Vivace

I can breathe freely here.

- Aren't you cold? - No.

Will you stay for a bit?

It's amazing how much fruit one tree can produce.

- You could make jam. - We may live in the country,

but we're not retired.

Have you heard from the university?

No, but I'm not worried. They'll be more organised than Paris.

- That'll will be enough, won't it? - I think so, yes.

Won't I look stupid with my little basket?

You're irresistible. They're gonna love you.

Is anybody in?

All right, all right.

- Hello. - Hello.

- Hi, I hope we're not disturbing. - No.

We're new neighbours. In...

- L'Aussagne. - Ah, I see.

We wanted to say hello.

- So, this is my wife, Pauline. - How do you do?

- How do you do? - And I'm Alex. Alex Charpentier.

Ah. How do you do? I'm Mathilde.

Oh, I'm so sorry.

- I was modelling - We're bothering you.

Not at all. On the contrary. I was getting pins and needles.

- We brought you some cherries. - How sweet of you.

You look adorable with that basket.

- Yes. - Well, come in, come in.

- Let me offer you a drink. - That's very kind.

- Come in. - Thank you.

- Thank you. - What brings you to the area?

It was my decision. I could no longer stand Paris.

The pollution, the transport system, the stress.

I feel great here. And I love gardening.

A flower amongst flowers.

The real job was convincing Alex. He's more of a city guy.

- What's your occupation? - I'm an anthropologist.

An anthropologist? Tell me more.

I'm studying the evolution and dynamics of human populations.

- Is that useful? - Not really.

But it fascinates me. No, thank you.

Right now I'm looking into the issue of Hispanic assimilation in the US.

Got to say you won't find too many Hispanics in this area.

No, no, that's true.

In any case, I'm delighted to have neighbours like you.

- It's a change from the loner. - The loner?

She means the pensioner who lives on the other side of the village.

He came back to the family home.

He used to be into forestry. Now he looks after his garden.

- Ah! - Yes, he's a bit odd.

Odd? That's not a word I would have chosen.

- How would you have described him? - Weird.

Yes, weird. You're right.

He's weird. He's a loner.

Where do you exhibit your paintings?

I don't. No, I sell my paintings abroad.

- You don't have to be formal. - OK.

Neither do you.

So tell me, why don't you sell over here?

Because this is where I paint my wife. I only paint my wife.

Alex? He's fine. He's adapting.

He's already preparing his next seminar.

No, not that one. The one in August.

He's working like crazy. He's giving me hang-ups.

- He's a bit obsessive. - I can hear you.

I know.

No, Alex is messing around.

Are you kidding? I've emptied all the nurseries.

I bought huge laurels.

I bought some beautiful flowers too.

I'll put them in the flowerbed. It'll hide the corner with...

The leeks and onions, Mum.

No, I'm eating a... I'm always hungry here.

I can't stop eating. Even between...

Wait a second, Mum. There's a man at the door.

I'll talk to you later. Bye, Mum.

Hello. Sorry to bother you. I'm Gilles Vasseur, your neighbour.

Pauline Charpentier. Hello.

Hello.

- Sir? - This is Gilles Vasseur,

- our neighbour. My husband. - How do you do?

- Hello. - Alex Charpentier.

Please forgive me, but I'm running late. I must finish an article.

- I don't want to intrude. - Not at all. Darling, look after...

- Sorry, what's your name? - Gilles Vasseur. Call me Gilles.

- Gilles. - Can I offer you a drink?

Why not? Do you have any orange juice?

- Of course. Come in, please. - Thank you.

It'll be a nice break from all the tidying up.

Darling, have you seen my blue shirt? The stripy one.

- It goes well with my linen suit. - It's drying. I remembered.

She's wonderful.

- Are you off? - Yes, but not for long.

It's work. I'll be back Saturday.

I'm sorry, but I really have to finish that article.

Bye.

Thank you.

Ignore the mess. We just moved in.

Alain "On Happiness".

I'm a philosophy teacher.

- Have you heard of it? - "Happiness isn't self-evident."

"It needs to be earned."

- "It only exists..." - "...If you will it."

He also said, "When we're sad,

even sawing wood is a good way to forget our sorrows."

I know. I spend my time gardening. It soothes me.

I'm the same. I love gardening.

- You enjoy botany? - I'm passionate about it.

As started gardening the moment we got here.

Would you like to have a look?

- Now? - I don't want to bother you.

No, not at all. I love plants, but I like to help people out too.

Follow me?

I tried to do what's best for the plants.

- I understand. - I know it requires time, care.

Talking of which, your hydrangeas aren't getting enough shade.

They don't like too much sunlight.

Have you added compost?

- I haven't, no. Compost? - Hydrangeas like acid soil.

It's important to remember that.

Oh, dear. Do you have secateurs?

Yes.

- Here. - Thank you.

- May I? - Please.

Anything nature doesn't like gets rejected.

It's like a medical transplant. It may not take.

It's got nothing to do with having green fingers.

Plants are like humans. If you respect them...

- They respect us back. - Exactly.

Have you lived here long?

I was born here.

I travelled a lot, trying to combat deforestation.

It didn't help with family life.

- Do you still have family here? - No, I don't.

Not since my wife left.

She left?

I wanted to ask you...

Yes?

No, never mind.

Can I take a picture of you in my garden?

Excuse me?

It's just that I take pictures of any important event.

I'm an important event?

I'll be back.

Alex, hurry up! I'm not the one catching the train.

I'm coming!

I couldn't find my file.

- Hurry. - You brought a lot of stuff.

- I just took some extra shirts. - You're only going for eight days.

- Eight days is a long time. - Yeah? Will you miss me?

I always miss you, even here.

I miss you when you go shopping.

- Still, 12 shirts for eight days. - I'll need a new shirt

for every time I cheat on you.

- You're such an idiot. - I love it when you get jealous.

- Come on, let's go. - Love makes people stupid.

Let's stay stupid.

- It doesn't get easier. - I'll never get used to it.

Neither will I.

I hate leaving you alone in that big house.

Don't worry. Nothing can happen to me.

I must go.

Hello.

Listen, it would be nice if you came to dinner next week.

Yes. What day?

I don't know. Alex will be back on Saturday. Monday?

We'd love to. But is something wrong?

Ah! No, it's because I've just taken Alex to the station.

Why don't you park the car? We'll have a drink. OK?

- You OK? - Yes, I'm fine.

What an arse!

"Welcome to the neighbourhood. Gilles."

Oh, my!

Here? It's so hot! 37 degrees!

I'm changing twice a day. Thank God I overdid it with the shirts.

You're so handsome.

You're not bad either.

It's great to hear your voice.

You could call me a bit more often.

You know, what with the heat and all the work,

I collapse when I get back to my room.

You could call me before collapsing.

Can't you see how much I miss you after only three days?

- Aren't you exaggerating a bit? - No.

But you're not completely alone.

By the way, have you seen Gilles again?

No, but I might go to the antiques' market with him on Saturday.

Don't forget your camera.

My... ? Oh, you're such an idiot.

This landscape is so beautiful. It looks like a painting.

Nature imitating art.

Oscar Wilde. He's the one who said that.

- Did he? - He was a freethinker.

It killed him.

- What are you thinking about? - That sentence by Alain.

Remember?

Happiness needs to be earned. It only exists if you will it.

That's it.

Do you want to be happy?

I am.

Your husband is very lucky, Pauline.