Original subtitles

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday to you,

Happy birthday dear Claudine

Happy birthday to you

Look.

- Show me. - Aren't they pretty?

Yes.

Look.

- Do they suit me? - Yes.

Yes?

I'll take a look.

What are you doing?

No, no, no...

Careful. They'll notice.

What do you think of the doctor?

Sexy?

Which one would you chose?

That one.

Yeah.

Do me up.

So?

Am I beautiful?

Yes.

As beautiful as his wife?

You're stunning.

Really?

Yes.

Don't move.

Is everyone here?

- No. One's missing. - Who?

5 minutes to go.

We're in business.

- Francine Forget? - Stephanie?

Hello.

FIRES

From Remi Everyone's here. We're ready.

If all goes to plan, Mum will arrive

from there, with Dad and Marc.

Then, we shout: "Surprise!"

Hoping she won't faint.

- That's not her style. - No.

Thank you so much for coming.

I certainly owe your Marc one.

- I'll never forget it. - Dad.

- Yes? - This is Francine Forget.

- Nice to meet you. - A pleasure.

A lovely place.

- Thanks. - I can't believe it.

You call this a cottage?

What d'you have in town!

And you know Claudine from...

You know the photo of Mum with the cute guy?

- It's her brother. - Yes.

He was her first boyfriend, you could say.

And this man is Marc's father.

- Jacques Lemaire. - Okay. Great!

My partner, Helene.

Nice to meet you.

You just got an award, for your work?

- Yes, that's right. - Bravo.

We have some VIPs here. It's an honour.

Claudine will be pleased to see you.

Steph told me Jean was a patient of yours.

I thought: "I have to go."

It's a sign. Nothing is chance.

It is true you treated Jean?

Yes, I did.

From Remi Everyone's here. We're ready.

Grandma, Pops, people to meet.

Hello, Mrs Grenier.

Dr Lemaire, Marc's father.

No?

Are you really?

Dr Lemaire? Goodness me!

Mrs Grenier.

Oh yes...

I recognise you now. You haven't changed.

Well, maybe a little.

My partner, Helene.

- A pleasure. - The pleasure is mine.

What's your name, again?

- Helene. - You know, Helene,

Dr Lemaire looked more like an actor than a doctor.

Mr Grenier.

Pops, this is Dr Lemaire.

My old Grumps.

Grumps sure can be grouchy.

It's his way of welcoming you, saying hello.

He's losing it.

Message from Claudine:

"Just leaving Karim's. See you soon."

Message from Marc:

"Car trouble. Be there in half an hour."

Strange to think

we're returning to the treadmill.

I don't know if I should say it but...

I love...

I feel so good with you.

Me too.

There's a petrol station. I'll fill up the tank.

We're at a petrol station in the village.

Be there in 5-10 minutes. Okay? Bye.

They're coming.

Alex! Come on.

Remi

will want you to stay. He'll offer you a drink.

He'll want to show you his landscaping.

5 minutes won't make any difference.

We can show him inside after.

Go on, I'll join you soon.

No, come with us.

Come on!

Surprise!

Happy birthday

To you

Happy birthday

We had a flat tyre.

Happy birthday dear Claudine

Happy birthday to you

I got this: "Orange alert. Mum's cancelled Saturday."

I was dumbfounded.

I told them: "I don't want a party.

"Nothing for my 50th."

You okay? Coping with it?

So? Is it intimate enough?

Oh, you...

Thanks for coming. I'm really touched.

See you later.

Why is she here? Francine Forget.

It's not my fault.

- Who invited her? - She called me.

Why?

For our address. You get anything?

What do you mean?

- She sent you something. - She's not here by magic.

She kind of invited herself.

- What? - It's a long story.

I didn't have a choice.

I think she's lovely.

Remember, he was always at your place.

Oh yes... Little Forget.

I forget, but I don't have Alzheimer's.

Where do you live?

On Campo Road, near the first shop.

My sister still lives in our old house.

Do you go back to Rimouski?

We haven't been for ages.

It's not easy, with my husband.

Do you remember my brother, Jean?

He's aphasic, not deaf.

Sorry, so many people to see.

No need to apologise.

- You want to get to everyone. - All going well?

It's very nice to see you.

You made everyone sweat.

Yes, it seems so.

- You didn't suspect? - Not at all.

Where did it happen?

Just before the motorway.

It's funny, today of all days.

Always bad timing, these affairs.

But it went okay?

For a guy who's never had a flat, great.

We changed the wheel, went to the garage

in the village, and they changed the tyre.

- Come here. - I'll change him.

We can go inside.

- I'll do it. - I'm good.

- Honey, I'll go do it. - It's fine, I told you.

The surprise worked.

Oh yes. It's very moving.

It was my husband's idea to go and see Karim.

I should have guessed.

I wasn't very switched on.

Is Karim's house nice?

Yes, you've got to see it.

Pure, bold lines, but not too cold.

It's not contrived.

- An architect's home. - Near the motorway?

- Sorry? - Far from the motorway?

When Remi got a text saying you were leaving,

Marc texted you had a flat.

He said it was before the motorway...

Yes, that's right. It's not far.

10-15 minutes, I guess.

It's handy. When you come for the weekend

or want to go back,

you leave the motorway,

but you don't have an hour's drive.

Good to invite Claudine's childhood friend.

She's not her friend.

Jean was, but not her.

What's she doing here?

I wonder. Another of Steph the planner's ideas.

I do manicures, pedicures.

I have a salon in the plaza.

- Saint-Hubert Plaza? - Yes.

Montreal, I didn't know.

I escaped at 18.

- And your sister? - Chantal?

She's still in our childhood home,

with her 5 cats.

Here.

She's a funny one.

What does she do?

She's on welfare. She's very fat.

Morbidly obese. Something like that.

Is your beauty salon doing well?

Yes, I've got a loyal client base,

they've been coming since I opened.

- Are you married? - No.

No, I live alone with my cat and my budgie.

It's good to see you.

As beautiful as ever.

You're radiant.

I thought you and Jean made a great couple.

You were my idols.

I thought you'd marry and have children.

I looked at you earlier, you shine like the sun.

You're glowing.

You're lovely to look at.

Did you know that...

Jean used to see Dr Lemaire?

- Eh? - Yes.

Apparently, Jean saw Dr Lemaire regularly.

No.

It's news to me.

Can I sit with you, Mr Grenier?

What a lovely day!

Your granddaughter, Stephanie, is very bright.

And she really loves you.

- Mylene suspects something. - No.

- I'm telling you. - No way.

Did you know Detective Maurice Beauchesne too?

Stephanie told me he was a good friend.

You look stressed, Mr Grenier.

What's up?

Your father!

- Dad! - Pops, you okay?

Help me!

1, 2, 3.

- You okay, Dad? - What happened?

He tried to get up and he fell.

Low blood pressure.

You okay, Dad?

And the love of her life

Once we get the keys, we'll paint it, clean it,

and move in by the end of the month.

We'll see.

Right now, everything interests me,

even international law and humanitarian aid.

- That's great. - But it's hard to choose.

The problem with algae isn't just the surplus phosphorus.

Climate change plays into it a lot.

And agricultural herbicides. It's terrible.

Who invited Francine Forget?

Get off my case!

It wasn't me. She invited herself.

And I didn't have a choice.

And Dr Lemaire?

That, I admit, was me.

But he declined.

We needed him to bring the others.

Your Mum didn't seem happy.

What is it, Aunty?

When it comes to Dr Lemaire, Jean Forget,

and now, Francine...

- Nothing... - Don't try that. Mum has.

I'm bugging you.

Yes, you are...

- Are you sure? - Yes.

Jean was handsome.

- Why did you use the past tense? - He killed himself, 29 August 1982.

The same summer your house burned down.

When I told my sister Chantal

that I might come here and see you,

she said Jean went to your house one night.

Everything okay?

- It's very good. - Yes. The desserts...

- Help yourself to more. - I did.

Apparently, her brother came to our house?

Yes, you were babysitting there.

Jean went to see you.

Yes.

- Caught you! - It only happened once.

I promise.

I believe you.

It was my birthday. He said I was dumb to be sitting.

He offered to keep me company

once you were asleep.

The 22 June?

- Yes. - Night of the fire?

You snuck your guy in?

Your sister, your boyfriend... Did you party while I slept?

Why did Jean see you? Because he was gay?

It's possible.

"It's possible"...

Do you know what it's like

to find your brother hanged?

"It's possible"...

- Where did Helene go? - Jean was gay?

Anyone want a drink?

- Bring me a dessert. - Which?

- Surprise me. - "Surprise me."

I'll take a photo. You look so cute.

Of course!

Smile.

The lovely Carole.

You were at our house that night?

Yes.

- And Francine's brother too. - No.

I know he was there.

Not when I arrived.

Where was he?

Gone.

Dr Lemaire, it wasn't the place. I'm very sorry.

But I need to know.

How was Jean?

Why was he seeing you?

What was wrong?

The first time I met your brother, he was 13 or 14.

Your mother brought him for stomach pains.

I remember you

at our place on Claudine's birthday.

You were asleep.

No. I...

You were in my parents' room.

- You're mistaken. - What?

I remember you and Claudine in my parents' bedroom.

No joke? In your parents' room?

One day, he came back, on his own.

I suspected his stomach pain was stress, anxiety.

School, competition, always wanting to succeed.

He looked at me

and he said, quite simply:

"I get tummy pains each month, like a girl.

"I think I'm a girl."

No way...

That's why I was interested in seeing Jean.

A paediatrician, an unusual case.

Claudine Grenier!

I won't make a big fuss,

but at someone else's house, you respect their privacy.

What's this?

One all.

Why were you and Carole in Dr Lemaire's room?

I wasn't with Carole. I was with Jean.

What were you doing?

He wanted to try on Mrs Lemaire's best dresses.

Bravo!

Thank you.

- To finish off, Mum... - What do you mean?

Finished already?

I knew you'd love it.

All good things must come to an end.

The last guest to pay tribute,

I can tell you,

he really insisted.

He wanted to stand up here.

He didn't need our help. Eh, Alex?

No.

Without further ado,

Dad.

A little back-up.

You can guess...

I'm doing this because I love you.

"But loving you is so easy.

"You're such a wonderful, incredible woman.

"Claudine, my super Claudine, you're a super woman.

"You know, some dream of better.

"Not me. Better, the best, is right by my side.

"At 50, you're even more beautiful,

"more blossoming, more radiant than ever.

"Still the most beautiful to me.

"Yes, you lead, manage and organise.

"Yes, everything always has to be perfect.

"Your demands make us better.

"You're an exceptional mother.

"You've pursued your career

"with your family first.

"You've never neglected us.

"You've raised our children so well,

"with great values.

"You're our model, our shining light.

"You have boundless energy,

"you're tenacious, you never give up.

"Always happy and in a good mood.

"You're my greatest joy, Claudine.

"You're my whole life, my love."

And do you know what my dream is?

It's to be standing here, repeating this, in 50 years.

- Speech! Speech! - No, no...

I want you with me. Come on, Alex, Steph.

For someone who wanted no fuss on her 50th...

Thank you.

Thank you all.

Thank you, my friends, for being here.

Thank you, my loved ones.

It's too much.

It's too much, but...

it's great.

Oh God!

After a day like this, it's strange to think, on Monday,

we're returning to the treadmill.

It's so intense.

You don't want it to end.

It's special for a woman to turn 50.

More than for men. It's true.

It's big. Whether you want it or not,

it's time to take stock.

It's a time to look at where you are,

and to think...

about what's going on.

How will I grow old?

In any case, I want to live at least 50 more years

to make Remi's wish come true.

And I want to make the most of my two beautiful, big children.

And enjoy my grandchildren.

Maybe.

I want...

I want us to be together, friends.

Together.

Standing.

Alive.

Thank you all.

Lovely.

Are you happy?

Hold me tight.

Shall we switch?

Okay. Very well.

Bravo. Your speech to Claudine was touching.

There's a maxim. It actually comes from Claudine.

She always says to the kids:

"Did you try your best? If so, it was spot on."

I think I tried my best.

If you knew how jealous I am of Remi.

I'm not sure how to interpret your speech.

Mimi's leaving.

Stay.

Marc, dance with us.

How's your novel going?

There's no novel, Remi.

What are you waiting for?

A story.

The right story to tell.

Bye, babe.

Thanks.

See you on Monday.

Thanks.

Goodnight. See you tomorrow.

See you later.

- He's run out of steam. - I know.

In a way, I was like a big brother to Jean.

And did you see him often?

Occasionally.

He could call me anytime.

I was there for him.

But when he killed himself...

I didn't know, at the time.

I'd already left Rimouski, when that happened.

Stephanie told me.

Before leaving Rimouski,

I tried to see Jean.

Why?

I wanted to farewell all my patients.

I tried to call.

He was never there.

So, I came to your house.

You or your sister, a young girl answered the door

and said he wasn't there.

Must have been Chantal, I don't remember it.

She said he was at a cousin's.

Sleeping at The Inn?

No, I think we'll drive home.

We can't miss church, tomorrow's Sunday.

Oh yeah. Sunday mass.

It's a must for our little community.

It's the big gathering.

Those who haven't met in the week

come for special time on Sunday.

I have to tell you something.

Jean killed himself because someone hurt him.

Jean was savagely beaten.

A man, someone, went after him.

Probably because he was gay.

He was beaten to a pulp.

All his ribs were broken.

His faced was disfigured.

When you came to our house, Jean was in hospital.

Or if he was home, he saw no one.

He stayed in his room.

He refused to go out.

We brought him his meals.

They say time heals everything.

Who did that to him?

- Thanks. - Goodnight.

Anyway, he's quite proud of himself.

And my idea worked. It was a perfect surprise.

Luckily, we had you.

I'd do it all again in a flash.

- Goodnight. - Okay.

Goodnight.

Can you check on the young ones?

Tell them to settle down a bit.

With the drink too.

They're having fun.

It's nearly midnight.

I saw some in the boat. I don't like that.

Okay. I will.

By golly! Does he always obey like that?

No.

Long day. You must be worn out.

At a certain point, you feel nothing.

Okay for the night? Sleeping in the basement?

If the bed needs sheets, you know where they are.

Good evening.

Goodnight.

What a special tribute they did.

Your husband was so sweet.

Lots of women would trade places.

I don't get it, Francine.

My mind is suddenly very busy.

Your family knew Jean was gay?

Ah... no.

You said he was hit for being gay.

- But we figured it... - Why didn't anyone know about him?

It's shocking.

My best friend is beaten, I didn't know.

How could you not say anything?

Did you look for the culprit?

What did your parents...

How did they react?

My father just said: "Yeah... He got what he deserved."

But honestly... How could he say that?

That's appalling.

I recall you giving me Jean's letter.

You told me it was best not to attend the funeral,

your family didn't want me.

When I read Jean's letter, I understood.

It didn't make sense.

Killing himself over me?

I hadn't loved him as much as he loved me?

I never understood that.

Honestly...

How could he write that?

How do you think I felt, Francine?

My first love,

my best friend,

kills himself

because of me.

I didn't know that you knew he was gay.

Actually, that's not it. I knew.

I knew why he wrote that to me.

To not hurt you.

To save your feelings.

But it just felt so unfair of him.

I was devastated, Francine.

It caused me...

such pain.

Forgive me.

Why?

I thought you two were in love.

It suited him to pretend that.

But if I'd known...

- What would that have changed? - Everything.

Everything, everything...

Because, I'm the one who wrote the letter I gave you.

I made it all up.

Let's have a beer at the bar.

- I'll put this wee man to bed. - We're driving home.

Oh no, no! Stay here. There are rooms for us.

We didn't pack.

- Is that yours, Mylene? - No. It's not my style.

No. That's Claudine's. She lost it.

Dad, you won't believe it. It's...

Life is crazy, sometimes.

Keep your voice down.

But, honey...

This earring belonged to my mother.

What are you on about?

You gave it or Mum gave it... I'm not sure.

The evening of the fire, it was Claudine's birthday too.

And Mum gave these earrings to Claudine.

My mother wore that.

Jacquot!

Isn't life beautiful?

Goodnight.

Goodnight.

You're crazy.

I know, it's terrible.

"Terrible"?

It was vicious.

- How could you? - I was young.

I was lost.

I was only 15.

Age is no excuse, Francine.

I didn't want my parents to know.

Please forgive me.

You hurt yourself the most, Francine.

You need to forgive yourself.

Here.

It's Jean's real letter.

I found it after he hanged himself.

It's sad.

Poor Francine.

It's as if her life stopped

the day she found her brother hanged.

A right bundle of nerves.

It seems like she's about to break down.

I feel sorry for her.

I found that earring on Marc's seat.

"My dearest Mum and much-loved sisters,

"Sorry my writing's so shaky.

"My body hurts all over.

"My soul hurts.

"I've hurt those around me.

"I can't bear to look at myself.

"Now that my time is up,

"I can confess to what I've been hiding."

I loved a man.

And I paid the price.

The sharp, unbearable pain is a constant reminder

of that crazy, unthinkable love.

My love killed me.

I'm sorry for not being strong enough.

Jean.

PS:

To Claudine, my best friend,

whom I loved in my way,

thank her for being there.

She showed me what love is.

I came off disturbed.

I'm not one of you. We're from different worlds.

I had no right to come.

What happened?

Your mum didn't mention the letter?

What letter?

The one Jean wrote before he died.

No.