From Downton Abbey to the Reford Gardens | EPISODE 3 - Occupation : Fishing Guide
Marjelaine Sylvestre, Pierre Fauteux, Alexander Reford, Véronique Dupuis, UMANIUM, Sophia Borovchyk
De Downton Abbey aux Jardins de Métis | From Downton Abbey to the Reford Gardens
From Downton Abbey to the Reford Gardens | EPISODE 3 - Occupation : Fishing Guide
Musique
Music
Butlers, chambermaids, footmen
Butlers, chambermaids, footmen
The large teams of domestic staff
The large teams of domestic staff
who served the aristocracy
who served the aristocracy
of Britain's Edwardian age
of Britain's Edwardian era
are widely known.
sont largement connus.
Perhaps less well known, however,
Perhaps less well known, however,
is the fact that this lifestyle
is the fact that this lifestyle
straight out of Downton Abbey
straight out of Downton Abbey
existed in Quebec as well,
existed in Quebec as well,
among certain wealthy families of English Montreal
among certain wealthy families of English Montreal
early in the 20th century.
début du 20ème siècle.
The influential Reefers
The influential Reefers
were one such family.
était une telle famille.
The Reefers' legacy
The legacy of the Reefers
lives on in Quebec thanks to
lives on in Quebec thanks to
the magnificent Reefers Gardens,
the magnificent Reefers Gardens,
which Elsie created in the interwar period.
which Elsie created in the interwar period.
Now open to the public,
Now open to the public,
they draw thousands of admiring
they draw thousands of admirers
visitors every year.
visiteurs chaque année.
After presenting a number of public
After presenting a number of public
exhibitions about the famed owners
expositions sur les célèbres propriétaires
of the estate, with this podcast
of the estate, with this podcast
the Reefers Gardens are giving visitors
the Reefers Gardens are giving visitors
the chance to explore the daily
the chance to explore the daily
lives of the family's loyal servants.
lives of the family's loyal servants.
This three-episode podcast
This three-episode podcast
invites you to share in the
invites you to share in the
fictionalized correspondence
fictionalized correspondence
between Simone, a newly hired
between Simone, a newly hired
chambermaid, and her sister
chambermaid, and her sister
Jeannine, chronicling the ups and downs
Jeannine, chroniquant les hauts et les bas.
of life in the service of the
of life in the service of the
rich and famous.
rich and famous.
Anyway, Jeannine, I tells ya,
Anyway, Jeannine, I tells ya,
can't be no delight to drown to death
It can't be any pleasure to drown to death.
with gallons of water coming in your nostrils
with gallons of water coming in your nostrils
till your brains come sluicing out your ears.
till your brains come pouring out of your ears.
Well, okay.
Well, okay.
Maybe I kinda lost my marbles
Maybe I kind of lost my marbles.
when I fell overboard.
when I fell overboard.
While I was wondering whether the good lord
While I was wondering whether the good lord
was gonna send me to heaven or hell,
was gonna send me to heaven or hell,
I could hear Eugène shouting,
I could hear Eugène shouting,
Calm down, Simone, you're in no danger.
Calm down, Simone, you're in no danger.
You can touch the bottom.
You can touch the bottom.
The bottom? Where is it, I ask him,
The bottom? Where is it, I ask him,
splashing on my back?
splashing on my back?
Well, it's at the bottom, you silly goosey,
Eh bien, c'est en bas, espèce de silly goosey.
he says.
he says.
Oh yeah, would you look at that, I'm on the bottom.
Oh yeah, would you look at that, I'm at the bottom.
So as I stood myself up
So as I lifted myself up.
and, yes siree, realized
Et, ouais, mon vieux, réalisé.
the water was only up to my waist,
the water was only up to my waist,
so I just walked over to the shore
so I just walked over to the shore
and sat down on this big rock that was over there.
and sat down on this big rock that was over there.
After he tied up
Après qu'il a été attaché
the canoe, Eugène come over to me.
The canoe, Eugène came over to me.
He threw his coat over my shoulders.
He threw his coat over my shoulders.
And we just sat
Et nous sommes juste assis.
and looked out at the river, quiet-like,
et regardait le fleuve, tranquillement,
for a few minutes till I got a grip on myself.
for a few minutes until I got a grip on myself.
Sure is fine, eh,
Sure is fine, huh,
he says to me.
he says to me.
Mm-hmm.
Mm-hmm.
Fine to look at, maybe, but not enough
Fine to look at, maybe, but not enough.
to risk my life running after a bunch of fish
to risk my life running after a bunch of fish
when all they want to do is hide.
quand tout ce qu'ils veulent faire, c'est se cacher.
Spot on. It's the best job
Spot on. It's the best job.
in the world, he says, certain of himself.
In the world, he says, confident in himself.
Charles Adams,
Charles Adams,
Salmon Fishing Guide.
Salmon Fishing Guide.
Well, when you tell somebody
Eh bien, quand tu dis à quelqu'un
that you make your living as a salmon fishing guide,
that you make your living as a salmon fishing guide,
well, they said, you know,
well, they said, you know,
you're very privileged to be able to do that.
You're very privileged to be able to do that.
And, you know, for someone that was
And, you know, for someone that was
born on the river the way I was,
born on the river the way I was,
I mean, it's more than a privilege.
I mean, it's more than a privilege.
For me, it's my life.
For me, it's my life.
And I've done it,
And I've done it,
I've been at the same job now for 44 seasons.
I've been at the same job now for 44 seasons.
Well, the passion about salmon fishing
Well, the passion for salmon fishing.
is because I was born into it.
is because I was born into it.
And my father,
And my father,
well, my great-great-grandfather,
well, my great-great-grandfather,
my grandfather, my father,
my grandfather, my father,
uncles and cousins,
uncle and cousins,
we were all involved in salmon fishing
we were all involved in salmon fishing
on the river.
on the river.
Actually, my first home was a fishing camp
Actually, my first home was a fishing camp.
on the Restigush River called Silver Waters.
on the Restigush River called Silver Waters.
In the very beginning,
In the very beginning,
on the Restigush River,
on the Restigush River,
they didn't even have any camps they stayed in.
They didn't even have any camps they stayed in.
They had what they call a scow house.
They had what they call a scow house.
And it would be towed by horses.
And it would be towed by horses.
And behind the scow,
And behind the scow,
you probably had a few canoes being towed along
You probably had a few canoes being towed along.
and some extra horses.
et quelques chevaux supplémentaires.
And that would be your principal camp.
And that would be your main camp.
And, you know, you camped there.
And, you know, you camped there.
The guides had a little tent off to the side
The guides had a small tent set aside.
and they had to look after themselves.
and they had to look after themselves.
In the beginning, we used to have to look after the camp
In the beginning, we had to take care of the camp.
basically mostly ourselves.
Basically mostly ourselves.
But now we have some help to do it.
But now we have some help to do it.
But we're working on it.
Mais nous y travaillons.
We're working on it.
We're working on it.
We're well fed and well looked after.
We're well fed and well taken care of.
In Eugène's family,
In Eugène's family,
they've been salmon fishing guides,
they've been salmon fishing guides,
father to son for generations.
father to son for generations.
His dad never once missed a fishing season
His dad never once missed a fishing season.
except when he went off to fight.
except when he went off to fight.
They say he never was the same again
They say he was never the same again.
after he come back from the Great War.
after he comes back from the Great War.
And that the only place he was really at peace
And that the only place he was really at peace.
was on the river in his canoe.
was on the river in his canoe.
Eugène told me he'd even go down there at night
Eugène told me he'd even go down there at night.
with his oil lamp if he had too many nightmares.
with his oil lamp if he had too many nightmares.
That was the same age as me
That was the same age as I was.
when he went off to the war, Eugène said.
When he went off to the war, Eugène said.
And then he was quiet again.
Et puis il s'est tu de nouveau.
Oh, dear Jeannine.
Oh, dear Jeannine.
I hope these rumors of war
I hope these rumors of war
are gonna stay exactly that.
are gonna stay exactly that.
Just rumors.
Juste des rumeurs.
Come on.
Come on.
Let's get you back in the canoe.
Let's get you back in the canoe.
We're going back to camp.
We're going back to camp.
Otherwise, you'll freeze, Eugène says to me,
Otherwise, you'll freeze, Eugène says to me,
as if to chase our worries away.
as if to chase our worries away.
Are you out of your mind?
Are you out of your mind?
Never in a million years.
Never in a million years.
There's no way I'm climbing back into that ramshackle relic.
There's no way I'm climbing back into that ramshackle relic.
You're fixin' to have me drown a second time.
You're getting ready to have me drown a second time.
Count your lucky stars, then, he says.
Count your lucky stars, then, he says.
It's not everyone that can say
It's not everyone that can say.
they've drowned twice in their life.
They've drowned twice in their life.
Great.
Super.
Now he's gone all smart-alecky.
Maintenant, il s'est mis à faire le malin.
To cheer me up, he tells me
To cheer me up, he tells me.
I won't find a safer canoe in the whole world.
I won't find a safer canoe in the whole world.
That the reef birds always buy
That the reef birds always buy
the very latest equipment.
the very latest equipment.
That doesn't change the fact
That doesn't change the fact.
that I nearly drowned in their ultra-modern canoe.
that I nearly drowned in their ultra-modern canoe.
Well, did you see the way
Well, did you see the way?
you were jiggin' and swayin'?
You were dancing and swaying?
I mean, it's a canoe, Simon,
I mean, it's a canoe, Simon,
not a dance floor, he says.
not a dance floor, he says.
Like a know-it-all.
Like a know-it-all.
As far as the boats and equipment goes,
As far as the boats and equipment go,
when the first guides, I suppose, started fishing,
when the first guides, I suppose, started fishing,
they were fishing out of what they'd call a dugout,
they were fishing out of what they'd call a dugout,
which was very unstable.
which was very unstable.
It was just a log that was dug out.
It was just a log that was dug out.
And when you put your client
And when you put your client
or your sport in the middle,
or your sport in the middle,
you made sure that he never stood up
you made sure that he never stood up
or never moved around
or never moved around
because you were gonna roll the boat over.
Parce que tu allais renverser le bateau.
And of course, as time went on,
And of course, as time went on,
the boats got bigger.
The boats got bigger.
We'll say 24, 26 feet.
On dirait 24, 26 pieds.
And we were able to run outboard motors on them.
And we were able to run outboard motors on them.
Well, now we're running a 26-foot jet boat.
Well, now we're running a 26-foot jet boat.
It's very wide in the stern, very stable.
It's very wide in the stern, very stable.
You could actually walk on the side of the boat
You could actually walk on the side of the boat.
and it would not upset
and it would not upset
even if you jumped up and down on it.
even if you jumped up and down on it.
So all the equipment like that has evolved a lot.
So all the equipment like that has evolved a lot.
It didn't matter how hard Eugène tried to explain
It didn't matter how hard Eugène tried to explain.
that there was no way back to the camp
that there was no way back to the camp
without getting back in the canoe.
without getting back in the canoe.
I sat there stubborn as a mule.
I sat there stubborn as a mule.
So as he's waiting for me to make up my mind,
So as he's waiting for me to make up my mind,
instead of arguing, he decides to fish.
Instead of arguing, he decides to fish.
Stands up beside me with his fishing rod, all proud.
Stands up beside me with his fishing rod, all proud.
She's really fine, eh?
She's really nice, huh?
What? Your fishing rod?
What? Your fishing rod?
Well, sure, he says, as if it was obvious.
Well, sure, he says, as if it were obvious.
Don't want to hurt your feelings,
Je ne veux pas blesser tes sentiments,
but I'm thinking the only thing
mais je pense que la seule chose
that looks like a fishing rod
that looks like a fishing rod
is another fishing rod.
is another fishing rod.
Now wait just a minute, he says, all insulted.
Now wait just a minute, he says, all insulted.
This here is the finest fishing rod in all the world.
This here is the finest fishing rod in all the world.
You won't find better.
You won't find better.
And then, genuine, he starts listing
And then, genuinely, he starts listing.
all the special features of his fishing rod.
all the special features of his fishing rod.
To be honest, I wasn't paying attention.
To be honest, I wasn't paying attention.
I was far too concentrated on his blue eyes.
I was far too concentrated on his blue eyes.
They got more and more beautiful
They became more and more beautiful.
the more and more he went on
the more and more he continued
about the qualities of his famous,
about the qualities of his famous,
finest fishing rod in all the world.
finest fishing rod in all the world.
Then, all of a sudden,
Then, all of a sudden,
he opens up his tackle box.
He opens up his tackle box.
Well, bless my soul,
Well, bless my soul,
now I was just mesmerized.
Maintenant, j'étais tout simplement ensorcelé.
Sweet Jesus, you should have seen
Douce Jésus, tu aurais dû voir.
the dozens upon dozens of fish and flies
the dozens upon dozens of fish and flies
in that box.
dans cette boîte.
All different colors and shapes.
All different colors and shapes.
It was the prettiest sight,
It was the prettiest sight,
and they glittered in the sun like diamonds.
and they sparkled in the sun like diamonds.
You could have sworn he made a mistake
You could have sworn he made a mistake.
and brought along a jewelry box,
and brought along a jewelry box,
not a tackle box.
not a tackle box.
Alexander,
Alexander,
Alexander Reiford,
Alexander Reiford,
director of the Reiford Gardens,
director of the Reiford Gardens,
and Robert W. and Elsie Reiford's great-grandson.
and the great-grandson of Robert W. and Elsie Reiford.
But, you know, a lot of these flies
But, you know, a lot of these flies
were made from now exotic, endangered,
were made from now exotic, endangered,
and probably illegal birds to capture.
and probably illegal birds to capture.
So, fortunately, they've gone, I think,
So, fortunately, they've gone, I think.
entirely to synthetics.
entirely to synthetics.
But, in the day, they were using these
But, during the day, they were using these.
extraordinarily exotic birds,
extraordinarily exotic birds,
and they were, you know, de-pluming them
and they were, you know, de-pluming them
and probably killing them for fishermen
et probablement les tuant pour les pêcheurs
around the world.
around the world.
So, we've got this sort of unusual collection
So, we've got this sort of unusual collection.
of beautiful objects
of beautiful objects
that have remained
that have remained
virtually in the same boxes
virtuellement dans les mêmes boîtes
since the 1940s
since the 1940s
when fishing stopped in the river.
when fishing stopped in the river.
Marjolaine Sylvestre,
Marjolaine Sylvestre,
archivist with the Reiford Gardens.
archivist with the Reiford Gardens.
We had a fly specialist
We had a fly specialist.
who visited recently
who visited recently
who commented that our collection
who commented that our collection
is one of the most interesting
is one of the most interesting
he'd ever seen.
he'd ever seen.
Because there are some
Because there are some
that have been in contact with water,
that have been in contact with water,
yes,
yes,
but many others
mais beaucoup d'autres
never have.
never have.
So, this means the family
So, this means the family.
ordered so many flies
ordered so many flies
that many of them
that many of them
were simply never used.
étaient tout simplement jamais utilisés.
That's why there are
C'est pourquoi il y a
hundreds of them
des centaines d'entre eux
in that condition.
in that condition.
They were, we could call them
They were, we could call them.
fly-fishing fanatics, I suppose.
Des passionnés de la pêche à la mouche, je suppose.
There really are a lot of them.
There really are a lot of them.
And that's true
Et c'est vrai.
of all the fishing gear, in fact.
of all the fishing gear, in fact.
This gear is in quite good condition,
This gear is in quite good condition.
fortunately for us,
fortunately for us,
because they had a taste for luxury,
because they had a taste for luxury,
for high-quality items,
for high-quality items,
which means there are
which means there are
a dozen or so reels
about a dozen reels
in our collection
dans notre collection
that are still in good condition.
that are still in good condition.
They're still in immaculate condition.
They're still in immaculate condition.
They've been used, yes,
They've been used, yes.
but they're in such good shape
but they're in such good shape
that we can easily put them on display
that we can easily display them
in our exhibits for the public.
in our exhibits for the public.
It was really something
It was really something.
to watch Eugène fly-fishing,
to watch Eugène fly-fishing,
casting his line backward
lancer sa ligne en arrière
in these great swooping arcs.
dans ces grands arcs plongeants.
Once, twice,
Once, twice,
ten times, twenty!
ten times, twenty!
I can't believe they do that
I can't believe they do that.
all day long.
toute la journée.
Eugène says there's a deep pool
Eugène dit qu'il y a une piscine profonde.
just at the foot of the rock
just at the foot of the rock
and that the Governor General's salmon
and that the Governor General's salmon
was almost sure
was almost sure
to be holding right there.
to be holding right there.
How'd you know that, I ask him.
Comment sais-tu cela ? lui demandai-je.
It's my job to know that, Simone says.
"It's my job to know that," Simone says.
Us fishing guides
US fishing guides
spend our whole lives on the river.
spend our whole lives on the river.
We end up knowing
We end up knowing
every little bend in it.
cada pequeño giro en él.
We know what time of year
We know what time of year.
and what time of day,
and what time of day,
in which pool it's best
in which pool it's best
to cast our lines
to cast our lines
to find the fish.
to find the fish.
We help the anglers
We help the anglers.
paddle fine pools,
paddle fine pools,
put the fly on the line,
put the fly on the line,
set the hook
set the hook
when the salmon bites
when the salmon bites
and pull the fish
et tire le poisson
out of the water.
out of the water.
So I says,
So I says,
Cripes!
Gosh!
I expect next you're gonna tell me
I expect next you're going to tell me.
you'd die just the damn
you'd die just the damn
salmon for him as well.
salmon for him as well.
Eugène bursts out laughing.
Eugène bursts out laughing.
I think he finds me funny.
I think he finds me funny.
I think that's probably true.
I think that's probably true.
I think Elsie welcomed guests
I think Elsie welcomed guests.
and her objective, of course,
et son objectif, bien sûr,
and you can see this
et vous pouvez voir cela
in the fishing books,
in the fishing books,
was to have them leave
was to have them leave
with a big fish
avec un gros poisson
so they could then
so they could then
go off and go to Ottawa
go off and go to Ottawa
or Montreal or Toronto
either Montreal or Toronto
or back home to London
or back home to London
or Scotland.
or Scotland.
and say,
et dis,
wow, this is a great river
Wow, this is a great river.
and I caught a big fish there.
and I caught a big fish there.
That would be the,
That would be the,
I think,
I think,
the main objective
the main objective
of a day's fishing here
of a day's fishing here
and fortunately enough,
and fortunately enough,
we've seen enough records
we've seen enough records
in the books
dans les livres
that that happened a lot.
that that happened a lot.
People left here
People left here.
pretty happy
pretty happy
with the experience
avec l'expérience
because they were able
because they were able
to catch a lot of fish
to catch a lot of fish
in a short period of time
in a short period of time
on a river
on a river
that was mostly private
that was mostly private
and had very few
et en avait très peu
other people fishing it.
d'autres personnes en train de pêcher.
Eugène explained
Eugène explained.
that the fishing guides
that the fishing guides
aren't just there
n'est pas juste là
to help the guests
to help the guests
with their angling.
avec leur pêche.
You see,
You see,
while they wait
while they wait
for the fish to bite,
for the fish to bite,
they have to entertain them too.
They have to entertain them too.
If the guest likes
If the guest likes
to keep things quiet,
to keep things quiet,
you shut your trap.
You shut your trap.
But if he doesn't like the quiet,
Mais s'il n'aime pas le calme,
you have to make sure
you have to make sure
you don't get bored.
you don't get bored.
Like, for instance,
Like, for instance,
by telling him
by telling him
a good tale, he says.
a good tale, he says.
A good tale, eh?
A good story, huh?
What would be an example
What would be an example?
of a good tale,
of a good story,
then, I asks?
Then, I ask?
Well, let's see now.
Eh bien, voyons ça maintenant.
Ah, yes.
Ah, yes.
There's the one
Il y a celui-là.
about the young lady
about the young lady
who tipped herself
who tipped herself
out of a canoe
out of a canoe
in two feet of water
in two feet of water
and thought,
et pensa,
she were about
She was about.
to drown to death.
to drown to death.
Grrrr!
Grrrr!
I wanted to shoot him
I wanted to shoot him.
a dirty look,
a dirty look,
but I couldn't help
but I couldn't help
but smile.
mais souris.
What can I say, Jeannine?
What can I say, Jeannine?
I find him funny, too.
I find him funny, too.
Well, when you're
Well, when you're
in the canoe with someone,
in the canoe with someone,
there's always something
there's always something
to talk about.
to talk about.
And if you like
And if you like
to talk about politics
to talk about politics
and you have the right person
and you have the right person
in the boat,
in the boat,
well, it gets very interesting
well, it gets very interesting
by spells.
par des sorts.
But we talk about
Mais nous parlons de
all kinds of stuff.
tout un tas de choses.
And, of course,
And, of course,
if you're not paying attention
if you're not paying attention
to something,
to something,
sometimes the salmon
sometimes the salmon
will go after your fly
will go after your fly
and it puts everything
and it puts everything
back in perspective.
back in perspective.
You see, Jeannine,
You see, Jeannine,
what I'm starting
what I'm starting
to understand
to understand
is for the Reefords guests,
is for the Reefords guests,
salmon fishing
salmon fishing
isn't just about the salmon.
ce n'est pas seulement une question de saumon.
These people
These people
that come here to fish,
that come here to fish,
a lot of them
a lot of them
have big, important jobs
have big, important jobs
in the city.
In the city.
And they don't often
Et ils ne le font pas souvent.
have the chance
have the chance
to get away from it all.
s'éloigner de tout.
Just between you and me,
Just between you and me,
I think a night out
I think a night out.
at the theater
at the theater
would be less complicated.
would be less complicated.
But,
But,
anyway,
anyway,
seems that what they want
seems that what they want
is to get back to nature.
is to get back to nature.
And around these parts,
And around these parts,
there's no shortage of nature,
there's no shortage of nature,
I can tell you that.
I can tell you that.
Plus,
More,
the upper crust folk
the upper crust folk
like them
like them
don't have all that many chances
don't have that many chances
to mingle with ordinary folk.
to mingle with ordinary folks.
Eugène says that in the canoe,
Eugène says that in the canoe,
it's like
c'est comme
there's no more rich,
there's no more rich,
no more poor.
no more poor.
There's just people fishing
Il n'y a que des gens qui pêchent.
who have plenty more things
who have plenty more things
in common than they think.
more in common than they think.
He even said that
He even said that.
by way of spending time
as a way of passing the time
with him in the canoe,
with him in the canoe,
a lot of customers
a lot of customers
end up confiding
end up confiding
personal things.
choses personnelles.
Oh yes, I says,
Oh yes, I say,
cause he piqued my interest,
because he piqued my interest,
you see.
you see.
No, don't even try, he says.
No, n'essaie même pas, dit-il.
What's said in the canoe
What's said in the canoe
stays in the canoe.
stays in the canoe.
At the Resto Goose Salmon Club,
At the Resto Goose Salmon Club,
we have certain members
we have certain members
that always ask
that always asks
for the same guide
for the same guide
year after year.
year after year.
I guided Mr. Jameson
I guided Mr. Jameson.
for 21 seasons.
for 21 seasons.
And the only reason
Et la seule raison
I wouldn't be there
I wouldn't be there.
to guide him
to guide him
if there was something
if there was something
that happened
cela s'est passé
that I wasn't able
that I wasn't able
to be there.
to be there.
We wrote letters
We wrote letters.
back and forth
back and forth
and he's the only
et il est le seul
sport that I ever had
sport que j'ai jamais eu
that put me in his will.
that put me in his will.
And it was very nice of him.
And it was very nice of him.
We all have a certain
We all have a certain
relationship
relationship
with different members
avec des membres différents
and they're with us
et ils sont avec nous
every time they come.
every time they come.
Apparently, Madame
Apparently, Madam
has gone fishing
has gone fishing
with the same guide
avec le même guide
for years now.
for years now.
He must have heard
He must have heard.
plenty of confessions
plenty of confessions
that one in all that time.
celui-là dans tout ce temps.
Eugène says people
Eugène says people.
often try and worm
often try to worm
things out of him,
things out of him,
but he's not.
mais il ne l'est pas.
He's never, ever
Il n'a jamais, jamais.
breathed a word to anyone.
breathed a word to anyone.
The only thing he'll say
The only thing he'll say
is how he thinks
is how he thinks
Madame is such a great angler.
Madame est une si grande pêcheuse.
Seems there's people
It seems there are people.
who know her reputation
who knows her reputation
and exploits
and exploits
all the way to Gaspé.
tout le chemin jusqu'à Gaspé.
No, honestly, Gaspé!
No, honestly, Gaspé!
That's no mean feat.
That's no small task.
And a woman besides.
And a woman besides.
In the beginning,
In the beginning,
the club was mostly
the club was mostly
for men only.
for men only.
And the men at that time,
And the men at that time,
I suppose,
I suppose,
the attitude at that time,
the attitude at that time,
they didn't think
ils n'ont pas pensé
it was a place
c'était un endroit
to bring women.
to bring women.
And if they did bring
And if they did bring
their wives to
leurs femmes à
the Matapedia clubhouse,
the Matapedia clubhouse,
the women had
the women had
their own sitting room
their own living room
and their own dining room.
et leur propre salle à manger.
The men and the women
The men and the women
did not associate together
did not associate together
until bedtime,
until bedtime,
I would guess.
Je devinerais.
Our fishing logs
Nos journaux de pêche
are quite clear on this.
are quite clear on this.
It was essentially Elsie
C'était essentiellement Elsie.
who caught the most
who caught the most
salmon in the river.
salmon in the river.
The fishing logs show
The fishing logs show
that she often finished
that she often finished
top of the list
top of the list
with somewhere between
avec quelque part entre
50 and 90 salmon
50 et 90 saumons
caught per season.
caught per season.
That's incredible.
C'est incroyable.
But our salmon population
But our salmon population
has diminished to the point
has diminished to the point
where I work,
where I work,
we practice only
we practice only
hook and release.
hook et relâche.
We don't kill any fish,
We don't kill any fish.
neither the salmon
neither the salmon
nor the grills.
nor the grills.
Everything is put back alive.
Everything is brought back to life.
That's right,
That's right,
you just take a picture
you just take a picture
and you know,
and you know,
it's a wonderful feeling
C'est un sentiment merveilleux.
to hook a nice big salmon,
to hook a nice big salmon,
play with it for a few minutes
play with it for a few minutes
and then release it
et ensuite le libérer
and see it swimming away
et le voir s'éloigner en nageant
alive and know
vif et sait
that you're going
that you're going
to catch it again
to catch it again
or someone else
or someone else
will catch it
will catch it
and that it's going
and that it's going
to spawn,
to spawn,
reproduce
reproduce
and they're going
et ils s'en vont
to come back
to come back
and make some more fishing
et faire un peu plus de pêche
for somebody else.
for somebody else.
All of a sudden,
All of a sudden,
we see two fellas
we see two guys
farther along
farther along
casting their lines
casting their lines
into the water.
dans l'eau.
Eugène starts
Eugène starts
yelling at them.
yelling at them.
Hey, you there,
Hey, you there,
you got no business here,
you have no business here,
this is private water.
This is private water.
Then he says to me,
Then he says to me,
here, hold this
Here, hold this.
and he thrusts
et il pousse
his fishing rod
sa canne à pêche
into my hands
dans mes mains
and runs after him.
and runs after him.
You know me, Jeannine,
You know me, Jeannine,
I didn't want to miss
I didn't want to miss
any of the action
any of the action
so I let the rod go
so I let the rod go
and start to run
et commence à courir
after Eugène.
after Eugène.
Well, would you know it,
Well, would you believe it,
that cheeky rod
ce petit bâton effronté
starts moving
commence à bouger
along the ground
along the ground
all by itself.
all by itself.
Imagine,
Imagine,
the famous,
the famous,
finest fishing rod
finest fishing rod
in all the world
in all the world
and it's about
and it's about
to vanish
to disappear
into the river.
dans la rivière.
I grabbed it
I grabbed it.
just in time.
just in time.
Dear sweet Jesus,
Dear sweet Jesus,
but it was pulling
but it was pulling
so hard, Jeannine,
so hard, Jeannine,
that I needed
that I needed
nearly went
nearly went
for another dunk
pour un autre dunk
in the water.
in the water.
You should have seen
You should have seen.
the ruddy great salmon
the ruddy great salmon
hooked on this line.
accro à cette ligne.
Holy moly!
Holy moly!
Could you imagine
Could you imagine
Eugène trying to tell
Eugène trying to tell
his boss
his boss
that he'd lost
that he'd lost
the famous,
the famous,
finest fishing rod
finest fishing rod
in all the world, eh?
in all the world, huh?
Right then,
Right then,
I didn't have any choice.
I didn't have any choice.
I held on
I held on
like my life
like my life
depended on it.
depended on it.
The only people
The only people
fishing on this river
fishing on this river
legally would have been
légalement aurait été
the Elsie Reiferd
the Elsie Reiferd
or her guests.
or her guests.
There were
There were
people who were
people who were
occasionally not fishing
occasionnellement pas de pêche
with the approval
avec l'approbation
of the owners
of the owners
but that's why
mais c'est pour ça
they had guides
they had guides
and they had guardians
and they had guardians
and the guardian's job
and the guardian's job
was of course
was of course
to find these folks
to find these folks
and to report them
et pour les signaler
to the owner
to the owner
and sometimes to the law
et parfois à la loi
and oftentimes
et souvent
they would be prosecuted
ils seraient poursuivis
and sometimes
et parfois
they'd be sent to jail.
they'd be sent to jail.
So it was a pretty
So it was a pretty
serious offense
serious offense
to be a poacher
to be a poacher
and there were laws
et il y avait des lois
that protected the rivers
that protected the rivers
and the river's owners
et les propriétaires de la rivière
from...
from...
And sometimes
Et parfois
Mrs. Reiferd
Mrs. Reiferd
would get the curé,
would get the priest,
the local priest
the local priest
to sort of intervene
to kind of intervene
and say, you know,
et dis, tu sais,
we know you're poaching,
we know you're poaching,
you should probably stop
You should probably stop.
and if you don't,
et si tu ne le fais pas,
well, don't be surprised
Well, don't be surprised.
if you get arrested.
if you get arrested.
So she would sort of
Alors elle serait un peu
send a warning shot
send a warning shot
across the bow
across the bow
of the canoe,
of the canoe,
I guess symbolically
I suppose symbolically.
and often that would
et souvent cela ferait
put things to an end.
put an end to things.
After he scared off
Après qu'il a fait fuir.
the poachers,
the poachers,
Eugène came back.
Eugène came back.
But I didn't even realize it.
But I didn't even realize it.
There was nothing
There was nothing.
but me and that salmon.
but me and that salmon.
Nothing else
Nothing else
in the world existed.
in the world existed.
I could feel
I could feel
the struggle
the struggle
that fish was putting up
That fish was putting up.
on the end of the line.
on the end of the line.
So much that it was like
So much that it was like
I was in the water with him.
I was in the water with him.
When Eugène saw
When Eugène saw
that I was trying
that I was trying
to save the governor
to save the governor
general's supper,
general's supper,
he grabbed the rod with me
he grabbed the rod with me
and then with four hands
et ensuite avec quatre mains
gently but firmly
gently but firmly
we reeled that salmon
we caught that salmon
in near to the rock.
near the rock.
Oh, but Janine,
Oh, but Janine,
I can't tell you
I can't tell you.
how much I loved
how much I loved
tussling with that fish.
tussling with that fish.
Only just as we were
Juste au moment où nous étions.
getting ready
getting ready
to pull it out of the water,
to pull it out of the water,
the salmon wound up
the salmon ended up
in the landing net.
in the landing net.
Now,
Now,
the problem was
the problem was
that the salmon
that the salmon
ended up in a net.
ended up in a net.
The problem was
The problem was
that the other end
that the other end
of the net pole
of the net pole
was Eugène's boss.
was Eugène's boss.
He'd realized
Il avait réalisé.
that Eugène had left
that Eugène had left
without permission
without permission
and he'd come up
et il serait venu
in a canoe
in a canoe
without us noticing.
without us noticing.
Oh, boy,
Oh, boy,
the fellow looked
the fellow looked
as cross as two sticks.
as cross as two sticks.
Who's this,
Qui est-ce,
then, he asks Eugène
then, he asks Eugène
with his teeth clenched.
with his teeth clenched.
Um,
Um,
this is Simone,
this is Simone,
Madame's new chambermaid,
Madame's new chambermaid,
Eugène answers
Eugène answers
looking like a dog.
looking like a dog.
A dog with his tail
A dog with his tail.
between his legs.
between his legs.
You should have seen
You should have seen.
his boss's face, Janine,
his boss's face, Janine,
like he'd never heard
like he'd never heard
anything so outrageous.
anything so outrageous.
Off you go
Off you go.
into the canoe
into the canoe
straight away
right away
and take this salmon
and take this salmon
to the lodge.
to the lodge.
We'll talk about this
Nous en parlerons.
later, he says,
later, he says,
and off he goes.
and off he goes.
It's funny, Janine.
It's funny, Janine.
All of a sudden,
All of a sudden,
I wasn't so afraid
I wasn't so afraid.
of getting in that canoe
of getting in that canoe
anymore.
anymore.
I tells you,
I tell you,
we got our hearts
we got our hearts
in our boots
in our boots
all the way back.
tout le chemin en arrière.
Didn't say a word
Didn’t say a word.
to each other,
les uns aux autres,
but sure and certain
mais sûr et certain
we were thinking
we were thinking
the same thing.
the same thing.
What was in store for us?
What was in store for us?
Were we gonna lose
Were we going to lose?
our jobs?
our jobs?
I imagined Madame's face
I imagined Madame's face.
when she seen me
when she saw me
coming with my dress
arrivant avec ma robe
all draggle-tailed.
all draggle-tailed.
We was sure
We were sure.
they'd be waiting
ils attendraient
at the house
at the house
ready to give us hell
prêt à nous donner des ennuis
when we got back.
when we got back.
But when we walked in,
Mais quand nous sommes entrés,
there wasn't a soul anywhere.
there wasn't a soul anywhere.
I could feel
I could feel
something wasn't right.
Something wasn't right.
We walked through
We walked through.
them huge empty corridors
these huge empty corridors
till finally we see Madeleine,
till finally we see Madeleine,
the chambermaid's chambermaid,
the chambermaid's chambermaid,
come running up to us.
come running up to us.
Yeah, I know,
Yeah, I know.
I look like something
I look like something.
the cat dragged in,
the cat dragged in,
I says,
I says,
trying to muster up a smile.
trying to muster up a smile.
But at least
Mais au moins
the governor general
the governor general
won't go hungry
won't go hungry
thanks to me.
thanks to me.
Wait till you see
Wait till you see.
the salmon I've caught for him.
the salmon I've caught for him.
Oh, my poor Simone.
Oh, my poor Simone.
Your governor general
Your governor general
won't ever be tasting
ne goûtera jamais
your salmon.
your salmon.
He's cancelled his trip
Il a annulé son voyage.
and it's likely to be
et il est probable que ce soit
a month of Sundays
a month of Sundays
before he visits again,
avant qu'il ne visite à nouveau,
she says,
she says,
taken off down the corridor
décollé dans le couloir
at a trip.
on a trip.
What?
What?
I says.
I says.
Madeleine motions for us
Madeleine nous fait signe.
to follow into the Grand Hall.
to follow into the Grand Hall.
We get there
We get there.
and everyone's there,
et tout le monde est là,
standing stock still,
standing stock still,
looking glum
looking glum
and staring silently
et fixant silencieusement
at the radio.
on the radio.
And when I say everyone,
And when I say everyone,
Jeannine,
Jeannine,
it was really
it was really
and truly everyone.
et vraiment tout le monde.
Monsieur and Madame Reiford,
Mr. and Mrs. Reiford,
the butler,
the butler,
Mr. Bufton,
Mr. Bufton,
Marcel and the other gardeners
Marcel et les autres jardiniers
and the chambermaids
and the chambermaids
and the footmen.
and the footmen.
Nobody noticed
Personne n'a remarqué.
we'd only just walked in.
we'd only just walked in.
The right arm,
The right arm,
honorable W.L. McKinsey-King,
Honorable W.L. McKinsey-King,
Prime Minister of Canada,
Prime Minister of Canada,
speaking from Ottawa.
speaking from Ottawa.
Unhappily for the world,
Unhappily for the world,
Herr Hitler
Mr. Hitler
and the Nazi regime
et le régime nazi
in Germany
en Allemagne
have persisted
have persisted
in their attempt
dans leur tentative
to extend their control
to extend their control
over other peoples
over other people's
and countries
et des pays
and to pursue
et de poursuivre
their aggressive designs
leurs designs agressifs
in want and disregard
in need and disregard
of all treaty obligations
of all treaty obligations
and peaceful methods
et des méthodes pacifiques
of adjusting
of adjusting
international disputes.
international disputes.
I felt I couldn't breathe.
I felt I couldn't breathe.
I felt like I was going to die.
I felt like I was going to die.
I turned to look at Eugène
I turned to look at Eugène.
and he'd gone white as a sheet.
and he'd gone as pale as a ghost.
This morning,
This morning,
the king,
the king,
speaking to his peoples
speaking to his people
at home and across the seas,
at home and across the seas,
appealed to all
appealed to all
to make their own
to make their own
the cause of freedom,
the cause of freedom,
which Britain again
which Britain again
has taken up.
has taken up.
Canada has already
Canada has already
answered that call.
répondu à cet appel.
Eugène was looking
Eugène was looking.
straight ahead,
straight ahead,
his beautiful blue eyes
his beautiful blue eyes
dimmed by fear.
dimmed by fear.
I took his hand gently.
I took his hand gently.
There was no way
There was no way
to save the people
to save the people
of Canada.
of Canada.
No family
No family
and no individual
et aucun individu
whose fortunes
dont les fortunes
and freedom
et liberté
are not bound up
are not tied up
in the present struggle.
in the present struggle.
I appeal to my fellow Canadians
I appeal to my fellow Canadians.
to unite
to unite
in a national effort
in a national effort
to save from destruction
to save from destruction
all that makes life itself
all that makes life itself
worth living.
worth living.
Oh no, Jeannine.
Oh no, Jeannine.
It seems that the rumors
It seems that the rumors
are done with
sont faits avec
and now it's the real thing.
et maintenant, c'est du sérieux.
Jeanne squeezed
Jeanne a serré.
my hand tight,
ma main serrée,
so very tight.
so very tight.
Sous-titrage Société Radio-Canada
Subtitling Radio-Canada
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