Don't Deliver Us from Evil (1971) - full transcript

Friday, 29th June...
A good day

Celine Crespin got the blame
for me playing around in class

She'll be kept in on Sunday

I confessed two sins of impurity
that I hadn't committed

That really gave me thrill

Lore and me get such pleasure
when we do something wrong

To sin has become our chief aim

Let the other idiots
live their lives doing good

We shall dedicate our fives to Satan,
our Lord and Master

It's you

I couldn't sleep



Me neither

You won't believe what I found

What is it?

- Got the torch?

Listen...

She was standing
right next to me

I raised my knee,
parting her legs as though for a lover

My hand on her blouse
traced the shape of her naked body

She yielded slowly,
arching her back as her skin trembled

Good?

Sleep was not on their minds
as they drew close

The next day I went back to her
and we blushed to see each other

She took me to her bedroom
so we could be alone

We slipped together
under the thin blankets



Our heads nestled close
and the light shone through

We lay looked together,
bodies cloaked in a strange radiance

delighting in our nakedness

Who loved and who was the lover
no man would ever know

What's it called?

There's no cover

- Who wrote it?
- Doesn't say

- Where'd you find it?
- The attic above the music room

There's a lot, but I only got this one.
Teacher was there

- Shall we go?
- Where?

To the attic?

They keep it locked

That's a pity.
What can we do?

I'll get some tools from home
next week

There's loads of stuff there

How did it go with the Priest?

Tell me all, my child

We must purify your soul.
Wash it of all sin

That's what confession's for

Should have seen his face

The more I told him
the redder he got

He looked like a tomato

So, girls, how are things?

Fine

And school?

Not bad

I'll bet.
You're a pair of tearaways

No, father

I could almost believe you

You should believe us.
We're two good little girls

Here we go

- Regards to your parents, Lore
- See you soon

Try to come

How are you?

- I'm well
- Come inside, if you have time

That's good of you
but we have to get back for dinner

You're sure?

Perhaps next time

Of course

Goodbye
and regards to your wife

And to yours.
See you soon

- Gustave, where is Madame?
- In her studio, sir

Go up and see her

What is it?

It's a fabric design.
Do you like it?

- It's really good

Get changed, we're eating soon

So, tell us Anne,
what's happening at St Mary's?

Not much, mother

But there must be
something to report

How is the Crespin girl?

We ran into her parents
the other day

She was kept in this weekend

What did she do?

Made a noise in prayers

I thought she was a model pupil

Exactly. She's always managed
to get away with it

But she's your friend

It's what she deserved.
Always trying to please teachers

Anne, leave the poor thing alone.
You're hurting it

I'm off to bed

- Don't read too late
- I won't

At your age you need sleep

They were all amazed beyond measure
and said:

He has performed great miracles

He made the deaf to hear
and the dumb to speak

In the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Spirit, Amen

My dearest brethren...

We started late today,
so I'll try to be brief

Following the programme I set out
over the last few weeks...

...we come today to the worst
of the seven deadly sins

Lust...

To be precise -
the dreadful sins of the flesh

Remember, brethren,
the sixth and ninth commandments

Thou shalt not commit adultery

Thou shalt not covet
thy neighbour's wife

Punishment. Damnation.
Hell-fire. Corruption.

Thus, my dear brethren,
listen to what I say to you

I warn all those children present

Especially those who are about
to have their first Communion

For this is the age
when temptation first begins

Avoid all bad examples
and bad friends

Parents, I beseech you

Don't allow your children
to see such obscene papers...

...as are found now
on all news stands

or these glossy magazines
where marriage is scorned

The woman treated worse than a dog

Beware of cinema and television

vehicles also of depravity
and degradation

Cursed be he who brings shame

Remember the words of our Lord

It were better for him that a millstone
were hanged about his neck

and he cast into the sea

than that he should offend
any of these little ones

I believe in one God,
Almighty Father...

Are you coming to ours?

We're going to my aunt's

I really like this new priest

Such words from a young man,
it's very reassuring

At least he's not trying to be trendy.
Keeping up with the youth

It was good sermon

Tell your parents to come for coffee
at the château

Please, Mr Fournier...

We have family business

We don't have to stay long

Stop that

Please, Mrs Fournier

The girls really want to...

Just a quick visit, then

See you soon. Come along

What are you doing later, Pierre?

Working

Checking my conference speech

I wish we could spend
an afternoon together

I want to play cards

Why not play with Anne?

She doesn't know how

And I don't like to see her continually
indoors

After all, this is her
one day of freedom

She's locked away all week

Here they are

Don't go far, Lore.
We've only five minutes

- Did you hear me?

- Who's that?
- Leon, the gardener

- Why is he looking at us?
- Ignore him. He's an idiot

Here we are

It's wonderful

- Not disappointed?
- It's just how I imagined

It just needs tidying up
and a good clean

Seen the fireplace?

It works too

What was here before?

I don't know.
Just a spare room

We can put the bed there,
and the books over there

There's something else.
Come and look

- For the ceremony
- What is it?

The château's old chapel

Not been used for 25 years

Pretty...?

They put the coffins down here

My father...
I'd better go

I wish we could stay here all day

So do I

They're over this side

in three days it'll be our holiday

Lore came this afternoon

She saw our room and the chapel

She loved it

Wonderful.
We'll perform the ceremony there

This morning we got two more hosts

We've almost a hundred now

Not that one.
Take an old one

This one's beautiful

Try another

This one?

It'll do fine

Look

It's not bad

Fine for an old man

It's late.
We should go up now

See that?

What?

Sister Martha and the novice.
Come on

Goodnight, sisters

- You asked to see me, my child?

You had confession two days ago

We must talk. It's important

This way

Come, my child

Forgive me, father,
I have sinned

May the Lord be in your heart
and on your lips

so you may confess all sins

In the name of the Father,
the Son and the Holy Ghost

Recite the Conflteor

I confess to Almighty God,
to blessed Mary ever Virgin

To blessed Michael
to John the Baptist

to the Holy Apostles,
to all saints, and you Father

That I have sinned
in thought, word and deed

Through my fault,
through my most grievous fault

Therefore I beseech...

Therefore I beseech Blessed Mary,
ever Virgin

blessed Michael, blessed John

the Holy Apostles,
all Saints, and you, Father

to pray to the Lord our God for me

I hear you, my child

What is it, my child?

You seem upset

Don't cry, my child

I've done something very bad

No sin is so great
that it cannot be pardoned

I'm ashamed

Come, come.
Dry your tears

- You have a handkerchief?

Here, use mine

Good. Now tell me...

Last night...

Go on

Outside Sister Martha's room

I looked through the keyhole

And then?

I saw Sister Martha...

...kissing Sister Cecile

What did you say?

I saw her
kiss Sister Cecile on the lips

Go on...
And what happened then?

I don't know, they locked the door

And how did you feel
when you'd seen this?

Was it good?

How do you mean?

When you saw them kissing?

No, Father

So why did you do it?

Out of curiosity

What did you think
after you'd seen it?

Did you want to do it?

No, Father.
It's wicked

You are right, my child.
It's a great sin

If it's a great sin, Father,
why did they do it?

One evening we must talk
of all these things

Life is not always simple

This evening I don't have time

But you were right to tell me

It was very brave of you

So don't worry

But don't tell your friends

It could do them much harm

- Can I count on you?

Remember Matthews words

If thy eye offends thee,
pluck it out and cast it from thee

It is better to enter into life
with one eye

rather than, having two eyes,
to be cast into hell fire

For your penance
meditate on those words

And promise me
you will forget what you saw

- Well?

Say your act of contrition

O God, I am heartily sorry
for having offended you

You are all good
and deserving of all my love

and my sins offend thee

I firmly resolve, with the help of
Your Grace, to sin no more

and to do my penance

So this is the big one, is it not, girls?

Forward march.

Promise you'll behave

To bed early and up early

The Bievres asked you over
while we're away

- If you do go, be good

Be a grown up

Do as your mother said

See you when we get back

Go and visit your granny,
she'd like that

Look, it's Anne

- Have your parents left?
- This morning

- So you'll be alone for two months?
- She's not a child anymore

Anyway, she's not alone.
Gustave and the staff will be there

And if she needs us,
we're here

I prefer to stay behind

One year they took me along

I was really bored

I don't know...

I'm not sure I'd be happy
leaving Lore alone for two months

Why - what could happen?

If she needs anything,
we're right here

You know that don't you, Anne?

I'm really grateful.
ls Lore free this afternoon?

But of course

Can she stay for dinner too?

She mustn't get back too late

She has homework to do.
It's exams next year, don't forget

Go on, then

Take a cardigan,
it might get cold

Don't do anything silly

You really should stop
treating them like children

I'm not sure I'd be happy
leaving Lore alone for two months

She has homework to do.
It's exams next year, don't forget

What shall we do?

Let's ride around for a bit

- Hey look, it's Emile's bike
- Who?

The farmer's son.
A real idiot

Girls, what's going on?
What are you up to?

Emile,
it's just me and my friend

You shouldn't watch
people pee

What you doing?

Watching the cows.
They won't do it themselves

They'd jump that
electric fence

What you sniggering at?

My friend likes you.
Can we come inside to talk?

Why not

Here's my best friend, Lore

Hello there

What's that wood for?

A stick for the cows

You on holiday, Miss Anne?

Since yesterday

Both at the same school?

The priest wanted me to go to school

But my parents wouldn't let me.
They needed me here

Pity.
I would have liked it

What did you want to be?

Don't know.
A priest perhaps

Why you laughing?

Being a priest is not a proper job

Maybe.
But I'd have liked it

You wouldn't.
They can't have women

Ever made love, Emile?

None of your business

It's not proper talk
for young ladies

I'll show you

Come back here
I'll show you

Damn bloody bitches

Always trying to get out

Guess what she told me?

What?

She fancies you
and wants to do it with you

You're fooling with me

Did you say that, Lore?

Yes, but it's a secret

Look at her lovely legs

Why are you waiting?

Let me go.

- Are you certain he's not here?
- He'll be at the stables

- He sleeps there?
- No, at the château

- That where he sleeps?

Who's that?

Him with his mother

- Pretty...?
- What is it?

A canary.
His favourite

And that one?

It's a bullfinch, from Java

And those?

They're mandarins

That's a ring dove
and those are budgies

- Got the seeds?

- We'll kill them one at a time
- Why?

So he suffers more

If we kill them all now...

...he'll have a bad time once
then get over it

Alright then

So let's start with this one

It's lifeless

It's dead

Quick, it's him

When did you go to bed?

At 10, mother

I didn't hear you come back

- Hows Anne?
- She's fine, mother

What did you do yesterday?

We went for a walk

You should go to the abbey
at Fontrevault

It's wonderful.
Isn't it Henry?

What?

I was saying to Lore
she should visit the abbey

Well, it would be educational

This the best holiday
I've ever had

Since I met Lore
I've been so happy

Every day we do something
wonderful together

- Are your sure there's no dog?
- It died

Look at his stupid face

Look how he nods

Who's the old man?

His father.
See the resemblance?

But he's even uglier

What do they eat?

No idea.
Potatoes, probably

Come on

That's the best

There you go

Where was I?

I'll start by saying
that Maldoror was good

during his early years
when he lived happily

He later realised
he was born wicked

A strange fate

For many years he concealed
his character as best he could

but in the end,
because it was not natural to him

blood would rush to
his head every day

Until, no longer able
to bear such a life

he flung himself
into a career of evil

Transport of delight

Who guessed when
he hugged a rosy cheeked child

he longed to tear those cheeks
with a razor

You read well

One should let one's nails
grow for a fortnight

How sweet to brutally snatch
from his bed

a child with no hair yet on his upper lip

and, 'with eyes 'wide open,
pretend to suavely stroke his forehead

brushing back his beautiful locks

Then, at the moment
when he least expects it

to sink one's nails
into his tender breast

Careful not to kill him

for if he died, there would be no later
viewing of his misery

Youth, forgive me...

When this fleeting life is done
we will be together forever

One single being,
my lips pressed against yours

I want to stay like this
the rest of my life

The ceremony is tomorrow

It will be the best day of our lives

All is ready

We got the dresses this morning
and the rehearsal went well

Tomorrow, writing these pages,
I'll be a different woman

I renounce forever Jesus Christ
and all his works

And dedicate myself for eternity
to Satan

We beseech thee, Satan,
our Lord and Master

Help us to be ever more wicked

Help us to do evil

and, at the hour of our death,
take us to your Satanic bosom

Stop

What is it, Leon?

Quick... Hurry

ls Miss Lore not around?

She's away for a few days

Hello, postie.
Anything for the château?

For the château?
Yes, I think I do

Wait a second...

Look, there's one for you

My darling... It's ten days now
since we've been parted

And I'm as unhappy as can be

All day driving in the car,
it's torture for me

We return next week.
I'm lost without you

She won't still be there

Really?

He'll have told
the Mother Superior

If not, we can always
blackmail her

"I'll tell the Mother Superior
what you and Cecile did"

There's a man down there

Is there a problem?

I've run out of petrol

Know where I could get some?

The next village
is at least 5 miles

There's no cars about.
Not one for over an hour

Any farms nearby?

They'll be asleep
and they wouldn't answer

No chance

This is insane,
what can I do?

Sleep in the car until tomorrow

Or come to the château

We've lots of room.
It's up to you

I don't want to be any trouble

It's no trouble at all

There's only us there

I never normally come this way

Lock the car and come with us

- You're sure you don't mind?
- No, I told you

Get on the back,
it's a mile or so

I really am grateful

Wait for me.

This is our place

Very nice

- Did you do all this?

Sit down.
I'll light the fire

Really very nice

You live round here?

No, not at all

Just passing through

Whisky?

Excuse me?

She offered you a whisky

I'm sorry...
Yes, thank you

Did you do this?

May I?

Muriel put the doll down on the table
and picked up the little axe

With one precise stroke
she chopped off the dolly's head

Taking the body, she placed it
under the glass dome in the dining room

She put both her hands on the glass
and said:

Vile and detestable creature
may the rats tear you piece by piece

so that you die
like the meanest of flies

Then she took the axe once more

and did the same
to all her little sister's dolls

Not very jolly

It's not supposed to be

It's for our school play

- We think it'll do the job
- Indeed

Not having one?

No, we hate it

You can take off
your jacket and shoes

Do you love your wife?

- Of course
- Doesn't look like it

Why did you ask?

For information

We're researching marriage

What's she like, pretty?

Not bad

How old?

Thirty-five

ls she house proud?

Are you unfaithful?

That's personal

- So what should we talk about?
- The weather?

Do you have children?

A boy and a girl

You love them?

Of course I do

Why "of course"?

Lots of parents
don't love their children

Ours, for example

Are you an experienced lover?

Why?

Well...you don't look like one

Do you know what you're saying?

Do our questions annoy you then?

Would you rather see our legs?

Which is the prettiest?

Damn, the fire's going out

- Where you going?
- To get more wood

Are you rich?

Bastard.

- Are you alright?
- I'm fine

He's not breathing

I've killed him

Didn't know I hit him so hard

It's his fault.
He shouldn't have grabbed me

What can we do?

Get rid of him

How?

Throw him in the lake

Really?
What about the car?

The body's more important

Hope no-one heard us

I'll go and see if there's a light

What is it?

Miss Anne, come and see

Someone broke into your place
last night

I'm coming

I saw the door open earlier.
Were you here last night?

Look at all this. It's shocking

Who could have done it?

We didn't hear a thing

Think of all the work you did.
Your parents won't be pleased

It's best not tell them

Why?

They'd only worry

As you wish

They called to say
they'll be back today

Shall I tell the police?

No, don't tell anyone.
Keep it to ourselves

Very well

But it's really shocking

Anne... I've just seen the newsletter
from St Mary's

What's all this about the rebuilding?

What are they up to?

Anne, I'm speaking to you

What's up with you?

You've been in a mood
since we got back

No I'm not

I've had a note from the school

Asking for money again

They're good at that

I can't take it

We not seen Lore for two days,
we've got to be careful

Anything could betray us

Back to school tomorrow

We should be safe there

Two days since we got back
and we're doing fine

After the first few mad hours
we calmed down

A policeman is coming
to ask questions

But we'll show him

Come with me

- It's mad coming here
- I'm afraid

Why?
How did it go?

Badly.
He asked lots of questions

What did he ask?

How long we've known each other,
what we did in the vacation

How often we met.
Had we seen the car on the road

Anything else suspicious

You must go.
If they see us it'll look bad

They won't find the body

- Really?
- Of course

Come with me

Do you smoke?

I guess your friends
told you why I'm here

I just want to ask you a few questions

Well?

- They suspect us
- I said so

Emile told them about the cows

And that he'd seen us
set fire to the haystacks

They found bike tracks
by the car

We're going to prison.
They're going to lock us up

- Not without the body
- They'll find it, I know they will

They might

We could tell them
it was an accident

They'll never believe that

- They'll split us up
- Calm down

I don't want to leave you,
I can't

- They won't split us up
- You promise?

- Do you trust me?

- You're shivering
- I'm cold

Hold me tight

When we exchanged blood,
we became joined forever

You regret that?

Still cold?

That's better

You're crying

- Why?
- I love you

Me too.
Remember...

When this fleeting life is done,
we will be together forever

One single being,
my lips pressed against yours

You mean it?

- I'll sort this all out
- Please don't leave me

We should go back.
They'll be watching us

I'm afraid

I didn't want to scare Lore,
but it's almost over

They'll discover the body
in a few days

But they'll never separate us

We shall be together forever

And now the Dolls' Ballet
performed by year Eight

- Such lovely costumes
- Like little angels

Your little one has really grown

Yes, she's simply shot up

When the young man came back home

He took his head in both hands

Full of science

- Brain
- Rich brain

- Do you hear the madness flow?
- Asking for a barrier

Dig a ditch, dig it deep

- Asking for a barrier
- Dig a ditch, dig it deep

When the home man came back home

- He heard sad scales sound
- Piano crying in the night

- Scales
- Old scales

We search and search again

Her husband locked me out

- Dig a ditch, dig it deep
- Her husband locked me out

Dig a ditch, dig it deep

When the young man came back home

- He stuck his nose into his soul
- Where all his troubles ferment

Soul, sweet soul, their oil's too old
for your flame

Night's everywhere outside

- Dig a ditch, dig it deep
- Night's everywhere outside

Then this young man
with problems loaded

Found a sharp knife,
a gift in its sheath

Blade take aim

Be sharper than any dame

And you, O God, forgive me now

Dig a ditch, dig it deep

- And you O God, forgive me now
- Dig a ditch, dig it deep

When the gravedigger reached his home

- He saw it was a sweet soul
- The sort that nowadays is rare

Soul

Sleep sweetly my soul

It's better when you're dead

Dig a ditch, dig it deep

- It's better when you're dead
- Dig a ditch, dig it deep

We will have beds filled with light scents

Sofas as deep as tombs

And strange flowers on shelves

Blooming for us
beneath more beautiful skies

Are they mad?
What are they up to?

It's not what they rehearsed

- We should warn the Mother Superior

- This is awful
- We've got to stop them

We will exchange
a single flash of lightning

Like a long sob,
charged full with farewells

And later an Angel, opening the doors

Will come to revive, faithful and joyous

The tarnished mirrors
and the dead flames

O Death, old Captain, it is time.
Weigh anchor

Let's sail
beyond the doldrums of our days

Though black as pitch the sea and sky
you know our hearts are full of light

Pour us poison to revive our souls

It cheers the burning quest
that we pursue

Who cares for Hell or Heaven

In the depths of the unknown
we seek out the New

Stop

They've gone mad.
They're burning.