"early one morning" "What are you doing?" " Just some paperwork." " What paperwork?" "Social security." "Join us outside for tea." "I don't know when it started." "When it began to go wrong." "When I was transferred here?" "When they arrived?" "Much earlier?" "It's become impossible to explain, to identify the error." "Paul, you' re under-performing." "We need to talk." "How do you explain it?" "I thought individual targets were out, that we were rated on our group's work." "Don't dodge the issue." "You're 10% below your co-workers and way down year on year." "By... 17%." "Last month, you rejected one of my big contracts." "Verdana?" "It was too risky." "That's not the reason." "What is the reason?" "Spit it out, buddy." "Can you not call me buddy?" "I call my whole team buddy." "I need to feel we're tight, trust each other." "If it doesn't work for you, tough." "I don't call clients buddy even when there's a bond of mutual trust." "Okay, buddy, you think you should be doing my job?" "Fine." "But it's creating motivational issues." " Am I wrong?" " Completely." "I'm very happy here doing the job I'm doing." "What happened before I arrived is irrelevant to me." "The board appointed me to get results, and for no other reason." "Is that clear?" "An extraordinary situation calls for an extraordinary meeting." "In the last few weeks, rumors have been flying." "I can say quite categorically, the BICF, unlike many other banks, is not, and will not be, bankrupt." "You must make that quite clear to clients." "How serious are the losses?" "Two billion euros." "A lot, but nowhere near critical." "Some US banks have lost 10 times that and are still trading." "Can we be sure that's the final total?" "Or will more losses be announced next month?" "Our assets are ring-fenced." "Of course, it impacts business." "The markets are nervous, money is scarce and the situation will be shaky for some time." "The crucial thing is to reassure our clients." "It's imperative we keep their trust." "That's vital." "What do we tell them to justify the losses?" "No more than people already know." "Saying we didn't know we were buying subprimes?" "It's evasive, not to say ludicrous." "The argument's implausible." "Businesses want to know if loans will cost more." "I have no answer." "Individuals likewise." "The property crisis means people call every day." "We all have clients who can't stick it out." "Ba d debt's headed our way." "They say we were dousing the fire with gasoline." "I don't like the metaphor." "Me neither, but that's what clients say." "They're wrong and we must say so loud and clear." "We need to show a confident, united front." "Confident in our tools, products and skills." "United in turning this around to find solutions for clients." "Politicians realize the scale of the problem." "Central banks will fund us to stop anyone going belly up." "Why do we bother going to these things?" "It's unbearable." "You see how awkward it is for me?" "Sorry." "You didn't say a word all evening." "You were barely listening." "And if anybody was dumb enough to speak to you..." "What?" "Your "got nothing to say, don't wanna talk" act." "Wonderful." "Don't exaggerate." "It wasn't very exciting." "You didn't have to come." "Anyway, you find everybody boring." "Nothing interests you." "Stick to your clients." "I hardly have any now." "Poor lamb!" "I do sympathize." "They put food on the table." " What?" " My clients put food on the table." "You always have something worrying you." "I'm sick of it." "Everything's a pain for you." "I apologized, dammit!" "What more do you want?" "Yes, I was miles away." "Is it so damn serious?" "Yes, I had a shit time." "It was a crap evening." "I wasn't nice enough?" "I didn't try hard enough?" "So what!" "It bores me shitless!" "I'm not here to judge you, but to help you." "I see a lot of fine employees like you, who just crack one day." "Why do you say I'm cracking?" "You came to this appointment." "Admit it or not, you're suffering." "Tell me anything that's on your mind, with no shame or limits." "If you feel like crying, don't hold back." "Do you ever feel like crying?" "All the time." "A lot of the time, at least." "Several times a day and it's..." "That never happened to me." "Do you cry?" "Rarely." "I have a few times." "That's when I realized I always felt like crying." "Do you know why?" "Do you have an explanation?" "Paul?" "This is Fabrice Van Listeich, a recruit from the admin side in Paris." " Nice to meet you." " Same here." "Paul Wertret, our best account manager." " Because he's been here longest." " You bastard!" "He's also my deputy." "Fabrice, our newest analyst, came top in the in-house exam." "Take him out in the field, let your negotiating experience rub off." "I started in a small branch in Pessac in 1983." "I soon worked my way up the ladder." "I brought in clients, I got results." "It was boom time for banks." "Deregulation, liberalization of currency markets." "We even diversified into insurance." "With all my bonuses and good ratings," "I wound up managing corporate and municipalities' accounts." ""Being leftwing doesn't mean we don't understand the money markets. "" "I soft-soap the guy," ""Mister Mayor, the thought never occurred to us." ""We all know plenty of red millionaires," ""not counting the dictators." ""I'm talking about money men, investors... "" "He's beginning to squirm, so I say, "Look around you, who are the biggest investors now?" ""Communist China." ""So labels... "" "He replies, "I refuse to support US pension funds." ""They've done a lot of damage around here. "" "I say, "I know, but don't confuse the issue." ""Without the markets, no municipal swimming pool. "" "I expected him to fight, but not at all." "He simply changes the subject, saying," ""I'm beginning to think I'd rather have a museum. "" "Sorry, did I wake you?" "No." " You are?" " Sonia, a friend of Benoît's." "I just wanted some water." "There's mineral under the sink." "That's fine, thanks." "It's the first time you've slept over?" "No, but it's always on the sly." "Benoît prefers it that way." "You've known each other long?" "No." "I mean, yeah, but it's just..." "You know, we're good friends." "If you're hungry, help yourself." "Okay." "Your eyes are red." "Have you been crying?" "No." "Goodnight." "Denis?" "Paul." "Yeah, hi." "Say, ISN will go over its limit." "I know you don't like it." "They have 876 grand tied up in Lithuania." "It's a national holiday or something." "Yes, they're sending a copy through." "Of course, I'll keep you in the loop." "Can you confirm before 10?" "Great, thanks." "How can guys in the middle office not like a client?" "They've never seen a real-life client." "Mrs. Jackson called." "She'll transfer 150,000 today via Etebac." "She'll still be 20,000 over." "If the document checks out, pay it." "If not, bounce it." "I don't believe it." "What's up?" "I'm off municipalities." " What?" " A simple email." ""From Monday," ""transfer all municipalities accounts to Van Listeich's group." ""I'll confirm restructuring of the desk shortly." ""Best, Alain Fisher. "" "He's out to get rid of me." "You've done nothing wrong." "What can we do?" "Right, Antoine?" "Are you enjoying Law?" "Sure." "It's cool." "Cool?" "College is cool." "You organize your own time." "That's why so many flunk out." "Do you work hard?" "Yeah, don't worry." "You're the one who should be worrying, Mr. Cool." "Still want to go into journalism?" "Yeah." "A trade full of lowlifes." "That's good." "What's good?" "Knowing what you want to do." "That's what counts." "And Sonia?" "Butt out, da d." "Okay, I'm butting out." "There you go." "See you tonight." "The local press is hounding him..." "Excuse me!" "What's going on with the meeting?" "What meeting?" "About the new LBO rules at 10." "It's postponed." "You didn't check your Palm?" "Sure, I did." "There was nothing." "That's odd." "Ask IT to test it." "Everybody else knew." "I'll do that." "A big contract's an exciting gamble." "If you go for it, you have to believe." "Otherwise, it gets spat back out." "Go through it with a fine tooth comb." "A client's business plan is almost always perfect." "But double-check." "His past record, his infrastructure." "Do your own market research even." "Then it's a matter of sixth sense." "And trust." "The trust of your client and that of your bosses." "The Grenoble firm that patented miniature cellphone batteries..." "You heard about that?" "Lancelin mentioned it." "It was hard to see foreign phonemakers buying it." "For sure." "The school'll be over there." " You're sure it's over here?" " Definitely." "You don't want to move here with your kids?" "When you have some?" "There's the central duct here, running the length of the building." "It's a fine project." "And on schedule for once." " It's perfect." " It still needs work." " I wouldn't live here." " But it'll look great." "Let's take a look up top." "There's an elevator." "There are two floors divided into 400m² and 500m², a total of 900m² on each floor." "My first big promotion was to Strasbourg." "We spent five years there." "We liked the place." "Then came Montpellier." "A trickier period." "Why?" "Nothing to do with work." "On a personal level." "What happened?" "I was referred here to discuss work-related issues." "Of course." "But I'm sure you realize you can't compartmentalize life." "The more I know about you, the easier it is to make the correct diagnosis." "And the sicker I'll be." "No, that's not how it works." "If you don't trust me, we won't get anywhere." "Do you want a cigarette?" " I quit." " Good for you." "Take your time." "Do you understand how so many billions go up in smoke?" "The big picture, yes." "The devil's in the detail." "People used assets they didn't own thinking debt was risk-free." "Let's go inside." "I'm freezing." "I work in the Bonneguête valley with auto-parts subcontractors." "They'd rather have a chick on a calendar than as their banker." "Since I worked that out, I play on it." " See you later." " Sure." "It's time to react to anticipate future problems." "We'll have to take steps to handle the growing number of defaults." "We need to be able to identify potential problem accounts." "Short-term, we need a precise report on all our clients in difficulty." "Who'll take care of it?" "Paul, you have the best overview of the situation." "And time on your hands." "Can we have that in 2 weeks?" "Speaking." "Mr. Mazelat, how are you?" "Fine, thank you." "Sure, why not?" "I'm no longer responsible for municipalities." "I thought my colleague had contacted you." "That's very kind, but BICF likes to vivify its outlook." "New blood will give you a better analysis than me." "Fresh ideas, a new approach, you see..." "We can still have lunch if you want." "Okay, I'll have someone call you today." "See you soon." "Thanks." "You too." "The city center." "Train station..." "If I can find Benoît's high school..." "Isn't it at the foot of that hill?" "So we're over there, behind it." "Out of sight." "Leave me alone!" "You cowards!" "You got what you wanted, didn't you?" "We can't let this go, seriously." "Lancelin?" "Embezzlement?" "Anyway, what can we do?" "Nothing." "What do you mean, nothing?" "Imagine how humiliating a hearing is for him." "It's just office politics." "He'll be cleared." "So why won't you testify?" "Against my new bosses?" "Don't be naïve." "Let them fight it out." "And take it all lying down." "The abuse, the insults..." "Is that self-interest or principle?" "Meaning?" "If Lancelin stays, you'll be regional director." "Antoine, you're the guy I like most at work, but actually we don't understand each other." "You have an office." "That's easy to understand." "Laurent Struder, safety engineer." "I'm Delphine Jiloroy and I'm an auditor with head office." "Robert Fazil, cost controller." "Florence Boquet, from legal affairs." "How could anyone believe Jacques Lancelin could or would have pocketed these sums?" "All those who've worked with him can vouch for his integrity and devotion to the bank." "We're asking you to testify, not plead his case." "I don't know much." "Just that this supposed fraud is surprising." "Frankly, there are more subtle ways of creaming off cash." "Kickbacks, front companies..." "But altering a contract, cashing the extra 300,000 euros, erasing the records to avoid getting caught..." "A beginner maybe, not someone like Jacques." "Those are serious allegations." "I'm like you." "Looking for the truth." "Okay." "Thank you, Paul." "Françoise, see you soon." "Goodbye, Youssef." "Will I get the scholarship?" "I hope so." "We can't guarantee it, but we'll do our best." "And if not?" "Come back anyway for a vacation." "What will I do?" "We'll find you something, you'll see." "Come on..." "Goodbye." "Don't worry about it." "Thanks for everything." "See you, son." " Bye, Ben." " Have a good trip." "I need to feel free again." "Feel free again?" "Don't be ridiculous." "Weren't you free up until now?" "Just say you've fallen in love." "It's less hurtful." "Have you fallen in love?" "I don't know." "I don't know yet." "Enough to wreck everything?" "Hey." "Hi." "Classes go okay?" "Sure." "How are you?" "Stay and talk." "In your state, no way." "What do you know about my state?" "Jesus!" "Don't run away." " You're not coming in!" " I a m." "What do you want?" "Smoking dope, putting the world to rights..." "That's what makes you so superior?" "What's your problem?" "Sensing I piss you off." "You're way off base." "Booze and medication don't mix." "I can handle the booze." "And I don't mix them." "I'm not irresponsible." "Bullshit!" "Let the bank ruin your life if you want." "Now get out of my room!" "You jerk!" "You'll lose your arrogance, too." "You'll take some blows, too." " I wanted to say thanks." " What for?" "Thanks to you, I'm out of a job." "What do you mean?" "Fisher just fired me for gross misconduct." "What the hell for?" "Too many decisions "taken lightly with no basis in fact. "" " So you said." " I didn't say anything of the sort." "I thought he hated you, but no." "He loved your report." "Just shows, you can't trust anyone." "Don't say that." "It's what he wants." "Screw it, you're all backstabbers here." "I don't believe it!" "Paul, wait!" "This time, you've gone too far." "Looks to me like you are." "What's up, buddy?" "You told Miss Chambéron I got her fired." "I told her that your excellent report means we're restructuring." "My report says absolutely nothing about that." "My job is to draw the conclusions you fail to make." "That's just an excuse." "No, every department does it." "It's what I'm assigned to do." "Lower overheads." "It's no secret." "Precisely." "Why let the desk think I had something to do with it?" "Because it's the truth." "Excuse me." " Aren't you ashamed?" " Of what?" "Being accountable?" "You twist right and wrong." "It's obvious and very dangerous." "What did the shrinks do to you?" "Cut it out!" "I'll write a memo." "We can't go on like this." "I quite agree." "You should ask for a transfer." "Not on your life." "Do it." "The way things are going..." "Change your tone!" "That's enough." "Get the hell out!" "You came once with Françoise." "A long time ago, just after you bought it." "We've lived here full-time a year now." "To our children's delight." "First, they were surprised, then worried, and now delighted to have us play the doting grandparents." "I hate myself for leaving you in shit." "No, it's not your fault." "There's just a time when you draw the line." "We accepted too much, too long." "You're still there." "You have to watch out." "I wonder how far they'll go." "They'll go to any lengths, like with me." "Get this straight." "Whoever you are, whatever your career, if you get in the way, if you're no use to them, the bank will cut you loose," "I got out, but it sticks in my throat." "I'll be on their backs to the end." "It'd cost them too much to fire me." "After all you screwed out of them, they can't afford that again." "In fact, my problem is you." "What do I do that you never did?" "I protect the bank's interests." "I follow instructions, like you." "You bastard!" "I won't let you destroy me." "Dad?" " Did you have an accident?" " No, why?" "You're already up?" "Shit!" "Where on earth have you been?" "I was at Jacques's, it got late and I slept over." "I called you ten times." "I'm running late for a meeting at 9." "We were frantic, dammit!" "You could have called!" "Come on." "I committed myself totally to my job." "I gave it everything I had." "All my energy, my intelligence, my time." "All I could, all I was." "Suddenly, what was success becomes failure." "From one day to the next, you're worthless." "Even without that," "the man I turned out to be..." "I'm not sure who he is." "I don't recognize him." "Or like him?" "That's for sure." "Self-disgust?" "I don't think you understand." "I was good at my job." "Now, they say I'm useless." "It remains to be seen." "But even when things were fine, when I was flying high," "I now see I was off-track, not what I wanted to be." "Not how I wanted to do things." "Did you sense it back then?" "Probably." "Very deep down." "Deep down, under the stress, the overwork, the gratification," "the sense of achievement." "Clarisse!" " Not you again!" "What now?" " I have my report." "It's unequivocal." "I told you I believe you, okay?" "Please, it's very important." "Please..." "Just give me five minutes." "Over a coffee, just five minutes?" "More of your clients got hit by the recession." "So, sure..." "Look..." "Your potential losses are only 250 grand above other account managers." "That's peanuts." "And these are only estimates." "They don't justify firing you." "The downturn hit your sector worst." "Not your fault." "I didn't write a word about any of your contracts, but everyone thinks I stiffed you." "It's outrageous." "You have to sue for wrongful dismissal." "You're bound to win." "Here," "I drafted the letter." "You just need to sign it." "We'll fight this together." "I'm sick of this whole thing." "Get the hell out of my life, okay?" "Excuse me." "Françoise." "Mr. Foucade's here." " Thanks for coming." " My pleasure." "Evening, Mr. Foucade." "My wife." "Nice to meet you." "This project gives us all a real buzz." "I'm delighted to be part of it." " Can I get you a drink?" " With pleasure." "There are different types of music in Mali." "Hunters' music, Wassoulou music, and griots, musician-poets, whose songs tell the country's history." "Believe me, all your memo will bring you is trouble." "If my desk's mismanaged, it's logical to speak out." "Let us be the judge of that." "It's our job." "Just try to smooth things over." "For you, I'm the one at fault?" "I didn't say that." "Frankly, it's a very awkward situation." "You want to ruin all this?" "How can I justify our sponsorship?" "It's not blackmail, it's the harsh reality." "Why didn't you say so?" "I hope to increase it despite the cutbacks, but I can't do it alone." "Hi, Hervé." "Fine, and you?" "You're calling about tomorrow?" "I've thought it over and I think we have a good case." "Managing the loans mustn't prevent proper use of the funds." "Yes, he's too busy counting down to retirement than recruiting." "We'll talk tomorrow." "What time?" "Okay, fine." "Hi, how are you?" "Fine." "I have good news." "I just got a letter from the board of the bank." "Foucade kept his word." "Our sponsorship's gone up from 15,000 to 21,000." " Big deal." " Sorry?" "It doesn't stop us speculating on food markets." "Is that relevant?" "We give with one hand and take with the other." "I got that, thank you very much." "That's always the way." "Yes, that's always the way." "So why bring it up tonight?" "It wasn't aimed at you." "Really?" "Who was it aimed at?" "Against myself perhaps." "For Christ's sake, what are you trying to say?" "Wonderful!" "I can't do anything right." "Stop that, honestly..." "This is impossible." "Why are you doing this?" "Don't you see what's going on?" "No!" "I tell you good news and it's a nightmare." "Screw it!" "Astra 100 automatic." "Magazine." "Rack the slide." "Release." "Thanks." "Ammunition. 509mm cartridges." "You're too tense or not hungry enough, but you're missing clients." "How do you know that?" "We prospected after you." "Since your sick leave, something's wrong." "You must have sensed it." "In itself, it's not a problem." "Look at Estelle Legendre." "She was in the same situation, got a grip and improved her numbers." "I'm doing fine, too." " You need to bounce back." " I'm doing that." "We get a sense of being stuck in a no-win situation." "Meaning?" "We're offering you a cost control job in the middle office." "Is this a joke?" "You signed the internal mobility clause." "The job's a cinch for you." "You're getting rid of me." "It's not personal." "It's the best fit for the bank." "And your salary stays as is." "We can't touch that." "Hi, Eric, it's urgent." "Can you look at it today?" "It'll be tricky, I'm..." "We fast-tracked it for the loans committee meeting." "It really is urgent." "Okay, you'll have it by tonight." "Thanks." "Help me lift him onto the couch." "Forget it." "Get me a blanket and go back to bed." "Very good." "Stop." "Back a bit." "Don't go too far." "That's good." "He's got a gift." "A gift." "Thank you, captain." "Hold on!" "You're nearly at 120!" "Watch out!" "Back to 90!" "It's Youssef's fault." "Move, I can't see." "Slowly but surely." "110 or 90?" "90." "Now we catch the wind." "Stay on 90." " Easy does it." " 90, bang on." "Watch out, it keeps going." "Classy!" "Is that okay?" "Just right." "This is cool." "You okay, Youssef?" "Fine." "You're crazy." "It's me." "I have to go to Paris." "An important last-minute meeting at head office." "I'll be back tomorrow." "I'll call you from the hotel." "Lots of love." "I've decided the time's right in my career to devote myself to projects" "on the practical side." "I want to work for a company with a product and doesn't just..." "At this stage in my career, I want to contribute to a project like yours, to fight for something tangible, for people who create and construct." "I'm sure I can find the resources to help you grow." "Right now, we're busy keeping afloat." "I hope you're back in the swim soon, or the job doesn't interest me." "How do you suggest we do that?" "Like many companies your size," "I think you've reached a turning point." "In a nutshell, either you grow or you get taken over." "That involves business decisions I can't make, but can be involved in." "Whatever your aims, you don't have the financial capacity." "Every company ends up facing this wall at some point." "My skills involve pinpointing the right financial solution today." "Issuing stock or taking on debt?" "In what proportions?" "What kind of loans?" "Fixed or floating?" "Long or short-term?" "Indexed against what?" "Should you go public?" "Or stick to the bond market?" "These are frontiers that can be hard to cross." "How do you attract investors?" "There's no separation between financiers and manufacturers." "The whole economic fabric relies on the circulation of money, investment and profitability." "The right choice of financial tools is crucial to industrial success." "We're so alike, we take life as it comes." "I'm not jealous, but I'm nobody's fool." "I never said you were." "Pedro..." "Have I ever said anything bad about Sylvie?" "Never." "Not before your 4th vodka." "Miss?" "Can I have another scotch?" "Screwing her doesn't make a fool of me?" "That's not the point!" "You know exactly why I bang her." "Because of her huge tits." "She has the most awesome breasts!" "With you, it's different, see?" "How can I put it?" "The best would be a hybrid, her tits and your ass." "Stéphane?" "Yes." "Paul." "Paul Wertret?" "That's the one." "How are you, you old rogue?" "Holy shit, Paul!" "Out of the blue." "Another lifetime." "No kidding." "How long has it been?" "26 years." "That long?" "Why are you calling so late?" "I need a crewmate to sail around the world." "What?" "It's a bad time." "You were asleep." "No, no..." "I'm just surprised." "You have problems?" "Same as anybody else." "How are you doing?" "Yeah, I'm good." "I thought about you a lot, with the banks being in the news." "That why you wanna take off?" "Could be." "Are you up for it?" "No." "I can't." "Pity." "I'd have enjoyed that." "Actually..." "I was really calling to..." "Yes?" "I guess you could say to apologize." "At the end, something came between us." "I never understood what." "This isn't the time to resolve that." "No?" "Did it make you sad?" "Of course it did." "It really hurt." "We'd always been so close." "You never realize the hurt other people feel." "Not even your parents." "Or your kids." "What's got into you, fella?" "You call up after 26 years to tell me that?" "I often think that when we lost touch, part of me went missing." "A voice, an impulse..." "Nothing was the same afterwards." "Did you ever feel that?" "I don't know..." "Maybe." "I missed you enormously." "That's kind." "I missed you, too." "Goodnight, Stéphane." "See you in 26 years." "Before, I hope." "Me too." "It's you?" "I'm sick of being too tired at night to do anything." "How did it go?" "Fine." "I found the book you asked for, but not the cream." "That's a pity." "In a department store, they gave me an address, but too late." "Never mind." "I'm going to bed." "Wake me when you leave tomorrow." "Okay." "You've got a nerve calling me!" "You're feeling sorry for me?" "Yes, it is a bad time!" "It's 1 a. m." "I was talking to dad." "A mega-important conversation." "Yeah, stuff way over your head." "No, I'm not coming to your stupid party." "Cut it out, Sonia." "I don't want your fucking sympathy." "Hi." "Dad, can I borrow your car?" "Have you been drinking?" "Think before you drink." "Dad, just give me the keys." "You said you weren't going." "I'm not letting you drive in your state." "C'mon, dad, please." "Is it over with Sonia?" "Apparently, it is." "Don't go." "Seriously, don't go." "You said you wouldn't go." "Always do..." "Are you listening?" "Always do what you say." "That's a good start." "I'm just going for a drive." "I won't search you." "No, you won't." "I said no, and I mean no." " You always do what you say?" " Exactly." "Morning." "We received a request for a testimonial from Euro Delta Enterprises." "We gave them only positive feedback." "Rest assured." "They seem very interested in your application." "It's wonderful for you." "Look..." "I never had anything against you." "On the contrary." "It was circumstantial." "Circumstantial?" "Yes, some situations are inextricable." "It happens in a career." "It'll likely happen to me." "But what's done is done." "If you had to give Fisher a testimonial, would your feedback be only positive?" "He's on my back now, you know." "He won't let anything through." "I'm at my wits' end." "Antoine..." "Yeah, okay, I know what you're going to say." "Let's celebrate our best profitability prize." "What a con!" "Turnover hasn't budged, they just squeezed us dry." "Two glasses of champagne." "Fine, thank you." "Hey, François." "Didier, how's your dad?" "Did the operation go okay?" "Very well." "He's much better." "Really?" "I'm glad to hear it." "We all have something to celebrate." "Give him my best wishes." "Foucade this and Foucade that." "I admit his offer's tempting." "Would you come with me?" "I could be persuaded." "What about you?" "Paris?" "Sure." "But not on the commercial side." " The markets are crazy right now." " As always." "It's great." "You win." "I can't reach you." "Stop it, Paul." "Have a good time." "But you made one mistake." "I'm not scared." "It's over." "What do you mean?" "Scared of what?" "What are you doing home?" "I didn't hear you come in." " Taking up swimming again?" " Yes." "Great idea." "It feels funny, both of us being here now." "Yes, a rare occurrence." "What are you doing?" " Just some paperwork." " What paperwork?" "Social Security." "Join us outside for tea." "Anatomy's about knowing it by heart." "I ha d it down pat." "How could I get the tricuspid and mitral mixed up?" "As soon as I handed it in, I realized." "It could be okay." "Is Anatomy the key subject?" "The problem is, there are 700 of us for 104 places." "And Youssef is 82nd after the first semester." "You still have a great chance." "I hope I haven't blown it." "Can I borrow 10 euros to go to the movies?" "You've spent your allowance?" "On mom's birthday present." "So, in the end, we pay for it." "No, I'm asking for an advance." "Here, keep it." " It's an advance." " Keep it." " It's an advance." " And tell me about the movie." "What's going on?" "Nothing, forget it." "Thanks." "You're not going?" "He's already seen it." " Did you like it?" " Like what?" "The film he's going to see." "Yeah, it's not bad." "You haven't seen it." "Benoît!" "What's wrong?" "Paul, it's cool." "I don't want you fighting." "It's okay, we'll sort it out." "Forget it, Paul." "Stay out of it." "I don't know what goes on between you." "I'm leaving this letter to help you cope with the ordeal and get on with your lives with the same strength." "The strength you often gave me." "I tried my best to give it back and protect you." "I'm sorry it's come to this, to be forcing this decision on you." "But I know now I have no other choice." "I have to do it." "Don't be sad." "I loved you both beyond anything else." "Beyond myself." "That you shared my existence is a source of infinite joy." "I leave completely serene." "I have faith in you both." "With all my love, with all my heart," "Paul."