Happenstance (Le Battement d'ailes du papillon)

HAPPENSTANCE

You have a friendly face.

What about me? Do I have a friendly face?

You have a nice smile.

I smile less and less.

You like to laugh. That's obvious.

On your way to work?

- What do you do? - I'm a salesgirl.

- In what? - Household appliances.

Are you single?

What shampoo do you use?

I'm not prying, but I have this questionnaire.

For a survey.

Gotta earn a living.

So then...

"Anti-dandruff?"

"Oily hair?"

"Frequent use?"

I don't care which.

We'll put "frequent use."

What's your name?

Irene Cotentin.

Thanks.

Your date of birth, too.

March 11, 1977.

Pisces!

I just read something on Pisces.

Here it is... Pisces.

"Love.

"The effects of the full moon

on your love life will be devastating."

"You will cross paths with your soul mate."

"Love is around the corner."

Getting off?

See that?

You're going to meet true love today!

Why today?

Because of the full moon.

So?

Tonight's the full moon.

Mister!

You can't stay here.

You nuts? I'm sick.

Move it.

Come on.

- I'm dying. - Yeah, right.

Carry it on your conscience, bitch!

Move it, I said.

Keep going.

- This'll bring you bad luck. - Right.

- I'm going to die. - But not here.

- Bitch! - Go croak somewhere else.

- But the full moon was last night. - Really?

You believe this horoscope stuff?

Why not?

- I was born March 11, 1977, too. - Really?

Read me the rest?

"You will cross paths with your soul mate.

Love is around the corner.

But, careful!

Be patient.

"Venus will slightly delay your meeting.

Your true love is within reach.

Don't let him or her get away."

Venus...

Look at that star.

That's the planet Venus.

If you get lost during the night, it will show you the way.

Stop! Police!

You won $2,000, so buy us drinks.

That's nothing to sneeze at!

Buy one last round.

You can sure afford it.

He always was cheap.

Fuck off!

Mommy, I have to pee.

Go in the ditch there.

So fast?

Let's go.

C'mon, Athos.

What is it, honey?

I saw Daddy. He's dead!

What are you saying?

His head's bleeding.

Calm down!

It was just a bad dream.

- What is it? - He had a nightmare.

Daddy's fine. He's home.

He's in Paris.

He's dead. I saw him.

Stop saying that!

This is Richard and Marie.

We're not in right now.

Please leave a message.

- Well? - No one.

At this time of night? It's weird.

I'll call as soon as I get to Paris.

You believe this horoscope stuff?

Why not?

What's with him?

- He sick? - I think so.

The guy's dying and you just sit there.

- You do nothing! - I am, I am...

But I am.

Shit, you're creepy. Move, do something!

He dead?

No, he isn't. He's moaning.

Do something.

I don't know what.

Out of the way. Let me!

Go get help, quick.

If you're afraid to tell her, write it out first.

- All right, already. - What are you doing?

Not on the ground!

If everyone did that...

Use the trash outside.

We have lots to share.

Without me you'd still be littering.

It's common.

It starts with hypothermia.

They're cold.

They wait for the subway to open.

Then inside they get too hot, and they collapse.

Nice of you to wait with me.

Not late for anything, I hope?

- Don't you have a job? - Sure.

I'm a lawyer.

I'm defending a terrorist in a bombing.

It was in the papers.

Hurry up! There's a man dying!

You can't smoke here.

- What is this? - Put out that cigarette!

Right now, please!

But I'm the one who called you!

I've still got time. I'll go have a coffee.

I've got to be going.

See you later.

I'll wait for you in the park.

Don't make such a face!

Go on.

I love you.

Excuse me.

- Is Mrs. Viennot in? - She just stepped out.

You know for how long?

An hour or two maybe.

Then I'll wait here.

What's an hour or two?

What's it about?

A job as museum guard.

I had an appointment.

If you want, I can handle that.

Sure.

My name is Luc Gosener. G-O-S-E-N-E-R.

My mother is a friend of Mrs. Viennot.

Are you available as of 3:00 p.m. today?

There's a position at the Zadkin Museum.

I have the job?

Why not?

Just like that?

No interview, nothing?

I prepared. Amazing!

- Find that strange? - Why not?

I mean it.

I apologize.

- For what? - Being late.

It's 10:50. I was due at 10.

- It's all right. - It's not.

I want you to know I'm serious.

I left the house on time, about 9:30, even ahead of time.

I took the subway.

I was waiting for a train...

And I saw a bum sitting near me, sleeping, or dozing,

next to a man, a perfectly normal-looking commuter.

And suddenly the bum collapsed...

Just like that.

The man next to him did nothing.

He just looked at him.

So I went and took the bum's pulse.

He was still alive, but his heartbeat was weak.

I immediately diagnosed hypothermia.

I shouted for someone to call the emergency squad.

Everybody just looked at me, staring wide-eyed!

Finally an agent arrived.

I did some C.P.R., made sure he wouldn't swallow his tongue.

And we waited.

That's it.

I'm revolted by some people's behavior.

A guy's dying and they do nothing!

It's sickening.

I'm not telling you this as an excuse.

It's just so you know who I am.

It's a good thing I'm late.

A good deed is always rewarded.

Otherwise I might've been on time

and might not have gotten the job.

Who knows? Isn't that so?

Julie...

- Nice name. - I had nothing to do with it.

You're my lucky star, Julie.

I'd like to take you out for coffee.