A Summer's Tale
Monday, July 17
Tuesday, July 18
Moonlight pancake house
Marot?
Y es? So what'll it be?
Cocoa with whipped cream
Dash of ginger?
No, thanks
Right with you!
Finished?
Y es
Coffee?
No, thanks
The check?
Wednesday, July 19
Hi
Hi...Have we met?
You don't recognize me?
We met in Rennes?
No, last night, in the restaurant
The waitress? I didn't recognize you with your hair wet
Y es, I forget how it changes me
Well, I'm going in
Was it nice?
The water? Chilly
I like it
Borderline
This your first time here?
In Dinard, yes I'm from nearby: Rennes
I'm from Saint Brieuc
Waiting for someone?
Not now. Not exactly
Sit down
My stuff's over there
Go get it
You alone here?
F or the moment
On vacation?
Y eah
I mean, you're not here to work?
I work, as you know I'm just an ordinary vacationer
Where? Here?
No, with a design firm in Nantes
I just got my Master in math
I got my PH.D in ethnology
Ethnology?
You sound surprised. Did you think I was a career waitress?
Not really Lots of students take summer jobs
Have you?
No, I'm lucky to have math makes it easy to tutor
or find high-level temp jobs
You'll be an engineer?
No
Computers?
No, I'd rather teach
I'll earn less but I'll have lots of free time
That's nice
Maybe. I don't want to plan my life around money
If I had, I'd have ruined mine
What'll your doctorate get you?
Nothing Not even the right to do research
I have a plan but I can't talk about it yet
After high school I needed a change
I went to Vietnam and Malaysia
I fell in love with a guy who had a job back here
We nearly got married That killed my wanderlust
I realized I had a lot more to say
about Brittany than about Indonesia
So I did my thesis on the people here
Mainly the descendants of the old Newfoundlanders
We know lots on the Celtic Bretons
Iess on the Gauls
I was so fascinated that when my guy and I broke up
I just stayed on The weird part of it is
that I later met a guy who's really a world away
He's in the Peace Corps in the South Pacific
I could have gone out there, too
But no, I'm waiting faithfully like a sailor's wife
I earn some money working in my aunt's restaurant
So I'm pretty free
T omorrow I go see an ex-Newfoundlander
and who lives now on the Rance river. Want to come? You got a car?
No.
I do. The guy's only 12 miles from here
OK
Thursday, July 20
F olklore doesn't interest me much
I'm better at composing than playing
But nothing's ever really new
American rock grew out of blues and country
which both have roots in old Irish ballads
Brittany has a rich tradition Do you know it?
Not well. I can't say I like it
Bagpipes always sound the same boring
No, there are lovely things like Celtic troubadour airs
I don't know them
And the Chanties in the restaurant
You noticed
I always notice music
Did you pick them?
Y es, I bought the tape for my ethnology work
Did it inspire you?
There's a current of Celtic rock
and another of sailors' rock I prefer the latter
I want to write a song like "Valparaiso"
You know it?
Y es
Lots of people sang on board
but it was mostly for fun they weren't work songs
Not like the long-haul traders the old sailing ships
There the chanties were timed to work
Raising the anchor or running up sail
we "hoisted " sail only flags were run up
So it was...it was all lost those work chanties are gone
We used to do what we called working your back
digging trenches in the salt in the hold
to salt cod after it was sliced and cleaned
They were taken down in to the hold
Iaid out and salted one by one
T o make room for the cod you had to dig
and the songs paced the shoveling
set the work rhythm, a couplet for so many shovelfuls of salt
I hear you sing well Could you sin us something?
The most common of the chanties was one about ranks
mocking a captain who limped
We were always giving nicknames
and making fun of people who had peculiarities
We called the captain "Lug-Leg"
because he dragged his leg
Sailors said "lug" for "drag"
"Lug-leg, if you keep it up you won't have any sailors left
Lug-leg if you keep it up Not a seaman will remain
Do you know Lug-leg the Grand Banks fisherman
The Grand Banks are between France's St. Pierre
and Miquelon Islands and Canada's Atlantic coast
Lug-leg, the Grnd Banks fisherman
Who's always chiding his sailormen
Lug-leg if you keep it up you won't have any sailors left
Lug-leg if you keep it up Not a seaman will remain
Come for dinner tonight I'm buying
I can't do it all the time but now and then
Thanks but don't bother about me
The folks I live with are away so I can cook
Being alone after dark is sad
Not for long I have friends coming in soon
A good reason to come tonight
No, I'll make music and I'm expecting a call
OK, see you tomorrow if you're free
If I'm not I'll call you
Bye
How are you, Mom?
No, I was out walking along the river with friends
Y es
No mail for me?
Friday, July 21
Cute girl
Which one?
The one you were ogling
I don't ogle girls
You should, since you're alone
Maybe I looked at her but it's not what you think
In fact, I'm expecting someone
So you told me
I said "friends, " but in fact...
It's a girl?
You guessed it!
Your girlfriend?
Not exactly
When's she due?
Around the 20th
That's today
In theory, yes
She's coming to join you, right?
No, I'm the one who...
It's complex. I'd have to tell you the full story
So tell
It's pretty dull
It's not
OK, but I'll simplify it We met a few months ago
She's a bright girl, terrific IQ
Tried for diplomatic school
but then lost interest Hates the atmosphere
We've a lot in common
Because of your music?
That's one thing
She's not in love with me
I feel she... doesn't take me seriously
At least for now
We planned to vacation together then she left
with her sister...for Spain
On her way back, she'll visit cousins who have a place nearby
She said they bore her and told me to stop by
Charming!
She even asked me to take her on a trip to the Isle of Ouessant
Neither of us knows it
Me neither. I must go someday
If she backs out, think of me Promise?
Sure
Do you know when she's coming? You checked with her cousins?
You'll laugh I don't know where they live
Around here, that's all she said
No name or no phone number
she didn't have it when she left
She was supposed to send it but hasn't written at all
You came anyway?
You think I'm bats, huh?
No, I think it's lovely
Worse still I don't much love her
Ah!
Not madly Her not writing doesn't matter
At home we never dated
we ran into each other It became a habit
A habit of coincidence Quite a system!
I must be going
Coming to dinner?
Not tonight, I want to make music
And wait for a phone call
See you tomorrow, if you're free It's Saturday, but I'll fit you in
Saturday, July 22
Coming with us?
No, I'm off to bed
Come on, it's Saturday
No
We'll go to " The Hut"
What's that?
A disco in St. Lunaire
OK
Monday, July 24
How can you be comfortable with all those guys?
I'm comfortable with everyone
It's my training
As a waitress?
No, dummy, as an ethnologist
I'm curious about people
No one's totally uninteresting
Not as individuals but in groups, yes
I hate groups
I don't like to join them Anyway, I couldn't if I wanted to
Got a lot of friends?
A few, good ones I see them one at a time
Guys?
Y es, Lena's the only girl I see now
No female friends?
You, now
This the first time?
Just about
Guys and girls can't be friends?
Sure, why not?
But mostly I want a girlfriend not a buddy
And if you can't find one?
Without a girlfriend I shun friends
So you put up with me only because of your...
Lena?
Y es, Lena
I wonder what she's like Got a photo?
In my bag, I'll show you later
The restaurant's over there! See it?
Y es
Cezembre Isle is there...
The Petit Be...the Grand Be...
St. Malo's hidden behind them
There's St. Servn with the Solidor tower
Funny, my folks had a record of Suzy Solidor
Really?
Singing sea chanties I guess she took the tower's name
She must have. It's funny
Where's the photo?
Oh yeah
I know her! She came and played volleyball
I don't see you two together
Who do you see me with? No one?
On the contrary. With the girl the other night, yes
Which girl?
You know
The brunette in the tan dress?
You're crazy!
Why? She's pretty
Maybe, but she's not my type
I'm sure you're her type
She was eyeing you
She wasn't. You're putting me on
Her type doesn't go for me
Look who she was with
She sent them all packing
What's wrong?
It's nice to be in love
Wednesday, July 26
She's a week late
She has a poor sense of time
And never sends a postcard I know the type
You kidding me?
I'm only half waiting for her and having fun meanwhile
I met you so I'm not wasting my time
Thanks What if you hadn't met me?
I don't know But I don't like "if's"
Exactly where did she go?
Around Spain nowhere in particular
Driving?
Y es
With her sister?
Y es, and her sister boyfriend
That all?
A small car
It I sit at least four people
I e thought about it. I didn think she bring another guy
I even thought of the worse scenario Why talk about it?
V ery philosophic Y eah
Not crazily in love
If she doesn love me, too bad
I don think I can love a girl who doesn love me
If nobody loves me, then I won love anybody
Want to hear my opinion?
I don think you love her either
I doubting if she even exits
You saw the picture
That doesn prove anything
Maybe she does exist, but you don know her well
And you didn come here just for her
You think I a fool? Well, I am
I don know if you understand what I saying
I don want to fight at all cause
for something that might happen
I want the chance to come to me Get it?
F or example?
The day she said she'd be here on the 20th
I ran into a friend from here
who lent me his room for my vacation
Such situations excite me
They may or may not make things happen
Is that crazy?
Certainly not I'm really that way, too
My interest in Brittany arose because the time was right
F or my love affairs, too
Circumstances were against me but it all worked out
I saw I valued my independence
My guy's an archaeologist
We can't go along on each other's field trips
Then you'd always be apart?
Not always. A bit That's not so bad
You love him?
Of course But he's still a stranger
I can't get in too deep yet
When he returns, we'll be here for quite a while. Then we'll see
But your problem's not mine
Thursday, July 27
Instead of hanging around get a girl for the summer
Even if I wanted to, I couldn't
Why not?
It's my fate
I never achieve anything I don't believe in
You believe in Lena?
I wonder
You think too much
There are lots of pretty girls here
But I don't know them And I don't talk to strangers
And the one the other night?
Will you say hello if you see her?
Y es, if she looks at me Then what?
Nothing ventured, nothing gained
That's not true for me
If I don't like the girl to start with, I mess it up
I'm the opposite
I didn't start out liking my first boyfriend
It only worked because he tried hard
It didn't last?
It lasted 3 years
With the other guy I made the pitch. That's better
I like to initiate things
So do I
What do you mean? You just said you didn't
No, I like to initiate I try hard
when I feel there's the slightest chance
But I dream of being an effortless lady-killer
They work hard at it even if it doesn't show
There's one thing I refuse to do
What's that?
Join a group
Solene's an independent girl
The girl the other night? You know her?
We're both from St. Brieuc
I haven't seen her again
She's a temp in a bank at home She's here on Saturday
I think she's split up with her boyfriend
Wants a guy for the summer?
I guess so
She must have found one by now
She's hard to get but that won't bother you
I'm luckier with picky girls
Lena?
Y es, for example. If you like
What are you thinking of?.
Nothing
That's not true, I admit
As you guessed, Lena's a pretext
I only want a girl for the summer
I'd take the first one to come along, but no one's come
so I just dream of the prettiest
Cynicism doesn't become you
I'm joking
No entirely
Meaning what?
You know what I mean
Monday, July 28
My only problem, with a group
is not how to communicate but how to be
T o be or not to be
That's the question Pedantic, maybe, but true
It's true for everyone Groups intimidate individuals
Some people fit in easily and blossom
I feel everyone's live around me but me
I don't exist
I'm transparent, invisible
I see others, they don't see me
You're lucky I'd like that at times
I'm not like you
I'm not curious
I'm not an observer
I'm not anything
That's not so!
hen I'm with a really crummy guy really insignificant
girls notice him, not me
And the harder I try the worse it is
Through running yourself down? It's a vanity, no?
Listen, I don't think I'm a horror, or stupid
It's that I'm hard to pigeon-hole
I seem young...people expect me to be cute and sweet
then find I'm not
Like you, they call me a cynic
Not true!
You're the only girl who can bear me. Even Lena...
Stop it! Or you may become unbearable
You say you seem young. You do
So be patient, your day will come
You think so?
Of course
Some people lose out with age Your kind improves
How do you know?
Intuition, feminine or not
I've been told that by a graphologist who seemed reliable
He said I'd come into my own at 30
in every way: emotional, physical intellectual. He impressed me
He's right
You'll find love, but not yet
Maybe that's why girls hold you off. They want to wait
In my case, guys rushed me and I rushed to them
At 18 I longed to be a woman to have a baby
Then I learned to wait
But for some months I've felt rushed again
You want your boyfriend back
Mainly to see if I love him
I'm sure you'll find a great girl better than Lena
From the way you talk about her...
Meanwhile I can't live as ectoplasm
You mean in a cocoon?
That's not better
If you can't realize yourself in full, do it halfway
Maybe you can even stretch it to three-fourths
You're great: you kid me about what I kid myself about
Are there topics you avoid?
Lots of them
Like what?
I won't say, not even to you
I won't even tell them to myself
And Lena? She joke about your foibles?
Y es, unfortunately
She knows it annoys you?
Luckily, no. She does it naively
She's sensitive but she lacks your humor
Sometimes, to muddle thing I fake anger over trivialities
It works?
Y es
Sly devil!
Now you can't say you wasted all your time with me
Silly
It's purely symbolic and it'll stay that way
That's how I took it
Then everything's clear
What are you whistling? Did you write it?
No. Well, yes But it's not ready yet
I'm a pirate's daughter
they call me the buccaneer lass
Saturday, July 29
Hi. Hi
Have you seen Ronan?
Who?
Ronan, he was with us the other night
T all and dark, has a kayak
No. Your pals aren't out this early
I know. In fact I'm trying to avoid him
In that case...
I'm not in the mood for him today
What are you up to?
I'm going swimming
Alone?
Y es
Not waiting for anyone?
Maybe Margot, but I doubt it Saturday she's busy
She and I know each other from Saint Brieuc
Is she your girlfriend?
No. I only met her last week in the restaurant
Makes no difference
With us it does We meet now and then on the beach
You alone here? At your parents' place?
Not even. Surprised?
I just had a chance to borrow a friend's room
It's my first time here I know no one
Except Margot
I don't feel like swimming Let's go to St. Malo
In my car
What'll we do there?
We can swim there The tide will be in
My uncle has a boat We can go for a ride
I don't even know him
He and my aunt are easy-going
I'm always bringing friends
Cheers!
Your uncle plays?
No, his wife, Maiwen
Don't mess with it
Don't worry, I can play
Know that?
No
I am a pirate's daughter
They call me the buccneer lass...
It's a sea chanty!
You don't know it?
No, never heard it
It's pretty Keep going, if you can
Sure I can, I wrote it
No!
I did! Can you read music?
I can make it out
I sang in a choir
That's it Right?
No, wait...
That's it. Go on like that. Right
Four times?
Non, three times Three times
That's it. Once more...
And then...
It goes up...
Keep going up
Y es
Y es, it's a natural
That's it...
Okay
Then the end. And I in tune? Do I hold it?
One beat?
Can you read all the lyrics?
Y es
Shall we try it?
Sure
Y es
That it
I am a pirate's daughter
they call me the buccaneer lass
I love the wind...I love...
I love the swell
I slice through the sea as through a throng, a throng, a throng
Quickly, quickly my pretty ship
We will give 'em all the slip
And sail to San Francisco
Going by Valpa...
No, that's off
Going by Valparaiso
T o the Aleutian Isles
Across the Indian Sea
I want to go to the end of the world
T o see if the earth is round
That's terrific! You really wrote it?
Y es. Y es
You have a lovely voice
I like writing songs gets me off math
They're mostly blues
but hearing a sailor sing gave me the idea
The words are tougher. I usually work with a buddy who's a poet
If it's not too folksy, take it
The girl it's for won't like it
Margot?
No, someone else
Your girlfriend?
In a way, yes
"In a way"? Then drop her
I will, if... If what?
If she doesn't show up She hasn't written
Where is she?
In Spain
With a guy?
Hardly. With her sister
When's she get back?
She was due a week ago
Another reason to drop her
I have, just about
You got a guy?
I have two
I dropped the first one last week and the other...today
Can Gaspard come boating with us today?
Delighted Sure
Alain Hi
Gaspard Maiwen
I'm a pirate's daughter
they call me the buccaneer lass
I love the wind, I love the swell
I slice through the sea as through a throng, a throng, a throng
Quickly, quickly my pretty ship
We will give 'em all the slip
And sail to San Francisco
Going by Valparaiso
T o the Aleutian Isles
Across the Indian Sea
I want to go to the end of the world
T o see if the earth is round
I'm a pirate's daughter
they call me the buccaneer lass
I love the wind, I love the swell
I slice through the sea as through a throng, a throng, a throng
Quickly, quickly my pretty ship
We will give 'em all the slip
And sail to San Francisco
Going by Valparaiso
T o the Aleutian Isles
Across the Indian Sea
I want to go to the end of the world
T o see if the earth is round
Welcome to the club my dear Gaspard
I don't know about that
T o our niece, too
And our accordionist
He's back I enjoyed it
T o our accordionist
Nice outing on the water
How did you come to write such a song?
And in the rock era!
That's not my usual style
I do mostly blues
I have a classical guitar
then I don't usually play
So I noticed
I handled your 3 flats
by switching to minor
But don't use naturals that aren't on my accordion
How's it tuned? It's a standard...
A standard diatonic scale
Where the notes were missing we went "la-la-la"
That made it special...
Y es, it matched the local color
But a pirate's daughter
it's an odd idea, eh? No, really
I admit, when I write other music I have different aims
I wanted to write a sea chanty
that didn't just revert to an old tune
I didn't try to modernize an old tune
I tried to put myself in the mind
of a sailor writing a song
But it's not a sailor's song
No, it's a love song He wrote it for a girl
F or you, of course
No, for someone else
But he's sweet and gave it to me anyway
I...did write it...
OK, relax...Don't justify it
I did write it for a girl
It's not worth discussing... at table
We're off to bed. You'll be OK?
You know the house, Solene?
No problem
Good night
Listen, my uncle doesn't care but I have a principle
You may not think so but I have principles
I never sleep with a guy the first time
Me, too, I'd rather wait
T ake the daybed, I'll go upstairs
Good night Good night
Sunday, July 30
Margot!
Hi
You were missed yesterday
I was in St. Malo
We went boating with my uncle
Why don't you come some day?
Thanks, but the restaurant keeps me too busy
I must be off. Have fun
Bye
You've got a great place
You kidding? It's not mine
Belongs to a friend I sleep in the kitchen
Anyway, I must be off
And I warned you...
Never the first time
Absolutely
You tickle me, Gaspard
I love you
You know, beginning August 5 I'm on vacation
You coming here?
No way
And you?
I go to work on the 15th
I may stay here until then or I may not
Where are you going?
I don't know I feel like wandering
F ar?
Not necessarily
I was born here but I don't know Brittany well
I bet you haven't see Ouessant
No. I'd love to. Want to go? I'll take you
Want to go?
We can stay with friends
Even if you're broke
Money's no problem
Well, then?
Let me think
About what? Scared of your girlfriend? She's not here
She may come back
Well, make up your mind. Now!
I'm no substitute It's yes or no now
Well?
Hold on
No. One...two...three
Let's say yes
"Let's say yes", hell! Just yes!
Just yes, then
Yes?
I said yes
You're on?
Yes, yes, yes
If you duck out, we're through
I'm set on that
Another principle?
No exceptions to that, either
Monday, July 31
Hi
How's my Romeo?
You were right, she's nice
Just nice?
Among other things
F eel reassured?
About what?
About there being nice girls around
About your own existence as you said
From that point of view, yes
You look all dreamy
So what'll we do?
Don't want to talk about it? OK with me
You still want to see me?
Sure thing Besides, she's away this week
I see. I'm the substitute
In fact, a substitute for a substitute
You're organized!
Shall we go?
I don't want to discuss it but I do anyway
I feel so differently now that I can't shut up
Want to shout it from the housetops?
No, simply tell it to you
You elated?
Sure
Triumphant?
That's not the word
You're triumphant just look at you!
And I saw you as a lovesick puppy
I was wrong about Solene
She's your type after all?
No, but we have a lot in common
More than I have with Lena
So which do you choose?
At first I let her lead me on mainly for revenge on Lena
Or to feel what Lena feels when's courted
to put it mildly, I was sick of feeling inferior to her
I wanted to give her something to scold me for
But now I value Solene for herself
So?
So I've made a decision If Lena's not back by the weekend
I'm off to Ouessant with Solene
That so?
She's hot to go
You're still playing both ends It's either or
Don't say that!
So to you, all girls are the same
I'm saying the opposite
You disappoint me
How could you fall for such a vulgar girl?
She's not vulgar
And you threw me in her arms
Come off it! You lack the courage of your convictions
I was right about a substitute You sicken me!
All guys are blinded by vanity No risks for you!
Some nit snares you and you think you're a great lover
What am I doing with you?
Come on, Margot...
Margot!
You distort what I say
I don't! I got the picture
Leave me be!
Sorry, did I hurt you?
Y es
You hurt me, too
I'm glad
We gonna part stupidly like this?
Y es, stupidly
Your stupidity saves you
I refuse to take you seriously
Boys are so dumb! They're so dumb!
Even the dumbest girls don't sink that low
You're right, I'm a jerk
What I said wasn't what I meant Just the opposite, I...
Shut up! Don't make things worse
What I meant to say was I'll never betray Lean unless she betrays me
You're funny Always justifying yourself
Look, I never asked Solene to go to Quessaant
It just came up in conversation I wouldn't ask 2 girls to go
Two? Three. You forgot me
That was a joke
Serious with the others but a joke with me!
Friendship's a gag but trifles are serious!
You're committed
How do you know? I can be replaced at the restaurant
OK, let's go
You'd die if I said yes
No, because I've got myself into a bind
I won't get you out of it
Shall we make peace?
Sorry...
My reactions are unpredictable
Don't judge me by them
You can be as irked
by a friend as by a lover
I had wrong image of you T akes getting used to
I disappoint you?
On the contrary
You're not as dumb as you look
Girls like you
Not the one I want
You really want her?
You're right, I'm not sure
I'll wait and see
You have to choose
I doubt that
It'd serve you right if you had to choose
I bet I won't have to They'll both dump me
Why this lack of confidence? You don't believe any of this
Sometimes I'd like to bite you!
Go ahead
What would your girlfriends say?
That leaves no trace but it's to be applied sparingly
Tuesday, August 1
Gaspard? It's Margot
Hi, how are you?
Did I wake you?
No
I can't come this afternoon I must go to St. Malo with my aunt
See you tomorrow...OK?
Gaspard!
I'd given you up When'd you arrive?
Just now. I tried to call you
Did you get my letter?
Not till I got back I wondered if you were still here
You could've left an address
You're right, I didn't Anyway, I wasn't here
We found each other without effort That's better
You're tanned and handsome Just right
What are you up to now?
I was just passing by
Looking for me, I hope?
No, I didn't expect you
Well, here I am. Do you mind?
Did you have other plans?
Come, my cousins are on the beach You do pretty well
I'm glad to see you
Believe it or not, I've thought a lot about you lately
You're not easily forgotten
In fact, you're better at a distance than up close
Then I'll leave
You're vain. It was a compliment
You hold up at a distance like a good painting
I'd gotten it
Some guys just collapse
Like the people I've met lately
What people?
My sister's boyfriend, for one
He's not really nasty but what a pest!
The kind who's always arguing
You say white, he says black
How can my sister stand him?
When I'm there, I take the heat
You can give as good as you get
And how! At first I enjoyed the game
Game, hell! He has no sense of humor
Two weeks of that is exhausting
I'm amazed I didn't fry my brain
Two weeks?
I left them after two weeks
they went on to Italy
But you didn't come home?
I needed a change of scenery
So I went to see friends I'd vaguely promised to visit
Who?
You don't know them
Where?
Above the Riviera
With your "ex" of 2 years ago?
Not with him, with friends of his
He's not there this year Don't worry, he and I are through
You could've written
I didn't think I'd stay
And you're so jealous always imagining things
Did you have fun there?
Not much
It's not fun having three or four guys after you
Three or four?
At least three The fourth wasn't bad, but...
Some days I'd like to be stupid and ugly
I only meet guys who want to paw me
Never anyone I can just talk to
I think it's a shame that 9 times in 10
when a guy talks to a girl
he's got another thought in mind
What thought?
An ulterior motive
Don't play dumb, you understood
Nothing harm in thoughts
Cynicism doesn't suit you
Cynical? Why?
Y es, cynical, like the others
Whereas you can usually be talked to
And the others?
I seldom meet a boy whose conversation is anything
but a bid to puff himself up to strut like a rooster
Those 3 down there were unbelievable
You took them down a peg?
Of course
but being on the defensive is tiring
Another thing
not just because of them
I came to hate the South
I wanted coolness, mist, wet sand
A sea without tides is dreary
When do we go to Ouessant?
Whenever. T omorrow?
You kidding? I just got here!
After Monday, it'll be too late
Know what I found down South?
There were lots of old books in my bedroom
Jules V erne, adventure stories...
I found a story set on Ouessant
told by the nephew of a salvager
" The Secret of the Seas" in paperback?
You know it? You bet! It was my bedside book
I know it by heart I can describe the characters
Old Mengham, with his derby hat Capt. Prigent, the godfather
Carsen, Le Louarn, Marie Naour...
It's no kid's book it won a major prize
Not the book, the author Andre Savignon
for "Daughters of the Rain"
It takes place on Ouessant but it's too sad for kids
On the life of the islanders
I'll lend it to you
Good! We must go there!
I'll be gone for months leaving Margot
Raise the sail, Santiano!
I was sad, my spirits were low
Leaving the harbor of St. Malo
What's that song?
" Santiano. " You don't know it?
Sure I do
V ery timely! In the mist you can see
St, Malo. There!
Y es
You said you'd write me a sea chanty
It's not quite ready
Hurry...Finish it before I leave
You work in...business...
You're at a business college?
Y es, I'm in business...
I worked for a French company in New Y ork...
In plastics
I dabbled in music but gave that up
It wasn't really my thing
But you did some nice stuff...
I wasn't a pro I couldn't live off it
You aren't making it your life?
Y es, I am
It can be my life without becoming a commercial product
You can live off it and stay outside the system?
I'm going to bed, I'm tired
Already?
Y eah, I'm bushed
Good night Bye. Good night
See you tomorrow?
Let's meet at "La Potiniere"
behind the big hotels
What time?
2 p.m. OK?
What are you doing, Gaspard?
Guess I'll go home
You e not
coming with us to " The Hut"?
I have to be up early...
That's too bad...
Thanks, anyway
Bye See you soon. "Night"
So...what's next?
We go for a drink
Wednesday, August 5
Margot!
Hi
I tried to call you
I was asleep
This time I can't make it
Lena! See you were wrong to despair
What about Solene?
No problem
Good thing I didn't really commit to her
She's delightful, lovely
but Lena is one and only
She's my ideal, even if she isn't the ideal woman
She's my kind of woman
I feel it so strongly that I can't explain it
I've never seen you so elated!
Meeting Solene made me realize how much I cared about Lena
And it gave me confidence
You're very clever I'm so happy for you
That's why I'm telling you. I know it won't upset you as before
What upset me?
Nothing. F orget I mentioned it
Margo
I have to go
T o all your loves!
Hi. Is Lena there?
Lena
Sorry, I couldn't reach you
Our plans got changed
It's at their mercy I don't have a car
But I'll come tomorrow
Thursday, August 3
Sorry about yesterday
How could I reach you? You're never home and I'm out a lot
And my cousins hog the phone
I told you, I'm not free I have commitments.
Cedric and Thomas make plans As their guest, I have to go along
Usually, it's fun, too
T omorrow we go to Jersey
T o meet an English friend for a golf match
You play golf?.
No. Well a bit and I'd like to learn
Sunday there's a garden party
When are you back?
Monday or maybe Tuesday...
And our trip?
We'll go later in the week
We can't! Wednesday's too late!
Next Monday I start work
I due in Nantes Saturday to get the key to my room
And all my stuff is in Rennes
You've got 3 days, that's enough
And we won't find a room in August
We'll go for the day
What are we going to do there?
I just want to see the island not spend the night
That's not what you said
I said nothing
I hate being rushed Get back by Sunday
Impossible
If you really wanted to...
It's not up to me
Don't look so dismayed 3 days is more than enough!
I told you: I hate rushing things
F or someone who wants to be different
you have no spirits of adventure
I don't like your cautious bureaucratic side...
Bureaucratic... Now I've heard everything!
A journey must be prepared Are seafarers bureaucratic?
You're not one Just a common tourist
I'll live with it
We could have found a room
And I have a tent
I don't want to spend the night there!
You don't want to spend time with me
You said part of the vacation was for us: I haven't seen you
I told you: I have to spend time with my cousins
They say I'm with you a lot
No, they have their girlfriends and understand you have a guy
They can't understand why the guy is you
So what?
So nothing I told you what they think
They can't see what I see in you
They feel that... you don't make the grade
And that our trip isn't so innocent
What matters their opinion or yours?
The point is... they think I'm your girlfriend
If so, and I don't want to be mean
I don't think you make the grade either
So what?
So nothing But it puts me in a spot
If you cared for me a bit you'd understand
I wish you'd just act like a friend
You know you're more than that
Maybe. But it's a shame
It was so nice the other day You regret it?
You make me regret it
T o say the least!
No
I just want to hold you hand
No!
Then the arm or the shoulder
I said no! Let go!
Just the hand I'm not doing anything
No!
Why?
Because!
I don't have to explain
Why do we have to do what you want, not what I want?
I say the same thing to other guys
I'm so much better than all the guys who buzz around me
Why should I do what they want?
Why should they impose their will on me?
I don't want to give anyone anything
Not the slightest portion of my freedom!
Or only to the man I'll love...
when I meet him
I thought I loved two boys
It was a mistake I won't make a third mistake
Just leave me alone!
Leave me alone! Go home!
One more step and you'll never see me again
Friday, August 4
You said we'd never meet again I'm free as a bird
Lena gets back tomorrow
Maybe only on Monday
What about your trip?
T o Ouessant? There's a snag
We parted on bad terms yesterday
That's her: one day's all white the next all black
Tuesday was our whitest day
yesterday our blackest
At any rate, it was very gray
So you're not going?
Just for the day which makes no sense
If she doesn't back out
Go with Solene
No way!
Why not, if Lena drops you?
I promised Lena and it seems to matter to her
You said if she didn't show up...
But she did
And it made you mad, rightly so
Aren't you meeting Solene tomorrow?
Y es, at 10 a.m.
Will you go?
Sure, to explain and verify
T o verify what? The difference
It'll make me love Lena again
The opposite may happen...
Then I no longer love Lena
Which may be true
So you'll go with Solene?
Not to Ouessant
Even if you drop Lena?
If I go, it'll be with you
That's no solace to her
Y es, it it
Sure, because I don't count
Why are you so mad at her?
2 days ago you idolized her
Not reason. But she's right I don't stand a chance with her
She'd told me before now I believe her
And as a friend?
I much prefer you
Why did she show up so late?
I don't know She was with some guys
Lovers?
Not even. I hope not I don't question her
Does she question you?
No. She's too involved with herself
You told her about Solene?
Lena? You crazy?
So you hide things too
I wish I could be frank with her
But she overreacts
I didn't want to spoil our first idyllic day
Or make our second one even stormier
And I hate lying
Nonsense All the more reason to tell her
If it doesn't come up I don't have to lie
How can I tell her the truth if I don't know it myself?.
Does Solene appeal to me, or not?
Either way I'd be exaggerating
Did you tell her about me?
Of course not
Y et you had nothing to hide You know how you feel about me
Sure We had other things to discuss
More important than the little waitress!
Don't talk like that, OK?
Mentioning other girls might intrigue her
I want her
to become interested in my by herself
Anyway, that's not the problem
It's not, does she love me? It's, do I love her?
Our happiness Tuesday was too good to be true
It wasn't real, I wasn't myself
You'll like this
I'm only myself with you
I'm not myself with Solene
It's like a journey being in a story
Trying to be someone who isn't me
And with Lena?
I also play a character I invented for her
to cope with her scorn. I have to
She sees me her way forcing me out of myself
You change with me, too
I can't make up my mind about you
First I saw you as lovesick
then as a clumsy Romeo
then as craftier than you seemed
then as quite naughty
then as basically decent but still a bit crafty...
Not far off!. So you're not comfortable with me?
Sure I am
You're yourself?.
Y es. That's not surprising
It's easier with a friend than a lover. You don't have to pretend
Maybe Ouessant isn't a good place for a romantic escapade
That's what I think
Then you come with me
That again! What about my job?
You said you could get time off
Maybe...
But you asked other girls They didn't turn you down
I turning them down I've picked you
I'll give them all up for you
Don't drop anything for me!
Actually, I'm not They'll both back out
You resent being a substitute?
No, I'm above all that
You see...I want to go to Ouessant
I like to take a few days off get some fresh air
get away from the restaurant
Spend a few whole days with you
even if it's risky
But I'd just be a stopgap
And I don't want to be
We'll go later...When you've failed
Winter is the best season
What's wrong? You're crying?
No...Laughing
Why?
Your predicament makes me laugh
You're like a bum who wakes up a millionaire
Aren't three girls at a time too many?
Saturday, August 5
How are you? Good
I warn you, I don't have a car Mine's on the blink
We'll go by train Costs about $40 each
We'll split it, OK?
There's a snag about Ouessant
About Ouessant?
I'd promised to take someone else
Who?
Your girlfriend? Why not say so?
So go with her! I'll leave, good-bye
No, I'm going with her We just about broke up
She's back?
Y es, and things are lousy
So? Where's the problem?
I said I'd take her
You said you'd take me
But she was first I should've told you
But aren't you two through?
That's why I hate to play dirty with her
What's dirty about it?
If you ditch her you're free of her
Let's go elsewhere?
Won't change a thing
T o Guernsey or Sercq
I know all the islands We said Ouessant
Why change? There's no point
Unless you're hoping to patch things up with her
Then don't count on me
I'm very exacting about some things
I commit all the way and expect the same
I hate double-dealers
Men are so low they don't take risks
They never ditch a girl until they've snared another
You told me you had two guys
I said I was dumping two
That's not the same thing
One was my real boyfriend
The other was a possible replacement
You see I wasn't afraid of dumping both
Now I have no one...But you...
I have no one either
Liar! She's here Is she staying with you?
I told you there's nothing between us
She's staying with her cousins
Is she a slender girl with straight blonde hair?
Are her cousins called Cedric and...
Thomas
You like that girl?
Surprised?
Nothing surprises me
So go with her
I don't want to, even if she does
It's a matter of principle
Like you, I also have principles
Weird principles
I could go to Ouessant with a male or female friend
But with not you I'd rather go elsewhere
I don't see the difference
I also asked another girl to go... Margot... She's just a friend
You don't waste any time!
Now I'm in third place! I thought you were naive
So say I'm cynical!
Cynical? Not you! No one could say you were that
But you have a twisted mind
If you took Margot I'd understand
Friendship's serious
Maybe more than love
Enough said
Answer me: are we going or not?
You won't go elsewhere?
You're so stubborn! Want to go or not?
T o Ouessant?
Y es, since you insist
No regrets
I may seem indecisive but I'm not
My problem has been solved
So let's go
T omorrow morning?
No. I've got things to do here and in St. Malo. Let's say Monday
Not later I can only stay till Friday
That'll be fine We'll catch the train at Lamballe
Tuesday we board the ferry
even if it's stormy
We're both good sailors
I'm a pirate's daughter
They call me the buccaneer lass
I'm a girl from Ouessant...
People stop and stare at me
I have to go I promised some people I'd stop by
I'm going to a party tonight but I can't take you
I'll sleep till noon so I'll phone you...
at 2.30 p.m. sharp If you're at home
I'll be there
Sunday, August 6
Hello
You're there?
Of course. Is this Lena?
Who else could it be?
Aren't you in Jersey?
Y es, but I'm catching the boat in an hour
You're right let's go to Ouessant tomorrow
You said you didn't want to go
What? I want to more than ever!
Can you hear me? Y es... So?
Hope I'm forgiven for the other day
I was in a foul mood
I swear it, now I'll be an angel
You don't believe me? Y es, I do
I want to see you Let's have dinner
I'm all out of coins
Can you hear me?
Y es, but...
See you at "La Potiniere" at 8.30
Hey!
Gaspard Y es, it's me
I'm me, too
I just called, your line was busy
Your visits go OK?
Y es, but they're not over
T onight I have to go to a party Come with me
In Dinard?
No, St. Malo We can sleep at my uncle's
T ake your things Meet you there at 8 p.m.
I'm coming! I have to run... Big hug!
Hello?
Hi. Is Margot there?
She's in the kitchen
Don't' disturb her. Ask her to call Gaspard as soon as she can
Sure
Thank you
Hi, Gaspard
It's Thierry
I've finally got something for you
That 8-track tape-recorder I told you about
They guy's willing to sell It's a steal
$600 now and the rest in 6 months
That's great! My savings plus next month's pay
I can do it. I can just make it
But we have to move fast
Be in La Rochelle tomorrow morning
T omorrow morning?
But...
OK, I'll be there
In fact it's great timing
I'll leave now See you tomorrow.
Thanks
Hello
Hi, Gaspard, it's Margot What's wrong?
Now or then?
Big difference!
now I'm happy, then I was sad
Suddenly, my whole life changed
I'll explain
I'm on the 5 o'clock boat Meet me at the pier?
I gave in to Solene because I felt Lena would ditch me in the end
But she came back just for me I was ashamed
Serves you right You had two irons in the fire
Three!
Now I count too?
Deciding on the phone is tough
Leaving without a word?
I'll write them
T o say what?
The truth
I found an 8-track recorder My music comes first
They're nice girls they'll understand
Without the music what'd you have done?
I have no idea
I've never been in a spot like that
Things always worked themselves out
They have again
Now you and I can go to Ouessant
whenever you want
That's no longer possible
My boyfriend wrote he'll be back in September
So I'll go with him. He wanted to go there too. I'm so sorry
I told you nothing ever happens to me
Not even an innocent outing with a girl
It's my fate
You had it coming to you
No
Y es. Think about it
Time to go
I'm in Rennes now and then We can meet
Best of luck
I won't forget our walks
Me neither
I'll be gone for months leaving Margot
Raise the sail, Santiano!
I was sad, my spirits were low
Leaving the harbor of St. Malo
I was sad, my spirits were low
Leaving the harbor of St. Malo