"THE WAR OF THE BUTTONS" "You're cheating!" "Keep going." "Who pushed that one?" "It's too stony." "Watch it, they'll spot you!" "Here comes Aztec!" "See them?" "Started without me?" "You'll only win them all again..." " That's mine!" " Sure." "See them?" "Step a side." " Yes." " How many of them?" "Four." "No, five!" "Watch out, they'll spot you." " Who's their chief?" " Aztec." "He pisses furthest." "Play with dolls, that way no one cheats." " I need a piss, girls." " Very funny." "Move." "I need a piss." " I'm pissing too." " I'll piss on you." "Your arm taut, finger aimed at the target." "One eye closed." "Stop it." "A snake's precision." "An eagle's eye." "And a snake's rage." "Fire!" " That was two 'snakes'." " Who cares." " Right." " They're here." " Who?" " The Longeverne gang!" "Did I aim properly?" " I didn't look." " As usual." "You never look." "Shut up!" "I'm looking." "Here he comes." " Where?" " Shut up, dammit!" "They're close." "One Gibus hides another!" "Longeverne is invading?" "You've had it now." "Go on, laugh, Aztec." "I could stun you and pluck out your eyes." "All Velrans kids are idiots!" "It's not fair." "We're idiots, you're wet willies!" " What are wet 'willies'?" " I think I know..." "You don't know." "Can't use a catapult and your mums pick your briefs!" " Your mum..." " What my mother?" " Your mum is..." " Watch what you say!" "I'll handle it." "My mum's a what?" "A rotten plum?" " A rotten plum!" " Exactly!" "She's a rotten plum!" " Who's he?" " I don't know." "Your mums are all mouldy mushrooms!" " Want my opinion, kid?" " Opinions are like bum-holes!" "We all have one!" "Stop it!" "This isn't funny!" " You're dead!" " Let's split!" "I'll murder you!" " I'll get them!" " Quick!" "You'll regret being born!" "Get them, you idlers!" "I'll show you why I'm called Aztec!" "I'll waste them!" "Head right!" "Longervernes bastards!" "Shit heels!" " Right!" " Which right?" "The other right!" "Longeverne lummoxes!" "Kill those shitbags!" "Waste the wet willies!" "Go on, jump!" "Look, mashed potatoes!" "Have a good trip!" "We'll 'berry' them alive!" "You're dead, wet willies!" "They're dead!" "Faster, faster!" "I'm trying, but..." "Just shut up and run!" "We have to go, chief." "Come on, move it." "Who's he?" "Is he in the gang?" "Not so loud." "He's no one." "See how he laid into the Velrans lot?" "Lanterne will never be in the gang." "Don't tell the others!" "The more you talk, the less I understand." "The Gibus kids!" "Hi!" "What's up?" "Is Marie, it's Big Tintin's sister!" "Take your bag." "We got called wet willies!" " Wet willies?" "Wet willies?" " Yeah, wet willies." " Who by?" " The Velrans gang." " Anyone know what that means?" " No." "Why did they say that?" " I know what wet 'means', but..." " But not 'willy'?" "The second word is clear enough." "Lebrac will know what it means." "But he's never around when we need him." "Respect Lebrac!" "Know what he does while you sleep?" "He's up before dawn every day," " Even Sunday." " Wake up, it's time." "He gets to work." "Now his dad's gone... he works on the farm, in the fields and at the market." "His mum and sisters count on him." "Lebrac's the bravest kid in Longeverne." "Hey, lad, wait!" " Buy yourself some sweets." " Thanks, mister." "Kill those shitbags!" "Waste the wet willies!" "Look out!" "Look, mashed potatoes!" "We'll 'berry' them alive!" "You're dead, wet willies!" "Show some respect!" " What does 'wet willy' mean?" " That this is war!" "Velrans will never know peace again." " Oust the Velrans!" " Oust the Velrans!" "I'll see what's going on?" " Bo-Tize-Ma-Caram-Ric..." " Gad-Truf-Snick-Bus-Ki-Cav!" "Come on." "Good morning." "Good morning." "The writer chooses precise and evocative words... to induce original and expressive images." "He wrote 'war kouncil'." "They won't get it." "Two figures of speech..." "They won't get it." "Who knows the difference between a metaphor... and an oxymoron?" "Mr Lebrac, maybe?" "One is too old to be used?" "Tell us why?" "Oxymoron... comes from 'oxidize'... and metaphor from 'metal'." "One's rusty, the other isn't." " Very amusing." " Scrap tonight." "He'll spot us." "Have more fun in detention later." "Oh no..." "An oxymoron is two contradictory terms... such as 'a calm storm'." "There." "Only threats work with you, Lebrac." "Here we go." "What if I detained you every day?" "Maybe that would improve your marks." "I apologize, sir." "No, Lebrac, the thing is." "You can apologize to me... but you can't just apologize." "It's an intransitive verb, Lebrac." "You can revise in detention." "Tonight's scrap is dead." "Bo-Tize-Ma." "Caram-Ric-Gad-Truf-Snick" "Bus-Ki-Cav." "Name the plagues?" " Ari..." " Arithmetic." " Endives and celery..." " Endives and celery..." "'Arizmetic' and nettles." "Beatings from mums and dads But, above all..." "Above all, the Velrans lads." "What is your duty?" "Longeverne's honour protect" "All notion of fear reject" "Tell tales to mums and dads" "Always obey Lebrac, lads." "You're worthy of joining our army." "Biggibus is your brother." " You'll be Titchgibus." " Titchgibus?" "I'm already called Titchgibus." "Can't I be 'Destroyer' or 'Wrecker'?" "Salute our chief." "I don't like Titchgibus." "But, all right, Titchgibus." "Who insulted us?" "Aztec." "Call us 'Wet willies'." "Wet willies?" "I remember like it'll be yesterday." "He said he'd waste us too." "Not scared." "They're like the weather, they change all the time." "I can't lead you later, I'm in detention." "We'll do a commando raid." " What's that?" " Their worst nightmare." " I need volunteers." " Me!" "You're too small." "Another time." "Create a diversion." "During soccer, I'll kill the sound system." "I deal with the priest as usual?" "I'll get out of detention early." "Goal!" "Be good sports." "Don't lose heart!" "It's 3-0!" "Follow Christ's example." "He never let go." "He couldn't." "I'm sorry?" "What did you say?" "He couldn't, father." "He couldn't..." "Give me that ball!" "IS FREEDOM INDEPENDENCE?" "That doesn't inspire you?" " Do I know freedom?" " As much as anyone." "Homework, chores, punishment..." "Now Mum wants me to work for Mr Jean Jean." "Freedom means having rights!" "You can choose." "Mr Jean Jean or working for a scholarship." "You have what it takes." "If you want your independence." "Want my definition of freedom?" "There!" "And of independence?" "Here!" "I choose to milk the cows." "This is my school!" "Foul!" "Hurry up." " Father, he can't walk." " Again?" " Are you ok, Lacrique?" " Can I return to the bench?" "Yes, of course." "Free kick." "Bacaillé, your prayer has been answered." "It's okay." "All right." "Lord, give me strength!" "Strength, Lord!" "What?" "We don't need music?" "Let's get back to it." "Thanks for my brother." "Now I'm in the gang, I'll be tough, I'll..." "They won't even notice you." "We aren't fighting them." "The wet willies will teach them." " But we aren't wet willies!" " That's what he means!" "Hey, it's Lanterne!" " Get lost, we said!" " We never said that!" "All girls can do is sew." "A tomboy?" " She doesn't know!" " A great girl, I'd say." "A quick vocabulary lesson." "'Wet willies':" "From 'willy', common noun." "Slang word for the penis... if you know what that is." "And 'wet', a qualifying adjective." "The two words together mean you." "A lily liver, a priest's son... a namby-pamby... and a wet willy." "I have one huge advantage over all of you." "Oh yeah?" "What?" "No willy, so I can't be a wet willy." "What'll you do in Velrans?" "Sew, of course." "I'm just a girl." "What?" "Gibus, over there!" "The others with me!" "Ok, I'm going." " Come on." " Calm down." " At 'three', we go." " But we're only two." "Come on." "Over here." "Do this properly, ok." " It's not too risky?" " No way..." "You're so heavy..." "Enough of this nonsense!" "Well?" "He's naked, His mum's telling him off." " She is?" " Yes." " He's naked?" " Stark naked." " And getting scolded." " Not so loud!" " His mum's giving him hell." " I get the message." "Serves him right." "He's the wet willy!" "I know:" "Let's steal his briefs." " Good idea!" " The wet willies will teach him." "Grab his briefs, go on, grab them." "Here." "If they don't understand now..." "Lebrac, let's split." "We'll get caught." "It's not bad." "Should it be 'are' or 'is' creaps?" "VELRANS IS CREAPS" "Damn!" "Not scared." "Got you!" "It's Zéphirin!" "And his mutt." "Toss the sausage!" "Calm down, Carmen!" "What's up?" "Sausage!" "The rascals!" "Go on, Carmen!" "That straw takes the cake!" "We're the best!" " Got them!" " Got them good!" "Come on, come on!" "Move it!" "The war's back on!" "The Gibus kids!" "We got a trophy!" "He won't never know!" "Grab his feet!" "Titchgibus!" "Aztec's a wet willy!" "We were 20 or 30 rascals In our gang" "All armed to the teeth to fight Do you hear me?" "All armed to the teeth to fight Velrans." "In the first bout Our sticks gave a clout" "And as they fled Do you hear me?" "And as they fled We bopped their heads" "In the second bout..." "Where were you?" "Have you seen the time?" "It's 9 o'clock!" "Get inside!" "Done your homework?" " Good luck." " Not scared." "There you are!" "She's got a damn nerve!" " What would your brother say?" " Tintin isn't here." "'I'll give you Tintin'?" "Wearing his clobber too?" "Sorry, Mum." "The milk round took longer than planned." "Get the wood and feed the animals." "I have homework." "Yes, get the wood and feed the animals." "Mr Jean Jean's dropping in tomorrow." "You start next month." "Lanterne..." "Thanks." "For helping Titchgibus this morning." "You're welcome." "How did you know?" "I'm chief." "I know everything." "Creeps has two e's, Mr Know-It-All." "Good night." "Yeah, right, good night." "This morning, we had the nasty surprise of finding... the school door daubed with insults." "An act of vandalism!" "Unprecedented!" "The culprits have one last chance to own up." "I shall be lenient." "I'm waiting." "No one?" "I see." "I refuse to condone further attacks on morality and decorum." " The offenders will be unmasked..." " Look, a ribbon." "...and punished!" "And, since no one is owning up... zero all round in conduct." "Shit!" "Silence!" "Get out your report books!" " Damn!" " I'm soaked!" "This proves it wasn't us?" "So who was it?" "Why would we ink ourselves?" "It's the Longeverne lot!" " I've finished, sir." " No..." "It's nice and clean." "You find that funny?" "Always behind, Lacrique." "What do you need to be a citizen?" "To be..." "Well..." "Or not to be..." "To be or not to be?" "Think you're Hamlet, Lacrique?" "He's theatrical today." " A hairy ass." " A hairy ass?" "A hairy chin, I mean." "'Hairy ass' is funny?" "You need hairs on your chin..." "You have to be an adult." "Do I give you a ten or detenction?" "I'd prefer a ten." "Sit down." "I'm not talking to you, Lacrique." "But the boy behind you, The great Lebrac." "A terrible prompter." "Cut it out and come with me." "Show me the culprits!" "Dad..." "That'll teach you!" "Sit down." "It's only Mr Labru." " Mr. Labru?" " Merlin." "Labru." "Is that what adults do in Velrans?" "Daubing insults and sitting when an adult's here." "Is that what adults do in Velrans?" "Enter without knocking?" "Or rather knock their own offspring?" "Well done, Labru." "At least our offspring know that 'creeps' has two e's!" "In any case, they certainly know plenty of insults." "Starting with... 'wet willies'." "We're very old-fashioned in Longeverne." "We use words from the dictionary." " So, if I say..." " Go ahead." "Wet willy... you don't understand as it isn't in the dictionary?" " Say it again?" " Wet willy." " You're saying it?" " Yes, I am." "Wet willy." "And if I said 'creeps' without two e's but with an a?" "Go on, rat to your old man!" "Not scared." " Willy." "Singular." " Wet willy." "You want a scrap?" "You'll get one." " After school, wet willy." " Creep." " Wet willy!" " Creep." " Creep." " Scrap today." "All right, creep?" " In a girly voice?" " Creep!" " Scrap after school." " A big wet willy." "Scrap after school, pass it on." "Big fat creep." "Well done." "A fine example for the children." " Anything else?" " No." "Come on." "Talking to the Longeverne lot gives me the 'wet willy'." " The wit of Velrans." " Yes indeed." "Next time you give them lines, don't use my school's walls." "And an ink shower is pedagogical?" "Out with you, Labru!" "Merlin, the Virgin!" "Labru..." "How did it go?" "Labru the Brute!" "I'd forgotten." "Longeverne, pindick!" "Knobhead, Velrans!" "We've just had a spelling lesson." "Thanks to Mr Labru." "You now know how to write insults." "Sit down." "Yes, Lebrac?" " It wasn't us, sir." " I'm sorry?" "Who wrote a bad word on the door." "It wasn't them." "It was me." "You need two e's in the word 'creeps'!" "Even in Velrans they learn that." "Sir?" " I was with him." " Me too." "Me too, sir." "Me too." " Me too." " Me too." "All right." "Here's a game to allow you to free your friend." "Ten questions, ten answers." "Five correct answers and no detention for Lebrac." "Sit down." "Mr Gibus, let's start with you." "Charlemagne's coronation." "Well..." "That's easy." "4810." "I never forget that." "That's the height of Mont Blanc!" "Who was the father of Francois I?" "Mr Gibus, yes?" "Francois Zero." "The 1789 revolution... took place on May 8, 1945." "No one knows who wrote La Fontaine's fables." "How are men and women different?" "I think the man has a brain... and the woman a mind of her 'own'." "Who can tell me who wrote... the famous line 'to be or not to be'?" " Lacrique!" " Lacrique!" "Right, Lebrac, you get to spend an hour with me." "Off to war without Lebrac?" "No, it's too risky." "Yeah?" "What does Camus think?" "Camus listens to me..." " What do you think, Camus?" " We can't without Lebrac." " Why?" " Got to defend the village." "Of course, you're right." "You're so brave." "I'm a colonel." "Me too." "You may never make general." "Where's she going?" "Lanterne, lighting the way to the fight?" "We're already wet willies, let's not be yellow-bellies." "Well?" "What now?" "I guess we go too..." "Go on then." "Ok, let's go." "Come on, guys!" "Is she watching?" "They'll butcher us." "Hey, guys, wait for me!" "Hurry." "That one's mine!" "Here I come!" "Titchgibus, your sword!" "If they see a girl, we'll die of shame." "Tie her up!" "Knock her out!" "Hide her!" "Come back!" "Come back!" "You're on watch?" "No, that's your job." "I'm your superior." "Do as I say." " That's no reason." " Lebrac's orders!" "Wear this." "Camouflage!" "To your positions." "Me first." "Deploy." "Lacrique, there!" "Bacaillé, and you, there!" "The Gibuses here!" "You, wet willies, as discreet as a mammoth's fart!" "Think your ink stains hide you, you stinking squid?" "Leave the mud bath, you wimps!" "Save your breath, shit-mill!" "Leaky bidet!" "Where's Lebrac?" "Forget him, dung pustule!" "Midget scum!" "I'll show you!" "Shut yourfly-trap!" "Useless!" "Useless!" "Pig's anus!" "Constipated tadpole!" "Clench your butt, I smell the seashore!" "Rotten plum scum!" "What, you dwarf?" "Rotten plum scum!" "Charge!" "Longeverne rules!" "Bo-Tize-Ma..." "Sto-Gad-Truff..." "You're not a wet willy, you're a shrimp dick!" "Aztec... the flyspeck!" "Useless, shrimp!" "Ugly mug!" " Last try, leech!" " Aztec, little dick!" "That worked!" "Go on, pull!" "Crush you, slug!" "Booby traps!" "Pull back!" "Let go of me!" "Run, you pansies!" "We won!" "Velrans!" "Run, you bog brushes!" "We have a prisoner?" "Let me see!" "Get lost!" "We'll manage without you!" " We don't need girls!" " Go sew your dress!" "Get lost, pissy missy?" "You're a load of wet willies!" "And you don't even know how to use them!" "At least we have willies!" "Stand aside!" "The mighty, Papier Maché Isn't so proud now?" "You don't scare me, pindick!" "And dick's saying a lot for a wee one like yours." "Let's show him." "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "Stop it!" "Stop it, Camus!" "Stop it, not my buttons!" "Camus, stop!" "Not my buttons!" "They'll murder me at home!" "Stop it, Camus!" "Camus!" "Let go of me!" "Let go of me!" "Not my buttons!" "You're a stinker, Camus!" "A stinker..." "Let him go now." "Take your buttons." "You're stinkers, all of you!" "All right..." "A little succinct, Lebrac." "But you use syntax very well." "And the quotations too." "Spare me the drawings next time." " 15!" " See?" "When you make an effort..." "Where are they?" "At the ford!" "Lanterne's acting as bait!" "Run!" "Camus needs you!" " We were pathetic." " Next time, we surround them." "We need a plan." "A tunnel under the river?" " Don't talk crap, Lacrique." " Or tree disguises!" "I forgot my catapult!" "The best way to strike Is the way we do it" "Smash the Longeverne gang Then start again." " What did they do?" " Cut them off." " Revenge!" " Let's get them!" "Come on." "Lanterne!" " Lanterne!" " Get down!" "Lanterne!" " Lanterne!" " No, Lebrac!" "Great catch, guys!" " Where's Lanterne?" " Forget her." "Cut him down!" "You morons won't get me!" "Everyone onto him!" "It's Lebrac, they 'prisoned' him!" " Not scared!" " No way?" "Leaving so soon?" "To go where?" "Go on, get revenge." " Go on, Papier Maché." " Show him who's strongest." "Go on?" "You can't go yet." " You're not so tough now?" " Go on, Papier Maché." " It's funny?" " You missed one." "Only two more." "The party isn't over yet." "Now his briefs." "His briefs." "What?" "Noticed I'm a girl today?" "Yes." "I'm not thinking anything." "You wouldn't carry me in trousers." "And you wouldn't have saved me." "Careful!" "It's so romantic." "They're just flowers falling." "No, I meant you rushing at the enemy shouting my name." "That's romantic." "It's just that..." "As chief, I have to..." " Put me down." " No, protect my troops." "No, you can put me down anyway." "Yes." "Sorry." "Of course." "Thank you for letting me join your army." "What?" "You just said so." "You like to protect your troops." "So I'm one of them." "Thanks for carrying me too." "I'm taking a shortcut." "'Lebrac, Farm Produce'." "Your dad's old truck?" "Ladies first." "Where to?" "The land of independence." " Let's go." " Start her up." "Right!" " Left!" " Mind the car!" "Brake!" " Faster!" " I'm flat-out!" "Turn left!" " The brake's jammed!" " We're ok!" " By the way..." " Yes?" " Each leader adds to the code?" " Yes." " And your word is 'Cav'?" " Yep." " Meaning?" " Caviar." "I've never tried it, but it's so expensive it's got to be good." "Seven o'clock!" "Hurry!" "Why's the mason at your place?" "To get an apprentice." "What about school?" " You can't start work..." " Don't tell me what to do!" "Come here, you!" "You're an hour late!" "All right, I'm sorry!" "Don't give me that!" "Look at the state you're in!" " I don't care!" " Move!" "It's high time you moved out!" "'Independence:" "A state of material self-sufficiency." "It does not depend on anybody.'" "'Injustice inspires independence.' Voltaire." "What's this crap?" "Where were you?" "Look at the state you're in!" " I did nothing wrong!" " Shut up!" "Come down, Mum's not angry anymore." " She just wants the wood chopped." " Dad wouldn't have punished you." "He punished us all when he left." "Are you leaving too?" "When I grow up." "But you are grown up." "Well, when I get even bigger." "When I'm more grown up!" "So grown up I'll touch the stars." "I'll make the president name me first minister for children." "And we'll be independent." "First?" "Who'll be last?" "You!" "And you!" "Got a girlfriend, huh?" "No!" "Buy her marshmallows." "I don't have one!" "Girls like marshmallows." "The last mark I gave him was 15/20." " And I think that if we encourage him..." " 15/20?" "So what?" "No need to be a genius to feed cattle and fight like a lout." "I'm not saying he's a genius, but..." "We need to trust him." "He needs that." " We must help..." " Help?" "What do I do all day?" "How dare you judge me." "Mrs. Lebrac, you misunderstand me." "No, you misunderstand me!" "You know I can't keep him here." "He's lucky to have an apprenticeship." "He'll learn a trade." "Exactly." "But I think that if he persevered..." "Recitation and syntax won't make somebody of him!" "He's already somebody." "Mr. Merlin, if you've finished, I have my hens to feed." "Pass the ball!" "Go on, Camus!" "Come on, pass it!" "Go on!" " Defend!" " On your own!" "There!" "Go!" "The ref needs to wake up!" "What's going on?" " Foul!" " What's your problem?" "It's a friendly game!" "Act like good Christians!" "Come on, back off!" "Camus!" "There, that's it!" "Defense!" "Move!" "Move over to the wing!" "Go, Lebrac!" "Pass the ball!" " Here!" " Outta the way!" "Go, go!" "Ref, foul!" "Go, go!" "That's against the rules!" "Respect each other!" "Go for goal!" "Foul!" "The goal is refused!" "Give me the ball." "What?" "It's in the net!" "There!" "Calm down!" "Velrans, Used Bedpans!" "Longeverne, Ugly Germ!" "Velrans, Used Bedpans!" "Longeverne, Ugly Germ!" " Velrans, Used Bedpans!" " Longeverne, Ugly Germ!" "Merlin!" "Merlin Chinfrim!" "What's up, Labru?" "The Brute!" "Blockhead!" " Shitface!" " Clown!" " Yellow-belly!" " Ape!" "Your chick stinks!" "Red card, Lebrac!" "Christians turn the other cheek, like a good Christian." "Good Christian?" "Cretin more like!" "Break it up!" "Come on, let's go!" "Why are we going up the tower?" "To set the time!" " Does Lebrac fight well?" " Yes, for a boy." "Break it up now!" "Slob!" "What if He sees us?" "Who?" "If He exists, he needs a sick note signed by both parents." "Mission accomplished." "Back down now!" "St Eulalie!" "Break it up!" "In the Lord's name!" "My cassock!" " Do you think they've scored?" " I doubt it." "Stop!" "Stop!" "Tintin..." "Dad!" "He's back!" "It's Big Tintin..." "I'm glad you're back." "Since I took over as leader, I've had 37 victories overthose..." "Remember Crottin?" "Grotty Crottin!" "A jerk from Velrans." "Then we were sent to the front, in Algeria." "Gunfire all around." "And he was lying in the sun." "A typical Velrans idler, I thought!" "So I went over." "He was just lying there." "But his head was six feet away." "A mistake." "A French artillery mistake." "And then..." "I don't know what happened." "But I must have blown a fuse." "They gave me a week's leave." "And now I'm here... at home... to have fun!" "But him..." "You were saying?" "Want a drag?" "WORLD NEWS" "Reinforcements have landed in Algiers... reassuring the concerned populace..." "Look at his gun!" "I bet that hurt!" "There is no possibility of social reform in Algeria." "In Algeria, a state funeral for..." "Lacrique, sit down!" "During around 30 attacks, seven people died." "Gentlemen, gentlemen!" "Behave yourselves!" "Such depravity has no place in our lesson on Algeria!" "The show is over!" " Father, show more!" " Please!" "Calm down now!" "Thank you." "I hope this footage will provide food for thought." "Go home now." "No running in the house of God!" "It was good though..." "Still here, Lebrac?" "The Algerians are really fighting for independence?" "Some wage war for it." "Others fight unarmed." "You can't always choose." "It's a long, hard task anyhow." "That's how it is." "You said the other day we always have a choice." "So?" "You're right." "But the most important choices are those you make for yourself." "You know..." "I've made three in my life." "I chose my job." "I chose to come back here." "And I chose..." "Sto." "Sto?" "Sto?" "Don't play the fool." "Never wondered what "sto" means." "In Bo-Tize-Ma-Caram-Sto-Gad- Truff-Snick-Bus-Ki-Cav?" "'Sto' stands for 'stone'." "I was unbeaten at skimming stones." "A real champ back then." "That's how I became leader." " Merlin the virgin!" " The Brute!" "So I chose 'Sto', like the guy before chose 'Caram', because he liked caramel." "Are you still unbeatable at skipping stones?" "You're still a champion skimmer?" "We should check." "What do you think?" "I think I could beat you." " You're not serious?" " I am." "What a nerve!" "Do your homework first." " I'll do 16 skips." " Just get 16 in maths." "Back already?" "Yes, I have homework for tomorrow." "I'll do the milk round later." "I'll go then." "Anything to say?" "Where's this from?" "It's mine!" "I earned it!" "I can't clothe your sister." " Where's it from?" " None of your business!" "Why should I give you everything?" "You're asking me that?" "All I do is give you everything!" "My health, my energy..." " Do I have any choice?" " Yes." "We all have a choice!" "You choose then." "Sweets for yourself or a coat for your sister." "I hate you." "Independence is the condition of someone free in society." "We'll add a new meaning:" "Child independence." "What use is that to us?" "We'll choose for ourselves, and help each other." "Freedom means doing what we want." "Enough detention and punishment." "Smart pupils will help the others." "I'll help with maths." "What happens when we come home in rags?" "We'll sew our buttons back on first and have a good time." "The standard definition of freedom." " How'll you do it?" " Like grown-ups." "We work at school, help at home... and defend our village against Velrans!" " We're braver than them." " That's right!" "The state of an autonomous individual or group." "And we'll prove it!" "Bo-Tize-Ma-Caram-Sto-Gad- Truff-Snick-Bus-Ki-Cav!" "It's all ours!" "We'll build a hut on the truck." "The Children's Ministry!" "With a sign:" "'No parents allowed'!" "We'll need wood and creepers to hold it." " Go on!" " I'm driving!" "This is good to go here." " Move all this!" " I'll get more!" "We've earned a day's rest." "A good nap." "Who's done his homework?" "No, too tired." "Enough work for the day." "To read' in the perfect?" " 'I'd have readed'." " No." "'I've rud'." "My mum says that." "Is 'I've read', not 'rud'." "I've read" "You've read" "He read..." "The past participle agrees with the direct object placed before it." "A circle's surface area is pi times the radius's square root." "The pluperfect is for an action preceding a past action." "Great idea, the church bell!" "Aztec, it's 7 o'clock!" "Don't let them leave!" "We have to go!" "Stop them!" "Their bell didn't ring!" "The cheats!" "Tomorrow, wet willies!" "We'll waste you!" "Come on!" "Hurry it up!" "Buttons to the right, shirts to the left!" "That's ok?" "Yeah, if you want." "And those who need both mending?" "Make a third line." "Third line." "Over to you." "How do you mean?" "Give her room!" "You learn how to sew at school?" "I got 2/20 last year, 3.5/20 this year." "We blew our dough on this?" "Be gentlemen!" "Help her!" "She can't sew... can't keep her mouth shut and can't be nice." "And can't be nice." "There, your shirt's mended!" "You know you're very impudent?" " Me?" " You are!" " Farewell, my lady." " Robin!" "Don't jump!" "Where are you going?" " I need a pee." " In the sacristy?" "Let's ask Father Simon." "I think I need gumballs." "You're a girl, I'll buy you marshmallows." "I hate marshmallows." "I want gumballs." "That's blackmail!" "You love me, don't you?" "You know I do." "Lower your hand!" "Licentious scenes have no place in the Lord's house!" " Marion, will you come with me?" " To Sherwood?" "I'm sick of it." "I got yelled at again for a lost button." "If we don't fight, we're bum-skin bags." "Bum-skin bags!" "That's the answer!" "We let our parents slap us for each lost button?" "We don't need them!" " Parents?" " No, clothes!" " We'll fight nude!" " You're nuts." "Count me." "When you say nude, you mean like Adam and Eve?" "Those two never fought." "I'm not showing my peter." "Why?" "'Cause your dad drinks and you have a burgundy mark on your bum?" "He only drinks two liters a day." "And, second, even if I had a mark..." "Who's for fighting in the buff?" "It doesn't sound so bad." "Sorry." "I'll do it." "Just now no one wanted to!" "Just drop them and the problem's solved." "I've nothing to show." "Prove it." "With Jesus and Robin Hood eyeing my knob?" "Jesus always walks around naked." " You even see his baby Jesus?" " Hold him!" "Lacrique, let go!" "What's going on?" " Unbutton him!" " Hold his arms!" " Guys, the priest!" " We're not stupid!" "The priest's here!" "Say your prayers, friends." "I'll say one for you." "Oh, no!" "St Eulalie, my projector!" "Burned." "It's all burned!" "They have girls now." "But, guys, we have cherries." "Ripe ones." "Unlike girls, you can't wash them away." "When they get home with their clothes all red... they'll get given hell." "Chief, they're here!" "Get down!" "Get down!" "Load the weapons!" "Load up!" "Prepare the ammo!" "Faster!" "The cherries!" "Load up!" "Hold the catapult!" "Slaughter Longeverne!" "Faster!" "You'll have red asses!" "Stop everything!" "Oust the Velrans!" "Attack!" "Creeps!" "They're naked..." "Oust the Velrans!" "Chief, what do we do?" "What do we do, chief?" "We're screwed!" "We're getting wasted..." "We're screwed!" "What's going on here?" "Come on, Carmen!" "We'll cornerthe rascals." "Keep watch, Carmen." "We'll collar the brats." "That was a blast." "We whipped their..." "Zeph's here!" "Zeph's here!" "C'mon, guys!" "Run!" "You little shits!" "I'll teach you to play nudists around here!" "Slowly, boys..." "Outta the way!" "That'll teach you, numbskull!" "Oh, dear God..." "I'm sick of these kids." "Ric-Gad-Truf-Snick-Bus-Ki-Cav!" "We shook off Zeph!" "Hey, guys, we got them!" "I crushed a cherry on his head, his ears were full of them!" " Guys, seen my briefs?" " No." "You're sure?" "I don't have them." "Oust the Velrans!" "Wait for me!" "Here I am!" "Where are you?" " Hurry it up, guys." " You're not naked!" "I'm the cloakroom." " Seen my briefs anywhere?" " What?" " Got my briefs?" " No way!" "Not funny." "Give me my briefs!" "Why wasn't I told about this scrap?" " Ok, I see..." " My briefs!" "Lanterne, pass me my briefs!" " Just there." " I'm not your slave." "Wait for me!" "Wait for me!" "I'm sick of this!" "It's the boys!" "It's gonna be even worse at home." "Mum'll murder me." "The brambles didn't get me anyhow." "My feet are full of thorns." "What a wimp!" "Yeah, sure." "We really gave it to Zéphirin and the Velrans lot?" "Maybe it's a victory, but we don't deserve it." "Tintin never had to strip to win." "I don't mind saying, what the others are thinking." "I'm sick of your crap ideas, Lebrac!" "Homework, chores..." "We slave away and get beatings anyway." "What happened to independence and a good time?" " Things were ok before." " That's true." "He's right." "We always scrapped with the Velrans lot." "Who said independence was easy?" "No detention or punishment for a week now." " That's true!" " You want a good time?" "We'll have a party." "On Sunday week." "Without grown-ups and free, all we've ever dreamt of." " With sweets, Lebrac?" " All you can eat!" " And fireworks?" " To light up the woods!" "Don't get won over by a few sweets!" " And chocs?" " Chocs too!" "Ice lollies?" "Toffee apples for Octavie!" "Apples, love, and girls too!" "It'll be a red-letter day in French history!" "Lebrac, if you're so smart, where will the money come from?" "He's right." "Where money is." "We'll work like our parents." "Guys, you forgot me!" "You forgot me." "Let's make money!" "Bird calls!" "Clafoutis!" "Would you like a cold drink?" "Apple juice?" "Six plus eleven..." " Six francs." " Seven..." " Eleven francs." " Four francs." "A bird call for two sous." " And a pair of them?" " Three sous." "Little birds!" "Little birds!" "Barley sugar, praline, toffee apples!" "Come on, hurry!" " What do you want?" " A toffee apple." "I can't, it's the gang's kitty." " It's only one sou." " I said no." "You don't love me then." "You love your gang." "Octavie!" "Toffee apples!" "Come and get them!" " Thank you." " Have a good day." "Wait, while I get your change." "Just a second." "Get your bird calls!" "Sing like a nightingale!" "Hi, Bacaillé." "Everything okay?" "Here, sir." "Sorry." " It fell." " Sure it fell..." "Get lost." " We can't buy any?" " Any what?" "Chocolate." " Got money." " Yes." " Four chocolate bars." " Not for him." " You're sure?" " Yes." "Just three then." "Thank you." " You're sure?" " Yes." " Here you go." " That's dumb." "It's good." "Cute birds." "Want to fly too, little sparrow?" "I'm no thief, Aztec." "Don't tell the others." "He feels safe but I could crush him." "Just don't tell Lebrac." "Know what I want?" "To share my chocolate." "You know, let's just chat for once." "I can't be a traitor." "Traitor?" "Who talked about traitors?" "You'll just be Velrans' new friend." "Don't worry about a bit of chocolate." " Easy." " Dead easy." "Fritters, praline, boiled sweets, nougats?" " What'll it be?" " A toffee apple." "A bird call to coo with!" "Want to bill and coo, lovebirds?" "Ah, Lebrac!" "You want us to coo?" "I wouldn't mind." " Will you buy me one?" " Which one?" "This one?" "Yes!" "How much is this one?" " Two sous." " Two sous?" " Here." " Thank you." "Don't spend it on cigarettes." "Have a good day." "Octavie!" "Octavie!" "Octavie, a present for you." "Calm down, boys." "Hello!" "Hello, boys!" "Good to see you at last, father." "We were waiting." " Can I help you?" " No, this is fragile equipment." "I'll see to it myself if you don't mind." "Settle down now, like we said." "The shorter ones at the front, the taller ones behind." "Go on, Gibus." "Get to your places!" "While Father Simon sets up his gear." "Help me, Merlin, instead of talking nonsense." "Do you need help, don't you?" "Make your mind up." " Fold your arms, boys." " Just a second." "Silence, please." "Get ready..." "Need a hand, father?" " Non omnia possumus omnes." " I'm sorry?" "'I wouldn't say no', Merlin." "Take care, you're hurting me." "Stay calm, boys." "What did I say?" "There." "This is starting to get on my nerves!" "We won't use that." "We have natural light." "Stand with the children." "Smile!" "Come on, smile!" "No photo then." "The photo's adjourned!" "Easier than catching a blackbird." "Sunday, you say?" "After mass." "BUTTON PARTY NEXT SUNDAY AT THE HUT" "History test Monday." "Revise for it." "Don't say I didn't warn you." "Goodbye." "Goodbye, children." " Mum?" " Your teacher wants to see us." "It's in Montalban." " You know Montalban?" " Montalban?" "It's a little bit far, but you can always come back at weekends." "The school has scholar ships for poor families." "But why me?" "You can do it, Lebrac." "If you pass, you'll go on studying." "And be someone." "You're not pleased?" "How will you manage?" "Don't worry." "You know me, I'll manage." "It's your decision." "I can't." "I can't leave my mother." "You'll get an education in town!" "I have a choice." "It's settled!" "You'll be able to do any job you want." "Even first Minister for Children." "Promise me." "All right." "Congratulations, Lebrac." "Not scared." "An examiner will be here on Sunday." "On Sunday?" " I can't see." " He's being murdered." "Aztec's gang is lurking nearthe hut!" "Let's go, they'll wreck it!" "Scrap without Lebrac?" "You're nuts!" "You always chicken out!" "Sunday?" "Yes, Sunday." "Here he comes!" " Lebrac, we have to go and do in..." " Screw that!" "Move it!" "Get off my back!" "Are you nuts?" "Give me a break with this crap!" "This crap war for retards!" "Your button party too!" "What's up?" "Not playing with your friends?" "I think we need a new chief." "What?" "Wasn't he your best friend?" "That's how it is?" "Someone weakens so you drop him?" "Did you hear a word he said?" "Help each other and independence!" "A chief is just a new word in the secret code?" "Lebrac would never have dumped a single one of us." "Right..." "Who still wants to have the party tomorrow?" "The party's cancelled." "We can't do it because of Lebrac." "Why did he cancel it?" "Lebrac and his dumb ideas." "You're not getting the hut ready?" "No more party." "Lebrac 'candled' it." " The others need to know." " They know." "Not all of them." "I hate church!" "Good morning." "Hello, madam." "I have to come on a Sunday for you, Mr Lebarque." "Lebrac..." "Sit down." "Beautiful." "Why's he at school on a Sunday?" "Because he might be going to a fancy school." "Mum, can we go now?" "Yes, let's go." "I'll catch up at the church." "Do you think the answers are outside?" "Mr. Lebarque!" "Lebrac, not Lebarque!" "Like Braque, the painter!" "All right, Mr. Lebrac..." "We'd reached the oxymoron." "What is an oxymoron?" "An oxymoron..." "Stop muttering." "You either know or you don't." "Next question." "Don't mind me." "Yes, we've done the oxymoron." "On the day..." "Of the graffiti on the Velrans school door." "You ought to remember, Lebrac." "An oxymoron unites two opposing terms... such as 'a calm storm'." "You had me worried." "Now conjugations." "The imperfect subjunctive of 'aller'." "The imperfect subjunctive..." "was the day of the horse market." "Que j'allasse que tu allasses" "Que il alasse..." "Name Louis Pasteur's main discoveries." "In 1881, he did the first inoculation against anthrax." "In 1885, he discovered the anti-rabies vaccine." "Very good." "What is the altitude of Mont Blanc?" "4807 meters." "Who murdered Henri IV?" "Ravaillac." "Could you leave us, please?" "What is a trigonometric function?" "A trigonometric function?" "That's part of maths." "No, of geometry, I mean." "I can calculate a tangent, an angle..." " I've failed then?" " Yes." "That question." "But that's normal." "Trigonometric functions aren't on the syllabus." "You'll do them next year." " I wanted to see if..." " Next year?" "You have a scholarship." "However, I feel obliged to make a remark." "You need to be more methodical." " And I..." " I apologize, madam." "I can't say that as it's an intransitive verb, but my pals are waiting outside..." "And a girl and a hut..." "I don't want to let them down." " Is the test over?" " Yes." "Every year, Jesus's parents... went to Jerusalem for the Easter holiday." "When he was 12... they made the pilgrimage, as usual." "Aztec, the party's cancelled!" "Call off the attack!" " No party?" " No, believe me." "I believe you." "But one thing I know is never trust a traitor." "I swear!" "Stop that!" "Let us acclaim God's word." "Praise to thee, Lord Jesus." "It's the button party!" "Come on, everybody!" "Come to the Button Party!" " The Button Party!" " Come on!" "THANK YOU" "Girls, all that's for you." " Thanks." " It's all for me!" "Let's dance?" "In front of everyone?" "You're nuts?" "Octavie, come and dance." "Look, I have a toffee apple." "That was the other day." " I want candyfloss now." " Where can I get that?" "I don't know, work it out." " Let me try again." " Me too." "Horrible." "When I grow up, I'll smoke." "And I'll be an alcoholic!" "The Brute!" " I was good at skimming stones too." " For a Velrans boy." " Nine!" " Ten!" "Twelve!" " Not bad." " A replay." "Longeverne, Ugly Germ." "No, no..." " What did I say?" " I know, but..." "Velrans, used bedpans!" "All right." "But it's 'creeps'." "With two e's." " Labru, that was a good one!" " Not bad?" " Yeah, it went." " You've never done one like that." "Thank you." "Dad got it for my brother's return." "I pinched it." "Caviar!" "It'll do fifteen." "Fifteen?" "You used bedpan." "Labru, barely seven!" "Wet willy." " That works." " Wet willy works." " Old style now?" " Old style." " Come on." " Come on." "At least two?" "Come on." "We never managed it." " Very funny!" "Very good." " Two!" "Party's over, termite dicks!" "They'll crush us!" "It's Aztec!" "Run, Titchgibus!" "Go on, Aztec!" "Destroy that germ!" "Crush him!" "In the guts!" "Go on, do it!" "Keep your war." "I've found better." " Everything okay?" " War..." " Fight!" " Lebrac!" "He's mad!" "He'll kill him!" "Move, I'll tie his legs!" "The party continues!" "Long live Longeverne!" "Victory for Longeverne!" "Lebrac, you're the best!" "We don't rat on our pals." "Unlike you wet willies!" "Traitor!" "Velrans scum." "I'm sick of being a loser." "I always pick the wrong side." "I just wanted to buy you a toffee apple." "All this for a toffee apple?" "No." "For you." "Wait till your dad gets you?" "Enough of this nonsense!" "Move!" "Mum looks angry." "It's not their fault." "I took them there." " Here, Mum." " Thank you." "Was it fun?" "Did you dance?" "Were there cakes?" "There were thousands of sweets!" "We smashed it all with fireworks of very colour!" "Fireworks too?" "And were there..." "blackberry tarts?" " Will you make one?" " Maybe." "After you wash and tidy your room." "We'll get the flour." "I'll do my milk round." "My big boy..." "Come on." "As you all know..." "Lebrac leaves today." "To let you say goodbye, I have decided... to extend today's break until his bus goes." "You may go out now." "What's she doing?" " She's crazy." " She'll be punished." "I think I've found the new chief." "You need someone inventive, brave." "And discreet." "Someone who'll never let you down." "A little light..." "A lantern." "But she's a girl!" "And you're a jerk!" "What can I say." "Just say the secret code." "Yes, the secret code..." "You have to add your own word." "Bo-Tize-Ma-Caram-Ric-Gad- Truf-Snick-Bus-Ki-Cav..." "Wil." " What does 'Wil' mean?" " 'Wil'?" "William!" "William!" "William Lebrac..." "Bon voyage." "Not scared." "He's going to be first Minister for Children?" "He already is." "What are you going to do?" "All with me!" "Attack!" "Oust the Velrans!"