"Look!" "He's waking " "Page Dr. Cocheton." "Quickly." "Dr. Cocheton, come to room 119 please, Dr. Cocheton to room 119, please " "No, no, Jean-Dominique, open your eyes " "Jean-Dominique?" "No, no, keep your eyes open, you've been asleep for a long time, you're waking up now." "Can you hear me?" "Monsieur Bauby?" "Excellent." "Now, open your eyes wide - try to keep them open - good man " "Don't be alarmed." "You're in a hospital." "I'm a doctor." "My name's Cocheton." "These are nurses." "We're here to take care of you." "Do you remember what happened?" "Vaguely " "Do you remember what happened?" "I said, vaguely" "You're in the Naval Hospital, Berck-sur-Mer." "On the coast." "In Normandy." "You were treated first in Paris, and then brought here." "Do you remember that?" "I'm not sure " "You see, Jean-Dominique, you've had a stroke." "You've been in a coma for almost three weeks." "But now you're waking up and you'll be fine, I promise you." "I'm just going to give you one or two simple tests." "I want you to keep your eyes on me." "Good." "You understand " "Of course I understand " "When I say blink, please blink." "Excellent." "Now, tell me your name." "Jean-Dominique Bauby." "Come on, try, try really hard, say your name." "I just did." "Try saying your children's names." "Céleste." "Théophile." "All right, don't worry." "It's a slow process." "Your speech will come back." "I can't speak?" "Why can't you hear me?" "Oh, Christ." "I can't speak." "I can't move." "What's happened to me?" "I can't-remember- l -l " "My name is Jean-Dominique Bauby." "Oh, my God " "All right, all right, I've had a stroke - my speech'll come back - my memory will come back " " I'll be patient - oh, God - okay, okay- I believe you" " I believe" " I believe " "Monsieur, Bauby " "Now." "Let's see  what have you been up to during the night?" "I paid a flying visit to New York." "What happened to you?" "You're doing very well." "And this morning you have an important visitor." "Dr. Lepage, your neurologist." "So we want you at your very best " "If I could only be that frog." "Good morning, good morning." "My name's Alain Lepage, I'm your neurologist." "You know Dr. Cocheton, of course." "Jean-Dominique - no, no, your friends call you Jean-Do, so that's what I'm going call you." "Jean-Do." "Because I want you to think of me as your friend, and as your friend ..." "Jean-Do, I know how difficult this is for you." "I also know that nobody has explained to you the full extent of your condition." "Well, that's my job." "Yes." "My job." "You've had what we call a cerebrovascular accident." "It's put your brain stem out of action." "The brain stem is an essential component of our internal computer the link between the brain and the spinal cord." "In the past, we would have said you'd had a massive stroke." "You would very probably have died." "But now we have such improved resuscitation techniques that we're able to prolong life." "Is this life?" "Yes, prolong life." "I'm not going to mince words." "You are paralyzed from head to toe." "And, as you now must have realised, you are unable to speak." "You have what we call 'locked-in syndrome'." "'Locked-in syndrome'." "Oh Christ, Noirtier de Villefort " "It will be of no comfort to you but your condition is extremely rare." "Extremely rare." "And we simply don't know the cause." "You don't smoke and you're not a heavy drinker." "So." "I'm afraid it's just one of those things." "However, apart from being totally paralysed we believe you are normal in every other respect." "Normal?" "And so there is hope." "Yes, hope." "We know your brain is functioning." "You're able to understand us." "You follow our movements with your eyes." "Although I'm not entirely happy with your right eye   but I'll take a second opinion on that." "Good." "So." "We want you to take it easy for a few days " "What d'you think I'm doing now?" " and when you're stronger two beautiful young women will visit you." "I envy you because when I say beautiful, I mean beautiful." "They're therapists and they're miracle workers." "And so, as I say, there's hope." "I'll come again." "Soon." "You'll be well looked after." "Well looked after." "Locked-in syndrome " "Jean-Do?" "I'm dead and I've gone to heaven." "Hello." "My name is Sandrine." "And I'm Beatrice." "Just my luck." "I've got these two by my bed and I'm helpless." "I'm told you can blink your eyes." "So, I want you to blink once for yes, twice for no." "Can you read what this says?" "Good, Jean-Do." "I'm the physiotherapist, and my priority is to get you to swallow." "So I'll be working on your tongue and lips " "Sounds fun " "And I'm the speech therapist" "Until you can actually speak again I have to find a way for you to communicate." "We'll be totally honest with you." "Neither of us has ever treated anyone with locked-in syndrome ..." "Great." "... which means we're going to have to work very hard." "So we'd better get started " "I just came in to introduce myself." "Good luck " "Jean-Do, I want you to know that this is perhaps the most important job I've ever been given and I'm determined to succeed." "With your help, of course." "We're going to start by finding out how much you understand." "I'll ask questions and you answer." "But, remember, you answer by blinking once for yes or twice for no." "Ready?" "Good." "Is the sun too bright for you?" "Am I a man?" "Am I a woman?" "Is it midnight now?" "Are we in Paris?" "Are we in Berck?" "Do you remember having your stroke?" "Can we saw wood with a hammer?" "Does wood float on water?" "Were you the editor of Elle magazine?" "Yes, I was the editor-in-chief of Elle magazine " "Good, good, hold it, nice, good, Angelique, look this way, that's it, hold it lift your left leg higher, Pauline, good, chin up - hold it - terrific " "Okay." "Relax " "And, God, what a great life it was." "Jean-Do, how about this for the cover?" "Your right eye isn't working properly." "Do you hear what I say?" "Your right eye isn't working properly." "I'm going to sew it up." "Please, no." "It will be alright." "You keep away from me, keep away from me " "It'll stop you getting an ulcerated cornea." "I'd have come to see you sooner but I've been on holiday." "Skiing." "I bet you always keep your patients waiting " "St. Moritz is wonderful this time of year." "A little bit crowded, but nothing like sailing down a slope with the wind in your face." "Do you ski?" "I know your type." "Arrogant, insensitive." "Couldn't care less." "To you a patient is nothing but a pay-cheque - Yea, my skis are under the bed." "Here we go." "You won't feel a thing." "Now, please don't get ..." "God, please." "Perfect, even if I say so myself." "In six months I'll examine you again." "You don't see double, do you?" "No." "Good morning, good morning." "Hello, hello." "Now what torture?" "Excellent." "He's done your eye." "Was he his usual charming self?" "These are my students." "Pay no attention to them." "First we're going to dress him." "Good for the morale." "And then we have a wonderful surprise for you." "A wonderful surprise." "Let me guess, you're going to sew up my other eye " "I must be going mad." "My plaid shirt and my old pants make me want to cry- but if I must drool, it might as well be on cashmere." "Chic, very, very chic." "Now we're going to try you in this wheelchair." "Proceed, proceed." "Bravo!" "Wheel him up and down, will you?" "I want to be sure that sitting like that won't trigger uncontrollable muscular spasms." "Sorry bear with us, please bear with us " "He needs a cushion behind his head " "Excellent, excellent." "You can handle the wheelchair." "You can handle the wheelchair." "It has the ring of a life sentence." "That is very good news." "Very good news, indeed." "And now for the surprise " "Oh my God, who's that?" "It's a monster!" "No, no, it's me!" "Is that my surprise?" "To see myself?" "I look as if I've emerged from a vat of formaldehyde." "Christ, if only they could hear me!" "I don't want this!" "I don't want to see myself!" "Sylvie " "Isn't this a wonderful surprise, Jean-Do?" "Your first visitor." "Your wife." "She's not my wife." "She's the mother of my children." "We're going to leave you." "He understands everything." "Everything." "If you ask a question, make it a yes-or-no question." "He'll blink." "One for yes, two for no." "Just keep talking to him." "I'm sure you have a lot to say to each other ..." "If only I could feel that." "Yes, you're trying not to let me know that I'm horrible to behold." "I know." "I've seen myself." "Oh, my dear." "Talk to me, Sylvie." "I'll just listen." "I long to hear your voice." "They tell me you're doing " "Everyone sends their love." "And their prayers." "I didn't bring the children." "I thought I should see you first." "They're both well." "They miss you." "Céleste prays for you every night." "Do you want me to bring them, do you want to see them?" "One blink for yes, two for no " "You want to see them." "As a matter of fact, everyone we know is offering up prayers for you." "Even those who don't believe in God." "Oh." "Laurent wants to visit." "Do you want to see him?" "I'll tell him." "Although he doesn't talk to me much anymore." "Your friends deserted me." "All of them." "They sided with you." "And then - and then with her." "I suppose it's only natural." "But it makes me angry." "I can't help it." "No, no, it was all my fault, I'm a bastard " "Has - has she been to see you?" "Your father's not strong enough to come all this way" "I've met the speech therapist." "Sandrine." "I like her." "She thinks she can help you " "If I could only feel that kiss " "I'm pleased we were able to stay friends." "Are you pleased?" "I am plunged into despair." "Please don't cry." "I can see her now." "I know Berck station." "It's the most depressing place in the world." "Well, it certainly was when I had my holidays here as a child." "Berck, God help me." "The end of summer." "Waiting with my father for the Paris train." "It was desolate then and it'll be more desolate now." "I treated her so badly." "And the children." "And now I will never be able to make amends." "Never." "Oh God." "This is hell." "Naughty, naughty, my hand's between your legs " "Up, down, up." "I'm finding this funny." "I really am." "I'm forty-two years old and I'm being handled like a newborn babe, cleaned up, turned over   my private parts wiped and swaddled." "I can't remember when I last laughed so much " "But, as someone's poet said, only a fool laughs when there's nothing to laugh at " "Blow me a kiss" "You understand?" "A kiss." "I want you to blow me a kiss " "Try." "All right." "It's early days." "But that's what I want you to work at." "When you're resting or watching TV, or any time at all I want you to work at blowing me a kiss." "Okay?" "Yes." "And one other thing you have to practise as much as possible." "And that's sliding your tongue to the back of your palate." "That's how you'll learn to swallow again." "Watch." "This just isn't fair." "You try it." "Open your mouth." "Come on, I'll help " "Try sliding your tongue backwards." "Go on, try, Jean-Do." "Great, Jean-Do." "Good!" "You moved your tongue." "That's wonderful." "Work on it, every day all day, and you'll be able to swallow." "Again " "Amazing " "You'll be able to swallow and you'll be able to move your head like this on your own, sooner than you think." "Can you feel my hands on your face?" "No." "Never mind, you will, you will." "Jean-Do, we're all very sorry for what's happened to you." "Believe me, so am I." "We're so honoured to have you here." "I'm a regular reader of Elle." "I love it." "But I just wish all the models didn't look like boys." "I want you to know I have a strong faith." "I pray for you every day." "Oh, for Christ's sake stop!" "There's no point." "Prayer won't work!" "My muscles won't work." "I'll never be able to swallow and you know it." "Give up." "Now." "Don't waste your time." "Pray for someone else " "Okay, see you tomorrow." "I want you to look at this " "As you can see it's not the alphabet we learned at school." "These letters are in the order of the most frequently used in the language." "You understand?" "Yes." "I've talked to a host of colleagues and I hope I've come up with a viable system." "This is how it works." "You think of something you want to say to me." "When you're ready, blink, and then I'll recite this alphabet - very slowly- ...letter by letter." "When I get to the first letter of your word, blink." "I'll write it down and then we'll go on to the next letter and then the next." "Sometimes I'll be able to guess what you want to say." "In that way we'll form words and sentences." "Two other things: blink twice when the word is formed as if you're hitting the space bar on a keyboard, and blink rapidly if we make a mistake." "All right?" "Yes." "I know it sounds terribly arduous but, believe me, we'll become expert very quickly." "And your friends and family can use it, too, so the whole world will be open to you." "Do you want to try?" "Have you thought of something you want to say?" "Good." "So, let's begin." "E " "E is the first letter " "E is not the first letter " "Okay." "It's difficult, I know, so let's go slowly." "E-T-A-O-I" "I is the first letter?" "'I' is the first word?" "Good." "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" " Y-W- w" " W?" "E-T-A-O-I-N-U- u " "Not U. Another mistake." "Okay." "This is a nightmare, It'll never work." "All we need is practice." "Tomorrow we'll start again from the beginning " "Jean-Do, an old friend of yours is here to see you." "I know you, you're Pierre Roussin." "You don't remember me?" "Of course I do." "He blinks once for yes, and twice for no." "Do you want me to leave?" "You can stay" "Please." "No," "I heard what happened to you." "And I just wanted - no, I was compelled to come and see you because of what happened to me." "In a way, I know what you're going through and I thought I could be of some help." "Being taken hostage is not so different from what you're going through," "Am I right?" "Hostage?" "Sorry, am I allowed to smoke?" "You're already smoking." "Anyway, Jean-Dominique was kind enough to give me his seat on a flight to Hong Kong." "Then, unfortunately for me, the plane was high-jacked and I remained a hostage in Beirut for four years, four months, two weeks, five days and seven hours." "I've been told you have locked-in syndrome." "They kept me in a cellar." "Very small." "Dark." "It was hard to breathe." "I called it my tomb." "Yes." "I know, a lot about wines." "I used to recite aloud the wines of the Bordeaux classification of 1855." "That's what preserved my sanity." "Or what passed for sanity." "Of course there were times I was in despair." "Suicidal." "Angry." "The beatings, the filth, the cruelty." "The passage of time was the worst." "But I survived." "I survived because I held fast to my own humanity." "That's all I could do because that's all I had." "And that's all you have, Jean-Dominique." "Cling to your own humanity and you'll survive." "I just had to come and say that to you." "Face to face." "In person." "I know it sounds ridiculous but I felt it was" " I felt it was my duty." "Tell yourself every day that the human spirit is indomitable." "Christ knows why." "It has no reason to be." "But it is." "Indomitable." "I just had to say that to you in person." "Good-bye." "Good-bye, thank you for coming." "I am ashamed I never called him after he returned from Beirut." "But I felt too guilty playing editor in the frothy world of fashion magazines." "Now he is a free man, and I am the prisoner." "Let's start from the beginning." "E-T-A-O-I" "I." "I is the first word?" "OK." "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" " Y-W- w." "E-T-A" "A. E-T-A-O-I-N" "N. E-T" "T." "I - want - '" "I want'." "You're doing brilliantly, Jean-Do." "What do you want?" "E" " T " "T." "E-T-A-O" "O." "' I want to'" "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R- P-C-D" "D." "E-T-A-O-I" "I." "E " "E." "'Die'. 'I want to die'?" "How dare you!" "That's a terrible thing to say." "I'm not putting up with that." "You think of something else." "You do not want to die!" "I do want to die." "I really do." "That makes me very angry." "There are people who love you and care for you." "I'm a complete stranger and yet I care for you." "And you're alive." "So, don't say you want to die." "It's offensive." "It's - it's obscene." "You want to go on with this?" "Right." "I'll come back another time and see if you've changed your mind." "I'm not saying another word." "Ever again." "I am not even going to blink." "I am locked in." "I am as good as dead." "Hope you like it." "I didn't really know what to bring." "I would have asked Sylvie to suggest something but " "I haven't seen her much since " "I've just bought a new Honda." "A Fireblade." "You won't believe the acceleration." "And you know what?" "I couldn't remember something." "When we were kids did you want to go in for motor bikes or Formula One?" "I was always faithful to bikes." "God knows how I ended up in advertising." "Shit!" "I almost forgot " "While I was out here waiting for you, a little beauty came up to me and she gave me this " "She said you were depressed." "I said, 'I'm not surprised', and she said I had to cheer you UP." "She explained how it works." "She said we could talk to each other." "Seems complicated to me." "You want to try?" "Okay." "I just read the letters and you blink, is that right?" "Okay." "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" "Shit, I forgot to see if you were blinking." "Let's try again." "I'll slow down " "E-T-A-O-I-N-U" " It's hard to read and look up at you at the same time." "Don't you want to play?" "What about a better view of the sea?" "Is it all right to move his chair?" "Of course " "I'm so tired." "And I'm so happy I don't have to answer him back." "Poor fool, we can both drown." "How's that?" "I've never been a good hospital visitor." "I'm the sort who brings the patient grapes and then eats them." "What an awful thing, Jean" " Do." "You of all people." "Everybody's talking about it." "I was in Cafe de Flore last night - no, the night before -the usual crowd." "I don't know who it was but I heard someone say..." "'Did you know that Jean-Do Bauby is now a complete vegetable?" "'" "And someone else said..." "'Yes, I heard, a complete vegetable.'" "And I wanted to say, I'm going to see him and I bet you he's not I've heard his mind is working perfectly." "A vegetable?" "A vegetable?" "Who said I was a vegetable?" "Who?" "I'm an idiot!" "Christ, I'm sorry." "I hope I haven't upset you." "But you know me" " He turns away and gazes at the sea." "Did they say what sort of vegetable?" "A carrot, a potato, a pickled cucumber, what sort of vegetable?" "I'll have to be getting back soon" "Go please, get back." "Coming here on the autoroute I did over a 180." "Whatever sort of vegetable they say I am I bet I've still got a higher IQ than that bum in the Cafe." "The hell with you and the hell with him." "Should I go?" "I don't want to tire you" "Yes, go, go on, go." "A vegetable, a vegetable?" "I am tired." "I'm leaving now." "Good-bye, Jean Do." "Would you like me to come again?" "Can't wait." "Love your helmet." "A nurse will be in before the world comes to an end." "Today it seems to me that my whole life was nothing but a string of small near misses:" "the women I was unable to love, the chances I failed to seize, the moments of happiness I allowed to drift away." "A race whose result I knew beforehand but in which I failed to bet on the winner." "Are you feeling any more co-operative?" "Good." "I'm not going to apologise for what I said." "I meant every word of it." "So I don't want anymore of that nonsense about dying." "Understood?" "Right." "We're going to master this, Jean" " Do." "Think of something to say." "Blink once when you're ready." "I'll begin." "E-T" "Yes." "T. E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H" "Yes." "H. E-T-A" "Yes." "T" " H" " A-." "E-T-A-O-I-N" "Yes." "N. E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D- Y-W-V-M-X-B-F-G-J-K" "Yes." "K. Thank." "Thank you?" "Is that what you're saying?" "Thank you?" "Yes." "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P" "What are you thinking now?" "I've only just realized that there are only two things apart from my eye that aren't paralysed." "And they are?" "My imagination." "And?" "My memory." "Imagination and memory are the only way I can escape my diving bell." "Your diving bell?" "Never mind." "It's my private joke." "I have realized I can imagine anything, anyone, anywhere," "I can build castles in Spain, steal the Golden Fleece, visit the women I love," "let the sea wash over me on the isle of Martinique, bow before Ozymandias, king of kings " " I can imagine anything, anything at all." "And now I want to remember myself as I was." "Handsome, debonair, glamorous." "And devilishly attractive " "Yes, glamorous and very handsome, at least some people thought so" "E-T-A-O-I" "I. E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H" "H. E-T-A" "A. E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" " Y-W-V" "I have?" "I have made a rule." "I will never feel sorry for myself again." "I'm pleased to hear that." "And something else." "What?" "I think I've found a reason for all this" "A reason?" "Yes." "But I need you to do me a favour." "What's the favour?" "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C" "Is this Betty Mialet?" "Yes, this is she." "My name is Sandrine." "I'm a therapist at Berck-sur-Mer Naval hospital." "I'm calling on behalf of Jean-Dominique Bauby." "He's one of my patients." "Jean-Do?" "How is he?" "Comfortable but " "It's too terrible, I hear he's a complete vegetable " "That's not absolutely accurate." "He wonders if you would do him a favour " "One moment." "Of course. anything, anything " "He says he has a contract with you for a book." "Is that right?" "He said that?" "He can speak, I thought he couldn't speak " "He can." "In a way." "I'll explain later." "About this book " "Yes, he's got a contract with us, but now, given the circumstances " "He wants to fulfill it " "I beg your pardon?" "He wants to write the book." "You can't be serious " "I am." "So is he." "But it's simply not possible " "I assure you, it is, but do you think you can find someone to take his dictation?" "Someone who's patient and " "Are you still there?" "Yes, yes, I'm still here." "You understand?" "It has to be someone " "Yes, I understand." "I'll get back to you" "Betty Mialet said Claude was sent from heaven." "She said it was a miracle her being in the office just when I called." "She said no one could be more perfect." "Betty always exaggerates." "I will have to practise some more." "I'll work with Sandrine " "Any time " "It won't take long " "I hope not because I want to" " I want to help." "Claude has taken a room in a hotel in Berck." "Perhaps you ought to discuss a routine." "The nurses wake me at five a.m. I'll think of what I want to write then I'll memorize it." "You can come at eight " "Yes " "I'll dictate it to you." "Of course." "Thank you." "I'll do my best for you." "I know you will." "Can we begin my book tomorrow?" "Through the frayed curtain of my window, a wan glow announces the break of day." "My heels hurt, my head weighs a ton, and something like a giant invisible diving-bell holds my whole body prisoner." "My main task now is to compose these bedridden travel notes from a castaway on the shores of loneliness." "This Naval Hospital has in its time been a home to children with tuberculosis, a fat farm, a school, a place where, so legend has it, the great Diaghilev rehearsed his Ballet Russe." "They say it was here that Nijinsky leapt twelve feet into the air." "No one here now leaps into the air." "These days we are all elderly, enfeebled or, like me, rigid and mute." "Abattalion of cripples." "But I like being wheeled to the place I call Cinecitta, a perpetually deserted terrace a vast series of balconies that open onto a landscape heavy with the poetic and off- beat charm of a movie set." "And I enjoy seeing the suburbs of Berck that look like a model train lay-out." "A handful of buildings at the foot of the sand dunes give the illusion of a ghost town in a Western." "As for the sea itself it foams such an incandescent white that it might be the product of the special-effects department." "But my favorite sight of all is the lighthouse, tall, robust, reassuring in red and white stripes." "I place myself under the protection of this brotherly symbol, guardian not just of sailors but of the sick whom fate has cast to the far edge of life." "Warmly wrapped up, I can linger here until nightfall, watch the sun set and the lighthouse take up the torch." "Christ." "What's that?" "Is it a man or a woman?" "A man." "I think." "Excuse me, but did you order a speaker- phone?" "He winked at you." "Yes, I've got gay locked in syndrome, and I am nuts about your friend." "Did you order a phone with a speaker?" "Let's get out of here " "Who let you in?" "What are you doing?" "We're from Telecom France." "Someone ordered a speaker-phone." "Yes, we did." "You should have gone to Reception first." "There was no one there." "Just install it by the table, please." "Thank you." "We'll let people know you've got a phone now." "They'll have to book a time for their calls." "We'll make sure someone's with you." "E-T" "T. E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H" "H. Thank you?" "Excuse me, madame, can't he speak?" "Don't talk about him as if he weren't here." "Madame, excuse me, but, if he can't speak what's he want a phone for?" "Perhaps he's a heavy breather." "Sunday." "I dread Sunday." "No therapists, no visitors, a skeleton staff." "Sunday is a long stretch of desert." "But today, Beatrice nobly suggests she takes me to Mass." "I have tried to explain to her that I am not a religious man." "This cuts no ice with her." "'It will do you good,' she says." "She reminds me of a woman I once knew called Josephine." "I suppose it isn't quite true to say I'm not religious." "All over the world people are praying for me." "Top of the list is my daughter, Céleste, who prays for me every night." "And Beatrice, of course." "The most diverse deities have been enlisted to help me." "In Nepal, I'm told, they chant a mantra for me." "In a Breton chapel they burn candles, and a Cameroon holy man has procured for me the goodwill of Africa's gods:" "I have assigned him my right eye." "All of them." "And I can't deny that I have attempted to organise this vast spiritual energy to support my existence." "It may not be admirable, it may even be a touch hypocritical, but I'll try anything." "We'll let them go." "Father Lucien wants a word with you." "A-ha!" "The hidden agenda." "I'm very pleased to see you here, Jean-Dominique." "I came to visit you a few days ago." "I brought the Blessed Sacrament to give you Communion." "But you were asleep." "E-T-A-O-I" "E-T-A-O-I-N" " U-S-H-R" " P-C-D" " Y-W" "E-T-A" " Jean-Do blinks." "I was?" "I was." "He was." "Would you like me to give you Holy Communion now?" "Would you like me to say a blessing over you?" "'Heavenly Father, have mercy on Jean-Dominique, who is cruelly afflicted." "Help his body to heal keep his spirits buoyant, and help him to find faith, through your son, Jesus Christ, our lord." "Father, I'd like you to know there are monks in Bordeaux who regularly dedicate their prayers to me " "Do they, indeed " "But the results have been unremarkable." "We must be patient " "Yes, the doctors say that, too." "But about these monks." "Yes ?" "Recently, seven of their brothers had their throats cut by Islamic extremists in Java and my ears hurt for several days." "What do you make of that?" "I'm not sure." "But Jean-Dominique, I want to suggest something to you." "In a few weeks time..." "I shall be leading a pilgrimage to the shrine of Our Lady of Lourdes." "Dear Beatrice and I thought you might want to be part of it " "Lourdes?" "There have been some miraculous cures." "No, Father." "I've been to Lourdes " "I am not turning back, it's my car I'll drive where I like " "You said you wanted a dirty week-end " "I never said any such thing " "We can't have a dirty week-end in Lourdes, it doesn't seem right " "You've got a one-track mind " "Well ..." "I want to see the Madonna!" "You don't " "I do" "Please." "If it rains everyone into the basilica!" "Appear to us, Madonna!" "Appear to us!" "Josephine, there's no way I'm going on with this." "Pity, it could do a sinner like you a lot of good " "Don't be so sure, it might be dangerous." "What if someone in perfect health happened to be here when the Madonna appeared?" "One miracle, and he'd end up paralyzed." "You're an imbecile." "Thank you " "And a blasphemer " "Thanks again." "You can go by yourself " "You don't know what you missed " "That's true " "It was very moving." "And the Basilica is amazing." "It's huge " "Yes, I read in the guide book it could take a dozen Jumbo jets." "And if you're at the back you need binoculars to see the priest." "Let's go shopping." "Oh please, Josephine, don't buy any souvenirs, you've got such bad taste " "Look!" "Here's my Madonna!" "Forget it" "I don't want anything more to do with you " "Okay, okay, I'll give it to you as a present " "Madame has a wonderful eye." "This Madonna is the only one of its kind in the whole world." "And it has been blessed by the Cardinal." "How wonderful." "Thank you." "I can't make love to you with her looking at me." "I agree." "I wasn't stating a fact, I was making a complaint." "Let me turn her off " "No." "The only one in the whole world." "Blessed by the Cardinal." "Josephine, when we get back to Paris we're going to have to split up." "Because of my Madonna?" "No." "Because of everything." "You're right." "It's for the best." "Turn off the lights." "But not my Madonna." "La - la - la - ." "Come on, Jean-Do." "If you learn the L sound you'll learn to swallow." "And you'll learn to say Lourdes, too." "La - la " "La - la " "Nearly " "Again " "La - la " "Good." "Again." "La " "Ten times and then we'll let you rest " "La - la - la " "All right to turn this off?" "The call will be coming in about ten minutes." "I've typed up the passage." "You want me to read it to you?" "No, I want to read it." "A book is only real when it's read." "The last time I saw my father was, I think  a week before my stroke." "He was unwell " "Leave me be, who cares what I look like?" "I do." "I'm terrified." "Of what?" "You shaving me." "Why?" "You were always so damned clumsy." "Coffee?" "No." "No, thanks." "Don't tire him." "He's not well." "How can a shave tire you?" "Ask her." "Your mother was prettier." "That wouldn't be difficult." "Don't be rude about my wife." "She looks after me like a baby." "You mean she feeds you every four hours?" "Very funny." "Do you remember your mother?" "You always ask me that and I always say the same thing: not really." "What are you reading at the moment?" "Re-reading." "The Count of Monte Cristo." "Why?" "Because I'm thinking of writing a modern version." "Of the Count of Monte Cristo?" "Vengeance will still be the driving force but I'm setting it in today's world." "And Monte Cristo will be a woman." "The Countess of Monte Cristo." "I don't want to read it." "I haven't written it yet." "But I've got a contract with a book publisher." "And there's a character who fascinates me." "Obsesses me, really, but I don't know why." "Do you remember Noirtier de Villefort?" "No." "If you cut me, I'll sue." "Keep still." "I'm going to call you Sweeney Todd." "Thanks." "You know who Sweeney Todd was?" "Yes." "He was an English barber " "I know   who made minced meat of his customers and turned them into meat pies." "Typically English." "They've never known what good food is." "Be quiet, Papinou, or I will cut you." "The doctor came yesterday." "And?" "He says I'll live to be a hundred." "Good." "I'll give you a great party." "We'll celebrate." "I won't attend." "Who wants to live to be a hundred?" "That's just doctors' bullshit." "Doctors are the biggest bullshitters on the planet." "Politicians come second." "Don't tell a soul." "I still miss your mother." "I won't." "It's our secret." "You should have married Sylvie." "What difference would that have made?" "You wouldn't have left her so easily." "And your children " "Do we have to talk about this?" "I know what I'm talking about." "No one had more affairs than I did." "Well, perhaps maybe Casanova, but no one else." "Having an affair with another woman is no reason for leaving the mother of your children." "There are no standards anymore." "It's not funny, it's true." "And bring your children to see me." "Sylvie brings them, you should " "Please, change the subject " "What you putting on me, Sweeney?" "An aphrodisiac." "You want me to smell like a tart." "Christian Dior." "Eau de Sauvage." "Good." "That'll make the girls come running." "I'm sure they would, if they had the chance to smell you." "Let me look at myself." "Not bad." "My God, they don't make them like me anymore." "I wanted to tell you something." "What?" "Can't remember." "It'll come back." "I'm not so sure." "Nothing comes back anymore." "Everything's lost." "Soon, I'll be lost." "I want to sit down." "I am tired." "I remember what I wanted to say to you." "I'm listening." "Jean-Dominique, I am very proud of you." "I really am, you have made me very proud indeed." "He had never said that to me before." "Ever." "And I suppose that's why it haunts me." "A father's approval." "I found it comforting then, and I find it even more comforting now." "What children we all are, we all need approval" "And something else." "Yes ?" "Can't remember " "But I remember!" "What?" "What do you remember?" "... memory is like a jigsaw puzzle with pieces missing." "A very black fly" "A very black fly settles on my nose." "I waggle my head to unseat him." "He digs in." "Olympic wrestling is child's play compared to this." "Thanks." "When did you start doing that?" "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" " Y-W-V-M-X-B-F-G" " J" "J. E-T-A-O-I-N-U u." "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S- s." "E-T" "T. E-T-A-O-I-N" "N. Just now?" "A miracle!" "Jean-Do, you can turn your head!" "You're amazing." "Dr. Lepage " "Good morning." "A miracle!" "He only said good morning once!" "A-ha!" "Progress, progress." "That's better." "How's the tongue?" "Roll your tongue, Jean-Do." "I knew you would do it." "I've been praying for you." "Can we go further with his speech?" "The movement of the tongue is crucial so there's hope." "You'll be saying the whole alphabet before long, won't you, Jean-Do?" "We're going to work really hard on your swallowing now." "I promise you in no time at all you'll be able to eat normally." "A nice nourishing meal." "I'll come back later and see how you're doing." "Bon appetit." "Lupin has the ball, beautiful pass, crosses to Renaud - he's going to score - he's got an open net - he's going to score " "Bon appetit." "Saying that to me is like saying Merry Christmas to someone on August 15th." "Beatrice better hurry up and have all her prayers answered." "I want to swallow, I want to eat." "But where?" "And what shall I have tonight?" "What a coincidence to find you here." "It's amazing to me too." "It seems like it was just yesterday when I first heard your name." "Yes, I understand." "I'll get back to you." "Good morning " "Something wrong?" "You said to come in today, remember?" "You said you may have a book for me to edit." "Is it a bad time?" "Have I come on the wrong day?" "I'm sure you said " "No, no, it's the right day and it's absolutely the perfect time." "In fact, the timing is quite extraordinary." "Do you believe in fate?" "I'm sorry?" "Fate, coincidence   destiny, divine will, serendipity, chance, azar?" "Does the name Jean-Dominique Bauby mean anything to you?" "Sweetheart?" "Hello." "So." "Here we are." "It's Father's Day today." "Happy Father's Day." "You're my Pop, you're my Pop, you're my Pop " "I rode a new pony yesterday." "His name is Pom-pom." "They let me take the jumps." "I didn't come off." "I guess that even a rough sketch, a shadow, a tiny fragment of a dad is still a dad." "You're drooling " "Father's Day." "My son wiping the saliva that escapes my closed lips." "We have never before fitted this made-up holiday into our emotional calendar." "But I suppose there's a first time for everything." "Locked-in syndrome." "Yet, I'm filled with joy seeing them living, moving, laughing " "At Berck, wheelchairs are as commonplace as Ferraris at Monte Carlo." "Don't go in too far." "I've talked to Claude." "She says the book's going well." "I can't believe you're writing it." "I still think you're the most surprising man I've ever known." "I see you can move your head." "Would you like me to try the alphabet?" "I've been practising with Diane - she sends her love - but I'm not very good " "You ready?" "Have you had lots of visitors E" " T" " A" " O" " I" "N-U-S" "S.E-T-A-O" "O.E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C" " D-Y-W-V-M" "M. E " "E." "Some." "Some?" "Is that it?" "That wasn't so bad, was it?" "I did rather well." "Shall I go on?" "Who?" "Who's visited you?" "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" "Y-W-V-M-X-B-F-G-J-K-L" "Laurent." "Anyone else?" "People from the office." "That's it?" "Who else?" "She hasn't." "Who?" "You know." "She hasn't been?" "No." "Why not?" "I thought she was supposed to be madly in love with you." "She'll call." "Well, I suppose that's her business." "It is." "The kids are great, aren't they?" "Great." "Thank you for bringing them." "Now they know what it's like to have a zombie for a father." "Don't, Jean-Do " "When I began a diet a week before my stroke, I never dreamed of such dramatic results." "I took them to see Papinou." "He absolutely adores them." "I think she ought to come and visit you." "It seems wrong to me that she stays away" "It's how she is." "That's true, that's how she is." "You know something?" "You're still able to make me laugh." "Thanks." "Mama, mama, mama!" "Can we have ice-creams?" "You all right?" "You sure?" "Should I take you back?" "That sound was the sound of me crying." "It would take too long to tell you that I am holding back my tears." "There are no words to express the grief that surges over me." "I, their father, have lost the simple right to ruffle their hair clasp their downy necks, hug their small, lithe, warm bodies tight against me." "Here's some money" "You want to play Hangman?" "I'd like to tell him I have enough trouble playing quadriplegic." "Mama, Pop wants to play Hangman with me." "You have to help " "I didn't want to come but I'm glad now." "E-T" "T ?" "No." "The left leg." "One more, only one more." "Go on, go on " "E-T-A-O-I-N" "N ?" "No!" "I win!" "You're hanged, Pop!" "You're hanged!" "What was the word?" "Happy." "I don't know where she learns these old songs." "I think Papinou teaches her." "She shows off, Pop." "Tell her to stop." "She's having fun " "She's showing off " "Well done, Céleste!" "When can we go home?" "Go and change." "Céleste, time to go home soon." "Pop, Pop, sing the Kangaroo song " "Pop can't sing, stupid " "I'll sing it " "Not now, Céleste " "'The Kangaroo escaped the Zoo. "Goodbye zoo!" cried Kangaroo, Cleared the wall with one clean jump," "Leaped across with a great big thump - '" "She's a show off " "Kiss Pop goodbye " "Oh!" "What?" "I forgot to give him the fish." "In my bag." "I'll find it." "You've still got my Mickey Mouse " "Do you like it?" "E-T" "T. E " "E.E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R" "R.E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R" "Terrific?" "You want me to pin it up?" "I'll put it next to Theo's Mickey Mouse " "Say goodbye " "Bye " "Bye " "Goodbye, sweetheart, I'll come again soon" "I'll come again soon, too " "Now that's what I call a wonderful day." "Or, I've broken my promise never to feel sorry for myself." "What do you think?" "You were genuinely happy." "Okay, you're right, let's leave it." "I can understand now why Betty said you were so perfect for me." "You never talk about yourself." "You're patient, conscientious, caring, bright " "Stop it, I don't like compliments." "I'd like to find out more about your life." "Nothing to find out." "It's a life." "I'm going to put some sun cream on you." "You're getting burnt." "Married?" "Lovers?" "Children?" "A woman of mystery." "That's me." "You've no ego." "And that's the real miracle." "Yes, isn't it." "What's the next chapter of the book?" "I want to remember how all this happened to me." "Ask someone." "No." "The only memory I have is of Théophile being there." "And he was frightened." "I wanted to ask him what he remembered but I didn't." "I thought it might frighten him even more." "You want me to find out?" "No." "For some reason I think it's important that I remember." "Okay." "Room 119." "Who's that?" "I'm Claude Mendibil." "I'm sitting with Jean-Do." "This is his father speaking." "Yes, we were expecting your call." "So what do I do?" "Just talk?" "Yes but Jean-Do will be able to answer." "You'll hear me saying the alphabet and then " "Yes, yes, yes, Sylvie told me " "Just talk, Monsieur Bauby." "Can he hear me?" "Yes." "Jean-Dominique?" "This is Papinou." "I'm sitting in the apartment, windows open, trying to get some air." "The heat is appalling." "How are you or is that a damn fool question?" "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" " Y " "E " "Yes, it's a damn fool question." "I" " I miss you." "E-T-A-O-I" "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" " Y-W-V-M" "E-T-A-O-I" "I miss you." "God Almighty!" "this is an impossible way to conduct a conversation." "Everything goes out of my mind." "No, no, I've remembered." "I'm sending you a present." "It's a surprise." "Sylvie brought the children to see me." "They want to visit you but I think she's frightened it might upset them too much." "They've already been here." "I didn't know." "That's great." "Do you remember your mother!" "Jean-Do?" "Not really." "Oh yes, I had a thought." "About us." "We're in the same boat." "I'm stuck in this apartment." "I can't get up and down the stairs." "You try four flights of stairs when you're ninety-two years old." "So you see, we're both locked-in cases." "You in your body and me in my apartment." "Jean-Dominique, remember, in the top right-hand drawer of my writing desk there's a letter." "In it are my last wishes." "It's in a file marked 'Miscellaneous'." "I must stop now " "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" "E-T-A-O" "E-T-A-O-I-N" "Don't cry." "That's easy for you to say." "You're my son, for Christ's sake" " Good-bye, Jean-Dominique." "I forgot, it's almost your birthday." "I'll call again." "E-T" "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H" "E-T-A" "Thank you." "It can't be easy for him to speak to a son who he knows will never reply." "Are you there Jean-Do?" "At times I don't know anymore." "Jean-Do I'm going to leave you here for a second." "I'll be right back." "Not only am I exiled, paralyzed, mute, half deaf, deprived of all pleasures and reduced to the existence of a jellyfish, but I am also horrible to behold." "There comes a time when the heaping up of calamities brings on uncontrollable nervous laughter- when, after a final blow from fate, we decide to treat it all as a joke." "There, there, my child, you must be very patient." "Hello." "What's going on?" "Right." "Now!" "'Happy Birthday to you, Happy birthday to you, Happy Birthday, dear Jean-Do, Happy Birthday to you!" "'" "I'm crying again " "We each have a birthday present for you " "I'm giving you the day off from the vertical board." "And my present is something entirely different." "My present is that, today, on your 43rd birthday, you're going to say the entire alphabet beginning with A. All right?" "A." "Good." "B. Force your lips together tightly." "B-b-b-b." "Great." "C. Just hiss." "Tongue on the teeth - ssssss " "Excellent." "D. Tongue on the ridge of the upper teeth." "Da-da" "E. Tongue on lower teeth and push." "Good." "F. Upper teeth on the lower lip." "Sssh " "No." "Teeth on lip." "Like this " "That's it." "Try." "Ffffi " "Yes." "Now, G. Ga - ga - back of the palate." "Okay, we'll work on that." "Aich, just breathe out-ha-ha" "Ha " "Perfect." "I." "We'll get there." "Jay." "As if you're going to sneeze " "Almost." "Now, Ray." "Tongue up in the mouth as high as you can " "Ka - ka " "Excellent." "L. That's too easy for you." "La." "Mmmm." "Mmmm." "Perfect." "Nnnn." "Nnnnn." "O. Drop the jaw." "P. Closed lips." "Make the breath explode." "Pphhh." "Now Q. Like the ka." "Ka - ka " "R. A dog grow ling." "Rrrrr." "Now S. Like the C." "Ssssss." "That's also too easy for you." "T. Like the D but softer." "Deeee." "Teeee." "Good!" "U. You've seen something you like." "Oooh!" "Or, as Beatrice would say, blow a kiss." "OOOOOOO~" "Vee." "Teeth on lower lip." "Vee." "Ve." "Ve." "Nearly." "W. Push the sound through the lips." "Wha." "X. Put E, K and S together." "Eksssss " "We know you can do it, thank you." "We want him to do it." "Go on, Jean-Do." "Eksss." "Bravo!" "The best yet." "Two more." "Y. Yeah, yeah." "The last one." "Z. Zzzz." "An insect buzzing." "Tongue to the closed teeth." "Zzzz." "Zzzzzzzzz" "You've done it, Jean-Do!" "Happy birthday." "Jean-Do, I have a surprise trip for you this afternoon." "Happy Birthday." "Thank you." "Nothing could be more perfect." "I thought an outing with a new vista would do you good." "Close your eyes, I have another surprise for you." "Okay, now open them." "It's not a first edition, but it's pretty old." "Thank you so much." "Would you like me to read something to you?" "Chapter 59." "The coincidence frightens me " "'They took their places either side of the paralytic ...." "Monsieur Noirtier was sitting in an arm-chair, which moved upon castors, in which he was wheeled ...." "Sight and hearing were the only senses remaining ...." "In short, his whole appearance produced on the mind the impression of a living corpse." "How about that?" "That's me to a T." "Nonsense " "Oh, yes." "Noirtier is literature's first case - and the only one, as far as I know - of locked-in syndrome." "Yes, but he's a sinister character, Jean" " Do, he makes one shudder." "Look " "I make people shudder, too." "You don't " "Like Noirtier in his wheel chair, communicating only with his eyes." "He haunts me." "Don't make too much of it." "Come on, admit it, it's an extraordinary coincidence." "I admit it." "I should never have contemplated rewriting Dumas." "Don't tamper with a masterpiece." "It was fate." "It's a lesson, you see." "I didn't know Noirtier was the man I was going to become." "My diving bell has dragged you down to the bottom of the sea with me." "Jean-Do, there is no place I have ever been, that is more beautiful than your thoughts." "And if sometimes I am at the bottom of the sea with you, you are also my butterfly." "Mademoiselle?" "Yes ?" "I think we should be getting back now" "Okay." "After we finish this book, we'll write another one about a long-distance runner." "You never know." "Perhaps I'll become like him." "And this is from Roberta Bosson." "She's a photographer, isn't she?" "'Dear Jean-Do, it's one of those lazy Sunday afternoons and it's raining." "Yesterday, I picked roses at dusk, and each one somehow reminded me of you." "And I wanted you to know that." "With love, Roberta.'" "From Henri." "'Jean-Do, I know you're shamming." "You just want to draw attention to yourself." "Please stop immediately, come back to the office and edit your magazine.'" "This is Papinou's handwriting." "He writes, 'This is a present'." "It's a photograph " "There's something on the back." "Jean-Dominique Bauby's room." "Who are you?" "It's Sylvie de Rochefoucauld." "Who are you?" "Oh my God." "It's her." "Yes, it's 'her', I heard that " "Merde." "Well?" "I want to speak to Jean-Do." "He can't speak." "You have to speak through me " "I know he can't speak, I just meant " "But he can hear you " "I can't speak with you there " "You have to, there's no one else." "Shit." "I beg your pardon?" "I said shit." "That's what I thought you said." "They told me the therapist would be there " "Well, she isn't " "Shit." "Is that all you can say?" "Don't be clever with me, please, Sylvie " "Just say what you have to say." "Apart from shit." "Jean-Do?" "He's listening." "Darling." "I know I said I'd come but I got as far as the train station and then turned back." "I just can't face it." "Please, please forgive me." "Sylvie, can't you just go out of the room for a moment?" "I have personal things to say I don't want to say them in front of you " "I can't leave him." "Wait a moment, Jean-Do wants to say something." "E-T-A-O" "O.E-T-A-O-I-N" "N.E" "One." "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S" "S. E " "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C" "One sec." "I'm leaving the room." "For one second." "Jean-Do are you alone now?" "Sweetheart, I love you." "I want to see you but I haven't the courage." "I don't want to see you as you are now." "I only want to think of you as you were." "Do you understand?" "Oh God, this is so painful." "You're in my thoughts all the time." "Every minute of the day and night." "I wish I wasn't such a coward, but I am, and that's how it is." "I may go to Switzerland for a few days." "You know what I regret most?" "That I said no when you wanted me to have your child " "I'm back." "You want to say anything, Jean-Do?" "No." "Yes, he does want to say something." "He wants to say, 'I love you,' but he doesn't want to say it in front of me." "Thank you, Sylvie." "Goodbye." "It's been my great fortune to have had exceptional women in my life." "Talking about dreams is boring, especially other people's dreams." "But last night, I dreamt I visited Paris's wax museum." "If only." "Jean-Dominique, I'm sorry, but if I don't get a seat on this plane I will miss my connection to Hong-Kong." "Please, take mine." "I'll take the next flight." "Oh, by the way." "You're not going to Hong-Kong you are going to Beirut." "Come on, Jean-Do, your sleeping pill." "Do you want it now?" "You want me to come back later?" "Okay, it's up to you " "I've always believed dreams only tell you about your own hidden inner life." "Never about other people or the future." "I wish I knew why but for some reason I knew my wax dream was about me." "I'm afraid." "The feeling of doom wouldn't leave." "It took what I can only describe as a miracle to lift my spirits." "It's dangerous to believe in personal miracles." "They tend to make one feel self-important." "Nevertheless, I must report that I believe something miraculous did occur " "I began to sing." "'The Kangaroo escaped the Zoo. "Goodbye zoo!" cried Kangaroo, Cleared the wall with one clean jump, Leaped across with a great big thump. '" "Isn't that the most beautiful song in the world?" "Swimming up from the mist of a coma, I can grunt." "I can sing." "My hearing isn't great and sometimes I think I hear my heart beating but I tell myself it's the sound of butterfly's wings." "Yes, I am making indomitable progress and I may even have butterfly hearing." "I can look forward to the future." "Soon the summer will come to an end and I will begin my first autumn in this hospital." "Nowhere else." "My life is here." "A constant repetition." "In this place." "Had I been blind and deaf, or does it take the harsh light of disaster to show a person their true nature?" "And today I have a visitor and I may show off, like Céleste, so that everyone in Paris can be told what an indomitable vegetable I am." "At last!" "Jean-Do, how goes it?" "He's speaking!" "Jean-Do, you're speaking." "Better than that, he can sing a song." "No!" "Come on, Jean-Do, sing for Laurent " "Uh-~h." "Please, Jean-Do, sing for me, then " "I said okay." "He was always an obstinate fellow." "You were always a stubborn bastard, weren't you?" "Everything in your own time, am I right?" "I miss you." "I had to come again." "But I heard you were " "Tell us, Laurent." "What's he really like?" "Book lover " "Yes " "Woman lover." "Car lover." "Food lover." "Eats like a pig but never puts on weight." "And always the best restaurants." "I think about you a lot, Jean-Do." "And your red convertible." "You remember?" "And quick- tempered?" "Christ, your temper." "He would fly off the handle before I could say Berck- sur-Mer." "We've been friends for more than twenty-five miserable years " "The Kangaroo escaped the Zoo. "Goodbye zoo!" cried Kangaroo, Cleared the wall " "Are you all right - ?" "He's singing " "He's not " "Find Dr. Cocheton " "I have pneumonia." "And just when I thought " "Like a sailor who watches the shore gradually disappear, I watch my past recede." "But more and more of it is reduced to the ashes of memory." "My God!" "That's where I worked." "And the cafe next door where I'd drop in for a coffee." "And that couple, I know them, but I can't remember their names." "That's my car!" "Oh Christ, my new car " "'Morning, Paul." "'Morning, Monsieur." "My God!" "Now that's what I call a car!" "Oui Monsieur Bauby." "I'm sure it drives beautifully." "Sure does." "Smell that leather." "There's nothing like it." "Pop, Pop, Pop, Pop " "Hello." "Hello." "Don't bring him back too late on Sunday." "Wow!" "Next week-end's my week-end " "Absolutely " "Are we going to a theatre?" "We certainly are." "And dinner afterwards." "Oysters?" "As many as you can eat." "'Bye, Mom." "Can I get in the front?" "That's the best seat." "Hope it's the TGV" "Yeah!" "Yeah!" "Come on, Pop " "What's the matter?" "We have to stop." "I don't feel well " "Where are we?" "Near Aunt Diane's " "Are we?" "We passed the turn to her house, just back there " "Run, Theo." "Run and get her." "Pop " "Quickly " "Theo just caught me, I was on my way to work " "Theo, help me get your dad in the back seat." "Theo, go to the neighbour and tell her to phone your mother." "Quickly." "I'll drive your dad to my clinic." "I had time for one last thought." "I thought we'll have to cancel going to the theatre." "We'd be late in any case." "'We'll go tomorrow night." "And then I sank into a coma.'" "E-T-A-O-I- l .E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S" "s." "Is.E-T-A-O-I" "I. E-T" "T." "Is it." "E-T-A" "Is it a " "E-T-A-O-I-N-U-S-H-R-P-C-D" " Y-W-V-M-X-B" "B.E-T-A-O" "O. Bo." "Is it a book?" "'For my children, Théophile and Céleste." "And my deepest gratitude to Claude Mendibil, whose all important contribution to these pages will become clear as my story unfolds.'" "These reviews, Jean-Do!" "You want to hear them?" "No." "Two days after the publication of 'The Diving Bell and the Butterfly' in 1996, Jean-Dominique Bauby died."