"CALL ME ELISABETH" "Actually, back then, everyone called me Betty." "I was 10 and it was a long time ago." "This is how my story began." "Think it's really haunted?" "It's been sold loads of times and every owner died violently." "Come on, shall we try to get in?" "I don't think it's a good idea." "We can't anyway." "Wait!" "Agns, wait..." "Agns, wait for me!" "Agns!" "Wait..." "Agns, wait for me!" "Agns, wait!" "St Lucie's Institute" "Agns..." "You saw it too!" "The door was closed, then opened." "Scared of a door..." "That's so pathetic." "Let's go back." "We'll soon see." "Mum has to drive me to the station soon." "You're not going tomorrow?" "No, but I'll be back this weekend." "We've told you three times." "That's not what I understood." "Fine, I'll go alone." "Where?" "To the haunted house." "A chicken like you?" "Doesn't it feel funny to be leaving this place?" "Not at all!" "I can't wait to make friends and do stuff more..." "More what?" "More of my age." "We'll never be the same age." "I'm told stuff they don't tell you." "Do you know how Grandma died?" "Of grief, after Grandpa died." "She killed herself." "She slit her wrists." "Agns!" "Betty!" "Are you upstairs, girls?" "Coming, Mum!" "Don't try to steal my clothes!" "I don't like leaving Rose alone." "Stay with her." "But..." "Agns is leaving." "I can't let her go like this." "It's okay." "We'll say goodbye here." "I'll be back in six days anyway." "It's not that long to wait." "Lend Rose a hand." "And remember to put your bike away." "Can I fetch Dad?" "You're not to go to the hospital." "It can be dangerous." "Don't go back to the haunted house without me." "Can I help you?" "You know, actually, Agns isn't just my sister, she's my best friend too." "Just now, she said she was glad to be going away... to be able to make new friends." "That's a bit tough, isn't it?" "I'll go and feed the rabbit." "It's me, big boy..." "Don't be afraid." "You're not alone." "It's you!" "You scared me." "You know you left it open?" "See you tomorrow." "Could I wait for Dad to have my dessert?" "I don't think so." "These meetings can last for ages, the way they go on." "You need a good night before the first day back at school." "Just this once?" "It's always just this once with you." "Not too sad Agns is away at school?" "No, I'm happy for her." "Yoghurt or fruit?" "Yoghurt." "Is that your bike outside the shed?" "Drat, I forgot to put it away." "I'll go now." "Dad?" "Wanted to scare me, did you?" "No, I forgot to put my bike away." "Agns has gone, then." "It'll be lonely for you now." "Not really." "Spare me the blackmail. /It's not blackmail!" "I'm sick of it!" "Sick of it, Italy, alley cat, cat and dog dog leg, leg of lamb, lamb of God, God in heaven, heaven sent, sent packing..." "Do you believe in haunted houses?" "Why do you ask?" "There's an abandoned chfteau by the ponds." "I went there with Agns." "The door was closed but, while we were looking up at the roof, it opened." "Agns said there was a logical explanation but I'm scared a ghost came out and that any time now, it will be here." "Talk to me before setting off on an expedition like that." "You could have had an accident and we wouldn't have known." "Agns may be right." "Either the door was already open and you didn't notice or... it opened on its own or someone opened it on the sly to scare you and succeeded." "You're probably right." "Okay, I'll be going." "If you visit haunted houses again, tell me." "You've cut yourself." "There." "We're not just father and daughter, we're blood brothers too." "From now on," "I can't lie to you and you can't lie to me either." "Off you go." "Enjoy your first day back!" "Next year, most of you will move on to the local middle schools." "Some of you have known each other since primary school but this year we're lucky enough to welcome Quentin." "Quentin from the island of R, union." "Seen that?" "It's weird." "And since we'll be studying magma and volcanoes this term," "Quentin will talk about the eruptions that he has seen." "I hope you've all made good resolutions..." "That Samantha will be on time at least once a term and that when one of her classmates says that the Great Bear is the biggest grizzly in captivity," "Betty will have enough sense not to copy that down in her science homework." "All right, Betty?" "Very good." "Open your exercise books." "Write the date on the first page." "Did you see lava flowing on your volcano?" "You bet." "And so lava is..." "Is it fire?" "It's molten magma." "The centre of the earth is molten." "In fact, the earth is a sun that's dying." "Is the sun going to die too?" "Of course." "It's just a matter of time." "Hello, Snickers..." "Thought I'd abandoned you?" "Well then, missy!" "She's decided to come and fetch her "Snickers"?" "Actually, I can't take him now." "I'm on my bike." "I can't afford his shots." "But Dad will come like I said." "This week, or I'll have the dog put down." "I'm not waiting till the cows come home." "He'll come, okay." "Don't worry." "I'll manage." "Mum!" "Mum!" "Isn't Mum here?" "Your mother is busy in town and I have a problem at work." "Rose will feed you and stay until we get home." "Love and kisses." "Dad." "Know what we'll do?" "The two of us will take a tray up to my room." "Okay?" "I have a week to talk Dad round for the dog." "Afterwards, it'll be too late." "I'm sure I can talk him round." "I have to stop mentioning it for a day or two." "I don't know what he's like as a doctor but as a father, he's a bit... not complicated but not simple either." "Can I try?" "That door has never closed." "I used to think there was a ghost up there." "Silly, isn't it?" "You can take my bed, Rose." "Rose?" "Don't be afraid." "I'm here." "Betty?" "I'm here, Dad." "Why are you here in the dark?" "Betty, are you all right?" "Rose came back in a state." "What happened?" "Things were fine but then she looked at my teddy like he was Dracula." "I need to explain a thing or two about Rose." "First, if she was dangerous in any way," "I'd never let her work here." "I know that but she's a bit weird all the same." "Even Mum's a bit scared of her." "She shouldn't be." "She doesn't realize." "Rose has experienced serious trauma." "She crossed a land at war with her children dead in a barrow." "She has forgotten it all." "The only thing that rouses her is working in a house and taking care of the cooking." "Rose was so scared, she went mad, is that it?" "In a way, yes." "There you are!" "It's like Sleeping Beauty's castle here." "Had a good day?" "Excellent." "Are you working in town now?" "No, just doing my own things." "How did your first day back go?" "There's a new boy with a big mark on his cheek and neck and no one speaks to him." "Except me." "Have you eaten?" "Me neither." "You and Agns love table football, don't you?" "Well, I came across this bar that's being done up." "They were getting rid of a game, so I bought it." "They'll keep it till we clear the shed." "Fantastic!" "It's late." "Read a bit, then go to sleep." "Dad..." "Is it true the Earth is an old sun that's dying?" "Yes." "And there's nothing we can do?" "It's happening over billions of years." "We can't see it." "But it's inevitable, yes." "Sweet dreams." "Tell me." "You're trying something new now." "Like what?" "Macram,?" "I gave up a concert career for this gloomy asylum." "You knew that from the word go." "It's not all my fault." "Don't blackmail me." "Without Betty," "I wouldn't sleep here!" "If this goes on, I'll leave!" "All we're doing is hurting each other." "Try to sleep a little." "Sleep?" "A walk will calm me down." "Agns..." "Agns, are you asleep?" "No, I was thinking." "Did you hear that?" "Yes, you can't ever go away to school, Betty." "If you go away, Mum will leave home and Dad will be unhappy." "Yes, I know." "Who cares anyway?" "One day, the sun will go out and we'll all be in the dark." "Is Mum going to town again?" "Yes, probably." "Yes, but she'll be back tonight." "Don't worry." "I'm not worried." "Are you worried?" "No." "No, I'm not the worrying type." "You'd say if you were?" "Yes." "Yes, of course." "Liar." "What's wrong?" "A patient went over the wall last night." "I hope they find him soon and that he's safe." "Come on." "Quick!" "Get inside!" "Aren't you sick of the questions about it?" "I'm used to them." "They're not so bad here." "What do your parents do?" "Dad works for the post office and my mum's a nurse at St Lucie's." "St Lucie's?" "She works with my dad then." "Is he a nurse?" "No, he's the hospital director." "I have a secret I can't tell anyone." "But be my friend and I'll tell you." "You see this key?" "It opens a door and only I know what's behind it." "Want me to tell you a secret?" "I wasn't born with this mark." "A sorcerer cast a spell on me." "And there's an antidote to the spell." "The trouble is, it's not easy to get." "I need help." "Want to know?" "Line up, children." "You have to do three drops of pee at midnight." "It's weird but there are much weirder things in sorcery." "The doctor's daughter." "Call me Betty." "I won't tell on you, don't worry." "Just a second." "Here's the dining room..." "And the bedroom!" "Hello, Rose!" "I'll see to the rabbit, then help you set the table." "He didn't eat yesterday." "I want some stuff that he likes." "And this is a snack for me." "Don't worry, Rose." "I'll come and help." "The doctor's daughter." "Betty." "You can call me Betty." "My real name is Elisabeth but everyone calls me Betty." "And you?" "What's your name?" "Sit down." "I've brought you some food." "I can't stay now." "My parents will be back soon." "But once they're asleep, I'll bring you a candle." "I'll take good care of you, you'll see." "I thought you never drank whisky after dinner." "First, this is cognac." "And don't you do your homework before dinner?" "It just goes to show." "Everyone's acting odd in this house." "I supposed Rose broke my mother's crystal carafe?" "No, it was me." "How did you manage that?" "I took it out of the dresser." "I didn't mean to." "Why did you want it?" "To put water in it." "Seven years bad luck." "Is it true?" "No, that's when you break a mirror." "Shall I mend it?" "It's shattered." "Don't bother." "Not everything can be repaired." "You're not asleep?" "Not yet." "Are you all right, Mum?" "Yes, I'm fine." "Let's say we've known times that were more... more serene." "And I..." "I want you to know how much Agns and you mean to me." "I'll always be here for you." "And for Dad too?" "Yes, for him too, of course." "Another thing..." "You know a madman got out?" "Yes, he mentioned it." "Is he dangerous?" "More of a danger to himself, your dad says." "How do you mean?" "He did..." "You know Dad doesn't like to mix work and his private life." "Well, he's right." "Sleep well, Betty dear." "Good night." "I'll spend Thursday with Betty." "I'll be here at the weekend too." "What am I going to tell Betty?" "You don't have to say I have someone else but you needn't lie to her." "Say I need a break." "You're the shrink." "Are you leaving the shrink?" "Partly." "How about a fresh start?" "I've started a new relationship." "And I'll see it through." "Everything's okay." "I'm here." "Betty..." "That's it!" "I forgot." "You've been holding it in all day." "Hurry!" "Come back, my madman." "Stay with me." "Don't go." "Stay with me." "Don't go." "Don't go." "Stay with me." "Stay with me." "Don't..." "Come on in." "You have to eat now." "Here, this is good." "It's full of vitamins." "My mother has left." "I don't think she'll be back." "My dad wants to make a fresh start." "But Mum says she has to finish another relationship first before starting with him again." "Do you understand?" "I mean..." "First my sister goes away, then my mother..." "That's why, when you went out to pee," "I thought I'd never see you again." "You'll be better with this." "I'm going to bed too now." "I'll leave you the key in case you need to go out tonight." "But whenever you're inside, lock the door." "Only open for me." "I'll knock like this." "And I'll say, "It's me, Betty."" "Okay?" "Betty..." "Lock the door." "Lock the door!" "Dad, I hate to insist, but about my dog Snickers..." "Don't start again!" "This is a very bad time." "Worried about your madman?" "You haven't found him?" "No." "So what's his name?" "Yvon." "Why was he locked up?" "I keep my work and my private life separate." "That's the hospital, this is home." "When you set a rule, it's important to stick to it." "Yes." "It's not like with vows!" "It's me." "Betty." "Quick, open up!" "It's me." "It's me." "Open up!" "I'll be late for school." "Please, Yvon!" "I'll bring you a sweater later." "You can try to warm the coffee with the candle." "I think I'd better keep the key during the day." "Which hand?" "Left." "Too bad." "You dropped it earlier." "Hand it over!" "What's your secret?" "Give it to me!" "On one condition." "You give me the antidote." "It has to be midnight?" "Midnight during the full moon." "One minute too soon or too late won't work." "All right." "You have my word." "Where's your dad?" "He's not here?" "You needn't bother stopping then." "Just five minutes!" "We're closed." "If your dad doesn't fetch him by Friday evening, your mutt..." "You know who my dad is?" "The director at St Lucie's." "If you have him put down," "I'll get you locked up with the loonies!" "Yvon..." "Yvon" "You've made a suicide attempt too." "Like my gran." "Come on." "Look." "I thought of you." "Here, put this on." "It's the sweater." "His cologne." "He doesn't know you're here." "You have nothing to fear." "So... who has the shed key?" "Normally, we keep it under the flowerpot." "My daughter must have left it open." "Odd, it's locked." "There's no double?" "Not as far as I know." "Just a second." "You're in there?" "What are you locked in here for?" "I was trying to imagine it empty." "Seen anyone lurking around here?" "No, nobody." "Your nutter isn't dangerous?" "No, he's not violent." "Two years back, we had a circus with a puma." "The animal got away." "They said it was as meek as a lamb but if an animal doesn't eat for three days..." "That's not a fair comparison." "I forgot my coat." "Sorry, doctor, but a boy takes a knife to his mother and even if he has been treated since..." "Without his medication, there's no risk of..." "He risks migraines, hallucinations, depression but he doesn't risk..." "He's a patient, not a criminal." "Don't be afraid." "Rose!" "Come along..." "It's okay, they're leaving." "It's over." "You were scared, huh?" "I think I'll go to bed." "Already?" "There's no school tomorrow." "Let's play spillikins." "All right." "Is that you?" "Yes." "Where are you off to?" "I can't get to sleep." "I can't either." "Because of Mum?" "You're scared she'll never come back?" "I know she'll come back." "I have no doubt about that." "She just needs some distance." "A bit like Agns and me." "Sort of, yes." "I promised not to insist but about my..." "The dog?" "Once things calm down, we'll get a dog." "I already have a dog in a shelter!" "Frankly, a puppy would be a better idea." "That dog could be neurotic." "It may be dangerous for a little girl." "If you thought that, we'd have a normal cleaner, not Rose!" "You can't compare animals to human beings!" "Why don't we get some sleep?" "If the Earth is a sun that's dying and it'll be thousands of years before it goes out," "maybe we'll find a way to travel to other planets by then." "Possibly." "Maybe the people we've loved but who are dead now," "Grandpa and Grandma, for instance, are already there." "Yes, maybe." "Remember how Grandpa used to sing" "By the Sweet Spring to me?" "Will you sing it now?" "By the sweet spring" "While out walking one day" "The water seemed so inviting" "I bathed then and there" "I've loved you for long now" "I'll never forget you" "Beneath the leaves of an oak" "I dried myself off" "On the highest branch" "A nightingale was singing..." "Yvon!" "It's me, Betty." "I've got some hot coffee." "We have a whole day together." "We'll start with a good breakfast." "Then I'll show you Agns and me when we were little." "Then, if you tremble less, we'll play spillikins." "Otherwise, I'll win every time!" "Sorry, I couldn't come last night." "It was because of my dad." "I think he's afraid Mum will never come back." "If she goes to live with another husband and has other kids maybe, it's worse than if she was dead." "Betty." "Elisabeth!" "I'd like it if you're the only one who calls me that." "Stop that." "You'll ruin your eyes." "Look..." "If you go on pressing your eyes, look what will happen to you!" "They'll fall inside your body." "Are you there?" "In the shed?" "Mum!" "She's here for me!" "I forgot!" "Quick, hide!" "Here I am." "You have picnics all alone in the shed now?" "No, I'm not all alone." "You're too old for dolls now." "Especially a broken doll, alone in the dark." "It's a bit dreary." "Know what we'll do today?" "Clear this place out." "We'll sort it all out to prepare the games room!" "Mum!" "Calm down!" "Give me the spade." "That'll do now." "Give it to me." "Everything's all right." "Let's throw it away." "Give it to me." "Calm down now." "Let's go back in." "Come on." "I'm locking you in." "I'll think of a way to stop Mum tidying up." "See you tonight!" "It's just like Mary Poppins!" "Why Mary Poppins?" "It makes me want to dance." "Can I keep it on?" "Fancy..." "And you used to hate shopping." "Because we always went with Agns and she always had the more girly things." "See, it's not so bad now." "From now on, we'll go together." "It'll be our special moment." "Mum..." "I have to tell you something." "I have someone in my life." "You met him at school?" "I can't tell you about him for now." "But I'll tell you one day." "A real girl!" "I saw that!" "Will Rose come back here to work?" "I moved it!" "Of course." "It doesn't change a thing." "It's important for her." "She didn't mean any harm." "She gets stressed... and she doesn't know how to deal with it." "Do you like mad people?" "What do you mean?" "Do you really like them or is it just a job?" "I really like them." "They're so unsuited to dealing with life." "I like them too." "Dad..." "I think I'm going to go mad." "Why do you say that?" "I'm totally unsuited too." "Because you're so sensitive." "You're very impressionable." "And you have a lot of imagination." "You're not mad." "You have nothing to fear, believe me." "No, it's your turn." "I touched it." "You're not concentrating." "You've never let me win five rounds before." "I think I'll get to bed." "I'll be up soon." "Good night." "Good night, dear." "You forgot to put the key back by the shed." "They're emptying it tomorrow." "We don't want the door broken down." "Sleep tight." "Yvon, I have some bad news." "You can't stay anymore." "You have to leave." "I've planned everything." "I'll take you to the road." "After that, keep walking straight on to the village." "There, you take the first bus to Lyon." "Then, take a train to Marseille." "When you get there, go down to the harbour." "You'll be okay there." "The people are kind and you can sleep on the beach." "Look..." "There should be enough for the journey." "This is it." "We're here." "Have you seen the stars?" "We have to part here, Yvon." "I'm going to go home." "Keep walking straight on until the bus station." "I've noted it all down for you." "My name and address are on the back." "Put it in your pocket or you'll lose it." "I'm going to miss you." "Here, you'll need this more than I do." "Keep it." "It's yours now." "May I have a word?" "Sit down." "Keep working." "I won't be long." "Have you got it?" "What is it?" "Quentin made Betty believe his mark was a spell... and that a girl's pee could break it." "Only if she peed at midnight, staring at the full moon." "And Betty believed it!" "Betty believed it!" "Betty believed it!" "Betty." "What are you doing?" "Dreaming of your games room?" "No, I'm thinking of something else." "Well, it looks pretty serious..." "It's life or death!" "Tomorrow's our last chance to save Snickers." "No, Betty." "Who'll look after it?" "You've got a games room." "Now what?" "A dog too?" "You can't have it all." "A games room!" "You've no idea..." "You don't understand a thing!" "Betty!" "Who is it?" "Are you up there?" "She's coming!" "I'll stay in my room." "Don't worry about me, Rose." "Rose." "Dad, Mum and Agn," "I'm sorry if I make you feel a bit sad" ""but I'm going to join Grandpa, Grandma and Snickers."" "Grandpa, Grandma and Snickers." "Wait!" "I'll be right down." "Hello, Yvon." "Betty." "I'm glad to see you." "Look..." "I've made an attempt too." "Shall we go?" "Wait..." "Look..." "I'm not taking it back." "There..." "It's us, Snickers!" "I can't do it." "Come on, Snickers!" "Hurry!" "Who's that?" "Come on." "Hurry!" "We'll cut through the woods." "They might find us otherwise." "I know an abandoned house." "Don't worry." "It's not far." "Yvon, I think we're lost." "Good night, Yvon." "Good night, Snickers." "It's all right." "It's not very far now." "It's just behind the ponds." "Snickers!" "Come here!" "See the trees there?" "There's a little hill to climb, then we'll be there." "That's it." "We're here." "Let's call this the bedroom." "Look, there's an open window up there." "Betty..." "I'm sure Betty's in there." "Betty..." "Betty..." "Betty!" "Are you there?" "I'm here!" "Don't worry!" "If anyone's hurt you, you have nothing to fear now." "What?" "No one has hurt me!" "Look out, he'll jump!" "Yvon..." "Yvon." "Yvon." "Yvon, don't move!" "Yvon." "Yvon." "Come on, Yvon, we have to go back now." "Betty." "Don't be afraid, Yvon." "It's over." "Come with me." "Come on." "Come on, Yvon." "Come on..." "Betty." "That's when Dad said to me," "Everything's all right." "It's over, Betty." "And I said," "Call me Elisabeth."