"THE JOY OF LIVING" "When will we see the sea?" "Do you want to see your uncle and cousin or the sea?" "Everything." "When I went into her father's shop, she embraced me in floods of tears." "Poor little thing." "It was a beautiful shop." "A charcuterie decked with marble and mirrors, opposite the covered market." "My cousin wasn't short of a bob or two." "Six months after his wife's death he choked on the blood." "He was found with a purple face and his nose in a jar of fat." "Did you get power of attorney all right?" "It all went well." "We are now her guardians." "The lawyer said we must report to the board of guardians until she comes of age." "The girl stands to inherit an absolute fortune from the sale of the delicatessen." "150,000 francs' worth of bonds." "150,000 francs?" "I asked for a monthly allowance of 800 francs while she's staying with us." "She's richer than us." "We can't afford to give her charity." "This is your room." "Come and see." "See?" "I'll put your bonds there." "No one will touch them." "They'll stay there until you're old enough to trade them in." "The dog won't eat there." "Lazare, stop fooling around." "He passed his baccalaureate eight months ago and has been scouring the cliffs ever since in search of what to do." "I know what I want to do." "Make music." "Of course, you do!" "Good night, my dear." " Lock the door if you like." " Good night." "Good night." "Aren't you in bed yet?" "I was." " Are you scared?" " No." "I bet you are." "Have you seen a ghost?" "I don't believe in ghosts." "Well, you're wrong." "There are lots of ghosts here." "You had better lock your door." "No, I don't like locked doors." "If I get scared, I'll knock on the wall for you." "How many knocks?" "Three." "Two quick ones and one slow one." "All right." "I'm glad I'm not alone any more." "It's so beautiful." "Sometimes the tide comes in so far, it covers the church in the village." " I don't believe you." " I can assure you it does." "The other day, two houses were swept away." "Poor people." "I'll race you to the water." "Aren't you coming?" "I... can't swim." "You can't swim?" "Come on, I'll teach you." "It's the start of my symphony." "It's called "Heaven on Earth"." "What do you think?" "It's... it's nice." "Just nice?" "I don't know." "I like it." "But did you feel anything?" "I'm no expert." "Listen." "You must feel something now." " Sort of." " What a racket!" " You want to enrage your father?" " It's not a racket, it's music." "It won't put food on our plates." " I want him to be a doctor." " Being a doctor would be good." "You see?" "Listen to Pauline." "I thought you were on my side." "So you're a petit-bourgeois, too." "You know nothing at all about art." "So it's doctor, teacher or lawyer, is it?" "You'd like that wouldn't you?" "A nice respectable living." "Wanting for nothing, clean living and thinking." "It makes my blood boil." "Everyone is so small-minded here." "Petty-minded." "Medicine is a fine profession." "The world needs visionaries, not doctors." " It's good to cure people." " Cure them of what?" "Cure them of what?" "We all end up dying, don't we?" "Whatever happens, death prevails." "Everything is reduced to nothing." "You can say what you like but all is lost." "One last breath and you're gone." "Nothing but dust." "Flecks of dust." "It's stifling in here." "Aren't you talking to me today?" "I'm sorry about yesterday." "I didn't mean to upset you." "Come on." "I'll show you a magical place." "It's a magical place." "No one knows about it." "No one ever finds me here." "I'm left in peace." "I'm free here." "Do you like it here?" " Can we come here all the time?" " If you like." "It will be our place." "No one else will be allowed to come here." "Do you promise?" "I promise." "We'll call it..." "We'll call it... "Treasure Bay"." "Is there treasure here?" "There's us." "You'll have to run faster than that." "I won!" "Louise?" "What a surprise!" "Have you seen how pretty she looks?" "Hello, Lazare." "Louise often comes for the holidays." "Her poor mother was a good friend of mine." "Meanwhile, I've got all these mouths to feed." "As you can see," "Véronique is as gracious as ever." "What's wrong, Pauline?" "Are you cold?" "A little." "Is your father pleased with his bank?" "Yes." "He works hard." "Well, it's better to be in banking than in trade." "Do you work hard, too?" "You don't have a choice at boarding school." "Mathematics, physics, geometry." "Whereas I prefer poetry and novels." "What about music?" "Music, too." "Your elegance is enough to make any girl in Paris green with envy." " He likes you." " He's sweet." "Careful or you'll get her pretty dress dirty." "You're part of the family." "Did you see that?" "Unbelievable!" "He's never seen such a pretty girl before." "So sweet." " I'll race you to the sea." " Not today, Pauline." "I like the sea very much." "But I think I prefer the city." "What's Paris like?" "It's a city, a big city." "Hey, we could take Louise to Treasure Bay." "No!" "Where?" " Treasure Bay." "It's a..." " I said no!" "We can take Louise there." "You take her if you like." "Am I going to die?" "If you were to die of this, all girls of your age would die." "What's happening to you happens to all women." "When they think wicked thoughts?" "Do you think wicked thoughts?" " I'd be surprised." " What is it, then?" "It's nothing." "We won't mention it again." "Here." "Drink this." "You're still a bit young but you're right to want to understand." "I'll go down and see Mr Chanteau." "So you have wicked thoughts, do you?" "Tell me." "I love you all so much." "And we love you." "Yes, but you love others, too." "That's a good one!" "We love others because..." "You're not the only person in the world, Pauline." "You must learn to share." "All right." "Yes?" "Hello, stranger." "Feeling better?" "Yes." "What are you doing?" "I'm working." "But you can stay if you like." " You plan to kill Louise?" " Or you, perhaps." "We'll see about that!" "Traitor!" "I'm a dab hand at defending myself." " Up here." " You're going to die!" " En garde!" " Traitor!" "Can she fight back, I wonder?" "Is that the best you can do?" "Girls don't know how to fight." "Watch out." "I'm dying." "Right." "I didn't take Louise to Treasure Bay, you know." "Does that reassure you?" "And better still..." "Guess what." "I've decided to study medicine." "Really?" "The petit-bourgeois likes that idea." ""Hello, Doctor." "Thank you, Doctor." ""How are you, Doctor?"" "Why have you changed your mind all of a sudden?" "I don't need to be a bourgeois doctor." "I'll do research." "I want to do great things." "There's so much to discover." "What about your music?" "Won't you miss it?" "Oh, my music..." "No." "I am not gifted." "But if I change my mind, I'll be near the Conservatoire in Paris." " Paris?" " Yes, Paris." "I can hardly study medicine in this backwater." " I'll visit often." " And I will come back when I can." "You say that but you'll soon find better things to do." "Véronique." "Goodbye, Louise." "Pauline." "Keep watch over Treasure Bay." "Come on, Lazare!" "The first one to the sea..." "I shall come here every day, Lazare." "Every day, every day, every day." "Until you come back." ""I have abandoned my studies in medicine," ""having found it less interesting than I had hoped." ""I have invested a lot in research but to no avail."" "What does he mean by that?" "He's not thinking straight." ""My dear parents," ""this unwise investment cost me a lot of money" ""which I must now reimburse."" "Giving up medicine is one thing but now he needs 30,000 francs." "Where am I going to find that?" "I have already given him the rest of our savings." "30,000 francs is a lot." "How has he managed to lose so much?" "At least he has taken some risks." "He has invested." "That is how you succeed, not by sitting around." "He might have taken risks but he's been had." "Is Lazare in trouble?" "Are you eavesdropping?" "No, I was just coming in." "These matters don't concern young girls." "But stay now that you are here." "I'll ask Louise's father, a banker." "It's our only option." "While I'm here, I'll bring Louise back here for a few days." "Wait." "If we lend Lazare this money, will he come home?" "Of course he'll come home." "He'd only double his debt in Paris." "Then I can lend him the money." "No." "I don't want you to risk losing your money." "It is a sacred trust." "We must not touch it." "Two, three, five ten, fifteen 30,000." "There." "Now I shall be able to go and fetch our Lazare." "Are you pleased?" "Yes." "My goodness!" "My saviour!" "Are you too grown-up to say hello these days?" "What have you been eating to make you so tall?" "If you'd come back more often, you'd have seen me grow." "Here come the reproaches." "How can I ever thank you for your money?" "You are here." "Go and give your father a kiss now." "Paris isn't like here, you know." "It's lively, people drink." "It's a melting pot of ideas." "And all for what?" "Boredom and nothingness." "It's no better than here." "I see you're as joyful as ever." " You see reasons to love life?" " Yes." "Such as?" "There are lots of reasons." "Lots." "The sun, the sea." "What else?" "I don't know." "Just being alive." " That's only good for animals." " Aren't you an animal?" "I suppose so." "But what would you know?" "You've never left this place." "I thought you said it was the same everywhere." "I'll race you to the sea." " I don't have my bathing suit." " You're afraid I'll see you naked?" "I've seen a naked woman before." "I didn't say go." "I didn't say go!" "Now that you're back, may I ask what you intend to do?" "Do you need an answer right away?" "We're just worried about you." "A clever boy like you must do something with his life." "Why must people always do something?" "Some houses have been washed away by the tide." "There are families sheltering in the church." "Is that not what science should be used for?" " No?" " What?" "Helping them." "Science would be more useful if it could blow up the universe." "Why don't we welcome the children of these families into our home?" "We could look after them, feed them..." "That's all we need." "It would be better to do something to counter the onslaught of the tide." "And whoever comes up with a solution..." "It wouldn't be that difficult." "You'd just need to build a flood barrier." "No more houses washed away by the tide." "I want to make a prototype." "If it works, the whole of France will order it from me." "What's more, it's quite simple." "You need posts dug into the ground with planks on top." "Day after day the tide will wash up pebbles which will be trapped by the posts and planks forming a sort of wall over which the waves will break." "The sea will form its own rampart." "Further on there will be groynes, long beams resting on struts which will act as breakwaters." "And there we can build two or three landing stages to break the pounding of the highest tides." "It will bring prosperity to Bonneville." " How will you finance it?" " Grants." "I'm seeing the Prefect tomorrow." "I have a letter of recommendation." "Well?" "I didn't understand everything but it's a fine project." "It's better than fine, Pauline." "It's magnificent." "Magnificent!" "Madam." " Mr Lazare is here." " What sort of mood is he in?" "I don't have time to pay attention to people's moods." "Bunch of old fogeys!" "They refuse to take any risks." "He said no?" "I don't believe it." "I'll go away, to Australia or somewhere else." "Everything here is dead and crumbling." " I'm giving up!" " What exactly did the Prefect say?" "The same as always." "It's a great idea but there's no money for it." "Perhaps next year." "He's the one who's pocketing all the money." "How much did you ask for?" "18,000 for the prototype." "I can see about the rest." "18,000!" "18,000 is the minimum." "There might be a solution." "Do you love Lazare?" "Yes." "What about you, Lazare?" "Do you love your cousin?" "Yes." "I've seen the looks you give one another." "They're unmistakable." "There's something between you." "I don't see where you're going." "Yes, you do." "If you were married, things would be different." " I've heard it all now!" " What do you mean, married?" "People get married when they love one another." "Don't you want to, Pauline?" "Yes." "It's not possible." "What age are you, Pauline?" "Almost 18." "Not right away." "In two years." "In two or three years." "But would it not resolve things if you were to marry one day or another?" "Who is to marry whom?" "Honestly!" "I'm saying that if Lazare and Pauline get married," "Lazare can borrow from Pauline since she'll be his wife." "And when he makes a profit, they will both benefit." "Well, say something." "If you want to, I'd like to." "I'm not a very good catch, you know." "Yes, I know." "Go on, take each other by the hand and kiss." "Well?" "How are the works coming on?" "They're costly but they're coming on." " How costly?" " Let's not go into the details." "I have nothing to hide. 70,000." "How much does the girl have left?" "50,000." "Can't you count?" "Have we already got through 100,000 francs?" "You'll get your 100,000 francs back." "If you marry Lazare he's bound to earn 100,000 francs." "Pauline's right." "It's madness." "It's a bottomless pit." "I'm going to stop the works." "Now is hardly the time to stop them." "You can't give up for..." "How much more do you need?" " 5,000." " 5,000 is nothing." "Pauline, you'll lend him the 5,000 francs, won't you?" "It's a lot." "I thought you loved Lazare." "I do." "Then, can't you lend it to him?" "You're not going to prevent him from seeing this project through?" "No, of course not, but... it would be better if we married soon." "Don't you trust us?" "Yes." "Anyone would think you didn't love him." " Or else that you are miserly." " Mother." "All the same..." "Louise has a dowry of 200,000 francs." "She won't skimp on 5,000 francs." "Come in." "You must finish the works." "I don't know." "These money issues are poisoning me." "That's just it." "I've thought about it and I'm going to give you the money." " I don't want your money." " Why not?" "Can't you see you're being bled dry?" "We're living off you." " Can't you see?" " I don't care." "I can't bear you being so good all the time." "Then I'd ask for nothing in return." "What are you asking for?" "To be loved." "And you think love can be bought?" "No, I know it can't." "My aunt certainly doesn't seem to like me much any more." "People don't like being helped." "I'm not doing it for my aunt." "I'm doing it for you." "Don't be silly." "Can't you see I don't deserve it?" "I fail at everything I try." "That's because you're scared." "I'm not scared." "I'm strong." " I'm confident." " Lucky you." " I lack confidence." " I've got enough for two." "I'll give you my strength, too." "We'll do things together and we'll succeed." "It will be all right." "You'll see." "Come on, get up." "The tide's coming in." "Want to see if the breakwater works?" " Is it ready?" " Yes, it is." " Are you worried?" " I'm happy." " Get out while I dress." " I'm your husband." " Not yet." " When?" " I'll turn away." " No, I don't trust you." "Go on!" "Go!" "Help!" "My wife is hitting me!" "I'll race you." "Louise?" "She arrived this morning." " She's full of surprises." " You were the one..." " Where are you going?" " To see the breakwater." " Take Louise with you." " I can't wait to see it." "Go on." "You can say hello properly later." "In front is the first breakwater with beams and groynes." "It's truly amazing." " What an invention!" " And it's wind-resistant." "You're lucky to be marrying a great engineer, Pauline." " Congratulations, by the way." " It's hardly imminent." "I want to marry, too, and have lots of children and a nice home." "It's the only way to happiness." "Don't you agree?" "Come on." "Let's go and shelter." " Come on, Pauline." " Pauline!" " Pauline!" " Come on." "Don't be an idiot." "Come on." "Leave me alone." "I'm looking." "I came to look so I'm looking." "Pauline?" "Are you all right, Pauline?" "Leave me alone." "What's wrong, Pauline?" "Tell me where it hurts." "Mother!" "Véronique!" "Come here." "Careful." "I'm here." "Calm down." "I'll take care of you." "I won't leave you, Pauline." "He's been watching over her for five days and nights." "It's hardly good for him to be breathing the air in that room." "She might give him her sore throat." "I'm sure she's infectious." "She is his future wife after all." "That's true." "They're not married yet." "I find this proximity unseemly." "Perhaps I should return to Caen." "Honestly, my dear, it's only a matter of days." "I know my Lazare." "He's very fond of you." "Lazare." " Lazare." " What?" "I need some money." " No, that's enough." " We have no choice." "Then go and get it yourself." "You must know where it is." "You should take it." "It's your money, too." "No." "No!" "It's locked." "Where is the key?" "Lazare?" "How should I know?" "Lazare, take the key from under my pillow." "Give my aunt what she wants." "Are you sure you're well enough to get up?" "Yes, I'm better." "I'm over it." "Take me to the window." "I want some fresh air." "I really thought I was going to lose you, you know." "Really?" "Would that have made you sad?" "A little." "Did you stay beside me all that time?" "Yes." "I didn't know what to do." "There's no escaping it, then." "I'm going to be your wife." "I'm afraid so." "And the breakwater?" "It's holding." "Really?" "Some beams have come loose but it's holding." "Well done." "Come with me." "We'll go and see it." " Yes." "Let's go." " Let's go." " I'm not strong enough yet." " Yes, you are." "No, Lazare." "I can't." "But you go." "No, I'm not going without you." "Go on." "You're dying to go." "Go with Louise." "No." "I trust you now." "I trust you." "Go on." "You can tell me all about it." "Pauline!" "Pauline!" "Pauline?" "I'm suffering." "What have you been eating this time, uncle?" "Nothing." "Some game." "A bit of game." "But my leg and my elbow, they're burning." "Pauline." "I've missed you, you know." "I'm not strong enough yet." " I'll call for Véronique." " No, not Véronique!" "Stay." "Stay." "Talk to me, like you used to." "You're the only one who cares." "I know." "Promise me you won't leave me again." "I promise." "Next time you go in up to your waist." "Do that and I'll splash you all over." " We'll see about that." " All over!" "You're as white as a sheet." "It's not good for you to stay shut indoors every day." "You should go to the beach with Lazare and Louise." "They're making the most of it." "I'm still too weak." "And my uncle is suffering." "You have the patience of a saint to put up with the old man." "The duchess wouldn't go near him." "The duchess?" "Miss Louise." "That girl thinks she's God's gift to mankind." "You should see all the jars, creams and ointments in her room." "It's enough to make your head spin." "But she's not as pretty as you are." "Louise is very gracious." "I'm just a peasant." "She's got no flesh on her." "Still, some men like them bony." " What do you mean?" " Nothing." "Being good is one thing but being silly is going too far." "Pauline!" "Come here!" "Anyone would think he was dying." "I'll go." "Bring me some damp cloths to use as compresses." "There are no more clean cloths." " Lazare has some in his drawers." " Lazare?" "He almost bit my head off." "It seems they're not to be disturbed." "What do you mean?" "Lazare and his duchess are devouring one another up there." "Where are you going?" "Let me past." "Don't give me orders." "Why are you doing this?" "Why?" "Leave." "Take your things and leave!" "Out of the question." "He's gone back on his commitment to me and you let him do it." " Go away!" " Stay." "It's her or me, Aunt." "Her or me." "Did we barge in when Lazare was caring for you for hours on end?" "This is my home and I decide who stays and who leaves." " Her or me?" " Little miser!" "You think your money allows you to take such liberties?" "We owe you nothing." "Do you hear?" "Nothing." "Fine." "I'll go, then." "I'll tell the lawyer what you've taken from me and you'll have to pay me back over 100,000 francs." "Pauline." "Pauline!" "There's no worse hypocrite." "She's kind to your face and cruel behind your back." "Do both legs hurt?" "Just the left one." "I can still hear her yelling, "Her or me?"" "Ungrateful girl." "How is the work coming on?" "I still need to reinforce it here and there, but..." "I haven't had time with all this going on." "She's messed up all our plans." "Thank goodness I have you." "I love you so much." "You are my child." "My child." "You are capable of great things." "Don't let Pauline hamper you." "After all, you owe her nothing." "Oh, dear." "It's dropsy." "You must have had an attack without realising it." "It's very swollen." "You see?" "Your aunt..." "She was... so beautiful." "Beautiful and elegant." "The first time I saw her, I thought," ""Eugenie de la Vignère..."" ""I want her."" "Not at all." "Quite the opposite." "I thought, "She'll never look at me." ""Never." ""I am a nobody and I have nothing." ""So I won't look at her." "I don't dare."" "And yet... she did look at me." "She spoke to me." "She had ambitions for me." "And then..." "Life." "She was disappointed." "Just like everyone else." "You two aren't going to sulk forever, are you?" "I know she dreamt of a different life." "She wanted more, but..." "I couldn't give it to her." "I didn't have the panache." "Leave it." "I want to finish it." "You've had enough." "Don't get sick, too." "It's moved up to her thigh." "The doctor says she's finding it hard to breath." " But it's not serious." " No, it's not serious." "It's money that's making her ill." "She can't take her niece's money so her leg is swelling up." "It'll go down once she sees reason." "Stop saying such stupid things." "It's her heart." "All the same, she's not going to...?" "Lazare!" "I can't do it." "Lazare!" "I want to get out of bed." "I want to leave." "I must leave at once." "At once." "But, Aunt..." "I'm not your aunt." "I am Mademoiselle de la Vignère." "Where is my father?" "Find me my white dress." "I can't go out without my white dress on." "I want to dance." "We're in Bonneville." "You must lock the writing desk." "She's coming." "Don't give her the key." "Since his mother died he never leaves his room, not even to eat." "He flies into a rage if you try to go in there, even to air it." "And when our paths cross, he won't speak to me." "He avoids me." " What can I do?" " Run away." "Doctor!" "I'm no expert in mental disorders." "It must be the bereavement or his failure or..." "Do you still love him?" "But I feel so helpless." "You've given them all so much here." "I'm not sure they've paid you back." "Don't judge them." "I'd just rather see you happy." "You have a right to be happy." "Do you know what you need?" "A butcher's boy." "Yes, a handsome butcher's boy to love you and make you laugh and give you beautiful children." "Should you ever wish to leave," "I know a rich baroness in St-Lô who is looking for a companion." "No." "My place is here, beside him." "So that's what this is all about." "Why have you done this?" "Let me come in." "Did you see?" "Yes." " It was none of your business." " We were promised to one another." "If you no longer love me, that is my business." "All right, it's true that I still had feelings for Louise." "But that doesn't mean I wanted her to come back." "Or that I no longer love you." " You love me as a friend." " No." "You don't write me passionate letters." "You don't light candles around my photograph." "But you're here." "You're real." "I love you." "Lazare, we are not cut out to be lovers." "That's all." "When we were stuck here together, you had to think of me." " But as soon as she came along..." " You're wrong." "You are my wife." "I can't hold you to that promise when you love another." "Who says I love her?" "Everything points to that." "Everything." "It would appal me more than anything." "What would?" "That I might stop you from loving Louise and you would continue to be unhappy." "I'll show you what I intend to do with Louise." "Stop, Lazare!" "All I am asking is that you give her a warm welcome." "Go on, then." "Kiss." "That's it." "It's important to patch things up." "It's so lovely outside." "Why don't you both go out for a bit?" "Go on, then." "Don't just stand there." "It'll do you good." "You are as white as sheets." " Aren't you coming?" " No, there's too much work to do." "Poor Véronique is getting on a bit." "Go on." "Shoo!" "And don't come back before dinner time." "There." "It's started again." "Shut up!" "Shut up!" "Thank you for helping me." "I'd help more often if you'd let me." "You've got better things to do." "No, I haven't." "I've got nothing to do." "Why don't you tell me the truth, Louise?" "I don't have any secrets." "You'll have to do better than that." "Are you still suspicious of me?" "I do all I can to make sure you have nothing to reproach me for." "I watch how I laugh, how I move, so as not to offend you." " I don't reproach you." "I.." " What?" "The reason I said you had better things to do was..." "Do you love Lazare?" "Yes or no?" "He loves you." "But what about you?" "You're betrothed to him." "Why do you ask me that?" "I no longer have feelings for him." "We're just friends." "Why are you lying?" "You love him." "I can see that you haven't stopped loving him." "Yes, I love him, but as a... as a sister." "I think we've waited too long." "Passion fades." "Tell me, do you love him?" "Yes." "Then you must marry him." "Pauline." "My Pauline." "You're so good and wise." "You were right about everything." "I love Louise and she loves me." "Everything's so simple, thanks to you." "I'm so happy." "I'm glad." "Thank you." "Thank you." "Pauline?" "Yes?" "Come and tell us all about it." "What a wedding!" "What a shame you couldn't come, Uncle." "Tell us, were there many people?" "The church was packed." "When they said "I do", it was so emotional." "Afterwards some children sang." "They were like angels." "And were there many guests at the meal?" "About a hundred." "The decorations were a sight to behold." "The tables were set with the best china and tall candelabras." "What about Lazare?" "Did he take his frock coat off?" "Yes." "He only lasted ten minutes when he came to dance." "But he had his lovely white shirt on underneath." "He looked at ease and yet most elegant." " And did Louise dance?" " Of course." "The first dance." "You should have seen them leading the dance." "They were..." "They made a handsome couple." "They were radiant." "And did you dance, too?" "Yes, a little." "With the doctor." " Want to know who was there?" " We want to know everything." "The Prefect, the Mayor, people from the bank, from high society." " Shall I tell you something else?" " Tell us everything." "The job Louise's father has offered Lazare in Paris comes with 10,000 francs." "So my Lazare is going to be rich!" "And what did you eat?" "You haven't even told us what you ate." "He's been talking about the menu all night." "Anyone would think he was starving." "Mushroom pâté, partridge, and a cake made of cream puffs." "Just hearing about it will be enough to give him an attack." "He had seconds of roast meat!" "No, no attack this evening." "I'm too happy." "Tell us, Pauline, did people enjoy themselves?" "Yes, they laughed and chatted." "Everyone was happy, very happy." " I'm going up." "I'm exhausted." " No, stay a while longer." "Come and talk to us." "Come and sit down." "Come on." "I'm glad you're here, you know." "Do you know that?" "Yes." "Paris, 1 June." "Pauline, my dear sister." "Forgive me for not writing sooner but our life in Paris is so full." "There are a thousand things to do." "It's a whirlwind." "Theatres, museums, restaurants." "There is no shortage of ways to amuse oneself." "But Louise and I also like to stay in and make the most of our love which nevers ceases to grow and at which we marvel." "We are in raptures." "We are so grateful to you." "We owe all this happiness to you." "Promise me that you, too, will fall in love." "I don't like to think of you alone, having never experienced bliss." "9 October." "Pauline, my loyal friend, can you believe it?" "Your Lazare is versatile, passionate about his work." "Against all expectations," "I love my job in Louise's father's bank." "He has congratulated me." "Can you imagine?" "Work takes up so much of my time, we no longer go out." "But we want for nothing and never tire of one another." ""13 January." ""My dear Pauline, Louise is pregnant." ""I'm going to be a father." "Can you believe it?" ""Me a father?" "Life prevails over everything." ""You were right." ""Father will be so excited about being a grandfather." ""How I wish Mother was still here." ""Right now I feel so strong and responsible." ""I'm walking on air." ""My past torments have been swept aside." ""I am doing well for myself and will be providing for you soon." ""We will come and visit you soon." "Louise needs rest and fresh air." ""And so do I." ""With much love, Lazare."" "They're here!" "They're here!" "Where's Louise?" "She's gone to her aunt's in Clermont to get some rest." "Well, aren't you pleased to see me?" " Yes." " Well, then..." "You look well." "Isn't Father coming out?" "No, he can no longer walk." "Go and see him." "My dear Véronique!" "Have you got my room ready?" "Pauline said there'd be two of you." "I put you in your mother's room." "Still as stubborn as ever." "I want my room." "And I'm hungry." "You should have told me about Father's health." "I didn't want to worry you." "You've got your business, your job." "I gave it up." " What do you mean?" " I gave it up." "Resigned." "You know me." "I enthuse about something and then soon grow tired of it." "People never change." "But what are you going to do?" "This isn't very nice, is it?" "Perhaps Véronique is getting old, too." "Tell me what you plan to do." "I want to write." "I've got ideas for plays, about money." "That poison corrupts everyone." "I've seen so many scandals, I'm well placed to expose them." "At least you've got Louise." "And this baby that is soon be born." "If you are no longer working, you'll be able... to support her and be near her." "It will be wonderful." "You haven't changed either, have you?" "What do you mean?" "No one else still has such romantic notions." "But you do still love one another?" "As far as love is possible when you live together." "You know nothing of the world." "Why should love be better than all else?" "But your letters said that you were happy." "To start with, yes." "But now it's all... irritation and feelings of revulsion." "What was once charming has ended up being exasperating." "She thinks only of dresses, laces, creature comforts and money." "The slightest gesture or discourse can spark off an argument." "I'm not just speaking for myself." "It's the same for Louise." "Worse for her, even." "As you know," "I am not a nice person." "You are what you are." "Pauline!" "You surely don't still believe that life is good?" " Don't pull it so tight." " Sorry." "What has got you so worked up?" " Nothing." " I know you." "It's Lazare and Louise." "I get the feeling they've fallen out of love." " That's not your fault." " Yes, it is." "It's all my fault." "I gave Lazare to Louise." "And all for what?" "For more pain and unhappiness." " You meant well." " Well, it turned out badly." "If they're squabbling, that's their affair." "Think of yourself for once." "Make the most of your Lazare while he's here." "You've suffered enough." "Be happy." "Get some enjoyment out of it." "I'll race you to the sea." "You'll lose." "You're not as fit as you once were." "Want to bet?" "Hey, that's cheating!" " I win." " No!" "You scratched me." "I'm bleeding." "There!" "Remember how we used to dream of going away?" "To Australia or America." "The islands." "No winter, the sky always blue." " You'd soon have got bored." " Maybe not." "Everything would have been different." "What would we have done on your island?" "We'd have loved one another from evening to morning," "all year long." "No." "No!" "Leave me be." "Pauline." "Open the door" "Pauline, let me in." "You're suffering as much as I am." "Why deny ourselves this happiness?" "We've loved one another since we were children." "You were meant to be my wife." "I love you, Pauline." "I love you." "I'm yours." "I'll take you and keep you." "We'll forget everything." "No, we'd have to hide." "From your wife and child." "I wanted a love that was out in the open, not behind closed doors." "Open the door." "Open it." "Don't be cruel." "I want to hold you, to hold you tight and kiss you." "Not like this, Lazare." "Not like this." "Are you mad?" "You can't just turn up without writing first." "I was afraid you'd stop me travelling." "I needed you." "That's ridiculous." "You will leave again tomorrow." "I was so looking forward to surprising you." "What difference does it make?" "My room is next door." " You haven't missed me at all." " I just wanted you to rest." "You travel by coach, don't let us know." "You're going to reproach me a hundred times?" "Yes, I am, because you never listen." " It's always the same with you." " Please stop arguing, both of you." "Isn't it good to be together again?" "Lazare doesn't seem to think so." "Come on, make up." "Arguing will do you no good." "There, you see?" "Now you're in pain." "It's nothing." "You'll be fine, you'll see." "Everything will be fine." "You're up early." "Didn't you hear?" "Louise is in pain." "She can't get up." "I need to take her up some water." "Haven't you slept?" "Yes, a little." "I haven't." "Let's go away, Pauline." "Let's go away." "We can't." "I don't love Louise any more." "I don't love her any more." "I don't want to live peacefully, calmly." "It's too late." "There's a child on the way." " We'll have children, too." " Lazare!" "Nothing's impossible." "We love one another." "We can leave all this behind, go away and finally start to live." "I was wrong about everything, Pauline." "Tell me it's not too late." "Don't let it be too late." "I can't just cause hurt like that." "It will destroy us." "Allow me to get loving you right at least." "I'll go away." "It's for the best." "I'll go away." "No." "I'm disgusting." "I'm so ashamed of myself." "What say that?" "You're beautiful." " Where's Lazare?" " He's gone to fetch the doctor." "Drink this." "Lazare!" "There's no point in worrying him." "You're right." "He's spent his life closing his eyes to avoid being disturbed." "It's so cold tonight." "Don't hold back." "Cry out if you're in pain." "Cry out." "It will help." "Don't be scared." "Hold her tight." "Don't let her move." "Lazare, give me more light." "Come on." "There." "It's coming." "There." "Go on." "The shoulder is already engaged." "It's coming." "Be brave." "She is being brave." "Come on." " Come on." " Hold her down." "Come on, push." "Don't hold back." "It's coming." "One last push." "I can see the head." "Go on." "Push harder." "Don't hold back." "Go on." "Go on, one last push." "Look." "It's almost over." "There." "Blow." "Blow again." "There." "It's coming." "There." "One last push." "It's coming." "Here it is." "It's almost over." "There." "It's a boy." "Come with me, Pauline." "Lazare, stay with Louise." "The baby has suffocated." "We've lost him." "Give him to me." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Come on." "Breathe." "Breathe." "Come on." "Breathe." "Yes." "Yes." "Yes!" "Live." "Live!" "We're ready for the big outing." "I've changed him." "He's nice and clean." " Isn't it too cold out?" " Not at all." "This little fellow is strong now." "He needs some fresh air." "Are you sure he's well wrapped up?" "After all, it's his first outing." "We mustn't stifle him." "Lazare was always too hot when he was little." "Do you remember that?" " Was he always unhappy then, too?" " Careful, Pauline." " This is your grandfather." " Hello, my darling." "Let's go." "Can you really not come out?" "No, the doctor told me not to walk yet." "Then you can stay with me." "Do you want me to ask Véronique to make you a herbal tea?" "No, I'll be fine." "Go on." "You're going to see the world." "And there, in the distance, is the blue sea." "Look!" "Look how beautiful it is." "Why don't you get married, Pauline?" "You should have your own child." "You're made for it." "I have a child." "Didn't you give him to me?" "SUBTITLES:" "RED BEE MEDIA FRANCE"