4 Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle

The friendship of a moody urban lass and a simple, neurotic country girl frames their instructive interrelations in Eric Rohmer's slight, charming microproduction.

Directed by Eric Rohmer
Starring Joëlle Miquel, Jessica Forde

FOUR ADVENTURES
OF REINETTE AND MIRABELLE

THE BLUE HOUR

Excuse me!

Do you know if there's a
bike shop close to here?

Yes. Ten kilometers.

I think I have a flat.

Can I see it?

Can you hold this?

Do you have patches?

Yes, but... how do you find
the hole? I don't know...

You never repaired a tire?

I'll fix it for you.

Do you have the cap?

No, I don't have one.

Okay. Let's go...

It's this way.

See, there are the bubbles.
There is the hole.

You put your finger on it like this.

Can I do it?

Yes, come here... There...

Let it dry a little. If it's not dry
you can't put the adhesive on...

Let me do it.

Give me the sandpaper...

You sand a little.
Can you do it?

There, like that.

You take the adhesive,
the patch...

- The tube is new.
- Yes.

It's got metal filings.
This is absurd.

It needs something
sharp to puncture it.

Yes, a needle.

Wait, I'll bring one.

Hold this tight.

- Do we need more?
- No, this is enough.

I'll put a bit on the patch
so that...

it bonds well.

I put it on top...

You didn't put enough

This is good. Press it tight...

so that it won't come loose.

Do you remove the paper
afterwards?

Yes. I'll put it away to dry.

What is this?

- This, what?
- I mean this.

This is my place.

But where do you live?

Right here.

This is my kitchen...
all of this...

and up there is my room.

- This is a house?
- What do you think?

I don't know.
Seems more like a granary.

It was before. They made a room
out of it. You want to see it?

Watch out! There are nettles here.

I like the way the grass has been
allowed to grow. It's so pretty.

Yes, I think so too. But the neighbor
comes to cut it for his goats.

What a marvelous tree!

It was my great-grandmother's tree.
It's pretty, isn't it?

Your great-grandmother's?

Yes, they planted it the day she
was born, over a hundred years ago.

It is a pear tree.

Come on, it's this way.

It's the green door...

Please enter, miss...
Thank you.

Don't mind the mess,
it's a storage room.

The stairway is here.

Don't worry, it's sturdy.

You live here all alone?

Yes... My mother has a
grocery shop in Rebais,

and I like to return here
in the summer.

Your house is very cute.

Thanks.

You paint?

Yes, I intend to.

And you, what do you do?

I am a student.

- Of what?
- Of ethnology.

- What is that?
- The study of the actual ethnic groups.

Of the what?

Of the ethnic groups.
Comes from "etnos",

a Greek word that means people.

Oh, I see.

What's your name?

- Mirabelle.
- And I'm Reinette.

Can I look at your pictures?

Yes, go ahead...

This is "The Escapade".
It's called that.

It's... It's like this.

Yes, it's better to look at it
a bit further away.

This is "The refusal".

- Of what?
- Of "The Choice".

You deny having your eyes

open or shut. Choose the face
you want for that body.

And I put it on top.

There you go.

And this?

This is...

Can I put it here?

This has to be looked at from afar.

In reality... I don't know.

I'm lost. There is nothing
to understand.

It's more comic-like.

I don't know. The only comics
I know...

are... Grim and Perrault.

Grim and Perrault did comics?

Ok, I don't know.
It's almost the same.

You want to see my favorite?
Oh! But first...

Wait... I have this funny one.
I really like it.

It's called: "Some millimeters more".

Is it because of this?

Because this one's smaller
than that one.

This is my favorite ant.

- Have you painted many?
- Yes, I like ants.

I like this painting because
the ant is so well done.

And all this happens in the moonlight?

Yes, you can say that.

Would you like to see my sunset?

It'll make you mad.

Look, there you have
some more millimeters.

I like it, I think the best part
is that of the woman.

That's why I placed it right
in the center. I like it.

It's so perfect, it's beautiful!

What you do is very surrealistic,
isn't it?

Yeah, yeah...certainly...
It's very suru...

Next year, I will go to Paris
to take classes.

You are so lucky to live
here. It's so pretty!

And you, where do you live?

In Paris.

But you didn't come from Paris today...
No.

My parents own a little cottage
in La Ferte,

with a little gravel drive,
and a little lawn,

little flowers...
You can imagine it, can't you?

And the house next door
looks exactly the same.

I don't know... I've never been
in the country like this.

This is completely wild.

Then stay!

I don't know about that...

Yes, stay. I have
an extra bed.

I don't want to disturb you.

If it was like that, I wouldn't have
asked... I've finished my painting.

And when I'm not painting,
I like to chat.

If I talk too much,
you can always leave.

I can't.
My parents are expecting me.

You can call them.

Do you have a telephone?

No, but my neighbors do.
Shall we go there?

This silence is marvelous.
In Paris you never have silence like this.

There is always a car passing,

or a neighbor's loud music.
There's a continous noisiness.

There is no silence here either.

Listen...

There's a lot of noises...

For sure, complete silence
in nature doesn't exist.

Unless it's in the high mountains.

Have you ever been to the
mountains?

No, never.

But there is silence here too.

In the night perhaps?

There are many sounds at night:
the cats prowling, the owls...

No, I didn't mean at night.

Have you heard of the blue hour?

The blue hour?

But it's not really an hour,
it's a minute.

Just before dawn
there is a minute of silence.

The day birds haven't
risen yet

and the nocturnal birds have
fallen asleep. And then...

Then, there is silence.

When I was little I asked my
mother to wake me up for that hour.

Every day?

Oh no, not every day
I don't know...

2 or 3 times every year. Always in
summer, when the sky was clear.

It is hard to explain to someone
who hasn't experienced it.

But in reality, the silence
of nature is frightening.

Look, it's a little bit
like in a courtroom

while the jury deliberates
and you're waiting for the sentence.

Will it be life,

or will it be death?

If the world came to an end,
surely it would be in that minute.

-Do you know why?
-No.

Because it's the only moment

that you get the feeling that
nature stops breathing.

And that... that is frightening!

All the peasants have this hour
on their mind. That's why they say:

In all regards,
tomorrow will be another day.

And this is true:
No matter what you do,

you can't stop the day that
will follow.

And this is best lesson in humility
you can get.

We need nature...
not the other way round.

Okay, if you want, we can go to
sleep now...

I'll wake you up for the blue hour.

Do you want to?

We'll never wake up! There's no
way I'll hear the alarm clock.

Just leave that to me.

It is the hour...

Listen...

The toad,

That is a frog.

An owl.

But what is this?

Oh no, it can't be!

Come on, hurry up!

You don't have to be nervous.

But a minute is short, do you
understand?

See, he's going, he goes...

Yes, he's gone.

Yes, he's gone...
but everything is screwed up!

No I'm telling you!

Don't do this, it's not so bad.

It was very impressing
a while ago..

But that isn't the silence!
Damn it!

But I really understood it quite well.

It's not a matter of understanding.
Everyone says "I understood it".

The fact that a red strawberry is
better than a green one

can not be understood
until you've tried it.

What does it matter...
stop crying.

I've has enough! People always
screw up everything they've got.

I think you've already heard
this blue hour a thousand times.

Yes, but I wanted to show it to you.

Look, there will be other
chances, right? So...

So what? Tomorrow you'll be gone
I don't know where to.

Okay, I'll stay if you like.

Really?

Are you serious?

It's enough to make a phone call.

Don't cry anymore.

Let's go to sleep then.

You're so silly.

Look at them.

They always give you the impression
that they're talking business.

Not now.
They're just taking a walk.

No, they're having a
very serious discussion.

About what, hens?

They don't want to eat!

You're scaring them.

Around the animals,
you have to move slowly.

They're not used to you...
they don't know you yet.

Listen rooster, do you want to eat?
Come on, don't act so haughty.

Seems like they're not
running to see you!

What is that down there?

Those are baby goats.
It looks like they've seen us.

Are we going to see them?

Hello, goats!

-Are we going?
-Yes.

This stinks, yuck!

This is the way it is.

They're so cute!

The red ones go first

because they're most numerous.

Is it a matter of color?

Yes!
Okay!

If there had been more white,
then it would have been the white ones.

I know it's that way with chicks,
but not with goats.

It's just a matter of breed
and superiority.

I don't know, at least
these are different.

The redheared ones are always first.
They always win. Look!

They cut their horns.
Otherwise, they fight

and hurt each other.

You see, all those that have
their horns cut are fighters.

There's an old one, there.
Now he cannot move about.

I'll feed him some...

Here, you've got a lot of experience...

You're not going to disturb her.

I give some to the ones that are behind.

But... It's the survival of the fittest!
You don't have to work against that.

But today I'm here.

This one hurt the others so
much we had to put it apart.

This one's a real bitch!

I assure you...

That one?

Yes. You see how hefty
it is?

What's her name?
Diane. You can call her...

She won't budge. She's like a mule.

Come on, let's go!

In the fall, it blends in
with the trees.

She's pretty!

Are you coming?

Nothing, impossible.

I'm going to look at it.

Aren't you afraid of horses?
Don't worry about that.

If I were you... In the end
you do what you wish, but...

They're gentle, but take care...

You can scare her off,
so watch out.

No, it's okay.
Here are the sheep!

It's okay.
Do you know horses well?

I like horses.

She likes it, right?

Come on, I'm going to introduce
you to our neighbors.

Hello Kitty.

Mr. Housseau.

Hello.

Mirabelle.

Pleased to meet you.

Mrs. Housseau.

She is from Paris and wants to
know the countryside.

We're the best to show her!

What can we teach her?

Here they've got strawberries.

They're always blooming...

They are beautiful!

They've been vegetating.
They were late enough in growing.

Maybe becouse of the frost
this winter, is it?

I don't know so much about the frost.
But if gets a lot colder...

Because of the humidity...

And this, what is it?
It's a rosebush, right?

Yes, rosebushes in bloom.

The strawberries are wonderful!

Are they ready to pick?

Can I?

Sure, if you want to.

They are wonderful!
Take this, Reinette.

I ate one.

They are ripe!

"This isn't the Place de Concorde..."

This is summer cabbage.

Those purple ones?

They're inbetween the leeks,
the first leeks we're eating,

we call them summer leeks.

Why summer leeks?

Because they're the first that
are planted and eaten at once,

because in a month and a half
they're already grown.

And the lettuces are very large.

Chicory.

Lettuce for cooking.

And here, what's this?
All these big stalks...

with the little white flowers

There? Those are potatos.
No, maybe green beans.

Shall we take a look?

At least these are haricots.

Aren't the flowers beautiful?

What is all this?
Can you tell me?

Those are radishes, cucumbers,
radishes, and there, endives.

How does the endive grow?
Do you eat the root?

Yes, what get's picked is the root
and it's buried underground

there, for the winter...

All through winter?

When the endives are eaten,
they're large white bulbs.

That's the only part called endive.

Ah, I understand. And the leaves?

The leaves are for the rabbits.
There aren't any leaves

I'm going to give you flowers, Mr. Housseau.
Yes, yes.

You put it in the pocket.
One flower in the buttonhole!

Red and blue, that's good.

Where do they have the cows?

Lateron , they go down to the
pasture, there.

Because, like there were a path,
they go directly there, to the forest.

They go over there?

Yes, by that path.

And to go and see them?

One goes this way, or on the other
side, by the path over there.

There is a shed
where the take shelter when it rains.

Today the weather isn't so good.
Do you think it's going to rain?

No, this is nothing.

But I think it is.

So what?

No?
No.

I'll go get my impenitrable.
You never know.

It's better to take precaution.

One can always be wrong.

How nice, all these poppies!
Can you pick them?

If you want... But they won't last.

Now it's really started to rain.

Do you have a hood?

No, but I like the rain.
It's good for your hair.

We'll go on, right?

It's sad

that the weather's so bad.

No, not at all. This way I'll have
seen the field in all types of weather.

Have you graduated?
Yes, last year.

And I never went to school.

Why not? Can you take courses
via mail?

Yes. I like it. Every time they
took me to school, it was a ball.

Really, I think it's ridiculous.
That honor roll!

Every class, they give you new
stuff.

I know; I went there!

Really, it's ridiculous.

And what are you going to do now?

Next year, I'll be doing fine art,
because with drawing...

I know when it's bad,
but I don't know why it's bad.

So that... I think the tecnique
will be helpful.

For that it dosn't matter to me
whether I've got validation from a school.

but, apart from that,
don't talk bout it!

It's true that one needs
some tecnique.

And where are you going to live?

I've got cousins in Sartrouville.

But that's far away, Sartrouville.

So what, it's...

20 minutes from Paris.

But they're late a lot. It will
mean an hour of travel every day.

Yes, but I like being on a train.

The idea is tempting. And...

the people are very nice.

You know what? I'm renting a
flat with a girl,

but she's leaving in September.

So, if you like,
you could be my roommate.

That way, you would be in Paris
itself.

Fine, if it's alright with you...

I'm very independent, you know...

Anyway, we'll both have a room
to ourselves.

Can you do everything the way
you like?

Sure, if we're flatmates.
Half and half!

Then, it won't be a problem.

You can bring anyone you like,

do what you like.

I've got a friend,
but she doesn't live in my house.

So when he comes...

You've got a boyfriend?

That's my own private secret.

If it's private, you don't have to
talk about it; if not, it isn't.

How well you dance!

I don't know how to dance.

But everyone would say so!

I go out by myself to dance.
I haven't learned how to.

I don't plan to.
I've never been to a discotheque.

You haven't?

You're talking nonsense!
You said you didn't know how to dance!

I've travelled.

I've bee to Mexico.

to Tunisia, Greece, and the
Antilles.

Listen, we shold go to bed because
if not, we'll miss the blue hour.

You have to live in the present,
that is: become a Parisien.

A Parisien has to know how to dance.

Are we going to miss the blue hour?

Do you really want to?

I don't know. It was to please you.

Do you want to please me?
Let's dance until the middle of the night, ok?

THE WAITER

You're going already?

Yes. I'll even be arriving late.

At what time will you be leaving?

At three o'clock.

If you want, we can meet...

in Montparnasse?

Come to meet me at the exit.

It'll be more comfortable in a café.
I know one, "La Égalité", or something...

What's the address?

It's at... near the Tour
Montparnasse, Rue...

de la Gaité. You know it?

No, but I'll find it.
What number?

Now, I don't know, it a café...

Right, there's a square
by a metro station.

Which metro?

I don't know. But you'll be walking.
You don't need to know.

Go to la Rue de la Grande-Chaumiére,
keep to the right...

Cross a bouleward, this way.
Here is another bouleward,

There's an alley between the two,
take that and there is the square,

where the station is, and it's
opposite that.

Ok. Rue de la Gaité.

Fine... If I can't find it,
I'll ask around.

Yes, it's very easy... See you later.

Excuse me, mister, the Rue de
la Gaité, if you please?

You're in luck, go this way.
It's there on the left.

Do you know L'Avenue du Maine?
Du Maine?

It's a wide avenue with trees,
and this street crosses it

without trees, it's underground.
But go on,

to the right, to the left, or is it
two times left and you're there.

Do you understand?

Yes, thank you.

Are you looking for something, miss?
Yes, la Rue de la Gaité.

It's here to the side. Come this way.
It's through here.

Ah, yes?

Yes, you go to the right,
and along the cemetery...

Listen, I think it's much better
to go left. It's much more direct.

Sure, if you want to take a detour!

What kind of a detour? You'll find
la Rue de la Gaité on the left.

No, this way is much more direct.

The houses of the Rue de la Gaité
are behind the cemetery.

I've a friend who lives there.

On the corner of his friend!
It's not very tasteful

to have to cross a cemetary
to go to the street of joy.

All roads lead to Rome
but you don't need that many.

You don't have to cross it,
but go around it.

I'm sorry, but I think
it's much more sensible

than this great detour.

I think it's here.

Not along it, but across it.

That's the same, it's square!

Not altogether.

Are you from this neighborhood?

No, are you?

No, but I know it well.

And anyway, you're taking up my time.
I'm sorry.

Me too. Goodbye.

It's unbelievable!

It's here.

Thank you.

Would you please pay me?
Yes, sure. How much is it?

It's in writing. You can read, can't you?

Four francs thirty it's this?

Yes, that's it.

Here.

Are you making fun of me?
A 200 franc note for 4,30 francs?

I'm sorry, I haven't got change.
Me neither.

What do you think? Nobody has
any money.

How should I have, then?

Search a little.

Right, but where?

I'm sure you have 4,30 francs there.

Let's see... One thirty, forty,
fifty, sixty.

Only one franc seventy!

You don't go down the street with this!

I do have 200 francs!

Oh yes! If you don't have money,
don't take a seat at a café.

But this is money!

I'm waiting for a friend.
Perhaps she has cash.

I don't believe that.

Because that about the friend...

I already know that! You expect me
to turn around and leave.

I'm alone here.
I've got the terrasse and the inside.

And if I lose concentration,
people could leave.

Right... Not that they can,
because I'm on the lookout, keeping track.

But it doesn't seem easy to me.

A girl did that to me the other day.

She looked like you.

It wasn't me! I've never been here.

I didn't say it was you,
but she looked a lot like you.

And I am a specialist in physinomy.

Just like the trick about the friend,
once accepted... See!

But it wasn't I!

I didn't have to believe that. You
can talk. You're her or not. Watch out!

I'm going.

He's crazy!

Ninety five.

There you are.

Now you have change!

To be sure, for the clients. For
people like you, it's not worth it!

Staying

two hours over one coffee!

It was five minutes!

But they stay, that much is certain.

They don't leave after I've got
change. And try to delay things.

And don't try to leave, as far
as I can see.

But wit, I'm waiting fore someone!

I don't need to know that.

Don't think about monopolizing two chairs
all day for 4,30 francs.

But there are a lot of vacant tables!

Yes, they are vacant.
Today has been slow.

And people who only come in for
a coffee... I don't call that worth the work's.

Is it that you don't believe me?

Believe you! If I believed everyone
I'd be desolate.

But that about the friend, don't
give me that twice.

I'm on guard...

What would the gents like?

I would like a large chocolate
with a lot of froth.

Listen, I won't have this!
Leave the chair where it is.

I'd like to sit down. There isn't
a chair...

I took it. It's not allowed to
touch it.

You're not going to stop me from
sitting down in front of your cafe, are you?

Or... it's you...
you're the friend.

Of whom, of her? And who?

I don't think she'll arrive.
So I've taken the chair.

I'm her, so I'll take it.

Take it, take it.

What would you like?
A coffee.

Another one!

What?

Al right, have your coffee.

I expect you have some coffee .

And if you don't like it, let's go to
another café. There are thousands in Paris.

Stay!

First you have to pay.

We haven't had anything!
Not you. She.

Pay and let's go.

Do you have 4.30 francs? I don't
have any change.

No. I've got a 500 franc note.
Can you change it.

Do you do it on purpose? One with 200,
the other with 500. Would you believe that?

We would believe what?
There's a bank next door, isn't there?

I don't have change, and that's it!

We're going. This is your problem.
First you pay!

What should we pay! If we don't
want anything else!

The clientel is required to carry
change.

That's news!

I've studied law and I can tell you

that you're supposed to have change

on buses and on the metro,
but not in shops.

Look, young girl!

To begin with, talk in a different tone.

You can leave, but she has to
stay until she has got change.

As much time as it takes!

And by the way, don't try to leave.
If not...

He's like a goat!

What a fool!

Come on, let's go, it will be fine!

You don't have 4.30 francs?
I'm sorry...

No, I don't have 4.30 francs.
Now that you don't...

Wait...

Come on, hurry.

I was right! I was certain that
she wasn't going to pay.

And that's becouse I'm on the perch!

4.30, isn't so much...
No need to be angry.

See you later.

I don't intend to get up for
you return.

Any way, return before twelve.

It's because... I' going to bed early
in order to return the money.

You're crazy.

For 4.50 francs.

It's not about that.

I feel bad about having one exactly
what he said: left without paying.

Come here!

I'm always in situations like this.

I must have the face of a clown.
They don't believe me.

When they come they think I'm a
rascal who's going to throw some prank.

The other day: I had a resevation
at the dentist at 11.

I arrived at excactly eleven,
and went into the waiting room,

I said hello and no one replied.

I waited, five minutes,
ten minutes...

No one.

I went to the secretary and asked her:
"Why haven't you called me"

She replied: "But miss,
it's not your date"

I checked my diary and saw:
at 11.

I told her: "Look, if I've written
it in my diary, it has to be right."

Everyone laughed. They thought
it was a joke,

in order to make good for
not having an appointment.

She said to me: "Anyway,
if you had an appointment.

you would have a small card
handwritten by the doctor.

I: "Yes, he gave me one, but...

I'm afraid of losing notes and
write all in my diary."

"No, it's not possible."

In rage, I grasped my bag,
which is enormous,

took everything out of it, and what
did I find? The card.

I took it and asked her: "And then,
did I write it myself?"

Every, every one was astonished.
But to begin with, no one believed me.

Afterwards they had to admit that
I hadn't lied.

And with the waiter, the same: I want
to show him that I had told him the truth.

Listen, excuse me...

I'm looking for the waiter that was
here yesterday.

They waiter who was here yesterday
was her only one day. Why do you ask?

I owe him my coffee: 4.30 francs.

Can a give it to you?
Yes, of course.

Thats alright.

Here you are.

Thank you.

Can you see, she returned for this...

THE LIER, THE CLEPTOMANIAC,
THE SWINDLER

Why haven't you given anything?

Because he doen't have a
symphathetic face.

You only give to those with a
symphathetic face?

Of course. I'm not going to give
everyone!

He really needs it.
See: "To eat".

But there are fifteen thousand, everywhere,
in the metro, in the streets.

The ones who need money to eat.
They're fifteen thousand!

Shall we go?

I don't think its good to leave
people to die from hunger

while we have a full plate.

Look.. go on...
why don't you go to Africa...

with "doctors without frontiers"?

What are you doing here, tell me?
What have you got on the floor?

One or two francs
looks to me like the minimum...

Your're giving to everyone?
No.

I'm not giving those who play music

and if I feel it's pure comedy,
like they're showing a film...

If not, I give a minimum, not much...
compared to what I have...

To everyone that passes here by?

Yes, to all that it seems to me
need it.

UNIVERSITY OF PARIS 1
Pantheon Sorbonne

Your bag, if you please.

What's up, what do you want?

Could we have your bag?

And why?

There was another bag. Where is
the other one?

Is there someone else, then?

Yes, I am absolutely sure that
she had something.

You're not eating out tonight?

No, where did you get this from?

But I haven't bought anything.

No matter.
Don't you have anything?

Not much.

Have you bought a bag?

I've got lemons, you never know...

I don't know what to have them with...

Champagne!

A bit strange as a mixture...

duck paté!

and salmon!

You knew it was my birthday and
you have remembered!

Thank you! You know, at home
they never remembered.

It's a real birthday.

I'm going to put these on a plate
and warm this,

We've got flowers, right?

Can I shake your hand?

Yes. But it is not I you have
to thank for all this.

Why?

You don't have me to thank for
all this.

Who, then?

To a beautiful dark girl.

Do I know her?

With big green or blue eyes,
I don't remember, hair very...

It's not Agathe? No, she's got
dark eyes.

No, it's not her.

Anyway, you don't know her
and neither do I.

I am going to tell you about it.

When I came out of class, I went
to buy cake at the supermarket.

and was where the cakes are,
when I saw a girl,

this girl, tall, dark, etc...

who was pushing her cart,
at the back.

And saw a man and a woman, with
a lot of makeup very suspicious

who were watching her.
And I asked myself who that was.

So I followed the dark one and saw...

she had her cart, and a bag
in the bottom, like this one.

and I saw her putting smoked
salmon into it.

Then, I followed her
and the other two as well.

Then I realized that, for sure,
they were security personell.

It was very funny, because I was
watching them watching the girl

who didn't know she was
being watched.

So, I followed her and saw her take...

champagne, paté, etc...

And then she went to the till,

To pay for something small,

and I went to the till beside her.
Her till was there, and mine here.

And I saw the security people hide
behind a column, there.

At least, they didn't see me
or she them.

They were waiting for her to
leave with the bag.

And she left her blue bag more
or less between the two tills

and I, then, took the blue bag
and left.

After that, I don't know what happened,
they must have taken her and not found anything.

Anyway, I left and hid myself behind
a car, across the street.

From there, I saw them in discussion.
And, finally, she walked to...

her car and tried to return
her bag,

but, unfortunately the traffic
was terrible.

I couldn't get across and she
left in her car.

That's why we happen now

to have salmon and champagne
for your birthday.

Not so bad, is it?

But why did you take the bag?

And why not? I wasn't going
to let them catch her, just like that!

You should let the secutity
people do their job.

Do their job?

Certainly!

But why?

Why should I let them to their job,
if I could help her?

This isn't helping people!

Yes, I helped her. If not, she
would have had to pay a lot,

she would have gone to prison...

That's normal.

What is it that is normal?

She took a chance. She knew they
might catch her.

And why?

I was there and took a chance
by helping her.

And they could have cought you
as well.

For nothing. They didn't see me.

That's not the issue!

You're silly.

What a birthday!

I don't want your salmon and your
champignon. Anyway, I don't like the bubbles.

Why don't you want it?
Because I didn't buy them for you?

That's not it. What you did

is very serious. Don't you see?

That girl was grown up.
What age was she?

She was... don't know, twenty-four
or twenty-five years.

Adults want to be responsible
for their actions.

And do you know what they call people
like her? Cleptomaniacs. And that is a crime and...

No, it's an illness.

So you helped a sick woman and a criminal.
And you've made yourself a criminal.

This is very serious. I'm not eating
your salmon, I'm not aiding a criminal.

Hay, you're acting like a nun!

A nun! You don't know what you're saying.
It's a matter of logic.

The only way to help the sick.

or to those that... have problems,

is to become a mirror for them, to
confront them with their actions.

The way to make them see
what they have done

is to show them that the consequence
could be going to jail.

I don't agree with you in any sense.

This isn't the solution.
You've got to find the source of the sickness.

And at least do what I did...
that will make her think a bit more.

You think so? I think that she'll steal
something much bigger and will not just get

one year but ten instead.

A year in jail for some salmon!

At least, with such taste for luxury,
it's sertainly not a necessity.

No... I don't understand you. I'm sorry,
but I don't understand you.

The money, what will it change?
This isn't the problem,

but not knowing why she steals.

And you?

Me neither. I've been trying to
tell you for an hour.

You don't accuse anyone when you don't
know... you don't know their reasons.

What I want to kno is why you helped her,
that's what I find interesting.

Why I helped her?
Because my little personal problem

is that in the end
not much happens,

at least in our small everyday
life..., going out onto the street,

there's nothing funny happening.

So nothing fun happens!
If not, so!

Everything is fun.
I, to be like being at home,

when I go out, then... there's sunshine,
there are birds, it's just enough to look...

I'm refering to an adventure,
to what you read in novels...

But my role is that I wanted to have
a feeling of a little suspence...

What a way to get a feeling of suspence...

Yes, to feel something... to do something
else than going to class as usual.

I saw this girl who was bad and
wanted to help her.

You can feel suspence in many ways.

I prefer helping someone who's
worth the effort

before someone who...
who is sick...

come on, who isn't worth the effors.

You, what you want
is to jail them and that's it.

I want to cure them

After having said
you didn't want to help them.

Helping and curing isn't the same.

What I want is to cure them and
above all prevent them from continuing.

Last year I went to Scotland
with a friend.

At the airport we took a taxi
to get to the city centre.

We started to talk, talk...

and unfortunately I noticed that
he hadn't put on the meter.

I took a better look: he hadn't
started it.

I pointed it out to him by knocking on the glass,
you know, in english taxis they have a glass.

Then he made a very strange face,
very strange,

not like someone
that has forgotten,

and, at last, grumbling,
he turned on the meter.

It couldn't do,
I'm certain it's a rotten idea...

or that he wanted to charge us
what he felt like, just like that.

Then my friend and I talked about it.
When we arrived in the centre,

I saw what it said on the meter,
I don't remember how much it was...

and gave him exactly what it said.

The guy looked at me.. He had really
been caught... He understood

that I had understood his
cheating.

He took his money
and left in his taxi.

I'm sure he didn't do it again.
This is what matters.

Thinking about that what happens
afterwards.

There I helped someone.

Do you think so?

I'm sure about it. He wouldn't
try to cheat on others

because, in the end

it turned against him,
the way he wanted to cheat me.

But, to be a little bit more honest
than you, in your shoes,

I would have calculated how much I owed
him, the way you described it,

you really only payed him half.

But the important thing is the goal,
and mine was that he wouldn't repeat it.

wouldn't do the same

to others. That's what interests
me.

Or is it that you want to punish,
to have your little justice, is that it?

We are all just, you too,
and I...

Now you haven't understood anything,
a while ago you talked about

putting people in jail,

and critizising the way I was
playing my part.

And now you're demonstrating
your parts.

This is a demonstration of everyone
killing among themselves, Middle Age style.

But... you...
don't do... justice...

I believe in self-discipline
what I want...

is that the taxidriver...

But still I don't see that the taxidriver
is going to learn self-discipline...

Yes. He's not going to do that.

If you beleive in self-discipline,
you have to have his confidence.

If not, it doesn't work.

Please, I'm sorry to disturb you but
my bag has been stolen, I have nothing,

and have to go to Versalles,
I want to go home,

and I don't need much,
I need 6.70 francs.

Ok, I'll give it to you.

I've got it here, there you are.

Thanks a lot.

Sorry, do you have some?

Sorry, do you have some change,
please?

Hey, give me two francs?
One franc?

Please, do you have change?

I'd like two...

I don't speak French, I'm sorry.

Beg your pardon, I'm sorry.

Sorry, do you have change?

They've stolen my bag with all my
things and I need six francs.

I need to get to Versalles,
I don't need much...

How much do you want?
6.70 francs.

I'm going to help you.
You're very nice.

Go on, I've hear this.
It's still Versailles? 6.70 francs?

You keep on asking me for it.

Or is it your custom to ask for
that? Is it a lie?

You don't have reason...

It's a new proession...

I need it...

And it gives money, right?

Good, I'm going to give you because if
you hadn't arrived, I would have given it.

Isn't there a better profession?

Are you from the police?
No, but all the same...

You... you occupy yourself with what I do.

Ok, I'm preoccupied by my own.
Give me back what I gave you, come on...

I'm sorry. Here, take this... What's
it to you? You don't need 6.70 francs.

It's not about money but, in all
the station, how many imbeciles there are.

It's an abuse of confidence. Give it to me.
I'm not giving it to you.

Yes, give it back to me now.
I'm not quitting until you gave it to me.

Why don't you let me alon?
And what are you doing?

Don't you feel shame doing this?
Have you thought about what you do?

If you need money, why don't you look
for a job, or do something? But not...

Look, leave me alone...

You don't know my life,
whether I need money...

What I know is that this isn't honorable.
Go mind your business...

Give me the money back now.

I won't let it pass, I don't know, I could
tell someone at the station...

And what could you do?
What have you got against me?

But you have stolen my money!

I haven't stolen it. You have...
I asked for 6.70 francs and you gave them to me.

I did you a favor; you did a number on
me, that's abusing my confidence.

I'm in a situation but I... need
money... I haven't got a penny...

I haven't got a flat... no house...
I'm alone...

I need money and... and...

Why don't you say so?

I'm saying it now...
So, do you get it?

I don't know, you might try
to see a social worker...

Look... You could let it be...

Don't cry, I can't stand seeing
someone crying, tears break me up...

I've got to catch my train,
you keep the money...

I haven't earned much...

I'll take a franc for the telephone.

And I don't know... You need to get
a coffee to cheer yourself up a bit, right?

SELLING A PAINTING

Hey, you still haven't payed the rent,
have you? This month I was counting on you.

I was hoping to have something left
at the end of term.

What's this, things can't be this way.
There's not a way to get off.

And they advice you not to pay late,
because there will be consequences.

I think I have to go back to the
country...

Why?

You can't live in Paris without
money.

But didn't your grandmother leave
you some cash?

Yes, but that will take long, come on,
there's still paperwork to do.

And your mother?

She hasn't enough for herself,
how could she then help me?

No, I'll return home.

You're not that bad with money,
you could make some...

I've thought about getting a job
at a fruit sellers of greengrocers

But in the end it didn't work out.

So that... I'm returning home.

You might find something better.

Look at me when I tell you,
you might find something better.

Like how?

You might... Ok, you don't speak English
but you speak Spanish. You could teach.

And teaching French, right?
You could teach French.

I don't know grammar.

Grammar doesn't matter,
it's like with children...

Some people ask more questions.

I've tought Italian to a very
small boy.

I didn't know a word;
He had a book

and there were the phonetics and the
translation and it was no problem.

And now I speak a little Italian.
You could do this.

Everything I've learned, I've learned
alone. I don't know how to teach others.

How would you like if I taught
you something?

You're no help at all!

But I have a small hope.
Do you know Gontran?

The guy who came the other day?

Yes, he knows a lot of people
in painting

and a gallerist who's interested
in young painters.

And, according to him, this painting

might perhaps interest him.

Good? More reason to stay and
not run in panic.

I'm going to call him...
This might work.

Oh, it's the answering mahine.

Hello... It's Reinette,

I'm phoning about the gallery.

I'll be at home tonight.
Good bye.

You know, I don't think I could do
anything else than paint.

When Im not painting, I get the feeling
I'm waisting time.

I believe I'm born for this,

perhaps, on the base of it,
I'm able to do other things...

manual labor, for example.

I think it's wrong to
decepreciate it because

we need those who work with their hands
like those who live by using words

like professors, lawyers..

What I like in painting is
that it's not necessary to speak.

I don't like to speak.

Still. Without doubt you speak a lot
around your painting.

You don't stop giving them titles,
to look for explanations for them,

signification...
You don't stop speaking.

Not at all, but that is afterwards.

Because... when I paint,
I don't rationalize...

I don't try to explain anything.

When I paint, I try to be an
open door for my emotions,

try talking...

to my soul, and the only way
for me to try to talk to my soul

is... is silence
is... is the only domain

of what it is... it is possible...
it is possible to be true...

becaouse the words, always...
cheat, it's... it's a code,

and if someone likes my painting,
I think he would also like me as well

because it's from emotion to emotion...

It's direct mode, that's what it is,

from heart to heart,

and when you look at

my painting, it's not enough to speak...

Because for this type of communication
to happen,

silence is necessary, Yes, the
silence is necessary. Don't you think?

Yes, yes, I believe you.

You laugh...

I'm laughing because, while you speak
about not talking, you talk.

I have to explain it to you.

You don't need to explain it to me,
I understand.

At least, you keep explaining it
when people have already understood it.

I'm sorry, but someone you didn't know

might think that you thought
people were stupid.

Really. It's just the opposite.

It's out of a desire to respect
truth, out of honesty

towards the one who looks at me.

So that, by force, I walk groping
about trying to find the just expression.

But take care, because it can be
irritating.

When I was little I took very seriously

the things my parents repeated
to me twenty times at least.

For sure, if you didn't obey...

That had nothing to do with it. Until
I'd noticed a tic of my mother's:

she systematically repeated the same
sentence twice. For example,

put on the white shoes,
put on the white shoes,

It wasn't just a habit of my mother's
but of all adults.

I, who am a bit more infantile,
can therefore say, I don't have this mania.

No, I don't have this mania.

I may talk a lot but I don't repeat myself,
I want to use just the right word.

But it's so that I don't repeat myself,
I don't repeat myself.

You see.

I see what? What?

You repeat yourself. You finished by
saying two times: I don't repeat myself.

That doesn't count. You weren't
replying.

Since I speak too much, I'll leave you.

On the other hand you can very well not
speak, not speak at all.

As a girl, I did that. I wagered
with myself that I wouldn't speak for days.

Nobody noticed anything.

Not even my mother.

It's like when I went to Scotland,
I didn't know a single word.

Then I arranged them for myself
alone.

One always talks too much,
one always talks...

Very graceful.

I'll bet with you that tomorrow I
won't say a single word all day.

If you think it's fun, why not?
Anyway, if you speak, I won't hear you.

I'm not going to be around you
all day.

Why not? Tomorrow you don't have
classes.

All right. Anyway, theres not much
at stake. You won't even last an hour.

Then, not one word,
not a sigh, nothing.

Agreed!

The one that loses is a pig.

One moment.

It's for you.

Hello?
Gontran!

Great.

Tomorrow. Could we delay it until
another day?

I understand, I understand.

No, no. It's fine, it's fine.

So we agree upon tomorrow.
Thank you. Good bye.

Is it about the one at the gallery?
Let's leave the bet for another day.

No. When I say something, I do it.

That's silly, you're going to spoil
everything. At least, let me talk in your place.

Then, it's meaningless.
No, it's going to bring me luck.

I don't see how!

Leave it up to me.

You will come with me but have to
act like you don't know me, all right?

It will be exactly the opposite,
you will see.

Do what I tell you, and don't doubt
it and put your trust in me.

Why? Do you think that it's...?
No, believe me.

Call me at the end of the week,
at the end of the week.

I can't tell you more than
I've already told you.

I'll have to stop, since I'have people here.
I'll call you at the end of the week.

See you soon, think about it,
see you soon.

Ah, it's you.

Who?

You've come to show me your paintings.
No, I've just come to have a look.

I was expecting a girl,
they say she doesn't speak at all.

Don't worry.

Take your time.

It's you. Good evening.
You're here because of Gontran.

It's a painting, I expect,
what you have here.

I don't want you to show it to me
right a way. I'd prefere to see your portfolio...

You must have noticed that I said "portfolio"
and not "book". No English words.

Come over here. "Book" is a thing

for "cover-girls". Now, I happened to
say "cover-girls"...

and not "models". But for sure,
it's deceptive. Let's see now...

It's interesting.

It's not bad at all.

It's not that original!

But still it's surprising for
a girl of your age.

By the way, how old are you?

You're older than fifteen, aren't you?

I expect you're older than
you look.

You're not twenty years old?

Nineteen? Eighteen?
Seventeen?

Let's say that beforehand they are
phantasies of an mature man. That is, very mature!

You seem annoyed.
But you don't need to reply.

You assume his problems,
as one would say.

But let's stop.

critizising the facts so much.

Another question, which you neither
need to reply to.

Have you taken drawing lessons?
They tell me that what merely

matters is the result.

The knowing would be able to notice
that you are self-lerned.

And what of it? Today, why not?
This is your power...

Even more, you are neither someone
one would call "naive", between quotation marks

From a purely formal point of view
one can appreciate influences...

Can one know? I already know that
this question could be annoying:

at your age, you don't need to rely
on anyone, and why not?

Still, though, one would hazard
Magritte, right?

Dali?

Neither! Come on, how unusual.

Then, maybe I shouldn't dare to
mention Labisse, and Delvauz...

At least, you don't know him...
Yes? And he is an influence on you?

But, do you like Magritte?

Dalí?

Well then, this I call to speak
clearly.

Bravo, long live disrespect!

Let's see your painting.

Let me see.

I like it very much.

It's extraordinary. The photo
does not reflect the colors.

I like it very much. Very much.

But I can see that there is an
unsteadiness in the composition.

Wait a moment, I'll explain.
Don't interrumpt me.

There, there is a vacant space,

at the bottom to the right,
can you see?

It creates a certain unbalance.

I know already that you would tell me
that its intentional, to put emphasis

on the central motive, right?

Perfectly centered, thats for sure.

You're not going to tell me that all this
isn't devilishly orchestrated.

Come on, don't protest, I've understood.

If I'm not mistaken, it's this painting
that you want to entrust me with, right?

I'll take it with all the usual
conditions, alright?

How much do you want? 2000 francs?
That's reasonable,

taking the fifty percent into account.

What is it you don't like?
Aren't you happy with this?

You can state the price. To raise it
is alright with me, but I don't think it'l sell.

Ok, do you want the money?
Straight away?

All right, you're mad.

At could give you at least 200 francs,
no more, to get you out of trouble...

2000 francs... I'm much to generous,

I'm not even sure if I'll be able
to get 2000 francs for the painting.

I'm proposing 1700 or 1500, it's much
more in line with your real interests.

I don't want to be nasty, but alright,
your very anecdotical.

And it's even a very worn out
anecdote.

I'm going to tell you this outright.
I'm not saying that you don't have talent

but I can tell you that this
is almost not painting.

If it were well painted,
it would be like a photograph.

With a beautiful model, maybe
it would sell well as an erotic poster.

Look, now you're crying!
This is terrific.

Don't cry, miss, don't cry.
My luck, when I'm in a hurry...

Don't cry, miss.

My words exaggerated a bit what I
was thinking. I like your painting.

It's very nice. The only thing is that

I can't pay you cash down.
Let me have it, it will surely sell.

Don't be afraid, it will sort itself out.

What's up with her?

Stay on. This one is a bother to me,
it's got nothing to do with you.

Has he been harming you?
What has he told you?

Can't you speak? Are you dumb?

I know. She's dumb.

What?
Dumb! Dumb? That's clear?

What do you mean, dumb? What is this?
You can't be dumb, it doesn't exist.

Yes, sure it does. There are three hundred
and fity thousand deaf-dumb in France.

Deaf-dumb, what are you saying!
Exactly!

She's not deaf, she's understood
perfectly what I've told her.

Maybe she read your lips.

But if she's deaf and dumb, I believe
she knows how to listen. She's got her language.

Oh, yes? And you know this language?
No!

Finally, you see reason. How
do you want her to use it with you?

But how would I know: that she'd write,
that she was accompanied by someone.

This isn't a charity institution for
cripples and invalids.

Watch your words!

This way it's like we were talking
in front of an invalid!

If she can't hear!

I've told you that she reads your lips!

She's got her back turned. And, dumb or not,
she's started to get on my nerves.

I know what she wants. She wants
2000 francs. She told me.

All right, she indicated it to me clearly

And I don't want to, that's that! It's
I who's in charge, here. So others listen!

First you kept her silent for a long
time without a chance to speak.

You didn't give her a chance to but in.
At least let her explain herself.

Explain herself! But she can't speak!

So the more reason! With this pretext,
you're taking advantage of the situation.

exploiting her handicap. This is
cowaridice, vileness, disrespect.

Then let her express herself,
come on, let her speak up!

If you had been in this situation,
dumb or not, and had known she was dumb,

you would have done exactly the same!

Says who?

It's not a case of preventing her to speak.
Because if they don't let me, I don't speak!

When you meet with someone
who doesn't stop speaking,

who is pleased with his verbality...
I don't want to speak anymore...

Will you permit me to tell you...
He makes me sick, I find it repulsive...

Don't you think there is something repugnant
about the act of speaking?

Above all talking about painting!
It's something too sacred

in order to be desecrated with words...

Yes, finally... I think...

In reality, the only posture possible
in front of a painting is silence...

But all right, that's the conclusion!

It's the silence. Silence.

Yes, it's interesting.

You'll sell it?

4000 francs.