My Sole Desire (À mon seul désir)

Why are you staring at me?

Wondering what you walked into?

Never been to a strip club before?

It must have crossed your mind. At least once.

You just didn't dare.

I'll tell you the story of someone who dared.

I don't mean me!

I'm much too reserved to tell my own story.

Miss?

You seem to be looking for something.

Not love, I hope.

You won't find that here.

MY SOLE DESIRE

- How was it, sir? - Fine.

A parlor, to top it off?

Plenty of choice: blond, brunette...

Look at this Spanish girl. Pretty, isn't she?

No, thanks.

- Your call. - Bye.

Good bye, sir.

- Hello. - Hi.

I'd like to try out. Are you hiring?

You should go downstairs and take a look first.

This is an erotic theater. It's not like in the movies.

Welcoming a new dancer is always special.

It would be nice to have some new girls.

We like our girls. But someone new,

who brings energy, youth and naïveté

could be cool.

So be nice to her.

Maybe she's never done this before.

Let's watch and discuss later. Okay?

She's pretty!

What an entrance!

- You missed a step. - Hello. Yes, I did.

How is everyone?

- What's your name? - Mia.

M-I-A, sounds like "meow."

How about a little striptease, Mia?

- Right now? - Sure, why not?

I'm hot.

I'm so hot.

Stop, Mia. Just stop.

Come over here, away from that gentleman.

Honey, this is a striptease, not Saturday Night Fever.

You're not here to have fun and hook up. Sorry, sir.

I know that's what you were hoping for.

Being a stripper is a profession.

I'll give you an express training session.

In five minutes,

you'll be a working girl.

One very important thing:

take it slow.

Look.

I'm captivating my audience.

You see all those eyes, hanging on to my every move?

What will she do next?

Pop! She opens a button.

And another one.

You bewitch and mesmerize them.

You play with the distance. You seduce them all.

But you pick one special guy.

You turn him on with your magnificent body,

like a subtle serpent.

At the very end,

you touch him.

I'm totally mesmerized.

What do I do now, ma'am?

What everyone else does.

You kiss the boss's ass.

Thank you. Enjoy the show!

Does everyone perform in pairs?

No, not at all.

You can try on your own right now, if you'd like.

I don't know.

- What's the pay? - Ten euros an hour.

After all, it's just a striptease.

If you can take off your panties, you'll be fine.

You'll need a stage name.

Aurora, like in Sleeping Beauty?

Very nice.

Elody!

Want some makeup?

Help yourself.

Thanks a lot.

So, how was the king's throne?

You were in the best seat. The king's throne.

If you want, there's room over here

to put your things.

- How many parlors did you do? - A ton.

Are you leaving?

I didn't even introduce myself.

Mia.

You liked it. I could tell.

Yeah, I did.

I'd never seen Four-Eyes hand out money before.

It was a good first try.

It wasn't creative, like your act.

- You seemed so comfortable. - I'm an actress.

You are? Like a real actress?

Yeah. I'm applying to the Conservatory.

I come here when I can. It's a chance to face an audience.

- I love it. - Have you seen my jeans?

It must be the boss.

She does that to all the new girls. We can't figure out

if she wants to smell you, check your size or cast a spell on you.

The boss steals people's clothes?

They say she lives upstairs. I've never seen her.

You're a bit strange.

Coming out of a tough breakup?

Nope, not coming out of anything.

I'm not a virgin,

but I've never had a real relationship.

Don't worry, it'll happen.

I don't want to wait for love. I don't believe in it.

That's what people say when they're scared.

See you soon.

- You did it several times? - So, you fucked her, too?

- Who is that girl? - She just loves fucking.

Really? I don't agree.

When I sleep with her, it's a very tender experience.

- She really moves me. - Too much information.

You didn't seem to think so at that Halloween party.

She literally threw herself at me.

- It was just a kiss. - Stop defending yourself.

Why can't she admit it?

She asked you to keep quiet, pretend it didn't happen.

How many of our friends did she secretly fuck?

We don't know!

Manon?

You heard us? I'm sorry.

Here's 50 euros... for the rent.

My grandmother can wait two weeks.

Take it.

Thanks, anyway.

Special day, Manon?

You're all made up. You look great!

Thanks.

- Got a date? - Nope.

You won't tell me?

- You won't? - It's my last day. I made an effort.

So I see.

You'd abandon me? Let me vanish from your life?

Just like that!

- What will you do? - I found a job close to home.

Am I interrupting?

Unbelievable!

Thank you!

I'm Aurora.

Enjoy the show! Thank you.

I heard it's your birthday.

Yes, today's my birthday.

How old are you?

- Eight. - Eight years old?

Did you have a party with your friends?

Yes, we had a snack.

What else did you do? Eat candy?

What's with the face? It didn't go well?

- Who's the blonde? - Sati.

She's tough on the new girls, but she's harmless.

I don't like her.

- She won't like you either. - Why not?

You look young. That's her turf.

We're lucky to have girls like her.

She's useful. Don't say that about her.

I'll say what I like.

Mia, two guys want you. What do I say?

Okay, I'll take my regular.

- You want the other one? - I don't know.

Oh, how sweet! Your very first parlor.

Go for it!

A piece of advice: tap into your primal self.

Show your claws but be careful.

You can hurt yourself.

Anyway, you lead the dick. I mean, the dance.

Wait, what is a parlor?

You earn 30 extra euros for 15 minutes.

If they want more, you keep 30%.

The rest goes to the club.

Like withholdings on wages.

- It's just a private dance. - What if he wants to touch me?

If he pays, you can touch him.

You're in charge.

He can touch himself but not you. You can touch yourself.

But no sex. Y la boquita cerrada.

Your mouth is gold, got it?

Don't be scared. It's a win-win deal.

One guy gave me 200 just to stroke his arm.

- No way! - Yes.

See that guy?

He jerks off into his tie.

I swear!

- Fabien! - Hi, Mia.

- How are you? - This is for you.

You're sweet. See you inside?

Be right there.

He has a crush on me.

You're so beautiful!

I bet nobody thinks you're as beautiful as I do.

What are you doing? It's okay.