Voila! Finally, the Jules And Jim
script is here for all you quotes spouting fans of Jules et Jim by François
Truffaut. This script is a transcript that was painstakingly
transcribed using the screenplay and/or viewings of Jules And Jim. I know, I know, I still need to get the cast names in there and I'll be eternally
tweaking it, so if you have any corrections, feel free to
drop me a line. You won't
hurt my feelings. Honest.
You said ''l love you!''
and l said ''Stay!''
l nearly said ''Take me!''
but you said ''Go away!''
Circa Jules,
a foreigner in Paris, asked...
Jim, a new pal, to get him
a ticket to the Fine Arts Bal
Jim did and took...
him to get a costume
As Jules chose his slave outfit,
Jim's friendship for Jules was born.
and flowered at the ball where Jules
sat with tender, laughing eyes.
Next day, they had a real talk
and began to meet daily.
Each taught the other
his language and literature...
sharing and translating
their poems together.
Both were indifferent
to money and...
neither had ever found
such an attentive listener.
Jules had no girlfriend
but wanted one
Jim had several
He introduced him
to a musician and...
their mutual crush lasted a week
Then came a pretty thing...
who outlasted them
in the cafes till : AM
Then they made a threesome
with a blonde widow
She thought
Jules was nice but dumb...
and found him a quiet girl
whom he found to be too quiet
ln spite of Jim's advice,
Jules visited some pros...
but found no satisfaction there.
Get to work!
No more paint!
They'll say anarchists can't spell!
Merlin's after me!
He's big! Run!
Can l sleep at your place?
l'm Teresa.
lndeed! But l have a date
elsewhere tonight
Gilberta?
So Jules'?
- Who's Jules?
- Me
- And you?
- Jim
- Jim and Jules!
- No! Jules and Jim!
What's that?
Better than a clock!
Once the sand's run out...
l'll be asleep
- You'll sleep there... Me, here
- Sure!
- Got a cigaret?
- Of course!
- You're Jim?
- Jules
You're nice, Jules
l'll be a steam locomotive!
lt's almost day
For once, stay and sleep next to me
No, Gilberta
lf l did, l'd feel
l must stay tomorrow too
That would be
as if we'd set up house
Was that our agreement?
You're so logical!
And Judex hates
being left home alone
The night's over. lt's daybreak
Pretend l'm a laborer
leaving for work
You'll go home
and sleep till noon, l'm sure!
lt was Shakespeare!
lt was Shakespeare. Believe me!
- Got a cigaret?
- Of course!
Can l sleep at your place?
l'm Teresa
Never mind, Jules
Lose and find new ones!
With Teresa it wasn't love
She was my young mother
and loving daughter at the same time
l've no luck with Parisians
Thank heavens
for the girls back home
l love Lucie
She refused to marry me
l'll go back to see her in months
And this is Birgitta
And there's also Helga...
whom l might love
if l didn't love Lucie
She looks like this
Jules sketched a woman's face
on the table
Jim tried to buy the table but...
the owner would sell
only all tables or none
Albert!
Jim... my French friend
l think we've already met
Do sit down!
Jim had asked...
- Who's Albert?
- The friend of some artists
He knows all those
who'll be famous in years
This one's more exotic...
rather like an lnca statue
This is more in the Roman style
lt's pockmarked by the rain.
l found it in a garden
lt's had a generation of rain on it
This one's very pathetic
The face seems to be decaying
lt's odd to see stone
given such a flabby treatment
l love this one.
The lips are beautiful...
rather disdainful.
The eyes are beautiful
We'd like to see it again
l have a close-up of it
lt was the roughly sculpted face...
of a woman
whose calm smile startled them
lt was on display in an open-air
museum on an Adriatic island
They decided to see it at once
They had identical outfits made
They spent an hour by the statue
They admired it silently
and said nothing till the next day
Had they ever seen such a smile?
Never!
And if they did?
They'd follow it
They came home
filled with this new revelation
Paris welcomed them
You're a gentleman, Jim!
- How's your book coming?
- Pretty well
lt's rather autobiographical
Our friendship plays a major role
l'll read you some pages
Jack and Julian were close
Julian's last novel
had been a success
He wrote about women...
he'd known before meeting Jack
and before Lucienne
Jack was proud of Julian...
like Don Quixote and Sancho Panza
People even thought
they were a bit queer
They always ate together...
and chose the best cigars
for each other
Beautiful!
l'd like to translate it into German
To the showers!
My cousin in Munich wrote...
to say he's sending me girls
who're studying with him...
a Berliner, a Dutch girl
and a French girl
They're coming to dinner tomorrow.
l'm counting on you!
Catherine had the statue's smile
Her nose, mouth,
chin and forehead...
had a certain provincial pride
lt was like a dream
As the party organiser l suggest...
we abolish once and for all
any use of titles...
such as Sir, Madame or Miss...
and a toast to friendship
with my favorite Nussberger wine
Let us avoid
the traditional linking of arms...
by touching toes beneath the table
Carried away,
Jules removed his at once
Jim kept his next to Catherine's...
but she gently pulled hers away
Jules' shy, happy smile told...
everyone that they were in his heart
For a month Jules disappeared
and saw Catherine alone...
but the friends continued
to meet at the gym
Very good, Jules
Will you spend the evening
with me and Catherine?
l told her all about you
Catherine's anxious
to know you better but...
Not with her, Jim, OK?
Hello, Mr. Jim!
Say Jim the way the English do
Not Jeem!
What do you think of our pal Thomas?
Can he go out with us?
Not bad! Maybe a mustache...
Now let's face the streets
Got a light, sir?
Thank you, sir
Catherine's trick pleased her
Jules and Jim...
felt confused
ls it a dream or rain?
Maybe both!
So let's go to the sea!
Tomorrow!
Let's have a race...
to the end of the bridge
Get set!
... ...
- You cheated.
- But l won!
Thomas always wins, speaks
languages and swims like a fish
And stands on his head?
You'll teach him!
Mr. Jim,
tomorrow will you help me...
take my bags to the station?
What a mixture!
Her father's a noble,
her mother's a commoner
He's from an old Burgundy family
Mama was English
So she's not average...
and she teaches
- What?
- Shakespeare!
Jim felt she was Jules'
and didn't think about her
The calm smile
returned to Catherine's lips...
naturally, expressing everything
l need only to iron my dress!
- Taking your bike?
- Yes
And this bag?
- What're you doing?
- l'm burning some lies
Give me a match
Are you hurt?
No. Hand me my dress
- Got a broom?
- ln front of you!
Will you help me?
That goes too
What is it?
Sulfuric acid
for the eyes of men who lie
The bottle'll break in your bag
You can buy more acid anywhere
Not in that bottle!
l swore to use only that bottle
- Your hat!
- Thanks!
They rented a house on the coast,
too big but isolated...
a bit solemn, white outside
and unfurnished
- Sleep well?
- Very!
- ls Jim awake?
- l don't know
- How's everyone?
- Everyone's fine!
A beautiful day!
Let's go to the beach!
Let's look
for traces of civilisation!
A bottle!
A shoe!
A can! Watch out!
Catherine, look!
Wonderful!
Be careful!
A postcard!
A piece of china!
A cup... a cigaret butt!
A cigaret pack!
l think we're lost!
Would you mind if l marry Catherine?
Answer me frankly
ls she made for a husband
and children?
l'm afraid she'll never be
happy here on earth
She's an apparition, not a woman...
for one man
We must continue
Not this time!
l quit!
Come on, boys! Help me!
Let's go, boys!
l've read a book l like
A German dares to say aloud
what l think inside
The sky we see...
is a bubble no bigger than this
We walk with our heads
pointed at the center
What's beyond the crust?
Who knows? That's not a question
for gentlemen to answer
Give me your answer tomorrow
lt it's no, l'll ask you again...
each year on your birthday
You've known few women,
l've known lots of men
With our averages,
maybe we'd make a good couple
Catherine's almost said yes
At l was in love with Napoleon
l dreamt of meeting him
in an elevator
He'd make me pregnant
and l'd never see him again
Poor Napoleon!
As a baby l learned
Our Father who art in Heaven...
but l said
Our Father's go-cart in Heaven
So l imagined my daddy with a beard,
riding in a go-cart in Paradise
l thought l'd told a funny story...
at least amusing enough
to make you smile
Would someone mind
scratching my back?
Scratch and Heaven'll scratch you
Scratch and...
Before l met you l never laughed
l looked like this...
But that's over! Never again!
lt's raining! Look!
l miss Paris. Let's go back!
Tomorrow we'll be in Paris
l've signed with my publisher!
For Catherine!
For you both!
Wonderful!
What is it?
A little hand
for scratching your back!
l have seats
for the theater tonight
What'll we see?
A new Swedish play
Curtain's at :
Once the sand runs out,
time to get dressed!
Jim enjoyed seeing his friends often
Jules' great bed
was officially inaugurated...
with pillows side by side
and the bed smelled good
Catherine began to find
her roots in life
Nevertheless, l like that girl!
She wants to be free
and live each moment of her life
Jim doesn't seem to agree
The play's vague and complacent,
showing vice to illustrate virtue
We don't know
when or where it takes place
He doesn't say
if the heroine's a virgin or not
That's unimportant!
Yes, if the story
was only sentimental,
but he says the hero's impotent...
plus a homo brother and a nympho!
We need more details on the heroine
That's all you think about!
Right, Madam, and because of you!
No psychology tonight!
No, it's metaphysics!
A wife's fidelity is important...
a husband's is secondary
Who wrote Woman is natural,
therefore abominable?
Baudelaire, on certain women
of a certain world
Not at all!
He meant women in general!
He described a young girl...
Monstrous scarecrow,
assassin of Art...
little fool, little bitch...
the greatest idiocy linked
to the greatest depravation!
Wait! He said more
lt's amazing
that they allow women in churches
What have they to discuss with God?
- You're idiots!
- l said nothing!
l don't have to agree
with Jules at : AM
Then protest!
l protest!
Jim fixed Catherine's leap
in his mind...
and made a sketch of it
although he'd never drawn before
He felt a burst of admiration...
and in his thoughts
sent her an invisible kiss
He mentally swam with her
and held his breath...
to scare Jules
Catherine! Why?
You're crazy!
Catherine's hat floated away
Jules was pale, uncertain,
quiet and more handsome
Catherine smiled like a modest
general after a victory in ltaly
No one mentioned her jump
l'm home
- Please, Mr. Jim...
- Just Jim!
Just Jim...
l'd like to ask you for some advice
Will you meet me at our cafe
tomorrow at : ?
Catherine wants to talk to you
l'll be there at :
You're joking!
l never joke
l have no sense of humor
l know people who do...
my wife's friends, people at work
but personally l don't
l'm not funny
Jim arrived late, as usual...
optimistically
He was afraid of not being
the first to arrive
He thought a girl like her
could arrive at : ...
and not seeing me, leave at :
She might walk through the room...
and not seeing me with my paper,
leave immediately
A girl like her...
But what was she like?
Jim truly thought of Catherine
for the first time
Waiter!
Another coffee!
Another drink!
Jim, did l wake you?
We're going home to my country
to get married!
My apologies to Catherine.
l arrived late
l waited till :
Catherine's more optimistic
about time
She was at the hairdresser's
and arrived...
at : to have dinner with you
lf l'd known,
l'd have waited till midnight
Catherine wants to talk to you
Jim, l'm very happy
Jules is going to teach me
French boxing
With an Austrian accent?
l don't have an accent anymore!
My pronunciation is excellent.
Listen!
Children of the nation,
our victory day has come!
Against tyranny we've raised
the bloody flag of freedom!
Can you hear in the land
the enemy's fierce guns?
They've come to take
the blood of our sons!
War broke out shortly
The men were mobilised
in their respective armies...
and didn't hear from each other
The war dragged on
and became a daily routine...
patterned after the seasons...
a normal life with its pauses...
and even its distractions
Jim received packages from Gilberta
Each time he expected a furlough...
it was canceled
But in Spring,
he had a week in Paris
Don't marry me to thank me
for a package! We're fine this way!
OK but l'm sure
we'll grow old together
How's Jules?
No news since he married Catherine
l'm afraid of killing him
in the trenche
My love...
l think of you constantly but...
not of your soul,
for l don't believe in that...
but of your body, thighs,
and hips...
and of your belly,
and our son inside it
l've no envelope and don't know
how to send you this letter
l'm being sent to the Russian front
lt'll be rough but...
l prefer it that way.
l'm so afraid of killing Jim
My love...
l kiss you very hard
Jules' country had lost,
Jim's had won
But the real victory was
they were alive
They made contact via
a neutral country and began writing
Catherine and Jules
lived near the Rhine
Sabine had been born.
Jim wrote to Jules:
''Should l too get married
and have children?''
Jules replied:
''Come judge for yourself''
Catherine asked him also
Jim left but delayed the event
of his arrival
He visited several towns
on the Rhine
A Paris paper published his articles
on postwar Germany
He wanted to see
his own major battlefields
ln some spots the fields...
contained so much iron from
the shellin that they were untillable
Jim looked for the names
of his lost comrades...
in the cemeteries that already
the schoolchildren were visiting
Catherine was...
at the station with her daughter
and a look of restrained audacity
and whim
Hello, Jim
This is Sabine
Hello, Mr. Jim!
Jules is anxious to see you
Jim felt like she'd come to the cafe
very late, dressed especially for him
She took him to their chalet
amid some pines by a sloping meadow
- How are the others?
- Oh, the others...
- You haven't changed.
- You haven't changed
So no one's changed!
No, thanks...
- Want some?
- A little
l've quit smoking
now that l'm in love with plants
An angel is passing over
Naturally! lt's :
They always pass over
at minutes past
- Oh?
- So it seems
l didn't know that
Neither did l
At past and at to
So you won the war, you devil!
l'd rather have won this
You must be hungry. Let's eat
After lunch l'll show you the house
Jim here... Jules there...
and Sabine next to me
And your new novel?
Unfinished due to my damn articles
l have to think about them
all week...
then write them Friday night
and send them by air mail
And you?
l have a commission
for a book on dragonflies
l'm doing the text and photos
Catherine's doing the drawings
and graphs
Even Sabine helps
by going with me to the marshes
l'm going to build
an artificial pond in the garden
Maybe one day...
l'll write a love story...
where the characters will be insects
l have a bad tendency
to overspecialise
l envy you your broad scope, Jim
Me? l'm a failure
Prof Albert Sorel
taught me the little l know
He saidYou want to be what?
A diplomat
Are you rich?
No
Can you legitimately add
a famous name to your own surname?
No
Then forget diplomacy
But what'll l become?
Curious
That's not a profession, not yet
Travel, write, translate
Learn to live everywhere.
Begin at once
The future belongs to the curious
The French have stayed
behind their borders too long
Newspapers'll pay for your escapades
Jules says a great career
lies before you
l agree but not necessarily
a spectacular one
Here's where Jules works and sleeps
Our life is organised
like life in a convent
Jules writes his books...
hunts for his insects
and little things
Mathilda,
the nearby farmer's girl...
helps me with the house and Sabine
My room...
lt's Jules!
His father adored...
Mozart so much that one day
he dressed Jules like him
The balcony...
Your inn is over there
Jules'll take you there later
Jules and Jim
continued talking as before
They discussed the war.
Jules avoided mentioning his family
Catherine was severe
and kind to him,
but Jim felt all was not going
very well
Time for bed!
The fleas need to be fed!
Once upon a time there was a flea...
a very nice flea...
See you tomorrow!
l need to talk to you
How do you find Catherine?
Marriage and motherhood
agree with her
She's not so grasshopper,
more like an ant
Beware!
True, she maintains order
and harmony in our home
But when all goes too well,
she becomes discontented
Her attitude changes
and she whips out her words
l always thought
she was like Napoleon
She claims the world is rich and...
one can sometimes cheat a bit...
but she first asks God for
forgiveness, sure that she'll get it
Jim, l'm afraid she'll leave us
lmpossible!
No. She's already gone off
For months l thought
she wouldn't come back
l can feel
she's ready to leave again
She's no longer completely my wife
She's had lovers. l know of
One on the eve of our wedding
as a farewell to bachelorhood...
one as revenge
for something l did...
but l don't know what
l'm not the man for her...
and she can't bear that
l'm used to her infidelities but...
l couldn't bear for her to leave
Now there's Albert...
The singer who found the statue...
He's the one who showed it to us
He was hurt in the war
He's convalescing in a nearby town
Catherine's encouraged him
and given him hope
He's a good man.
He was frank with me
He wants to marry her
and raise the child
l'm not mad at him
l'm not mad at her nor Albert
l'm slowly giving her up...
and all l'd hoped for on earth
She won't leave.
She loves your Buddhist monk aspect
She's usually sweet and generous...
but when she feels unappreciated...
she becomes terrible...
and violently goes
from one extreme to the other
Listen to the mole-cricket singing
lt's a kind of mole
From his room
Jim could see the chalet
Queen of the hearth,
Catherine was ready to fly away
Jim wasn't surprised
He recalled Jules' errors
with other women
He knew Catherine
was terribly precise
He felt sad for Jules
but couldn't judge Catherine
She leapt into men
as she'd leapt into the Seine
A threat hung over the house
The nd week began
Sabine...
You'd best say goodnight now
Yes, Mama
Jim, l'd like to talk to you later
Are you free?
Please note that words
can't have the same value...
when they don't have the same gender
ln German war, death and moon
are masculine...
whereas sun and love are feminine
Life is neuter
That's very pretty
and above all very logical
As the war dragged on,
skirts got shorter
lt caused quarrels
on each furlough
Soldiers felt
they were being laughed at...
but actually cloth
had become rarer and rarer
And women had to cut their hair...
to work in factories
because of the machines
Jim, it's time you learned
to enjoy German beer
Jim's French like me.
He doesn't give a damn
- Not true!
- What?
France has the widest variety
of wines in Europe. ln the world!
Bordeaux like Chateau Laffitte...
Chateau Margaux, Chateau Yquem,
Chateau Frontenac...
St-Emilion, St-Julien, Entre- -Mers,
and l'm forgetting some of the best.
Clos Vougeot, the Burgundies,
Romanee, Chambertin...
Beaune, Pommard, Chablis,
Montrachet, Volnay, Beaujolais...
Pouilly-Fuisse, Pouilly-Loche,
Moulin ... Vent...
Fleurie, Morgon, Brouilly,
St-Amour...
We stared at the shell
rolling slowly down the stairs
Only more steps, more...
all of us flat on our bellies
Catch me!
You want to know what?
Nothing. Just listen to you
To judge me?
Good God, no!
l won't say a thing
but l have a question
And it's tell me about Jim
Sure. What?
Anything. Just plow ahead
Without naming Jules
or himself he described...
young men,
their friendship in Paris...
before a certain girl came
and what happened afterwards...
and even ''Not with her, Jim!''
unable to avoid using his own name.
their threesomes,
the stay by the sea
Catherine watched Jim relive it
as if he were still there
She corrected a few details
and added others
He described missing her at the cafe
and how he saw the of them...
Jules' hidden qualities and
how he'd felt from the start that...
Jules couldn't hold on to Catherine
You'd have said it at the cafe?
Yes
Go on
There's no more to say.
The war came
l was glad to find Jules again,
see you
l've enjoyed
the time l've spent with you...
and what l've seen,
learned and figured out
The approaching cloud...
l mean Albert
Are you with Jules against me?
No more so than he is
l'll retell the story as l lived it
Jules' generosity, innocence...
and vulnerability
amazed and won me over
He was such a contrast to other men
l hoped to heal him
of his crises with cheerfulness...
but l realised
his crises are a part of him
We were happy a while but
happiness didn't become a part of us
We ended up face to face,
not together
His family was really a torture
At a party on the eve
of our marriage...
his mother did something
that hurt me deeply
l punished Jules
for being passive about it...
by spending a few hours
with an ex-lover, Harold
Yes, a lover
So l married Jules
and we were quits...
and got off on an even start
Luckily his family
moved away up north somewhere
Then came the war.
Jules was sent east
He wrote me wonderful, fiery...
love letters
From afar l loved him more
and reburnished his halo
Our last argument and true break-up
was on his first leave
l felt like
l was in a stranger's arms
He left. months later
Sabine was born
She doesn't resemble him
Believe what you will, she's his
l told him l've given you
a daughter, that's enough
That ends it. Now it's separate
rooms. l want my freedom
Remember your young friend Fortunio?
He was there, free as a bird.
So was l
He was a nice partner.
What a vacation!
But he was too young
and it wasn't serious
One day, to my surprise...
l missed Jules' leniency
and leisureliness
My daughter attracted me
like a magnet
So l left
l've only been back here months
As a husband to me,
Jules is finished
Don't feel sorry for him.
l still allow him
enough distractions
Now there's Albert
who told me of the statue...
the of you liked
and which l resemble
l flirted with him.
He may be odd but
he has a natural authority Jules lac
He wants me to marry him.
He wants both mother and daughter
l like him a lot
but not enough till now
He's coming to lunch tomorrow
You've listened well.
l talked more than you
But l didn't tell all,
no more than you did
l had other lovers? Never mind
l only talked
about what you talked about
- l understand you.
- l don't want to be understood
lt's almost daybreak
Jim wanted Catherine but
stifled his desire more than ever
She mustn't leave
Was he reacting on Jules behalf...
or on his own? He'd never know
Jim was far from sure
whether or not...
Catherine was trying to seduce him
She never revealed her goal
until she'd scored
Hello, Sabine
How're you and your mama?
Fine
Hello, Albert
You shaved your mustache?
Like everyone else! But l feel naked.
l'm going to let it grow back
Albert was wounded in the trenches
l'm OK now but when l woke up...
and found a surgeon
digging in my skull...
l thought of Oscar Wilde:
God, spare me physical pain!
l can cope with moral suffering!
The disgusting part of war is...
it deprives a man
of his own individual battle
Yes but l think he can still
wage it at the same time
l remember a gunner
l met in the hospital
While on leave
he met a girl in a train...
and they talked
between Nice and Marseilles
As she left she gave him her address
For years he frantically wrote her
daily from the trenches...
on wrapping paper by candlelight
As the shells fell,
his tone became more intimate
At first he wrote Dear Miss
and ended with My sincerest respects
ln the rd one he called her
My little fairy and...
then it was My adorable fairy...
and then l kiss your hands...
then l kiss your forehead
Then he spoke of the photo
she'd sent...
and of the breasts
he imagined under her housecoat
Soon he said l love you terribly
One day he wrote her mother,
asking for the girl's hand
He became officially engaged
without ever seeing her again
The war went on and the letters
became more and more intimate
l clutch you to me, my love
l hold your adorable breasts
l clasp you to me naked
When she replied a bit coldly
he begged her not to be coy...
because he might die any moment.
lt was true
To understand this extraordinary
deflowering by mail..
you need to know the violence
of trench warfare...
the collective madness and
the presence of death each second
Here's a man
who fought in the war...
and yet he also waged
his own personal battle...
and completely conquered
a woman from afar
He was hospitalised with a head wound
like you, but wasn't as lucky as you
He died after a trepanation
on the eve of the armistice
ln his last letter
to his unknown fiancee he wrote...
Your breasts
are the only grenades l love
l'll show you
some photos l have of him
He almost seems alive
lt's a beautiful story
Jules wrote me
lovely letters during the war
Hello, Albert!
Have you finished my song?
Let's work on it
The movement of a rocking-chair
Makes fleshly joys seem so fair
And the song?
lt's coming along!
Yes, shall we do it?
lt's much too good for them
but we can't choose our audience!
She had rings on every finger
Bracelets on her wrists
And she sang with a voice
Which bewitched me
We met with a kiss
A hit - then a miss
lt wasn't all bliss, but we started.
Then we went our own ways
We each went back
into the hustle and bustle of life
l saw her again one night
lt's been such a long time...
Catherine was different to each one
and with all at the same time
Jim felt like a th wheel. He could
admire her only in private...
and was distant with her in public
Our affection needs to be left
in peace like a new-born baby
l can tell
you were truly in love once
- Why didn't you marry her?
- lt didn't work out
- What's she like?
- Reasonable and patient
She says she'll wait forever.
Her name's Gilberta
You both still love each other?
Don't cause any suffering, Jim
l like adventure and taking risks
And there's something new
l admire you. l enjoy seeing you
l'm afraid l'll forget Jules
Don't. He must be told
Translation!
Hearts that love in vain...
My God, how they cause pain
Not bad...
but the My God isn't necessary
Good night!
lf you see the others, give them...
my regards
l want to read Affinities
- May l borrow it tonight?
- l loaned it to Jim
Never mind!
You'll have it tomorrow
You must return Affinities to me.
Catherine wants to read it tonight
Jim, Catherine wants
nothing to do with me
l'm terrified she'll walk out
of my life completely
The last time
l saw you two together...
you were like a married couple
Jim, love her!
Marry her and let me see her
l mean, if you love her,
stop thinking of me as an obstacle
Jim awaited Catherine all day.
She was in his arms
with her low voice
Their first kiss lasted all night
They said nothing and became closer
At dawn the light went out
She had a look
of incredible curiosity and joy
Enchained, Jim arose
For him, other women
no longer existed
Your turn!
l've asked Jim to live with us
He can have the small room
Beware, Jim!
Beware of her and of you!
Here's your make-shift bedroom
Some German books
but you'll find more in my room
A cupboard...
l'll unpack your bag
l guess that's about it
That part is a mess
but it can't be helped
What's beyond the wall?
Sabine and Mathilda's room
The bed's not too bad
Sit next to me
l love the nape of your neck
l can look at it without being seen
And Jules?
He loves us both
He won't be surprised
and so he'll suffer less
We'll love and respect him
ln the village they were well liked
but were called the Mad Trio
Hearing this, Catherine invented
the Village ldiot game
At table they took turns,
playing the ldiot
Sabine made them giggle the most
Catherine has said
''You only truly love once''...
but for her that moment
kept returning
Life was really a holiday
Jules and Jim
had never worn such big masks
Time passed
Even happiness
can wear away imperceptibly
One Sunday
Catherine decided to seduce Jules
While Jim read downstairs,
she took Jules up to her room
''No, no!'' said Jules.
''Yes!'' said Catherine
Jim tried not to feel jealous
but nevertheless he was
Catherine noticed it
and never renewed the experience
They all went for a walk...
around a misty lake hidden
in a valley
They were in perfect harmony.
Catherine had a brief headache
After major fatigue,
Jim had worse ones and...
thought ''lf we have kids, they'll be
tall and thin with headaches''
They went down to the lake
to throw stones
Catherine and Jules
learned how to make them skip
The sky was low
Jim's newspaper called him
back to Paris
Jim's newspaper called him
back to Paris
Their goodbyes weren't painful -
they were sure...
they'd soon be together again,
as before
Their month had been filled
with tiny perfect moments together
When the train left,
they waved for a long time
Jules sort of blessed them
and kissed Jim...
who told Catherine he wanted
to marry her and have children
Jules is willing to get a divorce.
l'm going to marry Catherine
l want to have children with her
Jules will find me a job
in his country
l'm translating a Viennese play
that's to be staged here
- Where are you going?
- Home
- l'll go with you.
- l'd rather you didn't
Hello, Jim!
Teresa!
The locomotive!
Teresa! How are you? How's...?
weeks of love!
But l cheated on him to buy him...
a sculpted pipe!
He found out, got jealous
and locked me away for weeks!
l went wild! l escaped on the ladder
of a painter and moved in with him
Then a man promised me a fortune
in Cairo as a virgin in a house...
- Hi, Jim!
- How're you?
- And your pal?
- He's fine
Then an Englishman saved me and...
we lived in a villa
by the Red Sea with a tennis court
Then l heard from home...
Gaby, how're you?
- ls Jules in Paris?
- No
l went home to stop the wedding
and married him!
Jim, how's your pal?
Still with the same girl?
l'd like to see her again
A fine man!
l went after him but he ignored me
l divorced my husband.
My undertaker finally married me!
We're a perfect couple! No kids!
l can't cheat! He doesn't leave me
the time nor the energy!
l'm writing my memoirs
for the Sunday Times!
My husband!
- And you?
- l'm getting married
- Bye, Teresa!
- Bye, Jim!
- Hi, Jim, how's Jules?
- Fine
lnteresting, huh?
Her name's Denise
Don't talk to her. She won't answer
She never talks.
She's not dumb, just empty
lt's empty in there. She's a thing
A pretty thing!
A lovely object
Sex... Pure sex!
- Say goodbye to the man.
- Sir...
Catherine spent the winter
at the chalet...
as Jim's fiancee left in Jules' care
Each day she asked him,
''Do you think Jim loves me?''
Listen, Gilberta...
When Catherine wants
to do something and...
to the extent it won't hurt anyone,
and she's not always right...
she does it for pleasure
and to learn something from it
She hopes to attain wisdom that way
That could go on quite a while!
You're being petty, Gilberta
l'm not! l'm jealous
l've always known
it would end this way
Jim, don't leave tomorrow!
She'll have you for a lifetime.
Give me another week!
Jim could no more leave Gilberta
than Catherine leave Jules
Jules mustn't suffer,
nor should Gilberta
They were fruits of the past,
counterbalancing each other
Tell Jim l saw Teresa,
now married and an authoress
l've had to delay my return, but
soon l'll be free and ready for you
l must say a few little farewells
A few little farewells?
Do you think Jim loves me?
What's wrong? Why didn't
Catherine come to meet me?
ln your letters you wrote too much
about your work and farewells
Catherine hates absences.
Yours was too long
She imagines you've done more
than you possibly could
- She's waiting at the chalet?
- l think so. Sure!
Catherine!
l didn't want to tell you
She left yesterday morning
without a word
l hoped she'd be back
before you arrived
Aren't you worried?
That something's happened to her? No
l think she's making
an irreparable error
Your letter didn't make
a good impression
l saw Teresa,
now married and an authoress
l must say a few little farewells
Catherine does things,
one by one and goes all the way
She's a force of nature
and expresses herself by cataclysms
She lives each moment
with lucidity and harmony...
guided by her feeling of innocence
- You make her sound like a queen.
- She is a queen!
To be frank with you...
she's not especially beautiful,
intelligent nor sincere...
but she's a real woman
And she...
is the woman we love...
and all men desire
Why did Catherine,
so sought after, offer us both...
the gift of her presence?
Because we gave her our full
attention, as if to a queen
l must admit l almost didn't
come back from Paris
l knew it could never be
so good between us
lt's hurt our friendship.
At times l'm jealous of you and...
your years with her
l even hate you
for not being jealous of me
Do you believe that?
l'd do anything
not to lose Catherine completely...
and you'll be like me when
she returns, and she always does!
Jules, help me. l'm leaving
Tell her you didn't find me
at the station
My mind's made up.
lt's the only answer
Yes... l went to the station,
you weren't there
What's wrong with you?
Did you just arrive?
You're my Jim, l'm your Catherine.
That's fine!
You wrote me a lot about
your affairs. l have my own
You said goodbye to your loves
l went to say goodbye to mine
You can hold me in your arms
all night but nothing more
We want a child together, right?
lf we do it now...
l won't be sure if it's yours.
Understand?
l had to
- You love Albert?
- No
- He loves you?
- Yes
lt's the only way to create
something good between us
Albert equals Gilberta
You've nothing to say?
We must start from scratch
Catherine's creed was to start
from scratch and to pay cash
They lay there, trembling and chaste
She fell asleep and Jim lay awake,
knowing she loved him
as he loved her
A unique force
attracted them to each other
Once again they soared high
like great birds of prey
They remained chaste
until she was sure...
she wasn't pregnant
This restraint exalted them
They didn't cheat on each other.
The Promised Land was in view
When it came time to have a baby,
they realized she wasn't pregnant
They saw a specialist...
who said many couples waited
for months to become productive
What's wrong?
l want to sleep alone tonight
- Why?
- Because!
- Explain it!
- There's nothing to explain!
l'll be good and sleep next to you
lt's not true!
l don't care about your goodness.
l'm disgusted
This child we'll never have
is a nightmare!
lt's like taking a test.
l can't stand it!
But our love is what counts
No, l count too.
And l love you less
Let's try not to need each other
lf we break up and l later realize
l love you, that's my risk
Gilberta still writes to you,
so go back to her
You're being unfair
No doubt. But l'm heartless
That's why l don't love you
and will never love anyone
l'm you're
At you'll want a woman
and l'll be
You'll find a -year-old
and l'll be left alone like a fool
Maybe. l'll leave tomorrow
A -month separation!
Are you in pain?
Not me, not anymore.
Because we mustn't suffer...
not at the same time
Once you stop suffering,
l'll suffer
Am l interrupting?
l can't bear it.
Did you hear us arguing?
No, l was working
l can't stand him.
l'm going crazy
But he's leaving. Good riddance!
Don't be unfair.
You know he loves you
l really don't know anymore
He lied to me
He didn't break up with Gilberta.
He doesn't know what he feels
You love, you don't love
and you end up falling in love
lt's not my fault
we don't have a child
Got a cigaret?
- Want me to talk to him?
- Absolutely not
l'm half for him,
half against him...
but l want him to go
We've decided to separate
for months. What do you think?
l don't know. Maybe it's a good idea
Won't you tell me what you think?
You despise me
No, Catherine. l never will!
l'll always love you...
no matter what you do or may happen
Really?
l love you too!
We were truly happy
We still are
At least, l am
Really?
We'll always stay together...
like an old couple...
with Sabine and Sabine's children
Hold me close to you!
l don't want to go back to him
before he goes
Then stay here
l'll sleep downstairs
My little Catherine...
you often remind me...
of a Chinese play
l saw before the war
As the curtain rose, the emperor...
leaned toward the audience
and said...
You see before you
the unhappiest of men...
because l have wives...
a st wife and a nd wife
To Jules their love was relative
but his was absolute
The next day Jim left
Catherine walked him to the station
A fog had invaded the fields
during the night
The others in the hive felt
Jim was at odds with the queen...
so his departure was normal
Already we can't see the house
The train schedule
had changed for the fall
No train was due till the next day
Hotel rooms always make me
feel guilty
l'm not very moral
but l dislike secret trysts
You love them, don't deny it.
l won't believe you
Jim thought of the children
he could've had with Catherine...
a whole houseful
He also thought
that without children,
she'd start having affairs again
ln the grim hotel, without a word...
they had each other, perhaps
as if ending things once and for all
lt was like a burial,
as if they were already dead
She took him to the train
but they didn't wave goodbye
They parted without being forced to
Again Jim thought it was all over
Here's your inhaler...
and a letter too
l think l'm pregnant.
Come at once! Catherine
Gilberta, please hand me some paper
Catherine,
l'm too sick in bed to get up
l don't want to see you pregnant
probably by someone else
Surely our pathetic farewell
didn't do what our love couldn't
...what our love couldn't
Yes, l don't believe he's sick
l'll write to him
that you want to see him
Dear lmaginary lnvalid,
come as soon as possible
Catherine awaits your letter
Write big because
her eyes are tired...
and she can only read big letters
Catherine thinks l'm not ill
l wonder if she's pregnant
l doubt that l could be
the father because...
of our past, Albert and all the rest
Could you mail this?
Of course
A letter for you!
l'm going now. l'll be late
l love you, Jim
There's a lot we don't understand
and many truths are incredible
l'm pregnant at last.
We must thank God. Bow to Him!
l'm positive you're the father
Please believe me!
Your love is alive in me!
Believe me, Jim!
This paper is your skin,
the ink's my blood
Answer me at once!
Gilberta!
My love, l believe you!
l'm coming to you!
Whatever is good in me
comes from you
They'd sworn never to talk by phone
and be unable to touch each other
Their letters took days
and crossed each other
l doubt it because of our past,
Albert and all the rest
l'll never think of you again.
Don't think of me
You disgust me and l'm wrong
because nothing should be disgusting
Jim, your letter changes everything
ln days you'll arrive
instead of a plain letter
We try to recall our harsh words
but they're forgotten
Come as soon as you can,
even late at night
Then Jim heard from Jules
Your baby died
after a third of its prenatal life
Catherine wants total silence
between you
So they'd created nothing
Jim said rediscovering
the laws of life is great...
but it's best to stick
to the existent laws
We played with the seed of life
and lost
This is incredible!
You gave up the chalet?
We prefer to live in France now
We've rented a mill
on the banks of the Seine
We must get together.
Come to my place tomorrow
Tell me about Catherine
For a long time l feared
she'd commit suicide
She bought a revolver
She'd say
So-and-so committed suicide...
the way we say
So and-so died of cholera
She was hunched up like a widow
She was like a convalescent...
and moved slowly
with the smile of a corpse
Gilberta, this is my friend Jules
Jim's talked so much about you
l feel l know you very well
Catherine knows you came?
Yes, she'd like you
to come for a drive
l wish you and your wife would come
She won't but l will
l must go now
You can't wear a hat like that!
Not in France!
Take mine
Come this way!
She's in a good mood today
Don't upset her
lt's magnificent!
Look at Catherine's car!
lt's Jim
Catherine smiled
but seemed to be plotting something
She wrapped her white pyjamas in
a package and tied it with a ribbon
Jim wondered about it
and then forgot
They went for their ride
l'm hungry. Let's eat here!
Albert! What're you doing here?
Getting some air
Besides, l live here
- Care to eat with us?
- Gladly!
Maybe you have a date?
Maybe
Give me my package
Good night!
Well done!
nd time for the pyjama routine!
l didn't expect it
l'm amazed
she didn't re-cast the man's part
She's used Albert often
Why? He was perfect for tonight.
Leave her the car
Catherine's motto
is that for a couple...
at least one of them
has to be faithful
You saw l don't live alone.
l'm going to marry Gilberta
You're smarter than l am, Jim
You know when it's over
with Catherine, it's over
Gilberta will be a good wife
She's lovely
Jim recognized Catherine's horn
and at first...
he saw nothing
Then he spotted the car
driving around the square...
skirting the benches and trees,
like a riderless horse...
like a ghost ship
What a night l had!
l wasn't in my place there.
That life's dead for me
lt was a desert! l talked about you
and looked for you
Come at once!
Come lie next to me. Kiss me!
l've something to tell you
Tell me
ln a novel you loaned me
l found a passage you'd marked
A woman on a ship...
gives herself mentally
to an unknown passenger
lt struck me as a confession...
of how you explore the world
l have flashes of curiosity too
Maybe everyone does
l control mine for you, but l'm
not sure you control yours for me
l agree with you.
For love a couple isn't the ideal
Just look around us!
You tried to make it better by
refusing hypocrisy and resignation
You wanted to invent love
But pioneers must be humble
and not egocentric
No, we must look at things frankly
We've failed.
We've missed everything
You tried to adapt me to you
l've caused distress around me
by trying to give you joy
My promise to Gilberta
for growing old together...
means nothing.
l can put it off forever
lt's counterfeit
l've no hope of marriage with you
l want you to know
l'm going to marry Gilberta
We can still have children
A fine story, Jim!
And me, Jim!
And me?
And the children l wanted?
You didn't want them!
l did!
They'd have been beautiful!
You're going to die!
You make me sick! l'll kill you!
Coward! You're scared!
A few months later...
Jim was glad to see Jules but
his heart didn't pound for Catherine
She wouldn't leave them together...
and suggested a drive. Jim agreed
Catherine drove rapidly and...
took some risks. The air was electric
as during their forest outing...
before meeting Albert
They stopped at a dancehall
near the river
Now they've begun to burn books!
lt's incredible
For Catherine
you were easy to catch...
but hard to keep
Your love went from zero...
up to with Catherine's
l've never known your zeros
nor your hundreds
l have something to tell you.
Will you come with me?
Jules, watch us!
Jules would never again fear
that she would cheat on him...
or die... because it was over
The bodies were found in the reeds
Jim's coffin was bigger than life.
Catherine's was a jewel-box
They left nothing
Jules had his daughter
Had Catherine enjoyed the battle?
No
She'd dazed Jules to the point
of nause He felt a surge of relief
The men's friendship
had no equal in love
They'd totally enjoyed little details
and tenderly noted their differences
From the start they'd been called
Don Quixote and Sancho Panza
The ashes were put in urns
and sealed away
Jules would have mixed them together
Catherine had wanted
to be strewn from a hilltop...
but that wasn't permitted