A Common Thread (Brodeuses)

"Lucile..."

"My moped can't go uphill any more."

"I have to pedal, it tires me out in no time."

"I must have put on 10kg, I don't know if it's normal."

"I can't get over how the doctor broke the news to me."

"I had a knot in my stomach."

"His talking made me feel dizzy, I had no time to think."

"He was worried I'd try to give myself an abortion

with a knitting needle."

"He said I could give the child up at birth,

that there were laws to protect me."

"Fortunately, my boss asked no questions,

but I'll have to disappear for a while, to give birth."

"I don't know where to go."

"It's awful, now you live in Lyon, I have no one to talk to."

"It feels strange, telling you the story by letter."

"Just as well I have the embroidery."

"I'm still swapping my parents' cabbages for rabbit skins."

"I hope the farmer won't let on,

because if they find out, they'll kill me."

EMBROIDERERS

Clotilde!

Could you bring me some celeriac salad, please?

What? I'm not paid to serve till operators.

Get off your arse, it will do you good!

You're late, you'll get a roasting.

Yes, all right!

- Well, I never, it's too small! - Maybe you should start dieting.

It's not possible, it can't be mine!

You eat far too much!

You'll end up looking like Josiane, at this rate.

Yes, you've put on lots of weight. Did you nick her overalls?

Leave me alone, I have cancer.

Ever heard of cortisone and radiotherapy?

I'm here because...

I'd like to have a sick note.

I'm tired, at the moment.

What's making you tired?

I work a lot.

And I'm several months pregnant.

I thought that was the case,

but I saw you come here on your moped.

And you know that this is not at all recommended.

I can't help, I live a long way away.

All the more reason.

Any general practitioner can give you a sick note.

- Is there not one any nearer? - Yes.

I'm not going to keep the baby.

Are you going to give birth anonymously?

What does it mean?

You want to give it up for adoption, is that it?

Er...

Yes.

So, you'll give birth anonymously.

Could you really not try and keep this child?

Are you going to give me a sick note or not?

Yes, I will, but while you're here,

we'll also make sure everything's fine.

Are you going to get undressed?

It's quite useful to know when your baby's due.

What do I keep on?

You're fine like this.

Come and lie down.

What is this?

The heart.

The heart...

Of the baby?

Yes.

There...

His head's down.

Perfect...

This is his abdomen.

The liver...

I don't want to give birth in Angoulême.

You're free to give birth wherever you want.

You can't be turned down, and it's free of charge.

At the hospital,

everything can be anonymous and free.

I won't go to the hospital, anybody could see me.

Is there anything else I should know?

I don't really know what you want to find out.

If it's a mongol, can I still have an abortion?

From what I just saw, it's a beautiful baby.

Here, wipe your tummy.

I think it's closer five and a half months than five.

Would you like to know the baby's sex?

Did you see it?

Yes.

Could you write it down on a piece of paper?

Why didn't you tell me you were ill?

Because I'm not ill.

It's not Aids, at least?

Aids doesn't tend to make you fatter.

What's the matter, then?

I'm pregnant.

It wasn't me, was it?

Are you going to have an abortion? Do you want money?

If I was free, I'd offer you better,

but as it is, I can't.

I never want to see you again.

I don't want to see you, any more.

What are you doing here?

I came to see you.

- On your bike? - Yeah...

Come up, then, hurry up.

- You've put weight on. - Mind your own business.

- Well? - It's the parents.

They've been arguing.

Dad's not repaired the forage harvester.

- I had to feed the cows by hand. - And?

I had an essay to write, I got a nought.

Take your clothes off or you're going to be ill.

- It's freezing, round here. - I can't put the heating on, yet.

It's always cold, anyway.

I want to stay here.

I don't care what you want, bugger off!

I'm fine on my own.

I'd like to have some peace, for once.

What's up with you, are you on?

Wanker!

Come on, I promise I won't be a pain.

I'll even do the washing up.

- Hello? - Mum, it's Claire.

- Ah... - Thomas's with me.

- He's at Claire's. - He's spending the night here.

He's not got his school bag, he'll be told off.

I'll explain to the teacher but stop bugging him.

If it wasn't for the missing cabbages,

I wouldn't know if you're alive or not, so don't lecture me.

Just as well Tom's with you, or I wouldn't have had any news.

- I have other things to do. - Is this how you talk to me?

It's not my fault, you shouldn't have rung.

Something always stops me moving forward.

We're going to see the cousins.

We'll have a great time.

Hey, Claire, writing to your boyfriend?

Leave me alone!

What, not your boyfriend?

- Go away. - You only have to say, I'm game.

Wanting to dip your wick, are you?

So what? It wouldn't hurt anyone.

It would hurt me.

I'd like you To call me more often

I'd like you to make The first move

And I'd like you to remember

Our love story is eternal And not artificial

I'd like you to be the one

"My dear dear Claire,

sorry to write on this paper, I have nothing else on me."

"Your letter gave me a shock."

"I'll be in Angoulême with my brother, this weekend,

come and stay with us."

"You didn't mention anyone, who's the dad?"

Come in!

Hello.

- I've come to see Lucile. - She's upstairs.

Go up, if you want.

Are you making chips?

No, it's for bait.

I've never seen anyone peeling potatoes for fish.

Say something!

Your son resigns after one year, and you think it's fine?

I'm not saying it's good, but he's made a decision.

It's not a decision, it's surrender!

- What are you doing? - I'm fed up, I'm going out.

What's the matter?

Guillaume's without a job.

What planet are you on?

He wouldn't be the first to live from fishing and hunting.

Does it show?

It doesn't, no.

Did you dodge your parents?

Yes, I came in the back door.

- What's up with your brother? - His face?

- Well, yes. - Where have you been?

He had an accident with Ishran Mélikian.

Has he?

I knew the Mélikian son had died, but...

Did Guillaume hit him?

They were on the same motorbike, they skidded.

Guillaume feels responsible

because when he came to after the accident,

Ishran was still alive, though he was bleeding a lot.

He ran 4km to get help.

They arrived too late.

At the hospital,

Ishran's mum was screaming madly, next to Guillaume's room.

Then she calmed down, and she never said any more.

Now, he's trying to go abroad.

Did you not use a Johnny?

- Yes. - Well, then?

Do you want a picture?

I don't understand.

I think he left too much air in the rubber.

Did it blow up?

Yes, like a balloon.

Inside you?

I didn't feel it, it was torn, afterwards.

I waited for my period to start, and it did.

- No! - Yes.