Vital Signs (Les Signes Vitaux) (Les Signes vitaux)

Vital Signs

Look at me.

- Need help? - No.

- Hello. - Hi.

I don't understand. Why wasn't I called before?

It happened very quickly.

She might not have had time.

It happened very quietly.

It's not always the case.

You know you can see her one last time?

See her body.

Here?

At the mortuary.

- It helps sometimes... - No, that's OK.

The service is scheduled for Friday.

Do I need to sign anything... or should I just go?

Would you like to meet with Nathalie?

Who's Nathalie?

Our psychologist.

Why?

To talk about it.

Do you like it?

I, the undersigned, Juliette Léger,

maiden name Sévigny, born October 27th 1937,

bequeath all my belongings to Simone Léger.

When did she write that?

October 2nd.

- This year? - Yes.

Did she come here?

No, I went there.

She asked me to come to the care center.

She was very proud of you, you know?

Cheers.

To Juliette Léger, born...

Sévigny.

Who leaves behind a beloved grand-daughter...

and...

Nobody.

And her husband to be.

Hello, Mrs. Girandeau.

- How are... - Terrible, don't worry about me.

I'm Nathalie St-Onge, psychologist.

How was the new car in the snow?

- Hi Simone. - Hi.

Everything is pretty much the way you left it last week,

except there's a new patient today.

Her name is Mrs. Girandeau.

Dr. Richard is looking at her bad hip.

She's completely lucid.

She receives 80 milligrams of morphine on a patch

and she's not suffering.

But she is pretty anxious.

The family is exhausted.

Is she religious?

I don't think so.

That reminds me...

Father Duchesne had another stroke.

Nobody will come this week.

So among the volunteers are there any church-goers?

Who prays or goes to church?

Either...

or someone who believes in God, or has faith,

or is open to such things.

Micheline. She comes on weekends.

Lucette Miro.

We'll have to decide.

She's been here 16 weeks.

There.

- Call if you need anything. - OK.

Enjoy your meal.

I know that one.

We'd seen it in New York. Isn't it beautiful?

It's time for your bath.

Just leave me alone.

Can you take these books, Simone?

No, no, no. You're not going to put your hand in my butt.

There's a person paid to do that.

It's alright Simone.

You can leave.

Come back later, will you?

That damn soap stinks.

It's your brand. C'mon.

Is it too hot?

Christ... I can't believe it.

You'll feel better after.

That's enough. I'm clean.

There's still the bottom left.

I'm not dirty for Christ sake! I haven't moved from here.

I think I can see your bet.

Yep, I think so.

So Simone, you've been roped in?

Will you take me to my room?

To our private suite.

Help me get up.

See how beautiful her curves are.

A little pillow for your head.

You'll be alright Mrs. Miro. I'll be right back.

Just call if you need anything.

I'd like you to give me a big dose while I sleep.

Don't warn me. I'll go without knowing.

I can't do that.

If it hurts, Dr. Richard can adjust your medication.

You smell like fries.

Your ears are sticking out more.

You have grey hair.

Oh yeah?

Your head's gotten bigger since going to Harvard.

Dummy.

I'll massage your brain, see if it shrinks back to size.

You always come back.

You tell me nothing. I have to come see for myself.

See what?

I want to know everything.

What you do every day.

Why you're not going back to Boston.

I want to know who you give everything to.

What is it now?

That's not how it works.

We aren't together, Boris. I don't owe you anything.

You do.

When you're in a relationship, you do owe something.

What?

When will you introduce me to your boyfriend?

News travel fast.

He's not really my boyfriend.

Not your boyfriend?

No. Not really.

So I have a shot with you?

Seriously, I'd like to meet him.

He has no free time.

No time? What does he do?

He writes music.

He writes music no one will ever hear.

Why are you with him if you don't believe in him?

That's why we're not really together.

So I have a shot with you?

You are wasting precious time.

Yes, you have a small shot.

What did you do for a living?

Cement.

What?

Cement. Construction.

Construction.

Yes, Ma'am! And you, what do you do among the dying?

Frankly you're the best company I've ever had.

I ask myself what I can possibly bring you.

You're alive.

As long as we're not quite dead,

we need the company of the living.

- Are you religious? - Yes.

Yes, I'm a believer.

But mostly I have faith.

What's wrong?

I don't feel like it, that's all.

But they're your friends. We shouldn't have left.

If they were my friends, I'd be playing music with them.

Didn't you quit smoking that stuff?

Yeah. I'm a real champ. I must have quit at least 12 times.

Play the piano, will you?

It's late. The neighbours wouldn't appreciate.

We'll put this here.

You have to be careful what shoes you wear.

Well, you walk like a lumberjack with those big shoes.

I had an accident when I was young.

Poor darling.

What type of accident?

Can I take a look?

Looks alright.

I know a lot about bones.

What kind of accident?

Car.

A big wreck with lots of casualties.

Mrs. Perrin!

It's alright.

OK, that's done.

Morphine...

Miro...

For her it's 5...

Does morphine kill them little by little?

Well, some terminal patients arrive here with weak hearts.

A large dose can kill them.

But usually,

their body gets used to it and that's not what kills them.

As you can see she refused medication until the very end.

She never complained.

How do you deal with patients who want to die?

That's a tough one.

You must face that quite often here, right?

What I can say is...

there are as many answers as there are different pains and patients.

So then you must think about it, sometimes?

Yes.

Yes I do.

I don't think a caregiver should bear the burden of such a question.

It's too much for one to shoulder.

It's way too big.

That said, it is not a public matter.

It's not something the courts can rule on.

That kind of decision has to be made privately

between people who are very close.