Queen to Play (Joueuse) (Joueuse)

-Hello, Hélène. -Hello.

Don't forget to do rooms 12 and 19.

-Have you seen Natalia? -No.

I don't know what I'd do without you, Hélène.

I'm sick of that cow yelling at me!

I'm getting out of here.

-Where will you go? -The mainland, anywhere.

What about Denis? The love of your life?

He can come with me.

I'm not rotting away here!

The summer is OK

but winter is living death!

Didn't you ever want to leave?

I never thought about it.

Never wanted to move somewhere else?

Yes, years ago.

To move here and get married.

Nightmare!

Excuse me.

You can do the room now.

We'll be out here all morning.

Yes, madam.

Do you play…

What's "chess" in French?

-Chess? -Yes.

Do you play chess?

No.

Ange!

What's wrong?

An accident?

No. I just wanted to see you.

That's nice but you had me worried.

Shit, sorry.

Sure you're OK?

Yes, I'm fine.

I must get on, we have to finish today.

I'm behind.

Hélène.

See you later.

When we were your age we had holiday jobs.

To earn some money.

My English teacher promotes this course.

So what? Your mum and I work like slaves.

I don't want to be like you!

-Like what? -Poor!

-Is it shameful? -It's nothing to be proud of!

Has she ever gone without? No!

Calm down. You know she doesn't mean it.

Two building contracts were cancelled.

Thierry may cut back the workforce.

The people who earn money aren't spending it any more.

How will we manage?

We'll see.

Did you ask your Yankee for a rise?

-How much is this trip to England? -Four hundred euros.

Shit. We'll have to tighten our belts.

I'm meeting Jacky, we have a game to finish.

Don't wait up for me.

And he doesn't do anything.

Nothing seems to interest him.

If you ask him what he wants to do…

you know what he answers?

"I want to be famous!"

Doctor Kroger?

That man's impossible!

Does he give you a hard time too?

He's alright.

Lucky all my patients aren't like him!

Have a nice day.

Goodbye.

Hello, Doctor Kroger.

Please…

try not to move everything.

I can't find anything after you've been here.

I'm sorry. Alright.

Do my room first.

I wanted to ask…

It's about my…

-About your? -Wages. My husband thinks…

Does he think for you?

No, I think so too…

You could give me a rise. Ten euros.

Thank you.

See you soon.

One, two, three!

Congratulations!

Happy birthday!

-Cut the cake! -Right. Candles!

-Here. -Happy birthday.

Birthday presents!

An electronic chess set.

So I see. What's it for?

Playing chess, I'd say!

-But I can't play. -You can learn.

They say it improves the mind!

Very funny. Can you play?

No.

OK!

It's a change from backgammon.

Who am I supposed to play with?

I don't know. With me?

Or on your own.

It's a game you can play on your own.

On my own?

Tiny computer big brain!

Come on, let's have some cake.

Pass your plates.

Why did you do it?

Thanks, Hélène.

-I hope it didn't cost too much? -No.

Champagne!

-And champagne glasses! -Right!

Where's the cork? The cork for luck!

-It went well, huh? -Very well.

Getting up in the morning will be tough.

Goodnight, love.

The knight…

The rook…

The pawn…

The king…

"One element that makes chess so rich

is the different movements of all the pieces.

The queen is the most powerful piece."

The queen is the most powerful piece.

Got everything?

I'm not going to Mars!

Here. Take it. You never know.

-Thanks. Are you sure? -Yes.

Lisa! You'll miss your boat!

Coming!

-Be careful. -I'm not a child!

That's what worries me!

-Come for a drink? -Not today.

You never come over now.

I don't have time. Bye.

It's you!

Yes, it's me. Are you OK?

Yes.

-What were you doing? -Nothing.

Smoking again?

A bit.

Call that a bit?

It helps me.

-Helps you do what? -Think.

Think about what?

I haven't cooked. I thought we could go out for once.

On me.

I'm meeting Jacky, let's heat up a pizza.

I want to go out. Please.

Alright, get changed. But it's on me.

We haven't been to Maddy's for ages.

So I kept my head down and…

went back to work without a word.

It's every man for himself now.

When three mates are fired we're angry, but we're glad it's them,

and not us.

Maybe Lisa's right.

We've turned into sheep.

But do we have a choice?

In my dad's day they all stuck together.

The guys met up every Sunday.

Mum made donuts.

They drank, sang and changed the world!

It was fun.

If times got hard we resisted.

What were you saying?

Me?

We haven't talked like that for ages.

-Do you know what I'd like? -Yes!

No, I'd like to…

-Is that what you want? -Yes.

Really?

What's the aim of the game?

The aim of the game?

You have to capture your opponent's king.

And checkmate him.

And…?

And what?

-Is that all? -Yes.

So all the pieces move differently?

Except the pawns, they move the same way.

This is the bishop, we each have two.

They move diagonally, like this.

This is the rook.

The rook goes straight ahead

or sideways if there's a place.

The queen.

The most important piece.

She can do anything, go anywhere she likes.

She's stronger than the king. Crazy!

There. Got it?

Sure. You think I'm an idiot?

OK, I'll begin. White always starts.

Your turn.

No, the knight does this.

-The bishop moves sideways. -You never said!

Yes, I did!

It doesn't make sense! I've had enough.

Let's go to bed.

One last game.