"When I read this book, who's a rather accurate transcription of a criminal case, I felt very strongly that this so-called gangster world in which the characters are struggling and getting bogged down, was actually overshadowed by childishness." "That the goals and reactions of the heroes never got over the childhood stage." "That their brutal games were barely childhood games and that the extreme absurdity of those games could only lead them to death." "Chaos is Life." "Night is what there is before and after Life." "Nora, would you have diner with me tonight?" "You seem nervous, Chevrel." "Thanks." "You know I don't smoke." "So?" "What are we speaking about?" "Excuse me, Nora, I have to make a phone call." "Is Fred there?" " No, he's not." " I really must speak to him!" " Maybe, but he's not there." " Is he coming tonight?" " I don't know." "Tell him not to go before I..." "It's getting cold." "It's me again, I'd like..." "It's okay, he's here." " What's wrong?" " Oh, Fred..." "It's the third time I call, I thought I'd never reach you!" "What's happening?" "It's bad." "A guy is following me since this morning." " What kind of guy?" " Middle-sized, slim, dark-haired, with a light-colored raincoat." "Anything more precise?" "It could be just anyone." "I think he has a scar on his left cheek." "I think I know who it is." " Who?" " Tito Mascani." "A killer, Chevrel." " What should I do!" "?" "Where are you?" "At the Dome." " Alone?" " No, with somebody." " Who?" " A colleague from the lab." " Her name?" " No, I can't tell you!" " The name of the girl!" " Her name is Nora Rivière." " Address?" " 32B, rue Vandamme." "Chill out." "You're safe where you are." "What if Nora wants to go?" " I'll call the boss." " When can you be here?" "In half an hour." "She can wait for half an hour, isn't she?" " I hope so." " Otherwise, let her go alone!" "But stay at the Dome at all cost, understood?" "Understood." "See you shortly." "Is that you, Wanda ?" " Hello, honey, are you gonna be there soon?" "Not that soon, actually." "Can you put Eric through?" " Yes, Fred, I'm listening." " It's Chevrel." "Sasha sent Tito Mascani on his tail." " So he pulls out the big guns." " Precisely." "It won't take long with Tito." " From where Chevrel was calling?" "From the Dome." "He's with a girl working at the lab with him." "He invited her because he was scarred shitless alone." "Her name?" "Nora Rivière." "She's living at 32B, rue Vandamme." "You're gonna contact Chevrel at the Dome without letting the girl see you." "Tell him to let go the girl alone." "Then you take Chevrel to his place and you wait for Waldo with him." "Waldo?" "Better not let Chevrel see him." "He won't." "He'll find a way to let you know he's here and he'll take care of Mascani." "You just have to stick with Chevrel." "Tito won't move as long as you're there." "Got it?" " Yes, and after?" " Waldo will let you know once Tito will be overpowered and then you can go." "Are you leaving, Fred?" "Yes." "See you tomorrow night." "You look like you have some troubles." "Hey, don't you think you've got the wrong car, dude?" "Don't get angry." "We won't hurt you if you behave." "I guess you won't mind if we take another car." " You are scarred, Chevrel." " Shut up, you're talking nonsense!" "Let's go." "I really have to come with you." " That guy..." " Don't care about him!" "But he's caring about you." "He's following us." "You don't need to get off the car." "I'm leaving you now." "Nora, please don't leave me!" "What do you want me to do?" "Let me come to your place." "You're insane!" "Pierre, it's impossible." "I won't bother you." " It's impossible, Pierre." " Nora, if you leave me alone, you condemn me to death." " Come on, stop your melodrama!" "I'm not joking." "The guy following me is a killer." "He's paid to kill me, you understand?" " And why would he kill you?" " I can't tell you." "Then I'm sorry but I can't believe you." "I'm sick of it." "Sick of everything." "Even sick of me?" "Maybe." "Nora..." "I'm giving up about make you understand." "I'd just like that you let me come in a few minutes to write a letter." " A letter?" "Is it serious, Pierre ?" "Yeah, quite serious." "Then, come." "But you'll leave once the letter written." "Go away, Pierre!" "This letter, don't read it." "Don't open it." "Give it to the police if you don't see me again." "Go away, Pierre." " Oh, Miss Nora !" " What's happening?" "Don't you know?" "They found a dead body in the blind alley." "Stabbed in the back." "They don't know who it is." "Nothing in his pockets, nothing identifiable on him." "I heard they took him to the morgue." "They're asking questions to the janitors around to check if he was from the neighborhood." "No one recognized him so far." " Police." " What do you want?" "Don't be afraid." "We need you to identify a man murdered in your street last night." "We have reasons to think that man is Pierre Chevrel." "You know him, do you?" " Yes..." " He spent the evening with you, yesterday?" " Yes." "And he took you back home?" "We'll interrogate you later." "First, we have to identify the body." "Would you mind coming with us?" "Where to?" "To the morgue." "It's unpleasant but essential." "All right." "Let me get my bag." " Cigarette?" " No, thanks." "That's not the way to the morgue!" "Where are we going?" "Be careful, it's dangerous!" "The job worked out pretty well." "Waldo!" "Stop it!" "You take the wheel." "You'll pay for this, Waldo!" "I wasn't hurting the girl!" "What do you think Sasha will do to her once we'll foist her to him?" "Shut up, drive!" " Where do I take her?" " In the blue room." "Eric's order." "Leave it, Boris." "Hey, kid, want to become a bargeman?" "I'm bringing you something from the Gipsy, Mr. Sasha." "Really?" "Let me see." "Things always turns out right." " Yes, sir." "You can tell it to your buddies." "But I want regular deliveries." "Not as the Gipsy wishes." " I'll tell them, sir." " Okay, beat it." "Margief  co also hires trainees!" "You're so strong when you're not alone." "Keep it shut or I bust your face!" "You do know how do gather intellectuals around you!" "Cut it, Fred." "Keep your show for the boring evenings." "Don't think you're that smart, Sasha." "Eric's not gonna fancy your behavior." "I'm his brother, remember?" "Precisely..." "It gives me an icebreaker to talk with that bastard." "Eric will never accept." "Neither him, nor the other ones." "What other ones?" "The real big shots." "You'll never be part of them!" "A big shot must be a man first!" "What about your brother and his music?" "A trafficker can be an artist." "That gives poetry to the profession." "Before I dumped him, your brother always regarded me as a nobody." "He enjoyed humiliate me." " You were eating thanks to him." " But I had a bad digestion." "Until I understood I could sail on my own." "Then sail away and don't bug other people." "I can't sail away before your brother grant me some concessions." "There's room for everybody." "You forget that we all used to work together." "We used to." "Yes, Fred." "But now, I became ambitious." "There's no reason why your brother should have all the market." "I want half of his territory." "Nothing less." " Eric won't share!" "That's not how he is!" "Especially with you." "I'll know how to make him accept." "He's not made of steel." "No one can destroy in one day a 12 years old organization." "Not even a small emigrant who's dreaming himself bigger than he is!" "Here we are." "The word is spit." "That's why you always hated me." "Because I'm an emigrant." "A nobody for you." "And so I want my revenge." "To make you remember." ""Russia is spiteful."" "That's a commercial title." " But now, I'll keep my word." "I'll get through this, by all means." "And I'm gonna get him." " Heavy schedule!" "You'll need a lot of breath." "Eric Wolff's reign is about to end." "The best shows always eventually come off." "And guys like you always eventually end up as puzzles for coroners!" "That's it, Fred." "I'm not gonna argue with you." "Eric is the one I want to speak with." "And you'll stay here until we find an agreement." "Otherwise..." "Adios, Freddo." "No more kid brother." "See the picture?" "Close the window, Wanda." " Can I speak to Eric Wolff ?" " Who's asking him?" " It doesn't matter." "Is he here?" " One moment." "Hey, that was a woman's voice." "Do you know her?" "Yeah, you even look like you know her well." "How is she gonna react if we bring her your corpse?" "Is it you, Eric ?" "I just want to know if you're willing to become more understanding." "I've got all my time but your brother doesn't look so well." "I've got a good news for you too." "We busted Tito Mascani at Chevrel's place." "Did you sleep well?" "Not talkative." "What do you want me to say?" "You wouldn't answer my questions." "Try me." "Why I have been taken here?" "That's true you're awfully indiscreet!" "Who's playing?" "Eric." "He can play for hours." "I'm taking you to Eric." "He asked that you come down." "Can you walk?" " Yes." "It's gonna be all right." " The young lady is here." " It's okay, Wanda." "Leave us a moment." "Come closer." "Are you Nora Rivière?" " Yes." "I..." "I wanted..." " Yes, Nora." "Why did you take me here?" "I can't answer you yet." "Go back to your room." "Why did you speak like this to Sasha?" "It's not gona fix things!" "I don't want to fix things." "How are you gonna have Fred released?" " Stay out of this." " If anything happens to him, my life won't be long enough to make you pay for it." "I love Fred as much as you do." "He's my brother and there's things between us that men can't forget." "For the moment, Fred isn't in danger." "Why are you crying?" " Leave me alone!" "How are you?" "Do you want some coffee?" " If you want." " Are you hungry?" " No, thanks." "Coffee is fine." "How long are you gonna keep me here?" "Why?" "Are you bored?" "Do you feel lonely?" "Can I take the tray back?" "You've been attached to my service?" "Don't think I'm the maid!" "Yet you do look like the maid!" "Stay where you are!" " You're scarred." " You're not here to ask questions." "Don't move." " You're touchy and you're lacking of self-control." "It's annoying in your profession." " You filthy bitch!" " If you aren't scarred, forget about this." "If you want to keep the few next hours quiet..." "You have no right to confine me." "If you don't set me free, I'll..." " ...ask help to daddy's connections." "You should say that to Eric." " I want to speak to him." "Oh yeah?" "You maybe want to tell him you have claustrophobia?" "That being confined is bad for your complexion." "Yours doesn't risk much." "What's your name?" " Wanda." "An uncommon name for a servant." " What's wrong, Wanda ?" " I'm getting fed up of doing the maid for that bitch!" " Someone has to do it." "Why me?" "Another great idea from Eric." "If you want, I'll go get the tray tonight." "Ok." "But don't tell it to Eric." "He'd be mad." ""When someone will be reading this letter, I'll be dead and nothing will matter anymore for me." "That's why I'll try to tell all I know." "Since nearly a year, I'm working for a gang of drug traffickers." "From this gang, I only know one man." "A man called Fred that I met in a bar of the rue Mouffetard." "He was bringing me the opium hidden in beer cases." "I was extracting the morphine and doing the synthesis of the heroin." "Two days ago, I received a threatening letter from Sasha Margief who wants to take over the trafficking." "I didn't answer his offers." "A man called Tito Mascani has been following me all day." "So I asked a colleague, Nora Rivière, to go out with me..."" "Am I bothering you?" "What do you want?" "Only know when you're gonna call Margief." "Why are you worrying, Waldo ?" "I don't like to have that girl in the house." "We have to get rid of her as soon as possible." "I don't intend to keep her for long." "I'm gonna call Margief." " I come to pick up the tray." " Stay where you are!" "Are you afraid of me?" "I'm not gonna hurt you." "The others want to, but I don't agree with them." "Aren't you wondering what you're doing here?" "Take the tray and go away." "What if I offer to help you?" "Do you know what they plan to do with you?" "They took you as a hostage and plan to trade you with Sasha Margief's gang." "I don't understand a word of what you say!" "Why are you waiting?" "We can't move in broad daylight." "And better not give too much time to that bastard to think about it." "He's gonna try to get us, anyway..." "Maybe not." "He doesn't have much to win." "If he takes the time to think hard." "But why talking, Waldo?" "You're right." "There's no need to talk." "I've never been lucky with girls, but you, Nora..." "Let me go!" "I'll get you out of their hands, but be nice with me." "What do you have against that girl?" "Nothing." "Nothing yet." "Let me go!" "Be nice with me, Nora !" "I'll get you out of their hands." "You bastard!" "What's that moron doing?" "He's maybe on an interesting trail." "Couldn't he phone?" "I think it's important." "Tito got busted, that's enough." "He thinks he's alone in the world and surrounded with enemies." "That's not Martin's type." "He's just hold up." "Hi, Tito." " Where is Fred?" " I don't know." "Beat me if you want." "I don't know where he is." "Where was Fred taken?" "I don't know." "I wasn't there." "I was following Chevrel." " Ask him where Margief is." "I'll give you some enthusiasm!" " Excuse me." " You did it on purpose, you filthy bitch!" "Behave, baby, or Waldo won't have to fight for your honor anymore." "Slut, you're gonna feel sorry for that!" " He didn't say a single word." " And he won't talk." "He knows what to expect if he turns Margief in." "He prefers let us do him in." "We can't kill him." "He's our hostage." " We've got the girl." " That's not enough!" "Fred is in his hands and his life is worth two regular lives." "I would had gladly get rid of him." "You'll soon get the chance to get rid of a lot of people." "There's someone in the hall walking slowly." "Check it, Waldo." "That's someone who tries to be silent." "Don't come closer!" "Or I shoot!" "Eric, watch out!" "She's gonna shoot!" "I don't think so." "Are you crying?" "That's Wanda's revolver!" "Where is Wanda?" "Go have a look." "I think she's dead." "She tried..." "She tried to scald me." "How did you kill her, Nora ?" "I don't remember." "I don't know." "That's true, she killed her." "Unbelievable." "With her angel face!" "What are you gonna do, Eric?" " The same as planned." "I'm gonna call Sasha." "For that, you need his number." "I'll ask Tito." "Be sure he'll give it to me." "What took you so long?" "I did my best." "The girl disappeared and the cops are there." " The cops?" " They probably reported the girl's vanishing." "Bad for us." "They'll make the connection with the discovery of Chevrel's body." "Where that girl can be?" "Why didn't you shoot Eric?" " One can't shoot a blind man." " Only because of this?" "For what other reason?" "The power of Eric." "He has something special." "A power that cant' be explained." "I'm wondering..." "Is that you, Sasha?" " How did you get my number?" " Tito, of course." "Charming boy." "And very helpful." "What's next?" "It's all simple." "What do you plan to do with Fred?" "I haven't changed my mind." "You'll get Fred back if you accept my conditions." "But I'm maybe the one dictating the conditions, now." "What do you mean?" "I have Nora Rivière with me." "So, what do you say?" "Just spit all you've got to say." "If I hand over Mascani and the girl to the police, they'd tell a nice story about Mr. Sasha Margief." "His underworld activities and murders." "That might be very bad for your standard of living." "I'll trade the girl for Fred." "With Tito as a bonus." "With no other conditions." "If you refuse, I'll hand them over to the police." "That's my last proposal." "Ok, I accept." "When do you want to do the trade?" " Tonight." "The sooner the better." "Let's say around 2:30." " Where?" "Maybe around the Verrière woods, it's near your place." "Then listen to my instructions." "So?" "Take Nora upstairs." "I'll explain you afterwards." "No." "No, I'm afraid!" "Don't be afraid." "It's part of the profession." "What you say is terrible!" "We'll resume this discussion later." "It's gonna be fascinating." "What time is it, Waldo?" " Almost midnight." " Fine." "Take her to the chapel." "She won't see Wanda." "No!" "I know what you two are gonna talk about." "Rif told me." "I know why I'm here." "You're using me as an hostage!" " Take her away, Waldo." "What kind of man are you?" "You play music as if you had a soul and a heart but you have no mercy on me." " Mercy?" " Yes, as I had mercy on you!" "Mercy on me?" "!" "I don't need anyone's mercy!" "Take her away, Waldo!" "I'm fed up with that girl!" "What's wrong, Waldo ?" " I'm asking you the question." "What are you thinking about?" "About this situation and I don't like it." "I wanted to use the girl but I feel like it's Sasha who's calling the shots." "What did he say?" "Nothing but his blood is boiling." "We're gonna meet in the Verrière woods for the trade." "Did he suggest that place?" "He did but it doesn't change anything." "Anyway, if he plans a set-up, he can set it up only after my phone call." "And we were looking after the girl!" "This bastard thinks he can get me like this!" "And I'm gonna return his bro for nothing." "You maybe were wrong, Sasha." "Better not overstep the line." " What line?" "There really is a line!" "Eric Wolff thinks he's the great Fuhrer of dope!" "And I'm saying there's no room for the two of us." "I'm about to destroy all his organization." " First we have to get the girl." " And we're gonna have her!" "Don't you think you're wrong?" "You can't use Nora anymore." "She knows too much about us." "If you hand her over to the cops, she won't do favors to you." "I don't like your mentality, Waldo." "There's no doubt." "I really start thinking I'm right." "You're in love with that girl you've never even seen." "I think we can cut it now." "But me...?" "I don't need her alive." "While Fred..." "Eric wants him alive." "Can you see the difference?" "Go get me Fred." "A party in the Verrière Woods is scheduled for tonight!" "We meet at 2:30." "Go at the Tanière right now and get Victor and Marcel here." "Be sure to be here at 2 with the guys." "All right." "Did you see, Eric?" "What I'm planning for him?" "I'm gonna give him a hard time." "If you really were a man." "A big shot..." "Eric would have been at your mercy for a long time!" "I couldn't, Arlette." "You know it." "I didn't had the means." "Now I'm Eric's equal." " What if he wins?" "No..." "That can't be." "He can't be the winner all his life." "It's my turn now." "We'll move from that barge, afterwards?" "Don't you like our barge?" "Why "our barge"?" "It's true, you can't understand." "For me, it's something else." "This country's never accepted me." "It's funny..." "Here, even the mobsters are xenophobic." "Well, my Cossack, got a depression crisis?" "You're a funny little creature." "Why funny?" "Because I figure you out." "Because for me, you're just a big bad wolf?" "You're so young." "Young!" "Young!" "..." "You think one can stay young in this neverending fear?" "I'd like to go to the market without looking back." "To be sure you'll be there when I come back." "Go to the movies." "The life of a shorthand-typist." "You'll get that." "And possibly more." "You really think so?" " Hello, Waldo." " Hello, Lena." "I waited for you yesterday at the closing." "Why didn't you come?" " I couldn't." "Eric was needing me." "Always Eric." "You're nothing but a slave for him." "Don't talk nonsense." "Will you come this morning?" "We're rehearsing until 6." "Maybe." "I don't know yet." " What's with you, tonight?" " Nothing, why?" "You look funny." "Is it true that Fred fell into Margief's paws?" "Who told you that?" "Marcel." "Is it true, Waldo ?" " Stay out of this, Annie." "Where's Marcel?" " In the office, I think." "I need him." "And Victor?" "I haven't seen him tonight." "You're taking Marcel with you?" " Yes, why?" " I'd be on my own if there's a hard blow." "There's never any hard blow on closure days." " I call Marcel." " You fancy ballerinas?" "This one is interesting." "She's out of the ordinary." "Where does she come from?" " Oh, that's a mystery!" "Marcel's discovery." "She's good, isn't she?" "Like if she had done that all her life." "There can be callings even in here." "Hello." "Come with me." "What's up, Waldo?" "Where's Victor?" "Got the flew." "I sent him home." "We go get him." "What's wrong?" "I'll tell you later." "We've got no time to lose." "I've got no choice." "There's nobody else handy." " And Rif ?" " I'll tell you later." "Close the club until I'm back." " Is it that bad?" "Yes, it's bad, Marcel." "Got it?" "Let's split." "Where are you, Nora?" "Here." "You're beautiful, Nora." "I know it." "I'm never mistaking." "Listen, I'd like to tell you what's going on." "What?" "That you're trading me like an hostage?" "You're severe and definite." " Go away." " No!" "It's not possible." "What's not possible?" "To stay alone downstairs while you're here." "I'm a big girl and I'm not afraid in the dark." "I'm sometimes afraid in the dark." "Sorry, Eric." "My brother is kept hostage by Margief." "A madman, a maniac." "He had Chevrel killed by Mascani." "And you know Mascani." "Margief would give anything to get you." "And me, I just want to get Fred back." "Margief is going to kill me." "Maybe not, but..." "I shouldn't had touch you." "Heard the sound of your voice." "Know that you really exist." "Now, it's too late." " Where is Eric ?" " In the study." "I haven't killed him." "Can't you hear him play?" " I'd like to pass a phone call." " At the end of the room, on the left." "Thanks." "20 ABREO." "Sasha speaking." "What do you want?" "Just to be sure your guys will be on time." "They're on the way." " With Tito and the girl?" " I'm a man of my word." "Yeah, that's what they say." " How much do I how you?" " One call, 50 Frs." "Thank you, sir." " Not so fast, we've got time!" " The faster it's over, the better it is." "My word, you're driving with your hunting permit!" " Where are we going?" " To the Verrière woods." " You know the place?" " Yes, I do." "You've probably been there on a picnic." "Weapons out." "Right, Alex." "Things are going as planned." "Go give them the agreed welcome." "Riquet and Sim must have iced Fred now." "They'll give you a hand." "But try to get the girl alive." " Don't you take one of us with you?" "No." "There's no need." "I know Eric is all alone." "Otherwise, he wouldn't have answered the phone by himself." "Are you afraid to die, Riquet?" "Look at me, I'm calm." "Yet, you don't take me to the dance!" "Give me the machine-gun." "Here." "Take this, Nora." "Put it in your pocket." " You think they're already there?" " They certainly are there." "What are those scumbags doing?" "Fred is dead, Eric." "And by now... all the guys you sent to the Verrière woods must be dead too." "I'm gonna shoot you down, Eric." "And that will be the end of your drug racket." "Don't you think you should had get along with me?" "Maybe." "If you believe in heaven then make a last prayer." "For you, the curtain is getting down." "That's what I'm gonna do." " Are you hurt?" " No." "Victor?" " Dead." "I was alone." "That was horrible!" " It's over, Nora." " I was so afraid for you!" " Chill out, now." ""Chill out", that's easy to say!" "Leave it, that helps me." "You can't understand." "You're used to it!" "Me, it was like if wasn't me anymore!" "Stop it now!" "Let me go!" "You're hurting me!" "That's more horrible that everything I could imagine." "What's horrible, us?" " Yes." " You wanted it as much as me." "That's what's horrible." "Leave me alone!" "What's going on, here?" "I'm here." "It's over." " I'm here!" " Nora..." "It's over." "Don't say that." "You'll live a long life." "I'm done." "Too bad that..." "I couldn't tell you all I wanted to tell you." "It's too late." "One way or another you were lost for me." "But... as you're here..." "I've no regrets." "One must always pay for the good moments." "We're together now, don't worry." "And tomorrow..." "Tomorrow..." "Tomorrow..." "The night...." "The night...." "I put Wanda's body with Margief." "Why?" "To save you some troubles when the police will be questioning you." "You think the police will buy your staging?" "If they have no proofs, there's nothing they can do." " Where are we going now?" " To Mormont's station." "You're taking the first train to Paris." "Why?" "Don't you drive me there?" "I've got my reasons." "And you're gonna tell me what I have to say to the police." "Say the truth!" "Except for one detail." "You never saw me." "I have no reason to cover you up." "You'll do as you want." "We should say goodbye to each other, now." "The hard part is to finish with you." "I don't care about all the rest." "Before, we played our lives side by side." "We hardly have a bright future before us, but if you were up to..." "I think I'll stay with you." "What's the matter with you?" "I can't take you." "Soon or later, I'll be..." "I'm staying." "Nothing matters anymore for us." "I've been stupid to ask you that." "If I'm arrested, you'll be thought as an accomplice." "That's in the book." "Who was Eric?" "What's wrong, Waldo?" " Get down." "I've a rear light on the blink, go check it." "Translation and timing:" "Aquasantajoe" "For Cinemageddon, January-March 2011"