"Did you see Portier?" "He's here." "So is Dumez." "Head of the Lille Orchestra." "He'd have liked that." "Where's Milla?" "She's coming." "She had a meeting." "You'll catch cold." "What about Christmas Eve?" "It's Janine." "She doesn't know?" "She will once the battery runs out." "You didn't tell her?" "That's awful!" "They were married 10 years!" "I didn't tell her." "Take Marie home." "Go kiss Grandmother." "Did you order the key chains?" "Horseshoes or clovers?" "Four-leaf clovers." "Is Sylvie coming on the 24th?" "They both are." "The pilot, too?" "What if there are 13 of us?" "What do we do then?" "Have a buffet or kill someone?" "Not a buffet!" "German if possible, but definitely English and French." "Some understanding of modern art." "The woman's a curator in Dusseldorf." "And don't send me a giant this time." "The last guy towered over the Japanese." "It was embarrassing." "Otherwise, he was fine..." "Milla!" " Is it over?" " Not yet." "That way..." "Tell him 8 o'clock at the bar." "I'll brief him." "I'll be paying, so I'll slip him a blank check." "We've lost a true musician." "You're here!" "He'd have liked that." "I came for you, Mom." "My condolences..." "Thank you for coming." "Pierre and I make 2." "Plus the kids: 4." "Sylvie, Matthieu, and their kids make 8." "Pierre's parents: 10." "Louba, 11." "Dad, 12." "Are you coming?" "Not really." ""Not really"?" "Yes or no?" "No, then." "You're always welcome." "Bring whoever you want." "Thanks." "If Mom comes and you don't, that makes 13." "14, if you both come." "I have to leave at 11:00." "I'm singing on the 24th." "More than 14 means two tables." "Or else a buffet." "But they're not in the Christmas spirit." "Pierre hates them." "Dad eating in his corner..." "My husband just died." "I can do without that schmuck." "We can't leave Dad alone for Christmas... because Jean-Louis died." "Dropping dead on December 20th is lousy timing." "Spare me, Sonia." "The world sucks enough without Christmas." "Whose house?" "Who with?" "What for?" "For the kids." "Yours outgrew Santa ages ago." "How old is Arthur?" "That's irrelevant." "Christmas is symbolic." "A time of joy for the whole family..." "Shit, my Russian student!" "I forgot to cancel..." "For once I won't spend Christmas with Janine." "You spent Christmas with her?" "Of course." "Since when?" "Since always." "Not when I was a kid." "No, afterwards." "After her second husband died." "She had no family, no kids, no one." "Jean-Louis couldn't abandon her." "Did you know that?" "Of course." "You love me, don't you?" "Sure I do, Mom." "If we have chestnut stuffing, I can't do a chestnut cake." "Or maybe truffles." "Pierre hates Grand Marnier in his cake." "His sister hates vanilla." "Last year was coffee, remember?" "I want this year's to be stylish." "To match the decor." "All gold and white." "I'm sick of red and green." "Why not an oyster-and-pistachio cake?" "Something really... stylish?" "Stop it." "Let her." "It's called "hostile depression"." "Some bread." "I swallowed a bone." "Are you okay?" "Don't cry, Mom." "We're here..." "Come stay at my place." "Want a hankie?" "You love me, don't you?" "You know what I'd like?" "More than anything else?" "To spend Christmas with my 3 daughters." ""Bring whoever you want!"" "You know what she meant?" ""You think I'm a bourgeois bitch, but I'm tolerant!"" "She meant: "I can make an effort for Christmas." ""For tradition!"" "For who?" ""The whole family!"" ""Whereas all you can do is insult my brother-in-law. "" "You know, that fascist pilot pig." "Damn right I'd insult him!" "How do you do it?" "How can you stand her?" "Come on..." "Without her, we'd never get together." "There are always funerals." "Does she still buy her groceries wholesale?" "Can you imagine?" "You need a special pass!" "As if saving 300 francs matters to her and that ass, Pierre." "And the cake!" "She bored us stiff with her cake!" "And the decorations!" "You know, she saves everything." "She recycles ribbon from year to year." "When wrapping paper isn't torn, she folds it and reuses it." "Totally sick!" "Same for the menus." "Not to mention the tinsel!" "It's from before Mom and Dad's divorce." "Does she still help with Dad?" "Of course." "By the way, we could use..." "I know." "Sorry, I forgot the check." "Tomorrow for sure." "I'll get Dad to come." "I can stay home with him." "Then Mom can go to Sonia's." "Never a present." "Not even for the kids." ""How old is Arthur?" And so stingy!" "She hates Christmas because she hates spending!" "Remember two years ago?" "A pebble for Marie!" "Can you imagine?" "Painting a clown on a pebble she found!" "It was pretty." "Horrid!" "A tightwad with tacky taste!" "Wearing a miniskirt to a funeral..." "She should learn to smile." "She's brilliant." "There's more to life than computers." "What does she do with her money?" "Works nonstop, lives in a dump." " No guy, no kids." " Not her fault." "She gives nothing and asks nothing." "Not even how you're doing." "I have to stop." "They may have gold trimming." "You don't mind?" "We'll spend all day together." "Don't cry." "Keep the shawl." "It's for you." "It looks nice on you." "For once, we opened the presents before dinner." "It was such an issue every year." "True, we were tired after dinner." "But the kids loved waiting..." "Anyway, Stanislas gave me a ring." "Perfect before a divorce!" "Stupid ass!" "He carried on as usual, overdoing it, on purpose." ""We'll spend next Christmas in the sun!" ""And next summer..." ""somewhere else!" ""Won't we, Yvette?"" "As if the girls hadn't caught on..." "I was watching the phone." "Nothing mattered besides him calling." "Jean-Louis was off with the orchestra." "We had a code." "Two rings, then he hung up." "He was back." "I could call him." "When I managed to slip away." "The girls opened their presents." "I went to the bedroom." "We had one phone, with a long cord." "I said: "I love you to death!" ""Never another Christmas apart!"" "I hung up." "I was crying my eyes out." "I turned around." "Milla was there, so small... cradling her new doll in her arms." "She stared at me wide-eyed, not a tear." "It was horrific." "Thank you." "Give me the check." "I can write it off." "How was I?" "I'm not great at English." "You were fine." "Perfect English." "No problem." "What are you doing Christmas Eve?" "I'll be with my mother." "So long..." "You're not asleep?" "I brought you some blintzes." "It's boiling in here..." "What's wrong?" "You're not walking today?" "So?" "How was it?" "Yehudi Menuhin's funeral..." "You'd have loved it." "You turned the heat up again." "It's unbearable..." "Was the service jam-packed?" "Your mother must have seen to it." "Still, not a word in the papers." "Third violin at Radio France!" "You drop dead at your own expense." "The Arts Section won't send the obituary squad." "Your mom better cough up for Mr. Big." "Stop it, Dad." "Get up." "I hate that thing." "My legs hurt." "Was Maurin there?" "What do you care?" "Who's Maurin?" "We studied music together." "He introduced me to your mom." "Our famous first date." "I came with another girl." "I never told you?" "Yes, you did." "We have a problem for Christmas Eve." "No problem!" "Count me out." "If your mother's coming, I'm not." "Can't you call her "Yvette"?" " It's her or me." " What a pain." "It's been 25 years!" "It's no big deal." "I can stay home alone." "My neighbor will be alone, too." "I'll ask him over." "What neighbor?" "That young tenant of yours?" "He's not that young." "Every year Sonia kills herself for Christmas." "The only time I see her." "She organizes everything!" "Without her, we'd never make ends meet." "Pierre's too hip for me." "I loathe people anchored in the present." "His parents are anti-Semites." "What?" "Why do you say that?" "His father is." "He has an anti-Semitic nose, trust me." "For the past 15 years..." "I've kept my mouth shut." "Let your mother have her goy Christmas." "What's got into you?" "You're not religious." "What's with you?" "I'm old." "I'll tell Sonia." "That they hate Jews?" "She knows." "She forgets I'm Jewish." "After all, Christmas is just the birthday of a..." "A social-climbing Jew..." "Please, Dad." "Your kids and grandkids will be there." "They're her kids and grandkids, too." "Did you ask her?" "Did you ask "Yvette"?" "Did you ask if she wanted me to come?" "Did you?" "Pain in the ass!" "I knew it." "It's me." "Your neighbor." "You want some nice, warm blintzes?" "With taramosalata." "Is it spread on the blintzes?" "I don't like taramosalata." "Is that vodka?" "Can I have some?" "It's coming along!" "She'll be so happy..." "How old is she?" "Five." "You have her on the weekends?" "News spreads fast." "What news?" "That you're a handy-man." "The more things are worn out and smashed up, the better." "Thanks for helping my dad." "Tough, finding a midnight plumber." "When I was a kid, he practiced violin here." "Did he tell you?" "We called it the annex here." "Can I ask you something?" "Would you mind..." "I'd like you to have a set of keys." "I work nights, and there's no more caretaker." "He's not in great shape." "He's been depressed since he retired." "It would help if someone..." "I have the keys." "To our place?" "He gave them to me when I repaired the leak." "He gave you the keys?" "He's so wary..." "We both had the same idea." "Want some?" "No, thanks." "I'm pregnant." "I can't tell my sisters, my father, or my boyfriend." "As for my mother..." "So you lucked out." "I don't know what to do." "Amniocentesis." "What?" "At your age." "It's true." "I'm 42." "You live with your dad?" "It's been 4 years." "I lost my apartment." "I came for a few days and..." "Great!" "I'm old." "I may have a Mongolian." "I live off my dad." "Not bad." "I was feeling down." "Good thing I stopped by!" "I'm feeling down, too." "It's the time of year." "It's the pits." "It's called "hostile depression"." "Some people react that way." "I'm the opposite." "The worse I feel, the more I need love." "The lower I am, the nicer I act." "Spending Christmas alone?" "No." "Why?" "Nothing." "A little, yeah." "I'm showing a place." "No more goose?" "Come on, Franoise, try another butcher!" "I love cakes with meringue!" "It's my mother who hates meringue." "Just make two Christmas cakes." "Did you find the lamp?" "A lamp with a leopard-skin shade." "Don't ask me." "She wants one for her room." "They have to exist." "Did you reserve seats for midnight mass?" "I'll call you later." "Your mother's coming?" "Fight's over?" "They made up." "And your daughters?" "They go skiing on the 26th." "You never told me they made up." "It's not really..." "What does it matter?" "You're right." "Louba... once the girls are grown up..." "I know." "Sheets, tea, cookies..." "I can't live without you." "Shit, those assholes are early!" "Goodbye, sir." "Bye, ma'am." "Gilbert Cellier, Perrin Real Estate." "Please come in." "You'll call?" "You bet." "The entrance again, with its two closets..." "Don't mind me." "The entrance, with its two closets..." "I forgot the soap and towels." "Down there is the kitchen..." "You're not at work?" "Screw them!" "Skip Sonia's shitty party if you want to." "Give them all hell." "Some foie gras, a vintage Sauterne... and we'll have a picnic." "Fuck them all." "Sure..." "Why not?" "It's boiling in here." "Were you at the funeral?" "You bet I was!" "It still hasn't made the papers." "Third violin at Radio France..." "What do you expect?" "You haven't even kissed me." "You're like this every Christmas." "Even as a kid." "Really?" "I don't know what gets into me." "I can't see you together." "Is the tea hot?" "Who?" "You and Mom." "You want some?" "Is someone here?" "My neighbor's repairing the leak again." "What neighbor?" "He's renting the annex until" "It's fixed." "Joseph, this is Milla." "The youngest." "You're friends?" "Yeah..." "So he's renting it until..." "Until he finds a job." "He's a gaffer- movies, concerts..." "It's not regular work." "You have no idea." "All your degrees!" "You always succeed." "Shit!" "I forgot my checkbook." "I promised Louba." "That's why I came." "I always imagined she'd be cheated on, never widowed." "Imagined?" "Thanks to you, she holds the world record." "Do you want to go?" "Not if she's there." "No way." "I'll be back." "You know, me..." "Christmas..." "We left Paris at dawn." "We got to the village at midnight." "I can remember the church bells." "Mass had just ended." "Not for years, not since Russia, had I seen so much snow." "I was wearing a fur coat." "My mother hadn't understood French kids dressed differently." "They teased me because of my accent." "I got beaten up because of that coat!" "That night, I was happy to have it." "We entered an old chalet." "Mattresses all over." "That's where we slept." "My parents, my uncle, my aunt, and I." "Then they came back from mass." "Their name was Baud." "Mr. Baud, his wife, his kids, and their cousins." "They gave us soup." "The best soup I've ever had." "Cheese and bread, too." "No one spoke much, except my aunt, who kept thanking them." "They woke us at dawn." "Toys in the chimney..." "Their kids were still asleep." "Mrs. Baud gave me a little red wooden horse." "She said: "Such a big boy!" ""You don't believe in Santa anymore. "" "We walked miles in the snow, then Mr. Baud bid us farewell." "Beyond the large pine tree... was the Swiss border." "What is this?" "I don't know." "What is it?" "I said I'd be away on the 23rd." "Visiting the new office..." "We need a whole night." "I'm working the 23rd!" "I just told Georgie!" "That's OK." "I'll pick you up after." "We'll make love all night long." " I have a surprise." " So do I." "Once the girls grow up, things will be different." "I love you." "I forgot my cell phone." "It's pretty late!" " You can't be trusted!" " It's vacation." "A promise is a promise." "They called about the TV." "They never got the check." "Not this month..." "Can you feel her?" "She's moving." " Christmas is sacred!" " So is my job!" "And your bank, your company gifts, your mistress!" "You're hysterical!" "A tarantula in red and green suits and hooker jewelry!" "Shove your key chains up your ass!" "Spend Christmas with your slut!" "I have to work!" "You're a sleazeball, Pierre!" "Why are you here?" "For Santa Claus." "He ate it all up last time." "It's too soon." "Two more nights to go." "What if he comes early?" " Are we going skiing?" " Of course." "Tell him." "You'll both go skiing with mommy..." "You promised." "I'll wait for you in Paris." " Why can't you come?" " I have to work." "A week isn't that long." "But you didn't do it." "You didn't, did you?" "Of course not!" "No regrets!" "A cheat, even a smart one, always falls into his own traps." "There are too many people involved." "But you didn't do it." "You didn't, did you?" "Of course not!" "He gave me an erector set." "It was in a restaurant, a brasserie near La Bastille." "Every time I pass by, it all comes back." "My mother kept saying, "You like it?" "Tell him so!"" "But I couldn't thank him." "For years, I never had to say thanks." "I had it easy." "I never saw the guy, except for that lunch ritual... and a few birthdays, always too late." "Then all of a sudden, I had to thank him." "Out of the blue." "Christmas after Christmas... all those presents I never asked for... no longer came from Santa, but from "your father"." ""Thank your father. " It slipped out." "She overdid the father thing." "I answered: "What do you mean by father?" "That you had sex once?"" "She slapped me." "My jaw still stings." "She apologized afterwards." "I never forgave her." "May I help you?" "Do you have any in white?" "In the back." "Are you coming?" "How's the tree?" "I shortened it." "Remember last year?" "I remember all right." "I'm cold." "I'd like to sell flowers." "Could I?" "You catch cold too easily." "You're right." "I sneeze when I open the fridge." "What's your place like?" "I'll never know." "I have to clean up first." "I'll fill it with buttercups." "Do you ever wonder whether I get meat delivered... to fuck the butcher, and fish to fuck the fishmonger?" "It's crossed my mind." "You're a real bitch." "I forgot." "Are you kidding?" "So what, Janine?" "It's better without the crowd." "There's no date of birth!" "He kept his age a secret." "I wrote a death notice." "Such a great musician!" " You put his age." " Of course." "Did he suffer?" "I came in with the tea." "I couldn't wake him up." "How many spaces are left?" "One." "Such a great musician..." "What a musician..." "I'm in Aix." "I'm on my way to Nimes to see three abbeys... and tomorrow I'll catch the train." "Christmas or no Christmas, I have to work!" "I have clients because it's Christmas!" "What?" "You didn't buy it?" "How do you expect me" "How do you expect me to find a leopard-skin lamp in Nimes?" "I'll see what I can do." "I'm here to pick up forty silver key chains... for my husband's company, Invest  Lemarchand." "Ma'am?" "You want a key chain?" "It's a gift!" "Key chains!" "Key chains, anyone?" "I know you want one, sir." "Key chains!" "Four-leaf clovers!" "Free of charge!" "Merry Christmas!" "Merry Christmas to all!" "I'll go change." "Don't, you're gorgeous." "33,000 a month plus electricity." "It came in this morning." "A Lebanese guy is interested." "Mangos." "Is that the Ritz?" "Shall we?" "It's beautiful!" "How stunning!" "It's heavenly..." " You went overboard." " You too, way overboard." "Merry Christmas, darling." "You're my life." "I want a baby." "Too bad." "Too late." "It's not too late!" "Over 40..." "I can do an- There are tests." "We can adopt, too." "Yeah!" "I'm kidding." "We can't adopt!" "Why not?" "Imagine at the orphanage, or wherever... when they study our file." "Marital status: single mother, father married to someone else." "Address: take your pick." "Louba, it's been 12 years." "You always said..." " Can you or can't you?" " Drop it." "Mayonnaise?" "No, aspic." "With your job, you can't afford to" "I said to drop it." "How will you explain the watch?" "Now that they've made up." "I'll tell my mother." "About me?" "You can't..." "You're right." "I won't." "I'll say a client bribed me to get an apartment." "That's better." "I'm here." "I'm here." "Don't worry." "You can go." "You've been so kind." "I'll be going soon." "I need a smoke." "They're doing an ultrasound." "It takes time." "I took the paramedic's name." "To thank him." "He saved his life." "So did you." "It sure isn't "ER" here." "No atmosphere." "Did you do your amniocentesis?" "Give me a break." "He'll never leave his wife!" "I can't have it on the sly." "A kid on the sly is still a kid." "A fossil for a mother." "Half a father, at most." "If I keep it, I can kiss him goodbye." "It's not part of the deal." "This is what he likes." "The bohemian!" "Tonight, I mentioned having a baby." "I just mentioned it." "For the first time in 12 years, he was like a dead fish." "I got the message." "If I were you..." "I'd keep the kid and dump the dad." "Are you Milla?" " I am." " He wants to see you." "Dr. Bazin." "Will they be operating?" "Will they let me out for Christmas?" "What do you care?" "You'll get out if you're better." "For once, all of us together for Christmas... it seems like a nice idea." "He's obsessed with Christmas now." "The neighbor left?" " Aren't you seeing Dad?" " I'll walk you out first." " I spoke to the doctor." " What did he say?" ""He might as well go home. " That scared me." " Who is he?" " Just an intern." "No, the gaffer..." "the plumber." "Can you believe he pays no rent?" "Really?" "You think he's gay?" " He has a daughter." " No, Dad!" "Is he turning gay?" "Dad?" "Get off it!" "He's always been into sex." "He gave Mom hell: all women." "What do you know?" "What nonsense!" "How do you feel?" "Like I've been run over." "Take care." "It's cold." "I'll give you a ride." "I live here." "What do we do?" "I can walk from here." "You like guys?" "Not because you didn't come up..." "I'm going through a hostile depression." "Really?" "You know Sonia?" " Do you like guys?" " Yes." "Yes and no..." "They're always so inconsequential." "I can't help scaring them." "I have some vodka." "How about it?" "In the annex." "Your dad practiced in here." "Not at night." "I'd steal the key." "I did it all in here." " Woodwork?" " For my daughter." "In Marseilles with her mother." "I'd forgotten." "There's one with even worse springs." " Were you married?" "5 years." "I lost my virginity on this couch." "Bad springs... but a nice memory?" "He fucked like a soccer player." "Straight for the goal and no hands." "Is your wife a nice memory?" "Sorry, it may not be over." "She's a royal pain." "I'm the depressive type." "We'd play out misery wars." "All couples need a victim and a torturer, or where's the fun?" "So you all grew up here?" "We'd snuggle up here when he practiced." "Sonia said he played badly." "It's not true." " Who's Sonia?" " My sister." "I know." "But who is she?" "She was always perfection itself." "She had it all." "Talented, too." "She could paint." "She could do everything." "When I see her, she's "Town and Country"... and I become an insect." "I sting, drive her crazy." "We don't get along." "Bullshit." "Victim, torturer... all a load of crap." "Just reassuring labels for selfish loners." "It's a game." "I got into torturing." "I won, too." "He killed himself." "It's awful." "I can't help talking about it." "Maybe it wasn't your fault." "It wasn't my fault at all." "May I?" "Want some?" "Good news, Mr. Roman!" "There's no need to operate." "Your heart just got a little fat." "We'll fix it with medication." "Diuretics, Digitaline, low-salt diet." "We'll take care of it." "No need to worry!" "You can go home for Christmas." "Can I borrow a coin?" "My daughter will pay you back." "Sure..." "I'm dying." "I want to see you." "What did the doctor say?" "He beat around the bush." "Like I was an ass." "Aren't you answering?" "Tell me." "What did he say?" "Don't worry." "Everything's fine." "Are you two in a fight?" " Lousy timing." " Why lousy?" "You could have brought nicer clothes." "Remember my checkbook?" "What's wrong with the coat?" "It's yours." "Why lousy timing?" "It's Christmas." "You can say that again!" "No money, no ideas for gifts." "Buy whatever you feel like." " I'll get off here." " Where?" "I have things to buy too." "You just left the hospital!" "This is your savings account!" "Bingo!" "You look just fine." " I won't drop dead here." " Calm down!" "Have a seat." "You're not in mourning?" "He hated black." "After a lifetime in a tuxedo..." "What made you call after 25 years?" "I was always scared he'd answer." "A whiskey, straight up." "A vodka." "I look lousy..." "I expected worse." "You got your face lifted!" "Yes." "A long time ago." "It looks good." "So what do you have?" "A cardiomio..." "My heart's too big." "I thought it was just an expression." "I knew..." "I didn't tell the girls." "I hoped an operation..." "I almost died last night." "So I figured..." "That he wouldn't answer the phone." "Let's not talk about him." "I saw "White Lies" again." "That drivel!" "It was on TV?" "You were wonderful." "Your career almost..." "I quit at 40." "I saw my career pass me by." "You lost your confidence." "You gave it all up for..." "Stop there." "You never met anyone?" "Old men are choosy turn-offs." "Do your lipstick thing." "It's not lipstick..." "They're chapped." "Did your life flash before your eyes?" "Mine doesn't flash." "It's fizzling out." "I have a tenant." "He called an ambulance." "Joseph." "You know, Nadine Perut's son." "Do you remember Nadine?" "The "Star of Moscow" cashier?" "She's not dead?" "A few years ago." "Her son's your tenant?" "He's out of work." "He has a daughter." "Isn't he Milla's age?" "More or less." "You think I'm a fool, Stanislas." "You always have!" "It's true!" "What are we here for?" "To keep on telling lies!" "You'll die." "Jean-Louis is dead." "Nadine Perut, too." "Every bimbo you humped... in every Russian cabaret must be at death's door." "Every day since he died, I want to kill myself." " It's only been two." " And we keep on lying." "Why did you want to see me?" "Is this your little Christmas carol?" "You wanted to check the damage?" "I'm old." "I'm ugly." "I'm a widow." "Happy now?" "No..." "Yes, widow, yes... but ugly, no." "You know what?" "Let's make the most of it." "Let's both spill the beans." "All of them." "How about it?" "I'll go first..." "Guess what." "I cheated on you, too." "And not just once." "What about the extra stuffing?" "Tin foil." "Cook separately." "I forgot the truffles!" "This is a disaster." "It's not Christmas without truffles." "Do we reopen it?" "It took me 20 minutes to sew up." "Bitch!" "I gave you all the ingredience." "Ingredients." "Do you teach Russian or French?" " Russian." " Open it yourself!" " What were you thinking?" " Something else!" "I can't leave." "I can't do that to my mom." ""The whole family, once a year!"" "She's been slaving away, as usual." "For a bunch of losers." "Just to make my dad happy." "He's dumping her anyway." "She must know." "He pretends he doesn't know she knows." "I keep out of it." "Christmas cease-fire for the kids." "Even my brother knows..." "I'm thinking of Dad." "He almost died last night." "Almost died?" "He didn't want to spoil your Christmas." "He had a pulmonary edema." "So your truffles are a trifle!" " How is he?" " I don't know." "They let him leave the hospital." " He won't be coming." " He is." "He wants to bring his neighbor." "He's scared to ask you." "Who's his neighbor?" "Joseph something." "He saved his life." "Dad won't leave him and his daughter alone." " She's 5." " His daughter's 5?" "Pierre hates buffets, but for once..." "Do you know this neighbor?" "What does he do?" "He's not a CEO or a VIP." "Pierre and his parents won't like him." "Neither will you." "You sound like Milla." "I'm sorry." "I'm on edge." "Everyone judges me." "My likes, dislikes, friends, enemies." "Who am I?" "Tell me!" "Who?" " Tell me!" " Stop it." "What do you know about my life?" "Tell me." "I'm strong... rich... married with kids..." "Who am I, the rock?" "The one everybody..." "The talented one, who could have, should have" "Screw you all!" "You're crazy." "No, sit down..." "Sit!" "It was the 22nd... no, the 23rd of December." "I forget." "I went to Delphine's." "My friend who lived on Rue Belleville." "We went to see "Jules and Jim"." "We passed in front of a brasserie." "Delphine said:" ""Isn't that your dad?"" "He was sitting there with a woman." "She was about forty." "Sort of pretty." "A little... a little tacky, a bleached blonde." "There was a little boy on Dad's lap." "He was opening presents." "I watched through the window." "Dad was kissing him." "I was paralyzed." "I couldn't move." "Dad wrote out a check for the woman." "And I understood... right away." "He came home and told Mom a lie." "That he'd played at a wedding." "I stood there, looking at him... straight in the eye." "I'm sure he knew that I knew." "That woman spent her life in the shadows with her son?" "That's not the issue." "Stop eating!" "It's overwhelming." "Dad must have been so confused, so torn." "You've never understood who he is." "He's a liar." "He lied to everyone." "To us, to Mom..." "He's selfish." "A loser." "Bitter, too." "He missed out on all his dreams." "Salzburg, Bayreuth..." "Karajan, yeah, right!" "He can't even play "Meine Yiddishe Mama" in tune." "He took it out on Mom." "With the only instrument he somewhat mastered." "The worst." "Tiny." "Dumez?" "I'm floored." "Are you just saying that?" "Dumez didn't last long." "Less than a month." "But Maurin..." "Not Maurin." "He was always at the house." "He was love-struck." "He scared me." "He wanted to talk to you." "So in love..." "And you?" "I always did it for revenge." "But it lasted for a while with Maurin..." "Viller?" "I always suspected him." "No, I never liked Viller." "He wasn't a musician." "It's funny." "It's always been musicians." "Sounds!" "Sounds..." " A man who can create..." " Hold on!" "What about the kids?" "Are you telling me..." "They're your daughters." "Don't worry." "I am worried." "You're telling me..." "What would that change now?" "Maurin was before Louba, right?" "Louba's your daughter!" "She's your spitting image." "But you never know..." "As for Sonia:" "no question about it." "About what?" "We were in love." " We wanted her." " We sure did!" "I remember when we conceived her." "In St. Etienne." "It was our moment of grace." "That tour was the pits." "No!" "Limoges, St. Etienne, Montauban." "All four-star hotels!" "She was no looker, behind the "Star of Moscow" ticket desk." "Big boobs, gray sweater, gray teeth." "Nadine Perut." " They weren't gray." " That's why I never suspected." " What a bimbo!" " Don't start..." "You never thought I'd leave." "You let me fool around a lot before you did." "I was sleeping with Jean-Louis by then." "You know what?" "Those were the happiest days of my life." "5 to 7 with Jean-Louis, all night with you." "Afterwards, nights with you..." " What about nights with me?" " I felt guilty." "Once I fell in love with him, I felt guilty." "You're a real bitch." "That's twice in two days." "If you were with Jean-Louis..." "Milla was born in 1967." "Yeah, Milla..." "You're trying to destroy me." "That's it." "You came here to destroy me..." "Milla's always been your favorite." "So what?" "He dressed as Santa to make me like him." "He'd try everything." "Dressing up as an egg for Easter... a clown for my birthdays, a pancake for breakfast." "He decided to teach me the violin." "At least Dad left me alone." "Jean-Louis had plans for me." "I'd say: "What do you care?" ""You're not my dad!"" "Mom would scream." "No, she'd do her martyr routine:" ""It's all my fault" and "Why me, God?"" "Mom's great at that." "So there he was at the chimney... in his white beard and red outfit... rolling his eyes like a retard." "I recognized him straight off." "I pretended to be scared." "I screamed." "Hysterically." "Just to piss him off." "He didn't know what to do." "It was our first Christmas without Dad." "Sonia didn't care." "She'd found herself a jerk." "Louba..." "She was living in her studio." "Heart-broken, I think." "And I hated the guy." "I resented him." "I resented Mom, too." "I had one thing in mind: go to Dad's, forget about Christmas... and hole up with him." "Once I was old enough, that's what I did." "Daddy!" "Baby..." "Mom came?" " Why?" " Christmas with my parents." "Without what's-his-name?" "Yes, without him." "He's grown." "What's his name?" "A dollhouse with lights inside." "We wrote to Santa together." "That one!" "Plus two more and a baby seat." "Are you moving?" "Yes." "Back to Paris?" "Now you can see her more often!" "Baby seat!" " You came back without..." " Yes, without him!" "You wet me." "Have you met?" "Is it official?" "Not exactly." "She lent you her car." "Are you and Lydia friends?" "Louba." "We're neighbors." "Do they all know yet?" "Do I ask about what's-his-name?" "His name is Antonin." "Going to Levallois?" "I want Mathilde with me tonight." "But I gave Daddy's address to Santa." "Santa called me yesterday." "He said it's easier for him... to stop by Grandma's house instead." "Don't take her, please." "Just for once!" "For once?" "Are you kidding?" "We're moving back!" "Santa agreed!" "I got a fax from Santa this morning!" "He confirmed our plans." "He's coming to my place tonight... with Rudolph and the gang!" "I have custody Christmas week, July, and two weekends" "Stop it!" "And you know what Santa called to say?" ""An ex-wife who obstructs justice and is mentally unbalanced-"" "Shut up!" "What are you doing?" "Lunatic!" "You're insane!" "I'm all alone!" "My life is ruined!" "Fuck you!" "You're all bastards!" "Ruthless bastards!" "Fuck you!" "Mommy!" "Daddy!" "Stay put." "Annabelle!" "I look different with wet hair." "We haven't met often." " Once." " Twice." "Is it very chlorinated?" "I swim when I'm tense." "You must swim a lot." "I bought a lamp for my mother." "So you have my number?" "Louba gave it to me in case she died." "So you'd know." "Is something wrong?" "Where is she?" "I'm worried!" "I have no idea." "So why call me?" "People should take turns at suffering." "It's your wife's turn." "Your girls are grown." "Isn't it time?" "You never intended to leave her?" "I'm over 40." "My wife's 40." "It's been 20 years..." "Carole Bouquet, Sharon Stone:" "everyone's 40." "I'm talking about Louba." "She's 42." "She hasn't had a life for 12 years." "It suits us all fine." " You have a life?" " Forget me." "I make Louba happy." "She's fulfilled, full of life." "Has she been depressed for 12 years?" "Does she see a shrink?" "Surf the Web all night?" "The two of us form a couple." "We talk, laugh, and make love." "How about the 3 of you?" "She didn't tell you." "She did..." "In her way." "Denying her that would be awful." "Milla!" "I have 4 kids, not two!" "Another's on the way!" "My job sucks!" "And I don't know what to do!" "Because I love Louba." "I can't live without her." "Sorry, man." "I'm in the dumps, too." "I'll walk you home." "I live nearby." "You'll catch cold." "Hurry home." "Do I tell them about Joseph?" "If you're wondering, you're going to." "Will you help me?" "You're on your own!" "Don't miss your bus." "Bitch." "Do you have the keys?" "He's not answering." "I'm scared." "Is that your daughter?" "No, this is Regis." "He's" "This is for her." "Louba, I'm in deep shit." "Vlado broke his arm decorating his tree." "Ask your dad to play for us tonight." "You wouldn't open?" "Where is he?" "Shopping." "This late?" "It's boiling in here." "I ate something that went bad." "How did you get in?" "Joseph gave me the keys." "Why didn't you tell me?" "You know?" "Who told you?" "I guessed." "Amazing news, isn't it?" "A new guy in the family, out of the blue." "Good thing it's not another girl." "How do you feel about it?" "I couldn't believe it at first." "It's a little late in the game..." "We'll do whatever it takes." "What?" "We'll do whatever it takes." "Is that you talking?" "Yes, it's me talking." "What's wrong?" "What is it?" "I was scared you'd screw up." "Screw what up?" "You have to keep him." "They're already swollen." "And you know it's a boy!" "No." "A "guy" isn't a boy?" "Oh, yeah." "We'll take care of him." "I'll help." "You hate kids." "Not at all." "Only Sonia's." "About Joseph..." "What about him?" "You still don't know?" "You like him?" "Do you like him?" "Neurotic, aggressive, borderline alcoholic... introverted, self-conscious..." "I'm like putty." "I don't usually like guys with the same problems as me." "I'll get it." "You're here?" "I brought Dad a present." "Really?" "He's out?" "Is he better?" "Yes, he is." "He's not back yet." "You could have called." "It's nice and warm." "Is the tea hot?" "You left your turkey?" "Is he with our surprise guest?" "I'm worried." "We should have left by now." "I called Mom." "No answer." "You should be at your place." "Did you tell her?" "I guessed." "No, you didn't." "Keep quiet." "She's mixed up." "Now listen..." "Sit down." " You want to tell her?" " No, you do it." "Let's hear it!" "A long time ago..." "How long?" "30 years ago." " You weren't born." "I was, too." "It was around the same time." "No." "Not at the same time?" "Sure." "What do you expect?" "30 years ago..." "It so happens that Dad..." "I'm a little plastered." "A lot plastered." "What's this?" "You can exchange it." "It comes in zebra, too." "No one told me, or else I'd have come." "Where?" "The hospital." " How do you feel?" " Great!" "Except for..." " There's someone outside." " Who?" "I don't know him, but I guessed right." "Go ahead." "Don't talk." "Not a word until I get back." "You're right to leave me, but don't leave me." "Look at the time." "You'll miss mass." "It's at 10:00." "Look at the time." "She knows I won't come home." "Yes, you will!" "Go straight home." "Not on Christmas Eve." "Think of your girls!" "You'll ruin Christmas for them forever." "Please, Gilbert!" "I want this baby." "Do you?" "Really?" "We'll manage." "I'll manage..." "Do you know where Joseph Perut lives?" "Straight ahead, a window, door on the right." "You know him?" "He's my brother." "I'm Mathilde's mom." "Have you met?" "Not yet." " You have a brother?" " Yep." "You kept it a secret?" "You've kept some secrets over 12 years." "I guess..." "Will you help me find a place?" "Of course." " A real place?" " Of course." "I walked for miles to put him to sleep." "How pretty!" "She'll love it." "Will you wake her up?" "I'm not ready yet." "I'll get my bags tomorrow." "Do you mind?" "We can have lunch." "Or don't you want to?" "We'll see." "Give this to Arthur." "You know what it is?" "You remember?" "Of course I do." "You can give it to him." "Not now." "Later." "When he's old enough." "You'll tell him..." "That in his veins..." "Tell him... that his grandfather..." "That if all the bad guys won, he wouldn't be alive." "He has to know." "It's important." "I'll tell him." " Even if Pierre..." " I'll tell him." "I'll be going." "My turkey must be carbonized." "I'm leaving Pierre." "I mean, he's leaving me, but" "But I'm glad because I'm leaving him." "It's not clear, but it is to me." "I'm glad." "I'm glad it's clear." "I understood." "Fuck!" "You need a real plumber." "I chickened out." "They were all here." "It's so unusual." "It was the perfect time." "I didn't say a word." "I can't." "I chickened out." "Forget it." "I gave up on family ages ago." "Don't say that." "There's nothing better than family." "You want a clear conscience?" "It's too late." "You'll die guilty, like we all do." "I looked forward to it for days." "It was wonderful." "Magic." "We had our ritual." "First, Mom and I went to the movies." "Then we went to see Dad." "He played every Christmas Eve." "The Scheherazade, Novi's, the Star of Moscow..." "Sometimes several gigs in one night." "We'd sit in a little corner." "I loved it when they applauded him." "I felt alive." "Then we'd go home." "Presents in the chimney, under the tree..." "We opened them late into the night." "Mom said: "It's too much." ""You must have a guilty conscience!"" "When I went to school, I tried not to wake them." "Sometimes I'd look into their room." "They were so beautiful." "I wanted to be just like them!" "Janine made it 13." "Remember Janine?" "They were tense." "Sonia and Pierre... is there a problem?" "You better keep them." "A four-leaf clover." "It brings good luck." "There was something uncanny..." "Just our luck..." "Perfect matches are tough." "I always thought that was Romeo and Juliet's problem." "They were brother and sister." "So everyone was up in arms." "The mother knew, of course..." "Mothers know all." "Just make them talk." "I have a vintage Sauterne and foie gras." "Maybe we can..." " I'm not big on Christmas Eve." " Me neither." "But no cake." "Christmas cakes make me puke."