Once upon a time, there was a little boy who lived in a train station. His name was Hugo Cabret. No one knew he lived there. No one knew him. He was alone, he had no human friends. He only had an automaton. He spent a lot of time working hard to repair the automaton, but there was something missing.

So, to repair the automaton, Hugo stole gears and other metal pieces, from the toy shop. The shopper was an old man. Hugo imagined that the man couldn't see him stealing, because he was sleeping, but the olde man was playing a trick. He was observing the boy and he didn't want to scare him. But he also knew that, one day, he needed to confront the boy with his activities.

The days were going by and the boy's routine was always the same. He worked hard to make the clocks working well, all day, all the time. If the clocks were working, he was safe. No one would know that was a little boy who was doing that work, an adult's hard work.

It was Monday. He jumped from his bed and looked at the automaton.

"Hello! How are you today?" Hugo asked.

The automaton didn't say a word.

"Today I'll bring you more pieces. I'll make you work!"

He dressed and left the room. In walked through the walls and spied the toy's shop. He was spying behind the numbers of the hall clock. When he saw the man falling asleep he turned back and walked to the ventilator. He opened it and got out of the walls. With lots of calm, he walked to the toy shop and tried to grab a toy. But the man opened his eyes and looked at Hugo, grabbing his arm.

"Let me go! Let me go!" the boy screamed.

"Not! You've been stealing my shop for a long time. Now, tell me. What do you want, little thief?"

Hugo tried to escape, but he couldn't.

"Please, let me go! You're hurting me!"

"Tell me, thief!"

"I'm no thief!" said Hugo.

"So tell me…" said the old man.

"I'm making an important thing. You are screwing my job! Let me go, I will come back later, I promise!"

"A thief, making promises?" laughed the old man.

"I'm no thief!" turned Hugo.

"Okay, I'll let you go. But I want to see you again."

"I said so."

And he let Hugo go.

When Hugo was turning a hall he collided with a girl. She fell on the floor before Hugo could react and grab her hand.

"Oh, so sorry…" said the boy, giving her his hand.

She grabbed Hugo's hand and rose from the floor.

"No problem. I'm fine. Thank you."

Hugo smiled.

"I have never seen you here before. Who are you?" she asked.

"I'm Hugo. And you?"

"My name is Isabelle. I'm Papa George's goddaughter. The man from the toy shop. You were coming from there, before you made me fall."

"Yes, I was talking with your godfather. I have a deal with him."

"Oh! Tell me, what is it?" she exclaimed.

"I don't think that is a good idea…" started Hugo, but she cut his words.

"No! Please, tell me! I'm very curious and I want you to tell me…please…"

Hugo whispered and said:

"Okay…I tell you."