On Air Page #4

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Yes.

Where are you?

In the cupboard.

Here?

Can you buy me some food?

I got what you asked for, Madam.

Are you OK, Madam?

Yes.

Can I do anything for you?

No, nothing, thanks.

If I may say so, Madam,

I think you should try

to meet people.

I know you're sensitive.

Don't be afraid

of approaching people.

What can you lose?

There's no shame in reaching out.

That's it.

Can you hear me?

I've got to go now.

I've work to do.

See you Monday.

Hello. Can I speak to...

Sorry, I'm in a hurry,

Jolle's in hospital.

- Really?

- I'm going there now.

I'll follow you.

Mrs. Joubert?

Please see reception.

They need her papers.

I've brought everything.

And Lucas left this morning.

Really?

Yes, he suddenly decided

to take his trip.

I don't know why. He thumbed a ride.

You know, the other evening,

on the radio, when I said

"an old woman..."

It doesn't matter.

Mrs. Joubert? It's ready.

We'll fill out the papers together.

Someone, usually a woman,

holds a baton.

She tosses it up.

The higher the baton goes,

the more it spins,

the more fascinated we are,

because we're afraid.

We don't know

how the woman will catch it.

For a few seconds, we're afraid.

We don't know if she'll catch it,

or if it'll fall and be lost.

It's like a separation:

a woman lets go of something

and we don't know

if she'll get it back.

I waited for you, you know.

You wrote

that you'd come back for me.

I'm not asking for anything.

Don't worry.

I just want you to say...

just once,

you loved me, despite everything.

Say it.

Please.

I did what I could.

I put you with nuns.

I couldn't cope.

Yes, I know.

I did that

so you'd get an education.

To hell with education!

Say you love me!

It was so long ago...

Damn it, say you love me!

Tell me you love me!

Say it!

Say it or I unplug you!

No!

I love you.

Again!

I love you!

...come back for you.

Big kiss. Mommy

One Year Later

Good evening and welcome.

This is Mlina,

with the week's first program.

I'm taking your calls,

on 3712, till 11 p.m.

or by Internet

at fty@radiofrance.com.

So, welcome to Anne,

calling from Nice.

Good evening, Anne.

Hi, Mlina.

I've been a faithful listener

from the start.

Thank you for your loyalty.

I never miss a program.

It really comforts me.

And it reminds me

of a time in my childhood...

That's why I'm calling.

Really?

Yes.

I've never told anyone

about it before.

I lost my parents very young.

That's life.

I was put in a children's home.

In fact, it was an orphanage.

Yes, I know.

Right...

I recall, in our dormitory,

a girl a bit older than the others,

because she hadn't been adopted.

She always managed to get sent back.

I think she hoped

her real parents

would come back for her.

And in the evening,

after lights-out,

she'd take a big sheet

and hang it from a bunk bed.

All the girls gathered on one side,

with her on the other.

Everyone was silent.

She had a radio under her mattress

that she put on briefly

for a jingle.

Then she imitated

the voices of radio presenters.

You know...

Yes.

In fact, she became

the star of the dorm.

She said she'd take people's calls

and we little ones

fought to speak first.

Taking turns,

we spoke about our problems,

about our little upsets.

It could be anything...

Yes, we had no family.

We were alone, in fact.

She let us talk.

And I remember that

with much emotion.

I've never forgotten it.

Sometimes

I wonder what became of that girl.

I hope she found happiness.

Yes, let's hope so.

Well, that's it.

I'm sorry,

I didn't call about a problem...

Just about this little story.

Don't apologize.

It was a lovely story.

I hope

I'm as good as that little girl.

But,

if I may, Anne,

I'd like to ask you...

Do you live alone?

Alone?

Yes.

Yes, and...

are you happy?

It depends,

like everyone, I guess.

Yes, of course, but...

I want to say to you

to reach out to others, don't be

alone, go out and meet people.

It's very important, because

your sensitivity,

which I hear and sense,

proves you have

a big capacity for love

and it would be sad

if no one benefited from it.

Don't you think?

Yes.

Thank you, Mlina.

Thank you, Anne.

Thank you very much.

This film is dedicated

to the memory of Nadia Barentin.

Adaptation:
Pamela Grant

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