The Lovers (Les Amants)

THE LOVERS

Bravo, Raoul!

Come, Kiki.

What style!

Isn't he fantastic?

Oh, you know I'm no judge.

No, Jeanne Tournier knew nothing about polo.

At times she accompanied her friend Maggy.

Friends from childhood,

they were both provincials by birth and by education.

But while Maggy had married and now led an exciting life in Paris,

Jeanne had stayed in Dijon

to wed Henri Tournier, publisher of the Burgundy Monitor.

Henri loved his wife

but devoted most of his time to his newspaper.

Several years passed in this way.

Encouraged by her husband,

she'd recently taken to visiting Maggy twice a month in Paris.

She had fun, met all sorts of people,

and received reassuring compliments.

At Maggy's, Jeanne met

Raoul Florès.

He's never played so well.

He's unbeatable. Bravo, Raoul!

You were wonderful.

Here, take this hideous thing.

How do you always look so lovely?

Were you bored?

On the contrary.

You almost made me lose.

Me?

I could think of nothing but you.

Really?

- Do you still like me a little? - Yes, I do.

I'm still formal with you, I'm afraid.

I'll go change. I'll be back in five minutes.

Let me look at you.

Love agrees with you. You're unrecognizable.

Love agrees with you. You're unrecognizable.

- Hello, madame. - Hello, Coudray.

- How's everything? - Fine.

I'm dead tired.

Then madame must rest.

Catherine!

Darling!

Not so fast! You'll fall.

My little baby!

Were you a good girl? Hello, Marthe.

Madame's changed her hairstyle.

Me? I don't think so.

Yes, it's like my dolly's hair.

That little hussy? Thank you very much.

Where's Papa? - Can't you hear?

I'll be up to say good night, darling.

Hello, darling.

Why so affectionate?

Affectionate? I'm just being myself.

Am I disturbing you?

I always do, don't I?

"Always" is a woman's word.

Did you have fun in Paris?

- "Fun" is a man's word. - Instead of being witty -

First, I'm not witty. Second, I'm doing the best I can.

No, you could go see about dinner.

Very well. I'll change in no time and be back in a sec.

"No time," "in a sec."

That's Maggy talk.

Thank you, Coudray.

Well?

You've no idea how important one's hairstyle is in Paris.

It can be sleek or windswept, but it must be stylish.

It's the hair that makes a dress chic.

Thanks to hairstyling, you recognize -

Who?

Everyone.

American women, Swedish women, Parisians, provincials - everybody.

There's some truth in that.

Maggy knows these things.

She says if you're not a great beauty, you must have a look.

Why do you need a look? You have a husband.

Who hardly notices me.

If that's so, for whom do you wish to have a look?

No one.

For myself. To be fashionable.

It's my right.

And dear Maggy?

Still as silly and as busy as ever?

What can I say? Make fun of her if you like.

I'm not. I'm merely stating facts.

To me Maggy means phony chic,

phony society, phony Paris, phony everything.

Even her dog's phony.

You're being nasty.

Not at all. I'm very fond of her.

Just yesterday I put her picture on the women's page.

"At the Bagatelle Polo Club, Madame Marguerite Thiébaut-Leroy

awards the Carven Cup to Raoul Florès, team captain -"

That's right.

I know him well.

I saw him every day.

Interested in polo now?

Is he handsome?

More than that, he's very kind and intelligent.

You'd like him. Besides -

Here, this one's for you.

I had no time to talk to Coudray.

Anything new? Any problems? How's the garden?

You wouldn't need to ask if you spent less time

ignoring what goes on here.

I'll get it.

Speaking.

All right.

Now?

No, I'll decide myself.

I'll take care of it.

See you later, Hélène dear.

I must go to the office.

What a bother!

Anything I can do to help?

You look sad.

Me? I'm not sad.

Why aren't you sad?

"You're unrecognizable," Maggy had said.

Henri hadn't noticed a thing.

Monsieur spoils Catherine when Madame's gone.

She's putting on airs.

It amuses him. - No, that one needs mending.

It's bad for the child.

She does whatever she wants.

If he spoils her like this, she'll give you trouble later.

By a strange quirk of character,

Jeanne felt a surge of jealousy.

Is Madame going out?

Good evening, Marcelot.

I'd like to see my husband.

He's... seeing the paper to press. I'll get him.

I'll go with you.

I'm Hélène Cavalier, Mr. Tournier's secretary.

Marcelot said you were here. I hope it's nothing serious.

What gave you that idea?

I'm sorry. We're not used to seeing you here.

And at this hour? It startled me.

Don't worry.

I just dropped by to see my husband.

He's in the type room.

Hélène, where were you?

Madame Tournier.

Surprised?

She's a lucky one.

Who?

Her.

Jeanne, be serious. I have no time to waste.

Why have you come?

I don't know.

Henri's lack of interest in her made Jeanne feel free.

Her stays in Paris grew longer and more frequent.

Good morning, Chantal.

What time is it? - 11:45.

Mrs. Tournier's been up for ages.

Of course.

May I?

Did you sleep well?

You like this?

It's all right.

What's wrong? Get up on the wrong side of the bed?

Raoul adores you. Isn't that enough?

Let yourself be loved.

I am.

I know 30 women who'd die for him.

But you needn't worry. He's at your feet.

When you're away, he spends sleepless nights wondering about you.

He's used to certainty, and you've thrown him off track.

He told me so.

It keeps me from sleeping too.

Until noon.

Do you love Raoul or not?

- I guess so. - What an answer!

Don't you come to Paris to see him?

Can't you decide to be happy for once?

What more do you need?

What could be more natural after eight years of marriage?

At least he hasn't made you his slave.

You're lucky to be so bored at home.

Boredom is a rest cure. Believe me, I could use one.

A rest cure at home, and you're complaining?

I'm not.

Oh, it's you. Hold on.

It's Raoul.

Good morning.

And you?

Don't forget dinner at the Andrés' tonight - no excuses.

Let's get away from them.

- No, we can't. - Coming?

- Jeanne's tired. - Come on. Just for a few minutes.

We won't stay out late.

Wait for me!

Stand clear! Prepare for takeoff!

I'd like to make you happy.

But I am happy.

We only get moments together. I want a lifetime with you.