"Who is it?" "Mr Delsart." "I'm a bailiff." "Are you Mrs Rose Diakite?" "Can you open the door, please?" "Did Francis send you?" "Did he say he wants to come back?" "No, not at all." "The court has ordered you to pay the sum of... ..3,292.90 euros, corresponding to what you owe in unpaid rent." "I have here a copy of the court's ruling." "But I can't..." "I can't pay." "Well, you'll have to find a solution." "The court has made its decision." "It's not my fault." "But it's too much." "Where will I get the money?" "I have a job." "Honestly, I'm not a scrounger." "But I can't pay that." "Especially now my boyfriend's gone." "Yes, well, look..." "You have a period of time to pay up but it's up to you to find a solution." "Goodbye, Mrs Diakite." "NOT HERE TO BE LOVED" "Jean-Yves, cheers!" "And welcome aboard." "Thanks." "Well?" "Peanuts?" "Great." " Raring to go?" " Sure." "That's good... ..the work is piling up." "I can tell you, it's a relief for me to have you around." "What was I saying?" "It's non-stop." " On form?" " Sure, I'm fine." "I got a card from Mummy not so long ago." "She may be in France in a few months." "Tell me when your mother arrives, so I can avoid her." " How about your apartment?" "Happy?" " It's fine." "It's not very big but it's nice and sunny." "For my plants, that's very important." "I had to put some in the bathroom but other than that, it's OK..." "I managed to fit them all in." "Shall I show you your office?" "Have a talk with Helene." "She'll explain where everything is... the filing and so on." "I have to go, I have lots to do." "See you later." "Mr Delsart?" "I meant to say..." "Your father's been playing up again." "He's very difficult." "He reduced one girl to tears." "If you could ask him to make an effort, we'd appreciate it." " I'll talk to him." " Very kind of you." "I think I'll put a house on it." "14,000..." "How did you spend your week?" "How do you think?" "Playing basketball?" "Are you getting on with the nurses?" "Them?" "For all they care about me!" "So, no problems?" "Are you playing or talking?" "They're not the same." "Sure, they are." "Is something wrong?" "They're not!" "They taste bad?" "How they taste is irrelevant, they're not my usual ones." "Stop treating me like an idiot and acting the innocent!" "At Lalouette's, they'd run out of 80%, so I got the next best thing." "They never run out." "Why should they now?" "That's what they said." "The best they had was 72% cocoa." "You can take them back." "I don't want them." "It's not much to ask to buy me some chocolate." "Go on, play." "Bugger it, I've had enough!" "You come to see me once a week," "I ask you one simple thing and you can't even do that." "It's not so difficult to buy some chocolate." "I can't trust you." "That never changes." "It's always the same old story." "This is beginning to fuck me off!" "Would you like to go for a walk?" "The lounge?" "And meet lots of senile old morons?" "I'm going to bed!" "I'll go, so you can sleep." "That's right, get lost!" "That's what you wanted anyway!" "You fuck me off!" "You fuck me off!" " How old are you?" " 50." "Well, almost 51." "Your blood pressure's fine." "Your heart tests are good... ..although there may be a slight coronary insufficiency." "You're not as young as you were." "What we'll do is, I'll prescribe you a little trinitrin just in case, if you feel an attack coming on." "You'll have to look after the engine." "Eat less fat, that's for sure." "Go easy on your drinking, do some exercise..." "You do any sport?" "I played a lot of tennis when I was younger but... it was long ago now." "Tennis is out, you can forget that." "Best way to a heart attack." "I don't know..." "Cycling." "A little cycling won't hurt." "Swimming is good, too." "Not swimming." "Because of the chlorine." "Whatever you prefer but... you have to keep active or else one day your heart just says stop." "So goodbye then." "A pleasure dancing with you." "I really enjoyed it." "Great energy." "I look forward to doing it again next week." "Next week, I'll be coming with my fiance." "Yes, but everybody dances with everybody." "See you next week." "Excuse me..." "Sorry, I've been staring at you all night." "I think I know you." "Really?" "Isn't your name Jean-Claude?" "Jean-Claude Delsart?" "That's right." "Don't you recognise me?" "Francoise Rubion." "I'm sorry, doesn't ring a bell." "Your Mum was my nanny." "Remember?" "Fanfan..." "Fanfan, of course." "Now you mention it, I do remember." "Francoise Rubion, is that right?" "Mrs Rubion's daughter." "Hi there..." "Get lots of work done?" "No, I blocked." "It's shit." "Totally crap." "It's not crap, you always say that." "Let me see what you wrote." "There's no point, I got nowhere." "Hungry?" "No, my gut's all knotted up." "Simenon could write a novel in a fortnight." "I've spent seven months going in circles." "Simenon was Simenon and you are you." "Everybody has their own pace." "Stop getting yourself in such a state." "Yes, but I can see the days passing by, the school year coming to an end and I'm nowhere near finished." "I can't go back to teaching and face those kids if I haven't done my book." "It's too important." "I'm sure you can do it and your book will be great," "I promise you." "Just don't get so stressed out, OK?" "Don't you want to know how my first tango lesson went?" "Sure, how did it go?" "It's not easy." "The teacher makes it look so simple, then you try and it's really hard." "But it's great fun." "They're a good bunch of people." "Next time, you're coming." "No backing out at the last minute." "Yeah, but I can't get this thing off the ground and I'm incapable of doing two things at once." "Fair enough, but the wedding's not far off." "If you miss too many lessons, you can't catch up." "When we take the first dance, I want it to look good." "Your book's going to be great, I'm sure of it." " As if." " No, I am sure of it." "Michel!" "Basket!" "Mr Lemel wasn't in, so I left him written notice." "Same goes for Ranc." "Mr Lefevre was in, however, and I gave him the court order." "As for Saramito, you know..." "I may as well be pissing in the wind." "Isn't he a nutter!" "I think he's slightly deranged." "Mr Noblanc called." "He'll call back." "The fucker!" "Tell him I'm out of the office, OK?" "Hold all calls, in fact, for the rest of the day." "I have a million things to do." "Good evening." "He didn't come then, your fiance?" "Pardon me?" "Last time, as you were leaving, you said you'd bring your fiance along tonight." "Actually, he got held up." "Next week, he'll be here without fail." "We need to practise for our wedding." "In any case, let's dance together later." "I'm relying on you." "She's not bad but he can't lead." "So what was good and what wasn't?" "What's good is that you listen to the music." "What's not so good is that you, Laurent, don't lead Christine enough." "She's left all on her own." "Next time, watch out for that." "Now, who wants a turn?" "Like a try?" "Who would you like to dance with?" "I don't know..." "Very good." "Take up your positions." "Jean-Claude, remember to listen to your partner." "I missed my bus, the next one's in half an hour." "Can I have a lift?" "Of course, get in." "That's kind of you." "Sorry, it's such a mess." "It's fine." "That's my school." "Really?" "What do you teach?" "I don't teach anything." "I'm a counsellor." "What do you do?" "I took over the family firm." "I'm a bailiff." "It's opposite the tango school." "Very, very good." " How does it feel?" " Great." "Except when I walk, it's a bit long." "Can you take it up?" "Naturally." "Lace would be nice." "No, no lace." "It's fine like this." "A wedding dress needs lace, volume..." "Actually, talking of volume, you want an underskirt." "No way, not an underskirt." "It'll give me a fat arse." "Your sister looked great in hers." "She had volume." "Yes, well, Agnes is Agnes and I'm me." "It's my wedding." "I do what I want, choose the dress I like." "And I like it the way it is." "It's exactly what I wanted." "Sorry, I'm not too late, am I?" "That's pretty." "You look beautiful." "Mum wants more lace." "It's fine as it is, why bother with lace?" "To give it volume." "No, leave it how it is, it's much better." " You think so?" " Sure, of course." "I wanted to see you, I have something to tell you." "I've been thinking it over and..." "Don't take it personally, but I came to a decision." "I won't be staying with the firm." "I fucking hate it, I don't want to be a bailiff." "To be honest, I fucking hate it." "Say whatever you like, I don't care." "I fucking hate it." "Don't try to talk me out of it..." "Where's the repossession order?" "Underneath, in the file underneath." "That's good, thanks." "Fine, you can go." "No, you see..." "I wanted us to talk." "Go on then, talk." "Well, actually..." "Since I joined the firm..." "I've had time to think it over..." "Being here and all that." "And I've decided..." "This isn't against you, it's not aimed at you, but..." "I..." "It's a bit..." "It's my own personal..." "It's not..." "Even if..." "I..." "I was wondering if..." "Spit it out." "What's the problem?" "There's no problem, it's just..." "Ask her to hold a second." "What is it?" "I was wondering if..." "Could I put some plants in my office?" "If you want, sure." "Just don't invade us, that's all." "Come on, off you go." "I was calling about my tango shoes." "I think I left them in your car." "I didn't notice, I'll take a look." "Whatever suits you best." "Either you come here or I come over there..." "I'll come round, I have plenty of time." "Early evening?" "Is seven o'clock OK?" " I'm not too early?" " No, I just got in." "Go on through, please." "I was wondering about something..." "It's not too tough, your job?" "I mean, going to people's houses demanding money." "No, it's all a question of... ..contact." " Do you enjoy the dance lessons?" " They're OK." "I'm pretty awful, that's all." " No!" " I am." "Why do you say that?" "You're not awful." "Not totally, but I'm not good." "You're too hard on yourself, you're really good." " Honestly?" " Sure." "I have a problem with el ocho, the back el ocho." "Let's see..." "peso, peso, peso and back, feet together, to the side, centre, leg..." "That's where I screw up." "It's not that leg, it's the other one." "Watch." "Peso, peso, peso, back, centre, to the side, feet together and then this leg forward." "Hold on." "Peso, peso, peso, OK..." "Back, centre, to the side and leg..." " Not that one, this one!" " This one, right." "That makes... ..peso, peso, peso, back, centre, to the side, feet together and then this one forward." "All right." "Are you ready?" "Three, four..." "Back... ..centre, to the side and forward." "That's where I get in a tangle." "You have to shift your weight to move the other leg forward." "OK, hold on..." "Weight." "And leg." "That's right." "And now I pivot?" "Try again." "OK, I've got it now." "The leg..." "Thanks for the drink, and the shoes." "My pleasure." "I told you we'd be cold." "Yes, but it's good to get out." "If you want me to catch my death, don't come." "You have a sweater and a coat, you won't catch cold." "At least, your brother and sister are up front about it." "They just never come." "Precisely, they don't and I do, so stop whining, will you?" "I was thinking..." "Do you remember all those cups I won when I played tennis?" "Do you know where they got to?" "What makes you mention them?" "I was wondering where they were." "Probably got thrown out, that kind of rubbish." "You threw them out?" "All those cups I won, you threw them out?" "You could have said." "What did you expect us to do with them?" "They just sat gathering dust." "Even so, I don't know..." "You could have mentioned it." "Didn't it occur to you that I'd ask for them one day?" "Why?" "What for?" "That's kids' stuff." "I won them, they're my cups." "They're mine." "And that big one I won at the regional championships, thrown out too?" "With all the others, in the same bag." "Fuck!" "Why bother bawling at me to win, if you were going to throw them out?" "Honestly!" "I'm going back, I'm freezing my balls off here!" "I don't give a shit, you're a pain in the arse!" "She hasn't paid her rent for over eight months." "A court order was issued for her to pay or face seizure." "These people are in the shit." "We're not blind." "Don't think, just enforce the law." "You're not the Good Samaritan, that's all." "Why didn't you put the order under her door?" "Slip it under." "Her neighbours went wild, what could I do?" "Do your job." "Let them insult you if it makes them happy." "It's water off a duck's back." "Act like you can't hear them." "And lose the plants, it's not a garden centre." "You're a pain." "You always find a way out of it." "I had a huge wave of inspiration around late afternoon." "I can't stop now, it'd be a waste." "You always have a good reason." "You're up, you're down..." "We'll get married and you won't know how to tango." "Give me a break." "Anyway, you're going to see a show." "It doesn't really matter." "You can teach me, it can't be that complicated." "Go and write then." "You just don't get it!" "Isn't Francoise coming tonight?" "She's supposed to be." "Isn't she here yet?" "Doesn't look like it." " How are you?" " Fine." "I thought that after the show, it'd be nice to go for a drink." "I'll have to rush home, it's going to be so late." "I asked." "It doesn't finish at all late." "We'll see." " I'm relying on you." " OK, we'll see." "I really like your car." "It's very pleasant." "It's a foreign car." "Actually..." "I planned to buy French but ended up buying foreign." "I see." "Goodbye then." " See you soon." " Yes." " It's me." " Hi there." "I'm belting it out." "I found a great twist to get the plot moving." "Can I help you?" "Yes, hello." "I'd like to buy some perfume." "For yourself or as a present?" " A present." " Very good." "For a younger or a more mature lady?" "Not too mature." "Under 40." "What kind of perfume are you looking for?" "You don't have anything..." "I don't know..." "Something a little lighter maybe." "I see." "Perhaps a little more citrus." "I like that." "I like it a lot." "It's Intense Passion." "Intense Passion?" "Would you have the same scent but with a different name?" "Desert Rose is closest to it." "Good." "Desert Rose is very good." " Gift-wrapped?" " Yes, please." "You're making a big mistake." "Don't mix everything up." "You know, I fell for a guy at the gym." "I even had an affair with him." "You had an affair?" "These things happen." "Marriage isn't the end of desire." " Does Philippe know?" " Of course not." "So I strayed, but I don't want to throw it all away." "Philippe, the kids, the house..." "You have to move on." "How old is this guy?" "I don't know. 50." "I can see it now." "An old charmer..." "A divorcee, I bet." "Loves 'em and leaves 'em." "A checkout girl falling for it, I can understand, but not you!" "He's not at all like that." "That's not his style." "What is his style then?" "I don't know." "Normal." "No way!" "You're going to dump Thierry for a guy who's normal?" "Does he love you?" "Has he given you a present?" "You see!" "You can stop dreaming." "Anyway, nothing happened between you." "There's something about this that escapes me." "Imagine how hurt Mum would be if you called it off." "She'd hate you." "She'd never recover." "But what do I care, I'm just thinking of you." "Never see this Jean-Claude again." "He'll use you then he'll leave you all alone." "When you're 20, fine, but you're not 20 anymore." "Look at me." "Promise me never to go to another tango lesson and never to see this Jean-Claude again." "Think of Mum." "OK." "Excuse me." "How are things?" "All ready for the wedding?" "I'm sorry, didn't you tell me you were getting married?" "That's right." "So, will it be a civil or religious ceremony?" "At church." "Open up!" "Jean-Claude, we have to talk." "I need to explain." "Why are you looking at me like that?" "No reason." "Actually... ..l just wanted to say I love you." "And I'm sorry if I'm a bit uptight about my book but what truly counts for me is you..." "..you becoming my wife." "That's what really matters." "I am so happy." "My little princess." "How did it go today?" "Fine." " Did you see Mr Gautier?" " Yes, I did." "What did he say?" "He wasn't very happy." "He yelled at you?" "A little bit." "It doesn't matter, I ignored him." "Someone to see you." "Who is it?" "Show him in." "Thank you." "I owe you an explanation." "The other day, I had no time, you didn't give me time to explain." "I'd like to tell you the whole truth." "Yes, I am getting married." "It's my fault." "I should have told you." "I don't know..." "I mean..." "I didn't tell you, true enough." "So if you thought that something... that there could be something between us and if I hurt you, I apologise." "But somebody said... when you're getting married, you can be all mixed up and you..." "I mean, these things happen, you see?" "Even so, that's no reason to... ..to wreck all the rest." "I don't want to." "I didn't want you to think that I'd led you on or that I was playing games." "I'd be truly sorry if I hurt you." "I'm very fond of you and I love dancing with you." "We can still meet at tango if you want." "We can stay friends." "I don't think so." "I don't really want to be your friend, as you put it." "You've had your fun, you've made... ..a total idiot of me, so the only thing I would really like is never to see you again." "That's all." " Aren't you missing something?" " What?" " I'm on your property." " Yes, sorry." "Rue de Paradis... 6,000." "That's me you're moving." "Sorry." "Are you playing or not?" "If you're going to play like this, there's no point coming." "Since you got here, you haven't said a word." "If you weren't here, it wouldn't make any difference." "Listen, you're beginning to fuck me off!" "Every weekend, it's the same." "I make the effort to visit and you whine." "I'm going!" "Do the others come?" "Do they come to play Monopoly with you?" "No, but like an idiot, I come back." "Every Sunday!" "It's too hot, too cold..." "There's no pleasing you." "Never a kind word for anyone." "You fuck everybody off!" "You fucked my mother off, my brother and sister, and now me." "And everybody here!" "Just one more thing." "Those cups I won playing tennis..." "Why did you throw them out?" "You never gave a shit about me." "Too busy bawling." "Backhand, service, forehand..." "I'd have cracked you with my racket if I'd known you'd throw them all out." "You know what?" "I'm going." "You won't see me again." "From now on you'll be alone all weekend." "Fool!" "Mrs Rose Diakite?" "Can you open the door, please?" "It's Mr Delsart." "By virtue of the powers vested in me by law and following various orders you have chosen to ignore," "I am here to seize your furniture and request that you vacate the premises thereafter." "Excuse me..." "Can you two shitheads stop giggling for a minute?" "Thank you." "Go on, get out." "Get out, I said." "Don't waste your life in this stupid business, like I did." "Get out." "Hold on, I'm filing the photocopies." "Do me a favour and get moving." "Let's cut the crap now." "You'll be better off growing plants." "Come on!" "Right, I'll go then." "Michel, come to Mummy!" "I'm off, Mr Delsart." "See you tomorrow." "I know it's none of my business but I wanted to say..." "The lady who came here the other day said certain things that I swear she doesn't believe one bit." "How do you know what she said?" "You listen at doors?" "I confess that I do from time to time." "I have to say... the day I told a man more or less what she told you," "I wish someone had been listening in." "I wouldn't be alone with my dog." "You can't be a fool all your life." "That's all." "Goodnight, Mr Delsart." "Children, turn it down." "We can't hear it." "Turn it down." "I won't say it again, I'll just switch it off." "You're useless." "Leave them alone, they're no bother." "Easy for you to say." "Cut it out now." "Right..." "I based it on what we agreed." "Thierry, can I have a sweetener?" "So we're going to have tables of eight." "Thanks, that's good of you." "Right..." "Here's the top table with you two..." "Agnes, Philippe, Thierry's parents, me and Granny." "Here, we have the Dusseaus, the Taugourdeaus and the Chopins." "They all get on well." "There, we'll have Claudine and her husband, the three Veillard kids and their partners." "Can I just say..." "Claudine and her husband there is a bad idea." "They'll be bored." "What do you mean?" "They have nothing in common with the Veillards." "They're miles apart." " Where do I put them then?" " I don't know." "Somewhere else." "Everywhere else is taken." "I'm not changing it all around." "I'm not asking you to." "We can find two others who can go with the Veillards." "Who?" "Michel and Lucienne maybe." "They don't know them!" "At least, Claudine and her husband know the Veillard kids, even if they don't like them." "You're screwing it all up." "I spent two days doing my seating plan and here we go." "Don't worry about it, it's only for the meal." "Nobody asked you to do it, Mum." "This way, it's done." "All that effort to try to make things easy for you and you gang up on me." "We're not ganging up on you, we're discussing it." "What's wrong?" "Are you OK?" "What's up, honey?" "You can tell me." "Come on, Fanfan, what's wrong?" "Is something the matter?" "What's wrong with her?" "You've no idea how long she has waited for this moment." "Yes, I'll take it." "Yes, speaking." "Jean-Claude wins county championships, October 1968" "Jean-Claude wins regional final, 1964" "Jean-Claude Delsart, the region's rising star"