Modern Life

MODERN LIFE:

Sit properly, please.

Why do you lock your door?

So I won't be disturbed.

In this house, each respects the

others' liberty and tranquility.

I ask you again

not to lock your door.

I told you why,

I'd like you take note.

Then where can I lock myself?

In the toilet?

- You must lock your door?

- Yes.

What nonsense!

You're not mentally ill!

Come down off your high horse.

Nothing left!

Thanks, Pierre-Francois.

You took a nice helping.

Sorry. Want some?

Perhaps I didn't make enough.

But you're both no longer growing!

Did you read that article

I recommended?

Yes.

- So, what'd you think?

- Very interesting.

Can you tell me why?

They talk about the crisis,

yet between 1975 and 1995,

as French gross domestic product

increased by 70%

unemployment grew fivefold

and social outcasts tenfold.

Unemployment will never totally

vanish, it's become structural.

Thus new avenues must be explored.

For example?

One solution advocated

is job sharing

with a reduction of working hours.

Your opinion?

We need the unemployed to curb wages

and maintain the liberal order.

- Some day you may be one.

- I doubt it.

I don't have the profile.

You seem sure of yourself.

Marguerite, what do you think?

You read the article?

Article?

The one I asked you to read.

I read it.

- What did you think?

- Nothing.

I've no opinion

on the misery of the world.

Even if I were to think about it,

I'd feel powerless.

Gorged myself again. What misery,

to take consolation in potatoes!

Help me be less gluttonous.

Tyrannosaurus tries to keep face

with his veloute and silver ladle,

but it's penury!

If such is your will, oh Lord,

I accept it.

I accept my poor brother.

But if you wish

you may call him unto you,

or make him more amiable.

I accept my tyrant father.

I bow my head, I submit,

I turn the other cheek,

but it's hard.

I smile with indulgence,

understanding, goodness...

No, Lord. It's not true.

I find it hard, help me!

I'll be eternally in your debt.

Lord, have pity on me,

lead me not into temptation,

but deliver me from evil.

Keep wicked men away

from my plump body.

Amen.

Hello, Miss.

Hello.

Marguerite, you're up!

I can't Miss, I've a sprain.

Listen, if you don't want to,

have yourself excused from gym.

Such lethargy! At your age.

I was really impressed

by what you did.

By What?

Your routine on the beam.

Thanks.

- I guess you train?

- Yeah.

You could be in the next Olympics.

You kidding? I'm not up to it.

Really? I think you're excellent.

I love gym, but I don't

want to do high level stuff.

I'd rather focus on my studies.

Know what you want.

Like to come round for tea

tomorrow afternoon?

Tomorrow? I dunno...

Can you tell me right now?

- It's that important?

- Yeah, or I'd not invite you.

Around four?

I'll be expecting you.

Here, my address.

- I'll get the salt.

- But you haven't tasted!

- I think it needs salt.

- Sit down, I'll get it.

Where are you going? Sit down!

Tastes weird. What'd you put in it?

Tumeric and a drop of walnut oil.

Like it?

Strange.

Been using

the Dictaphone I gave you?

Sure.

Only problem is,

since, I've gone totally blank.

You found how best

to rid me of inspiration.

Come on!

It's only meant to fix

your train of thought.

It's like a notebook.

You always complain you forget.

Inspiration will return.

Georges, please.

Don't say things like that.

I liked the last song idea

you showed me.

You liked that?

Which idea?

Dunno...

I feel you're trying

to go deeper...

to really say what...

Forget your ambitions for me,

Georges.

I've written 3 songs in my life,

so what?

But you can't really judge.

Don't talk rot!

Stop trying to please me!

Hell, just be honest with me!

Bawled out, as usual!

Okay. Your songs are lousy!

And so are you! Happy?

You just don't get it.

I'd like to be able

to say things simply.

But that's hardest of all,

saying profound things, simply.

I understand.

I can't do it, so I'm stopping.

I'll go get a job.

Probably do you good.

- What does that mean?

- I just thought...

Well please

don't think for me, Georges!

And spare me your sweet resignation,

it annoys me!

A child, that's all I want.

I know.

Why don't we have children?

Not again...

If you were less hung up,

you'd be already pregnant.

Tell me you want a child

as much as me.

- I do.

- Don't believe you.

Take a seat.

Well, I'm listening.

I've come about the job

in sales inquiries.

Worked in this area before?

So what jobs have you done?

Well, I did...

a lot of small-time jobs

before working ten years

for an insurance company.

And why did you leave this company?

It closed, I was laid off.

So, what are your strong points

and weak points?

I've got my A-levels,

don't know if that counts...

Then, I studied a little art history

in university.

And after...

I'm a nice guy.

I mean,

I try not to prey upon others,

but only upon stupidity.

I don't hate people.

Or if I do, it doesn't last.

As for my weak points...

I think I lack ambition,

my wife always told me so.

Deep down I'm ambitious,

but not...

Are you mobile?

Mobile? Sure, in my own way.

Given your background,

why sales inquiries?

You could look for work

in your skilled area.

You mean in insurance?

For instance.

Insurance wasn't for me,

I need a change.

I see.

And how do you envisage

your future career?

With you.

If we work together.

Otherwise, it's pretty vague.

I need to work, to pay my alimony.

You're hardly positive.

How do you expect me to be positive?

My wife left me,

my daughter won't see me,

I've no job,

no money,

my neighbours make noise...

I'm in an interview

being asked tiresome questions,

for a job, which in the end,

is pretty stupid.

And you want I be positive?

Well, I'm not!

Sorry, I'm not.

So why pretend?

I'm not in the least positive,

on the contrary!

I see. I thank you, Sir.

I feel your dossier is complete.

- My dossier?

- To better study your application.

Believe me, Sir,

I'm leaving your sinister office

three times happier than I entered.

At least I did you some good.

- Who is it?

- It's me.

- What were you watching?

- Nothing special.

I got Cable TV, 20 channels...

I thought you'd no money.

They say TV

is a window on the world.

I came by to see how you were.

Nice of you to think of me.

I've problems

with my upstairs neighbour.

Really?

What kind of problems?

Noise. I complained a few times.

Know what he replied?

He said I wasn't all there.

"I think you're not all there",

he said.

Jacques, we have to talk.

When can I see my daughter?

Jacques, please...

Don't take that tone.

For now she won't see you,

I don't know what to do.

So, you've turned her against me.

You're warped enough for that!

You know that's not true.

I know nothing at all,

especially not you.

I lived with a stranger,

a monster!

Why won't she see me?

Maybe she heard too much.

Of what, for example?

When you called me a washout?

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