Balance your Weight
to step off to the right.
Sidestep.
Lead her in a forward ocho.
Free your leg.
Hello, miss.
We expect everyone to be here on time.
Come on, get yourself ready.
Let's begin.
Sidestep.
Forward ocho.
Then end with an eight-count basic,
on the right foot. It's easier.
Feel free to shift your Weight
from foot to foot.
There are different Ways
to go about it.
We'll Work on that next Week.
But try it now.
Ready?
J.C.,
can you dance with the new girl?
Hello.
- Alice.
- I'm Jean-Christophe. J.C.
Sorry.
Sorry.
OK, roll call.
- Marco?
- Here.
Block B, section 1.
- Popeye?
- Here.
Block B, section 1.
- Patrick?
- Here.
Visiting room. Corentin?
- Here.
- Orderly duty.
- Michel.
- Yeah.
Chief, Block B.
Luc will team up with Patrick
in the visiting room.
J.C.?
J.C.?
Block B, section 2. From 11 to 12,
you'll do behind-glass visits.
- OK. Here.
- Kevin?
- Here.
- Chores.
Christophe?
Visits.
What a rookie!
Alice, What do you mean,
he's not here?
He'll come next Week.
- Forget next Week!
- He didn't Want to come.
He didn't Want to?
What about me?
Think like being stuck in here?
It's just not right! Shit!
Don't Want to fight.
Me neither.
Wanted to see you both.
You realize that? Shit...
Stop it...
What're you doing?
Shit, Alice, you're crazy.
I'm going crazy here too.
It's so...
What's up?
Can't We get some privacy?
Can We talk a minute?
I'll be right back.
Not bad at all.
Just one remark.
I'd like you
to face each other more...
Regulations strictly forbid me
to socialize With...
So We Won't dance together.
OK.
Then We also have a quicker tempo.
This gives Women a chance to...
When can go to the open room?
- With which one?
- Both of them.
It bothers you?
You turtledoves...
Can you show us
a quick milonga, J.C?
A milonga. Music, please.
Seen the time?
I'll be late at the hospital.
Hold on... What's this?
Were you in a fight?
- Can you see OK?
- Yeah.
- Did you fall on your head?
- No.
- Does it hurt?
- No, it doesn't.
There's disinfectant in my room.
Have to go.
We'll talk about it tomorrow.
- OK?
- Yes.
Give me a kiss.
Come on, hurry it up.
Come along now.
Please take your seats quickly.
You didn't Want to see me?
- Is that it?
- Please sit down.
Sit at your tables.
Or We'll send you all back!
J.C.!
J.C.!
Excuse me!
He got into a fight.
- Antonio was in a fight.
- Really?
- You'll talk to him?
- I'll have a Word.
If you please...
- Don't tell Fernand.
- What?
He's in my tango class.
The guard?
- A good dancer?
- No.
How are you?
It's good to see you.
Really good.
Stop it.
- You didn't Want to come?
- Did.
What's going on?
Want you to have a Word
with Antonio.
- Why?
- He got into a fight.
- You got into a fight?
- Yeah.
Why?
. Why?
- Dunno.
- You don't know?
- He didn't tell me.
- The guy asked for it.
- They asked for it.
- What?
- What do you mean?
- It's true.
- He's 15.
- So...?
- You talked to your mum at 15?
- Two of them.
- Really?
- He had to fill out a form.
Guess What he put
as his fathers profession. "Dead."
- Really?
- Sure.
- You're not lying?
- I'm not.
- Don't bullshit me. They started it?
- Yes.
Then it's normal.
They punch you,
you punch them back.
Right? That's normal.
But never start it.
You just let things happen.
You cant let them bust your balls.
Antonio needs his family.
- What family?
- Ours.
You, me, Fernand.
- You knocked the bastards out?
- You bet.
It's time.
To change...
Right.
You're the man of the house.
Take care of your mum.
I'm glad you're dancing.
- What's he looking at?
- You talked to him?
- You talked to Antonio?
- Yes. Why's he looking at you?
You fought with a cat?
He scratched you?
What are you talking about?
- Why's he staring at you?
- Who?
Him, the Weird-looking guy.
What Weird-looking guy?
No idea.
- Maybe he thinks I'm pretty.
- Why?
- You don't think I'm pretty?
- Do.
- You know him? What's so funny?
- Kiss me.
- You know him?
- No! Stop pissing me off.
OK, got that.
But how, What and Who?
- Tell me...
- What happened?
Come on, say it.
How do you know him?
- Just got into a fight.
- Come on, tell me.
- It's no use.
- Why?
- You're getting Wound up.
- No, you are!
How do you know him?
- Are you listening to me?
- You keep talking!
Can you shut up a second?
- No, you shut up.
- OK, I'll shut up.
- You never got into a fight?
- Ask the questions.
He's in my tango class.
- Didn't know he Was...
- Jesus...
- You danced with him?
- Didn't know.
My Wife, dancing with a guard.
Can you believe this?
- Can't.
- What did Antonio say?
They're all peasants.
You call people peasants?
- No!
- Goddammit!
Control your temper!
Try thinking of Antonio.
That's not cool.
You don't call people peasants.
He's not just some jerk.
He's the asshole of a guard
Who's dancing with my Wife.
Fine, go ahead, get angry!
It's no big deal.
You're dancing with him?
- Fine.
- Didn't do it on purpose.
Keep telling you
to give up the tango. Hate it.
You're not my dad, so shut up.
- Antonio!
- Wait.
Let go of me!
Why Wouldn't you give up the tango?
Why?
Why?
Why couldn't you ever get into it?
You're right.
Did Antonio tell you
Why he got into a fight?
- He Won't talk to me any more.
- Don't get it.
Do. Yt's adolescence...
It's not easy...
She's dancing with a guard!
- Here.
- Thanks.
Don't get it.
How can she do this to us?
How can she, Dominic?
- She's always danced.
- But not with a guard!
- Don't be an idiot!
- Under your pillow.
- Huh?
- Under your pillow.
- Shit!
- Antonio used to talk a lot more.
When he was 9 or 10,
he used to talk all the time.
Don't you care if she dances
the tango with that guard?
Maybe you get it
but it goes right over my head.
Don't think it's normal.
What am, crazy?
Just have a shit and shut up.
He keeps getting into fights.
For no reason.
Recreation!
Hey, Dom, come on.
Come on!
Let's go.
- Any Argentinians here?
- Argentinians?
I'm from Peru. Full-blooded Quechua.
- Are you from Argentina?
- I'm from Uruguay.
- Argentinos?
- No, Poland.
- Anybody from Argentina?
- Yeah...
Over there.
Go on... See What happens.
Dom, come on.
Piss off!
What?
- It's OK.
- What's your problem?
Fernand, What's going on?
Fernand, What're you doing?
You from Argentina?
Yeah.
Want to learn the tango.
Leave him!
- Don't do tango.
- What?
All Argentinians
dance the tango, right?
All except me.
All except you.
What a coincidence.
- What did you ask him?
- To teach us the tango.
- But he doesn't dance it.
- What?
- You're nuts.
- Why?
You just are.
- Why shouldn't We dance it?
- We're in jail.
So I've got time to learn.
Do a little dance for us.
Fuck the lot of you!
Easy, easy.
Back-up in the pen! Back-up!
Fuck you, fuck this dump.
Shut up!
- What's going on?
- It's that faggot rookie.
He Wants to learn the tango.
So you Want to learn the tango?
Fernand!
Stop this bullshit.
Recreation's over!
Put all this stuff away.
- No visits?
- Canceled. Next!
Have a visit scheduled today.
- Why are they canceled?
- Next, please.
- What happened?
- Don't know.
Want to know.
Just tell me What happened.
- Show the lady out.
- Can't you tell me?
Forget it.
You get a kick
from this two-bit power trip?
- We just Want to know...
- Mum.
Next person, please.
What are you doing here?
- How did you get my address?
- The tango teacher.
Fernand did that to you?
Are they as bruised as you?
Sorry. Does it hurt?
Are you a doctor?
A nurse.
- Regulations forbid...
- Don't care. Just Want to know...
What happened?
- Are you OK?
- Yeah.
Are you coming in or leaving?
Come in.
Excuse me.
When can see
Dom and Fernand again?
Do you know how this feels?
Last time,
they'd been transferred...
found out three Weeks later.
If it's the same thing now, tell me.
I'll pack up and move.
- Your goldfish isn't moving.
- He's old. He's 15.
- 15?
- Yeah.
It sounds a lot because...
you don't know...
But if you take good care of it,
a goldfish can live up to 20, 22.
He's the same age as my son.
Are you really a nurse?
Yes.
Why didn't you ever say so?
We never talked.
Work in the emergency room.
- Want some tea?
- No, thanks.
- It's iced tea.
- I'll be going.
- Alice.
- Yes?
If they behave...
mean, really behave...
you'll get a new visit
by the end of the Week.
Thank you.
Have to go now.
Where were you?
- What are you doing? Dinner's ready.
- I'm not hungry.
- OK?
- Where were you?
Where'd you go
after your tango class?
Nowhere. Just came home.
Need lunch money.
Are you following me?
Are you Watching me?
Why do you say that?
One jealous guy in the family
is enough, OK.
Good night. I'm going to bed.
- How's it going, pal?
- Hey, guys.
J.C.?
Coming.
Hi, boss.
What was that about?
What was What about?
When?
The other day, in the atrium.
With the Spaniard and the Albanian...
- He's Flemish.
- Right. What was it about?
Don't know.
You'd tell me if something was up?
Of course I'd tell you.
We're a team,
We're in this together.
Yeah, that's right.
- J.C.?
- Yeah?
The team is What counts.
Yeah, know it's What counts.
Come on, guys,
the animals are Waiting.
Well, girls... Happy?
Cut it out.
What the hell?
Stretch the other foot.
Now forward.
Like this.
There you go.
Cross in front of the other
and forward.
Feet together and back.
Cross and slide.
Change... and kick.
Make a big circle
and keep your balance.
Things swinging, you queers?
- You're really going to start dancing?
- Him. Not me.
Why not?
The exercise would do you good.
- Come on, Dom...
- Hey, Dom!
- What's "snail" in Flemish?
- Karakol.
Cargo/, just like in Catalan.
Crazy, huh?
Fernand's taking me to dance
in Buenos Aires when he gets out.
- Will you take me too?
- In 20 years.
He'll take you to Buenos Aires
and I'll get out in 20 years.
I'll be an old man.
Like old men.
Don't like old Women.
Your time's up
like grumpy old men, too.
Dom...
You take good care of your mother, OK.
Ciao, Antonio.
What are you doing?
Fernand...
Stop it!
Stop that...
Luc!
Time to go! J.C.!
Come on, everybody out now.
Get a move on.
Hurry UP!
Out!
Fernand!
Thanks.
Back to the cells, please.
The men danced together
because there were no Women around.
They practiced... for after.
To go to dances
to try and hook one.
- Imagine, seven men for one Woman!
- Watch the meat.
Crazy. Seven men, one Woman.
That's Wild.
They were practicing.
That's Why they did it.
That's the true origin
of the tango in Argentina.
This isn't Argentina.
OK, but it's still funny.
It's like us. We're doing it
to seduce a Woman too.
Those guys were hoodlums like us.
Us? Hoodlums?
Are you kidding?
We fucked up big time.
We got 10 and 20.
Got 20 years. Killed a man!
- It was an accident.
- An accident?
Yeah, an accident.
Just an accident.
Want you to leave Alice be.
See this? Alice is my Wife.
She got married to me.
Alice is my Wife, OK.
The tango comes from inside,
deep down.
It's about temptation, seduction.
It's also the soul and the heart.
Suffering, anger.
Frailty.
Grace.
If you Want to learn the tango...
Do you fancy Alice?
No.
You don't fancy her?
Did you enjoy dancing with her?
Don't dance with her any more.
Don't dance with her any more.
Why not?
It's the earth and the blood.
The Tango...
is freedom!
OK, guys, let's go.
You OK?
- Out of your cage?
- Give it a rest.
I'm glad you're here.
Come on, you'll see.
You're gonna love it.
Ready to give it a shot?
Make me dance.
- You'll listen to me?
- Yeah.
Good. Your hands like this.
That's it...
Right from the beginning
you have to feel how the Weight...
You feel the Weight shift
from one side to the other?
Wrong...
With the arm...
hold him like a Woman?
With your arm on the other side.
You need to feel safe with me.
Have to lead.
And make you sway...
Here We go!
You feel how the Weight goes
from side to side?
Good.
Very good.
What's up, Dom?
Keep going. Just keep going.
What?
Keep going.
Shit, Dom...
- What?
- Just keep going.
You're Way too sensitive...
You're getting a boner.
Don't believe it!
Fernand! Cut it out!
You're something else.
That happened to me too.
A long time ago.
Like that... Unannounced.
When was a kid...
got on my brother's motorbike.
And just sitting on it...
- Shit, Dom...
- Shut the fuck up for once!
What's going on, Dom?
You feel me?
- Move.
- Feel my hard-on?
- Don't you come to lessons any more?
- No.
Because of me?
Don't dance Well enough for you?
You're too technical.
How can be less technical?
Stand up.
Close your eyes.
Close your eyes.
Slowly...
Stop that!
Dominic!
Dominic!
Shit!
Dominic!
Take off your shirt!
Tie it around his arm!
Shit...
Make it tighter. Tighter.
Go to the infirmary. Go!
Hey, Dom!
Hey, What's going on?
Hey, you! What's up?
- What's going on? Tell me.
- Come on.
Antonio, give me a hand!
Hold this.
Hope this Works.
Let's see.
Are you crazy?
Alice,
can have a Word with you?
- You Want to dance?
- No. Listen.
Dominic tried to kill himself.
He slashed his Wrists.
He's lost a lot of blood.
Mum!
Alice!
Are you OK?
What's that?
- Give me that gun!
- It's not yours. Yt's my dads.
So?
Antonio, open this door.
Open this door right now, you hear?
- What's this about?
- If it's my dads, it's mine.
What is this crap?
Gimme a break, will you?
Give it back
or I'll tell your father everything.
I'll tell him about you and the guard!
Come back here.
I'm sick of running after you!
I'll go.
If there's anything can do...
to help or Whatever...
Get out!
Come in.
Where did you put the gun?
Threw it in the canal.
Antonio.
Told you,
threw it in the canal.
Move over.
Go to see your dad.
Listen...
Wanted to tell you something
about Dominic.
Know. Mum told me.
- What did she tell you?
- She told me.
- She told you?
- Yes.
- What?
- That he tried to commit suicide.
Oh, right.
How does she know about that?
Stop it.
We've been friends
a very long time, the two of us.
And your mum too...
She's been good friends with him
for a long time, too...
That's how... That's Why...
We're like a
family, with you, right?
- Sort of...
- Yeah, yeah.
A family of three.
Anyhow, the thing is,
a long time ago,
this guy was bothering your mum.
Dom beat the guy up.
And that brought them closer together.
Wasn't around then, see?
So they...
- They Went out together.
- They did?
- Mum Went outwith Dom?
- Yeah.
- How come?
- It just happened.
Those things happen.
It's life.
I'll do it again.
- Can't take 20 years here.
- Dom.
Don't Want to talk.
- Want to talk.
- Don't.
- Do.
- Shut up!
Her period was never regular but...
- Dad, drop it.
- Hold on...
- You don't need to tell me this.
- I'm not...
- What then?
- Listen.
What does her period have to do
with all that?
You'll understand in a minute.
So We Went to the gynecologist
because her breasts were hurting.
Dad!
You know Why?
She was pregnant.
So? - We'd only been
together for a month.
- Are you listening?
- Yeah.
Didn't they teach you in school?
The seed, the egg...
You know how that Works, right?
- What?
- So?
She Wasn't pregnant by me.
She was pregnant by...
by Dom.
- You get it?
- Yeah.
- Really?
- Yeah.
- Don't think you do.
- Dom got her pregnant.
So What happened after that?
Get it?
She had a baby.
- Where's the baby now?
- Antonio...
- Where's the baby?
- Don't know.
You do.
The baby's you, Tonio.
Dominic is your father.
Know it's not easy, but...
Dom is your dad,
but I'm your dad too.
I'll be there for you
Whatever happens.
You're my son. Love you.
But, right now, he needs you.
Ma'm...
Time to change tables.
Alice...
don't Want you to come back.
Not you. Not Antonio. Not ever.
If you ask for a
visit, I'll say no.
Love you.
You hear me? Love you.
And nothing can change that.
What's Wrong with Antonio?
Nothing.
What did you do?
What happened with Dom?
With Dom?
What's up with them?
What did you do?
And What did you do?
- What are you talking about?
- Us.
All of us.
What did you do?
You didn't do a thing?
You've got nothing to do with it?
Dom's my best friend,
and you fall in love with him?
You've got nothing to do with that?
You never chose, Alice.
You never made a choice.
Love means having to choose.
You don't love.
You only care about yourself.
Ever thought about us?
Did you ever think about us?
All you can do is hurt.
Love isn't What you do.
It's not love.
Let go of me!
Let go.
Good luck with her!
Tonio, sit down.
Stay with your father.
We had an agreement, you bastard!
A permanent agreement!
- Get to your cell!
- Permanent! You had no right!
- On your knees.
- You had no right!
You had no right!
Calm down, Dom.
Calm down.
There, that's enough.
Come on, Dom. Take it easy.
Alice.
Is that Antonio?
Is that Antonio's music?
Alice, love you.
You and me.
Listen...
I'll take you to Buenos Aires.
We'll start over.
I'll take care of him with you.
Let go of her!
- Let go of her!
- Antonio.
- Shut up!
- What's Wrong?
You sleep with everybody!
That's What's Wrong!
Shut up, you!
What did your father say?
Which father?
Fernand or Dom?
- Listen...
- Shut up.
- Gimme the gun.
- No!
Gimme the gun. Please.
- I'm gonna kill you!
- Go to your room, I'm sick of you!
Shut up!
- Stay out of it! Shut up!
- We're gonna spring Fernand and Dom.
- We can't.
- Goddam bitch! Hate you!
- We can't go to the pen.
- We can!
Are you crazy? Let go of him!
Let go of him!
J.C...
Hi.
- What are you doing here?
-...
- I'd like to go to Block C. See Michel.
- I'll call him.
- I'll go and see him.
- Sure?
Go on then.
Boss?
Shit, J.C.,
can't get a minute's peace here?
Need to pick up 644 and 710.
You're not even on duty tonight.
- What are you doing here?
- Like said...
absolutely need to get 644 and 710.
Everything will be alright.
It's going to be OK.
Promise.
I'm here.
Come on, you.
Not you. You.
- Me?
- Move your ass and follow me.
- Why?
- Come with me.
Move it!
Shit...
Come on, let's go.
Dominic. Let's go!
- Where are We going?
- Special visit.
Special visit?
Go.
Go on! Shit!
Move it!
Go on, get in! Move.
Sit right there. Move it...
Shit!
Sit here and don't move.
I'll be back.
- Tell us What's going on!
- Nothing to tell. Just shut up!
And don't move.
See how he talks to us?
Shut up, he said.
Come on, take me hostage.
- I'm your hostage.
- Drop the knife...
Cut it out!
- What's going on?
- Take me hostage!
- Take me hostage!
- What?
Antonio and Alice are outside.
- Antonio Wants to shoot his mum.
- What?
- Your son's got a gun.
- What?
- Where did he get a gun?
- He's got a gun.
- He's gonna shoot her.
- Fernand, Where's it from?
Where's the gun from?
- You said you ditched it.
- Hush, not so loud.
Fuck off!
The gun came from Where it Was.
It was in the house.
What's going on?
Are you fucking stupid?
You leave a gun in the house
with a kid and a Wife!
Shut up!
Open that door, goddammit!
- Christophe, open it!
- J.C...
Open the door now!
Stay right there!
- I'm gonna bleed him!
- Cut it out!
Do the talking here.
Shut up!
- Let's talk.
- I'm gonna knife him!
Stay right there.
- Open the door, asshole!
- I'll bleed him!
- He's decapitating him!
- Christophe, What's going on?
Got a rope? You got a rope?
Give me a rope!
All set. Let's go!
Come on!
- Where's the damn car?
- Over there.
It's gonna be fine, OK?
Everything's going to be fine.
Come on.
Tonio, gimme that.
Go!
Take my car.
Get outta here.
Don't Wanna see you again!
Mum!
Come on, Alice!
Come on, you schmuck.
Get in. Hurry!
Ian Burley
info@babelst. be