The Collection (2016–…): Season 1, Episode 2 - The Dress - full transcript

The world thinks Paris is finished

and the richest man in France
wants me to change that opinion.

- (THEY LAUGH)
- Whoo-hoo!

- Who gave you permission to do this?
- Look, you said it yourself.

The right dress can transform
the person wearing it.

I think it can transform the
person looking at it too.

(SHUTTER CLICKS)

What do you gotta do to
get a gift like that?

Aren't you curious what
this guy was up to

three years ago?

(THUD)



Was it your choice or your
mother's to give it up?

I just wanted to go back.

They didn't even let me hold him.

Once Trouvier's investment throws
a spotlight on this business...

PAUL: Claude doesn't want
to be in that spotlight.

HELEN: You ignore his
reckless behaviour,

so long as there's a new
sketch in the morning.

- You need this as much as me.
- (COUGHS)

- Get to work!
- This was meant to scare him,

just enough to keep him home... working!

What did you ask that animal to do?

(SOBS)

MOTHER: I don't want to know about him.

CLAUDE: You should. He
knows all about us.



- Meaning?
- He was interested in me.

MOTHER: And what did you tell him?
Claude...

Claude?

What did you tell him?

♪ I love Paris ♪

♪ In the springtime ♪

♪ I love Paris ♪

♪ In the fall ♪

♪ I love Paris ♪

♪ In the winter when it drizzles ♪

♪ Say, I love Paris ♪

♪ In the summer when it sizzles ♪

♪ I love Paris ♪

♪ Why, oh, why do I love Paris? ♪

♪ Because my love ♪

♪ Is near ♪

Juliette?

Juliette?

Nina? What are you doing here?

Nina?

Somebody told Monsieur
you were in London.

- I never went.
- Then where have you been?

Your mother's in a terrible state.
You have to call her.

- I can't.
- She hasn't slept.

She doesn't eat. Everyone runs
when she reaches for the scissors.

Give her this.

There's a note sewn inside the lining

and the money I took.

She needs to see you, not a note.

Nina?

Let me help you.

Have you spoken to him,
the boy from school?

I just want her to know that I'm...

You're what?

If you didn't come back for
your mother, then who?

Hm?

BILLY: Wider.

That's great. Perfect. Yeah.

I think this one's good.

(SHUTTER CLICKS)

Could you tilt your head back slightly?

That's great. There. That's great.

Any idea when this will end?

When he asks us to put on the dresses!
(CHUCKLES)

All right..

Billy, we need to finish
before the others arrive.

We are almost there. The arm.

This is a press release,
not a peace treaty.

True.

Imagine how many more
history books would sell

if beautiful women were on the covers.

That's great. It's great.

Monsieur Sabine, can you just
cheat a little to the left?

That's it.

That's it. Perfect.

- (SHUTTER CLICKS)
- All right.

Gentlemen, can we just
have the hint of a smile?

All right, here we go.

(KNOCK AT DOOR)

Sorry to interrupt, madame.

I...

I haven't seen you since
the other night and...

I've been at the hospital with Claude.

- What do you need?
- Nothing.

I just wanted to let you know...

...it was taken care of.

Where's my son?

Downstairs with Monsieur Trouvier,
posing for the announcement.

I had to use the ha...

I don't need to know any
more about it, Victor.

Neither does Paul... ever.

(DOOR SHUTS FIRMLY)

(DOOR HINGES SQUEAK)

Paul had your maid in to tidy up a bit.

- Here. You can rest.
- All right, Helen.

You can stop playing nurse.
Your hands aren't cold enough.

- Where's my cat?
- Landlady has him.

Has him or ate him?

Well, evidently, he was
making quite a racket,

while you were in the hospital.

(GROANS) Well...

he saw what put me in there.

Word's already leaked
about the Trouvier deal.

Everyone's buzzing about the new
collection. (HER VOICE FADES)

SAILOR: Claude, you'll
never forget me, will you?

Come here. Give me a kiss.

- (HEAVY BLOW)
- Give me a k...

(GROANING)

(GRUNTS)

(PAPER BAG RUSTLES)

If he'd wanted to take my wristwatch,

why didn't he just take it
the first night he met me?

Maybe he was desperate, wanted
to sell it for fast cash.

He wasn't desperate.

Then maybe he just...
wanted a smart wristwatch.

You're the one who always says...

...good taste happens to bad people.

He spent so many nights in my bed.

He also left you bloodied on
the floor of your bathroom.

Can I open a window?

(WINDOW LOCK CLUNKS)

I'm er... curious.

Did you interview any
local photographers?

I didn't. They tend to
deliver what's expected.

Billy has something else, hm?

An American passport?

Outsiders can often see
what we can't, Jules.

Have you spent time in New York?

No. Never been there.

I see enough Americans
these days in our streets.

And I question training
someone who can take

everything he's learned from
us to our chief competitor.

I suppose that's a risk.

But perhaps Billy could train us.

Is that so? Hm?

Well, chewing gum makes my teeth itch.

And I'm not looking forward
to the second occupation.

I hear your concern,
but I think this young man

brings something fresh to the table.

Spirit of romance, hope...

Better days to come.

You know, last summer,

I took my grandson fishing. (CHUCKLES)

One morning we saw a heron
swoop down and catch an eel.

It was too big for him,
yet he wouldn't let go.

Instead he circled the lake,
slamming himself into the water,

trying to swallow the damn thing.

Now, this eel was halfway
down the bird's throat,

yet he continued to pull himself out.

They were locked in a battle...

that would kill them both,

unclear...

of what they'd got themselves into.

(CHUCKLES)

There are many ways...

...to achieve the same goal, son.

There's nothing wrong in
doing what is expected.

You're back?

Don't tell me I gave you the wrong key.

I never used it.

Hold on to it. I'm not
gonna need it for a while.

Rossi left Paris and Monsieur
Sabine took me off the market.

- What happened to Life magazine?
- They killed their story.

Once Monsieur saw those
pictures of you, though, he...

- You showed him those?
- He wasn't angry.

You told me they were for you!
Has my mother seen them?

Nina!

I only showed them to
Monsieur, honestly.

I figured you were halfway
across the Channel.

Nina.

Are you back or just visiting?

I'm here to see my mother.

Monsieur would like to speak to you...

in his office.

He only asked for Nina.

Am I asking too much?

I don't understand, monsieur.

I'm proposing that you do it again.

This time, I'll pick the garments.

But I'm not a model. Why not...

You're no longer the little
girl sitting at Marianne's feet

making dolls out of spools.
You've grown up.

- You might want something more.
- I don't.

You must. Why else would you
have put on that dress?

Marianne?

Would you allow your daughter
to model for the house?

I'd like her to wear some of the pieces
we edited from the first collection.

Billy could shoot her
in various locations...

outside.

- You mean the streets?
- Hm.

He's... inspired.

And now that we have a new
partner in this business,

I think Monsieur Trouvier
should be treated

to something bold and unexpected.

- Don't you agree?
- Mm.

(DOOR SHUTS)

Why would he want me to do this?

Maybe it's his way of keeping you here.

I can't seem to.

Why don't you put on a smock?

I could use your help.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

(RAIN PATTERING)

Jesus!

What are you doing...
What are you doing here?

- Sh!
- How did you get in?

I didn't like the way we ended things.

I'm not one to hold a grudge.

You know, you really
messed up my arm, mate.

Made it hard to slip on my watch.

I'm sorry - it's your watch.

Here, take it back.
It's too flashy for me.

(WATCH TICKING)

- This one's clever.
- Put it down.

- How much would this fetch?
- Why do you care?

Tell me, what do they shell
out for one of these frocks?

Lots.

- I need a number.
- Why?

They don't care.

It's just pocket change to them.

I could live in one of those pockets.

(THUNDER RUMBLES)

Do they wear it more than once?

- No.
- So you spend your days drawing these...

...for people like that.

But you spend your nights...

...meeting people like me.

Under the bridge.

Which is it, mate?

Prefer the day...

...or the night?

- Do I have to choose?
- You might someday.

I'm just grateful you still have a
taste for what you find on the street.

(CAR HORNS TOOTING IN DISTANCE)

Fuck.

I thought you were
taking dinner to Claude.

Your wife got there first.
She's so... efficient.

- (SCISSORS SNIP)
- What's all this?

Tomorrow's photoshoot.

- Who's this for?
- Trouvier.

Then why are we trotting out the trash

if they didn't make it
the first time around?

I've begun to see value in
things I hadn't before.

I hope that includes family.

If Claude doesn't start
drawing again soon,

some of these may end up
in the next collection.

- I'll see to it that he starts.
- No need.

- I've already asked Helen.
- Why?

Helen indulges your brother.

Better to steer your charming and
efficient wife toward Monsieur Trouvier.

Let her flatter his
poor choice in neckties

and make him feel like
more than a piggybank.

- Are you done?
- I'm not.

You're seven weeks out, Paul. Seven.

These won't cut it. Claude pulled
them from the last show for a reason.

- He thinks they're shit.
- I pulled them.

Claude designed them. I pulled them.

That was my decision, not Claude's.

(ZIP WHIRS)

Well, given what
happened this past week,

you'll excuse me if I don't
entirely trust your good judgement.

I've gotten us this far, haven't I?

I'm not questioning what you've
already achieved, mon chou.

I know you're capable of great things.

We all are.

But we can't afford another
season of polite applause.

What are you doing?

What, you think these people
don't steal from you?

Who are these pictures for anyway?

Is this a gift for her maman?

Is Marianne still having birthdays?

- Why wouldn't she?
- After a certain age, it's obscene.

Ouch! Watch the pins.

- Sorry.
- No, you're not.

You're loving this, aren't you?

Some scruffy Cinderella out in the
streets playing dress-up in my clothes.

Before you know it,
they'll be expecting us

to curtesy when they walk
in with their pincushion.

For God's sake, Dominique, it's
a photoshoot, not a revolution.

Be thankful that you're
not out on those streets,

looking for work.

- ♪ CHARLES TRENET: Hop! Hop! ♪
- (DOG BARKS)

- Where are we going?
- I found this great spot yesterday.

I was here so long, I had to buy a book.

Billy, slow down. I can't walk
this fast in someone else's shoes.

Oh, I think after what you've just
stepped in, you might own them.

- (GASPS) Oh, my God!
- You're fine.

We'll wash them in the river.

Or maybe not.

Nina, over here.

If Charlotte sees
I've ruined this shoe,

she will never let me forget it. Never.

- Nina, over here.
- DГ©golas!

Hey! Hey!

Look, can we not worry about what's
going to happen in the future?

Let's just be here and
now, present tense.

All right? Because I only
wanted to speak decently.

It's not so decent.

Now, you're telling me this?

(HE LAUGHS)

Pick a book. Any book.

(CAMERA FILM WINDS ON)

Excuse me, Mademoiselle, but um...

what is that enchanting
perfume you're wearing?

Did you...

Did you step in something?

That's great. Here we go.

See, I knew it.

That's great, Nina. Just hold
the book up to me a little bit.

Ah, perfect. One more, one more.
Go back. Again with the book.

That's perfect. That's perfect.
We're done.

♪ Il n'est pas de chez nous ♪

- ♪ Non, hop hop! ♪
- That's great.

Just come forward. All right.

Stretch out, so we can see the full...
the full length of the cape.

♪ Est-ce la voix des anges? ♪

♪ Est-ce vous, est-ce moi? ♪

♪ Hop hop! ♪

- ♪ C'est la chanson d'une Г©poque... ♪
- Hey.

Right, Nina. Look to me. Just
give me a spin, OK, but fast.

- (WOLF WHISTLING)
- All right, just look away and turn...

That's great. Just like that, OK?

That's great. One more.

Let's go up to the bridge. All right?
You look great. You look great.

Just two seconds. Hold that.

Pull them down. Yeah.

That does look really good. That's good.

Nina, this is perfect. You
gotta be ready to catch it.

OK. Jump again.

- All right?
- Yeah.

Er... one, two...

- Three.
- Whoo!

♪ Hop, hop! ♪

♪ C'est la chanson d'une Г©poque ♪

♪ D'autrefois... ♪

- I'm so sorry. Come here! Slow down!
- ♪ Hop! Hop! ♪

(HANDBRAKE CRUNCHES)

(CHICKENS CLUCKING)

MOTHER: Oh, Paul, why
did you do this now?

The ink isn't even dry on that contract.

Buying this was a steal, Maman.

Once it's tidied up, there could
be a garden up front as well.

The windows in the back are larger.

It's a lovely view at sunset.

- I hate sunsets.
- Oh, stop it.

Come inside.

(GEESE HONKING)

(DOG YELPS)

(TIN CANS GENTLY CLATTERING)

It won't collapse, Maman. It's
been standing longer than you.

Why did you buy this?

How many years have we dreamed
about a place to escape? Hm?

Fresh air. Plot of land
to grow vegetables.

- Raise chickens.
- Chickens!

Whatever. It's privacy. Land.

You've struggled your whole life,

fighting for space, for heat,

those years making coffee out
of acorns, soap out of flour.

Why not enjoy a corner of
paradise while you can?

Paris is paradise.

This... is purgatory.

You don't need the stress and
worries of running a business.

This is where you need to be.

(DOG YAPPING)

(CAR HORN TOOTS)

(SHUTTER CLICKS)

Wow!

You're a sight for sore eyes.

No, it's a good thing.

It doesn't translate. I'll...
I'll look it up.

You can't learn a language from a book.

I had more than a book.

I had Madame Fourchette for five years,

and I'd have followed her into the
Foreign Legion. She was a beauty.

You were in love with your teacher?

Before I graduated, I spent my life savings
on a pricey bottle of cologne for her.

She said she already had her fragrance

and that a French girl
never changed her perfume.

But she did promise to
wear mine to sleep in.

What does that mean?

I have no idea, but it made me
smile for about six months.

OK, hang on. You've got to go over here

and really, really spin,
show the whole skirt off.

Ah.

That's great, Nina.

That's great.

- (LAUGHS)
- It's great. Nina, that's great.

Wow!

Now we need to show off the sleeve.

But lean forward, intrigued.

You've never seen a
more intriguing onion.

(LAUGHS)

- American?
- What? Me?

- No.
- And him?

- He is, but...
- But what?

Brings you here in that dress?

What did you give him to get it? (SPITS)

Whore.

This... This dress
belongs to Paul Sabine.

- That's where I work.
- Work?

This is work?

Take this back to Paul Sabine!

This skirt could dress a dozen children.

How many go out without, so
you can strut around in this?

Billy!

Hang on. I've just
got to change a film.

Where do you think you're from?

- Billy! (SCREAMS)
- Nina! Nina, I'm coming!

(RIPPING)

Leave her alone!

(SHE SCREAMS)

(SHOUTING)

Please!

Get out of here! Get out of here!

Get out of here, you
selfish little slut!

Stop it!

(FOOTSTEP ECHO)

(FOOTSTEPS)

(COINS RATTLE)

I appreciate it, Marjorie, but
you needn't make that call.

Life magazine will have a better story
when the next collection debuts.

May I call you back, my dear? Thank you.

That was a devoted patron and
a great friend of our house.

We have a situation, Monsieur Sabine.

My lunch was interrupted by my office.

One of your models and your
in-house photographer were...

- How did you hear?
- One of my secretaries is married

to a gendarme who works
in that district.

Ah...

I'm waiting to speak to Billy.

I'm hoping Nina wasn't hurt.

What was she doing in
that neighbourhood? Hm?

Parading around in that attire?

Well, I'm confused, Jules.
Are you concerned about...

I'm concerned about the
reaction to the dress.

It sends a very clear message.

And what is that? Hm?

I'm not a designer, sir.

I'm a businessman.

I look before I leap. I
suggest you do the same.

You have built a lovely cocoon.

But wars aren't over because
somebody raises a flag.

Your neighbours - they're
still struggling to survive.

Fighting over a loaf of bread.

The government has just ordered that all
boulangeries close three days a week.

Yes, I'm aware of the shortage...

Then why would you rub
that in people's faces?

Jules...

nothing bold or magnificent

is built from fear.

That's certainly not how
you got to where you are.

- Is it?
- I'm not here to debate.

I suggest you have a long hard
look at this next collection.

Weed out everything that
is wasteful or offensive

and will not elicit the
same reaction again.

- Mm-hm?
- Thank you, Jules.

I always welcome a fresh perspective.

Sorry about your lunch.

They attacked her. I didn't
know that was gonna happen.

I turn my back for one second, and...

Honestly, I didn't think
this could happen.

- I'm sorry.
- I'll speak to her.

- Is everything all right?
- There was an incident with Nina.

- A fight in the street.
- Poor thing.

- Is she OK?
- Yes.

Would you like to wait for Marianne
or should I fetch an assistant?

Oh, no, this can wait. Thank you.

Thank you.

Monsieur Trouvier may have been
right about this American boy.

Not everyone has your good sense, Helen.

Or the skill to read a tricky situation.

If you're asking me
to speak to Billy...

No, no. No, I'm not.

You're already involved in so much.

Far too much.

It's a lovely shape on you.

Thank you.

Would you excuse me,
while I get dressed?

Paul showed me "paradise" this morning.

Very charming.

Was that your idea? To stick
me in a chicken coop?

If you believe for a moment that I'm about
to trade Paris for knitting mittens,

you've placed a sorry bet.

I'm not going to disappear, Helen.

I need to be here with my sons, looking
after them, just as I always have.

- (DOOR OPENS)
- Madame?

Ask Victor to take me home, please.

I believe he's offered
to drive Marianne.

But if you wish to ride with them...

If I'd wanted to make
stops, I'd take a bus.

Fetch me a taxi.

(PHONE NUMBER BEING DIALLED)

500 hours of needlework,
cutting, fittings,

and it's destroyed in 30 seconds.

Fuck the dress. It's thread.

- How's Nina?
- I haven't spoken to her yet.

I sent Marianne home
to take care of her.

What are you looking for?

Odile never piles my stuff up like this.

Who's been in here? Victor?

I don't want him in here! He's got
a lot more to hide than I do.

I know what your maid would find.

How come our new partner's so
wound up over some American kid,

and yet he's got no
issues with your driver?

Victor's more than my driver.

Yeah, we all know who Victor is.

Who Victor was.

Did you hire the American to distract
Trouvier, so he wouldn't notice Victor?

Why don't you sit down
and drink something?

Because I'm busy!

(YELLS)

- Whoa!
- (GROANS)

- Come on.
- Don't touch me. Don't touch me.

- Well, what hurts?
- Nothing!

I'm on so many pain pills, I
can't even feel my fucking feet.

- Well, how can I help?
- Call the Navy,

and ask them for a list of
sailors who like to suck cock.

Is that what you're looking for?

What are you gonna do...
if you find him?

Hm?

Let him go. Forget about him.

Ah. So, we're all supposed
to crawl away, are we?

Nina too?

Just lose a few important teeth and then
be thankful we've still got our tongue?

Save your energy for the
fights you can win.

Hm?

(SIGHS)

Think of all those creeps that
Maman made us eat meals with...

The bastard who threw our
furniture in the street.

That arsehole who bought
us a Christmas tree,

then broke off a branch to
beat the shit out of us.

Oh, Jesus. (SIGHS) What
made you think of him?

He was the last person to call
me "son" before Trouvier.

That didn't stop till I broke his hand.

Well, I'd go a little
easier on the Cotton King.

This is one we're gonna win.

- Does he know that?
- He will.

If he's upset about ten metres
of velvet, we'll use 15.

(CHUCKLES)

It felt good to be seen...

After so many years of hiding.

Keeping my head down.

I just...

I felt free.

(SOBS)

- Nina...
- It didn't last.

It couldn't.

(SOBS)

- No...
- (SOBS)

- HELEN: Where have you been?
- Claude's.

We had a dinner engagement
with my aunt and uncle.

- (SIGHS)
- Did you forget?

I'll tell them you're working late.

Why does your mother think
that that cottage is for her?

And why does she think that I'm
the one sticking her there?

I thought that place was
supposed to be for us?

It was. It is.

But with seven weeks to
pull this all together,

I don't think we'll be using it.

(SLURRED) And having my mother around
tends to slow down the production line.

Well, she thinks I'm the one
putting her out to pasture.

- I will clarify.
- Good luck with that.

- Why are you wearing that?
- For Nina.

And because I feel good in it.

And it deserves to be seen by people.

Plan for success, Paul.

We're done drawing on our stockings.

Women want to feel pampered...

...and beautiful again.

At least I do.

Do you want me to change?

You do look beautiful in that.

Wear it, if you want.

I'm just tired of seeing people
that I love be hurt and humiliated.

I miss you.

Give me your coat. I'll get
you a sweater. You're soaked.

(CAT MEOWS)

You know, if you're thirsty, there should
be an open bottle about here somewhere.

If my brother hasn't
already milked it dry.

He was here? Today?

Yeah. He told me the gory details.

I'm sorry.

I wish I could have been there.

I would have flattened
every last one of them.

Ah... I couldn't move.

Not scared of a little blood, are you?

- There was no blood.
- Well, there will be when I shave.

Come on.

And if I don't bleed to death...

we can always try and catch the
9pm showing at the Quarter.

I think The Beauty and the
Beast is still playing.

(WATER TRICKLING)

Maybe we could see it again.

(SIGHS) Oh, come on.

Come on, fifth time's the charm.

And I have been penned
up in here for days.

I just want to blow the stink off me.

(GROWLS SOFTLY)

(FEIGNS MENACING VOICE) "You must
not look me in the eye, Belle.

"You must not see me...

"...except every night at seven

"when you can watch me shave...

"...with a lawn mower."

(LAUGHS)

Why didn't you ask me
to wear those clothes?

- (WATER SPLASHES)
- What if he asks me to do it again?

What if he does?

I can't say no to him. Nobody can.

Nobody tried.

You know, I think it might be time...

...this Beauty...

unleashes her Beast.

You know, you have them
both inside you, don't you?

You just... You have to stop
seeing the Beast as evil.

(GENTLY) It's not. It's not.
It's not. Sh...

It's not. It's about passion...

And...

possibility.

You need to go back

to that market wearing
a fucking ball gown

and you need to demand
a sack of potatoes.

(AS THE BEAST) "Give
me potatoes, Belle."

"I need potatoes."

- "Please shave my forehead."
- (LAUGHS)

(HE GROANS SOFTLY)

What's that?

I don't know.

A phone number.

Have they caught him yet?

- The creep who did this to you?
- What?

Er...

No.

No, not yet.

(ELEVATOR BELL DINGS)

Monsieur? Monsieur Novak?

Your friend left something
behind in his room.

- My friend?
- Monsieur Rossi.

The maid found it underneath the bed.

Must have checked out in a hurry.

- Perhaps you would send it to him...
- Yeah.

(ELEVATOR BELL)

(ELEVATOR CLANKS)

(BELL DINGS)

(HAMMERING NEARBY)

(CHATTER AND LAUGHTER)

Pow-pow!

Pow-pow!

What happened? Did he point his
camera in the wrong direction?

My cousin lives near that market.

It's rough. They'll take your
face off to grab the last carrot.

Where is she?

Juliette, would you excuse us, please?

We haven't spoken since yesterday.

Please don't ask me to
do that again, monsieur.

Nina, this had nothing to do with you...
Or the dress.

- I'm not comfortable...
- That's not true.

I saw the photographs
taken before the market.

You looked stunning.

- A natural!
- I have work to finish here.

Nina...

those people who turned
on you in that market

those people could have
been any one of us.

I'm from those streets.
I know what they feel.

How many years were we stripped of
things that we took for granted?

Told to think in a different language.

But the one place that
they couldn't occupy...

...was our imagination.

And that's the only thing
that's gonna save us.

Those poor souls who attacked you

only have memories.

You can still have dreams.

It looks like this was taken by me.

But I didn't take it.

And all the negatives
were in the darkroom.

Then it must have been
taken by somebody else.

It's a busy market.

There's only so much we can control.

I'm sorry, Nina.

(THUMPS ON DOOR)

(CHILDREN PLAYING NEARBY)

WOMAN: Yes? Can I help you?

Er...

Sorry.

Sorry, I think I've got the wrong flat.

Are you looking for Marc?

Me too.

I'm his wife.

Does he owe you money?
Cos I don't have any.

No.

No, I'm not here for money.

What are you here for?

How do you know my husband?

You're not in the Navy, are you?

(LIGHT FOOTSTEPS APPROACH)

(DOOR SHUTS)

Is there anything I can say to her?
I didn't...

I'm sure she heard you.

I only took her to that market
because I wanted to capture

that dress against buildings
with some character, you know?

The textured walls, the
pockmarks and the dents.

Those dents in the walls
that you love so much,

many of them come from bullets...

...that passed through people first.

Juliette?

Take this bag downstairs, please.

Monsieur's waiting for it.

Sorry to make you wait.

- Is that the one from the market?
- No. God, no.

That would take more
than a day to restore.

Crazy, isn't it?

Anyone wanting to destroy
something so beautiful.

- (CAR DOOR SHUTS)
- You can't eat a dress.

I saw you yesterday.

In church.

What?

St Gervais.

I was there too. We go
to the same church.

I don't go to church.

(CAR ENGINE REVS)

You can leave that for tomorrow.

- The other girls have already left.
- I'd like to finish.

Not tonight. Let's go home, huh?

Monsieur Sabine has offered
to pay for a taxi.

You don't need to be walking
through the streets.

Being in a taxi won't
make me feel any safer.

- That's my job.
- Really?

When you still shake every time a
train conductor asks for your ticket?

Nina...

I'm not sure why Monsieur
Sabine wanted you to model.

Neither am I.

It's a big leap to go from being invisible
to being a side show in the streets.

He never asked us to be invisible.

We asked him.

There was no other choice.

It doesn't matter.

I told him that I wouldn't do it again.

That's too bad.

It was nice to see someone
else recognise your beauty.

Every parent sees their child
as a gift to the world, Nina.

Your father used to take you to those same
book stalls when you were very young.

- If he saw those photographs, he will...
- He won't!

It's been nearly three years.

Don't you think he'd be standing
here right now if he could?

I'll get my coat.

Nina... Nina, please...

Thank you.

Has he packed up his camera yet?

I came straight from delivering
an order to a client.

It's been a very busy day.

Yes, I know.

I have five newspapers on my desk,

each one of them carrying that picture.

I warned you about that photographer.

- I knew there was an agenda.
- There's no agenda, Jules.

It's just a photograph
that shows a dress

that has the ability
to excite and offend.

Two qualities that
separate us from the pack.

Are you out of your mind?

If you won't sack that
bastard, I will do it myself.

No, you won't.

As partners, let's be very clear about
what we each bring to this marriage.

You've asked me to create a collection
that puts Paris back on the map.

I intend to do that.

Billy is part of that plan.

There are many people
dependent on my leadership.

They work around the clock,
tirelessly supporting me,

because they share my
vision for the future.

I'm hoping you can do the same.

They are not your partner, son.

- They're your staff.
- No.

They're my family.

See, I never had much of
one when I was growing up.

But don't get me wrong, I did
just fine without a father.

And I'm sure as hell not
looking for one now.

Shall we order?

If your next collection
fails, Monsieur Sabine...

...our partnership is effectively over,

and you will owe me
everything I've put into it,

with interest.

Is that understood?

Yes, it is.

In that case, I probably
shouldn't take time out to dine.

I have a lot of work ahead of me.

And if we're gonna be
honest with each other,

you should know Billy did not submit
that photograph to the papers.

I did.

Bon appГ©tit.

(COIN CLATTERS IN SLOT)

(DIALS TELEPHONE NUMBER)

(RINGING TONE)

(TELEPHONE RINGS)

(BABY WAILING)

(TELEPHONE CONTINUES TO RING)

(CAR PASSES BY)

(RINGING CONTINUES)

Hello?

Hello.

Hello.

Who's calling?

Is somebody there?

(SHE HANGS UP)