Lola Page #5

Go without me!

How do you say "anniversaire"?

Birthday.

Today's my birthday.

Want to go to the fair?

- Bye, Cecile.

- I'll never see you again?

Yes, if you come to Chicago.

That's sad.

I'm taking the train

tonight with them.

Tonight, St. Nazaire;

Sunday, Cherbourg; then America.

I hate leaving you.

Bye, little girl.

Where were you?

What's happened to your hair?

Nothing.

If I hadn't had dinner to fix,

I'd have gone to your school.

I'm always afraid for you.

About what?

Not your homework now.

Mr. Cassard's due any moment.

Where were you?

School ended two hours ago.

Talking to Susan.

She wants to be a hairdresser

like Uncle Aim.

What an idea.

It's a good profession.

- What are you making?

- An onion pie.

I'll never learn it.

After school, I saw Franky.

The American sailor

I told you about.

A sailor?

- What's that about?

- I did nothing wrong.

Stay away from all servicemen.

And the others, too, for now.

- He was nice.

- All the more reason.

Why "was"?

He's gone. He helped me get

a good grade in English.

He increased my vocabulary.

Know how Americans say

"anniversaire"?

We went to the fair

with Susan.

The fair! With a man

you don't even know!

My daughter with a serviceman!

And you get home at 7:00.

And me, sick with worry.

Put your things away

and set the table.

Such a fuss because I was

five minutes late.

It's not because you're late.

I try to be pals with you,

and look what happens.

Forks left, knives right.

I've told you a hundred times.

Don't cry.

I'm not.

Where's your sailor from?

Chicago, Illinois.

A Chicago sailor.

You and your geography.

Chicago has no sailors...

only gangsters.

- You exaggerate.

- I know what I'm saying.

A dancer. A sailor's girl.

If you have a child,

it's for a lifetime.

I like children.

It's Cassard!

We just met, and our first meal

is a farewell dinner.

Why are you leaving?

Certain events which

I prefer to keep secret...

have radically changed

my monotonous life.

I have no reason to stay here.

It's none of my business.

It must be serious.

A woman.

Probably an unfaithful one.

I have no right

to judge her.

She lives with the memory

of her first love.

A first love is so strong.

- But...

- Why, Mama?

Just because.

You were saying...

She's going away

with an American.

I met an American.

Stop interrupting. You're too

young for this conversation.

My daughter goes out

with Americans.

Just one.

That's worse.

Where did you meet?

At the tobacco shop.

- Why were you there?

- To buy Meteor.

No, I don't smoke.

But why not? Just this once...

- Me, too.

- You're awful.

When are you leaving?

I sail tomorrow.

Why'd he say a first love

is so strong?

Explain it to her.

She's always asking me

questions.

Because it's the first time

and it rarely happens again.

If it does, it's not the same.

- It's not as good?

- It's different.

Then we shouldn't miss the boat.

Your button's about to fall off.

I'll sew it back on for you.

She's unbearable.

She's right. I'd have lost it.

It's so hard for a woman

to raise a child alone.

I'm alone. I lost everything

during the war...

my mother, my house, furniture,

books, my husband.

Nothing was left... not

a handkerchief nor a sheet.

Overnight I was

a penniless widow.

My husband was a gambler.

He had every vice.

God save us from gamblers.

Do you gamble?

I should have married

a man like you.

So I moved to Cherbourg to stay

at my brother-in-law's.

I stayed two years.

Cecile was born there.

But I loathed Cherbourg,

so I moved here.

- There you are, sir.

- Thank you, miss.

- More cake?

- No. I must go.

Already?

I have a lot to do

before I leave.

Cecile, come say good-bye.

I'm sorry I wasn't

more cheerful.

We'll be lonely without you.

Farewell.

Forgetting anything?

Bon voyage.

I sail at 1:
00.

I saw the captain.

I have my passport.

Here's my key.

Do as you please with whatever

I've left up there.

- And your love story?

- It's over.

It wasn't very serious.

It was, but it doesn't

matter now.

You got over it fast.

One does one's best.

It took me 25 years.

Yes, a first love is so strong.

How do you know?

So I was told.

But my first love is long gone.

I'll go see Valentine

and pick up my bag later.

Keep moving! Go on!

What's up?

Diamond smuggling

at the barber's.

Can you imagine? Diamonds.

Go on. There's nothing to see.

- Remember what I said?

- Yes.

I was looking for you,

to say good-bye.

I couldn't leave

with you mad at me.

Forgive me.

I was dumb and mean yesterday.

I didn't mean what I said.

I said just anything,

and I'm sorry.

I know you live

as best as you can...

and it's not easy.

I wish you lots of happiness.

I wanted to share it with you.

I wanted you to know...

I wanted to tell you I lied.

Lied?

I'm not leaving

with the American.

With whom?

No one. I'm leaving alone.

With Yvon.

The American...

I slept with him because

he reminded me of Michel.

Maybe it was due

to the uniform...

but I didn't love him.

He's gone, and I'll never

see him again.

So why'd you make it all up?

I was so confused.

I didn't expect to see you.

I couldn't hurt you.

I thought it would be best...

if I said I was going

with someone else.

Smart.

Not very.

It may not mean much to you...

but I didn't want you

to think badly of me...

nor that I'm a whore

who runs off...

with any guy who comes along.

I'm sorry.

I've accepted a two-month

job in Marseilles.

You'll leave for Marseilles

and end up in Argentina.

I said exactly the same thing.

No, it's a real job.

So Michel's not a bluff?

No, he's the only guy

I've ever loved.

If he returns,

I may be disappointed...

but not mad at myself.

I'll have waited for him

like a good girl.

And if he doesn't come?

I don't know.

I do.

You'll have ruined your life.

I've thought a lot

about the two of us.

But it doesn't matter.

It's not our fault.

Life's like that.

We're alone and we stay alone.

But what counts

is to want something...

no matter what the cost is.

There's a bit of happiness

in simply wanting happiness.

I wanted nothing

until I saw you again.

But now...

You're right.

It's great to be alive.

You think I should kiss you

and thank you.

- It'd be a miracle.

- It may happen.

Roland, we're not kids.

Let's part as friends.

We mustn't rush things.

We've both led different lives.

You'll be gone how long?

I don't know. The guy who

hired me just got arrested.

So I'll go and I'll manage

when I get there.

The main thing is to leave.

I'll return in two months.

We must think it over.

Maybe, if you really love me...

Do you doubt it?

No, I think you're sincere.

Two months isn't forever.

It's two wasted months.

Smile at me.

Better than that.

- Have you heard?

- What?

Cecile's gone to her uncle's

in Cherbourg.

- It's awful.

- Don't exaggerate.

She left this note

on the table. Read it.

After you left,

she made a scene.

Everyone's leaving?

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