Across the Road

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FACING:

Morning, my love.

Damn that thing!

Already... It's early!

C'mon. Give me 5 minutes.

No!

I have to be on time this morning.

Right, I forgot.

The lady has a job.

Don't make fun. Be nice.

Soon I'll have to make a date

to see you.

So what?.

Dates can be very romantic.

Right. You busy Labor Day?.

You're too much...

I'm starving! Aren't you?.

Hi, Mehmet!

Hi, lovebirds!

How are things?.

Fine.

One mushroom

and two Napolitanas, right?.

Great!

Napolitana, OK?.

Oven hot!

On your tab?.

As usual.

Here.

See ya!

See ya!

You've got to quit working nights.

OK. Where'll we live?.

In a garret?.

I should've died in that car crash.

So you could marry a rich client.

Very funny.

If we get evicted,

you can move in with Hugo.

Maybe he already asked me.

Bastard!

I'll see we won't get evicted!

Hi, lady.

Mr. Dorset's contract.

Thank you.

Xerox it for his lawyer, OK?. Hurry!

Hello!

It's not an exclusive contract,

it's an advance.

On your next 3 books.

Scared I'll go elsewhere?.

Only I took the gamble of

publishing your first novel!

Sorry you did?.

In a year,

I made you credible and rich.

That was no risk,

I immortalized you!

Read this carefully.

We'll talk later!

Your next book almost done?.

I'll let you stew a while.

So you can learn to read.

Will that be all?.

OK... Bye!

Bye!

Henry... Sometimes I wonder

why you published me.

OK, bye.

I could renegotiate your deal.

No, it's OK.

As you wish.

What's the rent here?.

$7000 a month, plus maintenance.

just to cover your rent?.

Suicide!

But your first book made money.

I spent it all

on 7 years back rent!

Divide my earnings by the time

it took to write:.

I'm a literary bum!

What do you think of it?.

I think...

It's expensive and flashy.

Just what you need.

You're right. It's awful.

You started writing?.

Not a line since "Dark Skies".

It's like something snapped.

Go figure it out.

Maybe you lack sleep.

It's all those night jobs

you take on.

I always have,

and nothing went wrong.

No, I'm blocked.

And till I know why...

How's Michelle?.

Don't know why

she hasn't left me...

Sorry, a van blocked me.

The janitor let you in?.

You like it?.

It has 3 parking spaces!

I'd say it's not bad...

Not bad at all.

I agree.

Should I pitch the view,

the location?. No...

What I'd like you to pitch me on...

is all about yourself...

Had a good day?.

We got a registered letter.

The concierge signed for it.

It's none of her damn business!

She'd love us to get evicted!

"To Mr and Mrs Dorset."

From our landlord's lawyer?.

Sure.

If he died, we'll get evicted.

We owe two months back rent!

Five neighbors want us out!

Who wants us as tenants?.

So we'll move, it's tiny, anyway.

Moving takes money.

So I'll quit writing.

You want me to get a normal job.

I want that?.

Yes.

Who got your first novel published?.

Me!

Who hasn't written a line

in 6 months?. You!

You only love me for my dog.

Right.

We'll split him for our vacations.

Sure.

Smile... We're in total agreement!

Mrs Dorset, it's nothing to do

with your neighbors.

The reason I asked you here is

because of an inheritance.

What inheritance?.

The estate Mr Guillemet left you.

Who?.

Jean-Eudes Guillemet.

Wait... Isn't he our landlord?.

Not at all.

Didn't you know him?.

No!

I guess he always did

love surprising people!

He left us his stamp collection?.

Among other things.

"l, Jean-Eudes Guillemet,

of 27 rue Gabrielle

in Montmartre, Paris

Ieave my house

and all my possessions

to Jean and Michelle Dorset,

of 26 rue Gabrielle.

I ask them to kindly

accept this donation

as a gift to youth and love."

Wait, 27 rue Guillemet...

That's the townhouse

across the street.

This is a gag.

Not at all.

Mr Guillemet drew up his will

in my presence, a month ago.

He was a 75, an invalied,

but perfectly sane.

This is great!

When we're broke,

we can grow vegetables here.

He knew how impatiently

his family and friends

awaited his death.

He got even with them

by leaving his estate

to a nice young couple

he didn't even know.

This morning we squabbled!

A huge bathroom!

Now you own a XlXth century

Paris townhouse,

of 4850 sq. feet,

Iocated in the heart of Montmartre,

and all its contents,

of which this is a list.

He lived here?.

Yes. Why?.

I thought this house was empty...

Mr Guillemet paid the deth duties,

but you can't sell the house

for 10 years.

You can move in

at the end of the month.

It's a gift?.

A gift.

Loo, Michelle. It's fabulous.

Mr Guillemet made

only two conditions:.

that his papers and mementos

remain in his office.

And you keep on

Miss Clemence Richbourg

for as long as she wants.

Who?.

Clemence Richbourg.

His housekeeper.

The estate will pay her salary.

What's that?.

That's my place.

Sorry. You expected company...

I watched you getting ready

to come over.

For you, sir?.

Please call me Jean.

Soon we'll be under one roof.

One weak coffee.

And tea with mild and half a lump

for Madame.

You'll need a TV

once we've left our old place!

What was that?.

A fuse, Madame.

The circuit breaker's down below.

Never mind.

We have to be off. Bye.

I'll see you out.

There's no need...

Yes, there is.

I do everything here.

We'll be back

at the end of the month.

You're right, it's awful.

A real downer!

I'm not kidding...

I think it's too...

Think what's happened to us!

You were leaving me

for a ritzy dump.

Very funny!

No more bohemian squalor.

You'll live in style!

And I can write in peace!

You'll give up hack jobs?.

I promise.

And do some serious writing?.

Yes.

Serious is a big word...

No more car smashes?.

Never again.

"A gift to youth and love!"

Precisely!

You about through?.

Excuse me!

That goes to the 3rd floor.

Dirty mutt!

Michelle?.

Jean!

You OK?.

I kept a spare.

Lucky bastards!

There's more over here.

This basement is huge!

It's unfair!

Come over any time.

Thanks.

It could use some paint.

What is it?. Seek, dog!

It stinks over there.

Here, boy!

I can't see.

Let's move the dresser.

What's the dragon lady like?.

What do you mean?.

Is she hot?.

You're sick!

At the count of 3! 1, 2, 3!

What the hell is this?.

Sh*t, talk about weird!

It's like a cathouse!

You mean an opium den.

Seems vaguely moorish...

Hot stuff!

You like that.

Yes, I do.

It's a bit creepy.

No, I love it.

Michelle, come look!

Looking for something, Madame?.

No, just tidying up a bit.

You know you have no right

to touch his things!

No harm in putting them

in the basement.

They stay under this roof!

Scram, Socrates!

Sorry, the dog did it.

A woman, at last!

The dragon lady....

I guessed.

Mr Guillemet hated dogs!

Don't! You'll cut yourself.

Sure she hates us.

She hoped to inherit,

like all old housekeepers.

She's not old. Not even 40.

Jean, we can't!

Let her hear. It'll do her good.

That's not it.

It's this setting...

We have to change things.

Why?. It's huge.

You can breathe,

not like our place.

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