Kennedy et moi

I took the wrong road.

Got something wrong somewhere

in between having a family, writing books,

stopping smoking...

I have nothing more to do with my wife and two children.

We live together, but...

like strangers, making an effort not to be noticed.

I'm 48 years old.

I do nothing,

I sleep very little,

and at night I think any light would be better than the darkness.

KENNEDY AND I

Thomas!

If it's for me, take a message.

No, I can't, I'm eating.

Is nobody answering?

How are you?

No, I was in the garden.

No, that's my morning voice.

Fine, for a Sunday.

No, still the same.

Where are you, Paul? Down here?

Will we see you?

On this chair I wrote 12 mediocre books.

I feel like all those years have been lost.

They taught me nothing

except to shut up,

live on your own

and do it sitting down.

I've got cholesterol

and triglycerides.

I'm losing my hair.

When I see my face I think of my youth

and what I've become.

Six months later...

- You're awake? - No, no.

It's not closed, Thomas.

- Aren't you late? - They're on strike.

What is it this time?

- Always the same. - Then why get up?

I'm going to Eric's. Is there no salted butter?

Only that.

- Have you seen my dental floss? - Hello.

- Thomas! - What?

- Have you seen my dental floss? - No.

- Mum? - No, darling, I haven't.

I used it last night,

put it on the shelf, and now it's gone!

Amazing how things go missing around here!

I wonder what the painter was thinking.

Maybe he'd been alone a long time

or his wife was leaving him.

You look tired.

I slept badly.

It's my first ring today.

- Today? - Yes, later on.

Must be exciting, ringing teeth.

Is doing nothing any better?

I can't bear him.

It'll pass.

Stop saying that. He's been like this for months.

- Shall I drop you off? - No, thanks. Thibaud's calling.

You know who'll chair the jury?

- No. - Munthe.

Oh? Is that good?

Of course it's good.

I wanted an only son, I had 2 fools.

I was right to spare myself all those breakfasts.

Seeing them evolve every morning makes me uncomfortable.

Like wearing a woollen pullover next to the skin.

You work Thursdays?

I start this week.

To make more pocket money?

No. They need me.

What will you do today?

I don't know.

The garden's looking worse and worse.

Can you drop me at the clinic?

Yes. Why?

- Are you ill? - I've an ear problem.

- Earache? - I don't think so.

I'd have seen to it for you.

I called.

I didn't want to bother you.

- When's your appointment? - Now,

in 15 minutes.

Who are you seeing?

Hansen... Franssen... I forget.

- Janssen. - That's it.

- Is he any good? - I don't know him.

Well... hardly.

She lies well,

calmly,

serenely.

She lies like I'd like to have lived.

You're on the 2nd floor.

See you later.

Don't worry about your ear.

Call if there's a problem.

- Goodbye, Doctor. - Goodbye.

That's him. My wife's lover.

I know nothing about him, I've never seen him.

I don't hate him.

Mr Polaris?

I don't know why. I can tell he'll disappoint me.

Go ahead.

I sometimes get dizziness and a buzzing in the left ear.

Are you related to our speech therapist?

She's my wife.

Did she send you?

No.

I didn't tell her.

Has this disorder gone on for long?

No, but when it happens, it's very unpleasant.

Nagging.

We'll take a look.

Over there.

"The ghosts were not wearing white sheets...

"as we sometimes think of them.

"The strings went flying with every gust of wind..."

Why doesn't he confess through the headphones?

I'm ready to hear it all.

We could talk,

discuss things calmly, explain.

If he did, I'd shake his hand

and I'd go home.

Everything's fine. No imbalance.

Your results are quite normal, Mr Polaris.

You think I imagined it,

that I'm just hearing things?

I didn't say that. It must be a temporary discomfort.

But I'm sure it's harmless.

I can measure the conduction of your auditory nerve.

It's not necessary.

Shall I come back if it continues?

Yes. As you wish.

How much?

Please.

Because of my wife? No...

I'd rather pay.

We'd create an embarrassing situation.

Don't you think?

Nothing wrong,

absolutely nothing.

But he knows about us.

What makes you say that?

He's not dizzy. He can hear perfectly.

It was a confrontation, not a consultation.

I could feel him watching me throughout.

If he thought so, he'd have said.

- You sound sure of yourself. - I am.

What if he knew?

He'd know his wife had a lover.

I told you about our relationship. There's no problem.

He doesn't care about anything.

You've nothing to fear.

Come here.

Come here.

I'm sorry, but my mind's elsewhere.

I don't like smoking in here.

It's weird, coming to see me.

- Hello? - Excuse me. I'm sorry.

Stop apologising all the time.

This business upset me, that's why.

What do you want, then?

Have you got anyone?

You could come up...

- What for? - You know very well.

No? What do you say?

Anna?

Anna, can you hear me?

You want me to come down instead?

Answer me!

Right... I'm hanging up.

I'm hanging up.

- Doctor... - Yes?

- Is this yours? - Yes.

- Superb. - Thank you.

- I'm sorry, I have to... - You're going into town?

- Yes. - Would you mind dropping me off?

No, not at all. Climb in.

Oh! Leather interior...

- Four-wheel drive? - Yes, permanent.

Can you put on your belt?

- What's that beep? - Would you put on your belt?

No, never. I don't like them.

Hydraulic suspension.

It rises up... That's good.

Isn't it an English car?

Yes, it's English.

No problems with spare parts?

Must be hard to find.

- Not at Rover. - Oh yes, Rover.

Powerful engine?

Eight cylinders, 4.6 litres.

So the real point is the comfort.

That's it.

What's that little noise?

What noise?

We have to talk, to meet up. This hurts me.