Elite dog
-Belfort, I beg you, make an effort.
Let's give it another try.
Sniffing complete. Turn around, please.
Now...
where is the handkerchief?
Ah, that's it, carry on.
Come on, Belfort, you're going to make it.
-Is he for real?
It's not difficult!
-No.
No, no, no and no!
-Tane, our poor brother
wouldn't be able to smell a rotten cheese even on his own truffle.
-Please, Belfort,
you've got to succeed... or the king will send me to the galleys!
Let's stay calm.
Bazire! His Majesty the King is asking for you!
-His... His... His... His Majesty!
Don't wander off, I’ll be back as soon as possible!
-It's as easy as easy as pie! A game for puppies!
-Belfort could make an effort.
-But I do! It's my nose, it's not working!
I can't help it if I was born without the sense of smell.
-Oh, what a shame!
Our master Louis will be very disappointed when he
sees Belfort fail the tracking test this afternoon. A real shame!
-In any case,
I can't wait to see what a pitiful performance our brother is going to put on.
-No way. I can do it!
I'll never make it, my dear Lupin!
Never, do you hear?
I'll be the laughingstock of Versailles. -Whoa, whoa, whoa...
Relax, buddy.
What are you talking' about? I don't understand.
-Louis, my master, has ordered that my sisters and I
participate in a tracking demonstration this afternoon.
-Okay, and what does that mean?
-Tane, Ponne and I have to find a handkerchief hidden
in the park and bring it back to my master,
to show that we are the elite
of royal dogs. Like our mother.
-It's okay, actually!
Seems easy! Well... except for you.
-You've got it all figured out.
My sisters will complete the challenge trouble-free.
They'll sniff their handkerchiefs, but me...
with my non-working nose, I'm going to disappoint my master.
-Well, he doesn't have to leave his handkerchiefs lying around!
Don't look so down. If it's so important, I'll help you.
-But how? No one will ever be
able to give me back my sense of smell!
-Never say never.
Do as I say and I'll make you a champion.
-You will? Do I really have a chance? -Hm hm.
-Oh!
My dear Lupin, you're wonderful. Where shall I start?
-Of course, Majesty.
Your 3 young dogs will be fully prepared for the challenge.
If you'll excuse me, I have to prepare our champions.
Oops-ie.
Belfort, we must resume the exercises!
Belfort!
Where's Belfort?
Damn it! Why?
This time for sure, I'll end up in the galleys
-First exercise: you have to find your way out of the forest.
-Really?
You are really underestimating me, my dear Lupin.
My sense of smell is flawed, but I have a good sense of direction.
Hm...
-No, no, no. Not so fast, Belfort.
You're missing an accessory.
-I must confess your method is original
I hope we won't run into anyone. I'd be embarrassed.
Don't worry, we won't bump into anyone here.
It's all right, my champion. Keep on going, you'll make it!
-Oh, sorry!
Oh! Ouch!
-Congratulations, Belfort, you're out of the forest.
Well, on the other hand, not thanks to your sense of smell.
-Apart from the shocks, I didn't smell a thing! *Note: "Senti" in French can be used as "Smell" and as "Feel".
-We'll find another way.
-It feels good to breath in some fresh air!
-I get it now, we first need to go over the basics.
-I'm listening?
-A good tracker has good posture.
Firm on the hind legs, head straight, nose up,
left front leg raised, tail parallel to the ground, on the lookout.
And sniff.
Head to one side, looking for the wind
and sticking out your tongue.
Bêêêêê! -Bêêêêê!
-That was a joke, the "bêêêêê"! -Ah yes, very funny!
-Come on, let's get back to it.
Wiggle your nose, close your eyes, inhale...
As soon as you spot a scent, follow it!
Hey!
-Oh, sorry, Lupin. I did everything like you said,
but I didn't smell anything.
I'm sorry, Lupin. -So, we're hungry?
Good timing, me too.
It gave me an idea.
Next exercise: find something to eat.
-That's easy!
What would you like? Stew, cheese, cookie?
The king's cook
is kind to me.
-Eating in the kitchen is cheating.
You have to find food in nature.
-Do you mean out in the wild?
-Yeah, with your nose.
-But Lupin, I couldn't possibly hunt an innocent little rabbit!
And I'm not hunting any other animal.
-No, you won't, nobody's going to eat anybody!
No need to! Versailles is an
open-air buffet, with food everywhere!
-Oh, what a relief.
Let's go !
-And the queen asked for more chocolate.
-You've got to be kidding me! -Too bad the king doesn't like it.
-OK, try the truffle lower down.
Well, I wonder if we'll be eating the day after tomorrow or the day after that.
But...
Er... Er...
-I just don't get it.
It's like there's nothing to eat in all of Versailles.
-Here my friend. -Thanks, Lupin!
-Belfort, I'm not going to lie to you, tracking's not looking good.
To wake up your truffle, we're gonna have to use the big guns.
-The big guns?
-Oh dear, my poor little feet.
-Oh?
-Two hours wandering the gardens,
all of that to find...
Belfort!
-Belfort, the scent you're about to smell is the worst in the world.
I'm sorry about this, but we've got to do it.
-Belfort thinks he doesn't have to train,
that the king loves him too much to be angry with him.
But he's wrong.
And if Belfort fails the tracking test,
I'll end up in the galleys!
-OK...
This will unclog your nose or my name isn't Lupin.
It's up to you. And above all, good luck.
-I'm sorry, but...
what am I supposed to smell?
-This can't be happening!
There must be some mistake.
-Bernard stepped on his rake again.
-This can't be! You must have smelled something!
It's burning all my nose holes!
-Believe me, I'd like to say I smelled it, but I didn't.
-If you can't even smell Bazire's old shoes,
we're really screwed.
-We can't give up. I refuse to disappoint my master.
You must have another exercise.
Oh no, the tracking test is about to begin!
-Oh! This is a disaster! A disastrous disaster!
I'm devastated.
-It's okay, we'll find a solution. Lupin's word.
-Do you have another idea?
-Maybe I do.
To succeed,
you have to bring back a handkerchief to your beloved master?
-Yes, I must.
-But you don't stand a chance of finding it on your own.
So I'll find it for you.
Once I find it, I'll put it in a corner
where you'll be sure to see it.
-Lupin, are you offering to cheat?
-Oh... No, come on! What can I say? Just a little.
-No way! I refuse to lower myself to that!
My nose doesn't work, but I'm a
King's dog, and King's dog
don't cheat. -Oh là là...
Belfort, don't take it like that! Belfort, come back!
He's really stubborn, when he puts his mind to it!
-Oh...
Oh, Belfort!
Where have you been? I've been looking for you!
-I can't believe it, he came. -The fool!
-His Majesty the King!
-My faithful companions, I am
delighted to see you at work.
And I have no doubt that each of you will be able to retrieve
the handkerchief we've hidden in the park.
-HM!
-Hm...
-Smell recorded!
-Come on, let's go, Belfort!
You can do it! -You already know it won't work.
No one will know if I help you. -I said no!
It's still no.
I've got to succeed on my own,
even if I have too look all over the park.
If not with my nose, I'll do it with my eyes.
-Hm?
What is he doing?
I'm sick and tired of your principles.
Bingo!
You've got to be kidding me! Is he doing it on purpose?
What's he doing?
My good-for-nothing brother trusted
his lousy friend to save his nose?
-It's my idea to help him. That's what friends are for,
but you don't know what I'm talking about. Are you going to stop me?
Two against one, it's no game!
-Oh man, oh man...
-Are you going to let go?
-Lupin!
-Bernard stepped on another rake.
-Tane, look at this.
He runs like a jackrabbit and hides in a rabbit hole.
Weird wolf!
-Anyway, the poor little wolf has no escape!
-Excellent! All right, that's enough fun.
Help me out.
-Hm... No. -Another day, perhaps!
-Hey, be nice! You're not leaving me in here!
Hey, oh!
-Lupin! Lupin!
-Oh...
Look, there they are!
-Bravo!
-Tane, Ponne, bravo. You've passed the test.
Bazire?
You'll reward them as they deserve.
-Of course, Your Majesty.
-Well done, my children.
Hm...
-Lupin! Where are you? Lupin!
-Belfort? -Lupin!
This way! -I'm here, I'm coming!
Lupin!
How did you get in there? -It's a long story.
-Oh!
You tried to help me, when I told you not to?
-Of course I wanted to help you!
Because I know it's important for you not to disappoint your master.
-So you had no confidence in me.
-Belfort, open your eyes: you can't do it.
-Hm? Too bad, then.
I'll fail, but with my head held high. -Belfort !
Wait! Take the handkerchief! Belfort!
-Ah, here it is!
-Belfort! Oh...
-Well, my good Belfort, where's the handkerchief?
What's the matter with you? Calm down, Belfort.
Guard with me, it seem Belfort wants me to follow him.
The rest of you, wait here.
-Wait for me!
-Quiet.
-Be careful, it's a wolf. -Stop! If Belfort
warned us of this beast's distress,
it's not for us to harm it.
For some reason, this wolf deserves our help.
-Oh!
-Well,
my loyal Belfort,
it seems tracking isn't your thing.
-Oh...
-My dear Bazire,
we can praise Belfort's attitude.
Who else would have given up
the test to save this creature?
What a noble spirit.
-How does Belfort always manages to win the king's good graces?
-When he hasn't brought back his handkerchief.
-My daughters, you have passed the test,
so don't doubt it: you have the qualities of elite dogs.
As for you, my son, I share our master's opinion.
You have shown nobility and that quality honors you.
-HM!
-However, I would be grateful to choose your company more carefully.
I will not tolerate my son making
friends with an animal of inferior rank.
-Hm...
Hm?
-Oh!
Is that for me? Smells great! What is it?
-A cookie.
I don't know what it smells like, but it's delicious.
Not so fast!
I'll gladly give it to you,
as long as you never help me cheat ever again.
-That's a promise. Thank you for getting me out of that hole.
-Bon appétit, my dear Lupin.
-Wow! That's crazy! Actually, kitchens are nice!
-Louis XIV,
the Sun King, loved animals, especially dogs.
In his kennel
lived over 300 hunting dogs.
In particular, these included
hounds, pointers and spaniels.
The king's favorite dogs lived inside the castle,
in the dogs' antechamber,
a place which still exists today.
It housed
carved wooden doghouses, lined with velvet.
Dogs had their own valet to pamper them.
Louis XIV loved so much his 4-legged companions
that he had portraits made of them, visible today in several museums.
The royal pastry chef prepared little cookie called "biscotins",
that the King himself liked to give to his favorite dogs.