01x19 - The Beggar of New Orleans

[bunniefuu]

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a bold adventurous man ♪

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ Battled for right with a powerful hand ♪

♪ His blade was tempered and so was he ♪

♪ Indestructable steel was he

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin' man ♪

- May we come in Francois?

- [speaks in foreign language], I mean gosh, yes.

- Is he the victim of a sinister, James?

- Something like that.

- Is he dead?

- No, could you get some brandy?

[speaking in a foreign language]

- It is James.

- Monsieur Bowie?

- He wants cognac.

- Oh no, Francois.

- He does, he does, for the victim of a sinister plot.

Hurry, Aunt Marie.

- Monsieur Bowie?

- Mademoiselle, I hope I'm not imposing.

- Oh, but of course not.

What has happened to him?

- Well he was attacked outside in the street,

not far from your front door.

- But, I've seen this man.

He's that old beggar.

- That's right, two men just tried very hard to k*ll him.

- How exciting, why?

- That's a good question.

- Oh madam, I most humbly beg your pardon.

- Oh, please stay down.

- You were attacked on the street.

- Attacked?

Oh yes, yes, I must thank you.

- Who were those men?

- I don't know.

- Personal enemies, perhaps?

- I have never seen them before.

- Who are you?

- I don't know.

- Surely, you must have an identity.

Everybody's somebody.

- I think I've caused enough trouble here.

- Oh, he's ill.

- I think he's hungry.

- Poor man, Cipiot?

Oh you must have food at once.

Help him to the dining room.

- Wait, Jim.

There is a deep mystery here, a deep mystery.

- Very deep.

- And, we shall solve this mystery together, you and I?

- Well, maybe it'll solve itself when he's had a good meal.

He may be able to give us a few clues.

- Gosh, isn't America an exciting country?

- Yes.

[harmonizing music]

- Jim, I've come to a conclusion.

I think this gentlemen, is a gentlemen.

Jim, he cannot be a beggar.

- But, I am a beggar.

- But, you're not monsieur.

I mean, perhaps, you've been begging a little,

but your table manners are perfect.

I have been watching you

and is this not true, Aunt Marie, Jim?

- [Marie] Please sit down.

- I think he's right Monsieur.

I mean the way you talk, the way you eat,

and your hands.

- All I can remember is that I was found on the coast

of Massachusetts during a storm three years ago.

- And, since then?

- Well, I've been wandering, begging,

finding my way to New Orleans.

- How long you been here?

- A few days.

- You know, your accent has more than a touch

of French in it, maybe this is where you belong.

- Perhaps, but I have imposed on your hospitality

and ruined your whole evening.

I must make my departure.

- No monsieur, you are not safe on the streets

of New Orleans.

- We have guest rooms Monsieur, one is yours.

- Pray stay with us, while Mr. Bowie finds out

who are your friends.

- It may not be easy to find the past

of a man who remembers nothing.

- Then, perhaps, he can help you find your enemies.

- Oh, I must not burden this boy

and his charming aunt with my problems.

- Monsieur, as one gentlemen to another, I beg you to stay.

[speaking in a foreign language], Jim will track down

the assassins, yes Jim?

- Well, as one gentlemen to another, Jim will give it a try.

[harmonizing music]

[knocking on door]

- Go away.

[knocking on door]

- John James Audubon would be painter

of wild birds doesn't live here anymore.

[knocking on door]

He's dead!

- Excuse me, I just came to shed a tear

for a departed friend.

- James.

- John, I'm sorry to interrupt your work.

Maybe you can persuade your model

to postpone the sitting for a day or two.

- A day or two?

- John, I want you to come with me and paint a portrait.

- You want me?

I paint wild birds.

- But, you have painted portraits, haven't you?

- A few, years ago to keep Lucy and me alive.

- Well, this portrait may help keep someone else alive.

- It's not of you is it?

- Mm, mm

- There are many established portrait painters

in New Orleans, why not one of them?

- There may be some danger in it.

- Why didn't you say that right off?

[harmonizing music]

You may rest now Monsieur.

- I have done little else

since the de Gravien's extended their hospitality.

- There you are James, all finished, except

for the signature.

- I wouldn't sign your death warrant if I were you John.

- I refuse to be kept in the dark any longer.

I demand to know the purpose

to which this portrait will be put.

- Look, we wanna know who he is, don't we?

And, we can't let anybody see him in New Orleans, can we?

- Ah, so we show the picture instead?

- Right!

- But where?

- The sidewalk art exhibit in the Place d'Armes.

- But of course, everyone in New Orleans goes there.

- The people will look at the portrait and--

- We'll look at the people. - We'll look at the people.

- Right!

[harmonizing music]

- It's not going to work.

Three days now and no one has shown the slightest interest.

- Well now, look at this.

- You know them?

- No, but if they buy we will.

Thanks John, it worked.

- What now?

- Looks like they're the ones that tried to k*ll him.

I'm gonna find out who they are and who's paying them.

You go back to your studio.

- Miss all the fun?

[harmonizing music]

This is one of the most reputable firms in New Orleans,

Moreau and Durand known all over the world.

- Moreau and Durand?

- It used to be until a few years ago.

- What happened to Moreau?

- Dead, as I remember.

Do you think our beggar could be Moreau?

- I think I better pay my respects to Gabriel Durand.

Wait a minute, better not see you.

Might know you painted a portrait.

- Yes, well good luck.

- On second thought, I think I might learn more

if I call in this evening at home.

'Til then, how 'bout a mug of ale?

- Ah!

- I am honored to welcome you

to my house, Mr Bowie, especially on so fall a night

and I am wondering--

- What my purpose is in coming here, sir?

Well, it's very simple.

I have a plantation in Appaloosa's

and I'm thinking of having the house completely refurnished.

Among other things, I'd like to have some tapestry.

- I see, I will do my utmost to serve you, sir.

And, if you will be good enough

to come to the factory tomorrow.

- I will, sir, thank you.

My friend who recommended you was only able

to give me your home address.

- I understand.

- Although, I thought he referred

to the firm as Moreau and Durand.

- Moreau was formerly my partner.

He died three years ago.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- Tell him I'll be right there.

You will excuse me, Mr. Bowie?

- Of course, Mr. Durand.

- Thank you.

- Delicious coffee, ma'am.

Moreau and Durand were an old firm, weren't they?

- [speaks in foreign language], monsieur.

- I suppose you knew Monsieur Moreau?

- He was my husband.

- Your husband?

- He was drowned in a shipwreck.

- Forgive me, ma'am.

- Oh, it's all in the past now, Mr. Bowie.

- I'm sorry, I think I've taken more than enough time

of yours already.

- I hope you find our tapestry to your liking, monsieur.

- I'm sure I shall, madame, good night.

- Good night, Mr. Bowie.

- A pretty problem, Mr. Durand to identify an artist's work.

- Granted, but there is no one in

New Orleans better qualified to do so.

Do you know the painter, monsieur?

- From the painting of the subject, no one can know.

Not a painter in New Orleans has that style.

- Then you do not know?

- On the contrary, monsieur,

because besides the figure in the painting,

there's also a bird.

- Yes, yes?

- And, with this detail, the painter

has unmistakably pronounced his identity.

- Which is?

- John James Audubon, an unknown painter of wild birds.

- Alright.

[thunder crashing]

- Thank you gentlemen, it's a pleasure

to serve the cause of art.

- Yes, thank you.

- Thank you. - Thank you, monsieur.

- Get Gourle and visit this Audubon tonight.

It should not be too difficult to make an artist talk.

- It won't be, shall I report back here?

- Yes, no no, no it would be better if I were

at the factory.

I will go now.

- Gabriel, you are not going out, Gabriel.

- I have work to do my dear.

- But it's late and the weather is so bad.

- Some work is better done when the weather is bad.

[rain pattering]

[thunder crashing]

- Voila, the work is finished, now you may pull the strings.

[harmonizing music]

- It is a miracle.

It is [speaks in a foreign language]

- No, the ship is not safe.

It's carrying too much sail.

The weather is too heavy.

The sea is too high.

- But monsieur, you're in New Orleans.

- Trim the sails, I tell you!

The mast is coming down!

[thunder crashing]

- Monsieur, open your eyes, monsieur.

Marie, Marie, come quickly!

He was frightened by the storm.

He thought he was on a ship.

He fell and struck his head.

- Cipio, go for the doctor!

- Where am I?

- You are our guest, monsieur.

This is our home.

- What home?

Who are you?

- I am the Marquis de Gravien, Marie is my aunt.

We're in New Orleans.

- New Orleans?

Then, I got back some how.

- Mr. Bowie saved your life.

- What day is this, what month?

- Tuesday, the 11th of May.

- That's impossible, it was October when I was kidnapped.

October last year, 1827.

- But it's 1830.

- 1830, it is impossible, three years.

I don't believe it.

I must get back to the factory at once.

- Oh no, monsieur, you're not well.

Wait 'til Mr. Bowie comes back.

- We must find Jim, Aunt Marie, at once.

- Yes, but where?

- I know, at Mr. Audubon!

- And since when has the naturalist, Audubon taken

to painting beggars?

- Sine I painted that portrait.

- My friend, Gourle, here has no distaste

for shedding blood, in fact, he rather likes it.

Do you still not know where the beggar is?

- I still don't know where the beggar is.

- Then Gourle, may as well begin.

- Why not with me?

You got some place we can lock up

these two beauties 'til morning?

- There's the cupboard.

- Splendid!

Good night gentlemen.

We don't want them running back to their employer.

- No, who is their employer?

- Durand, I think, at least it looks that way.

- And, your beggar?

- Charles Octavian Moreau, police records say

he went down on a ship one day out

of Boston three years ago.

- Why was he on the ship at all?

- That's all I know.

- Your man, Monsieur Bowie, he is gone.

- And, Monsieur Jim, he regained his memory.

He was kidnapped in 1827.

- Ah, the picture grows clearer.

- Where'd he go mademoiselle?

- The factory he said, I don't know where.

- I'm afraid I do and what's waiting for him.

You two stay here with Mr. Audubon.

- But, Mr. Jim, I want to help.

- [speaks in foreign language] there are two

desperate criminals in here.

Now, you stay with Mr. Audubon and help him guard them.

- Did he say, two desperate criminals in here?

[harmonizing music]

- Celeste, why did you come here?

- I found this in your study.

- Well?

- It's a portrait of Charles.

- It is a portrait of a street beggar.

- A beggar?

- Yes, my dear, I bought it for sentimental reasons.

It does resemble Charles a little.

- I'm sorry, I suppose I've always hoped

that he would still be alive.

- He died three years ago.

The dead do not return my dear.

- Sometimes they do.

- [Celeste] Charles!

- Charles, you should not have come back.

- It was you who had me kidnapped, Gabriel.

- [Gabriel] It was I.

- But why?

- I wanted Celeste, she married you the aristocrat.

- Gabriel!

- It does not matter now.

You died once, now you can both go

and I will be the sole owner here.

- The sole owner, but how?

- By inheritance, Charles, I married your widow.

Officially, you are dead, it only remains to k*ll you again!

- Mr. Bowie!

- You invited me to your factory, sir.

I came a little early.

Take her out of here!

- [Jim] Oh, oh!

[harmonizing music]

- It has been a long time since I've been able

to dine with such good friends.

That I am able to now, I owe mostly

to you Monsieur Bowie and you, Monsieur Audubon.

And of course, I owe a great debt

which I shall never be able to pay

to that brave young, Marquis de Gravien

and his beautiful Aunt Marie.

- Was it not fortunate that Monsieur Bowie came along

at the right moment?

- It was indeed!

- If I may ask, monsieur,

what was your destination that night?

- Well, as a matter of fact, I was just on my way

to the roulette wheel.

I haven't gotten there, yet [laughs]

- You can still get there this evening, there is till time.

- I think I've found a pleasanter way to spend this evening.

- Personally, I should prefer roulette.

- If I was your age, so would I.

[laughing]

♪ Jim Bowie, Jim Bowie

♪ He was a fighter, a fearless and mighty adventurin' man ♪