" Go ahead." " Thanks." "Are you asleep?" "Vic called." "He invited us to lunch, with Marianne." " Do you want to?" " I don't know." "I'm thirsty." "What do you fancy?" "I'll try to hold on till noon." "I'm going in." "Already?" "Hey there, Salomé." "Did you fall out of bed?" "I didn't get to bed." " This is Dorothée." " Hi." " Is your name really Salomé?" " No." "You need lunch?" "We're going to be busy." "No." "We're going to the 80." "All right?" " Who's he?" " No idea." "Let's go." "It's too hot." "In 10 minutes." "You're going to be so wrinkly at age 30." "Too bad." "That's Gutaz." "It's your lucky day!" " How much?" " It's taken care of." "By whom?" "Nice, but..." "They want to have lunch." " Let's say yes!" " Wait." "Tell them maybe." "Maybe?" "Would you prefer a bag of chips on the public beach?" "Where are you going?" "You should've said." "I've got nothing to say, Aldo." "You should ask." "OK?" "Yes, OK." "Get them to run a tab and leave it to me." "OK?" "What'll it be?" " Sausage and chips." " Two." "Well done for saying "maybe?" "." "Leave it out." "First time we came, there was nothing." "Nothing!" "The bay was beautiful." "Right, Dad." "The plebs ruined it." " Why are you here?" " No idea." " For the girls." " Chris!" "She's right." "And the memories." "What about your Minister's wife?" "Lolotte?" "No!" "My son disapproves." "So, the casino tonight?" " I'm out." " OK." "You're too young." "I'll just lie." "And borrow one of your dresses." "Thanks." " So, you'll come?" " You bet." "Excuse me... we borrowed your newspaper." "You can keep it." "We've read it." "What about my recipes?" "You never read them." "This is Barbara." "I'm Chris Ribaud." "My mother." "Hello." " Are you coming in?" " I'm working on my tan." " See you, then." " See you." "No!" "Watch!" "Not like that!" "Give me the bat." "Fetch that ball!" "Keep the bat up." "Move your shoulder." " I'm hopeless!" " You're not!" "Swing back, like this and follow through." "Take it easy!" "I'll help you in a minute!" "Let's try again." " Give me the cream." " Here." " Better now?" " I'm OK." "Drink this." " What is it?" " Gin fizz." "Just one." "My wife's not here." "I wanted to thank you." " Thanks." " Is it true?" " What?" " A jellyfish stung you?" "I'm speaking to the press at 6pm." " Can you make it?" " I'm not sure." " Who's that?" " A whore." "I can see that." "20 minutes, OK?" " No problem." "Are you coming?" " Yes." " What about Vic?" " No." "He's staying with his dad." "If you're putting up with him, he must, as well." "What a drag." "Yes." "See you." "I'm getting old." " Stop it!" " I am." "I'm old inside." " I've changed." " You're 38!" "I'm frightened." "Of what?" "Not knowing when to stop." "Will you tell me when?" "Sure." "What's the matter?" "I don't know." "All of it on 13." "No more bets." "Same again, please." " Claude." " Mr Gutaz." " Is Pierre here?" " No." "Is he working?" " Do you know Romain?" " By sight." "Aren't you Salomé's mum?" "Is this yours?" "Come over here." "Did you get stung?" " Yes." " Let's see." "Please, Chris!" "That'll leave a scar." " Yes, I know." " Don't you care?" "You're right." "Can I dance with your mum?" "Sure." "But not with me." "Of course not." "Come on then, Madame." "Will you look after these for a moment?" " It's a waltz." " So?" "Good." "Do you know Gutaz well?" " I know his bad habits." " That's him." "No, Gutaz's business is more than that." "What about you?" "Do you know him?" "Not a thing." "Good or bad." "My husband and he did business." "I think he respects him." " Where's your husband?" " Paris." " Poor guy." " No!" "He just can't relax." "Why did you want to dance with me?" "Silly question?" "Yes." "Why do you call my daughter Salomé?" "I can't say." "First your husband, your daughter." "I prefer dancing with one person." " Don't forget Gutaz." " I didn't." "That's how I got to meet you." "How could I forget him?" " What?" " I'll tell you later." "Where's the other?" "There it is." "Sleep well." "Romain's a funny guy." "He's a pimp." " A what?" " A pimp." "Come on!" "He's just a flirt." "He finds them on the beach and farms them out." "What?" "He does." "At the port, in villas." "He's a pimp." "How do you know?" "Everyone knows." "I thought you'd stopped." "So did I." "Can't you sleep?" "Never before dawn." "Really?" "Since when?" "A few years ago." "You?" "I don't know." "I'm a bit wound up." " Call her a taxi." " I'll take the train." "Not on Sunday evening." "Vic can take her." " What?" "Sure." " He can drop us first." " Thanks, but..." " It's OK." "You'll miss the plane." "I'm off." "You can put the radio on." "No thanks." "OK." "Did you have plans?" "Is that what that was about?" "No." " Did you want to go alone?" " No." "A bit further, on the right." "Don't you want them to see me?" "I have to go." " Hello?" "Hello?" " It's me." " Who's me?" " Vic." "Hi." "You're not with my parents?" " I'm at a restaurant." " Oh." " Did Mum forget something?" " No, no." "Hello?" " Chris." " Yes?" " Can I see you?" " I don't know." "Maybe later, if I'm not in bed." "I have to go now." "Don't tell your mother I called." "Vic?" "Sorry?" "He was in a dream." "I hope she's pretty!" " Coffee?" "Cognac?" " The bill." " The bill." " Yes." "Shall we have a drink at home?" "A quick one." "Poor thing." " So he can't hear anything?" " Nothing." "He's old." "In a way, it's relaxing." " How's Chris?" " Fine." "Better than last year, anyway." "There's always one difficult year." "Christine's was last year." "Thanks." "I'll just have a pee and we'll go." " Hi." " Hello." "This is Dany, school spy at Sainte-Jeanne." " A prefect, you mean." " Shut up." "She's impossible." "Shall we go?" " Who lives here?" " Dany." "When she's in Paris." "It was all fixed, then she said no." " Bringing me here?" " Yes." " She'd prefer we weren't here?" " Of course she would." " Are you crazy?" " What?" " I wasn't expecting that." " What?" "And there's only cold water here." "I thought..." "You know, I thought..." "I'd need my mother, to get on the pill." "That's ice cold!" "Sorry." "Yes?" "It's me." "Can you come?" " Where?" " The house." "They're out." "I'll try." "I have to get a file." " Now?" " The meeting's on Monday." "I need to prepare." "I'll be 45 minutes." "Where are they?" "At the theatre." "What's up?" "Nothing." "Do you feel guilty?" "Maybe." "I wonder if in a few years this'll mean anything to you" "or not." "Why not?" "I don't know." "No reason." "I just wonder." "You can be so serious." "I can't be your first." "You are." " Really?" " I'm not like that." "I've always hated people..." "who did that." "Why?" "Because of your dad?" "Yes?" "Ah, daddy." "No, no." "No one called." "Who?" "I'll tell him if he calls." "Me?" "I'm just reading." "The interval?" "OK." "Love you." "Not from a man." " What?" " I don't like it." "You didn't say." "That's what I meant." " Is it Dany?" " Balls to Dany." "I hate being trapped." ""Where are you going?" "Who are you writing to?" ""Will you call?" "Do you love me?" ""I'll go with you." "I'll listen to you pee." ""You're mine." "You're everything I never had."" "I can stand it!" "If you can't show love, how about compassion?" "No?" "That's rich, coming from you." "She called your wife." " When?" " Wednesday." "So I couldn't call you." "She spoke to Marianne?" "Yes." "I mean, no." "I just said I'd stop seeing you." "You wife is waiting for you." " Claude called." " Really?" "She was mad." "Why?" "I'll tell you, but don't pass it on." "She's pregnant." "Who?" "Chris?" "At the age of 16." "What a nightmare." "What's the plan?" "There's only one thing she can do." "Who's the dad?" "No idea." "She won't say." "Some kid." "What do you think?" "Should I wear this?" "No." "See you tomorrow." "We got them." "Why are you here?" "Get in." " Do you smoke now?" " Yes." "I heard the news." "Good for you." "Why didn't you say?" "What for?" "I could've..." "I don't think so." "I had to tell Mum." "I wanted to." "Why?" "Because." "Are you angry?" "We're finished." "I'm your friend's daughter from now on." "Don't try to see me, contact me or speak to me." "Don't call, don't write." "OK?" "Stop here." "I'll get the train." "Listen, I..." "I'd rather not." "Don't pull that face." "Say hi to your wife." " I was looking for you!" " Really?" "Of course." " Nice bike." " It's not mine." "Hop on." "Champagne!" "You're very observant." "At night, do you ever wonder if you'll ever see the sun again?" " No." " No?" "I do." "It's the Viking in me." "There we go." "Vikings thought the earth was flat." "So they never sailed at night or in fog." "What?" "They'd stop and drink, to ward off the fear." "Fear of what?" "The void." "I don't see the link." "I'm glad." "What're you thinking?" " About a friend." " A friend?" "A great guy." "Gutaz, the businessman." "The guy on the beach?" "You see that boat?" "With the lights?" " Know why the light's on?" " No." "Because he never sleeps." "Know why?" "Because he's alone." "Really?" "You know what?" "Listen..." " You go to see him." " Me?" "What'll I say to him?" "That I sent you." "I'd like you to." "Is that OK?" "Do I come back after?" "Of course." "Yes?" "It's late, right?" "Or early." "What's up?" "I have an idea." "Go on." "Breakfast at dawn." " No." " Then I'm coming up." "You're not." "That's enough!" " But I'm downstairs." " So?" "This is stupid." "Sorry you put yourself out." "Can I sleep now?" "Certainly not." "Hang up, but you can't sleep." "I'll call the manager." "You could do." "But you won't." "So?" "I don't know." "Come up with an idea." "We stop talking." "How does that sound?" "Dreadful, useless, unsatisfactory, spineless." " Spineless?" " That's right." "I'm coming up." "No." "This is boring." "I'm suffocating down here." "Then don't stay." " I'll be up in five." " No." " One minute." " No!" "15 seconds." "What for?" " To see you." " I saw you earlier." "I mean alone." "No." "I've had enough." "So have I." "Let's stop this." "15 seconds." "Not one more." "Happy now?" "At night, do you ever fear you'll never see the sun?" "No." "I do." "It's my Viking side." " The Vikings..." " I know what you are." "Oh yes?" "I know what you do." "Really?" "Tell me?" "15 seconds are up." "My work's nothing to do with you." "Meaning?" "You're too old." "Nice." "They'll have been washed out to sea." "Jellyfish come and go." "It's safe now." "Thanks." " Sleep well, Aldo?" " Alone." " Sorry." " Don't be." " What can I get you?" " Coffee." " Go to the restaurant." " Please, Aldo." "I'm not in the mood." "Can you give me a lift?" "Thanks." "At last." "I invited the Germans for lunch." "And Vic and Marianne." "I'm not hungry." "I've got this fruit." "Stop drinking and I'll believe you diet." "What were you doing with Kalidès?" "Is that his name?" "I gave him a lift." "Is he Greek?" "Come and see Vic." "He's sulking." "Here you are, at last." "OK?" "He's fine." "Right?" "Very happy." " Happy to lunch with you." " See?" "Tell us everything." "Who are they?" "Just some Germans." "They seemed sweet..." "Can I have a kir, please." "Chris felt obliged to share herself out." "She knew giving herself is just an image and the gift is just an image, too." "She'd studied the means by which the gift is made, called "a promise?" "." "May I?" "She had no idea, as the meal was finishing, as she practised her art, that a shadow hung over her, that year." "But she'd felt danger and the danger had a face." "A man with a gun, shooting at a target he keeps missing, may still enjoying harming innocent victims." "Chris enjoyed a similar satisfaction." "There." " You're good." " Pretty good." "Are you coming in?" "Is he managing?" " So so." " It's hard, to start." "It took Jérôme a week to get it." "It'd take him a week in bed with a girl." "That's nasty." "I'll be right back." " You're going too fast!" " You're right." "Jean-Loup will pick it up later." "Aldo!" "What are you up to?" "We've been waiting 20 minutes!" "What do you want?" " Whisky." " Two." "Thanks." "For catching you?" "You're direct." "That's refreshing." "I'm that kind of guy." " To us?" " Us what?" "Us." "You ordered an old woman?" "I didn't say "old", I said "too old"." "So this is just personal?" "This isn't business?" "Calm down." "I am calm." "You're on edge." "Not at all." "Pulse, 180, blood pressure, 160/100." "I just have to kiss you." "Are you crazy?" "This evening. 9pm." "At Fernand's?" "I'll have a shave." "No." "She'll come." "Who?" "Where?" "You're getting me wet." "Tell me." "Leave me alone, Salomé." "Why "Salomé"?" "Ask her." "He won't say, either." "Dad's on the phone." "What?" "Your husband, Pierre Ribaud." "Why didn't you say?" " Why are you talking to Mum?" " Go make a sandcastle." "I'm too old." "I play other games now." "I know." "Don't you want to play?" "John the Baptist lost his head." "Who?" "How about tonight?" "I'm busy." "What are you doing?" "Giving you a hard-on." "Can you feel anything?" "No." "Go make a sandcastle." "Jean-Marc and Pamela both say hi." "And I think that's it." " When's he coming?" " Chris misses you." "OK." "Love you." " So?" "When?" " He doesn't know." "Soon." "Why are you suddenly so keen?" "Do you miss Dad?" "They didn't break anything." "Let's go!" "We're leaving in an hour!" "An hour?" "So soon?" "I've hardly seen you." " I don't get it." " What?" "What you want." "You." "Are you sure?" "You're still so serious." "How about tonight?" "I don't know." "11pm." "Here?" "Naughty." " What will I look like?" " You look just fine." "So will you come?" "Have a dip." "Cool off." "You're almost black." " Oh please!" " You are!" "You look great." "Are you really going back to work?" "I think so." "The kids are old." "I'm a bit bored." "That's a good idea." "You should." " Stop it now." " It's true." "Feeling better?" "Was he feeling bad?" "He was a bit hot." "He's not coming." "How do you know?" "He called." "He can't come." " Who did he call?" " Aldo." "Why didn't Aldo tell me?" "He told me." "Why you?" "Why didn't he ask to speak to me?" "Come on." "Listen..." "Leave me alone." "Don't use it all!" "You don't pay the bill!" " Are you there?" " Yes." "What's this?" " What?" " The white jacket?" "Where are you going?" " Lamotte's." " Again?" "He's got guests." "I said we'd go." "I'm not going." "What guests?" "A writer, I think, and a doctor." "I'm not going." "Granny!" "So?" "Is this your first time here?" " I come all the time." " Oh, right." "I was godfather." " For whom?" " Fernand's daughter." "I knew her when she was this high." "She's a real woman now." "Could you button me up?" "I can't manage." "Do I scare you?" "Totally." "It must be my age." "It's quite striking." "Thank you." "I'm glad you're here." "What?" "Nothing." "I didn't think you'd come." "Why not?" "It wouldn't be a first." "What do you mean?" "Leave it." "Chris, you're the one..." "Of course, it was me." "I took the lead." "I saved you from everything." "I'm a good sport." "Chris, it was going nowhere." "It was hopeless." "I'd have followed you anywhere, if I'd thought..." "Not here." "Not like this." "What did you tell your wife?" "That I had to see someone for work." "Did she believe you?" "Yes." "With my mother and your friends, she'd never guess." " Your mother?" " She's at your place." "She isn't." "What?" "She's not at the villa - not tonight." "Why?" "Did you think she was?" "It doesn't matter." "You should go back." "We've got time." "I'll call you." " Do you want a lift?" " I borrowed a bike." "OK." "Think about me." "No, I recognized the child." "First off, he was handsome, and..." " And that was enough." "You can't say no to a kid." "Was that before or after the poker?" "Before!" "I was renting bikes!" "In Sardinia?" "Yes, in Sardinia." "You sold bikes to be able to buy the laundry in Dijon." " No!" "I sold the laundry to buy the bikes." " I won the laundry..." " Playing poker!" " It's simple." " Yes, very simple." " Where's the boat?" " Right there." "Alauna III." "One thing I don't get - the Thai girl you married..." " Yes?" "Where did you meet her?" "In Paris." "Studying law." "I hate talking about myself." "Look at that." "So?" " Worried?" " No, I thought..." "Yes?" "Doesn't matter." " What are you doing?" " We can't stay here?" "No?" " It was her." " Sorry?" "On the quay, it was Salomé." "Shall we go back?" "No." "Let's stay." "Are you going to stay there all night?" "No." "I was going to come over slowly, while we talk." "Forgot your manners." "And the conversation." "What are you thinking?" "You wouldn't believe me." " Tell me anyway." " My mother." "You know what she said about love?" ""I don't understand" ""how people can spend so much time fiddling about with their orifices."" "Right." "Is she dead?" "Yes." "For a long time." "Were you here last year?" "Yes, but on another beach." "I was in hospital for two months." " An accident?" " No a wasp." "What?" "I'm allergic and got stung twice in a year." "I was in an oxygen tent." "The works." "Nasty." "That's life." "You see that boat?" "Terzian's." "With the lights on?" "He can't sleep." "Do you know why?" "Because he's alone?" " Let's go in?" " You wouldn't!" "No, I wouldn't." "Shall I drive you back?" "Maybe not." "So that's it?" "Are you asking or telling?" "I have trouble leaving." "It's not easy, is it?" "Thanks." "Breakfast together, for once." " Nice." " Thanks." "I ordered American:" "eggs, sausage, pancakes, maple syrup." "I'm not sure I can manage that." "Come on!" "A French breakfast isn't enough." "Is there any coffee?" "Yes." "Did your dinner finish late?" " It didn't happen." " No?" "The guests cancelled." "Pass the sugar." "Marianne called here." "I didn't get the message." "You should say something!" "But I went out anyway." "To the port." "Guess who I met." " Who?" " Romain." "Kalidès?" " With his friends?" " No, alone." "He's never alone." "He was yesterday." "Are there croissants?" "Eggs, sausage, pancakes." "Pancakes." "With nothing on." " A bit of..." " No, nothing." "A plain pancake." " And?" " Thanks." "He asked me to dinner." "He's funny." "Yes." "Did you know about his allergy?" "Everyone knows:" "wasps." "He was hospitalized last year because of it." "You knew him then?" "For longer than that." "Two years." "He was at Colombe." "And he did water-skiing on the Ile Rouge." "The year before." "Really?" "People tease him - he goes white when he sees a wasp." "Jellyfish are worse." "He won't go in the water for days." "Poor guy." "Yes." " Do you want your sausage?" " No, I'm all right." "A knife and fork, maybe?" "Right." "Are you meeting again?" "Who?" "Romain." "Why?" "I don't know." "Are you asleep?" "Yes." "Not much sleep last night?" "That must be it." " Shall we have lunch?" " Yes." "But not yet." "I called Dad." " When?" " Just now." "Why?" "No reason." "Does it bother you?" "No." "Where did you call from?" "The restaurant." "He'll try to come." "Great." "Shall we eat?" "Romain's coming." " You're pretty." " I'm a bit fat." "You're not!" "Isn't she gorgeous?" "Of course." " Speak French!" " Don't!" "Have lunch with us." " But..." " No buts." "Couples shouldn't hide away." "Mum?" "These two are having lunch with us." "Perfect." "Whatever the subject," "Chris made sure Barbara spoke." "She'd get her talking to Romain, then start a conversation with her mother, bringing Peter in." "She managed to put up a sort of barrier, separating the table in two, she being the only person who could pass freely on both sides." "Romain played along, but then he started undoing Chris's work." "A sort of duel got underway, without any hostility and without the opponents looking at each other." "Roman got the upper hand, got his way, and Chris fell silent." "She couldn't fight against the reason for her fighting." "Romain would have won, had Chris not found an unexpected ally." "Lined up in a big uniform and... we cast off the moorings." "Then suddenly we saw... the ugliest guy on board" "and then..." " Chris!" " OK." "It's no big deal." "Can you get some ice?" "Romain's laughter broke down the bridges and barriers between one and all." "There was nothing left." "It was a draw." "I've got a dinner." " With whom?" " Jacques Monestier." "Who's he?" "One of Dad's work colleagues." "When was all this?" "Just now." "Which one is he?" "He's gone." "To the 80 club." "Oh, right." "Did you shower like that?" "Yes, why?" "No reason." " Mum?" " Yes?" "Do you remember what you asked?" "To tell you when it was time to..." "To stop?" "Yes." "Yes." "Why?" "I think it's time." "Oh." "Thanks." "No problem." "What are you doing this evening?" " Not much." " Have dinner with me." "And your mother?" "No, she's going out." "I'm inviting you." "8.30pm at the hotel?" "Dress up and we'll go out." "We'll have some fun." "There." "You look great." "Really?" " But, on the beach..." " I was only kidding." "Not many women hold up at your age." "I'm proud of you." " Listen..." " Yes?" "You've been acting funny - tense." " I'm OK." "Go on ?" "you'll be late." "Go on." "Hurry up!" "Mustn't keep Mr Monestier waiting." "What about you?" "Don't worry about me." "I'll walk you to your hotel." "Not bad." "This is a nice place." "How's the bed?" "Why don't you ask me to go?" "It's up to you." "No." "It's up to you." "Come on over." "You know, Chris is a bit fragile." "Last year," "she had a good year at Pontoise." "We were happy ?" "everything was going well." "Then Howard died." " Howard?" " The dog." "He was old and deaf and he did terrible farts." "We found him dead, in the living room." "Chris found him." "The funny thing was, she didn't spend much time with him." "She never walked him." "You know how kids are." "Stop that!" "She got over it, slowly." " How do you manage?" " What?" "To reload like that." "It's my job." "Go on." "You're terrible." "It just goes to prove she's more sensitive than you'd think." "And more secretive." " Why are you smiling?" " You don't understand." "What do you mean?" "I know my daughter." "No." "Good night." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Hypocrite." " Sorry?" " You knew it was me." "Yes." "Are you alone?" "No." "Is it your wife?" "Another woman?" "My father." "Say hi from me." "Will you tell him I like him?" "No." "Bastard." "Married bastard." " I'm coming." " But..." "No buts, I'm coming." "Meet me at the chapel, like in the books." "I'll just wear a cloak." "OK?" " When?" " 20 minutes." "Talk about me." "What?" "Do you love me?" "Yes." "Then tell me why." "What's up?" "Won't you say?" "No." "You wouldn't like it." "Nor would I." "Don't you feel good?" "No." "No, I don't." "If we got married, you could give me babies... prettier and cleverer than yours." "We could have a garden and dogs." "What do you think?" "I'm going to go." "Why?" "I'll let you be." "With your wife, your children, your father, your villa, your crappy comforts, your crappy life." "I don't understand." "Just as well." "But then, I want you to understand." "If I'd wanted you to, you'd have left them - your wife, kids - everything." "I could have used sex and tears to break you." "It's not that hard." "You're weak." "You don't know what you want." "I'm 18, but I'm older than you." "No one makes my dreams for me." "I make my own, like a grownup." "I turned you back on like that." "To see if you'd learned anything." "But you hadn't." "You got old." "You made money." "You stayed warm in your little life." "All I had to do was this... to get you back." "But you've got soft hands and you're gentle with them." "Bye." "Do you hate me?" "No." "Then I was no good for you." "Were you waiting?" "Dad's arriving at 10am." "You should get some sleep." " Are you happy?" " Very." " You?" " What a question." " Did you have fun?" " Yes." " How was Mr Monestier?" " Nice." "But a bit boring." "On your own?" "My Dad's here." "He'll be on the phone all day." "He's gone." "Who?" "We had an argument this morning, because of..." "You shouldn't." "Peter..." "What's the matter?" "Peter wanted us to go back to Germany, immediately." "I said no." " And?" " He thought..." "He was shouting, his suitcase, his money ?" "I don't know." "Sorry." "Why did you stay?" "Tell me." "You know, I forgot to ask Chris." "What?" "Why did she call?" "Jameson?" "It's Ribaud." "You know where to find me." "Aldo!" "A double scotch!" " Are you crazy?" " It's not for me." "Hey, why did you call me?" " Can't I want to see you?" "But..." "Are you going to swim?" " When?" " Any time!" "Here." "I'm going to go." "I'll fly to Nice and get there before him." "Yes." "Why not?" "Maybe it's not so simple." "What?" "Nothing." "What do you mean?" "Did he really go because of that?" "Maybe that was an excuse?" "An excuse for what?" "For leaving you." "He was always following me." "to the restaurant, the shop, the bar..." "Why?" "He said he didn't love you, but didn't know what to say." "He asked me to sort it out." "He asked to see me in Paris." "I said no, but he said by then, he'd have split up from you." "Sorry." "I didn't want to tell you, but..." "Better to know, before you fly off." " Lunch?" " Barbara's joining us." "Good." "What's up?" "She'll be all right." "We called the hotel:" "they hadn't gone." "Not only did we miss the plane, we slept at the airport." "Right." " What?" " Nothing." "I'm glad to see you." "Really?" "You seem surprised." "I am, a bit." " He's in trouble." " Who?" "The local pimp." "Who are his clients?" "The Nucci brothers, Lola von Stutz, the Enzo widow." "Copper, nickel..." "From what I've heard, they take the majority." "Mrs Ribaud?" " Yes?" " Telephone." "Why did they go like that?" "I don't know, but the house feels a bit empty." "Can you come tonight?" "Pierre's just got here." "I'll ask." "Hang on." "Vic and Marianne have gone." "I think he feels a bit alone." "We dine alone tonight." "OK." "Another time." "OK, bye Claude." " OK?" " Ah, Mrs Ribaud." " Should I kiss you?" " No." "I thought you liked risk." "The bare minimum." "Shall I introduce you?" "There's no need." " Three coffees." " About time!" " Here." " A five hundred?" "It's all I've got." "Do you miss me?" "No." "I'll leave you to it then." "Bye." "I kiss you goodbye." "I lick you." "I cleared your tab." " It wasn't my money." " So?" "Those coffees cost them 150 each." "They'll never notice." " Right." " Shall I introduce you?" " They look dull." "They're worse when you know them." "Yes." "Yes what?" "I miss you." "I was looking for you." "No kidding." "What an event." " Shall we celebrate?" " Cut it out." "I was working for you." "Meaning?" "I've got some friends to meet." "Come on." "I was waiting for you." " Oh?" " Just to confirm." " To confirm what?" " This evening." "I'm busy." "Cancel." "This evening's for us." " Or?" " I tell my dad everything." "I don't care." "You could use it as an excuse." "For what?" "For you." "Say you're protecting the mother, rather than chasing her daughter." "Is that what I want?" "Yes." "Just leave it." "No." "I'll tell him everything." "I promise you." "You have to, Romain." " 10pm at the citadel." " OK." " Is this your heap?" " A fiancée lent it to me." "Another old heap!" "See you later!" "As the moon shone over the rooftops, vines and lemon trees, thousands of jellyfish were floating in." "They quietly invaded the bay, like a good chorus, waiting in the wings, before curtain-up." "Did you think I wouldn't come?" "No." "Here." " Happy?" " Very." "Where are we going?" "OK!" "You can choose ?" "any ride you like!" "Have a good time." "Let's go." "Isn't this great?" "What next?" "Let's go!" " Let's go." " Already?" "Aren't you having a good time?" "Isn't this fun?" "OK." "Where?" "Your boat." "Poor Salomé." "You've tried everything, for two years." "She's been following me, hunting me, ignoring me, flirting with me." "Waiting for me." "Salomé aged 16, then 17, and now 18." " And you're still here." " Yes." "That's right." "I thought she'd get over it." "But, no." "No." "No!" "So?" "What do we do?" "Why did you fuck my mother?" "I wanted to." "No." " I like her." " No." "Tell me the truth." "If you like." "I'm not interested in you." "And you're no use to me." "Get it?" "You scare me." "You're so obvious, so ordinary, so predictable." "Chris, I know exactly how you're going to end up." "Really?" "How will I end up?" "Do you want to know?" "In a few years, you'll marry a solid, reliable guy." "You'll have two kids, a nice flat." "a couple of domestic staff, a classy dog, a Korthals Griffon." "You won't be as beautiful, but you'll be elegant, classy, and boring." "You won't have your mother's charm or vulnerability." "Ever." "You'll be a wife and mother." "A society lady." "You'll be brutal and dry as burnt toast." "And the worst thing is that it'll make you happy." "You'll bug your son about his maths." "And you'll go on family holidays on the Ile de Ré." "Your husband will play tennis, sail and ski." "You'll fuck a bit, but enjoy it less and less." "When you're 40, if you meet someone like me, you'll spit on him." "That much I know." "It's my job." "Your job is fucking." " So fuck me." " No." "I love you." "No." "You can't even say it." "Salomé, was someone like me, right?" "That's how I see it." "Didn't she dance?" "Yes she did." "Do you know why?" "I really love you." "It was quick." "Short, but sweet." "What's up?" "I love you." "Really?" "Yes." "Funny, right?" " Shall I come to the car?" " No." " Should we let Chris sleep?" " Let's see." "She's beautiful." "Yes." "See you soon." "We'll be back shortly." " Really?" " Yes." " Call me, when you arrive." " On the beach?" " Why not." " If you like." "I bet you don't." "But that's OK." "It stings!" "Romain's disappeared." " Really?" " Yes." "They found the wreck of his boat." " Wasn't he in it?" " No." "Maybe he was messing around and got in trouble." "It wouldn't be a first." "No." "Hello." " OK?" " Yes." "No husband today?" "No." "What a day." "No swimming today - too many jellyfish." "I know." "What a pain." "Already?" " Nothing about Romain?" " No." "Aldo!" "Two Cokes, Aldo." " So?" " We're going." "What do you mean?" "I want to go." "When?" "I don't know... today." "OK?" "Yes, but this evening." "I need to do something." " What?" " Something." "OK." "I'll make the booking." "Right." "OK?" "Fine." "This is Barbara." "She's very nice." " Hello." " Hello." "Coffee, cognac or tonic water?" " Tonic." "Cognac for her." " No, no." "Don't argue." " Cognac." " Just the ticket." "Coming?" "I heat it to 25 degrees." "Thanks." "Costumes aren't allowed here." "Don't be silly." "Here." "Tell me what you think." "Very nice." "So are you." " She's pretty, isn't she?" " Very." "Not really in keeping with the stereotype." "Please." "Normally, you'd be the hefty type:" "short thighs, low ass." " Stop!" "But you..." "You mother called earlier." "Really?" " Is she feeling better?" " Yes." "She'll be fine." "We're going." "Even you?" "Yes." "When?" "Today - tonight." "Mind if Barbara stays a while?" "Not at all." " We're going." " What is it?" "Romain's dead." "No way!" "He is." "He fell off his boat." "So they say." "But that wouldn't..." "The jellyfish." "Shit." "We'll be late." "Chris married a young doctor and had two children." "The ordinariness of her life seems to satisfy her." "These events left no mark on her, other than two scars:" "one on her right shoulder, and one on her left breast." "Subtitles:" "Eclair Media"