The Best Offer Page #7

- What?

You are more beautiful

than the dancer.

Dinner is served.

- Please be seated.

- Thank you.

I warn you, as a waiter

I'm not the best.

I offer no guarantees.

- I'll take the risk.

- Somewhat foolhardy of you.

- Why?

- If the service is not to your liking,

next time I'd have to

make a reservation

at the best restaurant in town.

Let's not ruin this

evening, Virgil.

- Please, let's not talk about me.

- Alright.

Instead I'd like you to

tell me about your past.

You see, there's nothing

very original about my life.

A child loses his parents,

a horrible orphanage...

The only point of interest is that

the nuns would punish the boy

by making him work with a restorer

who had a workshop there.

That's beautiful.

He loved to observe

this craftsman,

so the little boy got up

to all sorts of mischief

to ensure he'd be punished

as often as possible.

So he became

acquainted with art,

techniques of painting, how to

tell a forgery from an original

etc., etc.

In an old article of yours I

found on the Internet, you said,

"There's something authentic

in every forgery."

What did you mean?

When simulating another's work

the forger can't resist the temptation

to put in something of himself.

Often it's just a trifle,

a detail of no interest.

One unsuspected stroke,

by which the forger inevitably

ends up betraying himself,

and revealing his own, utterly

authentic sensibilities.

I really love the way you talk.

You couldn't have

been more convincing.

Huh? A born seducer.

- So you'd give me a pass?

- A+. With distinction!

Sorry, you've been a

bit neglected lately.

You haven't said

anything about Claire.

If I didn't know about her

problems, I'd say she was normal.

And she's much more beautiful

than you described.

Really. I liked her.

You're going to make me jealous?

If you want my advice, you pray

that girl never gets better.

Do you want lots 87 and

88 done separately?

No, together. That's important.

How can I help you?

- It's about Robert.

- What's going on?

Don't be afraid to tell me.

We're not getting on so

well, that's the problem.

All those girls

hovering around him...

I guess I'm just...

I'm afraid of losing him.

Is there anything I can do?

Do you want me to talk to him?

For a while now he's been talking

about someone called Claire.

Claire?

I don't understand.

With him everybody's got to be

on their guard, all the time.

That goes for you, too.

I feel so stupid.

Promise me you won't

say a word to him.

I promise.

Have you been waiting long?

If you'd phoned, I wouldn't

have kept you waiting.

- I prefer to see you.

- Is something wrong?

My assistant will come by today.

Kindly hand over the

Vaucanson as it is.

Alright. Whatever you want.

Tell him how much you're owed.

He'll pay you.

Aren't I at least

due an explanation?

You're not the trustworthy

man I thought you were.

It's weird seeing them so

perfect and polished up.

It's as if they weren't mine.

I believe nothing is missing.

There is something missing.

How could you have lived the

best years of your life in here?

I don't know. I don't know.

It was just the right thing.

"Was."

it still is.

It always will be.

Always.

You have to get out of here.

You have to do it by yourself.

I don't have the courage.

It's a spider's web that I don't

know how to break free of.

It's an old collection

my father was fond of.

I never did understand

what it was.

Hello? Good morning, director.

Yes, I'm nearly finished.

But I would like to

rewrite the last chapter.

A more upbeat ending.

If that's all you want...

Yes. Talk to you soon. Thanks.

I wouldn't rule out them being

part of something valuable,

but exactly what I couldn't say.

- I often wonder if...

- What?

If you're more interested

in my furniture than in me.

How could you say that?

I shouldn't have let you

in here. I shouldn't have.

I've found all the

missing pieces.

How do you feel about

finishing the job?

Well, it's your problem.

Sarah came to see

me a few days ago.

She was upset about

your relationship.

- Are you here to advise me now?

- No, you're the expert on women.

Alright. We can pick

up where we left off.

On two conditions.

You just stop involving

me in your private life.

And the second?

Is that you take this back.

I didn't get excited about

your Vaucanson for the money.

I brought it back.

It's in the car.

And the new pieces too?

You'll have to be patient for those.

They're tied up with my private life.

I don't know and I

don't want to know.

If you were forced to choose

between Claire and the automaton,

which would you take?

- This one.

- An excellent choice, Mr. Oldman.

If it's the wrong size,

please inform the lady to

pass by whenever she wishes.

Thank you, I'll let her know.

Claire? It's me.

Claire! I've brought lunch.

Claire!

Claire, answer me!

Claire!

Claire!

Claire!

Are you down here?

Claire!

Have any of you seen a woman

going out the gate of the

villa across the road?

No, I can't say I have.

Has anybody seen someone

coming out of the villa?

A young woman. Medium

height, light hair.

- A bit pale.

- I think I saw her.

I didn't see her go out,

but she was walking

away from the gate.

- When?

- This morning at breakfast.

- What else can you tell me?

- She seemed a bit weird.

- Weird? Which way did she go?

- That way. Towards the park.

Idiot!

- Hello? Virgil?

- She's gone.

- Who? What's going on?

- Claire's disappeared.

I've looked. They saw

her leave this morning.

- Do you want me to come over?

- Please.

Has this happened before?

She never even appeared

at the windows.

Just behind the shutters.

Did she have friends

she could go to?

She'd talk to people on her

computer under different names.

- She can't have gone far.

- Let's hope so.

I've already been

round three times.

- Hello?

- Mr. Oldman.

- Listen, has Miss lbbetson phoned?

- No.

- If she calls, let me know.

- I will.

Mr. Oldman, I wouldn't like

to think you'd forgotten.

Forgotten what?

- There he is. Here we go.

- Lot number one.

Late Baroque, Venetian,

mid-18th-century mirror.

Inlaid wood with gold leaf,

with adornments, floral

motifs and festoons.

Upper frame richly...

Inlaid wood with gold

leaf, with adornments,

floral motifs and festoons.

Upper frame richly

engraved with whirls.

Can we say 130,000 Euros?

140,000 Euros.

150,000 Euros.

Gentleman on my left.

160,000 Euros. Lady up the back.

170,000 Euros. 180,000

Euros on the telephone.

200,000 Euros. Gentleman

on my left in the room.

220,000 Euros.

250,000 Euros on the tele...

Still nothing, Mr. Oldman.

I'll keep looking.

- Robert's looking further afield.

- Alright.

- I'll call you later.

- Alright.

- He's gone crazy.

- 280,000.

310,000. Any more?

Sold!

I'm doing the rounds of the

hospitals, but there's nothing.

Just keep looking.

- We'll find her. I'll keep in touch.

- Thanks.

Lot number 2.

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