Saint-Lazare

Saint-Lazare is a women’s prison Lilliet compares to Hell. Both times she is imprisoned, she has been charged with corruption; something she calls spiteful. Her treatment within – such as getting head lice, eating poor amounts of food and so on - is horrific. This forces Lilliet to run away after the death of the Tenor. She knows that a murderess would be the worst criminal of them all, and would likely not survive Saint-Lazare.

Ironically, the prison is also a source of freedom. After she is rejected by the Conservatoire, she knows she must escape the Tenor. So, she pretends to attack the police, forcing them to arrest her. Only then does Lilliet find a true escape - taking on the lost life of her mute cell mate. This marks a rebirth, the death of the courtesan Jou-Jou, and the birth of the mute Sidonie, all within...