Why not?
She took my baby boy.
- But you like me. - I do.
Why?
You took the one I don't like.
I often wondered what he was like in bed.
- Henri? - Yeah.
He likes you.
You know him. He's very enthusiastic.
Perfect.
That's pretty. Does this make me look old?
I have a fat derriere.
You look like Angela Basset.
In 6 years you never asked her? Never curious?
One day.
Elizabeth told Junon about a letter you'd written.
Since when do I write letters?
I can't say more. Everyone always said:
"Maybe Henri wrote her a letter. "
Saying what?
I don't know.
Unforgivable things.
Never. That's ridiculous.
Last week I wrote to put her in her place.
It was a first.
Why is this here?
What sin have you invented for me?
I just wanted everyone to be happy.
Some things are valuable.
Sell them.
When do you leave?
I'm not welcome here.
Having taken refuge upstairs...
I can hear Henri's laughter.
Junon is playing her life like Russian roulette...
...a gun pressed against her forehead...
4 out of 6 chambers loaded.
Henri gloats about being on the verge of killing her.
It's strange. One day I decided to break with him.
...in order to protect myself and my child.
Then Paul went crazy.
My husband and I blamed ourselves.
I had to see my brother again, to see him triumph...
...to understand, physically, that he's the disease.
Can I help you?
I was with a woman earlier.
Have you seen her?
She's already left.
Henri?
Are you there?
By repudiating you, I knew you'd never forgive me.
I accepted the cost.
To build a more harmonious world for my son and husband.
I knew that one day.
I'd have to go to my parents' funeral.
...and you wouldn't shake my hand.
I thought we'd go no further than hatred sealed over a grave.
But there was worse.
Today I can imagine you at my mother's grave.
...laughing at having killed her...
...proud of your stupid heroism...
...boasting about the transplant.
Abel will not forbid his son to attend the ceremony.
I will not blame him for it.
I will not manage to quell my anger.
I will have to run away.
But the thief was you.
You will have deprived me of Junon's funeral.
You've stolen my entire life.
For 6 years you've accepted this incredible thing:
That Elizabeth lays down the law.
Hey!
How could you accept something so absurd?
I warned you it was unhealthy...
...for her, for you, for everyone.
You said:
"Let her manage things, she'll calm down. "
Bollocks!
These things never calm down!
You and Abel anointed her pater familias.
...and she went crazy.
So deal with it.
Was it before or after my wife died?
What?
When Elizabeth ousted me...
was it before or after Madeleine died?
You should know. I didn't notice, of course.
I figured that's the way she was.
Papa, it was that day in court.
when she paid off my debts.
...so I'd disappear, that I knew she hated my guts.
It all went bad with Elizabeth.
I never knew what to do.
It's terribly sad to see these hatreds.
Stay out of it, as usual.
Everyone else could, but not me.
I'm an interventionist.
You? You're kidding!
You run around all concerned and helpful.
In the meantime...
Elizabeth and Junon took care of everything.
No one has a clue!
Cool it, Henri. They did what they could.
Idiots, the whole lot.
Later, some day, we'll understand.
Nonsense! "Some day we'll understand. "
- What does he mean? - Poor Henri.
How could I have been so blind?
I got trampled on. I wasn't paying attention.
The transplant is on January 1st.
Henri will be the donor.
Okay.
You want me to tell him?
Yes, please.
I went shopping.
At Printemps, with your mother.
She vanished.
Not very talkative.
Don't take Henri's marrow. He's dangerous.
No, transplants are.
You can't refuse me Paul.
While waiting for him at the hospital, I was terrified.
At 12, he could barely read.
He was ashamed to show me his report card.
Finally a door opens and he's fit for something.
Your son is fragile. Don't involve him with my disease.
Don't have the transplant. You have no symptoms.
In two months, I'll have leukemia.
My bones will start breaking like glass.
Henri comes from my womb.
I'm taking back what's mine.
Man alone.
Don't dream. You have no family.
I remember as a child the priests told us about grace.
Henri's despair has brought only unhappiness.
I've tried to be full of joy.
You were a good daughter.
I needed your admiration too much.
Men have never counted for me.
My son has been a stranger.
I'll come help you.
I don't need your help, kid.
Come on.
Thank you.
For what?
I didn't buy any presents. I don't know what you like.
I wanted to thank you.
I had to give my marrow. Now you do.
My parents don't want me to.
That's perfect.
Junon is my mom, so it's my business.
If it had been your mother, you'd have helped, right?
Right.
But it's my mother, so you shouldn't thank me.
I wasn't scared of the pain.
I couldn't care less!
I wasn't scared.
You've failed at nothing.
Let's go bother Anatole.
I'm 16.
Sorry. Force of habit!
Is she your mother?
She's Andre's lady friend.
That's her.
Andre.
My mama.
- Why is she here? - To see you.
- Who is she? - Rosaime.
Andre's companion.
Come and give me a kiss!
When your daddy was a little boy.
Rosaime and Andre.
Both adored him.
He was the favorite?
Yes. So Rosaime likes to see you.
Good evening. I'm Spatafora.
I know who you are.
Paul.
For reading in bed.
Thank you.
It's a flashlight.
Daddy, hurry up!
Don't play with the fireworks!
Daddy, look!
"Remember when you played...
"the promise-game with me?
"Sun and moon.
"would have died, if ever.
"you lost your Sweeney!"
- Champagne? - Thank you.
I love to see the children.
Look at your husband. He's always been devoted.
Yeah.
What's Simon doing on the veranda?
Cleaning up.
Why isn't he out here with us?
Over the years he's changed so much.
He was so sharp before.
Before what?
We always figured you'd end up together.
Me and who?
You and Simon! Before he gave you to his cousin.
When he was young, he was so funny.
Ivan was the most delicate.
Henri was angry with the world.
Simon was the happiest.
When he gave up on you, he became sad.
Gave up on me?
Look at Ivan, running all over!
He's fulfilled.
So healthy! You always look so healthy.
Henri wasn't right for you either.
The three boys made the right choice for you.
They never told me.
Class act!
Beer?
Joseph?
I met all three of them on the same day.
Ivan was pathologically shy.
When he said he loved me, he was shaking all over.
I didn't know I could do that.
Or that someone could find me pretty.
A man loved me to death.
I was a little drab, very sensible.
Henri and Simon were cynical...
...swamped by girlfriends.
I was shocked. It was delightful.
Henri made a pass at me, as with every girl.
I thought Simon was indifferent. He was arrogant.
So much charm and so many choices.
Ivan was ill.
I was able to save his life.
Marriage made a man of him.
Rosaime told me you passed on me.
What did she say?
When did it happen?
What do you mean?
I want details. She mentioned a decision you all made.
Tell me where and when.
Was it here?
Easter vacation, 1991.
At the community center.
I remember.
Is Ivan aware of this?
It's history.
Was Ivan with you?
Or did you and Henri decide our fate behind his back?
Ivan was there.
What did you say?
Henri and I were talking about you. Guy talk.
Ivan was quiet, smiling.
Then he said:
"If I don't get her, I'll never get over it. "
What did you reply?
I can't remember.
- "She's right for you. " - Exactly!
The exact word!
"Take her, she's yours. "
I'm not to be given, like a camel or a goat.
I didn't give you.
I was 27. An idiot.
I was hollow. Still am.
- Did you love me? - Yes.
- Do you love me? - Yes.
Scumbag!
You're part of the game!
By choosing for me, you played.
I was right. Ivan loved you infinitely.
It's your love that was infinite.
You played my hand and you cheated.
Now I'll never know my life.
It's not mine.
I wasn't free to prefer Ivan.
- Henri was there too. - It's not the same.
You really love me.
Henri wanted sex, and got it.
For 10 years you've had no life.
You're pathetic in your studio.
You don't talk. You're sad.
You spend Sundays doing the dishes...
...stealing glances, avoiding my kids.
You're a failure, clinging to the Vuillards.
You never got over me.
Sun. 24 December THE PHANTOM
When you were born, I wondered.
...if you could have saved Joseph.
But you came too late.
Your sister, radiant with health.
...and you who'll never know who you are.
Some snow here.
Joseph looked like his father, right?
A little.
That's him, in the background.
What can I say?
From his birth to his death, all he did was die.
At the age of 4, he was very touching.
Running around the house. Then we found out he had cancer.
You couldn't tell at first.
Then it was the hospital with his father.
It was Abel who really knew him.
I was here with two children...
...one who was gurgling in my arms...
...the other in Paris under a plastic tent in a sterile room.
And pregnant with the third!
Joseph was very abstract.
This is the grave of Andre, my mother.
You'll be buried with Joseph?
I'll be over there.
But your son died in February.
Yes but I don't like anniversaries.
The day before Christmas, it's empty here.
"I am Defeated all the time.
"Yet to Victory I am born. "
For 30 years we never knew who gave Joseph leukemia.
Well, it was my wife.
You said I'd last 3 hours. It's been 2 days.
You're a real saint.
You're leaving?
On the sly.
Be right back.
Safe trip.
- Do you have a pen? - No.
Borrow me.
Faunia!
Hurry up!
Faunia doesn't like Christians.
She won't take part in any Christmas.
Her family is waiting in Paris...
where they will celebrate a non-holiday:
Pasta, chicken, no presents or music.
Everyone will read his paper.
Give Isaac a kiss from me.
You'll be drinking human blood?
Often at midnight we eat a new-born.
...or crucify ourselves in the garden.
- So I'm not missing out. - No, not much.
Cheat on me and you die.
My friend...
My friend.
This Christmas is really not a success.
I hate being a bad host.
- I love your house. - It's yours too.
Listen to me!
I'm thrilled to be your guest!
Hi.
What about my ticket?
I don't pay. I'm in the show.
You still should buy.
Ivan, look!
Did you go downstairs last night?
Are you sleeping well?
I have become a light sleeper.
I wanted a bottle of water.
Do I use too much cologne?
No.
Am I too made up?
You're fine.
Did you learn your lines?
It's going to be very improvised.
- I'm ready. - I'm ready.
Anyone there?
Occupied!
Where are you going?
To wrap presents for my nephews.
The show's about to begin.
Don't give Paul a gift.
I'd prefer you didn't speak to him.
Why?
Aren't I a funny uncle?
You can fool the others. Not me.
I can see you thinking...
Hi.
I'll go.
- You're very pretty. - An old toad.
You smell like Italy.
Just in time!
- Elizabeth doesn't know? - Not yet.
You're trying to remember the trespasses I committed.
...and you've forgotten!
That's the catch.
Only one person knows my sins, and that's me.
And you don't dare ask.
My blood's rotten? Same as your son's, idiot!
You can't even help your mother. I can.
Your son can. You're too scared to use his.
Don't involve Paul.
I've changed my mind!
My marrow has a price! Pay up!
Your turn. I want Abel to tell his saintly daughter to piss off.
I want to hear it.
When it was my turn, no one cared.
Now it's your turn.
The bone marrow is mine, not yours!
Or else I'll keep it.
Then what?
Then it's up to your wacko son!
Go tell that to Junon!
A Christmas play by Basile and Baptiste Vuillard.
With musical accompaniment by Ivan and Abel Vuillard.
Once upon a time there was a brother and sister.
The prince's name was Zorro.
One day his sister the princess said:
Prince, you must leave the castle.
You stole from the peasants!
They have nothing to eat.
Wicked knight! What did you do?
I won't say. It's so awful, your ears would bleed.
So we'll torture you!
- Confess, Prince Zorro! - Mercy!
You won!
I did two months. No hard feelings.
Prison's underrated.
Good food, good books, got my teeth fixed...
...gave up drugs, met some really great guys.
Two months isn't a bad price.
You're a basket case!
I confess!
I slept with a nanny goat.
He slept with a nanny goat!
You made your sister and your family cry.
Don't give a shit!
King, what have you decided?
In my omnipotence, I think we must know how to forgive.
Okay, Grand Prince.
Zorro, give me your arm.
They cut off his arm and then he was nice.
...till his dying day.
Thank you.
Sylvia, this is for you.
I gave the envelopes to your wife.
For you and your wife. Some money.
For your family: Three wads.
Here, Simon. You're the best.
This is for you.
For your uncle. A gift.
What is it?
From Mom.
How nice.
Henri.
Poor boy...
- Something to drink? - No, thanks.
Early on, Henri broke the sweet silence of the meal.
His hysterics had sufficed till then. No need for rudeness.
So, as the meal began...
Henri raised his glass.
As the Duc d'Orleans.
...to his general staff in Spain, evoked without naming.
Madames de Maintenon and des Ursins...
...his unrelenting, insane enemies:
"Gentlemen, a toast to the health.
"of the cunt-captain and the cunt-lieutenant. "
The captain was for Junon, the lieutenant for Elizabeth.
Henri sat back down and said nothing more.
Saint-Simon.
Good riddance. Henri wore me out tonight.
Gently.
Turn on the light.
Eureka!
What is it?
Paul's medicine. Your grandson's.
He'll be out like a baby till noon.
What the hell?
Why not use the stairs?
Where did you come from?
Where are you going?
Midnight mass.
I'll join you.
It's almost midnight!
Are you coming to mass?
He's too old to sit staring at TV. How about it, honey?
Who's coming along?
My coat!
Bastien, Benjamin...
I'm Baptiste.
I already told you.
See you later.
When is Jesus going to come?
I dunno. Maybe midnight.
Sure of Your love, strengthened by our faith...
Lord, we pray to You.
In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Ghost...
Amen.
Boys, you should go to bed.
We're waiting for Jesus.
But Jesus never existed!
We'll wait anyway. We want to see him.
It's been years. I love this.
A light hath shined.
Unto us a child is born.
Unto us a son is given.
The government shall be upon his shoulder.
His name shall be.
Wonderful Counselor, Mighty God, Everlasting Father...
Then Joseph brings his son to be circumcised.
- The presentation in the Temple? - Not at all.
January 1st is Holy Foreskin day...
which wipes out Original Sin.
- You were praying before. - A little.
It's still snowing.
What a beautiful walk!
Simon's not with you?
No.
He went to join you.
Holy shit!
We'll go and check the cafe.
Put the boys to bed.
- Where are you going? - It's Simon.
Must be in some bar.
What's the problem?
Simon mustn't go out drinking.
He gets into brawls.
Take my keys.
Be careful!
Want a drink?
You've had enough.
That's my problem.
The same thing.
- You'll be sorry. - It'll be your fault.
Another chaser.
Me too.
I don't have much to say.
I'm a little scared.
What did you do?
When?
When you lost me?
What did I do all these years?
I tried to be part of your world.
You used to be real bad.
- How so? - Embarrassingly so.
Don't do that.
All right.
I have no regrets.
It's great you're with Ivan.
You both get by on so little.
You deserve more.
Seeing you from afar I'd think:
They're lucky...
Be quiet.
My life is a prison.
What I do has no value.
It's stupid.
The meaning of what I do is bound up in you.
Without you it's empty.
Before you, I was a fuck-up.
I live for you.
I get dressed for you, wake up for you.
But I paint for myself.
I can continue.
Continue what?
Shaking when I see you.
Yes.
Getting snubbed by you.
Yes.
Things lose their meaning.
I'll go in the back.
At first I felt something was wrong.
I couldn't understand what.
I stopped wondering.
Today I love Ivan.
At one point I didn't, then it came back.
Look.
As handsome as ever.
I'm your ugly lover.
You're not my lover. Technically.
No way will I do it in a car!
Chicken-shit.
You found Simon for us.
Yeah.
- Everyone's asleep? - It's 4 a. m.
Need any help?
I prefer to clean up alone.
So leave me alone!
See you tomorrow.
I wonder where they'll be sleeping.
It's none of our business.
- You were with the model for a while. - 2 years.
Were you jealous?
I was better than her.
But you loved her?
She was tall!
I was bored.
But I needed a girl and she needed a protector, money.
It was sad.
Mon. 25 December JUBILATIONS
Baptiste, look! It's snowing!
It's snowing!
It's snowing outside!
I'm hungry. Where's Mommy?
Mommy... Came back really late.
She didn't want to wake us.
Where is she?
Come here.
She's...
...probably in your uncle's room.
Can we make breakfast?
Yes.
I'll make the tea!
Wait for me.
My boys!
I made the tea by myself!
The coffee's for Simon.
We didn't need Daddy's help.
How sweet.
We woke up Daddy.
It's snowing.
What's that?
Weights.
When you think about it, it's funny. We have the same gene.
You're my nephew, which tends to prove I'm Junon's son.
Which is pretty strange.
You didn't think you were her son?
She and I aren't too close.
I preferred to imagine.
...my father sleeping with other women.
Or that I was born by caesarian...
...or in situ or in vitro.
I'm no specialist in that field.
It's pretty confusing.
But it seems I came out of Junon.
Did Dad scare you?
No, fights are easy.
Since I'm weak, I know I'll lose.
Have mirrors ever freaked you out?
How so?
My reflection persecutes me.
What do you see?
Behind me, a black dog.
But it wasn't real. Just the image of a dog.
And once my reflection stared at me.
...in a vicious way.
Taking your meds?
It only happened twice.
...and I hope that's it.
I understand, Paul, why you're not well!
You think you're crazy because of the myelodysplasia.
It's your mother who conceived you in grief.
Elizabeth is melancholic.
She's the bored one. Not you!
You're cured, Paul. Rejoice!
What are you thinking?
Nothing.
Remember what you said that first night?
Here, in the same parking lot.
Of course.
"If you want to date me... "
"Ask me to dance, idiot. "
And you asked me.
Do something.
You're doing nothing and I can't work.
Now I forgot where I was.
Take a book and read. Any book.
I can't.
Go on, it's a mitzvah.
You sound like Henri.
Why keep the dye factory?
Why not find something better?
Dying fabric is just fine.
Why am I always sad?
Is it normal?
As a child, I wasn't always sad.
It's a real question. What did I lose?
Your brother.
Papa...
Listen.
"We, seekers of knowledge...
"remain unknown to ourselves.
"with good reason: We have never sought ourselves.
"How should we some day find ourselves?
"Our treasure is to be found in the beehives of knowledge.
"Bees always searching...
"collectors of the honey of the mind...
"our hearts are set on one thing:
"Bringing something home...
As for the rest, as for life.
with its so-called experiences...
who among us takes them seriously?
Who has the time?
...who hears the clock striking twelve.
...and, once roused, asks himself:
What did the clock just strike?
In this way, we rub our ears after the fact.
...and ask ourselves, surprised:
What have we experienced?
"Then we try, after the fact...
"as I just said...
"to count back over the twelve strokes.
"of our experience, our life, our being...
"and lose count in the process.
"We are unknown to ourselves.
"We do not understand ourselves.
"Concerning ourselves," "we are not seekers of knowledge. "
You don't know me.
I'm not like that.
In the evening FAREWELLS
Thanks for Paul.
Sylvia!
Why is Paul staying here?
I invented Ivan by living with him.
I'll invent you by not.
Why is Paul staying here?
- Because what? - Just because.
You and Simon will help Abel at work tomorrow.
Henri Misery!
- Why do you call me that? - I don't know.
You always used to complain. Belly aches.
Henri Misery.
Hello.
Dreaming?
About my mother.
Don't come along. Henri will drop me off.
Did you hear me?
Go to work.
- Need a light? - Thanks.
- You shouldn't be drinking. - Please.
It's general anesthetic.
- Does it hurt? - Yes.
Here I go.
Attaboy...
Keep quiet.
Out like a light.
- His cortex is very thick. - Yeah, really hard.
I keep pushing and twisting...
Hello. Modam.
Hello.
I'm the nurse taking care of you today.
I brought your medicine.
What is it?
An immuno-suppressor.
I brought your clothes. Shall I put them in the closet?
- No. - I'll put them on the bed.
See you soon.
- Hi. - Hi.
Mrs. Vuillard's bone marrow.
- Can you open it? - Yes.
I'll take it.
Sign here, please.
Thanks.
The cell count is 165.
- Hi. - Hi.
We have it.
You are Mrs. Junon Vuillard?
- Yes. - Very good.
Ready?
I'll do it.
Perfect.
Excellent.
There's a lot of it.
We'll leave you.
- Buzz if you need me. - OK.
I'll be back later.
Mr. Vuillard?
What?
You just woke up.
The procedure went well.
What did you do with my marrow?
We filtered it in the lab. Are you in pain?
Stay put. I'll give you Temgesic.
Help me, babe.
It's your health. Here.
My clothes.
What room?
Here. It's a sterile environment.
Thank you.
Here's your son.
How are you doing?
I'll put you here.
Here's a chair.
Thank you.
I'll leave you two.
Am I bothering you? I woke up.
My body can't stand you.
I'm rejecting everything from you.
I hope it doesn't hurt.
- It won't. - Good.
I feel like I was punched in the back.
The procedure?
Look at this.
And this.
Hurts like hell!
They stole our stuff.
Want to play?
Heads.
Wait!
Go on!
I woke up early, a hundred memories flooding my mind.
Claude's chest when he was 20 and looked 16.
Paul wearing two feathers, whispering to me:
"I'm Pegasus!"
My father, brothers.
...and Simon playing in the garden.
Junon will get better.
The transplant will take.
I'm not scared of death.
I now live in the world made by my son.
If we shadows have offended, think but this:
All you have done is.
...to sleep.
And everything will be mended.