BASED ON THE NOVEL BY MICHEL BATAILLE
Pascal, if you don't like that, we can change it. Order something else.
No thank you, Dad.
Mr Ségur, call for you from San Fran­cisco.
Excuse me.
That telephone.
I'll just be a minute.
Do you know what time it is in San Francisco?
There are five or six hours difference,
but I can never remember if it's earlier or later.
Nine hours earlier.
It's exactly 11 minutes past four in San Francisco.
Imagine that.
You must be someone very important to call people at this hour.
You're telling me!
Why don't you ask for the mixed grill
or, I don't know, something else?
Dad ordered the sole for himself, so he ordered one for me, too.
From now on, we won't let him do that anymore, okay?
From now on?
Okay.
All right, let's talk about your holidays.
How long do you have?
Same as always.
Well, could you perhaps remind me
how long you usually have for the summer holidays?
Ten weeks and four days.
A tea for Miss Graziani, a coffee for me, and for you?
Everything.
Do you know where you'd like to go?
Not Nassau, Deauville, Monte-Carlo or Capri.
Out of curiosity,
what don't you like about them?
Dad likes to play gin rummy and poker and I don't.
Where do we take you then?
Can I really choose, you promise?
All right, we'll go to Corsica.
Corsica?
You're kidding.
The only things there are caravans and campsites.
And that's just what I want, to stay in a tent. You promised, Dad.
He's right, I'm the witness.
Pascal, I'll go as far as you want,
I'll go to the end of the earth for you, but not camping.
What time is it?
Nearly 4:00. I've already swum twice.
You should've woken me.
You looked like a tired old teddy bear.
You're right about being tired.
This is the first time I've slept well in nearly a week.
Let's see if we can catch something.
All right, race you into the dinghy?
I won!
No, I won.
I said, race you into the dinghy.
Dad! You cheater!
All right, but that'll teach you a lesson.
Never trust anyone, especially not your father.
Ready.
Where are we heading?
Which way do you want to go?
To the west, to find camphor, cinnamon and pearls,
and to catch a fish we can grill.
Understood. Drop the sea anchor so we don't drift too much.
What was that, Dad?
I think they lost an engine.
Don't worry, they'll go back with the others.
Oh, darn.
Dad.
My line is stuck.
On what?
On the anchor, I think.
Wait a second, I'll go and undo it.
Dad, come and look.
Look over there.
Let go of your line.
Look, do you think it's a flying saucer?
You never know, but I don't think so. It's unlikely.
Dad, look there, and there!
A parachute!
I don't understand, that's not a man falling,
so what is it?
It's going to fall on the boat.
No, there's no chance, it's too far away.
You see?
Do you think it was a war plane that exploded?
I don't know, my boy. I just know we should get out of here.
Loosen the anchor, too bad about your line.
It's funny that this can happen.
It's a stroke of bad luck.
People need luck, huh?
Certainly.
I'm cold.
Here, put that on.
If the pilots didn't have parachutes,
then is that thing more important than the pilots?
I'm sad to leave.
Yes, me too.
Corsica's great, isn't it?
Absolutely splendid.
And it wasn't too hard, sleeping in a tent?
Better than many of the places I slept during the war.
Verdun told me you had to sleep in the trees
while the Germans were looking for you.
That happened once.
We'd just blown up a train
and didn't have time to go back to the mountains.
Tell me the story.
I think the resistance and the war are things best forgotten.
An orange juice, and I'll have…
a Fernet-Branca.
I like the sound of the waves.
Ah, it's peaceful.
Certainly not the fish, not after what I heard lately.
A rack of lamb, maybe, or the rotisserie chicken?
No, just a steak.
Blue? Rare, Madam?
Rare.
Same for me. Well done. And a salad.
You need to stop talking about fish.
You really annoyed the guy at the harbour restaurant.
Better safe than sorry.
If it's the same as what happened at Palomares, I have a right to know.
Order a niçoi­se salad for me. I have to make a call.
Dad, you promised not to make any calls!
It's not for business.
Is it Catherine?
That's not business either, and it's none of yours in any case.
Maître d'hôtel, the menu, please.
Niçoise salad, spaghetti bolognaise and a mutton chop after, please.
The Prefecture's silent, they don't know anything
because they don't want to know anything.
There are rumours circulating here. Shouldn't you be aware of this?
No, not necessarily.
Raymond, please, don't tell me that.
You're in the Minister's office. Surely there are details in Paris.
If it's important, I need to know because I wasn't alone.
Pascal was with me and I'm worried.
Maybe it'd be best for you both to come back to Paris.
So it was a nuclear bomb, like at Palomares in Spain?
I'm advising you to come back, till then, don't talk about it.
Why? Because you're going to cover it up?
Laurent, be reasonable. There's no point scaring people.
Of course, we mustn't harm the local tourism business!
HOSPITAL
What are you laughing about?
Nothing, Dad was taking the mickey out of me.
Apparently everything's fine. We need to come back in an hour for the x-rays.
But it's nothing serious.
An hour.
Where are we going?
Let's see. It's too early to see a movie.
We could go to a public library and study a bit.
Pascal would like that.
You.
An hour? I have an idea.
Put your seatbelts on. Let's go.
How long do we have left?
20 minutes. We can go back slowly.
So we have time to see the wolves.
We've already seen them twice. Let's go for a drink at the bar instead.
No, the wolves!
What about Catherine? You could ask her what she wants to do.
She'd really like to see the wolves.
Would she like to see Herod's castle this weekend?
No, not this weekend, another time.
Pascal.
He wanted to give you a warning.
But I knew he wouldn't bite me, and he knew it too.
It's just he's fast!
-Yes, he's learned. -When?
Several thousand years ago.
Pascal, put your raincoat back on.
Time to go back.
I don't want to leave them.
We'll come back tomorrow before you go camping with your Scouts.
Cubs!
And shall we bring them something to eat?
I wonder what they eat.
I don't know. I'll buy a book and you can find out.
You know, this is the best holiday I've ever had.
For you, too, Dad, right?
Definitely the best.
And you know what? It's not over yet.
Goodbye, wolves.
Herod Castle. My favourite place in the whole world.
I'm glad you brought me here. Were you born here?
A few kilometres away.
But when I was little, before we moved to America,
I promised myself I would have this place.
And here we are!
I'm glad you kept your promise.
I thought there was no one here.
There is no one here.
Marinette lives in her own house.
I told her not to wait for us.
And you leave the doors open?
In these parts.
Is Pascal camping near here?
Not far.
Don't you want to see him?
Now?
Idiot.
How many rooms are there in your castle?
No idea.
You never counted?
I didn't think to.
All I know is that we live in five or six rooms, the rest is closed off.
Ah, men!
You sure you don't want a drink?
So what's all this about?
Is this Paris Match's new interview style?
Not that I'm complaining.
I already told you, I'm the Artistic Director, not a journalist.
But it's not difficult, you know.
Mr. Ségur, my readers want to know
what you attribute your success to?
To my dual nationality,
and that I made my first million before the age of 25.
And your success with women?
To my dual nationality,
and that I made my first million before the age of 25.
You're impossible.
-It's hopeless. -Hopeless?
I thought that once you'd met Pascal
and saw the castle, you'd think,
all in all, this guy isn't completely impossible.
Fortunately, I get on well with Pascal
and don't wear high heels in the countryside.
You misunderstand me.
I wasn't worried about that.
Your elephant hair bracelet,
has it brought you luck?
Yes, plenty.
You think it's white elephant hair!
You'd better keep it, because
with a ten-year-old boy, this house and me,
you'll need a white elephant hair.
I promise you we'll be happy.
You, me and Pascal.
But do you know why I'm really marrying you?
Of course. To get a dual passport.
Which way? East? West?
That way.
You know what I think? A good breath of fresh air!
Too late to escape!
You're dying to see Pascal, and so am I.
Let's go.
I initially thought it was a flying saucer,
but my dad wasn't so sure.
Was it really a flying saucer?
Not at all. The thing that went fast was an engine on fire.
The parachute was something else.
Damn! Then what?
And then we came back to land. We made coffee over a wood fire.
Did you have fun?
Yes but it's not so great, you know, that…
-It tastes funny. -And?
And then, we…
Dad, Catherine.
Pascal! Come here, please, with everyone else.
Come on, line up everyone, keep walking.
Come on, children, go and wash your hands now,
your snack is in the kitchen.
One minute, I'm waiting for St. Tropez.
You're talking with that good for nothing Verdun. Give him my love.
Hello, Verdun?
Hello, Pascal? Finally!
Tell your dad I'll be back in two weeks.
I'm helping my friend Robert. He's having staffing problems.
Hello, no Miss, I'm not in Toulouse, no!
SUNSCREEN
Hello? Oh no, I don't mind at all.
Being cut off every five minutes.
Marinette is also very well.
It's Verdun. Did I tell you about the fancy hotel in St. Tropez?
Yes!
Don't go anywhere!
That's enough of that, you little thug, if you do it again, you'll see.
And you, don't shake it, I'm telling you.
He's dealing with a very important client.
Hello, Pascal?
I miss you too, Pascal, you know.
What? Uh, call me back later.
No, I said call.
Well, send me a telegram?
Alright, write me a letter then. Good, okay, goodbye. Hello, what?
No, Miss, I'm not at St. Raphaèl station.
Who wants bread?
Me!
-Your mum's great. -That's not my mum, she's dead.
-How did she die? -She drowned in the sea.
You want some too?
Not bad, huh?
Me! Wicked!
Tell me…
What's that blue mark on Pascal's forehead, how did he do that?
Oh, nothing. He's already had lots of little bruises like that.
They never last longer than a day.
I'm going to make a call.
Will you pack your bags and take what's needed for Pascal?
We're going back to Paris, right away.
Incurable?
There's no hope?
Drink it all.
That's impossible, how is there no hope?
I'd be lying if I told you otherwise.
Like you already lied a month ago,
the first time you examined us.
A month ago I told you we needed to do another test.
The child had nothing.
We didn't find a single trace of radiation in the tests we performed.
And how do I know you're not wrong again, like the last time?
You're not God, you're not in­fallible.
-You did a biopsy this time? -Yes.
But last month, it wouldn't have revealed anything.
Today, it's three other distinguished specialists and myself.
Like in Bridge.
That makes four…
Four to condemn a child to death. Four to decree that…
He hasn't been in pain up until now.
-But later? -It's unlikely.
The nurse will show you which pills he should take
and how to give him the injections.
There's not much more we can do.
But the treatment you're giving him now,
can't you carry on with that?
The drugs that fight his blood disorder are dangerous,
toxic to the cells,
and won't have the same effect the second time.
How long?
Three to six months, living a normal life,
maybe a year if he stays here.
So what's better? Six months or a year?
Do you think it's better to drag him from one lab to another,
one hospital to another,
letting him doubt his condition bit by bit,
with anxiety to the end?
All for nothing?
You always talk so frankly about your patients.
Not normally.
But I'm a worn out and unhappy old man
and I've decided that, for once,
I can allow myself to give my whole heart to my last patient.
What do you mean, last patient?
I already put in my retirement two years ago,
but there was so much to do.
There's still much to do,
but maybe the younger generation is better with disappointment than I am.
I don't understand.
No.
Today, we send people to the moon,
and yet we don't have the time or the money
for proper research into saving lives,
and every time we launch a space rocket,
we spend more money than it costs to build a hospital,
do you understand that?
For now, you're not concerned.
Maybe one day, you will be.
But now you must take advantage of the opportunity given to you.
You call this an opportunity?
Yes.
Imagine that you've just been born alongside a ten-year-old child
and that you both have six months to live.
Six months to live.
Six months is a long time when you haven't even had a single day.
When you could've never been together.
Take this chance. Have fun. Be happy.
That's all there is left to do, be happy.
Yes, be happy.
Make Pascal happy.
Give him the best six months
that a child has ever had.
Rather than 12 months with the doctors?
I can't help you there.
No one can.
I've already made up my mind.
When will they let him out?
In a few days.
It's best if I don't go with you.
Later, perhaps,
or if you need me.
I know how to take care of him. It'll be about time, don't you think?
It'll give him time to get to know you.
Everything seemed so wonderful.
But now…
What about you?
They didn't find anything?
I was in the water,
it created a barrier.
You learn something new every day.
Go on, go back! Drive on, don't stay here.
Drive on! Back, please, Sir.
But why are we leaving Paris now,
when the others are going back to school?
There's something I wanted to talk to you about.
At the hospital, they told me that…
They found something wrong with me.
Nothing serious,
but they want me to spend some time in the country.
You'll definitely get better at Herod.
Everyone gets better there, Verdun told me that.
He says it's the water that's good.
I hope that's true.
Verdun is right, I'll get better soon.
I'll help you.
I know, that's why I'm bringing you.
I thought I'd get bored on my own!
You won't get bored, we're going to be well-prepared.
I'm sure, I'm counting on you.
Is Catherine not coming?
Maybe later.
Thanks, bye.
-Hi, Laurent, hi, Pascal. -Hello, Charlie.
-I'm so sleepy!
That's my favourite thing.
Marvellous invention.
What would we do if it didn't open?
Buy a new car.
Dad, you're not serious.
Or we'd try to open it with a pickaxe.
I can never tell when you're joking.
I promise I'll try to mend my ways.
Why don't we have a tractor?
Here you go, Pascal.
You want to give agriculture a go now?
No, to drive in the woods.
That's a great idea. What would you want it to look like?
Stop, that's enough.
Blue.
Big or small?
Medium. But I would like it to be blue.
-Bye, Charlie. -Bye, Pascal.
Sir!
-Evening, Sir. -Evening, Marinette.
Get me a hot water bottle, quick.
Dinner is ready. A good bacon soup and his favourite meal.
Don't wake him up.
Verdun, are you here?
I'm here.
Hello, Verdun.
Hello, Pascal. How are you?
I'm happy to see you, you know.
I say.
You need a haircut, eh?
Are you here long?
Dad said just until we get bored.
Like retirement, then?
Yes. You still don't have running water?
They wanted to install it but I refused.
Why?
Don't do that.
When you have a source of mineral water in your garden,
you don't need theirs.
Go find a clean glass and I'll let you try some.
Here, drink this, it'll do you good.
That'll put hair on your chest.
What do you mean, "blech"? It's good.
And then you'll never have rheumatism or gout.
I've never seen you with a shirt like that.
Because you haven't seen me at St. Tropez
with my friend Robert, who has a fancy hotel.
I'd like you to see me there, with this.
Serving the handsome gentlemen and the beautiful ladies.
Caviar, Madam?
Perfect. And after? Very good idea.
Blue? Rare? Medium rare?
-Blue! -Blue, naturally.
And to drink with that?
-Champagne. -A bit of champagne?
There we are.
It's nothing.
And what will you give me?
This nice glass of water.
Come on, are you going to finish it?
Hey, can we go crayfishing?
No thanks, no water. I'm not thirsty today.
You, you'll die stupid, eh?
Probably.
If you'd lent me all the money you put into your car,
I could've tapped my source, fool.
Yes, we'll discuss it one of these days.
You've been telling me that for 20 years. Do you want a drink?
No thanks, it's too early.
Now, let's get down to business.
I heard someone mention crayfishing.
-Did you want to go? -Yes, but not today.
Well, that's good. We're going to Clermont.
Oh, me too, what are you going to do there?
You'll see.
-You coming with us? -In the Rolls Royce?
-Of course. -Well, I'll put a tie on.
The red one.
Do you think it'll go with this outfit?
Fantastic.
Oh, can you stop here a moment?
Here? You're mad!
Just a moment. Mrs. Fournier!
Mrs. Fournier! Yes, yes, it's me.
Well!
-Are you surprised? -Well I say!
-Here. -In a Rolls Royce!
Here you go.
What a lovely car!
Good, you can go now.
Yes, Sir.
So does your clientele believe in your miracle water?
She takes some every week.
One glass in the morning, one at night, no more rheumatism.
-Nor gout! -Nor gout!
Yes, very clever.
Will you wait in that square there? I'll get out here.
Always the big business. An important customer.
Yes, this time it's for the pharmacist.
Look.
He really is a big customer.
Come and join us at Girod's. Pascal's going to choose a tractor.
A tractor?
Why not a ten-tonne lorry?
A caravel, anything! He's completely mad with his kid.
PHARMACY
Here.
Dad.
Yes?
If you're the one who's ill, why am I taking the medicine?
I'm taking them too. Have you never heard of preventative medicine?
Yes.
I'm always cold these days.
Doesn't surprise me. Summer is over.
I'll give you an extra blanket.
Thanks, Dad.
Don't forget to say your prayers.
Do you say them?
I try.
Goodnight, Pascal.
Goodnight, Dad.
Sleep well.
I'm terribly cold.
I'm cold.
Thanks, Dad.
FORD TRACTORS
Mr. Ségur?
Dad's not here, but it's okay. I know how to drive.
I'm a driver, you know?
A real tractor!
I don't believe it!
Look, be careful!
It's not a toy.
Goodness me…
You know what we're missing? A trailer.
A trailer? What for?
To put the earth that we'll get from the cellar in.
Because Verdun and I are looking for treasure,
so all the earth needs to be removed, see?
And I wonder, who's going to do it?
All right. A trailer.
A blue one, okay? Don't forget.
Blue, of course.
Bye! Are you coming with me, Marinette?
A tractor, a trailer! You're spoiling that kid.
If he drives on the lawn, he'll crush the flowers, eh?
They'll regrow.
They'll regrow!
Lucky fellow!
Well, that's all very good.
I thought the house wouldn't last a week without me.
Understood, call me again same time tomorrow.
Goodbye.
Hey! Look at me.
Cut the engine.
Pardon?
Sorry, Mr Vernet.
Don't worry. I'm glad you came back, Pascal.
Thank you.
Have you got a tractor?
No, I prefer horses.
What's his name?
Tempest. He's the fastest of them all.
How many stallions do you have?
About ten.
Come and see them one day.
I'd like that.
What's that thing on his neck?
Have you finished asking questions?
A wolf's fang.
If you hang one on a horse's neck,
he can run all day without getting tired.
You believe that, then?
Yes, and lots of other things.
Did you know that if you carry the heart of a turtledove,
wrapped in a wolf skin, your desires vanish?
Do you carry one?
Age has the same effect.
It's Verdun.
Tempest, calm.
Hey!
Hello, Verdun.
Hi, Pascal.
I think Tempest wants to go home.
See you soon, Vernet.
We can go fishing tomorrow.
-Thanks, Vernet. -Bye, Laurent.
How is Father Vernet?
He's good. He believes in wolf magic and has ten stallions.
Aren't you forgetting something?
What?
Your new toy. Are you going to leave it outside all night?
Okay, well I'll bring it in and check the oil.
Aren't we lucky, every day's a holiday.
No, not like that, let's see! You're going to get pinched.
Like this, look, by the middle.
Did you know that I was nearly bitten by a wolf in Paris?
Where in Paris?
At the zoo.
Are there wolves here?
No, don't worry.
But if there were, could they live here?
Of course. There were some here before.
When you were little?
No, before that.
Look at me!
You're not fishing?
What, with my camera?
Now that you know how, go and put your scale over there
in the corner, under the tree.
-Okay. -Go on.
I'll go with you.
No, stay here, Laurent.
Let him live his life a little, if you want him to become a man.
-472, -218,
-219, -73.
-74. -220.
Can you count quieter, it's confusing me.
Excuse me, Your Lordship.
Here Pascal.
-No. -Yes.
77, 78.
22, 23.
Pascal.
You've got wet feet. Go and take a hot bath and put that down.
In a bit.
26, 27.
No! You're annoying me with your Rolleiflex and your flash!
What's up with you?
Please!
He's already taken enough of me today.
All right, don't get angry.
I'm not angry.
You are angry. You've got a rotten character, you know.
He wants to take pictures of you, isn't that nice?
Pascal!
But what's wrong with him?
Leave it.
You know what I think?
He needs a good smack on the bum, that's what it is.
I said leave it.
Leave it! You give him everything. The tractor, the trailer.
He wasn't like this before. You're spoiling him.
It's not my business, but I hate to see
a good little boy become a sissy.
You want to turn him into a little girl?
Verdun.
Pascal isn't going to become a sissy.
Pascal isn't going to become anything…
Ever.
He's ill.
Terminal.
He's going to die.
Listen, don't say such things!
What's wrong with you?
Anyone can be ill.
Really ill, even.
These days, they can cure anything. So…
Well,
almost everything.
But they can't cure what he has?
Not yet.
Leukemia.
The plane that crashed,
you know, I told you,
with the parachute and the bomb.
And the bastards who released it?
Dead.
Good.
Do people know that it killed a kid?
Maybe several.
I have no idea.
You're going to tell them, right?
And shout it for the whole world to hear?
No, not now. If everyone knew…
Then Pascal would know too.
You don't want to scream? I have a ten-year-old kid who did nothing wrong,
who is innocent, in good health,
but who must die because God doesn't give a damn about this rotten world!
God damn it!
Verdun, what are you trying to do? Aren't you my friend?
Yes.
Yes, I know.
And the doctor was a specialist, naturally?
The best.
What else did he say?
Be happy, make Pascal as happy as possible.
So you'll have to be.
You too.
You're right.
We'll try.
But we must be extremely cautious, because Pascal isn't stupid.
No.
And he'll understand.
But I already understand.
I forbade you to eavesdrop! What are you doing?
You were talking about me. I wanted to know.
You could've come in.
Yes, but then you'd stop talking.
Come in. You'll catch a cold.
See, I did what you asked. I changed my socks.
Listen.
In fact, what we were talking about, Verdun and me,
it's absolutely not certain,
because it's an idea that the doctors had,
and most of the time, they're wrong.
No, not this time.
I already heard it at the hospital.
They told you at the hospital?
No, not exactly.
But I heard the night nurses talking about it.
I couldn't sleep because I was too cold,
they said that I wouldn't live long.
That proves nothing.
And the old doctor with the beard, you know?
The last day he came to see me, he said I was cured,
that I could go, but when he left, he was crying.
That doesn't prove anything either.
I'm not very bright, but I'm not stupid for my age.
-There are other things-- -Shit!
I don't have time to listen to your nonsense, I have things to do.
Like what?
Get drunk. It's urgent, there you go.
Fine, go on, by God! Go and get pissed!
Don't worry about it,
we'll manage.
Hello, Marinette.
Hello, Sir.
I slept really well.
Me too.
No, you need to take them.
Okay.
Tell me,
you're not ill, are you?
-No. -I like that better, you know.
What are we doing today?
Whatever you like.
I don't know.
I think this is for you.
I've got mail.
Is it something to eat?
No, it's a book.
A book about wolves.
Well, I never!
NATURAL HISTORY
THE COMPLETE WORKS OF BUFFON
There's a letter inside.
From Catherine.
Catherine?
I can't read it all at once.
You have to be methodical. Start with the letter or the book.
It's a great book.
She's nice, isn't she?
Yes, I'm starting to get the same impression.
When wolves mate, they do it for life.
If one of them dies,
the surviving partner never looks for another companion.
-Can you believe it? -Yes.
Here, you read some.
Right.
Oh no, the letters are too small for me.
You should wear glasses.
Hey, I never thought about that. Well, I have another way.
What other way?
Well, I don't read.
Tell me, that Buffon guy,
does he talk at all about the Leader of Wolves?
No, what's that?
I'm not very warm either. We'd better get home, eh?
Okay.
Well, he was a wizard.
A wizard?
Yes. He had a pack of wolves and when people upset him,
he set his wolves on them.
Inevitably, everyone was afraid of him.
And then?
You see, your Buffon, he doesn't know everything, eh?
And then,
at nightfall…
Carry on.
What happened at nightfall?
We heard knocking at the door.
Was it him?
We didn't know.
We went to open the door and it was a man
with a red hat and red gloves.
It was him, the Leader of Wolves.
Marinette. Carry on.
He was pale and he smelled like a wolf.
So all the animals on the farm panicked.
The horses, the sheep, the dogs, they all panicked, but he,
he said nothing.
He ate what we served him.
And then we gave him a bed for the night, and in the morning…
What happened in the morning?
He'd disappeared, without a trace.
Except the scent of wolves.
So then, we threw salt in the fire.
Salt in the fire?
Well yes, to ward off bad luck.
And it made a green flame,
like grass.
Salt.
Yes.
You know, maybe it doesn't work every time, eh?
See, that proves my story is true.
Hey, that's enough of that.
Leave him, it's a sign of luck.
-Salt in the flame… -…brings luck to your name.
Salt on the coals…
saves your soul.
Leave a bit for Marinette.
It's time to go to bed.
One more story about wolves.
Bed!
Didn't you tell me you were cold today?
Yes, but now I'm really warm. Feel my forehead.
Well, warm or not, it's time for bed. Go on.
All right, I'm a bit tired anyway. My book!
You know, Verdun, one day we'll write a book on wolves together.
Yes, one day.
I'll think about it. Goodnight Marinette, goodnight Verdun.
-Goodnight, my boy. -Goodnight.
He's getting nicer and nicer, that child. He'll become a lovely young man.
Where's Mr. Ségur?
He must be home by now. Go look in the library.
No, he's got a temperature. Around 38.5°.
No, he's wonderful.
Continue with the cortisone, yes,
and the actinomycin, all right.
Doctor, have you tried to stop a ten-year-old boy
from running around all day?
He's funny!
Yes.
Thank you.
Goodbye.
What did he say?
That it's in line with what he expected.
Too hot, too cold, sudden fatigue, it's the standard pattern.
Nothing else to do for the moment?
Nothing!
Give him his pills, his injections, and pray.
His pills, his injections, and pray.
How was that?
You're getting good at them.
I'd like to be less hot, but the heat comes from me, you know?
No, it is hot.
I'll turn down the heating.
Do you want a cold drink?
Go to bed. It's past midnight.
Yes, but I'm waiting for you to sleep.
Nothing, are you sure?
Lemonade?
A baby scotch!
If there's anything that'd make you happy, say so.
There is something.
Yes, there is,
there is something that'd make me happy.
What is it?
Will you give it to me?
All right, but what?
A wolf.
Yes, thank you.
It's the same everywhere.
I know a guy in Paris, you can ask him anything.
He's Corsican, he works at the cinema.
You may remember him, he was with us in the scrubland.
You need a…
Oh, I don't know, a submarine?
He'll get it for you.
I'm sure he could find us a wolf.
Why haven't you called him?
Well, I did call him.
There are lots of nutters who have wild animals at home.
Here, I have a jaguar, 12 Laugier road,
a kangaroo,
Abbey road,
and boa constrictors.
I have plenty of them.
They put them in their bathtubs.
But a wolf will be more difficult.
Nobody's interested in wolves.
It's…
It's not very light in here.
Wolves like the dark.
Right.
Come this way.
You call that a wolf?
What did you want it to be?
I ordered a wolf.
You want a bigger one?
A bigger one! A wolf is a wolf.
Don't you have any other wolves?
This isn't exactly what…
Right, okay well, next time, eh? Thanks.
Fifi. Come here, Fifi, come on.
I suspected that wouldn't work,
so I've had another idea.
What?
Well, tell us everything. What idea?
I took a trip to the zoo.
You're not gonna steal a wolf from the zoo?
Why not?
Surely it'd be better outside than in a cage.
Pascal said he wanted a wolf, and he'll get whatever he asks for.
And you'll get 18 months in jail.
No, because if a cop arrests me, I'll tell him we're at war.
And if he says that's not true, I'll ask him why,
even in peacetime, we let planes fly with bombs that could fall
and kill a child.
All right, all right, the zoo.
Going back to the good old days in the scrubland?
Except we're not blowing up the zoo.
No. Are the gates high?
Yes, fairly, we'll have to get over them.
Right, well, we'll need a double ladder. An aluminium one if possible.
Big gloves, a hacksaw, pliers, what else?
A sleeping agent, chloroform for the wolf.
We don't have much time to find that.
We'll share the shopping. There are two of us.
Some people just don't know how to count.
I didn't think they fed them in the evening.
Try the chloroform.
We don't have time for the chloroform.
Watch out. Give it to me and give him the shot.
We should take the other one too.
Can you drive?
Of course.
I'll put some whiskey on it, it'll do you good.
I feel all young again.
Yes, we should do this a bit more often.
I know you have it just by seeing you.
It was impossible to separate them.
One day, we'll be the same.
-Ciao. -Ciao.
Good luck to the four of you!
Same as usual.
The boss is still in bed and I don't have the key for the pump.
Look under the telephone.
Gentlemen, where are you travelling from?
From that way.
-From Paris, then? -Yes.
Your papers.
We've never needed to show papers around here.
This is Mr. Ségur who lives at the top of the hill.
You know Herod castle?
Do you know them?
Go and find Charlie Lebroton, the boss, he knows us.
So you do know them?
Oh, I'm just here to clean before school,
but maybe the boss…
Maybe the boss knows them.
Can you read, sir?
But what's this about?
Someone robbed the Esso station 30 kilometres from here.
They left the guard half-dead. Do you understand now?
Your papers.
Yes, they're in the glovebox.
What about you?
My American passport is at the castle,
but my driving license is in here.
And open the boot, I want to take a look.
Of course, but the key is on the same keyring.
I can't do two things at once.
Come on, calm down.
Would you like the Beatles, if you were a horse?
My bike.
Catch him!
Dad, is that you?
I didn't want to wake you, my boy. Go back to sleep.
Did you get my wolf?
How did you know?
Why would you both leave if it wasn't for that?
Go on, sleep.
Don't be scared, we're friends.
No one will harm you, I promise.
You'll be very happy here, you'll see.
I'm certain we'll be very good friends, you'll see.
You're a good wolf, you're both so beautiful.
What are their names?
I'm not sure, you'll need to name them.
I'm so happy they're here.
They'll protect us.
From what?
They'll protect us, that's all.
Are you at peace?
Well, when I'm with you and Verdun,
the wolves never seem afraid.
It's time to go back to bed now, it's cold out here.
But I'm nearly cured, right?
Yes, nearly. But you still need to take all your medicine.
Oh! You know what I'll call them?
Adam and Eve.
He's Adam and she's Eve.
That's good, that is.
They must have rather clean teeth.
If their teeth weren't clean, we'll know after a week.
I can't hear anything! Hello? Hello, Catherine!
Yes, I'm great! You?
I've got a surprise for you, actually, two surprises! Oh, you know?
Oh, I know everything. Have you got to know them?
Straight away. I think they know me too. They seem much better than others.
Pascal, if you keep on like that, we'll soon all be after them.
Do you see what I'm saying?
Yes, yes, I see what you're saying, but don't worry, Catherine.
You can count on me. Wait a moment while I turn the page.
It's great that you gave this to me. When will you come and see them?
Just as soon as I can get away.
Oh, definitely for Christmas.
Yes, of course.
Call me whenever you like.
Bye, dear. Give everyone my love.
Bye, Catherine!
That was Catherine!
She's coming for Christmas. She knows all about Adam and Eve.
Of course she does. She helped us.
Really?
Yes, she did.
You can go out today if you wrap up warm.
You can get out your tractor.
I might see my wolves first.
Whatever you like.
It's a difficult decision.
One day, I'll take my wolves with me on the tractor! It'll be great!
Are you all right?
Look! No hands!
What are you doing?
No, don't go that way! Watch the car.
Not so fast!
For Eve.
For Adam.
The butcher keeps asking me why we need so much meat.
He doesn't need to know. Just say we have dogs.
I'm deaf, it's very easy not to answer.
You and Dad stole them, didn't you?
You weren't too scared?
Yes, but just enough to be successful.
You're the Leader of Wolves now. Go on.
Am I going to feed them?
Oh no, not yet, but soon.
You know what, we'll give them some of your mineral water.
That is sweet.
You think they'd want it?
Cheeky. Right, let's go.
Look, the first snowfall.
Make a wish.
Here.
I'll make one for you.
"Because by nature, dogs are social animals,
whereas wolves are solitary.
They form short alliances to fight or to hunt,
but once they've devoured their prey…"
Tell me, how are we going to finish this before Christmas?
You little lazybones.
We've still got five weeks.
At the rate you're going, we'll need five months.
Quick, while it's hot, finish the O.
Put it back in the fire.
Quick, there's a problem with the wolves.
No!
Adam has fallen down one of the old wells.
What's wrong with him?
I don't know, but he lets out little cries every now and then.
So he's still alive. Come.
The wells aren't deep, but they are very narrow.
Pascal, that'll be a job for you, eh?
Watch out.
Carefully.
There we go.
Now go and talk to Eve while we take care of her idiot husband.
Eve,
we'll look after him, you know,
it'll be fine.
It stinks of chloroform in here. I'll go let some air in.
Come here.
Come, that's it.
Don't worry, Eve, we'll make Adam better.
Pascal, can you hold him for me?
Of course.
You'll get better, you'll see.
Well done, Pascal, you're brilliant.
You're beautiful, Adam.
How is he?
I don't think it's broken, but it's best to be sure,
put that on while waiting for the plaster of Paris.
Sleep, Adam.
Sleep, it'll be okay. Stay calm, sleep, Adam.
You're a good wolf.
We need Catherine, I'm sure she's great with animals.
You should talk to her about it.
Laurent, don't do that!
Are you mad?
Eve.
Come here, Eve.
Come here.
You're a good wolf, come on.
Kind. Brave, good. Come here, Eve.
No one's going to hurt you, come on.
Come.
Come here, good wolf.
Yes, come here, yes, my beauty.
That's it.
You see?
To show you I'm not that mad.
After what we've just seen, I don't think we'll ever need them.
Mr. Vernet is here.
I'm coming. Pascal, you should come too.
I told Mr. Vernet you were busy
and he would probably need to wait,
he said that didn't matter.
Yes, thank you.
Sorry, Vernet. Marinette only just told me.
I came for your son.
Hi, Pascal, you look well.
Actually, I'm going to die soon.
What does that matter?
I'm going to die soon, too.
I hope it's not preventing you from having fun.
That's all I've done.
-You know I've got two-- -Hello Sir.
I'm having fun with my tractor.
And me with my horses.
Calm down, Tempest.
I wanted to invite you to see a young stallion I'm training.
Is he black too?
No, white.
How long does it take to train him?
-Pascal! -Put this on.
Three to four months.
How old is he?
Pascal, that's enough questions.
He still has the wolf fang.
He's never without it.
-Can I touch it? -Yes, of course.
-Are you all right? -Yes.
Quick, catch him. Gently.
Gently, Tempest.
Come on, calm down.
Tempest.
Come on, that's enough of that.
Calm down.
That's it, I've got him.
Come on, come on!
Take me home,
I must warn my men immediately.
Come on.
Verdun, that was our fault.
We must stink like ferrets.
Worse, like wolves.
One for Eve.
One for Adam.
I think I'll go to bed early tonight.
It's tiring, walking in the snow.
Yes, that's true.
In the morning, there'll be 15 centimetres more, you know.
Sir has chosen turkey!
Yes. It's magnificent. A real monster.
Do you think the snow will last until Christmas?
I promise it will.
Here, they're bound to be hungry now. Go on.
Can you do it? I don't really want to.
As you wish.
No, I'd better go. I think they like it when it's me.
At least, I hope.
Yes.
I think I'd put it in two bowls, if I were you.
Verdun, can you give me your thoughts on the electrician's estimate?
Of course.
I don't like you going down there alone.
I'm not alone, I have my wolves.
Well, still. Do you want me to go with you?
Marinette, it's a man's job, see.
Sorry!
Yes, you're beautiful.
He's healed, look.
Your leg wouldn't heal that fast, huh?
Well, if I had to walk again to find food and survive,
I'd certainly be like him.
But your bone wouldn't heal as fast as Adam's, would it?
Maybe not as fast, no.
Thanks, Verdun. It's very important to me.
-Verdun. -Yes?
Father Vernet and his men have found the mad stallion,
and they want us to help bring it back.
Can I come?
In this weather? You're as mad as the horse.
I'll stay with Pascal, I need to finish the Christmas presents.
Don't say anything.
But…
I didn't say anything.
Aren't you very mysterious?
-See you later. -Be careful!
Did you know that wolves have one more toe on each paw?
You could say that dogs have one less.
It atrophied during the last millennia.
You've read my book!
You cheat. You said you didn't know how to read.
I didn't say I couldn't read, I said I didn't read.
And the wolves?
Let them sleep an hour or two.
Now?
What, you don't know that wolves stay awake all night?
I'll tell you one thing. I'm not letting you touch my book again!
-Never again! -I had you there.
Go on.
Not now,
it's too dark.
Thank you, Laurent.
Come in, Marinette will prepare you something to eat and drink.
No,
you have to go…
Isn't that right, Madame?
What time is it? What's going on?
I thought we could get up.
You're mad, it's 4:00 in the morning.
I can't sleep.
Can I come in your bed?
If you don't move around.
What've you done with your pyjama bottoms?
Nothing.
Did you have a nightmare?
I don't think so.
Do you know it's snowing?
Sleep, little monster.
You forgot to turn off the light.
That's never happened to me, you know.
Don't worry. It doesn't matter at all.
Go back to sleep.
Thanks.
Goodnight, papa.
Goodnight, soldier.
Did I tell you that it's snowing?
Yes, you told me.
I don't remember.
You know Catherine's coming tomorrow?
Yes, I know.
Go to sleep.
If you could both put his bed in my room,
I'd worry less.
Consider it done.
This sort of failure of bodily functions.
This is a very serious sign.
It's just a kid peeing in his bed.
Don't you understand, this is significant?
You have to realise something.
If it happens in his sleep,
it's because of fear, not the illness.
It's when the subconscious takes over
that these things happen.
He's subconsciously afraid.
You're wrong. Whether he's sleeping or not,
I've never seen someone with such guts.
I'll tell you something, Laurent,
this kid, well…
He's doing far better than us.
You're right.
That's exactly it.
But I'm also allowed, because I'm his father.
And because last night, I realised
that until now, I've never stopped hoping for a miracle.
And last night, I also realised that…
The miracle isn't coming.
Not for Pascal…
Not for my boy.
Sir isn't well, you'd better go with him to the station.
You know,
Pascal needs me too.
If you're that worried, why not take him to the doctor in Paris?
No.
This landscape, the snow, this house, his wolves.
I think he feels like he's living in a fairy tale.
Except that this time, there won't be a happy ending.
Every time I see one of those bastards go by,
I wonder if they're carrying passengers and luggage, or rather,
something to destroy a whole town.
Do you think that he…
That he's happy I'm coming?
You'll see.
Catherine.
You see?
What a shame.
Poor Tempest. Poor horse.
What did you say?
I said if you've found your tree, Verdun will come and cut it with you.
I should hope so.
Did you hear something last night?
Did you hear…
Right, yes, I don't know why I bother.
I don't need to hear.
I saw the footprints this morning.
It's the full moon.
Where's Pascal?
I don't know,
he should be out with his tractor.
My God! Laurent! The kid!
Help!
Dad!
Help!
Dad!
Help!
Dad!
Dad.
Did you let them out?
Yes, they understood, I had to let them out.
You see how easy it is with the wolves.
Very easy.
Go on, I don't want you to see this.
Aim well, don't kill my wolves. Promise?
Catherine!
-Pascal! -Catherine!
It's not fair. He didn't hurt me.
But the wolves would've killed him.
It's not the same.
Come on, it was the only thing they could do.
Check.
Yep. Check and mate.
Another game?
Tomorrow, I'm a bit tired.
Doesn't surprise me.
I've never beaten you at chess before.
No, never.
Did you let me win to make me happy?
No, I promise. Perhaps I had other things on my mind.
Me too. Time to call it quits.
You know, I'm worried about my wolves.
Why? They're doing very well.
I'm worried they'll get bored.
What will they do when I'm dead?
You're here now.
But suppose I die soon. You can't take them back to the zoo.
I wouldn't want to.
And if you let them go in the woods, they would attack the cows
and the farmers would get their rifles and kill them. What do you think?
I haven't thought about it.
If you ask me, there's nothing to be done.
Each day will take care of itself and each wolf will meet its destiny.
Like you'll meet yours and me, mine.
That's true, you've reassured me a bit.
There's no point in worrying.
You're right. We'll get by.
You told me that before, do you remember?
Yes.
And it helped me a lot.
I'm glad.
The first time I saw you together at Maxim’s,
I never thought that anyone could be so close.
What a rotten way to discover the joys of fatherhood.
You're cynical and tired.
A good night's sleep will help.
Yes, I am tired.
Because I feel so useless.
All I can do is still so little.
Before, you know, I never really thought about death.
Normally, it's only old people who think about it.
I wasn't ready yet.
That's why.
Laurent, I already asked you,
these past few months, Pascal hasn't been unhappy.
No, it's truly a miracle.
Of course, you can never know what goes on inside a child's head.
But he hasn't been unhappy.
So you don't have the right to be either.
Because you're…
You're without doubt the most wonderful father I've ever seen.
You'll wake him.
And you know that women always have the last word.
Watch out below!
That there's a beautiful tree. Not too big, nor too small.
It's what we call a medium tree.
And it was planted on the day you were born.
The same age as me! Imagine that.
You going to pull it, Pascal?
Of course, I'm the driver.
All right, go on.
Come on, get going.
Marinette, if you want to sit behind me, I'll drive you.
Go on, get going, lumberjack, go on.
Stop it, you!
Well done, Verdun! It's very pretty!
Wait, it's not finished yet,
you have to turn the lights on and off.
On-and-off.
It won't break?
No, no chance, you'll see.
Pascal, go and get me another one from the hall, it's empty.
Do you want it now? I'm a bit tired.
You're not the only one, you know. We all need a rest.
And promise you'll take a decent nap later,
to be in good shape tomorrow?
All right.
And no cheating and looking inside the presents.
If you promise to not look at my present for you, it's a surprise.
I promise.
Laurent, if you want to be back before night, we should hurry.
Yes, I'm coming.
Where are you going?
Last minute shopping.
Look. It's blinking.
-Well done. -Terrific!
Don't forget to take a nap!
Okay. Bye, Dad. Don't drive too fast.
You think he'll say I cheated if I guess it's a bicycle?
You'd be less tempted to guess if you didn't watch what I'm doing.
It looks like there's an engine underneath doesn't it?
No, no, you never know, I don't see anything.
Christmas Eve, it's always the same.
If only that were true.
Oh, what have you done now?
Look at that.
A red glove! Verdun, is it the Leader of Wolves?
No point hiding it from you now!
After your nap, you can wear the whole thing
as a surprise for Marinette, eh?
Yes.
-Fantastic! -Well!
Are you sure they dressed like that?
You have my personal guarantee.
It's great.
Great.
Well done! The Leader of Wolves!
You see, she recognised your costume?
Of course, I'm the one who sewed it.
She's an old liar. She only sewed it a little bit.
Don't listen to him, he's the liar. He's a boaster, a layabout,
and never did anything good in his life.
No response?
No, she's too deaf, you can't argue with her.
Right, I need to get dressed as well, got to look good for tonight.
Are you wearing your St. Tropez shirt?
Yes. I don't have anything else.
-Verdun? -Yes.
I wanted to…
What?
Nothing.
Look,
do you want to help?
I think I'll go and see my wolves.
Stay here, you can try my chocolate mousse.
No.
I'm going to see my wolves.
Stay here.
If you want.
Pascal, where are you?
You cheated. You promised not to open the parcels.
Pascal, don't play around, I can see you…
GOOD LUCK
Subtitle translation by: Tamsin Collett-Cox