Stolen Kisses (Baisers volés) (Baisers volés)

STOLEN KISSES

DEDICATED TO HENRI LANGLOIS' CINÉMATHÈQUE FRANÇAISE

Tonight the wind knocking at my door.

Speaks of love that is no more.

While the fire's embers fade.

Tonight a song of autumn quivers.

As the house around me shivers.

And I think of long-gone days.

What's left of loves that we once knew.

Of lovely days when romance was new.

Some photographs of days long past.

Nothing but these.

What's left of letters splashed with perfume.

Breathless encounters and April's bloom.

Where can my heart find haven from.

These memories.

Long flowing tresses blown in the breeze.

Stolen kisses, passionate dreams.

What's left of all these things.

Tell me, please.

A little village, love's hiding place.

A rustic landscape in spring's embrace.

And in the wisps of passing clouds.

Youth's vanished face.

What time is it?

Ten to 4:00.

What about now?

Nine to 4:00.

Try a roll of cotton wrapped in burlap.

What time is it now?

Eight to 4:00.

I'm here for Doinel.

THE LILY IN THE VALLEY.

- Which of you is Doinel? - I am. Why?

Come here.

- Can I take a leak? - Not until 6:00.

Filthy stinking bastard!

You shouldn't have beaten up that guard last week.

- Doinel, take a leak for us! - All right.

- Get laid for us! - Will do!

- At 5:00! - On the dot!

We'll be thinking of you at 5:00!

An antipersonnel mine is smaller than an antitank mine.

When it explodes...

Wait here.

...but it has no effect on an armored vehicle.

- What is it? - Private Doinel is here.

Just a minute.

Now...

you probe the ground with your bayonet,

and you say, "What's this? I feel something hard."

Just like your girlfriend says when you're home on leave, right?

Dismantling mines is like handling broads:

You have to go slowly.

You don't put your hand on a girl's ass right away, do you?

You work your way around to it.

It's the same way with antitank mines.

Good. Examine this until I return.

So that's it.

Good for you. And even better for us, I might add.

For the general good, some individuals shouldn't be allowed

to clutter up the army.

Here's your record.

"Private Antoine Doinel, enlisted for three years,

is hereby discharged as temperamentally unfit for service."

Some guys don't like the army.

They're drafted, they serve, and they're out.

But they don't enlist. Why did you join up?

I had personal reasons.

On account of some girl, no doubt.

It's a disgrace. The army is not an escape.

Of course you've spent your enlistment bonus.

They should make you pay it back.

If it were up to me...

You've probably got Communist connections.

Those guys run everything these days.

But never mind that.

Assigned to Vidauban, went AWOL.

Strasbourg, AWOL.

Dupleix, AWOL.

You're always AWOL.

You're like a dog that goes anywhere but where it's called.

On top of that, you got your civvies stolen.

You must return that uniform within 30 days!

Your honorable discharge was turned down

by the general himself.

You know that without an honorable discharge,

you can't get a job with the civil service

or any respectable private firm.

You can always peddle neckties in the street,

though God knows you'll never need one yourself.

That's all.

Good luck. Here's hoping we never see you again.

Dismissed.

Where are you going? Pay for the room first.

Eight francs.

Ginette got picked up again.

Leave her a tip.

Third time since Monday.

Someone should take her some sandwiches at the station.

To hell with her. Count me out.

I can't go. I'm stuck here.

- Not on the mouth. - Why not?

Not with the customers.

Don't touch my hair. I just sprayed.

I'm keeping my sweater on. I'm getting over a cold.

Come here. I'll wash you.

What's the matter?

Forget it.

You can always find me at the Balto.

Ask for Josiane. If I'm not there, just wait ten minutes.

What about Saturday?

Sure. See you then, big boy.

- Coming in or going out? - I don't know. I'll follow you.

You're my first soldier today.

You'll bring me good luck.

- What branch are you in? - I was in the artillery.

Great!

I love big guns.

What a surprise! Come in.

Lucien will be surprised to see you.

Look who's here.

- What a pleasure. - How are you?

Home on leave?

No, I was discharged. My enlistment was rescinded.

- Have you eaten? - Please don't bother.

I'm sure you haven't had dinner. Sit down.

- Christine will be sorry she missed you. - It doesn't matter.

You're not sick, are you? Was it a temporary discharge?

No, it's permanent.

"Instability of character." Applies even in wartime.

Very good. Bravo.

The army!

It's like the theatre: A wonderful anachronism.

We never understood why you enlisted. You left so abruptly.

Lucien, don't pry.

I got excited after reading Military Servitude and Greatness.

I actually thought it was like that.

And now?

I suppose you'll look for a job.

Yeah, I'd like to find something.

What about Shapiro?

The Hotel Alsina.

You're right. I'll call him right now.

A client of mine has a hotel in Montmartre.

His night clerk died and he's looking for someone.

- Would that be all right? - Yes, fine.

Of course you were hoping to see Christine.

It doesn't matter. I'll call her tomorrow.

She's gone for a week.

She's gone skiing with some friends.

The conservatory is closed, you know.

They replaced the director, but the students preferred the old one.

So they're boycotting classes. It's quite a story.

Really?

This might work. Come talk to Mr. Shapiro.

What did you tell him about Christine?

The truth. She's gone skiing with friends.

What should I have said?

No, that's fine.

He was very friendly and said to come over right away.

If you'll excuse me, I better go.

You didn't even finish your cheese.

Being a night clerk has its advantages.

I was one at your age. Gives you lots of time to read.

Don't be afraid. Shapiro's a nice guy.

I'll call Christine and tell her you stopped by.

Hello, Christine.

Evening, Antoine.

I'm very happy to see you again. You haven't changed.

- So you got out? - Yeah, finally.

That's what my parents said. You'll have to tell me all about it.

- Did you just get back today? - Yes, I came over right away.

Are you happy here?

It's not bad. It's quiet.

My parents are afraid you'll catch cold. They sent you these.

What are they? Vitamins? That's kind, but...

No, take them right way, or you'll forget.

Would you like something to drink?

Okay. What do you have?

Whatever you want. Mineral water, Coca-Cola...

A Coke.

I thought I'd never see you again. You hadn't written in six months.

Well, I was usually either in prison or in the infirmary.

Besides, when I first started writing you, you didn't write back very often.

I did, but you wrote so many, I couldn't answer them all.

I counted once. Nineteen letters in one week.

I wondered when you found the time to write.

Me too.

And they weren't always nice letters.

When's your day off?

Wednesday.

Come to dinner then. My parents want you to.

Okay. Fine. Great. See you Wednesday.

- Hasn't Mrs. Colin come down yet? - I haven't seen anybody.

It can't be. I was to meet her at 6:00.

She'll make us miss our train to London.

They won't hold the boat for us at Calais.

She left a wake-up call, didn't she? Check the register.

You're hardly awake yourself. Let me see.