Laurence Anyways Page #7

So...

after three years,

you came back here for...

not just for your book launch, did you?

Do you have anything

to add that might interest...

or be relevant to the reader?

What reader?

Are you writing my profile

for my publisher or just my biography?

Listen, Laurence.

I ask questions, you answer them.

I can't think of a more

efficient approach.

But contempt...

What about you?

Aren't you a tad contemptuous?

Yes, I was late, but...

Ever since we started,

not once have you looked me

in the eyes.

Is there any blood left

in that upper lip?

You think you'll turn to stone?

Do looks matter to you?

I don't know.

Does air matter to your lungs?

There you have it.

Disgusting people lived here.

They brought cockroaches this big!

I had to call the exterminator.

Not cheap, that.

Cost a fortune!

This is bathroom.

Looks great. Fully equipped.

I put mirror for you. Brand new.

From antique shop.

Fortune.

Here you have bedroom.

Closets, very large, huge.

Just for you.

It's unique space, bravo.

And here, window reveal

beautiful mountain, direct view.

You'll never get this

anywhere else. Never, ever.

Here you have kitchen.

With lots of storage space.

Stove, fridge...

Well, fridge coming soon.

I put it in. Free for you.

Just for you. Exception.

Excuse me.

What now?

To answer your question,

I came back

to see some people

and settle some things.

Nothing major.

I was just tired of living in a trailer.

I had finished my book...

And my mother is ill, so...

Is that a way to speak

to your mother?

Shut up!

Go to your room!

Go to your room or I get the belt!

Give me your mother back!

Sure! I'll get it on my way home.

No problem.

My wife. Calls 25 times a day.

She's crazy for me.

Hi, ma'am.

In your book,

you hope to end the divide

between the normal

and the marginal.

How romantic!

The social division...

We're entering a new millennium.

Ah, yes, Y2K.

I mean...

Beyond computer malfunction in 2000,

why not wish for real change?

I made the leap.

I think about the youth, now.

What's in store for them.

I'm not in the game anymore.

I'm living out the last half of

a woman's life.

All women do, eventually.

Yes, but... Last half's nothing

without the first.

But you are beautiful.

Hold on, let me look at my notes...

What are you looking for,

Laurence Alia?

In your book, In Praise of Normal,

when you speak of love,

you speak of

a woman named 'A.Z.'

The 'A.Z.' woman.

She is the main...

one of the main characters

in the novel.

Can we talk about her?

It's all in the book.

But have you seen that woman again?

- How are you?

- Fine. You?

How's Fred?

Yes, she did leave Albert.

She's back in Montreal,

we're having dinner with mom soon.

What are you doing?

Is that her number?

That's the year we met!

Yes!

- On the set.

- Yes!

Gotta get back.

We hadn't written to each other,

hadn't called...

Apart from the septic epistle.

How did the reunion go?

I didn't quite know what to expect.

I didn't know...

I just didn't.

Sorry, sorry.

No place to park.

I drove around forever.

The minute I park,

two spots free up right in front!

Murphy's Law.

You look great!

I'm glad, you're so pretty.

Thank you. Likewise.

Thank you.

Excuse me, can we get two vodkas,

two ice cubes, one lime?

Is that okay?

That's your drink, right?

So, when did you get back?

About a week ago.

I thought it was...

I moved back a month ago.

I've been going back and forth

for a while, and...

I live next to the Jean-Talon Market.

Cool! I went there the other day,

they have cherry tomatoes--

The St. Jones?

Yeah! They're so good!

Amazing! And they sell them

at a price that's not too...

Extravagant?

Right. Exactly what

I was about to say.

Congratulations!

On your book.

I just bought it.

Piece of sh*t, right?

No, Laurence.

I haven't read it yet.

Haven't had the time.

Too much on my mind.

Are you happy?

Weren't you happy with me?

It wasn't all bad, was it?

Sorry, I'm so heavy.

I go straight for the serious stuff,

the most awkward stuff,

but... I'm just curious.

That's all. And if I see you

only once every three years...

Yes, Laurence.

Why did you say my name?

It sounds incriminating.

It's your name, Christ!

I love it when you do that!

I stole it from you.

I love the back of your neck.

I love your neck, actually.

Your neck is telling the whole world,

Kiss my ass.

Any regrets?

About what?

You.

What you mean is,

was it worth losing you?

- Not really.

- Yes, you do.

But that's okay, I'll tell you.

I don't regret...

getting up in the morning

and seeing the reflection

I always wished for.

What I regret...

and it dawned on me

not so long ago...

is that even before I became

a woman we were screwed.

Please elaborate.

We were f***ed.

Your family, my family,

your work, my work,

our day-to-days,

we were f***ed.

Other people didn't have that.

They envied us.

Before I was an outcast,

we were outcasts already.

You mean we wouldn't have lasted,

even if you hadn't...?

I don't know.

I don't know. I don't want to...

I'm not abdicating responsibility.

And I can't be pardoned.

All I'm saying, Fred, is that society...

Stop!

Leave f***in' 'Society' alone!

What are you thinking?

Come back to Earth, please.

Come back to Earth?

Is that what you said?

Do you hear yourself?

Well quit the broken record,

damn it.

Stop talking sh*t!

That's insulting, to both of us.

I don't want to come back to Earth.

I don't give a f***!

We flew so high...

I won't come down.

Then stay up there.

So are we going to eat?

Sure!

I'm just going to wash my hands.

You must be pretty busy these days.

I guess you are in high demand.

No.

And this new decade?

Big deal?

Are you a confident ma-...

Woman?

May I borrow your glasses?

Confident? No.

Determined.

Fall is here. Time for coats.

Yes... Fall.

Cut! I've got what I need.

Fred to Pierre.

We're just checking the gate.

If it's clean, it's a wrap.

Gate's clean.

It's a wrap!

Thank you, everyone!

Excuse me, miss.

This may sound a little stupid but...

The guys over there made this.

If you take it, I'll get 20$.

What is it? Some kind of cloud?

No, it's... a butterfly.

But the fact you think it's a cloud

minimizes my pleasure.

You just made 20 bucks.

Okay, here's the deal.

Ten dollars for gas.

And ten to buy you

a drink after wrap.

Deal?

Fred Belair.

Laurence Alia.

Laurence who?

Alia.

But...

It's Laurence, anyways.

In memory of Luce Baillairg.

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