"STELLA" "All right." "Class 6/5..." "When I call your names, line up in pairs." "Ballard, Marie." "Léger, Nicolas." "Nouvelet, Pascal." "Matheron, Eric." "Ponsin, Laetitia." "Noël, Anne-Marie." "Porthéous, Isabelle." "Padeleau, Isabelle." "Tissier, Rodolphe." "Rodriguez, Laetitia." "Vlaminck, Stella." "I'm the only one here from my primary school." "Right, my name's Cotenson." "It's because of alphabetical order." "Please note my name." " I don't know anyone." " I'm your mathematics teacher and also your main teacher." "Can someone tell me what a main teacher is?" "He teaches the most important subject." " You?" " He's in charge of all the mistresses." "I think I need to explain." "You have several subjects, several teachers, or schoolmasters and mistresses." "Except that now, you have one teacher per subject." "For instance, I teach you mathematics." "This lot look like they're in bed at 8:30 without watching TV." "The "sheltered" type, unlike me." "These are information forms." "Fill them out carefully with your surname in block capitals, your first name," "your address, your parents' profession" "and the primary school you've come from." "Go on." " Is it real?" " Yeah." " What is it?" " Rabbit." "That's gross." "If I don't like it, I won't talk to anyone." "That's a good ball." " Is it leather?" " Yeah." "Pass." "Stop it!" "Gimme my ball back!" " Give it here!" " Cut it out!" "Let go!" "Enough now!" " Hi, sweetheart!" "Ok?" " Hi, Stella." " You screwed up?" " What's that eye?" " Some jerk wanted my ball." " It looks nasty!" " Fight back, kid." " He was bigger." "That's good." "Great start for your new school!" "I'm warning you, Stella, toe the line." "Don't make the headmaster call me." "You think it's funny?" "I just don't want any hassle, ok." " What did the mistress say?" " They're teachers." "It wasn't my fault." "Couldn't Dad belt him one?" "Your dad has enough to do without that." "Let me see." "He got you all right." "My place is a café." "That's why I have loads of pals." "It's a hotel too, 10 rooms, rented out by the month." "Tramps and drunks, mostly sent by the welfare office." "No surnames, just first names." "You can open them now." "I finished yesterday." "Like it?" "Very much." "The customers are nearly all regulars." "They all blow their pay here." "They die fast, of cirrhosis and stuff." "It's a good turnover." "Gently..." "You pay up today!" "Dad knows them all." "He worked 8 years unloading stuff at the goods station." "Where's my kiss?" "Calm down!" "She's the best!" "Honey?" "Lo.i. C!" " Honey, does this guy have a tab?" " Sure I do!" "No way!" "Don't push it, just pay up!" "My mum's the boss." " Stay there or work." " I'm on the till." "I'm in trouble, can you lend me 200?" "Serge!" " What's going on?" " He always pays it back." "No!" " 25." " 26." "We say 30." "My Dad's a northerner, ach'timi." "I heard his mum was a hooker." " 32." " I'm still in." "My grandfather hanged himself when Dad was 15." "I never knew him." " Sometimes you pull out." " 41." " Bad." " Cough up." "Dad's not the mean type." "A bon vivant, a clown." "A bit of a liar, a Valentino." " Mum says he's a weakling." " 34." "By two points." "Replace me?" " If it's Stella..." " C'mon, Momo." " It's my round." " What's the starter?" " One." "Your call." "How much?" "Ten." "Stella, honey, you're in my way." "Go and eat." "You're spoiling everything." "We'll make back our losses." "Still not in bed?" " What's this?" " A film." "Any good?" "Yes." "Who's she?" "A queen." " A queen of what?" " Shut up and watch." "Films like this put me to sleep." "Know what happened today?" "You know Momo's car got stolen." "When he got here..." "I'm going to bed." "Off to bed, sweetheart?" "You're beautiful, don't worry." " Put make-up on her other eye." " Sure!" "You set him straight, honey." "It suits you." "That kid, he stole..." "He steals my neighbours' car." "It seems that school is a lucky break." "It's not for me." "I don't want to go back." "I mustn't think about it." "Sit down now!" "The first week, instinctively," "I sat next to the girl from The Little House on the Prairie." "We have seen that doing a count means doing a bijection." "We shall try to solve an exercise." "Consider the two relations shown by sagittal diagrams..." "Maybe if I always sit by her," "I'll be as beautiful, good and clean as she is." "Are they bijections?" "Say why." ""The song" ""of the wind in the leaves..."" "Comma." ""The tireless work..."" "Young lady!" ""The" ""tireless" ""work" ""of the ants."" "I don't have much contact with the others." "I don't look at them, they don't look at me." " Hi." " Hi." " What's your stop?" " Quai de la Gare." "You?" "Maison Blanche." "I change at Place d'ltalie." "Is that far?" "Yeah." "Want one?" " Shall we get the next one?" " If you want." "What happens if you're late?" "My parents don't care." "You?" "Mine don't give a damn." "Stella!" "Oliveira..." "Fantastically useless." "Nainclair..." "You won't last long in school, Nainclair." "Mind your bag." "And now the best mark..." "Fernandez." "Is that you?" "12 out of 20." "That's a B. It's a decent mark, good even, but this is a rag." "Give me that." "Show me your file." "What's this?" "Pick it up." "No, don't." "Now then..." "Miss Fernandez, I'm here!" "It's a rag!" "Miss Fernandez, your mark... your mark doesn't alter that!" " You find it funny?" " No." "Since you insist..." "Your name?" " Stella Vlaminck." " What?" "Stella Vlaminck." " What's this?" " My snack." "What was your mark again?" "Zero." "Are you proud of yourself?" "Remember, the care you give to your work reflects your self-respect." "Is it normal you got the best mark?" "Yeah, it's normal." "That first day, I thought you were Nathalie Corbière." "Nathalie Corbière was a good girl." "A pretty, well-behaved girl always doing cartwheels." "I got lucky." "Gladys..." "I'd like her to be my friend." "I'd have someone to talk to." "And the sea?" "The sea..." "Well?" "Poseidon." "Neptune." "Marriage." "Does anyone know?" " Hera and Juno." " Very good." "I don't understand my classes." " Fertility." "Yes?" " Demetress and Ceres." "Demeter and Ceres." "I don't try hard, I just pretend." " Ok?" " I get home and forget school." "I'll see tomorrow." "I'm good at forgetting." "The next day, I admit I didn't do my homework." "I'm stressed so I find solutions." "The cheat!" "I don't do things in order." "I can't find my bag!" "Try to remember." "My parents aren't any help." "They forget what class I'm in." "All right, come on in." "You had an exercise to prepare." "Let's see..." "Who can I ask?" "They leave me in peace." "I'm not insolent or talkative..." "Except for the English teacher." "Vlaminck?" "You don't know?" " But, ma'am..." " Do you know or not?" "You weren't listening?" "You can't answer." "Give me your report book." "Faster than that." "Come here." "Can you spell the word "called"?" "Go on!" "Spell it!" "No one annoys her in case she blows a fuse." "She gets nasty." "Do I have to put up with you much longer?" "I've asked you to shut up three times!" " My pencil case!" " Out with the lot!" "Shut up!" "Bag and all!" "Shut up!" "Get out of here now!" "Give me a break!" "Get the hell out of here!" " What did I do?" " Shut your trap!" ""Called"." "C..." "A... double L..." "E..." "D." "The preterite ending." "Test!" "Double page!" "Large squares." "Want me to serve you?" "Not with your hands." " The English teacher's mad?" " She was in the camps." " The camps?" " You don't know the camps?" "I do." "I'm Jewish too." "From Argentina." "Really?" "Yes." " Busy on Wednesday?" " I have ballet and piano." "You?" "Nothing." "You're lucky." "Don't you like ballet?" "It's a drag but I have to go." "It's a deal with my parents." "A deal?" "You're lucky though." "Enrol with me." "Think you can?" "Ready?" "Hold on, look." "It's stuck." "Go like this." "There." "What are the camps?" "The what?" " The camps." "No idea." "The red one..." "To the left." "Here it comes." "Alain Bernard, two first names." "Another welfare guy." "The registration doesn't match." "Know what he says? "lt's his car."" "A gang leader in Vitry." "A hoodlum..." "I wanted pastis." "He'd forge my parents'signature in primary school." "He's my pal." "Growing tits?" "She's growing tits!" "I'm a bit in love." "15." "16." "20." "And 1." "30." "40." "45." "50." "And 1." "Do it." " She will." " She won't." "A knave of hearts." "Not easy." " She won't." " 100 times over." " No way." " She hasn't finished." "She'll do it." "Ace of hearts!" "Fuck!" "You win, my girl!" "You're like your dad." "A drunk." "Not in front of her, Jacky!" "Ignore his bullshit." "It's hard getting to sleep at night." "I have to go up alone so I linger as long as I can." "Sweetheart?" "Go to bed now." "The music doesn't keep me awake but they keep yelling." "Especially Yvon, Dad's best friend." "He tries to pretend he's Eddy Mitchell." " What do you do at home?" " Nothing much." " How do you mean?" " I try not to get too bored." " I read a lot." " What do you read?" "Know Christiane Rochefort?" ""Children of the Century"." "No." " And Balzac?" " Him neither." " And Cocteau?" " Him, yes." "What by Cocteau?" "I forget now." "Let's catch up." "I don't know Cocteau either but lying is better than three no's." "One thing I notice more and more is I lack the knowledge I need." "I know all about soccer, the best players, etc." "I know about cocktails, pinball, the rules of pool, cards and all that." "I know about pop music, I know the songs." "I know how reliable people are." "I know about making babies and sex." "I'm useless at the rest." "Gladys never asked me over before." "I'm proud but scared of screwing up." "It's big here." "Come on." "Come in." " Take yourjacket off." " Where do I put it?" " Put it there." " Ok." "It's beautiful." "What are you looking at?" "The view." ""What does metamorphosis mean?" So Franz says," ""I'll explain what metamorphosis means, Fritz."" "He says, "Let"s say you die..."" "Want to try the caramel spread?" "You don't eat it with a spoon, use your finger." "Ok?" "Try it." "Can you explain... why there is so many psychiatrists and patients in Buenos Aires?" "Gladys, tell your friend she doesn't have to listen to your father's bullshit." "There are so many shrinks now because so many people are like him." " Ever snogged a boy?" " No." "Have you?" " Almost." " How do you mean, almost?" "We hardly opened our mouths." " That doesn't count." " It does sort of." " I touched his dick though." " You didn't?" " No, I didn't." " And his balls?" "Get to sleep now, girls, ok?" "Get to sleep." "Or I'll get mad!" " What's your dad's job?" " Psychiatrist." "He wrote "The Adolescent Subconscious"." "I'm getting mad!" " Seriously, who was it?" " A boy at summer camp." " Were you in love?" " A little." " Ever been in love?" " Are you crazy?" " There's no shame in it." " I know but no." " I have been." " Who with?" " Alain Bernard!" " Silly cow!" "I love you!" "1.70 francs." "Thank you." "My report's due." "Good job Gladys is class rep." " Well?" " You got a D." "Shit." "D is really useless." "I did all I could." "Screw them." "I don't give a shit." "You'll do better next term." " What did you get?" " An A." "It's pathetic!" "D in maths." "D in physics." "D in natural science." "C in history." "It's a total disaster here in French." "Spelling, E?" "You're only good for running and drawing!" " What did you expect?" " I don't know." "You don't know?" "Up till all hours..." "Her ladyship's on top of it." "You're on top of shit!" "What do I care?" "A barmaid doesn't need schooling." "I didn't need it." "It's not much use." "It's up to you, honey." "I won't force you to work at school." "I don't give a shit about it!" "I never needed it." "My life suits me." " But don't complain after." " I'm not complaining." "You're not?" "Quit showing off, knuckle down and work!" "Good for nothing!" "You're on holiday, Stella, you're lucky." "A nice glass of beer." "Thanks." "It's Raymonde!" "My grandmother from up north comes every Xmas." "Hiya, son." "Ok?" " I didn't see you." " In shape?" " Yes, very well, thanks." " As handsome as ever." "You don't change." "She never wears panties and pisses standing up." "Give your gran a kiss." "She steals from the till." "Mum can tell and she bitches." "Robbed by her mother-in-law." "She hates that." "But it causes trouble with Dad so she lets her do it." "How are you?" "In shape?" " She doesn't like her." " I'm exploited." "But I like her!" " You poor boy." "Hello." " Ok, Raymonde?" " How are you?" " Good." " What are you up to?" " Same as ever." " Really?" "But you're happy?" " I guess." "She likes gambling, money and men." "Obsessed, Mum says." "You're in shape too!" "I spend my holidays at her place." "From your friend Geneviève." ""My heart is stuck on you "like a turd on a dog's bum."" "Geneviève's my friend up north." "We celebrate Xmas at the café on Sunday." "Merry Christmas!" "Having fun?" "Your dick!" "Your dick!" "At every family celebration, my uncle dips his dick in the champagne bucket for fun." "I've made some good resolutions." "I'm going to adapt." "Look, it's pretty!" "I'm going to be like them." "First, my clothes." "You want my opinion?" "That top's like a sack of shit." "A sack of shit." "It's not quite right." "Poor... but clean!" "And this one?" " Spot on, as Mum says." " Try it." "Result:" "Not cool enough." "It's true anyway:" "I'm not cool." " New jeans for Xmas?" " Yeah." "Great!" "I screw up badly sometimes." "Like with the grocer's daughter." "She seemed slow." " Give it back!" " Bitch!" "A real scandal." "I was nearly sent to a shrink." "My parents hushed it all up." "A fable by Jean de la Fontaine." "Come in." "Have you seen the time?" " I'm sorry I'm late." " Get to your place." "Hurry!" "So, "The grasshopper sang the summer away."" ""The summer" sets the time for the fable and the characters live in a fictional time." " Good Christmas?" " Yeah." "And you?" " Great!" "I did a course." " A course?" " You had a pair of jeans?" " It's an old one." "I never wear it." " I had loads of records." " Miss Vlaminck, can you repeat what I just said?" "You know, Vlaminck, your situation isn't funny or enviable." "And so the grasshopper, this careless worker, the grasshopper who spent all summer singing, falls in with a historic situation." "She spent the summer singing and so she ends up without money." "Also new, my history teacher." "I like her now." "She's beautiful." "Why reeds and clay?" "The land is marshy and rich in clay." "I don't know how but I started listening." "These are known as pictograms." "It isn't boring when you listen." "People's lives interest me." "It's a fish and, sometimes, what happens?" "This one..." "This one..." "This one's great." "It's so..." "It's so brilliant." " Look, there's the words too." " Where are they?" "Here they are." "It's this song." "Which one?" "Is it good?" "You got hit?" " Sergio!" " Fuck!" "Give me ammo!" "He run away." "Lo.i. C, fucking help me!" "Sergio, your wife's attacking me!" "Don't play the hooligan" "Don't break down doors" "Don't dream that a black jacket" "Increases your strength" "If I could stop here Slip my gloves and my arms" "Around her fragile neck" "And dream that it's easy" "And dream that it's easy" " Want to go for a walk?" " I don't want to." "You don't want to?" " You don't want a present?" " No." " Are you sick?" " No." "Okay..." "I want to finish my book." "Is it for school?" " What is it?" " Balzac." "You're reading?" "For pleasure?" " Yeah." " Okay?" "You're changing, my girl." "You're changing." " Are you in love?" " You're crazy!" "You can tell me." " No." " No what?" "I'm not in love." "You have plenty of time." "Sure you won't come?" "Right, I'm going." "Say hi to Balzac." "I'm going to treat myself." "THE SEA WALL" "Your parents work too much." "Yeah." "They have no time for you." "I'd treat my kid differently." "You would?" "A pretty girl all alone..." "I'm not pretty." "You mustn't say that." "You're pretty." "Very pretty even." "And kind with it." "I'm not that kind." "You're better than that." "You're an angel." ""One day, an automobile would stop outside the bungalow at last." ""A man or a woman would get out and ask for information" ""or help from Joseph or her." ""She didn't really know" ""what kind of information they could ask them for:" ""There was nothing on the plainbut a single track that went from Ram" "to the town via Kam." ""Therefore, one could not go the wrong way." ""Even so, one could not foresee everything and Suzanne had hope." "One day, a man would stop, would stop perhaps." "Why not?" "Maybe he'd find her attractive and take her to town." "Apart from the bus, very few cars passed on the track, no more than two or three cars each day."" "She speaks to me." "She speaks for me." "She speaks in place of me." "I can't stop reading." "Vlaminck!" "Come up here." "Miss Vlaminck will write the present participle of the first group verb "signifier"," "namely "signifiant"." "Share your knowledge with us." "There you go." "I've been drilling this into you for 7 months." "You're a terrible student." "Try again." "Correct yourself." "We have plenty of time." "I've made lots of friends that I can count on." "Balzac, Duras and others." "But it doesn't help at school." " An "A"..." " Are you proud of yourself?" "Erase it all and start again." "Erase it all!" "And start again." "Pathetic!" "Back to your place." "Are you ready?" "You'll see, it's simple." "Hold it like this." "See the little cross?" "Well done!" " Can I try?" " Yeah." "Be careful, ok." "You fucker!" " Asshole." " Where'd you learn?" "Let me try again." " Pardon me?" " I don't give a damn." "Do what you want with the slut but not here." "I'm getting a drink." "Watch your tone." "Forget where you're from?" "You forget where I found you?" "Get out!" " Relax..." "Calm down." " Don't touch me!" "What do you want?" "She's a slut." "I got her off the streets!" "I'll kill you!" " Idiot!" " Turn off the light." "Where's this fucker from?" "I'll kill him!" "Cut it out!" "The dog!" "Get the dog!" "Hi, sweetheart." "Ok?" " Hello." " Hello, ma'am." " How do you do?" " I'm just fine." "No need to be so formal." "Shy, is she?" " You can use my first name." " Yes, ma'am." "Call me ma'am, I'll call you ugly." "Just kidding." "Call me what you want." "My name's Rosy." "Want a snack?" "I invited Gladys home." "I dared to." "Chocolate mousse?" " Crème caramel?" " I want crème caramel." "I'd like one too, Mum." "The crème caramels look bad, Lo.i.c." "No one comes here." "Go in the kitchen." " What's your name, honey?" " Gladys." "That's a nice name." "Ok, sweetheart?" "Hello." " Enjoy it, girls." " Thanks." "It's not going too badly so far." "Wolf!" "Get to your corner!" "What's up with your friend?" "Roselyne!" " What is it?" " It's the dog." " What?" " He bit her." "Shit, that dog's a real jerk." "Let me see." "He bit her bum?" "It's ok, honey, let me see." "It's nothing." "Does it sting?" "Take deep breaths." " Like the veal stew?" " I love it." "I've never had it before." " You don't have a TV?" " No, they're against it." "She isn't mad about the dog." "She's a real friend." "Even my dad shouting "Fuck you all" makes her laugh." "It's like a novel. "Very French"." " What's so funny?" " He bit your bum!" "I'm not alone." "What's wrong?" "What is it?" "You threw up?" "What?" "Seriously?" "So that's what a period was." "Curkovic stopped him dead." "Is it Rummenigge?" "Number 7?" "7 is Rummenigge." "Go, Janvion, pass the damn ball!" "He has to get back up." "If he goes off, we've had it." "This damn coach is ajoke!" " Go, go!" " This looks good..." "What?" "What ajerk!" " I said so." " You like it?" "He will see..." "Go, no lt's brilliant what that guy just did." "The best comes at the end." "Go St Etienne!" "Go St Etienne!" "Gladys, try to break through." "Go ahead, pass the ball." "Pass it to each other." "Show some team spirit." "I tried hard, then screwed up." "One kid had always mocked me." "She got it." " I'll get you, slut." " You dumb cow!" " Slut!" " Cut it out!" "Are you two crazy or what?" "Sit down here." "Has the loony calmed down?" "Stella!" "Stop that right now!" "Relax, relax..." " Stand aside." " What she did yesterday is very serious." "I'd like to know if you've been in touch with the parents." "Do you know them?" "You don't." "Ok." "The parents could press charges." "They didn't mention it." "I'm not defending her." "She'll be punished." "You know that, Stella?" " I won't accept this." " I hope not, madam." " But let's not exaggerate." " She defended herself." "The girl could have..." " The parents can call me." " That could have ended up in a tragedy." "She deliberately rammed the girl's head into an iron radiator!" "I'll have to punish her and I think I'll issue a warning..." "A written warning, madam, with a copy to go in Stella's school file." "If there's a second offence, if you do it again, tomorrow or during the year," "I shall convene a disciplinary committee right away." "Are you aware of what that entails?" " Yes, more or less." " Meaning?" " I don't know." " Permanent expulsion from this school." "The shame of it!" "You're not a retard." "Next time, I'll let your dad go." "She can stuff her charges." "I mean, hold on..." "She needs a smack in the face!" "What's that look for?" "Nothing." "Drink your chocolate." "Head down, watch your right Go for it, keep going" "Head down, watch your right Go for it, keep going" "You loser, you weakling Go for it, keep going" "You're too slow, you're too heavy Go for it, keep going" "The blows rain down, we love it Go for it, keep going" "Don't let it happen again Go for it, keep going" "I'd like to see my mother again" "She'd be happy to see her son come home" "In the heart of the winter" "Warm in her belly" "A quiet little garden Filled with forget-me-nots" "A world where life's so simple" "And with eyes to check" "And with eyes to check" "It's often hard to bear" "All the violence" "You can't reveal yourself" "Confide in others" "Severed, the vital cord" "You need to wager on your initials" "I got C minus In the second term." "Not great." ""What can I say, "my mum said." "Forget it." "It's the holidays." "Saint Venant, a village with an asylum, a hospice and an orphanage." "Some use all three." " Ok?" " How are you?" "Good, and you?" "Not too tired?" "Everything ok?" " Hurry!" "It's raining." " Hello, chicken." "How's my son?" "Not too tired?" "How was the drive?" "My parents bring me but leave right away." "Here, son, this'll buck you up." "Thanks." "Waiting for your friend, chicken?" " Go on then." " I'd rather wait." "How was the drive?" "Not too tired?" "It is tiring..." "That's all you have to say?" "You seem a bit odd today." "No, I'm fine." " Something's upset you?" " No." "It's a long drive." " How's your wife?" " Great." "You'll see her." " Hello." " Hello." "Coming?" " You're in a rich kids' school?" " Yes." " And?" " And what?" "Made any new friends?" " One." " What's her name?" " Gladys." " Gladys?" "That sucks." " Is she nice?" " Yeah." " Rich?" " Kind of." "My sister Bernadette is pregnant." " Again?" " Yeah." "She's a horny bitch." " What else is new?" " Muriel's husband blew a fuse." "He threw her out at gunpoint because he thought she was cheating on him." "It was a real scandal." " Was she really?" " Yeah." "It's late." "I have to go back." " See you tomorrow?" " See you." "Saint Venant where Gran lives isn't by the sea." "The weather's rotten there." "No outdoor centre, no cinema, no skiing..." "Nothing but cafés and we're too young to go to them." "Plus we're broke." "So we have our own activities." "Lovely TV sets!" "Look!" "Come back down now." "My friend's an outcast here." "Her parents are alcoholics and on the dole." "She has five brothers and sisters, one with polio, one a retard." "We're always together, never with the other kids." "They're not allowed to see us." "Stop getting wound up, girl!" "Have you calmed down?" "Have you calmed down?" "Are you calm or not?" "Are you calm?" "Arew you realy calme?" "Stella, come here." "I want a word." "I told you... to keep away from the dump." "You understand?" "Look at me." "You understand?" "And you keep the sheep from the goats." "You understand?" "I'm counting on you." " Finished?" " Yes, I've finished." " What did your aunt say?" " More bullshit." "Bullshit's typical of her." "That's all she ever says." "She talks nothing but bullshit." "It's really bad." "Me and my friend work a lot." "She has chores so I help her." "The work's ok." "What I don't like is her dad." "Ok, you Parisian?" "Working hard?" "Sweating blood?" "Cat got your tongue or what?" "Answer me, goddammit!" "He's horrible." "When Geneviève screws up, he puts the gas pipe in her mouth." "To teach her." "Ok, girls?" " Fine, and you?" " Fine." "We just had a match." "Our legs ache but it's ok." " Want to stay here?" " Come on." "Where are you from?" "Paris." " Great city." " Yeah." "You're pretty, you know." " Where d'you live in Paris?" " In a café." "A café?" "That's cool." " It's cold." " Yeah." "Ok?" "You're not cold?" "Tomorrow, do you want me and Axel to pick you up?" " No." " No?" " You don't want a boyfriend?" " No." "I already have one." "She wiped you out, Alex!" " You want to be single?" " You're just too ugly." "I'm just asking." "One of my pals is looking for a girlfriend." "Trust you..." "The one next to you?" "Stop arguing with him." "You're unlucky with girls." "They're just girls." "I'mm gonna fall!" "Ever wonder what you'll do later?" " No, I try not to think about it." " Me too." "My dream would be to open a boutique." "A clothing boutique." "My dream!" "In Paris." "Wait for me." " Who was she?" " Geneviève." " She's your friend?" " Yeah." "What did you do together?" "Cycling." "Nathalie Corbière's party is this Saturday." " You're invited?" " Yes." "And me?" " No." " Why didn't the bitch invite me?" "I don't know." "Can I stay at Gladys' on Friday?" "We have the Saturday free." " What for?" " No reason." "The next day's free so we can stay up late." "I don't care." "Ask your dad." "Ask your dad!" "My parents aren't speaking since I got back." "They haven't said why but I know it's Yvon." "Dad, can I stay at Gladys' on Friday?" " What?" " Can I stay at Gladys' on Friday?" "What does your mum say?" " "Ask your dad"." " Pain in the ass." "We'll see." "How's school going?" "It's ok." " Can I?" " No one's pissing you off?" " No." " No one's hassling you?" "That's good." " Listen to me." " Yes." "Never get married." "Don't screw up that way." " So I can?" " You can what?" "Well?" "Well what?" " Can I stay at hers?" " At whose?" " Gladys'." " Ask your mother." "Even without an invitation, I decided to go." "I don't give a damn." "Thanks." "Come in." "Maybe I've no reason to be here." "Want to dance?" "Yes." " You chose the painter?" " No, the teacher did." " It's crap." " I'll start again." "In the background, a landscape." "The colours now." "Various shades of brown." "Various shades of blue, of black." "Shades of green." "A dog." "Shit, what can I say next?" "What do you care?" "You know it." "You can improvise." "The dog has lost its eye... to protect its master." "It looks sad and..." "I think it's angry with its master." " Why?" " Because..." "Since they went off to America and its master has bad legs." "He has a cane here." "It carried him." "He forgot his cane for the journey, so the dog carried him." "A fine dreamlike metaphor." "Do you identify with the master or the dog?" "With the dog." "Do you feel that you protect others too?" "Yes." "That's all right." "Pick it up." "Who does the painting remind you of?" " A friend." " Who?" "Alain Bernard." "It reminds you of Alain Bernard?" " Who is Alain Bernard?" " A friend." " You're very fond of him?" " Yes." " Why?" " Because he's kind." "But we're all kind." "No, not necessarily." "Thank you." "It's good when you try." "For the first time, I'm in love." " Pinball?" " No." " I'll miss you." " Why d'you say that?" "No reason." "Poncet, Laetitia..." "Gladys Fernandez..." "Good work." "Nathalie Corbière..." "Good." "Stella Vlaminck." "17 out of 20." "If you don't need to learn by heart, you manage very well." "Very well summarized." "Congratulations." "No idea what she means but it's good." "I realize now I mustn't change schools or repeat the year." "I say I don't give a damn but this school is a lucky break." "Take it or leave it." "That's good, girl." " Something wrong?" " I'm ok." "What's the matter?" " Come on, tell me." " Nothing." "What a crap life, Stella." "A really crap life..." "I slave away." "I slave away for nothing, for no one." "And your dad treats me like shit." "You had a fight?" "I can't stand him anymore, Stella." "I can't stand him." "A present for you." "A present?" "What for?" "What is it?" "To make you happy." "What is it?" "A surprise." "Come on." " Follow me." " Right now?" "I'll be right back." "I'll wash my hands." "Since you like reading..." "Do you like it?" "See what it says on German shepherds." "You're a pretty girl." "You deserve lots of presents." "Don't I get a kiss?" "A real kiss." "That wasn't a real kiss." "Give me one." "Stella, give me a little kiss." " Not talking much today." " No." " What were you doing up there?" " Nothing." "Nothing?" "Just keep away from Bubu." "You're being a drag today." " What are you doing?" " Nothing." "Your belly hurts?" "Can I have some tablets?" "Yes." "What do you want?" " Get out." " What are you doing?" " Put that down." " Out, asshole!" " What's wrong, Stella?" " Get out!" " Son of a bitch!" " Put that down, Stella." "Put it down right now!" "Put it down!" "Put it down right now!" "Put it down!" "Get out of here, you." "Go on." "It's over now." "Let's move on to Vlaminck, last on the list in class 6/5." "No good." "A repeat year." "It's true, she started off way down the ladder." " But she has climbed up." " No way." "She has, I'm sorry." "She started at the bottom..." "She's from a background that's unlike that of our other students..." "She's stubborn, she tries hard and she can adapt." "You passed!" " You passed!" " Really?" "A miracle..." "Mum?" "They said no?" "They said yes." "I passed." "That's good, honey." "Can I stay at Gladys' tonight?" "If you want." " Mum?" " Yes?" " Are you ok?" " I'm fine." " See you tomorrow." " See you." "Vlaminck, your daughter passed." "That's good." "We'll celebrate." "Next year, I'll be able talk to him." "I know him now." "Gladys..." "Can I be a drag?" " Go on." " A total drag?" "Go on, ok." "What?" "I..." "I'm scared of the dark." "Want a light on?" "No." "I have to get used to it." "I'm scared of everything." " Of what?" " Everything." "All the time." "I'd rather not talk about it." " Gladys?" " What?" "Thanks, Gladys." "If this school is my lucky break, maybe I'll seize it."