Original subtitles

This film is not a thriller

Using image and sound,

the filmmaker strives to express the nightmare of a young man

whose weakness leads him to commit acts of theft

he was not destined to commit.

However, the strange meanders of this experience

bring together two souls that might never have met otherwise

Such deeds condemn people to silence

Those who talk haven't done them

Yet I have done them

Odds!

Odds!

l had made my decision some days before.

Would l have the nerve?

Hello, hello!

The horses are under starter's orders

And they're ofli

Temps Comp/et immediately takes the lead,

followed by Storm, Brigand, Ra/eur, Manu, Ficelle, Betty and Pacha.

l should have left.

La Bringue, Petit Bois

Ra/eur, Brigand, Storm, Manu Ficelle and Betty

are in a huddle ahead of Pacha Venum and La Pomme.

On the descent, Ra/eur, Manu Ficelle, Betty and Storm

are followed by Pacha and Venum

Level with the pavilion

Brigand, Storm, Ra/eur, Manu and Ficelle

are neck and neck in front of Betty.

Finishing order

ln zirst place, Storm

ln second place, Brigand.

ln third place, Ra/eur

But l got caught a minute later

You can't prove it, and you're not sure

We won't keep you any longer You may go.

l wanted to order my thoughts

l was exhausted. l slept until morning

l hadn't seen my mother for more than a month.

l hesitated.

Wai

I have the key. |'|| let you in

Who are you?

Jeanne, a neighbour

How is she?

Not well. She frets a lot

She has nothing

Could you give her this?

You're not coming in to see her?

Goodbye, Jeanne

You'll come back? - Yes, yes.

Jacques was honest and resourceful.

l had avoided him lately. But that evening...

l'll take any job going

Any ideas?

To line your pockets?

This is serious

All right, then

One more time

You're good with your hands

Just learn to wait

Be happy with your lot

lt will bring you a new suit

a tie

His face seemed familiar to me

Stupidly, l greeted him

Do you recognise me?

I'd look like a scatterbrain

but why should l fear him?

Are there many thieves?

Many, of many diiterent kinds

An infinite variety

Not all thefts are serious

Some can be excused if poverty is behind them

Of course

Could one turn a blind eye to certain crimes?

You have a theory on that

Me ?

lt's nothing new

Let's hear it anyway

gifted with intelligence talent or even genius,

and so indispensable to society

rather than stagnate

should be free to disobey laws in certain cases?

That seems difficult to me and dangerous.

Society can only gain from it

What will set these supermen apart?

Themselves, their conscience

But we all consider ourselves to be supermen.

Don't worry. lt would only be at first

Then they'd stop

They don't stop, believe me

A useful thief, then? A benefactor?

That's the world upside down!

lt's already upside down This could set it right.

Michel, can you explain?

I have explained

They were wrong

They've apologised

Of course

lt's despicable, true

But why did you have to go and tell him all that?

First, you made me talk about it

Will you go?

What if/ made some money.

Did I hope it would get me somewhere?

l couldn 't face returning to my room

The wallet was inside it.

Which lingers should l use?

The paper was shaking in my hands.

This SUCCGSS Gl'lCOUI`6Q6d me

lt was more down to luck than skill.

Well?

Your theories didn't convince him

You interest him

He asked about me?

Don't worry. He knows what you are now

Have you found any work yet?

I don't need anything

Can you live on nothing? You're mad!

Where are you going? Stay

l changed routes each time

using one /ine and then another

l did this for a week.

Give me back my wallet

Shall I call the police?

l stayed in after that,

instinctively cautious, only going out for dinner

This young lady is here for you

Put a light on

Look where the great man lives

Aslum!

lt's my mother, isn't it?

She's very ill

She asks why you came to her door and turned away.

You did that?

You l'TIUS'[ COTTIS

You will come?

ShaHlgo?

Yes, go. Jeanne will show you the way

You say you love your mother?

Butjust go, please. Now

You're strange

What is it? Who are you?

l had to know.

Quarter of an hour later, we were friends.

Come and see

There, in that small bar,

l /earned most of my tricks

He taught me willingly and openly.

My lingers needed exercise to become nimble.

The pinball machine helped with my rezlexes.

l only went home to sleep

Had it been there long?

COME QUICKLY JEANNE

I know you don't like questions

I won't ask you any

I thought I annoyed you

Now I understand

Your friend came here He told me about you.

What did he say? Bad things?

I wouldn't have let him

No, he's very fond of you

I was worried but I was wrong

You're bright enough to succeed when you want

I want that now. I want to make you happy

l'm going away, my child

We must leave one another

Tomorrow, you'll be better. You'll be up and about soon

The doctor said so. Didn't he, Jeanne?

l'm sure of it

There

All that remains

Papers, letters, a few photos

lt's over

There's no turning back now

Are you leaving?

I have to meet my sister from school.

Do you think we'll be judged?

She was perfect

Judged how? According to what laws?

lt's absurd

I believed in Cod, Jeanne

for three minutes

A week later, /sat down in the lobby of a famous bank.

l took fright.

He got away from me

We sp/it the money over cards so we could show it openly.

Next time, we'll be three, not two

Perfectly clear

We weren't talkative

ln all that time

he never knew me better than l knew him

Where did you find it?

They're idlers

Barrington wasn't He read a lot.

To make himself rich friends

He stole from friends

You think that's right?

Let's go out. Come on

Still, he had guts. They hanged thieves back then

Now, it's prison

Do you know what prison is like?

- I can imagine. You can't imagine a thing

Can I borrow it?

If you want

The same old ideas? - The same.

In any case, even the most skilful pickpocket

won't help humanity progress

I never said that

lt's absurd

Tell me, do you think there are many around?

Many of whom?

Those supermen of yours

Who can say? They never get caught

But you claim those people exist

lfl did, I wouldn't tell you

May I?

Barrington? Never heard of him

Was he one of your supermen?

Bring me the book one morning

I know he suspects me

So do you. Admit it

Admit what?

Nothing

Dontgo

I will. Hand it over

Go, then, if you must

He kept me waiting instead of having me shown in

l've brought you the book

Ah, yes. Barrington

Barrington interests you?

Of course, as a young writer

l sensed the mockery in his eyes

He made hooks that he would slip into pockets

GFS

A Nuremberg cutler made 15 of these

You must excuse me

Keep it

Good bye

How could l be so stupid? lt was a trap.

Perhaps /'d rind them at my home

Nothing had been moved.

Nothing was out of place

This trick required no help

yet l hadn't acquired the knack.

Luck was on my side

A ringer circles the strap to block it

while the thumb frees it from the buckle.

/practised often

lt was Sunday. l was seeing Jacques

Jeanne was joining us

Very smart! Where's Jeanne?

Downstairs, waiting for us

You seem sad

You're not in the real world

You share no interests with others

Are you coming, Jeanne?

Coming, Michel?

Off you go. I'II stay

You're here?

I was so scared

Scared of what?

Scared

Explain

Have you hurt your hand?

A little. lt's nothing

Where's Jeanne?

I saw her home

But I can fetch her again

You love her? Admit it

Does she love you?

Buy gifts for her

Have you thought of gifts?

l had become incredibly audacious

/got on wel/ with my accomplices

lt couldn 't last.

Where did l know him from? l should have recognised him

Your attention, please

On the /eft-hand platform

the departing train is full.

On the /eft-hand platform

the train is fully booked.

What's the matter with you?

Here, read this

The police have summoned Jeanne

Why her?

I don't know

What do you suggest?

She has to go. She has no choice

IS that all?

You can make arrangements

What 8l'l'8l1QGl'T1€l1'[S?

Go now. You'll make me late

Michel!

Had they seen me?

l mustn 't seem to be hiding or rleeing

/hadn't heard him come up

lt's you

I called by three days ago

I waited a while

I was getting some air

You're right. lt's unhealthy staying shut in here,

absorbed in your books

I know you suspect me

If you feel you can arrest me arrest me.

Put handcuffs on me

Get them out but don't push me

Stop lurking around me

l've left you in peace, actually

Toying with me, making fun of me

Enough

Enough!

Don't shout. Calm down

Control yourself

Don't get into such a state

And sit down, will you?

l CHTTIG

because of my interest in you

I don't care about that

To tell you something I didn't know.

A complaint was lodged over a year ago now.

We hadn't met at the time

What young woman? - Never mind.

Some money had been stolen from an elderly neighbour.

The next day, she withdrew her complaint

VVhy?

Perhaps to spare trouble for a relative or a friend.

The lady had a son

Stealing from your mother isn't stealing.

Perhaps they pooled their money

But one month later, the young man was caught at the racecourse.

I had doubts so I let him go

Frankly, taken together

Who is the young man?

OU

You're mistaken

l'm not mistaken

Odd methods

Leave my methods out of it

Rather than use psychology you could have made sure

I did have your room searched that day.

And what did they find?

Nothing, of course

All this bores me to tears

What do you want?

To open your eyes

They're wide open

To the way you are

But l'd be wasting my time

As for the future

your future

Are you some prophet? Does it concern you?

Actually, it does concern me a little

I should have questioned you

I didn't do myjob

I don't care

A simple report is enough

The word of one of my men can put you in jail.

Good bye

What are your plans?

My plans?

I want to know

They wanted to know who withdrew that complaint

What did you say?

That your mother did - Was it her?

So she knew

Did you know too, Jeanne?

Did I know what?

But now you know

Are you all trying to drive me mad?

The police questioned you about me

They never mentioned you

You see me living without any income

At least that I admit to

And you can't guess?

Think, you idiot

You?

They're going to arrest me

My God!

But without proof, they'll have to let me go

How could you do it?

There's nothing worse You know that?

Knowing a deed is bad doesn't stop you doing it

But why? Why?

To get ahead

I was frustrated getting nowhere

There were other ways

You accept it?

You accept a drunken father and a mother who walks out on you

placing all the burden on you

That's how it is

I don't know. Perhaps everything has a reason

Jeanne, are you that naive?

Tell the truth

Do you think l'm a thief?

Don't lie

Yes, I think you are

We won't shake hands, then

lt's all too horrible

Are you going away?

That idea suddenly seemed possible

l recall wanting to take a suitcase

l didn't know what l was doing

Would they /et me reach the station?

l went to buy my ticket.

/'// never forget that minute

From Milan, l went to Rome

before travelling to England.

l spent two years in London doing good jobs.

But l /ost my earnings at cards or wasted them on women.

l ended up in Paris, drifting and penniless

l didn't really want to be there

The place seemed empty.

Why was l watching that child?

Jeanne!

What did your father say?

He took my sister and left He took all I had.

Having a baby isn't a crime

It is. I was mad

Why didn't you marry?

You, Jeanne?

Making him think you love him?

You didn't love him?

No, not enough

Where is he?

lt's three months since I saw him - Jacques?

Impossible

l'll help you

You have to leave me

and never come back

I can be honest

l'd /ost touch with the police

l wasn 't worried.

Do you gamble? - Me?

Will you go?

Perhaps

Odds! Evens!

Odds!

Final bets!

Final bets!

The last!

Final bets!

TO WIN

EACH WAY

TO WIN

Have you won anything?

Nothing. And you?

OO

Perhaps l was wrong

Oddly, the winner wasn 't the horse he had backed.

Denicheur, Chinoiserie set off in front of Delta, The Clown,

La Balance and Pioncette

At the top of the hill,

Chinoiserie, Delta, The Clown

Pioncette, Nana, Locarno

On the approach to the zinish

Nana, Locarno, Cador

are neck and neck.

Level with the pavilion

Nana, Locarno, Cador and La Balance are all neck and neck.

But PrUean comes up fast on the outside!

I don't even see them

ltstheidea

What idea?

I dropped my guard I got caught.

That idea is unbearable

You're suffering

l've confessed

That will help

But l'll deny it later. l'll give them a hard time

Why did you come?

You're all I have

You want to gloat over my downfall?

I want no one, nothing

Stay

There was something l hadn't said.

Why go on living?

My mind wasn't made up

Jeanne didn't come back.

The baby has been ill.

A high fever for almost three weeks

l'm not worried anymore

Michel, l'll come to see you soon

Jeanne

My heart pounded as l read that letter

Something sit up her face

Oh, Jeanne, to reach you