"LOCAL KIDS" " Paul, are you upstairs?" " Yes." "Why don't you wait for me?" "Show me." " I can dress myself." " You're a man?" "Even men need their mothers." "Sure!" "Put your jacket on." "My godfather's giving me a watch?" "He promised." "It's not like him." "He's so stingy!" "Wait!" "Paul!" "Don't I get a kiss?" "Think about your first communion." "Aline's eggs mimosa!" "Look at his eyelashes." "Like a girl's." " Take off your pants." " No!" "We'll make a skirt with my scarf." "Relax, we're all girls." "Here's Paul." "That's Paul?" "Pa Charles, in fine form?" "Come here, you." "Come see me." "Give me a kiss and I'll make a donation." "Odette, show some restraint!" "Ma'am, it's communion day." "Time for a little fun." "Christine!" "It's you?" "You scared me!" " Show them to me." " No way!" "It wouldn't be the first time." "Not here." "I hate girls." "I'm not a girl." " If you kiss me on the lips." " Not with my tongue." "Then I won't show you." "Show me first, then I'll kiss you." " Both." " No way!" " Coming, Paul?" " If you want." " You take all that?" " So they can choose." "Why don't you see if they're interested?" " You're teaching me my job?" " Do it your way." "Hello, Ma'am." "I was delivering nearby..." " What are you selling?" " Rugs." "Beautiful oriental rugs." " Like to see one?" " I don't need a rug." "If I did, I'd buy it somewhere else." "Can't I show you one?" "I don't have time." "Excuse me, I'm going to close my door." "Join your brother in the car." "I'll finish up." "Just one and the day is saved." "How do you do it with a girl?" "On top or underneath?" "It depends on what they prefer." "I go on top." " What do you do?" " You kiss her." "Touch her breasts." "Girls like that." "Then you make love." "Did you kiss Odette, too?" "Of course." "Think I needed you?" "You knew about us?" " Did you make love?" " I was too young." "Here's Dad." "No luck, as usual." "My God, the photos were there." "Photos of who?" "Family photos." " I showed you them 100 times." " Can I see?" "Call your brother." "Four brothers and a sister." "Here's your father." " It's not!" " Yes, it is." " He's ridiculous." " Pierre, André, Raymond..." " Poor Raymond died at 25." " What of?" "Tuberculosis." "Gone in six months." "He was so sweet, it was incredible." "He was an apprentice butcher." "This is the sister, Léone." "What a girl!" "A hairdresser." "A character!" "Customers she didn't like, she'd boot out on their behinds." "She beat her husband." "Poor Camille was so sweet." "That's Excy, the day he arrived." "A ball of wool." " He was Paul's dog." "You loved him." " I still do." "My God, there's my father." " In fancy dress?" " He was a rural guardian." " What's that?" " He guarded fields in the country." "That's my brother and me." " How old were you?" " 14." "My brother was 17." " Fatso." " You know nothing about girls!" " Sure!" " I was very popular." "I was fighting off marriage proposals." "Rich men." "Who's the dog?" "I forget its name." "It was a hunting dog." " Who's the boy?" " You, idiot!" "It's Paul, your brother." " See, cretin?" " Dummy!" "Cut that out!" "What's that letter?" "It's from your dad's boss, when he drove a bus." "He was a bus driver?" "Show me." ""Allow me to call you Paul." "What has happened is horribly unfair." ""Your cute little boy, so full of life and energy." ""I watched little Paul with such joy" ""when your wife came to collect you after work." ""He played hide-and-seek with you in the garage," ""which filled with his laughter." ""You held him." "You loved each other so." ""That child showered you with joy and happiness. "" "Look." "Here's the series from Touquet with both of you." "See how well you got along." "Little brother always in your arms." "You were so jealous when he was born." "Take out your notebooks." "The earth is shaped like..." " I forget." " A ball." "In..." "Space, it spins." "He goes to 6am mass." "He saw a miracle in Lourdes." " I knew but I forget." " Sun." "Very good. 18 out of 20." "You asked for it!" "Douai, October 17, 1960" "Dear parents, I've made a blunder." "With my brother in Paris, I made a resolution." "I thought boarding school would improve me and make me work harder." "I was wrong." "It's a real jail here." "I hate it." "Life is sad and meaningless." "Please end my imprisonment." "You won't regret it." "If you free me, I'll be so happy." "Any school, if I'm not a boarder." "Paul Gravet." "Who's that?" "It's your friend?" "He has a boat?" "Let's see." "It's Gérard." "His dad is so classy!" "The manager of Usinor." "Open the door!" "Invite them in." "Don't run off!" "Can't you see we still have miles to go?" "They're in a rush." "Bye." "I'll go." "Politeness counts." "Hello, I'm Pierre Merveille." "Our sons are friends." "Hello, pleased to meet you." "Please come in." "This is Gérard." "Hello, Ma'am." "You're in the same class as Paul?" " I hope you work harder." " He's nearly 19..." "Paul's going to school near Lille soon." "Paul-Marie's out?" "Paul-Marie?" "You mean Paul?" " Can we come in?" " Who are you?" " We're on vacation." " Here?" "Why not?" "Don't we look like teachers' kids?" "We can't tell in the dark." "Is this better?" " Coming?" " I'd rather see the concert." "See you later." " Boys aren't allowed here." " Of course!" "We'll hide." "Can we turn the lights out?" "Let them go to sleep." "Stay in my arms." "Don't move." "She's blond, 17, sweet and pretty." "She has a thick gold bracelet and let's say we're happy we met." "Lot's of love, Mom and Dad." "I hope business is good." "Your favorite son." "Good." "You can sign for me." "Thanks." " What's this?" " I'll lend it to you." "Can't you give it to me?" " If you want." " No, lend it to me." "So we can break up if we want." "If I give it back, it's over." " Thinking about the end already?" " I'm fickle." "It's in the bag." "A blonde." "Christine." " Have you made love?" " Almost." "Look what she gave me." " What are you waiting for?" " A girl." "I'm not alone." "It proves she's worth it." "Chantal?" "Come walk with me." "Going that way?" "I'll come, too." " Where do you live?" " In Saint-Jean." " And you?" " Lille." "I'm starting a new school." "My parents will join me soon." "Lille?" "It's far." "We'll write." "I'll send you poems every day." " When do you leave?" " Tomorrow." "Want to stay with me?" "I spoke to my mom." "She was mad about the letter." "She didn't like it." "Where's Excy?" "Your dad found him a girlfriend." "Come here, Excy." "Look, Excy." "A present for you." "You're not happy?" "It's your new wife!" "I've been promising so long!" "You know, we could breed dogs." "Make some money." "Go ahead, laugh while I slave for you!" "You know how much a pedigree Saint Bernard sells for?" "Look, Paul!" "Diana!" "Diana, stop it!" "Go, Paul." "Run!" "I've been replaced." "Fired!" " You told her." " What?" "They call me a slut." "They'll call me a thief next!" "I came to say goodbye." "Come here, girl." " Can I have my "rotation"?" " Here's your donation." "Make an effort." "It's the last time." "Come closer." "I'll give you your kiss." "All that for me?" "I'm in luck." "I'll miss you." "Caress me, quick." "You're all fresh." "Let me introduce myself." "I'm the new housekeeper." "I'm the old one!" "Don't worry, I'm leaving." "You told your mother!" "It was you." "You're not only a pervert, you're a liar!" "You have two of them, now?" "Are you breeding them?" "Did you see that?" "Do you think it's Nivesse?" "Don't go." "Look what your dogs did!" "My poor little Youqui." "His back half is all busted up." "He can't have suffered." "No!" "Do you realize what you've done?" "My little dog is dead." "He'll never come back." "He didn't deserve that!" "Being eaten by such bullocks!" "You have no heart." "Is that it?" "No heart?" "You're selfish!" "Rich man's sons!" "You have no heart!" "Good riddance." "She's too pretty to be alone for long." "No time to write, but I get your letter daily." "Thanks, my love." "You give me the strength I need." "My grades are catastrophic." "My poor parents have no idea." "The shock will be great." "Horrified, they'll discover my true colors." "I skipped school." "I rehearsed till late." "Will you graduate?" "My teachers agree, graduating's not for me." "Hey, Napo!" "Pierre, Napoléon." "You stopped going to class?" "My dad got me a flat in Lille." " Really?" " It's great." "That's Gérard Merveille." "I went on vacation with him." " He's with a girl in my class." " A mixed school!" "He's a supervisor." "Nice but sleazy." "He's interested in guys." "I went to a poetry morning." "Everyone reads." "There's "The Drunken Boat", "The Adulteress"," ""October Night", a poem by Cocteau," "Victor Hugo, Rimbaud, Verlaine, etc." " Pathetic!" " It's fantastic!" "No more neighbor problems." "Everyone takes turns." "Any trouble and Odette deals with it." "She went to the movies with two men." "One each side." "She didn't mind." "Incredible!" "We're sorry." "Don't be." "Thanks a lot." "We never got along so well." "Wake up." "The dog is back." "She's mating with Excy." "Aline, come here!" "Why wake the whole house?" "What's going on?" "Happy, Excy?" "Everything okay?" " Check him out!" " Don't laugh." "Look how hard he's trying." "My big dog, I'm so proud of you." " She came back!" " What do we do with a mad dog?" "She'll calm down." "We can't stand in the way of love." "She'll have pups and calm down." "I still say breeding was a good idea." "Go ahead, laugh at me!" "Shit, there's Nivesse." "It suits you." "Have a look." " Like it?" " Yeah." "Come see Paul in Cub uniform!" " It's dumb." " Party pooper!" "You look good, son." " My knife?" " His knife." "Time to go." "Don't hurt yourself with that." " Let me do it!" " That uniform's ridiculous." " Not too tight." " I'm out of here." "Jealous!" "You'll write to us?" " Every day?" " Yes, Mom!" "Watch the uniform." "It's expensive." "Let's go." "Not to mention the time sewing on badges." " You're first." " Really?" "Come warm up by the fire." "Take off your shoes." "They're muddy." "Sit down." "I think I obeyed the five Cub laws." " Which character did you choose?" " Kotick the Seal." "I nearly chose Darzee but in the end..." "If you passed, you'll get the Wolf badge and you'll be a real Cub." "We came to get you." "Get me?" "No way!" " Seen the weather?" " We slept fine." "It's no big deal." "Come on." "Why do you roll up out of the blue?" "I look stupid!" "Happy, Excy?" " Where's Diana?" " She's been a bad dog." " Have you eaten?" " I have what I need." "You learnt to milk a cow?" " It's easy." "My chief taught me." " Your chief?" " Don't drink that." " Want some?" "It's good." "It's full of germs." "Boil it first." "You can't risk your life to be a Cub!" " Relax." " What?" "All this sleeping in water and drinking germs!" "Go get your bag!" "I was so scared." "I can't breathe." ""Far from the din, in sweetness' arms," ""Like a sad, faithful bride with a faraway look," ""I weave the cloak of my cold existence. "" "Well, what do you think?" "Victor Hugo?" "Ronsard?" "Du Bellay." "No, I wrote it." "No kidding!" "You don't believe me?" "It's good." " Written any others?" " A few." "He's not at school?" "Maybe he doesn't have a class." " It's you?" " Still in bed at midday?" "I went to bed late." "Who's that?" "A teacher?" " It's Pierre, a student." " You have student friends?" "My parents are here." "Paul often talks about you." "Nice to meet you." "I'll make coffee." "I'm doing a Masters in Law." "My father made me." "He's a lawyer?" "He has a trucking company in the Somme." "My three brothers work with him." "I have two sisters." "One's a student in Lille." "One's a nurse in Paris." "I like the movies." " He sees several films a day." " I act, too." "Amateur theater at the Lille fair." "Incredible people." " How old are you?" " I'm 25." "You have a gift." "Paul has talent, too." "My son has talent?" " Trust him." " Trust him?" "We do!" "He wanted to leave the school in Béthune." "We agreed." "He asked to go to boarding school in Douai." "He went to Douai." "He felt imprisoned." "He didn't study." "He wasted a year." "Now Lille." "Will he graduate from school?" "It's the key to college." "He's alone and unsupervised." "At midday, he's still in bed." "We need to move in and watch him." "Leave him alone." " You have no authority." " He's a man now." "We have a lot of problems." "Your father owes money to his ex-boss." "I don't know what we'll do." "Here, honey." "Stay in the staircase and keep watch." "What a bitch!" "That's our money." "The thief!" "Thief!" "Your dad refused to understand me." "All he saw was that I abandoned the family." "He can't put himself in my shoes!" "I was 25, with my life to live." "I couldn't hide away in the Somme, with those peasants!" "When my third wife died, 5 years ago, the Belgian..." "An opera singer with a divine voice!" "I met her in an embassy." "She sang for me all night in a park." "The memory... is delicious!" "What was I saying?" "Your father." "He has no breeding, no culture." "A peasant, like his mother." "A pathetic salesman, too!" "He's angry." "That's all he can say." "Says I live at his expense." "He's happy to get his hands on my pension, to supplement his income." "An invalid pension." "I got the Military Cross." "I don't know what got into me, in combat in 1914," "I ran into fire, screaming for others to follow." "An inappropriate act of bravery." "Suicide!" "I got a German bullet in the head, 10cm long." "They trepanned me." "I was congratulated before the regiment." "In the army... they love decorating idiots." "It's still there." "Give me your hand." "You never touched it?" " Feel it?" " Yes, definitely." "Doesn't it hurt?" " Doesn't it hurt?" " Not anymore." "Here's your share." "We said fifty-fifty." "Take it." "Don't ask why." "We're happy to give you a hand." "Your father can't sell." "He's a nice man but he has no gift for sales." "I've been watching you." "You have people skills." "They like you." "Life's worth living." "Take it from Lamba!" "Odette." "Will you take care of the kid?" "So you want to make love?" "You've never done it before?" "Sort of." "Not really." " And you?" " Very funny!" "I've made love so many times and so many ways." "Why do it with just anyone?" "You're not just anyone." "Nor is your brother." " And the others?" " The others?" "It's a good way to get acquainted." "Guys never think of anything else." "Coming?" "I'm cold all by myself." "I'm coming." "Don't just kiss me all the time." "Making love is more than that." "I know." "What's the hold up?" " Can I caress you?" " Okay." " You're a dirty one." " You don't like it?" "Not really." "Make up your mind." "I can't." "Don't start that!" "Excuse me a moment." " Who wants to get my trunk?" " Me!" " I said it first." " Go ahead!" "I'll make a little donation." "Bertrand, find the key and open the trunk." " Check out the old guy's..." " Paul!" "Go ahead, Paul." " Choose a note." " Any note?" "A good one." "Be reasonable." "Don't take a big one." "What a joke!" " This one." " Good." "Your turn." "Take a better one." " Should I?" " Take 10,000." "You live in Annequin?" "Me too." "My husband's in mining." "Come see me." "It's by the church." "The engineer's house." "Will you come?" "Come any time." "I'm there every afternoon." "She was my chief when I was a Cub." " Something's wrong." " What?" "Did you see Mom's face?" " Grandpa has gone." " Where?" " To live with a nephew." " Good!" "He claims he was mistreated." "The dog's gone." "It ate a cat." "Come in." "No point telling the neighbors." "I'm Pierre Voisin." "I was told to drop by." "I collect movie stills." "You're the student?" "Sit down." "I put these aside for you." "Fantastic." " Like them?" " They're great." "You look more like a teacher." " I'm younger than I look." " The beard gives authority." "I'm Paul Gravet." "Pierre often spoke of you." "It's his friend, Paul." "Here are his sisters." "Come see him." "He's in the living room." "He's still handsome." "So calm and gentle." "He liked you." "He spoke of you and your special friendship, due to your age difference." "He admired you." "I decided to do things to avoid boredom." "Piano, sewing..." "I love knitting." "And reading, too." " Do you play the piano?" " Yes, but I'm no good." " "Red Rackham"." "It looks good." " Borrow it." " What about your husband, Ma'am?" " Don't be so formal." "We only have a 7-year age difference." "The same as with my husband." "Only with him it's the other way." "He works too hard to read them." "And he's too old!" " You're not a Cub anymore?" " It was no fun without you." "My husband didn't want me to go on." "It's funny we ended up in the same village." "Visit me on Thursday since you don't have Cubs." " You really want to?" " Yes, really." "Me too." "It's a distraction." "People are no fun here, besides you." "What do your parents do?" "They sell things..." "Household linen." "They have a store?" "No, they sell direct." " They manufacture?" " No, they sell." "They sell direct, without a store." " At the markets?" " Not at all." "They sell door-to-door." "You want a waffle?" "I made them myself." "Take more." "My husband doesn't like them." "It's good." "Everything okay?" "You can read if you want." "I have to iron." "You read and I'll iron, okay?" "This letter will make you sad." "I'd like to tell you in person but I can't." "After months of writing, I see it's meaningless." "We never meet up and we're so far away." "I've met another boy." "I always want to be with him." "He lives nearby." "I promised him I'd end it." "You'll understand." "Goodbye, Paul-Marie." " Where are you going?" " To sleep." " Where were you?" " Walking." " Want to come?" " Where?" " A nightclub in Belgium." " There are no girls." " What's wrong with just guys?" " Come on!" " Let's go." "I'm tired." " I'm smashed." "We'll stay at a hotel." "The others have gone." "You don't mind?" "I'll pay for the hotel." "I'm just a supervisor but I have eyes." "I talk with students and teachers." "I see your personality." "You're ambitious." "It's not some poor snotty high school that can satisfy you." "Were you expecting me?" "I don't know." " I'm always thinking of you." " And him?" "He doesn't care." "I never wanted him." "Tonight won't change that." "He wants to make love." "I don't." "I'm a virgin." "Have you ever made love?" "Yeah." "It makes me sick." "I just want tenderness." "July 2, 1963, 3.30pm." "During the preliminary math exam," "I handed in a blank paper." "Not so much as one line." "Decided on complete failure, rather than making an effort for a mediocre result." "Perhaps later I'll see this as hugely foolish." "Perhaps I will mourn the teenager I am today." "Long live the King!" "There it is." "Look, kids." " Do you like it?" " It's not bad." "Look!" "Come on, Excy!" "We have to pick up your Senegalese pen pal." " Already?" " It's after 3 o'clock." "This garden!" "My God, I saw him naked!" " Who?" " Alphonse." "Poor thing, he must be mortified." " Here he comes." " Stop laughing." " Sorry about before." " No problem, Ma'am." " Coffee?" " Tea?" "Coffee's fine." "Take Alphonse into town." " You're not going to the pool?" " Maybe." "You'll have to take off the suit." "Alphonse!" "Paul, come here." "Look." " We know each other." " We're in the same villa." "Can I come in?" " What's your name?" " Paul, and yours?" "Aline." "You don't like it?" "Coming." "She's so beautiful." "Good seat, Anne-Charlotte." "What's her name?" "Anne-Charlotte." "It's lighter riding without boots." "And the helmet?" "Too hot." "Can you gallop?" "Yes, but it tires the horses." "Howlet won't like it." " Come for a spin?" " Whose is it?" "Come on." "I'll explain later." "No keys." "Is it yours?" "Drop it." "It's exciting." " You're stealing it?" " Yes." "Fantastic!" " Recognize me?" " Pierre's sister." " Yes, Agnès." " Hello." "My brother told me he liked you a lot." "I brought you his movie stills." "If he can see us, he'll be happy." "I wanted to meet you." "Please come in." "You live in this big house alone?" "My parents move in soon." "School's in Lille so I came first." "It's enormous." "This is my bedroom." "The other rooms aren't heated." "Make yourself at home." "I'm not usually a cradle-snatcher." "Want me to come back and visit?" "Paris isn't far." "Happy?" " Do I turn you on?" " Yes, a lot." "Alphonse, this is a mining village." "Our region is not just beaches." "This place is depressing." " It's Leblanc?" " Why did your father move here?" " Do we come?" " No, I won't be long." " Is Grandpa coming back?" " They're all so complicated." "I'd like you to meet him." "He's so funny." "Those kids are so filthy." "There's a Negro in the car!" "In the car, he's black as coal!" "Negro!" "He's gone." "Moved to a home in Arras." "A home?" " Want to come in?" " What for?" "To have a snack." "Can you play cricket?" "I can teach you." "I have to go." "My parents will worry." " Will you ride tomorrow?" " No, I can't." " Going to the beach?" " With my parents, until 5:00." "Here." "Look." "I like this shell a lot." "Me too." "I'll give it to you as a token of friendship." "Do you want it?" "Make sure you don't lose it." "It's so small and fragile." " I'll be careful." " Goodbye." "Will you come back next year?" "I've come here since forever." "I like your Saint Bernard a lot." "You haven't eaten?" "Were you waiting for me?" "What do you think?" "No, I guess not." "Why would you?" "Where's Mom?" "Thirsty?" "Hungry, too." "I haven't eaten." " Do I get a drink?" " What do you want?" "Make an offer." "Want some milk?" "Beer?" " Go get a good bottle." " You're sure?" "Go get a good bottle." "I shouldn't have drunk milk." "I'm going." " It's for you." " Coming." "Paul-Marie?" "There's no Paul-Marie here." "There are two Pauls." "What do you want?" "He has enough girls on his plate." "I'll put him on if I want." "He's a minor." "Please, Dad!" "Yes, it's me." " Hello." " You don't know who it is." "I do so." "Who are you, anyway?" "None of my business?" "Let go." "You call my home this late and won't say your name?" " Let go of me." " Dad, please!" " Say your goddamn name!" " Give me that!" "That's it, enough!" " Why did you do that?" " This is my home." "What's she going to think?" "She's a friend." "You made a great impression!" "My son's ashamed of me and calls himself Paul-Marie!" "Stop it, Dad!" "I thought you gave up violence." "You want my fist in your face?" "You don't scare me." "Don't think your height impresses me." "Quick, before he loses it." "Lucky he didn't put the car away." "I'm hungry." "What's so funny?" "Not hungry?" "Think the oyster bar is open?" "You don't want a starter?" "Oh well, I'll take the gourmet's menu." "A terrine to start, then lamb, with mushrooms if possible." " Very good, Ma'am." " And you?" " I don't know... fish." " No starter?" "I feel sick." "I drank some milk." "You finished the bottle again?" " How about a sole?" " Okay." " You love sole." " To drink?" "Some red wine." "A good bottle." " You'll drink some?" " Yes, Mom." "What a temper!" "He's so tense about the court case." " We still owe his ex-boss money." " Dabrouski?" "He never wanted to go talk it over." "He puts his head in the sand." "Now the fees are astronomical." "Really?" "He'll calm down." "Tomorrow he'll apologize with his tail between his legs." "It's not funny." "What?" "My life... with your father." " Is this new?" " New?" "No, it's always been like that." "It was even worse before." "I've whipped him into shape over time." "His nature is stronger." "It's hereditary." "They were brought up like animals." "We can't see your uncles anymore." " Do they live far away?" " No... yes." "Pierre remarried in Cognac." "André's in Saint-Amand." " What's his job?" " You know he's a butcher!" "Taste the terrine, it's divine!" " Is this it?" " It's the only butcher here." " Do we go in?" " Come on." "We'll say we were passing by." "You don't recognize them?" " Do I know them?" " I'm Paul Gravet." "Paul." "Your brother Paul's son." "And I'm Bertrand." "Bertrand, of course." "These are the butcher's cuts." "For private consumption." "You just wait!" " I never thought I'd see you again." " But you're our uncle." "You look so much like Dad." " Doesn't he?" " Your dad's hard work." "We're all irritable in the family." "Your brother Paul was only 3 or 4, no more." "When your parents came here, we'd play hide-and-seek." "It always ended here." "He'd come here, slowly." "I'd jump out and scare him." "He laughed." "He laughed so hard." "That day..." "There was a bowl of boiling water there." "Every week we boil water to make ham." "I'd just taken the bowl off the heat." "I put it on the floor for a moment." "We started playing, as usual." "I hid there, behind the door." "He came into the room." "He was looking for me." "He was scared..." "At the same time he was laughing." "I came out of my hiding spot." "He screamed." "He ran over there." "He fell in the boiling water." "Then three weeks later..." "He was so cute, little Paul." "A sweetheart." "So kind." "Adorable." "No complaints." "Never capricious." "Always smiling." "A little donation?" "Open the door, honey." "Shit!" " No, I'm going upstairs." " Open up first." "Wretched kids!" " Turn it down." " Why?" " The cops have come for me." " For you?" " I stole a car in Touquet." " You're crazy!" "With the neighbor, the weightlifter's daughter." "We smashed it." "I didn't know she stole it." " The cops arrested her, now me." " Poor thing!" "Who'll go to jail for you?" "It's us." "Your father." "Don't we have enough problems?" "What came over you?" "Why did you steal a car with that tart?" " Don't laugh or I'll hit you!" " I didn't." "You're laughing!" "You're laughing!" "It's shameful!" "Who can I tell this to?" "He withdrew charges because of my age." "Lucky for me!" "I was naive." "I should have known." " Aline was strange." " Aline?" "Yes, a girl I met on vacation." "I think I've read them all." "I'm very tired." "I'm expecting a little baby." "I feel like sleeping all the time." "I sleep every afternoon and wake up tired." "I'll come next week." "I won't be here." "I'm going to my mother's." "I couldn't stay with my nephew." "Too independent." "They wanted my money." "Two-faced smiles." "So here I am." "Too proud to ask if I can come back." "Thanks, sister." "The food was inedible!" "Whereas here, the sisters are very kind, dedicated and they're good cooks." "Give me a light, kid." "We can't smoke but today's special." "See the guy behind you?" "He's incredible." "A prodigy. 30 years old." "Entirely paralyzed." "Only his eyes move." "He paints with his mouth and reads books with a play of mirrors." "He's prodigiously intelligent!" "When you see that, you can't complain." "Life is fascinating." "Fascinating!" "It's so good to see my grandchildren." " Why are you here?" " Moral support." "No use." "It's hopeless." "Tell them you're broke." "Don't worry." "I've always managed." "Get out of here, you two." " Look at that bastard." " That's him?" "With his lawyer." " Want us to talk to him?" " Definitely not." " You never wanted to make a deal?" " I didn't have the money." "Leave me to get the final stroke." "We'll wait." "Don't bother." "Yes, Dad, we're here for you." "What can they take from him now?" "His car." "His furniture." "His tiny salary." "That's the law." "Poor thing." " Ever think about death?" " Of course." "Why do you ask?" "Ever thought about our parents' death?" "Not anymore, but I used to." "You do, too?" "You always imagine things like that." "Then one day it happens." "What happens?" "You lose your parents." "You mean like in a car accident?" "An accident or an illness." "Cancer or something like that?" "Yes, cancer." "Cancer that's detected too late." "You mean..." "Dad has cancer?" "It's cancer." "Incurable." "Will he die soon?" "Before the end of the year." " How are you?" " Hello, Dad." "Something wrong?" "Worried about your studies?" " Then it's girl trouble?" " Girls?" "Stand up to them." " You don't hurt them at least?" " Me?" "No, you're a nice guy." "You got a letter." "It's on the kitchen table." "It was for Paul." "I thought it was me." "I opened it." "Sorry." "It doesn't matter." "It's a pain having my name?" "I'm used to it." "You don't like your name." "I don't like it." "It's my mother's fault." "My mother's parents, before they had two daughters, my mother and her sister, had three boys one after the other." "But they only lived a few weeks." "Who knows why?" "All three were called Paul." "Later, when my mother had a child, a son... me, she wanted to call it Paul." "I did the same with the firstborn." "After the accident, Paul was never mentioned." "When you were born, your brother said Paul was back." "We called you Paul, too." "Paul's are never-ending in this family." "Paul-Marie is nice." " I took my old name back." " Why not?" "Yes, it's good." "The real Paul is the one who's alive." "I'll go get dressed." " We can't leave him like that?" " Like what?" "I think he's fine." "He ate this morning." "Look." "He knows we're talking about him." "Bertrand, take him to see Bourgeois at Béthune." " The vet?" " Before your mother comes back." " What do we say?" " Dummy!" "Show him the dog." "He's paralyzed, won't eat." " Tell him." " How do we get there?" " Take my car." " No license." " Who needs a license?" " I don't want to." "It's your dog, isn't it?" " If it were up to me..." " Hurry, she's coming." " Has he been like this long?" " A month." " A month?" " He's not getting better." " He won't." " Why not?" "Because he's done for." "He's paralyzed." "I'll green-needle him." " Needle?" " Put him down." " No way!" " Of course." "Are you okay?" "It only takes a few seconds." "Paul, stop looking at him." "Get rid of him." " Is he dead?" " He can't feel his bad hips anymore." "Get him out of here." " I'm going to the theater." " Can't you keep him?" "Not a beast like that." "We can't take him home to Mom." "Leave him at the abattoirs." "Get going." "Excuse me." "Where's the customs office?" " Mr. Vanacker?" " First floor." "Mr. Vanacker?" "I called earlier." "You have a good physique." "You should know that theater... real, pure theater, that of Molière, Racine and many others..." "Claudel, Marivaux, Chekhov!" "Theater like that demands great gifts and qualities that you need from the outset..." "If you have them and few do!" "If you possess them, you need to work very hard, to express this art form through the great authors." " How old are you?" " 18." " What do you do?" " I was at school." " Why did you come to me?" " A friend mentioned you." " Who?" " Pierre Voisin." "He died in a car accident." "Ever acted before?" "Do you have a good memory?" " What are you doing now?" " Nothing." "I'm rehearsing." "Want to come?" "Let's go." "Do you like walking?" "I know the names of all the streets in Lille." "It's good memory practice." "You're not too tired?" "I'm coming!" "Alice, my daughter." "Is Mom here?" "Annette?" "Annette, my wife." "We have our leading man, at last!" "Big Paul." "Simone." "Liliane." "My son does sets and accessories." "Our leading man, who's leaving for Rennes." "You have a good face." "Lucien's also a student." "That's most of the troupe." "I forgot our Jeanjean." "Let's rehearse." "You'll be Tabarin." "It's a good start." " Agreed?" " But..." "We present the show next Sunday in Lille." "You're sure?" "Music!" "Lift him." "Put him down." "Make his head straight." " Do we get Aline?" " No." "She asked to be spared this." "Children are swimming in the canal" "Come on, Bernard, jump in!" "In the water!"