The other Belfort
- Belfort, stay here.
You must keep the Queen company in the absence of His Majesty the King.
- Poor Bazire, he thinks our brother will give up his escapes during Mother's trip with the King.
- He should know that Belfort is incapable of standing still.
What did Mother call him when he was little?
Ah yes, sire knight of the fidgety.
- I had forgot, the knight of the fidgety... that's it.
- It's so funny I forgot to laugh.
- Belfort, until your mother returns, you'll occupy the 1st rank of dogs.
And for that, you need to be perfectly groomed.
You'll have to respect etiquette.
Do you understand? This is Versailles, boy.
- There he goes.
- He's going to hang out with his fleabag friend.
- Oh, pathetic, as usual.
Belfort!
- Could it be a mirror?
No, it's not.
I'm seeing double. - It looks like it, but it's not.
There are two of us. We look exactly alike.
- So you'd be my double?
- Or you, mine. Shall we be on familiar terms?
I'm Poquelin, they call me Poc.
- Augustin Prosper de Belfort, 1st royal dog in my mother's absence on a trip with the king.
- Your Majesty. So, you live here.
Pretty cottage.
I'm here for the day, with Molière, my master.
- THE Molière ? The famous actor?
My master is a fervent admirer.
- The one and only. He's written a new play. He's going to perform it for the Queen.
- Belfort!
- This is Bazire, the king's dog valet.
He ensures that etiquette and protocol are respected.
I'd love to have a bit of freedom. Well, that's how it is.
- I can replace you until tonight.
I'm leaving after the show.
- It'll never work. - Yes, it will.
We're a lot alike, and I'm an excellent actor. Molière taught me everything.
- Augustin Prosper de Belfort, 1st royal dog in my mother's absence, Diane.
- Very similar indeed.
- And with your collar, no one will guess I'm not you.
- Belfort!
- Let me have it, fast.
- Very well, but only until tonight.
- Here you are!
Your grooming isn't finished yet. Follow me, or you'll be all disheveled for the play.
There, perfect!
I'll go and get your food.
In the meantime,
no moving.
- Belfort, Tane, Ponne, did you know that Mr. Molière...
- Out, vermin!
- Belfort, calm down! It's only Gazette.
- Quiet down! I'm in charge here.
I said out,
vermin! Or else...
Oh, Belfort.
- What authority!
You're finally starting to take your role as 1st royal dog seriously.
- We'd given up hope and thought you were an incompetent coward.
- I said quiet! You're tiring me out. Please leave me alone.
- I'm really impressed, Belfort is finally asserting himself.
- Who would have thought that replacing mother would reveal such a strong character.
- This royal necklace suits me perfectly, yes. It's mine and forever mine.
- Have you seen Poc?
He disappeared after breakfast.
Isn't he hiding there?
- We haven't seen him, Mr. Molière.
- Oh, look!
There's Mr. Molière, I can't believe it.
We're lucky enough to be able to witness the preparations for his new play.
- Yeah, I'm not very excited about watching humans play other humans.
- On the contrary, it's great fun. And Molière is a genius.
What's the matter, my dear Gazette? Why are you crying?
- What?! You've just banished me from the castle and you're surprised to see me cry?
- But I would never do such a thing!
- Then who just called me a vermin?
- Uh... maybe it's the other Belfort, your understudy.
- His understudy?
- Yes, I've got a understudy for the day. Poc, Molière's dog.
Tonight, when he leaves,
hell' give my collar back, and I'll be back where I belong.
- Oh, don't think that, Belfort. - And how's that?
- He intends to keep your collar forever.
- It seems he fooled you, Belfort.
- Oh... And without your collar, you can't prove your identity.
- But I'm His Majesty's dog. No one can steal my place.
- All you have to do is get your collar back.
- Poc?
Poc!
Where are you, my dog? - Is something wrong, Mr. Molière?
- I've lost my dog Poc, a young spaniel.
I'm very attached to him, as are the rest of the cast. Ah!
There you are, Poc.
- Molière confuses me with Poc. He mustn't see you.
I'll distract him. Let's meet at the château.
- Poc! Come back to me!
- How funny! He looks just like Belfort.
Poc! Heel!
Poc, where are you?
- I can't believe it. They waxed the floor again!
You weren't kidding.
He really looks like you.
- Tell me you can tell the difference.
- You're wearing the same perfume. But underneath, it doesn't smell the same.
- That's reassuring. Thanks, Lupin.
- What's the plan?
- The "couch potato" technique? Note: They are inventing names that make no sense.
- Uh... no, I'd say more like the "labrador in a chouquette" technique.
- I prefer the musketeer mouse!
- Great! I borrowed the Queen's new hairbrush.
I was curious to use it on your royal ears.
Let's go.
Here's a quality brush, your ears are shining.
- I don't want to see that.
- Belfort, calm down! You'll mess up your coat.
A rat!
The rats are attacking us! Help!
- Help!
- Poc, my necklace, please.
- You really think I'm going to give it back?
But it's... it's a wolf.
- Belfort!
Oh, my!
What similarity!
Others could be mistaken, but no dog is groomed as
perfectly as you, Belfort.
Give me back that collar!
You poor thing!
This misfit was robbing you.
- This is Mr. Molière's dog. He's looking for you everywhere. I'll bring him back.
- Good riddance! Tell him his dog is a lout.
- We hit a snag. All humans confuse Poc and Belfort, even Bazire.
- The necklace won't be enough to get Belfort back where he belongs.
- We need to find another plan?
- Come on, don't make those eyes.
What would I do without you, my Poc?
Losing you would be a nightmare.
Stay here until we leave.
Come on, Poc!
- Lupin! Gazette!
I'm locked in.
- Don't worry Belfort, we'll get you out of there!
- Molière locked the door. It's impossible to open it.
My life at Versailles is over. Molière will take me with him after the play.
Nobody recognizes me. He's managed to fool everyone.
- It's incredible! He fooled Bazire and your sisters.
- My sisters! Yes, my sisters! This is our last chance.
- Really, those two snobs ? They will never help us.
- Yes, they will. They'll never allow anyone else to take my place.
- He's right, they'll never tolerate an impostor in the King's dog office.
Especially if it's a dog without any title of nobility.
- Go and get them, Gazette.
- If Poc sees me... - I'm coming with you.
Oh yeah... I forgot it was filled with humans.
- Well, gentlemen, what's this? Don't you know...
- Tane! Ponne!
- Quiet.
- Hey, the snakes, it's me Lupin.
- Tane, Ponne,
follow us, this is very important.
- I've
kept you waiting,
but I'm getting dressed today.
... like quality people, and my tailor sent me some
silk stockings I never thought I'd wear.
- What do you mean by that? Molière's dog has taken Belfort's place?
- Nonsense, we would have noticed.
- Oh, yeah? Still, your brother's locked up in there. And Poc has his collar.
- Tane, Ponne, please, it's me, your brother!
- Ah yes... suddenly that whiny tone rings a bell.
- We've got to be careful.
- If you're our brother, prove it.
- Prove it? But I'm Augustin Prosper de Belfort.
I'm your brother, I'm... I'm...
The knight of the fidgety.
- Belfort? It is true!
It's really is you.
That's what Mother used to call Belfort. Nobody knows it.
- We've been fooled, duped, manipulated by a nobody. It's absolutely despicable!
- That deceiver has dared to insult our royal family.
- Tane, Ponne, Lupin,
You must find Scapin the Schemer and boot him out of the castle. Note: "Scapin the Schemer" is a play created by Molière.
- Boot him out? Don't you prefer we throw him out.
- It's the same thing, Lupin. - Well, the snakes...
I mean, Tane and Ponne... To get rid of Poc, we'll have to work together.
- I never thought I'd say this, but I agree.
- Make it quick.
Otherwise Molière will take me with him.
- There are five vowels... A...
E... I...
O...
- Poc, the party's over.
- Tane and Ponne, leave your brother alone. Calm them down, Mr. Bazire.
My poor Belfort, your sisters are giving you a hard time. Stay here with me.
- You must admit, he's an excellent comedian. I'll take care of him.
- Everyone take cover, here comes the musketeer mouse.
- What's wrong with these dogs?
Bazire! Bazire! Please, take them back to the castle.
- A... E...
I... O... I...
- Belfort!
- Let's split up. You, block him from the back.
- Are you giving us orders? - Who does he think he is?!
- Not now.
- There, we lost him, you've slowed us down.
- Oh no, the play's over, Molière's going to leave with Belfort!
Fast! Poc went that way!
Come!
Oh no! Not the floor!
- You're too late!
Belfort just left us.
- Belfort, I don't know what to do.
Belfort!
- Now I'll live a life of luxury!
- BELFORT!
- Now, get out!
If you don't, I'll squeal and the guard will take care of you. Wolves are not welcome in my house.
- This isn't your home, it's Belfort's place.
- My poor friend, you haven't understood. In the eyes of the world, I'm Belfort.
- You'll never be like him. He'd never pretend to be someone else.
He'd never sacrifice his family, his friends, to live in a castle.
- Enough is enough!
We return to the dog room, right now.
- Mother will hate us.
- You know your master looked for you everywhere?
He was heartbroken at the thought of losing you.
Because he loves you, but you don't seem to care.
You should be ashamed.
- You're right...
Poor Molière.
- Molière... the cast... Poc!
They cares about you, it's your family.
- Poc! Then...
who's that dog?
- Sorry, Belfort.
- My dear Lupin, I knew you'd save me. Thank you from the bottom of my heart.
- Yeah, well... you'd have done the same, of course.
- Thank you so much. You three made a wonderful team with Lupin.
Lupin is wonderful. Isn't he ?
- Enough laughing, let's go back to the castle now.
- To think I missed Mr. Molière's performance.
Lupin, you saw part of it, tell me about it.
- Well...
If you want my input Belfort, from what I saw, Molière won't last long, and will be forgotten.
Believe me, I know all about it.
- During the reign of King Louis XIV, theater played a very important role in the life of the court at Versailles.
The famous playwright Jean-Baptiste Poquelin, known as Molière, created many of the plays performed at Versailles for the Sun King,
such as "The Imaginary Invalid", "The doctor in spite of himself", or "The Bourgeois Gentleman".
Molière often collaborated with music composer Lully.
Together, they blended theater, music and dance to create the "comédie-ballet".
This is the forerunner of the musical.
In 1680, the Sun King, a great lover of the arts, created the renowned "Comédie-Française", which still exists today and features a bust of Molière.