Original subtitles

What an evening, darlings!

And that woman who coughed without a let-up!

Coughing in summer... She's hopeless!

May I have your autograph for my country cousin?

Nora, how can you like both jazz and Satie?

Nora, this is Munich Radio :

how about an interview? You speak German, right?

Badly, I'm afraid.

Nora, what are your plans?

I do indeed have plans,

lots of them,

but one word sums them up :

"piano".

Nora, what do you love most?

My daughter's the most precious thing in my life.

Where is the darling?

I haven't seen her in ages.

Louise?

It's August and I'm 11 years old.

Getting used to your skates?

Hey, Louise,

take these to your Mom.

How's little butterball?

Fine. Just woke up.

Mom?

Damn! You're never here!

Hi, who are you?

The girl who lives here.

This your piano?

My mother's.

That seems like hard work.

Come and watch me.

I've seen it done.

As a kid, did you want to be a piano tuner?

I've always loved music.

Our other tuner says he treats a piano as if it was a horse.

He's teasing you.

Really?

It's weird.

And you?

What do you want to be?

Orchestra leader'd be nice.

Or fortune-teller.

I'm afraid I'm good for nothing.

No office work, it's too much like school.

Are you thirsty?

We have Coke, orange crush, Seven-Up, tonic, Sprite, cherry soda.

You kidding?

I went to the supermarket this week.

I'm tasting them all.

I see.

I'd love... a cherry soda.

Here.

It's good.

It's red.

I'm glad you're here.

Your voices are similar.

But I've got feet like snowshoes and a trumpet for a nose.

Don't be silly, dear.

Must be some truth in it.

Like the dress?

Very much.

Not me.

I don't like dresses.

This'll look fine on you.

You'll be lovely in it.

Is this your daughter? She's charming!

Looks so much like you.

Like sisters.

I played the beginning better yesterday.

I'm so discouraged.

A guy in the front row never stopped squirming.

He ruined my concentration.

I saw Schlumpeter and Mrs. Brideau there.

The Marsac kids, too. The youngest is already 6 feet tall!

You saw! Did you listen at all?

Don't be so touchy, Nora.

I have such fun at your concerts.

Here's the car!

I usually have to search for it.

Tonight it found me.

How amusing!

Can I go along to the airport?

How would you get home?

You'll have all you need, and Therese is there. OK?

3 days isn't forever.

Will you phone me?

Of course I will.

I'll try, but...

It's not easy. I rehearse...

no phone nearby...

We start early, finish late...

You know all that.

Some day I'll go with you.

Nice idea, but I can't take you.

And you'd be alone all day.

I'm never bored.

Forget it, since we can't do it.

ls Julien Clerc handsome?

I guess he's OK.

He's my favorite.

I'm sort of in love with him.

You're lucky.

Being in love is great.

It's nice, but hard,

with only a cassette and some crummy photos.

I figure if he saw me he wouldn't love me.

So I'll wait a while.

You're right!

I used to work for a lady with lots of shoes.

So?

Since she was old and half-blind,

I had to help her search among dozens of pairs.

She'd say :

"Therese... The red ones...

"Not that red...

"Not those heels...

"Without the little ribbon, Therese..."

Was she nasty?

No, but not too bright, either.

She admitted she couldn't even boil water.

She'd say : ''I can't even boil water."

All she could do was buy shoes. Lift your feet.

OK, my sweet.

I don't know how to do much, either.

You'll learn fast.

You're lucky. Make the most of it.

See you later.

Alligator.

Smart aleck!

S.P.C.I., good morning.

Mr. Paradzinski, please.

One moment, Madam.

He's in conference, Madam. Who's calling?

His daughter.

Sony, Miss, Ididn't recognize you. I'll put you right through.

Louise? How are you?

Fine, and you?

OK, lots of work. See you Sunday?

Got something to tell me?

Do you need anything?

I'll say good-bye, then. I'm in conference. See you Sunday.

See you Sunday.

See you Sunday...

Your mother's beautiful!

Her tour ends tomorrow.

Being on your own's OK, but I'm sick of it.

I dream of being alone in Paris for a week!

To do what?

What I want!

Real loud music, motorcycle rides, pinball,

read the papers on the floor... A healthier life.

I'm sure Louise will sulk.

How old is she?

Eleven.

She's like me: hard to please and always upset over trifles.

I can go to a hotel.

No, let's stay together, see how it goes.

Maybe a hotel's better. Your daughter scares me.

No, come on.

Kiss me.

How'd it go?

Fine.

Munich was better than Berlin,

The Munich audience was... more enthusiastic.

I liked the piano there.

A Steinway, with a very special sound.

How about you?

A good week.

Wait'll you see my school marks.

Therese baked an apricot pie for you.

That's sweet, dear.

This is Helmut.

It's his first time in Paris.

We met in Bavaria. He's a musician too.

A saxophone player, see?

I'm putting him in your room. You can move down the hall.

We can't put a guest down the hall.

I have to move everything?

That's a real bummer!

No, just make a bit of closet space.

I'll help you move the stuff on your night table.

Kiss me, sweetie.

Ja, my darling.

Think they make love together?

Of course. I heard them.

You sure? What was it like?

As if they were running. Out of breath when they talked.

Mom yelled a word I don't know.

It's disgusting living here.

Can't you go live with your father?

He won't make room for me.

What's the guy like?

Not too bad. Worth a try.

He dresses like us.

I wonder how long he'll stay.

Come in.

Know where Nora is?

Waiting for you at this address.

I think he's gorgeous!

I don't know...

He seems to like you, though.

It's his manner. He's the mannerly type.

He's really in love with Mom.

I'm in their way.

At the movies, she whispered to him :

"You're my first great love.''

Seems they all say that.

You know all about it, huh?

Spread your legs.

Don't move.

What's this in German?

In German? Pizza.

And in French?

Pizza.

And in Chinese?

I don't know.

Your story's kind of gloomy.

I guarantee you it's funny.

Don't get it? Too bad.

Here comes the queen.

She really is beautiful.

I don't know... if! can tell you something.

For the first time, I love a man with my body.

You didn't love Daddy?

Sure, but I was new at it then.

It's not always easy.

I'll read as much as I can about it.

You always say you were an innocent kid.

17 was young in your day.

No one told you anything, folks whispered.

Now we learn step by step.

Step by step‘?

What's that mean?

It doesn't interest me yet.

So it's still a mystery to me.

But some girls at school know everything.

You waited 13 years to fall in love. That's a long time.

But when you do, you're happy.

You love Helmut from your heart?

Your heart's big enough to love the piano and lots of people, too?

But you have such a tiny heart.

How do you know?

How can you say such things?

I feel it.

I feel it...

It's me, Louise.

I'm resting.

Can't you give me a minute?

Later, dear.

Just for a minute.

What are you doing?

What a mess!

It's nicer, looks like the country.

You seemed happy after the concert.

Sit down and let's talk.

I'm tired.

I wish you'd help me, love me.

I can't do all that at once.

I want to talk to you like an adult.

But I'm a child.

Open my door, please.

We wanted to see the sand dunes. OK?

Since you've decided, we'll go where you like.

I'm so happy to be in the country with you.

Remember our last trip to the woods, Louise?

It rained and we got soaked.

Louise even danced in the rain for me. It was so pretty.

I was very young.

Last summer?

I often dream of walking in the woods.

What do you do there?

I hide, or look for someone I can't find.

I keep moving from darkness to light.

I don't like the woods.

Since when?

Excursions bore me and so do people.

Maybe you'll change your mind soon.

When I change planets.

That's frank enough.

If you don't like the country, why'd you come?

I was wondering that myself.

You two are so happy, why'd you invite me?

I thought of this as a party.

Parties can be bad, too.

Guess who's to blame.

Let's drop it.

How beautiful it is here!

I'm starved.

I'd love some steak and potatoes. And you, Nora?

I am starved!

Hungry, Louise?

I don't give a damn!

You're not being very nice today, dear.

You mean there are days when I'm nice? I wonder when?

I'm never noticed.

Shall we get married?

Why not?

I want you to see the Place des Vosges.

It's beautiful.

There's an Aldo Romano concert tonight. Want to go?

Sure. I like his music.

Do you, Louise?

I expected a note.

From Helmut?

You guessed it.

I saw the letter.

Where?

I took it.

Well?

You can't have it!

- Let me see it! - I won't!

What right have you?

My own right!

Give me that letter at once!

Or else what?

This isn't your business!

Nothing's my business, but I see everything. I'm sick of it!

Wait till you grow up. The letter!

No way! I'm keeping it!

You read the future?

What do you want to know?

First, I want to see you.

How do you think I look?

Enormous and green.

Let me come closer.

Come, let me look at you.

Tell me my future.

Well?

There's nothing to say

or almost nothing.

Take me in your arms.

There's something I will tell you.

If you've no sun, learn to ripen in ice.

Maybe I killed my Mom.

Maybe you're exaggerating.

I'm scared.

That's normal.

Mr. Paradzinski, please.

Have a seat, Miss.

Your daughter's here, sir.

Please come with me, Miss.

This is my daughter.

I'm Louise.

We'll just be a moment.

This your first time here?

Has Mom been here?

No, in her day we had another location.

Something you need?

I suddenly wanted to see your office.

It's nothing special, as you can see.

Don't you get bored here?

I haven't time.

What are you up to these days?

Sure you've nothing to ask me?

Nothing. I'm not doing much.

Why're you on the floor? Get up!

That's no way to act! Sit down there.

Glad to be on vacation?

What do you do?

I'm afraid you just slouch around.

It takes guts to live right, and pep.

Do you have them?

As a schoolkid, I worked.

I had goals, courage, ambition.

We understand each other less, now.

When you were little we were very close.

Remember visiting me at Boarding school?

Sure.

You'd slept badly on the train.

So you fell asleep in the woods, and we never got to talk.

You left so soon.

I was touched that you let me sleep.

Very touched.

It taught me you had a heart. That was nice.

Doesn't everyone?

That's just it, not everyone does.

Or not much,

or they're self-centered,

uptight.

Why'd you bring up those days?

I want to go back to boarding school.

Really?

We'll talk about it Sunday.

Wait... I've something important to tell you.

Important?

Come here.

Sit down.

Mom brought someone to the house. A young man.

I see. is he nice?

Don't you like him?

Yes and no.

Know why?

Sure, but what's it matter?

'Bye.

Tell Mr. Biscan to come back in, please.

I bet she'd never have picked me to have.

Even in her day, she could've taken the pill, or had an abortion.

She likes surprises even if they turn out bad.

"We'll see", she says.

When I was born, she must've thought :

''I don't want this thing!"

But it was too late.

Don't be silly!

She loves to comfort me.

She said that when I was a baby she pinched me to make me cry,

so she could comfort me.

- Why'd she say that? - For laughs.

She must be nuts.

Great musical sensitivity. All the newspapers say so.

Yet you love her?

I dunno where I'm at. Maybe I should go away.

Where to?

I dunno... At my age, with no money...

Boarding school?

First, I have to get through the summer.

Go to work in a department store.

I'm too young.

Go to a grandmother.

Grandma Berthe's dead.

The other one, Grandma Gaby, never really grew up.

She could never deal with anything.

Does her nails or plays cards all day.

Smells of acetone and cigarettes there.

Must've been rough on your Mom as a kid.

Luckily, she had her piano.

She never knew what a mother was.

Maybe I'll go to Grandma's anyway.

Things aren't really so bad. Try to get along.

You're too stubborn and critical. Let yourself go!

They say that's how only children are.

Bellyaching, difficult and unhappy.

But you're my best friend. If you don't understand me...

Maybe someone'll kidnap me, or adopt me.

It's the best I can do.

Charles takes it all.

I lost my shirt that time.

Gaby, how could you?

I had a poor hand.

- You always say that. - Oh, stop it!

Don't tell your grandfather, Louise.

I always tell him I won, and he believes me.

He couldn't stand a wife who loses at cards.

Mildred, you look miserable!

If you can't bear losing, don't play.

I know I played stupidly, but...

Louise, dear, what's new? Having fun?

Bring us some fruitjuice?

That'd be sweet.

I pass.

Then tell me all about yourself.

Clubs.

I'm playing my lowest.

You have something lower?

Sorry, Mildred.

That's bad.

Charles picks up the trick.

- What's Charles playing? - Clubs.

I have no choice.

Did you hear the door close?

Has she left?

Without saying good-bye? And I love her so.

How moody children are!

She's like my daughter.

Never mind. Let's play.

Sorry, friends.

When you're sensitive it's like a slap in the face.

A slap in the face...

- Whose play is it? - Yours.

Mildred, now you'll see...

That's fine!

Interested?

Yes, what's it for?

Gas lines.

Ever find things when you dig?

It's all rocks, pipes and exhaustion.

You got far to skate?

Where were you born?

Near City Hall.

I'm from over the river.

We're neighbors.

But I've been to Grenoble, Nice, Brittany and Rome.

I prefer it here.

Matter of taste!

'Bye!

WAR

Those pictures are dreadful!

Must they really show such horrors?

Why'd you go in?

I skate around here.

I'm scared of war.

I think about it every day.

War's everywhere on T.V.

I got a feeling there's even a war on at home...

So you see...

You think about it, too?

Yes, I do.

It makes me sick...

but it fascinates me.

I'm a news photographer.

You go where there's fighting?

Without a gun?

Or any medicine?

Aren't you scared?

Sure I am!

But...

I'm not afraid of fear.

Understand?

I guess.

Think your pictures do any good?

Sometimes I wonder!

People ought to be made aware.

I want to be useful when I grow up.

Lots of children dream of that.

Buy you a hot chocolate?

I accept! But don't your parents expect you home?

Let's go.

Where do you live?

Near Bordeaux. I'm going home tonight.

You have plans?

I'm a burden to everyone this summer.

But soon I'll be on my own.

You know some slick places!

No, this one's beautiful. I see lots of slick stuff.

What do you mean?

I know what slick means!

I looked it up.

So?

Slick painters paint without feeling.

Slick living must be the same thing.

You read the dictionary?

My father gave me one this thick!

It weighs 4 pounds, 7 ounces...

and has 50,000 words. I've learned several already.

How do you choose them?

I'm always hearing words I don't understand,

Some I stumble on...

by hazard.

Know where "hazard" comes from?

Latin?

English?

You lose! It's Arabic.

It reached here 600 years ago.

"Chocolate" is an Aztec word. Mexican, that is.

"Caramel" means dark sugar in Arabic.

I like words too!

You can't take a dictionary to war.

That's for sure!

That your own technique?

My grandpa drank tea that way.

I wanted to ask him why, but he died.

I'll never know.

Think it's explained in a book?

There are so many books, one must explain it.

The trick is to find it,

or make up an explanation.

Say Ivan the Terrible was drinking his tea when...

an enemy bullet shattered his cup,

spilling the tea into the saucer!

Ivan was fearless and, loving tea like all Russians,

he calmly picked up this saucer despite the chips of glass,

and drank his tea.

The others followed suit.

What a big Afghan!

I've seen one this big!

No kidding!

It's cooled off.

Indeed it has.

- Cooler than yesterday. - Yesterday, yes.

We'll walk slowly.

I'll see you off as if we were friends.

Great! And I'll take picture of you

as if ours was an old romance.

- What's your name? - Guess.

Louis.

Got it.

You're right. It doesn't matter.

Louis suits you.

Mine's Louise.

You have kids?

You love them?

Silly question!

I guess it is a silly question.

How much is a ticket to Bordeaux?

"I've left. Please don't look for me."

What can we do?

Nothing.

We can't do a thing.

It's awful.

Wait till she decides to come home?

Call the police?

If she's trying to worry me to death,

she's doing a good job!

I'll go ask the janitor

when she left this note.

Wait.

First I'll look in her room to see what she took.

Say something!

I don't know.

Did she leave because of us?

I can't let her run my life.

Maybe she's in a café nearby...

Or in a city with a name that fascinated her.

Summer vacation is tough on kids like her.

I should've laid out a program for her...

a tight one.

She's vulnerable.

But very strong, too.

She makes things difficult.

Say something.

I gave her money for her dance lessons.

She could go far with all that.

What'll I do?

Where can I look for her?

I'll call her friend.

An answering machine!

This is Nora, Louise's mother.

Louise has gone away. She left a note...

but I don't know where she went.

Anne,

if you know where she is,

call and let me know,

please.

I'm very worried.

I'm sure they're on vacation!

She only left me a note.

Did she have a suitcase?

I don't think so.

She had on a green cap.

I thought: "First time she's worn a hat."

Looks good on her!

A girl... How old is she?

Eleven.

Did she leave a note?

Yes. It said: "I've left. Please don't look for me."

She run away before?

Yes, but she's never gone far. I've always found her.

But this time I need your help.

30,000 kids run away every year. We can't do much.

But don't worry. You may be lucky.

Got a picture?

Sorry I haven't a more recent one.

Think she's still in Paris, or somewhere else by now?

Who knows? This young man her brother?

No, he's a friend.

Just a few more questions...

What was she wearing?

I don't know.

A green cap, maybe.

A green cap...

Sir, I'm busy!

I'm her hus... Louise's father.

Name's Louise?

Pierre, where'd you hear?

Doesn't matter.

What can you do?

Did Therese call you?

I don't get it. She's my child and I don't know her.

I don't understand her.

I never did this when I was a kid!

When we were married, you ran away often!

True.

We'll send out a description.

If there's anything I can do...

Waiting is unbearable!

At least it's summer: she'll stay warm.

Warm! She might've been hit by a car!

Where've you been?

Far from here.

Are you OK?

Just fine.

I was worried to death, darling!

Don't ever do that again, please!

How was the concert?

Great.

Quite a success.

My trip was a huge success, too.

I don't get it.

Look.

You look like a boy.

I wish I had a little boy.

I like you that way.

Then give me a kiss.

Will you tell me where you went?

I took a train to visit someone.

Who's this someone?

It's a secret.

I don't want to tell anyone, not even you.

I need to have a secret.

So?

So I didn't find him. So I left.

Had his address?

Know his name?

How'd you expect to find him, sweetie?

I wanted to so badly. And I thought he lived in a small town.

Fairy tales can come true

but you must be patient.

I can't wait that long.

What else can you do?

We're always waiting for something.

I have an idea.

Lucky you!

It's sad, but it's the only idea I have.

Take a nap.

Good ideas may come to you in dreams.

Good-bye, Therese.

Don't forget me.

What are you talking about? How could I?

You always get in my way!

Look, it's the note I wrote.

I left it in my pocket.

Where's Helmut?

I asked him to leave.

Why?

Because of me?

I got too scared.

Come into my arms, Nora.

If you really love him, I'll probably get used to him.

Let's have him back.

We'll wait a while.

Know what the brace is called?

A minerva.

It's like the armor of the goddess Minerva.

How ‘bout that!

That'll be your father.

I'll go let him in.

See you later.

Know what this is called?

What?

This.

What's it called?

A minerva.

How ‘bout that!

You look nice like that!

Louise dear, did you want to die?

I did. Imagine a state of deep despair, sadness and confusion...

How did it happen?

Just like that, ljumped in the river, but 2 lovers saved me.

Now what, Louise dear?

Now I find the air rather sweet.

So you'll stay with us a while?

Absolutely, until I get sad again.

What a relief! You really scared us!

That's how you measure the love in ''loving'' hearts.

You know my heart belongs to you.

If I want to find you, where am I to look?

Here. I'll come to see you every evening.

I shall love these rendez-vous with you!

Subtitles: A. Whitelaw & W. Byron

Subtitling: TVS - TITRA FILM