The Invention of Hugo Cabret

Hugo believes the automaton’s drawing is a message from his father but questions what it means. He and Isabelle watch the mechanical man as he signs the name “Georges Méliès” on the picture. Isabelle becomes angry—that is her godfather’s full name—and accuses Hugo of stealing the machine from Georges. Hugo argues that the automaton was his father’s because it’s in his notebook. The children fight over the picture, ripping it in half. Isabelle takes her half and leaves; Hugo follows after putting his half in his pocket. It’s late, and the kids run through the empty train station and streets until they reach Isabelle’s apartment. Isabelle tries to close the door before Hugo can enter, accidentally slamming his fingers in the door. She lets Hugo inside and introduces him to her godmother, Jeanne. Hugo and Isabelle show the picture to Jeanne, whose eyes fill will tears. She asks where they got it; Hugo tells her the origin of the automaton and how he fixed it, and Isabelle confesses to stealing the key from Jeanne. Hugo takes both halves of the picture, as Jeanne says they must never speak of this again because she wants to protect Georges.