The Old Guard (Les Vieux de la vieille)

Bloody hell!

Look at the state of this bike!

What the hell has he done to it?

I only sold it to him 30 years ago.

I thought it would be in good hands.

Right.

I'll let the oil soak in and finish it later.

Damn this drought!

It's convicts' work by rights.

But who else is going to do it? The priest? Sure!

Come on, put your back into it.

It has to be done.

This is thirsty work.

Time for a drink.

What do you keep stopping for?

I'm expected at 6.

If I'm not there by 6.10, I'll give you what for.

And remember, at my age,

there are no holds barred. Let's go.

Your clock's slow.

No, old Guillaume's fast.

He's the bell ringer.

He's strict about meal times.

He lives 15 minutes away, so he rings the bell early.

But once you know...

Well, we wouldn't put up with that where I live.

Then why don't you stay there?

Do we ask you what time your bell rings? Eh, Blaise?

We don't come bothering you. We don't give a damn.

What's their problem?

We're too old to put up with criticism

from outsiders.

Don't upset yourselves. He was just kidding.

We make our own jokes, and we don't need strangers here.

Right? Good.

They don't really mean it.

Is that the bus?

No, I know that racket.

It sounds like family.

What did I tell you?

- Evening, everybody. - Evening.

Glass of wine, Louise.

What are you up to, Dad?

What about Germaine and the pigs?

All in good time.

Dinner's at 7.

Don't make us come and get you.

The soup might get cold.

Tell him.

- Well, go on. - Tell me what?

Baptiste Talon's coming back. He's due any time now.

- Baptiste Talon with the field? - Yes.

Jean the Cartwright's son?

Yes, the one who was drafted in 1917. He's no coward, either.

Back in 1912,

when Blaise and I were a lot fitter,

we had a hell of a time together,

drinking and dancing. Those were the days!

You can say that again. Look out!

As if two of them weren't enough.

I don't remember him.

What's he coming back here for?

- I thought he was a railwayman. - So did I.

He's retired.

- Make way for the youngsters. - What for?

They just push us old ones aside.

We're lucky they don't kill us. "Off to the scrapheap you go."

Just remember, dinner's at 7.

Don't make me drag you by the scruff of the neck again!

Goodbye.

See how that cretin speaks to me?

The other night, he even hit me.

- He did? - Right.

Your son beats you? Aren't you overdoing it?

He treats me like an old codger, and I don't like it.

He'd like me to go to bed early with a herbal tea.

And at meal times,

they dilute the wine like I was a kid.

I can't help it if I'm 65 years old.

You're a proud grandfather.

Yes, surrounded by ankle-biters!

Little troublemakers.

Whenever I catch one, I pinch him.

- They deserve it. - Too true. Respect where it's due.

Just because we're old doesn't mean we're senile.

Say...

Talon was married, wasn't he? Maybe we'll see his wife.

That's right, I'd forgotten. He's sure to have his wife in tow.

That changes everything.

Just between us, Adèle Talon was a real looker.

That's true,

but don't judge a book by its cover.

It won't take much to upset her.

There's the bus. Come on, old son it's him!

That's the last time I travel in that old crate!

Where's my luggage?

If I'd taken the train, I could've stretched my legs

and gone to the toilet.

Why didn't you, then?

And rude into the bargain!

You can't judge by appearances.

If it looks, swims and quacks like a duck,

then it's a duck.

Same goes for losers like you.

Bravo!

- Well said, Baptiste. - Do you know

who I am?

He just told me.

- Sergeant Talon. - Petty Officer Péjat.

Officer 2nd Class Poulossière, 43rd Regiment.

Wake up the dead! They shall not pass!

Victory is ours! Up and at them!

This calls for a drink!

- Shall we? - Of course.

My luggage.

Where's your wife? We were hoping to see her.

Don't talk to me about that bitch!

Never again!

And the rail company fired you.

Don't talk about that, either!

- We'll have to talk about something. - Eh?

We'll have to talk

about something.

I tell you this: they threw me out like a rusty nail.

I was a victim of the bureaucrats.

- The what? - Bureaucrats.

25-year-old engineers have ruined everything.

The network's being run by kids!

I'm just glad I'm not there to see it.

Look out, lads, Talon's here.

Here's our table.

Louise, a bottle of the good stuff.

And turn the lights on.

Hi, Baptiste. He doesn't remember us.

- Ah, Léon. - Yes, hello.

- Bouillon. - Junior?

Bleuzet junior.

So, you're retired, then?

- Back home for good? - Well...

Not exactly.

We're all happy to see you, anyway.

You've no reason to complain. You're retirement age, after all.

It's not about age, it's about fitness.

Speaking of which...

How's your health?

BP 140, if you don't upset me!

Razor-sharp reflexes and a brain like new.

- Jean-Marie, you're impartial... - Oh...

- What? - I spent 35 years driving

from Pithiviers to Etampes and back!

Every single day.

Know what that adds up to?

10 times round the world.

Travel's good, you get to see the world.

Yes, there's a lot to see.

My wife and I talk about it a lot.

We'd have liked to see the Angkor temples.

It's a rare sight.

Especially between Etampes and Pithiviers.

No offence, Etienne, but idiots like you are rare, too.

Cheers.

- Nice people! - I've not talked to them in 4 years.

They drove me crazy.

- Grandfather! - Here comes the cavalry.

Mum says come home.

You little brats... Have some respect!

I told you not to go out at this hour.

They seem well brought up.

Hands off my luggage!

- What do we say? - Thanks.

Thanks who?

If you have to beg, give it back! Get out of it.

- Say, Baptiste. - Yes?

- What did you mean? - When?

When Einstein asked if you were back for good,

you said: "Not exactly". That's a bit vague.

Right. Since you brought it up, let's talk about it.

You both have homes. You have a family, God help you.

And you have your grotty shop. I have no ties.

What about Adèle?

I've kicked her out.

Out of my bed and out of my memory!

I don't want to hear her name!

Then where will you go?

To Gouyette.

- What? - To Gouyette?

That's what I said.

The old people's home? You're nuts!

It's worse than prison.

10 years ago, maybe.

But not any more.

Now it's all mod cons,

with central heating, games room and running water.

- And wine with every meal? - I'm not stupid.

I checked: a litre of wine with lunch,

and a half with dinner.

Where did you hear all this?

From Malvoisin, an ex-railwayman.

He's been working at Gouyette for 3 years and we write.

He's been begging me for months to apply with his recommendation.