Bonjour tristesse Page #6

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- But Cecile...?

- Do you want Raymond back?

- You know I do.

- Then hurry to Philippe's.

- Do you have a car?

- Yes. Pablo was...

You drive.

I'll walk and meet you there.

- Why don't you come with me?

- I don't want them to see us together.

Besides, I have to work out my plan.

That means concentration and being

alone. Now, hurry. Go the back way.

All right.

Cecile.

- What now?

- I feel so good.

- Cecile? Cecile? Where are you going?

- For a walk in the woods.

You've been working so hard.

Relax. Go and take a swim.

- No, thank you.

- I'll come. The water's very watery.

I have to concentrate. I'm working out

a problem. In philosophy.

Now surely philosophy can wait.

Not Pascal. He's demanding. You want

me to meet his demands, don't you?

Any man would wait

while you took a swim.

Not this one.

- Did Elsa come...?

- Yes!

- Let's get married.

- It's an epidemic.

- I'm serious.

- You're only a boy.

I only look like a boy. I'm 25.

- Where's Elsa? Did your mother...?

- I love you. I'm proposing.

- I heard you the first time.

- You didn't answer because it's no.

I didn't answer because Anne would

answer for me, and she'd say no.

- Can't we get rid of Anne?

- That's why I sent Elsa down here.

Then you do love me?

I don't quite get the connection,

but, yes, I do. Where's Elsa?

She's watching Mother play bridge.

- She told Mother she was an orphan.

- Why?

She thought it was a good touch.

Everybody feels sorry for orphans.

- I feel rather sorry for Elsa.

- Why the change?

I didn't realize Anne was such

an adventuress...

...or that Elsa was so sensitive.

So much imagination, you mean.

Collect your tiny brain and

try and do better this time.

- One small diamante.

- Two clubs.

- Pass.

- Pass?

Pass.

- Two hearts.

- Three diamantes.

- Pass.

- Pass.

- Pass.

- Three hearts.

Three hearts? We're on the brink

of a tantalizing abyss.

Do I jump or not?

- Three hearts?

- What? What?

Tune that thing up. She's only

repeating your pathetic bid.

Stop semaphoring.

Either come in or go out.

- I say jump.

- I'm with you. Come back at 5.

My partner has to go.

You and I will sweep the field.

- Where can we talk?

- My room.

I can't wait to hear your plan.

I'm all goose-pimply.

- I don't like intrigue.

- I do.

- You want to marry me.

- What's that have to do with it?

- Would Anne let me marry you?

- No.

The plan concerns getting rid of Anne.

Anne concerns us.

- I still don't like it.

- I love it.

- You haven't even heard it yet.

- Will you two be still?

The basic idea is wildly simple. The

details may take a bit of working out.

Is that your room?

You two must pretend

to be madly in love.

We have to arrange that my father

sees you together.

- Jealousy, the green-eyed monster.

- Now, wait, Cecile.

You wait. And let me explain.

Krishnimara, aid me.

Concentration is the secret.

Exhale deeply.

Exhale from the mind.

Exhale from the soul.

Now, then, suppose I tell Elsa.

No, suppose I tell Philippe.

- Go away, Albertine.

- It isn't Albertine...

Yoga. Hindu philosophy.

I wasn't aware that yoga

was part of your examination.

All those discussions about

your paper on Pascal...

...and how difficult Spinoza

was for you.

Cecile, have you actually done

any studying at all?

In the end, it's your own affair

if you fail your examinations...

...but it is another matter

when you lie to your father and to me.

Why did you lie?

I really don't understand you at all.

And you never will!

I would like to apologize.

I sometimes forget that you're

still a child. Now, please...

...don't let that word offend you.

It's merely a short way of saying...

...you're still young enough...

...to pattern your behaviour after

people older than you.

You mean I'm not to blame

for behaving like Raymond?

No, you're not. Or for being influenced

by the way he used to live...

...or the friends he, I hope,

won't see very much of from now on.

The Lombards, for instance.

They telephoned from their yacht.

They're taking us to dinner

and a club Tuesday.

We have to go.

He's your father's business partner.

I think they're very amusing.

They always make me laugh.

There will be risqu stories

deliberately in front of you.

Helen Lombard will make sly and

bitter jokes about her friends and...

...compare Raymond's muscles with

her newest young chauffeur, a nephew.

Henri will confide in Raymond

about his new girl, a model...

...while he rubs your knee

under the table.

Your knee being younger than mine.

In a few years, the nephew-chauffeur

will make off with the car...

...and the latest model

will wear Helen's jewellery.

Friends will laugh at them

rather than at their jokes.

- At least they're having a good time.

- Are they?

Then why do they drink so much

and so often?

Why are they never alone

with each other?

In the end, their only memories

will be of hangovers.

I have another moral, Anne.

If you can't accept people

as they are, give them up.

Don't try to change them.

Besides, it's usually too late.

Why, you're almost

as strong as Rene.

Why, you're almost

as strong as Rene.

Rene, darling,

Rene is Helen's new chauffeur.

- And nephew.

- On which side?

On the left side. It's an American car.

Wicked, but sweet.

Don't you think they're sweet?

- Young love in late fall.

- Thank you.

How does little Cecile feel

about her father getting married?

Little Cecile feels like

having a great big drink.

Of course.

That's why we're here. Waiter?

- We were at a party the other night.

- Fantastic.

- Who's gonna tell this story?

- I am.

Waiter?

You'll never believe the amount

of liquor that was consumed.

Isn't that Elsa Mackenbourg

over there?

She's grown into a beautiful trick.

- Who is the boy?

- Her nephew.

- Cecile!

- Well, he's young enough.

Everywhere we've been,

there they are.

- She's flaunting her achievement.

- I prefer to rise above it.

- It's all so unimportant, Raymond.

- It's disgraceful.

- That boy has a good face.

- And he's a good driver.

You're well rid of him.

Matter of fact, it's indecent.

Anne.

You look particularly lovely tonight.

Thank you.

This is fun. We ought to go

for walks more often.

This is fun. We ought to go

for walks more often.

- Those days are over.

- Nonsense.

- Your days with the Lombards are over.

- Putting me out of business?

I meant socially.

Anne doesn't like them.

- She will in time.

- No, she won't. You know Anne.

- Why don't you like her?

- I do.

You may like her,

but you're always squabbling.

You're a little bit

like a mother-in-law.

Mother-in-law will just marry earlier.

That will solve all the problems.

- You don't have to go that far.

- I exaggerate, and you know it.

But Anne's way of living is better

than ours, and I have to face it.

Good, then face it.

It has depth and stability

and wholesomeness.

- You make it sound like a terrible bore.

- It's the good life.

Come down off the pulpit.

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