"THE BUTCHER" "To the population of Tremolat, in Perigord." "Hurry up, Maurice." "Dish up the gravy, Odette!" "Melanie, good gravy!" "Get on with your work." "You think only of yourselves there" "Always the same." "My work is more important." "Roast ready yet?" "I hope your beef was good." "You bet." "If it isn't" "I'll cut my tongue out." "And we'll eat it in a spicy sauce." "Let me cut that." "This one should be good" "Will this do?" "Thanks." "What's the joke?" "Nothing,it looks really good." "I'm happy." "Not like in the army even when the meat was good, and it wasn't often ...it tastes like shoe leather." "My friends." "As the bride's father," "I have to make a speech." "It won't be long as I don't want to talk nonsense and my son-in-law is a good judge of that." "That's the trouble with a teacher." "Pa-in-law has to be careful what he says." "But I know enough to say" "I'm glad about this marriage." "I like young Leon." "He taught my son to read." "He's a local." "And I'm sure he'll make my daughter happy." "You can count on it, dad!" "Give me a kiss." "Now kiss each other." "Weddings are amusing." "Don't you think they're funny?" "Yes, everybody enjoy themselves." "Then things go wrong." "Not always." "My pals in the army." "When they got marrie.d" "Good thing you weren't there." "The things you think about!" "Were you?" "Well, no." "I'd like a little Champagne." "May I have some Champagne?" "Ask your mother." "She says I can if you say so." "All right." "You like it?" "I've never tasted it." "Try it." "You're taking a risk." "I like having responsibilities." "He likes you." "Hope so." "I'm telling you, he likes you." "I like him too." "Angelo!" "A song!" "A song!" "As everybody wants me to, I'll sing." "Won't you waltz?" "Why don't we?" "You're a great dancer but" "I dance like an idiot." "Not as bad as that." "I haven't danced much in 15 years." "Nice people in this town compared to the ones we meet everywhere." "Why did you join the army, then?" "Things weren't so good." "The people here kiss each other, if you don't you will." "You can't go wrong." "How long have you been in the region?" "Ten years." "I knew your father." "Wasn't he scum?" "He was a butcher." "And a bad one too." "He cut the meat anyhow." "Talk of marriages." "My mother must have been happy on her wedding day." "Only after she got sick." "Why did you never come back?" "To see the old man." "No thank you!" "I came once for my mother's funeral 7 years ago." "It's been 7 years." "I was on holiday in Paris." "You go to Paris for holidays" "Parisians come here." "That's logical." "It's logical." "I'd liked to see you do that." "I would have liked it." "I'd audition." "There were good times, but..." "The rice was good?" "The rice is okay, but when the river is mud..." "it's less fun." "You smoke in the streets?" "Yes!" "It shocks you?" "No, but..." "It's rare for women to smoke in the street." "It's more simple than smoking in a house." "That's logical." "You seem to like logic." "I was fifteen years in the army." "So, in the army there's two things you like because you don't have them." "It's logic and freedom." "Live over the school?" "How long have you been the headmistress?" "It's been 3 years." "3 years." "You're a young headmistress." "Because I'm very wise." "Do you like meat?" "Yes." "I ask because sometime if I come across a nice cut." "I could bring you some good pieces." "Cutlets or roast, ...delicacies from the butcher's." "You know there are some meats better than others." "What a dream." "A dream, to have a butcher select your meat." "I'm very pleased." "By the way, tell me does a butcher learn his trade?" "You bet he does." "That's what's funny, since I was a butcher with my father." "When I joined the army, they put me in charge by chance always a butcher, even for the army." "In Algeria, Indo-China, loving the work!" "Butcher." "There was plenty of work, those officers, they pig out." "Yes, that's logical." "Well, here you are." "I'll be off." "So long, Paul." "Thanks for accompanying me." "Goodbye, Miss Helen." "Leon, how sulky you look!" "I'd rather have stayed home." "Not fed up with marriage already?" "God no!" "Not yet!" "I hope you'll be happy." "Thank you." "You'll see how nice it is to go home to your wife after work." "I'll go there for lunch." "Good idea!" "Come along, children." "We are 5 minutes late." "Finally, in honor of Mr. Hamel's wedding." "Well, are you deaf?" "You are deaf." "Riri's father told him the postman said a woman was found dead in the woods." "That's ridiculous?" "It's true." "The Police came." "...he took in a feeling of greatness... comma" "of greatness" "A deep emotion" "by which the coarsest soul" "would be touched." "...touched." "Full stop" "Honore de Balzac." "I'll write it down." "Do you know who Balzac is?" "A writer." "Right." "He was a 19th Century romantic who tried constituting his work to paint a picture of the society of his day." "I'll read the dictation again." "Hearing the bedroom door open abruptly" "Helen...oh come on." "You are not going to laugh?" "Helen rose from the divan on which she was lying." "But she saw the Marquis and cried out." "She was so different that only a father's eyes could recognize her." "The tropical sun had so many rays of white faces, with a marvelous golden hue that it gave him a poetical expression from which he took in a feeling of greatness a majestic firmness a deep emotion by which the coarsest soul would be touched." "Come in." "I disturb you?" "Not a bit." "I shouldn't come during school hours." "Tell me if I bother anyone." "Not at all." "What's up?" "I've brought a leg" "That's nice." "A leg of lamb." "Look, it's beautiful!" "Very beautiful." "Would you help me collect the books?" "Take those." "That's where I sat." "Were you a good pupil at least?" "French and History were all right but the faucet problems trains do cross" "Our teacher wasn't as nice as you." "The old hag!" "Her name was Cowden...with a cow." "Don't be disrespectful." "A real bitch she was!" "You mustn't hear anymore." "Stand up!" "You may leave." "In an orderly manner." "Please hurry up." "They'll hear plenty more." "But Miss Cowden would never have let someone come to class with bloody meat." "You have a fridge?" "Yes." "Well, good bye." "Wait!" "I'm going to the baker." "Say Paul, if you're not afraid come and share the lamb with me tonight." "What is it?" "Nothing." "I didn't expect it." "Like that I won't eat it alone" "At least half is for you." "It's rubbing my butt." "Well, will you?" "Of course!" "When shall I come?" "Let's see, come at about 7." "Good." "I've extra time on my hands these days." "I don't do a whole lot in the shop." "I do the buying and slaying and" "My assistant prepares the meat." "And business is slow with the hunting season and all." "Goodbye." "Good day!" "What's happening?" "It's the officer in charge." "There's been a crime at Saint Albert." "A crime?" "They found the Gaillotin girl" "Killed with a knife wound!" "Just last week she was dancing in here." "Haven't seen her since." "My god, who could have done this?" "Oh, some tramp hanging around!" "A baguette, please." "Sorry maam, I was lost in thought." "Who knows how long these cops will hang around." "I couldn't tell you." "It'll keep us distracted but still..." "You'll put it on my account?" "Too soon?" "No no, I said seven as we agreed earlier." "The door's open." "Come up." "The punctuality and politeness of butchers" "Like Louis XlV." "I still have 2 or 3 papers to correct." "You see I'm too early." "Not at all...give me 5 minutes?" "You want a drink?" "No don't trouble yourself." "No trouble." "I've drunk plenty in my time, I don't need it." "So uhh." "Shall I sit here?" "or there!" "No, it's ok I'm fine." "Just five minutes ok?" "Must be fun teaching children." "Yes, it's a good job." "May I have the cigarettes?" "You smoke Gauloises ?" "What do you think of this sentence?" "It was so hot the air felt like an overcoat." "Dunno." "Cute?" "Yes ..." "I think it is" "I wouldn't know." "It's done." "How about I put in the lamb?" "We could eat early then go to the movies." "You like movies?" "Yes but not war movies, they're offensive." "Oh!" "I was in the war for 15 years." "You have to be a dupe if you don't see it's a distraction." "Why did you stay in the army then." "Exactly, because I was a dupe." "I've seen a thing or two." "And they weren't pretty to see." "Purely rotten." "There." "It's not a war movie, it's a comedy." "Shall we put the lamb in?" "This way." "You go through the school to get to?" "No it's here" "Here we go, my kitchenette." "Magnificent!" "Yes, I love my kitchenette." "Have you seen, there's been cops here all day." "A girl's been murdered behind Saint Albert." "Yes, I know." "They looked everywhere." "They found no trace." "Your lamb, what's it weigh?" "2 lbs... half an hour should do." "No garlic?" "Wow!" "Never garlic in lamb!" "Would you like me to make my special salad?" "I'd like that but I feel funny, you working?" "You must be kidding." "Then ok." "Are the eggs hard boiled?" "What sign are you Paul?" "I'm October 6th, Libra" "It's why I always seem like an indifferent person." "And you?" "Scorpio." "Oh boy!" "Why oh boy?" "That's a bad sign!" "There are no bad signs." "A small lid." "What's missing for your salad?" "No I have all I need..." "a small knife maybe." "Will this do?" "lt'll do" "Say, I've only got my van to go to town." "It won't look ritzy." "I have my Citroen." "Why are you laughing?" "Don't know, you must look funny in your Citroen." "You've never seen me" "Good morning miss Helen" "Good morning Paul, I'd like a small scallop." "Good morning Monsieur, good morning Michel." "And congratulations on the certificate." "You're too kind." "Without your help, my little brother would have failed." "Oh!" "Nonsense." "Here we go." "Here they come again!" "Apparently they've found a clue." "The gendarmes are there." "Maybe they'll figure it out." "A crime is awful." "Think of the poor girl" "I've seen a corpse or two their heads in the wind." "Cut in half, mouth open" "I've seen 3 or 4 piled together." "Kids with their eyes punctured" "Indo-Chinese as old as Madame Tirrant." "Completely torn to bits." "I've seen pals of mine rotting in the sun." "Being eaten by maggots." "Yes, war is a horrible thing." "That's a fact, but a murder like this" "It's barbaric." "We counted corpses by the truck loads so" "I'm rambling." "How much do I owe you?" "3 francs, I'll put it on your tab." "Look, they're passing again!" "Mr. Lahire, before I forget." "About the party on October 20th will you let me browse in your collection of costumes?" "But of course, you come when you like" "Take whatever you like." "I'm in the show, you promised!" "Yes you're in it." "I love dressing up, anyway I like acting silly." "The joint of veal there!" "Here" "Thanks." "Put it on my account." "What is it for you, Madam?" "What will you give me?" "Whatever you want." "Well of course then, hamburger." "Why not a nice steak?" "No, I don't want it." "It would give you strength." "Next time then." "Coming mushrooming with us this afternoon?" "I promised Charles and Lisette." "What time?" "About four" "I may not have finished." "Join us afterwards then." "Ok?" "Paul!" "Yes!" "Wait for me on the path." "I'll find him." "We're in the oak grove." "Made a good haul?" "But that's terrific!" "I smell 'em out!" "Children, come and see Paul's mushrooms!" "I've found one too."