You are not allowed to enter. Your book is rotten.

What?! What’s with my book? And anyway, my book’s not rotten!

I’m going to blow up this stupid restaurant!

What’s happened?

They’ve banned me from the restaurant.

No, no, I’ve already told you…

Duck with pineapple.

Oh, pardon me. This way, please.

Asshole!

Oh, a slot-machine!

Incredible!

I must be a natural at this game!

Open the drawer!

Hello!

Would you like to come to our house? We’re not allowed out.

It’s very nice inside!

Follow us!

Welcome to our house!

You are a giant here!

Why do you live here?

In the beginning, there were two eggs who were born all alone. They were two unlucky things.

People tried to get rid of them but they came back each time.

They understood that this place needed two living beings. Then to clean up they put us in place of the eggs.

This place is connected to all the slot-machines in the drawers. They serve to fund us.

Can I sit on your knees?
Of course.

I love big people. They remind me of mother.

You have lessons? That what you get up to here?

Yes, our teachers are all stars, singers, actors. It’s really cool.

You know, it’s very bad to stay in such a small place without sunlight.
Vitamin D, it’s important to make you grow.

But, here, we have celebrity teachers and all…
No, you mustn’t say that.

You want to see our dance?

I love yoooouu with all my heart….

la la la…

I have to go.
Already.

You’ll come back to see us?
Yes.

I’m never coming back.

Where are we?
I think we’ve been kidnapped.
It’s not true!

There’s plenty of good tea here.

Would you like tea?

Why have they kidnapped us?
In my opinion it’s not for the money?
For what then?

We are all young women…

You’re saying that…
It’s obvious, it’s a rich pervert….

It’s nice, this room.
It’s me that got this one first!
Don’t forget to take your pyjamas.

If you like, we can share a bedroom. I’m afraid to be all alone.
Not to worry, I’m happy.

It’s impossible to get out of here..

I’ve brought you some cigarettes and acid.

Don’t hesitate to ask me if you want anything.
I’m here for your comfort.

I’ve seen him somewhere.

I saw that guy on a wanted poster…. He was linked to a sect that sacrificed young girls.
Then, they kidnapped us to kill us.

What can we do?
They’re going to kill us…
Mama…

Is it okay if I stay with you? I can’t stand to see the girls crying.

Can you turn over?
We are too crowded here! No
We look like a poor large family.
Don’t fall on me.
Ha ha.
I feel better with you.

Who’s loses hair like that?
You have been eating biscuits here?

It’s not necessary to wash so thoroughly.

It’s for your hygiene.

You saw? He has an eye on his 6th finger to watch us.
Ah, that’s why he cleans by hand in all the corners.

Is that a woman or a man.

We’re going to go out for a conference.
We are not coming back here. Take your things.

Put those down there and go away.
Yes, master.

I brough some dresses. Put them on.

I’ve got fat since…
Hup – hold your breath. [Maybe missed something there]
It’s impossible to go out like this. This dress doesn’t go at all.
But no! You are very pretty.

I’m happy to be in the fresh air! What it is to go out!

Excuse me. I’m looking for my sons. Have you seen these boys?

You lost them round here?

That means something to you?
But, they’re very old, your sons.

I just had to find them, I did not know that they were my sons.
We are sorry, we can’t help you.
Perhaps you can go to the centre for lost children.

But she is very young to be their mother, no?
I think that she’s a little lost.

But where are we?

We’ve lost them. Where are they? What do we do?

Hey! Kidnapped girls!

Hey ho!
There they are!

Oh, I thought that we’d never see you again.
We were panicking.
Come on, let’s go. We’re going to miss the train.

Why didn’t you escape?
Oh damn. I didn’t even think.

It’s through there, go in.

Ladies and gentlemen. Welcome to the general assembly of the association of “Our Friends The Cats”.

After this conference, they are going to ritually decapitate us.

I hope that someone sees this message.
We are prisoners and there’s nothing we can do. Save us!

That makes 5 days I’ve waited for the bus.

I am imprisoned in the village.

There’s no-one in the streets.

Ah, there’s someone!

Hello.

Excuse me.

Are you aware that there’s no buses and no people?
Yes.

Actually, I need someone to try on this jacket.
Okay.

Ow!

I can’t move. As soon as I move, it pricks me.

Pardon me. There’s a pin left.

That’s bad.

It’s a little big for me.

Do you sleep well?

Can I measure you?

I’m going to go.

Tailor
Goodbye.

Ahh!

Ahh-!
Aah!

Sorry.
We didn”t mean to scare you.
It’s true.

But what are you doing in my bedroom?

Get out!!

Ah la la…
What a character!
Why is she shouting like that?

I’m scared.
Me too.
We are neighbours after all.

Ow!

I’m exhausted.

Ah!

Ahh!
Hého, it’s cold.

Big sister, finally you’re here!

Don’t go. Let’s stay together.

It’s not bad.

What’s more, the tailor is very friendly!

He’s prepared one for you. He knows your size.

Tic tic tic!

Excuse me…
Tic tic.

That noise is driving me mad.

If we were to dance? That would stop you from biting them.

You have a very soft hand for a military man.

I must leave.
Why?

Oh, he’s left his hand.

You recognise me?

Say something to me.

You can’t hear me?

Oh!

Don’t get excited..
Tic tic

I know your habits.
Tic tic tic

Your nails look like moons.

Yes it’s me
You recognise me?

You want me to read your palm?
Let us take a look…

You will have a brilliant career. ...and there are …2 women.

I hope that I will be the second.

Bam! Bam!
Who is it?

You’ve been reported. You are an outlaw.

Search everywhere!

...How come this hand is in your house?

It’s forbidden to possess a hand in your house.

Give it to me.

What’s more, it’s the hand of a soldier. It’s even more serious: it’s an abuse of good citizenship.

They’re all alike.
It’s going to be better tomorrow. Sleep.

Look, it’s like a face.
What’s done is done. [colloquail]

Oh. It’s disgusting!

Do you remember me?

Tic tic

Calm yourself

Tic tic

Excuse me. I must leave.

Don’t go.

Don’t make a scene! I don’t know you!

We only danced one single time.

A theatre?

How would I be able to live quietly if I know our people suffer?

Next Sunday, it’s the uprising.

Yunok, what are you doing there?
Mother?

Come on, let’s go.
Sorry, comrades.

Hi.

You want to join in the demonstration with us?

But I have short hair.

It’s not a problem.

At the beginning of the century, there were lots of women who did their hair in a modern style.

How can I ignore the groans and the spilt blood of my brothers and sisters?
Let us rise up!
If we don’t change the course of history, there will be no way back.
How can we look future generations in the face, if we don’t accept our responsibilities?

Yunok, you are here again? The director called me. You aren’t allowed to modify the script to your fancy.
You are risking the reputation of our family. Come on, we’re going home.

Long live freedom!
Long live liberty!

I quite like the last scene.
Yes, especially this time, I was really into it.

Oh, your breats are growing!?
Little voyeur!
She’s a bitch, yunok’s mother.
I hope that she isn’t going to make the same fuss each time.

It’s a new prop, to make it more realistic.
I liked it better when we kept it more minimalist.

Aren’t you aware of the cries and tears of our people?
History is calling us.
Let us courageously offer our young red hearts.

Don’t you find she goes a bit over the top?
Yeah, a bit.

Yunok, that’s enough. You are coming back with me. I’ve had enough.
No, mother, I’m staying with my comrades.

I don’t belong to you! I’m not just your daughter, I am a daughter of the Earth.

We are going to avenge the blood of our comrades, spilt by the fascists.

On their corpses, let bloom the spirit of our people.
Bring us our leader!

Oh they’re amrmed!
Are they real pistols?

Lower your weapons.

Don’t listen to him!

We’ll lower them at the same time.
Ok.
We are too close.
If we start to fire, we will all die.

One. Two. But… Lower them!
You first!

Don’t fire!
It’s just a piece of theatre. We are just actors!

Don’t fire.

But these are real!
Ordered by the director.

Where is the emergency exit?!

Stop talking…

Help us, we’re killing each other!

Oh, sorry, you’re on stage?

5 o’clock?! Again!

It’s you that wakes me every morning?

You saw these soldiers?

Don’t worry we haven’t done anything illegal.

No doubt they’re looking for the thief, the one that stole the soldier’s hand.

Knock knock
Who is it?

As of now you are part of our empire.

What’s going to happen?

We have to make love.
They’re going to see us.

No, they won’t see us. They are paralysed with fear.

Take these uniforms. Women one side, men the other.

Live or die, we will see each other here in 8 years.

You are property of the state.

The girl who didn’t want to follow orders has been punished.

Our bodies only serve to receive suffering and humiliation.

Why don’t I kill myself?
I must look after myself. I have a rendez-vous.

Thanks for the first aid.

My bandage has relieved you?
Yes.

Your bruises have disappeared…
Well, I don’t need them anymore.

The girl who was beaten has killed herself.
In the men’s camp I saw their heads trailed on the ground like pumpkins.

Turn about!

Do you see me?

There’s only a handful of them!

We are a thousand times more numerous than them! Why wait docilely for our turn? Why submit to this abuse?

All men with bare chests, fall in at the side of the hangar.

He’s not that tall. [check this]
Wake me up when this scene is over.

Quick, take this. Otherwise they will kill you.

And you?
The women are being moved North.

Hello
Hello
Hi

You are all pretty. Are you getting married?

How are you?
I am happy to see all you.
Haha you haven’t heard?
The war is finished.

Is that true? What are you going to do?
You can go to the rendez-vous with your fiancée.
I must find a man.
It has to be her who get married first, she is in a rush.
I hope that we see each other again.

Finally I’m going to be able to see you.

It’s bizarre… He’s punctual, normally.

Perhaps he’s already inside.

Ah, you are dead.

I know you are here.

The pumpkin grows on your blood and your spirit.

Give him to me.

Oh, I’m looking for my fiancée.

I just want to accelerate the cycle.

Ah!

Stop!

Sorry, madam. I thought you were someone else.

J’en ai mis partout. I have to change.

Oh, there’s no door.

It’s time.

Do you see me?

It’s me! I’m here.

The walk’s over.
Back to your cell.

There’s someone else there?
No nothing, the wall.

But I saw something…

Poor old guy.
He’s been in there since before the end of the war.

He’s nearly blind.
What’s he got to look at?

I’m here.
Let me out.

I’m hear! You can hear me?
Yes.

Let me out. I’m here!

Big sister…

You dance like a butterfly. Come closer.

No. Please, don’t kiss him, I beg you.

Liar!

I always dreamed of seeing you more closely.

Turn out the light. I’m afraid of prying eyes intruding on our intimacy.

But who would dare?
The light makes me feel uneasy.

If you insist… Turn out the light!

But what are you doing here? You should wait for me in the dressing room.

Oh big sister.
I heard a voice behind the wall who begged me to let him out.

Don’t you want to stop?
Oh, don’t start that again!

But it’s horrible, disgusting!

It’s my work. Thanks to that, I paid for your piano lessons.

You know, you aren’t obliged to come.

What’s behind the dressing room?

and I get up to brush my teeth.

I have the impression of having the floury taste of a butterfly.

I can still feel the wings moving in my mouth.

Oh, a dream of butterflies means that you have a lover.

A lover? It’s been 2 years since I heard any news of him.

Isn’t that story all over?
How melodramatic!
But he promised me…

The king calls me all the time.

Do you want to turn the light out?

No leave it on. I want someone to see us.

We accept more fully when we see.

Sir!
Go on! Go, go!

Sir!

Ahh! You scared me.

What are you doing here?

I play lots of tricks. There for example, I sent a mouse.

In this business, you have to be very discreet.
I saw a real mouse.

It’s completely normal that you saw a real one.
In any case, what happens on stage is a contract with the audience.

And you, what are you doing?

I’m waiting for my sister to finish her seduction.

That’s a good role. Me, in my hours off, I’m a yoga teacher.
Thanks to my suppleness, I can be nearly invisible on stage.

Oh, hello general!

Don’t make noise in the wings!

Sorry. There you go.

Oof, he’s not too bright, that one.
What are you called?

No, no.
My existence is secret. You must not speak of me.

Promise me.

Promise.

Seeya! To next time!

Look, a butterfly!

He was born and he died.
His wings move again.

His season is over.
Yes, we cannot turn back the seasons.

Is we were in the Southern hemisphere, we would be in Springtime.

On the other side of the world time goes backwards.

No, don’t open it!

Don’t keep on. You’re endangering yourself. Just go!

My pooe king. You suffer for your country.
Show them that your time isn’t yet over.

Kill your son.

A mask of the king? I didn’t know that it was a masked theatre..

He’s there, the king.

A message.

Fire on the chest: the traitors that wish your death are inside.

Send me an archer!

Fire on the chest.

Someone disguised as the king…

Hey ho!

Since when did you become one of the spectators?
But… I don’t know how to play comedy.

How can I dream of my comfort? There’s no more justice in our land. The groaning of our people resonates.

Miju? You recognise me? We were at school together.

It’s urgent!

But, what play are you in?

She really looks like Miju.

Where have you hidden her?
Ah!

Excuse me

What’s going on here?

If the king hear’s about this, he will have your heads cut off!
Bring me the king’s son, instead of chasing after girls.

As you order.
We are sincerely sorry.

I believed that you were dead. You know, I waited a long time for you.

ABBB.. BB.

You cannot speak?

Wait, I must check. You will let me?

It’s really you..
Why didn’t you come?.. I waited for you…

It doesn’t matter. You are here now. That’s all that counts.

You mustn’t stay here. Someone could see you.

The world isn’t the same as it was before, be careful.
Go, leave.

Hide yourself well.

You’ve stopped complaining. That’s very good.

It’ll be good if you play piano for the seduction scene.

You would say that I’m going to a funeral.

But no. It’s chic,

What’s that you’re taking?
It’s so I have nice breath.

I keep it in my mouth and I chew it when I embrace him.

I am very pleased that you’re accompanying me in this scene.

Concentrate, and don’t turn around.

When should I stop? No-one’s told me anything…

It’s very quiet…

Let me out from here.

Oh, there’s blood! Are you hurt?
No it’s my wife!
Help her.

I think they’ve stopped firing.
Hold my hand.

It’s you?

You have a wife?
Who are you?

You know me?
Who are you?

Poison!

You dying sister wants to talk to you.
What?

Oh! No! It’s not true!
Wait, wait, if you go on stage, you have to play your part.

But… I don’t know the script.

If you like, I can help you.
Discretely.

Oh, my poor sister.

Oh my lord! Why have you done this?

No, why have you done this?

Oh, it’s your real face…

What are you doing? Keep playing your role, everyone’s watching.

My poor thing, you have fallen like a butterfly. You didn’t know that you’re season was going to end.

My poor thing. You have fallen like a butterfly, I knew that it would end like this.

Psst! Go to Brazil!

He has betrayed me. He has another woman.

Excuse me. What train must I take to get to Brazil?
A train for Brazil?

You have to go by plane. There is no train for Brazil.

But… look.
Ah! Perhaps that’s changed…

We have been held captive for a very long time. We aren’t very up to date.
We’re sorry.

Thank you very much. Goodbye!

What?
I noticed that you have a bit of an accent.
Where are you going?

Actually, we’re trying to find some trace of our mother.
Your mother?

Yes, we never knew our mother.

We were brought up by our grand-father.

He never wanted to talk about our mother.
Pappy, our mother, where is she?
I told you already, she is dead.

What was she like? How did she look?

She was a monkey.

He had a really sad air in telling us our mother was a monkey.

Look, there she is

We didn’t doubt for a single instant that we were the sons of a monkey.

After the death of our grandfather, we discovered the truth

Our grandfather was a man of authority, he was opposed to the marriage of our parents.

They ran far away and they had us…

Our grandfaterh sent some men to split them up.

She was taken to a country far away and my father was imprisoned in a cabin in the grounds of his father

And your father, then. What became of him?

I was just told that we was very ill…

I was scared to go to that cabin, right in the middle of the forest.

He didn’t recognize anyone anymore. He hid himself like a wounded animal.

That man was my reflection, older and suffering and having lost his spirit.

He frightened me and attracted me at the same time.

In adolescence, each time that I looked in a mirror, my image was replaced by his.

I have a bizarre story of that cabin.
One time I went to the cabin, as if someone was calling me there.

I saw my father and a woman. I was sure it was my family.

No, no, you must be mixing up your memories. What you saw, that was the family of the woodsman. We let out that cabin after the death of our father.
But no, it was before he died, I’m sure.

In any case, the forest makes us see what we want. Me, I thought I saw my mother there. I saw the silhouette of a monkey and I was certain it was her.

It desperately wanted to catch the moon.

It saw the reflection of the moon in the lake.

It tried to cactch it again and again. Throughout this journey, the image of the monkey hasn’t left me. We follow after our mother, like the monkey after the moon.

I feel the water run between my fingers.
Have you found any sign of your mother?

Wait, I’ll show you something.

This theatre programme. It’s the only picture of her that we’ve found.

That head is familiar…
It’s normal, in that play the figure of the dancer is very conventional and archetypal: the costume, the make-up and the hair are always the same. Looking at that photo, you cannot tell what my mother really looked like.

‘The letter carried by a mouse’?! My sister played in that too!
She doesn’t anymore?

No, she committed suicide on stage. During the scene of the embrace with the king, she poisoned him, then she poisoned herself in turn.

With the mouth cachous?
[“cachous” is a weird translationer, but “breath mint” sounds stupid]
How did you know that?
It’s the original version.

When she hears the revolution is heading for the palace, she poisons herself, and dances as she dies. It’s a powerful scene.
But, no… There isn’t a revolution in that play. She kills him because he discovers her affair with his son. She sacrifices herself for her true love.

No, no, it’s her sister who has a relationship with the king’s son, it’s him who leads the revolt.
The two of them hide in the chest, to assassinate the king.
The revolt isn’t in this play, but in another by the same author. It is the dancer who leaves with the king’s son. It’s the first scene of that play.

Is there a character of the sister?

I’m sure there is, I’ve seen it many times.

What’s more, the people in the chest aren’t the son and the sister but a monk and his lover.
The tragedy of this play is that she doesn’t know that it’s she herself that’s dying in the chest.

You must have seen a censored version. Me, I saw the original version very recently.

Good, okay, fine. You’re right.
Come on, don’t get angry with me!

You’ve also seen it many time, you can tell us which of us two is right?
O-ho! You haven’t given up!
It’s strange, but I never saw it in it’s entirety. I cannot say, even though I spent years in the wings.

Ha ha, you’re saying that so you don’t offend either of us.

But no. I’m not saying that out of politeness, I assure you that I’ve only seen it in little bits.

Ladies and gentlemen, our train is arriving in Wanda Station.

We get off here.
Oh, already?

It’s strange, how we can become so attached to strangers.
Don’t cry. We’ll meet again, who knows? Even if we go in opposite directions.

Goodbye!

Oh, they forgot their programme.

The letter carried by a mouse
17-18 May – 20 June
Palace Theatre
Beauxcheveux Town

Beauxcheveux Town, where is that?

Our train is arriving at the station of Beauxcheveux.

Beauxcheveux…

TOC TOC
I’m coming!

Good evening.
Good evening. I got your flowers. Thank you.

You don’t want to stop performing this play?
Since I arrived her, I did everything to get this role. I cannot abandon it.

It embarasses me to see you embrace another man.
Why don’t you change the subject?
You’ve already said that.

Good evening.
Oh, good evening.

Let me introduce my son.
Pleased to meet you.
Pleased to meet you.

Hello.
Hello, Hiyoung, a wolf is following me.

He’s following my footsteps.

I have a wolfskin.

Get on this sled.

Your wolf is suspicious. I demand to bite it to verify it.

Okay, but you have no right to stop us passing.
That is true.

Wake up, it’s me.

Answer me. I know that you are there.

That’s enough. You are damaging my wolf.

Don’t let your tears fall, that attracts him.

After this tunnel it’s the village.

Turn on this tap for me.

I have a terrible thirst.

No, sorry, I’m not turning it on.

You don’t have to survive. You are already contaminated.

This is the edge of your territory.

Finally, we’ve arrived. He is still watching us.

It’s okay, you can get out.

Let’s go.

I don’t remember anymore.

Ah! I recall… now.

He was my brother and my love.

You let my brother die!

Oh, Hiyoung, what has happened? How many times I told you to pay attention on your motorbike?

It’s okay, it’s no big deal.