Café de Flore

This is the story of a man with every reason to be happy

and the lucidity to realize it.

About to turn 40,

Antoine Godin has never felt better about himself.

In perfect health.

Lemonade!

No financial worries.

Damn squirrels!

Parents still alive.

Father of two magnificent girls.

Madly in love.

Antoine radiates happiness from every pore.

The Meaning of Dreams

Our Past Lives

Come on, let's go.

Shh, be quiet!

To heaven?

No!

To heaven?

Come on!

The big fish.

And the knees.

5, 6, 7,

8, 9, 10...

Times 4?

40!

And here's a boy who doesn't have every reason to be happy,

or the lucidity to realize it.

Now turn to the left.

Fortunately,

he has Jacqueline.

Goodbye, tiger. Mom has to work.

Bye, Mom. I love you.

I love you.

What?

Not on your life.

We're not missionaries!

Why are we whispering?

He can't understand. He's a baby, and to boot, a...

Say it.

There are people trained to look after those kids.

Those kids have parents too.

His son is born handicapped.

Instead of helping him, he wants to send him away.

You disgust me.

I didn't think you were that kind of a man.

I'm his mother, I'm keeping him.

If you don't like it, you know what to do.

Average life expectancy: 25 years.

Go to hell!

That day,

at that precise moment,

Jacqueline gave her life meaning.

Her baby, Laurent, would live to a ripe old age.

Daddy, look!

She bought a hamster!

He's smelly but smart.

I like to cut the sound.

It gives more punch to what's coming.

Know what I noticed sorting out my old photos

when I moved out?

Every other photo, I swear,

there's the Royal Guard.

The gin dude.

I saw him last week in London.

He asked after my dad.

That song puts you in a good space.

You understand fuck all, but it soothes the soul.

And on every other photo...

she's there.

Listen only with headphones

Not many girls get off on music like guys do,

know the titles of songs, the names of bands,

and trip on the jackets, old rock, jazz, you name it!

That day, at that precise moment

Antoine and Carole wished to love each other forever.

I love him!

To heaven...

I'll go to her one day...

Stay here.

To heaven...

Breastfed four years...

To supercharge his immune system.

Three years of vitamin supplements: A...

B, C, D, E...

To stimulate the motor organs.

I told you.

Take your scalpels.

You'll make him crazy with all those classes.

Haven't you noticed? He learns by imitation, idiot!

So now we'll try the sound "sh".

Push out your lips.

Teeth almost touching,

tongue against your palate...

The shadow of Sean's sheep...

Sean has a sheep?

Sean's his friend.

Not that sheep, my love.

I mean, not that Sean. Another Sean. Sorry.

Her little angel, Jacqueline believed,

would disprove life expectancy stats for Down syndrome.

Enough, scram!

Monique, replace Jacqueline.

Mommy!

It's Mom's darling little tiger!

How often do I have to tell you to go easy on your clothes?

Hi, Sean. I'm Laurent's mom.

Yes, madame.

See how nice I am? What a nice smile I have?

If you hurt my son again,

I won't be smiling, and I won't be nice.

Bye, Sean. Have a nice day.

Come on.

You're not serious?

Well?

Have I told you how much I love you?

I don't want to box, Mom.

You have to learn to defend yourself.

Besides, I know you'll be great.

You're good at everything.

Everything you touch turns to gold.

Don't worry, you'll never have to fight.

Mom will teach you to use words, not fists.

Dickwad!

Quit busting my balls!

I'll rip out your eyes, scumbag!

I'll rip out your eyes...

scumbag!

And kick your teeth out your ass!

I'm proud of you, tiger.

Don't smile. Let's go home.

Don't smile. You did great.

To heaven...

What are you doing? It's pouring!

To heaven!

Put it back, you thief. I'll teach you!

I want one.

No, go sit down.

What did he say?

Tobby walks through the field

and follows the goat.

Valerie walks through the field

and follows...

and follows Daddy.

Who is it?

Your dad.

Let Mom sleep.

Mom, Café.

Café, Mom!

Don't bug me this morning. You do it.

Mom showed you how to.

No, come!

Come, Mommy, my teddy bear of love.

You must be a dream.

Or a real heartbreaker.

Either way, women can't resist you.

You win.

You're not going to get away with that!

What did I tell you?

Never wake up the monster

who leaves its lair to eat little children!

You'll be sorry!

Café?

Yes.

Here it is. Come on. As if you didn't know.

Turn it on. Push the arm.

It's the first song.

33 RPM? Yes. Volume? Yes.

Café? Here you are, sir.

Morning, noon, and night,

seven days a week,

365 days a year,

Jacqueline clings to her dream.

This hymn had become its symbol.

The symbol of a mythical love, she thought.

Greater than mankind,

stronger than life.

Mom?

Oops!

Sorry!

Have a good week, baby.

Have a good week, Dad.

Bye, beautiful.

Bye, Carole!

Still sleepwalking?

Bye, have a good week!

You too.

Hey, handsome!

How are you?

You're looking good.

I try.

It's working.

Still the jetsetter?

Can't complain.

Playing in Montreal soon?

Yeah, I have a gig at the Piknic in two weeks.

If you feel like it. The two of you.

See you soon.

Asshole!

Bitch!