Chocolat

Reynaud watches the Romani people visiting the chocolaterie. Vianne takes an order of Georges’s building supplies for them. Reynaud wishes that his père could move his eyelids or fingers to give advice or benediction, but he is still. A machine breathes for him. Reynaud has faith that he’ll wake up one day. He had decided to talk to Vianne civilly, but he sees the chocolate festival poster, announcing that it is beginning on Easter Sunday. He believes that Vianne planned to deliberately undermine the church all along. He goes in to confront her, and she offers him a drink, which he refuses. He and Roux, also in the shop, are hostile. Vianne says that selling Easter eggs at Easter is in keeping with Catholicism. Reynaud hasn’t breakfasted and becomes overwhelmed by the scent of the confectionaries and of Vianne’s perfume, getting dizzy. He flees, suspicious of the sachet of herbs in the doorway. Vianne’s poster expressly welcomes everyone, including the Romani people. Reynaud associates them (and elements of Easter, such as eggs) with paganism. He vows to preach against the chocolate festival, naming and shaming anyone who has associated with Vianne. He plans to talk with Muscat, approving of his aggressive stance toward the Romani people.