Beau Pere (Beau-père)

I was working as a piano player...

...in a posh, international restaurant, -

- in a tower-shaped hotel with a wonderful view over Paris.

It could have been Montreal, Zurich or anywhere.

There'd be the same proportion of Americans, Japanese, Saudis...

...with the same weary eyes, tired from counting all their money.

I could play them anything...

Gershwin, Chopin, Art Tatum... they didn't listen.

All they wanted was something not too noisy...

...just a bit of atmosphere, something soft and velvety...

...to go along with their wine, shrimp cocktails, and T-bone steaks.

So I played for myself.

Old Bud Powell tunes...

...trying to get them into it, -

but never succeeding.

Because I never succeeded at anything.

I'd given myself till age 30 to be successful in life...

...and I was 29 and a half.

I had 6 months left.

Meanwhile, I got 250 francs a night, and a meal...

...plus all I could drink.

I was happy.

The only problem was I'd just been hired...

...and the bastards wouldn't give me any advance.

I could hardly wait for the end of the week for my pay...

...and for the night to end, to go to bed.

Around midnight, the place would empty out.

Then there'd usually be one lovestruck couple, -

- lost in the moment, that I'd bring safely into port-

with my magic keyboard.

Who knows what goes on in a pianist's head...

...while he plays a tune and you sip your champagne.

Maybe he's in love, too...

...or sad...

...because his wife is waiting for him, -

or she doesn't wait any more-

because she just left him...

...or she's going to leave him.

Where are you going?

I have an appointment.

Who with?

- A photographer. - What photographer?

You always see photographers, but I never see any photos.

Not everyone is as talented as you.

Thanks.

Thanks a lot.

So it took you 8 years to realize my music was crap?

Please, I'm trying to put my makeup on.

Who'll hire me looking like this?

I know my music's not great. So what?

That can change.

People may think it's boring now, but they'll like it some day.

Things change.

I used to turn you on, and now I don't.

Imagine that phenomenon reversed. It's unpredictable.

Who knew things would end between us?

Was that predictable?

When everyone envied us?

What if you stayed with me?

What for?

To be together.

We're never together.

You're sleeping when I get home.

When you get up, I'm sleeping.

When I'm awake, you go see photographers.

I barely have time to watch you dress.

I never see you undress.

- Martine... - What?

I get paid at the end of the week.

I need pocket-money, Rémi!

A woman needs things: A skirt, shoes...

...otherwise she loses her sparkle.

She dries up!

They're not hiring you any more!

So why persist?

This time it might work.

How come?

It's a partial shot.

Of what?

A bra.

You're doing lingerie now? You said you'd never do that.

Got anything better?

- Got a concert? - No.

I do body shots because they don't want my face!

They all want younger models!

Any gas in the car?

I doubt it.

Do you have any money?

Is that all?

And you? What will you do?

- Is it in second gear? - Yes!

Stay home with me!

The car's on my side. It won't take you.

- Will you please push? - Battery's dead!

Everything's dead! I just want a push!

I liked her face a lot.

Photographers are creeps!

She's too good for them.

For me too, in fact.

Oh shit!

Mom's not here?

Is she working?

Will she be late?

Probably.

The cafeteria lunch was awful! I didn't eat!

You look weird, are you okay?

Depressed?

You were fighting again.

Well, I have a mountain of homework.

You're not sick?

No, really... everything's fine!

You don't look it.

What are you doing?

A composition.

Hard?

Why?

Just asking.

Why don't you put on some music?

What would you like to hear?

Whatever you want.

One of my oldies?

If you want.

Lend me a piece of paper.

What kind?

Any old scrap.

My little Marion...

I have bad news for you.

Since I don't have the courage to say it out loud...

I'll put it in writing.

It's the only solution.

Listen... You'll find out that in life...

...sometimes things are just too rotten.

But what I want you to know...

...is you mustn't give in to despair.

Don't let yourself fall apart.

You'll have me to lean on.

You know I'm here with you...

...to help you get over your pain.

You know you're my little girl.

Your mother has had an accident...

I'm going to the grocery store.

Got any money?

Think it will work?

It will have to.

There's a letter for you... on the table.

If it's a joke, it's not funny.

It's not a joke.

I have no mother any more?

There's your father...

Yes... there's my father...

Oh Rémi, I can't take it in.

Neither can I!

I don't want to go back to my father.

I want to stay with you.

You promise?

Yes, all right.

What do you want?

I have to talk to you.

What about?

Different things.

I'm listening.

It's about Martine.

What does she want, money?

She's dead.

Is that all you have to say?

A car accident.

Don't give me that stuff!

I'm saying that Martine is dead! Is that clear?

And you tell me just like that.

How do you want me to tell you?

Should I draw you a picture?

How'd it happen?

An intersection...

...a truck...

...a wrong reflex.

Marion knows?

Poor kid.

See where that "young prodigy" stuff got you?

You couldn't even take care of her.

I know.

So why'd you steal her from me?

What do we do about Marion?

How do you mean?

Who'll she live with?

I hadn't thought about that.

I'd say it's fairly important.

You bet!

Forgive me...

I've been drinking a lot lately.

Forget it.

She can stay with me if that suits you.

Who's that?

Why would that suit me?

I don't know. In case...

...you're shacking up with someone...

...to make things easier for you.

I'm not shacking up. I live alone.

Me, too.

So be it.

I don't understand the problem.