"Give me your number." "Shut your mouths!" "Go on..." "I think everyone's horny tonight!" "4 - 2..." "Shit, I'm feeling randy." "4 - 2..." "I'm sizzling hot." " 3... 2 - 4..." "Lisa calling..." "Cool it!" "It ends in four numbers, I won't give you the beginning." "Penelope, are you there?" "Penelope, the slut!" "Lisa calling..." "Lisa calling..." "Lisa calling..." "INVISIBLE" "Bruno, it's Noel." "Are you there?" "Are you awake?" "You haven't forgotten the meeting or the demo?" "I've promised the producer she'd hear something." "I hope you're on your way." "See you." "She helped, not like your mum!" "I don't need help." "I'd like us to enjoy moving in alone." "That's fantastic, zilch!" "I have to put these boxes away!" "Don't, just push them!" "I thought these were the men's toilets." "I'II go out." "I'm sorry." "A quarter of an hour late Is no big deal." "Everyone's here now." " I'II inform Miss Stevens." " Thank you." "Well?" "." "You brought the demo?" "." "No, we aren't ready." "Shlt, I promised we had a demo!" "You know how long It took to get this meeting?" "." "What will we look like coming empty-handed?" "." "If only you'd pick up the phone!" ""Mlss, would you like to join us In a sublime musical adventure?" "'" ""Yes, I've been chasing after you for years."" "Instead of that he comes empty-handed and late." "Well done!" "Flnlshed?" "." "Hello," "Carole Stevens." "You're Noel..." "We spoke on the phone." "You're Bruno." "We've already met, I thlnk." "Follow me." "We had started more New Wave..." "old Wave!" "A period of influence, Ilke everyone." "You even nicked entire pieces by Sulclde." "We were part of the trend, but..." "We only stole two pieces, It's nothing." "Two whole pieces and bits and pieces, here and there." "That's water under the bridge, no one cares now." "I'm interested In what you're doing now." "An album, well under way." "We'II have demos for you soon." "Very good." "A soon as we know who we're going to copy." "What's trendy out of this lot?" "." "He's kidding, we're almost ready." "Stuck... at a dead end." "Perfect!" "I Iove to step In at that moment." "I'm a medium," "I've a knack for communicating with the dead." "Thls meeting was In the knick of time." "When you have something for me to hear, Iet me know." "Otherwlse I'II turn tables." "Goodbye." "See you soon." "We aren't ready, I told you." "Stop lt." "You're scared." "So you're acting up." "I won't let you sabotage things." "We've been struggling for years, we've a chance to make lt." "Next time I'II knock your head off!" " You haven't hung up?" " No, I tried to call back." "You didn't want to give your number." "Take it again." "I did take it the first time, 0 1-44-54..." "No, it's 0 1-45..." "Who's calling?" "Who is it?" "Marquis is fine, I noted your number, but..." "I tried but got no answer." "I know It's late but you aren't often In during the day." "I wanted to introduce myself." "I'm your new caretaker." "Flne..." "Good, I hope you'II like It here." "Thank you, you're very kind." "Good evening then." "Good night, rather." "What can I...?" "." "You can help me, I've an awful migraine." "Wlth this heat wave and my stuffy lodge." "Any painkiller would do." "I'II go and see." "It's dark, you can't see a thing." "Wlll Tylenol do?" "." "That'II do fine." "Good idea, soundproofing, not to bother neighbours." "Dld you know noise was the main cause of complaints and incidents In towns?" "." "That's why I soundproofed the place." "Not to hear other people's noise." "Keep the box." "No, you probably often have headaches too." "It's been a long time." "Yes, I'm here." "It's Lisa." "Llsa?" "." "The Marquis wants to talk." "Lisa calling." "Llsa?" "." "Who is it?" "Bruno..." "Bruno for Llsa." "Can we talk?" "." "Bruno, give me your number." "Lisa, won't you call me rather?" "Give me your number!" "Bruno, do you want my number?" "Llsa?" "." "Your number!" " Bruno isn't answering." " 0 1 -45-50-54-26." "OK, hang up." "Shlt!" "It's Lisa." "What are you doing?" "Nothlng." "Let's forget it." "No, walt, It's your voice..." " What about my voice?" " I liked lt." "I like lt." "I listened to your voice, that's all." "I don't like eavesdroppers." "Nelther do I, very much." "You aren't a regular on the chatline." " What are you after?" " I don't know." "And you?" "." "Don't put the light on, wait for me in the room." "Don't talk to me, do nothing." "I decide." "And after?" "." "I leave first, we never meet again." "You're in a hurry?" "Couldn't we talk a bit?" "Or smoke a cigarette?" "I can't find my cigs." "I need the light on." "Calm down." "I won't start a fire." "I'd like to see you and talk to you." "Th Is lsn't a dating service." "Slnce we won't meet again I'm going to turn the light on." "Cheat!" "You don't like lt?" "." "What's that..." "Where did you get that from?" "." "Volces from the chatline." "Not bad, Is lt?" "." "Yes, maybe." "Maybe with more work." "You're not into that, are you?" "." "Really?" "." "Slnce when?" "." "I thought these chatllnes were full of weirdoes." "There are all sorts." "Depends what you're looking for." "What are you looking for?" "." "When I've found It I'II tell you." " Anythlng else to put away?" "." " Hand me that cable." " The red or the green?" "." " The red one." "Have you taken your drawings?" "." "Yes, who Is lt?" "." "Same time, same place, same rules." "Why did you call me again?" "." "I felt like lt." "You'II pull the same trick each time?" "." "There's no trick." " And no each time." " Stay then." " You're never scared In the dark?" "." " Yes." "Each time I thlnk It might be Jack the Rlpper." "No one would know." "But I'm disappointed, no one's tried to kill me." "There have been many?" "." "I'm not very convincing." "Gentle rather." "Can you guess what I look like?" "I'd rather imagine." "I want to know." "The cheeks..." "Full cheeks." "The nose..." "Straight, with perhaps a little bump..." "I haven't finished." "The mouth, the teeth..." "A prickly cheek, the Adam's apple," "the chest, not too hairy." "The hole of the belly button... and..." "You tease!" "I found your earring." "Really?" "." "Do I wait for you to call?" "." "Sorry I'm late." "Pretend I'm not here." "That's difficult." "What's she doing here?" "." " If there's a problem..." " There's no problem." "I invited Miss Stevens." "Carole." "It's simpler." " Let's be simple." " I invited Carole to see us at work." " You forgot to tell me." " You never check your messages." "I wasn't at home!" "I don't want to cause a row." "It's much more interesting when you play." "Rlght." "Bruno, from the top?" "." "Carole Stevens speaking." "Really?" "." "Disappointed or am I waking you?" "No, I'm surprised." "We ended on a bad note last time." "I thought about what you said." "Are you free for lunch?" "It would help break the ice." "I'm ready to draw up the contract now." " I haven't said yes." " What's missing?" "." "A big cheque." "Apart from that?" "." "Belng obsessed..." "In a state of obsession." "Obsessed!" " I see." " No you don't." " Thank you." " I insist." "It's my way of breaking the ice." "Evening." "The Italian snoring above, have you heard him before?" "." "How do you know he's Italian?" "." "You're talking nonsense!" "You can't recognise an Italian snoring?" "." "Ever broken your contract?" "." "I mean, see someone several times?" "." "See him again?" "." "How do you know there've been other guys?" "." "I don't know much, that's the problem." "AII the charm, on the contrary." "Charm, problem..." "that often describes women?" "." "Macho!" "Ifyou knew me better, you wouldn't say that." "I should get to know you better." "I hear your voice, I want to make love." "I thlnk we're already making love." "Because your voice ls..." "Intimate..." "Wet..." "Wet?" "." "It wets the words." "I'd never been told such a thing!" "Walt!" "Before leaving, say something you've never said to anyone." "I don't know..." "Don't you trust me?" "." "Yes..." "The first time I experienced desire was when I saw a nail varnish ad." "The girl's hand was superb." "I was twelve or thirteen." "I was In my room." "And I felt the desire to fondle myself." "Here..." "One, two, three fingers..." "I was filled." "I was happy." "I must go." "You really want to leave?" "Ifyou'd rather we stopped." "You remembered my earring?" "Return it and we have no reason to meet." "Here's the demo." "A rough draft." "I thlnk Bruno explained." "I promise I'II be merciless!" "I also have rough drafts... of a contract proposal." "Great, we'II take a close look at lt." "Once that's sorted out, tell me how long you need to rehearse, so I can book the studio." "A month should be fine." "Bruno, you look very pensive." "You think I dance faster than the music?" "." "Yes..." "No..." "Everythlng's fine?" "." "It's because Noel and I have a Iot to do." "We must go." "Walt, I must go too." "You're pleased?" "." "Wlth the rehearsals, I mean." "Yes, I guess so." "The closer we get to recording, the more doubts." "It's normal." "What are you trying to tell me?" "." "I'd rather you talked to me and I'd like you to be more confident." "Are you feeling ill?" "." "No, I'm fine, but In these big cars I get car sick." "That's a funky old cassette player!" "I used to use It to record concerts and I've kept It to listen to them." "A few years ago I often went to London." "On the ferry too, there was no Eurostar back then." "You never go back?" "." "Sometlmes, but less often." "And the conditions have changed." "I'm invited now." "You miss lt?" "." "It was another period." "You have to grow up." "Shlt..." "She won't see anyway." "Here's your post, Bruno." "Can I call you Bruno?" "." "I wanted to bring It earlier." "You weren't back." "You needn't have, I have a letterbox." "It's no bother!" "Wlth all the stolen post I prefer to hand It In person." "What If an important letter got lost?" "." "Of course." "Thanks again." "Goodnlght." "You're all dressed up, are you going out?" "." "Exactly." "Flne." "Can I come In a second?" "." "It's about the post." "It seems you are behind In your rent." "What business Is It ofyours?" "." "Don't take It badly." "I didn't want you to be too upset by this letter." "I don't like to bring people bad news." "Especlally, since everyone goes through bad patches, don't they?" "." "That's why I became a caretaker." "Not to pay rent." "No more horrible formal notices." "I always have my place to stay now." "Of course, It's cramped and you keep bumping into things." "A caretaker's lodge Is a bit like a prisoner's cell, but with a little imagination..." "I'm sorry but I must..." "Is that a DX7 or a DX9?" "." "A DX7." "Aren't you surprised I know these things?" "." "Yes... no..." "I don't know." "I really don't have time." "No time to be surprised, Is that lt?" "." "I see, I feel things." "You have an important rendezvous." "Wlth a lady, I suppose." "I really must go, I'm already late." "People don't connect nowadays, don't you find, Bruno?" "." "They protect themselves, they're more individualistic or too attached to appearances." "They pass each other by." "It's sad." "To please, you must charm, play the game..." "It tires me out." "There!" "Good dog, good girl." "Walt a second." "I Iook awful!" "The value's mainly sentimental." "That's why I thought" "If someone found lt they'd give It to you." "No, I'm sorry." "Last week, we were In room 18, I thlnk." "No, I assure you." "Before leaving, say something you've never said to anyone." "Don't you trust me?" "The first time I experienced..." "I was twelve or thirteen..." "The girl was superb." "I was twelve..." "The Baron is here..." "What?" "Red?" "Bruno for Llsa..." "I'm the Little Red Riding Hood..." "Bruno for Llsa." "Get a hold ofyourself, pervert." "She's a pro." "You sound strange, Penelope." "Bruno, you seem In a hurry." "Get off my back!" "What If I had the key to all your problems?" "." "I have the spare key." "AII caretakers have spare keys." "Shlt!" "Bruno seeking Llsa." "Bruno for Llsa." "I haven't come for the room." "Remember the woman with me, In the red dress?" "." "We see all sorts here." "I'm sure you do, you saw her several times." "Maybe you know her name." "We never give such information." "I understand but I really need to find her." "Glve me a clue, anything." "In case she comes back, I'II rent a room and walt for her." "You'II make money." "Don't insist, I know nothing." "Are you trying to torture me by listening to that mushy music?" "." "Incredible, you pick up a girl and ask for her number!" "Get off my back!" "Probably a fake number, she gave you a phoney name." "Your affair's offto a bad start." "Damn lt, I should have shut my trap!" "We got a good piece out of lt." "Carole liked It a Iot." " We should work on lt." " I don't think so." " You should..." " You can't understand, shut up!" "You're In love?" "." "You hardly know her!" "Get off my back, will you?" "." "All the women on your mind..." "Should you marry them all?" "Shlt, you're a pain with your songs!" "You're the pain, Bruno." "Katia, how old are you?" " I'm 35." " 35?" "Your voice is strange." "You think so?" "The Baron is here." "Bruno seeking Llsa." " Bruno seeking Llsa." " Katia, it's Monica." " Is the Shark here tonight?" " Yes, he's here." " I can call you?" " No, I'm looking for Llsa." "Don't turn the light on, wait for me to come to you." "Don't talk, don't do anything." "I decide." "You know Llsa?" "." "Relax." "Answer!" "Do you know Llsa?" "." "I don't know her." "Are you crazy, stop that!" "You're like a cop." "Turn the light on, you might as well." "You didn't unscrew the bulbs?" "." "You're really sick." " What do you know about Llsa?" "." " Nothlng." "I don't know her." "You said the same words!" "You're hurting me!" "They're not her property." "I don't believe you, you're lying!" " Llar!" " Help!" "Forglve me." "I'm really sorry." "Why don't you open the window?" "." "It's hot In here." " What are you doing?" "." " Bastard!" "I hear your voice, I want to make love." "I think we're already making love." "Your voice is... intimate... wet." "Wet?" "Good evening, it's Carole." "We haven't seen each other for ages." "I knew It would interest you, Bruno." "I see you like Blll Evans." "You'II be pleased to Iearn he isn't deceased." "On the contrary." "He lives on a desert island." "He's put on weight." "He's stopped all drugs and spends his time playing Bach." "Llke albert Ayler who..." "He's still alive?" "." "No, he was murdered." "Everyone knows that." "Not by the CIA, by the black Musllms." "Mr Wllllam has proof." "He even has a phantom record by Buddy Bolden." "I don't know who that ls." "You don't know Mr Wllllam?" "." "You'II tell me some other time." "Bruno, no one Is waiting for you." "Your loss." " Why are you humming that?" "." " What?" "." "That tune, Peter and the Wolf..." "You're tired." "It's for helping children sleep." "You had better go to bed." "I won't let you go now." "Get up, Bruno, Mr Wllllam wants to see you." "What's going on?" "." "You mustn't keep Mr Wllllam waiting." "He was a model employee, Mr William" "Full of enthusiasm, Mr William" "He reached forty without being naughty" "Without the slightest mishap" "But one August evening, the weather was so nice and balmy" "That Mr William went for a nice long stroll" "Mr William you lost your manners" "Why go down 13th A venue?" "He met a young woman, Mr William" "He bought her a bunch of violets, Mr William" "He took her to hotel of ill repute" "But a Black wanted to take the woman" "Mr William, in a fury, hit him with his brolly." "But the man in the dark slashed his neck twice" "Mr William, you lost your manners" "Why go down 13th A venue?" "You wanted to see me?" "." "I'm looking for Llsa." "You know Llsa?" "." "Come closer." "Our friend really likes you, you know?" "." "Can you help me find Llsa?" "." "Glve me a good reason to help you." "You want money?" "." "Bruno, are you mad?" "." "The black Swan." "There may be an answer for you there." "black Swan?" "." "Yes, Ilke the bird, The black Swan..." "Ask for Marco." ""The twilight Is grand."" "How many are you?" "." "I'm alone." "At least..." "I thlnk so." "The club's reserved for couples." "You have to be two." "I'm looking for Marco." "Marco?" "." "Yes, Mr Wllllam sent me." "I don't know any Marco or Wllllam." ""The twilight Is grand."" "I'II deal with him." " You're disturbing the patrons." " I don't care." "I don't want to see you around here!" "You'd better get lost!" "You're sick!" "Go on, scarper!" "What's your problem?" "." "You want to get beaten up?" "." "Want some more?" "." "Son of a bitch!" "I'm Carole, a friend of Bruno's." "I know who you are," "I got the messages." "He can't see you now, he needs to be alone." "He's In creative mode." "I must see him for work, It's important." " Let me ln, please." " Don't insist, Mlss Stevens." "He can't see anyone now." "Tell him I dropped by." "I expect to hear from him soon." "Of course, you can rely on me." "Bruno, that won't do." "I Iook awful!" "Lisa calling..." " Good evening, Bruno." " The Shark?" " You've been doing this long?" "." " What?" "." "The chatllne, the recordings, the tapes..." "I've always done lt." "Impressive, lsn't lt?" "." "Llsten to that." "Lisa calling." "No games, tell me what you know about Llsa." "We must talk about you Bruno." "We're here to help you." "I don't give a damn about your help!" "Where's Llsa?" "." "Calm down, Bruno." "Don't be afraid." "We know nothing about Llsa." "Why send me to The black Swan?" "." "We thought It would allow you to understand." "Nothlng happened at The black Swan?" "." "You love Llsa?" "." "You should have known she wouldn't be there." "There's nothing there apart from what you bring yourself." "The black Swan lsn't Hell, and you're not Orpheus seeking Eurydlce." "Besldes, you can't enter alone, can you?" "." "We thought It would help you understand." "You know what I thlnk?" "." "The guy hit so hard I haven't yet come round." "Lisa calling..." "A handsome guy for Lisa?" "Lisa calling." "Lisa for a big tomcat." "Evening, it's Sacha." "Yann, can you hear me?" "It's Lisa, call me." "Sacha seeks a boy." "A wolf for Lisa." "It's time to go." "I have a few vlnyls that could be useful." "I should have called, we should have rehearsed." "Shut up, Carole thinks we've rehearsed." "You've put us In a jam." "What happened to your head?" "." "It's psychosomatic, It must be the stress." "It better be good." "We're supposed to be ready." "I've brought help." "Now everyone's here, we can get down to work." "Bruno can't live without you." "He's always dreamt of being at a recording session." "It's good to fulfil one's dreams." "I'd like to say..." "If I gave no sign of life, It wasn't because..." "Because we fucked doesn't mean you have to explain." "AII I care about Is that you record this damned album." "The rest doesn't concern me." "I fuck with whom I like when I like!" "The samples are great, but there are too many of them." "Afrald the rights will cost too much?" "." "No, of It being "over-sampled"." "I thought you liked this piece." "Yes, but It's become too likeable." "Isn't that what you wanted?" "." "If It's to layer cool sounds, fine." "But It doesn't tell a story." "How do you know It doesn't tell a story?" "." "It doesn't work with me." "You're supposed to make music." "For your personal messages, there are other means." "Can we get back to work?" "." "Calm down." "We'II move on and come back to this later." "Good idea." "We're late and studio rental Is expensive." "You only care about money!" "I care about that too." "And Imposing your music wasn't easy." "Maybe It can't be imposed!" "Would you like a coffee?" "." "What?" "." "That was stupid and unfair." "It's a bit like when Charles Mingus had a falllng out with Atlantlc." "Mr Wllllam had said..." "That was Mlngus." "He probably had good reasons." "Glve me a fucking break!" "Bruno must have his reasons." "Slnce I've known him, I feel much better." "I sometimes felt I was wasting my time collecting all these vinyls and not knowing what to do with them." "Now, I thlnk..." "I prefer to spend my time dreaming with music rather than suffer at composing lt." "Carole, It's Bruno." "I wanted... to apologise for earlier." "I wasn't very..." "I was uptight." "I also wanted to say..." "To wish you a good night." "See you tomorrow... and to say..." "Thls Is pathetic!" "Rene speaking." "You're alone?" "Bruno seeking Llsa." "Julien speaking." "Bruno?" "Vanessa for Bruno." "Hang up, Bruno, I'll call you back." " Call me back?" "." " I've got your number." " You're Vanessa?" "." " Vanessa, Sonla, Sophle..." "Even Llsa sometimes." "Not cross about last time?" "." "It was your fault, you scared me." " Why did you call me?" "." " My husband died one year, four months and three days ago." "Slnce then at night I eat and meet men through the chatline." "I meet as many as I want." "Amazlng, lsn't lt?" "." "Durlng the day, they wouldn't even look at me, whereas at night..." "I only go to bed with them." "Nothlng else." "I still love my husband." "Understand?" "." "I didn't know." "I'm sorry." "I was joking." "I'm a writer." "I'm researching my next novel." "I'II send It to you lfyou like, lt'II be hot." "There's a scene with a guy who ends up naked In a hotel room because his clothes have been thrown out of the window." "Do you understand now?" "." "That's the chatline." "Llsa didn't try to make me believe anything." "One can just say nothing, fuck In the dark and leave before daybreak," "Ilke a vampire." " If that's all you have to say..." " Walt!" "I know Llsa." "She won't get involved again, chatllne or no chatllne." " You know her then?" "." " Vaguely." "What does vaguely mean?" "." "We have boys the same age." "Llsa has children?" "." "A little boy." "For the rest, she's like me." "What tart have you got today?" "." "plumb tart." "Flnally, you know nothing." "Yes I do." "She has a son." "Couldn't she have made that up?" "." "No, he's a friend of my son." "I've even babysat for her once, all night." "In the morning she took them to school." "I have to go to the toilet." "Watch my bag." "Ifyou want a little tart, help yourself." "What were you thinking about?" "." "A teddy bear with one eye." "He was my favourite when I was a kid." "I was once attracted to a guy at a party." "He had one eye" "Ilke my teddy bear." "I thlnk If I was so attracted to him" "It was because of that." "When you're attracted to eyes, to a voice," "It's always something from childhood, lsn't lt?" "." "Have you thought It over?" "." "Then we can continue." "Translated by Paul Belle" "Subtltllng TVS" " TITRA Parls"