Departure

Do you think you can know something before you know it?

Something good or bad, I don't think it matters, but it's...

it's like the air changes or... something inside of you.

Home.

Not any more.

What was that?

Don't know. I think we hit something.

Who's that man in the boat with Dad?

Don't know.

I'm thinking that we'll keep some.

They still have to be packed.

It just looked so bare.

OK.

I've got some thank-you things for Sally and Dan.

I'm going to take them over.

Elliot.

Let's go to the market. We'll get something nice.

- I think we should go and look. - What for?

The deer.

I'll get a basket.

- Maybe it's lying in a ditch. - It was just a branch.

- There's blood on the car. - No, there isn't.

Have you checked?

Do you think they're ready for that, in the village?

- I like it. - So do the fleas.

- I'd like to go back. - Yeah?

We could bring it here. It could... We could look after it.

Yes?

I mean I could.

FURNITURE FOR SALE

Would you get some drawing pins, please?

We should put it out of its misery.

How?

We could twist its neck.

- Could you? - Or with a rock.

Do you not feel anything?

Really, Elliot, that jacket is revolting.

It has holes in it.

So do I.

- Et voilà. - Merci.

Bon journée.

I quite like the market.

Mum.

- Is it working? - No, I think it's the carburettor.

Back to the warehouse...

Bea, we have an appointment at the notary,

so I'll fly out the day after tomorrow.

I think it's...

I think that's best.

- Another? - Please.

Voilà.

- Writer? - Not really.

- But you write. - Yes.

What about?

A poem maybe, or a play.

- For the theatre? - Yes.

You're English?

I was an actor.

You taking a break?

You know the bar.

So... is there a role for me?

I don't know.

It's the end, my friends.

Time is thick with speeches and cigarette smoke.

Illusions... wither on the bough

and we are left to carry the dregs of another year

across the barren, brown fields of winter.

It's great.

Thanks.

I'm trying to find the words...

- In English if you want. - No, it's good.

I mean I'm trying to find the words in English

to express the idea...

What is the word for this?

Jacket?

No, everything. She... he is liquid.

- Without a body. - Oui.

- He wants... - To feel something?

Yeah, to... to long for, um...

Shit.

- Desire? - Yeah.

For what?

The way that things... that water...

runs through your fingers.

To be human?

Yeah.

That's very good.

C'est très bien.

Good luck.

Hello.

Shit.

- Bonsoir. - Salut.

Can I help?

It's a Yamaha, but it's fucked.

Do you know anything about motorbikes?

English?

Oui.

Thanks.

Is it difficult?

No, it's easy, but...

Bon...

Good night.

I saw you...

I saw you swim in the reservoir, in the barrage.

Oui.

It's not allowed, is it?

You don't swim?

I do in English.

But not in French?

In England...

I mean, I don't swim in the barrage.

Really?

You sleeping here tonight?

I think we killed a deer on the way here.

It might not be dead.

It's probably dying, but Mum won't go look.

A deer?

- Rabbit? - Rabbit? No.

Uh, bigger.

Plus gros.

With antlers.

Les bois?

A deer?

- Bambi? - Yes.

OK. But it is dead?

Ah, that's the point. I don't know.

Maybe it has blood running from its eyes like tears,

as it limps across the fields.

What are you saying?

- I dive. - Yeah?

You have to breathe out or it goes up your nose.

I know.

You live here?

Fuck, no. In Paris. I just visit with my aunt.

- A holiday? - Not really.

We live in the house by the river.

I'm Clément.

Elliot. We're packing it up... to sell.

It's like a holiday house.

OK, great. Ciao.

I was about to give up.

- Elliot. - Yes.

- What are we having? - Food.

- What are you looking at? - Nothing.

Wash your hands.

Did you pack?

- I read. I didn't feel like packing. - Something edifying?

How did you get so big?

Incrementally.

We'll start packing tomorrow, properly.

Alright.

Bonjour.

Mum, there are figs.

- Salut. - What?

- Salut. - Elliot?

It's nothing, Mum. Forget it.

- Do you want one? - Yeah, sure.

What have you got? Figs? They're late.

- Yeah, there's just a few. - Oh, gosh. They're beautiful.

Hmm.

- I don't know your friend. - Clément.

Hello. Nice to meet you.

I come to help. Elliot says you pack up.

- Oh, he doesn't need to do that. - No, it's OK.

He can help me with the heavy things.

Well, if you're... if you're sure. Thank you.

The... The ones with yellow stickers are for the sale.

- Yeah, we'll do it. - Right. OK, Elliot?

Hm-hm.

I'll just carry on upstairs, then.

- After we swim? - Isn't the water a bit dirty?

- Want another one? - For your mother?

I don't think she likes them.

Will you take a look at the junk and decide what you want?

And then we can take the rest to the déchetterie.

OK.

I've made you hot chocolate.

They used to make epaulettes in the village, for the shoulders.

For soldiers.

Because the water is very soft, it's very pure.

It's good for the fabric. Did you know that?

No, but it's the same water in the barrage.

Yeah.

But you just said the water is dirty.

Well, maybe it wasn't before. But it is now. That's why they stopped.

Oh.

Here.

- Thank you. - Yeah.

- You swim? - Yes.

- In the reservoir? - Yeah.

Must be cold.

Hmm, to begin.

After... it's like fire, you know, in the skin.

- Yeah? - Yeah.

We never swam in the reservoir. We... I don't know why.

I think it's not allowed.

But we walk round it. It's very beautiful.

I used to swim.

In the sea.

Philip, Elliot's father, had a boat, and I'd dive off.