The Iron Rose (La Rose de fer)

THE IRON ROSE

- How did you get here? - Sorry?

- How did you get here? - I cycled.

Pour me a drink.

So we go into the café. He buys me one, then another…

He left. I was furious.

Especially since he wasn't bad-looking.

I'm a bit shy, but I'll recite a little poem.

Listen up! He's going to recite a poem.

"Dying in his sleep, he lived in his dreams.

"His dream was the tide flowing up the side.

"The tide flowing down.

"Your eyes in those eyes.

"Your lips on that lip.

"It is to you that I bade farewell to life.

"You who mourned me to the point I wanted to mourn myself."

That's it.

Do you still live with your parents?

Why were you looking at me when you were reciting your poem?

It was the only way I had to talk to you.

- What do you do for a living? - For a living?

Ah, living…

Living!

What about you?

- I'm a dancer. - Modern dance?

No, classical.

And what do you do on Sundays?

It depends.

I go on bike rides. I adore cycling.

Would you like to come with me this Sunday?

- Yeah. - The old station at eleven a.m. Okay?

Okay. I'll be there.

- Tired? - A bit.

- Do you want to stop? - Yes.

I'm sick of this town.

- Let's go in. - Here? But it's a cemetery.

We won't find a quieter place.

- Have you never been here? - No, I've only been past it.

It's a big place. I wouldn't like to be here on my own.

Is it the sadness that scares you?

I'm not really scared.

In a normal cemetery, you can see the roads and the houses around.

Here, all you can see is graves. Nothing else.

I've never been in here either.

A cemetery like this is quite reassuring.

"Reassuring"?

Yes, because it's a bit like being in the countryside.

There are trees, big empty spaces.

There is still some room.

- Shall we go now? - Why? Don't you like it here?

No cars, no litter, nobody to disturb us.

- Do you really want to stay here? - Why not?

Have a rest. I'll go and get the basket.

Wait. I'm coming with you.

Catch me if you can!

Do you really want to go back in?

"Abandon all hope ye who enter here."

- Don't joke with that stuff! - Why? Are you scared?

No, it's just…

It's deserted.

No, look.

- It's not very solid. - Put it back.

I'll stick it back in.

Don't worry. They're buried a lot further down.

The crucifixes are put up in memory of Jesus.

Yeah, right.

- Chocolate? - Yeah.

Thank you.

I'm going to give you a bit of chocolate.

Are you mad? Not here!

Spending money on that…

That was all right for pharaohs.

Yeah, but pharaohs knew how to embalm bodies.

It didn't bring them back to life.

Why would that be harder than being born?

I don't care where they put me when I'm dead.

Do you think…

Do you think the soul escapes from the body after death?

Is there such a thing as the soul?

I don't think there's anything left after physical death.

And it's stupid to spend all that money on stiffs.

Some do that out of love.

Well, I prefer the love of life than the love of death.

Look, this one's open.

Let's go in and see what it's like.

No, you can't do that!

Why? Are you scared?

It's daylight. There's nothing to be scared about.

Are you coming?

No, you mustn't!

I told you, there're lots of people around.

Were you scared?

If we go down there, we won't be disturbed, okay?

- You don't want to? - No.

Too bad. I'll leave you here, then.

I'll go on my own.

No, wait for me.

It's damp.

The bodies stop decomposing if it's not damp.

Like in the desert sands.

See, it's not bad here.

And we're sheltered from the noise.

It's a bit like a Roman tomb.

Come here.

Come close to me.

Did the tomb shut on its own?

No.

The sun has set, that's all.

They say that the stars are gods sending us signals.

Come on, let's go. The light on my bike doesn't work.

That's weird. I can't see the path anymore.

I'll climb up and have a look.

I don't recognise anything anymore.

Let's go. We'll find a path.

You see, I was right.

This path should take us back to the main one.

Do you think they've shut the gates?

What time is it?

My watch!

I must have left it in the crypt. I'll go and get it.

No, don't go. Don't leave me.

I don't want to go back in there.

All right.

We must have gone the wrong way.

The main path must be the other way.

Right. There's no point carrying on. It could go on for ages.

We'll just cut through the graves.

It's the same place as before!

I'm going to get my watch back.

No! Stop it! I want to go!

Don't panic. We'll get out of here.

Let's shout together. Someone will come.

Who?

- Hurry up! - Wait for me.

- I'm exhausted. Wait. - Come on!

Come on.

Over here!

Look.

Over there.

What is it?

It looks like an administrative building.

There must be somebody in here. We're going to get told off.

Please, get me out of here.

Don't worry.

Do you think it's much further?

I think I remember this place.

Yes, I know roughly where we are.

Close your eyes. I'll let you know.

Is it okay now?

Tell me.

Can I open my eyes yet?

Wait a bit more.

We're walking along the railings.

Don't open your eyes.

Please let me feel the railings.

You lied to me.

You lied to me!

Shut up!

That's enough. I've had enough! Shut up!

I'm going to leave you here, do you hear me? Stop it!

Listen.

We'll walk for a bit. At least that'll warm us up.

We're in a provincial cemetery, not in the jungle.

Are you cold?