Sous le soleil de Satan

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With you it all seems simple.

Alone, I'm worthless.

I'm like a zero ;

only useful with other numbers.

Priests are so wretched.

They spend their lives

seeing God humiliated.

People make fun of me.

I'm like a wall

covered with obscenities.

You're weary.

Weariness is an evil thought.

Suspend your visits.

I do more harm than good.

At first I didn't know what evil was.

I learned it from the mouths of sinners.

No one knows better than a priest.

...the awful monotony of sin

I can't talk to them.

I can only absolve or weep.

If one absolution in thirty

did its work...

the world would soon be converted.

You're silent tonight, Estelle

Still no coffee at night,

Father Donissan?

No thanks, Dean

I'll take mine in the next room.

I've been waiting for you.

I know

I want the Bishop to return me

to the monastery. Please back me up.

Why?

I don't belong here.

Parish work is too much for me.

My superiors thought so.

You do, too.

I'm willing to request your recall,

but it's complicated.

Are you overtaxed here?

Don't be childish. The parish is too

poor to feed a useless mouth.

Perhaps...

...I could go to

the Trappists for a while.

Trappists! You all want to go there!

A monastery's no rest home.

What should I do?

Now you're showing sense.

If you can't guide others,

how can you judge yourself?

You've been given a master ; me!

I know it...

You were allowed to take holy orders...

despite your superior's doubts.

I am not totally incapable...

...of parish work fitting

my intelligence.

Luckily, my health...

Health is God's gift.

I know its price too well.

Your strength and manual skills.

suggest you were meant

for a humbler vocation.

It's never too late to admit an error.

Should you try something else,

or return to your plow?

I'm asking, not answering.

A man like me is easy to size up.

You're being tactful.

I'm eager to obey.

Don't keep me in suspense.

I know you're impatient.

But what you hope I'll say

maybe be too great a temptation.

You want my decree.

Will you obey it?

I'm not just a crude, ignorant priest,

unable to make himself loved.

I was a poor seminary student.

It took a miracle...

to get me admitted to the priesthood.

I lack intelligence, memory, diligence.

Yet I can't overcome...

...my stubbornness.

Your submission touches me...

I must have seemed cruel.

I'm going to be even more so.

Do you know whose hands you've

put yourself in?

Please...

The hands of a man you don't respect!

I seem to live like a wealthy layman.

You're ashamed of my leisurely ways,

admit it.

You know fools praise my experience...

You think it's sterile,

of no use to anyone.

That's how you see it, no?

The thought was unintentional...

That's not an excuse.

Now you know my wicked mind...

and now...

My dear boy!

I thought so!

My boy, our Lord is not

displeased with you...

Burn this devilish thing tomorrow.

We'll find something better.

Your mortification is misplaced.

a proper priest wears white linen.

You know, my boy.

your opinion of me is by and large correct...

but it errs on one point:

I judge myself harshly.

I'm reaching my end empty-handed.

You're very different from me.

You've changed me!

I sent for you dreaming naively...

...of bringing in a young

priest with poor grades,

lacking the qualities I so prize,

and shaping him.

This was a heavy burden to take on.

But you are shaping me!

I need you!

[i]They[/i] didn't see the gift

the Holy Spirit gave you.

[i]They[/i] never see anything!

God appoints us.

The spirit of strength is within you!

Anyone but me,

assuming he'd seen as clearly,

wouldn't dare speak to you as I do.

Human prudence is a trap.

Truth will out.

Sanctity!

My pronouncing that word

pains you, I know.

You know what the word means ;

a vocation, a calling.

You must climb to where God calls you,

or be lost.

Expect no human help.

Doubting your powers and God's aims

led you into a blind alley.

I'm setting you back on your road.

I am giving you to those who

will prey on you!

May the Lord bless you!

Allow me to withdraw.

Listening to you, I felt despair,

but not any more.

Only you, God, may judge me as I am.

A man knows what is happening

within him.

It's an impenetrable

secret to anyone else.

Father Donissan?

You'll be late.

Are you ill?

No, Dean.

I won't be a minute.

It's me!

What a situation!

You come here at 1 A.M.

after your father's visit...

You deserve a spanking.

I'm tired.

I fell in the mud, I'm soaked.

My throat's dry from crying.

I was out of my mind.

They'd have ended by killing me.

What parents!

They'll never see me again!

Nonsense.

I've got money.

I can catch a train to Paris.

My aunt has a nice house

and a grocery store.

I'll work for her and be very happy.

Are you of age?

I will be, in time.

Let me stay!

Stay? Where?

They'll all be on our backs...

including Gallet.

that damn Deputy!

I was seeing him tomorrow with Dad.

Mouchette, I've got enough problems...

I need time.

They say your furniture's

the finest around.

Will you answer me?

Answer what?

Answer what!

You can't move in here.

It'd stir up a storm.

It's late. I'll take you part-way back.

I won't go to Campagne tonight.

Where'll you sleep?

Here, by the road,

anywhere...Do I care?

Sleep wherever.

You should've given me time.

In a month, I'd have sold all this.

But your father threatened me...

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