Mesrine Synopsis
MESRINE
(Crawford-Bailey/Wilson)
Characters:
Jacques Mesrine President Giscard D'Estaing Police Commissaire Broussard Jeanne Schneider Sylvie Jeanjacquot The Heiress T.V. announcer Street Girl French Police / Prisoners People of France Lady of the Seine Narrator Location - Paris France 1970's
Characters:
Jacques Mesrine President Giscard D'Estaing Police Commissaire Broussard Jeanne Schneider Sylvie Jeanjacquot The Heiress T.V. announcer Street Girl French Police / Prisoners People of France Lady of the Seine Narrator Location - Paris France 1970's
ACT.1
Shadow Play Paris -1979 : November - afternoon. A car stands motionless in a Paris street. In slow motion 30 or more French Police with still smoking guns and rifles surrounds a dark blue BMW, the engine is still running.A distinguished man in a cashmere overcoat warmly shakes the hand of the Chief of Police and gestures approvingly; they look up at the sky and walk off in separate directions.
Theme From Mesrine For a brief moment the cold November day fades into bright searing winter sunlight.Through the smog we begin to see the Paris skyline. An over whelming smell of cordite hangs in the air as spent rifle cartridge bounces off the pavement and rattles down a near by drain, all falls silent.
Escape No.1 A frantic chase explodes into view between the police and a cunning athletic man.At the climax of the pursuit the action freezes like a still frame and the winded and exhausted police officers look up and see the shadow of the man as he disappears over a very high wall, they have no idea who he is.
Mesrine's Song As if from beyond the grave, a silhouette of a man appears, as his face becomes clear he begins to tell his story.
Criminal Act The Chief of Police warns that no one should dare carry out any serious crimes in Paris while he is in charge.
I Am The President The French President in no uncertain terms lets us know he is the most powerful man in the whole of Europe, he is a deluded man.
Beautiful Day To Die The girlfriend of Jacques Mesrine laments their lost love and remembers how he had always said that "any day when the air is still and the sun is shining is a beautiful day to die".
The Most Wanted Man In France In an exclusive bar in Paris we see Mesrine meet Jeanne for the first time, they talk and then stroll off into the heat of the Parisian night. In just a few hours she falls under the spell of the most wanted man in France and slowly becomes his partner in crime.
Algiers Jeanne asks Mesrine how his life of crime started? Mesrine tells her of his time in the French foreign legion and his successes with black market racketeering. This was beginning of his criminal lifestyle. Jeanne begins to understand his journey, fears and demons that drive him.
Soul In Chains Once again Mesrine is arrested and thrown in Jail. He immediately sets about fooling the prison guards that he regrets his life of crime, but this is a devious smoke screen to disguise his plot for escape.
Prison Break Out Jacques and an accomplice Francoise Besse wait until nightfall before making a rope from prison bed sheets and traversing an electrical power cable that spans the prison security fence to the street below. But before making their escape Mesrine decides to break back into the prison armory and distribute guns to the inmates …a riot and mass escape ensues
Abuse Of Power Comes As No Surprise On hearing of the prison escape were Mesrine easily stole guns and distributed them the inmates the French President vents his anger at the Chief of police, Broussard has no answers and unwittingly Mesrine has now become known to the President of France.
Au Revior To Crime After some time on the run Mesrine returns to his girlfriend. She asks him to give up his life of crime and settle down to a normal everyday existence. He tries to please her but eventually its just too big a lifestyle change, he wrestles with his feelings. After a drunken evening funded by the rent money from their apartment goes down to the river to think.
Lady Of The Seine Mesrine looks over the Parisien skyline and contemplates his next crime. The spirit of Paris appears and inspires him with the hypnotic power of the city
Working To Music Mesrine's brush with normality is short lived, as he walks down a crowded street he decides on impulse to rob the nearest bank...he then waits a few hours for the bank to be re-stocked with money…and robs it again! As the alarms sound he tells the cashier 'I love working to music!'
The Safe Mesrine and his gang increase the intensity of their criminal activity and methodically rob a large selection of banks and businesses. At one location the latest precision made safe almost foils them …so they resort to a more primative method of opening it. This is the safe that will change their lives; Mesrine's girlfriend knows this but is not sure if it will change them for the better.
The Wrong Detective The Chief of police is sent to investigate the escalating crime wave. Mesrine is unaware of Broussards reputation as Frances most revered detective. Both men are brilliant adversaries and a criminal game of chess is born.
Safe Again Yet another bank vault and a different safe to open for Mesrine and his team. They are now becoming very adept at cracking safes and the authorities seem powerless to stop them.
Ribbons The rookie police officers are given the task of the analysing all the clues from the spate of recent robberies, but its no easy task. If it is Mesrine, they fear he can easily out smart them and avoid capture. These young police officers joke that they think the mountain of paper work and clues are a test set up by the police commissioner to see if they warrant promotion.
Being Me The President starts to wonder if Mesrine is becoming a bigger nuisance than first thought…will he be stopped…a President has more to deal with than just mere criminals, even if this particular one could undermine his political authority.
Gangsters Moll Jeanne feels she is fast becoming Mesrine's sidekick, a modern day Bonnie to his Clyde. She realizes she is not smart but is prepared to stand by her man come what may.
Loving You Will Kill Me We find are Mesrine and his girl standing outside a prestigious bank. they are in disguise. This will be their biggest bank robbery to-date, but they know that inside the armed security will shoot to kill, these could be their final moments. They agree to live or die; it's a pact that will forever haunt them, together they push open the bank's doors…a gunshot explodes into the air…
Shadow Play Paris -1979 : November - afternoon. A car stands motionless in a Paris street. In slow motion 30 or more French Police with still smoking guns and rifles surrounds a dark blue BMW, the engine is still running.A distinguished man in a cashmere overcoat warmly shakes the hand of the Chief of Police and gestures approvingly; they look up at the sky and walk off in separate directions.
Theme From Mesrine For a brief moment the cold November day fades into bright searing winter sunlight.Through the smog we begin to see the Paris skyline. An over whelming smell of cordite hangs in the air as spent rifle cartridge bounces off the pavement and rattles down a near by drain, all falls silent.
Escape No.1 A frantic chase explodes into view between the police and a cunning athletic man.At the climax of the pursuit the action freezes like a still frame and the winded and exhausted police officers look up and see the shadow of the man as he disappears over a very high wall, they have no idea who he is.
Mesrine's Song As if from beyond the grave, a silhouette of a man appears, as his face becomes clear he begins to tell his story.
Criminal Act The Chief of Police warns that no one should dare carry out any serious crimes in Paris while he is in charge.
I Am The President The French President in no uncertain terms lets us know he is the most powerful man in the whole of Europe, he is a deluded man.
Beautiful Day To Die The girlfriend of Jacques Mesrine laments their lost love and remembers how he had always said that "any day when the air is still and the sun is shining is a beautiful day to die".
The Most Wanted Man In France In an exclusive bar in Paris we see Mesrine meet Jeanne for the first time, they talk and then stroll off into the heat of the Parisian night. In just a few hours she falls under the spell of the most wanted man in France and slowly becomes his partner in crime.
Algiers Jeanne asks Mesrine how his life of crime started? Mesrine tells her of his time in the French foreign legion and his successes with black market racketeering. This was beginning of his criminal lifestyle. Jeanne begins to understand his journey, fears and demons that drive him.
Soul In Chains Once again Mesrine is arrested and thrown in Jail. He immediately sets about fooling the prison guards that he regrets his life of crime, but this is a devious smoke screen to disguise his plot for escape.
Prison Break Out Jacques and an accomplice Francoise Besse wait until nightfall before making a rope from prison bed sheets and traversing an electrical power cable that spans the prison security fence to the street below. But before making their escape Mesrine decides to break back into the prison armory and distribute guns to the inmates …a riot and mass escape ensues
Abuse Of Power Comes As No Surprise On hearing of the prison escape were Mesrine easily stole guns and distributed them the inmates the French President vents his anger at the Chief of police, Broussard has no answers and unwittingly Mesrine has now become known to the President of France.
Au Revior To Crime After some time on the run Mesrine returns to his girlfriend. She asks him to give up his life of crime and settle down to a normal everyday existence. He tries to please her but eventually its just too big a lifestyle change, he wrestles with his feelings. After a drunken evening funded by the rent money from their apartment goes down to the river to think.
Lady Of The Seine Mesrine looks over the Parisien skyline and contemplates his next crime. The spirit of Paris appears and inspires him with the hypnotic power of the city
Working To Music Mesrine's brush with normality is short lived, as he walks down a crowded street he decides on impulse to rob the nearest bank...he then waits a few hours for the bank to be re-stocked with money…and robs it again! As the alarms sound he tells the cashier 'I love working to music!'
The Safe Mesrine and his gang increase the intensity of their criminal activity and methodically rob a large selection of banks and businesses. At one location the latest precision made safe almost foils them …so they resort to a more primative method of opening it. This is the safe that will change their lives; Mesrine's girlfriend knows this but is not sure if it will change them for the better.
The Wrong Detective The Chief of police is sent to investigate the escalating crime wave. Mesrine is unaware of Broussards reputation as Frances most revered detective. Both men are brilliant adversaries and a criminal game of chess is born.
Safe Again Yet another bank vault and a different safe to open for Mesrine and his team. They are now becoming very adept at cracking safes and the authorities seem powerless to stop them.
Ribbons The rookie police officers are given the task of the analysing all the clues from the spate of recent robberies, but its no easy task. If it is Mesrine, they fear he can easily out smart them and avoid capture. These young police officers joke that they think the mountain of paper work and clues are a test set up by the police commissioner to see if they warrant promotion.
Being Me The President starts to wonder if Mesrine is becoming a bigger nuisance than first thought…will he be stopped…a President has more to deal with than just mere criminals, even if this particular one could undermine his political authority.
Gangsters Moll Jeanne feels she is fast becoming Mesrine's sidekick, a modern day Bonnie to his Clyde. She realizes she is not smart but is prepared to stand by her man come what may.
Loving You Will Kill Me We find are Mesrine and his girl standing outside a prestigious bank. they are in disguise. This will be their biggest bank robbery to-date, but they know that inside the armed security will shoot to kill, these could be their final moments. They agree to live or die; it's a pact that will forever haunt them, together they push open the bank's doors…a gunshot explodes into the air…
END OF ACT.1
ACT.2
Montreal
After the very successful bank robbery Mesrine and his girl escape to Canada where they
continue with their collection of audacious crimes. Eventually the Canadian
authorities home in on Mesrine so he returns to Europe.
Air France Mesrine boards a flight back to Europe, he travels in disguise along with his girlfriend and newly acquired mistress.
Stay Or Be Damned The ménage a trois that Mesrine has enjoyed for these last few months starts falling apart. Both girls now want their man for themselves but who will win his favour both are falling for him and the seeds of jealousy are sown.
Two Of Everything It is now known to the French authorities that Mesrine is back in France. The Chief of Police knows that Mesine has a relationship with two girls and although he is a little jealous of his macho charisma he realises Mesrine's arrogance may yet be his downfall.
L'Amour Est Mort The two girls sadly realize that only one of them can be Mesrine's girl. One of them packs her case to leave while the other consoles her.
Crime Fabulous Crime The remaining girlfriend thinks of all the wealth that serious crime can bring her, Mesrine agrees.
The Coiffeur Directly below his apartment is a hairdressing salon. As a means of escape and a moment of wicked fun Mesrine disguises himself as a hairdresser and athletically traverses the balcony window to the back door of the hairdressing salon below.He then grabs a pair of scissors, puts on a white coat, sprinkles himself in hair and confidently walks out of the salon's front door towards the waiting crowds and begins to chat with the police…before making his relaxed stroll to freedom
A Woman's Pain After a few harsh words from Mesrine, his girl reflects on how all men can never truly understand how a woman feels emotionally.
No Blanks As President sits at a roulette table with a selection of heads of state, Broussard informs him of the enormous sums of money Jacques Mesrine continues to steal.
The Heiress Mesrine and the gang cheekily discuss the pros and cons of a prospective money making venture. Over a bottle or two of wine they act out a potential kidnap. As the gang becomes drunk we hear the strains of the can can and they begin to laugh about capturing an heiress, a plan that will backfire spectacularly is hatched.
Pirate Swagger The kidnap takes place and they assess their catch. A girl is bundled into the gangs hide away. After the hood is pulled off her head and the gag removed she recognizes Jacques Mesrine and tells him he has made a mistake, her family have no money so she should be set free.
Falling Off A Horse The heiress gives a sob story to Mesrine and the gang, she try's to make out her family have no money, but Mesrine see's through her deception.
Petit Theif Of Marseille One of Mesrine's gang Francoise decides to question who should be leader, Jacques and his girlfriend's reaction to this confrontation is swift and chilling.
This Man Mesrine The French President tells his growing anger at Mesrine's criminal fame.
I Just Like Chess The Chief of police is taken to lunch by a reporter from the press and asked to explain the official policy on Jacque Mesrine. Broussard doesn't realize that the reporter is Mesrine in disguise.
Le Couer Battant De Paris (Lady Of The Seine Part 2) Mesrine once again questions his life of crime and calls on the spiritual influence of Paris
And In Other News A television news expose charts Jacques Mesrines rise to fame through a selection of archive clips.
Street Girl On a promenade in the Bois de Boulogne a street girl is touting for business. as potential punters pass her by a man mysteriously walks out of the shadows. She asks him "want do you want me to do for you eh?" He asks for nothing and hands her a canvas holdall containing a large amount of money. She is shocked but happily surprised. As the man turns to leave he lowers his disguise … he is Jacque Mesrine.
Public Enemy No 1 Mesrine is now officially France's most wanted man, he is known by everyone as Public Enemy No1.
King Takes Pawn In a moment of anger and outrage President D'Estaing summons Broussard to a private meeting. The President orders the Chief of police to come up with a plan to stop Mesrine…for good!
Never See '79 Armed with the knowledge of his police force's impending encounter with Mesrine, The President goes to a restaurant to relax but finds it difficult not to display his political arrogance.
T'Aimer Va Etre Ma Perdition Merine spends time with his girlfriend,a glass or two of wine, and his thoughts.
Une Belle Journee Pour Mourir (Beautiful Day To Die Part 2) Its just another day. Mesrine wakes up in the morning ,looks out the window, gets dressed and goes out of the door with Sylvie and their small dog. As with everyday now, he realizes that any moment could be his last…
Cold November Day Behind closed doors the police gather around a miniature street plan of Paris. They move model cars and people around the scene to formulate their deadly plan. While this is happening, in another area of Paris, Mesrine drives off in his car. The police have Mesrine's car under surveillance and build diversions to herd his BMW towards the Port de Clignancourt. As Mesrine's car turns into the street a large van blocks the way, another vehicle quickly drives up behind and boxes him in. All goes silent, for a beat time stands still… The doors of the large black van fly open and endless venomous explosion of bullets are unleashed into Mesrines car.
Final Breath Mesrine's last dying breath. The police quickly disperse like nothing ever happened. The President and Chief of police shake hands and smile, Jacques Mesrine is dead
Toy Guns The Police begin to clear away the gruesome scene; the chief notices they are being watched closely by a young girl who is shocked by what she has seen. Broussard explains to her that she has seen them making a movie with actors using…toy guns.
Finale News travels fast…and the press seek out the Chief of Police for answers.. They shout out a blaze of questions to Broussard. Was Broussard wrong or right to do what he did?…he lets his conscience speak.
I Don't Want The World To Know The President gives the order that the true story of Jacques Mesrine's death must be hidden…know one must ever know the truth!
Theme From Mesrine (Final Curtain)
Air France Mesrine boards a flight back to Europe, he travels in disguise along with his girlfriend and newly acquired mistress.
Stay Or Be Damned The ménage a trois that Mesrine has enjoyed for these last few months starts falling apart. Both girls now want their man for themselves but who will win his favour both are falling for him and the seeds of jealousy are sown.
Two Of Everything It is now known to the French authorities that Mesrine is back in France. The Chief of Police knows that Mesine has a relationship with two girls and although he is a little jealous of his macho charisma he realises Mesrine's arrogance may yet be his downfall.
L'Amour Est Mort The two girls sadly realize that only one of them can be Mesrine's girl. One of them packs her case to leave while the other consoles her.
Crime Fabulous Crime The remaining girlfriend thinks of all the wealth that serious crime can bring her, Mesrine agrees.
The Coiffeur Directly below his apartment is a hairdressing salon. As a means of escape and a moment of wicked fun Mesrine disguises himself as a hairdresser and athletically traverses the balcony window to the back door of the hairdressing salon below.He then grabs a pair of scissors, puts on a white coat, sprinkles himself in hair and confidently walks out of the salon's front door towards the waiting crowds and begins to chat with the police…before making his relaxed stroll to freedom
A Woman's Pain After a few harsh words from Mesrine, his girl reflects on how all men can never truly understand how a woman feels emotionally.
No Blanks As President sits at a roulette table with a selection of heads of state, Broussard informs him of the enormous sums of money Jacques Mesrine continues to steal.
The Heiress Mesrine and the gang cheekily discuss the pros and cons of a prospective money making venture. Over a bottle or two of wine they act out a potential kidnap. As the gang becomes drunk we hear the strains of the can can and they begin to laugh about capturing an heiress, a plan that will backfire spectacularly is hatched.
Pirate Swagger The kidnap takes place and they assess their catch. A girl is bundled into the gangs hide away. After the hood is pulled off her head and the gag removed she recognizes Jacques Mesrine and tells him he has made a mistake, her family have no money so she should be set free.
Falling Off A Horse The heiress gives a sob story to Mesrine and the gang, she try's to make out her family have no money, but Mesrine see's through her deception.
Petit Theif Of Marseille One of Mesrine's gang Francoise decides to question who should be leader, Jacques and his girlfriend's reaction to this confrontation is swift and chilling.
This Man Mesrine The French President tells his growing anger at Mesrine's criminal fame.
I Just Like Chess The Chief of police is taken to lunch by a reporter from the press and asked to explain the official policy on Jacque Mesrine. Broussard doesn't realize that the reporter is Mesrine in disguise.
Le Couer Battant De Paris (Lady Of The Seine Part 2) Mesrine once again questions his life of crime and calls on the spiritual influence of Paris
And In Other News A television news expose charts Jacques Mesrines rise to fame through a selection of archive clips.
Street Girl On a promenade in the Bois de Boulogne a street girl is touting for business. as potential punters pass her by a man mysteriously walks out of the shadows. She asks him "want do you want me to do for you eh?" He asks for nothing and hands her a canvas holdall containing a large amount of money. She is shocked but happily surprised. As the man turns to leave he lowers his disguise … he is Jacque Mesrine.
Public Enemy No 1 Mesrine is now officially France's most wanted man, he is known by everyone as Public Enemy No1.
King Takes Pawn In a moment of anger and outrage President D'Estaing summons Broussard to a private meeting. The President orders the Chief of police to come up with a plan to stop Mesrine…for good!
Never See '79 Armed with the knowledge of his police force's impending encounter with Mesrine, The President goes to a restaurant to relax but finds it difficult not to display his political arrogance.
T'Aimer Va Etre Ma Perdition Merine spends time with his girlfriend,a glass or two of wine, and his thoughts.
Une Belle Journee Pour Mourir (Beautiful Day To Die Part 2) Its just another day. Mesrine wakes up in the morning ,looks out the window, gets dressed and goes out of the door with Sylvie and their small dog. As with everyday now, he realizes that any moment could be his last…
Cold November Day Behind closed doors the police gather around a miniature street plan of Paris. They move model cars and people around the scene to formulate their deadly plan. While this is happening, in another area of Paris, Mesrine drives off in his car. The police have Mesrine's car under surveillance and build diversions to herd his BMW towards the Port de Clignancourt. As Mesrine's car turns into the street a large van blocks the way, another vehicle quickly drives up behind and boxes him in. All goes silent, for a beat time stands still… The doors of the large black van fly open and endless venomous explosion of bullets are unleashed into Mesrines car.
Final Breath Mesrine's last dying breath. The police quickly disperse like nothing ever happened. The President and Chief of police shake hands and smile, Jacques Mesrine is dead
Toy Guns The Police begin to clear away the gruesome scene; the chief notices they are being watched closely by a young girl who is shocked by what she has seen. Broussard explains to her that she has seen them making a movie with actors using…toy guns.
Finale News travels fast…and the press seek out the Chief of Police for answers.. They shout out a blaze of questions to Broussard. Was Broussard wrong or right to do what he did?…he lets his conscience speak.
I Don't Want The World To Know The President gives the order that the true story of Jacques Mesrine's death must be hidden…know one must ever know the truth!
Theme From Mesrine (Final Curtain)
THE END