INTIMATE STRANGER
I had no idea what strange adventure awaited me.
It was a day...
like any other.
- Where are you going? - To a comic book fair.
When will you be back?
- Tomorrow. - But please be here in time for dinner!
Yes?
Yes. Have a good day.
Yes, sure.
- Here. - Bye!
Bye, Daddy! That's what I want. Thank you.
Hurry up! Don't forget your bag!
I'm waiting...
- Hello. - Hi.
Is this new?
No.
It was published two years ago.
- Have you stopped drawing? - No.
That is to say...yes.
I'm looking for a story.
- With Agatha Hayes? - No.
Something personal.
What sort of story?
I'll have to find out...
Too bad. Agatha Hayes is great.
Tickets, please!
Monsieur?
- I forgot to validate it. - I've seen that before.
- This is the wrong train. - Doesn't this go to Paris?
No.
- Can I get back from the next station? - That would be better.
- When's the next train to Paris? - At 17:20.
This is Catherine Verniaz. Leave a message at the tone!
It was the village I grew up in.
I had not been there since...
an eternity.
Thomas Verniaz?
Godin.
What are you doing here?
Sheer chance. I got on the wrong train...
- How long since we've seen each other? - Since your mother's funeral.
You've hardly changed. What are you up to nowadays?
What am I doing... I draw comics.
- Then you're a celebrity. - That would be an exaggeration.
Even at school you always had the raw talent.
I took over this workshop from my father.
I never made a go of it in school.
- How is your father? - Not so well. Well, at his age...
- I'd like to see my house. - You'll be disappointed.
I warned you. It stands empty.
After your father's shop, an electrical repair shop moved in.
Did you ever see your father again?
No, never.
Do you know now what was going on back then?
He lit out on your birthday, right?
No, on his birthday.
I always thought...
it was just before dinner.
He wanted to go get some bread and then...
- Funny story, huh? - All right.
- Do we want a drink? - No, thank you.
I still have to go to the cemetery.
- Bye. - Bye.
- it was good to see you. - Yeah, me too.
Until next time — in 20 years.
My childhood neighborhood was only a vague memory.
I always wondered...
if my mother had died from illness or from grief.
She never saw my father again.
He suddenly disappeared,...
without a trace.
Hey, Bernard, what are you doing?
- Where have you been all this time? - Papa...
You have a problem?
Come help me out here!
What?
Do you still have a headache?
You seem all right.
- Did you get them for me? - What?
The slices of ham from the butcher.
- No, I forgot. - Where were you?
Where was I?
Then I'll just scramble up some eggs.
- Can I have a kiss? - Why?
Imagine that I just disappeared tomorrow.
Are you crying?
What's up with you?
A boy your age does not cry. Sit down!
- It looks so limp, the tomato. - It's...
It seems so real.
- Not like in a dream. - What are you talking about?
Come, sit down!
- Please. - Thank you.
Mama? Dad's 40th Birthday was on June 5th?
Yes, why?
- It's already the 12th - Oh, already?
- He hasn't left. - What?
Nothing.
I really felt like I was dreaming.
But I loved that dream.
I was still just 14, but this time my father was still there.
- Those are your old pajamas? - Yes, I like them.
Sleep well.
- Good night, sweetheart. - Good night.
- Tell me the end of the story! - What story?
Yesterday's, with the wild rhino!
No. Not tonight.
I'm tired.
Come on, let's get some sleep!
I'm really glad to see you, too.
But tomorrow morning I'll wake up...
in my own bed.
Not here, in the other one.
And you'll be gone...
Thomas.
Wake up!
Thomas!
You scared me.
Didn't you turn on the alarm clock? Come on, you'll be late!
- Late for what? - Late for school.
I was confused.
If this wasn't a dream, what was it?
- Where's Dad? - Where is he?
In his studio. Stand up.
Wait, here's money for the canteen.
- 500 francs. - Thank you.
Mama, you mean "five francs". You're so old fashioned.
You want to hold my hand?
- I thought you didn't want to any more. - What?
To take me by the hand in front of people.
- We can whistle at them. - We'll whistle at them!
Come on, that's not a film for children.
Thank you, see you later!
Verniaz, wait a minute!
- Rousseau. - Ready for the tough class?
- Tough class? - Latin. It's a pain.
Cool.
- Bargemont? - Yes.
- Bouillier? - Here.
- Chabrot? - Here.
- Godin? - Here.
- D'Epinay? - Yes.
They were so young.
Much younger than I remembered them.
Even the teachers were younger than me.
Are you dreaming, Verniaz?
I don't know.
- You find it funny? - No, Monsieur.
Get up!
Sit down!
Settle down! Take out your notebooks!
Write down the date!
- Chabrot! - I didn't do anything!
Seneca responds to his critics.
17th. 1st.
"Si quis itaque est istis"...Comma,...
"philosofiam quolatrant qui"...Comma,...
"Dixerit solent"...quote...
- Isn't that Sylvie Dumontel? - You better believe it.
- I've never dared approach her. - Really! Leave it to me!
Yes, go ahead.
She was my first love.
But only from a distance and in secret.
Hi, Nelly. Where's my mother?
Upstairs. Thomas, you were at the barber's?
I don't think so.
You look different...
What will you drink?
- A Schweppes. - An Orangina.
- Here. - Thank you.
Mom's asleep.
- This time of day? - She worked at night.
When I got up, she was still cleaning up.
Oh dear...
- This is a collector's item. - What?
- Very rare. - Did I get for 200. Keep it!
Thanks, that's great. No, thank you.
- Do you think time travel is possible? - In books, it already is.
Weird...since yesterday, I've had the feeling I was 14 again.
That's a tough trick? You ARE 14...
In a different time, a parallel time or...
another dimension.
You should write about that.
Look at this! Do you have the special edition?
Yes. This isn't the first.
Yeah, sure, you greenhorn. Let's...
We did that?
- I'm going home. - Already?
- I want to see my parents. - You are really different.
- And it's not your hairstyle. - No, my age.
Papa?
- Oh, there you are. - Sure. What's up?
Nothing.
Imagine cutting a man in half!
That's Berlin. Two halves, with the other half missing,...
separated as if by another, invisible wall,
and suddenly, loving families are divided.
Here you see a mother and daughter...
Bad, these separated families.
The Russians have a lot to answer for.
You'll soon see.
The wall will come down and Germany will be reunited.
Will you go see Grandma Yvette tomorrow?
Yvette Grandma... she's still alive?
I mean, she's doing well?
Grandma Yvette?
- I wasn't expecting to see you. - Me, neither.
- Long time no see. - Since Sunday, right?
- Here are your drugs. - Thank you.
- No school today? - It's Thursday.
Oh, yes. Then we'll be eating together.
I'll put out another plate.
Are you the bride here?
That was then.
Is that you, too?
No.
Here we go!
- Who are they? - Don't you recognize your own parents?
Yes, but the young man..
Oh, him...
That's an old story.
Ever since kindergarten your father had a friend, Robert.
A boy from here. They were inseparable.
In the war, they were active in La Résistance.
They smuggled people across the mountains.
There in Switzerland, Robert met his girlfriend, Anna.
Your mother.
She later became your mother.
- Wasn't she engaged to dad? - No, not then.
Didn't you know?
They've never told me.
One night, the Germans ambushed them on patrol.
Your father was able to flee,
but Robert was captured and then shot.
At first, it was hard for your father.
He asked himself over and over: "Why him?"
Later, your father felt that he had to marry Robert's fiancée.
The loss brought them closer together.
Good night.
You have five minutes.
Verniaz! Do you have to draw even in math class?
Are you interested in my working out the problem?
I can't be bothered anymore.
The school year is soon over! Show her that!
- That' is personal. - Give me that book!
Oh!
- It reminds me of Miss Dumontel. - What's it to you?
- Mind your tone! Get up! - Why not make stupid remarks?
That's it! Off you go to the director!
Did he get to you or did you let it roll off your back?
I let it go.
What's the matter with you?
- Fabulous moped. - Your father's?
- He has it in for repairs. - Do you have a pig!
Hey, guys, she's looking over at us!
- Soon we can have a party... - Who else would come?
Which of you's Thomas Verniaz?
- That would be me. - Am I so distinguished by a great artist?
- A great artist, no... - Can I have a look?
Bye.
The second drawing wasn't as artistic, but I enjoyed doing it.
I wish my daughters could meet you.
They would have loved you.
If they even exist at all...
Listen to me, please!
I won't!
Corinne.
- Let me go! - Easy...
Calm down...
It's just a bad dream.
Go on back to sleep!
That's good. Sleep...
Here was where my journey began.
Maybe I'll come back this way again?
Bruno, telephone!
- Who is it? - Some woman.
She didn't introduce herself.
Hello? Yes.
No. Just a moment...
Yes.
Everything's under control, don't worry.
I did not know what I was looking for.
But that call made me uneasy.
Dad, can I use this for fishing?
It'll be boring you to sit still around all day.
No. I'll be a good boy, I promise.
Just this once.
Please.
Papa?
Are you happy?
Do you like your job?
You never seem to take a break.
Yes, yes.
This wasn't my chosen profession.
I took over my great-uncle's business after the war.
Could you sew?
I've learned how.
It's not bad.
Things that have changed give you another life.
Would you like another life?
You're not very talkative.
- Dad, take time to... - What's with the third degree?
Have you ever talked with your own dad talked about this stuff?
No.
Why not?
I didn't know him very well.
He went too soon.
Went?
Died.
What would you say to him today?
Suppose that...
- someday... - Be quiet.
You're scaring off my fish.
You're not an angel.
No.
You're here every Sunday.
Why?
Stop it!
Hi.
I wanted to talk to you. Walk with me?
Sylvie Dumontel wanted to talk to me.
I was excited like a teenager.
Would you give me lessons?
In what?
In drawing. I'd like to be a designer.
- A fashion designer? - Yes. In Paris or London.
- Carnaby Street? - How do you know that?
- My father works in fashion. - Oh, yeah?
In the broadest possible sense.
- Do you also want to do fashion? - No.
I'm going to draw comics.
A character looking like you will be a huge success.
- Like me? - Yeah.
But I noticed this later on.
Much later.
Three days ago, actually.
What's going on?
I'm not sure. This place looks familiar...
- So, bye. - Bye.
Want to dance? Come on!
- I'll be a dancer. - No, teacher.
- You'll like this. - I will certainly be a dancer.
You're right, and a pretty one. Dance with Mom?
Come on.
- Where did you learn to dance like that? - How about you?
What's going on here?
Come on, it's time to dance with mom!
- I can't dance. - Come on, Dad!
Papa!
Yes?
What is it?
Are you awake?
I've dreamed of something bad.
I fell real far, down from heaven.
You can fly to the moon?
Tintin did it.
- But not for real. - But it'll happen soon enough.
I'll tell you a secret.
- It'll happened on July 20th, 1969. - You're pulling my leg.
No. It'll even be on TV.
Mama will get us up late at night to see it on TV.
But Dad lets us never watch TV at night.
Maybe he won't be here.
- Where will he be, then? - Well, on...
the moon!
Good night.
Dad on the moon...
- Let's go to my place. - I can't.
- Because of your girlfriend? - She's not my girlfriend.
Infatuation makes for boring friendships.
Hi.
- They're stupid. - It's a phase they're going through.
- Goodbye. - Thank you, Doctor.
Verniaz Junior!
Do you have an appointment?
- I'm waiting for your daughter. - Are you all better?
Even if you just get a headache, come see me.
- Yes, sir. - Come on, your friend's waiting!
Thanks for the advice.
Thanks, Dad.
No. Draw the line afterwards!
This is ugly.
You can see the little guitar.
To hell with realism.
What counts is your style, your point of view.
Don't you like me?
- Of course, but... - What?
- But you're 15. - So what? So are you.
No.
I'm not ready yet.
You'll tell me when you're ready?
I felt strangely guilty.
I would be with a girl...
the age of my daughter, maybe cheating on my wife.
My wife comes from Saint-Mab in Brittany.
The name Barski wasn't all that common.
- Hello? - Are you Madame Barsky?
- Catherine's mother? - Yes.
Excuse me...
- Could I talk with your daughter? - Who are you?
Thomas.
- Thomas Verniaz. - Are you a school friend?
- No. - Who are you?
Just a friend.
Well, I'll get her, but I'm listening, too.
- Hello? - Catherine?
Yes.
- And who are you? - Well, Thomas.
I don't know you.
But one day we'll meet.
We are getting married, be a couple.
We'll have two children. Two girls.
My reality as an adult,...
of what I was to be, was disintegrating...
like a distant memory.
- Should we go in? - Look at this image.
I'm tired...
Do you think it'll lead to a career?
You sound like my father.
I can't work if I'm in love.
- Who are you in love with? - Who with?
With you. Do you love me, too?
- I really loved you deeply. - But not anymore?
We've only known each other for a week.
You're shy with girls, aren't you?
- Where were you? - At the Rousseaus.
It hurts me when you lie. Philippe Rousseau called for you.
I was swimming with a friend.
- A girlfriend? - A girl.
Who is she?
I have my own life. You wouldn't believe me anyway.
And you?
How was your day?
Normal. Shopping, the budget...
Why didn't you go for a walk?
- Today's not Sunday. - So what?
You can still go — enjoy life!
Come on, I invite you!
Funny, you've changed a lot over the past few days.
Maybe you're just growing up.
Time for an ice cream?
I still have to get a gift for Dad.
- What a gift? - A fishhook remover.
- Do you think he'll like it? - Sure, but what gift?
For his birthday on Sunday.
- Wasn't that over a week ago? - Yes.
We're celebrating more than once?
- You know... - No, I don't know.
- You don't remember? - What?
Corinne? Haven't we celebrated papa's birthday?
No. Check out my present!
- It's really beautiful. - What are you giving him?
Why didn't we celebrate?
Well, because of your accident.
What accident?
- Are you messing with me? - No.
- Do you swear? - Yes, I swear.
The day before Dad's birthday...
you were missing. No one knew where you were.
Then Dad found you at the cemetery.
At the cemetery? What was I doing there?
You'd passed out on your bike. Your head was injured.
Dad took you to Dr. Dumontel.
He said you'd have to recover. And he gave you an excuse for school.
So when Dad's birthday rolled around the next day...
well, hard luck, but we decided to celebrate it when you were better.
I wondered whether my father...
would leave us again that day.
34, 35, 36, 37...
You've got no business here.
- I forgot the bread. - I'll get some.
No, Thomas does that
Things are happening quickly.
My father went directly to the station.
Police said he took the 20:45 train to Paris.
Then they lost his trail.
None of us ever saw him again.
I hadn't returned here by chance,...
but to dissuade my father from leaving us.
Papa!
- I wanted to talk to you. - I'm expected.
- Can I come along? - No.
- But I have to talk with you. - Later.
- Thank you. - No problem.
- Aren't you going to wear a helmet? - Yes.
Thank you.
Are you going to tell me what's up?
It's a private matter.
Whiskey, please!
- You're underage. - I'm not.
- Oh no? - Give me a break.
A whiskey. Who's going to know?
Thank you.
One more, please!
You got a cigarette?
One more, please!
That's enough. You've had enough to drink.
You're sweet, but you've got to stop worrying about your mother.
My mother? No, my wife.
Really? Are you married?
I'm married and I have two children.
Daughters.
Who knows if they love me...?
We should tell him that we love him,...
that we are very attached to him,...
then maybe he'd stay.
Where are you taking me?
I do not know yet.
Where?
- He's been drinking, but he's all right. - Get up!
Aren't you ashamed?
- It's the first time - That you get drunk?
- That you showed you love me. - I just helped you up.
Papa?
Do you love Mama?
Of course.
Are you having trouble?
- What sort of trouble? - Financial, health, or...
- is it someone else? - Someone else?
A woman.
What are you talking about?
- Are you leaving us? - How much did you drink?
Time to get up!
- Are you sick? - No, I just have a headache.
- Should I call the doctor? - No, it's just a hangover.
- Wake up! - Mama?
- Where's Dad? - You keep asking that all the time!
- Where is he? - With a client, I think.
You're Thomas.
I wanted to ask you something.
You and my father...
No, there's nothing going on.
Your father is a friend.
I knew your ever since he was a child.
I came to rest here in the mountains.
To the sanatorium,...
you know...
he lived on the farm next door.
He brought us milk.
It's incredible how much you resemble him.
He shouldn't visit me.
I don't plan on staying much longer anyway.
No.
He must visit.
Come here!
You missed the last two days of school.
What's going on with you?
I don't know.
I do.
This is something special yet normal for your age.
But you should wait for the holidays to see the girl.
Yes, Mama.
- Tomorrow you go back to school, right? - Promise.
You are very beautiful, mom.
Are you scared?
I am a bit.
She's watching you, right? You know what that means?
I can't, I'm sorry.
You don't love me.
- That's not it. - What, then?
- You wouldn't understand. - I'm not a baby!
Listen...
Sometimes, there are more important things...
Yes, more important things!
I need to prevent my Dad from screwing things up.
I'm almost out of time.
You won't say nothing? Aren't we friends anymore?
Yes, of course.
- It's different than before. - Before?
Everything revolves around her.
Stop it...
Have you broken up?
Yes. No... well, make of it what you will.
What's going on?
Nothing. That means... I think something will happen.
What's the problem?
My father's going away.
- On a trip? - No.
He'll never be coming back.
I know you're awake. You've met her.
She died.
Do you know what she said?
"I've survived.
"But not lived.
"Now it's too late."
33, 34, 35, 36,...
- 37, 38, 39, 40 - You've got no business here.
- I forgot the bread. - I'll get some.
- No, Thomas does that - Things are happening quickly.
Happy birthday to you!
Happy birthday to you...
Where's your son?
Thomas, where are you going?
Papa?
- What are you doing here? - How about you? We're waiting for you.
How did you know where I was?
You're going to Paris.
How do you know?
I just know.
- Tell your mother... - What?
The money's on top of the cabinet.
Mom won't be able to cope.
It'll be too hard for her.
The tailoring business will fail.
It gives us a chance to work things through.
She'll always be pining for you.
- She'll die so young... - What are you talking about?
We won't make it without you. You can't do this to us.
I always wanted to go, I had to.
- I had a choice in life. - Aren't we your life?
I must go it before it's too late.
Maybe you'll understand when you're a grownup.
You just walk away so easily.
Can you believe it?
Where's your father, on the night of his birthday celebration?
I was with him.
Where?
At the station. He's left us.
Left...
I wanted to stop him, but...
I knew it would happen eventually.
But don't worry, he'll be back.
Men sometimes need...
Mama.
He's not coming back.
Believe me!
What do you know?
Let's get you settled down this time.
Think of your life!
You're young.
Promise me not to wait for him.
Promise me not to wait for him!
Tickets please!
Monsieur?
- You're in the wrong seat? - Isn't this the TGV to Paris?
You're in the wrong compartment. But the train's not full anyway.