Bankers Also Have Souls (Le cadeau)

subs by paristexas

THE GIFT

With

Cytoplasmic membrane: a biological layer that surrounds the cytoplasm...

which itself is formed by... the hyaloplasm.

Sandra, can't you lower the volume?

Hi, dad! If you still want to take me to school, you'd better move it!

I'm getting up!

Sandra! Have you seen my slippers?

Ouch!

Antonella! I'm stuck again.

- Hi Dad! - Hi big guy! Not too nervous?

- I'm fine. - Hurry up if you want me to drop you off.

Okay.

Antonella! Antonella!

- Dad, your coffee's warm. - Where's your mom?

She went out, she forgot the bread.

Again! My coffee will be cold.

Hi! You're on dog duty today?

If I waited for Jean to take it out, the poor dog would wait all day.

- By the way, you won't forget tonight? - Is 8pm okay?

- Perfect. - I'll bring the dessert.

Hey, I don't care about your exam! I just want the bathroom.

What were you up to?

- And you? - I'm stuck again.

Laurent is a pain, he locked himself in the bathroom, I can't even brush my teeth.

Watch your tongue. And get dressed, you'll wash up tonight.

Speaking of tonight, don't forget we're dining downstairs.

- What about the movie? - What movie?

Follow the Fleet on TV, with Fred Astaire and Ginger Rogers.

You'll see it another time.

She'll serve veal's head in gribiche sauce again, it will take 24 hours to digest.

My coffee is cold! You've been forgetting the bread for 22 years.

21. You're about to lounge around in a hotel for two days, you'll get warm coffee there.

Lounge around! In a suburb of Milan, with noisy plumbing and a broken bidet.

- You need a bidet? - Oh, please.

Don't complain. For your final trip, they could have sent you to that hotel with bedbugs.

Look, Antonella, I'm eating, so please stick to appetizing topics.

You might still fail your exam... You won't become the family's doctor overnight.

- Can't you two live without shouting? - I can't get dressed, my clothes are in the bathroom.

Here, drink, now that it's hot.

I'm not retiring early to live in mayhem.

Otherwise I'd rather keep doing accounting until I get a heart attack.

- What the heck is that? - Who told you to drink this, it's for your brother.

- What is it? - Turnip juice, it's good for the brain.

My mom used to make it for me when I had exams.

You, you've taken exams?

Stupid little Frenchman.

Can you repeat that?

What for? You've never managed to learn three words of Italian, even at my parents'.

Your parents have a terrible accent.

Yes? No miss, I'm not sugar-pie .

Neither am I the butler by the way. I'm his dad.

- Here he is. - Is that Evangeline? - She didn't give her name.

Hey, don't forget the maid needs the bathroom. By the way why do we need a maid?

- I told her you're a banker. It sounds more... - More what?

Ah, hi, it's you. No, I wasn't able to.

I wasn't able to, that's all!

Even if that was Evangeline, that's none of your business.

Yeah, right.

Is it Charlotte?

The check-out girl?

So who's the new one?

Evangeline, from Madagascar.

From Madagascar?

And I'm a "banker".

From Madagascar!

Hey, you know my friend's sister who is an air hostess?

She brought this sticker for you.

Mandarin hotel, Singapore. You'll thank her, won't you?

Singapore!

Here darling, drink.

- What is it? - Good for the brain. Bottoms up!

- Be brave, big guy. See you tonight. - Thanks, see you.

- See you, ugly! - See you, Dr Schweitzer!

To your school now?

Laurent!

What are you doing here? You call me at home, you track me all the way here?

We had a night class so we're starting late, and I came to support you.

- That's kind, thanks. - Here.

- What's that? - Fish extract. It tastes awful, but...

Good for the head? Watch what I do with it.

No, please drink it, I want you to pass. Then maybe your parents will let us marry.

Charlotte, we've already discussed it.

Once again: some things have happened in my love life, you understand?

Yes, maybe, but I'm sure you won't stay with that cow.

Oh, please.

She's better than a check-out girl.

Maybe, but you'll tire of her faster.

Come on, drink it.

Fine, but one condition.

- Okay. - You go back to work and wait for me to call.

Okay, "Mickey". Come on, drink it.

Pardon me.

- How much did you collect? - Two thousand already.

What will you buy him with that?

He doesn't drink, he doesn’t smoke, and...

call-girls are not his style.

How would you know? With Gardet, we have an idea.

We'll explain.

- At what time will he receive it? - At closing time.

The boss wants to make a speech.

To the right, I file customer accounts.

To the left, company accounts.

You'll get used to it fast. A good atmosphere and nice workmates.

Come, I'll introduce you to the cashier.

- Mr. Duffer, could I ask you a question? - Please do.

Since you enjoy it here, why leave?

Simple. Stress.

A few months ago I read an article about stress. Its causes, its effects, its symptoms.

I had them all.

Excuse me.

Yes.

Hi, boss.

Yes, our new intern is here.

He looks very competent.

Yes, here he is. Philip?

Your dad wants you.

Dad?

Philip, don't call me "dad" at work. Call me sir, or Mr. President.

Bring me all short-term loan applications since January.

That's it.

- So? - Nine hundred and ninety-five dollars.

- That much? - And the boss wants to double the amount.

Your idea is quite good!

What if he doesn't like it?

Have you ever seen a normal guy who wouldn't like that?

And it's a nice change from the classic color TV or super-8 camera, you see.

Yes, but if he says no. Did you think of that, two thousand bucks for nothing.

Don't worry, these girls know how to do it, they have class and tact.

They even frequent royals, man.

And you know some?

Yes, I do.

But hey, it's not what you think. It's an acquaintance.

- And she agrees? - She arrives from Dubai today.

- To buy? - Dubai. You know, in the Gulf.

...flight from Hong Kong...

Josie!

Look, do you like it?

- So you can't say hello anymore? - Hi, Dede.

- You forget Dadi. - Hi, Dadi.

- Let's see. Still not Old England, is it? - I don't have your class.

By the way, how are my parents?

They're okay. The last two days dad has been feeling his arthritis.

He'll be pleased. I brought him oriental slippers and a white djellaba .

Do you imagine dad in the garden, dressed like a Sheik?

- Why not? - Yes, why not.

You know why mom and dad are still stuck...

Why are you taking the same path?

Dunno... Maybe we enjoy reading old novels.

It's because you're afraid of everything. You don't want to make waves.

But our parents are happy... They believe you're a model.

And since I'm the one eating there on Sunday, I'll bring the djellaba .

- Just to annoy you. - In theory that lunch was planned, but...

Ah, I knew that if you're picking me up at the airport you must need my help.

Quick, my suitcase.

- What, you can't be serious? - Listen, Josie...

- Don't call me that anymore, you know it. - Listen, Barbara...

- You know what it costs me to ask you this? - I know, it's hard for your ethics.

He's one of our best workmates, and we've collected a thousand bucks, for us it's a lot.

Please make an effort.

Where am I supposed to take him?

I don't know, but tomorrow he takes the 7:40 train for Milan.

Okay. Goodbye, then.

I'll jump in a cab, and on Sunday I'll kiss our parents on your behalf.

- You've never taken the train? - Yes, but a long time ago.

Remember when we were little, with auntie, to go to the country.

You liked it.

We even had picnics in the carriage.

You would have made a great pimp.

Seventeen years of honor, loyalty, ethics.

Core qualities in our profession.

To paraphrase the poet, I dare say

You the obscure, the unranked soldier

You deserve a Marshall's baton.

I mean the esteem of all...

kindly gathered here today...

What are you giving him?

It will only be ready tomorrow.

What is it?

An encyclopedia, like for Mr. Vallon?

- Leather-bound. - With golden trims.

I told you, it's on the placenta's inner side.

Hey.

I can't believe it. Are you in the KGB?

No, we had a bomb scare in the condiment aisle, so I forgot my promise.

- How did it go? - Great.

- A dissection of fetuses, no worries. - Good, I'm relieved.

Where are you going now?

To apply for an internship as a stretcher bearer.

Did you think of me a little?

Answer me.

Listen Charlotte, this morning I went easy on you, but now I'll tell you once and for all.

You and I are through. You get out of here.

But... I just want to ask you one last question. Then I swear to leave you alone.

Is it because of your family?

- Why my family? - There must be a reason, it can't just be for "Bamboola"...

It's our social gap that makes our love impossible, right?

Your dad being a banker, he is opposing the blossoming of our happiness, right?

Very good! For once you draw a fast conclusion, and correctly too!