""BELOVED"" "Hurry, Madeleine!" "Okay." "Do you have a backache?" "Will 50 francs do the trick?" "Certainly not!" "That's 50,000 old francs." "70,000." "Where?" "You have a hotel?" "I live there." "If it weren't for those Roger Vivier pumps," "Mom wouldn't have become a whore." "I like the word "whore."" "Adds to the parental legend." "Mom never uses it." "She says "part-timer."" "She always had a real job, with pay-slips." "The johns were pocket money." " Hello, Madame Menant." " Madame Menant." "As she walked up, she calculated her potential turnover." "All the pumps and dresses she'd now be able to buy." "She still says were it not for Roger Vivier, she'd have become a thief." "She is persuaded that prostitution saved her from prison." "Are you Madeleine?" "Yes." "A friend gave me the address." "Is possible make love with you?" "It is if you have money." "I have this." "Come on." "Are you okay?" "I caught the death of me." "Death?" "My throat inside." "Cough." "Here?" "Are you crazy?" "I'm a doctor." "Cough again, please." "I don't do kinky stuff." "Go now." "I don't want kinky stuff." "I am a real doctor." "Cough." "Again." "Come on." "So... she's Marie-Dominique." " Pleased to meet you." " Hello." "Behind her boyfriend, Odette." "Pleased to meet you." "Not introducing me?" "Francois Gouriot." "Danielle, you've met." "You're very stylish today!" "Thank you." "My boss, Madame Rivier." "A pleasure." "This is Jaromil." "He's from Czechoslovakia." "He's a doctor, not a communist." "Endocrinologist." "All about glands." "They teach it badly there." "He came for extra training." "See you tomorrow." "Good-bye." "Good-bye, Madeleine." "I think you really impressed them." "Repeat after me." "What does it mean?" ""Doctor" in Czech." "That means, "The best doctor in Prague."" "Excellent." "You're ready, honey." "What did I say?" ""I'm the wife of the best doctor in Prague."" "My God." "That's nice, but..." "Jaromil, you're crazy!" "I'm in love." "So am I, but... let me be frank." "I'll never go there." "So you don't love me." "You know I adore you!" "So why leave me?" "I never said I'm leaving you!" "Want to make me cry?" "I have to go home." "I can't stay in France." "You said you could apply for papers." "I don't want to live here and become your main squeeze." "That doesn't mean the husband of the whore?" "Wait until our love has died" "Until the beatings start" "Before defeating to the East" "For our own Coup of Prague" "For our own Coup of Prague" "The Eiffel Tower already bores you" "Is it she or is it me?" "I can live without you, it's true" "But, my love, the only thing is" "I can't live without loving you" "Wait until we fall to pieces" "Until we're beaten with the stick" "Before they send us into orbit" "Aboard a Tupolev or a Sputnik" "Aboard a Tupolev or a Sputnik" "The Eiffel Tower already bores you" "Is it she or is it me?" "I can live without you, it's true" "But, my love, the only thing is" "I can't live without loving you" "Wait a while, until the deluge" "Until the whip flogs and flays" "Before we look for refuge" "And travel like stowaways" "I'm waiting." "And travel like stowaways" "The Eiffel Tower already bores you" "Is it she or is it me?" "I can live without you, it's true" "But, my love, the only thing is" "I can't live without loving you" "I can live without you, it's true" "But, my love, the only thing is" "I can't live without loving you" "Careful." "They're still hot." "See?" "Never let them cook all the way." "Vera, don't bother us when we're cooking." "Play with your uncle." "Where's Daddy?" "He went hunting to feed the family." "No!" "No!" "Don't mess up my hair." "Third time this week he doesn't even bother to call." "I know, sweetie." "Sometimes men get an itch to be free." "He'll get over it." "But where is he?" "What's he doing?" "He must be on the night shift at the clinic." "Three night shifts in one week?" "I'll make you some tea." " Where are you going?" " There." "We must remain calm." "Being calm is our only weapon in a situation like this." "What are you doing here?" "Karel, I was so frightened." "There are tanks in the city;" "it's war." "It's not war;" "it's the Russians." "I'll take you home." "I came for Jaromil." "He left a while ago." "He didn't come home." "Get in." "You should go to the French embassy, Madeleine." "You'll have no problem getting Jaromil to France." "Take me to him." "You know where he is." "I want us to go back to Paris." "I don't care who he's with." "I can't." "It's between you two." "He'll be home in the morning." "You can leave in the day." "Ground floor." "I can't wait for you." "You understand." "Jaromil!" "Jaromil!" "I know you're here." "I'm not angry, but come." "We have to leave fast." "The Russians invaded Prague." "There are tanks in the city!" "She's crazy." "She'll try anything." "Are you sure?" "It's a joke, a trap." "She's incredible." "If ever you should hear me" "If ever you should see me" "Would you feel the slightest shame?" "If ever you should listen to me" "If ever you should believe me" "Whatever it takes, I'm leaving this time" "Oh, Prague" "What have you done to me?" "Remember the ring put on my finger?" "Oh, Prague" "This ring is no longer mine" "Your leaden sun has dulled its shine" "Go talk to her." "Have it out." "She knows now." "She knows nothing." "She's going to leave." "Now you're going to spread your legs so we can finish what we started." "If ever you should hear me" "If ever you should see me" "Let your bells ring out my defeat" "If ever you should listen to me" "If ever you should believe me" "They'll sound my retreat, I surrender" "Oh, Prague" "What have you done to me?" "Remember the ring put on my finger?" "Oh, Prague" "This ring is no longer mine" "Your leaden sun has dulled its shine" "Will you send someone to fix the bathroom light?" "I'll do it this weekend." " There you are." " Thanks." "I got lipstick on you." "Send the handyman." "We're entitled like everyone else." "Good-bye, princesses." "Vera, it's 7:50." "I won't drive you today." "I'm going." "I need 15 francs." " What for?" " I just need it." "You're a pain." "I hate this kind of blackmail." "Get going." "Hello?" "My favorite mommy." "Put on your scarf!" "I'm at the Hotel Camelia." "4 Darcet Street." "Room 17." "Coming now?" "You're very late." "I could not have come." "I fly back tomorrow." "Medical convention." "They let you out?" "Communists aren't locked up." "I knew you'd become one." "Politically ignorant, but very pretty." "Please." "Second marriage was the right one." "It suits you." "Vive la France!" "We never got along." "I've missed you." "Nothing's going to happen." "I think of you constantly." "What do you think?" "Of making love to you." "Oh, yeah?" "And is it good?" "It's hard to say." "Invite me up, but promise to behave." " You're beautiful." " No." "Men don't look at me any more." "They walk on by." "Is that bad?" "They used to whistle and stare." "Sure it's bad." "My life is falling apart." "You're simplistic." "See this wrinkle?" "Where?" "It wasn't there last week." "I knew you'd do this." "Why did you call?" "I don't care anyway." " No." " Yes." " No." " Yes." "Wait." "Wait." "Lots of people dying in Prague these days." "Among those I know," "Zdenek." "Petr." "Executed by the communists?" "The people I'm talking about simply died, because they're too sad." "The despair." "A thoroughly depressing city." "But you, you're not going to die." "I'm alive if you think of me." "When you don't think of me, my heart beats less strong." "I say to myself, "Madeleine, think of me."" "But still my heart beats badly." "So I shout." "I say, "Madeleine!" ""Madeleine!" "Think of me!"" "You must hear me, because I feel my heart beating faster, little by little." "Don't make fun of me." "There's something between us that no divorce can undo." "So why are we divorced?" "Very good question." "And why you married a cop is another good one." "Gendarme, not a cop." "Same thing." "He's perfect for me." "Now I'm prodigiously thirsty." "Tell me about Vera." "She doesn't write much." "Liar." "I make her write every month." "You make her?" "She doesn't enjoy it?" "She's 14." "She doesn't want to do anything." "Just like you." "What can I say?" "She's just like you" "She wants to see it all" "Paris just won't do" "She likes nothing more" "Than to get up and go" "The smell of trains" "Airports and planes" "Wandering is in her veins" "I'd like to know" "Is she a flirt?" "A mirror pro" "Who treats lovers like dirt?" "Is nothing as grand" "As hitting the town?" "Giving her hand" "To whoever's around" "Only to take it back later on" "Mademoiselle" "Is she the belle" "You always were?" "Tell me please" "The fruit falls near the tree" "Mademoiselle" "What can I tell?" "Is she a belle?" "You should see her" "You're more alike than you think" "The fruit falls near the tree" "What can I say?" "You're two of a kind" "She has your dark eyes" "So scary at times" "And even her skin" "Brings back to me" "The smell of your skin" "How I drank it in I swear to God, it's no lie" "I'd like to know" "Is she a pearl?" "A natural beauty" "A no-makeup girl?" "Has she your charm" "Your coloring?" "Has she already" "Your beautiful breasts?" "Your slim waist?" "Tell me yes" "Mademoiselle" "Is she the belle" "You always were?" "Tell me please" "The fruit falls near the tree" "Mademoiselle" "What can I tell?" "Is she a belle?" "You should see her" "You're more alike than you think" "The fruit falls near the tree" "I'd like to know" "If she takes after you" "Oblivious to all" "Selfish, no worries" "Playful, carefree" "Did you pass on to her" "That happy amnesia" "By which you live every hour?" "As if it were the very first" "Mademoiselle" "Is she the belle" "You always were?" "Tell me please" "The fruit falls near the tree" "Mademoiselle" "Playful, carefree" "Is she a belle?" "A happy amnesiac" "Is that what you think of me?" "The fruit falls near the tree" "If that's what you think of me" "The fruit falls near" "Enough!" "You know what I think." "You're good at making people go wild with desire for your selfish joy." "And it's your fault." "They say, "There!" "Now I'm in love with that selfish girl."" "I don't understand a thing." "You've lost a lot of your French." "Is it a compliment or an insult?" "It's sad having to shift my vision of love in the middle of a sentence because I lack the right words." "It was a compliment." "Thanks." "I can stay, you know." "Someone explained the papers and procedures." "I'll stay if you and Vera come with me right away." "You do this each time!" "I love you." "Jaromil!" "Don't laugh!" "We can't have visitors here." "To get political refugee status," "I have to go to a gendarmerie." "Maybe I can do it while you pack." "Don't annoy me." "Don't click your heels!" "Hello." "Hurry." "Vera?" "Are you home?" "In here." "This is Jaromil." "He's your father." "Will you come say hi?" "We're all leaving." "We're the family." "Francois will understand." "Pack your books and some clothes in the valise in the hall." "We'll get the rest later." "Back to Prague?" "No, no, no." "Don't worry." "Hurry up." "We don't have much time." "It's Dad." "He was wondering where you were." "Into your room, under the bed." "Follow her!" " Honey!" " Where were you?" "I told you." "I went shopping for a living room table." "So what's it like?" "I didn't find anything." "I've been running around." "I'm exhausted!" "And you?" "Good day." " You're going back?" " Yes." "You work too much, honey." "Vera." "Vera." "I'm not saying your mother didn't raise you perfectly well, but you're lacking a father figure, authority." "Especially now that you're 14." "I'm not afraid to say unpleasant things." "You're my daughter, and you must become dignified." "Dignity is the number one thing for me, the be-all and end-all." "Morality is your dignity." "Vera." "It's very important, when you look at yourself, shaving in the morning, when you rinse off, you shouldn't have to spit in your face." "I don't shave." "You put on makeup." "I don't." "You're right." "It's useless." "But the sentence still works when you brush your hair." "Every day, you weigh in on the day before." "You're always tempted to say, "No!" ""Tomorrow when I shave, I won't be happy."" "When I brush." "When you brush, yes." "Got it." "Where do you stay?" "A hotel near Place Clichy." "We'll spend the night, and tomorrow, you go to your aunt's." "You're spending your life with us?" "Where is your mother?" "Not a sound." "Not a good idea." "I'll be careful." "He had the easy role." "I acted like a coward, leaving Prague, running away." "He said we should stay and fight." "Me, fight the communists?" "It's not my problem." "My problem was you, so you'd have a great life ahead." "I couldn't manage alone in Paris." "He can't understand." "He always thought I'd come back." "He never admitted how hard it is to make your own little niche." "I dealt with life as best I could." "He comes back, he wants me, then he doesn't." "Your father is a smooth talker." "Your father is perverse." "Your father's a bastard!" "Where are you going?" "The fall of the house of Passer, the legend of the whore and the infidel." "I am my parents' sex life, nothing else." "If I look deep inside, I see the legend." "I was in the street." "It was cold." "Was I even angry at them?" "I remember needing to be loved that night" "I wanted to understand what hurt me so much." "All is calm, all is quiet" "I dream on into the night" "Of just being loved at last" "But no one ever looks at me" "Yet I exist for all to see" "For my desire" "They couldn't care less" "For a sigh, how many blows?" "On the surface, all is quiet" "I dream on into the night" "That maybe he loves me at last" "But even that cannot be" "Even that's too good for me" "How it leaves" "The flesh so raw" "For a caress, how many claws?" "After the dancing, all is quiet" "I dream on into the night" "That maybe you love me at last" "Who you are, I don't know yet" "If you be love, we have not met" "On a hard bed" "So cold I lie" "For a whisper, how many cries?" "All is calm, immensely quiet" "I dream on into the night" "That at last I love him, simply that" "May I be allowed that grace" "The warm refuge of his embrace" "Now it's over" "All that we were" "For one summer, how many winters?" "How many winters?" "How many winters?" "How many winters?" "You okay?" "London calling, from where I can't say" "It must be the fog, I've lost my way" "Is it the mist?" "Or am I just blitzed?" "London calling, but who I can't say" "No one's home, no cabs along the way" "Is it the Thames?" "Or am I just pissed?" "London calling, but when I can't say" "Big Ben has melted" "There's no time of day" "Is this Oxford Street?" "Or my sadness and grief?" "Where's Hyde Park?" "I'm wide of the mark" "London calling, I don't know my name" "You must be tired of my waiting game" "Is this Westminster?" "Or do you hope I am her?" "Clement, what are you doing here?" "Where were you?" "You didn't take your coat." "Aren't you cold?" "So long." "What is it?" "Did he bother you?" "No." "I'm so tired." "I'll tell you." "It's pathetic." "Nandita decided I needed to sleep." "It's wild, PR people who think they're my mother." "I couldn't even touch her breast." "Your room is a lot bigger than mine." "I'm sleeping here." "Are your intentions pure?" " Clement?" " I swear." "Sex between us is over." "Not even the idea of sex." "Deal." "I can't undo my zipper." "Can you help?" "Yeah." "What the hell happened?" "Turn around." "Hold on." "Better if we sit." "You like it when I take you in my arms." "No." "And you like little kisses like this." "No." "Don't be upset." "Wait." "What is it?" "Careful." "No big deal." "It is!" "Let me decide." "Let's sleep, beaver." "Why do beavers have flat tails?" "Because you think my tail's gone flat?" "They get blowjobs from ducks." "I re-read the 200 pages and removed the polemicist aspect about the condition of teachers nowadays." "And kept the teacher as a novelistic device." "Don't do this to me." "Not while I'm around!" "Let go." "I don't know you." "Hands off." "Don't do that when I'm around!" "Don't be a whore when I'm around!" "Come back on the double!" "Pain in the ass!" "Why are you here?" "You said tomorrow." "Dad, put on underwear." "It wasn't planned, so I couldn't tell you." "You're beautiful, my child!" "It's been 19 years." "I never forgot I had a daughter." "I came back." "I'm here." "I'm staying." "I'm living at your aunt's." "But I'll find an apartment." "You're beautiful!" "So you're leaving Reims for Paris?" "No, no, no, no, no, no." "Your mother's not going to leave Gouriot." "Retirement." "She needs him for her well-being." "Don't you two start." "We were talking, and he started stroking me." "Spare me." "We couldn't go to a hotel, and I had your keys." "I wanted to see where you live." " Why are you back?" " No reason." "A restaurant." "A nice family dinner?" "I can't." "I have my train at 7:00." "No choice." "Restaurant!" "Tell Francois I want to have dinner." "Take the last train." "I don't like to lie." "What?" "Nothing, nothing." "It's beautiful." "What?" "Seeing you two together." "It's beautiful." "I feel sorry for Francois." "Don't go thinking he's a saint." "One day I had a fling with someone in the barracks, and I caught something." "I had to tell Francois." "I was walking on eggshells, believe me." "As soon as I said I may have caught a disease, he fell to his knees and begged me to forgive him." "She'd put a spell on him." "It was over." "Such drama!" "Do you really have to tell me all this?" "It's just to give you an example." "Your mother's not the devil, and Francois no saint." "Will you see Dad again?" "What's your advice?" "Will it make you happy?" "That's the question." "No use wondering beforehand." "So you'll see him again." "If he calls, maybe I will." "But I won't wait for the phone to ring." "Will you keep me posted?" " And your love life?" " Quiet!" "For once I ask a question." "I met a guy in London, an American." "What's he like?" "Very handsome." "Very charming, perfect, and queer." "That's a problem." "I don't suggest you fall in love." "The rest may be fun." "I wanted to please" "And to become" "An easy girl" "So as to be free" "Of the heavy heart and its reasons" "Of leaden love that weighs a ton" "Of all the pulling and heaving" "Of all those kilos of feeling" "Like daughter, like mother" "I have remained" "An easy woman" "To avoid the bother" "Of the heavy heart and its mystery hand" "Of love that weighs a bag of sand" "Of all that burdens, all that tires" "That never takes pity" "But only desires" "How ever hard I try" "I fall from love" "Easy girls" "Have hearts that weigh" "Their heavy hearts catch them up" "Easy girls one day wake up" "To feel that they have failed" "And gone a little bit astray" "The weight of the heart, set it adrift" "Take this lightness as my gift" "All you risk is nothing else" "Than a little disappointment" "And to make him smile" "I again became" "The easy girl" "I relit the flame" "But suddenly my heart weighs a ton" "That lightness I once had is gone" "It's a load that sets you reeling" "All those kilos of feeling" "I didn't hear you get up." "I saw Jacky at the bakery." " He asked us over tonight." " Okay." " You want to?" " Sure, I do." "I'll get going" "I know you like your peace and quiet." "What are you doing here?" "I know how to use a phone book." "I'm coming." "Don't come!" "Your ex-husband's here." "Huh?" "Really?" "Yes." "Very nice garden." "Do you tend to it?" " Yes." " Really?" "The vegetables too?" "The garden is her domain." "Really?" "I'll pour myself some more coffee." "Mr. Gouriot... explanation of my visit:" "I've come to ask for Madeleine's hand." "What the hell?" "I want Madeleine to be my wife, like in the beginning." "I'm asking you to divorce." "I know Madeleine won't leave you, so I thought that it would be better if you asked her to leave with me." "Maybe you should get dressed." "Yes." "I'll speak with Jaromil." "But in the Republican Guard, did you ride a horse?" "Don't take me for a fool." "I know what went on between you two after the divorce." "I came across some letters... when you asked her for pictures, when you asked her to sleep around and tell you." "She always obeyed you." "I put up with it." "Still, over the years, it has disgusted me." "I imagine if you're in Paris, you'll meet up." "I won't put up a fight." "It's Madeleine's choice." "But I'll never leave her, because I really love her, and I respect her." "You can't understand that." "You respect nothing." "So I'm asking you to leave my house and never come back." "Please." "Wouldn't you rather we fight?" "He's gone." "I had no idea." "I believe you." "You want to divorce?" "Why?" "I didn't ask for this." "Then listen to me." "I don't deceive myself." "You'll never change." "I don't want to know what you two do." "He certainly got a big kick coming to share his charming news." "I didn't hear a thing." "I don't want to know, and I don't want anyone else to know." "Don't tell our friends." "Don't tell Vera." "Never mention it again." "And I stay your wife?" "I didn't say that." "Of course you do." "And we'll still make love." "On that we agree." "It's your move." "He doesn't exist for me." "I'm going shopping." "Lobster for lunch?" "That's a very good idea." "Excuse me." "Can we have a quick word?" "What?" "I was afraid you wouldn't talk to me." "Again." "Sit down." "Today is book report day." "Whose turn?" "Rabbah." "No, it can't be here." "She said "Kuntz" by the East Station." "It's like Apocalypse Now in Alsace." "Colonel Kuntz." "What's she doing here?" "Clement, how nice." "What's this stupid place?" "I was in Paris, so I'm giving you your birthday present." "Your father and I bought it this afternoon." "Open!" "I hate wrapped stuff." "Second floor." "I didn't wake him." " Will you see me off?" " Not staying?" "Of course not." "Francois will worry." "I came for your birthday." "It's a DVD player." "That's nice." "Cheer up." "We'll celebrate Sunday in Reims." "Are you coming, Clement?" "Sure, I am." "Seriously, Dad moved into that hotel?" "The one-day round trip is very practical." "It's like a second home." "A surefire way to go crazy." "Keep your opinion to yourself." "I always want to see him." "Knowing he's alone in Paris worries me." "I need him." "I've never needed him so much." "I won't bore you with this." "You need to decide." "You can't keep hiding." "Why?" "This suits us fine." "I'm really going to be late." "Can't we stop deceiving each other?" "What?" "Nothing." "Have a safe trip." "What the fuck?" "Fidelity isn't bad when you're in love." " You serious?" " No, I'm tired." "When I'm tired, I get mushy." "I'm incredibly tired at the moment." "You're tired so you get screwed in love." "Maybe I like being tired." "I'll prescribe you vitamins." "Let's go buy them." " Forget this." " Bastard." "I'll spend hours" "Waiting for you in the rain" "I'll believe I'm crying" "But I won't be crying" "Sweet water from the sky" "On my ravaged face" "A parody of tears" "That will not deceive" "And so on" "And so forth" "And so on" "To better days" "I'll spend hours" "Waiting for you in my bed" "I'll believe I'm dying" "But I won't be dying" "It'll be just a dream" "A dream of slow death" "I'll pretend my end has come" "But no one will believe" "And so on" "And so forth" "And so on" "To better days" "I'll spend hours" "Waiting for you wherever" "I'll believe you love me" "But you won't love me" "Whether I cry or die" "It won't change a thing" "Our love will only be" "A notion in my head" "And so on" "And so forth" "And so on" "To better days" "Scallops." "That's nice." "What's that you're eating?" "You shouldn't eat such fancy things." "Stop it." "Don't start up." "This is a real meal." "French food!" "Go on, dig in." "I was reckless." "You?" "No." "Your mother is reckless." "You're courageous." "Because I love someone who's indifferent?" "You know what courage is?" "It's doing something at any cost, even if you know you'll never make it." "That's courage." "Courage and prudence are cardinal virtues." " Really?" " Yes." "Our virtues, as for your mother and me, are insouciance, pride... pleasure." "Anger." "You never wear colors." "They're not for me." "Listen." "I want to buy you a dress." "I'm fine, Dad." "Come on." "It's for weddings." "I'm your father." "I want to!" "You need to be married to wear a sari." "I've never heard anything so stupid." "Come on." "Choose." "This is pretty, isn't it?" "Try this one on." "Go on." "30 years of dictatorship." "You're so witty." "Not attractive in a young woman." "Hurry UP" "I have an appointment." "Who are you seeing?" "Someone I see in secret." "Don't start that again." " 850 francs." " Yes." "Thank you." "$0?" "I can't attach it." "You stick it under!" "Hurry." "You have such pretty legs, honey." "See you Friday." "Careful!" "You okay?" "Don't try to move." "Jaromil!" " Are you Vera Passer?" " Yes." "Follow me, please." "Have a seat." "I just got the CAT scan results." "He has a brain hemorrhage and a concussion." "The bleeding is serious." "He sustained too much trauma for us to operate." "He's in ICU for now." "Can I see him?" "I'll take you there." "He's with the nurses." "Would you like coffee?" "Is a doctor going to come?" "I'm the doctor." "I'm sorry." "Don't be." "This way." "I really like my sari, you know." "The pink looks good on me." "$0?" "We don't know." " Got a cigarette?" " Yeah." "I'm glad you came." "It's what friends do." "See?" "We manage fine as friends." "Isn't that what we were most often?" "No." "We were lovers six times, a couple for four days." "Third day, you wondered if we should have kids." "In the end, we always wound up as friends, when the sex was over." "Not true." "After sex was tenderness." "Lots of it." "But it's vanished." "We're too old for tenderness." "You're not even 30." "It's too late." "In a few years, I approach middle age." "You got a tattoo?" "Shit, you saw it." "It's a girl who wrote it so I'd think of her." "I should have showered." "What an idiot." "You're all alone?" "I have Henderson." " Did you see him again?" " No." "I think of him all the time." "It's pathetic." "I'm totally stuck on him, my imaginary husband." "Weirdest marriage in marriage history." "Why are we here?" "I need some air." "I can't be with a girl who writes on me." "Sure." "She seems perfect for you." "Where are you going?" "Can't you see it's my handwriting?" "Why did you do that?" "Clement!" "We're lost." " Where is he?" " Down there." "How are you?" "But, Vera..." "You don't understand." "I understand coming was a mistake." "So let's speak French." "I have something to tell you." "I think I have AIDS." "Yes, I was, obsessively so." "I was crazy in New York, really crazy." "One night," "I met a guy in a bar." "I knew it." "I drank so much I couldn't remember." "The next day, in my room," "I couldn't say what the sex was like." "But I knew I'd done it without being careful." "As if to treat my madness, my carefulness, the worst thing had to happen." "I panicked, and I decided to leave New York" "I'm telling you, but I never talk about this." "With this kiss I gave you" "Let's say that I took" "I feel I'm letting go" "I think you're giving up" "But our kisses are worthless" "They're priceless, you mean" "What better could you hope for?" "What worse could I fear?" "Who do you love?" "That song, stuck in my head" "Will you play it for me?" "Who do you love?" "Don't answer, it's killing me" "This gig is over" "With this hand I take back" "Let's say that you snatch" "I'm trying to be cautious" "You mean you have no guts" "You don't know me" "I do, and I insist" "Other bodies suit me better" "Other bodies are just as sad" "Who do you love?" "That song, stuck in my head" "Will you play it for me?" "Who do you love?" "Don't answer, it's killing me" "This gig is over" "For this crash I see coming" "Let's say you're the cause" "I'm putting on the brakes" "Let's say you don't give a toss" "What's the point?" "Why not, my angel?" "This love is filled with questions" "And so whose fault is that?" "Who do you love?" "That song, stuck in my head" "Will you play it for me?" "Who do you love?" "Don't answer, it's killing me" "This gig is over" "On September 11th, Vera flew to New York." "She was going to visit her American, who had moved back there" "She said Henderson asked her to come." "He had left his French boyfriend." "He wanted to see her." "Planes from Europe were diverted to Canada after the Twin Towers were hit." "Vera landed in Montreal." "All flights were canceled." "She ended up stuck there." "Air France put us in this hotel." "I don't know what area it is." "Henderson is driving up." "He has the address." "Is Montreal close to New York?" "A six-hour drive." "He'll be here tonight." "You said they kept your bags on the plane." "They'll be sent to New York." "You can't stay." "You must come back." "Mom, there's no chance it'll happen again." "You drove cars" "Like crazy through the night" "All was happy, nothing certain" "A fleeting taste of liberty" "The time for fun is over" "What's left of your kisses now?" "Youth passes" "As I've learned" "Summer, alas" "Has taken a wrong turn" "You danced like a madwoman" "Raving mad, on a spree" "Your feet had left the ground" "But now you're on your knees" "The time for song has died" "How ever much you tried" "Youth passes" "As I've learned" "Summer, alas" "Has taken a wrong turn" "You loved so many times" "You were beautiful, let it go" "Because this life ends here" "The time of rubble is now" "Who shattered that horizon?" "What will happen next?" "Youth passes" "And no one learns" "September, alas" "Has come round" "French people never forget to eat!" "Don't start up." "Mathieu." "How's New York?" "It's strange, not scary or wild" "Strange." "There's a strong smell, like burning dust." "Sometimes it smells like gas." "Henderson's boyfriend or something?" "Yeah, or something." "I'll see if the restaurant's still serving." "Want anything?" "I'm going to take a nap." "Excuse me, ma'am." "Mom'?" "Am I waking you?" "Everything's fine, I swear." "We leave tomorrow." "I'm glad to be with Henderson." "Go back to sleep." "I love you." "I can say I love you, can't I?" "Get back to sleep." "I have a network." "Do you?" "I don't know." "We haven't tried." "Bad time?" "It's fine." "Want to sleep?" "I woke you." "Stay." "It's your room." "Henderson just fell asleep." "He's a little fat." "We'll have to squeeze." "Actually I'm not asleep, guys." "What do you want to drink?" "Can you change the channel?" "Sure." "Before leaving the room," "Vera stole Henderson's pills." "She went to the bar and discreetly swallowed them all, a fatal overdose." "No one noticed." "People remember her dancing all alone." "They didn't want to see her, my daughter, dancing on such a night." "It was shameful." "Then at one point, they didn't see her any more." "We got your email, Clement." "We're sorry that you're sick." "You weren't vaccinated?" "It's not enough to get vaccines as a kid." "I read whooping cough is contagious for four weeks." "I'm still tired." "I need to take it easy." "We should have called earlier." "We're ashamed to send an invitation and learn you're ill and that a friend of Madeleine's died." "Sending out invitations is good." "I like the idea of the party." "Actually, it's you we want." "Madeleine keeps badgering me." "You're the only gift she wants." "Next Wednesday?" "Yes, a luncheon." "The train gets in at 12:13." "Francois, I'm afraid to see you again." "I'm not sure loan confront this." "He's not up to it." "What an idiot!" "Coward." "He might as well barbecue his balls." "We're counting on you." "I have to go." "I have to hang up." "Take care." "AreYouokay?" " Stop in" "You're crazy!" "What?" "Yes, Madeleine." "I told your husband I'd come!" "Now it's clear." "Maybe on Thursday, I'll buy you those shoes" "So pretty and too expensive for me" "Then on Friday, I'll pay all my dues" "And on Saturday, we'll go out, you and me" "But next Wednesday" "I won't be going to Reims" "To Reims no one ever goes" "They are in need of nothing" "Those country cemeteries" "Nothing and even less of me" "On Sunday, I'll just hang out at home" "On Monday, I'll go see a movie" "Tuesday, I don't know, but one thing is sure" "On Wednesday, I'll be here" "Wednesday, come what may" "I won't be going to Reims" "To tend the grave and lay flowers" "Because, if on Wednesday" "It rains in the country" "The graveyard will be washed by the showers" "I swear I won't be going, I have too much to do" "I'm ill, I'd only catch cold" "The weather forecast for Reims next Wednesday ls sub-zero temperatures, and that is why" "On Wednesday, I'm telling you" "I won't be going to Reims" "Reims is much too sad in wintry weather" "Wednesday, it's certain" "The train for the country" "Will cross the winter landscape without me" "Because Wednesday, like I said" "I won't be going to Reims" "Where the earth delights in you" "My God, how I envy" "That country clay" "Which holds your body in its grip" "Henri and Mireille!" "Come in!" "How are you?" "Everyone is on the sun porch." "How are you?" "We expected you for lunch." "Now is coffee." "Why did you miss lunch?" "Strikes." "Half the trains are running." "I waited all day." "Don't scream." "Thank you." "Madeleine had a fit over you not coming." "She's in her room." "She won't eat." "No way to get her down." " Got a cigarette?" " Yeah." "Thanks." "Light?" "She's bonkers." "Some weeks, she's fine." "Then she won't go out, see anyone, talk to me." "Cries all day long." "Then one day, it's over." "She makes coffee, laughs, like before." "Losing a child is enormous." "She's all alone." "All alone." "What about me, damn it?" "34 years with me." "She's not all alone." "What's this bullshit?" "If I stay, she won't open." "I'm bad with closed doors." "What are you talking about?" "Honey?" "Clement just arrived" "He's here with me." "I'll leave you two." "Fix this." "Come in." "Hello." "Are you alone?" "Yes." "Not looking at me?" "You won't look any more?" "I'm not pretty." "I've cried." "You didn't use to cry." "You're right." "I never cried much." "As for sorrows," "I've had my share, but I kept them inside." "Come now." "Hideous is fine too, but you're beautiful." "Did he mention my breakdown?" "No." "He just said you weren't in shape." "He tells that to everyone." "I'm in great shape." "There are just days I can't stand seeing him." "It's not his fault." "It happens." "You'll see, sometimes it's hard to say," ""I love you,"" "when you think, "No, I don't."" "So you're wallowing in happiness." "Don't make fun." "I don't think about happiness." "It's been ages." "At times, I'm happy" "I trust life." "I don't trust happiness." "You're depressed." "They'll want me to blow out candles, dance the twist." "Want us to leave?" " Seriously?" " Sure." "Blow out your candles, and we'll go." "I'll meet you downstairs." "Hurry." "Where are you going?" "Clement's leaving." "We're going to the cemetery to see Vera before his train." "Want the car?" "No, we'll walk." "It'll clear my head." "I drank too much." "Coming back?" "I like your new toy, Jacky!" "You okay?" "It was Vera's gift to you." "You never married, so you stayed in love." "That's nonsense." "Happy marriages don't exist." "Maybe not." "But Vera never loved me." " Think so?" " You know so." "I don't." "Vera was very good at hiding her feelings." "He's the only one she ever loved." " That's wasn't love." " It wasn't?" "She considered herself his wife." "If that's not love, what is it?" "Melodrama." "Exactly." "She loved only him." "That man never loved her." "Only you did." "Better to be in the shoes of the loved one or the lover?" "In his shoes." "I'd have died to be in his shoes." "You're right." "The door!" "I'll explain." "I know the story." "How you fell in love with a john in med school" "He had his way." "You didn't wait to go into the apartment." "I know that too." "That Vera was conceived here in freedom and in joy." "I wasn't an easy lay." "It's not that." "The era was easy, ominous and easy." "Vera wasn't conceived here." "None of this is my business." "He wanted me." "Vera always thought it was love at first sight." "No." "We spent the night together, then I asked him to leave." "He wouldn't let me work." "I'm not your toy!" "You're not my toy." "What are you?" " Your whore." " Madeleine, spare me." "I'm in love with you." "You love every French girl." "I don't care about them and about DE Gaulle." "It's you." "You're beautiful." "Today you find me beautiful." "Later, who knows?" "Will you be in love with me?" "I'm not indifferent to your Russian charm." "I'm not Russian." "What do you mean by "indifferent"?" "You have permission to love me." "Oh, thank you." "Move it." "Good-bye, Miss Whore." "Good-bye, Mr. John." "Is there anything you've never done?" "It's time to go." "Is there anything a man never dared ask you that you would do for me?" "I'm cold." "Very cold." "You'll love me forever." "You're mine now." "Some people lord over your life." "Why does it take so long to understand freedom is the worst offense in love?" "Since Jaromil died, I'm different." "It's as if I disappeared too." "The person I was with him disappeared." "I'm a stranger to myself." "Being in need is no fun." "My Mom said that." "Thank you." "I really thought our love would die" "Yet nothing turns out as it should" "Of our love, what now remains" "So little flesh, so much blood" "So little flesh, so much blood" "You are gone, nothing's changed" "And the thing, it's the same" "I can live without you, it's true" "But, my love, what kills me is" "I can't live without loving you" "I thought we'd fall to pieces" "Nothing returns, that I know" "How life has passed so quickly" "Yet now all seems so slow" "Now all seems so slow" "You are gone, nothing's changed" "And the thing, it's the same" "I can live without you, it's true" "But, my love, what kills me is" "I can't live without loving you" "I was waiting for the deluge" "Fire and pouring rain" "A torrent for one last refuge" "But nothing carries me away" "Nothing carries me away" "You are gone, nothing's changed" "And the thing, it's the same" "I can live without you, it's true" "But, my love, what kills me is" "I can't live without loving you" "I can live without you, it's true" "But, my love, what kills me is" "I can't live without loving you"