Marius

- Hey, Marius.

- Yes, Fanny?

- What are you thinking about?

- You, maybe.

Liar.

- You think I never do?

- Only when you see me.

Buy me a coffee.

All right. Father's asleep.

Tell me...

why weren't you at the dance

last night?

There's a dance every Sunday

at the Cascade.

- Do you go?

- Yes.

- You meet nice people.

- Like who?

Andr, Monsieur Bouzique, Victor.

I danced with Victor all evening.

Does he dance

as stupidly as he walks?

You're awful.

Why don't you come?

- I can't dance.

- I could teach you.

I'd rather not.

Where did you go?

I went for a walk, to breathe

the night air on the jetty.

- All alone?

- Yes, but I ran into Monsieur Brun.

- He's back?

- Yesterday.

Why did he go?

To take a course. He went to Paris

a clerk and came back an inspector.

- Inspectors earn a lot of money.

- Monsieur Brun?

They need to, with all those

starched collars they wear.

That's the Saigon.

- How do you know?

- And the Yara's whistle.

What's that?

- That whistle.

- It's the Yara.

Idiot. It's the percolator.

You bought her a coffee?

Want a cup?

Why?

There'll be nothing left

for our customers.

You begrudge me a cup of coffee?

- It's the principle of the thing.

- What principle?

Drinking the profits.

You make me look so small.

Make you look small? How?

What do you take me for?

A son who must obey his father.

At his age?

I was 32 when I felt

my father's boot for the last time.

We knew what love and respect were

in those days.

- And a kick in the pants.

- We didn't answer back.

I can't imagine Mother hitting me.

You'd snivel in a corner.

It's a pity your father isn't here

to whip you into shape.

All our children do

is poison our lives.

Poison your life?

I share the work.

Some sharing.

Never here when you're wanted.

- I'm here all day.

- He's right.

What business is it of yours?

You work the whole time

with such a sad, sorry expression.

Anyone would think

you were a teetotaler.

Maybe I'm neurasthenic.

- Is that catching?

- It just happens.

Don't try to make fun

of your father.

And you go and sell your shellfish.

Leave us alone.

You're a slacker.

Just like your Uncle Emil.

Just dragging his own shadow along

wore him out.

You moon about,

don't know your job.

You don't even know your own job.

You can't make a vermouth

and black currant.

And as for a Picon-Curaao,

forget it.

Yesterday old Cougard

came to complain.

And yet it's easy. Look.

You put one third Curaao.

A very small third, mind you.

A third of lemon.

A good third of Picon.

And then a large third of water.

That's four thirds.

So?

A glass only holds three thirds.

That depends

on the size of the thirds.

- No, it doesn't.

- Why not?

It's arithmetic.

Well, don't try

to change the subject.

And the drip on the bottle.

Is that arithmetic too?

What drip?

The drip you always leave

on the bottle. It's not difficult.

You have to pour it like this.

Twist the bottle

and put the drip back with the cork.

But Master Marius doesn't care,

so it trickles onto the label.

That's why the bottles are easier

to pick up than put down.

- Funny, is it?

- You're laughing too.

If I didn't, I'd cry.

Tomorrow at 9:
00

all hands on deck.

Drumroll!

Leading Seaman Piquoiseau,

I declare you

Chevalier of the Legion of Honor.

Drumroll!

Have you gone crazy?

There's a spy on board.

Admiral Escartefigue,

you're reduced to the ranks.

Put him in irons

till we reach Manila.

Admiral Escartefigue

is reduced to the ranks.

Captain!

- Isn't it time we left, Captain?

- Are there enough people?

- They're signaling like mad on the quay.

- How?

Like this.

It's probably just

some Italians talking.

No, they're gesticulating.

I'll see to it later.

Meanwhile, raise some steam

and pull the whistle.

That'll calm them down.

Only three blasts

or you'll use up all the steam.

And don't open the throttle too far.

Otherwise it will never shut again.

The ferry isn't popular anymore?

The transporter bridge

has taken away my customers.

Now they all use the bridge.

It's modern,

and they aren't seasick.

You've had people get seasick

on your boat? Who?

Me.

- On a 300-foot crossing?

- What 300 feet?

It's 675 feet.

I should know. I've crossed

every day for the last 30 years.

Thirty years.

Monsieur Escartefigue,

how do you feel

when you see the others?

What others?

The boats that go out

rather than across the harbor.

Why should I think anything?

They go so far.

Yes, and sometimes so deep.

Last thing at night, when you see

all the lights on the water,

haven't you ever wanted

to turn round

and put out to sea?

Out to sea?

You're mad, my poor Marius.

- No. I see through you.

- And what do you see?

You hate being stuck here.

- I hate it?

- Yes, own up.

When you drink with the captains

back from Brazil or Madagascar,

when they tell you

about their voyages,

I can see you care.

I'm glad they're home

safe and sound.

- That's all?

- That's all.

Marius, I'm proud to be a sailor

and a captain,

master on board after God.

But Madagascar can go to hell.

I've nothing against patriotism.

I'm glad the French flag flies

over those faraway lands,

though I can't say

it does much for me.

But to go there -

especially by boat - no thanks.

I'm quite happy here.

I can't believe my ears.

Well, so long.

He's calling me.

He hates to keep passengers waiting.

Such a good lad.

He's using up all my steam.

The silly ass! Idiot!

Look out.

Full steam ahead.

So, Monsieur Brun,

what did you think of Paris?

Sensational.

Did you manage to explore at all?

I took a stroll each evening.

- So you met Landolfi.

- Who's that?

He was in the army with me.

Tall and fair. With a mustache

and a constant blink.

You can't miss him.

No, I didn't see him.

Then you can't have been in Paris.

But I was.

- And you didn't see Landolfi?

- No.

Then he must be dead.

- Paris is very big, you know.

- Sure, it's big.

It's a lot bigger

than Marseilles, right?

Forty times as big.

That trip has gone to your head.

They say

we Marseillais exaggerate.

But 40 times bigger.

That's a good one.

You're a true Lyonnais.

Oh, my God, it's 12:30.

Where's he gone?

To change. Today's Monday.

- What's so special about Mondays?

- Don't you know?

Every Monday my father

has lunch with his girlfriend.

A beautiful buxom Italian.

No, he's changed to a Dutch woman

at least twice the size.

When he goes to see her,

he makes excuses to hide it.

But it's no crime.

He's a widower.

A widower? Please!

Don't say that word,

Monsieur Brun.

- You don't know of my misfortune?

- What misfortune?

Madame Panisse?

Three months tomorrow.

On Friday, she'd eaten

a sumptuous dish of snails and fish.

- And that Sunday she passed away.

- Just like that?

Say what you will,

the good Lord is not very kind.

Such a devoted wife, and so good

at putting the employees to work.

And at home she loved a laugh.

She was always ready

for a little joke.

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