It's not the weather.
A helluva time for repairs.
But I'm not doing repairs.
- Want help? - I'm nearly done.
It's for Vanderbruck.
You may be in for a real treat in the morning.
Do you hate Vanderbruck?
I don't hate anybody.
I do. He's here 2 years and already rich.
I can't dirty up these mules.
Huguette'd be sore.
Wake up.
No, no...
Vanderbruck's coming.
Always a pain in the butt, that one...
Quick. This is gonna be fun.
Not up yet, Cordier?
Hurry up, quick!
I was working late last night.
Don't make it a habit... Shit!
Take a look!
Fast!
Didn't even salute me.
Goddam shit!
Thanks.
Get these shitholes out of my sight!
Forever!
Tear them down right this minute!
Sure thing.
- Goon... - I don't dare.
Excuse me.
That's not funny.
Shit, my hat.
Kiss me, Huguette...
Whoever dares say I sawed the boards so a man'd fall in
and maybe get killed
- Quit acting like an idiot, Nono -
would be ruining my career,
accusing me of an act contrary to my nature.
I'm not one to take risks.
That's for sure, sissy.
You're a prize asshole.
Cut it out, blockhead!
You resent Nono because he's a real man.
There, Nono, my little he-man. Lucky I have you.
Don't ever say that, Huguette.
Why not, if it's true?
What's got into you, Lucien?
Oh, Rose, you should have seen the look in his eyes.
Like a killer's.
Me? With a killer's eyes?
Eyes don't harm.
Hands do.
Kiss and make up.
Well, kiss him.
Come on.
You know, Rose, I've been thinking.
But then again, it's may be not a good idea...
that you get a gun...
To shoot with?
Not to shoot with, Nono.
Just to keep her man off.
If he comes at her with bad intentions.
It is a good idea!
Not really.
I can't see Rose, so sweet and frail,
with a big gun in her little hand.
I might kill him by mistake.
You see.
Let's get you that gun.
- Really? - Sure. Come on.
That's a good one.
A pastor's wife shot her husband with it?
Oh yes!
Have anything bigger?
Something frightening.
A club?
No, very frightening.
Very, very frightening.
A gas mask.
Hold it.
Good.
I'll never use it.
You never know.
You've got an idea in your head.
Not at all, I swear.
I do things without thinking.
Later I understand. I never plan ahead.
You're weird sometimes.
You're not scared I might shoot you someday?
First learn to shoot.
Then I'll be scared.
Goon.
Morning. Did we wake you?
You see what I see?
See you later.
- Following him? - Not him. The ladder.
Scram!
Never a dull moment!
Are you crazy!
He must be sick!
Let me by.
He should be arrested.
He'll get such a beating...
You'll be sorry if you touch me.
Play along. I'm just pretending.
It's better than being locked up, no?
- O.K. But careful. - Sure.
Not the head.
Of course.
Take that!
That'll teach you...
to peek through windows.
Go easy on him.
Not the head, eh?
I can't read the aviator's book.
It's too well written.
You like sounding illiterate?
You're not...So why?
Habit.
Grammar gets rusty like everything else...
if you don't use it. And in Africa...
The same for Good and Evil...
What's Good? What's Evil? Nobody knows.
It's not much use here.
So it gets rusty, too.
Must be the climate.
Will it happen to me?
You? No. You're different.
Not because you're prettier...
than Rose...
She's my girl, Rose.
But with you...
it comes from inside.
Grabs you by the heart...
like in a vice...
and doesn't let go.
When I look at you...
I'm ill at ease.
But I can't keep away from you.
Do you understand that?
Even if we kiss, it won't make it simpler.
- Bye. Careful with the pistol. - Don't worry.
Stop it, Nono!
And if I pretend too?
It was that or jail.
Leave Nono alone. Rose is waiting for you.
Kissing the bitch makes me sick.
I'll try to watch what I say.
Listen.
What is it, sweet?
Why, nothing.
I figured as much.
I'm a bit tired... not enough sleep.
The schoolteacher's cute.
You know her?
I saw her on the moviescreen, in silhouette.
You both looked fine in silhouette. You were swell, together.
Don't be silly. She's not that kind.
She's too good for you?
- And you're right for me? - Listen...
Having you is an honor...
Killing my husband for love.
No, I was just getting rid of trash.
The trash also happened to be your husband.
There's a lot of trash around.
There'll be less and less... had to start somewhere.
You killed him on account of me.
Let me just go on thinking that.
You take your time.
I'm coming.
They all want to prevent me from sleeping.
I'm worn out...
Wait.
What's wrong?
What's with you?
- Vicious nag... - Are you hurt?
He kicked me in the privates.
- Come with me. - I'll go home.
I'll fix you up.
I'll see a doctor.
Not like that.
Are you sure?
Yes. Can you walk?
Just barely.
No bruises.
But it hurts like hell.
Doesn't take much in that part.
Here? Or here?
You're too soft.
I am not soft.
Touch me anywhere.
Say, you're not crying in pain.
Someone's outside.
Hear it?
It's like something was being dragged.
Wake up!
I'll go and see.
Take your gun at least.
Oh, god damn.
The sonofabitch is back!
Maybe he's not dead.
He's dead as they come.
Then he's not alone.
I doubt that.
Which goddam sonofabitch brought him?
There's the bastard.
Stop there, damn you!
Black bastard. Why'd you bring him back?
Please, ma'am.
- I'll peel your black ass. - Forgive me.
What got into you, for chrissake?
Stop it!
How's things, Friday? Getting cloudy, eh?
Thank you, Captain, very well.
Yes, it looks like rain.
Why'd you bring him back? He was fine where he was.
Stop it.
You take the trouble to kill him and this prick...
Back to the house now.
Don't be afraid.
I always treated you right.
That's why you can trust me.
- I'll never tell a soul. - Good.
I didn't see nothing.
You mean like Ma'am Rose naked?
That neither... Can I go, Captain?
Sure, Friday.
Thank you.
But before you go,
give me a hand with burying the body.
White folk aren't meant for vultures.
Will he have some?
Friday...
Want some coffee and bread?
No thank you. I'm not hungry.
I'd better be going.
Not just yet, Lucien. Wait a bit.
Think you'll sleep good... after what he heard you say?
Maybe he didn't hear.
You were yelling it.
Maybe he didn't understand me. People always said I mumble.
That wasn't mumbling. I thought you were tough.
Like with Marcaillou.
That was different.
Friday's a good, harmless nigger.
If we looked hard enough...
I know what's bothering you.
Some cases...
like your husband's "accident" you heard about it later.
So you can say:
"I'm not responsible for it."
But this time you know what's gonna happen.
So you say "Don't go".
But me, I can't back out now.
Is there any change?
I'm coming.
You think he'd wait if he'd understood?
Tired?
My legs feel weak.
Don't worry, it'll pass.
What's wrong?
Youknow I have to.
But, Captain, I trusted you.
You're different from other white men.
There's your mistake.
I believed you.
No, you didn't.
Now you're lying.
A good Catholic like you- I'm hurt.
Lying is a sin.
Killing's a sin, too.
Worse than lying.
Let me offer you some consolation.
We all kill what we love.
But you don't love me.
And another thing...
Don't tire yourself getting up...
Better the blind man who pisses out the window
than the joker who told him it was a urinal.
Know who the joker is?
It's everybody.
All the bastards who look away when you're in the shit,
who wallow in their cash,
praying through their assholes that nothing happens.
If it's true they were made in God's image...
I wouldn't like to get Him in a dark alley.
You kissed too much white ass.
You asked to get fucked.
This is what I do with friends like you.
Did you do it?
I'm tired of taking the rap...
for doing what everyone wants me to do...
that they won't do themselves.
- Madam Marcaillou? - Yes, sir.
Colonel Tramichel - Traas in tralala...
This early visit may surprise you.
Please gather your courage.
Mother of God, no...
Alas, yes, it's but too true.
But there are two of them!
When will it end?
Wake up.
There's an officer here to see you.
He says it's urgent.
It might be war.
I don't want you drafted.
But, Huguette...
If there's a war, they'd need the police more than ever
to arrest the ones who won't fight.
No, listen.
No?
A last adieu to his master.
He just wants to eat him.
Right, Spot?
Weird dog... He's got a...
I think they were struck by the same hand.
The same weapon was used on them both.
I don't say you're wrong, but I don't say you're right.
I know how it happened.
Friday wanted to get even with my husband for a beating.
So he took his rifle and shot him in the stomach.
Then my husband took it back and killed him...
before dying.
A case of self-defense.
That's how I see it.
Doesn't it seem odd -two men shooting each other like that?
Oh, no, no, no. It's happened before.
During the war, a machine-gunner got killed...
But his finger stuck in the trigger...
So his corpse went on and killed dozens of Huns.
My condolences.
Bury them so they stay buried.
I've never seen a more clear case of murder.
Clear as rain water.
You mean still water.
Yes sir!
Kiss me.
It's not the moment.
You don't grab a brand-new widow.
We'll wait till tonight.
Look.
My God! Poor little thing.
It's a real pain in the ass.
I have a black dress I can lend you.
The bastard's not worth buying one.
Keep the veil.
Don't fool with death, Nono. It's bad luck.
Have more.
Then I won't eat after the funeral.
And that's good food.
It's lamb stew.
Need help?
No, that's all right.
Quit stuffing your face and look after Rose.
Does that really suit me?
Widows look pretty...
it gives me ideas.
- A kiss? - A big one!
Come look.
They were kissing and petting!
What are you saying?
I'm interlocuting!
What's got into him?
I saw 'em, I tell you - in the mirror.
Shame.
What's going on?
Last time I try to comfort somebody!
I told her to lay her head on my shoulder.
Then I simply patted her on the back.
My only friend... believing those lies.
Not at all.
Don't believe them. They were...
all over each other.
- Stop howling. - I saw them.
Shut up!
I saw them.
So?
I'm ashamed.
I'm going home.
- Are you leaving? - After what happened...
She loses her husband, gets insulted...
It's natural she's upset.
This is a women's affair.
Come and powder your nose for the funeral.
So, my little Rose...
your heart mourns.
Not my heart or anything else.
Remember Our Father's words: Forgive us our sins...
"As we forgive others..."
They're lies that children learn
even if they don't believe them.
Why forgive Marcaillou?
You can only forgive those you love, even then...
Your Lord didn't say that.
But you do believe in God?
Sure.
Do you truly believe?
I believe, but not truly.
Hey, Father.
Is that pigeon hanging over the church altar...
made of gold?
That pigeon is the Holy Spirit.
I'll say no more because of robbers.
What's it worth?
Approximately...
Who's that?
A dead man!
Where he going?
He's looking for the cemetery.
Gonna get buried?
Out of my way, brats.
Excuse me.
Is Mr. Cordier at the funeral?
That's him over there.
Everybody here thinks you're dead!
No, Ma'am, that's not true.
Well, I'm glad.
You've got a bill to pay at the laundry.
For silk pyjamas.
I don't wear pyjamas, just nightshirts.
Holy Jesus!
What is it?
A ghost!
- Where? - There.
It's Le Péron.
A ghost has to be dead first.
I didn't think of that.
Warrant-officer George Le Péron.
It's war!
Then why would they tell me first?
It's not the war.
It's my brother.
- I see a likeness. - Hardly.
And how is he?
Dead...
and you know who killed him.
Didn't your regiment squash the peanut picker's revolt?
Sure did.
It sure took guts...
all those niggers armed with clubs...
and all you had was machineguns...
My brother said you were an ass.
But why try to cover up for his murderer?
If I only knew who it was.
He's a cop, that's why...
Your friend Chavasson.
He's not my friend.
I even refused to put him up the night of the crime
which I regret, since he went to the brothel...
Funny, in trying to defend him,
you implicate him even more.
Oh, that's the way I am. I don't know why.
Féte-Nat! Bring the glasses!
Don't turn around. He might drop his tray.
You're not afraid of ghosts, are you?
My grandma saw some, long ago.
After the big war, God wouldn't let the dead come out.
There'd be too many.
How'd he do it?
Hello, friend.
So now the white folk...
wait to be dead to shake a nigger's hand.
Well, it's too late.
What I just heard is awful!
Here it is...
their favorite place.
What'd they do?
Nothing... like anyone else if they could.
He always liked ratafia...
It brings me closer...
to him.
To think he might've been killed here!
What makes you say that?
Well, he had to be killed somewhere.
So why not here?
True.
I'm exhausted.
Walking is already tiring.
But walking and thinking...!
It's funny...
My brother saw you differently.
May I call you Lucien?
Of course, George.
My brother sure had the good life...
Better than ours.
You can say that again.
The army must be a drag at times.
Yeah, but I couldn't do...
anything else. And you?
Same for me.
But is doing nothing...
a real goal in life?
Not always.
Does it excuse us?
Can you excuse a pole for filling a hole?
It may squash some rabbits,
but is it the pole's fault if it fits that hole?
But a pole is an inanimate object.
Aren't we all more or less inanimate?
What do you mean?
Who knows!
There's a guy who won't die in the war.
- Sad sight... - Not for everybody.
Your brother shot at them.
You let him?
I'm not a policeman, George. I'm Jesus Christ...
in person...
sent here with a load of crosses each bigger than the next...
I see...
I try to save the innocent...
but there aren't any.
All crimes are collective.
We contribute to each other's crimes.
We all shot your brother.
And maybe I did... a bit more than my share.
Strange day!
Now what?
I must've gotten dressed in the dark.
Do you know the question noone can answer?
The big question?
Go ahead.
When you scratch your balls, is it 'cause they itch
or 'cause it feels good?
I've had an exhausting day.
I get taken for a ghost,
I drink ratafia, I hear things said...
But now...
I know who killed my brother.
Who?
You told me...
I forgot what I told you. Could you repeat it?
What matters is what I didn't tell you.
What didn't you tell me?
I saw your brother alive the day after the murder.
No, no, no...
What time is it?
Six p.m.
We're entering the virgin forest.
"Women nurse these fierce invalids
returned from the tropics."
How was my mutton stew?
Even better than the one Huguette made.
You ate twice!
I can never say no.
Why'd you marry her?
I dunno. She asked me.
And Rose?
Same thing.
When Marcaillou was shot, were you there?
Let's see... when Marcaillou was shot...
We've got so much inside our heads,
but when we want to use it - no way!
Why do you ask?
It was good for Rose.
It was good for Marcaillou!
He was a brute.
Killing him did a favor.
It was an act of charity.
But not everybody can understand that.
I'm not everybody, Lucien.
No, don't.
But why?
Don't.
When I pity someone, it's bad...
for them and me.
Why are you late?
I'm exhausted, Rose.
Sleep is all you do.
It's the best thing, besides eating.
When you eat or sleep,
you forget about the things you can't solve.
Think about it...
You'll see I'm right.
It's not thinking I need.
What are you doing?
I'm praying for strength.
You think it'll work?
I'm so weak I couldn't stick my finger in a cherry pie.
It's working!
Thank the Good Lord!
It's the least he could do.
God told me to kill them. I wasn't sure. Jesus Christ.
Can anyone read that?
No, Ma'am.
It's the beginning of "La Marseillaise".
"Children of the land..."
"the day of glory's come..."
"the bloody flag of..."
"tyranny's against us..."
Very good!
The rice pudding's gone!
I restored myself...
before taking Rose home.
About times he's gone.
Aren't you done yet?
What's taking you?
I'm drinking my coffee.
If you only bothered to look, you'd see it's true.
Drink it somewhere else.
You'reserving lunch in a bit. So why should I getup now?
OK, stay there.
I'm going to the hairdresser's.
How's she gonna turn out?
You spoil my appetite.
What are the odds that war's declared?
You really want it?
Yeah! I waited so long!
But you'll have to fight.
Think so?
Of course... with the native soldiers.
But I'm not a native.
And the black units are the shocktroops.
Terrific casualty rate!
Oh yeah?
I guess a war's not so good...
Or I'll clear out.
But I'd need money.
I don't got any.
But I got afriend who does.
A friend?
My sister's husband.
Me? Your friend?
Well, if you weren't,
I'd tell Huguette all about you and Rose.
Poor Nono...
What supposedly happened
is nothing, absolutely nothing,
compared to what might happen very soon.
I'm looking for a needle and thread.
Found it?
Please put it back in order
so Huguette doesn't have to do it
because I won't be here tonight.
And don't look for the money. I took it.
I dreamt God turned into a nigger,
just as Marcaillou arrived,
so he didn't even try to get into Heaven.
He said "What bad luck."
"I get killed, my wife gets laid, and God's a nigger!"
You ate too much mutton stew.
Fakir Birman's horoscope!
Look at Pisces -that's my sign:
"You will soon make a voyage for romantic reasons."
Where'll we go?
That's last year's paper!
The words are still there.
You think we'll have a chance in the next world?
We had such good intentions and got so little.
My dream makes you say that?
Maybe.
Want to come with me?
Where?
To eat fish by the river.
I thought we'd go farther.
Anyway, you're eating at home. In fact, you're late.
Sure you won't come?
I'm sure!
Too bad!
See you later!
Over there.
I'm worried! He tore my room apart before he left.
I've never seen him like that.
You didn't see him?
I keep telling you he's not here!
Of course, he might be in the cupboard.
Just cause he's not isn't any proof!
But where is he now?
I haven't seen him since last night.
Last night!
And that hat there...
did it walk in alone?
So you sleep with the creep - it's too disgusting!
And you and Nono?
I love Nono!
Shu-sugar...
Don't change the subject!
Where's my dough?
I don't know.
Where's my money?
That money's mine, not his.
I saved it up to get the hell out.
I deserve some good times...
to see the Riviera...
I didn't spend 15 years here to get ripped off by a cunt!
I never saw your money!
You seen Nono's hands?
What's wrong with them?
He can be tough... So where's my dough?
That's enough! Shut your fucking face.
And if you move, I'll clean the shit outta your brain!
What'd she say?
Don't listen. Do it!
Do what?
Give her one! That'll make her talk.
Don't touch me.
Let me go, you bastard!
My money!
Mama!
Don't let her go!
Colonel!
Tramichel. Traas in tralala...
War's been declared! I heard it on the wireless!
How distressing.
It's just like Daladier to pull a trick like that.
It's typical... I just knew it...
Of course... Daladier...
Until we get our orders we'll have to make do...
Get out from under my legs.
They're nice but a bit... clinging.
Attention!
War has just been declared
between France and Germany!
General mobilization!
Lucien, it's awful. Huguette... Nono...
I know. I was there.
You saw everything?
Let's say I heard everything.
And you did nothing?
Why should I have done something?
Why...to stop me.
It wasn't up to me to stop you.
It was up to you, to Huguette, Nono, Marcaillou.
If I put temptation in front of you, it's not a reason to use it.
I just help folks reveal their true character.
It's a dirty job, Rose!
And I deserve all the dirty pleasure I get out of it.
You're not ashamed?
Part of my job is enjoying other folks' misery.
You've gone completely crazy!
Not at all.
Normally I should crack down on the rich and powerful,
but that's just what I'm not allowed to do.
So I make up for it by coming down twice as hard on the poor,
the wretched, the niggers and girls like you,
who've put their brains where they sit.
Does that make you cry?
Don't. It won't help you.
Y'know, I've sobbed my heart out...
it didn't solve anything.
You can't get out of it so easy.
Don't look at me like that!
I can't believe it.
Lucien, why did you do it?
You have to help me. I can't take it.
What can I do?
How the hell do I know...
Any idiot can see they were shot with your gun.
But that's horrible!
At first, it is horrible.
But then you start to think...
about starving kids, little girls sold into slavery,
women whose sex is sewn up...
God created murder out of pure kindness.
Murder's nothing compared to those horrors.
So, my little Rose, the only thing to do is scram.
But where to?
I'll be glad to lend you money for the boat.
You'll manage, I'm sure of that.
You could make a mint just doing what you like best.
Which you do better than any woman I know...
And being as we'll probably never see each other again...
I'll be glad to bang you one last time...
even though you're a fugitive.
How am I going to get up in time for mass?
If you so much as touch me...
Even if I go, don't think you'll get off...
It may take a lifetime but I'll see you dead.
That makes you laugh.
It's those two dogs down there.
Do you know why dogs sniff each other's butts?
When dogs still ruled the world,
they held a convention to vote new laws.
The head dog said:
"I suggest that, due to poor hygiene here,
our assholes be left at the door."
The dogs agreed and de-assholed.
But just then...
a tornado blew in...
and mixed all the assholes up.
Not one dog recognized his own.
Ever since, they smell each other's asses...
and it'll go on till the end of time.
It's funny, no?
Very.
Attention! Curfew tonight at 9 o'clock...
Stop! There's no more war!
What?
There's no war!
Already?
They've signed at Munich. Tonight we celebrate.
Cordier, they've signed at Munich.
He doesn't give a shit if there's a war or not.
Don't say that, Rose.
Shut up! I've had enough of your bullshit!
Even I can see you always justify what you do.
I need to have a reason.
You're hard on me. You give me doubts.
I'd have sworn there wasn't a mean bone in me.
But now I wonder...
They say there are a hundred kinds of deaths.
I hope yours will be the worst.
Why did you write it?
Because I don't love you enough?
Don't love me, Anne.
It's not you, it's my job.
Being with you would prevent me...
And I can't allow that.
There are thousands of unhappy people, and I'm all alone...
Then you shouldn't have told me.
I didn't need to know.
I had to.
You're not afraid?
Afraid of what?
Of what might happen...
It's not important.
Anyway, I've been dead for such a long time.