The Long Absence (Une aussi longue absence)

Day comes with all her roses...

The Long Absence

How are you?

- Hello, Mrs. Langlois! - Hello.

Hello, Fernand.

Hello, Monsieur Pierre.

- Well, busy as always. - Always...

Two sodas, and a glass of ice water...

So, in our area?

Have fun at the 14th of July parade?

Well, you going tomorrow?

Good...

Do you need something heated-up?

- It's fine Therese. - I want to eat cold!

2,400 francs

Quickly, Madame Langlois! The same thing as him.

What are you carrying this week?

Artichokes.

That's it.

My wife is calling me.

- I'll pay you later. - There's no rush, monsieur.

Hurry, we've already missed the beginning.

I'm coming, I'm coming.

So he says:

Who is that great, big man in black?

That's my sister...

Well our Nencini... has he won yet?

Nencini, I don't know.

No one's won yet.

- What did we miss? - It's just begun.

- And Nencini? - He's in 3rd.

Hey, would you keep it down over there!

Be fair madame Therese...

I don't care about the Tour de France.

- Where is it? Where's today's stage? - How should I know?

The Tourmalet, perhaps?

Tourmalet? They're already in the mountains?

If Roger attacks now...

he could go into an early lead.

It's possible given the composition of his team.

Maybe, maybe...

Here in France...

we have, supposedly, the most peaceful people in the world.

The past twenty years we've been nothing but average.

For twenty years I've been coming to this cafe.

- Will you call my husband? - Yes, Madam Favier.

Favier!

Your wife is calling for you.

Do you ever miss me?

After all these years of serving drinks...

the case is the same.

Good, what? I have a crazy reason.

What then? I'm exhausted.

Well, it's true. Huh... It's true.

Good evening!

See you tomorrow, Therese.

See you tomorrow!

- Get back alive! - I'm going straight home.

And sleep well!

When do you leave?

Tomorrow morning.

The year is over for you?

I don't know...

I really want to go to Chaulieu.

Oh yeah? That's good.

And it would be easier for us to meet... you being on vacation instead of here.

It's not far from me.

Tell me, Therese...

when would you like to go?

In two or three weeks.

If your ready this friday...

we could combine our holidays when I pass by the city.

Yes, I really might go to Chaulieu for a bit if you're going.

Just for a week.

Becuase when I'm there it only lasts for a day or two, if that.

The river, the swamp behind the school...

it always does something to me.

And then it's over.

And then I'm simply dying to get away again, my goodness...

Why here, just an ordinary, suburban cafe?

This is my home.

Yes, I really might go to Chaulieu for a bit.

And especially as it'll be so quiet here.

And this is nothing, in a few days' time, you'll see...

I did well this year though.

Well normally, we all go on vacation.

To the coast of the Mediterranean!

You'll be okay, managing on your own?

Rest assured, everything will be fine.

Goodbye!

I'm off to bask in the sun!

Have fun and comback safe!

Enjoy you're vacation!

Look, Madame Therese, we're the only ones here.

The only ones? Only ones?

And what, we don't count? Nor the artist or the cop?

What's with the story, eh?

There's the singer.

- What singer? - It's a tramp who always goes by at mid-day.

And every morning, too. I hear him when I'm getting up.

What's he singing today?

That's the...

the big aria from the Barber.

- That's funny. It looks as if he's afraid of you. - Think so?

Therese?

What's the matter?

It's...

that man.

Did he frighten you?

Yes.

- But what did he do to you? - Nothing.

He went by. I was scared.

But...

don't you want to tell me what's the matter? Or can't you tell me?

I can't.

And even if I wanted to, I wouldn't be able to find the words.

I'm going now, Madame Therese.

I'm coming.

Don't bother.

Tell me, Therese...

Tell me, Therese...

Tell me you're pleased to be going to Chaulieu with me.

There's only a week, now, before we go, you know.

With all that load, it'd be as well if I left now.

So soon?

Yes, you're quite right. You might just as well leave at once.

What's the matter with you? Say something, for God's sake!

What's the matter with me?

There are some evenings, you know -

when you think about your life. You get...

carried away.

That's all.

And what else did you buy?

A beach bag.

What's it like?

Big.

- What color? - Blue.

Look.

Go and bring him in.

- Madame... - Go on, I tell you.

Why?

Go on, I tell you, ask him in!

- How? - Anyhow you'd like!

Aren't you thirsty?

Wouldn't you like something to drink?

It's hot, isn't it?

Would you like a glass of beer?

We hear you singing every day.

I see you going by.

Do you live over there?

Yes.

Over there.

By the river?

Yes...

by the river.

Afternoon, Martine.

Give me a beer too.

And the song you sing -

what is it? Is it from an opera?

Yes.

And just now, what was it you were singing?

I was singing, I was singing...

It was...

the Barber, the 'Calumny' aria.

How do the words go?

A whisper is the same calumny.

Soft as silence, whose quiet sighing...

- I can't remember what comes after that. - That's easy:

Lightly as a harp Aeolian.

From scarce nothing, from scarce nothing seems to swell.

And how is it that you know all these songs so well?

Perhaps you were a singer, once?

A singer?

- Once you know an opera you never forget it. - You never forget it.

- Perhaps not. - There's no perhaps about it. It's a fact.

Really, weren't you ever a singer?

Maybe.

Maybe! What d'you mean, 'maybe'?

Either you were a singer or you weren't. You ought to know.

Well?

What's that?

An identity card?

Ro... Robert...

Landais?

- Is that it? - That's what they told me it was.

So what? Robert Landais, what does that mean?

Nobody's asking you anything, Monsieur, you're quite free to have a secret.

- It isn't a secret. - What is it, then?

It's that I've lost my memory.

Madame Therese!

What a business!

That's what I told myself.

Always...

I knew it...

You see, you oughtn't to let them in.

It's the heat...

Where is he?

Madame Therese!

Where's she going?

Why don't you cut the string?