Mixte (2021–…): Season 1, Episode 1 - Episode #1.1 - full transcript

It's September 1963, and Voltaire High is getting ready for another school year. For the first time ever, this establishment will welcome girls: 11 of them to be exact, all freshmen. If the Principal is delighted with this experience, Vice-Principal Bellanger isn't convinced. He and his wife Jeanne, the school nurse, will soon have to deal with the unforeseen excesses of coeducation.

SEPTEMBER 1ST

00:00:07,160 --> 00:00:09,560
I attended an all-boys school.

And I think that studying with girls
would bring a new dynamic

that's detrimental to education.
With girls in the same school,

boys will try to act
a little more civilized.

Girls will try to be more sophisticated
than they are.

I prefer an all-girls school.
When it's mixed, it's not as good.

I don't believe in mixing boys and girls.

Gérard! We already have customers.

Here, put it over there.

When will you be back?



Same as Jean-Pierre.
I'll be back as soon as I can.

Look how handsome he is!

You look like a young man
who's about to graduate.

I'm working on it.

Ready?

Stay with your brother.

Don't worry.

And keep a low profile.

Have a nice day, kids!

I hope your friends are nice.

Don't talk to my friends.

Mom and Dad let you go to this school,

but as of now, we're not siblings anymore.

-Jean-Pierre...
-We don't know each other.



I would've preferred
to go to an all-girls school.

You don't need school
to work at the butcher's.

Excuse me. Sorry, sorry.

So... this is it!

The big day! The girls are coming!

So, it's for real?

Girls are really coming?

-For real?
-Yes!

It was decided over the summer.
It's crazy.

We're the first to do it.

-How many?
-Think they'll be pretty?

Good to see you.

-What's up?
-Your hair's long.

Yeah, English girls love it.

How many girls?

Eleven, I think.
They're all in second year.

This should be interesting!

Mr. Bellanger, 38 students per class.
Can you imagine?

I know it's a lot.

It's not a lot, it's too much!

Classes are overcrowded everywhere!

So, what? Do all French girls
need to go to high school now?

Paul!

Let me introduce you to Miss Couret,
our new English teacher.

Mr. Douillard is our Latin teacher,

and Mr. Bellanger is the student dean.

-Hello.
-Nice to meet you.

Sir, there are four girls in my class.

They need a school to graduate from.

Boys want to graduate too!

They can't do that with girls
distracting them.

Okay, I'll leave you to it.

If you would be so kind
as to show Miss Couret around.

Yes, of course.

Against one who denies the principles,
there can be no debate.

Okay...

So you're the infamous
and formidable student dean.

We never forget our deans.

I remember mine
from when I was in high school.

No one dared step out of line.
She was very tough.

Know what her name was?

-No.
-Mrs. Flinty.

It's true! Sorry.

Sorry.

I leave things everywhere,
then forget where they are!

That's silly, isn't it?

My wife is a nurse.

Okay.

I mean, she's the school nurse.

-I'll introduce you.
-I'd like that.

Gentlemen. Let's go!

Morning, gentlemen.

I hear they're good at philosophy...

And history...

And languages too.

Think that includes dead languages?

Think they have breasts yet?

This is it! The first one just arrived.

Here we go.

It's just her.

-It's the butcher's daughter.
-We're neighbors.

Go talk to her then.

She seems nice.

So did Eve.

-Poor girl.
-No one forced her to be here.

The new girl is not bad.

She's cute.

Poor girl!

Are they just going
to stare stonily at each other?

I hope the boys will welcome them.

Hopefully, they're not pregnant
by Christmas.

I'm joking.

I was joking, sorry.
I shouldn't have said that.

SECOND YEAR
HOMEROOM TEACHER: MRS. GIRAUD

There aren't even 20 of us.

I thought I was the only girl.

I waited for you to come in.

-I'm Simone.
-Michèle.

It feels like everyone's staring.

They are.

How was your summer, Dupin?

Who cares? Every day is summer now.

Hey, is that Pichon?

Hey, Piggy-Pichon, come say hello.

-Go see your girlfriends.
-Pichon!

Hey, Pichon.

I wish I went to another school.

They shouldn't be here.

They shouldn't be here.

Did you bring a smock?

-It's in my bag.
-Same.

I won't wear it if they don't ask.

Are you wearing heels?

My mom didn't say anything.

Hopefully, the teachers won't either.

Are we in the same class?

-I don't know.
-Let's check.

What about the girls?

I have three sisters, I can still read.

He's lost his mind.

Do you know the other girls?

Three were in my elective class,
but we're not friends.

-Did you go to Catholic school?
-I was in Algiers.

I got here a month ago.
I don't know anyone.

There's a boy coming. Don't move.

Oh, no.

What's wrong?

My homeroom teacher... is Bluebeard.

I can't believe this.

Piggy is the first to talk to them.

Don't worry. I don't think you...

I'm not interested in them.

Do you know her?

Yes... they do have breasts.

My friends, let the party begin.

Go ahead, Paul.

Welcome to Voltaire High School.

The next three years will shape
the rest of your lives.

In 40 years, you'll still remember
some of your teachers.

Some of your essays in philosophy
will remain etched in memory.

Some of the students around you here today

will become lifelong friends.

Before I let you go
with your homeroom teachers,

I'd like to remind you that this year,
we're welcoming girls to this school.

Gentlemen, I expect you to...

to be as polite, respectful,

magnanimous and dignified
as I know you can...

when on your best behavior.

He's smiling,
but he doesn't look very relaxed.

Bellanger? There's no chance.

He wanted to become a priest.

Happy first day!

Five years in a seminary.
So imagine having girls here...

I'm calling second year students,
class one.

-Is that Bluebeard?
-Applebaum, Daniel...

I thought Bluebeard was a man.

I thought Bluebeard had a beard.

Belkacem, Ahmed...

Morning, miss.

Look, Pichon is about to pee his pants.

I am Mrs. Giraud, your homeroom teacher.

What's your name, miss?

Annick Sabiani.

Where do you think you are, Miss Sabiani?

Do you think it's okay
to sit next to a boy?

Get your things.

No. You.

-Get up, go sit at the back.
-But I can't see from there.

Back row, now.

It's not your day, Piggy.

Quiet! As I was saying...

Mrs. Giraud,

with a "D" as in "discipline."

Did you hear my speech?
I'm stuttering again.

You haven't stuttered in years.

Damn curtain rod that won't hold.

Now the girls will have this great screen
to hide from the prying eyes of sick boys.

Unless it's the boys who want to hide.

Does the principal know

that you disapprove of his brilliant idea?

-There you are.
-Sir.

Who can tell me what this means?

Did he write "domum deducunt"?

Well? Anyone?

-Yes?
-I think she has raised her hand.

Indeed. So?

"The Romans welcome Horatio

"with joy and congratulations

"and escort him to his house."

The Romans "cheer" Horatio.

Can you conjugate the verb "ovare"?

Subjunctive form...

Give me that.

Give it to me.

-Think this is funny?
-It wasn't me.

Who is responsible for this masterpiece?

Your name?

-It wasn't me.
-"It wasn't me."

All culprits have the same name.

They must all be related.

-Okay, Mr. It Wasn't Me...
-My name is Laubrac.

All right, Laubrac.

Are you the boy from foster care?

Some nobody's son's trying to graduate?
How amusing.

Didn't anyone teach you discipline
in the care system?

I won't let a bastard disrupt my class.
Get out.

But he didn't do anything!

Nobody taught you to raise your hand

in your girls' school, Miss Magnan?

Or maybe you think you have a free pass
because your uncle is the dean.

Escort your new friend
to your uncle's office.

He'll give you detention too.

What a jerk!

You shouldn't have done that.

You could just say thank you.

I didn't ask for your help.

I'm sorry, sir.

I know how much I owe you.

Michèle,

can you wait outside?

Sit down.

You have to be smarter than them.

I can't do it, sir.

This is not my world.

You believed in me, but it was a mistake.

I don't make mistakes.

At least, not with my students.

I could tell you
that you can be like the others,

but that's not true.

It's not fair, but that's the way it is.

But I saw your grades.
I know you can do it.

You have to trust me.
You have to believe me.

This school is your chance.

Don't give up!

I believe in you.

Detention on Thursday.

Michèle...

Do you think teachers are happy
to have girls here?

With everything that comes with it.

And you prove them right
by standing out on the first day.

-But I wanted to...
-There's no "but."

This is difficult enough as it is.

So I'd like to be able to trust my niece.

I don't want any more problems.

Please.

Michèle.

What happened?

I saw you in the hall earlier.

Did you get kicked out of class?

Why are you even talking to me?

Be careful, Michèle.

And cover yourself up.

Are you okay?
Your uncle wasn't too hard on you?

He was. Apparently,
the teachers don't want us here.

Teachers, maybe,
but the boys don't feel the same.

Don't you see how they look at us?
Some of them are happy.

Really? But not in our class.

They're too immature.

I'm talking about the seniors.
Sorry, I really have to go.

Sorry!

It's the boys' bathroom. I just saw...

-What was that?
-Sorry!

The teachers' bathroom, really?
Is he serious?

We could restrict access
to the bathrooms on one floor,

but there are only 11 of them.

No one thought about bathrooms.

France has seen worse, I think.

Sir, not the teachers' bathroom!

We can't restrict access to the bathrooms
of an entire floor for 11 girls!

No. We'll go with your idea.

The abyss calls the abyss.

See? You always find a solution.

We're not ready.

Did you see that tight little ass?

I wish you'd asked for my opinion.

Having girls here is absurd.

They're just girls, Paul!

They're not explosives.

-Huge. Huge!
-Imagine how the students will react.

It's a school, not a barnyard.

They're just girls.

I'm stuttering again.

They're not explosives.

Boys want to graduate too.

Does the Latin teacher call on you?

He ignores us.

Are you really the dean's niece?

-Yes.
-That's helpful.

I'm sorry, Annick.

-Do you want my plate?
-That idiot should give her his.

Does the dean's niece have a problem?

What did you tell your uncle?

"Laubrac is innocent.
Descamps is the bad one."

"The dean's niece and the bastard."
A new love story.

Why don't you tell us
what you wrote in that note?

It was a drawing.

I'll show you.

It's a portrait.

Does this remind you of anyone?

Quiet, gentlemen!

-Watch out.
-Don't worry.

See if they're coming.

-That guy is staring at you.
-They're coming.

Are you good in English?

You're not listening to me.
He was very handsome.

He looked like Alain Delon.

Alain Delon?

If the real Alain Delon came...

Keep an eye on them.

We can dry your dress
in the nurse's office. It's okay.

Magnan! Magnan!

-You're so stupid!
-Do you want to see my boobs?

What are you doing?

-Who is that?
-Look!

-Stop it!
-Let me go!

Stop!

Back to your seats!

My eye!

-Let me see.
-My eye!

-I can't see!
-Don't touch it! Okay?

-Mrs. Bellanger, there was an incident.
-Michèle!

Do you have any spare clothes?

-I have to...
-I'll take care of it.

Can you stand up?

Let me see.

Pichon, go get the nurse now!

He's got some glass in his eye.

Careful.

They got his eye!

We'll take you to the hospital.

Get back to your class!

-You're dead!
-Dupin, take your seat.

I'll take care of him.

Jean-Pierre, my office.

Laubrac, you're bleeding. Nurse's office.

You two, put the chairs back.

You, wipe that off.
And you, clean that now!

Everyone else, take your seats!

Quietly!

I'll leave you to it, Miss Couret.

Were you fighting?

It wasn't me.

It never is, is it?

Sir, Jeanne has taken him to the hospital.

I didn't ask your opinion,

that was a mistake.

I liked the idea of a modern school.

No one could have anticipated
something like this.

The new school
they're building will be mixed.

Maybe it'll be ready
when the girls are seniors.

In the meantime, they'll have to go
to another school.

Paul?

Mr. Bellanger, any news about the boy?

They say he's going to lose his eye.
My wife is still with him.

Never leave the classroom unsupervised.

This is my resignation letter.

That's not necessary.

We need an English teacher.

I hear the girls will have to leave.

They should have never come here.

But they were already here
before my mistake.

Is it true?

You're a foster kid.

I'm bad news, right?

Douillard thinks so.

What about you?

Are you still bleeding?

Go back to class.

-I'm sorry...
-I know what happened. Are you okay?

I'm sorry about what happened.

I swear I'm trying to stay out of trouble.

I'll call your mother, you can go home.

Don't.

I'm okay.

I'll go back to class.

-Michèle...
-I'm not afraid of them.

I want to prove you were right.

Come in.

Excuse me. Can I go back to my seat?

Yes.

-She's wearing pants.
-She's dressed like a boy.

It's absurd.

She should have been wearing her smock.

Miss Couret.

Miss Sabiani, right?

Do we have to leave the school?

You'll be going
to an all-girls school nearby.

In La Rochelle?

If my mother could afford to send me
to Notre Dame,

I'd be there.

It's this school or no school at all.

And I'd have been top of the class.

I don't know why they get to graduate
and I don't?

She's pretty, she'll be just fine.

Will there be a disciplinary hearing?

-Come in.
-Am I going to be expelled?

I'm a top student.
I've never been in trouble.

You just sent someone to the hospital!

-Why did you do that?
-He humiliated her! What was I to do?

Stand by while they humiliate her?

-She can take care of herself.
-She's in the lion's den.

So boys are lions, is that it?

If she hadn't come,
this wouldn't have happened.

So it's her fault?

She shouldn't be here. You saw.

This is how you support your sister?

She gets humiliated,
and it's her fault?

You're the one who blinded that boy!

You're the one who should behave.

Next time, will it be your bucket?

And some another boy blinding you?

You have to change!

Because in life,
we have to live with girls.

Unless you become a hermit or...

Join a seminary?

The new school
they're building will be mixed.

Maybe it'll be ready
when the girls are seniors.

I'm not afraid of them.
I want to prove you right.

They should have never come here.

But they were already here
before my mistake.

Voltaire has to remain mixed.

Are you serious?

I was just explaining to Miss Couret,

who wants to leave, why the girls must go.

We have a responsibility to the students.

The girls are here now.
We admitted them, we have to keep them.

So we perpetuate our error?

-If they hadn't been here...
-But they are here.

But you said that we weren't ready.

And you said I was the best dean
you'd ever had.

We'll need to rethink a few things.

We have to reorganize and deal with
unpleasant surprises. I can do that.

We have to do this!

We're keeping our students.

She just left the clothes there,
so I put them on.

It was brave of you to come back
in those clothes.

I didn't see Descamps,
did he get expelled?

You don't know?

I knew it was a bad idea.

Miss Sabiani, I wanted to tell you...

-Girls have been allowed to stay.
-Thank you.

Get home safely.

See you tomorrow, Miss Couret.

See you tomorrow, Pichon.

One carefree day, one carefree moment,

how long will it last?
Maybe he asks himself,

as I often do,
"Where will I be in a few years?"

So?

The doctors think that he'll go home soon.

And Jean-Pierre?

He could be expelled.
There will be a disciplinary hearing.

I heard you made an impressive appeal.

I couldn't side with Bluebeard.

I knew you'd change your mind.

I'll never give up on my students.

See you tonight.

Thank you for earlier.

Or well done. Thank you for the girls.

I was just doing my job.

Sure.

I hope that, with time,
you'll learn to do yours.

Do you realize what you did?

-I knew it was wrong.
-I didn't do anything!

What if he gets expelled?

-Maybe Uncle Paul could...
-Leave him out of it.

If he gets expelled because of you,

you're never going back to that school.

-Have you seen my red earrings?
-I have.

Here.

-Coffee?
-Yes, please.

Are you going to see the Fellini?

I don't know. Denise picked the movie.

What is it?

I liked Olivia.

Olivia talked too much.

She had more to lose than you.
She was married with two kids.

I have a job. It's important too.

And I'm married too.

Tell her I'll be right there.

See? I'm right on time!

-Evening, Denise.
-Evening.

Come in!

Jeanne will be right with you.

Do you want some coffee?

Sure, thank you.

Coming!

Do you ever stop working?

Never!

Whereas Denise forgets all about
her patients when she finishes work.

That's not true.

-Let's go.
-See you soon.

Have a good night.

Jeanne!

Be careful, okay?

We will.