Populaire

ECHARD & SONS INSURANCE

Above all,

a secretary is discreet.

She is indispensable,

without being pushy.

An employer

must see efficiency right away.

Wearing glasses is essential.

But my eyesight's fine.

So what?

So's mine.

I wear neutral lenses.

Glasses give an air that says serious

and invisible.

Besides that, you're spot-on.

Natural-looking make-up,

understated hairstyle that stays put,

a hint of perfume...

Soap, if you can't afford perfume.

It's what you wear.

And how you wear it.

What's he like?

Not bad at all.

What's your name again, pumpkin?

Rose Pamphyle, with a Y.

From St Fraimbault.

What brings you here,

Rose Pamphyle with a Y?

St Fraimbault's miles away.

I've always worked in my father's shop.

It's the best in the village.

It's important to be the best.

I've done my time in retail.

Opportunities are rare back home,

if you want to be a secretary.

All the girls do.

It's the latest fashion.

Asecretary means being modern,

meeting people, going round the world,

working for important men...

Work for me

and you'll go round Lisieux.

That's nice for a start.

Reality isn't a magazine.

Bosses don't go on great adventures.

Nor do their secretaries.

Have a safe trip home.

I need this job, Mr Echard.

The only thing I'm good at is typing.

Typing's the minimum requirement.

Using 10 fingers isn't illegal.

Well?

How did it go?

People stared at me

like I was an imposter.

I bet no one was prettier than you.

I got the job!

It's only for a week. On trial.

Asecretary!

Just imagine!

When do you leave?

Tomorrow.

Tomorrow, you get engaged.

Price these up before you go, kid.

Yes, sir.

I won't marry Maurice, Dad.

She rejects

the best catch in the village.

Maurice could make her happy.

I can't.

I just wanted to confirm

I've drawn up your estimate and...

The estimate...

Excuse me.

Mr Echard,

I'm not sure I should ask this,

but would you mind

not smoking at work?

Only a law could stop me, pumpkin.

That machine's made for a woman.

Not an elephant.

As I was saying...

I've drawn up your estimate!

Face it, Bob. We have a problem.

The French see problems everywhere.

Up is the way to go.

We didn't rebuild after the war

to make this New York.

People don't like change.

Acar bigger than your office.

Time to move, Taylor.

You can't get rid of me

so easily, Echard.

My Buick and you

make me a happy man.

I have to wait for Rose.

Your new recruit?

How's she doing?

She only started three days ago.

Now, that one

got the job

for more than her professional skills.

Happy birthday to you!

We surprise you every year

and every year it works.

Joe, Simone, come here!

You were just perfect!

No encouragement

from the judges for me?

Marie, I've been telling you you're perfect

ever since primary school.

Wait!

Make a wish.

I have all I could wish for.

Tell us the story again

of you and Mum

and how you met.

You know it by heart.

When I came fromAmerica

to liberate France...

With thousands of other soldiers.

First, the marines

stormed the beaches of Normandy.

With our help.

Then I parachuted down

behind enemy lines.

Whose barn did he land on?

Granddad's!

Maybe so.

But it was me

who got to marry your mummy.

The prettiest girl around.

She still is.

Echard & Sons Insurance!

That's right.

Mr Echard is available every morning.

Thursday at 10?

Yes?

You are Mr...

Constant.

Right.

I've noted that.

Have a good day.

That's a T, not a D, at the end.

I don't know if it's legible.

Mr and Mrs Blaiseau.

This is Miss Pamphyle,

my new secretary.

Please, this way.

No need, this won't take long.

There's no problem, I hope.

No.

We want you to have this.

1949!

I can't possibly.

Silly!

I've known you since you were this high.

You're too young

to have known me that high.

May I show you out?

Cigarette?

Rose...

I've watched you all week.

You don't seem happy.

I bought

a shorthand manual yesterday.

Forget shorthand.

I'll stick to it.

You'll see, I'll be...

Wasting your time.

Not at all.

I've worked out the switchboard.

Almost.

Basically, I don't think

you have a future with me.

Unless...

You agree to do a little something.

Anything.

I got the idea

when I first saw you.

It's not strictly work-related

but I'm sure you'll enjoy it, pumpkin.

And so will I.

Rose!

You got it all wrong.

No, you've got it wrong.

It's not so easy to get me in bed!

Morning!

You're nuts.

As if I'd come on to you!

You and your sharp suits,

you do nothing for me.

It's mutual.

Even better!

This is where I want you,

not in my bed.

REGIONAL SPEED-TYPING CHAMPIONSHIPS

This is all I have to do

to keep my job?

Participate in a contest?

Not participate.

Win.

- Isn't this a friendly match?

- No such thing for an athlete.

An athlete? Where?

I see an insurance man.

You're looking at the coach

of the next Normandy champion

of speed-typing.

Echard, when you hire a secretary,

date her, marry her,

don't enter her in competitions.

With no training,

she types a mile a minute.

She has a gift.

Sleep with her.

She needs that more than a medal.

Acoach never sleeps with his athlete.

It's counter-productive.

She's not cut out for competition.

Wanna bet?

You're on.

I'll win this time.

Rose is a timid creature.

With some care and attention,

she'll be unbeatable.

Your kindness will be your downfall.

In the first round,

they must type

360 characters a minute.

To win, at that pace,

is like sprinting 5km.

Typing! I can do that.

Really? Tell that to the jury.

Every inverted letter, wrong word

and spacing mistake

costs you 100 characters.

16 qualify in 10 minutes,

then eight, then four...

Then two in a five-minute final.

You'd never beat these girls.

They're fab!

Let's go, Paulette!

Paulette Martineau!

The speed-typing queen!

Next up, it's the nationals.

What's the world record?

512 keystrokes a minute.

- An American did it.

- Why didn't you say so?

She's a disaster but when she types,

she's fast, strong and focused.

Ladies, please,

may I have your attention?

Everybody ready.

Hands over the keyboards.

358 keystrokes!

Two more and we'd have qualified!

Using 10 fingers,

you'd have made it.

It's not a sport for klutzes.

Stop!

Stop the car. I'll walk.

You should have taken your anger out

on the keyboard. It's too late now.

I could have opened it.

I may be a "klutz,"

but not a cripple!

Never enter her

in a shooting contest.

She'd kill us all.

You stink of tobacco as usual,

Miss Pamphyle.

Are you above the rules

of this establishment?

It's for decent girls!

You take things too hard, pumpkin.

Stop calling me pumpkin.

I have a name like everyone else.

Defeat isn't always a bad thing.

For you.

Tomorrow,

you'll find another protg.

I'll go back to Nowheresville,

to marry the mechanic's son.

The whole village will make fun of me

for getting fired after a week.

I'm the laughing stock.

Nobody's making you go back

to Nowhere...

St Fraimbault.

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