Populaire

The key to being a good secretary is discretion.

You must be indispensible, but without being pushy.

An employer must see you're capable, right off the bat.

Wearing glasses is essential.

- But I don't have vision problems. - So ?

Neither do I.

I wear non-prescription.

Glasses give the appearence of being at once serious and unobtrusive.

As for the rest, you've got it all.

Natural make up,

a sober coiffure that stays in place, moderate use of perfume.

A mild soap is also very good if you don't have perfume.

- It's all in your bearing. - And your forbearance!

So, what's he like?

Really not bad.

What's your name again, my dear?

Rose Pamphyle, with a "Y". I'm from Saint-Fraimbault.

What brings you here, Rose Pamphyle-with-a- "Y"?

Saint-Fraimbault is not next door.

So far I've worked for my father, in his drug store.

- It's the number one store in the village. - It's important to be number one.

I've done enough time in sales.

Opportunities are are back home.

Specially if you want to be a secretary.

All the girls want to be secretaries. It's the latest fad.

To be a secretary, is to be modern.

To meet lots of people, tour the world, and work for great men.

If you worked for me you would only get to tour Lisieux.

Pretty good for starters.

Reality is much less chic than what the papers say.

Not all bosses have incredible adventures and neither do their secretaries.

- You may as well go back home. - I need this job Mr. Echard.

The only thing I can do well is type.

Typing is the minimum requirement for a secretary.

It's not against the law to use ten fingers.

So?

How did it go?

The looked at me like I was dressed for a costume ball, Francoise.

I bet you were the prettiest one.

They took me on!

They hired me!

Just for one week. To try me out.

Secretary!

Do you realize what this...?!

- When do you start? - Tomorrow.

Tomorrow we make your engagement official.

Help me label this stuff before you leave.

Sure, Mr. Jean.

I won't marry Maurice, papa.

The best catch in town, and she's having none of it.

Maurice can make her happy, I just don't get it.

Well, it's just to tell you the estimate is done ...

the estimate and...

Excuse me.

Excuse me, Mr Echard,

I don't know if I should ask this, but do you think you could avoid smoking at work?

There'd have to be a law forbidding me, my dear.

This machine was made for a woman

not for an elefant.

I was saying, I've already done the estimate.

We have to face the obvious, Bob, we have a problem.

You French see problems everywhere.

Make everything climb to the sky.

We didn' rebuild half the city after the war to eventually replace it with New York.

- People need their landmarks. - The sky's my limit.

Your wheels are bigger than your office. When are you going to move out of there?

You don't think I'll leave you in peace so easily, Echard.

My Buick and you, are all I need to be happy.

I'll meet you there, Rose is running late.

Ah, your new recruit?

- Listen. - What is she like?

- She's only been here 3 days. - Oh, yeah.

Her ...?

I'm sure you didn't hire her for her professional qualities.

Every year we have a surprise party, and what's worse is, every year you're surprised.

- Bravo! - Joe, Simone, come here!

Bravo, you were perfect.

What about me, don't I get encouragement from the jury?

You already know Marie, you're perfect. I've been telling you since primary school!

Wait!

Make a wish.

I already have all I need.

Papa, tell us again how you and mama met.

You know that story by heart.

When I came from America to liberate France...

You, and thousands of other soldiers.

First, the Marines took the Normandy beaches.

- Which they couldn't do without our help. - Anyway...

I had to land behind enemy lines.

But, the barn he crashed into was your...?

Grampa's!

Perhaps, but it was me...

who married your mother.

She was the prettiest girl around.

And still is.

Echard and Sons Agency!

Absolutely, Sir.

Mr. Echard sees clients in the mornings.

Thursday, 10 o'clock?

Yes. You are Mr...?

...Constant.

Certainly.

Of course.

Mr. Constant Thursday, 10:.

Certainly!

I've made a note.

Good day, Mr Constant.

It's not a "D", but a "T" on the end.

I don't know if that's legible.

Ah, Mr. and Mrs. Blaiseau!

May I present Miss Pamphyle, my new secretary.

- Miss. - If you'll follow me.

It won't be necessary, we won't be long.

No problem with your account, I hope.

No, you must accept this.

1949! No, I couldn't.

Don't be a meathead, I've known you since you were this high.

A lady as young as yourself could not have known me when I was that high.

Shall I see you out?

Cigarette?

Rose...

I've watched you for a week now.

I'm not too sure you're happy here.

I bought a stenography manual yesterday, Mr Echard.

- Forget it, it's a no go. - I'll get the hang of it. You'll see...

You'll be wasting your time.

Not at all!

I've mastered telephone technique... sort of.

I just doubt that your future is here with me.

Unless...

you agree to do a little something.

Anything you want.

It's been on my mind since I first saw you.

It doesn't concern work strictly speaking,

but I'm sure it'll make you happy, my dear.

And me too.

Rose!

You misunderstood me!

It's YOU who misunderstood ME,

if you think it's so easy to get me in bed.

Mrs. Darnien...

You're crackers !

I'd have to be an idiot to make advances to you !

You think you're so clever in your fancy clothes?

You leave me cold, Mr. Echard.

- The feeling's mutual. - Suits me !

Here's where I want you, not in my bed.

REGIONAL SPEED TYPING CHAMPIONSHIP

Is this really all you want me to do, to keep my job?

Participate in a contest?

Not participate...

win.

I thought this was a friendly match.

No such thing as FRIENDLY, to a real athlete, Taylor.

Athlete? Where? I see an insurance salesman.

You see, before you, the trainer of the next Champion of Lower Normady

in Speed Typing.

Echard, when you hire a secretary,

you get to know her, and you marry her. You don't enter her in contests.

With no training and already she goes like bazes.

- I can't pass up such a gift. - Sleep with her.

It'll do her more good than a medal.

A trainer doesn't sleep with his athlete, Taylor.

It guarantees under-performance.

She isn't cut out for high level competition.

Wanna bet?

Alright, you're on.

I'll beat you this time.

Rose is a little animal... wild and skittish.

All she needs to burst forth is someone to take care of her.

Kindness will be your undoing, Echard.

In round one she'll have to type at least 360 strokes a minute.

The whole competition takes as much effort as running 5Km.

Punching keys, I could do that too !

- Oh, yeah? Go tell the jury. - Jury?

Every mis-stroke counts, whether inverted or omitted. For every extra word...

every line spacing error, they deduct 100 strokes.

Only 16 qualify in 10 minute rounds, then 8, then 4...

The last two face off for 5 minutes.

I'd like to see YOU do that !

- They're sensational! - "They're sensational!"

Go, Paulette, type faster than your shadow!

Pau-lette Marti-no! Queen of the steno!

The national title's up for grabs after the regional.

What's the world record?

- 512 strokes a minute. - 512 strokes a minute.

- Held by an American. - Why didn't you say so!

She's lousy at everything, but

when she types, she's fast, powerful, focused. You'll see.

Ladies, please,

May I have your attention.

Everybody in position.

Attention! Hands above your keyboards.

358 strokes! Two goddamn characters, and we'd have qualified.

If you typed with 10 fingers like them, it could have been possible.

Don't worry !

This is not a sport for clumsy girls.

Stop. Stop, please. I'll continue on foot.

You should have got angry at the typewriter. Now, it's too late.

I could have opened it by myself.