"I think the neighbors have left." "It should be very peaceful here." "It's wonderful that there's no phone." "When I'm here, I feel I can spend... hours and hours without moving." "Won't you go to the beach?" "Yes, to swim." "But it's not a place I Iike to stay." "For reading or working, it's better here." "I prefer the beach." "You'II be disappointed." "I want to go to the beach." "I haven't been this year." "What about in Spain?" "We swam, then we'd leave." "We changed place every day." "Sounds great!" "At least you had variety?" "We never stayed long enough." "I was with my parents, so I couldn't have any fun." "Your trip wasn't fun?" "Interesting, but not fun." "What do you call fun?" "First of all, being with kids my own age." "You don't know any here." "I'II meet some." "Most have left by now." "No, well, I hope not." "It's no fun going on holiday with your parents... even if they're nice." "I've always made friends on holiday, except this year." "Boys or girls?" "Both." "Which do you want to meet here?" "Both." "You'd prefer boys?" "Not especially." "You'd Iike to find a boyfriend?" "Just a friend." "A friend?" "Come here." "tell me..." "have you ever been in love?" "I'm sure you have been." "There must've been a kid in school... whom you said you'd marry when you grew up." "Sure, when I was very little." "Since then?" "Nothing." "Let's say, a few boys have..." "impressed me." "well, then?" "That's all." "What happened?" "You must have impressed them, too?" "Maybe..." "It's mostly people I saw only for a moment." "So I don't know." "What do you mean?" "Like last year... in italy, I was in a restaurant and a boy at the next table... kept looking at me." "I mean, we both looked and smiled." "Then he left." "A boy your age?" "A bit older, about 16 or 17." "I was 14 last year." "Was he italian?" "No, French." "Then you can see him again!" "Maybe." "The car had Paris license plates." "So you expect to run into him on the street?" "I doubt it!" "If you saw him, what would happen?" "I don't know." "would you dare speak to him?" "No!" "would he dare?" "Maybe...but he doesn't really interest me." "There's very little chance we'II ever meet." "I pictured meeting him again, but I didn't believe in it." "Now it's too late." "It's probably better if I don't see him." "I see..." "In fact, you'd Iike to meet someone who didn't leave." "Not at all!" "You're pretending not to understand." "No, maybe I'm too old." "No, you're not." "You even seem to be my age." "I can't believe you've been married." "Neither can I." "Maybe I wasn't really." "I mean..." "I never believed in it, deep down." "That's why it failed." "It's cold!" "That's Pierre!" "Who?" "Pierre." "A very old friend." "I haven't seen him since..." "before I got married." "What a surprise!" "Yes, it is." "Do you know my cousin PauIine?" "No, she's never been here before." "You haven't been here for at Ieast five years." "precisely!" "What a memory!" "well, I'm back." "I come every year." "Have you been here long?" "We just arrived." "I have the use of the house." "My brother went back to Paris." "I see him now and then." "He says you work very hard." "I spent all of August preparing my collection." "So now, I've come here to rest." "Have you finished school?" "Yes and no." "I'm doing graduate work." "Are you here alone?" "Yes, until school starts with PauIine." "Her parents left her in my care." "So to speak!" "And you?" "You look like a real expert!" "Ever done it?" "Never." "I couId teach you." "We won't be here long enough." "You could get the feel of it this year... and continue next year." "It doesn't take strength... just balance." "I bet it takes skill!" "Hey, Pierre!" "Traitor." "You promised to teach me." "You don't need lessons." "Is he a good teacher?" "The best." "I recommend him." "Marion..." "Henri." "My cousin PauIine." "Is it as easy as he says?" "No." "The other day he lent me his board..." "I found out how hard it was." "You do much harder things." "He rides breakers in a dugout!" "really?" "Where?" "In Africa?" "The South Pacific, where I Iive." "I'm an ethnologist." "Here's my daughter." "Meet my daughter, Marie." "Your hair's full of sand!" "I was Brittany-wrestIing with GaeIIe." "But it's done standing up." "We fell down." "She pushed you?" "We both fell." "That's not Brittany wrestling." "That's Greco-Roman." "What?" "Reto-no-man?" "Greco-Roman." "Go take a shower." "I'II be right along." "Hurry!" "She's funny." "Are you all free for dinner?" "My house is there." "I thought we were going to a restaurant." "They're no good around here." "OK." "We'II help you cook." "Thanks." "Want a hand putting your board away?" "No." "I'II do it later." "You'II meet us there?" "See you." "Let's go." "See you later..." "Is that it?" "She's the one who keeps my feet on the ground." "I mean that geographically, in a specific place on the map." "Because of her, I own real estate!" "The irony!" "My brothers wanted to sell our villa." "I bought it for Marie's holidays." "She lives in Rennes with her mother." "Wednesday, you'II take me home?" "Sure, honey." "Are you in a hurry to leave?" "The holidays are nearly over." "Time goes too fast with you!" "With you, too." "That's sweet." "Go to bed, love." "I'II kiss you good night later." "But..." "Doesn't your work pin you to a place?" "I spend time in places... but I don't have a permanent address." "I'm a nomad." "I go where and when I want... without asking anyone." "But you don't live alone there?" "Yes." "The last few years I've had affairs... nothing permanent." "My ex-wife needs to identify herself with a home." "I don't have one." "This house isn't really a home." "It has no furniture." "I can't stand a woman... who makes me think of her as furniture." "glad to hear it!" "But that's what she did." "I wanted her to be... as free as I am, as light and moveable... to have no luggage, physical or mental." "She had a daughter!" "So did I!" "You didn't take care of her." "Yes, I did." "I raised her the first two years." "She wasn't a burden?" "Very little." "Less than your wife?" "Much less!" "Then keep her." "I have no right, legally, that is." "And a child needs roots." "She can uproot herself later." "Didn't you say you lived alone?" "Yes, but..." "I'm just waiting." "Waiting for what?" "That unpredictable thing called love." "I've never really fallen in love... and I want to." "I let myself be misled by a man... who convinced me that he loved me and I Ioved him." "I believed him." "But it wasn't love." "It was being faithful." "Being faithful meant a Iot to me." "It still does." "I believe that to really love... you must think it'II last forever." "But we all make mistakes." "You won't make any more?" "I don't know." "But I won't believe something's love when it isn't." "Love burns." "I want to burn with love." "When it's worth it, I hope." "For whom?" "I don't know." "It'II happen, I don't know when, but quite unexpectedly." "Maybe never." "I hope not." "But I'II burn." "But will you know where to aim your flame?" "No." "I said it wouId happen... quite unexpectedly." "Then you'II make another mistake." "That's true." "I couId." "You're free now." "Enjoy it." "Don't tie yourself down." "That depends to whom." "Freedom doesn't interest me." "I don't think the way you do." "What bothered me, if I may say so... wasn't being attached... but being attached to someone I didn't burn for." "I've never burned with love except in dreams... as girls do for a movie-star... a prince, an athlete, a face gIimpsed and never seen again." "But it wasn't love." "I've probably set hearts aflame." "But they belonged to people I didn't care about... so I never noticed." "Men may have killed themselves over me!" "I hope not." "If they did, I never found out." "But strange as it may seem, one thing has never happened... to spark a love in myself and in another... instantly and reciprocally." "But I don't despair." "It'II happen one day... and suddenly, I'II go up in flames." "Maybe not suddenly." "Just as well." "Passion that flames too quickly burns out too fast." "No, it must catch right away, take you by surprise." "And after that?" "After the surprise?" "After the surprise, it's all surprises." "Why worry about "after"?" "Because love, Iike life, exists in time." "Yes, but in the present." "You live in an improbable future, so you don't live." "What?" "You don't know me!" "I do a little." "I can guess...see through you." "So what?" "Let me ask you a question." "I gather you live alone?" "For now." "Do you Iike it?" "No." "I'm like Marion, waiting." "To burn with passion?" "For a deep and lasting love." "I believe in it, even if you don't." "meanwhile, I Iive." "Live?" "You live on hope?" "Maybe, but I Iive well." "Better than if I compromised with someone..." "I really didn't love." "I'm in the same boat you both are." "I lived with a girl." "We stayed together too long... and a few months ago had the guts to split up." "And now you're looking for the ideal woman?" "I'd say... someone I couId trust... even if at first..." "Forget it!" "Even if what?" "I've said enough." "Less than I did!" "And I!" "You said the least!" "No, I don't think so." "That's right." "pauline hasn't said a word." "True." "Let's see." "Are you waiting, too?" "Of course." "You have hopes?" "Sure." "At my age, I'd be dumb not to." "Have you ever been in love?" "You told me you had been." "I did not." "Maybe I made it up." "Then tell us." "We won't hold it against you." "It's not interesting." "Yes, it is." "We talk about it." "Why won't you?" "Because I don't feel like it." "Even if it's interesting to you, at my age it isn't." "And at our age?" "obviously, since you talk about it." "Doesn't it interest you?" "Yes, I learn things." "Then you're not being fair." "we could learn from you." "You don't need to." "You know enough." "She's putting on airs!" "Be nice." "Answer." "Have you ever been in love?" "With who?" "A boy." "Your age?" "No, he was old." "How old?" "twelve." "I was six." "He was very old for me." "Is that all?" "She's putting us on." "I don't agree with any of you, except maybe Pierre." "really?" "What do you think?" "I couldn't get all excited about someone... without knowing him." "You must know people to love them." "people?" "She always says that." "Boys, then." "To love them or to be friends with them?" "Both." "It's the same." "No, it isn't." "Yes, it is." "Anyway, I'II never fail in love with someone I don't know." "How do you know?" "What about that boy?" "Which one, the 12-year-oId?" "No, another." "It doesn't count." "It was like a dream." "You're right." "Love is a dream." "Not entirely." "Her feet are on the ground!" "You said love must be shared." "And you want it to happen right away, at first sight." "people's superficial aspects don't interest me." "The deeper ones do." "But you sense them underneath." "Love is when, beneath the surface... you see in a flash a person's whole depth." "But you said one can make mistakes." "That's true." "But what can one do?" "She's seeing right into our souls there!" "No." "For that I'd have to be in love." "For the moment, you're all quite opaque." "Even PauIine." "Let's go dancing?" "Where?" "There's nowhere to go." "The Casino." "It's awful." "Doesn't matter." "We'II have fun tonight." "I'm going home!" "Pierre, don't!" "OK, but I warned you." "Isn't it great that we met again?" "I feel younger suddenly." "You haven't changed..." "in five years." "Neither have you." "I still love you as much." "So do I." "What's got into you?" "Kiss me." "You used to before." "Before?" "Before I got married!" "So much has happened since." "You said you hadn't changed." "physically!" "If I'd loved you, I'd have married you." "You said you'd made a mistake!" "With you it wouId have been a mistake, too!" "It's just as well." "Come on." "They'II wonder where we are." "Wait!" "Listen to me." "You must understand." "If you believe in love at first sight... tonight all my old love resurfaced." "I realized no other woman made and still makes me feel..." "like you do." "You're drunk!" "If you're my friend, leave me alone." "I don't want to talk about love." "That's all you talked about all evening." "In the abstract." "You might as well know." "If I ever love again, it won't be you." "I can wait." "No, I value you as a friend, but love can't be forced" "You may change your mind." "Why are you so biased against me?" "Listen, stop talking about that." "OK." "But I had to get it off my chest." "pauline, Pierre wants to dance with you." "Let's go to my house." "It's on the way." "For one last drink." "Let's go to my place." "pauline's tired." "OK." "I'II follow you." "See you there." "What's that?" "I haven't finished it." "Let me see them all." "We're late!" "Did you sleep well?" "I got up at 11:30." "No, don't touch it." "I'II show you." "Bring the sail up very slowly." "careful!" "Stand behind me." "Very slowly..." "Let the sail flap... cross your hand over, and hold it like this." "On the sand?" "Stand like that." "I'II put my foot there." "I lean back?" "But feel...the wind filling it." "And my arm?" "Try again." "It's very hard." "She's too much!" "I've seen worse!" "I've got it now." "It's very hard." "It's all balance." "He doesn't know what to do." "Can I show her?" "You know how?" "Got a board?" "I don't like those things much." "I have a sailboat in granville." "Your hands aren't in the right place." "Like that." "With your hand." "It's really hard." "The wind's against us." "You been here long?" "We just arrived." "place your legs right." "Is she your sister?" "My cousin." "Cute, isn't she?" "Who's he?" "pauline, watch or you'II never learn!" "pauline, your turn." "That's all for me." "Coming tomorrow?" "Maybe." "See you later." "Stand straighter." "Watch for the wind." "Were you waiting?" "Am I late?" "I came to see you alone." "I'd be embarrassed in front of the others." "Then come in." "I'm ashamed of myself." "It never happened so fast before." "What could be better?" "You wanted to go up in flames!" "If it was reciprocal." "It is." "I doubt it." "I'm only your latest conquest." "You see things in terms of ownership and possession." "I don't." "We spent a wonderful night together." "Let's spend more, as many as you want." "Why?" "You don't want to?" "The logistics are too complicated." "Why?" "What's stopping us?" "Come to my place." "Move in." "You'II be more comfortable." "And PauIine?" "She can come, too." "Marie's leaving." "It's a big house." "No." "I'd be too embarrassed to tell her." "What's wrong with her knowing?" "I'm responsible for her." "Don't be silly." "She needs a boyfriend." "It's time she lost her cherry!" "AII right?" "Of course not." "And Pierre's acting so jealous!" "You told him?" "No, he hasn't a clue." "He asked me to dinner tonight." "Without me, of course." "I don't mind." "will I see you later?" "No." "I'm dining alone." "I'II stay home and go to bed." "I'm tired." "pauline needs sleep, too." "We'II meet tomorrow." "I can't tomorrow." "I'm taking Marie back home." "I won't be back until late afternoon." "Come to my house for dinner." "You come to my house." "It's my turn to invite you." "will Pierre be there?" "I'm afraid I can't avoid that." "I Iike him a Iot." "But he's impossible." "It's all so complicated." "No, it's very simple." "Learn to live for the moment." "It'II make you stronger." "I'm so weak!" "Come on." "How did it go?" "pauline, come back!" "Have you had breakfast?" "Why did you pretend not to see us yesterday?" "Your Henri gets on my nerves." "He's not mine." "He's yours." "You introduced us." "He did it himself." "I barely know him." "We talked about boats one day." "He knows a Iot." "But he's no friend." "You can't keep him off the beach." "It's as much his as yours." "Maybe more." "It's in front of his house." "Why swim there?" "You have a car." "You could go elsewhere." "I Iike it there." "I'm not avoiding anyone." "Because... he's there?" "Maybe." "When he comes, I'II leave." "So you'II be alone." "You're out of your mind!" "I don't get you." "You want to be free and you see that guy!" "I'm free to see who I want." "He's not interesting." "You're wrong!" "He is!" "Since you insist..." "he's more interesting than you." "I hate to say it, but in all sorts of ways." "Compared to you, no." "Compared to me?" "I'II be the judge." "Why are you making a scene?" "You promised not to." "I can stand that you don't love me... but that guy's just taking you for a ride!" "He is not!" "He's the one who said it." "He takes them as they come." "You don't mean more than another." "Listen... the more you knock him, the more interesting he gets." "So let's drop this and stay friends, OK?" "I say it as a friend:" "watch out for him." "Maybe he's dangerous, but danger fascinates me." "Don't say that!" "It's too bad you're not my friend." "If you were, you could help me." "help you how?" "To resist this fascination." "Your jealousy makes things worse." "You once could've prevented me... from marrying a man I didn't love." "You'd already dropped me!" "Because you were so jealous and had a girlfriend." "I Iive alone." "I can still be your friend." "Go after PauIine." "I mean it." "She's just a kid." "You're teaching her windsurfing." "Why not love?" "I hope you're joking." "Anyway, I don't stand a chance." "She only likes guys her age." "Boys her age are stupid and brutal." "You'd do her a Iot of good." "I'm not that dedicated." "Are you alone?" "They're out there." "Are they going far?" "She's a great swimmer." "She can go for miles." "And you?" "I did OK as a junior at 25 yards!" "Want to swim?" "Not right now." "Then let's sit down." "Did you think I'd come?" "And you?" "I knew you came here." "You came for me?" "I wouldn't walk 5 miles just to swim!" "Maybe to see Marion." "Are you crazy?" "Admit you Iike her." "Sure, who wouldn't?" "But she's not exactly my type." "I Iike more natural girls." "Was that guy her boyfriend?" "Her brother?" "Think so?" "I don't know." "They look a bit alike." "Anyway..." "He's a friend." "She's married but getting divorced." "It's your big chance!" "That chick's not for me!" "Do you have a girlfriend?" "In Paris." "I was seeing a girl here, but we had a fight." "You got a guy?" "Loads!" "So there's room for one more!" "Won't be you!" "Who said I applied?" "I don't like to be touched." "And all those guys?" "They don't dare." "They're not boyfriends." "Let's go for a swim." "pauline!" "Come here!" "Gone swimming yet?" "We were just going." "I'd go with you, but I have to go home." "I was in Rennes." "My car's in the garage." "Marion not here?" "She's with Pierre." "Out there." "See?" "Where?" "There." "Ah, yes!" "Amazing!" "We were supposed to meet at six, but I got back early." "I bought this on the way." "I had the tune in my head." "Remember, at the Casino, they'd destroyed it." "Do you know it?" "I'm going home." "If you want, come hear it." "Go on." "Don't worry about me." "I have to stop by the post office." "I'II be back." "If you leave, push the door shut." "There's nothing to steal, anyway." "Bye." "I Iike that guy." "Is he your cousin, too?" "No." "We met the other day." "He picked you up?" "He's a pal of Pierre's." "Isn't he your cousin's boyfriend?" "She only met him two days ago!" "He's more likely to get her than that other guy." "I'm for Pierre." "He's younger and more handsome." "Marion and he are great together." "That guy's going to get her." "Want to bet?" "Anyway, you won't get her." "Hi there." "How's tricks?" "Give me some peanuts." "Here." "Haven't seen you in a while." "I was away at my brother's wedding in St. Lo." "I may not stick around." "August was booming, but now I'm bored." "You're not going swimming?" "alone?" "Let's go together." "I have to mail this letter." "I'm busy later." "Tomorrow morning?" "I'm not here in the mornings." "We'II do it another day." "Henri, I was looking for you." "At my place?" "You should've waited." "No." "Do you know what's happening at your place right now?" "What?" "They're dancing." "Dancing?" "They're in bed!" "I don't believe it!" "What did you say?" "I was so taken aback, I was speechless." "Fine." "Leave them alone." "really!" "Upset because of her parents?" "No, just myself." "She shouIdn't be picking up idiots on the beach." "But she won't listen to me." "He's no idiot." "They're great together." "That girl's funny." "Candy apple?" "No, thanks." "Then let's go." "No, not while they're still there." "Here they come." "They didn't have time to do much!" "See you later." "WouIdn't it be simpler if you moved in?" "No, I have to watch PauIine." "I don't want her to bring just anyone home." "At my place I can throw them out." "It's better if you come to my house." "For dinner?" "Do you mind if I leave at six a.m.?" "It's the best time to work." "And that way, your little cousin won't know." "I think she already does." "I'm glad." "The embarrassing thing is telling her." "Wait." "Are you coming with us tomorrow, to Mont St. michel?" "Mont St. michel?" "Tomorrow?" "You're joking!" "pauline wants to see it." "She needs something to tell her parents when she gets back." "Besides her amorous escapades!" "No...tourists bring out the murderer in me!" "And your little cousin doesn't seem too fond of me." "I think... she wanted me to fall in love with Pierre." "Come here!" "The girls went to Mont St. michel." "I just stopped by in case they hadn't." "I was going sailing, but it was put off till tomorrow." "Come for a swim with us." "OK." "I'm coming." "Do you Iike it?" "Come on." "Hey!" "The girl's coming!" "tell her to hide!" "Hurry!" "Forgive me." "I saw the TV on, so I came up." "Good." "I went swimming." "It's chilly today." "Let's go down." "In that wet towel?" "Right." "I'II change." "Wait downstairs?" "We're disturbing someone." "Someone?" "Too bad for them if you know." "Hurry up." "I want to get dressed." "Now you lend your bed?" "I lend nothing." "I was on the phone, and they snuck up." "I was chasing them out when you came." "I was right to be wary of that kid." "Where's PauIine?" "luckily, at home." "Resting." "Better not tell her." "Right?" "If that boy tries to see her again, I will!" "Don't upset her for nothing." "I hope I'm not disturbing you?" "I came now, since I can't come evenings." "Why not say you won't come!" "No, I can't." "It's physical." "That guy literally repeIs me." "well, he attracts me." "I loathe him." "Do you know what he reminds me of?" "A snake." "I'm more like a snake, with my serpentine figure!" "I mean he's not attractive." "He just has you under a spell." "No, I've bewitched him." "Has he scored?" "What an ugly word!" "Not the word, the act!" "Pierre, please." "The answer is yes!" "Why go so far to get what you have right here?" "I feel so close to you." "Too close!" "I don't want someone like me but someone who complements me." "You're perfect." "You don't need anyone." "Everyone does." "Love is what allows us to fulfill ourselves." "Love?" "sleeping with a guy you'II never see again?" "That's love?" "We'II see each other again." "people in love can go anywhere on earth in two days." "I'II go see him, or he'II come see me." "I'm not crazy." "I was crazy when I lived with a guy who followed me like a dog." "You're like a nice dog, too." "Don't be too sure." "If Henri gets away from me..." "No matter!" "I'II dream of him while we're apart... and enjoy being with him even more." "Better a few intense moments with him... than sharing a comfortable life like yours." "I need to feel exalted." "ExaIt yourself alone, with your calling." "calling?" "Your work!" "It's in Paris, not the South Seas." "You're a flower that only blooms on home soil." "Next you'II accuse me of betraying France!" "The things jealousy makes you say!" "You're into dime-store ex oticism!" "Enough of him!" "He's forgotten you." "It's your attitude I deplore." "Attitude!" "I don't have an attitude!" "I Iove a specific man." "You don't." "I Iove him and he loves me." "No, he does not love you!" "You don't know!" "No, you can't know." "I tell you I do..." "and I can prove it!" "visual, physical proof!" "If only I'd had a camera." "What do you mean?" "When?" "Yesterday at his place, while you were away." "He was with the girl who sells candy." "You saw them?" "I was passing behind his villa." "She was naked in his room." "Was he there, too?" "I doubt she was alone!" "Think I'm making it up?" "No, you're not." "It's quite true." "Because I was there." "What?" "luckily, I stopped by Henri's place on my way home." "The girl was there, but with SyIvain." "So he lends out his room?" "No, we had to chase them out." "I...we went up... and they hid in the bathroom." "Was PauIine there?" "No, she was home." "Did you tell her?" "It's better not to." "If you'd made a play for her, this wouldn't have happened!" "If you both went for more interesting guys... it wouldn't either." "You both like guys who don't care." "Henri cares!" "See where your snooping leads?" "Just stop it." "I have nothing more to say." "I'd sworn not to see you again." "I'm leaving." "Listen, Pierre." "You're incredible!" "You want to tell people what to feel." "I'd Iike you so much if you weren't so jealous." "well, I am." "I am because..." "Because I Iove you." "To hell with it." "I'm off." "You're leaving?" "Take PauIine." "She wants to go to the beach." "So you can be with him!" "Go on!" "But don't say I'm curtaiIing your freedom." "pauline, you coming?" "believe me... she likes you..." "a Iot more than you think." "There!" "Perfect!" "Lean back...against you." "That's it." "Perfect." "You can feel the wind, right?" "Let's stop there." "We'II do some more later." "We'II get a bite to eat, OK?" "There." "You're not cold?" "You don't want this?" "Hi!" "Have you seen SyIvain today?" "No, I haven't." "Thanks." "Bye." "That's OK." "Bye." "If he was here, you'd see him." "It's strange." "He told me he'd be here today for sure." "When did he say it?" "Two days ago, yesterday." "I was at Mont St. michel." "He was sailing." "The day's not over." "We'II borrow a dinghy." "Look!" "The sea's lovely." "I don't want to." "What is it?" "Don't cry just because some creep stood you up!" "He's not Iike that." "You don't know him, and he's done you no harm!" "Let's buy candy." "Want something?" "Some peanuts." "How much?" "5 francs." "I have the exact amount!" "Listen..." "You haven't seen SyIvain?" "SyIvain?" "I haven't seen anyone." "I just got here." "See you!" "Why ask her?" "She doesn't know him." "She'd say anything." "One never knows." "You're acting weird." "You're making fun of me." "No, I'm not." "I was just trying to help." "Something's going on." "What did you all tell him to keep him away?" "I never spoke to him." "Not you, Marion, or Henri." "You're imagining things." "She'd do it." "She's turned you against him." "That won't stop me from seeing him." "She didn't say a word." "AII right, she did." "OK, you asked for it." "I have nothing against him." "I don't know him, but my advice is to watch out for guys... who cruise around picking up girls on every beach." "He's not Iike that!" "How do you know?" "And what do you know?" "Anyway, goodbye!" "Listen, pauline!" "Let go!" "I don't want to hear you say nasty things." "Thanks for the windsurfing lessons." "I'II learn later." "Come on, Iet's go eat." "I'm not hungry." "Why do you all criticize me?" "I couId criticize you, Marion, Henri, too." "Marion doesn't want you seeing shady types." "She sees a few herself." "Henri's very shady." "So are you." "You're all shady and tricky." "SyIvain is on the level." "On the level?" "Yes, and you're a dirty hypocrite!" "What if he was with another girl?" "Go ahead, invent some more!" "When, now?" "Yesterday." "I didn't want to tell you, but you're being had." "Ask Marion what he was doing with the candy girl." "He was sailing." "He was taking you for a ride!" "Ask Marion." "Let's go." "Not now." "We'II disturb her!" "Sorry to bother you... but I've been called a liar." "He says such vile things." "only what I was told." "What?" "You didn't tell her..." "It's not true?" "You didn't say that?" "If I told you, it's because I thought you could be discreet." "Forgive me." "I didn't want to hurt you, but you've been had." "You're old enough to know the truth." "Why did you tell that story?" "especially to a gossip." "I didn't tell him." "He saw the girl." "He was spying." "That's not true!" "I wasn't spying." "I passed by." "Sure." "Listen to me." "Nothing happened." "He really cares about you." "Nothing happened between them." "I swear." "She threw herself at him, dragged him into the bathroom." "It's a pity SyIvain isn't here." "His sailing trip was changed to today." "He had no way of telling you." "It's too bad I didn't see you." "Why don't you mind your own business?" "See what you've done?" "Did she find that guy?" "Do you care?" "You asked me where he was." "I don't give a hoot!" "The kid was worried." "They had a date." "ShouIdn't worry about guys." "Is she his sweetheart?" "You didn't know?" "I don't know him." "well, vaguely." "vaguely?" "What are you saying?" "No, nothing." "Do you know Henri?" "His buddy?" "Maybe." "You a cop?" "His fiancée says she caught you with him." "With Henri or SyIvain?" "SyIvain." "That's what she said." "I don't care what she says." "So it's true?" "Who cares!" "only the truth hurts." "Then it's a lie?" "None of your business." "I don't know you." "Anyone who gossips about me..." "I'II get my fiancé to beat him up." "I've got a fiancé, two even!" "One here and one in America." "They don't let people badmouth me!" "But they let you chase guys?" "Me, chase guys?" "You nuts?" "I can have as many guys as I want!" "But I only like 'em real handsome." "Then you Iike Henri?" "He's not bad." "But I never chased him or anyone else." "The girl heard you were with her guy." "Who the hell told her that, the blonde?" "Yes." "Is it true or false?" "false, of course." "Can you see me with that little kid?" "So you were with Henri?" "Quit prying!" "That chick made it up!" "I wasn't with anyone." "Who were you with in Henri's room?" "I was never in his room!" "Who told you?" "Who were you with?" "Who told you?" "The girl?" "How could she know?" "I was behind the house." "I saw you." "Bunch of cops!" "Maybe I was with Henri." "So what?" "Do you have to broadcast it?" "Think of that poor girl." "I don't want to upset her." "So he told you to go into the bathroom... and pretend you were together." "He said nothing." "I went in there." "So I wouldn't get caught in bed." "I hate that!" "And SyIvain?" "He pushed him in." "I didn't know why." "Now I get it!" "She saw us through the door." "What could we say?" "I was ashamed." "I was blushing." "I was only wearing a towel, my swimsuit was drying downstairs." "So he got off scot-free!" "I don't like doing that kind of favor." "I don't like being used." "Is she your sister?" "Who?" "Marion?" "well, yes." "I thought so." "You won't tell her?" "No." "But I'II tell the young girl." "Her guy'II tell her." "She your sister, too?" "No, a cousin..." "my cousin, that is." "It's none of my business... but I'd say they keep bad company." "They're cute, especially the older one." "Too bad you're her brother." "You'd make a nice couple." "Are you free tonight?" "Tonight?" "It's my last day." "I want to celebrate." "AII my pals have left, except my fiancé... but I see too much of him." "No, thanks, I can't." "On me!" "I have money." "No, really..." "'Cause I'm a peddler?" "You're crazy!" "Tonight..." "I'm... invited to my cousin's." "Too bad." "I'II find someone." "Have a nice time." "Have you seen PauIine?" "I think she's at Henri's." "It's not the time to explain." "I've nothing to explain." "What did you tell them?" "We shut up and you talk!" "I didn't say anything." "Then your chick did?" "Pierre did." "That guy?" "What does he know?" "He was behind the wall, spying." "He saw her in my room." "He saw her with you, not with me!" "He only saw her." "Which suits me fine." "Not me!" "I won't take the rap." "I told PauIine the girl hustIed you... and you turned her down." "You bet you did." "You're a real bastard!" "We're young, so you use us to get what you want." "That's disgusting!" "Where do they live?" "You don't know?" "Three miles up in the hills." "Go ahead!" "Be my guest." "Where exactly?" "well, I know how to get there by car..." "let's see..." "I'm warning you... by tomorrow, pauline and Marion will know it all." "Tomorrow's different." "Some things one must break gently..." "Did he break it gently to PauIine?" "Just because one girl's crying, why make both cry?" "But the wrong one's crying!" "It doesn't matter." "I really don't get you!" "You've got a fabulous girl... and you mess around with that bimbo?" "I guess I'm not prejudiced." "And that bimbo is a real turn-on." "Maybe to old guys!" "Thanks." "OK, so I'm old." "Listen, all my Iife I've loved and been loved." "Now I'm fed up." "I'm resting." "I'm through with passion." "Marion annoys me." "Then don't chase her." "She's chasing me!" "And one can't pass up a girl like her!" "You don't give a damn?" "No, I Iike her..." "I'm even fond of her." "But I hate making people cry." "In fact, I'm too nice." "It really gets me into trouble." "I hate seeing you so sad." "I shouldn't have told Pierre." "I'd rather know." "And I'm not that sad." "I liked SyIvain, but I wasn't really in love." "I didn't like him." "To each his own." "You took the first comer." "What about you?" "Let's not argue." "But you could have done better, even here." "To get some experience." "Do you know who I mean?" "He's old!" "He's young and handsome." "Some girls my age like adults." "I don't." "Pierre's very nice to me." "I don't mind him, but..." "I wish you wouldn't talk about him like that." "But I'm flattering him." "He's very attractive." "You take him." "You'd be great together." "Maybe." "But love can't be forced." "To me he's a little boy." "To me he's old." "As old as Henri." "But nicer and better looking." "You see..." "I can't convince you to love him... and you can't convince me either." "Everything bad you say about Henri... and that I already tell myself won't make me drop him." "Like what?" "I don't know..." "That our love is impossible." "That I'm mad to fall for someone who lives so far away... who loves me less than I Iove him." "Even though..." "I think he's hooked, despite his pretended indifference." "I feel my love is so strong... that I'II make him share it, if I'm given enough time." "I want to make him really fall in love." "So that if I suffer, he will, too." "Why make him suffer if you love him?" "In love, one must share everything... pleasure and pain." "You say that love can't be forced... yet you want to make him love you." "Love me more!" "But I'm sure he's more in love than he lets show." "Who's there?" "telegram for you." "I have to be in Paris this afternoon." "I'II come back by train tomorrow." "I'II drop you at the beach." "Pierre or Henri will bring you back." "I don't want to go." "How are you?" "You didn't come today?" "Marion had to go to Paris." "She left you alone?" "She could have driven you to the beach." "I didn't want to see anyone today." "OK..." "I'II go." "I wanted to apologize for yesterday." "You were right to tell me." "Your friend must be furious." "Henri must've told him you talked." "You didn't?" "No." "He showed up as we were leaving." "What?" "You haven't talked to him?" "I don't want to see him again." "That's terrible!" "It's Henri who was with the girl." "Henri?" "You saw her with SyIvain." "So did Marion." "Henri fooled us all." "He's diabolical!" "He pushed your friend into the bathroom with the girl." "SyIvain agreed to it?" "He didn't dare speak up." "I doubt it." "How do you know?" "The girl told me, and it makes more sense." "Have you seen SyIvain today?" "He wasn't at the beach." "Neither was Henri." "Maybe he is now." "shall we go?" "No one." "Let's go to GranviIIe." "He must've gone sailing with his dad." "Let's check the port." "No." "They'd be back by now." "Let's go anyway." "We'II find out." "Do you know where he lives?" "Here in granville." "But I don't know his address." "He doesn't have mine." "There was no need." "We'd meet on the beach." "shall we go eat?" "OK." "What's on your mind?" "No one tolerates other people's choices." "You don't like Marion with Henri." "She doesn't like SyIvain with me." "I don't understand Henri and the girl." "They're the only two I do understand." "Because it suits you." "Suits me, too, but still..." "When couples are weII-matched, then it's OK." "Then SyIvain and I are OK." "We're weII-matched." "I've nothing special against him... besides what happened yesterday." "But you can do better than a kid like that." "Because he's young?" "I wasn't like that at his age." "What were you Iike?" "Tender and romantic." "He's tender, too." "You both fell for the least interesting guys around!" "Not interesting to you, but to us they are." "Yes." "Sure." "How come you decide what others are to like or dislike?" "AII right." "Let's say SyIvain's OK." "But not Henri!" "She can't love him..." "or she's insane." "Love's a form of insanity." "No, you love what's good and what's good for you." "There's no mistaking true love, and she did." "She says it herself." "She's done it all her life." "What infuriates me is seeing people... create their own misery." "If she loved what was good for her..." "I'd be the first to approve." "She always goes for what is most remote from her." "Whereas I feel so close." "When I saw her again... the sense of familiarity was so strong." "I knew she was for me, that she was part of me." "That's it." "You're too close." "She knows you by heart." "You hold no mystery for her." "You're not strange." "I don't want to be." "I hate anything strange!" "When I met her, she loved a strange guy worse than Henri." "I knew it wouldn't last, that I'd get her eventually." "Then a third guy showed up, and he got her." "Do you know him?" "Her husband?" "I met him when I was little." "He's not strange." "No, he's ordinary." "She married someone ordinary but not me." "You missed your chance." "You didn't assert yourself." "I hate asserting myself." "I want to wait till she comes to me on her own." "So wait." "I'II wait." "For as long as it takes." "till...she loves me." "Or if it's too long, till I've stopped loving her." "Quite possibly I'II stop loving her some day." "By then she may love me." "But it'II be too late." "I'II be even!" "In fact, you don't love her." "You want her to love you." "If you love someone, you want to be loved back." "Her not loving me and loving Henri... doesn't make me jealous." "It puts her below the level where I can love her." "That's so pretentious!" "Do you think you're the center of the universe?" "No." "But if she's attracted to people... who are the opposite of me... if she's not made for me, as I think I'm made for her... and if the conviction my love is based on is destroyed... then I stop loving her." "It's that simple." "You were here?" "Hadn't you left?" "For where?" "We thought you'd gone to Paris with Marion." "No." "Where were you?" "We went to the regatta..." "I think we all have important things to say." "My place is quieter." "I have to take PauIine home." "It's early and it's on her way." "First she'd Iike a few words from you, right?" "OK." "Come here, pauline." "I hope you didn't believe that story... about SyIvain and the girl." "Marion made it up." "He was with the girl." "Yes, I was." "It's all my fault." "Kiss and make up." "How could you let him talk you into it?" "It would have made trouble." "Hasn't there been enough trouble?" "I don't matter!" "You're all disgusting." "AII of you!" "Let's get going." "Let's drink to our reconciliation." "Are you still mad?" "Not with you." "With me?" "Pour!" "With you she is!" "Why, I wasn't involved." "I hope she forgives you." "Cheers." "You think I'm MachiaveIIian." "Not at all." "I did it without thinking." "I thought you'd hide behind the door." "But you didn't." "Sure." "Now it's my fault." "I hold nothing against you." "You were free to do anything, even tell Marion." "Me tell your chick?" "I'm not Iike him, a rat fink!" "What?" "You're a rat fink, so shut up!" "Who cares about little creeps like you?" "Big assholes won't keep me awake nights." "So go to sleep!" "That's enough." "I said we'd all make up." "It was my fault, OK?" "Now let's forget the whole thing." "Right." "Let's forget it." "I'm going back to Paris tomorrow." "I have to get to bed." "Come on, pauline." "Henri'II take her home!" "No way!" "I brought her." "I'II take her home." "tell him you're staying!" "Answer!" "You staying?" "Watch it, joker!" "That's enough!" "Fight outside, not in my place!" "You OK?" "Great!" "She's in no shape to go home." "We have to wait till she calms down." "What time is it?" "Weren't you due home at eleven?" "Yeah." "I'II get in trouble again." "Pierre, take him home." "You do it." "He lives near you." "It's easier." "I'II take PauIine home later." "I brought her." "I'II take her back." "Don't be grotesque!" "please take SyIvain home." "He'II get in trouble." "Henri'II take me home." "You mind?" "Not at all." "You can spend the night here." "There's lots of room." "I'II take you both home." "Why?" "It's twice the distance." "An extra five miles." "Coming?" "I'm staying here." "What?" "I'II sleep here." "Henri offered it." "I accept." "Are you joking?" "Not at all." "I don't want to go home." "I'd be afraid in the house alone." "No." "I have to take you back." "You don't have to do anything." "I'm responsible for you." "You're not." "I'm responsible for myself." "True, my parents did leave me in Marion's care." "But she left me in no one's care, not yours or Henri's." "You don't think I'II leave you alone with him?" "Pierre!" "What's got into you?" "I'm not the big bad wolf." "I won't eat her." "Then stay." "To me, it's an unfriendly act... that has spoiled our whole evening." "You're the one who's not a friend." "You never think of me." "I'm on holiday." "Just because my parents aren't here... doesn't mean anyone can tell me what I can or can't do." "I do what I feel like doing." "Henri invited me." "I'm staying." "well, good night." "Coming, sylvain?" "At least give me a kiss." "I hope you're not mad." "I'm sleepy." "I'm going to bed." "Who?" "I'm fine." "How are you?" "Where are you?" "Kiperon?" "What does that mean?" "Quiberon!" "Yes, it's near here." "I'd Iike that a Iot." "When?" "Tomorrow?" "I'm free as a bird." "Marie's with her mother." "Why not today?" "Give me an hour to get dressed and I'II be there." "What's the boat's name?" "La RevoItosa, red and black, twin masts." "See you soon." "Did I really hurt you?" "You caught me by surprise." "Sorry." "I just wanted to wake you gently." "Don't be a hypocrite!" "I'm a man, you're a woman with nice legs." "Is that more honest?" "I don't understand men, especially old ones." "They're never straightforward." "Not you or Pierre." "SyIvain is direct." "Do you love him?" "He hurt me if he'd cheated on me." "But to play your games..." "He didn't." "I told you, I pushed him." "Breakfast'II be ready in a moment." "Here." "This is for Marion." "Give it to her." "I got a phone call." "I have to go to Quiberon." "I just have time to pack... and drop you off, then I'II be gone." "When'II you be back?" "I won't." "I'm going to Spain on a yacht." "We'II be gone a good two weeks." "And Marion?" "I'd gladly take her, but there's no room." "It won't be comfortable." "It's not a cruise." "It's very hard, with real pros." "Wait till she gets back at noon." "I can't." "I'd be too late." "And I hate goodbyes." "Then say you can't face her." "You're a coward." "It's not cowardice." "She wouldn't understand." "I don't get what you see in that other girl." "only a pervert would chase her... when he's with a girl like Marion." "Marion is very beautiful." "She has a perfect body." "Too perfect, Iike a statue." "The figure all women want." "She's an ideal." "I admire her, but I'm not that attracted..." "less than by a woman with imperfections." "Perfection is oppressive." "If genetic scientists manipulating chromosomes... could create an ideal woman..." "like in HuxIey's "Brave New world..."" "I'm sure that woman would be like Marion." "In time, all women could be made to look like her." "Imagine the world with millions of Marions!" "That other girl is much more artificial." "Her behavior, but not her nature." "That's not true!" "Marion is like no other woman." "She's unique." "Unique?" "Sure, good thing, too." "AII people are." "Her uniqueness is so perfect... it tends toward universality." "Get it?" "No, you don't." "Kids your age don't think about such things." "This'II be easier to understand." "Marion threw herself at me." "She didn't give me time to desire her." "Learn to let yourself be desired, or you'II be unhappy." "And another thing." "I didn't cheat on Marion with Louisette... but the reverse." "I met Louisette first." "We'd kissed a bit..." "but I'd never gotten her home." "So when the opportunity arose, I made the most of it." "I'd think with Marion, other'd be forgotten." "No." "I stayed true to my desire." "I felt involved with Louisette." "You were much more involved with Marion." "physically, but not mentally or by the desire I felt." "I'd met her first, so she had a kind of right." "But you don't understand that either." "A bit better." "So what shocks you?" "That she's a peddler?" "Are you prejudiced now?" "I'm shocked you're not in love with Marion, insanely..." "like Pierre." "He has no chance!" "Why?" "He's as good as you." "You don't like me much, do you?" "rascal!" "Hands off!" "Don't worry." "We're leaving in five minutes." "What did he tell you?" "That he was going on a boat without you... because it was uncomfortable." "You bet!" "Just as well." "I don't really like goodbyes." "What'II you do?" "What can I do?" "I mean here." "Won't you be bored?" "One's never bored in the country." "Why don't we go home?" "already?" "I have to tell you this." "Yesterday on the train, I was thinking." "I said to myself that in fact... we have no proof of what really happened with the candy girl." "Henri could've been with her... and made me think it was SyIvain." "I hope that isn't true." "It would be... too horrible." "But you... shouIdn't be upset by something that may not be true." "I'm not upset." "tell yourself it isn't true." "Convince yourself." "I'II remain convinced of the opposite." "That way we'II both be satisfied." "I agree entirely."