"THE MOUTH AGAPE" "Lie on your back with your head here." "Keep still." "It takes five minutes." "Breathe normally." "She's coming out now." "Thank you." "You should buy your mother a walking stick." "My arm's better but I need radiation on my spine." "It's just rheumatism." "She has a bony spur." "We'll treat it at the same time." "I see." "Thanks very much." "Goodbye." "ls that better?" "Yes." "I was a bit chilly." "You've eaten more than me!" "." "That's true." "To think I haven't been able to swallow for two months." "Maybe it was psychosomatic." "I expect so." "But I'm not putting on any weight." "You will eventually." "Give it time." "You should be nicer to Nathalie." "She's a wonderful girl." "You're lucky to have a wife like her." "She told me you cheated on her." "I didn't think you took after your father." "Still jealous at your age?" "I remember you used to go looking for him in bars when he didn't come home." "And you spat on Gene Tierney's photo." "Gene Tierney?" "That's right." "Remember?" "The photo on the cupboard door in the shop." "He'd cut it out of a magazine." "You spat at her." "Whoremonger!" "." "I didn't." "You've made that up." "You liar!" "." "You thought she reminded him of that girl on the railways." "It was true as well." "She was a pretty girl." "What did she see in him?" "She was expensive." "The others too." "Others?" "I never told you but I used to steal from the till." "To buy drinks for my mates, and canvases." "You did too." "We found cash in your pockets." "That's where all our profits went." "You should never have left Paris to go back to the Auvergne." "But... you cheated on Dad too, didn't you?" "Me?" "I never had the sense to." "ln Compiègne." "In Compiègne?" "But how could I have done?" "I always had you sleeping with me in my room." "So what did you do every afternoon when you went walking in the woods with that lawyer, Marigny?" "Nothing, we just walked." "He was over 50, you know." "But he was quite distinguished, wasn't he?" "He was Uncle's great friend in Compiègne." "It was all a family plot so you could get a divorce." "That's going too far." "What I remember is holding your hand for hours until you fell asleep, at ten years old." "It's true, I was easily scared." "I slept in your bed for years, even though I had a room of my own." "I wasn't like that as a child." "If you'd had my upbringing..." "My father used to put me in the cellar as a punishment." "He left me there for hours." "I'd forgotten about that." "It's odd." "To me he was the most wonderful man I'd ever met." "I can't imagine him behaving like that with you." "He terrorised me." "When I went to school, I hardly dared say a word." "It took me weeks to make friends." "I remember on my first day, when I arrived Germaine took my beret off and said, "Hey, you, are you coming in or not?"" "I didn't dare move." "I was petrified." "Germaine." "Have you heard from her?" "We should pay her a visit." "Whenever you like." "I'd love to." "Mind if I put a record on?" "Hello?" "Yes, I'll hold." "Grandpa was very strict with Emile too." "But he didn't care." "He was ten years younger than me." "Hello?" "Yes..." "Yes, of course." "I see." "I don't know..." "Tomorrow?" "Tomorrow at five o'clock?" "All right." "Thanks." "See you tomorrow." "I've got some TV work." "What about your job?" "I can do both." "Are you sure?" "I'll work something out." "I'm not used to having someone wait on me." "Grandpa had an education." "Why didn't he let you and Emile carry on with your studies?" "Emile, perhaps, but I wasn't brainy enough." "You don't need to be brainy to be a student." "You should see some of the doctors I know." "It was a lack of education that meant you married Dad." "He wasn't the man for you." "Mind you, I'd never have been born otherwise." "Come on." "Couldn't you have come home earlier?" "What's the matter?" "I saw Professor Simon." "She's only got a few months left." "I know she's not your mother but is that all she means to you?" "You were expecting this sooner or later." "Of course." "You're so kind." "How are you this morning?" "Put that down." "I'm fine." "Something to read." "I got a letter from your dad." "It was waiting for me." "He's coming to see me very soon." "That's nice." "I'm not bored." "I'm keeping up with all the gossip on the ward." "That old woman she's a real character." "What are you doing here?" "What about you?" "I told you, I don't want you here." "Oh, shut up." "Really!" "." "Can you take the flowers?" "The nurse will find a vase." "What's the matter now?" "He's been round the house again." "I had to get my stuff." "Who gave you the key?" "I never gave anyone a key." "He burgled me!" "." "Stop shouting!" "They were my things." "You messed everything up." "I'm going to give you a good whack!" "Get off me!" "I'll show you." "I'll whack you." "I'll get an iron bar." "I'll whack you with an iron bar!" "Stop it!" "What's going on here?" "You can leave now, both of you." "Let me put my jacket on, at least." "Old bastard." "We'll see who's a bastard." "Shut up." "You wear me out!" "Right, goodbye." "Goodbye." "Mind my head!" "That's enough." "You'll see." "I'll smash your head in!" "That's better." "Peace and quiet." "They wear me out." "But they're your family." "I don't want to see them any more." "I'm hungry." "Some yoghurt." "It's incredible how much she can eat." "It's like that all the time." "Such a racket." "Time to go now." "She doesn't stop." "Already?" "We got here so late." "Nevermind." "I won't see you for a while." "I've got two weeks' holiday." "That'll do you good." "See you soon." "Goodbye, beautiful." "See you tomorrow." "Goodbye, darling." "And thank you." "What for?" "Don't be silly." "You're better off here." "I couldn't look after you as well as they do." "Mrs. Gidon asks after you every day." "She said she'd write soon." "I got your letter." "Are you managing to cook all right?" "Just about." "I feel much better here." "They weren't very nice to me." "I could see I was in Nathalie's way." "Philippe was never there." "He was always in a bad mood." "One day he was giving me a lift." "He said, "I'm just your taxi driver."" "He can be thoughtless sometimes." "Don't let him get to you." "He means well." "You'll get better and you'll be home soon, you'll see." "It could take a long time." "I'd rather it took time than that it was all over." "I couldn't bear to stay..." "I mean, I don't want to have to come back here." "I'd rather die at home." "Don't be silly." "Look..." "He's so kind." "He comes twice a day." "Hello." "All right?" "Not bad." "I get a bit cold and I can't read anymore, even with my glasses." "We'll get you a magnifying glass, a big one." "Did you get here this morning?" "Yes." "In fine fettle?" "That's it." "It's gone." "Were you over-excited?" "Yes." "I'm going to wash." "Does that happen to you often?" "From time to time." "A guy like you must have lots of women." "Are you married?" "Yes." "Are you?" "Not me." "Not yet." "How old are you?" "30." "You're young." "You're young too." "I'm 22." "What's your name?" "Corinne." "You?" "Philippe." "Nice name." "What sign are you?" "Virgo." "I knew it!" "What were you doing when I picked you up?" "Waiting for my driving lesson." "Have you missed it?" "Yes, it's too late now." "Nice bra." "Do you like it?" "It's so hot." "How much do you want?" "Are you crazy?" "I didn't come here for money." "You must be disappointed then." "These things happen." "That's true." "Better luck next time." "We should keep in touch." "Do you want my number?" "Poincaré 78 62." "Bye." "You've had your 45 minutes." "So?" "What an idiot." "What an idiot." "Don't you feel well?" "No." "I'm not too good, you know." "Since when?" "Not long." "Since yesterday." "It's the cold." "I must have eaten something to make me feel ill." "Do you still want the magnifying glass?" "She'd be more comfortable with a surgical collar." "It would support her neck." "Take the collar off." "She can't bear it." "I know the address of a healer in St. Honoré." "How about going to see him?" "There's another one called Rosier." "I'll give you his number." "Thanks." "I'll call you tonight." "I can't move my arm at all." "Sir, Doctor Foucault would like to see you." "Can you take your mother home?" "There's no point our keeping her here." "She doesn't live in Paris." "She'll be fine at home in the Auvergne." "You're here." "All right?" "Yes." "Not too tired?" "I'm all right." "Uncle Emile came." "You know what he's like." "He can't just stay for an hour." "How is she?" "The nurse comes to give her injections every day." "They must do some good." "Distilled water more like, the charlatans!" "Do you believe in that rubbish?" "I'll go up." "Well?" "Did Emile come to see you?" "Yes, you know what he's like." "It's always the same." "Are you all right?" "I'm all right." "I'm fine." "And your..." "...work?" "It's okay." "Nathalie's coming back from her holiday." "We'll come and see you together." "Because..." "Do you want to come back?" "No." "I... know you don't want..." "I like getting there early, talking to people." "Talking about what's going on in our old Auvergne." "I've got friends I can visit." "Are you going to the market?" "Of course." "I see my old friends there." "I've still got close friends here." "Old friends all over the place." "It's good to see them." "I go to the market on Saturdays." "The other days of the week I've got things to do." "Bits and pieces." "Passes the time." "Yes." "Good health." "Yours too." "Have a good day." "Bye." "Off to market." "Yes." "See you one of these days." "Bye." "What a guy!" "I'll try to keep her here as long as I can." "For God's sake!" "." "Since we lost the colonies, the coloureds are everywhere." "How are you?" "To think..." "A glass of red." "At school we learnt about Pondicherry, Chandernagor Karikal, Yanaon and Mahé." "It's part of our history." "You certainly know your geography." "Did you see the wedding?" "There's more and more of them." "Will you have one yourself?" "Why not?" "Cheers." "Same to you." "There are Portuguese, Arabs..." "A bit of everything." "What can you do?" "It's not just the Auvergnats now." "That's right." "The priest says he's going to retire." "He's from Clermont." "He has to with this Pope." "The retirement age is 75." "That's good. 75 isn't bad at all." "I saw your son was here..." "Philippe." "Has he come to stay for a few days?" "That must be a weight off your shoulders." "You've got a lot on your plate." "I've had enough." "If I were in your shoes..." "I can understand it." "These things are so sad." "Of course." "Of course." "Mr." "Bastide?" "He's in the café." "I'll call him for you." "Roger, someone's here for you." "Here he comes." "Mr." "Bastide?" "Yes." "Our agency buys and sells businesses." "We wondered if you might be willing to sell your shop?" "I've had people ask me that for the last ten years." "The shop's doing fine, as you can see." "You're quite happy?" "Happy?" "Well, I'm not going to end up working in the factory." "You're almost at retirement age." "I'm not planning to retire." "No?" "Not at all interested." "So you've got a regular turnover?" "That's my business, not yours." "You're not interested, then?" "No." "I might have a buyer, that's all." "And since it's quite well situated..." "Listen, I'm busy, a bit on edge." "lf in the future..." "Lunch is ready." "In case you want to do a deal, I'll leave you my card." "Thank you very much." "Thanks, goodbye." "Do you want radishes?" "Those people get on my bloody nerves!" "Right..." "Have this first." "I'll bring the radishes afterwards." "Want some sauce?" "Gravy?" "Butter?" "Want the green beans with it?" "Shit, where's my knife?" "So are you okay?" "I said, are you okay?" "I'm okay." "Okay." "What did he want?" "Getting on my bloody nerves about selling the bloody business." "Thank you." "Can you help me?" "I can't unfasten it." "How is she?" "Still the same." "It could go on for months, couldn't it?" "That's your dad's fault." "He slept with his mistress the day after their wedding." "Your mother never liked me." "And you hated her." "She thought I wasn't good enough for you." "Your grandpa liked me, though." "Some family you've got." "Thanks for that." "When he died, all your mum cared about was the money." "Remember the cashmere shawl we had to cut in two?" "They're selfish." "Of course." "Your mum only ever loved your dad and she was eaten away by jealousy." "Of course she was." "All he thought about was girls." "In Montreuil my friends and I called him the old goat." "They went back to the Auvergne just when you needed them most." "They didn't care that you were here with nothing to eat and that you kept fainting." "You walked out on me too." "You went off to England." "We were arguing all the time." "I couldn't stand it." "If they'd stayed, we wouldn't have got married." "I didn't want to." "Well..." "We were mad to." "Maybe we'd have been better off." "Remember the eczema I had all over my body because I didn't want to get married?" "And that reception in that shabby hotel." "You slapped me for no reason." "You're so lazy." "You never do anything." "If it wasn't for me, you'd live like a tramp." "Absolutely." "Roger..." "Roger..." "Your breath..." "You were running after some... tart." "You smell of wine." "Smell of... wine." "Your breath stinks." "You smell of wine." "It's awful." "She looks 1 00 years old." "Annie-Claude!" "How are you?" "Fine." "What do you want?" "A T-shirt." "What sort?" "What colour?" "Yellow, if you have one." "Yellow." "Or red." "What's your...?" "Size?" "We need to know your size." "Are they for men or for women?" "Wait, I'll measure you, chicken." "You're as sweet as ever." "And you're as affectionate as ever." "91." "And your bottom..." "ls that strictly necessary for a T-shirt?" "92." "Try this one." "Okay?" "Take your top off." "Take it off and try it on." "You've done this before." "It looks nice in yellow." "Doesn't it, sweetie?" "It fits perfectly." "Tight enough?" "It's tight all right." "It's fine." "You'll take it?" "It's 1 5 francs." "That's okay." "Got some money?" "Yes." "What?" "Can you wrap it up?" "Yes, I'll wrap it up." "Since you're so sweet I'll give you some..." "What size do you take in tights?" "Size two." "That's nice of you." "Two?" "Yes." "Threes will do." "Here." "A present from me." "Little kitten." "See you later?" "Yes, see you later." "At the café?" "We'll see, pussy cat." "Are you my girlfriend?" "Goodbye, chicken." "Bye, Mr. Roger." "T-shirts..." "I'll give you bloody T-shirts." "Get an eyeful, did you?" "Never a dull moment, eh?" "Dirty old man." "What do you mean?" "What do you want?" "What do I want?" "I've come to get some size threes." "I've only got ones and twos." "I'm sick of it." "Is that a three?" "Have fun." "Okay." "Bye." "He's unbelievable!" "." "That should do it." "A bit more." "Bloody hell!" "It's nearly time to harvest the grapes." "It's from him." "This is getting me down." "Is it?" "That's not good." "I don't know." "I've never written you love letters." "I wish it was all over." "I can't take any more." "She needs you." "Everyone says you're wonderful with her." "I just want it to be over." "I don't like Philippe hanging around." "I've got too much to do." "He comes for five minutes and then clears off into town." "I'll go." "Hello." "I need something to finish off a quilt." "A piece of satin." "Satin?" "Something in green or red." "I'm not sure." "Hang on." "Is it over here?" "It's here." "You know better than I do." "Something like this?" "What's it for?" "For a quilt." "It's not too small?" "That'll do fine." "I'll wrap it up for you." "How much is it?" "I don't know." "You probably know the prices." "Five francs?" "Okay." "I'll wrap it up." "Thank you." "There we are." "Will that be okay?" "Who are you writing to?" "Someone I arranged to meet." "Philippe said you go and see Jeanne when Monique's asleep." "You're insane." "What if she wakes up?" "She sleeps for at least three or four hours." "The old man comes and lets me know." "I don't know what you see in that Jeanne." "I've seen her." "She's hardly beautiful." "She's just a peasant, and she's older than you." "What do I care?" "She's still got a pair of..." "You're such a dirty old man." "I'm going to marry her." "What's so funny?" "Why didn't you marry her when you were young?" "You knew her before you met Monique." "You never knew my father, old Bastide." "The boss's son couldn't marry the shop assistant's daughter." "You could have married her after he died." "You didn't know my father." "He had principles, status." "Anyway, that's life." "How are you?" "All done." "It's nice of you to come." "Are you off now?" "We're going to Compiègne." "To the dance?" "It's Saturday night." "It's tonight?" "If you're going, I might come too." "Good idea." "You'll be back tomorrow, won't you?" "That's right." "You know..." "Bye, then." "See you tomorrow." "You could have given me a hand." "I'm upstairs changing your mother and the minute you see those nurses, you're all over them." "Honestly!" "I wasn't." "I wasn't all over them." "You were..." "Turning on the charm." "I'm sick of it." "All right, girls?" "I'll have you both one of these days." "We won't be needing Vaseline!" "What a joker!" "People speak so ill of the clergy, Mr. Bastide." "We'll talk about this some other time." "Goodbye, father." "Hello." "Can I have a glass?" "A glass of red?" "Yes." "You're not from round here?" "I'm from Paris." "Are you here for the harvest?" "That'll be right!" "No, not for the harvest." "You could earn a bit of cash, you know." "Want a drink?" "I've just had a coffee." "I'd like a cigarette, though." "Thank you." "Are you here for a few days?" "Yes." "We could meet up one evening." "Good health." "Is grape-picking well paid?" "Don't worry, I'll take care of it." "Thanks." "I've got to go now." "Want a drink?" "No, I have to take Nathalie back." "Goodbye." "Goodbye." "Tucking my shirt into my underpants." "How ridiculous!" "You're so silly." "Keep me up to date by phone." "I can't come back again or I'll get the sack." "Yes..." "Yes, of course." "Can you take this?" "Yes." "Mind your skirt." "Do you have to have that on?" "It's just to hear the news." "Honestly, Philippe, show some respect." "Okay." "It's over." "Mr. Bastide, you're so upset." "Is it because of Philippe?" "You mustn't be so upset." "Has he gone?" "He bought a nice bunch of flowers in Clermont." "It's not that he doesn't care." "He loved his mother." "I thought you weren't coming back." "To see the body placed in the coffin." "Don't be daft." "If you wouldn't mind, sir..." "I'd love a bouquet of flowers." "This morning..." "I don't mind." "This morning, they bought a bouquet of everlasting flowers and..." "What are they?" "I know nothing about flowers." "Flowers that..." "Dried flowers." "For winter bouquets." "Blue ones, yellow, orange..." "They're very pretty." "You're meant to hang them up before putting them in a vase." "Yes, so that they dry out properly." "They're very nice, dried bouquets." "If only I'd thought of it." "We can give you that one." "No." "Yes, we'd like to." "Really, we'd like to." "Of course we would." "I thought we'd find them at the market at Clermont." "The only flowers I know are geraniums." "What about petunias?" "And petunias." "Because they're..." "And begonias." "No, begonias are no good." "Why not?" "In our back garden, they don't need much..." "Even in the heat, they don't need much watering." "They flower all year." "Really?" "Petunias?" "That's right." "We plant red petunias." "Red and blue ones this year, but it's been too dry." "But they're marvellous all year round." "From June to about now." "The weather we've been having..." "I thought petunias were climbers." "They flower all year long." "Like geraniums." "Petunias come in wonderful colours." "We had red and purple this year." "They were lovely." "Do you like the red ones?" "The purples ones are beautiful." "But they get choked by weeds." "We lived together for 34 years." "I've got good memories." "It's true that we argued." "We did." "But she was kind." "You have to make an effort." "You know what he's like." "He's stubborn as a mule." "He's so stubborn." "I'd have him live with us." "He'd get bored in Paris." "He always hates it when he visits." "You've seen what he's like, wandering round in circles." "Imagine what he'll be like once he's all alone in that place." "If it was a supermarket with lots of people..." "At least you've got your apples, Albert." "We'll ask him to pick our apples." "He can come and help us." "lt would be good if he did." "I don't know if he'll want to." "I'm sure he'll come for the grape harvest." "For the harvest..." "He'll come for that." "That was his... first job." "When he was..." "Would you like anything else?" "Anything else to eat or drink?" "No, thanks." "You should speak to him." "You should speak to him." "I know." "Well, then, Roger..." "Cheers, Albert." "Yes, cheers." "Here's to friendship." "We'll come and see you, cheer you up." "That's nice." "Shall we go outside?" "Right." "Come and see us for a few days." "Don't lose heart." "Goodbye." "It was nice of you to come." "It's the least I can do." "Emile could have come, though." "Emile!" "He sent the uniform instead!" "Doesn't he ever come?" "Must be weird for you." "You're like a dignitary at a state funeral." "She was his sister after all." "Whose funeral?" "Come on, come with us." "I want to stay near her." "We'll look after you in Paris." "I want to stay near her." "Who'll look after you?" "You can't stay here alone." "I'll be all right." "Don't be so pig-headed." "It's so stupid." "Listen, I want to stay here." "I'll come and see you as soon as I can."