Scene of the Crime (Le lieu du crime) (Le lieu du crime)

THE SCENE OF THE CRIME

- What's your name? - Thomas.

What's that in your hands?

What?

Come on. What is it?

A knife like that is dangerous at your age.

You run, you fall down and you get hurt.

Give it here.

Are these flowers for your parents?

I don't have parents.

They're up there in the cemetery.

They died in a car crash a long time ago.

But...

what are you doing here?

I'm here with a friend. It's better he doesn't see you.

I need some money.

I don't have any.

Then go find some.

Enough to buy a train ticket.

You say a word to anyone and you'll get it.

I don't like it in here. Let's talk outside.

No, don't you try to take off.

When do I bring you the money?

Tonight. I'll be waiting.

Okay. Here?

All right.

Wait.

Not here. That's not a good idea.

Up there at your cemetery.

No, not there.

I couldn't.

Down the hill then. What's down there?

There's a path by the Garonne.

Nobody goes there.

Good.

By the banks of the Garonne tonight.

You better watch out and don't try to fool me...

or I'll come looking for you.

If I come, you won't hurt me?

No, I'll thank you, and then you're free, okay?

Go on. See you later.

Granddad.

I'm really afraid, Granddad.

What's that? Speak up.

- Finished working for today? - It's Saturday. I'm going fishing.

I'm taking this to Grandma.

You know, Granddad,

something's happened, but I can't tell you.

Don't start in with your stories. You've conned me enough with your fibs.

I won't have it anymore.

Can you give these to grandma?

She asked me to pick them and I have to do something now.

No, take them yourself. I'm not taking anything to anybody.

Yes? Who is it?

Here's what I found, Grandma.

Hey, not like that. Be careful. Especially considering they're sold.

I'm dying of thirst.

Let me see.

You're really sweaty.

Go get changed before you drink. You've got no business in the kitchen.

Come on, get undressed and try this on for tomorrow.

For tomorrow? What about the suit that Mom bought?

Since I saw it, I bought that for you instead.

I took the opportunity to get you some things for summer as well.

I'm tired of seeing you dressed like a tramp.

Come on. Time for a bath.

Take that off.

A good bath will cut your thirst.

It'll wake you up.

You're really in the clouds today.

Come on. Into the laundry.

When you're dressed, I have a surprise for you on the terrace.

I just saw Thomas's chest. What a pity, skinny as a nail.

Doesn't mean a thing. At his age, I was a beanpole.

That's not it. What worries me are his grades.

Did you see last semester's? They're terrible.

It's not a problem. He'll try harder. It has to happen once.

When I was taking care of him, he was first in his class.

It's a really big change.

His mother just doesn't get it.

You know very well, Maurice.

His mother won't give him back to you.

Ever since she took over that lousy club, it's worse than ever.

We've got no influence over her.

I think she's not normal.

Pardon me for saying it, but I think...

You loser, I'm not afraid of you. I'll get you. You'll see.

Very handsome. Perfect for communion.

- Everything all right? - Yeah.

It itches, Grandma. I'm dying of heat in this thing.

Don't start. You'll wear it tomorrow. That's all.

- Pissing me off. - What did you say?

Nothing.

I've got nothing to say.

Can I go change? Mom's waiting.

Stay with your dad a bit. You never see him.

- We'll drive you home. - I can't. I've got my bike.

We'll put it in the trunk. Come on, sit down.

Didn't you hear me? I said come sit down.

If you want me to stay here, you need to give me some money.

Money? You've never lacked anything. What's gotten into you?

He just wants to show off.

I don't give a damn about showing off.

I don't give a damn about communion, suits, gifts, anything.

I need some money.

You have to learn that money isn't given away like that.

You'll have money when you deserve it, when you've earned it yourself.

What you're saying is idiotic. Same as always.

You're a real jerk.

No, Thomas.

Are you gonna stay in there? Open up!

Thomas, open up!

Can you open the door, Thomas?

Good God. What a fright you gave me.

What's wrong with you today?

He was really upset. Let's see your cheek.

The bastard really hurt me. Once I'm gone, he'll be fine.

Let's hope this is all forgotten by tomorrow.

Tomorrow's a big day for you.

No, keep it on.

If you make a wish during communion,

I'm sure that God will hear you.

Really, I'm telling you.

On such a day, he wouldn't refuse a thing.

You can ask for whatever you like.

Today's the day I'd like to ask for something.

We have many children at the school, more than 300,

and none of them pose as many problems as Thomas.

With or without foam, Father?

Leave it. I'm very worried about Thomas.

- What has he done? - He lies, makes things up, tells tales.

You never know where the truth ends and his stories begin.

But children are like that.

No, in his case, it's willful.

He stirs up his classmates.

They're afraid of him.

I've had complaints.

I should be spending more time with him. It's my fault.

It bothers me a bit.

But he should be helped rather than judged, don't you think?

My job is to help him. I'm an educator.

I know he's at a difficult age.

But what would you have me do?

Another beer, Father?

No. That would be too much.

You may not have noticed, but children are cruel when in groups.

Then it's our duty to intervene.

That's why we'd like to let Thomas go.

Isn't that a bit excessive?

He's the one who's excessive, Madame Ravenel.

I'll walk you out.

Couldn't you make some arrangements?

Yesterday, I spoke with Thomas.

He claimed that you were not his real mother.

He said he'd been taken to your home on the day of his birth,

and that one day his real mother would come find him.

That's completely ridiculous.

It's absurd.

That's what I was afraid of.

I had to get that off my chest, Madame Ravenel.

- I'm terribly sorry. - It's fine.

Good-bye, Madame Ravenel.

Why are you crying?

I'm not crying.

It's the dust from the motorcycle.

Here.

I took this.

I'd rather give it back.

You're already a born liar,

telling unbelievable stories, and to top it off, you start stealing.

Let me explain.

I made a bet and I lost.

You're wearing me out with your baloney.

Go do what you want. Have fun, but leave me alone.

You're going too far talking to me like that.

- It's really unfair. - Be nice and leave me alone.

I'd like to make you happy.

But I only attract problems. Forgive me.

If I weren't around, you wouldn't have it so rough.

You could do what you want. I'm ruining your life.

Stop talking nonsense.

This rage comes from your father. I should've been firmer.

At your age, feelings like that would've killed me.

You'll be in high school next year. You won't be boarding anymore.

You'll learn to speak correctly. After age 12...

You don't like how I speak?

I do like it.

But your father thinks you might slip back later.

You know,

if something happened to me,

you're the only one I'd miss.

Listen, I don't care how many lies you tell.

But don't you dare think something will happen to you.

Nothing could ever happen to you.

- Calm down. I was just saying it. - I won't calm down.

You know I've never threatened you.

But if you brood on such ideas, we're through.

You'll go to your father and never see me again.

Don't worry, I don't brood at all.

Smile for me.