A Loser (Un cave)

My wife fried the onions first, for me.

In oil, with bacon bits?

Oh no! Buttered.

And her chicken legs, she made soft inside...

...and a bit crunchy on the outside.

So, sometimes, I said to her "Josette..."

What new can we do...

It was Charlie, the bartender at the Roxy, who introduced her to me.

The youngest of the Bluebirds...

and the most beautiful.

In the evening, you took her

...to the hotel, on Rue de Ponthieu.

What was good right off with her...

...was that even when we weren't making love...

...we were fine together.

She could make me laugh.

With her little accent, she'd turn you on with stuff.

Girls really go for a guy like you.

I'll never get one like that.

You never know your luck.

When I get out, I'll need all I can get to find a job...

...and get married.

If that's what you want.

Basically, with Janine, at least I learned one thing...

I thought I could keep her with money...

and when the money was gone, so was she...

...with coppers at my door when I woke up.

I wasn't good enough.

I wonder why I ended up getting you.

You're a stupid little prick.

Come on, go to sleep.

Granier, to the visiting room.

Deferre, to the visiting room.

So, Granier, is it for today or tomorrow?

Excuse me, Sir... How long can we stay?

- Ten minutes. - Thank you Sir.

This is the first time for me.

Before, my grandson was in Fresnes.

But since he was ill, they transferred him.

- I brought sausage. - How are you?

- Hello, uncle. - Kid, it's the last visit.

- I'm very glad. - Imagine what I am!

Next time, bring me more tobacco.

I give my pipes to my neighbour, and he gives me his leftovers.

Yes, big boy, I'll spoil you.

Hello counselor.

- Hello, Warden. - Seeing you at this hour is rare.

I have a case at 3 pm, but I want to see Laigneau today.

How is he?

Calm. The beast seems tamed.

Goodbye.

- I don't wish you bon appetit. - Alas!

Laigneau! To the small visiting room.

- Who wants to see me? - Your mouthpiece.

He got his money, I got life.

What else does he want? An award?

What time do you get out?

In the morning. I'll be at your place at 12.30.

Good. That's fine.

I'll probably be there, but you never returned your key.

I gave it, when I checked in here.

It's so great that it's all over!

You said it!

End of visit!

Are you coming back on Thursday?

Come on, Ma'am.

I wrote to her.

Even if she doesn't want to come, she can afford to buy a stamp.

You're a man, Laigneau. You have to put yourself in her place.

I'm already in mine. It's enough for me.

I know him, the swine.

We know everything here.

Let her manage to earn a living, that's all I say...

but to stick with such an idiot who plays real estate kingpin...

...and pretend to be his old lady, that's just not on, by me.

You're sentenced to life, Laigneau.

You'll do 15 years, at the very least.

She may want security.

Security! Don't make me laugh!

People real estate risk prison terms...

...which are worse for them than for us.

If she wants to swan around in cars, let her come and tell me...

...and we'll see.

What if she refuses?

You're in the business...

You know we're never completely locked up.

We have friends.

She and her boyfriend, could catch cold, some day.

Be reasonable, Laigneau.

Everyone has a right to live their life.

Let her come and tell me!

How can he make demands? He's in jail.

Listen, I warn you, Sir.

These are threats against you...

and you would be wrong to take them lightly.

Laigneau is not nicknamed the Madman for no reason.

Psychiatrists recognised him as having diminished responsibility.

So what?

So what? We don't play games with the fixations of such men.

I had to inform you of my interview with Laigneau...

...as I had promised Miss Dietrich. So it's done.

Apart from which...

Yobbo!

What idiots, these lawyers are!

I'm chairman of Safimmo, I control Cofric and Fregesi.

I'm one of the big five in real estate.

I have 3 majority deputies in my pocket...

I dine with the minister at his house. I'm up there!

My daughter did May '68 with his son. What does he imagine?

I won't worry about what a jailbird thinks!

When you met me I was that jailbird's wife.

His wife, his wife... He didn't actually marry you.

You don't have me either. married, and yet...

I haven't married you because of Charlotte and the kids.

They're not in the way... they're at Chateaudun.

You're Mrs Fernier to everyone. I introduce you, I take you out.

You've almost become a woman of the world... you work.

Don't forget your shitty background.

What about yours, are you forgetting that?

We are what we are, Catherine.

I started at 15... in non-ferrous metals.

It doesn't match Janson-de-Sailly for good manners...

...but to learn how to survive, believe me, it educates.

So why are you staying with me?

It's not for my physique, is it?

And my dough, you could easily find the equivalent.

I'll tell you, your dough...

I know exactly how to hang on.

You could pop off in a week. Your age, physique, life style...

- I never think about it as much as you. - So what?

I'd had a terrible year...

...with a rather terrible man. But you had one thing in common:

I had the feeling that whatever happens, I could count on you.

- Now I wonder. - Come on, don't get mad!

I never dumped a woman.

Even Charlotte gets her dough on the dot.

And then...

...I care for you.

We'll send him a money order from time to time, to your jailbird.

But he can stick his threats up his arse!

Because there are laws, in France, for honest people...

...and my lawyer, is a former President of the Council.

He knows the law backwards!

Continue the treatment.

- Hello doctor. - Good morning. Sit down.

Breathe in.

Again.

Good. The same thing.

- He leaves, day after tomorrow. - Where are you going?

Well, that's not bad!

But you'd need strengthening...

Some treatment at medium altitude.

Health insurance?

No, doctor. I paid the whole bill.

I'll leave a note at the office for the Sana de Vence.

- It may be useful to you. - Thank you Doctor.

That's what I call a total success.

Exemplary! You don't have a sign of your accident.

I'll keep you another 3 weeks.

Are you sending me back to Centrale?

I'm a doctor, not magistrate.

I was in charge of healing you, you're healed.

Others await your place.

I don't give a damn about the others!

They can drop dead.

So, are you starting soon?

Day after tomorrow. Why?

You can make 300, by running an errand for me.

Don't be offended, Jo. I couldn't do it for a million.

What are you going to live on? By working?

- Yeah. - The things you hear!

I'll do what I want.

The life of a sucker!

What you've always been.

Believe me...

...you don't have to be hip to screw a landlord.

It's the simplest scam.

Pathetic...

that's what you are!

So you're going to scram?

- Is it true, what you said to Jo? - Yeah.

It's funny.

Yes. Maybe. That's the way I was brought up.

- I was to be an accountant. - Well then!

Yeah! My uncle is an accountant, my father was an accountant.

And to think that we shared everything for 6 months.

It's funny, friendship. It's like love...

We believe we have principles, and then we go with anyone.

You scram... and I go back to Centrale.

And for me...

Would you do me a favour?

"The Horn of the Wood."

Will you remember?

Be careful...

Seen from the outside, the landscape looks different.

My boy!

Hello, Auntie!

- What a pleasure to be together! - Go and sit down!

We've a lifetime to kiss in.

I've two good bottles for you. The last ones.