THE ORDEAL
Day after day, life is merely survival
Your pockets are empty before month's end
What a strange period
Crises are myriad
Since love is our only way out
And union creates the beds of thousands
I propose
A plan as sweet as a rose
Bring, bring your week
To mine
That'll give the two of us
Fifteen days of bliss
We'll keep a tight rein
On our purse and tenderness
Loving eyes
That could last forever
Bring, bring your week
To mine
That'll give the two of us
Fifteen days of bliss
We'll be together
Head and legs
All life long
We'll be fifty-fifty!
Merry Christmas to all!
I'm so happy to see you again!
Soon, a new year will begin.
A new year that will surely be full of happiness
and good times. A year of joy and delight,
but most of all, a year full of songs...
Love songs, of course!
Yes, come in.
Come in.
Please sit down.
I'm almost done taking off my makeup.
Marc, you bring us so much joy each time.
Thank you, Mrs. Langhoff. Can I do something for you?
Your songs
bring me back to my youth,
bring back memories.
You know,
next yean,
I may no longer be here when you return.
Don't say such things! Of course you'll be here.
Can I ask you a favor?
Of course, anything you'd like...
But you were looking at me during the show.
I'm sorry.
I don't know what came over me.
Excuse me.
How could you have done that?
You dirty whore!
Old fucking slut!
Look what you did. You ruined everything! Everything!
What are you going to do now?
I'm going south for a Christmas gala.
There'll be some producers.
I hope you'll return when you'll be a star!
Of course I'll come back.
Everyone loves you a lot here. You know that?
Well, I should get going...
Yes, of course.
Thank you very much.
Ok then...
Can I hug you before you leave?
I'm going to miss you.
Please let me go now, miss.
I have to go.
BARTEL INN 3 KM
Have you seen a dog?
A dog with short hair.
A dog about this big with short hair?
Excuse me?
I'm looking for my dog.
I saw something dash out...
I can't tell you if it was a dog or not.
You saw it?
I said I saw something cross the road, but I don't...
Really? Which way did it go?
I think it went that way.
That way...
Bella!
Hey, come back!
Young man, come back!
Come back!
My name is Boris.
Ok, Boris, can you help me?
My van broke down and I saw a sign saying there was an inn.
An inn? It's not too far from here.
But I have to find Bella.
Tell me where it is, that's all I'm asking.
Could you tell me where the inn is, please?
Follow me, but don't make any noise.
I have to be able to hear Bella!
I can't just leave my van in the middle of the road!
I asked you not to make any noise.
Are you sure I can leave my van there?
Are we almost there?
I said not to make noise and it means shutting your mouth!
Mr. Bartel!
I've brought you someone.
He'll come down and open the door.
I've brought you someone. He wants a room.
Good evening.
Sorry to wake you, but my van broke down...
It's fine, come in.
Nobody's been here for a long time, but the rooms are clean.
Here it is.
Goodnight.
Did the singer sleep well?
Very well, thank you.
I took the liberty of towing your van.
I'm handy with cars, so if I could be of help...
Thanks, but...
Come on, it's normal between colleagues!
I saw the inscription.
Get out of the way, please.
"Performer-Singer". I'm also a performer!
Well, I used to be a comic!
Once a performer, always a performer. I was more so before...
You didn't tow my van with the hand brake on?
So, we' re, as one would say... Colleagues!
I'm gonna make your breakfast and take care of the van afterwards.
Couldn't we call a mechanic? I don't want to bother you.
There must be a mechanic in the area?
- We could call... - Shut up!
I really wish he'd find his dog.
He hasn't been the same since he lost her.
Do you have a telephone at your inn?
May I take a look?
You have a telephone, don't you?
- Excuse me? - I asked if you have a telephone.
Of course, I have a telephone!
I'm not a savage! What do you think?
Oh really? Goodness...
My word...
And when's he coming back?
This afternoon?
Maybe? But is it maybe or for sure?
Ok, very well. Thank you, goodbye.
- It was his wife. - So?
He's working off premises. Looks like he'll be busy all day.
Don't worry! I’m handy with cars. I'll take a look.
What's the hurry?
Well, I have long ways to drive.
- Where are you going? - To the south. A Christmas gala.
Christmas!
But you still have two days!
Performers must recharge their batteries!
A little rest will do you good!
You're probably right.
I'll make you a nice breakfast,
and then I'll take a look at your van.
Thank you, sir.
Bartel! Call me Bartel.
Not "sir" among performers!
Ok, Bartel!
Have a seat.
Can I help you?
No, no...
I bet you know nothing about mechanics!
True, I admit it.
That's what I thought. I'll take care of it. Just relax.
I'm going to take a little walk.
Let me give you some advice...
don't go down to the village.
Why not?
Those people are not like you and me.
They're not performers.
So, be kind enough not to go.
Ok, but tell me why...
They all are...
They can...
They are all...
Calm down, Bartel! I won't go to the village.
- You promise? - Yes, I promise.
See you later.
Have a nice walk, pal!
Be careful! The paths are slippery this time of year.
You make me crazy...
Marc, we love you...
Marc, come back soon...
Oh Marc, if you only knew...
I'm burning with desire...
It's good. It's tender.
Go on, son.
Come on, little man!
What am I supposed to do? You're really funny!
I never said it was your fault!
Yes, ok...
So, how was your walk?
It sure is a beautiful region.
You went down to the village!
No, I just walked around here.
So, what's the latest?
I've had trouble with your van.
The machinery is fine. I think it's the battery.
I spoke with the mechanic's wife. It can be fixed but...
- not before tomorrow. - Tomorrow?
Yeah, that's what I said! "Why not Easter!"
Well, I'm going to try to start it up.
Marc, wait!
Wait!
It won't start up!
I spent all afternoon working on it.
Trust me!
Don't be so obstinate!
I understand that you' re disappointed, I understand but...
I'm going to prepare you a good dinner!
You'll taste the Bartel cuisine
and I promise you'll be off tomorrow!
Here,
potatoes, bacon and cream au gratin.
A specialty of the house!
Well, it used to be...
At the time when the inn was still very active...
You know, we used to attract many people, mainly performers.
Well, now that Gloria has gone, it's not the same.
Gloria, my wife.
- You're married? - When I say "my wife"...
She left me.
She was a singer like you.
What talent!
If you had heard her...
I didn't want to upset you.
Well, how could you have known?
So, what do you have against the villagers?
If you could have heard her sing... She was a wonder!
That woman was everything for me.
By losing her, I lost everything.
Now you understand how happy I am to be in the company of an artist.
I'm gonna show you something.
Look, it's inscribed, "First Prize".
I won it thanks to my sense of humor.
But when Gloria left,
Bartel's sense of humor left with her.
Finished, over.
Bartel's fantasy!
However, when Gloria was here,
I was happy as a lark. I was always singing to myself,
joking around.
I was always telling jokes. Here's one...
There's this dwarves' association
who decides to create a football club.
So, they meet every Sunday
at a café where they have drinks after the game.
So, one day, there's a guy at the bar...
He's already somewhat drunk
and he sees two dwarves come down the stairs in blue jerseys.
Then, three, four, five, ten...
eleven!
He wonders if he's not hallucinating!
He asks for another whisky, and suddenly, he sees more dwarves
come down the stairs in red jerseys. Two, three, five, eleven!
He orders another whisky and subtly calls the café owner over...
"I don't want to worry you but
"the table-football players are running away!"
"The table-football players are running away!"
It's a good one, huh?
And I didn't even tell it well.
No, because back in the days...
you'd be rolling on the floor.
And you know why?
Enthusiasm!
Yes, it's enthusiasm, I'm telling you!
At a show enthusiasm is essential.
In fact, when Gloria left,
I decided to drown myself in my work.
I decided to write a treaty:
"The notion of enthusiasm in the principles of humor."
That's the title I chose, and then,
I didn't finish it.
I didn't finish it, because, you see...
when a woman leaves you, it screws everything up.
Listen, it was really good.
You know, I have a long drive tomorrow, so I'm going to bed.
Already?
So you' re going to leave without singing me something!
Excuse me?
Sing me something to give me insight
into your talent...
I don't know. It's late and I'm tired.
Don't make me beg! Especially between artists.
I told you my joke, didn't I?
Ok, but I don't know what to sing. Without music...
Improvise!
A love song. Love songs are always good.
I told you enthusiasm is what counts.
Like a rose from the month of May
You received youth and beauty
While in the shadows, I stare at my life
I see so many faces sparkling with desire
You are too beautiful and sensual
For a boy like me
I have a simple dream of serene happiness
That you won't give...
- There you go! - What? That's it?
I didn't tell you half a joke.
You have to finish it!
You are too beautiful and trifles
Are not enough for me
I'd like to give you my bed
But for my whole life long
Even a dove
Happy in its nest
Sometimes flies away forever towards infinity
I'm afraid for us
For right or for wrong
That you'll fly away one day
Towards other horizons
You are too beautiful and too sensual
For a boy like me
I have a simple dream of serene happiness
That you won't give
You are too beautiful and trifles
Are not enough for me
I'd like to give you my bed
But for my whole life long
That's it.
I'm going to bed.
Can I count on you to wake me up?
Marc!
Thanks for this wonderful moment...
Bartel?
Is someone here?
Bella!
Boris!
I'm looking for Bartel.
- Do you hear me? - Leave me alone!
Please answer me, have you seen him?
- I'll never find my girlie! - Who?
Bella! My dog!
Sorry about your dog, but have you seen Bartel?
She is all alone in the forest!
And it's so terribly cold out!
Listen, I'm looking for Bartel!
Lost!
She must be so scared!
Can I help you?
The door was open...
So, I thought...
I went to the village. I ordered a battery for your van.
The mechanic won't be long. A little more patience...
You didn't wake me up and there's a problem with my van.
I didn't wake you up because you were sound asleep.
I'm not used to waking people who are sound asleep.
You found it?
You left it on the table last night.
I was going to return it...
What are you doing?
What's wrong with you?
Stop!
Calm down! I'm not going to hurt you!
Is this what you're looking for?
Why leave if you came back?
You' re going to crush my heart again?
What the hell are you doing?
I won't say anything to anyone!
Just let me go!
See...
it's better when you don't move your head.
I'm doing this to protect you.
I don't enjoy making you look ugly.
It hurts me as much as it hurts you.
I'm happy too!
You'll see, this will be the best Christmas ever!
Where is my axe?
You know, my axe with the oak handle?
You should know things like that!
You have the oddest way of putting things away!
There it is! You're going to see...
We'll get the most beautiful tree and you'll decorate it!
You always liked to decorate the tree... those stars and balls.
That's your thing!
Hey, let me tell you something...
if you try to leave me again,
I'll split you in two like a log!
Ok...
Here we go!
Do you have your ticket?
Step right up!
Ferris wheels! Carnivals!
Do you hear Bartel laughing?
This enthusiasm is all thanks to you!
Let's go!
Let's get this show on the road!
See? Just like a young man!
That bitch!
That fucking bitch!
That dirty fucking bitch!
Gloria!
Gloria, what the hell!
Is someone there?
Boris?
Daddy promised Bella that he'd find her.
Bella won't stay alone in the forest.
Untie me.
Untie me!
I'm sorry, sorry!
Come back, Boris!
There you go, Mr. Bartel.
Don't look so sad, Boris!
You're going to find your sweet doggy!
You just have to be obstinate. That's the only way!
Obstinacy is the key to everything.
So, Boris, are you going back with us?
No, I'm going to be obstinate, like you said.
You're utterly right to be obstinate!
I have to run now!
No, no!
You see what you make me do!
Sometimes I wonder what you' re thinking!
It's no fun for me either, but it works!
As for you...
don't forget that I know!
I forgave you, but I know exactly what's going on!
A beer!
Two beers.
I said a beer!
I'm here to warn you!
No one will prevent me from being happy!
All I want is to live in peace.
Am I clear?
The first one who makes a move on my wife is dead!
Your wife?
What makes you believe it's your wife?
Probably his sense of humor.
Don't come lurking around my home anymore!
You hear me?
Shove your threats up your ass!
It's my wife!
My wife!
I warned you!
What's your problem?
Isn't it great to have Bartel's soup again!
Eat slowly! Slowly!
Let's live our life as before.
You want to?
Do you want to?
Be careful! It's dripping everywhere.
You know, I thought it over.
We're going to start the inn up again.
You'll sing, of course, and perhaps I'll do the opening act.
"I don't want to worry you,
"but the table-football players are running away!"
Let's surprise him!
I found Bella, my girlie!
That's wonderful, Boris.
I did as you said. I was obstinate and I found Bella.
"I was obstinate and I found Bella!"
Let's have a drink!
Let's make a toast! To miracles that unite us at Christmas!
I was obstinate...
"...and I found Bella!"
How does she look?
She looks great! It's wonderful!
Oh, Bella!
I also think you re wonderful!
Are you alright, Mr. Bartel?
Yes, yes... I'm fine.
Bella came back home, Gloria came back home...
We're all together for Christmas.
I love you. You' re my family.
Hear that, my pooch, we're family!
Oh, my darling pup!
Don't you dare move!
Help me!
Come help me!
I don't want to die!
I got him, Dad! Let's go!
- What's happening? - Shut up, bitch!
Sing!
I said sing!
Better than that!
Sparkling with desire
You are too beautiful and sensual
For a boy like me
I have a simple dream
Of serene happiness
That you won't give...
Don't cry, Daddy!
Go on!
Yeah, go on!
Go on! Go on! Go on!
Shut up!
Why did you come back, Gloria?
I loved you!
I'm not Gloria!
I'm Marc Stevens!
I'm just a singer!
Liar!
Damn liar!
You left like a slut, you'll pay like a slut!
You want to fuck her?
Then fuck her!
Don't touch my doggy, or I'll kill you all!
Run, run!
- Let's go! - Go, Lars! Find the slut!
Find the slut!
Well?
It's the marsh!
We have to get her!
After, do what you want with her!
Come on!
Why...
Why'd you come back, Gloria?
If you loved me just a little?
You did love me, didn't you?
Tell me that you loved me!
Say it!
Louder!
I loved you.
Subtitling: B.B. COM - Paris