The Wise Guys (Les Grandes Gueules)

Thank you, sir.

Are you the eldest son of our friend Léonard?

Good evening.

- Hector Valentin? - Good evening.

Don't you recognize me?

- Therraz, maybe... - Yes.

You look exactly like your father. Even after 25 years, I still see it.

The big sawmill down here is mine.

- Did you happen to see it? - No.

You'll see it. It lies on the edge of the main road, close to the station.

If you are too remote, you're done for.

It is old... Very, very old...

This is probably the last sawmill in the department...

Your father was determined to sell it...

No woman could stay here... It is too far from everything!

Your poor mother left too. Even his dog left.

I made your father an offer; for you, the same price applies.

I am still interested. I would use it as...

as storage. You must keep up with your times.

I have come to stay, you know!

- It is my inheritance! - You do not know what you are talking about.

You are going to work yourself completely into trouble.

Anyway, in Canada it was not better either.

I worked there for others, so...

THE BRAGGARTS

11200, 11000, 10800, 10600...

10400, 10200, 10000, 9900, 9800...

9700, 9600, 9500, 9400, 9300,

9200, 9100, 9000, 8900, 8800...

I buy it!

Article 63, the forest of Orman Aubage.

Awarded to Mr Vincent Rénaldo, of the company Orman Aubage.

Article 64: the forest of Haut-Belliard, article 64.

- 4000, 3950... - I buy it!

Lot sold to Mr Casimir Therraz, company: Bas-Belliard, for 3950 francs.

The forest of Haut-Belliard, article 65.

- I buy it. - A little patience, please.

- 7000, 6900... - I buy it.

Lot awarded to Mr Therraz for 6900 francs.

We are beginning to understand it.

Apparently these plots of land are popular in the area...

Article 66: the forest of Haut-Belliard, lot 3.

12000...

- That is me... - Drawing lots.

Drawing between Mr Therraz of Bas-Belliard and Mr...

Valentin... Hector.

And Mr Hector Valentin, company Haut-Belliard?

- Yes, yes... - From Haut-Belliard.

Lot awarded, after drawing lots, to Mr Casimir...

Therraz, entrepreneur from Bas-Belliard!

Article 64, forest of Roche, lot 12.

Miss, a little wine please.

You only need to buy the forest of Tintrus.

I will bring the deed to your home for 1000 francs.

- 800 then? - You are still the same.

Then let's halve it, 900, agreed?

Agreed.

Good evening.

Good evening, everyone.

Good evening. All good? Good evening.

Waiter, drinks for everyone!

- On my tab. - Much too dry for me.

I have never refused to sell.

They must ask nicely, of course.

If you want the chainsaw, you should come by sometime.

Nonsense!

- This is not the moment... - He would even beat him up.

Miss?

If you left the country twenty years ago, you should not come back.

I came for four pieces of wood, they cheated me.

- I have no time to lose! - Are you coming back?

- Yes, but I do not know when! - What are they doing to me?

François?

What is he up to now?

- François! - Yes?

I was thirsty, boss. Do you have anything with you?

Go away now, I am firing you! You lazy bum!

And? What are you up to again, damn it?

I am always just waiting for you.

Move aside, I will show you how it is done.

Always that alcohol... it is ruining you.

You idiot! And do you feel well? Is it not too heavy?

- You had better not put so much on it. - I will show you what work is.

Do not get in the way.

- That will not go well on that slope. - Shut up!

Then push, if you are not too tired!

Filth!

You are strong!

- Are you talking to me? - We did not say anything bad.

We just said that it is a waste of the material, nothing more.

- What do you want? - We are looking for work.

If Keller sent you, you had better get out of here.

No, a woman sent us.

A woman?

She has a factory that makes windows, down here.

- Does she know me then? - Apparently yes.

She said that you are looking for people.

I need woodcutters. Only woodcutters.

He knows nothing about it, but we stay together.

- But it is not easy here. - We love nature.

Yes, if you need that...

Wasn't he hired downstairs at the big sawmill?

Probably yes, but the boss had a nasty face.

Expect no generous pay. You get 7.50 francs per cubic meter along the road.

That is for sawing. With the sled it is 10 francs on

flat terrain and 18 on difficult terrain.

With this equipment he can kill a man.

My name is Laurent. Laurent Danecker.

- I am Hector Valentin. - Mick Evratt.

I'm getting thirsty, I'm going to drink something.

What do you drink between meals?

- We drink water. - It is the best from the region.

Damn!

We'll get out here for a moment, when you're ready...

with your shopping, you'll pick us up again.

You stay with the boss to help him with his stuff.

Damn, these are not the best.

If you're not satisfied, then find work somewhere else.

- At Therraz, for example. - He hires me right away!

Of course, you are not such hard workers!

Hey Laurent! Watch out for the redskins!

- Bye boys! - Bye!

Does this junk still work? If you sit in it, it must hurt, huh?

Maybe yes, but now it's a good clock.

To drive 10 km with it. Soon 6 months of snow is coming.

What do you think about earning 20% more, with nice sleeping accommodations?

Drink something, play billiards, watch TV after work.

Nice program! What do you think?

Yes, I would like that.

The boss recognizes people quickly, you'd get promoted quickly.

Aren't you afraid others will become jealous?

What the boss says is sacred.

It's stupid, because I'm attached to this jalopy. Hey, Mick? Come on, out of the way!

Do you think you're smart?

We'll see each other again!

Laurent, watch out!

Damn!

- We have been lucky. - What is going on?

I don't know, I...

Go get the others, because alone we can't solve this.

We are going to try to move this one! We are going to try it.

Are you ready? One, two...

The vehicle is broken and the others do not show up.

What on earth are they doing?

- I know where you still find good people. - Foreign workers?

I already tried it, but Therraz took them from me.

He has someone at the employment office.

- No, that is not the point... - Ah...

They are conditional releases.

In prison there are boys who are almost at the end of their sentence.

They can be released on parole when they have a boss who hires them.

In prison? Do you know these boys?

No. No, but I know it exists.

Working with criminals is not easy. You do not yet know the villagers.

If you hire them, nobody else can make off with them.

Are you having bad luck in Haut-Belliard?

- We need help. - We are not horses!

A real wreck, huh?

There was nobody left, they are gone.

They didn't even want to take me along on their vehicle.

We will look at that tomorrow.

At 15 o'clock they return, they always come back.

Six...

eight...

seven...

Vegetation in the provinces with such a hand!

- You have to agree with me after all. - Don't talk about it, I'm ashamed of it.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

I thought about it again...

You know, for the... what do you call them? The released prisoners...

Conditional. Conditional release.

Yes, that's it.

- Health. - Health.

- Wouldn't I be allowed to see them first? - You mean go look?

- Just to see them beforehand. - It is not a zoo.

You can easily introduce them.

Before they were in prison, we knew them from the street anyway.

They were arrested! When we these boys under our

responsibility get, to lead a normal life again...

- It is too risky. - That is your choice.

I only wanted to do you a favor.

Tomorrow we'll try it with the main truck. Good evening boys.

Tomorrow we will know more.

It is unimaginable that the sun shines so early in this region.

- Mister Hector... - Yes?

Mick and I... we just came out of prison.

Not from around here. But a prison is a prison.

As you see, we look like everyone.

- You could have warned me. - What for?

That we are here for Reichmann.

"Mick and I have spent 6 months in the Vosges."

"It is healthy for our body, they will have forgotten us!"

Incredible!

Yes, Reichmann and the others will show up here now.

And you should no longer wait six months.

Laurent, after all... As soon as he sees you he will run away.

You clearly do not know him yet.

He already has a ready-made explanation, and I will believe him.

Why don't you just forget it? You are fine here, right?

I would almost forget that he put me in prison for five years.