L'Age d'Or (1930) - full transcript

The scorpion is an arachnid species

found in various parts of the world.

Its tail comprises

five prismatic joints.

The pincers, recalling those of

the larger crayfish

are instruments of aggression

and information.

Its tail ends in a sixth joint,

a sac from which poison

is injected by barbed sting.

A lover of darkness,

it burrows under stones

to escape the glare of the sun.

Antisocial, it ejects

the intruder on its solitude.

Such lightning strikes,

such virtuosity in attack.

Even a rat, for all its fury,

falls prey to it.

Some hours later...

Stop it!

Perhaps I just happened to fall?

No. We saw nothing.

Is there any news, yes or no?

Yes, the Majorcans are here.

Quick, to arms!

To the rear!

What about P?man?

I'm done for.

So are we, but we're going.

Yes, but you've got accordions,

hippopotamuses, wrenches,

mountain goats, and...

Bollocks! Let's go.

...and paintbrushes.

1930 AD. This stone, on the site

where the Majorcans died,

marks the founding of

the city of...

...Imperial Rome.

Once mistress of the pagan world,

now secular seat of the Church.

Aspects of its stoutest pillar,

the Vatican.

The landlord's terms are very favourable.

We can move in at once.

Longing to see you, very soon now.

Your loving cousin.

But the hurly-burly of modern life

has overtaken the Imperial City.

Sometimes on Sundays...

Various picturesque aspects

of the great city.

Bandaged?

Yes, it's been sore for over a week.

Is Daddy home yet, Mummy?

Yes, he's in the dispensary.

Then he'll dress for the party.

We went out together this morning

and engaged four of them.

The little moustached one

sang like the rest.

Only a pianist is lacking.

But our priest is a fine violinist.

I think the musicians we have

will be enough.

Six of them placed near

the microphone

will make more noise than sixty

ten kilometres away.

I know sound gets lost in

the open air

but we could bring

the guests in close.

Get a move on. The Majorcans

will be arriving at nine.

Bastard! Filthy swine!

Keep your trap shut!

Want us to work you over?

Here's a taste of the rough stuff!

Enough is enough! Let me show you

who you're dealing with.

Let's have a look, then.

The International Goodwill Society

hereby appoints you

its special delegate.

This document testifies

to our faith in you.

We pray that you will prove worthy

of this trust we place in you,

and successfully complete

your goodwill mission.

On your spirit of self-sacrifice

and your proven valour

depend many lives.

Children, women, old men

The honour of our Fatherland

Rests on the outcome of

this noble enterprise

At his magnificent Roman estate,

the Marquis of X prepares for his guests.

The Minister of the Interior

is on the telephone.

You scoundrel!

You are entirely to blame!

You compromised me, too.

Do you realise that

not one child survived?

Many women and old men perished, too.

You're bothering me about a few brats?

Filthy ruffian,

you've dragged me down with you!

Dishonoured me!

You can die for all I care!

Then listen to my last words...

Has he gone?

Are you sleepy?

I was just falling asleep.

Where's the light switch?

At the foot of the bed.

Your elbow's hurting me.

Move your head closer,

the pillow is cooler on this side.

Where's your hand?

That feels so good.

Let's just sit here and not move.

Are you cold?

No, I was falling.

I've been waiting so long for him.

What joy! What joy in having killed

our children.

My love... my love...

Just as these feathers fell,

but a long way away,

the survivors

from the Ch?teau de Selliny

emerged to return to Paris.

120 days earlier, four godless

and unprincipled scoundrels

had, driven by their depravity,

shut themselves away

to indulge in the most

bestial of orgies.

To them, the life of a woman

mattered no more than that of a fly.

They took with them

eight lovely adolescent girls

to serve as victims

for their criminal desires

plus four women well versed

in debauchery,

whose narrative skills

would serve to stimulate

their already jaded appetites

whenever interest flagged.

Here are the survivors of these orgies,

leaving the Ch?teau de Selliny.

First and foremost of the four

instigators, the Duc de Blangis.