"CLEAN SLATE" "Ithoughtit was allover." "Get out of bed, lug." "Vanderbruck's coming." "I didn't getmy night's worth." "Just what do you want?" "A husband'sgot certain rights." "Worry aboutVanderbruck." "Mr.Vanderbruck!" "always first, eh?" "Youshould get thecarpenter to fix the roof." "Butit's not the police's job." "These privies belong to the Forestry Co." "They're your property." "The whole town uses them." "Notme." "It's notjust thestink." "It's the first thing that greets meevery morning." "Can'tyoumove them?" "I can't." "Why not?" "Because they're there." "well, that'safact." "No, nothere." "Not thereeither..." "Notherenor there." "well, where then?" "Nowhere." "Youthink youand me aregonna..." "After whatyoudid..." "I did something?" "Yousaid:" ""Vanderbruck'sa public menace." ""His latrines aredangerous." ""The law should make a move and since I'm the Iaw, those privies will begone in a week."" "That's whatl said." "Sure..." "Youchickened out." "He pissed alIover you!" "Listen, ass-Iickers like you... fIunkies, I don'tmind feedingthem, but that'saIl." "I'm not sure I agree with you." "Maybe you're right, butmaybe you're wrong." "Anyway, even if I am whatyou say," "I'm not theonly me - so there!" "Mama!" "Your kid brother's up." "I'm coming, Nonodear." "Funny, him calling his sister Mama..." "What's my Nono want?" "Something's under my bed." "That's no reason tocalI meMama." "And it doesn't flatter you, sweetness... being called Nono's mother... and aIsogivingfoIks awrong ideaof your age." "Whatta ya know - no moreduck." "Hehad a bad scare." "The poor thing." "I noticed." "Y'know what it was?" "A moth." "Yeah, a poison moth." "Hey, that's my shirthe'sgot on... and in shreds." "In shreds?" "And he'sgota scratch too." "Must've been thatpoison moth, huh?" "Don't chilI me, Lucien." "ChilI you?" "I pronunciate right, don'tl?" "What's he tryingtosay?" "It'saboutyour job - puttingfoIks in thecooler, youknow." "If it wasn'tyou," "I'd betmy rightarm some lady ripped my shirt, no?" "There yougochilIing me." "That looks great." "It could usesome rum." "Rum!" "Rum!" "Quick!" "BottIeof rum." "always rum in rice pudding!" "Aren'tyoulate for work?" "I'm looking for my hat." "It'son your head, jerk!" "Mama, comeandtry the pudding with rum." "It's yummy, but don't say Mama." " We'lI savesome." " I hope so." "So you had agirl lastnight!" "There's salt in thecoffee!" "Cut thecrap!" "IteIl you there's salting thecoffee!" "Whata surprise." "I'm gladtosee you." "well, we'renot." "Being with trash like you looks bad." "The brothel's feasting thenew colonel." "Gotany prisoners whocan wait on table?" "YouknowI never arrestanyone unless I have to." "I haveenough troubIesof my own." "What good isan empty prison?" "He's dumber than we thought." "That's true." "Morning, Mr. Cordier." "Coffee's ready." "Andthat's nota prisoner?" "That one's mine!" "Youdidn'tmention him." "Becausehe's mine." "We'lIjust borrowhim, Pops." "Buthe's old and stonedeaf." "Can he makecoffee?" " He poisoned his wife." " But can he makecoffee?" "Notvery well, no." "It's notbad atalI." "Superb!" "Bring him over tomorrow." " What's your name?" " Féte-Nat." "So you were born on BastilIe Day, like me." "You'vegotagood life here in Bourkassa." "Better than in France." "Youmay be right there." "I can't complain." "I'vegot freehousing, the wireless, bath, electricity..." "At times - notalways - l think I've found paradiseon earth." "Butyou'restilIa zero!" "Shit, he fell." "He wentpIop!" "That's notvery nice." "It wasan accident." "Youdidn'tbreak anything." "We were kidding." "Yeah, just kidding." "Then that's different." "Ooh, heslipped." "Say..." ""Féte-Nat" isn'ta saint's name, is it?" "No, it's the 14th of July!" "I don't get it." "You're a jerktoo." "Butit's true." ""National holiday"!" "Oh, "Féte nationale"!" "Your hand's shaking, Féte-Nat." "We're both shaking." "Y'know, I couldn't sleep lastnight." "I lay in bed, eyes wideopen, thinking... till I thoughtI'd go nuts." "Then suddenly..." "I saidtomyself:" ""You'regoing togo bananas", so I thoughtand thought till my head ached fromthinking so hard and I came to thedecision:" "thatl didn't know what the fucktodo." "Youforgotmy birthday..." "Letmego." "You'rehurting me." "Letmego." " Listen..." " July 17, remember?" "GetIest!" "Youdon't loveme." "No, I don'tIove you." "Hear that?" "I don'thear athing." "MarcailIou's beating his wife again." "Someday he'Il kill her." "I musthave water in my ears." "Now I can hear." "He's giving the poor kid a badtime." "Youwon't stop him?" "Sure, I'mgoing." "How much?" " Can't find it." " Next time." "I hatedebts." "Here." "Seems to beover." "Yes, it wouId seem so." "My little Rose, Rosette." "Where'd the bastard go?" "That way." "I'mtoo late." "I came running when I heard." "He broke my bag." "Whata bastard." "There, there, my Rosette, my Rosalie." "Putyour hand between my legs..." "In thestreet?" "I wanna look loved." "It'saIl over now." "Get down!" "Missed!" "It's your fault." "Whatare youhunting?" "Nothing, jerk." "We're shooting stiffs." "Doesn'tbother them and it's fun for us." "When dysentery'scured, we'Ilfind a new sport." "This one's yours, Le Péron." "Look, I blew his head off." "Youmay notbe awareof it." "Butyou're breakingthe law and mocking thedead." "But they're niggers - thrown in Iikedead dogs." "No, they've been entrusted to the river." "It'sa sort of buriaIceremony." "You'redesecrating their graves." "How much is the fine?" "I'd like to know the valueof a stiff whoused toearn afranca day." "Let's say 100, butl'lIcIose my eyes for 50." "50?" "What do you say?" "OK... but on onecondition..." "Youtake a shot." "I can't in my situation." " Just one round!" " No!" "That body's blocked by a log." "Youmiss on purpose?" "AtIeasthe tried." "Youcan always be bribed." "I'vegotnochoice." "First, I'm underpaid." "Second, my wife takesaIl my money." "Andthird... fining you is practically acivic duty." "No, Le Péron." "Where'd youlearn to play pool?" "How's your stick in bed?" "Lucien!" "What's new!" "I hope youcan cheer us up." "paulo, this is Lucien Cordier, PoIiceChief of Bourkassa and this gawk is paulo whojustarrived in this hole." "A drink?" "Things booming?" "Booming?" "Maybe... but..." "Bourkassa's nota big city like here." "How big is it?" "There'sa signpostmarked Pop. 1275." "Pop?" "Thatmeans 1275 souls." "And as many people as souls?" "Obviously." "Ithink you're wrong tosay 1275 souls means 1275 inhabitants, right, paulo?" "Youbet, Marcel." "tell him why, bright eye." "You'remoreconvincing." "Your 1275 souls, thatincludes niggers, but they don't got souls." "Right?" "Youbet." "Maybe you're right, butmaybe you're wrong." "Why do you say that?" "Makehim see the light." "They don'thavesouls 'cause they're notreaIly people." "well, whatare they then?" "Justniggers, that's all." "The proof is wecaIlthem niggers, not people." "Now waita sec." "How about this?" "A white baby loses his mama, who's also white..." "Ithappens?" "Ithappens." "And a black woman breastfeeds him." "Shesaves his life, right?" "Yeah, so?" "well, thatproves..." "Nothing." "Hecould suck a cow... and cowsain't people." "I'veslept with black women, never with cows." "Youcould've." "But that don't prove that cowsare people." "Put that in your pipe!" "You'regreatat logic, marcel!" "Butyoudidn't comehere for my logic." "Oh, no!" "I'vegotheadaches." "My head'saIltwisted around." "I've lostmy appetite." "SoIthoughtandthought and I came to thedecision" "thatl didn't know what todo." "Goon!" "Out of the way, hag!" "What?" "Shoes!" "Those two pimps aregiving him hell." "And in publictoo." "It's badfor my reputation." "Butyoudon't standfor it." "No, I give it rightback." "I don'tmuzzle'em, butI bait'em good." "He baits 'em." "Youever hear thatbefore?" "First time in my fuckin' life." "Youdid good tocome and seeme." "I'm gonnatelI you - no, show you -what todo." "Turn around." "I'm gonna illustrate my lesson." "Come back!" "Come back!" "Sit down." "I wanna ask yousomething." "I'd rather stand." "O.K." "If a guy kicks youin the ass, what do you do?" "I kickhim back." "That way, we'reeven." "Turn around again." "Youdidn't follow." "Just tell me." "Who's in charge?" "Turn around." "Did youunderstandthis time?" "Yougottagive it backtwiceas bad." "But the pimps never kicked my ass." "It's the principle." " Right, Paulo?" " Youbet." "If a guy bugs you, you bug himtwice as bad." "Otherwise it's likea statusquote." "Next time your two pimps startup..." "Kick 'em hard in the balls." "That'Il hurt!" "Yougotta havegood shoes with noholes in the toes." "If it wereup to me, I'd rub 'em out." " Pronto." " One, two... in the teeth!" "I wouldn'tmiss theopportunity." "Damn straight!" "Out of my sight!" "tell Marcel he's putme at ease." "Letus help you, Miss." "Nowthathe's told me what todo..." "Thanks to him, I'm covered." "Covered?" "How's that?" " Sure." " Cordier..." "What do youmean?" "tell him, he'lI understand." "Cordier..." "Bye...glad to meetyou." "Letme peel it for you." "So... youtraveIing alIaIone in Africafor fun?" "I'mthenew schoolteacher of Bourkassa." "That's afine profession, a vocation, I'd say." "Thanks to you, black children will beable to read their daddy's name on French war memorials." "Are you angry?" "NotreaIly." "We'vegot to laugh in this world or else we'd shoot ourselves." "Is it good?" "delicious." "Theexact time, please." "Six p.m." "Six p.m. We'reenteringthe virgin forest." "Six p.m. We'reenteringthe virgin forest." "Do you always carry a gun?" "I have to, I'mthe policechief of Bourkassa." "It frightens you?" "No." "I'venever used it." "Careful..." "They're heavy." "Books... maybeI brought toomany." "There's somuch time to read, you end up notreading." "Here's your school, and your houseacross thestreet." "I'Il lend it to you." "That way I'Il see youagain." "It's by an aviator." "In that case..." "Letmehelp you." "You'vegotno businessaround here." "Doing nothing is my job." "I'm paidfor it." "Sogodonothing somewhereeIse." "You'regoing a bit far!" "What's with you?" "Hands up." "As you Iike." "I'd like youtosing mea song." "Youmust be kidding." ""Catarinetta bella"." "Youlike that one?" "Sure we like it." "But that's no reason to take yourgun out." "Goon." "Butputyour gun away..." "I'Il count to three." "One..." "Two..." "You're just 16 andyou shouldsee" "How you troubleall the men" "I'm disappointed." "You'respoiIing my fun." "When does thejokeend?" "Wecan do better." "is ltyour eyeso soft that flips their wig" "Or your tits so big thatmakes them daft" "Oh, bella Catarinetta" "Llsten, love is calllngyou" "Why say no, notnow" "Do lt while you can" "Later you'll beold andgrey..." "Getup, Lucien." "What is it?" "Goanswer thedoor." "Geta moveon." "They'lIwake Nono." "And if it's athief?" "You're the law, moron." "True..." "He's playing dumb." "Putyour pants on." "By the way, dear... did you by chance find some banknotes... thatmight'veslipped out of my pocket?" "Look... with this war brewing out there," "I do have provisions to make." "Stay calm, my sweet." "I amcaIm." "Hurry up." "Did youdo it?" "Did I do what?" "Answer me, for chrissake!" "Youact like I killed someone." "Then youdidn't do it?" "What?" "kill someone?" "Whatan idea!" "Youscared me." "Oneshot kills thirst, two, worms, three, death." "paulo scaredtheshit outta me." "Hesaid your kilIingthose pimps would putme in a bind." "Youcouldn't even hurtafly." "Butyoubelieved it." "Ithought"Stupid as he is, he might takeme seriously."" "As if youcould steer me wrong." "Youmighthavemisunderstood." "I can makedistinctions." "I cameouthere tosave you." "Can I bunk here?" "I hate tosay no, but there's no room." "Is thehoteIfar?" "It'scIosed on account of epidemic." "Where, then?" "well, you could... no, you wouldn't sleep." "Just try me." "Notata brothel..." "especially with girls... of topgrade... all French and very young." "How young?" "Oneof them... isn't even 14." "Christ...andthe law?" "Niggergirls fuck at 12..." "Yeah, whitegirls can't be left out." " Youbet." " Is it far?" "well, there are thosedamn pimps..." "Youleave'em to me." "They're probably off getting smashed." "Yousure?" "Yeah, they'lI beoutalI night." "But they still scare thegirls." "Youmightnot geting." "I beg your pardon there..." "old Marcel Chavasson wasn'tborn yesterday." "I'IlteIl 'em I've seen to their twoshits and that they won'thurtafIy now." "You'rejust too much, marcel... brilliant..." "All alone in my empty room" "In my mouth a tasteof gloom" "In my heartl hear awful cries" "Andthere's darkness" "Around my eyes" "The door just closed" "Behlnd him now, he's shut away..." "Our kisses and love vows..." "Try this "tricoIore"... coffee, cognac, rumand calvados." "Youmusthave had quitea night." "I did my bestest." "It's not every day they get a real man in bed." "And it didn't costacent." "Andthey weren't worried?" "They boughtmy yarn." "tell it tomeagain, marcel." ""l putyour pimps in their place..." "Youwon't see'emaroundtoosoon."" "That's it to the letter..." "Hegave 'em what they deserved." "Yousaid it." "What'dthey deserve?" "He won't say it out of modesty." "Buthe's told it20times over." "I'm not bored." "And get it thru your head, Fred..." "There'sonIy one way todeal with scum like that." "Yeah, butyou'vegot moreguts than me." "Going to the whorehouse all by yourself." "I'veonly gotmyself, dimwit!" "That's true." "Speaking of pimps..." "Isn'tyour brother-in-law..." "A pimp?" "Nono?" "He's toostupid." "No woman'd look athim, except Huguette." "Of course, she's his sister." "I don't seea resemblance." "You'd neverguess they're brother and sis." "That did surprisemeat first." "Youmay be in for another surprisesomeday, old man!" "Another round on Cordier!" "As Foch says: when you're a lion, you can'tbe acIam." "I'vehad worse than your pimps." "And whered'you thinkthey are... now?" "In jail?" "Someday you'Il learn acoffin costs the state less than a man in aceIl, old chum." "Bartali beatVerwaeck at Briancon by 17 minutes." "Natch." "He pledged his bike toChrist." "Bartali?" "If youneed a hand with your pimps, call me if they come back." "Why shouldn't they?" "could bedead." "Why dead?" "could've been killed." "And you'd be a suspect." "Youcrazy?" "Why, you advertised it." "I never said I killed them." "I said I gave 'em a lesson." "A black eye isa lesson." "bulletin the head's a lesson, too." "Same word." "I never even seen 'em." "Of course -they couldn'tbe there." "Then youdid kiIlthem?" "Now doi look like I could do that?" "Butyou, after all yousaid..." "If their bodies ever popped up," "I wouldn't want to be in your shoes." "Youheard right, Marcel." "all you can do now is pray..." "If they aredead, hope they're never found." "Youdon'thave todoathing tomake folks think youdid." "Put thatin your pipe!" "How many today?" "Five." "Dysentery?" "Obviously." "all blacks..." "No, one white." "Oh yes, one white." "That's life." "The river for him too?" "Are you crazy?" "Thegraveyard." "Does ithurt?" "Look atme." "Am I hurting you?" "She's got something in her eye." "Open your eye..." "Much work?" "Dirty work." "Sometimes Ijust want todrop everything." "Butl can't." "I never will." "That'Il do it." "There, all better now." "Give us a kiss." "And me?" "Whatare youwaiting for?" "Do your job." "Stop it!" "MarcaiIlou!" "Goddammit!" "He won't sell me peanuts." "Hecheats!" "So what?" "Now you've knocked himout." "Yougonnaarrestme for clubbing' a nigger?" "No, not exactly..." "The main thing is the board." "The board?" "Yeah, covering thathole there..." "What if somebody fell in and brokehis leg?" "It'd be your fault." "So?" "So, being as nobody did, I'Il letyouoff this time." "Younever arrestanybody." "You'vegot toshowfoIks you're brave, honestand hard-working." "Here, hold this." " I can't." " Why not?" "First, because I'm notbrave, honestand hard-working." "And second, I don't think my chiefs wantme to be." "How come?" "well, they wouldn'thave picked meotherwise." "That's howl see it." "Sophism." "And no reason to let MarcailIou getaway." "The trouble is he's Rose's husband." "We'regoodfriends, Rose and me -that'saIl." "Butif I arresthim, folks'lIjump toconcIusions." "Let them." "Do your duty." "Getrid of this poison trash." "And who's gonnagetrid of them stinkin' privies?" "all in good time, each thing in turn and one after theother." "For thegeneraIgood, MarcailIou first." "Then we'lIget to your particular problem." "If yousay so." "May God grantyou thecourage youneed." "Those bastards..." "they won't getme like that." "There boy, goand getit!" "What brings you around here, you turd?" "Hands off my gun." "Youwon'tneed itany more." "I'vegota hunting license." "Youwon'tneedthatneither." "I was just going to see your wife." "We'regonna hit the sack and do things younever did, jerk." "Don'tmove." "Africans hate a boring death... hospitals, docs, nursesand priests..." "You, youwon'thave a boring death." "Kicking adying man isn'tvery nice." "But, first, I wantedto, and second, it's no risk." "This hurts me more than you." "Shit, hisdog." "Mustbecoming." "We'vegota minute, right?" "YouknowI wantyou." "WelIthen..." "it'd only takea minute." "Youknow it wouldn't." "Sit in my lap." "Don't say that." "I only wanna liftyour dress." "Maybe you could just take it off and Ietme see thosenice things..." "Just slide it over your shoulders, then..." "Oh, hell - let'sdo it." "Whatare youdoing?" "I only wanted to tell you..." "tell me later." "Quick, love." "Ithink I'd better tell you before." "Now comeon, I wantyou." "But something happened toMarcailIou." "Whocares?" "Heshould only croak..." "That's justit." "His insides gotaired out." "really?" "He tripped over his gun." "He's dead?" "Hedidn'tbudge... when I gave hima dozen or so kicks in the balls..." "No kidding!" "Sorry I wasn't there to see that shitpilecroak." "I'd haveenjoyed... ramming a poker up hisass." "Comenow, Rose, a little respect for thedead." "YourealIy shouIdn't use such foul language." "It's impolite." "He taughtmehowto be impolite." "I was well behaved until I met the fucker." "Why don'tyoutake your sIipoff?" "I'd rather you do it." "Oh yes, feel me alIover..." "I'm coming..." "Mustbe thegood news." "The soupsmelIsgood." "It's just bean soup, buthomegrown." "The beans come from his brother back home." "This bowl'sas big asatureen." "It was his." "I'Il eathis soup, butnot in his bowl." "Youdon't sense those things." "It'd ruin my appetite." "Butyousleep in hlsbed." "It's theonIy bed..." "there's nochoice." "But there'sother bowls." "It's more proper." "My soup..." "Even dead he's a pain." "That's aweird dog." "He's gota stripedown themiddIe." "MarcailIou did that." "So we'd each pat onehalf." "Sounds like poor MarcailIou." "Don'tIeave me tonight." "I'm scared." "It's my firstnightaIone." "Thereare 3 sortsof French..." "real French, shit French and French shit." "You'renot even French shit." "That's meon my wedding day." "I don't want to rot with him." "Dropme before the village." "Wait, Father." "Dohelpme, yes." "Termites." "They already ate twocrosses." "Goodthing the Christ's cast iron, eh?" "That should hold it." "Rose is here." "Benice." "She's anxious abouther husband." "Is he sick?" "Worse, maybe." "What's wrong, my dear?" "I'm worried aboutMarcaiIlou." "He wenthunting with his dog." "With his dog." "Thedog, yes." "Thedog came home alone." "Hls dog." "Yeah, hisdog." "Hls dog, Spot." "Yeah, Spot..." "with thestripedown the middle." "All alone." "Maybehegota beating, no?" "It doesn'tprove athing." "Maybehe had an accident." "Oh, an accident." "Who's talking aboutaccidents..." "ButSpotain'thad noaccident as he's come home." "I paid you to prevent gatecrashing." "Why should there be any?" "Your workers alIget tickets, seeing as it's part of their pay." "Gotta bea stonic to take that smell." "What's thatmean, "stonic"?" "Ya mean ya don't know whatitmeans?" "Doesn'tit bother your wife there... watchingthe film backwards?" "If it's free, even your shithouses don't bother her." "Tonight's film is "Mediterranean Alert"." "It's so they can see thesea." " How much?" " No, this is on me..." "Putit on my tab." "Goahead, kiddies." "Isn't thatCordier?" "Yes, with the schoolteacher." "Hecould use some learning." "See that outfit?" "It's just right for Lucien." "That dress..." "With your eyes..." "You'reso nice to me." "IjustIove sailors." "WiIlthey showthe Riviera?" "What's the Riviera?" "The plot's chickening!" " What is it?" " The Coted'Azur." "Ithoughtit was allover." "It'd be worse than that." "Youshouldturn in." "I'd miss my chance." "What chance?" "Somethingthatmightnothappen." "During the film I dreamt..." "A dream I often get..." "Aboutmy dad beating me." "I showhim my prize for good reading in school:" "a hard-cover book." "He throws it in my face." "In thedream, I'm a kid." "It's nota dream." "I am justa kid." "A monster who killed his mother at birth." "Do you still resentyour father?" "Notany more." "He'd always look for oneanswer to his problems." "Like blaming everything on Jewsand Freemasons." "Notunderstandingthat to know why thingsgo wrong, there isn't one reason, butathousand reasons." "I'm cold." "It's warmout." "It's not the weather." "A helIuvatime for repairs." "Butl'm not doing repairs." " Wanthelp?" " I'm nearly done." "It's for Vanderbruck." "Youmay be in for a reaItreat in themorning." "Do you hate Vanderbruck?" "I don'thate anybody." "I do." "He's here 2 years and already rich." "I can't dirty up thesemules." "Huguette'd be sore." "Wake up." "No, no..." "Vanderbruck's coming." "always a pain in the butt, that one..." "Quick." "This is gonna be fun." "Notup yet, Cordier?" "Hurry up, quick!" "I was working late lastnight." "Don'tmake ita habit..." "Shit!" "Takea look!" "Fast!" "Didn't even saIutate me." "Goddamshit!" "Thanks." "Get these shithoIes out of my sight!" "Forever!" "Tear themdown right this minute!" "Sure thing." " Goon..." " I don't dare." "Excuseme." "That's not funny." "Shit, my hat." "Kiss me, Huguette..." "Whoever dares say I sawed the boards soa man'dfaIl in and maybeget killed" " Quitacting like an idiot, Nono - would be ruining my career, accusing meof an act contrary tomy nature." "I'm not one to take risks." "That's for sure, sissy." "You're a prizeasshoIe." "Cutit out, blockhead!" "Youresent Nono because he's a real man." "There, Nono, my littlehe-man." "Lucky I have you." "Don't ever say that, Huguette." "Why not, if it's true?" "What's got into you, Lucien?" "Oh, Rose, you should haveseen the look in his eyes." "Like a killer's." "Me?" "With a killer's eyes?" "Eyes don'tharm." "Hands do." "Kissand make up." "well, kiss him." "Comeon." "Youknow, Rose, I've been thinking." "But then again, it's maybenotagood idea... thatyougetagun..." "To shoot with?" "Not to shoot with, Nono." "Just to keep her man off." "If hecomesather with bad intentions." "Itisa good idea!" "NotreaIly." "I can't see Rose, so sweetand frail, with a big gun in her little hand." "I mightkilI him by mistake." "Yousee." "Let's getyou that gun." " really?" " Sure." "Comeon." "That's agood one." "A pastor's wife shother husband with it?" "Oh yes!" "Have anything bigger?" "Somethingfrightening." "A club?" "No, very frightening." "Very, very frightening." "A gas mask." "hold it." "Good." "I'Il never use it." "Younever know." "You'vegotan idea in your head." "NotataIl, I swear." "I do things without thinking." "Later I understand." "I never plan ahead." "You're weird sometimes." "You'renot scared I might shootyousomeday?" "FirstIearn to shoot." "Then I'lI bescared." "Goon." "Morning." "Did we wake you?" "Yousee whatI see?" "See you later." " following him?" " Nothim." "The ladder." "Scram!" "Never aduIl moment!" "Are you crazy!" "Hemust be sick!" "Letme by." "Heshould bearrested." "He'Il get such a beating..." "You'Il be sorry if youtouch me." "play along." "I'm justpretending." "It's better than being locked up, no?" " O.K. But careful." " Sure." "Not the head." "Of course." "Take that!" "That'Ilteach you... to peekthrough windows." "Goeasy on him." "Not the head, eh?" "I can't read theaviator's book." "It's too welIwritten." "Youlike sounding illiterate?" "You'renot..." "So why?" "Habit." "Grammar gets rusty likeeverything else... if youdon'tuse it." "And in Africa..." "The same for Good and evil..." "What's Good?" "What's Evil?" "Nobody knows." "It's notmuch use here." "So it gets rusty, too." "Mustbe theclimate." "will ithappen tome?" "You?" "No.You'redifferent." "Notbecause you're prettier... than Rose..." "She's my girl, Rose." "But with you... it comes from inside." "Grabs you by theheart... like in a vice... and doesn'tIet go." "When I Iook atyou..." "I'm ill at ease." "Butl can'tkeepaway from you." "Do you understand that?" "Even if we kiss, it won'tmake it simpler." " Bye." "CarefuIwith the pistol." " Don't worry." "Stop it, Nono!" "And if I pretend too?" "It was that or jail." "Leave NonoaIone." "Rose is waiting for you." "Kissingthe bitch makes me sick." "I'Iltry to watch whatI say." "Listen." "What is it, sweet?" "Why, nothing." "Ifigured as much." "I'm a bit tired..." "not enough sleep." "The schoolteacher's cute." "Youknowher?" "I sawher on themoviescreen, in silhouette." "Youboth lookedfine in silhouette." "YouweresweIl, together." "Don'tbesiIly." "She's not thatkind." "She's toogood for you?" " And you're right for me?" " Listen..." "Having youis an honor..." "killing my husbandfor love." "No, I was just getting rid of trash." "The trash also happened to be your husband." "There'sa lot of trash around." "There'lI be less and less..." "had to start somewhere." "YoukiIled him on account of me." "Letme just goon thinkingthat." "Youtake your time." "I'm coming." "They all want to preventme from sleeping." "I'm worn out..." "Wait." "What's wrong?" "What's with you?" " Vicious nag..." " Are you hurt?" "He kicked me in the privates." " Come with me." " I'Il go home." "I'Ilfix youup." "I'Il seea doctor." "NotIike that." "Are you sure?" "Yes." "Can youwaIk?" "Just barely." "No bruises." "Butithurts like hell." "Doesn't take much in thatpart." "Here?" "Or here?" "You're toosoft." "I am not soft." "Touch me anywhere." "Say, you'renot crying in pain." "Someone's outside." "Hear it?" "It's Iikesomething was being dragged." "Wake up!" "I'Il goand see." "Take your gun atleast." "Oh, god damn." "The sonofabitch is back!" "Maybehe's not dead." "He's dead as they come." "Then he's notalone." "I doubt that." "Which goddam sonofabitch broughthim?" "There's the bastard." "Stop there, damn you!" "black bastard." "Why'd youbring him back?" "please, ma'am." " I'Il peel your black ass." " Forgiveme." "What got into you, for chrissake?" "Stop it!" "How's things, Friday?" "Getting cloudy, eh?" "Thank you, Captain, very well." "Yes, it looks like rain." "Why'd youbring him back?" "He was fine where he was." "Stop it." "Youtake the trouble to kill him and this prick..." "Backto thehouse now." "Don'tbe afraid." "I always treated you right." "That's why you can trustme." " I'Il never telIa soul." " Good." "I didn't seenothing." "Youmean IikeMa'am Rosenaked?" "Thatneither..." "Can I go, Captain?" "Sure, Friday." "Thank you." "Butbefore yougo, givemea hand with buryingthe body." "WhitefoIk aren'tmeant for vultures." "will he havesome?" "Friday..." "Want somecoffee and bread?" "No thank you." "I'm nothungry." "I'd better begoing." "Notjustyet, Lucien." "Waita bit." "Think you'lI sIeepgood..." "after whathe heard you say?" "Maybehedidn'thear." "Youwere yelling it." "Maybehedidn'tunderstand me." "PeopIeaIways said I mumble." "That wasn'tmumbIing." "Ithoughtyouwere tough." "Like with MarcailIou." "That was different." "Friday's agood, harmless nigger." "If we looked hard enough..." "I know what's bothering you." "Somecases... like your husband's "accident" you heard about itIater." "So you can say:" ""l'm notresponsible for it."" "But this time youknows what'sgonna happen." "So you say "Don't go"." "Butme, I can'tback outnow." "Is there any change?" "I'm coming." "Youthink he'd wait if he'd understood?" "Tired?" "My legs feeIweak." "Don't worry, it'lI pass." "What's wrong?" "YouknowI have to." "But, Captain, I trusted you." "You'redifferent from other whitemen." "There's your mistake." "I believed you." "No, youdidn't." "Now you're lying." "A good catholic like you- I'm hurt." "Lying is a sin." "killing's a sin, too." "Worse than lying." "Letmeoffer you someconsolation." "WeaIl kill what we love." "Butyoudon't loveme." "And another thing..." "Don't tire yourself getting up..." "Better the blind man who pisses out the window than thejoker who told him it was a urinal." "Know who the joker is?" "It'severybody." "AIlthe bastards who look away when you're in the shit, who wallow in their cash, prayingthrough their assholes thatnothing happens." "If it's true they weremade in God's image..." "I wouldn't like togetHim in adark alley." "Youkissedtoomuch whiteass." "Youasked toget fucked." "This is whatl do with friends like you." "Did youdo it?" "I'mtired of takingthe rap... for doing what everyone wants me todo... that they won't do themselves." " Madam MarcailIou?" " Yes, sir." "colonel TramicheI - Traas in traIala..." "This early visitmay surprise you." "PIeasegather your courage." "Mother of God, no..." "alas, yes, it's but too true." "But thereare twoof them!" "When will it end?" "Wake up." "There'san officer here to see you." "Hesays it's urgent." "Itmight be war." "I don't wantyoudrafted." "But, Huguette..." "If there'sa war, they'd need the police more than ever toarrest theones who won't fight." "No, listen." "No?" "A lastadieu to his master." "Hejust wants toeathim." "Right, Spot?" "Weird dog..." "He's gota..." "Ithinkthey were struck by the samehand." "The same weapon was used on them both." "I don't say you're wrong, butI don't say you're right." "I knowhow ithappened." "Friday wanted toget even with my husbandfor a beating." "Sohe took his rifle and shothim in the stomach." "Then my husband took it back and killed him... beforedying." "A caseof seIf-defense." "That's howl see it." "Doesn'tit seemodd -two men shooting each other like that?" "Oh, no, no, no." "It's happened before." "During the war, a machine-gunner got killed..." "Buthis finger stuck in the trigger..." "Sohis corpse went on and killed dozens of Huns." "My condolences." "Bury them so they stay buried." "I'venever seen a moreclear caseof murder." "clear as rain water." "Youmean still water." "Yes sir!" "Kiss me." "It's not the moment." "Youdon't graba brand-new widow." "We'lIwait tiIltonight." "Look." "My God!" "Poor little thing." "It'sa real pain in the ass." "I havea black dress I can lend you." "The bastard's not worth buying one." "Keep the veil." "Don't fool with death, Nono." "It's bad luck." "Havemore." "Then I won't eatafter the funeral." "Andthat'sgoodfood." "It's lamb stew." "Need help?" "No, that's all right." "Quit stuffing your face and look after Rose." "Does thatreaIly suitme?" "Widows look pretty... it gives me ideas." " A kiss?" " A big one!" "Come look." "Come look." "They were kissing and petting!" "Whatare yousaying?" "I'm interlocuting!" "What's got into him?" "I saw'em, IteIl you - in themirror." "Shame." "What's going on?" "Last time I try tocomfort somebody!" "ItoId her to lay her head on my shoulder." "Then I simply patted her on the back." "My only friend..." "believingthose lies." "NotataIl." "Don'tbeIieve them." "They were... alIover each other." " Stop howling." " I sawthem." "Shutup!" "I sawthem." "So?" "I'm ashamed." "I'm going home." " Are you leaving?" " After whathappened..." "She loses her husband, gets insulted..." "It's natural she's upset." "This is awomen'saffair." "Come and powder your nose for the funeral." "So, my little Rose... your heartmourns." "Notmy heart or anything else." "Remember Our Father's words:" "Forgiveusour sins..." ""As we forgiveothers..."" "They're lies that children learn even if they don't believe them." "Why forgiveMarcailIou?" "Youcan only forgive those you love, even then..." "Your Lord didn't say that." "Butyoudo believe in God?" "Sure." "Do you truly believe?" "I believe, butnot truly." "Hey, Father." "Is thatpigeon hanging over thechurch altar... madeof gold?" "That pigeon is the holy Spirit." "I'Il say nomore becauseof robbers." "What's it worth?" "approximately..." "Who's that?" "A dead man!" "Where hegoing?" "He's looking for thecemetery." "Gonna get buried?" "Out of my way, brats." "Excuseme." "Is Mr. Cordier at the funeral?" "That's him over there." "Everybody here thinks you'redead!" "No, Ma'am, that's not true." "well, I'm glad." "You'vegota bilIto pay at the laundry." "For silk pyjamas." "I don't wear pyjamas, justnightshirts." "holy Jesus!" "What is it?" "A ghost!" " Where?" " There." "It's Le Péron." "A ghosthas to bedead first." "I didn't think of that." "Warrant-officer George Le Péron." "It's war!" "Then why wouldthey tell me first?" "It's not the war." "It's my brother." " I seea likeness." " hardly." "And how is he?" "Dead... and youknow who killed him." "Didn'tyour regiment squash the peanut picker's revolt?" "Suredid." "It sure took guts... alIthose niggersarmed with clubs... and all you had was machineguns..." "My brother said you werean ass." "But why try tocover up for his murderer?" "If I only knew who it was." "He's acop, that's why..." "Your friend Chavasson." "He's notmy friend." "I even refused to puthim up thenight of thecrime which I regret, sincehe went to the brothel..." "Funny, in trying todefend him, you implicatehim even more." "Oh, that's the way I am." "I don't know why." "Féte-Nat!" "Bring thegIasses!" "Don't turn around." "Hemight drophis tray." "You'renotafraid of ghosts, are you?" "My grandma saw some, long ago." "After the big war, God wouldn't let thedead comeout." "There'd be toomany." "How'd hedo it?" "hello, friend." "Sonowthe whitefolk... wait to bedeadtoshake a nigger's hand." "well, it's too late." "WhatIjustheard is awful!" "Here itis... their favorite place." "What'dthey do?" "Nothing..." "likeanyoneelse if they could." "He always liked ratafia..." "Itbrings mecloser... tohim." "To thinkhe might've been killed here!" "Whatmakes yousay that?" "well, he hadto be killed somewhere." "So why nothere?" "True." "I'm exhausted." "Walking isaIready tiring." "But walking andthinking...!" "It's funny..." "My brother saw you differently." "May I call youLucien?" "Of course, George." "My brother sure hadthegood life..." "Better than ours." "Youcan say thatagain." "Thearmy must bea drag at times." "Yeah, butl couldn't do... anything else." "And you?" "Same for me." "Butisdoing nothing... a reaIgoaI in life?" "NotaIways." "Does it excuseus?" "Can you excuse a pole for filling a hole?" "Itmay squash some rabbits, but is it the pole's fault if it fits thathoIe?" "Buta pole is an inanimateobject." "Aren't weaIl moreor less inanimate?" "What do youmean?" "Who knows!" "There'sa guy who won't die in the war." " Sad sight..." " Not for everybody." "Your brother shotat them." "Youlethim?" "I'm nota policeman, George." "I'm Jesus Christ... in person... senthere with a load of crosses each bigger than the next..." "I see..." "Itry tosave the innocent... but there aren'tany." "all crimes arecoIlective." "Wecontribute toeach other'scrimes." "WeaIl shotyour brother." "And maybe I did..." "a bitmore than my share." "Strangeday!" "Now what?" "I must'vegotten dressed in thedark." "Do you knowthequestion noonecan answer?" "The big question?" "Goahead." "When youscratch your balls, is it'cause they itch or'cause it feels good?" "I'vehad an exhausting day." "I get taken for aghost," "I drink ratafia, I hear things said..." "Butnow..." "I know who killed my brother." "Who?" "Youtold me..." "Iforgot whatItoId you." "could yourepeat it?" "Whatmatters is what I didn't tell you." "What didn'tyouteIl me?" "I saw your brother alive theday after themurder." "No, no, no..." "What time is it?" "Six p.m." "We'reenteringthe virgin forest." ""Women nurse these fierce invalids returnedfromthe tropics."" "How was my mutton stew?" "Even better than theone Huguette made." "Youate twice!" "I can never say no." "Why'd youmarry her?" "I dunno." "She asked me." "And Rose?" "Same thing." "When MarcaiIlouwas shot, were you there?" "Let's see..." "when MarcailIou was shot..." "We'vegot somuch insideour heads, but when we want to use it - no way !" "Why do you ask?" "It wasgoodfor Rose." "It wasgoodfor MarcailIou !" "He was a brute." "killing him did afavor." "It wasan act of charity." "Butnot everybody can understand that." "I'm not everybody, Lucien." "No, don't." "But why?" "Don't." "When I pity someone, it's bad... for them and me." "Why are you late?" "I'm exhausted, Rose." "sleep isaIl you do." "It's the best thing, besides eating." "When youeat or sleep, you forgetabout the things you can't solve." "Think about it..." "You'Il see I'm right." "It's not thinking I need." "Whatare youdoing?" "I'm prayingfor strength." "Youthink it'Il work?" "I'm so weak I couldn't stick my finger in a cherry pie." "It's working!" "Thankthe Good Lord!" "It's the IeasthecouId do." "God told me to kill them." "I wasn't sure.Jesus Chrlst." "Can anyone readthat?" "No, Ma'am." "It's the beginning of"La MarseilIaise"." ""children of the land..."" ""theday of glory's come..."" ""the bloody flag of..."" ""tyranny'sagainstus..."" "Very good!" "The rice pudding'sgone!" "I restored myself... before taking Rose home." "About timeshe'sgone." "Aren'tyoudone yet?" "What's taking you?" "I'm drinking my coffee." "If youonly botheredto look, you'd see it's true." "Drink it somewhereelse." "You'reserving lunch in a bit." "So why should I getup now?" "OK, stay there." "I'm goingto thehairdresser's." "How's shegonnaturn out?" "YouspoiI my appetite." "Whatare theodds that war'sdecIared?" "YourealIy want it?" "Yeah!" "I waited so long!" "Butyou'Il have to fight." "Think so?" "Of course..." "with thenative soldiers." "Butl'm nota native." "Andthe black units are the shocktroops." "Terrific casualty rate!" "Oh yeah?" "I guessa war's not sogood..." "Or I'Il clear out." "Butl'd need money." "I don't gotany." "Butl gotafriend whodoes." "A friend?" "My sister's husband." "Me?" "Your friend?" "well, if youweren't," "I'dteIl Huguette all aboutyou and Rose." "Poor Nono..." "What supposedly happened is nothing, absolutely nothing, compared to whatmight happen very soon." "I'm looking for a needle and thread." "Found it?" "please putit back in order so Huguettedoesn'thave todo it because I won't be here tonight." "And don't look for themoney." "Itook it." "I dreamtGodturned intoa nigger, justas MarcailIou arrived, so hedidn't even try toget into Heaven." "Hesaid "Whatbad luck."" ""l getkilIed, my wifegets laid, and God'sa nigger!"" "Youate toomuch mutton stew." "Fakir Birman's horoscope!" "Look atPisces -that's my sign:" ""You will soon make a voyage for romantic reasons."" "Where'lIwego?" "That's lastyear's paper!" "The wordsarestilIthere." "Youthink we'lI have achance in thenext world?" "We had such good intentions and got so little." "My dream makes you say that?" "Maybe." "Want tocome with me?" "Where?" "Toeat fish by the river." "Ithought we'd go farther." "Anyway, you'reeating athome." "In fact, you're late." "Sure you won't come?" "I'm sure!" "Too bad!" "See you later!" "Over there." "I'm worried!" "He toremy room apart beforehe left." "I'venever seen him like that." "Youdidn't seehim?" "I keep telling you he's nothere!" "Of course, hemightbe in thecupboard." "Just cause he's not isn'tany proof!" "But where is henow?" "I haven't seen him since Iastnight." "Lastnight!" "Andthathat there... did it walk in alone?" "So you sleep with thecreep - it's toodisgusting!" "And you and Nono?" "I love Nono!" "Shu-sugar..." "Don't change thesubject!" "Where's my dough?" "I don't know." "Where's my money?" "Thatmoney's mine, nothis." "I saved itup toget the hell out." "I deserve somegood times... tosee the Riviera..." "I didn't spend 15 years here toget ripped off by acunt!" "I never saw your money!" "Youseen Nono's hands?" "What's wrong with them?" "Hecan be tough..." "So where's my dough?" "That's enough!" "Shutyour fucking face." "And if youmove, I'Il clean theshit outta your brain!" "What'd she say?" "Don'tIisten." "Do it!" "Do what?" "Give her one!" "That'Il make her talk." "Don't touch me." "Letmego, youbastard!" "My money!" "Mama!" "Don'tIethergo!" "colonel!" "TramicheI." "Traas in traIala..." "War's been declared!" "I heard it on the wireless!" "How distressing." "It's just like Daladier to pulIatrick like that." "It's typical..." "Ijustknew it..." "Of course..." "Daladier..." "UntiIweget our orders we'Il have to makedo..." "Get out from under my legs." "They're nice buta bit..." "clinging." "Attentlonl" "War has justbeen declared between France and Germanyl" "General mobilization!" "Lucien, it's awful." "Huguette..." "Nono..." "I know. I was there." "Yousaw everything?" "Let's say I heard everything." "And you did nothing?" "Why should I havedone something?" "Why...tostopme." "It wasn'tup to me tostop you." "It was up to you, to Huguette, Nono, MarcaiIlou." "If I put temptation in front of you, it's nota reason to use it." "IjustheIp folks reveal their truecharacter." "It'sa dirty job, Rose!" "And I deserveaIlthedirty pleasureI get out of it." "You'renotashamed?" "Part of my job is enjoying other folks' misery." "You'vegonecompIeteIy crazy!" "NotataIl." "normally I should crack down on the rich and powerful, but that's just whatl'm notaIlowed todo." "sol make up for itby coming down twice as hard on the poor, the wretched, theniggers and girls like you, who've put their brains where they sit." "Does thatmake you cry?" "Don't." "It won'thelp you." "Y'know, I'vesobbed my heart out... it didn't solve anything." "Youcan't get out of it soeasy." "Don'tIook atme like that!" "I can't believe it." "Lucien, why did youdo it?" "Youhave to help me." "I can't take it." "What can I do?" "Howthe hell do I know..." "Any idiot can see they were shot with yourgun." "But that's horrible!" "At first, itis horrible." "But then youstart to think... about starving kids, littlegirIs sold intoslavery, women whosesex is sewn up..." "God created murder out of pure kindness." "Murder's nothing compared to thosehorrors." "So, my little Rose, theonly thing todo is scram." "But where to?" "I'Il begIad to lend youmoney for the boat." "You'Il manage, I'm sureof that." "Youcould makea mintjust doing whatyoulike best." "Which you do better than any woman I know..." "And being as we'lI probably never seeeach other again..." "I'Il begIad to bang you one last time... even though you're afugitive." "How am I goingtogetup in time for mass?" "If youso much as touch me..." "Even if I go, don't think you'Il get off..." "Itmay take a lifetime butI'Il see youdead." "Thatmakes youlaugh." "It's those twodogsdown there." "Do you know why dogs sniff each other's butts?" "When dogs still ruled the world, they held aconvention to votenew laws." "The head dog said:" ""l suggest that, due to poor hygienehere, our assholes be leftat thedoor."" "Thedogs agreed and de-asshoIed." "Butjust then... atornado blew in... and mixed aIlthe assholes up." "Not onedog recognized hisown." "Ever since, they smell each other's asses... and it'Il goon till theend of time." "It's funny, no?" "Very." "Attention!" "Curfewtonightat9o'cIock..." "Stop!" "There's nomore war!" "What?" "There's no war!" "already?" "They've signed atMunich." "Tonight weceIebrate." "Cordier, they'vesigned atMunich." "Hedoesn't give a shit if there'sa war or not." "Don't say that, Rose." "Shutup!" "I've had enough of your bullshit!" "Even I can see you always justify whatyou do." "I need to have a reason." "You'rehard on me." "Yougivemedoubts." "I'd have sworn there wasn't a mean bone in me." "Butnow I wonder..." "They say there area hundred kinds of deaths." "I hope yours will be the worst." "Why did youwrite it?" "BecauseI don't love you enough?" "Don'tIove me, Anne." "It's notyou, it's my job." "Being with youwouId preventme..." "And I can'talIowthat." "Thereare thousands of unhappy people, and I'm alIaIone..." "Then youshouldn'thave told me." "I didn'tneedto know." "I had to." "You'renotafraid?" "Afraid of what?" "Of whatmighthappen..." "It's notimportant." "Anyway, I've been dead for such a longtime." "english translation by Nina Bogin" "Subtitling by ÉcIair Vidéo"