PAUL: What's happened now?

The two creditors are standing on the platform of a crowded train station.

SARAH: I don't know... Oh, look at that train!

PAUL: It's a funny-looking train. Where's the chimney?

SARAH: I don't know... Does this thing run?

A crackling voice comes from a nearby loudspeaker, startling the creditors.

"The train leaves for Cormeilles-en-Parisis in 5 minutes!"

PAUL: That's the train Balzac was supposed to take! Vincennes - Cormeilles! But how did we get from Auvers-sur-Oise to Montmartre, then on to Vincennes?

SARAH: And all those people dressed in such a peculiar way...

PAUL: But there's no station in Vincennes. This machine really does seem to be endowed with witchcraft... Oh, but look! There's our man!

Balzac has just climbed into one of the carriages. At the same time, the voice on the loudspeaker speaks again: "Train departure imminent!"

SARAH: Hurry up! Let's hurry and get on!

Paul and Sarah climb aboard the train, taken aback by the modern look of the interior. As they make their way to the compartment where Balzac is, a woman enters from the opposite side of the carriage and declares:

"Ticket control, ladies and gentlemen!"

PAUL: Oh no!

SARAH: Quick, this way!

Quickly turning around, the creditors hide from the ticket inspector and head for the furthest car. Fortunately for them, the journey isn't very long. As the ticket inspector enters their carriage, they arrive! Jumping onto the platform, they look for their man.

PAUL: Look, there he is!

Balzac, not having seen them, has just disembarked. As the creditors scramble to reach him, Sarah spots the same machine in the writer's hand that she's holding in hers.

SARAH: He's planning to use the machine! We've got to catch him before he disappears!

The two creditors, redoubling their efforts, reach him. As Paul reaches out to grab his shoulder, Balzac has vanished again!

SARAH: Oh no!

PAUL: He's escaped us again! But at least I could see what was written on his machine! November, the 11th of 1918!

SARAH: Perfect! Now we just need to figure out how to operate the machine... It seems that all you have to do is touch the numbers and they appear on the screen. Very ingenious...

PAUL: Then you press this red button, right?

By way of reply, Sarah presses... And they're gone again.

Photo credits: SNCF archives