The Second Wind (Le Deuxième souffle)

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The film-maker does not intend Gustave Minda’s “ethics” to be a Morality

The characters and situations of this work, inspired by a novel…

…have no basis in reality

No conclusions should therefore be drawn…

…from the methods of investigation employed in the story

At birth, man is granted only one right: the choice of his own death

But if this choice is governed by disgust with life…

…then his existence will have been purely ridiculous

Second Breath

It’s set for December 28th

If it comes off, you get your cut

And if it doesn’t come off?

It’s set for December 28th. Forget your trip

I’ll be right back, as agreed

You might find yourself detained in Paris, and you’re indispensable here

It’s a risky job, and without you…

Without me? I’ll be back this time tomorrow

Blame the bastard Jacques the Notary

We can deal with him later. I need you here, Jeannot

No one’s indispensable

-Did you do anything this evening? -I went to the movies

-Any good? Not bad

It’s a good thing the cashier’s coming back next week

What’s up?

Gu has escaped

Let’s go home

Alban – two cognacs

It’s extraordinary

Ten years ago I tried to help him…

…and he told me just to heave him to die in peace

I was afraid he might kill himself

Now, at forty-six years of age…

Gu has escaped

We must help him lie low

What happened?

Did you see anything? Then keep your mouth shut like the rest of us

Look out below

See you tomorrow

-Is it Madame? No, Jacques. Send everyone home

Watch out, they’re here!

Everyone in the wagon. Don’t touch that, for God’s sake!

Who did the shooting? Her?

It wasn’t here. She owns the place

We’ll get you later

I doubt if he’ll tell you much

Good evening, Manouche

Jacques Ribaldi, “Jacques the Notary” because he once studied law

He never had a chance to use it

Were you in a better position?

You know I don’t use guns any more

And I know all your enemies are dead

That’s a bit much

Try not to faint. Anyway, as long as Manouche is O.K., that’s all you care

Gather around

I won’t enquire about customers: I presume there weren’t any tonight

Gentlemen, the remnants of food on the tables…

…are not signs of a hurried departure

It happens all the time, leaving courses of a meal unfinished

No doubt they heard that the Queen of England was hitch-hiking outside

Furthermore, Alban here did not see a thing

He was crouched behind the bar, swatting flies

When he looked up, the bad guys – and who knows what they wanted – had gone

He’s not an inkling whether it was one man or a tribe of Tuaregs

Right, Alban?

That’s about it

Manouche, now. Gossip says Jacques the Notary had a soft spot for her

But what could that have to do with anything?

Manouche saw nothing: she was concentrating on making up a bill

And here’s the second barman: Marcel from St Etienne, if memory serves

A fierce man bursting in so distressed Marcel, he can’t possibly describe him

He hid behind the bar, and only now he has ventured out

He didn’t see a thing. Right, Marcel?

Take your time

It’s just as if you had been here

of the witness, gentlemen

Here we have the commissionaire, an honorable man whose name escapes me

He saw customers come in, but heard nothing because of the traffic

Trains and the trucks are so noisy

He saw customers come out, but of course, saw nothing unusual in that

They told him a man had died and he’s still suffering from shock

Are you able to speak yet?

A real shock it was

I have no wish to torture you further. Do sit down, don’t be so agitated

A village idiot could see that these people saw nothing, gentlemen

As for the disappearing diners, they aren’t paid to reason why

We aren’t all gifted with imagination. That’s it gentlemen

Don’t bother

Am I mistaken in thinking that the kitchen staff have gone home, Alban?

There was nothing for them to do

It’s like a kindergarten

May I repeat the request of two years ago?

It’s up-to-date

The staff records; they won’t provide very rich pickings

Have the corpse picked up

That’s strange; it looks as though they fired towards the street as they left

Unless someone within was shooting at them

I hope you killed at least one of them, Alban. We’ll know in a day or two

Only the corpse is to go; the standard formula will cover the rest

You may be wanted for questioning: don’t leave town without advising us

He had family in Paris?

No. Not as far as I’m aware. They’re in Corsica

His mother and two younger brothers

Alone again, Manouche? It’s a pity the vacancy costs so dear

It’s over

One comes to a dead end, then someone new turns up and everything changes

Good night, Alban. You can read this to her tonight

Former Public Enemy No. 1, Gu Minda, escapes from jail…

…after serving ten years of a fife sentence for robbing “The Gold Train”

Jeannot’s still in a coma

-Haven’t you had a doctor? Sure. Jeannot’s calling for you

I’ll go to Paris with you

Jacques wanted me to go away with him for a while

Perhaps he did love me

Hold it!

Call Manouche

Don’t you find the artillery heavy?

What have you done to Alban?

Come to finish the job, have you?

That depends

After fifteen years, I know the score

Maybe you don’t

This business can stop…

…whenever you say

-How much? We’re not greedy

50,000 francs each

Hands up!

Don’t say anything, Manouche. You two, lie flat on the floor

Frisk them. Who has the key to the handcuffs?

He’s out cold. Tell him not to say my name

Playing games, were we?

So you’re letting punks take you these days, are you?

Get up

Put your hands down. It’s easy hitting from behind, isn’t it?

Now we have a little chat. What’s your name?

Henri… Henri Tourneur

Who sent you?

You shouldn’t make me ask you twice

-Jo… Jo who? Jo Ricci

He knew my buddy

He said to hang on, that he’d put us onto something big

So we went to Jo’s every night, and tonight he told my buddy…

…well, “that chicken’s ripe for plucking” is what he said

Why tonight?

They killed Jacques three days ago

Were you told about her?

Just that she couldn’t go to the cops

Alban, let’s go

Where are we going?

Step on it, we’re there

I told Manouche to pick us up outside Ville d’Avray

My place is no good, Gu

We’ve had Homicide on our tails

Their boss is weird

Yes, Inspector Blot. We heard quite a bit about him inside

How about Montrouge?

-What’s there? -Don’t worry, you’ll be fine there

Your kingdom for a bit

The keys

-Who sent for him? -He’s my wife’s cousin

I have to get back, but we’d better bury him in the garden first

I’d have met you if I’d known. How did you get here, by air or by train?

By car. I’m flying back right away

Why the fast trip?

The cigarette deal with Jacques the Notary…

He and Jeannot are both dead. End of problem

Jeannot’s dead?

You’ll miss your partner, you always need one

Not always

I went to see my brother Jo, but I realized he wouldn’t do

But I’ve had another idea. Orloff’s back in France; he’s in Marseilles

Yes, I know. He has the reputation of being a lone wolf

Big money could change that

I agree. I’ve asked him to call me at home tonight

Or better – and safer – to come and see us there

A man like Orloff would prefer that. I’ve sent my wife to see her people

We’ll be alone

-Thanks for coming When Paul asks, I come

Two friends and I have a proposition. I’d like you to meet them

Pascal Leonetti

Orloff

Antoine Ripa

Do you want to start the year with two million francs?

A year can begin in many ways; maybe even not begin at all

Yes, but in this case I have first-hand information

It’s a month from now. We’ll be given the time, everything

A shipment escorted by two motorcyclists: 500 kilos of platinum

Five shares of two million francs each. My informant insists on a share

Four of us and him makes five

Is it getting so hard to find the right man?

As you see

Your confidence overwhelms me

I presume the details are worked out: I have only to accept or refuse?

I shall therefore ask no questions before deciding

I neither refuse or accept

I need a week in which to make up my mind

We have to be ready in four weeks

If I refuse, you will have three weeks to find a fourth, or settle on three

It’s impossible with three

Three is a good combination. I’ve done jobs on my own, too