My Afternoons with Margueritte Page #2

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[War memorial]

You just can't do that!

I've had enough of you!

- I have to.

You keep on cleaning it off.

- It's a public monument.

- So why can't I

put my name on it?

- It's only for the dead!

Can't you understand?

- You have to be dead?

- Yes.

Dead from fighting in war.

- Oh dear...

- Why do you do it?

Tell me!

- To be an arsehole.

- Hullo Monsieur Chazes.

All accounted for?

- They're all there.

- Do you like to read?

- I had the opportunity to learn

but didn't work out.

Cootie... take it easy.

- What was that?

- Cootie.

- That doesn't...

...help me.

- Louse

if you prefer.

- You mean like 'lice'...

as in pubic lice?

- Yes.

It's also what they call

street urchins.

They grab onto you

and don't let go.

It can be very irritating.

- Ah... yes.

Just like lice.

- That's right.

You've got it!

- Yes, I've understood you...

- just like that,

I've got a pal,..

..'Jojo-the-cook', who called

his parrot 'De Gaulle'.

Because he'd say

''I understood you''.

- Ah...

Is your friend a chef?

- You know him?

- I haven't had that pleasure.

- So how did you know?

- You said

''Jojo-the-cook''.

''The cook''

...that's English for a chef.

- Ah !

''The cook'', that's like...

Ah yes... of course!

Like the guy with a deli

called Dupt.

And the carpenter...

... called Plank.

Jojo the chef,

but in English.

Ah...yeah... of course!

I don't know if HE knows that!

Jojo, it's just as well...

...that you're a chef.

- What?

- Bah! Yeah...

- Gimme a hand.

- Where do you want it?

- In the middle of the room.

We've got a wedding party tonight.

- A wedding..

Hey, Landremont...

Jojo was lucky to be a chef.

He's called

''the cook''.

- So what?

- Don't you understand?

''The cook'' is

like chef in English.

Did that go over your head?

-Bugger me dead...

you're as thick as a plank.

- My name's

Pelletier.

You see?

Jol Pelletier.

''The cook'' was because I've

been in England.

It's a nickname.

Fair enough...OK.

- Like we could call you

"The Moron".

-You taking the piss?

- Cut it out!

He's no more of a moron

than you are.

And he's a nicer person.

What are you drinking

my pet?

- A small white.

Would I be able to borrow your van...

...for the market ?

- Of course...as always!

- Hi Germain!

- Howdy Youss!

Ooh-la-la!

You're wearing perfume!

Got a date?

- Yes...with me!

- Ah, Stphanie !

Hi, Stphanie.

This is Julien.

He's your sort of guy.

Whadda you think?

He really digs you.

And better still.

- Please...

- He's shy.

- You're being an idiot!

- If i were you,..

...I wouldn't hesitate.

There's a waiting list!

- Go and get some tomatoes from the garden with Jojo.

- We've got plenty.

- Get some more.

More.

It's urgent.

- Of course!

Come on...we're going.

- Au revoir, Stphanie.

Youss really smells weird.

Look at her.

Just help yourself!

No-one's stopping you!

Go to it!

If I give her stuff,

she throws it back in my face..

...she prefers stealing.

-You plant your sh*t

in my place,..

... I can help myself.

- You smoke too much.

Though I shouldn't have to tell you.

- So don't tell me...

just shut up!

- A mother like that...

...I wouldn't like to be her son.

- I didn't get to choose.

She neither.

- I can see why you moved out.

But why did you stay so close?

You should get away.

- I could go to

the end of the world,..

..between my mother and me,..

..the distance

is in the mind.

It's ...

- Symbolic.

- That's it.

And see,..

...I've got my kitchen garden.

Come and see.

I've got everything here.

You'll see.

Cabbages,

endive, leeks...

Look at the greenhouse,

I built it myself.

You want tomatoes...

Just say what you want.

Beefheart.

Crimean Black.

And this and that...

Look here.

What sort is it?

- Marmande.

- Yeah.

Come on, come on!

Ladies and gents over here!

My tomatoes are beautiful.

Beautiful tomatoes leeks and turnips !

And what lettuce!...oak,

batavia...curly...

..curly...

...like Mademoiselle.

- What would you like?

- Four leeks.

- Take your pick.

You like the big ones.

- Any melon?

- No melon...I've got clo-clo.

...and to go with it,

Monsieur Seguin over there...

...has a special wine.

You've taken the big ones?

That comes to 2.20.

Do you have

Beautiful Curly-locks!

Remind me to bring melons on Friday.

- I can't make it...

...on Friday.

I'm having a blood test.

- Again!

That nurse's a vampire

How is she with you?

- Evasive.

- She was already like that.

Come on Madamoiselle!

The seat's taken.

Whadda you mean it's taken?

The hide!

- Gooday Monsieur Chazes!

- You can call me Germain

if you like.

- Really?

- Of course.

- It's just that...

...you'll have to call me

Margueritte.

- If you insist,

that's fine with me.

- I insist.

- So all agreed!

- I've been delayed by

my nephew and his wife...from Belgium.

They've dropped in without warning.

Apparently some problem with money.

You see,..

... I tell you everything,

as though we were on a date.

- Like we were lovers?

- Mmmm !

That sounds nice.

- Like some?

- No thanks.

I've just had lunch.

It's unusual at this time of day...

...to see a man in the park.

Are you...

...out of a job?

- No, I've got several jobs.

I've just pressed the PAUSE button!

- I thought of you last night..

- Me? Why?

- About you

and our pigeons.

You know what it's like

when you tidy a bookshelf...

You flick through one or two

at random.

So there...I found a sentence...

Which now I've forgotten...

I'll find it again.

"Can you imagine, for instance,

a town without pigeons

no trees or gardens,

where you hear no flapping of wings,

nor rustling of leaves,

in other words a thoroughly negative place?"

''The change of seasons

can only be read in the sky

''Spring can only introduce itself

by the feel of the air...

..''or the baskets of flowers

brought by pedlars

..''from out of town....

''A spring that's sold...

..''in the marketplace.''

You like that?

- Yes, but could you...

Start again...

but not so fast.

- With pleasure,

wait...

'Can you imagine, for example,..

..''a town without pigeons,..

..''no trees or gardens,...''

- That doesn't exist.

But it's not bad.

What's it called?

- 'The Plague'.

by Albert Camus.

- Ah.

Albert, like my

grandfather.

- I'll lend it to you.

- Ah...no...

You know...reading for me...

''We left 500 strong...

..''but by reinforcements..

..''we were 3000 on reaching...

..''tharbour.''

- On reaching..

..'tharbour'?

Bravo !

Even when he reads, Monsieur Chazes

makes spelling mistakes!

- Shall I read some more?

- Yes...

fine by me.

- That suits me.

I do like to read aloud.

It's only that the passers-by,

seeing me ..

...spluttering to myself...

They take me for an old...

- For an old crazy.

- Yes... an old crazy.

A bit hazy and a bit crazy...eh?

You have to go?

- It'll keep.

- So we'll set off blindly.

I'll skip the first pages,..

...to get into the action.

The story takes place in Oran,

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