The True Nature of Bernadette

Mr. Brown please. It's his wife.

I'm going shopping with Yanick. Don't worry, we'll be a little late.

No; I'm phoning so you don't worry. We might be very late.

That's it. Yes.

See you later, George.

Hi, I'm Bernadette. I bought a farm near here.

May I get through, please?

This is my son Yanick. Say hello, Yanick.

Please, can we pass through?

We've been driving a long time.

Nice day.

You really like fruit, don't you?

Would you like an orange, a grapefruit?

No, thanks.

Can I pass through now?

You have no right to do this!

The road belongs to everyone.

It's federal, it's provincial. It's illegal.

I know the law. My husband is a lawyer.

Give me back my banana!

What do you hope to gain by this?

I'm warning you, get that thing off the road. Let me through!

No.

Listen, Thomas. I'm only the mayor of a small village.

But I know very important people. They've more power than you.

Then fetch them! I want to talk to them.

So you have grievances. Who hasn t?

Think the Government is going to do something just for you?

All you're going to do is make us lose our contracts.

And lose our credit.

O.K. I'm getting the police.

I'm getting the police.

Come on Felicien. We'll settle that. Come along, Rock.

Listen, Thomas.

How's it going?

We grew up together, right?

Against who are you fighting today?

Against Rock who works for you, and me who delivers your mail.

No one important around... no one from the city.

I'm from the city.

But I'm not important. Anyhow, I'm moving to the country.

I'm Bernadette.

I'm Antoine. Delighted!

I'm Rock. Hello.

This is my house. Isn't it beautiful?

Well... yes.

Rock works because I employ him

and I don't declare it to the Unemployment Insurance.

Felicien is mayor of a dying village.

As for Antoine, tell us how you lost your land.

And how many debts you have.

Listen, Thomas!

I'll pay my debts.

I'm an honourable man.

Your honour is good for what?

The credit companies?

The supermarket chains?

At least let Rock through. He works for you!

And let this nice lady pass.

She hasn't done you any harm.

Christ. What an irritating bunch.

You're richer than any of us.

You've only got your father to support.

You're a trouble-maker, Thomas.

A bloody trouble-maker.

I don't know you, but what you're doing is not very bright.

Childish contestation.

You've got everything, clean air, nature,

and you don't value it.

I never thought of that!

Do you know the degree of sulphuric anhydride in Montreal?

You don't, do you? Yanick couldn't breathe.

His eyes were as read as your shirt.

Here, he can breathe fresh air.

I want him to be a child of nature.

I don't want him to read or count.

The secret is to live close to nature.

I want him to love flowers and animals.

I'm vegetarian, are you?

I like a steak now and then!

You smoke.

That's bad for your health.

Yanick won't smoke.

I'll teach him to make love like they do in Polynesia.

Mothers teach their sons to masturbate. Beautiful, isn't it?

Very beautiful!

Not everyone has a Polynesian mother.

Some of us have to manage alone!

Are you married?

Then you have no children? - Well, no.

Are you living with a woman? - I live with my father.

With your father.

Do you know the house I'm going to?

Yes. You'll be my neighbour.

That's great!

Why is it great?

I don't know. It's great, that's all.

I hardly know you, but I detest you already.

What you're doing is ridiculous.

I know it's ridiculous.

Thomas is blocking the road in protest.

Shall I let the meter run?

I couldn't care less!

I have Madelaine in the car.

She just learnt her son will never walk or talk ever.

She's been crying for an hour.

Will you let us through?

No.

Come on, Thomas!

Mummy, I want to see the cows.

Don't cry!

It will work out. Doctors can be wrong.

I'm sure it will be alright.

He is beautiful.

How old is he?

Five.

Please, please don't cry!

Her name is Madelaine Cantin.

She's not married. You know, around here...

I'll look after the boy for a bit.

How are things?

You're being punished for your sins.

Don't listen to him!

Madelaine! You have lots of courage!

Lovely, isn't it?

The salesman was right.

No imitation, it's all real wood.

There's a porch to run around in... happy?

Let's go and look.

Inside it's colonial, lovely!

God, you frightened me!

You frightened me too!

My name is Octave, my horse is called ''Black Misery''.

I'm the new owner.

It's a pleasure. Excuse me, Miss...

Do I know you?

I'm going to live here with my son.

Oh, that's your son.

Hello, Yanick. Beautiful boy!

The horse is yours?

Lovely, isn't it?

Beautiful... and big.

Well, yes, quite big.

This is hay.

Hay? In the kitchen?

Well, you know.

You have nowhere to stay?

You have no home, is that it?

Poor thing!

Listen, you can stay here

on one condition: Black Misery sleeps outside!

Outside Black Misery, come on!

Outside with you!

Come on, outside!

God, everything's dirty!

Want to help?

Where shall we start?

We'll start with the stove.

Must be terrible to be alone.

I'm sorry for you. But you're better off here than in Montreal.

Sleeping in dirty streets, the smell, the noise...

You can stay here as long as you want.

You're very kind, Bernadette.

Let me do that!

Hurt yourself?

Dear God!

You shouldn't have... come lie down.

Careful now.

You really shouldn't have.

It hurts!

Here?

In the thigh.

I'd massage it, but there's no alcohol.

Never mind, lie down.

A little higher.

Just a little higher.

Still higher.

Well... if it'll make you happy.

A fruit tree bears fruit.

Each fruit is first a flower.

The flower is pregnant.

The grain bears another fruit, and then?

Another fruit tree!

It's the cycle of nature.

The water of a well, the most natural!

No chloride, no detergent.

It's dry.

Because it doesn't know us yet.

Where's my father?

Octave is your...? - He is my father. Where is he?

I don't know.

I'm not coming home, I live here now.

I like it better. - Come on, father!

I'm not going home.

You're a bad son, I'm staying here.

He shuts me in, Miss, for days.

He wants to kill Black Misery. The only friend I got.

Believe me, it's true!

You really want to kill that horse?

Yes I do.