Action Man

---

Is that you, Denis?

Yes!

So, youre still here?

Should your books be less messy,

I would have gone home

a long time ago.

Oh, right, I forgot this was

the end of the month.

You forget everything.

What time is it?

- 7:
25, I think.

It doesnt look like a hot day.

There must be quite a load.

What load?

On the other side of the road.

The American soldiers pay.

Well, theyre entitled

to a few precautions:

there are supposed to

be 500 millions there.

That much?

Thats what Ive been told.

Here:
the salary of your laziness.

Thank you.

Why only 2.700?

What about the boilers repairs?

Youve got no mercy for me.

Are you or are you not,

an equal partner?

And what about the Dutch beer?

Im thinking of it.

- Youre thinking of it!

It should have arrived two days ago.

Youre really not fun, I tell you:

I have to take care of everything.

Every time I take care of something,

I never do it the right way.

Youre always grumbling.

Im grumbling when I have to.

What I call common sense,

you call grumbling.

It really was more endurable

when you used to join me upstairs.

You were considerate then.

And you took advantage of it.

A girl must take

advantage of middle age,

while its still lusting.

Yeah, well, dont forget

the Dutch beer, alright?

Wake up, Gaston, its pay day!

Thank you, boss.

I wasnt sleeping. I never close

more than one eye, like an Alsatian.

I filled her up.

When it comes to filling up,

I trust you.

Oh, mister Farrand.

Just a tiny litre.

My motto being:
drink while

youre thirsty, never more.

Good morning, mister Farrand.

- Good morning, chef.

Good morning, mister Farrand.

Good morning. Go and fetch

the meat in my car, will you?

Good morning, mister Farrand.

Good morning, sir.

- Good morning, Louise.

What is that?

Mrs. Farrand came here.

She took away the hare.

And she prefers this?

This is quite colourful,

but it doesnt mean much.

Paintings are like the army:

better not try to understand.

Hi, love. Why do you

look at me like that?

No reason. Did you finish

your bookkeeping?

Yes I did, and let me tell you that it

was no piece of cake, thanks to Betty.

Hey! You received the

proofs of your book!

How come theyre not in colour?

For a paperback,

it would be too expensive.

Your publisher must be

quite the ruffian.

Another would be the same.

Hey, heres my hare.

I fail to see why you took it down.

I think its looking good

in a restaurant.

What about this?

Is this looking good too?

What is this?

It might be talcum powder.

Well, what do you know?

- So now its drugs!

I dont know anything about it.

I think getting people hooked is abject.

- So do I, and you can believe me.

I believe you, Denis,

but youll admit that

Ive got reasons to worry.

Even in Indochina, I never took

any part in the drug business.

Do you think Id start here?

What do those bags mean, then?

They mean somebodys been

dealing without my permission,

and I dont like it.

Will I be able to rest easy

one day, Denis?

Whats keeping you from resting easy?

All those blokes you associate with.

I dont associate with anybody.

Sometimes, I have a drink with

a few old pals, but thats all.

Youre taking it back?

- Yes, I am.

Four-One-Seven

Bartender, please!

- Coming, Maam.

I guess you need a pumice stone.

You scum! Ill teach you

to deal your junk here.

I just wanted to

straighten the painting up;

it was tipped on one side.

Im going to straighten you face up,

just wait and see.

What about this?

Does she want cigarettes?

Now I warn you:
if youve got

other hiding places in here,

just take your junk

and go away fast!

And you can tell your friends

that Im a man of my word:

when I say no, I mean no!

Get it?

You made a mistake, madam:

this is far too much.

Good night, mister Farrand.

- Good night, Hlne.

Shall I close the gate?

No, dont bother:

Ill close it when I go.

Its closing time, gentlemen.

They say you need a bartender.

Yes, but I want someone

young and distinguished.

In that case,

you can take your pick.

No offence but I think youre

somewhat too effeminate

for our standards.

Hands up! Hurry up!

You can tell your boss

that this new method wont work

any better than the others.

Come out! Get in the corner!

Were going to entertain you.

Go on! Have fun!

Hey, we told you to stay outside!

Oh, sh*t, its the Doc!

- Denis!

Hey, Yankee! Are you crazy?

Dont touch that!

Come on:
give him a hand!

And now get the hell out of here!

Tonio, tell Henri that our

contract is off. Get it?

Watch the shipping manoeuvre.

Youll pay for this, Yankee.

Come inside, mate!

What were you doing

with those guys?

Did Savani introduce you?

- No, it was Henri.

Oh, the asthmatic!

Here, take a seat.

I hope those bastards

left two unbroken glasses

so we can have a drink!

The last bottle we drank together

was in Saigon, in 1950.

Were not getting any younger.

You didnt change much.

Oh, please!

Im like old oaks:

one more layer every year.

You, on the other hand,

are still quite the playboy.

Of course:

I was kept in a fridge,

so I was preserved.

- Where?

Sing Sing. Six years.

- What did you do?

Nothing much.

Ill tell you the story.

I was unlucky.

Yes but, I say, maybe

youre not careful enough.

I already told you so.

You must make your luck.

I came to France four months ago.

I wanted to recoup my losses.

Well, you sure took

a wrong turn:

theres not future in gooning!

Except in the lyse.

Well, some friends

sent me to Henri.

But I cant possibly

work for him now.

Dont worry, Im not going

to leave you penniless.

After what you just did for me,

I owe you that much.

It was natural.

Say, I hope you can still hold

your own with a fork in your hand,

cause Ill have you sample this.

Did you come back

a long time ago?

In 1954. I felt the wind change,

and thought I better not stick around

So you became a respectable

restaurant owner?

The measure of respectability is the

attitude of your tax inspector,

and I must say mine is not

exactly gentle with me.

You went entirely legitimate?

Entirely...

lets say my business sometimes

sees the light of day.

Thats why I dont want the other

ruffians to deal junk in my place.

Still the same old

fighting spirit, Denis!

Im so glad I found you again!

Same here. Do you know I often

talk about you with my wife?

You? Married?

Yes, son. More than ten years ago.

And with an intellectual!

Not in the same league as

Lulu from Buffalo Park,

do you remember her?

Well, Lulu was alright,

as far as her body was concerned.

Yes, but she had bird food for brains.

And when you start putting on weight,

you cant stand those

kind of girls anymore.

Does your wife know about your past?

Well, she knows she didnt marry

the beadle of the Madeleine church.

Its thanks to her that

I went legitimate though.

Well, legitimate...

you cant change

what you are overnight.

This beats the army preserves.

After that, youll have a local speciality,

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