"Three Times Manon" "Chapter 1" "Not again!" "Didn't you like what I cooked earlier?" "Eat if you must, sweetheart." "I'm not going to stop you." "But at least sit at the table." "You never tell me anything." "Sit down, I'll fix you something." "Did you sort things out with the principal?" " Yeah, it's sorted." " What happened?" "I just told her the truth and she believed it." "What truth?" "That the school got it wrong." "It's OK, it's sorted." "Don't you have a history talk to prepare?" "Pauline's mom told me she's doing one." " We're not in the same group." " Oh, right." "I sounded stupid when I said I didn't know about it." "Maybe I am being really stupid." "What do you think?" " Why do you do this to me?" " I've done nothing." "Do you want it warming up?" "If you had a problem, you'd tell me, right?" "You trust me, don't you?" "You have some respect for your mom, right?" "Nothing to say?" "Yeah, you're better off not answering!" "The social worker was here last night." "You haven't been to school for two months." "How does it make me look?" "What will the judge say this time?" "You promised." "Isn't it hard enough for me?" "If you loved me, you wouldn't do this to me." "Why don't you love me?" "Explain." "I want to understand." "That's it, eat." "It saves you from having to answer me." "You don't seem to realize." "It's destroying me." "Everything you do is destroying me." "Get out of here!" "Why?" "A family shouldn't have secrets." "Come on in." "They've never been before a judge, they help me," "I can count on them!" "No school in two months!" "What do you do all day long, apart from hanging around and lying?" " Nothing." " Nothing?" "That's right, insult my intelligence!" "What am I to you, apart from a cash machine, eh?" "You lie all the time, like your dad." "Doing everything behind my back." "I know what you do all day." "Mrs Fortin saw you!" " Stop it!" " What does she do?" " Mom!" " What?" " It's personal." " Oh, yeah?" "You're fifteen!" "I decide if it's personal or not!" "She hangs out with Sarah." "In the cellars." " Stop it!" " And do you know what they do in..." "Truancy, possession of cannabis, car theft, driving without a license, and now the grievous wounding of your mother." "I'd like to understand, Manon." "I'm not yet acquainted with her case, Your Honor." "For now all I can do is plead for your indulgence." "But she regrets her action." "She keeps asking how her mother is." "It was an impulsive and irrational act." "Mr Prosecutor?" "As you said, Your Honor, she's a repeat offender." "But the offense this time was very serious." "The victim, her own mother, is a courageous and loving woman." "Despite their father's absence, her siblings are beyond reproach." "Nothing justifies this violence." "She's dangerous." "We demand a custodial sentence." "Anything to say, Manon?" "I didn't ask how my mom's doing." "I want to go to prison." "I deserve it, like he said." "You don't decide on your sentence." "I do." "To me you seem completely lost." "We'll give her one last chance." "I'm sending her to a reform school, far from her home." "You have 6 months to reflect on what happened and change." "I'll be kept informed of your conduct." "The slightest slip-up, and you'll go to prison." "Understood?" "We'll meet in two months." "You have to behave there." " Are you listening?" " I don't give a toss!" "If that's your attitude, I can't help you." "Yes, speaking." "OK, I'll tell her." "Thank you, bye." "After a week in hospital, your mom will be fine." "She's out of danger." "Good for her." "Your bag." "Come on!" "Two tops." "A pair of trainers." "Four t-shirts, three pairs of pants, two pairs of socks..." "One bra." "Right..." "No mobile phone." "Five cigarettes per day." "They're handed out to you." "No music player either." "I'm Mr Gauvert, the director." "Here are the rules." "You have to sign." "After reading them carefully." "It's a contract between us, OK?" "You can make life easy or hard for yourself." "But understand this:" "you're not in charge here." "OK?" "I didn't hear you?" " OK?" " OK." "Here, take your bag." "One last thing." "Wherever you go, you're under video surveillance 24/7." "No dope, of course, no booze, no sexual relations." "We have a points system." "Behave, you win points." "Mess up, you lose them." "With points you can go on outings or get pocket money, up to a limit of 12 euros per week." "You can put posters on the wall, but I have to see them first." "There's no lock, you can't lock yourself in." "Access is restricted during the day." "If you need something, ask me." "There." "Go and sit down." "I'll introduce you." "Get your plate over there." " I'm not eating with them." " Don't start, Manon." "Fuck you!" "None of that language!" "Get a plate and sit down." " Think it's funny?" " Are you serious?" " Don't look at me like that!" " I'll look at you how I like!" "Calm down, calm down!" "You're dead, you fucking bitch!" "Everybody out!" "Come back!" "Let go of me!" "You fucking bitch!" "Out!" "Everyone out!" " Calm down." " Let go!" "Calm down." "Calm down now, Manon." "Stop it." "Just calm down now." "Gently now... gently..." "Get out!" "You fuckers!" "I'm going to fucking kill you!" "I'll kill the lot of you, you fucking bastards!" " Calm down!" " Let me go!" "Let go of me!" "I'll kill you all, you fuckers!" "Calm down, Manon, calm down." "You won't win, Manon." "So stop it now." "Bring it down now, bring it down..." "We'll stay here all day if we have to." " Stop it." " Let me go!" "I'm not here to award or remove points." "I just want to understand." "And help you to understand too." "Why do you immediately resort to violence?" "Manon, what happened yesterday?" " Why did you lose it?" " Lose what?" "Control of yourself." "If you get at me, I lash out!" "Don't pick a fight with me!" "Same thing with my mom." "I'm not scared!" "Tell them to stay out of my fucking way!" "Yesterday was nothing!" "Those fuckers had better know it!" "Been threatening us?" "Did the shrink say that?" "All fucking shrinks are grasses!" "The rules in here are that we talk to each other." "We all know what's said." "You can't play us against each other." "I'll kill the fucker!" "Wait over there, Yaël." " Are they the only shoes you've got?" " What's the problem?" "I'm just saying, they'll give you a new pair." "I've got loads at home." "I just left in a hurry." "I like your hoody." "Nice one, Sabrina." "Great." "Pull up." "Pull up with your arms." "Pull up, and clamp onto the rope." "I've used more mayonnaise today." "Take your time." "I don't understand it." "Take your time." " Reread it several times." " No point." " Shall we read it together?" " You think I can't read?" "Speak more respectfully to me." "I'm the teacher, you're the pupil." "All right?" "Did you hear me?" " Keep your hair on!" " Manon..." "I'm concentrating!" "You written all that?" "Manon, go back to your seat." "You writing your life story?" "Sandrine couldn't concentrate at first." "But now she's trying hard." "Don't disturb her." "There's no point with me." "I know I'm crap." "You can't do it now but in three weeks, I promise you, you'll be able to." " In your dreams!" " You just have to try." "There's no point." "I'm just not interested." "OK, we'll do it another way." "These are the official tests." "We'll do one my way." "Write whatever comes to mind, don't worry about spelling or anything." " I've nothing to say." " That's OK." " Just write a memory." " "The first time I saw the sea"?" "If you like." "You could write that." "Or something less obvious." "Can't think of anything." " In that case, just write a list." " A shopping list?" " Do you do the shopping at home?" " No way." "Then you start by writing:" ""I remember..."" "I don't remember anything." "A film you once saw?" "Something you enjoyed?" "This shit's doing my head in!" "What's the point of memories?" "What matters is what's happening now." "Who gives a toss what happened before?" "It's crap!" " Madam, I have a question." " Yes?" "Perseus can't know what Medusa will look like." "He's never seen her." "If he had, he'd have been..." "Shit, what's the word?" "Don't swear. "Petrified."" " Yeah, that's it." "Turned to stone." " Yes?" "I've written:" ""On his way he was frightened..."" "I'd prefer it if he'd already seen Medusa." "You're scared in a different way if you know what you're scared of." "That's true." "So?" " Can I change Medusa?" " Of course." "Is it OK if it's you?" " Medusa?" " Yeah." "No, that's fine." "Go on, write it like that." "You're all mental here!" "For example:" ""I remember what I had for breakfast."" "I don't eat anything at breakfast." "Nothing!" "All right." "Then..." ""I remember what I see in my room when I open my eyes in the morning."" "Just write a list." "The poster on the wall, the window, your clothes, the lamp..." "Whatever comes to mind." " You never give up, do you?" " No." "Speak with respect and call me "madam"." "OK." "Didn't you have an appointment?" "Manon, I'm talking to you." "Is something wrong?" "We can talk about it." "We're not your enemies." " Bullshit!" " What did you say?" "Manon, your lawyer's waiting for you!" "I keep telling her." "She doesn't seem to hear me." "Manon, please." "She does it on purpose." "You're lucky to have a lawyer who'll come to you." "Are you scared of what he'll say?" "Come on now, Manon." "She gets on my bloody nerves!" "Cut it out, will you!" "Are you too ashamed to hear how your mother is?" "Maybe she doesn't care." "Shut your fat fucking mouth!" "Hey, who do you think you're talking to?" "OK, OK, I'll deal with her." "Fucking hell!" " I'll make her pay for that!" " I don't advise it." "I forgot about the appointment, that's all." " What's the problem?" " There isn't one." " Why are you scared of fighting?" " I'm not." "But doesn't it get a bit boring?" ""Fuck off, you bastard!" and so on." "I'd rather do something else." "Like I said... you're scared." "Hello." "Have a seat." "Thanks." " How's it going here?" " It's going." "Your mother is out of hospital." "She's fine and she wants to see you." "But the judge thinks it's too early." "We'll begin with phone calls." "What do you think?" "It's important to maintain that link." "Well, yeah." "She's my mom, after all." "Nice tie." "I wanted to ask you something." "As you're my lawyer, maybe you can help." "Yes?" "I was supposed to get new trainers." "Mine are knackered." "But I've been waiting ages." "I don't think I can do anything." "But I'll have a word." "And we'll organize a phone call for Friday morning, OK?" "Can I go now?" "Who you talking to, bitch!" " Bitch!" " Calm down!" "Do you want a warning?" "That's twice now." "You've only just got here!" "Just keep quiet!" "That fucking Manon bitch!" "Calm down!" "Just stay here and calm down." "Or no weekend outing." "Quiet!" "Bring her over here." "That fucking Manon!" " It's you..." " Your fucking mate!" " Don't touch me!" " Calm down!" " Calm down!" " You're hurting, you bitch!" "Just calm down!" "No first cigarette tomorrow morning." "And tell me what happened with Lola." "Fuck your cigarette!" "I'm telling you nothing!" " Leave me alone!" " I'm noting that down." "And no pocket money this week." "You're so full of yourself, you bitch!" "Manon, you can't win, so cut it out." "Shut up, Mr Understanding who sounds like a fucking queer!" " I'm noting that too." " Thanks." "And no outing next weekend." "That was your first time." "You'll end up having no outings at all." "Is that what you want?" "Fuck you, you whore!" "Fuck the lot of you!" " You motherfuckers!" " Now calm down!" " Let go of me!" " Stop screaming." "Let me go!" "Let me go." "Let go, I said!" "Get your hands off me!" "Carry on, Manon." "Manon, keep writing, please." "You tore it, you rewrite it." "Any crossing out, you start again." "It's the work experience project." "Everyone has to do it." "There's a choice of courses." "There's hairdressing, catering or parks and gardens." " Which do you prefer?" " Mechanics." "Manon, this is serious." "It's about your future." "After four months we have to place you with a company." "If all goes well." "You think it will?" "Hello." "Aline, this is Manon." "She can do shampoos, perms, false nails..." " But nothing with scissors." " OK." "Go and put an overall on." "See you." "It's called "Little Brother and Little Sister"." "By the Brothers Grimm." ""Little Brother took Little Sister's hand and said:" ""Since Mother died, we've had nothing but misfortune."" "You think we're retards or what?" "We're not five-year-olds!" "Yeah, it's embarrassing." " Did they live happily ever after?" " Are you trying to humiliate us?" "They're running away from their stepmother, who hates them." " She's also a witch." " Shit!" "We never expected that!" "Madam, after the story can we play in the sandpit?" "If this goes on, I'm out of here!" "By the end of the day, Little Brother is hungry." "But he's even thirstier." "He wants to drink from the river." "But the witch has cast a spell on all the water." "Little Sister knows that if her brother drinks, he'll turn into a tiger and eat her." "No, madam, please, don't tell us the rest!" "No, madam, I'm scared!" "You're making fun because you really are scared." "You're scaring us, treating us like mongs!" "I don't understand." "Have you never done this?" "Been disobedient?" "Run away?" "Defied the police?" "Even insulted them?" "Drunk from the river, basically." "Just because you shouldn't." "If the police come on our estate, we chuck rocks at them." "It's hilarious." "The last time they came, my boyfriend punctured their tires." " No, but once, I swear..." " That's enough of that." "The river is what we call a metaphor, an image." " A meta what?" " A figure of speech." "A metaphor!" "The brother wants to drink from the river, the sister wants to stop him." "She's scared for him, and for herself." "Because he'll turn into a wild beast and eat her." "What would you do?" "Lola, what would you do?" " Am I the brother or sister?" " Both." "The one who wants to and the one who's scared to." "I wouldn't even think about it." "If I'm thirsty, I drink!" "The pussy cat would drink!" "She'd see herself in the river and die of fright!" "I'd eat you up, you slag!" "Eat me?" "I knew she was a dyke!" "No, no..." " No!" " Piss off!" " If you hit me, you'll go..." " To prison!" "In the nick, in the nick, in the nick..." "Feel better now?" " A lovely song." " Thanks, madam." "So..." "He doesn't drink from the first river because his sister stops him." "Nor from the second." "But at the third... she can't stop him." " So he eats her?" " No." " Why?" "What do you think?" "The water's poisoned and he dies." " No." " So what does he turn into?" "A deer." "Shit!" "She's a little Bambi, she's going to get eaten!" "Shut up!" "But as he's a deer, he's quick and agile, and he gets away from his sister." " But there are hunters." " The cops, yeah?" "It's like a gangsta story!" " She's changed." " She realizes it's her last chance." "Yes, there's a definite change." "What's this about a brother and sister story?" "It's a tale from the Brothers Grimm." "It's a way of talking about urges, the id and so on." "Laws, transgression..." "It gets them thinking." "Objectivising their own problems." "Those girls, using their brains?" " You're a pain!" " We do what we can." "We try." "That's nice!" "Right, then..." "Last time, we didn't get round to talking about Jennifer." "I don't think there's much we can do there." "How can you talk like that?" "She can't string three word together." "She has trouble concentrating because she can't access herself." " She'd be disappointed if she did!" " Please!" "So: "Limited abilities." ""Little chance of diploma." What about discipline?" "Fine." "She's withdrawn into her shell." "That's her survival technique." "The judge approves day-release." " Parks and gardens, right?" " That's right." " Manon Vidal?" " I can't handle her." "I've tried but I don't understand her." " She won't last long." " She's only just got here!" "Not that recently." "I feel there's something there." " You "feel"?" " Yes." " Will she pass the exams?" " I don't know yet." " And the evaluation test?" " It's too early for her." "I only need to see them once to weigh them up." "Yeah, I'm sure!" "Manon, you're being called." "Go on." "I've been looking everywhere again." " I'm doing parks and gardens now." " Come on, hurry up!" "Yes, Mom, I'm listening." "No, it's OK." "It's going well." "Really well, in fact." "I'm making progress." "I'm behaving myself." "I'm working hard as well." "I'm doing the mechanics workshop." "And I eat well in the canteen." "It's really good." "What else?" "Yeah, I've made some new friends." "It's cool, this place." "I've been earning loads of points." "Yeah, the judge'll be pleased." "You don't have to worry, Mom." "Kiss, kiss!" "Did I do well?" "Viviane, can we have some bread, please?" "That's disgusting!" "Manon, what are you doing?" "What are you playing at?" "Manon, stop that right now!" "Stop this silliness." "Manon, are you listening?" "Stop it now." "Stop... stop..." "For fuck sake!" "You're a pain, you're a pain!" "Clean it up!" "I've had enough of this." "Up you get." "Get up!" "Get up and clean this up." "I don't believe this." "Come on, Manon." "Yes?" "Carry on, girls." "What's that?" "What I see at home in the morning." "I didn't write the title, I just put..." " "The wardrobe is grey."" " That's good." "Very good, Manon." "And what's next to the grey cupboard?" "And what's underneath it?" "Carpet?" "A parquet floor?" "You mentioned the color." "You can just list the colors." "Or list the objects that you see." "It's up to you." "But even if it's a bit mechanical at first, it'll suddenly start to flow." "You'll produce something, I'm sure of it." "Make sure you write your name on your book." "Jennifer, you're OK." "You're going to get day release to do your training course." "But you'd better watch out." "You're down as "unstable" with "control issues"." "If you want your outings, chill a bit with your monitor." " And soon!" " That's not fair." "He's always trying to wind me up." "I agree, Fred's crap." "But you have to make do." "So what about the outing on the 15th?" "The village or further?" "I hear you're behaving better." "Yeah, I'm not "unstable", I don't have "control issues"!" "Have you been reading the files?" "Get off, you're hurting!" "I overheard it, that's all." "Are you sure?" "The drawers are all locked." "I checked." " Could you have used those terms?" " Not to the girls." "And I haven't seen Manon for ages." "You used those terms in our meeting, about Sandrine." "Whatever!" "We must find out where the leak is." "It's imperative!" "How's parks and gardens going?" "Boring, but it's OK." ""Parks and gardens"!" "OK, Manon." "Are you going to read it to us?" "It's up to you." "Keep it to yourself, read it to us now, or read it some other time." "It's up to you." "Her face!" " She's written something." " But won't read it." "Loser!" "What a thicko!" "Hey, girls." "That'll do." ""In my room when I wake up I see..." "The wardrobe, which is grey." "My little sister's bed." ""The carpet is brown." ""The desk." "The orange lamp..." "I hate it." "Its knotted wire is black." "The radiator is grey." "Backpack." "Shoes on the floor." "My old rollerblades, too small now." "By the window, the carpet's stained." "It was left open during a storm." "The stain is in the shape of a rhinoceros." "When I twist to look through the window, if it's too early I see colors like when I press on my eyeballs..." "Colors and shapes dancing and twirling..." "It's mental!" "Red and yellow and black." "Red and yellow and black..."" "You're so fucking stupid!" "Hey, it's the poet!" "It was cool, knowing what the report to the judge said." "And knowing in advance about our pocket money." "Now Zohra can't tell us, and all because of you!" "Hang out the washing, please, girls." "Sucking up to the director!" " You're dead, you slag!" " Dead!" " You should kill yourself first!" " Bitch!" " Where's she going?" " To see the judge." "She'll be back this evening." "All right?" "Your mother will be there too." "Does that bother you?" "It's OK." "You're going to be cool, right?" "It's important, in front of the judge." "If you stay calm, it could make a big difference." "And if you could speak correctly..." "Like: "I'll fucking waste you!"" "Yeah, for example." " What does it change for you?" " Nothing." " It's for you." " Yeah!" " Seriously, Manon." " Yeah, yeah..." "Shall we rehearse what you're going to say?" "Yeah, OK." "Tell me what I have to say." "She won't understand what's going on." "Come in." "Maître." "Sit there, Manon." "The director's report isn't very positive, Manon." "To say the least." "Starting fights, insolent..." "Often provocative with the staff." "Some severe bouts of violence." "Admittedly with calmer periods in between." "What's going on?" " I didn't hear that." " I'm trying." "I'm doing my best." "In any case, I forgive her." "And I want her home." "I miss her... very much." "Her room is empty and..." "I want her back soon." "Do you have anything to say?" "I don't know..." "Why did the director say that?" ""Provocative"?" "It's them who provoke us." "No, that's not what I wanted to say." "I'm sorry..." "I never wanted all this, I..." "I'm sorry." "I never meant..." "But the knife..." "stabbing her in the stomach..." "It was me, not her." "I heard you apologizing." "But I didn't understand about the knife." "Can you say it again?" "The report isn't good." "You have to change your attitude quickly." "Taking into account the psychologist's report," "I'll authorize a monthly visit from your mother." "Anything to say?" "Thank you." "Thank you." "Would you like to be alone for a moment with your mother?" "Yes." "Very well." "The clerk will accompany you." "Couldn't you have found a nicer t-shirt to see the judge?" "You haven't kissed me yet, Manon." "Come here." "Promise you'll do all you can to come home soon." "My darling." "My baby." "What's wrong?" "Why did she do that?" " Maybe she needs time." " Yeah, right!" "Her father said the same thing before he ran off." "Why can't she come home?" "I said I forgave her!" "She has to understand the gravity of what she did." "Telling me when and where I can see her!" "A bit of distance will do you good." "Really." "When she's fully ready." "No, I can't bear it, I can't leave her!" " OK, Manon?" " Fine." "The pussy cat's back!" "She probably won't be staying long." "You don't understand, I really have to talk to her!" "I've come all this way..." "The judge sets the visiting times." "You have no right to keep me from my daughter!" "You don't know what might happen." "I absolutely have to see her!" " Just tell me where she is!" " No, that won't help." " Manon!" " Come with me." " Please, madam..." " Manon, wait!" "Manon, open this door!" "Manon, I have to talk to you." "I love you." "Listen, my darling, my baby..." "I won't give up on you..." "Manon..." " Please..." " Do you hear me?" "I won't give up on you, Manon!" "I won't give up on you!"