The Telephone Bar (Le Bar du téléphone)

All resemblance with existing events or people

would be fortuitous or involuntary.

Presented by:

In: THE TELEPHONE BAR

Original screenplay and dialogues by:

Adaptation by:

Music by:

With:

Director of photography:

Sets:

Sound:

Editing:

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A film by:

You will make him fight with a retinal detachment?

He must pay me back his poker debts.

And you think the doc will agree?

He'll do it.

He lost a lot of money too...

Jo Populo...

He was a good boxer...

He is a good boxer!

You bastard...

Véronèse, what's your beef?

It's a good deal, ten to one. And he will take a dive.

I don't like a manager who makes a wounded man fight.

Why are you playing, then?

A matter of principle.

And I want to see your face if he wins.

Listen to me, Véronèse.

I know you well,

I know who you are,

and I respect you,

but you know who I represent, don't you?

The Pérez Brothers.

So, you can play the prosecutor with your own guys, not with me.

Pérez...

I thought you were a friend.

Are you kidding me?

I don't have friends.

Except this one.

Now you listen to me,

Fat Nose.

I'll put 100,000 on your fixed fight. But you're warned.

If Populo wins...

I'll shake you down.

Understood?

And you'll pay a lot.

- Bye, Jo. - Bye.

Jo?

Get in.

Get in.

I know you'll take a dive, Jo.

If Fat Nose tells everyone,

the odds will plummet.

I don't care about the odds. I want you to fight fair.

That's funny.

If I don't obey, I'll get in trouble.

Why should I fight fair?

No reason.

I just want the Pérez Brothers to be in the wrong.

I've had them in my sights for a long time.

That's your reason.

I have mine, too.

I don't know what I'll do.

When you fight, so much goes through your head...

I know.

You've been a boxer?

Yes, I was a boxer too.

Long time ago.

I killed someone and I gave it up.

I get it.

But I don't know what I'll do.

Jo.

If you dive, I won't blame you.

- What's up, chicks? - Hi.

How are you doing?

Showing your butt, I see?

Watch out, my nail polish!

Don't be mad.

I'm in a hurry, please!

No, no.

- Wait... - No, I'm in a hurry. My work.

He's not ready yet?

He didn't wake up today.

You have a hard time doing it?

I can do it on my own, it'll be faster...

Wait, I'll help...

- Look, here it's too tight... - No, you're not helping.

Boum-Boum.

I was...

She couldn't put it on, so I wanted to help...

You buy too small sizes.

Take your coffee, we won't wait for you.

- Barjo, stop. - Just a little.

Don't take my T-shirt!

Leave it, then.

What's with him? Bad night?

He sleeps too much.

Come on! Let's go, Jo! Come on!

C'mon! C'mon, Jo! Go in! Forward!

Forward, Jo!

The winner is: Jo Populo.

I don't understand.

He had the fight in the pocket, and he goes down.

One round fighter. As usual.

Isn't it, Bébé?

Yeah. OK.

Bye.

You were saying?

I said you owe me 1,000,000.

Listen, I'm sorry,

but I don't carry that much here.

In 500 notes.

Deadline Thursday night.

After that, 100,000 more every day.

Are you crazy, Véronèse?

You gave me a bad tip.

Now you're fined.

Fined?

You want to disrespect the Pérez Brothers?

Exactly.

You are crazy, Véronèse.

Robert will never want to pay.

Not a dime.

Then it's war.

Listen, Véronèse...

Shut up, Fat Nose.

You're in the wrong, now you pay.

When Nicolas was ratted on, five years ago,

I suspected you.

Now, I know what you're worth.

And I have a reason.

So now, sanctions.

We can't leave him alone without him fucking up.

What can you do? He was always like this.

And at his age, he can't change.

But Robert, I still can't understand why he told Véronèse.

And he had nothing to gain by telling him.

I'll tell you why.

He was so proud to receive the great Toni Véronèse.

To give him advice.

To win him money.

And now he puts the shake on us like we're a tranny bar!

Stop acting like kids.

Well.

What's the decision to make?

Do you think he'll attack us?

No doubt about that.

He's the happiest with a gun in his hand.

I know how to use a gun too.

Don't be foolish, Samuel.

You knew how, but now you're a respectable businessman.

Like all of us.

- Then, we pay. - No way. And sit down, Henri, please.

We know how this work. If we start paying, it's all the way down.

So?

I think...

we should wait.

Let him make the first move.

We won't have to wait long.

He'll start the party Friday.

And then?

What, then?

So what?

He'll destroy a few clubs, put bombs, wreak havoc everywhere...

We don't care. We're insured.

We'll look like chumps!

Less than if we pay.

If you have a better solution...

What if we used Lil Jeannot and his team?

Good idea!

And do you know where Véronèse is hiding?

He knows where we are.

For now, he has the advantage, he can choose where to fight.

That's very important, we can't be reckless now.

Yes.

But Lil Jeannot could find him...

Not right now!

What if Véronèse comes to the gym? He could shoot me!

In a just world...

Calm down, we're not there.

Yet.

Commissioner?

Gambling circle on the first floor...

The manager doesn't understand, says he has no enemies.

Isn't it a Pérezes joint?

Not officially.

So, nobody presses charges. And no victims...

It's a racket attempt.

But it's not an ordinary racket.

Cause crossing the Pérezes means it's not an ordinary guy.

Let's wait for the next one.

"Georges' place - Inn".

Here's Georges. Our dear Georges.

We couldn't ask for anything better.

Boum-Boum, you make ruckus only if I ask you to.

OK, Boum-Boum?

OK.