Original subtitles

DESPITE THE NIGHT

Lola.

Lola.

Lenz.

What are you doing in Paris?

I'm looking for Madeleine.

Madeleine called me.

Madeleine called me.

She was with strange men.

Since then,

I haven't seen her.

Lenz,

you're back.

Louis.

Come with me.

Come with me.

I realised

that memories

are more beautiful

and stronger

in books.

I take the memories of others

from literature.

Other childhoods,

other legs.

The first woman you fuck

is in books.

I don't remember the first woman

who spread her legs for me.

It isn't that I didn't love her.

I loved her.

I think.

Have you...

Have you seen...

Madeleine?

Don't worry,

she's fine.

I introduced her to a guy who lines her pockets.

I was at a party

with a really beautiful girl,

Lena.

Sometimes they ask me for girls,

so I introduced them to Madeleine.

What's that?

What do you think?

Do you like that?

Yes.

Not always.

Would you like me to do that with you?

No.

Don't look down on love.

Promise me

that you will never look down on my love.

Promise me the same thing.

It's all I've got.

It's okay.

There we go.

I'm going to rinse it off.

Ready?

Lift on three?

One, two, three.

Everything all right?

Here we go, time to sit.

Have you got him?

Sir, we're going to sit you down, okay?

Lay out the towel.

Okay, let's move back a bit.

And sit.

Great.

One, two, three.

There we are.

Hush, dad...

Gently...

Go to sleep.

Don't wait up for me.

Don't turn around.

Look straight ahead.

What do you see?

What do you see?

Answer me.

Answer me.

I see everything.

What are you looking for?

Am I hurting you?

Try.

Fuck me.

Fuck me.

What do you want?

Do you really want to die?

Yes.

Hello.

Hello.

Here, a smoke.

Give me your hand.

I'll stop screwing around.

No.

You weren't going fast enough.

You weren't going fast enough, Lenz. You've got to go faster.

It's great.

It's brilliant.

Stop!

Stop.

Do you want a drink?

- Let me introduce you to Lenz. - Drink.

He's nice.

Thanks, we don't need your help.

Okay, bye.

Stop that! You're a real pain in the arse!

Leave me alone.

That's Lena.

She's the girl I met at that party.

The one I was telling you about.

Fuck!

Do you want me?

My little Lena...

My little Lena.

You were fantastic.

You liked it?

Such a talent!

Thank you for coming.

Lenz,

my father.

Pleased to meet you.

Lena never mentioned you.

We've met before, haven't we?

I never forget a face.

I never forget anything.

Come.

You seem to be someone frank,

someone honest.

Do you take drugs?

Does my daughter use drugs?

Have you ever heard of the drug Cannibal?

A synthetic amphetamine

that shuts down entire regions of your central nervous system,

plunging you

into a primal state

in which you devour the first person you see.

I think it's fascinating.

My daughter...

I no longer have any contact with my daughter.

She communicates only

through violent gestures.

But you...

you are something else entirely.

I'm certain we've met.

I am absolutely certain.

You, or someone who looks a lot like you.

That happens in life, likenesses.

My Lena.

See you very soon.

Here,

it's Madeleine's address.

Thanks, Louis.

Stop.

Lena, stop.

Stop.

What is it?

I have to go.

I'll be back.

Tell me...

You are so beautiful.

You're frightening to look at.

Such beauty

is a force.

You could overturn the world

with such beauty.

Is that all I am to you?

I don't understand beauty.

I don't understand

its power over me.

As soon as you finish talking, you'll be ashamed of what you just said.

Where do you get that from?

I have to go.

Do what you want.

What do you want me to do without you?

Lenz has a girl, you know.

He's gone to meet her.

You didn't know?

That's why he's back in Paris.

He's completely obsessed.

She's everything to him.

You don't believe me?

I know where she lives.

I could take you there.

What do you want?

Do you want me to leave him?

I think I'm the one who wants to leave him.

I want him to want me.

Then I'll leave him.

What's her name?

Her name is Madeleine.

She's a prostitute.

I want to see her.

Will you take me?

Why would I do that?

What do you want?

Nothing.

Everything.

You would do anything for me?

I would do anything for you.

Define "anything"?

I'd give you my soul.

What do you want me to do with your soul?

Come!

Put your hand in the fire.

Stop, that's enough.

Stop!

What are you doing?

Get up!

I humiliate myself in front of you

to try to hate you better,

to hate you later.

If I were inclined to forgive you one day,

then I'll think about this moment when I'm kissing your feet like a dog.

And then,

the memory of my shame will feed my hatred.

Madeleine?

I knew you would meet him.

I've always known.

Who is he?

Just tell me his name.

It's soft.

Fresh.

Oh, it's beating fast.

If I loved you any less, it would kill me.

I'd die of jealousy.

You're beautiful.

You make me hard.

I want you.

I want to fuck you.

Go on, then.

Go to him.

When you're done...

I'll be here.

You can come back whenever you like.

You don't understand.

What?

It's over.

What's over?

Paul...

What's over, Hélène?

I'm afraid.

Lenz,

I'm tired.

I hope you're tired too.

So why did you come'?

You're married?

You love him?

You have children?

Yes,

a son.

Does he live with you?

No.

What's his name?

Pierre.

And you love his father?

Tell me!

Does he know about me?

He makes you come,

while you talk about me.

Forgive me.

You make me crazy,

Hélène.

It's gentle.

It's gentle.

With you,

with you, I want nothing but joy.

Is that possible?

I think it's possible.

Stop shouting.

Be calm.

Tell me.

Tell me things,

more things,

more things.

What things?

Whatever you want.

Talk to me.

I want to see everything with the one I have left.

It made me laugh.

He was handsome.

I always had to do it in the same order.

He asked me to do strange things.

He enjoyed it,

but I wanted to take it further,

much further.

He didn't have the courage,

but I waited for him to ask the worst of me.

There are things we can only experience

by living and thinking abjectly.

Don't you think?

I loved him.

Everything fades, Lenz,

even suffering.

Everything disappears.

Lenz...

my little boy

is dead.

Hows it going, Lenz?

You here to see Scissors?

You asked what Madeleine might have been up to lately.

I'm not sure this is her, okay?

And I'm not sure I should show you.

Do it.

Do it.

Do it!

Do it!

Do it!

I hear voices in my head.

I can't stand them any longer.

I'm exhausted.

I just want to sleep.

To disappear.

It's you.

Yes.

I knew it.

You knew what?

That you would call.

I felt it.

Are you ready?

Am I ready for what?

Are you ready to make me a promise that will last for all eternity?

Lenz!

Calm down. Wake up!

What is it? What's wrong, Lenz?

What is it?

What is it?

Wake up.

Calm down.

Look at me.

What's wrong?

What is it?

Calm down.

You were there.

You were there.

Who was there?

Who was there?

Tell me.

Tell me.

Who was there?

You were there.

What was I doing in your dream?

What was I doing in your dream?

Calm down, Lenz.

Calm down.

Madeleine.

You're not Madeleine?

My name is Hélène.

He has several, the bastard.

I don't know you.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Lenz.

I'm talking about Lenz.

You know Lenz?

You and I are both fools.

Lenz and I are together.

I thought he loved you.

That you're the one he loves,

but he loves Madeleine.

He came back to Paris for her.

I have no idea what you're talking about.

Do you think he dreams about us when he can't wake up?

That he trembles for us while he sleeps at night?

We're nothing to him.

You and I are the same.

Thank you for coming, Lenz.

Would you like a drink?

No, thank you.

Why are you interested in my daughter?

You know very well that I'm not.

Do you know what I do, Lenz?

Do you know who I am?

I have no idea.

For the purpose of this conversation, let's just say

that I understand things that very few people truly understand.

One of those things

is money.

I know money.

I live money.

I know what it is.

I understand money.

I see you like my fish.

So do I.

I like them too,

my fish.

I love their grace,

I love the splendour of their movement.

Even in captivity,

they express their nature fully.

An entire world.

They are animated

by the very necessity of their instinct.

They are absolutely present,

in each instant, profoundly themselves,

profoundly

real.

Alas, this is not possible for us,

such fulfilment,

an unattainable fulfilment.

If we could,

even for an instant,

experience it,

feel the absolute power of instinct,

we would never be vxrilling to return to our lives.

It would have become unbearable to us.

Do you know

why we aren't like them,

Lenz?

We can't be.

Because we know we're going to die

and they don't.

I've had you followed, Lenz.

From the moment we first met, I've had you followed.

In my position, I can't afford to take the slightest risk.

I'm making you an offer, a very simple offer.

Name your price.

Tell me how much you want.

How much money, any sum. Tell me.

Why?

Leave the country,

immediately, never return,

don't attempt to contact us,

not me, not my daughter.

Never. It's over.

- Or else? - Or else what?

There is no "or else".

There are no conditions, Lenz.

It is what it is.

And I'm offering your life.

You are making a serious mistake,

my little Lenz.

I make them

all the time.

Lenz,

let the dead bury the dead.

We'll be the first to enter into a new life.

What are you talking about?

Lena,

it's over.

It's over.

Do you want a child?

I want a child with you.

We could watch him grow.

And we would see that there is still hope,

that everything is possible.

Lena,

did you hear what I said?

What do you want?

Do you want a girl or a boy?

You shouldn't be afraid of my father.

He can't keep us from loving each other.

Lena.

- What? - You have to listen to me.

I don't want...

I don't want to see you anymore.

I'm sorry.

I'm not as good as Madeleine, is that it?

What does she have that I don't?

Madeleine?

Give me that.

Give me that!

Give me that!

You've got a kid, is that it?

She's your wife?

She's your sweetheart, your love?

The love of your life?

She doesn't satisfy you, is that it?

For that you need Hélène

and me.

You think I don't know you, Lenz,

but I know you.

You know nothing.

It's a photo of me as a child, with my mother.

Don't move.

- You okay, buddy? - You're making movies now?

Yeah, see?

I'm just doing what I need to do.

People want things and I provide them. Everyone's happy.

You know the place I took Madeleine?

I've arranged everything.

How much?

A lot of money.

- Thanks, man. - I just need to make a call.

A car will pick you up tomorrow.

Thanks.

Thanks, Louis.

Camera!

I love you, Louis.

I've always loved you.

Thanks, man.

Thank you.

Hello?

It's me.

So you're sure?

Yes.

Tomorrow.

I thought you were gone.

I am,

officially.

I want you to know...

I want you to know...

I love you.

There's only you.

I had a dream about mother.

She was so present. It felt like she was alive.

She was in an isolated house,

completely enclosed

with white flowers,

surrounded by forest,

trees blowing in the wind.

She was waiting for me.

Lenz was there too.

I don't love him,

but I can't bear him getting away from me.

I'm sick without him.

I want to annihilate him.

I'm not jealous of the other women he sees.

I don't care.

I'm jealous of what he is,

of his life.

I want to be like him,

absolutely.

To be him.

Jealousy like this is atrocious.

It's insanity, don't you think?

He has another woman,

Hélène.

She was also in my dream.

What did you dream about?

What was mother doing in London when I met you?

What was she doing in London when the two of you met?

You know perfectly well.

I know what you told me.

What did you dream, Lena?

What's the matter?

If you really want to know, I'll tell you.

Tell me.

In my dream,

I watched Lenz caress mother.

I watched her let it happen.

Then mother

kissed me in turn.

And then?

And then?

It's too difficult to say.

Tell me, Lena.

I woke up

and I was still coming.

Soon, Hélène will no longer be a problem.

Soon, I will take care of things.

Ask Louis.

Louis is nice,

isn't he?

He knows everything.

He has done so much for you.

Thank you, daddy.

It's time.

He's on the way.

Tighter.

Go right.

Walk.

Keep going.

Enter.

Yes, left.

Forward.

Keep going.

Stop.

Hélène.

You've had a good look at me.

Mine is the last face you will ever see.

That's important,

the last face.

It's time to begin.

You will do exactly as you're told. Exactly!

It starts with a kiss.

Kiss her.

Kiss her!

Is that you?

Why are you stopping?

Why are you stopping? Kiss her!

Kiss me.

Show him how to kiss.

Get up!

Get up!

It's up to you now.

Do it.

Kill her.

Kill her.

Kill her!

Do it.

Do it.

Do it. Do it.

We'll forget.

We'll forget everything.

Finally.

Lenz.

Life,

it blinds me.

My love.

My love, Hélène.

One.

Two.

Three.

Four

Five.

Six.

Seven.

Eight.

Nine.

Ten.

Eleven.

Twelve.

Thirteen.

Fourteen.

Fifteen.

Sixteen.

Seventeen.

I'm coming, Lenz.

Madeleine.

Mum.

There it is.