The Praying Mantis (Le festin de la mante)

I died at the end of summer.

What day? I can't remember.

Death by fire.

That was how I decided to end my life.

It all started the day I got lost.

I was driving around aimlessly. At least that's what I thought.

In fact, I was looking for you.

It was somewhere in the south.

But was it really the south?

For you!

"For the praying mantis"

"killing the male is a question of survival... "

"Fabre, 1864"

The Feast of the Praying Mantis

Who you were,

and where you came from was of no importance.

You came north with me. That is all that mattered.

You seemed happy, even relieved to be far from your home.

I built you a greenhouse

in the big garden surrounding my house.

Everything was so simple back then.

Sylvia?

Julien! Look at this!

See?

I see. And I see you're not ready.

Look closer.

It's in bud.

I can see the buds.

And I can see we're going to be late.

Let's go.

You don't get it. It's going to flower.

For the first time.

It'll bloom just as well if you're not here, won't it?

We ought to celebrate.

Yes. What better way than to go to a concert?

I'm not going.

You can't stay in this greenhouse.

It's like an oven in here. You can't breathe.

You've got to meet people, get out and about.

You never speak to anyone.

I speak to my plants.

Excellent conversationalists, I bet.

You're wrong.

They have a lot to talk about.

Listen.

Ah, yes! They can talk. They're saying:

"Come with me, Sylvia. The concert will be great... "

And Sylvia replies:

"Yes, pretty plants. I will come. "

I love you.

Did you enjoy it?

Yeah. Not bad. I've seen worse.

Ouch! You've just shattered a moment of pure poetry...

The cellist was incredible.

You say that because he really knows how to use his bow, eh?

Right, I'm off to climb your mount of Venus.

Hey! What's the matter?

What's the matter?

Are you thinking about home? Is that it?

Know what I feel like?

No...

I feel like a holiday.

Tomorrow we'll pack our bags, and head south.

I don't want to go back there.

What do you mean?

Don't you want to see your mountains?

Your garrigue? The sun?

There's too much sun down there.

I don't need that much sun.

A little kiss on the cheek?

No...

On the nape of your neck?

Well, maybe.

Maybe?

Come on, let's go to bed.

Go without me.

And now for the weather report.

The coming heat wave could well go down in history.

Temperatures will reach record highs, starting today...

How about we up the tempo?

A waltz to wake the old biddies up?

You're on!

He's completely reckless!

He's out of his mind!

That was Patrick.

He spent most of his time on the rooftops,

chatting up the birds.

He had a taste for the extreme that might have made him likeable...

to others perhaps, but not to me.

Sylvia? What are you doing down here?

What time is it?

Don't tell me you've been here all day.

The sun was too bright.

My head was aching.

Poor darling! You've been in the cellar all day?

My little flower. You'll wilt if you stay down here.

Come on, let's go out.

Hold onto me.

How did you do that?

He just wanted to play.

Play? Eat us alive, more like!

No. You don't get it.

He was just pretending to scare you.

Well, he managed that alright! I've had enough. I'm going home.

Alain.

How about it? Eh? Wow, it's great!

Something else, eh? Like in the old days, eh?

Wait. You don't mean? Let's jump.

Come on, Patrick. Hand in hand. Together.

You can't do this! Have we got enough run up?

Come on, snap out of it! It's too dangerous.

Can't you feel... a prickle of... No.

Hey! What are you doing here?

Haven't you done enough for one day?

Enough of what? We're just getting started.

Count me out, pal.

Wait! I'm coming too.

You're mad. Get off! Go on, get off.

You can't make me!

Claudine, don't. He'll do it!

Not without me!

Get off, Claudine. I can't do it with you.

I'm fine, OK.

Have it your way, bitch!

How could you? In front of all my pals.

Enough of your bullshit, OK!

Never embarrass me like that again, Claudine. Never!

What's up? Having a rough time?

He's like a spoilt brat who's had his rattle taken away.

It's worse than that...

Oh dear.

My sweetheart! What's wrong?

You don't want to sleep with me?

No. It's not that.

Leave me alone tonight. Alright?

Our bed's big. I won't touch you.

It's not that...

Just for tonight, OK?

Alright.

Goodnight.

I mean to say...

What?

I found you in the cellar yesterday.

What do you want on your toast? Apricot, or strawberry?

Then there was that mad dog...

He wasn't mad.

Yes, I know. He was just playing.

You should try the apricot jam.

And you, Sylvia? What were you playing at?

Putting him under my spell.

It worked. Just like with you.

Of course...

What I saw is...

Never mind what I saw.

Here! Eat this. I've put strawberry jam on it.

Hurry up! You'll be late.

Jean will be cross with you again.

Let him get cross. I don't care.

I'm staying with you this afternoon. OK?

No way!

Why did I leave?

I was determined not to leave you alone.

You weren't well. Strange things were happening...

But my resolution seemed to fade away in an instant.

I was supposed to be going to Jean's.

But I went the other way. With no particular aim in mind.

Shit!

Mister?

Mister?

Mister?

No! Are you crazy?

Wait... Hey, take it easy.

I fell because of you, and look at how you treat me...

Because of me?

No, please. It hurts.

Let go of me!

Please wait. I'm badly hurt. You must take care of me.

I'm not a nurse. Fuck you!

Asshole!

Hey! Wait for me.

I'm in pain. Terrible pain.

Hi, there!

Patrick! Alain! Supplies!

What are you doing here?

I've brought the mortar. Where's Patrick?

He's not here. I mean, he's gone.

Gone? What do you mean, gone?

He's gone, that's all.

But he knew I was coming. Where did he go?

I don't know. Shopping maybe...

Alain...

You know him. He forgot.

Yes, I know him. He forgets when it suits him.

Get out!

Let me in. I won't eat you.

Go away!

I didn't come all this way for nothing...

Oh yes you did, asshole.

You're crazy. You could have killed me.

Oh dear!