My Old Lady Page #7

in this house without love.

You had a loving mother

and a loving father.

How can you say that?

I know that watching Mathias sleeping

I could see his father's face, and...

- some part of me wanted him dead.

- You can't mean that.

Why not? Why can't I mean that?

Why can't I mean that?

Because he's a person who is so sad.

Oh. So sad.

And defeated.

Like me.

- I would never say that.

- You'd never say that because you never see it!

Oh, how could a child

of yours be unhappy?

Oh, that would be unthinkable!

- You're not a child anymore, Chlo.

- I'm your child!

- Years and years ago!

- What does that mean?

It means that when you were 15,

you stopped being my child

and started being my daughter.

I have spent my whole life at your side.

- I have never left you.

- I never asked for that!

Look, it seems I've caused

nothing but unhappiness

in your life, and in Mathias's life.

So, what should I have done?

We know what I should not have done.

I should not have followed my heart.

I should not have stayed with your father

and made a home for my daughter.

All these...

All these things were wrong.

I'm 92. I've made nothing but mistakes.

So, you tell me. You tell me, Chlo.

What... What? You know so much.

You tell me what I should have done.

Is Mathias's father my father?

There's so much about him

that's like me. Just...

Just tell me the truth.

Is Mathias my brother?

I don't know.

I have never known.

What possible difference could it

have made knowing or not knowing?

Your father brought you up.

He loved you. You were his daughter.

Oh, Chlo.

Chlo.

Chlo?

Oh, Chlo.

You're the reason he hated me!

- Mathias?

- No!

My father, your husband!

He didn't hate you.

- You were his daughter. He loved you.

- There was no love! No love!

Perhaps that's why Mathias

and I detested each other.

Because somewhere deep inside,

we both knew the truth.

Why didn't you tell him the truth?

There is no other truth.

Do you know where I slept

last night, Mother?

I don't think the world will

come to an end because of that.

I see nothing catastrophic in the

two of you comforting each other.

No virtue in two of you being lonely.

That's sweet.

Insane, but sweet.

Well, you're certainly not going

to have children at your age.

No. You're certainly right, Mother.

I certainly can't have

children at my age.

It certainly stops with us.

People like Mathias and me we keep telling

ourselves that none of this matters, that...

childhood is just, a human invention.

It's not...

God's invention.

There's nothing natural about it...

and we should just let it all go.

But we can't...

because...

our pain tells us that we're cursed...

and so we go through life thinking...

Oh, my God!

I shot the pig.

- You shot the pig?

- I shot the pig!

You shot the pig. He shot the pig!

He shot the pig? What pig?

One of us had to go. It was him or me.

Listen. Last night,

after we stayed awake together...

and our souls clapped

their hands and sang,

we made a clean breast of it,

I was thinking about you saying...

"I'm not beautiful. I'm nearly old."

And I wished I had a better answer.

And I think I've thought of one,

so would you mind saying it again?

- What are you asking me?

- What you said yesterday when you said,

"I'm not beautiful. I'm nearly old."

Just could you say it again? Please?

I'm not beautiful. I'm nearly old?

A perfect flower is nearly old.

It's good, isn't it?

No. You hate it. No.

It's over the top, but I like it.

I like it too.

Talk to me, Mrs. G.

Well, I don't know what to say.

Well, try saying, "I'm sorry I lied."

Well, I am sorry I lied.

And I forgive you for selling my chairs.

Please, Mathias.

Don't leave. Please stay.

I don't know.

Negative. Not family.

- Not family?

- Not at all.

Merci beaucoup.

Hey! Monsieur Gold.

Lefebvre!

Would you like a glass of wine?

- You live on this thing?

- Yes, yes. I do.

It's like an old barge.

Exactly.

Oh! The blood of Paris! I get it.

Right. Come, come! I'll show you.

Watch out. Got it.

- Merci.

- That's my place.

My yard. My garden.

Come. I show you inside.

Pretty cool. Really nice.

Yeah. I...

I love it. Yeah. I bought it as

a viager many, many years ago.

And the person died?

Six days after we signed the contract.

- You're kidding?

- I was lucky.

It's a crazy system you've got here.

Betting like that on people dying.

It's a game of destiny.

If the person dies quickly,

it's your destiny to replace them.

And if they don't die quickly?

Then it's your destiny

to pay to help them live.

- I-Is Chlo here?

- Oh, no. She'll be here soon.

I'm going to stay. But don't tell Chlo.

I want to tell her myself.

Oh, I'm... I'm so pleased.

You need never worry about money.

You'll soon be able to sell

this apartment as a viager.

You won't get full value

because you're both still quite young,

but you'll always have

a roof over your heads.

Oh, Mathias?

This is yours.

I gave it to your father,

but he wanted you to have it.

Thank you.

Where are my father's ashes?

You did a good thing

sending me here, Max.

Thank you.

On a scale of one to a 100,

you've just gone from a one to a three.

I have the check.

We're not selling.

- I'm sorry?

- It's a family thing.

You understand.

Wh-Where did you study English?

I never studied English.

I learned it from

watching American movies.

"Frankly, my dear,

I don't give you a damn."

- Oh. Yeah. Clark Gable.

- Right.

I'd know that anywhere.

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