Departure

---

BOY:
Do you think you can know

something before you know it?

Something good or bad,

I don't think it matters, but it's...

it's like the air changes

or... something inside of you.

WOMAN:
Home.

BOY:
Not any more.

(THUDDING)

What was that?

Don't know. I think we hit something.

(SHUTTERS CREAK)

(SHUTTERS CREAK)

(GASPS QUIETLY)

(TURNS ON TAP)

BOY:
Who's that man

in the boat with Dad?

Don't know.

I'm thinking that we'll keep some.

They still have to be packed.

It just looked so bare.

OK.

WOMAN:
I've got some thank-you things

for Sally and Dan.

I'm going to take them over.

(CROCKERY CLATTERS)

(WATER SPLASHES)

(VACUUM CLEANER WHIRS)

Elliot.

(VACUUM CLEANER STOPS)

Let's go to the market.

We'll get something nice.

- I think we should go and look.

- What for?

The deer.

I'll get a basket.

- Maybe it's lying in a ditch.

- It was just a branch.

- There's blood on the car.

- No, there isn't.

Have you checked?

Do you think they're ready for that,

in the village?

- I like it.

- So do the fleas.

- I'd like to go back.

- Yeah?

We could bring it here.

It could... We could look after it.

Yes?

ELLIOT:
I mean I could.

FURNITURE FOR SALE

Would you get some drawing pins, please?

We should put it out of its misery.

How?

We could twist its neck.

- Could you?

- Or with a rock.

Do you not feel anything?

Really, Elliot, that jacket is revolting.

It has holes in it.

- ELLIOT:
So do I.

- (FRONT DOOR CLOSES)

- Et voil.

- Merci.

Bon journe.

I quite like the market.

Mum.

(SPEAKS FRENCH)

(CHURCH BELL RINGS)

- [IN FRENCH] Is it working?

- No, I think it's the carburettor.

Back to the warehouse...

(PHONE RINGS)

(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS)

MAN:
Bea, we have an appointment

at the notary,

so I'll fly out the day after tomorrow.

I think it's...

I think that's best.

(ANSWERING MACHINE BEEPS)

- [IN FRENCH] Another?

- [IN FRENCH] Please.

Voil.

- [IN FRENCH] Writer?

- [IN FRENCH] Not really.

- But you write.

- Yes.

LANDLORD:
What about?

A poem maybe, or a play.

- For the theatre?

- Yes.

You're English?

I was an actor.

You taking a break?

You know the bar.

So... is there a role for me?

I don't know.

It's the end, my friends.

Time is thick with speeches

and cigarette smoke.

Illusions... wither on the bough

and we are left to carry

the dregs of another year

across the barren,

brown fields of winter.

It's great.

Thanks.

I'm trying to find the words...

[IN FRENCH] I mean I'm trying

to find the words in English

to express the idea...

What is the word for this?

Jacket?

No, everything. She... he is liquid.

- Without a body.

- Oui.

- He wants...

Yeah, to... to long for, um...

Sh*t.

- [IN FRENCH] Desire?

[IN FRENCH] For what?

that water...

runs through your fingers.

[LANDLORD, IN FRENCH] To be human?

[LANDLORD, IN FRENCH] That's very good.

C'est trs bien.

Good luck.

- [IN FRENCH] Hello.

- (TOOLS CLATTER)

[FRENCH BOY, IN FRENCH] Sh*t.

- Bonsoir.

- Salut.

[ELLIOT, IN FRENCH] Can I help?

(ENGINE FAILS TO START)

[IN FRENCH]

It's a Yamaha, but it's f***ed.

Do you know anything about motorbikes?

English?

ELLIOT:
Oui.

Thanks.

Is it difficult?

No, it's easy, but...

Bon...

Good night.

I saw you swim in the reservoir,

in the barrage.

Oui.

[IN FRENCH] It's not allowed, is it?

You don't swim?

I do in English.

But not in French?

In England...

I mean, I don't swim in the barrage.

[IN FRENCH] Really?

You sleeping here tonight?

we killed a deer on the way here.

It might not be dead.

It's probably dying,

but Mum won't go look.

- [IN FRENCH] Rabbit?

Uh, bigger.

Plus gros.

[IN FRENCH] With antlers.

Les bois?

[IN FRENCH] A deer?

- Bambi?

Ah, that's the point. I don't know.

Maybe it has blood

running from its eyes like tears,

as it limps across the fields.

[IN FRENCH] What are you saying?

You have to breathe out

or it goes up your nose.

ELLIOT:
I know.

You live here?

[IN FRENCH] F***, no. In Paris.

- [IN FRENCH] A holiday?

- [IN FRENCH] Not really.

We live in the house by the river.

[IN FRENCH] I'm Clment.

Elliot. We're packing it up... to sell.

It's like a holiday house.

[IN FRENCH] OK, great. Ciao.

I was about to give up.

- Elliot.

- Yes.

- What are we having?

- Food.

- What are you looking at?

- Nothing.

Wash your hands.

Did you pack?

- I read. I didn't feel like packing.

- Something edifying?

How did you get so big?

Incrementally.

We'll start packing tomorrow, properly.

Alright.

Bonjour.

Mum, there are figs.

- Salut.

- BEA:
What?

- Salut.

- BEA:
Elliot?

It's nothing, Mum. Forget it.

- Do you want one?

- Yeah, sure.

What have you got? Figs? They're late.

- Yeah, there's just a few.

- Oh, gosh. They're beautiful.

Hmm.

- I don't know your friend.

- Clment.

Hello. Nice to meet you.

I come to help. Elliot says you pack up.

- Oh, he doesn't need to do that.

- No, it's OK.

He can help me with the heavy things.

Well, if you're... if you're sure.

Thank you.

The... The ones with yellow stickers

are for the sale.

- Yeah, we'll do it.

- Right. OK, Elliot?

ELLIOT:
Hm-hm.

I'll just carry on upstairs, then.

- CLMENT:
After we swim?

- ELLIOT:
Isn't the water a bit dirty?

- ELLIOT:
Want another one?

- [CLMENT, IN FRENCH] For your mother?

I don't think she likes them.

Will you take a look at the junk

and decide what you want?

And then we can take the rest

to the dchetterie.

OK.

I've made you hot chocolate.

They used to make epaulettes

in the village, for the shoulders.

[IN FRENCH] For soldiers.

is very soft, it's very pure.

It's good for the fabric.

Did you know that?

No, but it's the same water

in the barrage.

Yeah.

But you just said the water is dirty.

Well, maybe it wasn't before.

But it is now. That's why they stopped.

Oh.

Here.

- Thank you.

- Yeah.

- You swim?

- Yes.

- In the reservoir?

- Yeah.

Must be cold.

Hmm, to begin.

After... it's like fire, you know,

in the skin.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

We never swam in the reservoir.

We... I don't know why.

I think it's not allowed.

But we walk round it.

It's very beautiful.

I used to swim.

In the sea.

Philip, Elliot's father, had a boat,

and I'd dive off.

- Didn't I, Elliot?

- ELLIOT:
What?

Dive, from the boat?

And you'd cry.

I think he thought maybe

I'd not come back up.

It's fine, we'll do it.

- What was she saying?

- About swimming.

[IN FRENCH] Idiot!

- [IN FRENCH] Did you buy it?

- No, I found it.

It was in the hangar.

On its own. I took it.

make it work?

Yeah, maybe.

(MUTTERS)

OK.

- [IN FRENCH] Is that all?

- Yeah, thanks.

[IN FRENCH] My parents are limited.

It's like they're dead.

(GOAT BLEATS)

I want to show you something.

Clment.

Clment?

Clment.

- Whoo!

- You idiot.

CLMENT:
Attends, Elliot.

- Let's go.

No, no, come on.

You bring me here.

I "brought you here",

not I "bring you here".

Happening once,

not continuously or often.

CLMENT:
Quoi?

It's just grammar.

I want to be a writer.

OK, cool.

So...

My parents bring me here

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