RUYSSEN   You see, I find her very attractive.
Céleste returns and waits for them to come.

MASSIS   After you, Victor.

GENTIL   No, let Louis go first. Louis.
Ruyssen leads as the musicians follow Céleste.

INT. PROUST’S APARTMENT. SALON. NIGHT.

Céleste sitting on a chair outside the door, which is open a fraction, listening to them play Fauré Quartet in G Minor with Gentil at the piano.

INT. PROUST’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.

The musicians are eating.

Céleste offers Ruyssen more fried potatoes.

Looking, Ruyssen, mesmerised by her, does not protest.

Poulet and Massis exchange glances.

Céleste observes this.

Proust is not eating. He watches.

INT. PROUST’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.

PROUST   The quartet again, if you please.
They begin again.

INT./EXT. PROUST’S APARTMENT. KITCHEN. NIGHT.

Céleste is washing up.

The sound of aircraft and bombs falling.

Céleste looks out of the window.

Lights are flashing onto the buildings opposite and searchlights are crossing the sky.

INT. PROUST’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.

The musicians play on oblivious, the siren inaudible in the cork-lined bedroom.

Proust listening.

INT. PROUST’S APARTMENT. SERVICE STAIRS/KITCHEN. NIGHT.

Céleste sees people trooping down into the cellar.

She goes back into the kitchen, closing the door behind her.

INT. PROUST’S APARTMENT. KITCHEN. NIGHT.

Céleste gets under the kitchen table.

INT. PROUST’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.

The musicians continue to play.

Proust listens.

INT. PROUST’S APARTMENT. KITCHEN. NIGHT. LATER.

Céleste is still under the table. She is praying.

The bell goes.

She starts to get up.

INT. PROUST’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.

PROUST   (shaking hands) You’ve been a great help to me.
Monsieur Gentil. Monsieur Ruyssen. Monsieur Poulet.
Monsieur Massis.
They file out of the room.
Just as Massis is going Proust calls him back.

PROUST   Monsieur Massis.

MASSIS   Monsieur.

PROUST   Do you have any party pieces? Solo items that you perform?
Céleste has returned and has overheard this.

MASSIS   Yes. We all do.

PROUST   Yes. But you, you do?

MASSIS   Yes.

PROUST   Perhaps we’ll talk about it.
Proust makes a small sign of dismissal, which Massis, not being versed in these niceties, does not catch.
Céleste does.

CÉLESTE   Monsieur.
She shows Massis out.
Proust is already working.

INT./EXT. 102 BOULEVARD HAUSSMANN. LIFT/HALLWAY/STREET. NIGHT.

The musicians are all in the lift when the all-clear goes (‘le berloque’). They get out and cross the hallway to the street.

POULET   Air raid?

GENTIL   No, it’s not. It’s the all-clear.

RUYSSEN   There’s been an air raid on. We’ve been stuck up there and bombs have been falling.

POULET   He’s brave.

RUYSSEN   Well, I’m not. I saw one of his books the other day.

GENTIL   What was it about?

RUYSSEN   Love, all that sort of stuff.
Mix to:

INT. PROUST’S APARTMENT. HALL. NIGHT.

Céleste opening the door to Massis, who is alone.

She takes his coat. He has a flower in his buttonhole.