Pretty Things (Les jolies choses)

Remembering it so clearly...

A decision made phoning a girlfriend

hearing myself say: ''I'm splitting to Paris.

I'm sick of a life without a future.''

Another dumb statement,

but as I hung up, I knew I'd do it,

those weren't idle words.

Filling a bag with a random bunch of junk.

Lining up for a 1st class train ticket I couldn't afford

a symbolic gesture, so as not to show up like a bum...

I was going to bite into the big city, get a real mouthful...

- I don't get it. - Tonight it's not possible.

Why? I mean, I'm 18.

Wanna see my ID? Look at her!

This isn't a place for you. Try the Scala.

- The what? - Forget it.

Who do you think you are? Bitch!

No joint ever turned me down!

Floozey!

Yes, you!

What's the answer?

To what?

I need company

and I got nowhere to go

Zip up my revulsion,

do everything by instinct,

outside be smiling, loving, peaceful,

inside want to puke on yourself.

Paris was tougher than I thought,

filled with people like me,

looking for the good life. So mark time,

find the Good Fairy who turns rags into designer clothes.

Have a perfect body for when the time came.

The time would come.

It always does.

Gauloise Lights!

Mentholated Royales!

I won $1000!

I won $1000!

I never have luck!

Maybe it's turning.

- I'll buy you a drink. - No, I'm meeting someone.

Don't make me drink $1000 alone!

See?

What'll you have?

Why don't we screw?

A small town belle who wanted to find out

about city slickers.

Dad's a French teacher, Mom's a homebody.

Middle-class provincials...

In fact both parents are dead. I've got no family.

It's my life, not yours.

Don't feel you have to.

Why do you dress like a hooker?

I don't get it...

I mean it's very kitchy.

Is that your thing?

Or do you think it's classy?

Listen, sweetheart.

Say what you want about it,

all I know is that men love it.

Why change something that works every time?

Does your boyfriend dig it?

Leave him out of it.

What's he like?

A piggybank.

Why'd you come to Paris?

To be an actress.

A porn star?

No offense intended.

- But I know a lot of chicks... - I don't care.

Or what you think of me.

I'm smart enough to know

what I look like.

And I don't need anyone to tell me what I can or can't do.

Let's see where I wind up.

I'm gonna dazzle all the folks who wrote me off.

And I'm smart enough to know

I'm not the only one who talks this way.

You don't want a better life, you want to live it up!

Can't we just screw?

We drank his $1000 into the night.

Next morning his puking woke me up.

I was on the living-room sofa

fully dressed, and I didn't know how I got there.

We had coffee together.

I stayed with him until I found a pad.

We became pals almost casually,

because we enjoyed seeing each other.

And we never did screw.

SPRING

Not freaking out too much?

I see you're still a million laughs.

I don't have your talent for clowning.

Or for being just human.

What's your problem, you bastard?

You going dressed like that?

I refuse to wear a slut's outfit.

It won't work. Lucie wouldn't

dress that way.

Take it or leave it.

- We'll grab a cab. - Why not the subway?

I get claustrophobia.

I don't believe it!

I don't know what's going on between you two.

But you've freaked her,

and she doesn't deserve it, not tonight.

It really hurts her not to come.

I don't buy sob stories!

You're a snake!

- Hurry up! - Fuck you!

Bastard!

I think the guy wants to give me a break.

Wants me to cut a record.

- A record? - Yeah, a record.

The demo is ready.

What demo?

I jumped the gun a bit.

I was thinking of those two tracks of yours I really like.

I don't want to blow any deals...

but you can't sing, Lucie.

We tried.

I'm not going to sing.

That complicates things...

We send your songs to my sister. She'll sing them.

What sister?

Marie, my twin sister. I hate her guts.

You said you had no family!

Forget it... Listen.

Nice voice... You want her to sing for you?

Look, I'm not the Virgin Mary.

I'm not a role model. I just do my best.

Can we get her to change her style?

Not a chance. She's into art for art's sake.

A lit student, who writes poetry. Get it?

- She'll come to Paris for the mix? - No, she hates Paris.

Suits me. I hate her.

She's a real twin, the identical kind?

They don't come more identical. Any other questions?

What about concerts?

You crazy? There won't be any!

Ok, Morticia. You're on.

Won't be a second.

They're so alike!

It's so darling.

They may look alike,

but they're not alike!

Until we were 10, Dad took Marie everywhere.

I hated her for that.

One night, he did a number,

went further than usual.

He stared at me so hard, I wanted

to hide under the table, I thought he'd puke.

I can't believe you came out of the same womb.

It's too much for me...

Then he questioned us,

so all present knew Marie was studious,

clever, cute, and highly alert.

I was dumb,

I couldn't solve problems

or come to conclusions.

They're alike, but one of them's ugly.

At that age you believe your parents,

however outrageous they sound...

She sure changed her image!

It's the grunge look. The kids love it.

To me, it's more of a dyke look!

Lesbians buy records!

When she signed her contract,

she wasn't dressed that way.

What matters is her voice!

- You mean her ass! - Her ass hasn't changed.

Let's have some music!

He drove up...

In a dream car for two...

What's she doing?

...That he used to woo... So she climbed into his car...

That dream car for two... And took off all she wore...

But the devil wanted more...

Just close your eyes

Love and death's the prize

The man got his way...

In his cabriolet...

Morticia, you impressed me, and not just me.

You came on strong.

You and Lucie will slay 'em all.

Does one get an advance for a record?

Sometimes.

Up to how much?

I read you. Think you're big time now!

Fuck you!

Love and death's the prize...

A few months went by...

The big babe

With big black eyes

Is taken away...

It's bye-bye time for you

Help! She can't believe it's true...

It's happening in her street!

Lucie'll be thrilled.