Une étrange affaire (1981) - full transcript

Louis Coline assists the head of advertising of a department store in decline. He has little to do, but seems content with his marriage to Nina, his visits to his mother and grandmother, and poker games with friends. When new boss Bernard Malair arrives to turn the store around, Louis fears for his job; but Bernard, with his numbers man Paul and his factotum François, invites Louis into an inner circle of long hours of work, nightclubs, and dinners with an androgynous vamp. Nina objects, but Louis cannot say no to Bernard's demands, no matter how personal. In desperation, Nina leaves Louis, but that drives him further into Bernard's orbit. Can anything break this spell?

A STRANGE AFFAIR

Two jacks & an ace.

It's his turn.

- How much am I up to?
- 1008.

- You're rich, huh?
- Shut up.

- What time is it?
- 7:50.

- Damn. I gotta run.
- What? Quitting?

Yeah, we said three rounds,
let's cash in.

- Hello!
- Hi! ... Bye, freaks!

- It's been long since it started?
- It's almost done.

I bet hundred to one
he's not really dead.



- You know, I had worse bosses.
- Sure.

- When is the new one coming?
- Seems he's here.

- Here?
- Donnow.

- Apparently the new one's here.
- Yep... Over there.

- Where?
- Tall, third row.

Interesting.

- Now you've outdone yourself.
- Went to the funeral.

- Whose funeral?
- Fausse's of course.

- He's dead?
- I told you. Day before yesterday. Cancer.

I thought he was
doing better.

My razor.

- There. - Where?
- On the right.

That's its place.
It goes on the left.

- What's wrong?
- We'll be working round the clock. I told you.



- Why?
- Saw the new boss:

3-piece suit, legion of honor...
velvet hand in an iron glove.

- It's the other way around.
- What do you mean?

Supposed to be an iron hand.

Anyway, all services will
take a hit, for sure.

Good morning!

You know who came up
with the word of the day?

- The word of the day?
- Yeah.

- Wait... Is it funny or dumb?
- Dumb.

- Doutre!
- Spot on.

We are--brace yourself--"a ship
without a captain caught in a storm."

- You don't say.

- Good morning, Mr. Doutre!
- Ah, Coline.

Feels weird without him,
it's like, can't describe it...

A ship without a
captain, Coline!

- That's it exactly.
- Ah, yes.

A ship without
a captain.

So, you've seen the new
boss in the church?

But that's not him.

Really?

- So who is he?
- That we don't know, but

it's not him.
He's not in Paris.

He arrives Thursday.
From Basil.

- His name, you know that much?
- I'm not authorized to say at the moment.

Well, then, don't
say it.

Etienne, this is Louis.

Hey, Lens vs. Bastia,
I bet on Lens 2 to 1, ok?

Plus, remember, Leclerc
doesn't play, it's a gift.

Everything white.

He ordered some designer
furniture for a 100 grand.

Hello, ladies
and gentlemen!

- Good morning.
- Good morning.

- Here's my expense list.
- Are your balance sheets done?

- My balance sheets for what?
- Listen, he wants a rundown

everything: expenditure curves,
sales impact, estimates, and all the rest.

- Well, but me, after all...
- Make it up. Just do something.

In any case, there's no
rush. He's still in Basil.

He's in Madrid and
arrives tomorrow.

What I'd like to know
is why the hell he's in Split.

- Split?
- Where's that?

- That's Yugoslavia, isn't it?
- In Yugoslavia.

- Is he a communist, or what?
- Mercenary.

- What do you mean mercenary?
- Mercenary...

He inspected their food
distribution from A to Z

posing as a Thomson representative
negotiating a contract...

All those turnkey factories
in Africa...

... that's him!

And it's he who
revived mail order.

He failed only in oil.

There's more! Malair...

Bertrand Malair,
that's his name.

What's he like?
Young, old?

He must not be
fond of photographers.

I've never seen
his picture.

It's going to hurt.

I don't care.

Thirty years of seniority,

that will cost them.

I'll redeem my points
whenever they like.

Whenever they like.

- Can't find a parking space?
- I'm not coming.

I'm going to see a film
by Ozu with Sophie.

Would you
like to come?

- Oh, no...
- See you later, then!

- So what do I tell them?
- Tell them the truth.

Ok, then.

- Ah, it's you!

Yes, I'll hold.

Dr. Robert, hurry please.

What?

What time will
he be back?

How can I reach him?

Could you take
a message for him?

Tell him to come tonight,
as soon as he can.

It's my mother.

Calm down, buddy,
stay!

Are you almost done?

- She's on the phone?
- And what do you think?

The doctor won't get here before 9.

Look at her!
It's not because

I'm dead that
she's crying!

- It's because I'm not dead!
- Stop it!

- Get up! Your dress will get wrinkled.
- Where's your wife?

- She's not here yet?
- No.

Well, she'll be here.

It's not too terrible,
what is it?

- It's Bartisol, you want more?
- No, it's ok.

- Should we wait for her?
- No, she must have been delayed.

- Let's eat before it gets cold.
- Rather burned!

In any case, she hardly
eats. She's an intellectual.

Well, Veronica, sit
next to Louis.

I'll keep Ren?
to myself.

Nina will sit
over there.

And then...
Well, that's it.

1950.

It was 52-53, in a
Ren? Clair film.

- You had a nice little
scene at the cleaner's.

It was 52.

I'm sure of it. Louis
was 14 months old.

1950, try and remember!

He was 14 months.
Ren? Clair even thought

I was too young
to be a mother.

You were how old then? 18?

I was 16, and I had just
given birth to Louis!

Without makeup,
she was even prettier, you know.

But what are you
trying to tell me, Ren??

That I'm a slut?

If she had listened to me,
she'd be Mich?le Morgan today.

But what can you do?
With her character...

Still no news of your
father, naturally.

Would you like me
to walk Filo?

Come on, boy,
come on.

Going back now.

Run along,
my friend.

- It's all right. He's relieved himself!
- Filo!

- Come, Filo, come here!
- Bye now!

- How was it?
- Fine, as usual.

Another one!

Yep, but this one is superb!

Look.

Baby mother.

And you?

You were right not come.
You wouldn't have liked it.

- Did you like it?
- Yes.

That's good.

In the end, they
realize they love each other.

For real.

You would have liked that?
With another woman?

No.

Sometimes I'd like
to be a man.

What's bothering you?

Something at the office?

I'm not sure if
they won't let me go.

Who "they"? The new boss?

Malair, that's his name.

Wait till you've met him.
He might be cool.

When is he coming?

Don't know. No one knows.
Not even where he is, so...

I'm there.

You didn't wake me up!

I'm not working
this morning.

Hello! Doutre? I'm sorry
I'm at a car mechanic's.

They say there's water
in the carburetor, so...

Listen, Coline, in any case,
we've nothing urgent to work on.

So, take it easy, ok?

Myself, I'm in and out.
Mrs. Doutre isn't feeling well.

Anyway, not till Thursday.

His office isn't ready, yet.

Ah, Miss Pr?, can I buy
you a coffee?

You know very well
I don't like coffee

True, true.

Serge, make me
a coffee, would you?

So, the estimates, curves,
rundowns, etc., all cool?

He can come, everything's
done. I'm ready for him.

Good, good.

Hello, Mrs. Liliane!

If Mr. Willy gets on your
nerves, come to me.

What's all this?

I've asked you a question, Mr. Coline.
What's all this stuff?

It's mine. All this
is mine.

I suspected as much. I don't like
to go through people's things

but I was getting bored,
and you weren't coming.

My name is Malair.
Excuse me. Bertrand Malair.

Your door was open.

What is it that you
do exactly?

I'm Gerard Doutre's
assistant.

I'm in ads... In the
advertising division.

You live in the 15th
arrondissement?

Nice neighborhood!

- You smoke?
- Yes.

What is this?

Gitanes.

Mr. Doutre smokes lights.
I'll go get them.

Is he a nice guy,
this Doutre?

- No more than that, huh?
- He's a good guy.

Anyway, he's smokes
the right stuff.

You see, Mr. Coline,
every time I come

to a new establishment,
it's the same thing: I get jitters.

Everyone knows each other,
it's a closed hostile world.

Do you realize
my discomfort?

- No?
- Yes, I can imagine.

This afternoon, we'll be officially
introduced. If you wish,

- we'll act as if we'd never met.
- Ok.

We should turn up the heat...

Mr. Tannier, head
stock controller.

Mr. Gruault,
legal department.

Mr. Laliers, purchasing.

Our accounting trio:
Ms. Pr?, chief clerk,

Ms. Couturier &
Ms. Chouster.

There're three of you
in accounting?

Mr. Bonnet, receiving.

I think you already know
Mr. Dubin & Mrs. Malthus.

Indeed.

Mr. Doutre, head
of advertising.

- Louis Coline, his assistant.
- We've met.

We can go out on the floor
through here, if you wish.

Certainly not, Mr. Blain.
I don't have to tell you

that one sells better a product
one doesn't know.

Just ask in the army...

It's nice of you,
what's going on?

- Nothing. I'm fired.
- Not true.

Well, no, but might as well.

In short, a handshake
stuck in your throat.

Yeah. For me, it's
a nightmare.

Your hand.

Your hand!

What's more, its seems he put
these two guys in charge.

- In charge of what?
- That's not clear.

I'll take charge here.

Go, straight.

Slightly to the left.

Attention, yellow
light.

Slow down

red light

Now, stop.

Need to fix that.
I won't always be there.

Green

That bad?

Yep.

I've been with the
firm for two years,

doing squat
for two years.

I'm paid to screw around,
go to the caf?, talk to

my buddies on the phone,
pick lottery numbers,

hassle Miss Pr?,
just go figure..

Me who wanted to
devour the whole world...

...with your little
bird's appetite!

Have you seen any
billboards for the store?

In the street, in stores,
papers, in the metro: nothing!

We've been
goofing off over there.

So, why would they keep
the assistant to the head

of a department that
exists only by mistake?

- Where's sugar?
- Here.

It's not complicated, if
I had an ego...

I would have quit
long ago.

Quit...

We'll manage on
my salary.

No, it's too late.

And when for once there's
a guy who seems to want

to get things done,
I'd like to be there, you see?

Go tell him that...

Yeah, I'll go
talk to him tomorrow.

I'll go straight to
his office tomorrow

and lay out my cards.
I've got suggestions to make,

ideas for advertising
campaigns,

and everything...
I won't be shy!

Fran?ois Lingre.

It's Bertrand who
put us here.

You are across the hall,
with accounting.

We're consolidating.

Come see.

I brought everything.
Your papers,

your radio, your wife,
all your stuff...

You can check.

- You like it here,
Mr. Doutre, don't you?

It's not really me,

it was Paul.

With his drafts, his
calculators, his files.

He takes up an
entire office!

What does Paul
do exactly?

Now there,
time will tell.

Let's go get some coffee.

Sure, go ahead.

I've shoplifted all this

in 20 minutes 37 seconds.

No effort.
No one around.

It's not leakage.
It's distribution.

Who's responsible for
the perfume department?

Mrs. Dubuisson.

Well, she gets the
cake, Mrs. Dubuisson.

Does she work
for charity or what?

- Yes?
- Let me introduce myself.

Paul Belais.
Have we met?

- There!
- "Jabiru" is not a word.

You'll see!

Jabiru!

"Substantive. Wading bird,
inhabiting warm climates,

related to the stork.

- Up to 5ft tall."
- Pass the dictionary.

It makes... 8... 9... 16
48... 250 total.

- 113.
- I win!

Whose turn is it?

Serge, how much
do I owe you?

Let's have lunch
one of these days.

As you wish.

Thought we were
on first name basis.

As you like,
whenever.

You know the neighborhood.
What's a good place to eat?

A good place...
There's La Chope...

The problem is
it's expensive.

That's not good.

Otherwise, there's
Le Relais.

How about here?

- It's ok.
- Half past noon?

- Today?
- Should we make an appointment?

No, just kidding.

Have you talked
to him about me?

- About what?
- Well, us, in advertising,

we're not sure
what we're doing.

So, would be good to see
him, talk it over...

We've been sitting on our
hands for two weeks now...

Don't worry.
He can see that.

- Ah, I see...
- See you later.

Do we really
have to eat here?

- Drop it, ok?
- You like this stuff?

- No, I didn't say I do.
- Well then!

But he comes here
all the time.

- Could I take this chair?
- No!

Bertrand will stop
by for a coffee.

You're not
in a hurry, are you?

Leave him alone,
he's got work to do.

- Gotta jump on the opportunity!
- Yep.

You tell me!

So, Mr. Coline,

it seems I dislike you?

I've never said that.

Just that we don't
see much of each other.

That's true.

Any good?

Not particularly.

You're right.

This might hurt your
feelings, Mr. Coline,

but the advertising dept.
needs a makeover.

Doesn't it?

You agree with me?

I need your help!
Lots of work ahead of us!

Try finding a parking
place in this neighborhood!

- You've got company parking.
- So that every knows

when I come and go?
No, thanks, Mr. Coline.

I need thirty minutes
of your time.

Can't do. I'll be with Mr. Coline
the whole afternoon,

now that we
have him here.

Tomorrow morning, then?

Has anyone ordered
coffee?

Not sure what
you think about it,

but it's better like this,
the furniture...

It used to be
uninhabitable.

I call you Louis because
it's less dreadful than Coline.

In your opinion, what
is advertising for?

To make sales.

Well, I'll explain it
to you differently.

For me, the Magasins
have taken a wrong turn.

Sales figures aren't
bad, I know...

Nobody goes
of their way around here.

I've given myself
a year to raise the standards.

We must be first.

The first.
Else, what's the use.

You think of superstores?

You must know, Louis,
I won't be fucked over by dinosaurs.

But we also have
the advantages:

great location...

diversified product...

and our sales reps,
they're top-notch, you know?

They're at the battle front.

If they lose it,
we all go under.

Fran?ois Lingre
has brought to my attention

a bit of merchandise leakage
they were having.

Paul will
take care of it.

As for us,

our work is

very simple, Louis.

Three stages:
spring sales,

white sales,

Christmas.

This,

and nothing else,
makes our bottom line.

And this, Louis,

is where you come in.

I'm all ears.

You don't think that
Mr. Doutre should

present at our
conversation?

I must tell you a bit
about myself, Coline.

One of my first jobs,
let's say a bank...

I didn't beat
around the bush.

I sorted, picked,
fired...

It was the time
of American efficiency.

The good ones on
one side, the others out.

And one day,

one of the others,
15 years of seniority,

sick wife, too many kids,
rebelled.

He committed suicide.

As for Doutre, you keep him
in the loop, it's up to you,

not my problem.

His higher rank,
as far as we're concerned,

will consist solely
in the wage difference.

Which means, Louis,

total availability,

and reassessment
of everything and everyone.

And above all of ideas.

Ideas, ideas, ideas.

Ah, Louis, you didn't
call this morning...

- No.
- I was afraid to miss your call.

I had Yoyotte do
groceries, she almost fell.

As it happens, today,

- I wanted to tell you the news.
- What news?

A call from Georges,
a tour,

I'm leaving for 3 months.
It's as good as done.

Right! It'll be like
four years ago.

At best, you'll get
as far Forges-les-Eaux!

And for whom did
I come back?

Forgive me! I haven't
called you!

But, for a change,
you were dying!

Don't listen
to what she's saying.

One doesn't need
anyone to die.

What's the
occasion?

Don't tell me
your wife is pregnant.

No. Don't worry. Your grandson
is VERY careful.

- You talked to him?
- Yes.

- And?
- Well!

Bertrand didn't even
want to see Doutre.

- Bertrand?
- Yes, Malair, whatever.

More shampoo.
It's disgusting.

He's a great guy.

He's the sort of person you need
to know how to manage.

And I figured
out how:

work and
efficiency!

Someone with whom you
definitely need pay up front.

Did you tell him about
your idea for a stamp?

No. He's got
bigger plans than that.

Close your eyes.
I'm rinsing.

Wait a sec.

Anyway, it's a hell of a trio:
Paul the manager,

Fran?ois: security and
time buying, shrewd as a fox...

and Malair: the brain,
the one to asses, decide,

see the
big picture...

The pillar.

Wait. Let's
dry it off.

And what would
I do without you?

You'd have
dirty hair.

All bus stops in
the 15th, 17th, 18th

and 19th! Not to mention
metro lines no. 9, 12 & 15...

Plus the RER train...

all the way across.

And in the neighborhood,
nothing?

No, we've got all the
buses for eight days,

plus the press, that is,
all dailies,

- and Saturday mags.
- Well, I see.

And how much
all this is going to cost?

Mr. Doutre, the important thing
is not how much it will cost

but how much revenue
it will bring.

Louis!

- Yes?
- Could you come for a minute?

Yes, sir.

- I'm gonna go.
- Go ahead...

You still smoke
Gitanes?

Can I have one?

These two imbeciles
have decided to quit.

Together.

It's strong, huh?

- Everything's ok?
- Yes.

You still agree with
what we said the other time?

Yes.

To all appearance, you and me,
we speak the same language.

Have the same goals?

So, what's wrong?

Is Doutre in the way?

No, he's not in the way.
I think he'd just

like to be more
involved, that's all.

But he is involved.
He's the head of advertising.

Yes, but for us, it
is Louis who is responsible.

That is why I'm asking:
what's wrong?

I see that bus stop negotiations
are scheduled for the 15th.

Why the 15th?

That's because I want to
handle this personally,

and I won't be around
from 7 to 14.

- So I scheduled it for the 15th.
- What do you mean not around?

Well, I'm taking my
winter break.

I've got one week in
winter, three in summer...

And what do you
do on Ramadan?

Let's be serious.

We'll move the meeting
to the 8th,

this way you'll have
full 6 days

for the metro, the press,
and the highways.

Believe me, it's not
going to be too much.

This way we'll have four
weeks in the summer.

And we can always
go to London.

It's not far.

Anyway, I'm the one who
suffers the most here:

I was hoping to
get a cashmere sweater.

Then again, you could go
without me, with Sophie...

- OK.

You're so keen on
going to London?

No.

But this way, I can
get you your cashmere sweater.

I'm a pain in the
neck, am I not?

Of course not.

Let's make love.
To have a head start.

How much
did we say?

Five grand... Each.
That makes 10 grand.

Here goes our work.
I told you guys.

Every route, everywhere,
that's that, 10 grand, done!

Good move!

"I'm off, off to the Magasins."

That's totally dumb!

It's dumb, you're right.

He's taking the bus now?

He called me this morning
not to pick him up.

Conclusion: he wasn't home.

That's funny.

Never thought he'd
do something like this.

Does he have kids?

- Half past noon?
- At Le Relais?

OK, it's my treat.

There are those who laugh,
but there are also those who cry.

- Why are you saying that?
- For no reason.

Only I don't think
Miss Dubuisson and Miss Pr?

feel much like laughing
this morning. That's all.

- And why wouldn't they?
- Fired.

Miss Dubuisson with much fuss & at
a loss: without severance pay.

And Miss Pr?, got all
the honors, I admit, but still...

... fired.

Don't let it stop you
from laughing with your friends.

"...having failed to
meet the deadline,

- our establishment is entitled to..."
- Where's Fran?ois?

Where he usually is.

"Having failed to meet
the deadline, our establishment..."

It's women's hour.

Anything can happen.

Tell me, is it true that Malair
fired Pr? and Dubuisson?

He did, and so what?

Dubuisson, I can understand,
up to a point, but why Pr??

She drank, didn't she?

You think it's fair that Paul gets stuck
with all the work while she's in a bar?

Do you think that all
this runs on white wine?

For one Pr?, one Dubuisson,
who leave,

there are 315 others,
ready to stay

and work in safety.

So, would you prefer
we keep Pr? and Dubuisson,

at the risk of kicking
them all out into the street?

Plus, have you thought about the girl
who'll take Dubuisson's place?

She's very happy...

Say,

will come to yell at me
if I suggest you replace Doutre?

6, 7, 14.

You're right, my friend,
we live only once.

What did you pick?

No. 10, Sleeping beauty.

You speak English now?

Is it because Nina
is over there?

But he's going
to win.

You might be right,
I better cover myself.

You're right,
it's chilly out.

May I?

Sure, what brings
you here?

I've been looking
for you.

It's done, placed a bet
on your sleeping beauty.

You're the guy
who works with him?

One could say that.

Unless it's him
working with me.

- Unless...
- Give you a call, about lunch?

- Yeah.
- OK, bye.

Bye, Etienne.

A good buddy of yours?

A bit dumb, isn't he?

- No, not really.
- To bet on horses, one must be dumb.

But we, we don't gamble,
it's just for fun.

Ready to go?

- Where?
- Bertrand is waiting for us.

Beautiful, isn't it?

Empty streets on
a Sunday morning.

What I'd like to know
is where they are.

During the week, when they
should be working, they're

in the street, and Sunday...

when they should be taking
a walk, there's no one.

That doesn't surprise you?
This kind of a problem?

Paul, we're here.

Fran?ois, fetch the
Villeret files.

And tell the legal adviser
to get Lacroix's conclusions.

I won't be telling you, Louis,
what to do. See you later.

Can you come over?
Bertrand wants your opinion.

- What do you think, Louis?
- To go out?

No, why?

- I think it's a bit shiny.
- What did I say?

Here, this is your style.

One thinks to be free of restrictions,
to be a prisoner of one's own style.

What's your style, Louis?

I've never really
made up my mind.

That's what I call freedom.

Give me the suit.

He's on the 3rd floor.
600 sq meters.

- What's his place like?
- Huge.

Well, I'm gonna get going.

How's that?

I'm playing poker
with some buddies.

Well, you'll just have
to cancel.

We're going to Max's.

- What's Max?
- You'll see.

Salom? will be there.

- It's late!
- Good evening!

Hang it for me, would you?
But on a hanger, otherwise it...

What's up?

Louis Coline, the
head of advertising.

Ms. Viellarguance...

Dr. Martin Lassale,
aka Jean-Loup.

Our friend, the president

- Nice to meet you.
- And Mrs. Paul Belais.

- Everyone's here.
- Good evening.

- Have you been introduced
to Salom?? - No.

How's the menu? Rosette de Lyon
sausage with vegetables.

Rabbit in mustard, or
a brill filet with sorrel.

What do you say, Louis?

- Sounds good.
- Rabbit.

I'll take the filet,
and let you try a bite.

Rabbit.

Brill.

- Fish?
- No, rabbit.

Rabbit or brill?

- And you, brill?
- Yes.

So, 4 times brill, 4 times rabbit,
four times sausage, and 4 salads.

If I'm not mistaken, the waters

Finally swallowed up fisher and boat;

And with her singing

The Lorelei did this.

And with her singing
The Lorelei did this.

In any case, our Salom?
won't be one to disagree.

Andr? Gide's translation
doesn't sound bad, either.

But, in Gide,
Lorelei is a boy!

Salom? is a boy.

Oh, not quite. Thank God,
she doesn't have tits or a big butt

She has angelic breasts.
There's nothing more touching.

Would you show him?

You're right,
it's still early.

We'll all androgynous,
it's just a question of degree.

Speak for yourself.

It's half past midnight,
and we haven't said

a word about the Magasins.
It's wonderful!

- Right? What?
- Nothing.

Only Louis is getting bored.

- No, not at all.
- Louis, come on, Louis.

We've had a great meal,
we're together, that's friendship!

What is friendship? Being able
to say openly what one thinks.

- Right? - Yes.
- We agree?

Well done.

Your inseparable
four-colored pen?

As always.

Black for official
correspondence.

Blue for personal letters,
and red for corrections.

And green?

Would you like to have it?
I'm giving it to you.

You'll lend it to me when you like,
and you'll write what you want

in green.

What are you up to now?

- Are you heading home?
- Yes.

Hop in.

- Goodbye, president!
- Goodbye, dear friends. And thank you!

It's Salom?.

How are you?

Fine.

I'll put Jean-Loup.

Bertrand would like
to know if you got home OK.

Yes... Thanks.

Goodbye then.

Goodbye.

- Well?
- Right!

- Rhinocluxine, ever heard of it?

- It's nothing...
- It's a cold.

Rather, nasal inflammation.
Rhinocluxine,

indispensable.

Pull over here.

I'll be fine.

It says 4 inhalations
up to 4 times a day,

but you can take
up to 8.

More, 8 times.

- Clears you up, doesn't it?
- Yes, it's working.

May, June, July are
taken care of,

all that's left is the tax
payment for September.

That's a great idea, Louis!

You can sell anything
by showing a woman's ass...

"You see the ill in others
which you know in yourself."

- Exactly!
- And one p?t?.

Oh, shit, you asked for ham?

- They must take the
ball from him. - From whom?

Sulzer, watch closely.

- Stopirin isn't playing?
- No, he's got tendonitis. 3 weeks off.

Take good notes.

I got the floors mixed up.
How's it going?

Not a good time?

I didn't see you.
Hello. - Hi.

I get it you're
also into soccer?

I think there's Horowitz
on channel 3, huh?

Ah, it must be over.

What are you drinking?

- Beer?
- I'd like scotch.

How many rooms
do you have?

This one, the other,
60 sq meters in all.

- Are you sure? - Yeah.
- That must include the balcony?

- You want some ice?
- Oh, no, ice!

Say, where's your phone?
Don't move.

- Hey, your friend's a bit
of a drag. - Fran?ois?

Ah, no, he's alright,
he's funny.

Bertrand, it's me.
At Louis's.

No, 15 min.

I met Marcel, it's all set.

No, not too much, really.

OK, see you in a bit.

Good thing I had the cord,
I would have got lost.

It's crazy. Since he came,
nothing's in its place, nothing filed...

I'm having hard time
finding myself.

Wait, I'll put everything
in order in 10 minutes

There you go!

- Can you come over for 10 min?
- But only 10, I must go to the airport.

- Going somewhere?
- No, but Nina's coming back from London.

- So soon? - Well, yeah!
- Coming?

If you start adding tax again,
I'll deduct it from your pay.

Louis! We can't find your
estimates for the fall quarter.

Well, I put them here
myself.

- How's your cold, better?
- It's over.

- Here it is. - Well, what
are you talking about, here it is.

Well, kids, we'll
be only four of us tonight.

- Three. I'll be gone in 2 min.
- What do you mean gone?

Gone. My wife must be
already waiting downstairs.

We're dining at my
in-laws, in Versailles.

After all, it's not rocket
science. Just add the totals

- & offset if that doesn't work!
- Don't worry, Louis will type it up

and I'll dictate. Run along!

I can't stay, either. My wife
is flying in tonight.

Bye now! I'll look it
over early tomorrow.

I can't stay tonight, Bertrand.

Right. The more we talk
the longer we work.

Wait, I'm coming.

It's too small.

Not it's not too small.
Exactly what I wanted.

I like it when they're
short like this.

It's great.

I'm really sorry.

Really? You were working?

- Like a dog. - In any case,
it agrees with you. You look well.

You know there's someone who
can't wait to meet you.

- Who's that? - Malair.
- Really? Can we kiss now?

We can, we can. We will.

I must warn you,
I put on some weight.

- I'm going to be late.
- Wait 2 more minutes!

He's always on time.
There he comes!

8:15, as usual.
So, let me explain:

Paul gets out first...

And then Bertrand.

Bertrand is the one
in a loden coat.

Are you sure he's not there?

Sinister.

Well, he doesn't like it, either.
It's for the customers...

So what does he like?

Open the door some more!
I can barely hear you.

Why didn't you come
to eat with us?

That's over, my dear Louis,
I'm too weak at night.

Look who's complaining, huh?

- In short, you're his right hand.
- One of his right hands.

He's got several,
like Buddha.

Well, if I'm not the head of a dept
by the end of the year,

they'll cut one off.

You better believe it. The store
is running on a different track now.

- What is he like? Cheerful, nice?
- Abstract.

Omnipresent.

Like God.

Look! Scheduler, calendar,
alarm, time zones. Quartz.

- Does it tell time?
- That too.

- It must have cost a fortune.
- Not a cent. It's a gift.

We were passing by
a watch shop with Bertrand,

he asked me which
one I liked best...

I said, 'this one', just like that.
He went in and bought it for me.

That's nice. I hope
you said Thank you.

How about this one?

It's more like lunch.
A bit countryside, don't you think?

Oh, well. He'll see me
the way I am.

In jeans and a T-shirt.
If he doesn't like it, too bad.

I'm really very happy
to have met you.

Because Louis talks
about you all the time.

"I must tell Nina," "Nina likes this,"
"Nina does that"...

"I must head back, so
as not to upset Nina...."

You're lucky.

- Right, Louis?
- Yep...

However, he never
told me what you do.

But perhaps you
don't do anything?

I'm a head consultant
at the Manufacture de Sevres.

That can't be! That's
fascinating!

- Why have you never told me?
- What do they do there?

- Jigsaw puzzles with broken
porcelain? - You imbecile!

Porcelain is a whole
other world!

And it's dying because
it lacks ostentation, right?

It's a possible definition,
but rather superficial, right?

- What's your period?
- A wide range, but mostly...

- 17th century?
- Yes.

One day, we can find
some time to talk about it.

- Ah, Louis, have you heard the news?
- No. - Doutre is leaving.

45 min in my office,
he wasn't interested...

Doutre was...

discretion itself. Reliability.

Like those walls
one takes for granted.

When one falls,
the house falls.

One didn't realize
it was the supporting wall.

What about children?
You don't want any?

We do. Some day, perhaps.

- How old are you?
- 29.

You should have children.

Afterwards, anything
is possible...

What does he want?
What is he looking for?

Bertrand? He's doing
his job. Why?

I don't like him.

- What did the doctor say?
- That she's old.

- When did it happen?
- In the morning.

I tried to call you, but
they said you were in a meeting.

You should go to sleep.
You're both working tomorrow.

I'll be there.

If there's anything,
just call me.

You hear, call us, mom,
we're there.

Louis, I've signed
the tour contract.

Listen, it's not the first
time, she'll get better.

It is the first time.

- Can you brush my teeth?
I'm beat. - You're kidding...

Go ahead.

It's late.

What's going on?

My apartment is
being redone...

I need to ask you
a small favor.

I'd like to...

stay with you for a while,
because my place is

unlivable, and hotels,
you never feel at home...

He'll be back.

- Where can I...
- Hold on...

You'll say I could have
gone to Fran?ois's, but

it's worse than a studio.

Sort of a hole in the wall
that used to belong to his mother.

One could have some
deep thoughts in there.

Good evening.

How are you?

Louis was kind enough

to extend his hospitality
for a night or two.

Here?

- But where? - It's just
to help me out. Louis will tell you.

We'll figure it out.

He'll get the bedroom,
and we'll sleep on the couch.

Good idea.

It's great to be young.

- If there's any problem, I'll go.
- It'll be fine.

Go to her.

Are you crazy or what?

I couldn't say no. It's just
one night, not a big deal.

- He gets on my nerves.
- You don't realize...

It's a sign of his
confidence in me.

One night.

OK.

Over here!

I took the liberty.
A bit hungry.

Fran?ois isn't back yet?

No.

I borrowed your keys.

Where do I put
Bertrand?s things?

In the bedroom.
I'll get fresh sheets.

Oh, don't bother.
It's nice like this.

- Is the other one staying over, too?
- Yes, they've got to work.

- You think they're in their
pajamas? - Stop it...

- What are you doing?
- You don't mind they're there, do you?

- Are you crazy?
- I'll make you scream.

No, stop...

Thanks for everything, Louis.

It might be best if you don't
mention this to your co-workers.

It wouldn't be good.

8 o'clock at the cafe,
as usually.

Your friend, Bertrand.

- Did you see what they gave me?
- No.

What you gave me?
Come see.

- Wow, a fishing pole!
- It's great.

It's a funny idea, I
never caught a fish in my life.

They're being really subtle. This comes
from Galleries Lafayette stores, not here.

Isn't it great to find at new
job at 50.

I hope you still
get your seniority.

I wouldn't have accepted
otherwise, you can be sure.

So, there you go, Louis.
This chair is yours now.

Not for too long.

Since... you know what
they say about advertising...

- What do they say?
- Well, I'm not worried about you.

You'll climb higher.
Look, your glass is empty.

Oh, tell me...

Is it true that Malair
is staying at your place?

Temporarily.
One must help one's employer.

How else would we cope?

Ah, the party is
almost finished.

Imbecile, couldn't
you have told me?

Mr. Doutre! I won't let you leave
like that! You'll dine with us.

Everyone, we're going
to Robin's.

- It's shocking.
- Sordid.

- You think?

People are sleeping.

Good evening.
I'm very thirsty!

- Everything OK?
- No.

What's that?

I'd like to speak with Louis.

Of course.

What's wrong?

I wanted to talk to you
before kicking him out.

- What do you mean?
- Get them out. Both of them.

- Now? - Now.
- You know what time it is?

I know what time it is.
I've been waiting

for 3 hours to be able
to go to bed.

Go. Be nice.

Tell them yourself.
I want to sleep in my own bed.

Well, I'm going. Don't worry,
you won't be to blame.

You're not going
like this?

You want to screw
everything up, or what?

What "everything"?
Your position?

Is that what you mean?

And they, aren't they
screwing us up?

- That's not the problem.
- What is the problem?

Stop it, stop it.

Stop it!

I won't say anything.

May I get dressed?

I'm going to Sophie's.

Did she leave?

This, this, and this.
And make it quick.

- Am I interrupting?
- No.

How is your wife?

Fine.

How long has it been
since you saw her?

Five days.

If it were me, I'd go
get her right away.

Are they still
at your place?

- No.
- Well, then?

Well, then... I don't know.
I've got work. I don't know.

It's Louis.

No, I took 10 days off.

I'm sun bathing.
How are you?

Good job.
Did you get the keys back?

Good.

I don't know yet.
We'll see.

Bye. Take care of yourself.

So, who's going to
take care of my plants?

You're right.

I'm going back.

- Damn. And we're selling this?
- Yes, and even very well.

- No returns?
- Plenty.

You surprise me.

I got his cold.

I'm sick of this place.

OK, kids, get the
files together for me.

We must get it done
tonight. We'll go my place.

Come on, let's go.

- You've never been to Bertrand's?
- No. - You'll see, it's something else.

Set it down over here.

Aren't you afraid of the dark?

You can put the table
where you want.

- Where are the cookies?
- In the kitchen.

I'll go see.

Make yourself comfortable.

What do we do now?

We'll find a place to sleep.

It's not a big deal. You'll take
my bed, I'll sleep in the deck chair.

It's not the first time.
Sometimes...

he brings so many people,
I don't know where to put them up.

What about Bertrand?
I thought we came here to work.

Not to worry.

If he needs us, he'll
wake us up.

Good night.

You lost or won?

I didn't play.

I worked all night.

At the Magasins?

No, at Bertrand's.

So now it's at his place?

Just this one time, because
we had a problem to solve.

- Did you solve it?
- Yes.

I'm glad.

We could just move in
with your friends.

Soon it's back to school,
then Christmas...

January sales, 4-day sale
in March. We won't get bored.

You're joking?

You frighten me.

I love you.

I don't think so.

Is this enough, or
do you need more detail?

- That will do.
- We're going to Max's.

Not me! I'm going home.

- And what do I tell Bertrand?
- Tell him I can't.

If he can't, he can't.

- He'll be disappointed.
- Oh, well.

Is that your doing?

You frighten me, Louis.
You've changed.

The way you make love
and are with me, have changed, too.

I've no idea what these
people are to you, but

I tip my hat to them,
because they've won.

Don't start loving me again,
because I'm gone.

I'm done loving you,
I wish you no harm.

I'm going to stay
with my father in Saint-Cloud.

Don't come to see me,

don't call,

If you write me, I won't
open your letters.

I'm not leaving you for anyone,
but because you're no one.

My hugs.

Nina.

Come in.

We're in the kitchen.
We found a box of ravioli.

You didn't go to
dinner at Max's?

We didn't.

Ah, Louis. How nice.

Have a seat.

- Have you eaten?
- I'm not hungry.

One must eat.
Reheat some ravioli for him.

First you'll have
something to eat.

Barton & Questier, 1968.

To Louis's health!

Nine has left me.

Slept well?

So, Salom? was here
last night, wasn't she?

You know, Salom?,
she comes and goes.

Over here!

Sit down.

- Would you like to take a bath?
- No, I'll stop by at my place.

You think it's a good idea?

Fran?ois will go with you.
He's quite fond of you, you know?

- You do or not?
- I know.

You see, what's happening
to you, Louis, is totally banal.

A man who climbs...

and a woman who struggles behind...
They don't like heights.

I'm not judgmental.
That's how it is.

I don't know.

You didn't tell me about
your father.

I thought he was dead.
But it turns out he's alive, in Canada.

- Who told you that?
- Who cares?

What matters is that
you didn't tell me.

It's very important, Louis,
the image of one's father.

It explains everything.

Or nothing.

And even if it explains
nothing, it explains everything.

You see him often?

- No.
- Louis!

I won't lie to you.
It was Nina who told me.

Nina? You saw her?

5 minutes. By chance.

We had a coffee.

I find this in my mailbox.

I open, I look at it,
and here's what I do.

Next time it has
to be legible!

Double the title font size,

and leave some room
for photos.

- Are you coming? We'll be late.
- Coming.

The photos are ready, might
as well use them.

It's a profession.

They wanted to skin me,
I made them double their stakes.

We'll put the Christmas
bonus together.

The administration is on my side.

Isn't it normal, our
performance has been good?

Louis, sales aren't enough,
you must also have revenues.

Take your time!

- Good thing I've waited!
- Robert!

Have you been waiting long?

I just came to get some things.

- Going anywhere?
- No.

Eight days. Duration of
holidays at the Magasins.

All's well at work?

We'll double our sales
by Christmas.

You must think
Nina has sent me.

- I do. - She doesn't
know about my visit.

I should be happy
to have my daughter home...

But I'm not happy.
I don't think she's happy.

She hasn't said anything, but
since she stopped telling me anything...

It was she who left.

I know.

However, she did
talk about your friends.

They've been great for me.
I was lucky to have them.

Of course, of course.

I remember, I once
had friends

We argued with Mathilde,
but then we figured it out.

It's not a good reason.

Why have you come, Robert?

To understand.
Or... to try.

- You're not alone?
- Robert, Nina's father.

Fran?ois Lingre.

Pleasure.
Hey, Bertrand's waiting.

I'm coming.

It's good.

This is good, but you
could aim higher.

We've got the means.
Don't be shy.

Tell Paul we won't be there today.
We'll settle this straight away,

and save two weeks.

Get the door, it's Fran?ois.

I met with the staff representative,
these people get up too early!

- We'll have to give in a bit, huh?
- We will.

Paul? It's Louis.
We won't be coming in today.

OK? Take care.

- I stopped by your place
and brought your mail. - Great.

Anything's wrong, Louis?

My grandmother.

- Is she in her room? - No, we took her
to the hospital yesterday.

She was asking for you.

I tried to reach you in your office.

And at night at home,
no one was able to tell me...

So I wrote you a note.

The funeral is tomorrow.

Filo stayed by her side,
and wouldn't move.

Ren? is here.

- Luckily, she has her tour.
- Didn't she cancel? - No, another one.

September, October, November,
better paid, three scenes.

- That's good.
- I understand.

- Where's Louis?
- He's there.

- Do you need a ride?
- I'm going to the cemetery.

Right, of course.

They came, look, that's
nice of them.

Did you stop by
to pick up my mail?

No, I don't have the keys
any more, gave them to Jean-Loup.

It's for one of his girlfriends,
3-4 days, I didn't want to get into it.

He found himself a Polish girl.

What I'd like to know is

how does he jump
that fat cow's bones.

Louis, let's go.

Not too heavy?

Louis could have come.

Here, a window seat.

You'll be nice and cozy.

- Need a hand?
- No, I'll manage.

Tell Louis not
to work too hard.

- And to come pick me up.
- Don't worry, if he's not there, I will be.

Kids, you're real angels,
but I'm going to be late.

It's still a bit damp.

Spotless.

The president is getting
on my nerves with his gala dinners.

- Who's driving me?
- Me.

Roll the dice. 7.

No way! That was a
jammy shot!

It's been three nights
that I've been sleeping there.

Thank you, my dice!

Good night.

I was 8 or 9 years old.

We were in the country,

I had managed

to convince myself that
my father wasn't my father.

All of a sudden, he
became more interesting.

I followed him everywhere,
I was spellbound.

My mother bored me. She was
either too happy, too sad, or too fat.

Too... something, anyway.

Then, some time had passed.

My father grew older,
and so did I.

Every year I resembled
him a little more.

It really was my father.

He's asleep.
The innocent sleep.

He never wanted
to know anything.

Fran?ois can be comfortable
only with his pockets empty.

Do you want me to tell you?

I envy you not having had a father.

Just like baby Jesus.

I didn't take a deep breath
until after he'd died.

He wanted to be buried in the village.

I had him cremated.

I wonder which one among the three
of you: Paul, Fran?ois, or you

will be the first to
burn me at the stake.

Good night, Louis.

He put his father in
a retirement home in Nice,

and he's doing very well,
thank you.

You're in good spirits!

You've never been
good at psychology.

Why?

- You want the bad news
before or after coffee? - Before.

- He's gone.
- What?

He's gone.
Bertrand is gone.

- What do you mean gone?
- Gone, vanished. He left a note.

Should I read it?

"Louis, Fran?ois,

"you were asleep so hard
I didn't want to wake you.

"And in fact, I had little
to tell you.

"I'm going. Elsewhere.
A new project,

"A new adventure
which you cannot share.

"You were my two arms,
my two hands...

"I won't be able
to replace you. Yours. Bertrand."

- Is that it? - It's nice
that he wrote at all.

Isn't it him, second row?

No, here.

He's not even in the photo.

He's not even in the photo!
Fuck, shit!

No, I didn't know. I found out
this morning, like everyone else,

- when I got your memo.
- The board meeting's on Friday,

aren't you representing us, Paul?

- Is it true he's in New York, Malair?
- Canberra.

- Where's Canberra?
- Australia.

Why, planning on going?

You'll laugh, but I was seriously
considering going to Canberra.

Paul made me change my mind.

After all, Malair could be
just as well in Stockholm,

Borneo, or, why not?,
Paris. God knows where.

Shortly afterwards,
Fran?ois disappeared in turn.

Paul found it funny.

You must think: he imagined him
chasing Malair around the world.

At night, sometimes, I'd
hang around Eylau Avenue.

For nothing.

I would look into the
windows that never lit up.

I was never sure
whether I was sad,

angry, or
just lonely.

But I never dared to enter.

Deep in my heart,
I was afraid of running into him.

Time had passed.

Be reassured: Paul was right.

My contract was renewed,
so, financially, I'm OK.

I don't know why, but something
tells me Bertrand will be back.

I must be there, you understand?

In the end, we got
along well, him and me.

SUBTITLES: aileverte