"THE IDEAL" "You'll sleep it off later." "You knew when we were leaving." "Yeah, so?" "Why'd you go out?" "Cause we're taking off for a week." "That calls for a celebration." "Any action?" "For a Tuesday night it was pretty decent." "Was Maude serving?" "Yeah." "God, she looked gorgeous!" "She had on this red top, and a black Chinese shirt over it..." "You should have come." "I hadn't packed yet." "Me neither." "I did it after." "Just now?" "What if you forgot something?" "Christ, we're going south for a week." "It's no big deal." "Up there, the place in brown brick." "I don't goddamn believe it!" "Isn't that Mylène?" "What's she doing there?" "I don't know, but we've got a two-hour drive to find out." "Fuck!" "Take it easy." "Mylène's a pro." "So put on your prettiest smile, get out and stay cool." "Give the guy a loonie." "Hi there!" "Things are ok?" "You're looking good." " Hi, Jean-Philippe." " Hi, Mylène." "Things are ok?" "Jeff's on his way." "He's getting his stuff, his camera bag." "Off to work?" "Guess so." "Not everyone can afford a trip to Cuba." "It doesn't cost that much to fly south, you know." "I better go guys." "Take care of yourselves." "I told you, she's a real pro." "Hey, guys!" "JEFF, AGE 27 PHARMACY RESIDENT" "THE QUEST" "So..." "You wanna go?" "All you have to do is..." "catch me." "You'll see." "I'm well worth the risk." "You wanna go?" "Catch me." "Catch me." "KATHERINE, AGE 26 MARKETING COORDINATOR" " You ok?" " Sure." "Sorry I'm late." "I didn't hear my alarm." "It's not loud enough." "I woke up before mine rang." "I hardly slept all night." "You're cute!" "Nervous about your presentation?" "Yeah, a little." "The game still crashes." "It does?" " I can't wait to see it!" " You will." "I went out last night." "I may have overdone it a bit." "You can sleep if you like." "I'll see." "I'm not used to sleeping in a car." "Besides, if you're tired too, it wouldn't be fair." "So what did you have to do?" "Run around to find a gift for an asshole." "Really?" "A birthday gift, or a consolation prize for his condition?" "A consolation prize." "But he'll think it's a birthday gift." "Is this asshole someone I know?" "I don't think so, but you'll meet him at the conference." "Will I have to play the hypocrite too?" "In a professional context, it's not hypocrisy, it's diplomacy." "So I'd be better if you called him Bertrand." " Still, it's sad." " What?" "Well, him..." "I mean, he could easily think you like him." "C'mon, don't exaggerate." "Well, you went shopping for a present for him." "All that to call someone an idiot?" "It's complicated." "Instead of shouting insults, I prefer to sing them." "I just hope that when you're nice to me, you mean it, you're not being hypocritical." "Well, ours is a work relationship, so it's more a question of diplomacy." "It's not really a work relationship." "We don't actually work together." "You don't have to see me." "If you didn't like me, you could easily avoid me." "Except we were asked to attend the conference together." "We didn't have to drive together." "You could've taken the bus." "Yeah." "I could have." "THE PASSION" "THE DAILY GRIND" "It's in the red, I'll stop for gas." "We'll put it on your card." "Did we pass Val Alain?" "No, I don't think so." "It's still a ways to Val Alain." " Why?" " We'll fill up at the Indian's." "He's cheaper, we'll make it." " The Indian's?" " Yeah." "The store receptionist told me about it." "She always stops for gas when she visits her Mom in Montréal." "It's cheaper." "But the needle's in the red." "It's only nudging the red." "If it's nudging, it's in the red." "We can do another 50 km, easy." " I didn't know that." " You can." " Are you sure?" " Yeah." "Have they finished painting?" "According to the agent." "So we can't change?" "Gimme a break." "Your changes almost drove them bonkers." "It's important." "It's important because it's... the universe I'll inhabit." " "The universe I'll inhabit?"" " Yeah." " What?" " The universe?" "Get real, it's a two-bedroom." "The universe!" "You sure love big words!" "Take it easy." "It just came out." "I'm dying to see your front hall." " What about it?" " Oh, nothing." "No, what were you thinking?" " You know." " No, what?" "Let's drop it, okay?" "What about the hall?" "You know, that fancy-shmancy paint job you wanted." "It's not my first choice." "Harping on that again?" " No, it's just..." " Yes, it still bothers you!" " I have a right, don't I?" " Sure, now get over it." "JULIE, AGE 26 FINANCIAL PLANNER" "The front hall's the first thing people see." "People?" "Who gives a fuck?" "The two tones create relief." "I like it." "It's my right to like it." "It's your right." "It's my right not to." "The store decorator, who has 20 years' experience..." "She said it's the latest trend." "Two tones, Julie." "What can I say?" "Your decorator's the same age as my mom." "Of course our taste is different." "Think I like your Wild Raspberry bureau?" "Let's stop." " I'm sorry." " I'm sorry, too." "I'm overreacting." "When we hit town, right after we see the agent, we'll go for a nice meal." "That fancy-shmancy paint... it's called tone-on-tone." "Tone-on-tone?" "Two tones." "That's tone-on-tone." "Was that the first time?" "No." "We've been dating again." "Dating again, what for?" "I'm still in love with Mylène." ""I went with her 31/2 years." "That's 31/2 years too long."" "Your very words, no?" "I know those are my words." "I know I said it." "I was strung out when I said it." "You remember the scene." "Did she see anyone else in between?" "I honestly don't know, and I don't want to." " Why not?" " Cause." "Cause why?" "She's free, you broke up." "Look, right now we're just dating, ok?" "The relationship is open, we're totally honest, and it's awesome." "Anyway, it's fine if she had fun with other guys." "I had fun with other girls." "Other girls?" "Get real, you scored two." "Two, including that tub Poliquin." "Everyone's laid her." "She's an automatic teller, open 24/7." "Even jerkface laid her." "What do you mean, other girls?" "Anyway, you're having other girls isn't the same as Mylène's going with other guys." "Because a girl gets more involved when she screws." " What do you mean?" " C'mon, guys." "It's reception theory." " Reception theory?" " Yes, sir!" "Dr. Rob, could you elaborate?" "Certainly, gentlemen." "What's more involving, to go visit someone, or to have people in to your place?" "What a twit!" "Personally, I prefer to visit someone else." "I've less to look after." "Sure, fewer obligations, less stress." "It's not as simple as that." "Who do you take me for?" "There's a whole physical aspect that goes along with my theory." "I'll simplify for you slow learners." "The penis..." "You know what I'm talking about?" "The penis is like the prolongation of a man's body." "Now, depending how long it is, it lets the man keep a distance from what he's doing." "What about the woman?" "Clearly she has no distance to what's going on." "So that automatically makes her involved, you understand?" "Seems obvious to me." "For a woman, getting laid is a kind of introspection." "A woman draws inside herself to get in touch with her moods and feelings." "Really." "That's why women fall in love so often after a fling that's supposed to be purely sexual." "Screws up everything." "Doctor, I listened attentively to your presentation." "And in my view, it's total garbage." "No, it isn't." "You don't read enough science to know what garbage is." "Anyway, JP, you can't understand because, you know, your feminine side is so highly developed." "What's your point?" "Look at you!" "You have a woman's exquisite susceptibility." "It's extraordinary." "No, it's true JP." "You have a girlish side to you that women love." "It allows women to flirt with lesbianism, without having to change their bedtime eating patterns." "You're like a 2-for-1 special." "You have so much to offer." "Damn, where is it?" "Aren't you coming?" "What?" "How'll we make it for three?" "C'mon, we'll be back in ten minutes." " I should never have listened." " Why?" "I feel like such a jackass." "I hate it." "With your Mr Know-It-All shtick..." "We can do another 50 km, easy." "Everyone knows, when it's in the red, you need gas." "Not on my dad's car." "If I hadn't listened to you, we wouldn't be stuck here!" "Look, what do you want me to say?" "Where are you going?" "This way." "Have a better idea?" "No, we'll go back to where I wanted to stop." "No, the Indian's closer." "Val Alain's just up the road." "You can stuff your Indian." "The other place is closer, period." "Who's paying?" "Me." "So we're going to the Indian's." "How much will you save, one cent a litre?" "Two cents?" "You don't even know where it is." "Near Val Alain." "How far do we have to walk?" "It's a minimum of five cents a litre." " Five cents?" " Minimum." "Your can doesn't hold five litres." "So even if your Indian pal sells it to you fourteen cents less, minimum, you won't even save 50 cents!" "You're not going to screw things up worse for 50 cents!" "I'll pay, if you're too cheap." "I said I'd handle it." " I'll do it." " Let go!" "Give me the damn can!" "You're an asshole!" "You're a fucking asshole!" "This is ridiculous." "PIERRE-FRANÇOIS, AGE 26 SALESMAN, TANGUY FURNITURE" "Are you still with the same girl as last time?" "The same girl?" "Yeah." "You've been together a while." "Yeah." "Average." "How long?" "Four years." "Bring her to a party so I can meet her." "Yeah, maybe." "She wasn't worried about your trip?" "Why should she be worried?" "People exchange more than business cards, you know?" "Really, people hook up?" "Don't tell me you're surprised." "A little, yes." "I thought it was about work." "You're funny." "It is about work." "But where there's power, there's almost always sex." "Yeah, maybe." "I have a hard time picturing the people in the office going at it." "You do?" "One of the great pleasures of work is to imagine them bonking." "Most of them don't look like they'd be into it." "ACCOUNTING 3rd FLOOR" "Not much of a turn-on." "No, not much of a turn-on, but it's amusing." "It's funny cause it's often the ones you least suspect who are the worst." "Bertrand's a good example." "The asshole?" "Yeah, sounds like you know him." "Did you two have a thing?" "No." "But he said he wants to sleep with me at the conference." "Really?" "That takes courage." "To sleep with me?" "No, to say it straight out like that." "If you don't have the balls to say what you want, you don't deserve to get them off." "It bugs me when you say" "I have a slightly feminine side, Rob, just cause I'm not like you." "I can't sleep with a girl if there's nothing between us." "What do you mean, between you?" "I mean that emotionally there has to be something, or else..." "Or else what?" "Or else what?" "There's a problem with your logic." "It's full of holes." "You think I'm just a shaft with legs who wants to screw anything that moves." "You're not?" "You guys are jerks." "Yes, I am, but only in part." "Whenever I meet a girl," "I'm automatically screening her:" "Is she a potential lay, or someone I'd like to get to know?" "At least I'm able to distinguish between the two types." "Making love and fucking are two completely different things." "But you can't see that." "It doesn't make me less masculine." "Yes, it does." "Your lower, dumb male instincts, you never express them." "So because I think before I go all the way, I'm less masculine." "Well, if you put it like that..." "By definition, a human controls his urges more than an ape like you." "You two are different, that's all." "It's not about who's more masculine." "I know, but JP's always so condescending with his two-bit moralizing." "What are you talking about?" "Do you or don't you think you're more noble?" "It's not the same thing." " Do you or not?" " Yes, I do." "Keep on having beautiful romances that last three months with girls you don't like, girls you know full well aren't your type, cause you feel guilty you slept with them." "Because your romances work out better?" "I didn't say that." "At least I still allow myself to hope for love and fantasize about an ideal I'm striving for." "I'm not playing the disillusioned 28-year-old, that's too easy." "You make me laugh." "You pretend you're above it all, but really, you're unhappy you're not hitched." "I don't know, but..." "I try to be more detached about it all, cause I know it'll end in flames." " That's why it does." " I'm not committed enough?" " What do you think?" " Maybe, but..." "I can't do something I don't want to." "The first five months, maybe, but at a certain point..." "No, as far as I'm concerned, love's the biggest ego trip there is." "You're on your own even then." " Get real!" " No, it's true!" "The only time it's easy, when I feel comfortable and can be myself, is with you guys." "I have the feeling you'll accept me, whatever I do." " That counts!" " I hope it counts." "When Mylène and I broke up, you were there," "MYLÈNE, AGE 26 TRANSLATOR" "This jerk was hitting on me last night." "A total moron, half-drunk." "He invited me to go to Cuba." "What a dweeb!" "Jeez!" "I'd never go away with some stranger." "It's not always easy to find the right words." "C'mon, it's so easy to chat up a woman." "They're just asking for it, really." "True, there are do's and don'ts." "Men should realize that inside every woman is a Mona Lisa." "Meaning?" "Mona Lisa is always being told she's a masterpiece." "That's the secret of her smile." "Yeah, but the Mona Lisa was Italian." "Québec girls aren't like that." "It's as if talking to a woman you don't know isn't PC." "Really, you seem annoyed." "Here it's like the only way to approach a woman is by chance." "Come off it." "That guy who's going to Cuba... if you met him there because he tripped on your chair, he'd have had a chance." "But that's the ideal situation." "Exactly, you wait for the ideal situation, when it's safe, where the guy's more casual." "It's like the situation makes all the difference." "Chance is a question of destiny." "That's what women like." "Just tell me you understand the principle." " Who cares?" " It's not the 50 cents in my pocket." "I don't want the 50 cents to land in their pocket!" "Don't you get it?" "If you go to the Indian's, I'm leaving." "It's me or him!" "You want to go to your station?" "You insist on going there?" "Go ahead!" "Go ahead, encourage them!" "It's 20 minutes longer." "We'd be in Montréal by now." "Maybe Mr Bargain-Hunter forgot, we've an appointment at three." "Fuck you, I'm not going." "What?" "I'm not going." "Okay, this is your last..." "My hearts not in it." "I tried, but it's useless." " You're not pulling this today!" " Montréal's ugly." "I don't like the people." "No one makes eye contact." "I hate Montréal." "It's suffocating." "There's too many bridges." "I don't know anyone." "Why leave Québec City?" "I don't need new challenges like you." "I like my job." "You're not pulling this now!" "Today of all days!" "I'm not interested in becoming a CEO," "I just want to try something new." "If we don't like it, in a year we'll move back." "A year won't kill you, shit!" "You didn't make me organize the entire move to change your mind now, no way!" "You've been moping around for three months, fuck!" "You're like some stupid teenager, always in a sulk." "I won't have any friends!" "You'll make some, dufus!" "You can even go out and play with them after supper." "What are you scared of?" "You won't come back." "Don't you realize that your goddamn promotion is tearing us apart?" "Didn't you say Montréal would be a change?" "That it would be good for us?" "Yes, but it's like you're just too pumped about it." "It's obvious you'll love Montréal." "Québec's over." "What do you want?" "I have a new job!" "Do you think you build a relationship overnight?" "I truly wonder if you're able to grasp the importance of finding a partner for life." "Fuck you!" "Fuck you!" "What?" "What are you up to?" "Julie, quit fooling around!" "Stop, what if it works?" "You know where I'll be." "If you don't come, you don't come." "I've had it!" "Who's the guy?" "You don't even know him!" "C'mon, guys!" "In exactly seven hours, we'll be sprawled in the sand at Cayo Largo, a piña colada in hand." " Piña colada." " Piña!" "Fuck!" " What's wrong?" "More like seven and a half hours for me, fuck," "I forgot my bathing suit!" " Unbelievable!" " Screw you!" "I bet you packed eight times so you didn't forget anything." "We're going south." "A bathing suit and beach towel, they top the list." "Fuck, my towel!" "The thick one, I can see it on the counter." "It must've been a late night, Rob!" "Mr Nightlife will look so cute in his briefs." "You guys are such twats." "What is it?" "Look in the back, I packed us a little treat." "The rest of a sugar pie Mylène brought." "You had dinner together too?" "Yeah, she dropped by on the way home." " Did she just show up?" " No." "I called the night before to invite her." "I didn't think there was enough for us three, but she said we could share." "Great, the pie looks delicious." " JP?" " No thanks." " Rob?" " You bet." "ROB, AGE 28 POST OFFICE EMPLOYEE" "It's fucking tasty!" "Sure, none for you?" " I'm sure." " Don't know what you're missing." "It's fabulous." "Mylène will make a terrific wife." "Tell me about it!" "I don't like pie crust." "Feelin' better now?" "Sure ain't easy, huh?" "It's none of my beeswax, but I think you need a change of outlook." "Comes a point a guy has to ask the real questions." "You know it, and so does Julie." "But like most people, you figure, overtime, for now, probably, normally, finally, bla bla bla..." "Today it came to a head." "What do you want?" "I want you to be happy, kid." "Been there myself, I just want to help." "Life is shorter than a rat's ass, believe me." "No time to be unhappy." "Julie, if I were you..." "I'd forget her, find another." "Being unhitched has its advantages." "The world's at your feet, total freedom..." "That little receptionist at the store... no way you'd kick her out of bed, with her pert 19-year-old ass, in those leather pants..." "Hell, those leather pants!" "Don't look at me like that!" "You know which pants I mean." "Anyway, do what you want." "It always ends the same way." "Like they say..." "Woman is of oakum, man is of flame," "Never forget that, kid." "Farewell." "Yoo-hoo!" "You all right?" "I got hurt, right?" "I don't know, you passed out by the road, so something's wrong." "What time is it?" "It's one." "How far is Montréal?" "Two hours if you do 100, but I drive a bit faster." "Could I get a ride?" "You can drop me off by the bridge." "No problem, but... your can goes in the trunk, and I warn you, I'm stopping for ice cream." "Do you realize..." "What?" "Forget it." "What?" "Do you realize you're a dangerous woman?" "What do you mean?" "I bet lots of men fall in love with you." "Those who don't manage to charm you must suffer a lot." "I think." "Well, maybe, but... if a guy thinks he'll sleep with me just because I'm nice to him... that's his problem." " No?" " Yeah." "But still, there are signs..." "Things you say that you know will be interpreted..." "This will seem pretentious, but..." "It's because many men find me attractive." "As a result, they interpret anything I do as a sign." "Yeah, but... isn't it also a question of your attitude?" "No." "Not really, no." "There'd be no problem if I was ugly." "Still, knowing the effect you have," "I mean, there are things... you shouldn't do or say, right?" "Go on." "I'm curious where this is leading," "I should wear a veil?" "What are you telling me?" "I should brush off guys who don't turn me on at the start?" "No, not brush off." "That I shouldn't go out with a guy if I know I won't sleep with him?" "I didn't say that." "Not wear tight sweaters cause you can see my tits?" "And that bothers men." "That's not my problem!" "Say a guy takes you to a chic restaurant, he drops..." "I don't know, 150 bucks..." "Aren't you leading him on if you're not interested?" "No." "If the guy wants to spend a pleasant evening with a pretty, intelligent woman, and enjoy a stimulating conversation, he gets his money's worth." "But if he's out to get laid, he's better investing his $150 in an escort." "So you admit you might know what he wants, but choose not to burst his bubble by leaving things a bit murky..." "You admit that." "I may not always be crystal clear." "Are you always clear?" "Seduction is a game." "If that guy with 150 bucks says nothing and we go out for dinner, probably nothing will happen." "But it's also possible... we'll hit it off and I'll want to sleep with him." "Oh yeah?" "Even if I wasn't interested at first." "That's the game." "You might win, you might lose, but at least you're never bored." "ALAIN COSSETTE, AGE 26 VIDEO GAME DESIGNER" "You can turn on the music." "What's your goddamn game?" "Take it easy, shit." "He's right outside." "No way I can keep this up for a week." "Why not?" "You've kept it up for three months." "I can't, I have to tell him." "You're such a twit." "You won't ruin a trip I scrimped six months for." "So back off, o sensitive one." "You don't get it, do you?" "I love her, don't you see?" "It's you who doesn't see." "I don't care if you love Mylène." "It's even amusing in a way." "But shut up about what happened with us." "It was different for me." "Mention how her eyes lit up and I'll deck you!" "Still it happened." "Fuck, it was a threesome." "Fucking bastards!" "Eighty-seven cents a litre!" "Can you believe it?" "Mylène's a pro, I told you." "You saw her outside the house." "Besides, a girl who has a threesome with her ex's two best friends..." "Has no choice but to be a pro, does she?" "So keep quiet and Jeff'll never know." "I can't live a lie all my life." "It's not lying, you just don't do it." "You just don't." "You're too chicken is all." "What are you, blind?" "You can see Jeff still loves her." "That's not what he said six months ago." "Quit playing dumb." "He was down on her because he was so hurt." "Don't pretend you don't see that." "Well I love her too." "And I don't see why Jeff's love counts more than mine." "It's him she's sleeping with, not you." "Until it's over between them, you stay out of it, okay?" "You can love Mylène, but you've no right to stuff Jeff's mind with images he doesn't want to see." "Someone will tell him some day." "Shouldn't we be the ones?" "Christ, you're a dork." "I should've goddamn asked someone else when Mylène said she was up for a threesome." "I love her." "No way I'm going to sit still and wait till it's over between them to make a move." "I don't know what to say." "You're pitiful." "I love Mylène!" "It wasn't about love." "We had sex, period." "Not all girls just want to be patted on the head..." "I've had it with your fucking bullshit." "Shut up, here he comes." "I'm telling him." "JP, AGE 26 WAITER" "Oakum..." "Oakum..." "Doesn't ring a bell." "Funny, cause I had a client named Hakim." "A Turk." "But..." "Oakum?" "Sure it exists?" "No, but I think I've heard it before." "It sounds like a word, no?" "I don't know." "An oakum, of oakum, a couple of oakums..." " You from Québec City?" " Yeah." "And you?" "Yeah, but I have a place in Montréal too." "That's lucky, because..." "Do you prefer Montréal or Québec City?" "Quiet, not a peep." "There's a mike here." " Michel Gauvin, Mike Gauvin." " Where are you?" "Hey, my man Pelletier!" "Where are you?" "I'll head out in five." "All right!" "We'll meet on Crescent and have dinner, ok?" "What about the strip club?" "We'll go later." "Demers's stripper isn't there yet." "He insists we see her." " What stripper?" " He didn't say?" "He scored a stripper?" "Know who was there?" "The bastard scored a stripper?" "With whom?" " Two Habs players." " The Habs?" "Our parties are getting interesting." "Fuck, I don't believe you." "Who?" " Ask him." " No, come on, tell me." "You can't!" "Know how much a phone system like this costs?" "Two, three hundred?" "Two thousand eight." "And it never works." "The handset's bust." "I look like a crackpot, talking to myself." "Keep still." "Michel Gauvin, Mike Gauvin." "Hi." "When'd you get my message?" "Just now." "I was up north with some friends." "Right, you're a nature freak." "I tried snowboarding on sand." "I kept falling." "My back aches." "I see, and that's why you phoned me." "Exactly." "I could use a good massage." "I'm sure it can be arranged." "Just a sec, I have another call." "Michel Gauvin, Mike Gauvin." "Mike!" "I love when you speak English." "Christ, Johanne, cut it out!" "Mr. Mike Gauvin." "What is it?" "Pick up the phone." "It's broken." "What is it?" "Do you have the baby seat?" "Christ, yes!" "Look, it doesn't matter." "Take my Canadian Tire card and buy another." "What about the kid?" "I don't know, he can sit beside you." "What do you think a baby seat's for?" "It's dangerous for him there." "I guess we'll have to put him up for adoption." "It's not funny." "Is your mom home?" "I don't know, Johanne." "Look, I'm on another line right now." "Call my mom." "If she can, she'll baby-sit." "Okay, will do." " You still there?" " Yes." "All right!" "Look, I'm on the road right now." "I'll give you a ring after the hockey game." "Maybe we can do something for your back." " And our dinner?" " That's difficult," "I'm having dinner with a client." "What time's the game?" "I work tomorrow." "It'll be over by midnight." "Hold on, I have another call." "Michel Gauvin, Mike Gauvin." " Mr. Mike Gauvin." " What, Johanne?" "Where's your card?" "The top left drawer in my desk." " Still there?" " Midnight's a bit late." "I don't know, eleven then." "Is that better?" " You leave...?" " Tomorrow." "Call me at ten." " Okay, perfect." " Okay." "Bye." "Okay." "Bye." "I never thought she'd phone." "Hold on, I have to call." "Lacasse  Dompierre." "Attorney Benoît, please." "Thanks, please hold the line." "Attorney Benoît." "Yes, Ms Benoît, please." "May I say who's speaking?" "Attorney Gauvin." "Thank you, sir." "I'll put you through." "So Johanne, she's your wife?" "Yeah." "You're married?" "Sure." "Hi." " Hi, how are you?" " Good, you?" "You'll kill me, something's come up." "What now?" "I'll be stuck at my client's office all evening." "What about tomorrow?" "I can't tomorrow night." "And tomorrow morning?" "Morning?" "When do you leave?" "Darn, I have another call." "I'll be right back." "Michel Gauvin, Mike Gauvin." "Demers doesn't answer." "Tell me which Habs players." "Haven't you left yet?" "I'll tell you later, I'm on a call." "Why do you always do this?" " You there, counsellor?" " Yes." "All right." "What were we saying?" "When do I leave?" "Tomorrow afternoon." "I'm not wild about mornings." "I already have a lunch." " Morning's the only time I can." " What time?" "I don't know, let's say... seven." "We can go for breakfast." "Seven?" "Seven's awfully early." "Go where at seven?" "Your place?" "For breakfast?" "It's a manner of speaking." "Okay, be there at seven." "Fuck, my life is ridiculous." "No, on the contrary, it's a rush!" "Whatever." "Don't be late or cancel at the last minute;" "I'll have gotten up, and I won't be happy." "Hold still, I have another call." "Don't bother, see you tomorrow." "She's mad." "Michel Gauvin, Mike Gauvin." "Brisebois and Dykhius!" "What a pain!" "We're not going to wait for you." "Why haven't you left?" "Am I right?" "What does oakum mean?" "Oakum?" "Isn't he that Turkish client?" "Not Hakim, oakum." "Oakum?" "What's an oakum?" "Tell me and I'll name the players." "Oakum?" "[Katherine's voice]:" "It's so easy to chat up a woman." "Really... they're just asking for it." "Seduction is a game." "It's a game." "Shit!" "My allergies are acting up." "[Computer voice]:" "Catch me." "What a loser." "I mean, cleaning your ass with a Q-tip!" "How do I know if it's dangerous?" "What was he worried about?" "That he'd leave a deposit of foam or cotton?" "I've no idea." "Why did he ask you?" "The power of a white lab coat." "People worship the ground you walk on." "But you're not a pharmacist yet." "I still have the coat." "The power is in the suit." "I told the schmuck, You should ask a doctor." "It's not my department."" "A Q-tip!" "You really have to want to have a clean ass." "Looks like we lost somebody." "Have you ever slept with two girls?" "You know that if I had, you'd know." "Is that your biggest fantasy?" "I'd have to say that... the size of my fantasies... is a function of the number of girls involved." "You wouldn't feel bad sleeping with 14 girls?" "Why would I feel bad?" "I don't know, I'd feel lonely, the only one with a willy." "It depends." "If they're lesbians, I could understand." "But if the girls are hetero, and getting it on just that one time," "I'd have no problem, let me tell you!" "There could be 228, bring'em on!" "Seriously?" "Absolutely!" "I'd feel like the cherry on the sundae!" "Two hundred and twenty-eight..." "I couldn't do it." "Would you be game for two guys and a girl?" "Man, we'd give her the ride of her life!" "Too bad I never met a girl that dirty." "Oh no?" "Never." "What about with your own girlfriend?" "You're not asleep?" "No, good thing, too." "I'd have missed a great discussion." "My girl and another guy?" " No." " Why not?" "I don't want to see her sucking another guy." "You're no idiot..." "You know that when you split up, she must've done it." "Probably, but not in my face." "Wouldn't it excite you to watch?" "You mean with Mylène?" "For instance." "Not one bit." "Why not?" "Well, because she's my girlfriend." "Yeah, but..." "you're not together anymore." "Not now, but..." "Can I ask you something?" "Miss being single?" "Surprised at my phone calls?" "How can I put it?" "My wife..." "I love my wife, I adore her." "My wife..." "She satisfies my emotional needs, do you see?" "She's beautiful, fun, generous..." "She's the best mother I know." "With the others, it's different." "No, the other women are... fills a need that my wife can't." "Understand?" "If she finds out?" "You have to manage it wisely." "And if my wife finds out, well..." "She'll dump me, no question." "It won't kill me." "Divorce holds no surprises." "Half my cash, half my kid, I know what to expect." "This may sound strange, but... people often divorce over nothing." "If I divorce, it'll be worth it." "I know the risks I run." "You know, it's harder to cheat than to stay faithful." "You constantly have to invent things, and not just anything!" "Realistic stuff" "No, it's hard work." "The hockey game tonight's made up?" "It's for real." "You bet!" "But I don't bring a date, just in case." "See, I'm trying to reach this girl I know's going to be in Montréal." "That's why my schedule's a mess." "God, she's drop-dead gorgeous." "The tops!" "If I manage to hook up with her, bingo, I cancel the rest." "But that means more inventing..." "And not just inventing something for my wife, but for the entire floor beneath her." "I once dated two girls at the same time." "Oh yeah?" "Well, I'd sort of taken a break from one of them." "So maybe it wasn't really cheating exactly, but still..." "I also had to, you know... work hard." "[Cellular phone ringing]" " We going?" " Quick, get in." "Michel Gauvin, Mike Gauvin." " You've got a big mouth." " Calm down, Demers." "You tell Pelletier about the Habs players?" " Course not." " So why'd he ask me?" "I told him about it, but not the names." "Oh, great." "He's got an even bigger trap than you." "Relax, I didn't say any names." "Why are you grilling me?" "Hold on a sec." "If you're hungry, we can stop." "I'm fine, thanks." "So, I'm grilling you?" "What did I just hear?" " What?" " Who was that?" " Did you pick up a girl?" " Yeah." "Can she hear now?" "No, my phone works." " So you can talk?" " Sort of." "Where are you?" "I'm almost there, but I have to make a detour, drop off a friend." "After that, I don't know." " I'll come join you." " You don't know?" "Aren't you going to screw her?" "Maybe not now, but it's in the works." "How's she look?" " She a brunette?" " No." "A blonde?" "You got it." "Over or under 30?" "About two dozen." "Two dozen?" "Okay, I dig, 24." "Bravo, Einstein!" "She have a nice ass?" "I'm not in a position to say." "Big boobs?" "Eyeballing it, yeah, but I'll have to check." "You dog, you scooped a 24-year-old chick!" " What's her name?" " Hey, look..." "Right, how can I put the question?" "Hold on." "Julie, what street's your new place on?" "Julie!" "[Julie]:" "Rigaud Boulevard." "I'll be off." "Thanks for your time." ""I'll be off?" You sure talk weird when a girl's next to you." "Did you tell her about the strippers?" "You idiot!" "Fine, see you later." "Right." "God, he has a big mouth." "Gauvin, not Michel Gauvin by chance?" "That's right." "Why, do you know him?" "Probably not." "My sister dated a Michel Gauvin, a real louse." "It's definitely not him." "I swear, he's the worst of us all, a real louse." "What's wrong?" "I'll get out here." "Why?" "I changed my mind, I'm going back." " So close?" " I know, I changed my mind." "And your girl?" "Don't worry, I'll be fine." "See you." "[Cellular phone ringing]" "Michel Gauvin, Mike Gauvin." "Loose jute fibres obtained by unravelling rope." "What?" "That's what oakum means." "So there." "Now it's your turn." "Who are the goddamn players?" "Want some gum?" "Is there any left?" "No thanks." "Did you see the flowers?" "Yeah, I..." "Pretty, huh?" "Yeah, they are." "I bought them for you." "Thank you." "Tonight... how about having dinner?" "In a $150 restaurant?" "How about it?" "Would you like to?" "Okay." "There's a little Japanese place I know." "We could go there and then we could..." "I don't know, go for a drink, dance the salsa." "You can salsa?" "I won a lesson at the office Christmas party." "They raffled two, Gisèle won the other." "She was your partner?" "The receptionist?" "Let's just say, it motivated me to learn fast." "I can imagine." "It's not that I don't want to go dancing with you... but I'm not sure about tonight." "I'm kind of beat." "As you know, I had a rough night yesterday." "I think I'll hit the sack early." "Okay." "We can go another time." "That's okay." "[Cellular phone ringing]" "Hello?" "Hello?" "My network drops out between Québec and Montréal." "Tonight I have a dinner date." "But it won't end late." "Let's say, ten." "Bye." "Yes!" "Mikie Gauvy." "That's my name!" "MIKE GAUVIN, AGE 36 LAWYER" "A friend I haven't seen in ages." "I couldn't say no." "But you could to me." "Are you mad?" "Don't talk to me like I'm a little boy." "Rob and I, we had... a big discussion about three-way sex the other day." "That's right, a really deep discussion." "Rob claims that threesomes are just about sex." "There's no sentiment involved." "Rob hasn't had a girlfriend in eight years." "Exactly, he ignores his feelings." "I'm a lot more connected with reality than you." "This clown thinks a threesome can involve real love." "C'mon!" " Of course it can." " Whatever!" "Forget it, you fucking clown!" "A girl..." "A girl who accepts to participate in a threesome, she wants to be reamed, to be surrounded by cocks, she wants the room to reek of sex." "She's not after a scalp massage." "What is this?" "I guess I'm with Rob." " I mean..." " Cocks and..." " You are?" " Yeah." "Okay, but will you let me convince you?" "I don't know if it's a good idea." "How do you know?" "Let's say some guy... choose a name." "Jean-Marc." "Say Jean-Marc gets a call from a good friend, inviting him to participate in a trio." "No, wait, not Jean-Marc..." "Tino!" "What a loser!" "Tino gets a call from a friend inviting him to have a threesome." "Tino's crazy about the girl." "In the threesome?" "So they all go for it, and while they're at it, something's happening between Tino and the girl." "It's real subtle, it's all in the gaze." "Shut up." "It's true, it is in the gaze, but that's not all." "Afterwards, Tino stays with the girl." "Tino stays with the girl all night?" "No." "Just an hour or two." "His pager rings and he has to leave." "So just long enough to feel like a used rubber." "Lemme finish, will you?" "Go ahead." "So that's it." "He stays with the girl after." "The two talk for a while." "About what happened?" "About everything, they have a talk." "It's clear they've gone past just a simple sexual thing, them two, I mean." "You follow?" "But the other participant in this great adventure..." "How can I describe it?" "He's an animal, not conscious enough to realize that, at a certain point, he's in the way, the two others are connecting so intensely." "Now the guy who's experiencing that," "Tino, he may not be dreaming it up." "It's possible that something's happened, no?" "Yeah, I guess it's possible." "Fine." "But Rob here says the guy who's in love is dreaming." "In Rob's view it's not possible, love and a threesome don't mix." "Yeah, I guess it's possible." "Maybe it's possible it happens." "Well, finally." "Christ!" "But you have to be in a position to read the signs being exchanged, and not go crazy cause of something you've imagined." "What do you mean?" "I don't know, in the heat of the moment, you can get carried away, especially a guy like you." " You in a trio, that'd be scary." " Why?" "Well, to begin with... cause you're very sensitive." "Cut it out, can't we have a serious discussion?" "Shut up, I know, okay?" "It's true you're sensitive." "And in something as intense as a trio," "I'd be scared you might... withdraw into your hypersensitivity." "It might skew your perception a little, understand?" "No, I'm not sure." "Fantasies are great, they're fun, they're wonderful and everything, but I guess I'd worry you might see sparks where there are none." "Guys, how do you picture Tino?" "THE BREAK-UP" "This probably isn't the right time, but I don't think it ever will be, so..." "I love you, Katherine." "It's not that I want to or hope for it, it's stronger than me." "I swear, if there were a way I could stop loving you, I would." "But there isn't." "I think about you constantly." "I see you everywhere, I imagine us together." "I've stopped living; instead I dream about living with you." "It's got so I talk to myself." "I hear you answer with a lilt in your voice that hints you could be happy with me." "I can't resign myself, can't accept that it's impossible." "It's like..." "I know I'm dreaming, but I can't wake myself up." "I can't force myself to give you up, because with you," "I feel I'm living something great." "I feel more alive, able to break out of my rut." "Life is more intense with you." "But it's like I don't deserve it." "It's like it's too much happiness for me." "So I wait and tell myself, maybe today things'll change." "Maybe today you'll lean over towards me and kiss me, and change my life." "Alain..." "Don't wait for that moment." "Not right away." "Kiss me, Katherine." "We can be happy." "No, stop." "Stop." "We should get a move on." "I feel uncomfortable." "You feel uncomfortable." "We'll go, if you feel uncomfortable." "I've been flayed, but if you're uncomfortable, we'll go." "You're lucky." "I'd like to feel just uncomfortable too." "I think I'd feel a lot better, it would be a relief." "This is supposed to be fun, this great game." "Well if I'm having fun, I sure can't tell." "What do you mean?" "The game, the fucking game you and everybody play." "The game of screwing and flirting." "I don't know how to play, I don't want to." "Finding love's not about making a kill." "You're worth more." "Take it easy, calm down." "I have to calm down, be nice, not ask for more, control myself." "What about my desires and urges?" "It's not easy to pretend I'm just a friend." "Have you seen how you behave?" "Why are you all over me?" " Don't explode." " I'm not exploding." "It's my bubble, that huge bubble you've seen me blow up for three months." "Wow, nice bubble." "Go on, blow." "Blow some more." "What a jerk!" "I'm sorry, Katherine." "This isn't how I pictured it would be." "Fuck!" " Everything okay, sir?" " Yeah." "Having car trouble?" "No, we're just about to leave." "You're driving?" "I'll have to ask you to get out, sir." " Awhile ago." " When?" "Three months ago." "Get out." "Please, guys." "I know you're mad at me." "But I seriously think we had to." "You really don't get it, huh?" "I love Mylène." "She doesn't love you." "Before, in the car... were you pretending, or didn't you get it?" "What?" "You're right, you know." "It's possible two people really connect in a sex trip." "I've started seeing Mylène." "It's going well."