The Cat (Le Chat)

THE CAT

Based on the novel by Georges Simenon.

How do you spell Bouin?

As pronounced: b-o-u-i-n.

See you tomorrow, Mrs. Bouin.

Until tomorrow.

- And for you, Mr. Bouin? - My milk, that's all.

- Clémence! - Julien!

"... it starts with a tune from an accordion,

"which wakes a whole army of violins...

"so many things to say to you...

"that today is already tomorrow...

"... on snow fields with...

I've drunk too much...

I love it when you drink that pink wine...

I don't need that...

"...we'll have blue eyes...

The Cat.

Clémence!

Clémence!

What?

Nothing... I've found a cat...

Yes, I can see.

He's snoring!

- Snoring! - You snore too.

- No, I don't snore. - Yes.

There. Join in: the lights come on, the artists hit the floor.

The acrobat...

There should be a law:

People who no longer love each other are forbidden to live together.

Well.

You think I hate you, it's not true. I don't. I find you very pretty.

You've never been with a lady cat...

No!

No! You can't ruin your daddy's treasures...

Because your daddy has built his newspaper collection with love...

With a whole lot of love...

Have you seen him at it?

Look what you've done!

Just look what you've done!

Look what you've done. Look.

Look what you've done.

Look! Look!

Look what you've done!

Look... look... look...

Hey! That's a nice motorcycle...

in 1934, I hit 160 km/h on a motorcycle.

Was it a plane?

No, my dear friend, it was a Harley Davidson.

- This is a... - Honda 750.

- Which one? - Honda 750, Japanese.

Number 8 is free.

Hello.

Hello, honey. Number 8 was just taken.

- Interested in my business now? - No.

I wonder what interests you.

- Do you love it? - Yes.

- How's your wife? - The same.

What are you waiting for to separate?

I don't know.

Move here, I'll give you a room.

You're very kind, but this in not my home...

And over there? Is that your home?

Yes, a bit, despite everything.

What I think is best for both of you is for each to go your own way.

25 years of marriage, now it's...

too late for pretense. Have to get to the bottom of it...

Bottom of what?

The bottom... the bottom.

Leaving?

You haven't touched your glass...

No, I just passed by to say hello, but...

now I have to return as I think she drinks alone.

So, what do you care if you don't love her anymore?

Greffier!

Come, my little one, come.

Clémence...

Greffier...

There you are, my little one...

My little kitty...

My fuzzy kitten... I thought... come on!

- What did you do to him? - Nothing.

Nothing? His heart is pounding...

Poor kitten...

To start off, what are you looking for in the dark?

Nothing, just looking at what the little animal has done...

- He hasn't touched anything there... - You're making fun of me, aren't you?

If you bother him you'll have to deal with me.

- Is that also my responsibility? - What?

The animal.

His fault... But it doesn't matter.

I'm left with nothing...

I'm not an animal...

Why don't you go to a parrot's cage, so you can talk and leave me alone?

Bastard!

To start off, I don't want to see that cat in my room.

In my room, in my room... In our room!

And on my bed!

I swear you're paranoid.

It's not the cat's fault you hate the whole world.

Screw the whole world...

Listen, no use fighting, I'm going to have dinner.

No sir! You're not having dinner... that would be too easy...

Listen. A scene doesn't become your age.

Your job is perfect, you worked at the Medrano Circus, right?

Yeah! The retired typesetter... think you're Zola?

Petit bourgeois Nana, who's only capable of loving a fat cat!

Meow, meow, meow!

If you could see your face... You're getting worse by the day...

You old pig! Old pig!

There you go...

The acrobat having a bad day,

won't shut up in the midst of her lunacy. Let me through!

- No! - Where are you trying to get...

screaming like that in a basement?

Nothing... I don't care...

- I want you to tell me... - I have nothing to tell you...

nothing to tell anyone.

If you... want to change the bed, change your wife...

And what would I do with her? Fuck it! Can't you see?

What I need is oxygen...

you've taken away a fuck with a body that's still young, that's all.

And me?

You, you, you...

- Me, me, me, me! - Yeah.

- Come on, my kitten, come. . No!

Don't bother, I know the way. Stay with her.

The leg won't be a problem, but her heart is weak.

She needs some quiet.

- Right, some quiet... - It's not easy, I know.

No, it's not easy...

What did he say?

Nothing, I'll prepare your food.

- Listen... - What?

You don't care, do you? Your cat tried to kill me...

You're definitely hopeless.

- Who died? - You didn't know him.

Frolo, a clown, a great guy.

- How did you find out? - Carlo called.

He's still got your number?

Perhaps he calls often, maybe every day...

Nobody calls anymore.

You seem jealous... you used to be.

Coming?

I had to leave it all...

- work, family... - I was wrong there...

You were wrong?

Yes.

You know I could easily find a job if I wanted to?

For the clown show, as cashier.

Listen. Just remember I've played seven instruments...

the piano, the violin, the xylophone, the musical saw, the concertina...

- the accordion... - And the drums, I know.

I know you know... besides, I can train horses...

I also know how to take care of beasts...

the real ones...

- All I'd have to do is make a call. - So, call.

Because in that job you never quit...

except in case of an accident.

It wasn't my fault you smashed you face, was it?

No, it wasn't your fault...

But you were extremely happy when the doctor said that I would never...

walk straight again.

- Isn't that so? - Yes, it's true.

And now you upbraid me because I can't work...

- Yes. - So, you're just thoughtless.

- Or an idiot. - I couldn't care less.

See you tonight, my kitten. Be good.

We've petitioned the management...

for pay raises of 3% for category 1 and 4% for category 2...

Management is now proposing 2% for all categories next month...

and, later, a progressive recovery...

that would cover our demands in only 7 months...

we think these proposals are insufficient...

and we will discuss them. Secondly...

we've met with management to oversee...

the start up, at the earliest possible time...

of the CATSIS system in its full shift form...

substituting the 3/8 we now have...

And lastly...

a reduction in the retirement age...

while always considering a reduction in the working hours...

and the evolution of production techniques...

we have again asked for the age of retirement...

to become 60 for men...

and 55 for women.

- Mr. Julien Bouin? - Yes...

Please...

Thank you very much.

With my rent proposal, you'll stay here for the rest of your lives...

We step through the hall...

We place a bed here...

And the view is limitless.

Li-mit-less!

- Do you like it? - It's nice...

Li-mit-less...