just that...
They'll attract attention.
That's the idea!
It comes to 10 francs.
Master...
Why are you spending so much money on me?
Pardon?
The three pieces of silver you gave Barberin.
Today again, at the shoemaker's.
Mr Joli-Coeur's not happy, eating stale bread.
So you're not as rich as you told Barberin.
Indeed.
I earn less than I pretended I do.
And it's true I spent almost all the troupe's savings on you.
But I did that
because I knew you were precious.
I heard you sing in the stable the other night.
A good heart and a sweet voice are rarely united.
I didn't hire you to beg.
I hired you to sing!
Sing? In front of people?
What if they laugh?
Sing like you sang to your cow and they'll love you!
Captain Capi.
Mr Joli-Coeur.
Hold that!
Master Vitalis...
Now watch, listen
and do exactly as I say.
Forward!
Good day, ladies!
Good day, gentlemen!
Follow me, children!
Follow the music!
Come, ladies!
Come, gentlemen! Come, children!
Open your ears, widen your eyes,
ready your hands to applaud!
For the show we will present
is renowned as the most extraordinary in France!
Nay, France... The whole of Europe!
What? You don't believe me?
Ladies and gentlemen, we will show
this young ruffian
what magnificent performers we are!
Don't be shy, Capi!
Greet our friends!
Captain Capi, your show!
Bravo, Captain!
General!
Come on, Captain, we turn!
Now, the other way, if you please.
You're making me dizzy!
Ah, finally! Mind the obstacle!
And applause!
And a bow. Bravo, Captain!
What? Our paw hurts?
Come!
We won't go far like that!
As he's wounded, we'll finish him off.
Alas, that was cruel.
Reassure our friends, Captain. Get up!
Now, the climax of our show!
Attention, ladies and gentlemen! Make way!
And... hop!
Bravo!
Take a bow!
Applaud the dog!
Applause!
Thank you, dear spectators!
To wrap up our show,
a little sweetness.
An angel's voice to melt the hardest of hearts!
It's the first time for this young prodigy,
so encourage him with thunderous applause!
- What should I do? - Sing!
For a first time, it was a success!
What are you doing?
Returning your gifts! I warned you.
Stage fright. Next time...
Next time? I'll never sing again! Never!
I won't let stage fright destroy your talent!
How'd you know I have talent? You're a dog tamer!
I can recognise a gift when it crosses my path!
You'll sing, by fair means or foul!
You can't force me! You said you'd never hurt a child!
Then I'll take you to the orphanage myself.
Enough!
Anyway, I don't care.
That's you, right? You were a violinist?
And not just any violinist. Read!
You can't read?
It says
"Yesterday the illustrious violinist
"left Vienna to travel
"with his wife and son to Venice
"where he will perform for Italian high society."
Yes, my boy, before being a humble dog tamer
I was a celebrated musician.
That's why I can claim to recognise
a great voice, like yours.
What's that?
The first letter of the alphabet, A.
There are 25 others.
If you learn to recognise and use them,
you can write to your mother.
You could send money with your letters.
In exchange,
I want you to learn to sing
and perform when I ask.
A, B, C...
Wait for me!
E
F
G...
P, B,
M, N,
O, P...
F
M...
Meuha...
Ma.
Ma!
"Mum,
"sweet Mum Barberin,
"I hope you are happy
"despite the pain you felt seeing me leave.
"Now that I know how to write, I'll send many letters.
"The man who hired me is a good master.
"He never beats me
"and always shares his bread with me and the troupe.
"Above all,
"he's teaching me to sing.
"If I can sing before people, then I'll earn money.
"If I manage,
"I'll send money so you can buy back Roussette.
"I send all my love, my sweet Mum Barberin.
"Your Rémi."
Your lullaby.
These notes are who you are deep inside.
Always keep them close to your heart.
Master...
Master?
You cried out last night.
"Enso" and "Angelina".
Were they your wife and child?
It is because of them that you no longer play violin?
Why you're no longer the man in the newspapers?
Forgive me. I didn't mean to pry.
No, no! You were right.
But, you see, sometimes
some names awaken old pains.
I won't mention it again.
Well...
What next?
Your last exercise.
- Master, what... - Trust me!
You learned technique,
now learn again to sing with your heart.
Smell this.
Chavanon!
It smells like Chavanon!
Sing.
My master had told the truth.
I loved to sing, profoundly,
and I knew I would never stop singing.
This fullness,
this freedom, this sharing...
I knew then
that I would never renounce it.
That summer,
our troupe found generous spectators,
notably the English aristocracy,
who apparently had no need to count pennies.
Hop on! Bravo, Mr Joli-Coeur!
All right?
Now down!
Salute, like an English general.
Children! The kites are ready.
Rémi!
Come help me.
Frustrating, isn't it?
Seeing them have fun
and you can't join them on your own birthday.
Why don't you join them?
Excuse me, I didn't see you were infirm.
I didn't mean...
I'm sorry, I was stupid to say that.
You should see your face!
That's not funny.
It is, a little!
Let them be.
I rarely see my daughter laugh so much.
Anyway,
even if I could walk, I wouldn't play with them.
They're so dull!
I was the happiest of little boys.
- What did she have? - A rare disease
called Coxalgia. It caused her so much pain
she could hardly move let alone walk.
My name is Lise.
My name is Rémi.
- Did you see her again? - Yes.
But not in the circumstances I had hoped.
Because our profession of travelling performers
brought us some delightful meetings,
but also others, much more unpleasant.
Stop!
My master had warned me about meddlesome zealots.
For them, travelling performers
were just beggars stealing money from honest folk
with vulgar tricks.
Gentlemen?
Your permit, please.
What permit?
The prefectural permit to perform in this town.
Parading animals without leash or muzzle.
I didn't know we needed one.
We really need a permit?
- You doubt me? - Of course not!
I put on shows here every year,
we never had a permit.
You admit fault?
Only through ignorance!
I'll go to the Prefecture this afternoon.
Very well.
Meanwhile I must fine you and impound your animals.
Silence!
But I was unaware of this law.
That's no excuse. Take them away!
I tell you this animal is harmless.
- Get them! - And lose a finger?
Please!
But, sir...
He's done no harm!
Stop!
Rémi!
Run!
I arrest you!
Shackle him!
Did Mr Jules Verne go to all the places he describes?
So deep under the sea!
Following numerous testimonies exonerating him,
the Court declares the accused, Vitalis,
not guilty of charges of disturbing the peace.
However,
for our judgement,
we have investigated your origins.
Imagine our surprise
on discovering that your identity is false.
The Court is disposed to clemency,
if you declare your true name
and it reveals no problematic antecedents.
- Why didn't you tell them? - Out of the question.
No-one must know.
Because of who? Enso and Angelina?
What happened that we can't speak of them?
I killed them.
I was not the man I am today.
I was selfish, full of myself.
My family bored me.
I preferred the flattery of society.
Every evening, despite my indifference,
my little Enso lit a candle so I could make my way in the dark.
No-one knows what happened.
A breeze...
The candle fell on the carpet...
I rushed to save them
but the fire consumed the whole house.
My son was 10 when I buried him.
At the cemetery, the nurse sang his favourite lullaby.
A little lullaby that I,
the most renowned musician in Italy, didn't even know.
Of course,
publically, everyone sympathised, but...
they all knew it was my fault.
One would have thought my career was over,
but no, on the contrary.
Engagements multiplied.
People rushed to attend my concerts.
They were keen to observe my recovery.
That's when...
That's when I decided
it was over,
I would stop everything,
I'd never again play the violin.
My life today
is my penitence
for failing to save them.
I'll be here when you come out.
How long?
Two months.
The bastards!
Rémi, are you asleep?
- What are you doing here? - I missed you!
I see you're comfortable!
You shouldn't be here.
It's dangerous to wander around
on the barge alone.
What's this baby coat?
Don't touch that!
I'm sorry.
I was wearing it when they found me as a baby.
I had never told anyone my story.
Not even my master.
But I had never realised
how much I needed to share it.
Thus began the most beautiful summer of my young life.
Look at this one!
Up there? It looks like a unicorn!
Good night, Lise.
Good night, Rémi!
"Master Zacarius...
"This man almost dead, arose from his bed..."
- What's he doing? - Capi?
Master!
I'd like Rémi to stay with us.
Lise is different with him here. You've seen them together?
My little girl is facing a serious operation.
She needs him during her convalescence.
- And after? - After?
After her convalescence?
I thought that Rémi could stay with her.
He could train to become her personal butler.
- And the singing - Singing?
The singing.
Rémi has a gift and a passion for this art.
But Mr Vitalis...
Seriously.
Madame, I know
the life you offer him seems comfortable and less risky
than what I offer.
Nevertheless,
you don't see the greatness in this child.
You offer the chance of servitude to your family.
Life with me is tough, but it forges his character.
Even if the road to your world may seem difficult,
with his greatness he will one day stride in there.
But you propose that at best
he become your daughter's valet.
I want... if he also wants it,
to one day give him the possibility
of asking for her hand, without blushing.
You know our world well, Mr Vitalis.
Don't be surprised if I find you unreasonably optimistic.
I am indeed when I hear him sing.
But it's his choice, to stay with you or come with me.
- He's a child. - Indeed.
A child who has...
You'll come to see me?
I promise.
Oh, no...
Good night, Lise.
Good night, Rémi.
I could see that our master was losing strength.
One day, we couldn't reach the destination
we had planned that morning.
Master! Are you all right?
Joli-Coeur! Come back!
The hut! Run!
Capi! Come, quick!
Come!
Master! Quick!
They're coming!
Capi, come back!
Capi!
Get inside!
Get inside, damn it!
Capi, no! Capi, hurry!
Come back!
Come here, boy! Quick!
Come, boy!
Joli-Coeur!
There!
Lise, darling,
come and help me with your cousin's coat.
It's the same as Rémi's!
I think you're mistaken.
This is designed by a renowned London couturier.
- I doubt... - Rémi's adopted!
Adopted? What do you mean?
Your best room.
To my knowledge, a chest fluxion.
Keep him warm and hope.
- And your cough? - It's nothing.
I'll examine you at no charge.
I know what I have.
Please.
Goodbye.
- When did it start? - A few weeks ago.
You're spitting blood?
You know what will happen if you don't treat it urgently?
- Yes. - Very well.
Send for me if you change your mind.
- Thank you. - Please do!
Tuberculosis kills fast without treatment.
Goodbye.
How will we pay for the room? We can't even buy food.
I'll ask if we can perform.
But look at us! What can we do?
Don't worry.
Tonight I'll be performing.
Come in! There are still places at the front.
Take your seats!
An impromptu but exceptional performance
as our inn is lucky to welcome a renowned artist,
who accepted to play for us tonight.
With this crowd, we could make 40 francs.
40 francs?
That's the price of the room for a week.
We never make more than 20!
You're too ill.
Have faith in me.
Only 26 francs.
But... The bowl was full.
Of small change!
We can't save Joli-Coeur with this.
Excuse me.
I wanted to congratulate you.
That's very kind.
Perhaps I could...
No.
Forgive me, but the thing is...
I am also a musician.
I remember how I found my vocation.
I was still a little girl
and that evening
the great Carlo Balsani triumphed at La Scala in Milan.
I was so moved by that concert.
It thought that emotion was lost to me.
Until today.
I'm sorry.
I'm not that man.
I'm a humble musician who entertains crowds.
In that case,
I'm sorry I bothered you.
If you were that man...
I would offer my condolences
for your loss.
And my respect
for the silence you chose.
Arrivederci, gentile signore.
A gold Louis!
She gave us a gold Louis!
We can spend the winter here.
Joli-Coeur is saved! Come Capi!
Joli-Coeur, look! A gold louis!
Master?
Let's go, Capi.
Breathe deeply.
You can get dressed.
Hey, kid!
A letter for you.
Thank you.
Lise...
Straight to hospital.
No.
Enough nonsense.
You've been sick too long.
It is my doctor's duty to warn you,
that if you're not treated now
we probably can't save you.
What will become of you?
Rémi, we must talk.
What is it?
"My dear Rémi,
"Your letter brought me great happiness.
"I was happy to have news from you
"and also to finally have your address
"so I can tell you this news.
"Mother and I may have found your parents.
Rémi's adopted!
Adopted? What do you mean?
The Barberins aren't his real parents.
They found him in Paris as a baby with this same coat.
He showed it to me. It was torn to hide the labels.
Rémi never knew his real parents.
"My mother concluded
"if the coat was from London, perhaps you were too.
"My mother told your story to her circle of friends.
"A few weeks later, a lawyer, James Milligan, wrote asking us
"...to contact him when we heard from you."
My parents. My real parents!
What can I say, child?
Forward!
Thank you, Master!
Capi, come!
We'll find my parents, Capi!
May I see the clothes, please?
Please excuse the presence of these gentlemen.
Attempts at fraud are frequent
since the disappearance of the Driscoll child.
Driscoll?
So...
It's you!
Yes.
Sir? Is Driscoll my father's name?
Your father, your mother,
a brother and a grandfather!
I represent the family since your disappearance.
Ready to meet them?
Paul! Oh, my God, Paul!
Rémi.
His name is Rémi, now.
Of course.
Come here...
Kiss your father, my boy!
Paul!
This woman loved me with all her heart.
She believed we would marry.
She couldn't imagine I loved another woman,
your ravishing mother.
When we had a child,
she saw the opportunity for revenge.
My father told me how I had been kidnapped.
The story of a jealous, hateful woman,
who as revenge for being jilted,
stole me when I was 6 months old.
We searched everywhere.
We never imagined she'd take you to Paris.
After a while, we thought you were dead.
You speak of a woman.
Barberin said he saw a man,
when he found the child.
Perhaps an accomplice.
We'll never know, alas.
Alas.
I understand you're afraid. You don't know us.
You can't understand everything.
But the most important
is that you return home to us.
Right?
Yes, I guess so.
Here's your bed.
As we weren't expecting you,
we didn't have time to prepare a proper room.
Are you all right?
Yes.
It's nice here.
I won't leave London right away.
I won't be far.
No!
I know you're sick! I saw your handkerchief.
Go back to the doctor at the inn.
Always remember, the lullaby is your true identity.
I'll always keep it.
I promise.
Goodbye, Mr Vitalis.
Thank you for returning the child safe and sound.
What are you doing?
Naughty, naughty, little Peter!
Why did you have to find our war bounty?
Peter? I thought it was Paul.
Oops!
Bill!
Mr Milligan! They're not my real parents!
Of course they're not.
Let go of me!
This should take less time than we thought.
Very good, sir.
Shut up, or you'll get a thrashing!
You!
You sure made me run!
- Kill him now. - What?
Kill him! That was the plan, wasn't it?
Knock him out with this beforehand if it makes you feel better.
Capi!
My baby! Do something!
Silence!
Why do you want to kill the kid?
Calm down! The lawyer asked me to.
- Milligan? - Yes.
He's the lad's real relative, his uncle.
It's about the inheritance.
When the kid's father died Milligan was the heir but...
But... the deceased's wife was expecting a child, right?
Yes.
You're the real heir.
When he was born, his uncle came to me.
They always come to me to take care of someone.
I planned to smother him,
to make it look like a natural death.
At the last minute,
I couldn't do it.
I can kill an adult.
But a child...
I had to do the job!
So I took him far away
tearing his clothes
so no-one could tell his origins.
Watch your step!
And the lady,
Mrs Milligan, where is she?
There's no way
I'm going to tell you that!
At Milligan Park, near Barnet.
Seven miles from London, heading North.
Rémi!
We're leaving now.
Capi won't release your son until we're far away.
Understand?
Capi, come!
Help!
Mr Milligan, help!
- What now? - We find your mother.
We're nearly there!
It's impossible.
It's snowing too hard!
Believe me, Rémi...
I've faced snowstorms.
Not in this state.
Come on, Rémi, keep going!
Master, we can't, we won't make it.
I promise you we'll get there.
Rémi! Rémi, wake up!
Wake up!
We'll make it!
Rémi, we're almost home!
No!
Are we here?
Yes, Rémi!
Yes, we're here.
See, it's warm now.
That's the fireplace.
The flames will grow stronger,
you'll be even warmer.
Come, boy!
Farewell, comrade.
Where's Capi?
Don't worry, he'll come back.
You know what I'd like?
Sing me your song.
You don't need to sing loudly,
it's just to hear your voice.
Will you?
Thank you, my son.
Master, someone's here.
Master!
Gently...
Capi!
My master?
I'm sorry, my child.
Let him rest. Make sure he has everything he needs.
Very well, Mrs Milligan.
Is he awake?
Yes.
Good. Then he can come with me now.
No.
My dear, you don't seem to understand
this little urchin and his master tried to deceive you.
Yes, I understand that.
But he is nonetheless an exhausted child who just lost a loved one.
You are too forgiving of these criminals who play with your grief.
Why does this upset you so much?
It isn't as if it's the first time it's happened.
Since it is my duty to look after you,
no one should get this close to you.
Well, don't worry yourself.
He'll follow you as soon as he's back on his feet.
Good.
Do not make me wait too long, Mary.
It would be better to burn these and get this child new clothes.
No, Lucy, I think he'll appreciate his old clothes.
What's this?
He had it in his shirt.
This must be important to him.
Madam?
Madam! Is everything all right?
Good morning, sir.
How are you feeling?
Fine, thank you.
In that case,
Madam would like to speak with you.
Yes, of course.
This is my son's room.
The one he should have had.
Every year, I reorganise it, change the furniture, redecorate.
I try to imagine what game he'd like,
what adventure story he'd like me to tell him.
This is where I saw him for the last time.
Eleven years ago, this spring.
I remember rocking him to sleep with a lullaby,
that my mother sang to me.
I thought, until now, that I alone remembered it.
My child!
My son!
That's how I found my mother,
my family,
my social status.
I hope your uncle got what he deserved.
He did.
He spent time in prison,
then was banished from England.
As for my master,
I buried him as he had wished
under his performer's name.
He had saved me
in every possible way.
Since then
not a day goes by
without me visiting his tomb, to remind him.
And did you fetch Madame Barberin?
No, my child.
I suggested it.
But she chose to stay at Chavanon.
- Rémi! - Mum!
My baby.
When her husband died
she joined me here.
To welcome our first boarders.
Indeed.
I believe it's bedtime.
- Good night, children. - Good night, Mr Milligan.
Good night, Mr Milligan.
Good night, Lise.
Good night, Rémi.
VITALIS ORPHANAGE
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