SECRET THINGS
So...
I'm Sandrine.
I'm the new girl.
As you can see, I work behind the bar
and sometimes in the cloakroom.
I don't like it.
But you've got to make a living.
To forget, I watch the show and the girls.
Nathalie fascinates me.
She's my secret role model.
She's so beautiful.
She has them all at her feet.
The truth is,
even if it's hard to admit, I would love to do the same -
make them all drool
and have the world at my feet, too.
If you don't want to fuck him, don't.
My club is a great business.
Why?
Customers get what they come for.
That's what I pay you for.
I like you, Nathalie.
You have a sweet little arse that really draws customers in.
But as you know,
it leaves me cold.
As for you, Sandrine, you're free.
No one's forcing you to do anything.
The thing is,
the world being what it is...
...you have to make your choice.
Never mind this pig.
Arsehole!
Are you not going home?
I owe three months' rent.
If I go home without it, she'll throw me out.
I bet he knew that.
Shit!
Stay with me for a change.
That's how we started to get close.
- Hungry? - No, thanks.
Champagne, then?
Where do you live?
In a tiny maid's room.
I was thrilled at first.
Even though it was tiny and expensive, it was home.
But going home alone every night...
You live alone?
No boyfriend?
We split up right after I moved in.
He was more of a friend than a lover.
I left home
and I wasn't going to be tied down.
- What was it like with him? - What?
Making love.
There was a time,
just once...
It was in the car.
He was driving.
I had my left hand on my knee.
He let go of the steering wheel,
he took my hand and moved it gently up my thigh...
And he gently made me rub myself.
For once I felt something.
Still, we split up the next day.
What about you?
Nothing much, I studied dance, finished school,
and I wound up in that club.
- Can I ask you something? - Go ahead.
Something personal, I mean.
Go ahead.
Since I've been working there, I...
How do you feel dancing naked with all those people watching?
Nothing.
But you excite them.
Usually it's a routine.
Usually?
On stage once, I had the best orgasm ever.
More than with a man?
That night, I had the best orgasm ever.
Why?
Because people were watching.
Men were watching?
People were watching.
It really turned me on and I came.
It has happened several times.
So that's it?
- What? - What makes you so exciting.
Did it happen tonight?
No such luck.
Are you shocked?
I'm a little jealous.
I thought I would never dare to.
Never dare to what?
Show yourself naked?
Get turned on by exciting them? Or orgasm?
All that together.
And I'm not pretty enough.
All girls say that.
I was afraid, too.
The night you...
I had some champagne...
Like tonight.
Just enough to feel light-headed, to feel good,
but not drunk.
And I dared.
And I came so hard.
I shocked you.
No, I told you, you make me jealous.
What's stopping you?
You're crazy, I would never dare to.
Are you drunk?
No, I feel fine.
Then let's play a little game.
What game?
Daring.
Daring to cross that forbidden thin line
that your friends will never cross.
It will give you pleasure.
I wanted to get out of there quickly.
Sit down. I won't jump on you.
First, it has to happen in your head.
OK.
Now close your eyes...
...and let me guide you.
The rest will come naturally.
Go to the bed.
But I thought, why not? What's the risk?
You can always leave.
So, will you have the guts?
Get under the sheets.
Undress under the sheets.
Close your eyes.
Let yourself go.
Every time you hesitate,
make that little effort to keep going.
Dare yourself to feel good.
Stroke your body slowly.
Try to explore it...
...without shame.
Run your hands over your body.
Find the spots where you feel the most pleasure.
Run your hand gently over your thigh...
Over the inside of your thighs.
Does that feel good?
Take off your bra.
Now your knickers.
Rub yourself again.
Does it feel good?
Keep going.
Now take the sheets off.
You're lovely.
Let yourself enjoy the pleasure of being naked and being observed.
Does that feel good?
Keep going until it's over.
Now...
Good night.
Where did you sleep?
There's another bedroom.
How do you feel?
On the one hand, just fine.
I'm here, there's you.
On the other, there's my landlady.
I'll have to haggle.
Find another job.
Do you want to live here?
I have some savings, I can help you.
- You can pay me back. - That would be great.
I would really like that.
But I would be in the way. You must have a boyfriend.
Men never come here!
Do you prefer women? I'm not a lesbian.
Me neither.
I'm tired of being alone, but I don't want a man on my back.
I don't know,
I like you.
So move in and we'll both go and find a job.
Hi, Mum.
Did you move?
Tell me about it.
Watch the crumbs. What's your friend like?
Nice.
We have our own rooms.
She doesn't annoy me.
I can do what I want.
Did you find a job?
I hope you won't be a waitress like before.
I doubt that was even a restaurant.
I might work in an office as an accountant or as a private secretary.
Look me in the eye.
- Are you lying to me? - No, I swear.
Give me a kiss.
- Say hello to your father. - Where is he?
Out there, in the back garden.
He potters about for hours.
He's waiting for the call that'll bring about a new job.
Poor Dad. Why doesn't he at least take you to the cinema?
Or go out for a walk?
The number of adverts I placed back then!
The personnel managers I met... In small companies.
Elsewhere, you can't get pass the underlings.
Now, with hindsight,
I know Nathalie meant to keep me stewing.
One day we were in the metro. We were both fed up, really fed up!
Do you know what I think? We're doing this all wrong.
We dutifully do as everyone else does.
Without money or connections, we'll always stay losers.
Let's use our guts and our arses to climb the social ladder.
We certainly won't be alone!
We can't let shyness get the better of us.
We must go further and do better than others.
I dare you to do something right now.
- What do you mean? - You heard me.
- Take off your bra. - Right now?
- Are you crazy? - Go on.
- Right here? - No one will notice.
Watch.
Your turn.
Act like nothing is going on.
Put your bag on your lap for cover.
Rub yourself.
A man noticed me.
There, on the left.
Keep going.
How does it feel?
I'm a little afraid...
...but being watched gets me excited.
Now, do it openly.
Quick!
It would have been too easy to stop there.
She knew there were surveillance cameras in every station.
Now, go on.
I thought you weren't into women.
I want to make you come.
- He's spotted us. - So what! Keep going.
Hurry up!
It felt funny being naked under our coats
in the unsuspecting crowd.
Funny,
but really pleasant.
So we kept it up.
I began to dare myself to do things.
It gave me a sense of superiority over people I passed on the street.
Next chapter - men, a user's manual.
First, pick a good one. But don't fall all over him.
Play the good, innocent little girl. Let him play the protector.
We can all do that.
Men just want to have sex and move on.
That's why you don't fuck them. At least not just like that.
Without letting on, study them, get them talking.
Discover their weak spots and passions -
money, cars, I don't know... success, work.
When you find out, you flatter them.
Then, once you have chosen your man, you give in to him.
Never on the first date. He'll think you're easy.
Don't wait too long, either.
After three or four dinners, give him the lot.
Give him pleasure,
make him think only he can make you climax.
Play the happy, docile woman,
but not for too long.
Then, stop faking it in bed.
Not seeing you climax will get him all worked up.
Then, without warning, dump him and start playing the field.
Overtly.
One night stands.
If possible, with another woman.
It will humiliate him, drive him crazy. He'll come crawling back.
- That works every time? - Almost.
That's the mystery of human nature...
We want what resists or escapes us.
Who taught you that?
Life. My mother.
But she and I were poor.
I also read a lot. I went to school like you.
It didn't keep us from ending up in the same strip club.
We women lack confidence and guts.
Someone always has to be behind us, egging us on.
We're a bit like the working class.
My mother said that they stay that way for one reason -
they don't dare to move up.
"Dare!" That's what she always said.
She knew about human nature.
- No man has ever made me come. - I know.
That's just fine!
If you say so.
You'll soon understand.
What did you do with your man?
I faked it.
Why?
I wanted to make him happy.
No, you felt guilty. You thought it was your fault.
You were wrong.
Lesson three - femmes fatales are usually narcissists or lesbians.
They're frigid with men.
They come when they want to, which isn't often. It's their strength.
- With famous courtesans... - You want to make me a call girl?
No, I'm teaching you about life.
Now, with famous courtesans,
each man wanted to succeed where others had failed.
Pride will make a man spend a fortune to be seen with them.
Frigidity helps with men.
Sex enslaves you. The slave must be the other one.
Now that you can come on your own, you're free. Understand?
- What about love? - Our number one enemy.
The real risk.
In war, if you stop to think, you die.
If we fall in love, we're done for.
Has your life been much of a thrill until now?
Be realistic, no one will help you change your life.
True love can wait. Show me how you fake it.
That's what you did with your man?
How did you do it on stage?
I copied my real orgasms.
Start again.
Well, did I really come or not?
Why, were you faking it?
Half and half.
Then you've got it.
The only problem is faking it when you're not in the mood.
There's nothing but offices here!
- You want me to work here? - Yes!
That's why you dressed me up like a yuppie?
I'm not going.
I can't do it. Offices remind me of my father.
Come on, we're beautiful. We could try fashion, show business...
Films.
In those sectors, girls like us are two a penny.
Remember our first club.
In offices, there's less competition.
You mentioned your father.
I bet all he ever did in life was work.
Yes, for people who weren't even grateful.
He had fantasies.
Forget that he's your father.
- Do you think he had fantasies? - Just like everyone else!
Did he act on them with your mother?
He acted on them with no one.
Porn magazines and films, maybe whores...
But always in secret and with shame. Am I wrong?
True, a nice man who has never lived would be easy prey.
Now imagine men like him,
but at the top of the ladder.
They will be our victims.
You're here for the advert?
Please sit down, you'll be called.
Then Nathalie really shocked me.
This was the personnel manager.
He barely paused, he didn't seem to look at anyone.
I don't know what it was.
Was it the way she crossed or uncrossed her legs?
She hadn't particularly emphasised her cleavage
or her legs.
Maybe the look in her eyes...
- Me? - Please.
You, too, miss.
We were both hired.
I was in statistics, where they did nothing but maths!
As for me and maths...
I was just a secretary and a hostess. A general assistant.
But Nathalie
ended up as a personal assistant
to the human resources manager, as they call it.
At the headquarters!
She worked on the Champs-Elysées.
I was a bit jealous.
You'll work here in the main office.
In stock management. The company's nerve centre.
These people are your colleagues.
Each one is in charge of a product line.
There, at his desk,
is Mr Cadène, your department manager.
The man he's talking to is Mr Delacroix.
The most important men at Barnay are Delacroix
and Mr Barnay Senior, but he's 65 years old,
and very ill.
We almost never see him any more.
The real boss is Mr Delacroix.
He's very kind. Sometimes a bit distant.
But it's hard to keep everyone in line.
What about him?
That's Barnay Junior, our CEO.
First name, Christophe.
He's not here often, either.
For less respectable reasons.
A man with charm,
but he's dangerous.
Sir, let me introduce the new girl.
Don't get up.
I hope you enjoy it here.
This is the main department.
The most interesting, too.
Work hard, and you'll go far.
You're one of the few women among 35 men.
Don't let them sweet-talk you.
Good luck, miss. See you later.
Please stay a bit later tonight.
So we can get acquainted with each other.
Excuse me.
So, do you like it here?
What interests you the most?
It's too early to tell.
The truth is, I want to do as much as I possibly can,
get to know the company inside out.
Because, you see... I've been unhappy.
In love?
I'm not totally over it and I want to forget by working like mad.
I don't want to go home too early.
I would like to do overtime,
work hard.
Even if everyone has gone home and the office is empty.
Do you live alone?
I'm nosy, sorry.
No, with a friend.
I'll see what I can do.
I mean, about overtime. Do you have any computer skills?
Only what I learned in senior school.
We're about to update our whole computer system.
Transfer all of the data.
I can put you on it.
Of course, thanks.
I didn't realise it was so late.
It doesn't matter. On the contrary.
Are you going home in this rain?
- Let's have a drink. - No, thanks.
I'll drop you off.
That's not necessary, thanks.
Great, "your broken heart"!
- What's the man's name? - Cadène.
Robert Cadène?
I've got information on everyone -
phone numbers, health records, addresses.
- Even confidential stuff. - Secrets, you mean?
"Cadène. Age 35. MBA. Lives in east Paris."
"No political opinions. Intelligent, very efficient professionally."
"Groomed and controlled by the firm."
"Seeks pretty, distinguished wife
to entertain at weekends and on holidays."
No, the only really important person
is Barnay Junior.
At the old man's imminent death,
he'll inherit not only the firm,
but his father's entire empire.
But I have no file on him,
except in-house rumours.
He has a sister...
- Not married? - Too fond of women.
He sounds right up our street.
What does that mean?
He's very dangerous.
Almost impossible to cage.
We'll have to play it tight.
But here's Delacroix.
"Age 49. Married for 22 years."
"Two children aged 16 and 18."
"Plays tennis on Tuesdays."
"Has devoted his life to work,
more to work than to his family."
"Has a nice flat in Neuilly."
"Has never had an affair." An ideal target!
For now, keep playing up to Cadène. He could be useful.
But Delacroix is our first man.
He has lunch with his mother on Saturdays after going by the office.
How are you?
- Can I get you a coffee? - No, thanks.
- A glass of water? - No, thanks.
- An orange juice? - I'm fine.
How about a drink after work?
No, thanks.
OK. See you later.
Have you got the hydraulic model for Port Cergy? It's not in the database.
Access is blocked until tomorrow.
Shit!
That's all we can do for today.
Miss, please get out the invoices for Mrs Castaldi,
Mr Guédiguian,
the SACIF
and SOCIETEP.
Thank you.
You should promote her.
- Who? - The new girl, Sandrine.
She's serious, hard-working,
pleasant, nice to everybody.
- So, that ceiling fan? - Here.
Mum!
What's wrong?
- You're hurt. Did you fall? - It's nothing.
- Are you hurt? - It's nothing.
Thank the young lady.
Thank you. Why, you're the new girl, aren't you?
You're Mr Delacroix. That's funny!
Hello, sir.
So what happened?
Some kid tried to snatch her bag and I stopped him.
- You live around here? - No, it was by chance.
But it's no problem. Bye.
Don't let her go!
Don't yell at me like that!
- What can I do to thank you? - Nothing. Goodbye.
Like this.
Start with this one.
Is Sandrine there?
Mr Delacroix wants you in his office.
Right now?
Please have a seat.
My secretary is overworked.
We're creating a new position to support her. I thought of you.
The pay is better and the work will be more interesting.
Nothing to say?
Can I ask you something?
Of course, go ahead.
Is this offer because of your mother?
Yes... I mean...
Look, sir,
I don't want thanks for that, honestly.
I would prefer a real key position when you think I'm ready.
Because of my work.
But we're all very happy with you.
You're not angry, I hope?
May I go?
Of course, miss.
I may have overdone it. So...
Don't eat that one.
Take this one.
There's nothing inside.
There it is! You eat this?
I feel comfortable with you.
Me, too.
Really comfortable.
Are you angry?
Don't be mad.
Are you still hurt over your old affair?
I had totally forgotten about that.
Tell me about it.
Tell him what?
It helps to talk.
It eases the pain.
I still can't totally forget him.
It took me two years to resurface.
Luckily there's my job, the office. Everyone's so nice.
That's why I turned the promotion down.
I'm falling in love with you.
It's too soon.
Later, maybe.
Accept the job offer, at least.
I'll see that they overlook your refusal.
Promise to accept?
OK.
Thanks.
For what?
The cinema, the dinner.
Everything else.
I envy the man you'll marry.
Who was that?
You scared me.
- So who was it? - Who do you mean?
Stop it. Your head of department?
Your real lover?
You can be such a bitch.
You never talk. Just like men!
I tell you all about myself.
But I know nothing about you.
Look, I'm not some jealous man.
I'm superstitious.
So it wasn't your boss, it was your lover.
Getting you to talk is like pulling teeth out.
It's serious, so I'm hiding him.
I want to keep him to myself.
Wow, a nymphet!
Still, she had nerve.
The truth is, she was afraid of me.
But I would never think of stealing her man.
And she was messing me around.
Her lessons on love, the number one enemy,
only applied to others, not to her.
Miss Sandrine Tessier?
This is Mr Barnay Jr's secretary. You're wanted in the executive suite.
Right away?
I'll be right there.
I hit the jackpot.
You didn't sleep with Barnay Junior?
No, but I'm wanted in his office.
Keep a cool head.
He's got a reputation for making girls suffer.
My God, was he gorgeous!
For a second, I forgot why I was there.
I moved closer,
not because I was told to,
but to see him up close.
He was even better.
Take a seat, miss.
Let me look at our rare gem.
Rare gem?
You, miss.
Meaning?
I'm giving you an order.
Become Mr Delacroix's second secretary.
Then, his personal secretary.
Not a word. That's an order.
And don't try to resign.
Why would I do that?
If you felt that you didn't deserve,
by your work alone, the position I'm making you accept.
The firm can't do without someone as valuable as you -
a young lady devoted to her job,
working overtime,
refusing a love life, and hired for her exceptional maths abilities.
True, you're mostly a secretary.
You see, miss, nowadays,
someone like you who's so particular about merit and ethics
is admirable and so rare.
One might wonder why.
Society proves every day that merit...
...is all that matters.
I'm a living example.
Congratulations on your promotion.
See you soon, miss. I like your character.
My character?
You're really someone.
Everyone likes you.
Mr Delacroix is a remarkable man, in a good position.
What do you mean?
That for the firm and for myself...
...you represent a major asset.
You don't look well.
I hope you didn't refuse again.
Mrs Mercier, a bottle of champagne, please.
I have the pleasure of announcing that Sandrine is second secretary.
You've devoted the past 15 years to me.
- You deserve some help. - I manage well.
I'm sure you'll be happier.
Have a seat.
A month later, Nathalie pulled some strings to get her retired early.
Everything alright?
I've got tickets for Madonna tomorrow night.
I can't. We're working until 10 o'clock.
Can't we have a drink?
I'm really too busy.
Tell the truth. Are you avoiding me?
I haven't seen you in weeks.
You're seeing me. Here's proof.
- You know what I mean. - I swear, I'm too busy.
Very soon, Sandrine, because of all these machines and computers,
we'll end up totally Ionely beings.
There's no one here. You'll lock up?
- As usual. - Thank you. Goodbye.
Stop it.
The Japanese.
Stop it!
Everyone's ready for the meeting.
I'll be right there. Shut the door.
- How's it going with Delacroix? - Fine.
Still on for tonight?
- See you, then. - Right.
I need you right away.
It's too bad I can't afford that.
Want to see the stockings?
Stop it.
You're crazy.
Who would have thought you would make me discover life...
...at 50?
Every second spent without you is torture.
Try not to get attached.
It's too late.
True, it can't last between us.
But I don't think about it, or else I panic.
The direct line. It must be your wife.
Oh, it's you.
Poor guy. At least thanks to me, he's had some happiness in life.
He was always telling me the sweet nothings that prove you're in love.
It had never happened to me. I almost envied him.
I was pretending.
Pretending to love him, to climax with him.
Pretending everything. Yet I had nothing. Nothing at all.
Except Nathalie, but she wasn't Prince Charming.
So I had to have Christophe.
- You know the Barnays well? - The father, mainly.
He's a self-made man, an old-world Frenchman,
with a sense of honour and responsibilities.
He's a dinosaur.
We created the firm together, went through tough times together.
It forged real mutual trust.
I've been to his château.
His château?
Get invited again and take me along.
You know I can't.
What about Christophe?
I think he's bedded all the pretty girls here.
You know...
...I could get jealous.
Don't be silly.
I'm serious.
He scares me. His father, too.
He even asked me to keep an eye on him.
Why?
It goes back over 20 years.
The old man had just founded the firm.
He had gone to the USA for two months.
Christophe was alone with his mother.
His sister was still a baby.
They didn't have help at the time.
His mother died suddenly.
A heart attack out of the blue.
Little Christophe sat motionless by his mother's body
for nearly two weeks, not telling anyone.
Not even his father when he called.
The body decomposed.
The child only got up to feed his sister.
How old was he?
Nine years old.
He had no apparent reaction. He seemed fine.
But he no longer feared anything or anyone.
He would say, "We're just pieces of wood."
He would always say he wanted to attack the sun,
and use it to set the world on fire.
He would say, "That would be a crime."
And then, "Would that make me at least as cruel as God?"
A child's talk,
except that at 19 and 25, he was still saying the same thing.
Yet, he seemed to defy death, in planes, cars...
He enjoyed manipulating people...
...running with a dangerous crowd
to court murder.
He's driven girls to suicide.
Rumours!
He's seduced several in the firm.
They say he tormented them so much
that two girls poured petrol on themselves
and set themselves on fire.
They burned in front of him.
Do you think he's a bit crazy?
He knows just what he's doing.
It's the women who are crazy...
about him!
Especially knowing what happened to the others.
I would have fired him,
or put him out of harm's way.
Impossible!
His father feels so guilty that he forgives him everything.
He might leave me some control over his son when he dies.
He should.
With his connections, Christophe is untouchable.
With power, he'll become terrifying.
By the way, I've been meaning to ask you -
why not hire a replacement for Mrs Mercier?
Don't you realise I'm overworked?
She would know about us. She would spread rumours.
I have a reliable friend at the main office.
Please don't insist.
Leave me alone. Don't touch me.
Give me that.
You wouldn't do that?
What's going on?
Please... tell me.
Come on.
You won't tell me?
Talking helps.
You look like a woman in love going through hell.
Have you fallen for a man who is not available?
We're all the same.
You can't help me.
It's nothing, really.
Just my silly ideas.
It will pass.
All that matters...
...is to go through with what we've decided.
You've got Delacroix.
Convince him to take me on to replace Mrs Mercier.
But never forget my advice.
Don't fall in love. Just pretend.
It hurts less.
This is the personnel department.
Miss Tessier will be off sick for at least a week.
- What is it? - Overwork.
Sign these, please.
Come back in an hour.
- Sorry, it's urgent. - Please.
Come in.
I would rather see you alone.
Why? You can talk in front of Nathalie.
Do you love her?
What, then?
We both felt like it. You and I do it.
It's not the same.
Yes, it is.
Why do this to me?
I tried never to see you again, but I can't.
I wanted to kill you the other day.
I wanted to strangle you.
I'm not your daughter or wife.
But I'm your slave.
I work 13 hours a day.
Most evenings I spend with you.
Now there's Saturday, even Sunday.
And I have to look beautiful.
The beauty treatments, shopping, the launderette...
And you refuse to help me.
Do you want me to leave my wife...
...and live with you?
I want help at work, that's all.
I need someone discreet, so I want Nathalie.
And I close my eyes when you make love?
I'm free.
When are you coming back to work?
- Maybe never. - Meaning?
It's up to you.
Sandrine?
I've been selfish.
When can your friend start?
The poor guy entered Hell.
Run along, little sister. I'll see you back home.
Come with me, please.
Ladies, please wait here.
Do sit down.
True pleasure is a rare thing.
Many women, many people never attain it.
It's a drug...
...a she-devil that constantly eludes your grip.
It becomes an obsession.
Isn't that so?
Your family life is none of my business.
In a way, I envy you.
But you work for the Barnay firm - a huge responsibility.
Imagine for a moment that everyone did what you do.
This place would be one big orgy,
not much in keeping with good business practice.
Unfortunately!
You should have set an example.
Have I said anything you disagree with?
Fine.
This paper describes what has happened.
You'll sign it.
You'll also agree to leave the firm for professional misconduct.
Hence, no severance pay.
Am I being sacked?
I'll keep the matter under wraps.
I'm giving you a grace period,
under the surveillance of an assistant of my choice.
I await your signature.
Poor guy.
What will you do?
Did he harass you?
Did he take advantage of his seniority?
Hypocrisy isn't part of your defence system.
Should it be?
Miss, useful vices soon become virtues.
We like the same truths.
I thought he was flaunting his wealth and I found it vulgar.
But he was handsome and I wanted him.
I had already forgiven him everything.
Money...
It regulates our dreams and desires...
...the size of our prison.
You see, I've decided like you to experiment with true freedom.
Dare to defy the social order.
Be it fair or unfair,
divine or human, no matter.
I reject the rules...
...the straitjacket.
Let me suggest a game.
You, Nathalie, will work with Delacroix.
- You know each other? - We're lovers.
From time to time.
I know every employee.
I have a secret file on everyone.
I often entertain myself in one way or another
with this one or that one.
Nathalie's taken on Delacroix's job.
Not officially.
He remains my technical advisor...
...and she will secretly be my eyes,
my ears...
...my mouth.
With me, as well?
Miss Sandrine Tessier...
...I ask for your hand.
For a very temporary union, a game.
What sort of game?
Perhaps one of chance, or of love.
A new sport.
Who knows?
For a few months at most.
A game with a purpose.
My father will die soon...
...and he's still hesitating
to entrust me with absolute control over his empire.
He's supposedly heard rumours
that I'm too capricious...
...too careless with people,
to leave me in charge of such a large workforce.
But I need this power.
There's no debauchery without money or protection...
...be you among the powerful or the poor.
I put Delacroix aside,
my potential rival and prison guard.
But I want no risks.
So before my father's death, I'll act the part
of a man made serious and respectable by love.
Naturally, this is a deal you'll no doubt accept...
...like the donkey led by the carrot and the stick.
What's the stick?
Immediate dismissal and public scandal.
As for the carrot - I marry you at the Town Hall and in church.
Yes, the church and a communal estate.
Otherwise, my father would be suspicious, and rightly so.
The religious aspect and the common estate will lend
more substance to our several weeks of wild passion.
Of course we'll divorce a few months later,
and you'll get a substantial divorce settlement.
What about the Church?
I'll wait patiently for God to punish me.
Why not Nathalie?
Nathalie will be more useful keeping an eye on Delacroix.
And you're more credible as the young woman
from a humble background,
both pure and vivacious.
Perfect for the image of a dynamic CEO.
Now, why don't we begin our game?
Go down to the ladies' toilet,
lock yourselves in a cubicle...
...and start making love.
I'll join you.
Save the end for me.
So, Sandrine, will you play?
Will you continue your brilliant social climb, or end it?
It was the first time I came with a man.
But I'm sure he didn't have an orgasm.
Have you been lovers for long?
Since we started working at Barnay?
He knew things only you could have told him.
If he found us with poor Delacroix, it's because he knew.
So, your mysterious lover was Christophe.
I can see now why you warned me against him.
Do you want me to know?
While you were manipulating Delacroix,
Christophe was manipulating me.
I thought I had made him fall in love.
How could I have been so stupid?
Yet I wasn't born yesterday, so...
Well, he's much stronger than you,
than me, than all of us women combined.
He has had so many women,
so many people, in bed and elsewhere,
and in so many configurations,
that neither love, nor any form of ordinary eroticism interests him.
It's tragic, because he loves sensual pleasure.
Do you know why he needs you?
As he said - for the pleasure of playing with others on a large scale.
He's already driven women to suicide.
He can destroy more of us.
As for me, I cheat.
I lie to everyone.
He dictates everything I do.
I've ended up acting like a slave.
A slave who, out of love, ends up enjoying it.
You're raving mad.
The madwoman can read your mind.
Deep down, you hope he loves you.
You've even started to believe it.
You reckon that, at worst,
since you'll keep your position, you have a chance.
Well, I can tell you - you're deluding yourself!
When he has no more use for you,
he'll toss you away like an old rag.
So, why make this scene?
I've never had anything.
Anything or anyone!
So don't expect to keep him. He's mine.
No one can take him away from me!
Christophe had me transferred. I had my own office at headquarters.
Can we talk?
Are you doing well?
I know it's all over between us. It's better that way.
But of all that happened.
I only hold on to one thing.
You gave me the only real moments of happiness,
of violent passion
and pain,
but great tenderness, too.
I'll always keep you in my heart.
I wanted you to know it. The rest doesn't matter.
Be very careful, Sandrine.
This man sought no revenge.
I only understood it later.
He loved me...
...with a love I couldn't understand,
which asked for nothing in return, not even my presence.
Instead of being moved, I took him for a weakling.
I lived only in hope of a call from Christophe.
And there it was.
Tonight, I want you to look beautiful.
Charlotte will fetch you at midnight.
So, you'll be my sister-in-law,
the only one before God.
But not for long.
A day, a month, a year.
What does it matter before eternity?
My new sister.
Welcome.
I ask only one thing - be yourself.
We've all been born into a world of lies.
Be good to us, be sincere,
never lie to us.
Christophe and I always tell the truth.
Especially when it hurts
or when it burns.
And now, let the party begin.
And bring on the ecstasy!
Charlotte, stand up.
Sandrine, do the same.
Sandrine, press yourself against her.
Stroke her neck.
Her arms.
Her breasts.
Whatever I do to you, you do to Charlotte.
I unzip your dress.
I take it off.
I stroke your breasts.
Your belly.
The inside of your thighs.
How dare you spoil my pleasure?
Why do you prefer them to me?
I can entertain you as you taught me.
So, why turn me away?
How did you get the key?
I'm unlike the others you seduced and cast out.
I will never kill myself.
Never.
You poor thing. You're nothing now.
Tomorrow the lock will be changed.
I'm seeing you now for the last time. Now return the key.
Come and get it.
I'll say it again -
I'm stronger than the others.
- The key! - Come and get it.
Hit me.
You taught me how pain can lead to pleasure.
Never show your face again.
Can't you see I'm in pain?
So you're alive.
Unfortunately!
But you're like a dog.
I still need you at the office.
But when my father dies, you disappear.
You're already gone.
I'll give you another party,
worthy of you, I promise.
He can still use me as a procurer.
Don't! You'll just make him hate you even more.
That would mean he loves me.
I've lost my self-respect, my pride.
Everything.
Give me all the cash you owe me.
The next day, I withdrew my savings.
I gave her everything I had, which wasn't much.
She took the cash, sat on the ground
and started counting and recounting.
I no longer existed.
There she was, on the floor,
almost ugly with her eyes screwed up.
She kept trying to count with her fingers.
She had never moved me more.
For the first time, I had the heart of a 15-year-old girl.
I couldn't believe it.
My husband was magnificent.
And I wore my lovely white dress.
Christophe opted for the tactic of a surprise wedding.
I would meet Barnay Senior only the day after.
And there was Nathalie.
She was banned.
I spotted her hiding in a corner.
Our eyes met.
She hated me.
Admire this splendid symbol of our Earthly Life.
I am the Death of all,
and the Birth of all.
Word and memory, fortitude and mercy,
and the silence of secret things.
Our father is alive no more.
He has just died.
He's left me sole president of this group.
A fine coincidence, isn't it?
The president is dead,
long live the president!
Tonight, more than any other -
love thy neighbour.
Oh, sister!
You mourn people you must not mourn.
The wise man is saddened neither by the living nor the dead.
For we have never existed, neither I...
...nor you,
nor these kings...
...and never shall we cease to exist.
We shall finally enter the Realm of Princes,
Pharaohs and Gods.
Please, stop!
You can't treat me like this.
Am I crueller than Life or Creation?
Crueller than the Creator, if He exists?
Have you ever noticed Death's violence on people's faces?
Alive, we are like bound gods,
most of us too cowardly to experience true liberty.
Vanity of vanities!
Only death can cleanse.
You might have helped me
to regulate the spectacle of human destiny.
Even have brought me the sun.
What a shame!
When the divorce comes through, you'll be free.
It will take a few weeks.
You again?
Look at me.
Why bother? You don't exist as it is.
No, don't do that!
I might run into you again up there.
You'll harass us.
Me...
...the Devil, and all my other playmates.
To put up with you for eternity - how ghastly!
The police arrived.
They handcuffed Nathalie and took her away.
They all asked why,
but she never answered.
The media had a field day,
but the main facts were covered up.
Nathalie was sentenced to prison, and the case was soon forgotten.
Married with a communal estate settlement, and widowed so soon,
I automatically inherited everything from my husband.
Charlotte and I took over the empire her brother had coveted,
with Delacroix as an excellent advisor,
discreet and totally loyal.
Life went on.
Her sentence served, Nathalie married...
...her prison guard.
She was the only real bride of the three girls in this story.
Years later,
I ran into her.
There she was,
with her family.
They looked sweet.
We finally walked towards each other.
We looked at each other,
without a word.
All I could see was her.
It came time for us to part.
We kept looking at each other...
...knowing it was the last time.
She leaned forward,
and asked me to forgive her.
She asked me!
One last look,
and I kissed her.
Then, with her husband and child,
she walked away
and vanished...
...forever.
Not a day has gone by that I haven't thought about her. [rarelust]