Little Amélie or the Character of Rain (Amélie et la métaphysique des tubes)

In the beginning, there was nothing.

Nothing except God.

How long had God been around?

No one's old enough to say.

Anyway, the universe was rather empty, as you can see.

But that was fine, 'cause God didn't look at anything

or want anything.

God wasn't interested in anything.

God didn't even care about being God.

It might be best to think of God as a tube.

Yes, a tube.

Allow me to explain.

All God ever did was swallow, digest, and eject.

God's divine sustenance came in and went out.

But God retained nothing.

Just like a tube.

The eyes of living beings

possess the most remarkable properties.

The gaze.

Hmm, hmm.

We don't say that the ears have a listener...

...or that the nose has a smeller or a sniffer,

but the eyes have a gaze.

What's the difference between the eyes that have a gaze

and eyes that don't?

There's a word for it:

life.

God did not have a gaze.

Hmm.

I'm afraid your child is a vegetable.

Alarming, wouldn't you think?

But the child's parents were the optimistic sort.

And to be honest, as things stood,

they didn't seem to mind this development.

You see, they already had two children,

two children who were very, very much alive.

So a quiet, little plant like this one

was a gift, really.

That was God's greatest power.

God was unflappable.

Not all the pilgrims who came to pay homage,

not all the tickling, not volcanoes,

not even the most ecstatic music.

Nothing could faze God.

I know humans who would pay dearly

for such a power,

the power of serenity.

Still, everyone wanted God to show signs of life,

of movement,

of anything at all, really.

But all God did was keep on doing nothing.

So little by little, people lost interest in God

until God was almost forgotten about completely.

Days, weeks, centuries passed.

Stop! That's it.

What happened that day remains a mystery.

Some people deny the role of accidents

in evolution.

They want a reason for everything,

but sometimes all it takes is a speck of dust.

Just the tiniest, little speck of dust...

- -...to change everything.

I'll blow out the candles.

No, it's my turn.

- -What's happening?

Mama, I'm scared.

Don't panic.

It's only a little earthquake, they happen a lot

-here in Japan. -

Papa!

Quick, kids, under the table!

God was finally endowed with gaze

and a body too.

What could God do now?

-Was this a good thing? -

Are you okay, baby?

Baby?

Who was this baby?

God wasn't a baby.

God immediately spoke up to set the record straight,

declaring, in God's celestial tone...

Ah! That's right.

- - It's a miracle.

- -That was wonderful, sweetie.

- No, it wasn't. -

It wasn't wonderful at all.

-Bravo, sweetheart! - Their lips move

and words come out.

- She talks like a baby! - When God's lips move,

-only noise comes out. -

Uh, what do we do?

Oh, uh...oh, wait, I got it, I'll call my mom.

What? Patrick!

It wasn't for lack of trying,

but all God could do was scream in despair.

God's body was a prison.

Mom, she's throwing her toys again!

It went right through the window!

Andre! Stop it!

I'll stop it when she stops it!

Mom, she took my things again!

- Juliette, please. -

I'm sick and tired of this!

Ohayo, gozaimasu.

- Andre! - I'm gonna get you!

- Give it back! -

Arigato, Kashima-san.

-Care to come in? -

Sorry, we're in a little over our heads today.

- No! That's mine! -

I can't take it anymore, this is impossible.

I can't rehearse for my concert, and what about you?

You don't even resemble a diplomat.

Guess who brought this back?

Oh, no.

Oh yes, our dear landlady.

She scared me half to death.

It's like she was lurking out there waiting for me.

She saw the window?

What's she going to think of us?

She knows a girl who could help us out.

The girl's family served hers before the war.

- -I'm so embarrassed.

That's a good idea, give her a call.

Can you see who that is?

Yeah, yeah, I've got it.

Ohayo, Nish--

-Mother? -

That's right.

It's good to see you.

But, wha--what are you--

Though I think you were really expecting this young woman.

Oh, Nishio-san.

- Granny! -Oh, my little darlings,

how big you've grown.

My tooth is loose, look.

- -Ugh!

What a killer smile.

- -Who is that lady?

Mother, kids, this is Nishio-san.

She's gonna help us out around here.

Please, come in.

Dozo, dozo, this way.

Oh, I'll take care of those.

Granny, did you bring us any chocolates?

- Yes, I did. - Ooh, thanks.

- And comic books? - Why, of course.

You don't look so well, sweetie.

We'd given up expecting you.

-It's been so long. -There was so much to do

getting ready for the visit.

Just look at this suit. Isn't it perfect?

- It's been six months. - Wow.

Oh, hi there, I'm Danièle.

I really appreciate you helping us out.

Your mother's here?

Hello, my de--

You look a little frazzled as well.

Ah, is that my little treasure?

- - Come on.

More like a little monster.

Nishio-san, let me show you around.

It's changed a lot since you were young.

- - In here.

- Ready? - Ready.