CLEAN SLATE
I thought it was all over.
Get out of bed, Iug.
Vanderbruck's coming.
I didn't get my night's worth.
Just what do you want?
A husband's got certain rights.
Worry about Vanderbruck.
Mr.Vanderbruck!
Always first, eh?
You should get the carpenter to fix the roof.
But it's not the police's job.
These privies belong to the Forestry Co.
They're your property.
The whole town uses them.
Not me. It's not just the stink.
It's the first thing that greets me every morning.
Can't you move them?
I can't.
Why not?
Because they're there.
Well, that's a fact.
No, no there.
Not there either...
Not here nor there.
Well, where then?
Nowhere.
You think you and me are gonna...
After what you did...
I did something?
You said: "Vanderbruck's a public menace.
"His latrines are dangerous.
"The law should make a move and since I'm the law,
those privies will be gone in a week."
That's what I said.
Sure...
You chickened out.
He pissed all over you!
Listen, ass-lickers like you...
flunkies, I don't mind feeding them, but that's all.
I'm not sure I agree with you.
Maybe you're right, but maybe you're wrong.
Anyway, even if I am what you say,
I'm not the only me - so there!
Mama!
Your kid brother's up.
I'm coming, Nono dear.
Funny, him calling his sister Mama...
What's my Nono want?
Something's under my bed.
That's no reason to call me Mama.
And it doesn't flatter you, sweetness...
being called Nono's mother...
and also giving folks a wrong idea of your age.
Whatta ya know - no more duck.
He had a bad scare.
The poor thing.
I noticed.
Y'know what it was?
A moth.
Yeah, a poison moth.
Hey, that's my shirt he's got on...
and in shreds.
In shreds?
And he's got a scratch too.
Must've been that poison moth, huh?
Don't chill me, Lucien.
Chill you?
I pronunciate right, don't I?
What's he trying to say?
It's about your job - putting folks in the cooler, you know.
If it wasn't you,
I'd bet my right arm some lady ripped my shirt, no?
There you go chilling me.
That looks great.
It could use some rum.
Rum! Rum! Quick!
Bottle of rum.
Always rum in rice pudding!
Aren't you late for work?
I'm looking for my hat.
It's on your head, jerk!
Mama,
come and try the pudding with rum.
It's yummy, but don't say Mama.
- We'll save some. - I hope so.
So you had a girl last night!
There's salt in the coffee!
Cut the crap!
I tell you there's salt in the coffee!
What a surprise. I'm glad to see you.
Well, we're not.
Being with trash like you looks bad.
The brothel's feasting the new colonel.
Got any prisoners who can wait on table?
You know I never arrest anyone unless I have to.
I have enough troubles of my own.
What good is an empty prison?
He's dumber than we thought.
That's true.
Morning, Mr. Cordier. Coffee's ready.
And that's not a prisoner?
That one's mine!
You didn't mention him.
Because he's mine.
We'll just borrow him, Pops.
But he's old and stonedeaf.
Can he make coffee?
- He poisoned his wife. - But can he make coffee?
Not very well, no.
It's not bad at all.
Superb! Bring him over tomorrow.
- What's your name? - Féte-Nat.
So you were born on Bastille Day, like me.
You've got a good life here in Bourkassa.
Better than in France.
You may be right there. I can't complain.
I've got free housing, the wireless, bath, electricity...
At times - not always - I think I've found paradise on earth.
But you're still a zero!
Shit, he fell.
He went plop!
That's not very nice.
It was an accident.
You didn't break anything.
We were kidding.
Yeah, just kidding.
Then that's different.
Ooh, he slipped.
Say...
"Féte-Nat" isn't a saint's name, is it?
No, it's the 14th of July!
I don't get it.
You're a jerk too.
But it's true.
"National holiday"!
Oh, "Féte Nationale"!
Your hand's shaking, Féte-Nat.
We're both shaking.
Y'know, I couldn't sleep last night.
I lay in bed, eyes wide open, thinking...
till I thought I'd go nuts.
Then suddenly...
I said to myself:
"You're going to go bananas",
so I thought and thought
till my head ached from thinking so hard
and I came to the decision:
that I didn't know what the fuck to do.
You forgot my birthday...
Let me go.
You're hurting me.
Let me go.
- Listen... - July 17, remember?
Get lost!
You don't love me.
No, I don't love you.
Hear that?
I don't hear a thing.
Marcaillou's beating his wife again.
Someday he'll kill her.
I must have water in my ears.
Now I can hear.
He's giving the poor kid a bad time.
You won't stop him?
Sure, I'm going to.
How much?
- Can't find it. - Next time.
I hate debts.
Here.
Seems to be over.
Yes, it would seem so.
My little Rose, Rosette.
Where'd the bastard go?
That way.
I'm too late. I came running when I heard.
He broke my bag.
What a bastard.
There, there, my Rosette, my Rosalie.
Put your hand between my legs...
In the street?
I wanna look loved.
It's all over now.
Get down!
Missed! It's your fault.
What are you hunting?
Nothing, jerk. We're shooting stiffs.
Doesn't bother them and it's fun for us.
When dysentery's cured, we'll find a new sport.
This one's yours, Le Péron.
Look, I blew his head off.
You may not be aware of it.
But you're breaking the law and mocking the dead.
But they're niggers - thrown in like dead dogs.
No, they've been entrusted to the river.
It's a sort of burial ceremony.
You're desecrating their graves.
How much is the fine?
I'd like to know the value of a stiff
who used to earn a franc a day.
Let's say 100, but I'll close my eyes for 50.
50? What do you say?
OK...
but on one condition...
You take a shot.
I can't in my situation.
- Just one round! - No!
That body's blocked by a log.
You miss on purpose?
At least he tried.
You can always be bribed.
I've got no choice. First, I'm underpaid.
Second, my wife takes all my money.
And third...
fining you is practically acivic duty.
No, Le Péron.
Where'd you learn to play pool?
How's your stick in bed?
Lucien! What's new!
I hope you can cheer us up.
Paulo, this is Lucien Cordier, Police Chief of Bourkassa
and this gawk is Paulo
who just arrived in this hole.
A drink?
Things booming?
Booming? Maybe... but...
Bourkassa's not a big city like here.
How big is it?
There's a signpost marked Pop. 1275.
Pop?
That means 1275 souls.
And as many people as souls?
Obviously.
I think you're wrong to say 1275 souls
means 1275 inhabitants, right, Paulo?
You bet, Marcel.
Tell him why, bright eye.
You're more convincing.
Your 1275 souls, that includes niggers,
but they don't got souls.
Right?
You bet.
Maybe you're right, but maybe you're wrong.
Why do you say that?
Make him see the light.
They don't have souls 'cause they're not really people.
Well, what are they then?
Just niggers, that's all.
The proof is we call them niggers, not people.
Now wait a sec.
How about this?
A white baby loses his mama, who's also white...
It happens?
It happens.
And a black woman breastfeeds him. She saves his life, right?
Yeah, so?
Well, that proves...
Nothing.
He could suck a cow...
and cows ain't people.
I've slept with black women, never with cows.
You could've.
But that don't prove that cows are people.
Put that in your pipe!
You're great at logic, Marcel!
But you didn't come here for my logic.
Oh, no! I've got headaches.
My head's all twisted around. I've lost my appetite.
So I thought and thought
and I came to the decision
that I didn't know what to do.
Goon!
Out of the way, hag!
What? Shoes!
Those two pimps are giving him hell.
And in public too. It's bad for my reputation.
But you don't stand for it.
No, I give it right back.
I don't muzzle 'em, but I bait 'em good.
He baits 'em. You ever hear that before?
First time in my fuckin' life.
You did good to come and see me.
I'm gonna tell you - no, show you -what to do.
Turn around.
I'm gonna illustrate my lesson.
Come back!
Sit down. I wanna ask you something.
I'd rather stand.
O.K.
If a guy kicks you in the ass, what do you do?
I kick him back. That way, we're even.
Turn around again. You didn't follow.
Just tell me.
Who's in charge?
Turn around.
Did you understand this time?
You gotta give it back twice as bad.
But the pimps never kicked my ass.
It's the principle.
- Right, Paulo? - You bet.
If a guy bugs you, you bug him twice as bad.
Otherwise it's like a status quo.
Next time your two pimps start up...
Kick 'em hard in the balls.
That'll hurt!
You gotta have good shoes...
...with no holes in the toes.
If it were up to me, I'd rub 'em out.
- Pronto. - One, two... in the teeth!
I wouldn't miss the opportunity.
Damn straight!
Out of my sight!
Tell Marcel he's put me at ease.
Let us help you, Miss.
Now that he's told me what to do...
Thanks to him, I'm covered.
Covered? How's that?
- Sure. - Cordier...
What do you mean?
Tell him, he'll understand.
Cordier...
Bye...glad to meet you.
Let me peel it for you.
So... you traveling all alone in Africa for fun?
I'm the new schoolteacher of Bourkassa.
That's a fine profession, a vocation, I'd say.
Thanks to you, black children will be able
to read their daddy's name on French war memorials.
Are you angry?
Not really.
We've got to laugh in this world or else we'd shoot ourselves.
Is it good?
Delicious.
The exact time, please.
Six p.m.
We're entering the virgin forest.
Do you always carry a gun?
I have to, I'm the policechief of Bourkassa.
It frightens you?
No.
I've never used it.
Careful...
They're heavy.
Books... maybe I brought too many.
There's so much time to read, you end up not reading.
Here's your school, and your house across the street.
I'll lend it to you.
That way I'll see you again.
It's by an aviator.
In that case... Let me help you.
You've got no business around here.
Doing nothing is my job. I'm paid for it.
So go do nothing somewhere else.
You're going a bit far!
What's with you?
Hands up.
As you like.
I'd like you to sing me a song.
You must be kidding.
"Catarinetta Bella". You like that one?
Sure we like it.
But that's no reason to take your gun out.
Goon.
But put your gun away...
I'll count to three.
One...
Two...
You're just 16 and you should see
How you trouble all the men
I'm disappointed.
You're spoiling my fun.
When does the joke end?
We can do better.
Is it your eye so soft that flips their wig
Or your tits so big that makes them daft
Oh, bella Catarinetta
Listen, love is calling you
Why say no, not now
Do it while you can
Later you'll be old and grey...
Get up, Lucien.
What is it?
Go answer the door.
Get a move on. They'll wake Nono.
And if it's a thief?
You're the law, moron.
True...
He's playing dumb.
Put your pants on.
By the way, dear...
did you by chance find some banknotes...
that might've slipped out of my pocket?
Look... with this war brewing out there,
I do have provisions to make.
Stay calm, my sweet.
I am calm. Hurry up.
Did you do it?
Did I do what?
Answer me, for chrissake!
You act like I killed someone.
Then you didn't do it?
What? Kill someone? What an idea!
You scared me.
One shot kills thirst, two, worms, three, death.
Paulo scared the shit outta me.
He said your killing those pimps would put me in a bind.
You couldn't even hurt a fly.
But you believed it.
I thought "Stupid as he is, he might take me seriously."
As if you could steer me wrong.
You might have misunderstood.
I can make distinctions.
I came out here to save you. Can I bunk here?
I hate to say no, but there's no room.
Is the hotel far?
It's closed on account of epidemic.
Where, then?
Well, you could...
no, you wouldn't sleep.
Just try me.
Not at a brothel...
Especially with girls...
of top grade...
all French and very young.
How young?
One of them...
isn't even 14.
Christ...and the law?
Nigger girls fuck at 12...
Yeah, white girls can't be left out.
- You bet. - Is it far?
Well, there are those damn pimps...
You leave 'em to me.
They're probably off getting smashed.
You sure?
Yeah, they'll be out all night.
But they still scare the girls.
You might not get in.
I beg your pardon there...
Old Marcel Chavasson wasn't born yesterday.
I'll tell 'em I've seen to their two shits
and that they won't hurt a fly now.
You're just too much, Marcel... brilliant...
All alone in my empty room
In my mouth a taste of gloom
In my heart I hear awful cries
And there's darkness
Around my eyes
The door just closed
Behind him now, he's shut away...
Our kisses and love vows...
Try this "tricolore"...
coffee, cognac, rum and calvados.
You must have had quite a night.
I did my best.
It's not every day they get a real man in bed.
And it didn't cost a cent.
And they weren't worried?
They bought my yarn.
Tell it to me again, Marcel.
"I put your pimps in their place...
You won't see 'em around too soon."
That's it to the letter...
He gave 'em what they deserved.
You said it.
What'd they deserve?
He won't say it out of modesty.
But he's told it 20times over.
I'm not bored.
And get it thru your head, Fred...
There's only one way to deal with scum like that.
Yeah, but you've got more guts than me.
Going to the whorehouse all by yourself.
I've only got myself, dimwit!
That's true.
Speaking of pimps...
Isn't your brother-in-law...
A pimp? Nono? He's too stupid.
No woman'd look at him, except Huguette.
Of course, she's his sister.
I don't see a resemblance.
You'd never guess they're brother and sis.
That did surprise me at first.
You may be in for another surprise someday, old man!
Another round on Cordier!
As Foch says: when you're a lion, you can't be a clam.
I've had worse than your pimps. And where d'you think they are...
now?
In jail?
Someday you'll learn a coffin costs the state
less than a man in a cell, old chum.
Bartali beat Verwaeck at Briancon by 17 minutes.
Natch. He pledged his bike to Christ.
Bartali?
If you need a hand with your pimps, call me...
...if they come back.
Why shouldn't they?
Could be dead.
Why dead?
Could've been killed.
And you'd be a suspect.
You crazy?
Why, you advertised it.
I never said I killed them. I said I gave 'em a lesson.
A black eye is a lesson.
Bullet in the head's a lesson, too. Same word.
I never even seen 'em.
Of course -they couldn't be there.
Then you did kill them?
Now do I look like I could do that?
But you, after all you said...
If their bodies ever popped up,
I wouldn't want to be in your shoes.
You heard right, Marcel.
All you can do now is pray...
If they aredead, hope they're never found.
You don't have to do a thing to make folks think you did.
Put that in your pipe!
How many today?
Five.
Dysentery?
Obviously.
All blacks...
No, one white.
Oh yes, one white. That's life.
The river for him too?
Are you crazy? The graveyard.
Does it hurt?
Look at me.
Am I hurting you?
She's got something in her eye.
Open your eye...
Much work?
Dirty work.
Sometimes I just want to drop everything. But I can't.
I never will.
That'll do it.
There, all better now. Give us a kiss.
And me?
What are you waiting for? Do your job.
Stop it! Marcaillou! Goddammit!
He won't sell me peanuts.
He cheats!
So what?
Now you've knocked him out.
You gonna arrest me for clubbin' a nigger?
No, not exactly...
The main thing is the board.
The board?
Yeah, covering that hole there...
What if somebody fell in and broke his leg?
It'd be your fault.
So?
So, being as nobody did, I'll let you off this time.
You never arrest anybody.
You've got to show folks you're brave, honest and hard-working.
Here, hold this.
- I can't. - Why not?
First, because I'm not brave, honest and hard-working.
And second, I don't think my chiefs want me to be.
How come?
Well, they wouldn't have picked me otherwise.
That's how I see it.
Sophism.
And no reason to let Marcaillou get away.
The trouble is he's Rose's husband.
We're good friends, Rose and me -that's all.
But if I arrest him, folks'll jump to conclusions.
Let them. Do your duty.
Get rid of this poison trash.
And who's gonna get rid of them stinkin' privies?
All in good time, each thing in turn and one after the other.
For the general good, Marcaillou first.
Then we'll get to your particular problem.
If you say so.
May God grant you the courage you need.
Those bastards... they won't get me like that.
There boy, go and get it!
What brings you around here, you turd?
Hands off my gun.
You won't need it any more.
I've got a hunting license.
You won't need that neither.
I was just going to see your wife.
We're gonna hit the sack
and do things you never did, jerk.
Don't move.
Africans hate a boring death...
hospitals, docs, nurses and priests...
You, you won't have a boring death.
Kicking a dying man isn't very nice.
But, first, I wanted to,
and second, it's no risk.
This hurts me more than you.
Shit, his dog. Must be coming.
We've got a minute, right?
You know I want you.
Well then... it'd only take a minute.
You know it wouldn't.
Sit in my lap.
Don't say that.
I only wanna lift your dress.
Maybe you could just take it off and let me see those nice things...
Just slide it over your shoulders, then...
Oh, hell - let's do it.
What are you doing?
I only wanted to tell you...
Tell me later. Quick, love.
I think I'd better tell you before.
Now come on, I want you.
But something happened to Marcaillou.
Who cares? He should only croak...
That's just it.
His insides got aired out.
Really?
He tripped over his gun.
He's dead?
He didn't budge...
when I gave him a dozen or so kicks in the balls...
No kidding!
Sorry I wasn't there to see that shitpile croak.
I'd have enjoyed...
ramming a poker up his ass.
Come now, Rose, a little respect for the dead.
You really shouldn't use such foul language.
It's impolite.
He taught me how to be impolite.
I was well behaved until I met the fucker.
Why don't you take your slip off?
I'd rather you do it.
Oh yes, feel me all over...
I'm coming...
Must be the good news.
The soup smells good.
It's just bean soup, but homegrown.
The beans come from his brother back home.
This bowl's as big as a tureen.
It was his.
I'll eat his soup, but not in his bowl.
You don't sense those things. It'd ruin my appetite.
But you sleep in his bed.
It's the only bed... there's no choice.
But there's other bowls.
It's more proper.
My soup...
Even dead he's a pain.
That's a weird dog.
He's got a stripe down the middle.
Marcaillou did that.
So we'd each pat one half.
Sounds like poor Marcaillou.
Don't leave me tonight. I'm scared.
It's my first night alone.
There are 3 sorts of French...
Real French, shit French and French shit.
You're not even French shit.
That's me on my wedding day.
I don't want to rot with him.
Drop me before the village.
Wait, Father.
Do help me, yes.
Termites. They already ate two crosses.
Good thing the Christ's cast iron, eh?
That should hold it.
Rose is here. Benice. She's anxious about her husband.
Is he sick?
Worse, maybe.
What's wrong, my dear?
I'm worried about Marcaillou.
He went hunting with his dog.
With his dog.
The dog, yes.
The dog came home alone.
His dog.
Yeah, his dog.
His dog, Spot.
Yeah, Spot... with the stripe down the middle.
All alone.
Maybe he got a beating, no?
It doesn't prove a thing.
Maybe he had an accident.
Oh, an accident.
Who's talking about accidents...
But Spot ain't had no accident as he's come home.
I paid you to prevent gatecrashing.
Why should there be any?
Your workers all get tickets, seeing as it's part of their pay.
Gotta be a stonic to take that smell.
What's that mean, "stonic"?
Ya mean ya don't know what it means?
Doesn't it bother your wife there...
watching the film backwards?
If it's free, even your shithouses don't bother her.
Tonight's film is "Mediterranean Alert".
It's so they can see the sea.
- How much? - No, this is on me...
Put it on my tab.
Go ahead, kiddies.
Isn't that Cordier?
Yes, with the schoolteacher.
He could use some learning.
See that outfit?
It's just right for Lucien.
That dress...
With your eyes...
You're so nice to me.
I just love sailors.
Will they show the Riviera?
What's the Riviera?
The plot's chickening!
- What is it? - The Coted'Azur.
I thought it was all over.
It'd be worse than that.
You should turn in.
I'd miss my chance.
What chance?
Something that might not happen.
During the film I dreamt...
A dream I often get...
About my dad beating me.
I show him my prize
for good reading in school: a hard-cover book.
He throws it in my face.
In the dream, I'm a kid.
It's not a dream.
I am just a kid.
A monster who killed his mother at birth.
Do you still resent your father?
Not any more.
He'd always look for one answer to his problems.
Like blaming everything on Jews and Free masons.
Not understanding that to know why things go wrong,
there isn't one reason,
but a thousand reasons.
I'm cold.
It's warm out.