Four Adventures of Reinette and Mirabelle Page #4

watching her...

and I wondered why.

So I followed her...

And I saw her...

she had this bag in her cart.

I saw her put

some smoked salmon in it.

So I kept on following,

and so did the other two.

I figured they must be store cops.

It was funny:
I watched

the cops watching the woman,

who didn't suspect anything.

I followed her.

She swiped champagne,

duck... and so on.

Then she got in the checkout line,

to pay for some trifle.

I got in the line alongside.

She was here, I was here.

I saw the cops

hide behind a pillar.

They couldn't see me or her...

They waited for her

to leave with the bags.

She put her blue bag down

between the 2 cash registers.

I picked up the blue bag and left.

I dunno, they must've stopped her

and found she had no bag.

I left and hid behind a car

across the street.

I saw them argue,

then she went to her car.

I wanted

to give her back her bag,

but there was

a steady stream of cars...

I couldn't get across,

and she drove off.

So we have salmon, duck

and champagne for your birthday.

Not bad, eh?

Why'd you take the bag?

Why not?

I couldn't let her get caught!

You should've let the cops

do their job.

Do their job?

Of course.

Why?

Why let them do their job

if I could help her?

That's not helping people!

Yes it was. If I hadn't helped

she'd have paid a fine,

she'd have gone to jail.

She had...

She should have!

Why should she have?

She knew she might get caught.

So what?

I took a risk helping her.

You might've been caught too.

No, they didn't see me.

That's beside the point.

You're being silly!

Some birthday party!

I don't want your salmon or champagne.

Anyway I hate bubbles.

Why turn it down?

'Cause it wasn't bought for you?

No. What you did...

is serious, know that?

She was an adult.

How old was she?

Maybe 24-25, so what?

Adults are responsible

for what they do!

Thieves like her are called

kleptomaniacs. It's a vice!

No, it's a sickness.

Helping a depraved person

made you depraved too!

That's serious!

I won't eat your salmon,

or help the depraved!

You sound like a nun!

Certainly not!

Be logical.

The only way to help the sick,

or people with problems,

is to be a mirror so they can face up

to what they're doing.

The way to make

that woman face up...

is to show her that she could

go to jail for what she did.

I don't agree at all!

The solution is to find the root

of the trouble.

Maybe what I did...

will make her stop and think.

No, she'll steal bigger.

Then she won't get one year in jail...

she'll get 10!

A year in jail for a salmon!

If she's got luxurious tastes,

she must have money.

Sorry, but I don't get it!

Money has nothing to do with it.

The problem is

you don't know why she steals.

Neither do I.

That's what I've been saying!

You can't accuse someone

whose motives you don't know.

I want to know why you helped her.

Because my own little problem

is that life is boring

these days...

Our little daily lives, anyway...

wandering around town...

none of it's much fun.

The fun starts

as soon as you step outside!

Everything's fun.

On the farm, anything can happen...

Sunshine, birds...

you must know what to look for.

I mean adventure,

the kind you read about.

I wanted a little thrill.

I can't get inside those people's skin.

A thrill!

Sure, something besides

going to class all the time.

That woman was in trouble.

I wanted to help her.

There's lots of thrills.

I'd rather take a risk...

to help someone worth helping

rather than someone who's... sick...

who's not worth it.

You'd toss the sick in jail

and forget 'em!

I want to cure them!

You said you didn't want

to help them.

Curing's not the same

as helping.

I want to cure them,

keep them from doing it again.

Last year I went to Scotland

with a friend.

We took a taxi into town

from the airport.

She and I were talking,

when I noticed

he hadn't switched on his meter.

I took a good look:

the meter wasn't running.

We tapped on the glass...

British taxis have glass partitions...

He gave us a really weird look,

not like someone who'd forgotten...

He finally switched it on, grumbling.

That had to be a scam...

He wanted to jack up the price.

When we reached the center of town,

I was careful to look at the meter

and gave him exactly what it said.

The guy gave me a sour look...

He knew...

I was on to him.

He took the money

and turned away.

I'm sure he won't do it again,

that's what counts:

thinking of the next person.

I helped someone there.

Think so?

Sure.

He won't try that scam again...

because his dirty trick backfired.

I'd have been

more honest than you.

I'd have calculated

how much I owed him,

since you only paid

for half the ride.

What counted was my aim:

to keep him from trying it again,

from doing that

to someone else.

That's what counts!

You want to play judge

and punish people yourself.

We're all judges...

you are, and so am I.

Now you've lost me.

You were talking

about putting people in jail

and criticizing me

about what I'd done,

and now you're doing

your own little things.

It's medieval,

we all make our own law.

You weren't meting out justice.

I believe in self-discipline!

I wanted that driver...

He wasn't about to learn

self-discipline...

He won't do it again!

If you believe in self-discipline,

you trust him.

Otherwise, it doesn't work.

Excuse me,

but my purse was stolen,

I've no money

and I must get home.

I don't need much:

6.70 francs.

Want me to give it to you?

I don't know...

Yes, I can...

here you are.

Excuse me,

you wouldn't have...?

Excuse me,

would you have any change?

Can you spare 2 francs?

One franc?

Excuse me, do you have change...?

I need two...

I don't speak French, sorry.

Excuse me, can you change this...?

My purse was stolen

and I need 6...

I need 6.70 francs to get home,

it's not much...

- How much?

- 6.70 francs.

I can help you.

You're very kind.

That sounds familiar.

Still going home? Still 6.70 francs?

She just hit me for it.

That what you do, ask for things?

You were lying?

Ignore her.

That's a new trade.

I need the money...

Profitable, eh?

Listen, I'll give it to you,

because if you hadn't come along...

You need a new trade, no?

Are you a cop?

No, but anyway...

Then mind your business!

OK, I will.

Give me back my money.

Come on...

Look, I'm sorry...

What do you care?

It's not the money.

The station's full of idiots you can milk.

I hate fraud!

Give me my money!

I will not!

And right now!

I won't let you go until you do!

Won't let me go?

What do you mean?

Aren't you ashamed?

Do you realize what you're doing?

If you need money, find a job,

do something, but... can't you see?

Get off my back!

I mean...

You don't know how I live,

if I need money...

You're being dishonest!

Listen, get lost...

Sorry, I want my money, now!

I'll report you, do anything

to make you give it back!

What have you got against me?

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