Thank Heaven for Small Favors (Un drôle de paroissien)

The hero of this humorous tale is kind but irresponsible.

His view of social and religious life

is entirely his own.

AN ODD PARISHIONER (Deo Gratias aka Thank Heaven for Small Favors aka Light-Fingered George)

Stuffed cabbage, son!

Partridge!

No, it's stew, nephew.

Hello, the Lord slipped you a meat-pie?

You didn't go to the grocer's?

- I did. -You can't get any more credit?

- I got the bill! - The cad.

- I'm off! - Where to?

To walk the street and earn a steak!

Hear her?

A starved stomach has no ears!

Hear your sister?

She'll do better than you, Aunt!

I'm going to my girlfriend's.

The one with a moustache?

The neighbors' chimney is cold again.

Father, they've gone to the country.

Hurry! Or you'll get nothing to eat!

And you?

At my age, no one's hungry!

thanks, Father.

Pity we can't lunch together.

Specially on Sundays.

Where I'm going, they don't allow women.

- My folks... - No need to upset them!

- Here's a subway ticket. - And you?

I'll walk... and meditate.

- Buy me a sandwich? - A tot like you? Hell, no!

- Got a map of Paris? - A map of Paris?

Sure, love.

The map!

You haven't eaten since last Sunday.

You say that every Sunday.

St Cecilia's stuck!

They broke St Cecilia!

You like your old school's cooking!

He used to hate it!

Your bananas aren't ripe.

Lovesick?

Look at my molar!

- I'm a dental tech.! - Look at it anyway!

Open! Does it hurt?

He bites!

Nasty.

St Cecilia's music is fixed.

I need a coin to make it work.

Poor old George.

You'll soon be living on charity!

What can I do?

Go to work.

Father'd never forgive me.

Anyway, I don't know how to do a thing!

- Such dexterity! - Well?

St Paul said ''He who works not, eats not.''

Your confessor must've told you!

I don't have a confessor.

He has a direct line to heaven.

I explain all my problems to Him.

He solves them?

How could it be otherwise?

Your pride blinds you.

On Shrove Tuesday we're having pancakes.

I'll be here.

We'll be here!

- Some billiards? - Why not?

Plaster,

but it’ll do.

Put that down!

We’ll always feed our daughter.

But nothing for you lazy in-laws!

They always snub us.

They don't!

Not now! But they used to! We're only grocers.

Your husband collected Art.

He's an artist!

Your father-in-law went on safaris.

Your sister-in-law studied in England.

I settled for public school and cheeses.

They spent... instead of investing!

Let 'em pay the piper.

Back to the owner!

Not my crate, I hope.

The temperature's down 3 degrees!

I'll have to sit on the floor.

Such red cheeks.

I'm cold!

I bet it's your girlfriend's beard.

Tell her to shave next Sunday!

We’ll be dead by then.

Maybe we could go to work a little.

Not one Lachaunay has ever worked...

For 4 generations.

People seem upset because we don't work.

I'm not upset because they work!

What's it to them that I don't work?

We're but a drop of laziness in the sea of labor.

Obviously.

The few who are resting underline the labor of the others.

To bed! We need our rest.

How'll we eat?

Heaven will give us a sign.

You must understand.

Father and Aunt Claire are lost in modern life.

They're not medieval!

In spirit!

So are you!

Today life has become too difficult.

People of our class

used to enjoy complete freedom.

True, we took what we wanted

but in battle!

Today we're trapped!

There're red-lights, cross-walks and...

one-way streets everywhere!

We must get used to the modern world we live in!

You have so much common sense, Juliet!

That's why I love you.

On earth, my only help is you...

and heaven!

Here's a sign from heaven.

A message?

From the court! If we don't pay the rent in 3 days...

they'll throw us out!

Sell something.

We've nothing left to sell.

Your chair! Our beds!

Even the flea market won't buy them.

It's the end! Nothing to sell or eat!

Soon we’ll have no home!

That's impossible!

Heaven can't abandon us.

What's happening?

You created me lazy and You desert me!

Of course, I've no complaints.

But if I don't know how to work...

It's because you created me that way!

We all have our responsibilities.

Today people work too hard.

So hard, they've no time to think of you.

Some of us must take time to worship you.

If the meek don't pray, what'll become of the world?

I want to remain free... for you.

But I can't pray if I'm starving.

So...

do something.

Send me a sign!

Yes.

Thank You!

Mail?

Are you working?

No, Heaven sent me a sign!

Hunger's made him crazy!

Not so crazy!

No more coins?

It's all I could borrow!

I think it's ready.

Very soft?

Perfect!

According to your research at the National Library...

a coffee caramel is not as good as...

a chocolate caramel...

whose adhesive qualities are greater.

But the caramel must be absolutely soft!

Some authors say 'unctuous'...

so that the sticky surface has no defects.

Like glue!

True glue!

That was easy.

But I read that...

one of the best safety measures is...

the double-cup slot.

Well?

I'll manage. It's just a matter of practice.

I need a little money.

Here are 2 fives.

Thanks! Heaven will reward you.

How're the teeth doing these days?

I sell a dentist a crown for 20 or 30 francs and...

he resells it for 200 or 300!

It makes me sick of work!

I need a pair of pincers.

What for?

To get money from a collection-box.

An alms-box in a church?

You holy fool.

Still not working?

Still!

How'll you eat?

Heaven will provide!

You're kidding!

I think not.

Here's an old pair.

With my eyes closed!

I'll begin tomorrow!

I'm not sure of myself.

You've brought me here to feed my family.