The Tenant (Le Locataire) (Le locataire)

Quiet Mirza!

Mirza, quiet now.

Good afternoon, madame.

Yes, what is it?

I'm sorry to bother you.

I was told about an apartment.

This is the right building though, isn't it?

Who told you?

A friend of mine.

Well, a relation, actually.

The door.

Sorry.

I gather it's a small two-room apartment?

Think that's all I got to do?

Some people think a concierge is a slave.

Not me, not me, I assure you.

Would it be more convenient if I came back later?

Anyway, you have to speak with Monsieur Zy.

I can only show the apartment.

I don't want to be a nuisance

but if it were at all possible.

And if I might offer you some small compensation

for your trouble, which IS only reasonable.

What a lovely little doggie you are.

You're Mirza, aren't you?

It's a...

It's a nice name, Mirza.

I'm sorry.

No.

The previous tenant threw herself out of the window.

You can still see where she fell.

Look.

He's gonna have to fix that.

She's not dead yet, though she might as well be.

She's in the Bretonneau Hospital.

What if she gets better?

Don't worry, she won't get better.

You know, you're onto a good thing here.

Poor woman, what are the terms, do you know?

Well, there's a fee for the water.

All the plumbing is new.

You used to have to go out to the landing to get water.

- And the toilet? - It's right over there.

You just go around the corridor, and there it is.

That's a view worth looking at.

How much is the premium?

The rent is 600 francs a month.

The premium, I'm not sure about.

I think he wants 5,000 francs.

Five thousand?

That's a lot of money.

It's not my business.

For that, you'll have to talk to Monsieur Zy.

He lives right down here.

I have to get back now.

All right, all right, we're not deaf.

We don't give to charity.

It's about the apartment.

What apartment?

On the floor above.

Could I speak to Monsieur Zy?

Good afternoon.

Have you seen the apartment?

Yes, that's why I wanted to talk to you,

to discuss the terms.

Five thousand premium, six hundred a month.

That's a lot of money.

I couldn't pay more than 4,000.

The concierge told you about the water?

Yes, she did.

It's damned hard to find an apartment

these days, you know.

There's a student up on the sixth floor,

gave me half that much for a single room.

Please, don't get me wrong.

I'm not trying to criticize your apartment

but the toilet is a problem.

Suppose I got sick, which I don't often do,

I can assure you of that.

And I had to relieve myself in the middle of the night.

It wouldn't be very convenient, would it?

On the other hand, I could pay you

the 4,000 right away, in cash.

It's not only a question of the money.

Let's be quite clear about that, Monsieur...

Trelkovsky.

Trelkovsky.

I won't exactly starve without your 5,000.

No, I'm renting the apartment because it's vacant.

And because I know they don't grow on trees.

Of course, Monsieur Zy.

It's perfectly reasonable, I understand your point.

Could I offer you a cigarette?

You want 5,000, fine.

But if you got paid by check, you'd have to declare it.

Wouldn't you rather get 4,000 in cash?

I'd rather get 5,000 in cash than 4,000 in cash.

It's perfectly natural.

Anyway, the former tenant is not dead yet.

If she comes back, you won't even get your 4,000.

You get nothing.

Are you married?

Excuse the question but it's because of the children.

This is a very quiet building.

My wife and I are getting on now...

I wouldn't say that, Monsieur Zy.

I know what I'm saying.

My wife and I are getting on.

We don't like a lot of noise.

You needn't worry, Monsieur Zy.

I am very quiet myself, and I am a bachelor.

Bachelors can be a problem too.

If you're looking for a place

to entertain your girlfriends,

I'd rather take 2,000 and give it to somebody

who really needs it.

I quite agree, but I am not that type.

Well now, I can't give you a definite answer

while Mademoiselle Choule is still alive.

But I like you.

You seem to be a serious young man to me.

I want to visit Mademoiselle Choule.

- Simone Choule? - That's right.

Are you a relative?

I'm a friend.

Can I help you?

Are you the head nurse, ma'am?

- Yes. - I'm very glad I found you.

Because I was told at the reception desk to see you first.

It's about Mademoiselle Choule.

Bed 18.

May I see her?

She's not to be disturbed.

She was in a coma till yesterday.

Go ahead, but don't try to talk to her.

Well, he said he'd come by Wednesday.

Are you a friend of hers?

Excuse me.

I can't believe it.

I just can't believe it.

I was with her the night before.

No, two nights before.

She was in such good spirits.

Why?

Why would she do a thing like that?

To tell you the truth, I'm not a close, I...

I hardly know her at all, actually, but believe me

I'm terribly upset about...

- Yeah. - What's happened.

It's awful.

Simone?

Simone.

You do recognize me, don't you?

It's me, Stella.

Your friend, Stella.

Don't you recognize me?

You'll have to leave now, your bag.

Is there any hope of saving her?

What do you mean?

If we can save her, we'll save her.

Careful, you mustn't give in to your grief.

If you like, we could go and have something to drink.

I think it would help you.

There is a...

Here.

What would you like to drink?

I don't know.

I'll have a beer, no, a coffee.

Coffee, and the lady?

I don't want a coffee.

You should have something strong, it will pick you up.

I'll have a small glass of Beaujolais.

A small glass of Beaujolais and a Martini.

- No coffee? - No, no, a Martini.

I completely forgot I have a phone call to make.

I'll be right back.

Waiter!

All right, all right, I'm coming.

I'll never understand suicide.

I have no argument against it,

but it's beyond my comprehension.

Did you ever discuss it with her?

Never.

I just can't believe it.

It's terrible, terrible.

It's terrible, yeah.

Could it have been a disappointment in love, perhaps?

- Something like that? - Who with?

I don't know, some man.

You know she wasn't interested in men.

Yes, I know, but...

Woman as sensitive as she was,

as she is, I mean, often tend to have

much more complicated relationships than they seem to...

Perhaps she will pull out of it anyway.

I doubt it.

Did you notice that she didn't even recognize me?

A tragedy.

Hey, man, you got any bread for an artist?

I don't seem to have any change.