The Mirror Has Two Faces (Le Miroir à deux faces)

- I want to speak to the commissioner. - About what?

- I killed someone. - Come in.

I'm listening.

My name is Pierre Tardivet, with "VET" at the end.

I teach mathematics at Chateaubriand College.

Ten years ago I decided that I wanted to get married.

Academic, 30 years old, seeks marriage with educated, healthy girl of 25

who is modest, has a pleasant character and is well-built.

- Those are five lines. - I only count four.

Forty characters per line, count them.

Spaces count too.

In that case, just remove the last two lines

and simply put: appearance unimportant.

Appearance unimportant.

I have always considered marriage something serious.

My students had their problems, but so did I.

I received many responses and had to make a choice.

I proceeded methodically and avoided all kinds of pitfalls.

I thought I knew women.

Could I have foreseen it? No, it really wasn't my fault.

Come in.

- Someone to see you. - Thank you.

Georges Vausange.

Georges Vausange. There it is.

Vausange, Marie-José.

- That was in Étretat. She was five then. - A little young for me.

Six years old, eight years old.

Eleven years old, fifteen years old.

In short, you saw her grow up.

Here she is sixteen. That was the last one.

There are no more photos.

She was not exactly a regular at photographers.

Show him the photo with Véronique. That is her younger sister.

A month ago she happened to appear in a baptism photo.

A pretty girl.

- Marie-José is the other one. - The one standing behind.

When can I meet her?

- You agree? - To a meeting, yes.

Beyond that I commit to nothing. Shall we arrange something?

That is a bit delicate. She knows nothing about this.

- If she knew, that would be a disaster. - A disaster?

She has one fault: she is proud.

I can hardly marry her if I don't know her.

- Do you like music? - Yes, like everyone. Why?

Marie-José works in a record shop.

- Do you know Wilhelm Furtwängler? - Only by name.

And Beethoven's fifth symphony?

Fate knocking.

- Do you like Beethoven? - Beethoven?

- I pity those who do not appreciate him. - They miss something in life.

It is heavenly music.

- You forget yourself, let yourself be carried away. - Absolutely.

- And Furtwängler? - Don't you like him?

Yes, here is the proof.

- He conducts with such inspiration. - Absolutely.

- He is currently in Paris. - On Saturday he gives a concert. I'm going.

What a coincidence. Me too.

I bought two tickets. I even have them with me.

I'll give you one. Mother was going to come along, but she got sick.

- I already have a ticket. - Then you will be in the front row.

Nothing will escape you, even without opera glasses.

- I am used to sitting up high. - Surely you are not going alone?

- Who should I go with? - With me, if you like me a little.

Don't talk nonsense.

- Furtwängler, the fifth. - That makes 2950 francs.

- Only for Furtwängler? - The symphony is on seven sides.

Of course. I was momentarily distracted.

Here is your package.

Here you are, perhaps for someone else.

And maybe see you on Saturday. You never know.

She came to the concert and afterwards we saw each other more often.

I also went to her sister's engagement.

- Mr Gérard Durieux? - Opposite.

Mama, may I introduce you: Pierre Tardivet.

Finally. She has talked about you so often.

Ah, there you are.

- Papa, you don't know Mr Tardivet. - So what? To your health.

- Excuse me, madam. - No, I've had enough. You too.

It is a beautiful day for the children, although it makes the parents a little wistful.

To Véronique's happiness.

It was time she got married. She was impossible to hold back anymore.

Very different from her sister, Véronique. She is like champagne.

Marie-José is more like chamomile tea. Isn't she, little one?

- He means well. - I like chamomile tea.

You can drink that all day. Champagne not.

- May we be so bold? - Excuse us.

- They are very kind. - Everyone here is friendly.

You already know each other. Gérard Durieux, Mr Tardivet.

I remember you. A music lover through and through.

- Congratulations. - I expect a favor in return.

But where is the heroine of the celebration? Véronique.

- You are Mr Tardivet. - Yes. My fiancé.

- How do you guess that? - It shows.

You adore her. You are wonderful, Mr Tardivet.

May I? I must take advantage of the fact that I am still single.

Come, let's dance. May I dance with him?

You may borrow Gérard for a while.

- I have a hostage. Come along. - But I can't dance.

Then I'll teach you.

- Aren't you dancing? - No, I don't really feel like it.

- To please me? - No, Gérard. Not today.

Yes, like that... One, two, three. Keep your balance.

You see? It's not difficult. You do teach arithmetic, don't you?

Then count with your feet. One, two, three, four.

One, two, three, four. What do you actually teach them at school?

Come on, one, two, three, four. Let me do it. You will see.

Will you give me something for my engagement? Something charming?

If I can.

A smile. A real smile.

I'm sorry. I can't do that.

What would you do with a smile from me anyway?

Come back, Marie-José. This is ridiculous.

- Get her. And be kind to her. - What's wrong with her?

Nothing. It's my fault. I'm a brute.

What's wrong, Marie-José? Say something.

Leave me. I want to be alone. Go back. I'll come later too.

Later? What am I supposed to do with all those people I don't know?

I came only for you.

- Aren't you happy? - Yes, I am. Can't you see that?

Can't you read that from my face?

Beautiful, isn't it? All that happiness. Especially the profile.

Come on... Go on.

Excuse me. I'm a foolish idiot.

Leave me. It doesn't matter.

It doesn't matter? But I'm your friend, aren't I?

You should be able to count on a friend.

And I also want to share your sorrow.

It's not sadness, more a slight disappointment.

I had thought that Gérard

the dreams of a young girl. Foolish dreams.

Because we smoked and talked together every evening, I thought,

but it meant nothing.

Then one evening my sister came to pick me up.

And Gérard took her home.

You see, it's a very silly little story.

Strange, your sister is very amusing.

But to want to share my life with her...

- She is so beautiful. - There is beauty and beauty.

There is beauty that immediately catches your eye and dazzles you.

And there is beauty that you slowly discover, from within.

No, don't hide away in the shadows. I want to say something, but in the light.

- What did I do when I met you? - Offered me a ticket.

For a place by my side. And it is still available.

To me you are beautiful, very beautiful.

- I find you... - Yes?

I think you have many qualities. There.

And now we forget everything, go back and laugh. Life is beautiful.

You see? We are already walking in step.

- The time has come. We are leaving. - Goodbye.

And don't forget to give him his medicine.

- She will certainly take good care of me. - Catch, mama.

- Write soon, you hear. - Venice.

She is lucky to be married to my son.

- Thank you for everything. - You're welcome.

You don't know what this means to me. Venice. It may sound strange,

but this is truly a beautiful dream coming true.

Venice. Actually not my thing. I come from Belleville.

- Can we go play? - Stay within sight.

And mind the doors.

Mrs. Benoît and I went to Venice twelve years ago.

- Twelve years ago? - Yes.

We went for a week, but stayed.

- Love at first sight? - No, business. A good opportunity.

A hair salon.

- "Permanent Etienne". Very exclusive. - And it pays off, even in Venice.

Twelve years is short if you want to see everything.

I bet you can already look at a carpaccio for hours.

If you look at it as a tourist, yes.

But otherwise Venice is the world turned upside down.

The birds walk in the street and the lions and horses stand on the roof.

It's not normal: birds walk and people sail.

In Venice there are no pedestrian crossings.

- That's not why we go there. - A matter of taste.

- Well, I do miss them though. - A matter of habit.

And then that smell, phew. But we are spoiled.

And then those bells. They just keep going.

And if it's not the bells, then it's the mosquitoes.

Chime chime, that's Venice.

Then why do you stay there?

Because I'm stubborn.

- If you ask my opinion about Venice... - I didn't ask you that.

No, I won't allow you that.

You don't entrust your suitcases to a stranger, do you?

Bravo, you don't let yourself be fooled.

- And what did I tell you? What a smell, eh? - Stop it. It smells wonderful.

Your wife is a positive person. Look, there is our taxi. Hurry.

Get off at the third stop. You can't miss it.

And if you need anything else, you know where to find me.

Keep an eye on your suitcases and on the lady.

- I hope you had a good trip. - Very good, only a bit long.

Now you can rest. You have our best room.

I'll take care of the formalities.

There's no hurry, Mr Tardivet.

Yes, I'd rather do it right away.

Look how beautiful the view is.

That can come later. First we move to another hotel.

- But I like this hotel. - It's a matter of principle.

You stick to the agreed price. You were there.

- What had we agreed? - 1600 lire per day.

And now it's 1800.