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You said ''l love you!'' and l said ''Stay!''

l nearly said ''Take me!'' but you said ''Go away!''

Circa 1912, Jules, a foreigner in Paris, asked...

Jim, a new pal, to get him a ticket to the Fine Arts Bal

Jim did and took...

him to get a costume

As Jules chose his slave outfit, Jim's friendship for Jules was born.

and flowered at the ball where Jules sat with tender, laughing eyes.

Next day, they had a real talk and began to meet daily.

Each taught the other his language and literature...

sharing and translating their poems together.

Both were indifferent to money and...

neither had ever found such an attentive listener.

Jules had no girlfriend but wanted one

Jim had several

He introduced him to a musician and...

their mutual crush lasted a week

Then came a pretty thing...

who outlasted them in the cafes till 6:00 AM

Then they made a threesome with a blonde widow

She thought Jules was nice but dumb...

and found him a quiet girl whom he found to be too quiet

ln spite of Jim's advice, Jules visited some pros...

but found no satisfaction there.

Get to work!

No more paint!

They'll say anarchists can't spell!

Merlin's after me!

He's big! Run!

Can l sleep at your place? l'm Teresa.

lndeed! But l have a date elsewhere tonight

Gilberta?

So Jules'?

- Who's Jules? - Me

- And you? - Jim

- Jim and Jules! - No! Jules and Jim!

What's that?

Better than a clock! Once the sand's run out...

l'll be asleep

- You'll sleep there... Me, here - Sure!

- Got a cigaret? - Of course!

- You're Jim? - Jules

You're nice, Jules

l'll be a steam locomotive!

lt's almost day

For once, stay and sleep next to me

No, Gilberta

lf l did, l'd feel l must stay tomorrow too

That would be as if we'd set up house

Was that our agreement?

You're so logical!

And Judex hates being left home alone

The night's over. lt's daybreak

Pretend l'm a laborer leaving for work

You'll go home and sleep till noon, l'm sure!

lt was Shakespeare!

lt was Shakespeare. Believe me!

- Got a cigaret? - Of course!

Can l sleep at your place? l'm Teresa

Never mind, Jules

Lose 1 and find 10 new ones!

With Teresa it wasn't love

She was my young mother and loving daughter at the same time

l've no luck with Parisians

Thank heavens for the girls back home

l love Lucie

She refused to marry me

l'll go back to see her in 6 months

And this is Birgitta

And there's also Helga...

whom l might love if l didn't love Lucie

She looks like this

Jules sketched a woman's face on the table

Jim tried to buy the table but...

the owner would sell only all 12 tables or none

Albert!

Jim... my French friend

l think we've already met

Do sit down!

Jim had asked...

- Who's Albert? - The friend of some artists

He knows all those who'll be famous in 10 years

This one's more exotic...

rather like an lnca statue

This is more in the Roman style

lt's pockmarked by the rain. l found it in a garden

lt's had a generation of rain on it

This one's very pathetic

The face seems to be decaying

lt's odd to see stone given such a flabby treatment

l love this one. The lips are beautiful...

rather disdainful. The eyes are beautiful

We'd like to see it again

l have a close-up of it

lt was the roughly sculpted face...

of a woman whose calm smile startled them

lt was on display in an open-air museum on an Adriatic island

They decided to see it at once

They had identical outfits made

They spent an hour by the statue

They admired it silently and said nothing till the next day

Had they ever seen such a smile? Never!

And if they did? They'd follow it

They came home filled with this new revelation

Paris welcomed them

You're a gentleman, Jim!

- How's your book coming? - Pretty well

lt's rather autobiographical

Our friendship plays a major role

l'll read you some pages

Jack and Julian were close

Julian's last novel had been a success

He wrote about women...

he'd known before meeting Jack and before Lucienne

Jack was proud of Julian... like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

People even thought they were a bit queer

They always ate together...

and chose the best cigars for each other

Beautiful!

l'd like to translate it into German

To the showers!

My cousin in Munich wrote...

to say he's sending me 3 girls who're studying with him...

a Berliner, a Dutch girl and a French girl

They're coming to dinner tomorrow. l'm counting on you!

Catherine had the statue's smile

Her nose, mouth, chin and forehead...

had a certain provincial pride

lt was like a dream

As the party organiser l suggest...

we abolish once and for all any use of titles...

such as Sir, Madame or Miss...

and a toast to friendship with my favorite Nussberger wine

Let us avoid the traditional linking of arms...

by touching toes beneath the table

Carried away, Jules removed his at once

Jim kept his next to Catherine's...

but she gently pulled hers away

Jules' shy, happy smile told...

everyone that they were in his heart

For a month Jules disappeared and saw Catherine alone...

but the 2 friends continued to meet at the gym

Very good, Jules

Will you spend the evening with me and Catherine?

l told her all about you

Catherine's anxious to know you better but...

Not with her, Jim, OK?

Hello, Mr. Jim!

Say Jim the way the English do

Not Jeem!

What do you think of our pal Thomas?

Can he go out with us?

Not bad! Maybe a mustache...

Now let's face the streets

Got a light, sir?

Thank you, sir

Catherine's trick pleased her

Jules and Jim...

felt confused

ls it a dream or rain?

Maybe both!

So let's go to the sea!

Tomorrow!

Let's have a race...

to the end of the bridge

Get set!

1... 2...

- You cheated. - But l won!

Thomas always wins, speaks 3 languages and swims like a fish

And stands on his head?

You'll teach him!

Mr. Jim, tomorrow will you help me...

take my bags to the station?

What a mixture!

Her father's a noble, her mother's a commoner

He's from an old Burgundy family

Mama was English

So she's not average...

and she teaches

- What? - Shakespeare!

Jim felt she was Jules' and didn't think about her

The calm smile returned to Catherine's lips...

naturally, expressing everything

l need only to iron my dress!

- Taking your bike? - Yes

And this bag?

- What're you doing? - l'm burning some lies

Give me a match

Are you hurt?

No. Hand me my dress

- Got a broom? - ln front of you!

Will you help me?

That goes too

What is it?

Sulfuric acid for the eyes of men who lie

The bottle'll break in your bag

You can buy more acid anywhere

Not in that bottle!

l swore to use only that bottle

- Your hat! - Thanks!

They rented a house on the coast, too big but isolated...

a bit solemn, white outside and unfurnished

- Sleep well? - Very!

- ls Jim awake? - l don't know

- How's everyone? - Everyone's fine!

A beautiful day!

Let's go to the beach!

Let's look for traces of civilisation!

A bottle!

A shoe!

A can! Watch out!

Catherine, look!

Wonderful!

Be careful!

A postcard!

A piece of china!

A cup... a cigaret butt!

A cigaret pack!

l think we're lost!

Would you mind if l marry Catherine?

Answer me frankly

ls she made for a husband and children?

l'm afraid she'll never be happy here on earth

She's an apparition, not a woman...

for one man

We must continue

Not this time!

l quit!

Come on, boys! Help me!

Let's go, boys!

l've read a book l like

A German dares to say aloud what l think inside

The sky we see...

is a bubble no bigger than this

We walk with our heads pointed at the center

What's beyond the crust?

Who knows? That's not a question for gentlemen to answer

Give me your answer tomorrow

lt it's no, l'll ask you again...

each year on your birthday

You've known few women, l've known lots of men

With our averages, maybe we'd make a good couple

Catherine's almost said yes

At 15 l was in love with Napoleon

l dreamt of meeting him in an elevator

He'd make me pregnant and l'd never see him again

Poor Napoleon!

As a baby l learned Our Father who art in Heaven...

but l said Our Father's go-cart in Heaven

So l imagined my daddy with a beard, riding in a go-cart in Paradise

l thought l'd told a funny story...

at least amusing enough to make you smile

Would someone mind scratching my back?

Scratch and Heaven'll scratch you

Scratch and...

Before l met you l never laughed

l looked like this...

But that's over! Never again!

lt's raining! Look!

l miss Paris. Let's go back!

Tomorrow we'll be in Paris

l've signed with my publisher!

For Catherine!

For you both!

Wonderful!

What is it?

A little hand for scratching your back!

l have 3 seats for the theater tonight

What'll we see?

A new Swedish play

Curtain's at 9:00

Once the sand runs out, time to get dressed!

Jim enjoyed seeing his friends often

Jules' great bed was officially inaugurated...

with 2 pillows side by side and the bed smelled good

Catherine began to find her roots in life

Nevertheless, l like that girl!

She wants to be free and live each moment of her life

Jim doesn't seem to agree

The play's vague and complacent, showing vice to illustrate virtue

We don't know when or where it takes place

He doesn't say if the heroine's a virgin or not

That's unimportant!

Yes, if the story was only sentimental,

but he says the hero's impotent...

plus a homo brother and a nympho! We need more details on the heroine

That's all you think about!

Right, Madam, and because of you!

No psychology tonight!

No, it's metaphysics!

A wife's fidelity is important...

a husband's is secondary

Who wrote Woman is natural, therefore abominable?

Baudelaire, on certain women of a certain world

Not at all!

He meant women in general!

He described a young girl...

Monstrous scarecrow, assassin of Art...

little fool, little bitch...

the greatest idiocy linked to the greatest depravation!

Wait! He said more

lt's amazing that they allow women in churches

What have they to discuss with God?

- You're idiots! - l said nothing!

l don't have to agree with Jules at 2:00 AM

Then protest!

l protest!

Jim fixed Catherine's leap in his mind...

and made a sketch of it although he'd never drawn before

He felt a burst of admiration...

and in his thoughts sent her an invisible kiss

He mentally swam with her and held his breath...

to scare Jules

Catherine! Why?

You're crazy!

Catherine's hat floated away

Jules was pale, uncertain, quiet and more handsome

Catherine smiled like a modest general after a victory in ltaly

No one mentioned her jump

l'm home

- Please, Mr. Jim... - Just Jim!

Just Jim...

l'd like to ask you for some advice

Will you meet me at our cafe tomorrow at 7:00?

Catherine wants to talk to you

l'll be there at 7:00

You're joking!

l never joke

l have no sense of humor

l know people who do...

my wife's friends, people at work but personally l don't

l'm not funny

Jim arrived late, as usual...

optimistically

He was afraid of not being the first to arrive

He thought a girl like her could arrive at 7 :00...

and not seeing me, leave at 7 :01

She might walk through the room...

and not seeing me with my paper, leave immediately

A girl like her... But what was she like?

Jim truly thought of Catherine for the first time

Waiter!

Another coffee!

Another drink!

Jim, did l wake you?

We're going home to my country to get married!

My apologies to Catherine. l arrived late

l waited till 7:50

Catherine's more optimistic about time

She was at the hairdresser's and arrived...

at 8:00 to have dinner with you

lf l'd known, l'd have waited till midnight

Catherine wants to talk to you

Jim, l'm very happy

Jules is going to teach me French boxing

With an Austrian accent?

l don't have an accent anymore!

My pronunciation is excellent. Listen!

Children of the nation, our victory day has come!

Against tyranny we've raised the bloody flag of freedom!

Can you hear in the land the enemy's fierce guns?

They've come to take the blood of our sons!

War broke out shortly

The 2 men were mobilised in their respective armies...

and didn't hear from each other

The war dragged on and became a daily routine...

patterned after the seasons...

a normal life with its pauses...

and even its distractions

Jim received packages from Gilberta

Each time he expected a furlough...

it was canceled

But in Spring, 1916, he had a week in Paris

Don't marry me to thank me for a package! We're fine this way!

OK but l'm sure we'll grow old together

How's Jules?

No news since he married Catherine

l'm afraid of killing him in the trenche

My love...

l think of you constantly but...

not of your soul, for l don't believe in that...

but of your body, thighs, and hips...

and of your belly, and our son inside it

l've no envelope and don't know how to send you this letter

l'm being sent to the Russian front

lt'll be rough but...

l prefer it that way. l'm so afraid of killing Jim

My love...

l kiss you very hard

Jules' country had lost, Jim's had won

But the real victory was they were alive

They made contact via a neutral country and began writing

Catherine and Jules lived near the Rhine

Sabine had been born. Jim wrote to Jules:

''Should l too get married and have children?''

Jules replied:

''Come judge for yourself''

Catherine asked him also

Jim left but delayed the event of his arrival

He visited several towns on the Rhine

A Paris paper published his articles on postwar Germany

He wanted to see his own major battlefields

ln some spots the fields...

contained so much iron from the shellin that they were untillable

Jim looked for the names of his lost comrades...

in the cemeteries that already the schoolchildren were visiting

Catherine was...

at the station with her daughter

and a look of restrained audacity and whim

Hello, Jim

This is Sabine

Hello, Mr. Jim!

Jules is anxious to see you

Jim felt like she'd come to the cafe very late, dressed especially for him

She took him to their chalet amid some pines by a sloping meadow

- How are the others? - Oh, the others...

- You haven't changed. - You haven't changed

So no one's changed!

No, thanks...

- Want some? - A little

l've quit smoking now that l'm in love with plants

An angel is passing over

Naturally! lt's 1:20

They always pass over at 20 minutes past

- Oh? - So it seems

l didn't know that

Neither did l

At 20 past and at 20 to

So you won the war, you devil!

l'd rather have won this

You must be hungry. Let's eat

After lunch l'll show you the house

Jim here... Jules there...

and Sabine next to me

And your new novel?

Unfinished due to my damn articles

l have to think about them all week...

then write them Friday night and send them by air mail

And you?

l have a commission for a book on dragonflies

l'm doing the text and photos

Catherine's doing the drawings and graphs

Even Sabine helps by going with me to the marshes

l'm going to build an artificial pond in the garden

Maybe one day...

l'll write a love story...

where the characters will be insects

l have a bad tendency to overspecialise

l envy you your broad scope, Jim

Me? l'm a failure

Prof Albert Sorel taught me the little l know

He saidYou want to be what? A diplomat

Are you rich? No

Can you legitimately add a famous name to your own surname?

No

Then forget diplomacy

But what'll l become? Curious

That's not a profession, not yet

Travel, write, translate

Learn to live everywhere. Begin at once

The future belongs to the curious

The French have stayed behind their borders too long

Newspapers'll pay for your escapades

Jules says a great career lies before you

l agree but not necessarily a spectacular one

Here's where Jules works and sleeps

Our life is organised like life in a convent

Jules writes his books...

hunts for his insects and little things

Mathilda, the nearby farmer's girl...

helps me with the house and Sabine

My room...

lt's Jules!

His father adored...

Mozart so much that one day he dressed Jules like him

The balcony...

Your inn is over there

Jules'll take you there later

Jules and Jim continued talking as before

They discussed the war. Jules avoided mentioning his family

Catherine was severe and kind to him,

but Jim felt all was not going very well

Time for bed! The fleas need to be fed!

Once upon a time there was a flea...

a very nice flea...

See you tomorrow!

l need to talk to you

How do you find Catherine?

Marriage and motherhood agree with her

She's not so grasshopper, more like an ant

Beware!

True, she maintains order and harmony in our home

But when all goes too well, she becomes discontented

Her attitude changes and she whips out her words

l always thought she was like Napoleon

She claims the world is rich and...

one can sometimes cheat a bit...

but she first asks God for forgiveness, sure that she'll get it

Jim, l'm afraid she'll leave us

lmpossible!

No. She's already gone off

For 6 months l thought she wouldn't come back

l can feel she's ready to leave again

She's no longer completely my wife

She's had lovers. l know of 3

One on the eve of our wedding as a farewell to bachelorhood...

one as revenge for something l did...

but l don't know what

l'm not the man for her...

and she can't bear that

l'm used to her infidelities but...

l couldn't bear for her to leave

Now there's Albert...

The singer who found the statue...

He's the one who showed it to us

He was hurt in the war

He's convalescing in a nearby town

Catherine's encouraged him and given him hope

He's a good man. He was frank with me

He wants to marry her and raise the child

l'm not mad at him

l'm not mad at her nor Albert

l'm slowly giving her up...

and all l'd hoped for on earth

She won't leave. She loves your Buddhist monk aspect

She's usually sweet and generous...

but when she feels unappreciated...

she becomes terrible...

and violently goes from one extreme to the other

Listen to the mole-cricket singing

lt's a kind of mole

From his room Jim could see the chalet

Queen of the hearth, Catherine was ready to fly away

Jim wasn't surprised

He recalled Jules' errors with other women

He knew Catherine was terribly precise

He felt sad for Jules but couldn't judge Catherine

She leapt into men as she'd leapt into the Seine

A threat hung over the house

The 2nd week began

Sabine...

You'd best say goodnight now

Yes, Mama

Jim, l'd like to talk to you later

Are you free?

Please note that words can't have the same value...

when they don't have the same gender

ln German war, death and moon are masculine...

whereas sun and love are feminine

Life is neuter

That's very pretty and above all very logical

As the war dragged on, skirts got shorter

lt caused quarrels on each furlough

Soldiers felt they were being laughed at...

but actually cloth had become rarer and rarer

And women had to cut their hair...

to work in factories because of the machines

Jim, it's time you learned to enjoy German beer

Jim's French like me. He doesn't give a damn

- Not true! - What?

France has the widest variety of wines in Europe. ln the world!

Bordeaux like Chateau Laffitte...

Chateau Margaux, Chateau Yquem, Chateau Frontenac...

St-Emilion, St-Julien, Entre-2-Mers, and l'm forgetting some of the best.

Clos Vougeot, the Burgundies, Romanee, Chambertin...

Beaune, Pommard, Chablis, Montrachet, Volnay, Beaujolais...

Pouilly-Fuisse, Pouilly-Loche, Moulin ... Vent...

Fleurie, Morgon, Brouilly, St-Amour...

We stared at the shell rolling slowly down the stairs

Only 3 more steps, 2 more... all of us flat on our bellies

Catch me!

You want to know what?

Nothing. Just listen to you

To judge me?

Good God, no!

l won't say a thing but l have a question

And it's tell me about Jim

Sure. What?

Anything. Just plow ahead

Without naming Jules or himself he described...

2 young men, their friendship in Paris...

before a certain girl came and what happened afterwards...

and even ''Not with her, Jim!'' unable to avoid using his own name.

their threesomes, the stay by the sea

Catherine watched Jim relive it as if he were still there

She corrected a few details and added others

He described missing her at the cafe and how he saw the 3 of them...

Jules' hidden qualities and how he'd felt from the start that...

Jules couldn't hold on to Catherine

You'd have said it at the cafe?

Yes

Go on

There's no more to say. The war came

l was glad to find Jules again, see you

l've enjoyed the time l've spent with you...

and what l've seen, learned and figured out

The approaching cloud... l mean Albert

Are you with Jules against me?

No more so than he is

l'll retell the story as l lived it

Jules' generosity, innocence...

and vulnerability amazed and won me over

He was such a contrast to other men

l hoped to heal him of his crises with cheerfulness...

but l realised his crises are a part of him

We were happy a while but happiness didn't become a part of us

We ended up face to face, not together

His family was really a torture

At a party on the eve of our marriage...

his mother did something that hurt me deeply

l punished Jules for being passive about it...

by spending a few hours with an ex-lover, Harold

Yes, a lover

So l married Jules and we were quits...

and got off on an even start

Luckily his family moved away up north somewhere

Then came the war. Jules was sent east

He wrote me wonderful, fiery...

love letters

From afar l loved him more and reburnished his halo

Our last argument and true break-up was on his first leave

l felt like l was in a stranger's arms

He left. 9 months later Sabine was born

She doesn't resemble him

Believe what you will, she's his

l told him l've given you a daughter, that's enough

That ends it. Now it's separate rooms. l want my freedom

Remember your young friend Fortunio?

He was there, free as a bird. So was l

He was a nice partner. What a vacation!

But he was too young and it wasn't serious

One day, to my surprise...

l missed Jules' leniency and leisureliness

My daughter attracted me like a magnet

So l left

l've only been back here 3 months

As a husband to me, Jules is finished

Don't feel sorry for him.

l still allow him enough distractions

Now there's Albert who told me of the statue...

the 3 of you liked and which l resemble

l flirted with him.

He may be odd but he has a natural authority Jules lac

He wants me to marry him. He wants both mother and daughter

l like him a lot but not enough till now

He's coming to lunch tomorrow

You've listened well. l talked more than you

But l didn't tell all, no more than you did

l had other lovers? Never mind

l only talked about what you talked about

- l understand you. - l don't want to be understood

lt's almost daybreak

Jim wanted Catherine but stifled his desire more than ever

She mustn't leave

Was he reacting on Jules behalf...

or on his own? He'd never know

Jim was far from sure whether or not...

Catherine was trying to seduce him

She never revealed her goal until she'd scored

Hello, Sabine

How're you and your mama?

Fine

Hello, Albert

You shaved your mustache?

Like everyone else! But l feel naked. l'm going to let it grow back

Albert was wounded in the trenches

l'm OK now but when l woke up...

and found a surgeon digging in my skull...

l thought of Oscar Wilde: God, spare me physical pain!

l can cope with moral suffering!

The disgusting part of war is...

it deprives a man of his own individual battle

Yes but l think he can still wage it at the same time

l remember a gunner l met in the hospital

While on leave he met a girl in a train...

and they talked between Nice and Marseilles

As she left she gave him her address

For 2 years he frantically wrote her daily from the trenches...

on wrapping paper by candlelight

As the shells fell, his tone became more intimate

At first he wrote Dear Miss and ended with My sincerest respects

ln the 3rd one he called her My little fairy and...

then it was My adorable fairy...

and then l kiss your hands... then l kiss your forehead

Then he spoke of the photo she'd sent...

and of the breasts he imagined under her housecoat

Soon he said l love you terribly

One day he wrote her mother, asking for the girl's hand

He became officially engaged without ever seeing her again

The war went on and the letters became more and more intimate

l clutch you to me, my love

l hold your adorable breasts

l clasp you to me naked

When she replied a bit coldly he begged her not to be coy...

because he might die any moment. lt was true

To understand this extraordinary deflowering by mail..

you need to know the violence of trench warfare...

the collective madness and the presence of death each second

Here's a man who fought in the war...

and yet he also waged his own personal battle...

and completely conquered a woman from afar

He was hospitalised with a head wound like you, but wasn't as lucky as you

He died after a trepanation on the eve of the armistice

ln his last letter to his unknown fiancee he wrote...

Your breasts are the only grenades l love

l'll show you some photos l have of him

He almost seems alive

lt's a beautiful story

Jules wrote me lovely letters during the war

Hello, Albert!

Have you finished my song? Let's work on it

The movement of a rocking-chair Makes fleshly joys seem so fair

And the song?

lt's coming along!

Yes, shall we do it?

lt's much too good for them but we can't choose our audience!

She had rings on every finger

Bracelets on her wrists

And she sang with a voice

Which bewitched me

We met with a kiss

A hit - then a miss

lt wasn't all bliss, but we started. Then we went our own ways

We each went back into the hustle and bustle of life

l saw her again one night

lt's been such a long time...

Catherine was different to each one and with all 3 at the same time

Jim felt like a 5th wheel. He could admire her only in private...

and was distant with her in public

Our affection needs to be left in peace like a new-born baby

l can tell you were truly in love once

- Why didn't you marry her? - lt didn't work out

- What's she like? - Reasonable and patient

She says she'll wait forever. Her name's Gilberta

You both still love each other?

Don't cause any suffering, Jim

l like adventure and taking risks

And there's something new

l admire you. l enjoy seeing you

l'm afraid l'll forget Jules

Don't. He must be told

Translation!

Hearts that love in vain... My God, how they cause pain

Not bad...

but the My God isn't necessary

Good night! lf you see the others, give them...

my regards

l want to read Affinities

- May l borrow it tonight? - l loaned it to Jim

Never mind!

You'll have it tomorrow

You must return Affinities to me. Catherine wants to read it tonight

Jim, Catherine wants nothing to do with me

l'm terrified she'll walk out of my life completely

The last time l saw you two together...

you were like a married couple

Jim, love her! Marry her and let me see her

l mean, if you love her, stop thinking of me as an obstacle

Jim awaited Catherine all day.

She was in his arms with her low voice

Their first kiss lasted all night

They said nothing and became closer

At dawn the light went out

She had a look of incredible curiosity and joy

Enchained, Jim arose

For him, other women no longer existed

Your turn!

l've asked Jim to live with us

He can have the small room

Beware, Jim!

Beware of her and of you!

Here's your make-shift bedroom

Some German books but you'll find more in my room

A cupboard...

l'll unpack your bag

l guess that's about it

That part is a mess but it can't be helped

What's beyond the wall?

Sabine and Mathilda's room

The bed's not too bad

Sit next to me

l love the nape of your neck

l can look at it without being seen

And Jules?

He loves us both

He won't be surprised and so he'll suffer less

We'll love and respect him

ln the village they were well liked but were called the Mad Trio

Hearing this, Catherine invented the Village ldiot game

At table they took turns, playing the ldiot

Sabine made them giggle the most

Catherine has said ''You only truly love once''...

but for her that moment kept returning

Life was really a holiday

Jules and Jim had never worn such big masks

Time passed

Even happiness can wear away imperceptibly

One Sunday Catherine decided to seduce Jules

While Jim read downstairs, she took Jules up to her room

''No, no!'' said Jules. ''Yes!'' said Catherine

Jim tried not to feel jealous but nevertheless he was

Catherine noticed it and never renewed the experience

They all went for a walk...

around a misty lake hidden in a valley

They were in perfect harmony. Catherine had a brief headache

After major fatigue, Jim had worse ones and...

thought ''lf we have kids, they'll be tall and thin with headaches''

They went down to the lake to throw stones

Catherine and Jules learned how to make them skip

The sky was low

Jim's newspaper called him back to Paris

Jim's newspaper called him back to Paris

Their goodbyes weren't painful - they were sure...

they'd soon be together again, as before

Their month had been filled with tiny perfect moments together

When the train left, they waved for a long time

Jules sort of blessed them and kissed Jim...

who told Catherine he wanted to marry her and have children

Jules is willing to get a divorce. l'm going to marry Catherine

l want to have children with her

Jules will find me a job in his country

l'm translating a Viennese play that's to be staged here

- Where are you going? - Home

- l'll go with you. - l'd rather you didn't

Hello, Jim!

Teresa!

The locomotive!

Teresa! How are you? How's...?

2 weeks of love! But l cheated on him to buy him...

a sculpted pipe!

He found out, got jealous and locked me away for 3 weeks!

l went wild! l escaped on the ladder of a painter and moved in with him

Then a man promised me a fortune in Cairo as a virgin in a house...

- Hi, Jim! - How're you?

- And your pal? - He's fine

Then an Englishman saved me and...

we lived in a villa by the Red Sea with a tennis court

Then l heard from home...

Gaby, how're you?

- ls Jules in Paris? - No

l went home to stop the wedding and married him!

Jim, how's your pal?

Still with the same girl? l'd like to see her again

A fine man! l went after him but he ignored me

l divorced my husband. My undertaker finally married me!

We're a perfect couple! No kids!

l can't cheat! He doesn't leave me the time nor the energy!

l'm writing my memoirs for the Sunday Times!

My husband!

- And you? - l'm getting married

- Bye, Teresa! - Bye, Jim!

- Hi, Jim, how's Jules? - Fine

lnteresting, huh? Her name's Denise

Don't talk to her. She won't answer

She never talks. She's not dumb, just empty

lt's empty in there. She's a thing

A pretty thing!

A lovely object

Sex... Pure sex!

- Say goodbye to the man. - Sir...

Catherine spent the winter at the chalet...

as Jim's fiancee left in Jules' care

Each day she asked him, ''Do you think Jim loves me?''

Listen, Gilberta...

When Catherine wants to do something and...

to the extent it won't hurt anyone, and she's not always right...

she does it for pleasure and to learn something from it

She hopes to attain wisdom that way

That could go on quite a while!

You're being petty, Gilberta

l'm not! l'm jealous

l've always known it would end this way

Jim, don't leave tomorrow!

She'll have you for a lifetime. Give me another week!

Jim could no more leave Gilberta than Catherine leave Jules

Jules mustn't suffer, nor should Gilberta

They were fruits of the past, counterbalancing each other

Tell Jim l saw Teresa, now married and an authoress

l've had to delay my return, but soon l'll be free and ready for you

l must say a few little farewells

A few little farewells?

Do you think Jim loves me?

What's wrong? Why didn't Catherine come to meet me?

ln your letters you wrote too much about your work and farewells

Catherine hates absences. Yours was too long

She imagines you've done more than you possibly could

- She's waiting at the chalet? - l think so. Sure!

Catherine!

l didn't want to tell you

She left yesterday morning without a word

l hoped she'd be back before you arrived

Aren't you worried?

That something's happened to her? No

l think she's making an irreparable error

Your letter didn't make a good impression

l saw Teresa, now married and an authoress

l must say a few little farewells

Catherine does things, one by one and goes all the way

She's a force of nature and expresses herself by cataclysms

She lives each moment with lucidity and harmony...

guided by her feeling of innocence

- You make her sound like a queen. - She is a queen!

To be frank with you...

she's not especially beautiful, intelligent nor sincere...

but she's a real woman

And she...

is the woman we love... and all men desire

Why did Catherine, so sought after, offer us both...

the gift of her presence?

Because we gave her our full attention, as if to a queen

l must admit l almost didn't come back from Paris

l knew it could never be so good between us

lt's hurt our friendship. At times l'm jealous of you and...

your years with her

l even hate you for not being jealous of me

Do you believe that?

l'd do anything not to lose Catherine completely...

and you'll be like me when she returns, and she always does!

Jules, help me. l'm leaving

Tell her you didn't find me at the station

My mind's made up. lt's the only answer

Yes... l went to the station, you weren't there

What's wrong with you?

Did you just arrive?

You're my Jim, l'm your Catherine. That's fine!

You wrote me a lot about your affairs. l have my own

You said goodbye to your loves

l went to say goodbye to mine

You can hold me in your arms all night but nothing more

We want a child together, right?

lf we do it now...

l won't be sure if it's yours. Understand?

l had to

- You love Albert? - No

- He loves you? - Yes

lt's the only way to create something good between us

Albert equals Gilberta

You've nothing to say?

We must start from scratch

Catherine's creed was to start from scratch and to pay cash

They lay there, trembling and chaste

She fell asleep and Jim lay awake,

knowing she loved him as he loved her

A unique force attracted them to each other

Once again they soared high like great birds of prey

They remained chaste until she was sure...

she wasn't pregnant

This restraint exalted them

They didn't cheat on each other. The Promised Land was in view

When it came time to have a baby, they realized she wasn't pregnant

They saw a specialist...

who said many couples waited for months to become productive

What's wrong?

l want to sleep alone tonight

- Why? - Because!

- Explain it! - There's nothing to explain!

l'll be good and sleep next to you

lt's not true!

l don't care about your goodness. l'm disgusted

This child we'll never have is a nightmare!

lt's like taking a test. l can't stand it!

But our love is what counts

No, l count too. And l love you less

Let's try not to need each other

lf we break up and l later realize l love you, that's my risk

Gilberta still writes to you, so go back to her

You're being unfair

No doubt. But l'm heartless

That's why l don't love you and will never love anyone

l'm 32, you're 29

At 40 you'll want a woman and l'll be 43

You'll find a 25-year-old and l'll be left alone like a fool

Maybe. l'll leave tomorrow

A 3-month separation!

Are you in pain?

Not me, not anymore. Because we mustn't suffer...

not at the same time

Once you stop suffering, l'll suffer

Am l interrupting?

l can't bear it. Did you hear us arguing?

No, l was working

l can't stand him. l'm going crazy

But he's leaving. Good riddance!

Don't be unfair. You know he loves you

l really don't know anymore

He lied to me

He didn't break up with Gilberta. He doesn't know what he feels

You love, you don't love and you end up falling in love

lt's not my fault we don't have a child

Got a cigaret?

- Want me to talk to him? - Absolutely not

l'm half for him, half against him...

but l want him to go

We've decided to separate for 3 months. What do you think?

l don't know. Maybe it's a good idea

Won't you tell me what you think?

You despise me

No, Catherine. l never will!

l'll always love you...

no matter what you do or may happen

Really?

l love you too!

We were truly happy

We still are

At least, l am

Really?

We'll always stay together...

like an old couple...

with Sabine and Sabine's children

Hold me close to you!

l don't want to go back to him before he goes

Then stay here

l'll sleep downstairs

My little Catherine...

you often remind me...

of a Chinese play l saw before the war

As the curtain rose, the emperor...

leaned toward the audience and said...

You see before you the unhappiest of men...

because l have 2 wives...

a 1st wife and a 2nd wife

To Jules their love was relative but his was absolute

The next day Jim left

Catherine walked him to the station

A fog had invaded the fields during the night

The others in the hive felt Jim was at odds with the queen...

so his departure was normal

Already we can't see the house

The train schedule had changed for the fall

No train was due till the next day

Hotel rooms always make me feel guilty

l'm not very moral but l dislike secret trysts

You love them, don't deny it. l won't believe you

Jim thought of the children he could've had with Catherine...

a whole houseful

He also thought that without children,

she'd start having affairs again

ln the grim hotel, without a word...

they had each other, perhaps as if ending things once and for all

lt was like a burial, as if they were already dead

She took him to the train but they didn't wave goodbye

They parted without being forced to

Again Jim thought it was all over

Here's your inhaler... and a letter too

l think l'm pregnant. Come at once! Catherine

Gilberta, please hand me some paper

Catherine, l'm too sick in bed to get up

l don't want to see you pregnant probably by someone else

Surely our pathetic farewell didn't do what our love couldn't

...what our love couldn't

Yes, l don't believe he's sick

l'll write to him that you want to see him

Dear lmaginary lnvalid, come as soon as possible

Catherine awaits your letter

Write big because her eyes are tired...

and she can only read big letters

Catherine thinks l'm not ill

l wonder if she's pregnant

l doubt that l could be the father because...

of our past, Albert and all the rest

Could you mail this?

Of course

A letter for you!

l'm going now. l'll be late

l love you, Jim

There's a lot we don't understand and many truths are incredible

l'm pregnant at last. We must thank God. Bow to Him!

l'm positive you're the father

Please believe me!

Your love is alive in me!

Believe me, Jim!

This paper is your skin, the ink's my blood

Answer me at once!

Gilberta!

My love, l believe you! l'm coming to you!

Whatever is good in me comes from you

They'd sworn never to talk by phone and be unable to touch each other

Their letters took 3 days and crossed each other

l doubt it because of our past, Albert and all the rest

l'll never think of you again. Don't think of me

You disgust me and l'm wrong because nothing should be disgusting

Jim, your letter changes everything

ln 2 days you'll arrive instead of a plain letter

We try to recall our harsh words but they're forgotten

Come as soon as you can, even late at night

Then Jim heard from Jules

Your baby died after a third of its prenatal life

Catherine wants total silence between you

So they'd created nothing

Jim said rediscovering the laws of life is great...

but it's best to stick to the existent laws

We played with the seed of life and lost

This is incredible!

You gave up the chalet?

We prefer to live in France now

We've rented a mill on the banks of the Seine

We must get together. Come to my place tomorrow

Tell me about Catherine

For a long time l feared she'd commit suicide

She bought a revolver

She'd say So-and-so committed suicide...

the way we say So and-so died of cholera

She was hunched up like a widow

She was like a convalescent...

and moved slowly with the smile of a corpse

Gilberta, this is my friend Jules

Jim's talked so much about you l feel l know you very well

Catherine knows you came?

Yes, she'd like you to come for a drive

l wish you and your wife would come

She won't but l will

l must go now

You can't wear a hat like that! Not in France!

Take mine

Come this way!

She's in a good mood today

Don't upset her

lt's magnificent!

Look at Catherine's car!

lt's Jim

Catherine smiled but seemed to be plotting something

She wrapped her white pyjamas in a package and tied it with a ribbon

Jim wondered about it and then forgot

They went for their ride

l'm hungry. Let's eat here!

Albert! What're you doing here?

Getting some air

Besides, l live here

- Care to eat with us? - Gladly!

Maybe you have a date?

Maybe

Give me my package

Good night!

Well done! 2nd time for the pyjama routine!

l didn't expect it

l'm amazed she didn't re-cast the man's part

She's used Albert often

Why? He was perfect for tonight. Leave her the car

Catherine's motto is that for a couple...

at least one of them has to be faithful

You saw l don't live alone. l'm going to marry Gilberta

You're smarter than l am, Jim

You know when it's over with Catherine, it's over

Gilberta will be a good wife

She's lovely

Jim recognized Catherine's horn and at first...

he saw nothing

Then he spotted the car driving around the square...

skirting the benches and trees, like a riderless horse...

like a ghost ship

What a night l had!

l wasn't in my place there. That life's dead for me

lt was a desert! l talked about you and looked for you

Come at once!

Come lie next to me. Kiss me!

l've something to tell you

Tell me

ln a novel you loaned me l found a passage you'd marked

A woman on a ship...

gives herself mentally to an unknown passenger

lt struck me as a confession...

of how you explore the world

l have flashes of curiosity too

Maybe everyone does

l control mine for you, but l'm not sure you control yours for me

l agree with you. For love a couple isn't the ideal

Just look around us!

You tried to make it better by refusing hypocrisy and resignation

You wanted to invent love

But pioneers must be humble and not egocentric

No, we must look at things frankly

We've failed. We've missed everything

You tried to adapt me to you

l've caused distress around me by trying to give you joy

My promise to Gilberta for growing old together...

means nothing. l can put it off forever

lt's counterfeit

l've no hope of marriage with you

l want you to know l'm going to marry Gilberta

We can still have children

A fine story, Jim!

And me, Jim!

And me?

And the children l wanted?

You didn't want them!

l did!

They'd have been beautiful!

You're going to die!

You make me sick! l'll kill you!

Coward! You're scared!

A few months later...

Jim was glad to see Jules but his heart didn't pound for Catherine

She wouldn't leave them together...

and suggested a drive. Jim agreed

Catherine drove rapidly and...

took some risks. The air was electric as during their forest outing...

before meeting Albert

They stopped at a dancehall near the river

Now they've begun to burn books!

lt's incredible

For Catherine you were easy to catch...

but hard to keep

Your love went from zero...

up to 100 with Catherine's

l've never known your zeros nor your hundreds

l have something to tell you. Will you come with me?

Jules, watch us!

Jules would never again fear that she would cheat on him...

or die... because it was over

The bodies were found in the reeds

Jim's coffin was bigger than life. Catherine's was a jewel-box

They left nothing

Jules had his daughter

Had Catherine enjoyed the battle? No

She'd dazed Jules to the point of nause He felt a surge of relief

The men's friendship had no equal in love

They'd totally enjoyed little details and tenderly noted their differences

From the start they'd been called Don Quixote and Sancho Panza

The ashes were put in urns and sealed away

Jules would have mixed them together

Catherine had wanted to be strewn from a hilltop...

but that wasn't permitted

English Adaptation: Jaib Warner

Processed by : C.M.C. - Paris

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