"ONE DAY BEFORE THE ECLIPSE" "Here, take this" "You take care, all right?" "Thanks" "Bye, Smoky." "ROCK" "What can I get you?" "'II have some toast and a glass of water. please." "Excuse me, do you know if anyone s going to the city?" "Is anyone here heading south?" "Maybe later." "Dammit" "Thanks. 've got it." "Thank you." "Hey, sweetheart, do you have green tea by any chance?" "We have tea bags." " Tea bags?" " Yeah, tea bags." "I'I take a bag." "Why are you going to montreal?" "Change of scenery." "Do you have a I cence?" " Adriver's licence?" " Yeah." "Yeah" "Listen, I might have a deal for you." "Thanks. sweetheart." "It's pretty s mpIe." "My damn merchandise arrived late in Chisasibi." "Now, I'm exhausted, my allergies are p ssing me off and 'm sick of driving, so I need someone to bring me back to the city." "I couId make it interesting for you. if you want." "Not a bad deal, huh?" "A lift, some cash..." "You can't ask for more." "Good." "G ad that's settled." "Here." "By the way, my name's Normand" " You can call me Norm." " Smoky" "Smoky?" "I hope you're not a smoker." "I'm al erg c to smoke." "Damn heIIhoIe!" "THE PRINCESS OF PEK NG RESTAURANT/CATERER" "You've got a heavy foot, kid." "slow down." "I don't want the highway patro on my ass." "What's that?" "Noth ng Just a tattoo" "Don't be embarrassed." "What happened?" "You did three months for selling dope?" "It cou d be worse. you know?" " What, eight months?" " No. eight years" "FOUR DAYS BEFORE THE ECL PSE" "WEIGH STATION" "Here you go, sir" "Thank you." "Here, take this" "Some water for the road It' I do you good" "Thanks" "You take care of yourself now." "See you soon." "Th s way" "Here you go Some nice, fresh f gs." "And your news ." "yesterday's news, that is" "Which one would you ike today?" "No, don't worry about it." "With a I the cans you brought!" "The f gs are a g ft Just pay for the lottery ticket" "So, I'm the one who owes you money." " $10.15." " Thank you." "You're welcome." "Have a good evening" "Mr. Fumetti..." "I have something to tell you." "I'm going to have to sel the house." "My wife would Iike us to buy something down south" "Condos are cheap at the moment You understand?" "I'm . sorry" "That's a I right Thank you for the figs" " Regards to your wife." " Yes, thank you." "PAPER" "Hey, Rosa Maria." "I'm back." "I have a little surprse for you." "They're good. eh?" "That's because they come from back home." "Just enough sun, just enough water, and most of all, good earth." "You remember the f gs, Rosa Mara?" "And the big fig tree in the v IIage cemetery?" "That's a I right" "What's the matter?" "Mayence s a nice name." "Mayence s like ." "Mayence." "O d names are back n style." "You all right?" "THREE DAYS BEFORE THE ECL PSE" " What's that?" "A sedative." "I don't need that." "I know." "SC SSORS" "hello?" "What?" "There's no reception here." "V ncent. 'II cal you back." "There's no reception here." "I'd have enough for two or three more days, if necessary.but ." "'II never make it if I drive the whole way back n one shot." "Trust me, V ncent." "we' I be there tomorrow night as planned." "No, there's no "we" 'II be there tomorrow night as p anned" "You pay your taxes, k d?" "Excuse me?" "Noth ng, never mind." "Sorry, I didn't catch that." "Your taxes . did you pay them?" "Let it go, big guy" "Oh, that's rght!" "You people don't pay taxes." "Don't worry about t." "I'I pay them for you." "Hey, Iet me see what you got there." "Dammit. said no relish!" "'m allergic to relish Go get me another one!" "Make it qu ck, we're in a hurry." "I think th s change on the ground be ongs to you." "I don't know what your parents were thinking. naming you Smoky." "My brother's the one who started call ng me that." "Why?" "He gave me my first jo nt to smoke at my father's funera" "I couldn't stop coughing." "so the name stuck." " How did your father die?" " He hanged himse f." "Yep t's been a while." "I was 9 when he d ed." "Th s is the only thing of h s that I st II have." " What s it?" " A bezoar." "Awhat?" "A bezoar." "It's sort of I ke a dreamcatcher." "It's meant to protect you, but he had it around h s neck when he hanged himse f, so.." "We're go ng to be roommates." "We have no cho ce." "t's their last room." "Norm?" "Yes, Norm." "Norm Lamoureux..." "What is t?" "Noth ng. except that he's about as re iabIe as a weatherman." "And why does Chow Yen want an Inu t?" "Aren't there enough people here who owe him money?" "For plenty of good reasons." "F rst. they're descended from As ans,and that's very important." "They're not polluted by smog." "Are you kidding me?" "Do ook like I'm kidding?" "You'II love the next one They eat sea ." " So?" " well..." "seal, Pierrette, is full of Omega-3, and Omega-3. ." "Is good for the heart." "Very good." "Last y, when an Inuit disappears. ." "no one talks much about it" "That's one good reason out of four." "But are you really go ng to do this?" "Are you rea Iy going to cut open an nuit?" "Since when s it your job to lynch people?" "A RARE EMENT" "Everyone wants to go to Europe, but it costs a fortune." "I'm telling you, Shanghai ." "is supposedly the one p ace to see before you die." "And not just for the girls." "I hear there's a seafood dish over there that is the mea of a ifetime." "They take the fish out of the aquarium and put it in bo ing o for five seconds." "Jesus!" "apparently t's half alive when they serve it to you." "You cut it open and the heart's st II beating!" "Must be something else" "We're gonna hit the road before breakfast." "My friend owns a restaurant just past the park." "Oh, that's ton ght?" "Your merchandise must be pretty va uabIe for you to carry a gun" "The Far North is a dangerous p ace." "AII rght, listen carefully!" "The most important thing when you shoot is to turn your shoulder s ightIy inwards and to keep your arm straight" "OK?" "Go ahead." "Yeah. that's perfect." "And to increase your chances of hitting the target, take a deep breath n and exha e slowly." "Once the a r is completely out of your lungs, right before you need to breathe, that's when you pul the trgger, when you're most stable." "Damn!" "I hope that's the one you were a ming for" "Come on now!" " You've never f red a gun?" " No." "We I.. must be a good teacher then." " You're not even interested?" " That's not what I said!" "I said I don't understand t's not the same thing." " What don't you understand?" " We . mean..." "The earth's shadow hides the moon. but I don't understand the shadow." "Where does t come from?" "Why does it just show up?" "Are you serious?" "I never learned about it!" "How would I know?" " I'm not an astrologist!" " Astronomer." "You see what I mean?" "It's not that compI cated" "OK, listen." "Bas cal y. a lunar eclipse happens when the moon, earth and sun are on the same axis." "t's rare because, on top of that, the moon has to be full." "But when it happens, the sun I ghts up the earth." "and the earth casts its shadow on the moon." "You understand?" "That's it!" "You know what was missing in your p cture?" "The sun" "exactly" "And in the end. the sun does almost al the work." "I don't be leve it" "Is that Norm?" " You're going to get busy, honey." " You th nk?" "well, he certa n y isn't here for the quality of our French fries" "Ladies, m ss..." "Where are you coming from with that van?" "Ajob up north." " Ajob?" " I had to pick up some merchandise." " Oh yeah?" "Up north?" " Yeah, up north" " Where up north?" " Way up north!" "The Far North!" "well, are you coming?" "As they say. 'm so hungry, if I had some salt and pepper..." "I'd eat my own ass" "BeverIey, st II as beautiful as ever" "don't know why." "but I feel I ke frog egs." "It's been a wh Ie." "Norm, I was think ng ." "If you ever need help once we're in the city." "let me know, I couId he p you out" "If ever need help?" "I mean. don't m nd driv ng." "do ng deliveries..." "You could ntroduce me to peop e It'd be fun to work together" "I don't think so, no." "You might think that's what you want, but it's not." "Look, you did the right thing, leaving home, starting over, getting a change of scenery." "They say you can't choose your family, but that's not true" "You sti I have a cho ce." "You can choose to live n the city." "find a white girl, a black girI. a yellow g r ." "have a kid who becomes the top scorer n his eague and save enough cash to retire to a beach somewhere n florida." "You can do all that." "You sti I have a cho ce." "But if you choose the wrong family..." "You'II soon f nd out that life is damn ordinary when you wake up each day with the same fee ng in your gut. ." "that rem nds you there's no one you can trust." "With that k nd of family, you just hope to end up n a decent retirement home because... it's stil not as bad as end ng up n the river." "So choose wise y if you want a change of scenery, otherwise... you' wind up in the same old sh t." "You know what?" "I feel I ke having wa tress legs instead." "already?" "You don't want to eat first. get some energy?" "I'm not really hungry." "You can go for t, f you feel like it." "Yes!" "Oh yes!" "You can do it, Norm." "Oh yeah!" "I'm almost there" " Can you feel t?" " I feel it, Norm." "I feel it." "My Inuit!" "Yes, Norm!" "I can feel your Inuit!" "No. damm t!" "My Inuit s getting away" "Goddammit!" "Goddammit!" "Fuck me" "I can't fucking believe it" "If I don't get to montreal tonight, I'm in deep shit!" "I don't have a choice" "And you, don't move a muscle while we f gure this out!" "Is that clear?" "I'm disappointed, Smoky." "Very d sappointed." "What's the deal with the Inuit, Norm?" "Exp ain the Inuit." "I don't get it." "Listen." "Chow Yen wants someone of Asian descent, OK?" "And the Inuit came from As a You understand?" "Listen, boys." "I just do what I'm to d" "The boss wi die if he doesn't get a heart." "And that's my job That's why I'm here!" "well, you better find another nuit fast!" "know. but can't go back up there." "I need one now It's happening tonight!" " That's rid cuIous!" " I know." " You can't just find one anywhere!" " Yeah." "I know!" "Normy. ." "you don't rea Iy need to go back up there, you know." "Inuit, Native, it's a I the same thing." "They all come from the same p ace." "Therefore, they all have the same ancestry .." "As an" "In that case... problem solved, Norm." "You don't real y have a choice" "G ve it to me." "I'I do t." "It's all rght." "Don't move, you little shit!" "You see how n ce the trees are?" "The blossoms are so coIourfu !" "I thought the new roof would've so ved the prob em, but it clearly hasn't" "How's she doing?" "I know I've said this before, but we could have an honourab e ceremony here for next to nothing." " I would take care of t myself. - know" "But we first met in the v IIage cemetery" "She's very attached to it" "You're n great shape for a man your age." "Don't you ever get tired?" "I might have a way for you to stop pedalling everywhere." "Don't worry, it's nothing you can't handle" "You nterested in making a litt e money?" "call me, I'I set it up." "My name is Muffin." "Lorenzo Fumetti." "Nice to meet you, Mr. Fumetti." "call me." "Take care." "It's going to be a hot one today." "FLIGHT TO ITALY" "START NG AT $799" "FOR SALE" "I'I be back soon, all rght?" "Have a seat." "I'I be right back" "I'm so sorry, V nce." "It's been crazy ateIy." "really crazy." "You wou dn't believe how busy I've been." "Since Choquette left" "I'm sorry I'm ate, Mince." "really." "It won't happen again." "You can trust me." "Open the damn trunk." "Doesn't seeing this kind of cash make you want to gamble again?" "If had made money gambling, I wouldn't be here." "Have you ever been to the track, Mr. Fumett ?" "I mean before, when you had more money." "Did you ever go to the track and bet on horses?" "It's really something" "When your own money's on the I ne and your horse comes out a winner." "it feels ." "incredible." "Here, it's a little I ke going to the track" "Except ton ght, Mr. Fumetti." "you are my horse." "Come on, fo ow me." "Th s is your way out of the gutter" "Come on." "Either you come with me and have a chance at getting out, or you can go back to collect ng scrap meta" "The choice is yours." "I'I make a Iot of money?" "Don't worry about that." "I'I take care of you, OK?" "It's s mpIe, Mr. Fumetti." "You take the pill that stops n front of your arrow, and swallow t with the drink given to you." "It's as simple as that." "Look." "That's very, very good for us." "Keep going." "Don't worry." "That's very, very good for us." "Mr. Fumetti, I must leave for a few moments" "I won't be long." "And don't forget, you have two horses now, so two piI s." "Why don't you show up even later next time?" "didn't have the goods." "Muffin." "What can I say?" "You should try this." "Pu-erh tea, aged 20 years." "It tastes ike a dank cave." "but it's good for the nervous system." "It's all Norm drinks now." "He says it's good for h s I bido" "What's the matter, Mincent?" "You don't ook too good" "I want it to be over." "Muff n" "I want th s to be the Iast one." "The last what?" "I know you helped me when I was broke." "What's wrong with you?" "What's the problem?" "That's on y half." "You'II get the rest after the operation." "You know that" "I don't care about the money." "That's not the problem" "A debt gets pa d off eventually, Muffin." "I've been doing this for a whi e, and I f gured. ." "that 'd done enough." "I just want to move on." "If that's really what you want..." "Where I come from. it's the person who pa d the debt who decides when it's been repaid" "The box is for him" "He's prof table." "Get h m back on his feet." "Lorenzo Fumetti." "V ncent" "Th s might make you throw up, but you'II feel better." "Thank you." "How are you, Mr. Fumetti?" "You look better" "You really mpressed everyone." "Not bad. huh?" "But that's nothing." "Next t me, we' I double your earn ngs." " Next time?" " Yes, next time" "Ever heard of a boxer who ret red the day he became a champ on?" "Yes." "Me" "Good even ng" "Everyth ng all right?" "Here's your newspaper." "Since you didn't drop by." "I also kept yesterday's copy." "Picture this ." "It's morning and we're st I asleep, but we know we have to wake up soon, because that's the way it is" "Every morning, we hear the other bedroom door open... and ttIe footsteps approach our bed." "That's when our Iitt e boy jumps into bed with us before our day starts" "He's always sm ling and happy to see us." "But on this morning, he's also curious.." "curious as to why his father has a two-inch cut over his eye" "What do we say if we don't want to lie to h m?" "You want another coffee?" "Yes, please." "CIara... don't think it's go ng to be that easy." "Mr. Fumetti?" "Open up know you're in there" "Jesus, it's hot!" "Has it been like this since I eft?" "Whose car is this?" "It's a Iong story" "Who's this?" "What happened, Norm?" "I don't know" "Do you?" "Do you know what happened n the Iast 20 years?" "I got into a fight with a recorded message the other day." "I got confused with aI the goddamn cho ces." "Then started yell ng and s amm ng the phone" "'Can't I just talk to a human be ng. goddamm t?" "'" "Jesus!" "Is it just me, or were things less complicated before?" "His name is Smoky, his father hanged himself when he was 9 and now he's ook ng for a job." " What are we going to do?" " I don't know." "We'I figure it out" "We're gonna get it." "f we don't deliver, they'II never et us go" "I'm sorry, V ncent It's my fault" "It's all rght." "Jesus!" "That's a good one!" "What are you do ng?" "I don't be leve it" "Can't shoot a bott e ." " Stop it." " Can't even hit a fucking van!" "I'm completely useless." "Look at me." "Norm" "We'I find a so ution." "Oh yeah?" "Which one?" "Which one!" "I don't know" "But no one's taking anyone's heart." "well, in that case..." "Goddammit, Norm." "Mr. Fumetti?" "Open up know you're in there" "You don't have to h de" "I just want to talk to you." "He's not dead?" "What do do now?" "help me." "believe me." "you deserve a ot more" "Oh my goodness" "And that's his ." "Yes." "holy shit hope you know what you're doing." "I haven't known for a ong t me." "Where's Norm?" "He's gone" "Gone..." "Gone, gone?" "Gone, gone." "I have a huge favour to ask" "Bon appetit." "CIara?" "I've been watching you." "You look ike you're wondering where your boyfriend is." "well, I'm here to tell you not to worry." "He's gone off to drive someone to the other side of the world." "But give him time." "He' I call." "Oh yeah, he also wanted me to te I you that he doesn't mind old names after all." "Thank you." " D d Norm drop by?" " No. why?" "Because my car is parked out front." "Windows open and everything." "No, I haven't seen him" "I'm sure he'd come see you, right?" "Definite y!" "well, he'II show up at some po nt." "If he's back. that must mean everything went wel" "Is th s a dreamcatcher?" "Here you go, handsome." "Excuse me Do you know if anyone here s heading north?" "Is anyone here heading north?" "They are very good indeed." "Were you talk ng to me, sir?" "I was talk ng to my w fe."