Les petites fugues

To Madeleine

THE LITTLE ESCAPES

Pipe!

Look around the back!

Are you there, Pipe?

- Haven't you seen Pipe? - No.

Where the deuce is he?

Have you found him?

No. He isn't there.

Have a look in his room!

Is he there?

No. His overalls are on the bed...

...and his Sunday clothes aren't there.

He's gone...

Where do you suppose he's gone?

Grandma, Pipe is here!

What's that?

This is my bike.

Quite a solid affair!

Has Pipe got a bike?

Isn't Pipe coming to eat?

I don't know, he's brooding outside.

And his bike?

Well, still in his room.

Does he sleep with it?

No more apples?

In the room. Did you bring Stephane's

things down? I'm washing.

Damn it! I'll fetch them.

I'll bring them down.

- Aren't you eating? - No time.

Alright, old man?

Look, he's working for a change!

Where are you going?

I'm just dropping this off. See you later.

Your dough is in the kitchen!

Your old age pension has arrived. Don't leave it lying on the buffet.

You could have given it to me.

Hey, kitty cat. What are you at?

And to pay?

It'll be done, don't worry...

To pay...

Do you think it's a good idea to leave it in your room?

- Will it not make everything dirty? - Of course not.

It's clean.

Ok, it's clean.

But what do you want to do with this bike?

It won't come in useful. At least, I don't think so.

It's none of my business, after all.

I'm leaving your tea here.

Good prospects tonight!

The vast anticyclone centered over Western Europe

is moving slowly eastwards, maintaining dry and warm weather in our country.

Our forecast until tomorrow evening: After morning fogs have cleared,

sunny weather throughout. In Cairo, televised speech...

Switch it off.

Don't you want to hear the news?

Not for her ears...

Has anybody come round for the TV?

Yes... they sent a young man.

He said it was the same problem as with the first channel.

Somebody must have fiddled with it, he said.

Who tampered with it on Friday?

I haven't touched it!

- The boy's always there, what's more. - That's right, blame the boy.

The gentleman from the service department phoned today.

He said that Thursday suited him.

- In the morning? - Towards 9 a. m., he said.

What's he coming poking around?

Well, the farm.

- Will he eat here? - Yes, I think so. I don't know.

Go and play elsewhere!

- It's cheerful around here! - It's Saturday! May I not sing?

I couldn't care less, you know.

- May I have a spin with? - The moped?

Why don't you take his?

Hey, Guapetto! Granddad will squirt water at you!

Guapetto yourself! Stop insulting my kid!

He'll beat the hell out of you once he's grown.

Mamma mia! I'm scared!

Have you brought your bike out? - No.

- Have you asked Luigi? - No.

I'm in the shit! I can't get out.

Stop trying to show off!

What a stupid guy.

No need to show me. It isn't difficult.

Wipe your hands first.

Well! Can I put the car away?

I'm letting it dry. It'll soon be ready.

Yes, but I've had enough now.

I'm getting worked up

- Have you finished with the courtyard? - No, there's a bit to be done still.

Goddamn it, I'll show you what's what!

Do you think I'm stupid or what?

You look after your kid now, Josiane.

I don't want to see you hanging around!

You know what I've told you!

You'll see where all that bike stuff will get you!

What an asshole! Who does he think he is?

Don't make it roar like that.

See my hand?

Yes, but shut it off now.

- How's that work? - What?

Shutting off.

Don't know, put on the brakes.

It's not moving,

no need to put on the brakes.

I tell you, I don't know.

Close the valve,

shut it off, for heaven's sake!

Watch this.

Did you see, I pressed on here.

What's that?

That's the lever to shut off, isn't it?

I can see that. I'm not stupid.

But in there, why does it shut off?

You want to know it all.

It's my bike after all.

OK then, the petrol goes through here

into there.

It's very hot in there.

Then the plug causes a...

Yes, like a knife on a whetstone.

Like a lighter.

A spark.

Spark... okay.

Well, the plug causes a spark

and "bang" makes the petrol explode.

My God, that's why it makes that noise?

Yes... it bursts...

the piston goes off like a gun.

- Where does it go? - It's easy.

It goes down... pushes this here

which pushes the wheel...

and that makes the wheels

of the bike turn.

And where does the piston go?

It stays here, comes back and goes...

goes like this.

Like a puffer.

Yes, like this, understand?

Where did you learn that?

From my brother, he makes Motoguzzis.

What's that?

Italian motorbikes.

He repairs them, he's a mechanic.

Josiane, are you coming? We're leaving.

Go without me.

Aren't you coming? It'd do you good.

With Stephane...

You could look after him for once!

Leave him here.

She has to come, and that's it.

Don't interfere.

Listen, Josiane,

this isn't very nice of you.

You could at least answer.

But I've got work to do, Mum.

I don't feel like it.

- A pity for you. - Yes, a pity.

Up!

Yes, and then?

Here, the choc.

"Choke", not choc... and then?

The pedal.

You see... you've forgotten it all.

That's all.

Is it running? I can't hear.

Press down the pedal?

Sure, what are you waiting for?

But the motor, will it start up?

Why not? Have a go.

Go ahead!

Release the accelerator.

What're you afraid of?

I'm not afraid.

It's easy, isn't it?

That's it, but you're letting her rip,

then the bike runs at top speed.

It doesn't matter.

Did you hear the noise it made?

That doesn't matter, once again...

but accelerate only slightly.

You sure?

It's easy...

Ready?

Go ahead, accelerate, for God's sake!

Shall I go?

I'll let go now.

Accelerate, accelerate, that's it!

Turn, turn!

Turn, for God's sake!

Pipe, you OK?

Not OK?

No, I'm not.

Where does it hurt?

Not hurt.

Did you see? Good heavens!

Don't you touch that bike again!

- Why? - It's your fault.