Original subtitles

A Simple Story

Henry.

Henry, get up!

Henry! A woman spent the night outside in the vacant lot with her kid.

That's how the fireman's wife invited me to stay with her.

She came downstairs in her night gown.

She came toward me. - Why have you spent the night out here?

She asked me why I'd spent the night out there.

I didn't answer her.

- You spent night out here, didn't you? She said to me: you spent night out here, didn't you?

I nodded my head.

- You're going to come back with me to my house She said to me: You're going to come back with me to my house.

- Fine. Hurry up. Come on. Let's go. I said, no.

- Let's go. Come on. She picked up my suitcase.

She took me by the arm.

I couldn't resist. I followed her in.

Her husband finished his coffee.

He didn't say anything.

He just left.

- Wait for me here. I'll be back.

Madame Paumier brought me some coffee.

- Take it. Drink. It will make you feel better.

It was hot.

I began to cry.

- Come now. Don't do that!

- You must tell me your story tonight. Madame Paumier was comforting me.

She said to me: You'll tell me your story, tonight.

- You must! In shock, I had said no.

- I'm running late. I should go. She kept saying yes.

She added, I am running late late for work. I must go.

I will show you around the apartment.

- Here, you'll find a gas stove.

- Here's a cupboard. She showed me around the kitchen.

- It's well stocked with groceries. Some groceries.

- Anything you want. If you find it, Cook it up as your own.

- See you tonight. Goodbye. - See you tonight

- Goodbye. - Goodbye, madam.

She left.

I wanted to hug her.

I was there alone with Sylvie.

I looked around.

Over a cupboard,

there were two photos.

I could not stay here.

I had to go.

I put my raincoat back on.

I opened the door.

There were two women chatting on the stairs.

They hadn't seen me.

I would simply wait. I sat back down.

Sylvie was sitting in her corner

on a chair.

I was tired and fell asleep.

When I woke up, Sylvie was crying.

Someone knocked on the door.

- Good morning, madam. I was told to bring you some bread. It was a housekeeper who brought me some bread.

- Take some bread. Don't you need anything else? Madame Paumier had asked her to look in on me.

- Good. I'll come back later to check in on you. See you later, madam. She asked if I needed anything. I told her no.

She told me she'd come back anyway.

I was beginning to know the house by heart.

The phone rang.

- No one is here, sir.

Yes. I'm here.

- Anyway, the person you're looking for is not here. It was a wrong number.

The phone rang a second time.

- Hello.

- Yes. It's me.

It was the fireman's wife checking in to make sure I was still there. - ah, hello, madam.

- Yes, everything's fine. Thank you. She asked me if everything was okay.

She said she would be back in an hour.

- Goodbye, madam.

I returned to my seat.

I thought back over everything that had happened to me

since I'd come to Paris.

I arrived at the train station in the afternoon.

But I didn't want to go to my friend Solange's place right away.

I hadn't told her when I would arrive.

I couldn't remember how to get to her house.

It was in the suburbs. I would go the following day.

I looked for a hotel, but there weren't any rooms.

I was told that I couldn't be taken in with my daughter.

I found a room very late

after walking around for a long time.

I was tired.

I didn't have the energy to eat.

Neighbors were banging on the walls.

Solange was happy to see us.

She was a seamstress.

I had known her brother in Lille.

I had once spent eight days in her home

twelve years ago.

Solange just laughed when I told her that I only had 9300 francs. - 9300 francs? What can you do with that?

- I'll tell you where you can find work.

She offered to take care of Sylvie while I looked for work. - Look here. I'll show you.

- Okay? You can go look for work while I take care of Sylvie. She tried to tell me where I could find work.

- Thank you. I'll start tomorrow.

That night, in bed, she told she had a boyfriend. - I have a boyfriend.

His name was George. He was away on business. - His name is George.

- What does he do? I asked her what he did.

She didn't answer me.

The next day, I went to the place Solange had told me about.

They had no more work.

I was even told that there had been layoffs.

A man was following me down the street.

He wanted to talk to me.

- Why don't we take a walk? I told him he was wasting his time.

- I've been walking quite enough. I was looking for a job.

- Why don't we go to a cafe then? He asked me to a cafe.

- Come on, now. Don't be cross. I said yes. - Okay.

- I don't have a girlfriend... ...and I live alone. He told me he didn't have a girlfirend

and if I wanted, we could go back to his place.

I left without drinking anything.

I got directly on the subway.

- Guess what? Sylvie broke a vase. I learned when I returned that Sylvie had broken a vase.

And it had been a gift from George. - I'm especially upset because it was a gift from George.

There was a picture of George now on the cupboard.

A neighbor came by.

Solange and she went together into the kitchen.

I stayed behind with Sylvie.

The next day, I left very early.

It was essential that I find something.

But... that evening,

I came back with nothing.

A man was sitting there.

He was reading his newspaper.

Sylvie was sitting on the floor in the midst of his discarded pages.

I picked her up.

Solange called me into the kitchen.

- Guess what? George has come back. She told me that George had come back.

and she couldn't put us up any more. - There's hardly enough room here.

- No. Of course not.

She didn't want to be paid for our three days there. - You don't need to pay for the time you've stayed.

You're very kind.

Should I need any money later on, then I could come back to see her.

- If you need money, you can come back to see me. - Thank you.

When I left, it was almost nightfall.

That night, I don't know how I found a hotel...

but only for the following day.

The next day, I would need to find a room for several days.

Then find someone to take care of Sylvie so that I would be able to look for work.

I had 7000 francs left.

I went, first thing, to get a coffee.

The waitress was so nice.

She also brought back a large hot chocolate for Sylvie.

She asked me where I lived. - Where do you live?

I told her I was looking for a room. - I'm looking for a room.

She suggested a place where I might be able to rent one.

I went to look right away. - You've come too late.

She said she wished she could help me, but she had no rooms left.

- She's pretty, your little one.

The landlady found Sylvie pretty.

- Yes. I'm very sorry. Before she could finish apologizing, we were back on the street.

I walked around.

I walked around for a long time.

I couldn't find anything.

I was told everywhere, there aren't any rooms here.

- No. Everywhere...

I was told the same thing: they couldn't take me in with my kid.

I was always asked what I was doing, whether I was married, where I came from...

whether I knew anyone in Paris.

I passed by a factory.

I stopped.

I went in.

I left Sylvie on the sidewalk.

I wanted to go in and ask them for work.

- What are you doing here, little girl? While I was gone, a woman came and asked Sylvie what she was doing there.

- What have we here? - But I'm looking after her, madam.

- Well... okay. The woman shrugged her shoulders.

She took me for a whore.

I took Sylvie away from there quickly.

I stopped a little further on.

I sat down on a bench.

I rested there for a long time.

Then I remembered that I hadn't found a room yet.

I knew I could only stay in that room for three days.

I asked the landlady if she knew anyone who could take care of Sylvie for me.

She suggested a housekeeper down the street.

If I left my daughter there, it would cost me 250 francs a day.

I went out to find work.

For two days, I ran aound and found nothing.

At one place, I was told to come back the next day.

But... the next day,

I was told it was a mistake.

On the third day, I asked the landlady if she could take me in for more days.

She said that I could stay for two days.

If I paid in advance.

I had 3450 francs left.

I thought about going back to Lille.

That was impossible.

My father might take me in.

But not my stepmother. She'd have nothing to do with me.

I thought about going to see Solange.

To ask her for some money, just until I find something.

But she'd been quite unhappy with me.

The next day,

I went to her place anyway.

She wasn't there.

Her neighbor told me that she'd gone away a while ago with George.

- Where for? She'd gone to her parents house. - To her sister's wedding.

Gone away to her sister's wedding. - She'll be away for at least eight days.

She wouldn't be back for at least eight days. - She had a lot of baggage.

- It's no use waiting here for her. - Yes.

I watched the neighbor walk away.

I left there, incapable of thinking about anything.

I'd spent only nine days in Paris.

I'd spent 6300 francs.

I had exactly 3000 francs left.

I added things up...

and I was sure I had lost some money.

I had stayed at Solange's place for three days.

And I'd only eaten cheap stuff.

I was sure I had lost some money.

Sylvie shouldn't have to worry about all of this.

I'd have to give up the room the next day...

before noon.

- Madam, may I leave my suitcase with you, until... I asked the patroness to keep my suitcase....

- No problem. - Thank you. ...until I found something else.

- Listen. Let me explain.

She seemed like she was apologizing. - A few days ago...

She told me that a few days ago, she'd refused a room to a couple with a baby. - I refused a room to a couple with a baby.

The husband was enraged and wanted to call the police. - The husband wanted to call the police.

But she replied to him that it'd come to nothing. - I told him that it'd come to nothing.

That she was in the right. - I was in the right.

I wanted to leave Sylvie with the housekeeper.

Just before getting there, I met her husband. - Good day, sir. - Good day, madam.

He told me that his wife was sick. - She is ill.

She'd had an asthma attack and the doctor had given her a shot. - She had an asthma attack. She can't look after children.

I went back to the hotel.

A couple had just been there to pick up the keys my room.

The landlady wasn't happy to see me back.

I walked aimlessly.

I gazed into the pastry cases.

I bought a croissant for Sylvie. She didn't want it and threw it on the ground.

I gave it to a tramp who passed by.

He was surprised and said, God bless you, good lady.

That was funny. It made me laugh.

I saw he wasn't walking right.

He was drunk.

I got on a subway.

I got off. It didn't matter where.

I went into a cafe. I got a hot chocolate.

I made Sylvie drink it.

A man said to me, You don't live around here, do you? - You're not from around here.

I said no. - No.

- I could tell. He told me he could tell.

- Where are you from? He asked me where I was born.

- Lille. - I know Lille.

- I'm a truck driver. He told me he knew Lille

He was a truck driver. He had travelled around most of France. - I've been all over France. I know most of France.

- I don't know this area. Where might I find a room? I asked him where I might find a room in the area.

- Yeah... I think I know... at the Expectant Mother. He told me, I think I know... at the Expectant Mother.

- Okay. Let's go. - Yes.

He took me there. - Is it over there?

- Oh, yeah... I was telling you... On the way, he told me about a twist of fate.

He'd almost won a 100,000 francs in the lottery,

except that, on the same day, his wife broke her arm cleaning up the kitchen.

He told me that he'd dumped his boss who wouldn't let him have the day off for that.

- Would you be kind enough to look and see if there are any rooms available? The hotel's patroness wouldn't answer him.

But he persisted.

He was kind.

She said, well... . Since it's you, Jean. - Well... . Since it's you, Jean.

She told me it would cost 600 francs per day. - It will cost 600 francs per day.

- Make sure you lock the door. To be sure to lock the door.

and never take the key away.

- 600 francs per day.

I told her I'd go and get my things.

- You don't have a lot? She asked me if I had a lot of things. - No, no.

- One suitcase only. I told her I had only one suitcase.

- That's all? She said to me, that's all? - Yes.

- Goodbye, madam. - Goodbye, sir. Thank you Jean left.

- Well, see you soon. I'll go get my things. - Yes.

I went to get my things.

When I came back it was late.

I washed up.

The room has a hot pot.

I bought a tin of canned fish.

I had 2057 francs left. I had just enough to pay for a day at the hotel.

I could not get to sleep.

I kept thinking, how would I find money?

How would I find work?

How would I find someone to watch Sylvie?

First, I'd find someone to watch Sylvie.

Next find a job.

And then try to get an advance.

Someone was at the door, trying to get into my room.

There were noises all night long.

In the morning, it was a big truck that woke me up.

It was very early.

I got up and took out some milk.

Sylvie was still asleep.

I put some milk on to boil.

I simply had to find someone to watch her.

As I was going out, the landlady asked me to be back before noon.

Or to pay for the room if I wasn't going to be back until that night.

I asked her if she knew anyone who could look after Sylvie.

She answered me that she didn't know anybody.

But, in any case, she couldn't do it.

I went back to the cafe where I might meet Jean again.

He wasn't there.

The patron recognized me.

He told me he hadn't seen Mr. Jean that morning. - It seems there no Mr. Jean, this morning.

He added, I don't know why,

you know, he's a good guy, - You know, he's a good guy. But sometimes he's a little strange. But sometimes, he's a little strange.

I wouldn't ask him if he knew anyone to look after Sylvie.

I decided to look after her myself.

I would look for work and afterwards I'd look for someone to look after her.

I bought a newspaper to go through the job listings.

I found one that interested me.

I looked for the place on the subway map.

- Excuse me, sir. Can you tell me how to get to Porte d'Ivry?

One man wasn't able to help me find it. - Sorry. I don't know. - Thank you.

Another man told me he knew the place. - Excuse me, sir. Do you know the way to Porte d'Ivry?

- Look. We're right here. Now.... you go toward the Nation.

- You change at this transfer station and then get off at Porte d'Ivry.

- Thank you, sir.

It was far off.

I'd need to transfer.

Looking for a long time, I finally found the road.

I found the factory.

Going into a cafe, I wondered to myself how I would watch Sylvie.

This position was for the early morning shift.

It appeared that the listing had been published in the newspaper days ago.

- With cream, please. I asked for a coffee.

Sylvie didn't notice when I left.

It was the waitress who noticed and called after me.

I had forgotten to pay before leaving. - Hey lady! Lady. You forgot to pay. It's 35 francs.

35.

After I had paid, I saw her in the glass for a moment.

The waitress made a gesture as if to say that I was a madwoman.

I bought some pain du chocolate for Sylvie.

For myself, I bought a tin of sardines. I asked for it to be opened.

I went into a park.

There were some old women and children.

I was hoping for some peace and quiet.

Sylvie was happy.

She went off to play.

She took a shovel

and threw sand at me.

A boy started crying. Sylvie had taken his toy.

His mother came over, shouting.

She said that children shouldn't be allowed to play

without supervision.

I didn't reply to her.

I waited a while and then I left.

Sylvie wanted to stay there. - What is it? You must stop being childish. Don't you see?

A man stopped. He asked me, what are you doing to this little girl?

I told him that it was none of his business.

He didn't persist and left.

I went back to the hotel

- Back so soon? The patroness was surprised to see me back so early.

As she was speaking to me, a man came through the hallway. - Wait. Sir!

She was angry.

She told him not to take the keys out in the future. - You know you are not to take the keys out with you.

His room was in arrears. He was three days late. - Your room charges are three days late.

She said that had to pay her before the end of the week. - You must pay me before the end of the week.

He did not answer her.

He looked at me.

He looked like a foreigner.

He was young.

I went out to buy some food.

I bought potatoes for Sylvie. Mashing them, I started to cry.

I went to lay down.

I got back up.

I passed out.

This was the first time this had happened to me.

I rushed to the sink to splash my face.

I paced around the room.

Like a madwoman.

Sylvie was asleep.

I decided to go out.

I left without making a sound.

I had to pay for the room by tomorrow at noon.

And I had only 500 francs left.

I went into a cafe.

It was too crowded.

So I left.

I wanted to go back.

I couldn't find the way.

I was lost.

I got back to the hotel at last.

- Ah, you're back! The patroness was closing up.

- Good thing you came back. She said it was a good thing I'd come back,

- Did you forget that you leave me your keys on the way out? Had I forgotten that I leave her my keys on my way out?

- You would have needed to wake me up! So I would have needed to wake her up.

She asked me also whether I intended to stay at the hotel for a long time.

- Just how long do you plan to stay here? I tried to tell her that I didn't know.

- I dunno. - Good.

Sylvie woke up.

She sat up.

She didn't cry.

I laid down completely dressed.

I fell asleep without bothering.

I woke up, suddenly.

I was looking out the window.

I was cold.

I undressed.

And I went to bed.

I couldn't get to sleep.

I got back up.

I looked under the bed.

I went to look in the dresser.

I opened its drawers.

I found a women's magazine full of photo stories.

I got back into bed.

In these stories,

there were men and women

all of them beautiful,

without trades,

with nothing to do all day.

They drank whiskey.

They had cars.

It was late when I woke up.

The sunlight had become too strong and woke me up.

I got dressed very quickly.

Sylvie was still sleeping.

I got a small bottle of milk.

I mixed a lot of water into it.

Then I threw in a piece of chocolate I'd kept.

When I went downstairs, the patroness wasn't there. - Good morning, madam.

I waited for her. - Morning.

- I was waiting for you so I could pay you for the day.

I paid her for the day through noon.

She didn't say anything.

I told her I was going out to find something that day. - I'm sure I'll find something today..

She didn't answer.

I left without knowing where I was going.

I didn't know what to do.

I had 478 francs left.

I bought a newspaper.

I found 10 francs on the ground.

I went into a park on a Plaza.

There was a pond in the middle of it.

A man sat down next to me to read his newspaper.

When I wasn't paying attention, Sylvie tore his newspaper.

But the man wasn't angry.

He pulled a toy out of his bag.

He gave it to Sylvie.

- Watch. I'd show you how it works.

- You pull here...

- and just like that... away it spins.

I still don't know why I didn't bother to offer to pay him

or why he'd given that toy to Sylvie.

I said thank you to him

and I left.

I wanted to go back to the hotel.

Sylvie was tired.

I asked directions from a man who was getting into his car.

He told me: Get in. I'm heading that way.

He brought me right up to the street.

When we got there,

the hotel patroness, who saw everything, spotted us.

She stopped cold, completely surprised.

- Oh, ladies! I went in...

as I went by the office, the mistress called me.

- I've rented your room starting tomorrow... She told me she'd rented out my room,

- ...since you told me you were leaving. - I'd have to leave the next day,

since I had told her I was leaving.

I did not answer

I didn't bother to ask her about the following day.

I couldn't even pay for that day's room.

I only had 473 francs left.

I bought some bread and a little ham.

I walked around all afternoon.

I scarcely stopped at all.

When I got back,

Sylvie was very tired

and grouchy.

I had bought some bread and pate earlier.

I wasn't hungry...

even though I hadn't eaten.

I didn't bother to undress.

I counted my money.

There were 303 francs left.

My feet were starting to ache.

I let them soak in soapy water.

I got dressed to be ready to check out.

And while I was doing it,

in the street, two men were fighting.

A woman tried to separate them, but the men kept at it.

The fight continued until the woman settled it.

She simply took off her shoes and struck them with her heels.

The next day was Sunday.

I woke up early.

The singer on the radio was accompanied by the accordion.

I ate some bread, that was all.

I began to collect our things.

And then I waited.

I bought some cocoa powder, two croissants,

and a little a surprise for Sylvie.

Inside there was a top. - Oh gross!

Sylvie threw it away.

She ate a croissant.

I had wanted to wait until noon.

But... at ten past eleven,

I left.

- Listen... I told the woman that I didn't think I could pay her.

- I have no money left to pay you. because I had no money left.

She wasn't cross.

She just shrugged her shoulders.

- Don't you have anything you could give me? She asked me if I had anything I could give her.

- Your watch, for example? Before I could answer, she suggested,

give me your watch, for example?

I didn't have to say anything.

There was no need.

There was the pocket watch which I happened to have on me that day.

As usual, I'd put it in my wallet.

I passed through a market.

People stared at me with my suitcase.

There were people coming out of church.

I didn't know where to go.

I had 77 francs left.

I found an unused Metro ticket,

but it was of no use to me.

I passed by hotels,

but I didn't go in.

I saw a courtyard in a building.

I went in.

I listened for a moment.

There was some music

coming down from an upper floor.

A caretaker came over.

She asked me what I was doing there.

I didn't respond to her and I left.

She called for her husband.

They watched me walking away in front of their gate.

Then they went back inside.

I came to a stop at the place where the trains passed.

I stayed there thinking at the tracks for a long time.

Then I left.

I passed by a tunnel where cars go in

And come back out further off.

After that, I don't remember much.

I found myself in a vacant lot.

I wrapped Sylvie up in my raincoat.

She'd fell asleep a while later.

I did, too.

I woke up, all of a sudden.

I was afraid.

I was cold.

There were still lights on in a window.

This has been

A SIMPLE STORY

subtitles: depositio