Original subtitles

Business cards, invitations, wedding announcements,

menus, cocktails, fashion shows...

You name it!

I noticed your candy counter sells sugared almonds by the pound.

Get the connection?

Almonds mean baptisms, which mean announcements...

We all need to promote ourselves or announce something:

the grocer who moves shop or the guy who finds a job.

When you needed business cards you used to go... where?

To the stationer's, or the printer's,

where you'd order a thousand, two thousand...

They'd take a month to print, and how long would they last?

Ten years, a lifetime.

Who knows if you'll last 2 years in the same place, the same job?

So what good are your business cards? You can shelve them!

Business cards, invitations, party menus, wedding announcements,

cocktails, fashion shows...

You name it, we make 'em!

I noticed that your candy counter

sells sugared almonds by the pound.

Get the connection?

Almonds mean baptisms, baptisms mean announcements.

You okay, Mr Hirsch?

You want to sit down? A glass of water?

No, I'm all right.

Thanks anyway.

"Business cards, invitations, wedding announcements,

"baptisms, cocktails, fashion shows..."

Simon repeated day in day out.

One night at home

Simon Hirsch looked at his hands and nails.

They were yellow like an old dog's claws.

Simon had never thought he'd grow old.

Now it stared him in the face.

He'd never noticed before.

He wondered how all those years flew by.

He tried to think about his life, but what did he remember?

Maybe a dozen faces whose names he couldn't get straight.

A daughter who'd left years ago.

The smell of four or five houses he'd lived in.

And all those absurd things he'd had to peddle for a living.

How much time did he have left?

15 years? 20 years?

And what would happen?

It was around that time that he met Mickey...

"Look," Mickey said: "loosen those thighs."

"Go on!"

"No, I don't want to."

"How do you know? You've never danced."

- I'm not interested. - Just look! It's a gas!

Step right, forward...

Right, forward, loose in the knees...

I've got better things to do than dance in the street.

Loose in the knees.

Come on, now.

- No? Don't dare? - So what? I don't want to.

- Then you're a jerk! - So I'm a jerk.

Afraid to look stupid?

Lay off me, please!

You are stupid!

Nobody's looking.

Don't want to.

But you haven't tried! Come on, no one's looking.

I don't care if anyone's looking or not!

It's not dancing... That's not the problem.

- So what's the problem? - I don't want to ruin my shoes!

- Want me to turn around? - That won't help my shoes.

You busy now?

I'm talking to you. You busy now?

I've got a client in the suburbs.

Can you give me a hand?

I'll buy you lunch afterwards.

- Then you can see your client. - What's it all about?

- A stakeout. - A what?

A stakeout, with me.

Marlon broke his arm. He's out.

Are you crazy?

Nothing to it: Sit in the car, keep a look-out,

read your paper, check the recording, turn the tape over...

You can flip a tape, can't you?

You can flip a tape?

No.

What d'you want? Get lost!

You're not gonna clean up now! Get lost, goddamit!

He's pretty het up today.

I don't think there'll be a deal.

- Hear me, Simon? - Sure, I hear you.

Danata's expecting a girl friend. If she comes by car,

get the plate number, okay?

Loosen the hips...

It's all in the hips.

Move your feet.

Someone's at the door, Mr Danata.

I'll get it.

All right, sir.

Lay off me for an hour.

If the phone rings, don't answer.

At the hospital "brain dead" cases were kept in a special ward

The two Others... long before all this

Am I in your way?

Scram!

In the back, if you want!

Shit, I can't go in the back. My leg's infected. You can't...

Okay. The back, it is.

Prick! Asshole!

The cocksucker would've run me over.

No, not Max. Marx.

Like Karl Marx. Name ring a bell? No?

And what's yours?

- What's my what? - Your name!

Frédéric.

Why, what's wrong?

Not Frédéric! That's a name for bimbos.

Take your fucking feet off my suitcase!

Even Freddo... sounds like a mutt.

I can say anything, you don't give a shit!

- How many fingers? - Three.

Shit, you're fast!

The Marseilles soccer team lost its last match.

I'll have to cut your hair.

What do you tell your son?

Anything... Whatever pops into my head.

Things going on outside, things I've seen or done,

things his cousins and friends said,

funny stories I hear on the radio.

Sometimes, I bring him the papers.

I read to him, sing him songs.

Today, I brought him photos from home...

His mother, his sisters.

This way, when he wakes up, he won't feel entirely lost.

Mickey...

it's me, Simon.

You can't hear me, that's for sure.

What can I tell you? I don't know...

I gotta talk to you.

Mickey, it's me, Simon.

You went to see him?

How is he? Still...

I wanted to go by, but...

Why'd that fool go it alone?

I don't know.

- Another coffee? - Sure.

Two more coffees, please.

Don't mind that, it's a department joke.

Who was Danata?

A thug.

We'd been on his tail for weeks. Gambling, dope...

But why Mickey? I mean, why shoot him?

Because he was there.

Just because he was there?

Sometimes, that's enough.

Can I ask you a question?

If you'd been there with Mickey,

what would it have changed?

For Mickey?

Not a thing.

Have you found anything?

Not yet, it's too early.

We'll pull out all the stops. We'll find him.

Did he ever talk about his private life?

Not especially, why?

There's no one to inform,

no girlfriend or fiancee. Nothing.

We can handle his stuff at the station, but his landlord

calls a dozen times a day to get his flat back.

And his family?

He didn't have any family.

The new tenants move in two weeks from today.

I put the mattress away.

What about the rest?

You can keep the furniture.

I'll take care of the rest.

The TV, too?

I can keep the TV, too?

If you like.

There's something I don't get. Are you from the police?

Are you police or family?

If anyone asks, you don't know.

This is my bed. Scram!

Can't you make less noise when you eat? Your mouth...

Close your mouth! I can see it all turning inside. Disgusting!

It looks like a cement mixer.

Didn't anyone teach you to eat with your mouth shut?

The belt, there.

See my shitkickers?

- Know what they're made of? - Leather.

Sure, leather. Good. But what kind?

Horse leather.

Nothing beats horse leather. Did y'know?

Feel, take them and feel...

Feel that? Feel that texture?

I bought 'em off a guy who blew everything on a horse.

They've got his initials inside.

The horse's?

No, the guy's!

He figured:

"That nag skinned me, so I'll skin him." He waited 5 years.

And when they finally took

the nag down to the glue factory, he was outside waiting.

Waiting for what?

For his shoes.

Lights out.

Marx, can I get next to you?

Can I sleep next to you?

Never, you hear, never again do you fucking wake me like that!

You hear?

Incredible! Who's this guy think he is?

What are you, a faggot or something?

I'll bounce you into a cold shower!

You wake me one more time and I'll break your neck, got that?

- Got that? - I got it.

We wanted to eat outside, but it rained. So we ate in.

Sandrine was over with Jeanne.

They bought a house there.

Her man found a new job. I mentioned him: Jean-Jo...

The beekeeper. The one who talks to bugs.

She showed us pictures of the place...

When the rain stopped, the kids went out to play.

I went into the study, but the kid was asleep there...

Hear me, Simon? Danata's expecting a girl friend.

If she comes by car, get the plate number, okay?

- I'll get it. - All right, sir.

Lay off me for an hour. If the phone rings, don't answer.

What are you doing here?

I was passing by and...

You've got no business here. I gave orders to let nobody up!

- I wanted to talk to you. - About what?

About how it's going.

The investigation.

Think this is the right time?

Hey, can't you tell her to put a lid on it?

Sure, it's coming along.

- Find anything? - Nothing concrete yet.

We know the killer was fairly young,

left-handed, and wore sneakers.

- We also think they were pros. - There was more than one?

That'll do, Mr Hirsch. Let us do our job now.

Where's that prick? Get him over here!

- Any connection with the case? - The whore? No.

So you didn't pull out all the stops.

You said you'd pull out all the stops.

This isn't all stops, it's got nothing to do with the case!

You're something!

What'd you expect: that we double the force?

All that's doubled now are the corpses!

You just don't give a shit about Mickey. Go on, say it!

- How dare you! - Say it: "Fuck Mickey!"

The lady, lady of hearts and two blacks...

Red wins, black loses. Follow the lady wherever she goes.

Looks shifty to me.

Get the cane!

Don't just stand there!

Hit him!

Harder!

He can't even feel it!

Let go!

Nice work.

This could fuck up my hand!

You didn't have to hit so hard.

The prick nearly bit my ear off. Is it bleeding?

I don't see anything.

It's not bleeding.

The suitcase.

You coming?

40... 50...

70.

Shut up, or I'll lose the count!

There's 70.

55... 60... 70.

How about Johnny?

As a name. What d'you think?

Beats Frédéric, no?

There's a card game here.

I'm telling you there is. I can smell it.

Those guys there.

Don't turn around, you fool! Don't turn around.

What a bitch!

What the fuck can you do with 70 bucks?

I'd fleece them like sheep.

I've got some.

I've got some of my own.

Your own what?

Money. If you want it.

Hell, no! What if I lose it?

- No big deal. I'd be glad to. - No big deal!

If you wanna play, go on.

How much you got?

Dunno. It's welfare money.

Welfare? I don't mess with welfare!

- It's for job training. - In that case, okay. I'll count it.

We all need to promote ourselves or announce something...

The grocer who moves shop or the guy who finds a job.

When you needed business cards you use to go where?

The stationer's...

or the printer's...

No way! It's not an advance, it's maintenance.

Go ask Richer. It's his job, after all.

Tonight!

I'm going to his office. I'll ask him.

Tonight is impossible. Impossible, I tell you!

Do the best you can! What d'you want me to say?

I've gotta go now.

It's the second damn time we've been here!

What the hell does the office want now?

I'm busy.

What a louse!

"I'll pull out all the stops..."

The prick just pulls out all the stops to goof off.

You with them?

I figured as much.

How about you?

It's me they want.

But just to ask me some questions.

Don't worry, they can't see us.

When they're worked up, they're blind.

Say, haven't we met somewhere before?

Weren't you pals with that cop they snuffed?

That's right.

Yeah, that's it. I saw you both in the canteen.

At the Marguery?

You were pigging out, while I froze my balls off outside.

- What were you doing? - Giving him info.

Think they've got a lead?

Not with that racket.

That's not how they'd find the guy who creamed Danata.

Why not?

It was a pro. They never find pros like that.

They never find them?

Sure, sometimes, but much later,

by accident, in a car trunk, with a bullet in the head,

hands tied with wire... like they do with informers.

I think intermission's over.

No relief in the East: "The West at the sickbed of Yeltsin reforms"

"17 nations to defer Russian debt."

There's a photo with it of women looking at frozen chicken.

"Stock market's down 0.4 points."

No photo.

Weather forecast:

"Little change over the next two days."

It's late.

Had dinner?

Hungry?

Are things okay?

You shouldn't have left your money with me. I didn't ask.

Did I ask you?

Well, then...

It's no big deal, Marx.

No big deal... I blow your bread and it's no big deal!

What's the matter? Why that hangdog look?

Fuck it!

Where you going?

None of your business.

Can I come along?

No. You can't come. I need to be alone.

It's business. And I'm not used

to having someone tag along. I'm not interested.

What are you gonna do? Have any plans?

Start thinking about making some.

But yesterday, you said: "I'll think about it."

You said you'd do the thinking.

It's all thought out.

If I come back, I'll get in touch.

I'll leave a note at the hotel.

Can't I come along, Marx? Just to the train station?

There's no way that you're coming with me.

So long, kid.

Mister! Come quick!

Just look! It's revolting!

It's nothing.

I'm thirsty, Marx.

Shut up!

Here's your share.

Your share! Take it.

I'm paying you back. It's your share. Business. Take it!

- Then what? - What when?

Then what what'll you do?

I don't know. The world turns, life goes on.

I was just thinking: What will you do with it?

- With what? - With the bread.

You're gonna let it mold in your pants?

Dunno. Why?

In that case, maybe I should hold on to it for you?

If you want, sure.

Don't you wanna buy yourself anything?

Like what?

How should I know? Something you'd enjoy.

I don't wear panties.

Bad habit. The air's full of fumes.

Hurry up. I'm a busy man.

Paper cups, kitchen utensils,

vacuum cleaners made in East Germany, eyeglass frames,

three-wheel cars, typewriters, you name it!

But I wanted to go into business for myself.

So, I took over a toy factory.

But it went under and there I was,

stuck with a warehouse full of toys

that I had to empty, so I took it all home.

They were all over. You could hardly budge,

you couldn't open a closet without a teddy bear falling out.

But the worst were the ducks: 15,000 ducks!

Ducks with little bells on the tips of their feet.

You'd get a glass in the kitchen...

You'd go for a pee....

You'd take your shoes in the morning...

It was hell!

Know why I worked for Mickey?

'Cause he was handsome

and he scared me shitless.

If I didn't deliver twice in a row,

I knew I'd be in for it the third time.

This, for instance. He did it.

Didn't you know?

How'd he do it?

You want the details?

The method, you mean?

This was from a car battery.

But the warm-up came first.

The stuff before is important.

He'd tie me to the bumper,

then go rummage in the trunk.

He'd poke around on purpose just to make me sweat a bit

and think about the crank he'd hit me with.

Then he'd come back, like he was sorry to make me wait.

It wasn't a crank. It was a plastic bag.

In it were jumper cables, with the price tag still on.

He'd hook them to the battery,

and turn on the juice!

That day I thought I'd fry.

What's that jerk want with me?

What?

You know, that girl...

Do I have to go with her? 'Cause, you know...

Do what you want, but get off my back.

Get off my back!

Got that?

Got it, Marx.

I'm gonna murder him.

It's this girl... I don't really feel it with her...

Beat it!

You've never done it, have you?

You get my meaning or don't you?

I get it.

So have you done it or not?

Don't think so.

You don't think so! Then you've never done it.

You never tried? With a chick or with...

Do you have to do it?

You don't have to do anything.

If I don't have to, I'd rather not.

As you like.

Can we still be friends?

If I don't do it, we can still be friends.

No connection. Don't fuck, then. They're your balls, not mine.

Weddings, cocktails, fashion shows. You name it.

I noticed your candy counter sells sugared almonds by the pound.

Get the connection?

Almonds mean baptisms, which mean announcements...

Is there a telephone around here?

Simon Hirsch. You just called me. Who's speaking?

Mickey's pal, the jumper cables.

- What is it? - A lead for you.

Some guy in Lyon who got wasted a while back.

He doesn't count, but Merlin, his partner does.

Merlin hired the guy.

The killer came from Paris. A young guy.

Where do I find this Merlin?

- Got a pencil? - Yeah, go ahead.

It's a Lyon night club. Easy to find: "The Enchanter".

While I'm away, just talk to him.

Talk about anything: the weather, things in the paper...

- Have any family? - Two daughters.

You can talk to him about them.

Take his leg.

Ready? Let's go.

Simon Hirsch's dream

Is that you, Simon?

Come over here.

Are you hurt?

Hurt?

Sure, I'm hurt.

Why didn't you do it to me anymore?

I don't know.

I wasn't desirable anymore?

You were, that's not it.

You were always attractive. It's me.

It's time.

I forget. I must have forgotten.

Is it all that important?

Of course it's important.

I haven't all that much time left.

I want to please, I want to be loved.

And this jerk here? You love him?

What's he on about?

He likes me.

What about me, you still love me?

I don't know, Simon.

You felt old, too.

You needed something else. Mickey's young and handsome.

He doesn't talk. You can say what you want.

What's more, I don't want to be mean,

at least he can't betray you now.

Louise hadn't come home from work,

so Simon left a note on the fridge.

"I'm going out of town. Back in two days."

In the rear-view mirror,

he saw his house, his street, then the city, vanish.

He thought about Mickey's hospital room

and the quiet hallway.

Then he remembered he hadn't called his office.

He almost stopped but decided to keep driving.

It could wait.

There was this show on TV...

With Ironsides, but it wasn't the series.

It was some kind of report.

There was a journalist

interviewing Ironsides, who was walking.

But he was walking on his legs. He was walking!

So?

Dunno. Isn't that weird?

This guy's paralyzed, then he's walking!

That's an actor.

Tell him to sit in a wheelchair and he sticks his butt there.

That's his job. It's all phoney,

playacting, see?

If he's in a wheelchair, it's phoney?

We're headed for Paris.

Not me, I have a bum leg.

Fucking shit!

They could've used an actor who fucked up his legs in an accident.

Or take an actor and break his legs with a sledgehammer.

Now, you're being dumb. You bullshitting me?

This is Simon Hirsch. Put the boss on.

I can't wait. Just tell him I'm onto a big deal near Lyon.

No, work it out with Blondel and Mergaux.

Look, I need an advance.

Are you kidding? Between the hotel and the business lunches,

the week'll run me at least $1,000!

Right, $1,000 on my account.

Just look under "H"

for Hirsch, and "B" for bank.

H.B. "Human Bomb," you say? Very funny.

"The Enchanter"

So what's your name? Your first name?

Robert.

Listen, Robert. You listening?

- Yes. - "Yes, sir."

You call me "sir", I'll call you Robert.

Yes, sir.

- "Yes, Mr Masked Avenger." - Mr Masked Avenger...

The hard part is over. I can make you to say anything.

I'm listening.

What now?

I'm just stretching my legs. This is tiring.

Is this your family?

These your kids?

They're cute.

Okay, now...

Who'd you hire to kill Merlin?

But I'm Merlin!

Okay, Merlin,

Carver, whatever. It's all the same to me.

So, what was the kid's name?

I don't know!

It wasn't a kid.

Want another jolt?

It wasn't a kid, it was an old guy, I swear it!

An old guy with a game leg, I swear!

I'm going shopping.

What'll we eat tonight?

The guys are here... "What'll we eat tonight?"

How the fuck did I get stuck with a halfwit like you?

First: I don't give a shit about what I eat tonight!

Second: don't ever ask me about food in front of the guys.

Third... Take that hat off!

What do I ask?

Nothing! You shut your trap!

What for?

You don't know what for?

No, I don't get it.

It looks bad!

- It's bimbo stuff! - It looks bad?

It's bimbo stuff!

Get it?

You wear me out!

You going out?

- I'm in. - Me too.

Hit me.

Three.

Johnny, hurry! The show's starting!

Careful you don't trip.

What kind of pizza is it today?

The deluxe. It's got mushrooms...

A girl's coming down the stairs in a big long dress,

with angels following her.

It's for perfume.

Now, there's a girl...

and she's naked...

and she's in a field.

Then these rabbits pop out...

It's for yoghurt.

Not eating your pizza?

Now there's...

Someone's there.

No, the place is empty, but then he goes over

and looks out the window.

In the street, there are children: 1, 2, 3... 6.

Six children who start...

and there's the inspector with the yellow shoes.

What am I up to? Working, if you must know!

I sold five machines yesterday. That's right, five!

Think I can sell with my ass glued to a chair all day?

No, I'm not yelling, but you're starting to get on my tits!

The purchase orders? I can't help it if the mail's slow!

I need $1,000 on my account.

$1,000.

$500 then.

Crimes, crimes...

Grenoble...

How do killers work?

They travel, they kill, they move on.

Always on the road.

They check into a hotel, incognito,

stay one night, then check out.

Like travelling salesmen.

The shower key.

Got the local papers?

- Which ones? - All of them.

Mr Danata wants his dough Monday!

Got that?

Monday!

Scumbag!

Why'd they do it?

I owe 'em money.

A lot?

- Three. - Three what?

Three too many.

Hold that on your eye.

Take this.

- Is this enough? - No, it's not.

What'll happen to you?

What'll happen if you don't pay?

Take a guess.

Cut it out. Go on.

Go, my head hurts.

Go on, beat it.

Cut the crap, get lost.

Why rob the pizza joint?

You told me...

I told you...?

To play cowboy in pizzerias?

It's my goddamn fault?

If I've got debts, that's my business.

I don't need anyone to fix things up.

I'm not kidding.

If you go robbing pizzerias when I'm in debt... Shit!

People will get suspicious!

- I'm sorry. - No!

Don't be sorry.

The hell with them! Fuck 'em, piss in their faces!

Smarten up, then you'll never be sorry.

- Come with me, sir. - Coming.

- What'll they do? - Nothing.

What can they do to you?

Is the owner pressing charges?

What's the pizza prick called?

What'll you do for Danata's dough?

I'll play it by ear.

We could waste you.

We could waste you!

Now there's an idea!

That way, your boss can kiss his dough goodbye!

Got a suggestion, smart-ass?

Work! Instead of laying me off, he puts me to work,

holds back my wages, and we're even.

What d'ya know how to do, shithead?

Pretty much the same things as you, jughead!

So I'll be the guy, and you scare me.

Look at me!

Quit eating!

Look at me...

and wham! I shit my pants. Go on, look at me.

What are you doing?

I didn't ask you to make dumb faces. Scare me.

Say things to me.

What things?

Violent things.

What the fuck!

Gimme back my dough or I'll...

Or I'll smash your face in. I'll make mush

out of your little pea brain!

Come on, try it. Tell me.

If you don't cough up, we'll kill you.

- Look at me! - We'll kill you.

I'll break your face. Gimme my bread.

What d'you mean, never? Pay up!

- Hold it. - See his face!

Stop. Now, hit me. Hit me.

Go on, whack me one.

Come on, right here!

I won't hit you.

I don't wanna hit you, Marx. What for?

Who are you?

- Know what we came for? - What do you want?

- I didn't do anything! - Know what today is?

- I don't know you! - What's the date today?

- The... - The 12th.

There you go, the 12th!

And when did you have to pay back Mr Danata?

I haven't any money.

No money?

Then my pal will beat it out of you!

So you won't pay up?

You'll regret it, you know!

'Cause my pal,

he's not like me! I'm the nice one.

- He's not. - But my wife's ill!

Fuck your wife!

I'm calling my pal, tough luck! You asked for it!

You gotta pay, mister, if you don't mind.

You gotta pay now!

Quit munching!

When I give you the signal...

What signal?

Something like this...

I remember them: a young man and an older guy with a cane.

On account of the suitcase. A real flea-pit.

They told me to toss it out. I forgot to.

The young one stayed in, watching TV.

Did he talk to you?

- How long did they stay? - One night.

- The suitcase? - I'll get it.

I'm coming!

Will you take the room?

Is that the bathroom?

But you don't have to.

You can have a shower.

No, whatever you want.

What do we do?

So, what do we do?

Not in the mood?

Mind if I smoke?

I want to know what it's like.

What?

What it's like...

between guys.

No, don't get me wrong.

I want to know what it's like from day to day.

Your feelings, all that.

You live with someone?

What's his name?

Forget my life!

Hold on. If you don't want to answer, don't.

His name's Marc.

Known him long?

A while, two years.

How do you two live? I mean...

You go home to him after work?

Sure, except when I work nights.

When you get home,

what do you do?

Just like other people, I guess.

We talk, eat, watch TV.

- You eat in? - Sometimes.

Does he cook?

I cook. Marc's hopeless in the kitchen.

But when you get home,

what do you do? You walk in, and then...

You call his name?

No need to. He knows it's me.

Sometimes, he calls from the bedroom or bathroom.

I don't answer, so he knows it's me.

Does he get jealous?

No, not really.

But I sure do.

I can't stand anybody looking at him or talking to him.

I know I shouldn't be, but I can't help it.

Does he know what you do?

- Not really. - So you lie?

A little bit.

And you're not scared?

Sure, I am.

All the time.

The Garches Special Hospital?

The coma ward, please.

I want to speak to Colette, the night nurse.

Hello, this is Mr Hirsch.

No, I'm out of town.

Just wanted to check on him.

Stationary?

That's something.

Do you talk to him?

My car!

Oh, shit!

Will you press charges?

Pressing charges, sir?

No, no charges.

Hirsch here. Put the boss on.

I don't know about you, but I'm making a killing out here!

They're fighting over the machines. I sell 10 a day!

I'm running my tail off.

By the way, I need another little advance.

What do you mean, fired?

Are you crazy? Now wait a minute!

Wait... $200. Just $200!

Yeah, and who else?

Don't know him, but I've heard of him.

A reminder? Right away? Naturally.

No stud?

What a drag!

All right, no stud.

We're still short.

We're short.

Okay.

- What? - We're still short.

What am I supposed to do about it?

You're the one who handles the money.

If you cock up, that's your problem.

What're you doing?

- What d'you think? - Going out.

Anything against it?

Then carry on.

So what do we do? What do I tell Danata?

Dunno. Can't he wait a bit longer?

Wait for you to get cleaned out again?

The kid and I'll keep working, but he'll keep it all, this time.

No, Marx. That's over with. It's no go now.

- What do I tell him? - Dunno!

There is a way out, if you want to be useful.

Wanna be useful?

That depends.

What do I have to do?

Waste this guy.

Waste him, bang!

Who is he?

Who knows? We give you the address,

you blow him away, and you're clear with Danata.

Plus a bonus.

- Everything okay? - Just fine.

- Why're they here? - We're just talking. Go to bed.

- You okay? - Okay, I said.

How 'bout it?

I can't.

So I tell Danata you won't help out?

Not that way.

We're out of options.

No, not that.

- What do I tell him? - I don't know!

It's your job to talk to him. I don't give a shit!

Just fuck off!

Go on, shoot!

Marx, what's going on?

Shoot already, you dumb ox!

Shit, let go of him!

Leave him alone!

He's not wise to it!

Answer or I break 'em both.

Don't answer!

Don't do that!

It's over.

Shit, it's my fault.

My hand!

It's the debt?

Not just that.

They want me to do a job I don't want to do.

Why'd they hurt me?

To force me. They know you're my pal.

- "My pal"? - Yeah, what about it?

- You said "my pal"? - Sure! What else would I say?

I don't know.

What do they want you to do?

This must have a hell of a recoil.

It's like with darts. You need a steady hand. You lift, aim...

Are you nuts?

How wacko can you get? Darts!

You think it's some kinda game?

With a champagne prize? Put that down here!

We're talking about killing, blowing a guy away with that!

A human being! Can you get that into your birdbrain?

I may be a birdbrain,

but I also know what happens to you if you don't do it.

So?

If you don't want to, I can do it.

If you won't, I will.

It don't bother me.

"Oilseed crops: France toes the line." No photo.

"Yugoslavia: fighting on all fronts."

Photo of kids playing ball in a shelter.

"Stock exchange: up 0.31 points."

No photo.

Classifieds...

Do you wanna hear this?

Not really.

Feel like a fight?

Let's step outside, slug it out, a nice little brawl.

Come on, be a sport.

May I?

But quick. My kid's home alone.

Dad!

Is that you, Dad?

What are you doing here?

Don't you recognize me? Sandrine.

Snap out of it!

Look at me.

I'm tired.

It's all right now.

I'll take you home.

Lift on the right... 8th floor, left as you come out of the lift.

- All right, now... - What's his name?

Who cares what his name is! Fuck his name!

Anyhow, you can't go wrong: the doormat has his initials on it.

What're his initials?

Fuck his initials!

You keep your helmet on...

- You get out of the lift... - What helmet?

A motorcycle helmet, like messengers wear.

He's expecting flowers, you're delivering them.

That's the plan...

You ring the bell...

He looks through the peephole, you act natural...

- I look at the doormat. - Whatever, but stay cool.

- You stay cool? - I stay cool.

If he asks, "Who is it?" you say: "The florist."

- Say it. - What?

- "It's the florist." - It's the florist.

Louder, he can't hear you.

- It's the florist. - Louder.

- It's the florist. - Who is it?

It's the florist!

- Lift? - On the right.

- Floor? - Eighth.

- Apartment? - On the left.

- Who is it? - It's the florist.

- Louder. - It's the florist!

Who is it?

If I holler, I'll scare him.

Don't worry about that. Go on, now.

I'll wait outside.

What's wrong?

I forgot the gun.

Who is it?

The florist, sir.

It's the florist.

Well?

I killed him.

Oh, shit!

It's not my blood.

It spattered.

They're fine.

- Not too tight? - No, fine.

This one fits, too.

Want me to leave you alone?

Did you call Mom?

Want me to call her?

You got that old thing out!

We're going out for a walk.

Can you watch the kid?

Want us to get you anything?

Mr Marx, someone to see you downstairs.

Excuse me.

You wanted to see me?

How's it going?

Great.

- A drink? - No. Well?

Mr Calvin sent me.

He's heard about you.

Jo the Greek, Carver in Lyon, the Attoun brothers, Messager,

Alsaco, Francis-the-Stutterer in Grenoble... That enough?

Look, pal, I don't know you,

I don't know your Calvin,

and I don't know what you mean. Even if I did,

I only work for Danata.

He's the man on our list.

Really?

Mr Calvin has had it with Mr Danata.

Looking for someone?

Two fellas who lived here about a year ago.

You always look at postcards?

Whenever he was travelling, he'd send me a card.

The baker's wife would read them to me.

He always talked of Marx. I never really knew him well.

He'd always say: "Marx-this, Marx-that...

"Marx did this..."

The last card the old lady had received

pictured a thermal spa and its casino

looking like a meringue. Simon read the card.

The childish scribble said:

"I'm fine. I hope you are, too.

"The weather here is nice. Marx says hi.

"Your friend, Johnny."

They're kissing in the rain. An old man is watching

from a window. He's leaning his forehead against the pane

and thinking.

Loosen those hips.

The door, Mr Danata.

I'll get it.

I said I'd get it.

Lay off me for an hour. If the phone rings, don't answer.

Right, I said! Why'd you turn left? Don't know

your right from your left?

Don't you?

Never mind, I'll pick it up down there.

We've been by here a dozen times!

You in a bad mood?

Is it because they didn't call?

Did they call?

No, they didn't call!

We'll lose the job?

Call that a job? Afraid of unemployment?

Damn, pass that guy. Pass him!

Go on, pass! He's waving you by.

What a jerk!

Asshole!

You're good!

Extra ball!

Peanuts?

Not a talker, are you?

Where you off to like that?

I gotta go...

That's okay. We can go together.

- I can't. - You've got time.

You on vacation?

- I'm not on vacation. - Here on business?

- No, vacation. - On vacation, like me, then.

- Let's get a bite to eat. - I can't.

Why not? Afraid of some conversation?

I can handle that end.

I'll ask the questions and answer. I'm good at it.

All my friends say I'm a great talker. Even my wife.

That's what she misses the most.

I figured we can take a walk...

Eh, a walk?

It's easy, just put one foot in front of the other.

One, two...

You here for a while?

Depends...

Are you there?

What'd you do, fella?

Nothing.

You went for a walk?

- A little. - Was it nice?

Okay.

Meet anyone you shouldn't have?

Look at me when I talk to you.

Meet anyone?

Talk to anyone?

Look at me!

I'm looking.

You didn't shoot off your mouth, did you?

You trying to put us in the shit?

Don't, Marx. I didn't do nothing.

Who was that bozo?

Stop it, Marx!

What'd he tell you, huh?

What leaked out of that little peabrain of yours?

You okay?

You all right?

I'm sorry.

I don't know what got into me.

It made me crazy seeing you with that guy.

Forgive me.

Forgive me...

For that, for everything.

I don't understand why you stick with me.

I should put a bullet through my head. You'd be better off.

So would I.

I love you, Marx.

Don't say that.

What d'you know about that?

I love you.

I love you, too.

Marx, can I sleep next to you?

If you want, fella.

You okay?

I'm okay.

What about the kid?

Don't worry. He's here. I'll take care of him.

He belongs to me, now.

I don't want to die. I'm scared.

I know.

I think your time's up. You'd better be going now.

You've no business here anymore. It's over.

Curtain.

Don't move.

This one's better.

Come on, it's ready.

Want some red wine?

- Have any Coke? - In the fridge.

Say, is Johnny your real name?

- What's your real name? - Frédéric.

"I hate it, even Freddo sounds like a mutt."

"So you like Johnny?" said Simon.

The boy shrugged and downed his glass.

Later that night, Simon felt a hand on his shoulder.

"You asleep?"

It was the kid. "Can I sleep next to you?"

"If you want, fella," said Simon, moving over.