Original subtitles

They need to get away.

- Not tonight? - Now.

Pierre, we're all tired. Let's sleep on it.

No, we're going.

- It's 11 pm! - Suzanne!

Chloe...

We'll go to the chalet.

Think it's a good idea?

- I don't know. - The nights are cold, even now.

We'll fetch your stuff.

We'll do that, then leave.

I don't want to go home.

Do you want to get anything?

You should sleep.

Incline the seat and sleep.

It's still a long way.

Someone I Loved

I'll put the heating on.

I'll come back for you.

You're ugly! You're useless!

You knew I'd yell if you did that!

I didn't do it on purpose.

I saw you, you know!

You're a liar. A liar!

You want to be Madonna.

Yes, because I'm Madonna's hidden daughter.

It's going to be great!

I'll be a really cool supermodel!

But you'll be a bag lady.

I want my snack.

The girls?

They're watching cartoons.

They show them this early?

They show them all day.

You found the coffee?

Yes, thank you.

Shouldn't you call work to let them know?

Yes, I'll do that.

It's just that I feel...

I'll call my boss. She's a friend.

At least I think so.

Could I speak to Laure, please?

I see. It's Chloe. I'd rather talk to her actually.

Actually, I'm taking a few days off to rest.

No, I'm not in Paris right now.

I'll call her back. Thanks. Goodbye.

You have no new messages.

Mum!

Yes.

Know what Grandpa said?

No.

That we'd go to McDonald's.

It's true. He said so himself.

Doesn't he hate McDonald's?

No, he doesn't. He said we'd do the shopping,

then all go and eat at McDonald's.

How can people eat this stuff?

- When will you finish, Grandpa? - Soon.

But when?

Like I said, soon.

Not yet, you'll hurt yourselves.

It's nearly ready.

Here we go.

All right, climb on.

Mum! Look! Have you seen, Mum?

Are they warm enough up there?

Yes.

Let's see... "Roughly chop the onions."

Here.

Fancy a drink?

The Merlot needs to breathe. Let's have some Bushmills.

What's Bushmills?

A whisky?

Try it.

It's the onions.

You think I cry too much?

Well? Incredible, isn't it?

I'm not keen on whisky.

It's something else.

A gift from Patrick Frendall.

Remember Patrick Frendall?

A tall guy with long arms.

I like him a lot.

I don't know him well but he's one of my best friends.

"Chop the carrots into medium rounds."

Is this "medium"?

I'd say so.

I have two best friends.

I had two.

I met Patrick on a trip to Rome with Suzanne.

He was at our hotel.

He made me laugh. It's rare for me to laugh.

And my brother Paul. You never met him: He died in '56.

In '56? How old was he?

21. There were 9 years between us.

Odd, a brother as a best friend.

You'd have loved him. Everybody did.

What did he die of?

Tuberculosis. He was sent back from Indochina half mad.

He'd volunteered to go there.

He was a student at the time.

He loved trees

and birds. He knew birds by their song.

On hearing a bird, he'd tell you the species and colour.

He'd draw it too.

He wasn't meant to go there.

But, you know, an unhappy love story...

He was mad about her.

Excuse me.

Three months later, she got engaged to our butcher's son.

I can't see the oregano...

What's this? It'll do.

Of course, no one could oblige her to love Paul.

My mother changed butchers. Paul came home, revolted.

All he did was read and draw.

He kept coughing.

Shortly after, he died.

At 21. What a waste!

Are we eating here?

Odd I should mention Paul.

I don't know why I told you.

I never talk about my brother.

I don't know...

It must be Patrick Frendall's Bushmills.

Patrick Frendall...

Ditched... ditched...

I've been ditched.

I'm in a ditch, Patrick Frendall.

Pierre?

In Annecy. The boiler can't wait. Back by noon.

Shit!

Answer it, Mum!

When are you coming?

You're not coming?

Because you fell out?

What are we going to do?

Yes, I love you too.

Know what?

Grandpa bought me a Barbie T-shirt

with pink trousers and trainers

with a bow on the socks and we ate at McDonald's!

Yes, she's watching TV. I'll put her on.

Cut it out, Lucie!

Mum, Dad wants

to talk to you!

- I'm busy. - She's busy.

He asks when we're going back to Paris.

Soon.

He'll call back tonight.

I might not be here.

She might not be here. Why not?

I don't know!

She doesn't know.

This is boring. I'm going to hang up.

Love and kisses, Dad.

Where will you be? Back in Paris?

Shut up, Lucie.

I want to go back!

- Stop it. - I'm missing stuff at school!

I won't know what to do!

I'll come last thanks to you!

Lucie, I said stop it!

You're useless!

I'll do your hair.

There, like that.

No, not like that.

There, you have horns now!

I'm stupid.

Why are you stupid?

Why? Why?

Why?

Paul died after being on guard in the rain.

Just think.

Are you ok?

It's going to rain again.

Lucie, Marion, come on!

It's raining!

Handsome, wasn't he?

When do you want to leave?

Tomorrow.

Why? I can stay here with you. No one will bother you.

Bother me?

It's better for you. For now.

Until he comes back?

You think he will?

- Don't blame me. - So I blame myself?

That's not easy.

Ok, we share responsibility.

I just want to yell about it.

Something you don't do in your family.

After all, you've virtually adopted me.

Let me cry out your son has ditched me.

- With our two daughters... - He'll take care of them.

We know that!

They're here...

It's a pretty big shock.

I never saw it coming.

Because no one talks in this family.

No, that's vulgar.

Your son doesn't talk either.

He's kind, even-tempered...

but I don't know him.

Suddenly we're through.

Out of the blue, we're through.

He's madly in love with some other woman.

Isn't that kind of traumatic?

We could have talked it over.

And I can't yell about it.

If I cry and keep my mouth shut, that's ok.

I've been part of this family for 7 years.

And you've never shown any interest in me before.

Why?

You're cleaning up after your son. It looks bad.

- It's not done. - Stop it!

Just listen to yourself.

You hear the way you talk to me?

I'm not a dog.

I let him go without yelling.

I closed the door quietly

because you don't slam doors.

And now I'm here with you,

with my little girls

and what do we do?

I help you cook and we have a drink?

I can't ignore what happened! I'm supposed to stay here

so I won't yell about how I've been ditched?

I'm doing what I can, shit, but don't give me orders!

Let go!

You're hurting me!

You all hurt me in this family!

You all hurt me...

He's unhappy.

He told you that?

So?

You're telling me that to help me?

That's sick.

He's the one who left.

The thing is...

can we make mistakes?

I don't care. I don't want to talk anymore.

I'm sick of this.

I loved a woman...

I don't mean Suzanne. Another woman.

I loved her more than anything.

More than anything.

I never knew you could love someone like that.

I mean,

I didn't think I was programmed to love like that.

And I loved a woman.

I fell in love the way you fall ill, without meaning to.

And I lost her the same way.

Her name was Mathilde.

Her name is still Mathilde.

I was 46 and I already felt old.

I've always felt old. Paul was the young one.

At 10, I had the face I have now.

I had no expectations.

I kept working and working.

Because...

I wasn't keen on living.

I felt I wasn't gifted for it.

Mathilde taught me to live.

Oh, Chloe...

I loved her.

You've no idea how I loved her.

Are you still there?

Yes.

Am I boring you?

No.

You want to sleep?

No.

What about Suzanne?

She didn't realize I was cheating until it was over.

I had...

I would come home to sleep,

because my family lived there. Period.

One night, she wanted to go out for dinner.

We went to a small, local pizza place.

I know everything.

She's younger.

I know how long it's lasted and why you're always away.

I can't stand it anymore. You're a monster.

I turned a blind eye. I was suspicious

but I trusted you. It had to be a whim,

a desire to please. A male thing.

I had the new house to see to. I had enough to do.

I thought, "It'll be ok, I don't have time,

"but I trust him."

Then you got ill and I turned a blind eye.

But now, I can't take it anymore.

All of it.

Your selfishness, your contempt,

the way you...

Good evening.

Ready to order?

Is there garlic in the spaghetti with clams?

I can ask the chef not to use any.

One clam. And you, sir?

- The same. - All right.

- White wine? Red? - Water, please.

Still? Sparkling?

- Sparkling. - All right.

How could you do it? Do I deserve such contempt?

- I don't feel contempt... - What did I do?

- Nothing. - Why?

I've seen a lawyer about a divorce.

Nathalie's sister-in-law, remember?

I decided on the way back from the chalet on Sunday.

You didn't say a word all the way.

Sorry, you did, you asked me for change to pay the toll.

I thought, "If Pierre speaks, I'll stay.

"If he doesn't, I'll get a divorce."

I didn't know you were a gambler.

Careful...

It's very hot.

There. Enjoy.

Your children are transparent.

You don't care

that Adrien has dropped out, that Christine is expecting...

You just don't care.

And all those...

so-called business trips.

You haven't been there for years.

The time I've wasted waiting for you.

And where were you?

With her. Always.

I even took care of your mother when she needed you...

How much do you want? Name a figure.

You're pathetic.

You don't understand a thing.

You really don't understand?

You're pathetic.

You're really pathetic.

I know.

File for divorce. I'll take the blame.

Even for my mother's foul personality.

Forget the lawyer. How much?

I didn't see a lawyer.

I didn't have the nerve. I couldn't leave you.

I love my life, my family, my children,

our home, our neighbourhood...

You can do whatever you want.

Keep on screwing her. I won't leave.

I've built things up.

We haven't even slept in the house by the sea yet.

And our friends, the people we know. I can't.

Besides, I'm told it's common.

A lot of men cheat on their wives.

It's a male thing.

I want to keep bearing your name

and stay Mrs Pierre Houdard.

I don't exist without you.

I'm here.

I'm not with anyone else.

- We're through. - You're through?

Are you through here?

- Yes. - I'll take these.

You didn't like it, sir. Madam neither.

- Would you like the dessert menu? - Coffee?

No.

The bill?

Was yours good?

The waiter has a fine moustache anyhow.

You're right.

I lost the love of my life

and stayed with a woman I permanently damaged.

Got anything to help me digest?

It's weird, telling me this now.

Know what I believe?

You deserve better and you're lucky Adrien left.

Brilliant!

Did he love you that well, Chloe?

Have you ever wondered?

No?

I must be mistaken.

This isn't bad.

Why don't you go to bed?

What happened with that woman?

- We can't talk about it? - I don't know.

It'll hurt you.

Even more?

I'm not sleepy.

I saw her again a few years ago in a Paris park.

And?

And nothing. It was over.

How did you meet her?

Some other time maybe.

Come on...

Tell me a story.

I first saw her on June 8, 1990,

at around 11 am, Hong Kong time,

at Mr Xing's office.

He had put out a tender to build ammonia tanks.

I was exhausted, jet-lagged

and I needed to clinch the deal to develop my firm.

And the flight's breakfast wouldn't go down.

Sorry, I don't understand. Where's Mr Rockwell?

I'm Mr Rockwell.

I'm replacing him. He's unwell.

Mathilde Courbet.

- No. - Something to drink?

Thank you, I understood.

Were you told?

Are you familiar with this specific matter?

Did they explain?

It's a major project, I can't afford to lose this deal.

You're very pale.

They show family photos

to get acquainted.

You don't have... a family photo?

I do, but not on me. I didn't know.

You may begin.

May I?

Certainly.

Mr Houdard, could you please

explain the diagrams?

Of course. Excuse me.

Go ahead.

Excuse me.

Excuse me.

All right.

I'm sorry?

Why isn't the insulation on the interior?

To lessen the risk of thermal shock?

Yes.

And to retain insulation.

What's going on?

Translate. What is he saying?

It's hopeless?

- I don't think so. - What then?

Mr Xing thinks it's a bad idea doing such a big deal today.

What's wrong?

I gaffed?

- You gaffed? - Me? No.

I just repeat your words.

What then?

He says you're not concentrated.

I am! I am concentrated.

He says you're falling in love.

Dealing with a Frenchman in love is too dangerous.

No, it's all right.

Tell him it's not true.

I'm perfectly fine.

It's not true?

No, it's not true.

That's neither here nor there.

Sorry, I dozed off.

Well, it got off to a good start

but then they broke off the meeting.

I've no idea.

No, it's not good. It's not a good sign at all.

I'll go out for a while.

Yes, all right.

Take care. Talk to you later.

It wasn't true?

I almost gave up and left.

You've changed?

Yes.

- The same. But why?

Earlier, I was in disguise,

in my inoffensive employee outfit.

You didn't look the part at all.

You looked very good.

I just find it a pity.

That I've changed?

You prefer me inoffensive?

I'm not sure you're less dangerous in your grey suit.

Not sure at all.

How did you manage to translate so well, so fast?

It's my job.

Yes, but you know technical terms

for stocking systems and engineering...

Only natural.

My father and brothers work for Shell.

You live in Hong Kong?

For now, yes.

Whereabouts?

What an interrogation!

Sorry, I'm being impolite.

It's ok, I'll tell you.

I live alone near the harbour. My landlady, Miss Li,

has two canaries and a pretty voice.

Before, I lived in Dubai and anywhere else where there's oil.

I must have changed schools 10 times.

I've been here two years now. I was born in Paris.

I'll give myself one more year here.

And no, I don't have family photos to show you.

You must be missed worldwide.

I like it here.

Work's easy to come by.

It's a very dynamic place.

Do you work a lot?

All the time.

I love my work.

Should I forget Mr Xing? Did he say anything after I left?

Not to me. I'm transparent for him.

But I don't think it's hopeless.

A deal in China is never done right away.

It's a game. I'm sure you'll hear back soon.

You'll have to take them to dinner.

Really? And then?

You won't hear another word.

For a long time?

One month, two... You have to let them come to you.

Have you worked with China before?

Don't you ever come to France?

You won't answer?

Sorry... It's the first time, yes. The first time.

Do you like it?

Yes. It's unlike anything I know.

But, yes, I think I'm...

How can I put it?

Fascinated.

It's like that at first.

- I have to go. - So soon?

So soon? I had to hang about two hours here to see you.

I have Mr Xing again tomorrow.

I really need to sleep.

Thank you.

What did you say?

I said I'm afraid of losing you.

Is that all?

That's all.

You kissed her smile and that's all?

That's all.

She left and I sat back down.

I spent the rest of the night gazing at her note on my thigh.

You can go, Genevieve.

You're staying?

Just sorting out.

All right.

See you tomorrow then.

You just can't live without me.

Afraid not!

I was visiting cousins,

so I brought your lighter back.

My lighter?

I've had it for months.

I don't remember taking it. Maybe you're fond of it...

My lighter! Yes, I am fond of it. That's very kind of you.

You're welcome.

We stood there. I didn't know what to do.

I was paralysed.

Then she came closer,

stepped around the desk slowly, softly.

It seemed endless.

We were there...

So close...

So close...

The world belonged to me.

It was August. We were two tourists in Paris. It was hot.

We walked for hours and hours. I was her guide.

Then the sun set behind St Eustache.

We put off the moment. We went to a small wine bar.

I was so scared...

So scared.

After entering her hotel room, nothing would be the same.

Nothing.

I was about to make love with the love of my life.

You sense that kind of thing.

She was salty.

No, don't change a thing. Don't move. Stay like that. Forever.

Let me taste you again.

It's so good...

You're beautiful. God, you're beautiful.

Oh, my God, I want you.

I want all of you. I want to stay like this all my life.

I want to do everything with you,

share everything...

It's you.

You're doing this to me.

You make me talkative,

but I hate talking.

Why?

I'm not interesting.

That's Chinese?

- Going up? - Yes.

We forgot something.

- No, we didn't. - No.

- What floor? - Third.

No, second!

It's nice. It's a pity. We should go out.

Yes, it's a pity.

Want to go out?

No.

- And you? - No.

We spent three days in that room.

It was wonderful, but a sham.

Everything was fake.

It wasn't life. It wasn't Paris.

I wasn't a tourist.

I wasn't single.

I was lying. I was lying to myself.

I'll get cigarettes. Want a pack or will you smoke mine?

I'll keep on smoking yours.

See you in a minute, then.

See you.

I'm going.

- You're beautiful. - Sure.

When I work, I don't notice the time.

Yes, I'm aware of that. Where is he?

Let him sulk. What can I say?

Make him respect you.

I'm alone at the office

with the phones off the hook so I can work.

What terminal do you arrive at?

Yes, we'll talk in two days.

I'm filing stuff. I'm sick of it.

Yes, I'm fine.

Yes, take care. Bye.

I'm sorry.

I'm not asking anything.

I had to call them.

No problem.

You came down?

Yes.

I hate the room without you.

What shall we do? Go for dinner?

I leave tomorrow.

I won't stay here forever.

Did you get cigarettes?

No.

I'll try to live without you.

I hope I'll be able to.

The house is occupied year round,

by their grandmother.

Maryse and Bernard go in summer but it's heated all year.

- More cheese? - No thanks.

As for the damp, there are two estimates.

One was drawn up by Deschamps.

It's absurd. He suggests glass wool.

That's not recommended at all.

Or so Cassedeck told me for this kind of work.

The other uses wooden boards...

Different material.

Enough! Calm down!

C'mon, it's only water.

We're having fun for once.

You're so dreary!

Ask to leave the table!

May I leave the table?

The whole holiday was like that. I'm exhausted.

You need to be around more often!

I'll make coffee. Want one?

No thanks.

Are you ok?

It's so late!

You're not too tired?

- My head aches. - So stop smoking.

Shall I heat up dinner?

- Do you want cheese? - I'm not hungry.

You're not in bed?

I was waiting for you. I was reading.

You work such crazy hours.

Coming to bed?

I'll relax a bit first.

Giraffes accept man's presence

within a certain range.

They remain untouchable,

thus preserving their mystery.

The Romans named it

"giraffa camelo pardalis"

considering it resembled both the camel and the leopard.

It's somewhere in that mess.

The customs papers...

Can we sign the packaging contract?

We were just talking about that.

We can sign the packaging contract and the shipping one.

But I have to be frank. There's a problem.

A problem?

The tender included Chinese specifications

for packaging with strict demands.

You have side knots, double knots, stitching...

What knots?

He'll explain.

- Coffee, Alain? - Yes, please.

- Stephane? - No thanks.

For the packaging,

the Chinese have strict demands concerning the wood used

because they recycle it afterwards

for construction or to make furniture.

How much extra will this bullshit cost?

A tidy sum.

It's in the contract.

And now you tell me?