Lola

"Cry who can, laugh who will." — Chinese Proverb

Damn it, I'm late.

You're late. It's past 2:00.

- What of it? - As nice as ever!

I fell asleep after lunch. I'm grouchy.

You'll be fired again and never find a new job.

Give me some coffee, not too hot.

I'm always late. My freedom's too important to me.

And I hate busybodies.

Where's Jeanne? - Downtown.

This town and its people bore me.

Thanks a lot.

I don't mean you. And I like people, but sometimes I get sick of it all.

- All what? - Everything — especially me.

Sugar. - Sorry.

I'm hopeless.

So dramatic! Then do something.

Do I let things get me down? No!

Neither do I. I think!

Less thinking and more action. Watch what you're doing!

2:10. Now you've done it.

It's a stupid job. No great loss.

A chair, quick! I'm going to pass out!

Claire, it's awful! - What?

What a shock! I just saw him!

- Who? - Michel!

My son! Give me a cognac.

I was shopping, and I saw him go by in a car.

I had a feeling. I told my sister so this morning.

Roland, you believe in dreams, don't you?

I do, and I saw him last night.

In my dream I spilled some rice. That means a visit.

There was rice all over! I was swimming in it!

When Michel left seven years ago, he said...

"Mother, I'm going to be a father any minute now.

I'm off to seek my fortune" — and off he went.

And for seven years now, not a word.

Last night I had a dream,

and as I left the hardware store just now, who goes by?

Michel, in a gorgeous car right out of a dream.

I come in here, almost apoplectic, and you act like I'm crazy.

- Jeanne... - Crazy!

If Michel were here in Nantes, you'd be the first to know.

And he left here broke.

How could he have a car like that?

- He made his fortune. - Michel's an honest man.

- Then I'm crazy. - You're telling me!

- Claire's right. - Go on, insult me.

No, but a son would come to see his mother first.

- You never met him. - He's kind.

Sure — honest, kind, and perfect! Make him out to be a saint!

But you don't abandon your mother and baby.

- What baby? - His own.

- Then he left his wife too. - He left some poor girl

probably scrubbing floors,

slaving away to raise his child — Where's my box?

Where it always is.

- Aren't you going to work? - Yes, I am.

One day I'll go away too.

- You still here? - What's your problem?

You're lazy. I don't like lazy people.

If you meant to hurt my feelings, you have.

Good-bye, Jeanne.

Good-bye, Roland.

- You're very mean. - I tell it like it is.

- The boss asked for you twice. - What for?

No idea. Hold on.

Yes, sir. He just came in. I will, sir.

He's waiting for you.

No, impossible.

Sit down, Cassard.

I'll call you back.

Now, then.

Cassard, this can't go on like this.

My father always used to say...

"Punctuality is the mark of kings,"

to which he'd add...

"If you wish to succeed in life, be punctual."

You'll say you're no king and succeeding means little to you.

Right? - More or less.

You're no doubt intelligent —

No, don't deny it. I've been observing you.

But you have a major fault. You're off in the clouds.

I do dream a bit.

That's not good. Look things square in the face.

You've been here three days on a trial basis,

and you've been late five times.

I don't want excuses. I'm sure you have plenty.

"My alarm didn't go off." "I missed my bus."

I do have, sir.

Let's hear it.

I was set on finishing this fascinating novel —

Let me see.

It's a great novel.

It was my bedtime reading for years.

Then you understand.

There's a line on page 55:

"There's no dignity nor real life for a man

who works 12 hours a day without knowing what he's working for."

It's true. I don't know what I'm working for.

Very well.

Come back when you've figured it out.

Good-bye, my boy.

Well?

Nothing. We didn't see eye to eye.

RETURN TO PARADISE

How are you?

Daisy, that's enough rehearsing today.

Music! Champagne! Let's have some fun!

Sure Lola's here. Over there.

Nice of you to come back. I was just leaving.

I want to sleep with you again.

I don't.

Just because.

I brought this for you.

Whiskey and cigarettes! That's crazy!

And that's for your son.

You shouldn't have. Thanks, Frankie.

You don't like me.

I do. That's just it.

I don't understand.

It's just how it is.

Please.

- Hello. - Hi, Mommy.

Frankie brought this for you.

Hello, Madame Desnoyers, Miss Cécile.

How are you? - Quite upset. Here are your books.

Some practical joker underlined the killer's name on page 13.

It's outrageous. See for yourself.

I'm very sorry, madame.

And the other book is scandalous.

I'd have been mortified if Cécile had read it.

I don't understand. It's so beautifully written.

You usually appreciate a nice style.

And good morals? What do you say about that?

And that Justine girl —

she's so stupid.

I didn't think you'd be shocked. It's very much in demand.

Hello, Mr. Cassard.

I'm so sorry.

I don't know what to suggest today.

My daughter needs a book.

She has one hour of English a week this year.

Fridays from 4:00 to 5:00.

She'd like a dictionary with both French and English.

But a little one.

Be quiet.

A little dictionary.

That's a rather specialized item.

- Not really. - Pardon?

It's very useful for learning English.

True, but I'll have to special-order it.

- They never have what we want. - Cécile!

It's true. Anyway, I don't care.

Excuse me, but I couldn't help overhearing.

I have a dictionary I'm not using. If you wish —

You're too kind, but we couldn't possibly accept.

Mr. Cassard's one of my best customers.

Roland Cassard.

I wouldn't want to impose.

Very well. I accept your offer.

Say thank you.

You look like a childhood friend of mine named Cécile.

I lost track of her after the war.

Your name made me suddenly think of her.

You look so like her that it feels like 10 years ago — no, 15!

That can be unsettling.

It certainly can.

It'd be a pleasure to help. When may I bring it by?

Don't go out of your way. My daughter and I —

I have plenty of time.

We live at 10 rue du Calvaire. Madame Desnoyers.

Perhaps this evening at 7:00? - Gladly.

Then thank you again, and good-bye.

Coming, Cécile?

- Mother, Sacha Distel. - Not today.

They're charming.

I look awful.

You're the most beautiful girl I've ever known.

Really?

You have charm, grace, and beauty.

And you're in love.

I'm always in love!

I have a fiancée in the States, you know.

- What did you do before? - Before what?

Before the navy.

I worked for my father in Chicago, Illinois.

What's he do?

He's in lifts. You know — for going up.

Airplanes?

Sputniks? - No, not Sputniks.

Well, never mind.

I might work for him again when I get home in three months.

And get married?

You look so much like him. - Who?

A guy.

A guy I loved a lot.

American?

No, French.

You're not jealous?