Pauline at the Beach Page #2

That depends to whom.

Freedom doesn't interest me.

I don't think the way you do.

What bothered me,

if I may say so...

wasn't being attached...

but being attached to someone

I didn't burn for.

I've never burned with love

except in dreams...

as girls do for a movie-star...

a prince, an athlete, a face

glimpsed and never seen again.

But it wasn't love.

I've probably set hearts aflame.

But they belonged to people

I didn't care about...

so I never noticed.

Men may have

killed themselves over me!

l hope not.

If they did, I never found out.

But strange as it may seem,

one thing has never happened...

to spark a love in myself

and in another...

instantly and reciprocally.

But I don't despair.

It'll happen one day...

and suddenly,

I'll go up in flames.

Maybe not suddenly.

Just as well.

Passion that flames too quickly

burns out too fast.

No, it must catch right away,

take you by surprise.

And after that?

After the surprise?

After the surprise,

it's all surprises.

Why worry about ''after''?

Because love, like life,

exists in time.

Yes, but in the present.

You live in an improbable

future, so you don't live.

What? You don't know me!

I do a little.

I can guess...see through you.

So what?

Let me ask you a question.

-I gather you live alone?

-For now.

Do you like it?

No. I'm like Marion, waiting.

To burn with passion?

For a deep and lasting love.

I believe in it,

even if you don't.

Meanwhile, I live.

Live? You live on hope?

Maybe, but I live well.

Better than if I

compromised with someone...

I really didn't love.

I'm in the same boat

you both are.

I lived with a girl.

We stayed together too long...

and a few months ago

had the guts to split up.

And now you're looking for

the ideal woman?

I'd say...

someone I could trust...

even if at first...

Forget it!

-Even if what?

-I've said enough.

Less than I did!

And I! You said the least!

No, I don't think so.

That's right.

Pauline hasn't said a word.

True.

Let's see. Are you waiting, too?

Of course.

You have hopes?

Sure. At my age,

I'd be dumb not to.

Have you ever been in love?

You told me you had been.

I did not. Maybe I made it up.

Then tell us.

We won't hold it against you.

It's not interesting.

Yes, it is.

We talk about it.

Why won't you?

Because I don't feel like it.

Even if it's interesting to you,

at my age it isn't.

And at our age?

Obviously,

since you talk about it.

Doesn't it interest you?

Yes, I learn things.

Then you're not being fair.

we could learn from you.

You don't need to.

You know enough.

She's putting on airs!

Be nice. Answer.

Have you ever been in love?

-With who?

-A boy.

-Your age?

-No, he was old.

How old?

Twelve. I was six.

He was very old for me.

Is that all?

She's putting us on.

I don't agree with any of you,

except maybe Pierre.

Really? What do you think?

I couldn't get all excited

about someone...

without knowing him.

You must know people

to love them.

People?

She always says that.

Boys, then.

To love them or to be friends

with them?

Both. It's the same.

-No, it isn't.

-Yes, it is.

Anyway, I'll never fall in love

with someone I don't know.

How do you know?

What about that boy?

Which one, the 12-year-old?

No, another. It doesn't count.

It was like a dream.

You're right. Love is a dream.

Not entirely.

Her feet are on the ground!

You said love must be shared.

And you want it to happen

right away, at first sight.

People's superficial aspects

don't interest me.

The deeper ones do.

But you sense them underneath.

Love is when,

beneath the surface...

you see in a flash

a person's whole depth.

But you said

one can make mistakes.

That's true.

But what can one do?

She's seeing right into

our souls there!

No. For that I'd have to

be in love.

For the moment,

you're all quite opaque.

Even Pauline.

Let's go dancing?

Where?

There's nowhere to go.

The Casino.

It's awful.

Doesn't matter.

We'll have fun tonight.

I'm going home!

Pierre, don't!

OK, but I warned you.

Isn't it great

that we met again?

I feel younger suddenly.

You haven't changed...

in five years.

Neither have you.

I still love you as much.

So do I.

What's got into you?

Kiss me. You used to before.

Before? Before I got married!

So much has happened since.

You said you hadn't changed.

Physically!

If I'd loved you,

I'd have married you.

You said you'd made a mistake!

With you it would have been

a mistake, too!

It's just as well.

Come on.

They'll wonder where we are.

Wait! Listen to me.

You must understand.

If you believe in love

at first sight...

tonight all my old love

resurfaced.

I realized no other woman

made and still makes me feel...

like you do.

You're drunk!

If you're my friend,

leave me alone.

I don't want to talk about love.

That's all you talked about

all evening.

In the abstract.

You might as well know.

If I ever love again,

it won't be you.

I can wait.

No, I value you as a friend,

but love can't be forced

You may change your mind.

Why are you so biased

against me?

Listen, stop talking about that.

OK. But I had to get it

off my chest.

Pauline, Pierre wants to

dance with you.

Let's go to my house.

It's on the way.

For one last drink.

Let's go to my place.

Pauline's tired.

OK. I'll follow you.

See you there.

What's that?

I haven't finished it.

Let me see them all.

We're late!

Did you sleep well?

I got up at 11:
30.

No, don't touch it.

I'll show you.

Bring the sail up very slowly.

Careful! Stand behind me.

Very slowly...

Let the sail flap...

cross your hand over,

and hold it like this.

On the sand?

Stand like that.

I'll put my foot there.

I lean back?

But feel...the wind filling it.

And my arm?

Try again.

It's very hard.

She's too much!

I've seen worse!

I've got it now.

-It's very hard.

-It's all balance.

He doesn't know what to do.

Can I show her?

You know how?

Got a board?

I don't like those things much.

I have a sailboat in Granville.

Your hands aren't

in the right place.

Like that. With your hand.

It's really hard.

The wind's against us.

You been here long?

We just arrived.

Place your legs right.

Is she your sister?

My cousin. Cute, isn't she?

Who's he?

Pauline, watch

or you'll never learn!

Pauline, your turn.

That's all for me.

Coming tomorrow?

Maybe.

See you later.

Stand straighter.

Watch for the wind.

Were you waiting? Am I late?

I came to see you alone.

I'd be embarrassed

in front of the others.

Then come in.

I'm ashamed of myself.

It never happened

so fast before.

What could be better?

You wanted to go up in flames!

If it was reciprocal.

It is.

I doubt it.

I'm only your latest conquest.

You see things in terms

of ownership and possession.

I don't.

We spent a wonderful night

together.

Let's spend more,

as many as you want.

Why? You don't want to?

The logistics

are too complicated.

Why? What's stopping us?

Come to my place.

Move in.

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