"Jérôme, darling, can you make a bit less noise?" "Why are you working on Sunday?" "Because." "You didn't work before." "I did before you existed." "And then I stopped." "Now that you go to school..." "Dad works on Sundays too." "That's why he's late for taking you to Thoiry." " Does Dad earn a lot of money?" " Enough." " Then why are you working?" " Because I like it." "Hello?" "Ah, it's you." "Right, Jérôme is getting impatient." "I can't leave before the end of the rehearsal." "They arrived from London 3 hours late." "I can't help it." "Oh yeah?" "It's important for me, too." "François is on the line." "He wants 20 seats for tonight." "Apparently we promised." "Screw him!" "I work for a record label, not an agency!" "Wait, wait!" "Listen, Agnes, I have big problems." "I'm sorry, but you have to manage somehow." " Is Dad working?" " Yes." " And mom would want to work as well." " So what will we do?" "We'll find a solution." " Mom, I finished poo-poo." " I'm coming." "Let's see." "You haven't finished at all." "You haven't even started." "Make a little effort to please mom." "Hello?" "Marianne?" "This is Agnes." " I'm not interrupting?" " Not at all." "I was reading." "How can you be reading with 4 kids?" "Just have to get organized." " Mom?" " Excuse me one second." " Did you tidy your room?" " Yes, mom." " Did you do your math homework?" " Yes." "Dad will check it out." " Can we go to the cinema?" " To see what?" " The Big Day." "Okay." "Don't come home late." " Thanks, mom." " Thanks, mom." "Put on your coats." "Excuse me." "The girls are going to the movies." "How is Jérôme?" "Okay." "I just wanted to..." "Antoine has got the chickenpox." "That's terrible." "No, it's not serious." "Don't worry." "The old ones had it a month ago, only one left is Stephanie." " Why are you calling me?" " Just to hear from you." "That's nice." "True." "We seldom meet." "Don't forget the party at the parents." " Of course not!" "See you there." " Kisses." "Me too." " What do we do now?" " Laurence." "Hello?" "Laurence?" "It's Agnes." "Hello?" "What happened?" "I can't explain now." " Hello?" " Mrs. Leduc, please." "That's me." "Christine?" "I didn't recognize your voice Are you ill?" "No, no." "I was resting." "Are your daughters there?" "No." "My husband took his to the countryside, mine is with my mother, and ours with her godmother." "Christine, I need your help." "Could you look after Jérôme this afternoon?" "I'm expecting someone." " Oh!" " If you want." "It's a friend." " Excuse me." " I am sorry." "That's fine." "I'll call you." "So, nobody?" "Well..." " Oh!" " What is this, Jérôme?" " It's snow." " Snow?" "In the 24 hours of Le Mans?" "No." "This is the Monte Carlo rally." "There's always snow." "I saw it on TV." "So what do we do?" "What do we do?" "Mom!" "Look at the lions." "What is it?" "I dunno." "The bumpers got hooked" "I'll try to move forward." " She cannot." " Alright." " You stay." "I'll go unhook the bumpers." " No, dad." "I'm afraid of lions." "Don't be." "In zoos, they are all dopey." " Look mom!" "One is coming!" " Don't worry, darling." "The lion is gonna it him." "Watch out, dad." "The lion!" "That one wasn't dopey." "OK." "Good." "I'll count to 3." "Now go." "There you go." " I give you your freedom." " Thank you." "You'll need to repair the front, it may come loose." " Ah." "Excuse me again." " You're welcome." " Mom, cotton candy!" " Me too." " Jérôme!" " Patricia, your coat." "You're getting it all over you." "Look how the little girl does it." "She's so well-behaved." "Take this." "Patricia is very well-behaved." "I'm ashamed to give it back like this." "Keep it, if you wish." "Let's go to the swings." "Is she an only child?" " Unfortunately, yes." " You wanted more?" "I would have liked that, but my wife didn't." "Ah!" "Moms decide now." "Oh yes, you're right." "Moms decide now." "Women's Lib shall win." " Are you an activist?" " Not at all." " Daddy, I want a blue balloon." " I want a red one." "You too, little guy." "No!" "You've already paid for the cotton candy." "Not an activist, but you're independent." "I try to be." "That's why I'm working." "This is why I don't want to have another child." "Why am I telling you all this?" "You know." "Things that really matter to us, we'd rather tell them to someone who doesn't care." "There's less risk of being contradicted or discouraged." "I dunno." "The perfect couple." "Here, it'll be ready tomorrow." "You can't take photos without permission." "Excuse me, I'm a student." "I do this on Sundays." "You want the negative?" "It doesn't matter to me." " This time it's okay." " Thank you." "Can I have money for a ride?" " Again?" " I'm out of change." "I'll make change." " Is it true that you have a boat?" " Yes, that's true." "A beautiful boat that goes very fast when it is windy." "It's called Patoun 4." "Why 4?" "Because there was a Patoun 1 Patoun 2, Patoun 3." "Will there be a Patoun 5?" "I don't know." "Ask Patricia." " Here." " Will you hold my balloon?" "Share with the little girl." "Where's your boat?" " At Menton." " Do you live there?" "No, my parents." "I live in Ville d'Avray." "I have a business." "I build houses." "And what do you do?" "You told me you didn't care." "I was just saying." "It's true." "I find it hard to care about people lately." "It's weird." "I've already heard everything:" "politics, food, kids, holidays..." "Even people I have just met, I feel I know them already." "You want to sit?" "But I'm sure I've never seen you." "I bet it's not fun every day, your state of mind." "No." "That's what my wife thought." "So she chose to divorce me." " And you didn't want one?" " Not at first." "She persuaded me that married life is hell." "Now I'm convinced." "Mom, mom!" "So what do you do?" "I'm working with a decorator." "Mom!" "Mom!" "What happened?" "Show Mommy where you're hurt." "But that's nothing." " It's nothing." " But you're a man." "We'll clean that up." " Bye." " Thank you." " Are you okay?" " I can't walk." "It hurts." " But it's almost over." " I'll carry you." " That's nice." " We'll go with them." "It's late." "Look, Daddy's here." "Ho!" "Children, stop!" "Jérôme had an accident on the slide." "The gentleman was so kind to help me bring him back." "He hasn't bitten the dust in a while." " Dad, let's go home." " Yes, yes." " Would you like a drink?" " No, thanks." "My daughter want to go." "Ah!" " Bye, madam." " Bye, Patricia." " I feel bad." " Please don't." " I hope the kid will be fine." " Yes." " Bye." " Bye." "Thank you." "Excuse me." "I was thinking..." "He should perhaps get a tetanus shot." "Oh yes, you're right." "Thank you." "You're welcome." "Bye." "Dad, my balloon!" "It was an accident." "Go see mom." "Mom." " Do you like your new school?" " Yes." "I like it very much." "My friends are..." "How do you say "distingués" in English?" "I don't know." "Distinguished or something like that." "Didn't you learn English?" "I did learn English, but I forgot." "Mom will take it up." "Dr. Devine pays her lessons." "He has many foreign clients." "Do we have to go to aunt Stephane?" " Is Dr. Devine a widower?" " Yes." "He gives me dietary biscuits." "He is a diet specialist." " He has a house in Corsica." " And a chalet in Verbier, I know." "Why does aunt Stephane live with Laurette?" "They share the apartment." "It's more economic." "Mom says it's for something else." "Really?" "Why?" "A mystery." "You grew up since last time." "No." "Not bigger nor fatter." "Dear little angel, don't you want to become a big girl later?" "I want to be small, like mom." "Some cherry tart?" "Just a bit." "It's got a lot of calories." "Shall I give you 2000 calories?" "No, I'm not very hungry." "What is it?" "An "A" is an upside down "V" with a bar in the middle." "Interesting point." "And how was Tahiti?" "It was disgusting." "Take a look." "Did you take pictures?" "No." "These are postcards." "It doesn't look so bad." "Deserted beaches, blue sky, white sand..." "Land crabs, giant mosquitoes, coconuts falling on your head." " Are you disappointed?" " Except by the Tahitian women." "Ah, see!" "They are so ugly naked that they take away all your hangups." "During her absence I took a beautician course." "I brought you a gift." "Do you at least like it?" "I don't like red." "It's pretty, with your blue eyes." "They are not blue eyes anymore." "They are dark." "I have gray eyes, like mom." "But with your fair skin, red suits you." "My skin is fair because I am tired, but normally, I have a dark complexion, like mom." "And her asshole, is it like her mother's?" "Jack died." " Your ex-husband?" " No, my cat." "In an accident?" "No, suicide." "He couldn't bear my absence, and jumped out of the window." "Are you kidding me?" "Not at all." "Why would cats not commit suicide?" "Dr. Devine' dog is having puppies." "I will get one." " It's a King Charles." " A what?" "An English dog." "His name must start with a D. I'll call him Dicky." "That's good for an Englishman." "Too bad he's not French, you could call him Dumbass." "What are you doing?" "It's 4am." "Well, they left at 2 am." "I had to clean up everything." "I started one hour ago." "Listen, Agnes." "A working woman, it's not funny." "A Cinderella that cleans after children all day long... and works at night, it's really annoying." "But a husband that cares for his little boy on a Sunday afternoon, and takes his friends out for dinner at a bistro... so that his wife doesn't have to do dishes at 2 am, and from time to time sacrifices one minute of his work... so that she can do her own, that is a wonderful husband!" "It's nice, all that red." "It's sweet." "Even very sweet." "Don't stop, go on." "I like it when you work." "Work is the road to health." "Ah!" "Leave me alone, Serge." " I like it when you defend yourself." " This is not the time." "Stop it." "You'll wake up Jérôme." " It's you who'll wake him up." " You'll wake him up." "Serge." "No, I've got work." "I've got work." "Stop." "Stop." "Why are you fighting?" " Is Vava not here?" " She's upstairs with a client." "Let me see." "My goodness!" "Let me tell you that you don't look so good either." "I know." "What was that yesterday?" "Sorry but I couldn't call back." "I was dumped." "Jean-Pierre dumped me yesterday, after the football game." "You were doing so well." "Patrick arrived unexpectedly mid-afternoon." "Unexpectedly?" "Isn't he always with you on Sunday?" "Yes, but he had detention yesterday." "He escaped and showed up." "Jean-Pierre was there." " He had seen him before." " But not naked in front of the TV." "Ouch." "I will spare you the details." "So I had to choose between my son who blamed me for sacrificing him for an idiot, and my lover who accused me of sacrificing him for an little prick." "And you chose the little prick." "Of course." "You promise 15 days." "I will call Janette." "If the fabric is in stock, you'll have it next week." " Bye." "Thank you." " Bye." "Hi, Agnes." "Sorry I'm late." "But I finished the Rocher case." "You can keep it, my dear." "The bastard called me at home." "He is taking an English designer." " It's over." " What?" "He's a pain in the ass, anyway." "He would've ruined our lives for months." "Couldn't he tell us earlier, that idiot?" "I have a telegram for Mrs. Valentine Vatrin from Amsterdam." " From Amsterdam?" " Bye Madam." "The artificial flowers just arrived." "We have to pick them up at Orly." " You come with me, Laurence?" " Yes" "Don't worry." "See you soon." "Hello?" "What are these eggs used for?" "Nothing." "They're nice." "You touch them." "That's all." "I see." "There are 17 decoration shops on this avenue, and I started here." "Instinct." "Hello." "Is there something wrong?" "You know, the project I mentioned to you yesterday?" "It got scrapped." "It goes in the garbage." "Shall we go for coffee?" "No, thank you." "I have to look after the shop." "But I can make you one." " Since when do you work here?" " 4 months." "But I was already working here before." "Before Jérôme was born." "Vava is a friend of my parents." "Thanks to her, I went to art school." "And when I finished, she took me with her." " And now..." " She wants to hand it over." "Yes." "She doesn't say it, but I have the impression." "That would be nice for you." "That would be great." "It's hard to start from scratch." "I feel like giving up." "Giving up is not your style, is it?" "I hope not." "I hope it, too, because I have some business for you." " Business?" " Yes." "My sister is a physiotherapist and she wants to remodel her office." "I thought you could do it, if you're interested." "Can I help you?" "No." "Don't bother." "If someone is looking at me, I buy nothing." " Where is her office?" " Damrémont Street." " Peek a boo, who's this?" " What are you doing here?" "He's been obnoxious." "I'm unable to do my work." "He was hiding to scare me." "You know where?" " In the washing machine." " And if it was turned on?" "It's my fault." "I should have send you to school this morning." " Do you remember the man who..." " My name is Vincent." " What's he doing here?" " He came to offer me a job." "I have a drawing for you." "It's very pretty." "It's pretty, huh?" "Yes, very nice." " Okay, I have to go." " Okay." " Will we meet again for this project?" " Yes." " Call me." " When?" "Tomorrow." " Okay." "Tomorrow." " Bye." "Bye, Jérôme." "Okay, you'd better go, kiddo." "Vava will be back soon." "I'm here to watch her store, not my son." " And will he come back?" " Who?" "Well him, Patricia's dad." " No, not today." " That's good." " Why?" " Because he's ugly." "Are you coming, Jérôme?" "Ah yes?" "Mrs. Tolère?" "No, madam." "Don't worry, it's marked down." "Yes." "Till Wednesday." "Stephane is with a client." " It's you I want to see." " Really?" "I was thinking after I left you..." "Since you take beautician lessons..." "Shut up." "She is furious." "We can make a cosmetics office here." "There's room." "We can do the work." "Your treatment room here, another for sunbathing there." "Then cheer it up a bit." "We'll triple the clients." "That's what I've been telling her." "We can have a sauna in the basement." " A sauna?" " Yes." "I make my living by the sweat of my brow, not that of their buttocks." "This is a medical venture." "Yes, not a Thai massage parlor." "You're a bore with your repressed medical side, my poor Stephane." "Goodbye, Mrs. Marielli." "Till Monday." "It seems to me that it's getting a bit better" " It's not getting worse, in any case." " Bye." "Bye." "Six kids, tits to the knees, a flabby belly, stretch marks, varicose veins, and they want that fixed." "With Vincent, the work would be cheaper." "We'd turn people away instead of drinking tea all day long." "Listen to that." "She makes lots of trivial savings... 2 tomato slices, 3 grams of sauce," "1 cubic centimeter of shriveled meat, but she would spend at least 5 grand." "5 grand!" "That's not a big deal these days." "Speak for yourself, not for us." "I can lend it to you, if you want." "The wrinkles, varicose veins, the kilos, they are gold mines." "In one year you'll have recouped the money and repaid me." "I'm willing to take the risk, if you want." "I know a talented young designer... who will do it fast, good, cheap." " What's her name?" " Agnes Lucas." "Ah!" "Agnes, with a capital V upside down." " Is she blonde?" " No." "She has red hair." "She has blue eyes." "Well, this picture was taken Sunday at Thoiry." "She has a face to have nice legs." "The perfect couple." "That's what the photographer said." "And you know her since when?" "Well, actually since Sunday." "Do you remember Dereau," " the French teacher?" " Oh yes." "She loved you and hated me." "I was looking for a coach for Eloise, so I put in an ad, and who turned up?" "Dereau?" "We fell into each other's arms." "How is she?" "The same." "She has always been 75." "She comes everyday to help the girls, since I don't have time." "I haven't told you:" "I'm working." "No!" "Where?" "In the maid's room." "I'm writing." "Great!" "You wanted that for ages." "I made a deal with Pepita." "During her 3-hour break, I let her rest in my bedroom, and I go up to the 6th floor to work in peace." "What is Pierre thinking?" "It aggravates him that I'm working." "One's enough for him." "His mistress is a CEO." "You're quite relaxed." "I have someone, too." "Really?" "Someone who loves you?" "No." "Just someone." "Period." " It's convenient when you can." " Can do what?" "To be with just someone, just like that." "I never could." "About Sunday, I would've really liked to help you." "But you know what?" "I spent my life looking for people I can entrust my girls to." "It's funny." "I always feel that I should be with Jérôme when I'm not with him." "And when I am," "I want to be somewhere else," "To do things that interest me." "I feel guilty" "But we all feel the same." "The mother-wife balance is what I want to mention in my book." "There are my girls." "I'm taking them to the dentist." "All three need braces." " It'll cost 2 grand." " You're lucky." "Why?" "To have a richer husband than your dentist." "Hello?" "Can I speak with Mrs. Agnes Lucas?" "Hold on, please." "Agnes, it's for you." "Hello?" "Mrs. Lucas?" "This is Vincent Marielli." "Ah." "Hello." "May I drop by this afternoon?" "I have something for you." " Yes, but not before 6pm." " 6pm?" "Okay." "Yes." "Bye." "How is he?" "Big?" "Small?" "Fat?" "Skinny?" " Oh!" " Young?" "Old?" " Soothing." " Soothing?" "Beware." "Serenity is dangerous." "Hey, it's that one, Mrs. Gasser's blue." "Make it 38." " Is he game?" " Game for what?" "I don't know." "One night, one month, a lifetime?" "One night, I don't know." "I'm not interested in a month." "A lifetime is impossible." "Agnes, let's go." "We're late." "There is Delepine's site." "And drop by my place to pick up the samples." "Yes, of course!" "But who is it?" " My daughter." " Anne!" "That can't be." "What happened?" "This time she will survive." "But I can't assure that she'll make it next time." "You know, hard drugs." "You should take her to the mountains or on a cruise for a while." "Away from Paris." "Thank you, Doctor." "Bye." " Bye." " Bye." "Oh, well..." "I didn't know about Anne." "Nobody knew." "She ran away 2 years ago." "I've been looking everywhere." "Finally, we found her trail in Amsterdam, in a commune." "When the cops took her back to Paris, she jumped from the train." "Then, I must say, I became discouraged." "You can't force someone to live with you, not even your child." "Especially not your child." "So I decided to wait." " I was right: she came back." " Yes." "Ah!" "Are you here?" "Excuse me for this afternoon." "I couldn't be at the shop..." "I know." "Your friend Laurence told me." "I waited here, in case you preferred to pretend that you hadn't seen me." " If Jérôme was looking out for me?" " Or your husband." "My husband always comes home late." "He works for a record company." "Concerts on many evenings." "Our life is a bit disjointed." "I understand." "I brought you Sunday's photo." "My sister says you look ravishing." "She's indulgent." "No." "That's not one of her dominant qualities." " Thanks." " You can keep it." " Unless..." " Oh no, no." "Jérôme was with us." "He'll find it normal." " And Serge?" " You know his name?" "I saw it on the door Sunday." "Good." "I have to go." "Bye." "I wrote my phone numbers on the back:" "Home, my office, my sister Stephane where I dine often, and the projects where I work." "Thanks." "But you know, I won't call you." "I know." "Bye." "Hello?" "Hello?" " Agnes?" " You knew it was me?" "Yes." "Vava had a great idea." "We'll be able to change the color every 6 months." "What are you doing?" "Checking if the line is OK." "He'll call you." "Did you see him yesterday?" "We'll have lunch together as usual." "He didn't call last night." " Did you call him?" " No." "Well, once or twice." "He wasn't there." " Hello?" " Hi Mom?" " Yes, Jérôme." " When are you coming home?" "As usual, as soon as possible." " You're not in school?" " It's Wednesday." "Oh yes, of course." "Kisses." "Now go play." " You hurry up?" " Yes." "Why doesn't he call me?" "Maybe there's no telephone where he is." "Nowadays, when we wanted to call, we managed, even in the desert." "Pass the fabric, please." "Vava called from Zermatt." "She has a perfect relationship with her daughter." " How long have they been gone?" " 3 weeks." "Good." "I knew Vincent one week before." " It's been one month that every day..." " He called you." "Last night, nothing." "This morning, nothing." " Hello?" " Mrs. Lucas?" "Yes." "What should I make for dinner?" " The meat rolls." " Where do I serve?" " In the kitchen." " How many?" "For 2 as usual." "Oh Mrs. Clary, nobody called for me?" " No." " Thank you." "What if he had an accident?" "Don't be silly." "Come help me." "No." "It's silly." "They would have informed his sister, and she would have warned me." "So what's wrong with him?" "Maybe he wants to upset you." " Why?" " Guess." " Hello?" " Hold on for Mr. Lucas." "It's Serge." "Do something, Agnes." "Every Wednesday Jérôme calls me 10 times at the office." "Don't you exaggerate a little?" "No, he interrupted me twice already." "I have an important meeting." "What do you want me to do?" "I leave for Nice this afternoon." "I'll join you at your parents', for the party." "The party?" "Kisses." " Oh, my God." " Bad news?" "Mom's birthday." "The family gathers every year for that." "It's this weekend." " And you planned to see Vincent?" " He isn't talking with me." "Good, good, good." "He could have called me, even to give me shit." "If he calls, I'll give him shit." " Hello?" " It's me." "Ah!" "Vincent." " I was worried." " Can you come over?" " Tonight at your place?" " If you can?" "Yes." "I'll manage." " Till dinner." " Okay." " Kisses." " Me too." "Can you look after Jérôme tonight?" "Is this the big day?" "I think so." "Hi, daddy." "What's up?" "Is there a wedding?" "A kiss." " Yes, there's a wedding." " Who's getting married?" "My accountant's daughter." "So you came to see me?" "It's Wednesday." "Mom told you she was leaving for Deauville." "I forgot." "She left with Dr. Devine to meet a client, too fat to move..." "So you'll stay overnight?" "Yes." " Is that also for the wedding?" " Oh no." " That's for us both." " It's nice for a change." "What's for supper?" " Caviar, smoked salmon." " Don't you like it?" "No." "It makes you fat." "Don't you have low-fat cottage cheese?" "There is grocer open late." "I'll go get it for you." "Petrossian." "Do you have a light sleeping pill for a child?" "Yes, sir." "Do you really have to go to the antiques fair?" "I absolutely have to." "I represent Vava who's on vacation." " No, not there." " Precisely there, it's important." " Let me do it." " But..." "Oh!" "You're a woman, after all." "Normally you smell different." "I changed perfume." "I prefer the other." "Will you give me your phone number?" "But I don't have it." "And you don't need it." "Laurence will be here soon." "You like Laurence." "I like you and Dad, that's it." "Yesterday I had my first sex ed lesson." "Now I know how I was made." "Really?" "Tell me, I'm interested." "It was when your sperm met the egg in Mom's belly." "Technically, that's it." "Anyway, Mom told me that was it." "Each his own memories." "You're sleepy." "Let's go to bed." "Come on, sweetheart." "Hop." "In bed." "Come on." "Beddy-byes." "Good night." "I brought some caviar and also some..." " And a cake." " That's a good idea." "Yesterday I had a Canadian friend visiting, he's an architect." "He's going to build a holiday village in the Rockies." "He wants to have me on board." "It will be for 3 years, over there." " And have you accepted?" " Yes." "Really?" "Yes." "I don't know what came over me." "I was afraid of struggles, problems, challenges..." "The usual stuff, you know." "All that we will have to break to stay together." "And you'd rather go break stones in the Rockies?" "No." "Because this morning I cancelled everything." "That's why you didn't call me." " Did you call me?" " No." "That's strange." "Look." "I let my friend use the house." "Look what he wrote me." ""Tuesday midnight." "Thank you, brother, for your hospitality." ""Good bed, good food, etc." ""Next time do me a favor." "Switch off your fucking phone." ""It rang every 10 minutes for 3 hours." ""I can be the best, but that is distracting."" "Strange." "What do I look like now?" "And at midnight, I took a sleeping pill." "At midnight, I woke up my family." "I called my mother, my sister, my ex-wife." "Nobody had died." "I knew it had been you and I waited all night for you to call me." "And this morning?" "I went to Fontainebleau." "I was mad with rage." "I went to a construction site." "But halfway, I cracked up and called you." "Dad!" "Go, sleep." "Sleep, my baby." " Was she here?" " Yes." "When they sleep, you'd want to have 12." "Laurence?" "Laurence, that's it." "I'm home." "You can leave." "Laurence?" "Christine?" "What are you doing here?" " I left my husband." " What?" " Can I spend the night here?" " Of course." "But will you be okay?" "And Laurence?" "She went home because I was here." "You just left like that?" "He cheats on me, I cheat on him." "We lead a stupid life." "And I need to be alone to write." "Are you really getting down to it now?" "I'm figuring things out." " And the children?" " What children?" "His, mine or ours?" " All of them." " That too..." "I'm making plans." "Good." "You can tell me in the morning." "Higher, mom." "Can I bring out the meat?" "Still higher, mom." " Let me, mother." " That's kind of you." "It's heavy." "Uncle Serge, don't forget the tickets for the concert." "No." "I promise." "It's getting cold." " You want something?" " A pastis." "It looks good." " It'll be good." " It smells good." " The embers will be fine." " Careful." " It's a little baby." " Granny?" " Are you cold?" " No, but the little one is." "Here." "Bring this to Aunt Agnes." "Here." "Thanks." "Antoine, will you taking over?" "Okay." "Mom, where're you going?" "Look Jérôme, play on your own for once." "I've got a headache." "Higher, Antoine!" "Higher!" " Something wrong?" " Oh no." "Why?" "You're acting funny." "I have a headache." "I'm taking an aspirin." " Do you want something?" " No, thanks." "I'm not feeling good." "Till later." "Jérôme!" "Jérôme!" "What are you doing?" "Vincent?" "I couldn't take it anymore." " I couldn't either." " It's hard." "Other than you, I can't stand anyone." "How nice!" "But we must meet." "Just the two of us." "Next weekend?" " I'll figure something out." " Agnes, come." " I have to go." "I love you." " Me too." "So she's as bored as you?" " Apparently." " Great!" "In love, the more you get bored apart, the less you get bored together." "Watch it." "I'm going to look like an old dyke." "Lydia will have more horrors to tell her daughter." "I have to learn!" "Where is Patricia this weekend?" "With Lydia, at Dr. Devine." "Does he bang her?" "I'm talking of Lydia, obviously." "Yes, I think so." "Great!" "Patricia will have a new dad." "She'll no longer pester you." "Don't start again, Stephane." "Oh, that's enough." "We all get bugged by our kids, and we don't dare say so." "Look at Vincent, look at Agnes." "Where would he be without his brat?" "Busy with his future projects in a huge bed." "Making another brat, mainly." "Does that suck or what?" "It's stupid." "All the stupid things kids love." "Guignol is stupid." "Little Red Riding Hood, clowns: stupid." "And piggyback rides are really stupid." "And La Fontaine's Fables." "When they get big, they take off." "Shall we go to the cinema?" "I'll take you." " Okay." " What do you want to see?" "Anything, as long as it is rated "R"." "Well, okay." "Somebody here?" "Hello, madam." "Can I make a call to Paris?" "In the booth at the back." "Can you make me a coffee?" "Yes, madam." " Hello Vincent?" " Agnes?" "I'm in the village." "I climbed the wall." "I found the ladder from when I was 15." "Besides, it's simple:" "I am 15." " I wish you were with me." " Me too." "Hello, madam." "A coffee please." "Vincent, I made arrangements for the weekend." "Serge will be at a festival in Montreux, and my sister will look after Jérôme." " Really?" " Yes." "I can't wait till Friday." " Me too." " I love you." "Me too." "Kisses." "Me too." "Kisses." "I'm a light sleeper." "I heard you get out." "I saw you sneak out." "It brought back memories." "You will find me..." "I know I already told you this once." "I think I've met the man I need." "Really." " The first time I didn't believe you." " You didn't tell me." "You wouldn't have believed me either." "Agnes!" " How nice of you to come." " Hello." "She looks good." "What's up at the store?" "I got the fabric." "They're real nice, you'll see." "The English furniture arrived." "I haven't paid the cabinetmaker." "It exceeded the estimate of 300 000 F." "I won't be here Saturday." "Laurence will replace me." "Okay." "Very good." "Madam?" "This child is coming down with something." "What's wrong?" "Oh no!" "You're not gonna do this to me." "Aunt Marianne will be very disappointed." " I saw a bump." " Where?" "There." "But no." "It's a mosquito bite." "A mosquito in November?" "Fuck!" "Go talk elsewhere!" "I have to drive 500 km tomorrow." "Come." "Unbelievable." "You won't be going to school." "You have to stay warm." "So you'll be in shape tonight." "I don't think he can go." " Take his temperature." " I'm not asking for your opinion." " Will you scratch my back?" " If you want." "Shall I pack Mr. Deauville's suitcase?" "Yes." "He's going to Montreux." "But for you it's the same." "He reserved a room in Deauville." " It doesn't matter." " What did you say?" "That for us it changes nothing." "Agnes, Jérôme, I'm leaving." "Jérôme!" "Your father is leaving." "Your strap." "Have fun." "Ciao." "Hello, kiddo." "Thanks." "One more, one less..." "Take it easy." "Okay." "Ouch!" "You're damaging my skin." "Soak." "Here's the quiche." "It's hot." "Help yourself, Agnes." "Thanks." " Not quite red." "It is..." " Pink." "Violet." "Violet." "Jérôme, come here for a second." "There." "Martine, get me the thermometer." "Chickenpox, are you sure?" "No doubt about it." "Stephanie has it too." " Does he have a fever?" " 38." "She has 39." " I'm coming." " No, forget it." "It's nothing serious." " Are you sure?" " I'll get him back to you soon." "I'll stay with them." " That's better." " Are you sure?" "Hello, Mom?" " Where are you?" " With a client." " With Dad?" " No." "Dad is in Montreux." "How are you?" "Aunt Marianne gave me a piggy bank." "She put in 1 F for each bump." "I hope you get lots." "Most importantly, don't scratch." "It'll leave ugly marks." " Promised?" "Promised?" " Yes mom." "Good." "Kisses." "I love you." " I'll call you tomorrow." " I love you." "Kisses." "Bye." "Chickenpox?" "But tonight's still on?" " I'm ashamed." " Why are you ashamed?" "To be happy when my son is sick." "Are you happy?" "I entrusted mine to my mother, his to his mother, and ours is here." "I moved out to a hotel." "And I started writing my novel." " Where are you?" " The 2nd chapter." "But you'll see." " We'll see nothing at all." " Oh yes." "You'll crack after 8 days." "You'll get home because of the children." "You're not saying anything." "What are you thinking?" "I think you're brave to leave everything just like that." "Bravo." "And you?" "What about Vincent?" "He entrusted me with the decoration of his sister's office." "That's all?" "There's nothing else to say." "Well then, it's serious." "Is it important?" "Oh!" " Hi, Mom." " Hello sweetheart." "You have rosy cheeks." " I did some training." " What training?" "Tennis." "I'm starting again." "I'm starting lessons with Santini." "Did you see him again?" "He wanted you in his team, before you left." "Yes." "He says it's not too late." "I need some money for the equipment." "Of course." " How much do you need?" " I don't know." "I need a racket, shoes, shorts..." "And the fee as well." "Is that okay?" "It is." "Goodbye mom." "Thanks for lunch." "See you soon." "Will you call me?" " I'll call you." " Bye." "And your weekend?" "You didn't say anything." "Marvelous." "Saint-Etienne beat Nantes." "Burt Lancaster beat Lee Marvin." "Patrick beat me by a mile in the backstroke." "And we made a draw at pinochle." "Thank you, sir." "Hey!" "Are you sleeping?" "It's not classy to leave me like that." "The pediatrician told me that the treatment was necessary." "I'll take her." "Wait for the All Saints holidays," "I promised Patricia to take her to my parents." " Solitaire." " Ah." "Hello?" "Hotel Du PARC." "Sir?" "Georges!" "Georges!" "Hold on." "Shall we ride the donkeys tomorrow?" " Aren't you sleeping?" " Is Dad coming?" "I don't think so, he has to work." "Now go sleep, it's late." " I love you." " Me too." "Mom!" "Agnes?" "It's not easy to reach you." "I'll call you back." "Mom!" " Hush." " Was it Dad?" "No, wrong number." "Go to sleep." "Hello?" "I would like 360215 in Menton." "It's urgent." " Menton, please hold." " I'll wait." "Mom." "Mom." "But what..." "Oh!" "My love, I tried all night to get Menton." "I'm sure the owner did it on purpose." "What a start." "Here's the program:" "short treatment in the morning, then a donkey ride." "An afternoon nap, a bit of coloring and a booklet." "I won't survive two weeks." " Shall we play ball?" " Not now, I'm writing." " To Dad?" " Yes." " Shall I make a drawing for him?" " Later." "Can you play marbles?" "Go ask the other children." " I don't know them." " I'll call my granddaughter." "Mireille!" "Her name's Mireille because of Mireille Mathieu." "Mireille!" "She's ugly." "She looks like Aunt Marianne's spaniel." "She'll do to play marbles." "Go." "Go play with the little boy." "He looks nice." "Come on, go." "Are you here for his ears or his lungs?" " His lungs." " Mireille for her ears." "She keeps getting ear infections." " Like her mother." " I see." "I had 7 children, and only one did this to me." "Maybe because she was the last one and not wanted." "It's God who punished me." "They had to use forceps." "After that I had phlebitis." "And then she didn't want my milk." "Later, she joined the postal service." "She got pregnant by the postmaster..." "married, family man." "Imagine the scandal." "It's now decided." "I'll leave Serge." "With you I found what I've always been looking for." "I finally know that it exists." "I think that Jérôme will take it well." "He sees his father so little." "Say, you have a lot to tell, for a woman who never opens her mouth." "Then she decided to leave and left the girl with me." "And it happened again:" "diapers, baby bottles..." "Treatments." "Well, these are nice memories." "After all, that's life." " Not at all." " What are you saying?" "No." "Life is not that." "Life is also love, right?" "It's the sunsets, two bodies stretched out... on a down duvet." "Right?" "Isn't that life?" "All men want the same thing." "Once they had it, they don't care about you." "Don't tell me that you never had an orgasm." "A what?" "You should try it." "It's very enjoyable." "It's better than forceps, believe me." "Oh!" "Oh!" "Grandma!" " What is it?" " He tried to take off my panties." "Crazy woman!" "Hysteric!" "Pervert!" "Why did you do that?" "I wanted a rubber band to make a slingshot." "Her son is even worse than her." "If they call me..." "I'm not forwarding calls after 10pm." "Besides, it would wake up the boy." "Hello?" "Hotel Du PARC." "Mrs. Lucas?" "I'll call her." "It's for you." "I rather take it in the booth." "You wait here for me." "First one to get to the room." "1, 2, 3." "Hotel Du PARC." "Good evening sir." "A single room?" "Yes sir." "Tomorrow?" "That's possible." "In what name?" "Hello, sir." " I am Mr. Marielli." " We are expecting you." "Mrs. Lucas!" "What a surprise!" "Mr. Marielli." "Are you doing a cure?" "No." "I was here for business." "And you?" "It's for Jérôme, for his lunges." "Do you remember Mr. Marielli?" "No?" "Well, too bad." "He grew up." " It's time for the donkeys." " I'll go with you." "If you want." "Could you please put that in my room?" "Thank you." "Poor Vincent." "He tries very hard." " Maybe he'll drown." " Oh." "Shall we eat cakes?" "Before lunch?" "We won't have lunch, we'll just eat cakes, small, big..." "An orgy of cakes." " What is an orgy?" " You'll see." "Come on." " Thank you, madam." " Here." "This is my third baba." "Will the gentleman stay with us this afternoon?" "You can call him Vincent, you know." "Room 510, please." " Here, kiddo." " Thank you." "Will the gentleman have supper with us tonight?" "No, no." "Marielli." "Room 17." " Do you like Fred Astaire?" " Yes, a lot." "I saw him in a movie on TV." "And did he dance well?" "He didn't dance." "Are you sure it was Fred Astaire?" "Shall I tell you the story?" "It was a man who was married and then they divorced." "And they have a daughter." "Her name is Carrie." "Then one day Carrie marries, and Fred Astaire comes to the wedding, because he's her dad." "And he sees his wife." "She's grown old, but he falls in love with her again." "Does it happen, for real?" "Not often." "What does it mean to you to fall in love?" "It's when you want to be with someone all the time." "That's so true." "I want to be with you all the time." "So, am I in love with you?" "Until you fall in love with a girl." "Even if that happens, I'll never leave you." "If you don't like her, I'll send her away." "Thanks." "You don't expect a phone call tonight." "Are you coming, sweetheart?" "Scratch harder, I don't feel nothing." "It's late." "You must sleep now, Jérôme." "Will you tell me again the story of the little white rabbit?" "I've already told it." "You haven't removed your makeup tonight." "That's true." "I forgot." "I'm very sleepy, you know." "I'm not sleepy." "Is that man leaving tomorrow?" "Yes." "Tomorrow morning." "Once upon a time..." "I just spent the longest day of my life." "Prepare to spend the longest night." "Sir?" "What do you want?" " Mrs. Vatrin?" " Yes sir." " Where is she?" " Who?" "Anne." "I had enough of being stood up!" "I want my 8 grand tomorrow at noon." "What "8 grand"?" "If I don't get it tomorrow at noon, I cut off all her sources" "She won't find anyone in Paris to supply her." "But, sir, who are you?" "Anne?" "Anne?" "Madam!" "Madam!" "You are wanted on the phone." "It's the police." "There has been an accident." "A new drugs drama." "The body of a young girl was found on a bench yesterday." "It's Anne Vatrin, the daughter of a famous decorator." "Anne Vatrin was 17 years old." "She was a victim of a heroin overdose." "What's an overdose?" "The police already arrested Fabrice Richard and Francis Leroy, who confessed after 12 hours in custody." "Jérôme!" "Oh, dad." "You got up?" "I'm glad you're back so early." "But you could've taken a later train." " The funeral is at 11 am." " Poor child." " Did you have fun?" " Yes." " I have a surprise for you." " What is it?" " Do you like it?" " Oh yes." "Look, Mom." "Let's go for a ride." "Jérôme." "Won't you come to the funeral with me?" "It'd be a nice gesture for Vava." "Jérôme, come." "I want to ride in the front." "No." "It's dangerous." "Children in the back." "When will I?" "In ten years, my little angel." "I've decided to do nothing, except for love or interest." "What do you mean?" "From now on, I'll devote myself to my work and my boy." "And to my lovely lady, obviously." "Okay, Jérôme, Mrs. Clary is off today, and mom at the cemetery." "The program:" "Bois de Boulogne, a hamburger at Joe Allen and maybe Star Wars." "Yippee!" "Shall I drop you off?" "Whom did you call at the highway restaurant?" " Agnes." " Do I know her?" "No, not yet." "You know, mom is getting married again." " Really?" " You want to know to whom?" "To Dr. Devine." " He has a house in Corsica..." " And a chalet in Switzerland, I know." "And you?" "Will you marry again?" "Maybe." "The editor called me, and I got a letter from the reader's service." "They had fallen in love with my short story... and offered me to join the newspaper." " Then what?" " I'll resist the temptation." "First I want to finish my book." "That's what counts." "Don't you miss your daughters?" "Yes." "I see them on weekends." "I don't look after them much." "But I do it well." "Everybody wins." "And you?" " Well, I'm leaving Serge." " Bravo." "It hardly merits congratulations." "You're back?" " Are you alone?" " Yes." "Laurence went to take back Vava." "It is hideous." " How is she?" " Oh." "Effective, mechanical." " It's odd." " And you?" "I'm fine." "Of course." "It's a lot of responsibility all at once." " But you'll be okay." " You think so?" "I'm sure." "It's so nice to have you back so soon." "What is it?" "It's..." "It's you." " Are you free tonight?" " No." "But I will." "And are you busy now?" "No." "But I feel that I'm going to be." "His attitude has completely changed." "He's like a nanny with his son." "He's taking him everywhere, until unearthly hours." "Jérôme is baffled." "I don't get it." "It's obvious." "He realizes that there's trouble, and he's doing his best." "It's the opportunity to get rid of your kid." "Are you crazy?" "Agnes won't live with me without Jérôme." "We wouldn't be happy." "And you think you'd be happy with a kid that dislikes you, and will get under his mother's skirts together with you?" "That will make two of us." "He won't be able to resist my charm." "And will you charm him by making him a little brother or sister?" "Why not?" "Right." "As if yours isn't enough." "You dream of being the woman of his life." "You'll just be his kids' the mother." "Stop it, Stephane." "That's bigotry." "It's ridiculous." "Vincent... those who don't have children can't understand." "I can, I have two." "I had two." "Yes, twin girls." "Stephane sacrificed everything for them, and when they turned 17, they left to the USA to see their father who never took care of them." "Then they stayed with him." "There's something that worries me." "Yes." "What is it?" "Well, it's that deep down I know that Stephane is right... in her way of thinking." "Huh?" "Yeah." "So what?" "I still feel like having a child from you." "So this evening with Vava?" "Distressing, I suppose." "Yes." "Did you cheer up the poor woman?" "Listen, Serge, I'm exhausted and I don't want to talk about Vava." "Yes." "Let's forget about Vava." "She committed suicide at her cottage this evening." "What?" "She committed suicide in her bathtub." "She cut her veins." "And Laurence, who spent the night there, found her an hour ago." "That's not possible." "Obviously, for your alibi, you need to find someone else." "Please, Serge, this isn't the right moment." "I've been waiting for this moment for a long time." "All right." "I'm going to leave you, Serge." "I figured that much, you know." "I guess you made up your mind, and there's no point in insisting." "Yes." "No." "Don't bother." "I'm not the first man abandoned by his wife." "I won't hold onto it." " You can go." " You're keeping the apartment?" "I don't want to unsettle Jérôme." "He shouldn't change schools and habits." "No way I'm leaving without Jérôme." "You stay then, because he's going nowhere." "You never took care of him." "You're not going now..." "I'm taking care of him now." "Yesterday my lawyer told me that I have a good chance." "You have a lawyer?" "Look, Agnes, you wanted a child, you had him." "You wanted a job, you got it." "You've wanted a lover, it's no big deal." "Now you want to steal my kid?" "I won't accept that!" "I won't!" "No matter what!" "You do this just to annoy me." "You couldn't care less about me or Jérôme." "You want to put us in a can." "And when you have enough of your escapades, you'll come home for an hour or two to play daddy." "Listen Serge, you have to understand." "I can't be happy with you, nor Jérôme without me." "Would he be happy with Mr. Marielli?" "I don't know." "I know he won't." "He told me." "He told you?" "Did you talk about it?" "Yes." "I'm preparing him so he won't be traumatized." "You dared?" "You dared to involve a 7-year-old..." "With what right?" "My right as a father." "Haven't you dared disrupt his life?" "No need to worry." "He took it very well." "We'll live as bachelors." "He'll pick me up at the office." "I won't go out at night." "Mom will visit from time to time." "We'll share him for the weekend." "He took it well?" "Yes." "He even said that a dad is more fun than a mom." "There you go." "Stuff like that happens in life." "We're not gonna mess this up for some bullshit." "I want to propose something." "We change apartment and all three live as singles." "Outside we live alone." "And we meet for the highlights." "And the highlight is Jérôme?" "Think about it." "Leave me alone." "Agnes." "But there are people who start a new life, and can make radical changes." "You see it." "That exists!" "For the past year, every night in bed, I think about those women, those who left, those who stayed..." "I wonder what the right solution is." "So much uncertainly." "And then, suddenly, when it comes to losing Jérôme..." "Why lose Jérôme?" "Why?" "Serge is already erasing me from my kid's mind." "And he said he'll go all the way." "Oh no." "I don't have the courage to take the risk." "It's a break-up scene, right?" "Not at all." "We'll get by." "Serge agrees." "We'll..." "We'll get by?" "Many people think it's better not to live together, even you." "Yes, even me." "Even me, that's true." "My love." "Remember the day I met you," "You told me that life together eventually became a hell." "Listen, when we met," "I didn't know you, I was talking bullshit." "But I love you." "That's what counts." "But I love you too." "I will stay." "Yes." "You'll stay a while." "I will again wake up in an empty bed, while you're driving a 100 kilometers an hour." "I know." "If Jérôme wakes up..." "But I'll travel 100 kilometers... every night to spend 5 minutes in your arms." "Is that you?" " Yes." " So you came back?" " Yes." " Are you staying?" "That's reasonable." "By the way, Vava left a will on her desk." "She leaves the shop to you and Laurence." "Serge!" "Jérôme is not in his room." " What are you talking about?" " Mom!" "Ah, there you are." "What are you doing here, sweetheart?" "You can't sleep?" "You weren't here." "I can't sleep when you're not here." "Like the little white rabbit." "Wait for me." "It's wonderful." "Vincent!" "You're just in time." "Did you see?" " Agnes isn't here?" " Our appointment is at 2pm." " Could you give this to her?" " Yes, if you want." "I have to go, the taxi is waiting." " Where are you going?" " Agnes will explain." "But what's wrong?" "Tell me what it is." " I'm going to Canada." " To Canada?" " Without her?" " Yes, without her." "You were right." "It's no use." " Because of the kid?" " Yes, because of the kid." "Okay." "About the 5 grand, put it aside." "I may need it in 5 years." "This can't be true." "Damn!" "epilogue 7 years later..." "The phone!" "Serge!" "Answer it." "Hello?" "Marianne?" "I've been calling you since this morning." "My daughters left home." " Really?" " And not alone." "With some guys?" "With "one" guy." "With "the" guy." "With the same one?" "Such prude girls!" "I'm to blame." "I'm very possessive." "Oh no." "Don't feel guilty." "Don't blame yourself." "But still it's me who raised them." " It's always the mother..." " Listen, I can't talk right now." "We're picking up Jérôme at the airport." "He's back from Ireland." "From his holiday camp." "I'll call you back." " Do you promise?" " Promised." "Promised." "Hurry up Serge, we'll be late for Jérôme." "What did you say?" "The plane arrives in an hour." "I have to go to Colmar for the concert." "They just called." "The big boss is there." "So you're no longer the big boss." "Come on!" "Jérôme's been away for two months." "Never mind." "The two of us will dine together." " He's 15." "He'll understand." " Understand what?" "That I rather be with him instead of being pissed off..." "In the charming country in a dirty theater." "I'll explain it to him." "And after all he's used to it." " Jérôme." " Mom." "You're huge." "You look older." " And Dad?" " He's got work in the country." " He can't dine with us." " About dinner..." " I met a great girl." " So what?" "Well, she invited me to dinner." "She's 18 years old." "Okay." "I'll get the car." "Could you take my suitcase?" "I'll take the bus with Caroline." "I love you." "By the way, one more thing." "She thinks I'm 17." "Keep that in mind." "Vincent!" "Subtitles by Subransu Edited by Tintin"