My Best Friend

MY BEST FRIEND:

Yes.

Of course.

Yes.

Yes. Of course.

No. Trust me.

Now's the time to sell.

All the collectors

will be at the antique fair.

It's only a first estimate.

Sorry. I'll have to call you back.

My client just got here.

Please be seated.

Today the Lord welcomes you home

Patrick

but you aren't alone.

Your family and friends -

all your friends - are with you.

The loyalty.

The kindness that you always showed

to all your friends

they're here today

to commemorate it.

For those who wish.

There is a memorial book to sign.

Thank you. Madame.

Thank you. Madame.

Thank you for coming.

Patrick liked you.

And I liked him.

He was an outstanding collector.

Which reminds me. He mentioned

a bureau that might interest me.

- The Majorelle?

- That's it. Could I see it?

Come to the house whenever you like.

- Life goes on. Right?

- Life goes on.

I'll come by tomorrow. Be strong.

Hi. How are you?

Hi. George.

- Hello.

- The sale's started!

Sorry. They went the whole hog.

- Sorry. How was it?

- Funereal. Let me see the catalogue.

Which number?

How high would you go?

- 15?

- 20.

- It's only a lamp.

- We'll sell it for twice that.

Sold to the lady at the back

for 17.000 euros.

Now. A small change of program.

Lot 211 has been withdrawn.

So we'll pass straight to Lot 212.

Which 16th-century

French agronomist...

Hi. Roger!

...introduced silk manufacture?

He launched the silk industry

that flourished throughout France.

Olivier de Serres! I know it.

Button it. Bookworm.

- Olivier de Serres!

- There's no mayo on my egg.

It's a hard-bald egg!

- You know why it's called "mayonnaise"?

- He's at it again!

It was named after Port Mahon.

Captured by France in 1755.

Mahon. Mahonnaise...

Bruno! You're a bore!

I'm not. It's interesting.

Eat it while it's hot.

This Greek terracotta vase

from the 5th century B.C.

Is a moving relic of a friendship.

The inscription says.

"He who commissioned it.

Grieving for his dearest friend.

"Filled this vase with tears

"and placed it in his tomb."

Starting price. 50.000 euros.

On the phone?

- 70.000.

- 80.000.

- 80.000.

- 90.000.

Anything on the phone?

I'm bid 90.000.

Any more bids?

No more bids?

- 170!

- Stop it!

- You bid. Madame?

- No. Sorry.

The gentleman's bid

stands at 170.000.

You're out. Sir?

Yes. Sir? 190.000!

No? 200.000. Any more bids?

Sold for 200.000.

Congratulations. A fine purchase.

Moving on to the next lot...

Including commission.

tienne Delamotte.

- The TV producer.

- Here. I'm an antiques collector.

Franois Coste. Dealer.

- So why do you want my vase?

- Yours?

- It belongs in my collection.

- You should have bid up.

You think you can buy everything?

- It's the law of the market.

- The market!

- Have a heart!

- How much?

- What?

- For a heart. How much?

Did you bring packaging

for the vase?

- No. Why?

- It's very fragile.

Then deliver it to my place.

OK.

- Your place?

- Where would it go in the gallery?

Tell me you bought it

for a collector.

- I bought it for me.

- With the gallery's money?

I had to have it. A sudden urge.

We're partners 50-50. remember.

Relax. We'll work something out.

- You want to ruin us?

- It's not that bad.

- And if the bank gets tough?

- We'll manage. Don't we always?

See you this evening.

- Good evening.

- What?

Good evening.

Good evening. I'm in a hurry.

Solferino. A battle on June 24. 1859.

France defeated Austria.

The Red Cross began as a result.

How about that?

There. On Avenue Frochot.

Auguste Renoir had his studio.

There. At No.15.

Was the Caf du Croissant.

Where Jaurs was assassinated

on July 31. 1914.

The eve of World War One.

He was eating a strawberry tart.

That's important.

It is indeed.

Wait till you hear

what happened today.

We met at the auction

to buy a lamp.

He made us buy

an insanely expensive Greek vase.

- Is he up on Greek antiques?

- Not at all. What possessed him?

Eiffel's grandfather was German.

If he hadn't changed his name.

The Eiffel Tower would be called

the Bnickhausen Tower.

I'll get out here.

- This isn't Rue de Solferino.

- Never mind.

I'll walk the rest.

- 16 euros.

- Fine.

- Keep the change.

- Thanks.

- Can I have a receipt?

- Yes.

By the way. Renoir's studio

wasn't on Avenue Frochot.

It was Toulouse Lautrec.

- It was? I'll check.

- Do.

- Your friends are here.

- Good. Thanks.

Hello. Everybody.

Hello.

The client says.

"It's an old daub

from our country house.

"Near Pont-Aven."

I look at the signature.

"P. Go."

- Who was this Mr. Go?

- Chinese?

A Chinese painter

in 19th-century Brittany?

"P. Go" was shorthand

for Paul Gauguin.

Who's she?

Haven't we met before?

You never notice people.

Marianne.

I introduced you at that opening.

Right! Do you know her well?

- Very well. She's my girlfriend.

- Your girlfriend?

We're together.

You're kidding!

No.

Sorry. I'd never have guessed.

Guessed what?

That I like women.

Don't you ever wonder

what I do outside work?

- I respect your privacy.

- You don't give a f*** about other people.

- Do you really think so?

- Yes. But it doesn't matter.

- You look grim. Birthday blues?

- No. I went to a funeral.

Patrick Bourgoin's.

Why? You couldn't stand him.

A little unfinished business...

Guess how many we were.

Including his widow. Seven!

Well. There'll be fewer at yours.

What?

There'll be nobody.

- You're joking.

- No.

Why did he say that?

- Because you have no friends.

- No friends?

No. How could you?

You only like things.

I get it. You're all teasing!

Catherine's right.

You have no friends.

My appointment diary is full.

Lunches lined up for three weeks!

We're talking friends. Not contacts.

Real friends you can rely on.

- Like a best friend?

- For instance.

Who's yours?

I have lots!

Present company. To start with.

A best friend isn't a crowd.

So? Who is it?

Why should you know him?

I don't carry him around

in my breast pocket.

OK. But who is it?

What is this? The Inquisition?

- Does he even exist?

- Of course he does!

- I don't think so.

- Want to bet?

Stop it. You can't bet on that.

- He won't let go.

- Same as you!

Relax. She didn't mean it.

It's a serious accusation!

Accusation?

Don't overdramatize.

You'll meet my best friend.

What do you bet?

The vase.

- The vase?

- Your Greek vase.

If I don't meet your best friend

by the end of this month. It's mine.

And if I win? Because I will.

- You keep the vase.

- Bet?

Bet. You have ten days.

Bertrand. Obviously best friend.

Let's put Jean-Louis.

- What are you doing?

- Nothing.

Rmi. Perfect.

Should I stay or go home?

Yes.

Yes what?

This is a rare visit.

We barely even talk on the phone.

We've talked at least twice a week

and had lunch three times this year.

You're keeping count?

- How are you?

- OK.

- How's Nathalie?

- Natasha. We're separated.

I know.

It's a shame. I liked Natasha.

- Where do we put the bureau?

- In the gallery.

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