Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud

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How are you?

Good

Your mother.

I'll put her on.

Fine.

I can't talk now. I'm late.

I'll call you back. Bye-bye.

I liked the earrings.

See you tonight.

And Saturday.

And tomorrow?

I don't knowyet.|Call me at 8.

I don't know...

He won't do a thing.

Once I had him go|for an interview.

He waited five minutes then left.

He thinks he's above it?

I guess.

How long has it been?

Almost a year.

Try giving him a push.

That doesn't work.|He undermines everything.

He just doesn't care.

What does he do all day?

Nothing.

He rarely goes out.|Just for the paper.

He stays in. He watches TV.

Waiting for you.

I'm not sure about that.

Another coffee?

Two more, please.

When do you work?

In an hour.

I want to showyou|something in a shop nearby.

It's Pierre Arnaud.

I thought you were away.

I got back two days ago.

I was going to call you.|Sit down.

You know each other.|Pierre Arnaud, Nelly.

- You met...|- At your birthday.

- On the boat.|- My 40th.

- That was...|- Two years ago.

Three.

Coffee?

A cognac.

How is Tayeb?

Fine.

I have to call him.|I'll be right back.

He has to pick up the kids.

Two years ago,|your hair was shorter.

Or lighter.

Both.

We saw each other once,|from far away.

Busy?

I forgot my change.

Do you see Jacqueline often?

Pretty often.

And you?

Once in a while.

I've known her for...

I like her a lot.

She does me the pleasure|of confiding in me.

She's in good form.

I think so.

That's not for us.

Are you still married?

- His name is...|- Jerome.

Jerome, that's it.|Good sense of humor.

Insolent, but in a nice way.

You danced.|It was quite a show.

We were both drunk.

Are you happy?

Not too many worries?

No.

Money.

Debts?

You were in publishing,|with Jacqueline.

Yes, but...

the company ran into trouble.

They hired me last, so...

Yes. Times are hard.

In fact, they always are,

but your generation|was supposed to get off easy.

I've found odd jobs,|here and there.

It's none of my business,

but is it a large amount?

Six months of rent,|plus other stuff.

Don't take this wrong...

Perhaps I could be of help.

No. Thank you...

If you're having problems.

There's no reason.

You don't know me.|I wasn't trying to...

I know that.

I'd like to.

Why not?

Pay me back when and if you can.|It doesn't matter.

Thank you, but no.

Are you angry now?

It was an honest offer.

I hope so.

Did you get through?

Everything all right?

He was a judge a while ago.

Then he went into business.|Big business.

Have you known him long?

For over fifteen years.

I had an affair with him.

It wasn't passion,|but instant friendship.

I was depressed back then.

For once,|I felt that someone was listening.

- It's nearby.|- I'm in a rush.

Two minutes.

What did you talk about?

It was short, you know.|But not boring.

He's a strange guy.|Delicate, civilized.

But did you notice his eyes?|He doesn't miss a thing.

It's the black one.|What do you think?

It's nice.

Not too tight-fitting?

Come see.

You finished early?

We had to close.

We ran out of bread.

''Copy Top'' called.

Should I call back?

He said to come at 9.

Can I help?

That's okay.

I bought ham, grapes and walnuts.

I saw.

Guess what happened today.

Guess what happened to me.

I was in a caf with Jacqueline.

A guy she knows sat with us.

At one point, we were alone.

I don't know how it happened,|but he offered me 30,000 francs.

Given the circumstances,|I said yes.

He wrote me a check

which I put in the bank.

The back rent is paid.

No more debts, no more overdraft.

Everything is fine.

Who's this guy?

Jacqueline's friend.|Actually, an ex-lover.

An old man. Very nice.

Old?

Elderly.

You knew him before?

Sort of... from sight.

Was it a gift or a loan?

I'll pay him back if I can,|but it doesn't matter.

He doesn't care.

Good news, huh?

Not hungry?

Does she have a lot of friends|like him?

I'm just kidding.

What do you expect me to say?

Nothing.

It's too late to object.

What else is new?

Nothing.

A guy came by at 4.|A door-to-door salesman.

He was peddling encyclopedias.

I listened.|He felt like talking.

He kept you company.

I'm leaving you.

We're breaking up.

I can't go on like this.

Do you understand?

Is this really what you want?

Yes.

Then you stay here. I can...

I'd rather leave.

I'll manage.

Under the table?

I'll pay you back someday.

No you won't!

Yes I will.|I owe you this money.

Don't be stupid.

I'm happy to do this.

It's more satisfying|than gambling it away.

You owe me nothing.|I want that understood.

What will you have? A liqueur?

A cognac?

Another one.

Do you come here every day?

Sometimes.

I like walking.

I change neighborhoods|and watch people.

You never walk around Paris?|You have no spare time.

I'm not into that.

Time is a luxury.

You should travel.

I used to, but a long time ago.

Do you ever get bored?

Sometimes I get nervous, but...

That's normal.|It's part of life.

Boredom is humiliating.

When you feel it coming,|it's unpleasant.

So you have no time.

I feel like I waste my time.

You're still allowed to.

One other thing:

can you use a word processor?

Of course.|That was my first job.

I'm trying to write a book.

I'm no writer.|It's my memoirs. Exotic stuff.

I once was a judge in the islands.

By chance,

I mentioned it to an editor.|A young guy. Dynamic.

To my surprise,|he was interested.

So I started,|nose to the grindstone.

Now I have a first draft|that needs tidying up.

I'd hired a very nice woman.

Very efficient, a real stickler.

But she was bored stiff

as she typed away. So we parted

on good terms,|but earlier than expected.

And you want me to take her place?

It won't take all day long.

If you can spare me two hours|here and there,

at your convenience.

I can manage that.

I'd like to help you...|in order to...

Don't start that again!

That's not the reason.

You'll be paid like the other woman.

And if you get bored too,|just tell me.

We can always try.

Okay.

Give me the pillow.

Turn off your light.

Leave the door open.

You don't mind it here?

No, it's perfect.

Straighten up|before going to sleep.

When should I call|for the studio?

Early tomorrow.|It's a sublet. They go fast.

It's not expensive.

You call. You knowthem.

I already did.|Just confirm it now.

Goodnight. Sleep well.

You too.

Are you okay?

You look it.

I've been in your shoes|plenty of times.

But when you decide,|there's no holding back.

When do you start?

Tomorrow.

That's nice, isn't it?

Does he live alone?

Yes, he and his wife are separated.

He lives in a big apartment.

They have two kids,|but he never sees them.

I can't find my briefcase.

In the closet.

No, it's not.|What are you doing here?

Saying goodnight to Nelly.

You have 30 seconds.

Goodnight.

How about on the shelf?

I looked.

It's nowhere.

Are you staying long?

No, not too long.

Too bad.

Are you getting divorced?

We'll see.

Can I sleep with you?

I'd like that,|but will you be able to sleep?

Benedicte, I said 30 seconds.

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