THE WIDOW COUDERC
FASCIST MENACE MUST BE CRUSHED
DEMERGUE CHEERED IN PARIS
CIVIL WAR
BLOOD SPILLED IN PARIS, WHICH HAS
LIVED THROUGH DESPERATE HOURS
That'll be fine, thanks.
Are you going far?
No. Just over there.
Want some help?
Gladly.
Oh, it's heavy.
Thirty kilos.
Do you want to rest?
What's inside?
Some concrete bricks for insulation.
To insulate what?
It's an incubator.
Baby chicks?
Yes.
My sister in-law.
There's a town in Italy
with a lot of these bridges.
Where?
In Italy.
Are you Italian?
No.
I thought maybe you were,
because lots of men come up
from Italy these days.
They're here looking for work.
I'm French.
Will you have some wine?
Henri?
Henri!
Why don't you come
when somebody calls you,
instead of always sneaking around?
Here, put this in the paddock
and tend to the cows.
This one is my brother-in-law.
He can't hear.
He speaks only when he wants to.
Isn't that right?
That's Polish, isn't it?
My grandmother was Polish.
Are you looking for work?
Yes.
Well, I have a little,
a couple of days' worth.
You live here alone
with just your brother-in-law?
Yes, I'm a widow.
My name's Yvette Couderc.
What's your name?
Jean.
Then you're hired.
I pay eight francs.
Jean?
This is my father's room.
This is mine.
We could make up this room,
but for the short time that you are here...
It wouldn't be worth it.
Right. Here.
You'll have to give me a little help here.
Open the door.
Go to sleep.
Open up.
No! What would the neighbors say
if you died from it?
I don't care about those fools.
Open up!
It's not true!
You're afraid of them!
You're the one who's afraid!
What will they say when they find out
you took in a tramp?
- What did you say?
- I didn't say anything.
Anyway, this is my house, isn't it?
I've taken care of you pretty well.
Oh, yes, but you have to.
No, I don't.
Not anymore, Henri.
Now, go on. Go to sleep.
Morning.
You don't seem to say very much.
And you?
Oh, well, I have nothing to say.
Neither have I.
Neither have I!
She's not back yet?
You have to come, Father.
We must talk.
- No.
- That's enough, Papa.
We have to talk.
Everything's fine.
Franoise spoke to the lawyer.
Now wait. Don't speak
in front of strangers.
You, come on, now!
Hey! Here she is!
They came here for him, didn't they?
He didn't want to go.
They're trying to make him
sell the house.
They want me out of here.
But I'm not going.
They're always coming here.
He's a good-for-nothing.
Well, I mean, he has no profession.
He wouldn't have a job
if he wasn't a friend of the mayor.
As for her, she's never been able
to forgive me for marrying her brother.
I was 14 when I came here as a servant.
The old man raped me,
and the son got me pregnant.
All for nothing because the baby died.
And after that, I waited on the mother.
I took care of her till she died.
Then I became my husband's nurse maid
and now I'm his widow.
Isn't that right? I took care
of all of you, didn't I?
Nursed you, washed you, wiped you.
Never a day's rest for me here.
I washed the dishes and I cooked!
I plowed the land,
took care of the livestock
Isn't that right?
I've every right to be here!
It's my home now!
Because I earned it with my sweat!
Am I right?
I don't know.
Well, I know it.
Huh!
Thanks.
You work fast.
You seem used to it.
That's right.
But you're no farmer, are you?
No.
Tell father to bring the cows in
and feed them.
All right.
They don't like you.
Leave them alone.
It's because they don't know me.
You going to stay here long?
As long as there's work
I... I don't know!
Put the eggs in one by one.
It holds 60.
Fill the lamp with fuel
making certain that the wick is cooked.
Then fill up the water pan.
Water pan, water pan.
That's it.
No, it's here.
Make sure that at all the times the lamp
remains lit during incubation and...
I think I'll go up to the attic
so I can see it working.
Right now?
Yes.
Time to go to bed, Father.
The problem is the number of eggs.
Unless we have a try with a dozen only.
Oh, yes.
But if it doesn't work right,
I lose a dozen eggs.
We'll have to try, though.
Who's the young girl
who lives over there?
Flicie. She's their daughter.
Good night.
Good night.
Well, then, you're not in bed yet?
No! I told you no!
Is it 'cause he's here?
Don't be stupid, you fool.
Is it a boy?
What did you name him?
I don't know. It depends.
That's right, go back over there!
Go find some bargeman to sleep with!
Why were you so mean?
Because she's a whore.
Her son has no papa.
Anyway, she's not sure.
What's the difference?
She seems to love the baby, right?
She doesn't love anybody.
Do you?
You're not from around here, eh?
No.
You see, I think this board has swelled.
What's your profession?
I was going to be a doctor.
What do you mean,
"was going to be"?
Because I'm just out of prison.
No, he... he won't hear you.
Was it murder?
I was very young.
And now you don't want to be a doctor?
I don't want anything now.
Yes, I do.
I want sun
and wine.
That's what I want.
The cops were over there yesterday.
They came to see Desir.
But they weren't after anyone.
The cops are always after someone.
Were you innocent?
Want to take out the ashes?
Sure.
No, no. That happens all the time.
They have a child with colic.
What are you doing here?
Turn out the light.
I just wanted to say...
It was awfully mean of me, wasn't it? Eh?
Yes.
I'm not mad at her for flirting, but...
...but in my home, no.
Flaunting that pretty figure.
If I'm a little jealous...
...you understand?
Sure.
You'll like it better here. You'll see.
- And her?
- Don't worry about her.
Anyway, she'll have to go.
Oh, when I think that she gave him
her husband's clothes!
It's disgraceful! And who knows
what else she gave him.
THE FRENCH ACTION
Nobody knows who he is,
where he's from, or anything.
You know Papa's deaf.
When he wants to be.
Where you off to?
I am going back.
Will you make him sit down?
You stay here with us.
Tell him if he doesn't sit down,
I'll lock him in the wooden shed.
You're going to go
with me to see the notary.
Listen, Papa, you only have
to sign a few papers, and she's out.
No.
You old fool, you!
You're a fool, too, like him!
They're both only interested in one thing...
just getting into bed with somebody
and it doesn't matter who.
They came and got him.
And you did nothing.
What did you want me to do?
Shoot 'em?
It's none of my business.
You're right.
I'm going to go get him.
Slut!
Bitch!
Whore!
Wouldn't give him back.
It looked that way to me.
Thinks he's so goddamn smart.
I'll take care of him, you wait!
From now on
you can swim across, you whore!
Who knows what else they say about me?
Who knows?
If you want me to, I can stay a little longer.
Maybe they won't bother you as much.
I better fix up that other room, then.
Oh, why bother?
The attic suits me fine.
If that's what you want.
Hello.
Have you not a name
or are you the same as the baby?
- Flicie.
- Ah.
Why have you shaved it?
For a change.
Too bad. It was pretty.
Now, I'm going to go
cut the grass... for the rabbits.
It'll be Sunday tomorrow.
What do you do around here on Sunday?
Go dancing?
Sometimes.
Sometimes or often?
Often.
You always dance with the same guy?
No.
You mean you're fickle?
I don't know.
And maybe not.
Don't you like animals?
- Yes.
- Well, why'd you do that?
What did I tell you? These gentlemen
want to see your papers.
That's all right with me.
Born in Paris?
That's what it says.
What kind of work do you do?
I'm working on farms
and seeing the country.
That sounds like vagrancy.
Oh, come on, now.
He's my employee.
And I have the right amount
of money on me.
Have some.
Shaft's not big enough.
The wick doesn't fit.
- Well, can you fix it or not?
- Probably not.
We'll have to find another one the same
exact size.
Then throw it in the garbage.
It'll be okay.
Did you take that revolver?
Yes.
I didn't want anybody
to find it.
Your papers are false, eh?
No.
Then...
...you weren't let out
of prison.
You escaped.
Eh?
Yes.
So they're after you.
And how long can you
keep running?
Until I can get back home again.
And where do you live?
Maybe you'll never get there.
I don't know. Maybe not.
Do I frighten you?
No.
What are you doing here?
Waiting for the bus, of course.
You still have work to do.
Did you forget about this?
You know what to ask for?
No.
Well, there you are.
THE HOUSE OF GOD
IS NOT FOR JEWS.
Sunday's a funny time
for a strike, eh?
My father had a Hotchkiss.
He was a pharmacist.
At night he played the violin.
And your mother?
Do you still live
in the same town?
I don't know.
I was born not far from here.
My mother kept house
in a place something
like that one.
She didn't want me to live
in the city.
So I'm now a country girl.
And I'm a country boy.
Aren't you eating?
In a second.
No, that's plenty for me, thanks.
You feel all right?
Yes, sure.
Is it because you went to town?
Exactly.
No, I have to go home.
Do you like the widow Couderc?
Why do you ask me that?
She's hard.
It's an act.
Just an act.
Has anyone ever told you
you have pretty skin?
No.
Nobody ever said that?
No.
That sounds like
your baby crying.
You stupid little whore!
They're laughing about you
over there!
Leave me alone!
I'm going to put the fear of God in you!
- No! Oh, I don't know anything.
- By God you will learn!
Yes. His name is Jean.
You think I'm a fool?
I know.
Wait.
What do you know?
You were out late.
The work's already done.
And your money's over there,
on the table.
Very well.
Where were you all night?
With Flicie.
You know I was with her so why ask me
stupid questions?
What attracts you to Flicie?
Her youth.
And you tell me that?
Yes.
Listen. I can't lie.
I can lie to everyone else,
but not you.
That's something, eh?
I mean, you treat me like
a young girl.
But when a real one comes along, you say,
While I weep,
you tell the truth! Why?
Do you want me to cry?
We went to bed. Why?
What are you after here?
What do you want?
I don't know.
The walls.
The fire.
And you, too.
I like this house because
it's like you.
I can't see you anymore.
You're joking.
I can't see you anymore.
Okay.
But give me my revolver.
No. I won't give it to you.
Look, I know where it is.
It's within your savings.
You see?
A criminal...
one who kills and steals.
Who steals... and who kills.
Well, I'm going to fix
the incubator,
because if I don't, you'll never get the
damn thing to work.
You're gonna fix what?
The incubator.
Don't you want me to?
No?
Anybody there?
They didn't even see me
come across the bridge.
I managed to get hold
of this stuff.
I may have left a shirt.
- You want to come back?
- Yes, I do.
So... you're not happy over there?
I mean, she is your daughter.
I'm sure she loves you.
Oh, she loves me all right
but not you, I'm afraid.
Well, I remember when she was small, she
hated me then.
What?
She hated me when she was
a baby, and she hates me now.
I can't help that. So what?
So now you'll go and tell.
I'm not going to tell them anything.
I don't want to see them again.
You tell those shits
the way I'm treated,
I treat them.
And me?
You don't want me anymore?
But this house, it's my place.
It's their decision, not mine.
- They don't want me here.
- Well, there you are.
Yes, there I am.
Slut.
Who was that?
The old man.
You mean he got away?
No.
He went back over there.
He wants you to leave.
Ah.
Where is he?
Back over there.
Too bad for him.
If I tell you all I know
can I go back home?
Absolutely.
Will you let me?
Yes, we are only doing this
for your benefit.
We have to look after you.
You remember it all?
Repeat it for me then.
The man who seduces
my daughter-in-law
and put me out of the house
is a criminal.
And what else... Flicie?
Oh, yes.
The man who seduced
my daughter-in-law
and raped my granddaughter
is a criminal.
With my own ears
I heard him say he killed
Uh he said he gave it uh...
he said he gave them colic.
- Are you sure of that?
- He knows what he heard.
Go on.
And, eh, to help you, I have uh,
A photo
What photo?
Don't worry about it.
Flicie? Come here!
And you keep quiet, eh?
Come on in.
Don't! She's at the wash house.
And you know she won't see.
Otherwise you wouldn't
have come over.
Eh? My little liar.
I'm not a liar.
- Jean.
- Hush.
Why don't you call him
Frederick or Christopher?
Or Alexander?
I see your friend's on the prowl again.
Oh, she's all right.
Besides, it doesn't matter.
Come see.
It's been working for 26 hours.
I filled it up.
It holds three quarts.
Beautiful, eh?
In 21 days, you'll have
Then we'll have to get some of those
those...
some of those special boxes.
- Yes.
- And we put them in
when they're three days old.
And we sell them for
two francs a piece.
If we had two of these...
If we had 2 of these
we'd have 240 francs.
And if we had ten of these...
If we had ten...
we'd enlarge the farm...
and buy the canal...
and buy the bridge...
and throw out
your sister-in-law!
Everyone in the village is nervous
about him being here.
And he's been here how long?
Nearly two weeks.
Uh-huh.
What you've told me
is serious, you know.
I've checked them over, Inspector.
These papers are false.
Thank you. Take a car.
You'll have to go to Paris.
If I find anything, should I phone you from
headquarters?
Naturally. Oh... the photo.
May we go?
No. You wait here.
What did he say?
You stay here.
I told you to go back.
What the hell are they up to?
What are they doing?
Wait for me.
Everything is ready, Sir.
Surround the farm.
You can't start before sunrise.
That's the law,
and we must obey it.
You can count on me, Sir.
Mallet.
What are those cars back there?
Are they from Paris.
Who informed them?
I'll find out, Sir.
If they're here from
Criminal Investigations, fine.
Otherwise, get them out.
Gentlemen, gentlemen.
Colonel La Gureve
from Mortemont.
At your service, Commissioner.
Allow me to place my men
at your disposal, Sir.
Listen, Sir...
It's the duty of everyone
in France to guard her
from her adversaries!
- Is he a Jew or a Yugoslav?
- Neither of them.
Now, if you'll pardon me, gentlemen,
there's work for me to do,
and your help is not needed
at this time.
We have to humor them.
I don't want another
Prince affair in my department.
Can we go home?
Not yet.
You're there.
Uh-huh.
Just watching you sleep.
Nobody would understand,
would they?
Nobody ever understands.
It's Flicie.
What is it?
Get out of here!
The police are everywhere!
Get dressed, quick!
You go on.
You're not wanted here.
No! That way.
Here. Now, go.
He left the house.
In that case,
shoot him on sight.
Stop!
Get out!
They'll fire on the farm.
No. No, I'm not leaving.
It's my farm.
Come back here!
Come back!
Miss!
Get away from there!
Jean Lavigne!
The farm's surrounded!
You have one minute to come out
with your hands up.
Or we'll come in!
Anyone helping you
will be charged with complicity!
You never told me
your name was Lavigne.
I'd forgotten.
Somewhere else,
everything's beautiful.
- I'm going out!
- No.
No!
In 1992 Jean Lavigne,
son of physicist Etienne Lavigne
was fatally shot during a formal reception
of two high personalities.
To the president of the court,
who asked him the reasons for his act,
he answered, "I'd had enough."