La maudite galette (1972) - full transcript

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The digitization and restoration of this film remain
faithful to the body and spirit of the original work.

They have been made possible by funding from

DIRTY MONEY

Directed by Denys Arcand

C'mer a minute.

So what'd he say?

He asked me what I was hanging
around here for.

So...?

I told him I was working here.

I didn't let on
it was to see you...



Did he believe ya?

Well,
I sure wasn't gonna ask him.

Anyway I'd just like to see him
stick his nose into my business.

He screws around
every chance he gets.

How'd he know you were comin'
down here in the first place?

Musta been
one of the neighbors.

What's that for?
He's paying you now?

My board.

And don't forget
to look the gate.

But what's the neighbors
wanna tell your husband for?

Hey Ernie, wanna gimme a lift
on your handlebars?

You gonna be there Monday?

Yeh. I'll be there. See ya.

If you want me, honey,
better buy a car.



Hey, how come
they're eating so early?

'Cause your Uncle Arthur's in
the living room.

What? Uncle Arthur?

Yeh. An' you better go in and see him.
- What's he doing here?

Go ask him yourself.

I wonder
what the hells he wants...

He staying' to supper?

What'd ya think
the kids are eatin' early for?

Go on.
He's waiting for you.

What am I supposed to say
to the old man?

Haven't seen him in years.

Give some to your sister.

You finished yet?

That stuff any good?

Shut up and get on outside.

Gert.
- What'd ya want?

Bring me a beer.
- In a minute.

I don't wanna see you two
until we finished eating.

Guess it must be five years
since we seen you last.

Five years?

Lemme see...

Last time we saw you was
when we baptized our youngest.

I think you're right

I don't get into town often.

You haven't changed much...
still the same as ever...

Your brother Ed
says the same thing.

Ed? You see him often?

Every now and again.

Here you are.

Wait a minute!
- Huh?

Here...

That's for the two of you.

What's that?
- Look.

For us?

My God!

I didn't give you anything since your daughter's christening

Well, I'd rather give you a little
before I die

so the government
doesn't get it all.

Yeh. How much is there?

$500.

Thanks.

It's not a fortune,
but it might come in handy.

You're damn right!

Five hundred dollars!

He shows up after five years
and hands over five hundred dollars!

It's better you should have it
than the government.

Who's that?

That's Ernie,
my hired hand.

He lives here?

I rent him a room.

Looks like that hired hand
I used to have,

the one that kicked the cow
to death.

That big blond one?

No, the short one.

He wasn't too smart.

Ernie ain't no genius.

I'm gonna get supper
on the table.

You little bastard.

We got company.
You're gonna eat in your room.

Good show?

Here's your plate.

What is it?
Pork roast.

And turn the T.V. down.

OK.

Tell him the one
about the cop and his dog.

Wait... wait a minute,
just a little.

I'm gonna heat up the coffee.
Here, drink this.

Are you gonna tell that story?

Yeh, go on.

Well, there was this guy...

...and he was takin' a walk

and he sees a cop
sittin' up on his horse

and he goes up to them
and he says...

"Nice dog you got there."

And the cop says to the guy:

"What'd you been drinking?"

And the guys says:

"Shut up!
It's your horse I'm talking to."

Hey! You can't make fun
of the police like that!

It's just a joke.

Still, ya better not fool around
with the cops.

Tell him the one about the guy
who slept with his cow.

Listen!

What's the guy's name?

Ernie?

Yeh.

I told you,
he's my hired hand.

And he's not too bright?

Last year we had a cat.

That somebody gave us.

It had brown spots.

Yeh.

And one day
that we were out,

Ernie had to get lunch
on his own.

Would you believe
that he ate

all the cat food
in the fridge?

Was he sick?

He's so stupid
that he never even noticed.

And that ain't all.

Next day I made him cat food
sandwiches with pickles...

...and he said
they were so good

that he wanted more.

I guess he's cheap to feed.

But aren't you scared
to leave him alone with the kids?

He's OK. As long as he doesn't start
grabbin' their ass...

You don't think he would?

Ernie?
He's scared stiff.

I oughta know...

One day I went by his room
bare-assed.

And instead of taking a good look,
you know,

he just slammed the door
and bawled like a baby.

I wouldn't cry.

Oh, you!

Ralph,
give your uncle a drink.

Does he cost you much?

What'd you mean?

You give him a salary,
don't you Ralph?

Yeh, $50 a week.

And I take $20 of that
for his board.

Not bad.

Pretty damn good, I'd say.

So far he's bought a bike,
a T.V. and a new suit.

TWO new suits!

Even Ralph don't have
two new suits.

An' he buys candy and stuff
for the kids.

But nothin' for us.

He's damn selfish.

Six years he's been here and,
you know,

he's never given us
one lousy present, not one!

What's so bad about that?

I wash and I clean
and I cook for him three times a day.

An' him,
he doesn't even say thank you!

He's selfish.

Damn right he's selfish!

You can't expect him
to be Santa Claus on $30 a week.

$30... That's more
than Ralph makes.

Just about.

Liars!

What'd you mean, liars?

$30 a week?
Don't make me laugh.

You wouldn't be giving him $50

if Ralph
were only taking home $30.

Lemme show you
who's lying around here.

Look at my budget!

You'll see.
- Take it easy, Gert.

Look!
- I know what I'm talking about.

I don't need your books.

Listen,
you call me a liar,

and then
you won't admit you're wrong.

Ralph, tell him
how much you make.

$30 a week,
like you said.

What'd I tell you?
Huh? Ya see?

So?

Anyway you got no reason
to call Ernie selfish.

I never gave you anything before
and you didn't call me selfish.

That's what you think!

You should hear
what they say behind your back.

What'd ya mean?

You know what they say?

They say

you're a stingy old bastard.

They say
with all the money you got,

you could help out
your own family.

Take us! How can we make it with his salary?

And it's not just us
thinks like that.

EVERYBODY says so!

EVERYBODY!

Why do you think they call you names?

I come to bring you $500,
and you call me a stingy bastard.

What'd ya think we're gonna do
with five hundred dollars?

It's better than nothing.

Look, I don't owe you
one penny.

I'm your legal heir,
Uncle Arthur.

What do I care?
That's MY money.

As if you earned it!

Are you trying to say
that's not my money?

If your wife hadn't died
when she did,

you might've been
out in the street yourself.

Listen, fatso!
- Watch who you're calling fatso.

Your wife was fatter than me.

Fat and rich!

Without her you wouldn't have
a shirt on your back.

Why don't you ask her
to put you in her will?

She's dead.

What you're doing?

He can keep his money.

But he gave it to us.

I'm telling you,
I don't want it.

He can go bury his money
with his wife.

And tell him
to get out of here!

GET OUT!!

I'll drive you home.

Don't touch me.

My truck is right outside.

You're too drunk.
- You're the one who's drunk.

You gonna drive me
all the way home?

What'd ya wanna
drive me home for?

I can do you a favor,
don't I?

And stick your nose
in my business too.

You're not gonna get one cent
from me.

I didn't ask for anything.

Maybe not you,
but what about your wife?

Forget her, she's drunk.

She has no right to talk like that
about my wife's money.

Watch it!
You're gonna break your neck.

There's jelly beans
and licorice and lollypops...

Get to bed.

I want some milk.
- Me too.

Get to bed.

Ernie's not going to bed.

Ernie's goin' to bed
after he does the dishes.

Don't knock 'em around.

Ya want some?

He left in a hurry,
your uncle.

Ralph went to drive him home.

He live far?

Not too far.

Where?

Out in the country somewhere...
don't know exactly.

Does he work?

He's rich...
doesn't need to work.

Aren't many rich people around...

Who's that?

Yeh, can you sit with the kids
tonight?

Right.

It's Gert.
Is Sam there?

At the tavern?

OK. 'Bye.

Sam, phone.

What's his house look like?

He's moved...

a few houses down
from where he used to be.

What kinda house?

Same kind as before.

Lots of neighbors?

I didn't really see,
it was dark out.

But I think the closed one

must be
about a half-mile down.

Yeh...

What're you up to?

Nothing.

Did he say anything else?

He wanted to know why you were
so interested in his money.

Did YOU ask him about it?

Well, I kinda joked about it...

Said that wooden houses
could burn mighty fast.

He said he couldn't care less.

Know what I think?

No...

He musta hid his money
someplace where it wouldn't burn.

Maybe.

I told him his house
looked easy to break into.

What'd he say?

He said, "Let 'em try,
dammit, just let 'em try!"

Was there a dog?

Yeh, I saw it.

And...?

He told me he had something
even better.

What?

He wouldn't say.

A gun.

Ya think so?

What a bastard!

Gives us $500
and then walks off it!

Listen...

He's still a bastard.

He said he wasn't gonna leave me
anything in his will.

Who's that?

You know what I think?

I think we ought to go have
a little chat with your uncle.

The kids are in bed.

There's soda in the fridge
if you want.

Who's that?
- Mary Ann.

What'd she want?

She's gonna stay with the kids.
- What for?

While we're out.
She's in the livingroom.

Where do you think you're doing
at this time of night?

You remember I said we ought
to have a little chat with your uncle?

And you think
he's gonna listen?

You think
he's gonna change his mind?

How much you wanna bet
he'll listen to me?

You sure don't know
Uncle Arthur.

Sam and Bobby
are gonna make sure he listens.

Hiya Sam.
How's my man?

Hi.
- Hiya Bobby.

Hiya brother-in-law.

What the hell's goin' on?

Gimme your gun.

Uncle Arthur's not gonna have
any trouble

hearing what we got to say.

You're nuts, you're crazy!

Hear that Gert?
He says you're crazy.

Scared, Ralph?

I'm not going
near that place.

Who needs ya?
Eh, Gert?

Yeh.

Go wait in the truck,
it's in the alley.

Gert, this is crazy.

Look, we don't need you.
Gimme the keys.

What're ya gonna do?

That's my business.
The keys!

I think I better come with you.

Well, c'mon then.

Wait a minute.

You ready?

'Night, Mary Ann.

Bobby's driving.

You know the road?

Ralph, answer Sam.

What?

You know the road?

Sure.

Ya better.

Which way?

Ralph, which way?

Left.

Ya sure?
- Yeh, left.

What about the dog?

Forget it. C'mon.

C'mon. Follow me.

No, no! My heart!

I'm just a poor old man.

My neighbor's the rich one.

You're gonna drop me.

Hold still or we'll throw you
down the stairs.

So you're a poor old man...

Yeh, yeh... really I'm poor.

Where's the money, old man?

My heart, my heart.

Shut up!

I'm not gonna ask you again,
old man.

No, I ain't got no money!

You're gonna tell us, ya know.
Sooner or later.

We got plenty of time.

Yeh, all right.

Is it upstairs?
Or down here?

I don't know
what you're talking about.

Hey...! C'mer!

It's Bobby.

Somebody hit Bobby...

And took his gun.
- You sure?

Bring him into the kitchen.

Listen. I'll give you $10,000
if you kill those two.

Shut up!

Who else is here with you?

I stuck the rag in his mouth.

Ralph? Is that you?

Who else is here?
- Nobody!

Who's here, old man?

Sam, I got him.

Sam!

Gert!

Get him!

Ernie, what the hell...?

Get up!

Don't shoot.

Take the rag out of his mouth.

Gert, unbutton his shirt.

Pour some coffee
on his stomach.

More.

Under the fifth step...
in the stairs.

Lie down, you two!

Get up!

Get him outside!

In the house.

Move! Fast!

Go get the truck.
You're driving.

What'd ya want?

A room.

Five bucks a night.

Follow me.

It won't be long

You want me
to wake you in the morning?

No.

I won't be long.

Gimme a beer.

Hey, Janet. It's on me.

Thanks.

Cheers.

You always drink
in the morning?

It's the first time...

What'd you do
if I wasn't here to pay?

Hey, buddy?

I got money.

You see my rings?

Cheapest one's worth $300.

What's that one worth?

Real diamond.

A thousand bucks,
that one.

You seen my car?

Not bad.

Know what it's worth?

$9,400.

A car like that
and a broad like this'll cost ya...

$20,000 a year.

20 000$ to your name

You got a car?

No.

No, eh?

An' ya know why?

'Cause ya got no class.

You don't know how to live.

You want $20,000?
- $20,000 on the table, buddy...

...and the car and the broad
are yours.

It's a big place, Montreal.
- I know.

Anyway,
he must be hiding out.

Look, I know him
and I'm gonna find him.

If you need any help...

Just help me
get my stockings on.

Where do ya think he's hiding?

Don't worry.

Hope ya know
what you're doin'.

This is better than a motel.

We're gonna eat up here.

I feel like getting drunk tonight.

I got drunk yesterday.

Room service?

Roastbeef for two,

with champagne...

...and send up some beer...

Room 1403.

Thanks.

What's your name?

Ernie.

You?
- Helen.

That's nice.

Wanna cigarette?

I don't smoke.

Where'd you get
that suitcase?

What'd you care?

How much is there?

Haven't had the time
to count it yet.

You steal it?

Go ask Tony if he's here.

Fourteenth.

Fourteenth.

Fifteenth.

Maybe we can go back tomorrow
for the coat...

You're right. It is better to have it when you'll want to go out

I'll call you back.

Ernie...

Open it.
- Your ticket?

Open it!

Miss...
- Yeh?

You got any jelly beans?

Hey, your change!

Hi Mom.

Hi Pop.

You still like jelly beans, Mom?

'Cause I got you some.

Shut your eyes now 'cause I got a surprise for you.

OK, open your eyes.

It's all yours!

Aren't you happy?

C'mon, be happy.

Laugh!

It's all money!

Ernie...

Don't cry, Mother.
Don't cry.

Give me a hand.

C'mon, give me a hand.

Take her in the other room.

Go lie down a while, Mother.

Jerome.

They're gone.

I think I dozed off.

Listen,
after the funeral...

how about if we take
a little trip to Florida?