Pauline at the Beach

I think the neighbors have left.

It should be very peaceful here.

It's wonderful

that there's no phone.

When I'm here,

I feel I can spend...

hours and hours without moving.

Won't you go to the beach?

Yes, to swim.

But it's not a place

I like to stay.

For reading or working,

it's better here.

I prefer the beach.

You'll be disappointed.

I want to go to the beach.

I haven't been this year.

What about in Spain?

We swam, then we'd leave.

We changed place every day.

Sounds great!

At least you had variety?

We never stayed long enough.

I was with my parents,

so I couldn't have any fun.

Your trip wasn't fun?

Interesting, but not fun.

What do you call fun?

First of all,

being with kids my own age.

You don't know any here.

I'll meet some.

Most have left by now.

No, well, I hope not.

It's no fun going on holiday

with your parents...

even if they're nice.

I've always made friends

on holiday, except this year.

Boys or girls?

Both.

Which do you want to meet here?

Both.

-You'd prefer boys?

-Not especially.

You'd like to find a boyfriend?

Just a friend.

A friend?

Come here.

Tell me...

have you ever been in love?

I'm sure you have been.

There must've been a kid

in school...

whom you said you'd marry

when you grew up.

Sure, when I was very little.

-Since then?

-Nothing.

Let's say, a few boys have...

impressed me.

Well, then?

That's all.

What happened? You must have

impressed them, too?

Maybe...

It's mostly people

I saw only for a moment.

So I don't know.

What do you mean?

Like last year...

in Italy, I was in a restaurant

and a boy at the next table...

kept looking at me. I mean,

we both looked and smiled.

Then he left.

A boy your age?

A bit older, about 16 or 17.

I was 14 last year.

Was he Italian?

No, French.

Then you can see him again!

Maybe. The car

had Paris license plates.

So you expect to run into him

on the street?

I doubt it!

If you saw him,

what would happen?

I don't know.

-Would you dare speak to him?

-No!

Would he dare?

Maybe...but he doesn't

really interest me.

There's very little chance

we'll ever meet.

I pictured meeting him again,

but I didn't believe in it.

Now it's too late.

It's probably better

if I don't see him.

I see...

In fact, you'd like to meet

someone who didn't leave.

Not at all! You're pretending

not to understand.

No, maybe I'm too old.

No, you're not.

You even seem to be my age.

I can't believe

you've been married.

Neither can I.

Maybe I wasn't really.

I mean...

I never believed in it,

deep down.

That's why it failed.

It's cold!

That's Pierre!

Who?

Pierre. A very old friend.

I haven't seen him since...

before I got married.

What a surprise!

Yes, it is.

Do you know my cousin Pauline?

No, she's never

been here before.

You haven't been here

for at least five years.

Precisely! What a memory!

Well, I'm back.

I come every year.

Have you been here long?

We just arrived.

I have the use of the house.

My brother went back to Paris.

I see him now and then.

He says you work very hard.

I spent all of August

preparing my collection.

So now, I've come here to rest.

Have you finished school?

Yes and no.

I'm doing graduate work.

Are you here alone?

Yes, until school starts

with Pauline.

Her parents left her in my care.

So to speak!

And you?

You look like a real expert!

Ever done it?

Never.

I could teach you.

We won't be here long enough.

You could get the feel of it

this year...

and continue next year.

It doesn't take strength...

just balance.

I bet it takes skill!

Hey, Pierre!

Traitor.

You promised to teach me.

You don't need lessons.

Is he a good teacher?

The best.

I recommend him.

Marion...Henri.

My cousin Pauline.

Is it as easy as he says?

No. The other day

he lent me his board...

I found out how hard it was.

You do much harder things.

He rides breakers in a dugout!

Really? Where? ln Africa?

The South Pacific, where I live.

I'm an ethnologist.

Here's my daughter.

Meet my daughter, Marie.

Your hair's full of sand!

I was Brittany-wrestling

with Gaelle.

But it's done standing up.

We fell down.

She pushed you?

We both fell.

That's not Brittany wrestling.

That's Greco-Roman.

What? Reto-no-man?

Greco-Roman.

Go take a shower.

I'll be right along. Hurry!

She's funny.

Are you all free for dinner?

My house is there.

I thought we were going

to a restaurant.

They're no good around here.

OK. We'll help you cook.

Thanks. Want a hand putting

your board away?

No. I'll do it later.

You'll meet us there?

See you. Let's go.

See you later...

Is that it?

She's the one who keeps

my feet on the ground.

I mean that geographically,

in a specific place on the map.

Because of her,

I own real estate! The irony!

My brothers wanted

to sell our villa.

I bought it

for Marie's holidays.

She lives in Rennes

with her mother.

Wednesday, you'll take me home?

Sure, honey.

Are you in a hurry to leave?

The holidays are nearly over.

Time goes too fast with you!

With you, too.

That's sweet.

Go to bed, love.

I'll kiss you good night later.

But...

Doesn't your work

pin you to a place?

I spend time in places...

but I don't have

a permanent address.

I'm a nomad.

I go where and when I want...

without asking anyone.

But you don't live alone there?

Yes. The last few years

I've had affairs...

nothing permanent.

My ex-wife needs to identify

herself with a home.

I don't have one.

This house isn't really a home.

It has no furniture.

I can't stand a woman...

who makes me think of her

as furniture.

Glad to hear it!

But that's what she did.

I wanted her to be...

as free as I am,

as light and moveable...

to have no luggage,

physical or mental.

She had a daughter!

So did I!

You didn't take care of her.

Yes, I did. I raised her

the first two years.

She wasn't a burden?

Very little.

-Less than your wife?

-Much less!

Then keep her.

I have no right,

legally, that is.

And a child needs roots.

She can uproot herself later.

Didn't you say you lived alone?

Yes, but...

I'm just waiting.

Waiting for what?

That unpredictable thing

called love.

I've never really

fallen in love...

and I want to.

I let myself be misled

by a man...

who convinced me that

he loved me and I loved him.

I believed him.

But it wasn't love.

lt was being faithful.

Being faithful

meant a lot to me.

It still does.

I believe that to really love...

you must think

it'll last forever.

But we all make mistakes.

You won't make any more?

I don't know.

But I won't believe

something's love when it isn't.

Love burns.

I want to burn with love.

When it's worth it, I hope.

For whom?

I don't know.

It'll happen, I don't know when,

but quite unexpectedly.

Maybe never.

I hope not. But I'll burn.

But will you know

where to aim your flame?

No. I said it would happen...

quite unexpectedly.

Then you'll make

another mistake.

That's true. I could.

You're free now. Enjoy it.

Don't tie yourself down.

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