Nelly & Monsieur Arnaud Page #2

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Leave Nelly alone now!

- Goodnight.|- Goodnight, darling.

I'll do it, Madeline.

This is impressive.

I have to get rid of them.|There are too many.

They're taking up room.

Milk or lemon?

Neither.

What do you think?

I wanted to use it once|and erased everything.

It's easy. You want to see?

It's a typewriter with memory.

That's what's scary.|A memory without memories.

No, I'll trust you.

This is it.|There's a lot of it.

I see...

Some is typed, some handwritten.

I write legibly|but I've changed and added things.

I'd prefer to dictate.

I know it still needs work.

Things to be cut.

I want your suggestions|and your criticism.

You won't offend me.

Excuse me.|Can you tell me what it's...

I wrote a synopsis for the editor.

It would be best that you read it.

The Leeward Islands|are in Polynesia?

When were you there?

My first post, after the war.

It's where they send young judges,|and unfortunate elders

of dubious value.

A sort of tropical exile.

A ''high proficiency judge''...

It means nothing.

It's the story:
a young fool,|full of lofty ideals,

thinking himself justice incarnate,

is parachuted into an earthly|paradise where no one gives a damn.

A sort of travel story.

An initiatory one.

In the style|of a violent deflowering.

Shall we begin?

Does the light bother you?

Is there a reflection|on the screen?

I'm fine.

Once it's dark,|the lamp should be strong enough.

You may begin.

You suddenly appear so...studious.

''I had never left France.''Period.

''A wandering father had soured|my taste for travel.'' Period.

''I countered his transitoriness,|my mother's bane,

''by taking the bench as a judge,''|- comma -

''sedentary by nature.''

She'll get it. New paragraph.

''When I learned|of my first posting,'' - comma -

''I looked for the name Ururoa|on an atlas,

''but it wasn't to be found.''

I looked for the name...

Ururoa.

U-R-U-R-O-A.

''I looked for the name Ururoa|on the atlas,

''but it wasn't to be found.''

I said not to disturb us.

It's Madame, Sir.

Yes, hello.

How are you?

I'm fine.|No, I'm just a bit...

I sent you the document.|Just sign it.

No, I can't sign it for you.

Lucie, I told you.

Of course I told you.

Call Wagner.|No, I won't call him anymore.

If you have to come, you'll come.

Me too. Goodbye.

My wife.

Jacqueline must have told you.

We've been separated|for 20 years.

Our shared business interests|allow her

to keep nagging me.

She lives in Geneva

with a charming man

whom I respect greatly,

and who knew howto watch|and listen to her.

Geneva is beautiful,

with its banks,

it's an unhurried pace.

Shall we continue?

Yes, where were we?

''...Ururoa on the atlas,|but it was not to be found.''

''The crossing on the cargo ship

''lasted 45 days.'' Period.

Jacqueline said you don't live...

Because if you need|a place to stay...

Thank you. I found one.

Good.

In fact, you're young,|pretty, available...

Rest assured,|I won't take advantage.

I don't see how...

Excuse me.

Certain desires never die.

Thank God I've outgrown that.

''I had a first-class cabin.

''I paid for the difference|with my own money.'' Period.

''On the deck,

''I sipped strange cocktails

''mixed by stewards from Marseilles.''

''...mixed by stewards|from Marseilles.''

New paragraph.

''I was 25,|but was told I looked barely 20.''

Come here.

What happened?

She swallowed water.

Is the baby upset?

Why must you tease your sister?

She's the pain!

Can't you leave her alone?

She clings to me!

No, I just wanted|to play with Sandrine.

You're not swimming?

My three laps exhausted me.

And a guy kept bothering me.

Look. It's Christophe!

When did you get back?

Three weeks ago.

This is Marianne. Nelly.

We met in Lisbon.

I've heard a lot about you.

Are you staying in Paris?

What about work?

I'll be at the Library again|.

I'm going to swim. See you later.

How long has it been?

Since we've seen each other?

Four years.

Will you come for dinner?

That makes 6, 7, 8, 9.

I called Jerome.

If you want anything else...

I'll call.

You have the key.

Yes, Mom.

Jacqueline told you?

I was going to call.

I've sublet a studio.|It's not bad.

That's the way it is.

It's been a while,|but I never mentioned it.

If you don't understand,|I won't explain.

Then tell him.

Okay.

Whenever you want.

We'll talk soon.

''The fans broken, it was|unbearably hot in the courtroom.

''Johnny, the bailiff, interrogated

''the witnesses in Maori.''

Period.

''Powerless,|I presided over these people

''whose constant smiles|kept telling me'' - comma -

''that I wasn't wanted.'' Period.

Okay?

I'm coming.

I think it's pretty legible.

What page are we on?

My editor asked for the beginning.

Would you mind going?

I'll give you a key.|You can come as you please.

Have you had a look?

All the books...

For the municipal libraries.

I'll have to catalogue them.

Some need to be indexed.

Then I'll pack them up.

You have first editions,|and rare books.

Can you also take care|of the catalogue?

Yes, but would you like|to sell them?

I know some bookshops.

They'd be very interested.

Why not?

You're not keeping anything?

You reach an age where you read|the same few books over and over.

Can you do it quickly?

It'll take a fewweeks.|Goodbye, Nelly.

When should I start?

Whenever you like.

If you're in a rush,|then tomorrow.

Good. I'll see you tomorrow.

He seems like a fine boy.

Thank you.

Have you known him long?

Is he a friend?

Close?

Pretty close.

That's all she'll say!

What can I...

You can talk about yourself.

But I do.

That's true.

They're hardly|extravagant confessions.

Did you read it?

What do you think?

It's lively, isn't it?

Yes what?

I find it a little repetitive.

No, it's very different.

We knowthe courtroom atmosphere.|I'd cut it.

Cut what?

All of this.

It would be more concise.

It sure would.

I find it rather savory.

I spent hours on that paragraph.

You don't find it funny?

Does the content or the style

bother you?

Both.

At least you're honest.

But how does it strike you?|Is it smug? Dated? Both again.

And your description

of the natives is...

Colonialist? Say it.

Yes, maybe.

''Their innocence and craftiness...''

They're silly clich's.

Sometimes you get trapped.

Won't it be too dry now?

Okay. Cut it.

But pick it up here.

Excuse me. I'd forgotten.

Good evening, Pierre.

Good evening, miss.

I'm interrupting you.

No, come this way.

You won't look at them

but they exist.|It's my right to come here.

You come because I let you.

You're pissing me off!

Pierre, don't get upset.

Everything I say|makes you angry.

Look at these papers.

Try to understand...

Goodbye, Miss.

Thank you, Pierre.

Okay?

Are you happy|you butchered my text?

You're turning my tome|into a brochure.

I thought you could take criticism.|You wanted it.

Underneath your seeming flexibility

lurks a fearsome censor.

Could your puritanical rigor|in fact

border on intolerance?

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