Paris Noir - Aurelien Masson [41]
“I’m not looking for work. You really don’t get it. I don’t want to stay in Paris. I can’t stay here. I’m going to leave as soon as I can.”
11.
Eyes diving into the night. Valerie comes over to me. I can feel her breath and then her arms around me.
[She comes over to him and puts her arms around his shoulders.]
HER: What are you thinking about?
HIM: What I missed in life.
HER: Did you miss me?
HIM: Maybe. Hard to say. I didn't know if you still existed for me, but when I saw you again at the wedding it all came back to me. You had never really left me. You were hidden some where, ready to spring up again.
HER: You still haven't told me the real reason you left.
HIM: I never told anyone because the reason is too ugly.
HER: Tell me.
HIM: Truth burns.
HER: It's as bad as that?
HIM: I think so … Ten years ago, I used to hang out with Marco a lot.
HER: I know.
HIM: We did a lot of shit together. Real hoods, almost. On my end, I was still kind of hanging on to what I thought was a normal life. But him, I felt he was going over the edge. And then there was this problem with a guy. Marco asked me to go to a meeting with him. He had some business to settle. One night, a little after 12. Actually, the guy owed Marco a bunch of money. He was supposed to give some of it back to him. It was near the wine warehouses around Bercy. Before they knocked them down. In a deserted spot … The guy was there, waiting for us, sitting on his moped. We'd come in a car. I was driving, as usual … Marco got out and began talking with the guy. Then they started yelling at each other. The guy shoved Marco to the ground and jumped on his bike and started it … Marco got up. He came back to the car and told me to follow the guy. That's what I did. He had no chance of getting away from us. And suddenly the guy braked, turned around, got off the bike, and pulled a gun out of his jacket. Even in the night, with the moonlight and all, we could see he was aiming at us. We ducked. I hit the gas pedal … He didn't have time to fire and I crashed into him … I felt the shock. We backed up. The guy’s body was lying on the ground. Dead … I decided to get out right then and there. Marco wanted to stay. We promised never to squeal on the other guy if one of us got busted.
[Silence.
HER: For a long time I thought I was the one you were running away from.
HIM: No, I was running away from that business. I had blood on my hands, I didn't want to pay for it. But, in fact, I did pay. Ten years—a kind of exile.
HER: It was an accident. It wasn't your fault at all.
HIM: There's no such thing as an accident.
[Silence.]
HER: Do you want something to drink?
HIM: No.
[Silence.]
HER: I'm scared.
HIM: Why?
HER: You shouldn't have come back. We shouldn't have seen each other again. We're going to make people unhappy.
HIM: People? Who?
HER: Us, maybe. And then there are our families …
HIM: As far as our families go, all we have to do is leave.
HER: What about us?
[Silence.]
HER: I'm cold.
HIM: Let's go back.
[They exit.
] 12.
Three in the morning. The phone. I get out of bed. Mom too. She’s worried. I pick up the phone. She must think it’s Sophie. Marco’s voice. I reassure Mom. “That you, Antoine?” “D’you know what time it is?” “You gotta help me.” “Where are you?” “In the country. Seine-et-Marne. A village called Ferrière.” “What’re you doing there?” “I crashed the BMW.” “Anyone hurt?” “No.” “What do you want me to do?” “Come get me.” “Now?” “Yes! I’m at the main square, in front of the church, in the middle of the village. I already walked two miles. I’ve had it.” “I’m on my way.”
I get dressed fast. I grab the keys and papers for Sophie’s car. Two minutes later I’m heading east on the highway. Moving forward through the night. Marco, what an asshole. I drive for half an hour. Then I get on a road toward Marne-la-Vallée. Little roads and villages go by. Don’t get lost. Never been around here before. Finally, a sign says Ferrière. Turn left. What the hell am I doing here again? Go back to Toulon. As fast as possible. Go