Monpti

... So much can happen in just one place, in just one second!

Someone gets run over... People stare with frightened faces.

A fruit truck flips over, people laugh. The same people.

Joy and sadness always go together, everywhere.

Like luck & misfortune, light & dark, life & death; you know. Got a minute?

I want to tell you a little story. It's pretty funny...

and rather sad, too. It's a love story.

A boy and a girl, obviously... Oh, of course - their names!

First come the names. These people don't matter to the story though.

MONPTI

A TALE OF PARIS

Of course, you don't have to read all this.

It'd be betterjust to look at what's behind it all. It's Paris.

My story is a story of Paris.

Alright at last it's over... This is St. Germain des Pres Blvd...

where the existentialists felt at home, alongside those who simply exist.

And this is our young man...

the one behind the bus. That's him, with the drawings.

You like him? Pleasant; maybe a little sad.

And this is our young girl... No, not that one, by God! The one with the book.

They're about to cross paths for the first time. Oh, what a shame!

Don't they know they were born for one another?

But that's another street and another day.

At this time of day the cafes are pretty empty, of course.

It's very, very early... there are a few students...

Oh, there's the kid again, with the book.

And on the other side? God is patient; there he is again.

They seem to have plenty time, but why are they always alone?

Hm... he doesn't look like he's from Paris. That's a Hungarian paper...

Don't be afraid, this isn't a political tale.

While he's finishing his reading, let's take a look at where he lives.

This is Bernardin St., and this is the Hotel... the Riviera... he can hardly read.

And way up on top, like all the poor people in Paris -

... closer to God - is where he lives.

It's not too comfortable. But what can you expect for 9,000 francs per month?

It's even cheap. Really cheap, for a view like that.

Ah, even the sun's coming out now... Notre Dame.

That old lady has her ways...

Are those wedding bells?

Indeed they are.

Old folks always get emotional when they see a wedding.

Young folks aren't so interested. It's only logical,

... they aren't thinking about getting married.

They'd rather think about... as they say around here..."faire I'amour".

An amusement park isn't all that amusing in the morning time.

Two cops, "flics," that is, walk along alone...

A dog carries a basket along and tries to get rid of it.

Oh, there goes our young man, with a girl, apparently.

The wheel of fortune spins... And the number is...

Four! A consolation prize.

Here it is.

We wish him the best of luck. Luck and success.

Well, maybe she doesn't like to play with dolls anymore.

It's time for our young man to meet a suitable girl.

It's not so easy in such a big city.

These are the Luxembourg Gardens. Here they call it "The Garden."

And the famous statue... Maybe that doesn't interest you.

But it interests our young man. And now he's seen it for real.

He seems uninterested... Or is he?

On the front page, the issue of French internal politics.

A little bit of boredom...

a little bit of joy.

- Excuse me miss, do you mind... - As you wish...

Wow, by God they both just speak French.

She speaks it perfectly, and he has a Hungarian accent. What to do?

Maybe you don't all understand French... Hold on a second!

Subtitles? No! We want to hear what they're saying, not read it.

We're going to switch it up; synch it. You know the drill.

Do you mind that I'm sitting here?

- Why? It's a public bench. - I don't want to bother you.

- What nice looking three oranges! - Oranges are always nice looking.

So big?

And so orange?

If you're hungry, take one.

I'm not hungry! What do you take me for?

- Is that a novel? - Yes.

- Interesting? - Yes.

- Can I see? - Sure. Here.

- This is poetry. - Yes.

- But you just said it was a novel. - Did I say that?

...yes.

You come here often?

- Sometimes. - You a student?

No.

Ah... you work around here, huh.

My parents don't permit me to work.

How come?

We're very rich. I can have anything I want.

I wake up late, eat breakfast in bed, I'm Anne-Claire Jouvain and I'm 17.

That's what you wanted to know, isn't it?

Of course, I don't talk to strangers at parks.

- How come you talked to me? - No reason. Just bored.

I don't believe it. You're not French, are you?

No... Hungarian.

Oh... wow.

- But I've been here a while. - And what do you do?

- I just live here. - Do you like Paris?

Oh, it's very pretty.

- And... how do you like the Parisians? - I don't know.

- I haven't been here long either. - I don't believe it!

- How old are you, 20? - No, 22.

Are you... married?

Oh... What for?

How old do you think I am?

To tell you that I'd have to look deeply into your eyes.

Go right ahead...

- So? - 17!

- Seriously? - Seriously.

- Unfortunately I'm older than 17. - 18?

- Older. - 19?

- Older. - 20?

Stop! You got it; well... almost 20.

But before you said you were 17.

- Did I say that? - Yes.

- Have a cigarette? - No, thanks, I quit.

It's too bad you're a foreigner.

- I have to go home. - Can I walk with you a while?

That's very nice of you, but my chauffeur is waiting for me.

Alright... well, can we see each other again?

- Why? - Just because.

- To talk. - What about?

About whatever.

It'd be enough... even just to talk about the time with you.

- Let me think about it... - When? Where?

- Tomorrow if you want. - Right here at the same time?

If not tomorrow, the day after. Wait for me those two days.

- I'll wait for you here every day! - Oh please, don't wait for me.

- I don't want to see you anymore. - But why?

I have my reasons.

I understand...

Listen!

Answer me fast. Why do you want to see me again?

I'm all alone in Paris. At least you've got a family.

Just because you're so alone.

Hey, listen!

You can keep them!

Good day!

Good day!

Good day!

Here lady, go buy yourself a glass of cognac...

What? I'm the rich countess Helene Vieile-Estradour!

Here are your drawings. I'll bring you some more.

- We don't need any more right now. - Maybe later?

- Leave your address here. - I thought you had it already.

- I'm missing some! - I'm surprised.

Me too... I've gotten a lot more back but never less...

- Hold on a minute, please. - OK...

- Of course you're missing some! Nine all together. - Aha!

The boss liked them a lot.

- And when will he give them back? - Never!

- But why? By what right? - We're buying them.

- Here's the purchase order. - Oh!

That means... you're going to give me money?

- Of course. - Here? Now?

- Yes? - Yes!

Yes! Thanks. See you later!

- Wait; your hat... - Oh, my hat!

- Where's the cashier? - At the end of the hall.

Uh sorry, I'll have the cashier take it out of my pay...

We're closing!

We're closing!

We're closing!

- Darling... - I'm almost an hour late.

I got here 5 minutes ago. I guess we know each other now.

A Martini for madame.

Or that, sure.

For dessert, perhaps a raspberry flambe?

- How's your husband, my dear? - No different. He loves me.

- Poor Bouboule. - And me?

Poor Nadine!

- What would you like for an appetizer? - I'm dieting. I'm 18 grams over.

Something very light. Half an egg, or a small fish.

- I was with Jacques last night. - Oh yeah?

- Yes... that's how it happened. - Exciting?

- Like it is with you... - Oh!

Thanks.

- Sometimes I'd like to have just one man. - Nadine!

Really! A poor young man, a hard worker, maybe...

just a little primitive. Just lemon, please. Who still doesn't know how it is...

- Want to go back to being poor, eh? - No, not that.

We'd need to please your husband, who has so much money.

Special formula for babies... Vitalin has no flavor. You'll be surprised...

... at how baby grows so fast.

Scuba divers needed...

Hey there kid! What's happening?

Don't you want to try?

Hello there. When were you thinking about paying rent?

Tomorrow. Right away!

The day after tomorrow!

Thanks.

Where are the panties... the green ones?

Where are you looking for your panties at?

- Where are my wife's panties? - Panties?

They fell on the roof... on the pin...

- What's this all about? - Please understand...

- It was an accident... I pulled up the panties.

- You pulled them up? You mean you pulled them down!

- No, you folks live beneath me... - How long have you known her?

- Who? - My wife.

- Maybe about a year. - You lie... you've known her for two years.