By the Sea

(FRENCH SONG PLAYING)

- (SONG ENDS)

- (DOG BARKING)

(CAR DOOR OPENS)

I smell fish.

You might wanna take

your heels off, my darling.

- Bonjour.

- MAN:
Bonjour.

(BOTH SPEAKING FRENCH)

Bonjour.

(CHUCKLES)

- Merci.

- Merci.

What's that sound?

That's the sea.

ROLAND:
I don't see a radio.

I'll try to pick one up tomorrow.

VANESSA:
Morning.

I was trying not to wake you.

You were sleeping peacefully.

I don't sleep peacefully.

You know that.

- Are you off to find inspiration?

- I have my inspiration.

- Then why are we here?

- Don't be nasty, darling.

If you want,

I can be back early for dinner.

I need more time.

You go write, I'll be fine.

All right.

- Have a nice day.

- VANESSA:
I won't.

I know. Love you.

(DOOR CLOSES)

(SOFTLY) I know.

(SIGHS)

(SIGHS)

(LINE RINGING)

(SIGHS)

F***.

(BOTH SPEAKING FRENCH)

(FRENCH MUSIC PLAYING)

(SPEAKING FRENCH)

(CONVERSING IN FRENCH)

(LAUGHS)

(CHUCKLES)

Ah.

(FRENCH MUSIC PLAYING)

Hey.

- Good day?

- ROLAND:
Nope.

Well... I don't know.

I don't know.

Michel's a sweet man.

He's sweet.

Do we have food?

VANESSA:
I walked down a ridiculous hill

and went grocery shopping.

Then I read a book. It was terrible.

I don't know why you worry so much.

People publish pure garbage all the time,

and nobody seems to mind.

ROLAND:
I can write.

I'm a good writer, remember?

You are.

I love your words, you know that.

(MAN SPEAKING FRENCH ON RADIO)

(FRENCH MUSIC PLAYING)

(SEAGULLS CAWING)

(SOBS)

(EXHALES DEEPLY)

ROLAND:
You should go for a walk

or something today. Might be good for you.

Don't have a drink today.

Might be good for you.

We could be happy, you know.

You resist happiness.

- Don't quote some book and try to analyze...

- You don't resist happiness?

Are you trying to illustrate your point

by making me unhappy?

You're a good woman.

Jesus. Have I become that dull?

(SIGHS)

Try and write something today.

Good plan, Batman.

(SIGHS)

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

(MAN SPEAKING FRENCH ON RADIO)

(BOTH WHISPERING IN FRENCH)

(FRENCH MUSIC PLAYING)

(WOMAN MOANING)

(MOANING INTENSIFIES)

(EXHALES)

(WATER RUNNING)

- (SPITS)

- (TURNS WATER OFF)

ROLAND:
You had a tough night?

- I don't know.

- Ness?

Right.

Are we ever gonna talk about it?

I suppose it's best we don't say a word.

(FRENCH MUSIC PLAYING)

(GLASS CLATTERS)

Sh*t.

Uh... sorry.

I got it. I got it. It's okay.

(CONVERSING IN FRENCH)

What the f***?

(SCOFFS)

(CONVERSING IN FRENCH)

Come on. Come on.

(BOTH CONTINUE IN FRENCH)

ROLAND:
F***ing sh*t.

- Hey, I'm going. I'm going.

- (SPEAKING FRENCH)

All right? This place is sh*t anyways.

- (DOOR OPENS)

- (BELL JINGLES)

(ROLAND SPEAKING FRENCH)

(SLAMS DOOR)

(SIGHS)

(MAN SPEAKING FRENCH)

Vanessa.

Hmm.

- New York.

- American?

Hmm.

We talked about having

our honeymoon in New York.

Yeah, my wife and I, we...

We just got married.

That's nice. Hmm.

Well, have a nice day.

And you.

- (WOMAN LAUGHING)

- (INDISTINCT CONVERSATION)

(CONTINUES LAUGHING)

(CONVERSING IN FRENCH)

(CHUCKLES)

(SCOFFS DISMISSIVELY)

Toast of New York.

(BOTH CONTINUE IN FRENCH)

Hmm.

Ooh-la-la.

(SIGHS DEEPLY)

(SCOFFS)

(CHUCKLES)

(INAUDIBLE)

(DOOR CLOSES)

You're back early.

I missed you.

Don't be silly.

Drink?

Sure.

Have you seen her?

- Who?

- The neighbor.

- The couple?

- Hmm.

Yeah.

What?

Nothing.

Anyway, I was getting bored.

It's not the place.

The place hasn't let me down.

It's moi.

Michel is such an interesting guy. He's...

He's too kind.

But he's heavy.

Any writer worth his salt

could get a story here.

It's just me.

I'm blowing you a kiss.

I'm blowing you one back.

(CONVERSING IN FRENCH)

(WOMAN LAUGHING)

(COUPLE SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY)

(CHILDREN SHOUTING PLAYFULLY)

- (FRENCH MUSIC PLAYING)

- (INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

(BOTH SPEAKING FRENCH)

(WATER RUNNING)

(SIGHS)

Wake up.

Wake up.

- Wake up!

- What?

- What?

- Do you wanna f*** her?

Huh?

The woman next door,

do you want to f*** her?

Honey, what are you doing?

Don't pretend you don't know

what I'm talking about.

I don't know what the f***

you're talking about. Get off!

And now you just woke me up.

- Where are you going?

- I gotta take a piss. You mind?

(URINATING)

(TOILET FLUSHING)

Do you want to f*** her?

Jesus Christ, no.

Yes, you do.

Honey, why are you doing this?

Why are you trying to put that in my head?

Huh? So you can be the victim?

Being the wife of a failed writer is not

good enough for pill-popping and self-pity?

Now you need a better reason

to destroy yourself?

You know my reason.

Plus, you would have to try and fail

to be a failed writer, and you're nothing.

You're a drunk.

(SCOFFS)

F*** you.

When I return, I hope

you're passed out as usual,

so I don't have to listen

to your silly voice.

(WHIMPERS)

(CRYING)

(GOAT BLEATING)

- Bonjour.

- Bonjour.

(INDISTINCT CONVERSATIONS)

(GROANS) God damn it.

(VOMITING, COUGHING)

(GROANS)

(TOILET FLUSHING)

(SLURRING) Come on.

No.

- Stop it. Stop it.

- Come on.

- No. (GROANING)

- Come on.

(LAUGHS)

Ugh!

(LAUGHS) Ow!

Stop it.

(CONTINUES LAUGHING)

(GROANING PLAYFULLY)

You make me sick.

Disgusting.

I'm not gonna make it.

WOMAN:
Good morning.

Morning.

Did you see your fisherman this morning?

Yes.

Franois is going to visit

a friend tomorrow.

Do you wanna do anything?

- With you?

- Yeah.

Like what?

I don't know. We can play cards,

go for a walk, get a drink.

- I don't know how to play cards.

- I can teach you.

Okay.

5:
00?

- 8:
00.

- 8:
00.

Have a nice day. Bye.

(WATER SPLASHING)

(KNOCKING ON DOOR)

- Hi.

- Come in.

- Thank you.

- Sit down.

(DOOR CLOSES)

- Pretty dress.

- Oh, thank you.

- You should put your hair up.

- Oh...

It's funny, my...

my husband always say that.

- He's right.

- (CHUCKLES)

So, do you know La Belote?

La Belote, the game is to get

the highest number of points.

So let's say...

I move everything here. How many?

- VANESSA:
Um, is it?

- LEA:
Yeah, yeah, you can do that.

- VANESSA:
More wine?

- LEA:
Four? Damn.

- You won again.

- (CHUCKLES) 11.

- Okay. 10, king.

- VANESSA:
I'll take it.

Hi.

- Hi.

- VANESSA:
Belote.

- LEA:
Aw! Come on.

- Rebelote.

So unfair. (CHUCKLES)

Hey. We haven't properly met.

I see you at the caf often. I'm Lea.

- Nice to meet you. I'm Roland.

- Hi.

Would you like a drink?

Sure.

LEA:
So unfair.

Do you wanna join us?

Okay.

And don't tell me

you don't play cards, too.

Your wife told me that,

and then she's won every hand.

- Well, she's a natural.

- Yeah. (CHUCKLES)

Oh, we can't play La Belote.

It's not working if we are three.

We have to change the game.

Let's play...

- La Bataille?

- Yes.

- Mmm.

- LEA:
Easy.

What was that about?

What do you mean?

Nessa...

Are you trying to push her on me?

Am I wrong to think

you're trying to destroy us?

I'm gonna take a shower.

(SHOWER RUNNING)

- Jesus! What are you doing?

- Tonight, I'm having a shower with my wife.

No. No.

- No.

- Enough. It's gotta stop.

Rate this script:5.0 / 1 vote