INT. MAUDE'S BUILDING, MAUDE'S FLAT-EVENING

Augustin is standing in front of a mirror, tying a tie. He is wearing a suit which is nicer than the clothes he usually wears. He walks away from the mirror and into a small, shabby living room.

The living room of the flat is tidy and clean but the furniture is old and worn looking. The shelves, tables, and mantlepiece over the fireplace are strewn with knickknacks and mementos.

Léon is sitting on the sofa. Augustin walks over towards him, straightening his tie.

AUGUSTIN

Thanks for letting me borrow your good suit.

LÉON

So, who's the reason you're getting all dressed up?

AUGUSTIN

Does there have to be a reason?

Augustin looks through the shelves at that brick-a-brack. The things which catch his attention are a toy lion carved from wood and an old Spanish guitar.

AUGUSTIN

I can't believe your maman kept all of this junk.

He picks up the wooden lion.

AUGUSTIN

Good old Aasad, my father gave him to me before I left Algiers.

He puts the lion down, then picks up the Spanish guitar.

AUGUSTIN

I remember your father used to play this for us when we were kids.

LÉON

I guess maman couldn't bear to get rid of it after he died.

Augustin strums the guitar, trying to find the right cords for the song in his head. He sings a little bit in Arabic.

MAUDE (40s) walks in through the front door. She is a small woman with glasses and her hair pulled back into a prim bun, who looks prematurely worn out and tired for her age.

MAUDE

Léon, are you home?

Léon goes over and kisses her cheek.

LÉON

Yes maman, and Augustin's here too?

Augustin also goes over and kisses Maude's cheek.

MAUDE

Nice to see you, Augustin. How have you been?

AUGUSTIN

Can't complain, and you?

MAUDE

Could be better.

We see that there is a pile of bills on one of the tables.

MAUDE

You're looking quite dashing, Augustin. What's the occasion?

LÉON

He's meeting up with a special someone tonight?

MAUDE

Oh really?

Augustin blushes with embarrassment.

INT. HÔTEL VERTE, BATHROOM-EVENING

Marianne is standing in front of the mirror in one of the Hôtel Verte's musty and rusty bathrooms. She is dressed in a slip and a kimono printed with flowers, birds, and butterflies and her hair is arranged in wave clamps and curlers. Leaning over the sink, she is touching up the roots of her hair with a peroxide solution applied with a small brush.

INT. MAUDE'S BUILDING, HALLWAY-EVENING

Augustin and Maude are standing outside the front door of her flat. He takes out a wad of money.

AUGUSTIN

I've been working lately and I have some money. This isn't much, Tante Maude, but I want you to have it.

He offers the money to her. She gently refers the offers and gives him a kind, placid smile.

MAUDE

Keep it.

INT. MAUDE'S BUILDING, ENTRANCE HALL-EVENING

As you walk towards the front door of the building, there are rows of mailboxes. Augustin looks for the one which reads "Duprès" and slides the wad of money into it.

INT. HÔTEL VERTE, MARIANNE'S FLAT- EVENING

Marianne is standing in front of her mirror. She is wearing a red dress that is more daring and revealing that what she would usually wear. Her hair is loosely arranged in fashionable waves and curls. She removes her necklace with the silver cross pendant set with a pearl and puts on a lavalier of black onyx beads.

EXT. HÔTEL VERTE, OUTSIDE THE FRONT DOOR-NIGHT

Augustin is standing under a streetlight, waiting for Marianne, who walks out the front door of the Hôtel Verte. He takes her hand and they begin to walk off.

MARIANNE

So where are we going?

AUGUSTIN

You'll See 

EXT. LE MONSTRE, ENTRANCE- NIGHT

The entrance of the cabaret Le Monstre is made to look like the gaping maw of a monster. The walls surrounding the entrance are plastered with posters showing a drawing of a beautiful dark haired girl and announcing that someone named Mademoiselle Hélène will be singing there that night.

INT. LE MONSTRE, MAIN ROOM-NIGHT

As Augustin and Marianne walk into the main room of Le Monstre, we see the cabaret in all of its gothic splendor. Gargoyles glower down on the guests from the rafters of the vaulted ceiling. The room is lit by candles in red glass bowls which cast a bloody glow over everything.

Parisians from all walks of life drink, dance, flirt, and enjoy themselves. WAITRESSES and CIGARETTE GIRLS wearing black dresses with lace collars, cuffs, and aprons mill about, serving the guests.

Augustin and Marianne sit down and a table. A WAITRESS comes over to take their orders.

WAITRESS

What can I get for you?

MARIANNE

I'll have a bee's knees

AUGUSTIN

I'll have a bourbon with soda.

The waitress goes to get their drinks. A spotlight shines on a grand piano. Draped over the piano is a beautiful girl, HÉLÈNE (20s), with dark hair and pale skin, wearing a slinky black evening dress.

https://youtu.be/_C0_gY75zUU

HÉLÈNE sings a cover of Parlez-Moi d'Amour by Lucienne Boyer. The Audience is transfixed by both her physical beauty and the beauty of her singing. As she moves, we see that she has a tattoo of a crescent moon on one of her shoulder blades.

As her song finishes up, a man, FAUCHERIE (30s), begins to walk towards the piano. Faucherie is a handsome and imposing man in his prime with a natural charisma and fascination which makes the room gravitate towards him. He taps the PIANIST on his shoulder.

FAUCHERIE

Play Habanera.

The pianist begins playing "Habanera" from the opera Carmen. Faucherie offers a hand to Hélène and helps her down from on top of the piano. He then leads her into a tango which ends in a passionate kiss. The couple then go off together, presumably to a bedroom.   

https://youtu.be/cCrKncOpE7Q

AUGUSTIN

Do you know who that was?

MARIANNE

Who?

AUGUSTIN

Bruno Faucherie in the flesh. I'd heard Mademoiselle Hélène was his latest bit of game.

MARIANNE

I've read about him in the newspaper. Recently, he sent a gang to rob a jewelry store. He sounds dangerous.

AUGUSTIN

Not going to argue with you there.

MARIANNE

Do you know him personally?

AUGUSTIN

Not personally. More like through friends of friends.

A swing song begins to play.

AUGUSTIN

Would you like to dance?

MARIANNE

Yes.

He leads her over to the dance floor and they begin to lindy hop.

https://youtu.be/e62p_K4-Cvc

Marianne giggles as Augustin spins her around. Augustin leans in to try to kiss her.

Anton has been sitting at a nearby table. He gets up and walks over to Augustin and Marianne, who stop in their tracks.

ANTON

(To Marianne)

Hey Doll, remember me?

MARIANNE

How could I not?

ANTON

Would you mind if I borrowed Monsieur Lerou for a moment?

AUGUSTIN

You'll be fine on your own, Marianne?

Marianne shakes her head yes and Augustin and Anton go off to a secluded corner of the room, where a devil gargoyle watches them.

AUGUSTIN

You have the worst timing.

He sees that ANTON looks worried.

AUGUSTIN

What's the matter?

ANTON

There are cops outside. 

AUGUSTIN

Shit! 

Augustin runs back over to Marianne and grabs her arm.

AUGUSTIN

We have to get out of here.

POLICEMEN rush in through through the main entrance of the cabaret and start rounding people up.

MARIANNE

What's going on?

AUGUSTIN

I don't know but we have to leave.

He leads her to a back door but they are spotted are spotted by the HEAD POLICEMAN

HEAD POLICEMAN

Where are you going?

Augustin turns to Marianne.

AUGUSTIN

Go ahead. I'll meet you outside.

Marianne escapes through the backdoor. Augustin runs towards a side door with the Head Policeman chasing after him. He almost makes it but the Head Policeman corners him up against a wall puts handcuffs on him.

EXT. LE MONSTRE, OUTSIDE- NIGHT

Marianne is standing outside of Le Monstre, waiting for Augustin. Patrons of the cabaret are being lead away by the police and she searches among the crowds for him.

A tall figure in a dapper and expensive looking suit approaches her.

EDMOND

Hey Cinderella!

MARIANNE

Edmond?

EDMOND

What are you doing in a place like this? What would your aunts say?

MARIANNE

What are you going to do, tell them?

EDMOND

I wasn't going to. That is, if you let me walk you home.

MARIANNE

Alright.

They begin to walk off. Marianne approaches a DRUNK GIRL with a dark shingle bob.

MARIANNE

Have you seen a boy with dark curly hair wearing a grey suit?

DRUNK GIRL

(slurring)

Don't know ma'amzelle

Edmond grabs Marianne to the shoulder and leads her along.

EDMOND

Who are you asking about?

MARIANNE

The person I came here with.

EDMOND

Maybe you've been hanging around with the wrong people if you're going to a place like this.

MARIANNE

And who are you to judge?

Edmond scoffs.

MARIANNE

What happened back there? Why did the police show up?

EDMOND

It was probably a drug bust or something like that. The police in this part of Paris couldn't give less of a damn about what goes on in the cabarets but they'll raid a place from time to time to keep up appearances.

MARIANNE

I hope my friend got out alright.

EDMOND

He'll probably spend the night in lockup but he'll be let out in the morning.

INT. COMMISSARIAT, LOCK UP ROOM-NIGHT

Augustin is laying on an uncomfortable looking cot in a cell in a local commissariat, or police station. He is staring up at the ceiling with a blank look on his face.