PARIS MEMORIES
Shit!
Prep her for surgery. I'll be there at 7:30.
Make a start.
Hey.
No, I'm here. What's the patient's name?
Okay, explain the situation.
There, kitty. Just there.
- Hi. - Started.
Hi.
- Mic test? - Sure.
In ten seconds, Patricia's introduction. Then 1st question.
All right.
Three... Two...
One. And go.
Live from Moscow, this morning's guest Dmitri Vassiliev,
the controversial Russian director,
who opens the Paris Opera's season
with The Snow Maiden by Rimsky-Korsakov.
Dmitri Vassiliev, good morning.
Morning.
You are famous for bold, political productions.
You bore the wrath of the Russian authorities.
Will you soften your approach to avoid shocking Paris audiences,
known to be very conservative?
No, not at all.
France is home of the Revolution and tolerance.
I think it'll be fine.
I always dreamed of directing in Paris.
It has a very special place in my heart.
- Evening. A table for two? - Yes.
Next week, change of mood. An aeronautical trade show.
- Gotta bone up on aviation. - Such as?
Such as...
Which means?
Development of nanostructured materials.
Sorry.
Be right back. Yes?
You gave me a fright.
All good?
Sorry, I have to go back.
- Right now? - The new intern's all at sea.
I mean, she's new.
- Sorry. - You're on duty?
No, but it's my department. No choice.
- What will you do? - I don't know now.
Go home?
Yeah.
See you later?
I won't be long. I'll call when I'm done.
Good luck.
Later.
Just a drink until it blows over?
That table's reserved. There's one in the next room.
Right there?
- That's right. - Thanks.
- The other room's that way? - Yes, down there on the right.
Thanks.
Evening!
- Is that free? - Sure, take a seat.
Go ahead.
What happened next?
It's erased from my memory.
On track but the scar needs to stabilize before we can operate.
You can get dressed.
It's closed up nicely, though.
I'd like to be able to move on.
In 6-7 months, we can decide for plastic surgery.
For now, it's too inflammatory.
7 months? All right.
But we can...
get rid of it?
We'll do our best but we're not magicians.
- You haven't gone back to work? - No.
Not yet but soon. I...
I was out of town, at my mother's.
It's good to be back.
Ladies and gentlemen, due to roadworks,
we'll make a change of route.
Can you open the doors, please?
The bathroom's that way.
Not the bathroom...
Okay, I see.
Get in touch with the group that organizes visits every...
Every Monday morning.
For folks who...
Folks like you.
Folks like me, meaning?
Victims who need to see the scene.
They talk. It's important apparently. We stay closed.
It's business as usual now, you understand?
A coffee, perhaps?
Yes, please.
On the house.
- You stayed at your mother's? - Yeah, three months in all.
When you didn't answer my messages, I figured...
Maybe you're not ready to talk...
I mean, I won't ask for all the details.
It's tricky knowing what to talk about.
Will you take the cake in for me?
- Yes, sure. You okay? - Fine.
All good. I'll get the...
champagne glasses.
See you in there.
Okay, kitty?
- There you are. - It's you.
Just taking five.
In the dark.
- With the bottles. - You can't stay there.
Come on.
See you. It was great to see you. On form, too. It's cool.
Vincent's very supportive.
- See you, girls. - See you.
See you soon.
- Take care. - Thanks.
Before, you see, people...
confided in me...
They opened up. I liked it.
Now, it's the opposite.
Like I'm some kind of attraction.
- Even you talk differently to me. - Me? Not a bit.
You do.
As if I need treating with care.
Really? I didn't realize.
You can't stop people thinking of you, though,
and all you went through.
Yeah.
Had it started raining when you left?
No. I mean...
I don't recall.
See? I remember clearly, it wasn't raining. It started later.
Until then, I remember clearly.
You had to go back to the hospital?
Perhaps.
Yes...
That's right, I remember that.
I'd been at the hospital for an hour when the alarm sounded.
Every hospital had to cease secondary activities
and prepare for an influx of casualties.
Then the casualties started coming in.
I remember the smell of gunpowder filling the corridors.
I called but you didn't pick up.
I was sure you were home already.
Part of my job was triage. "Most urgent" to "least urgent."
Gunshot wounds, burns...
We heard two other targets had been hit.
It was a coordinated attack. Every hospital was on red alert.
Early next morning,
I got a call from the hospital where you'd been taken.
You were wounded.
They'd been unable to identify you because you weren't talking.
And you had no ID on you.
I went to see you.
The taxi home passed by the restaurant.
There were flowers and children's drawings.
It was like a corridor with people filing past.
In silence.
Like a procession.
I'm Sara, the support group coordinator.
Hello. I was in the attack.
I got that.
- What's your name? - Mia.
All right. Take a seat, I won't be long.
It's great that you came.
It's crucial that you sleep and regain strength.
That way, your memory will work better, too.
Once you begin to remember, you're on the road to recovery.
You're right.
Can you sit somewhere else?
Please.
My parents sat here.
Sorry, I had no idea. I apologize.
I'll sit here.
- Sorry. - Where were you sitting?
I was in the other room.
I wasn't with them on that night.
I'd like to know the last words they spoke.
What they were talking about.
If they were happy just then.
Arguing or whatever.
Understand?
Maybe you saw them?
Let me show you something.
Sorry, I have to go.
- Leaving? - I don't know why I came.
I was with someone who's claustrophobic.
He can't come in but he wants a word.
Thanks.
Remember me?
No.
At the table opposite you. Celebrating a birthday.
I don't remember anything.
You ordered a glass of wine.
As if expecting someone.
A second later, you disappeared. There were...
some Chinese women masking you.
When you reappeared, you had ink all over your hands.
You dug in your pockets for a tissue.
The more you rummaged, the more you got ink everywhere.
You even got it on your face.
You made me laugh.
You were laughing at me?
Not at all, but you thought so.
That I was laughing at you.
You gave me a look...
Very annoyed.
Yes, that's right.
I was writing? With a fountain pen. Was I writing?
I don't know. I guess.
What happened then?
Then you stood up...
You crossed the room...
To the bathroom, I suppose.
You don't remember a thing?
No.
There are gaps. I have no recollection...
Hardly any. I still have...
images before the attack, sounds, but...
From the moment I saw people die, it's all gone.
- I don't remember a thing. - Lucky you.
Your car?
What's your name?
Mia.
- And you? - Thomas.
You're allowed to drive?
No.
Come on, it's cool. What's your problem?
- Shift your car. - Shift my car? Look at my leg.
She tugged me and I think I followed. Then I don't remember.
Back already?
Yes, I was talking outside with Thomas.
- Right, that's good. - He made me remember something.
- I was sitting there. - That's very good.
Now you can piece together the puzzle.
What are you doing here?
Sorry?
I was here, like you. I was right there.
Not here, not at all.
In the bathroom. I recognize you.
You bolted when the shooting started.
- Me? - Yes, you.
You hid in the bathroom and locked out everyone else.
You didn't open up.
How dare you come here?
I didn't do that.
You put your safety above all else.
How can you... How can you show your face today?
Shame on you.
It's despicable, what you did.
What are you doing?
- Sorry, I have to go. - What? Go where?
Home. See you there, okay?
- You're sure? - Sure. I'm fine.
Sorry, sir...
Excuse me.
Hello, it's Mia.
We met at the restaurant earlier and talked.
Perhaps you can help me. Can you call me back?
Thanks.
Thanks for getting back to me.
I thought maybe you could help me with...
Sorry.
You're sure it's no problem?
Hello.
- Come in. - Sara gave me your number.
I'd no idea you were here.
It's all good. I had an op scheduled today,
but most likely tomorrow morning now, so it's fine.
I already had three surgeries.
They reconstruct my tibia bit by bit.
Honestly, it's all good.
I have bullet fragments in my other leg.
I don't know if I'll get that done just yet.
Draw out the pleasure.
I won't bore you about my leg.
What can I do for you?
Apparently, you remember everything that happened.
Yes.
Why do you want to remember?
- I may have done something. - Such as?
Nothing, I... Sara said you remember tiny details.
I figured maybe you remembered what I did after I left.
Did I come back in the room?
No.
Sit down.
I don't recall you coming back.
But perhaps someone saw you.
You checked out the website?
Posted on the forum?
No. I didn't know it all existed.
It's a whole new world.
I want to remember.
You can't do it alone.
It takes two or more to remember.
I recommend you go online.
You know the Memoria facebook page?
Spend some time on there.
You'll love it, as a journalist.
I googled you.
That's all.
Mia Loreau. Still on the radio?
I do some radio work but I'm a Russian translator.
A Russian translator?
- Toughie. - My mom spoke Russian at home so...
Not really.
- Grab my cigarettes, will you? - Of course. Here...
- You smoke here? - No, down the hall, there's an exit.
My coat, too?
You didn't answer me.
At the restaurant...
You were expecting someone?
No.
You have any idea why you were there?
Chance.
I wasn't there by chance.
Somebody had made a booking.
It was my birthday. We'd just got our week's bonuses.
I'm in finance.
I hate celebrating my birthday.
But they wanted to surprise me and I went along with it.
Not to offend anyone.
Weren't you with some girls?
Yes. Two coworkers.
They didn't make it.
Their families came to see me.
I didn't know what to say.
Ashamed to be there instead of them.
Got a husband?
Yes. We're not married.
That means you're free?
That's not really the idea.
Children?
No.
It came to mind in the attack.
Not having kids, not knowing what it's like.
There you are! We looked everywhere.
- No visitors at night, you know. - I'm sorry.
Be right there.
Let's go.
Pull hard. Thanks.
- You'll be back tomorrow? - Yes.
Good luck.
Arrivederci!
Bring me mandarins tomorrow.
Or oranges.
Or chocolate.
Sara gave me the police report to read.
The attack began at 8:49 pm.
The police freed us at 10:37 pm.
We stayed hidden for one hour 48 minutes.
I remembered wondering what would be left of me after death.
In what state I'd left things.
I thought about a half-eaten yogurt in the fridge.
Hi, Vincent. It's me.
I won't be home.
Sonia's moving and loaned me her place for a few days.
At République.
I think I need to be alone right now.
Lots of love.
I remember that sound.
What did I do?
Where were you?
I was in the first room, at the bar with a friend.
She died immediately.
I struggled to piece things together, too.
It wasn't simple.
When we started the group,
I never thought so many people needed to come back.
Turns out, we're all family.
Will you be with us tomorrow at République?
Our last vigil before they clear flowers and candles.
Yes.
I came to Paris to study architecture.
I fell in love and stayed.
You remember something?
No, sorry.
- I'm wasting your time. - Not at all. That's why we're here.
You hear of the "diamond in trauma"?
No.
It's the idea that misfortune can lead to something good.
You'll find yours, I'm sure.
- Can we try one more time? - Of course.
Imagine it without all this.
Before, it was a storeroom, much darker.
Up there, people managed to hide.
No, it wasn't here.
The light's changed too.
No, it's not that...
I remember drops of water on my hand.
The other one then. Come on.
I'll give you some light.
Was it here?
Yes.
Someone was with me.
He held my hand.
I don't remember his face but he had a tattoo.
On his forearm.
A bloodstained apron.
In this area, there were lots of kitchen staff.
The apron suggests he was a cook.
Lots of them died.
I really wish I could help but...
A lot of the staff never figured on any list.
That's what I heard.
Hello.
Me again. Can I ask you something?
Did any staff stay on after the attack?
No.
You're sure?
Yes, as I said, they were all replaced.
Even the cooks and... The servers...
Even the cooks all left.
Look, I wasn't there. I don't know what happened.
Can you do the other room? Please.
I've not done this one.
Finish it later. Thanks.
Hello!
- Recognize me from earlier? - Yes.
You know Thomas?
Guy with crutches, here the other day.
- Vaguely. - He said you worked here before.
I have a few questions... About people you worked with.
I need your help finding someone.
Okay, but not long. I live way out of town.
It's the person I was with during the attack.
He was a cook.
He had an apron at least. And a small tattoo here.
He wasn't on the list of dead.
Lots of the cooks were undocumented.
That's likely why they're not... counted anywhere.
They melted away.
So they're not dead?
It explains the staff turnover.
I stayed on 'cause I'm French, so the new manager agreed to keep me on.
The police also asked questions.
They found it weird, staff members vanishing.
We said nothing.
Could you get me their names?
Okay, but not a word about me.
I could get in big trouble and I need my job.
I promise.
- What's your name? - Nour.
I tried to find someone, too.
We hid in the crawlspace, with others, between air shafts.
I was so sure I was going to die that we kissed.
He was Australian, first time in Paris.
You saw him again?
The evacuation separated us.
He was slightly wounded.
I looked all over facebook for him.
Couldn't find him.
We were just inside on the right.
Four of us, two dead. Me and the Aussie left.
I saw the killer in the attack.
Face of an angel.
Somehow, he was...
Cheerful.
He looked so sweet.
It was as if he was out buying cigarettes.
Excuse me, can we talk?
Look at me, please.
I wasn't in the bathroom.
I remember it clearly now.
I had been, sure, but before.
How would you know?
I remember now.
I held someone's hand. A cook.
You got me mixed up with someone else. It's no big deal but...
It's a mixup.
If you like to think so.
Hello.
Sorry to bother you so late but...
I saw you earlier.
Come in.
- I have nothing in. Water? - Yes, please.
Here.
You found your guy?
I want to know if he's alive.
And that woman keeps accusing me of locking myself in...
But I doubt it. I feel there's something else.
She has no idea anyway.
If you sense he's alive.
They keep untraced victims' belongings at police HQ.
- They do? - Yes.
- You didn't notice on Facebook? - No.
Go take a look.
Maybe you'll find something.
I went with my aunt.
It's all packed in plastic bags.
There's a funny smell.
There wasn't much. A postcard they were writing me.
Want to see it?
Water Lilies.
They wanted me to come with them.
We fought about it all day.
Now I can't say goodbye to anyone until we're good.
I just think anything might happen.
When I heard about the attack, I texted my dad.
He said they were hiding.
Waiting for the police to free them.
He also said he couldn't call me.
The noise might give them away.
So the waiting began.
We were helpless, with no idea what was going on.
Eventually, we switched off the TV.
And sat holding hands.
Put it out of your mind.
Get some sleep.
Sometimes it's like I see them in the street.
I'd like to visit the museum they went to.
See the last thing they saw.
Find that painting.
Like saying goodbye to them.
Hot here, isn't it?
You have any food in?
Sorry, I have nothing here.
I'll go down for something from the deli. All right?
We'll make it.
Breathe.
Keep breathing.
That's right.
Félicia?
This is yours?
Yes.
All we found in the bag. Please check.
- It's fine. - Sign here then.
Thank you.
Sit down there.
Just here.
- The person with me... - We're on it.
I got you a present.
Too kind.
- You seem delighted. - Sure, it's great.
- Some culture. I'm touched. - Nonsense.
- I called you but you didn't answer. - I didn't have my phone.
- You're slow coming back. - Sure.
I did as you said. Went back to the restaurant.
And I remembered something.
What?
I held someone's hand.
Question is, is he alive?
I'm not sure that remembering can help you.
Believe me... I'm not sure. I doubt it's a good idea.
You okay? They gave you painkillers?
I don't want anything.
I'll open the window maybe.
No, quit fluttering around. It's all good.
Here...
Read to me instead.
I bet you're an excellent reader.
- Nobody read me stories. - Me hardly ever.
If it's awkward, I can close my eyes.
Go ahead.
- Really? Close my eyes? - Yes.
Hello.
Estelle. Thomas's wife.
We met due to the... I'll be going.
- Wait. - No, don't go.
I just need him to sign an insurance form.
Goodbye.
- You okay? - Look, sign this.
Wait!
Sorry, I didn't mean, I had no idea...
What you went through, I can never share with him.
Thomas doesn't know but I do.
We'll never overcome this.
- I understand. - Here.
He's not a reader.
I read messages posted on the Memoria forum.
People like Félicia, trying to find out how their loved ones died.
Or looking for people they met that night.
Looking for a guy who helped me.
Wounded in both ankles, in room one near the bar.
I want to know if he survived.
I think about him every day.
The person I'm looking for leaned on me,
and had two bullet wounds in the chest.
They were wearing a flecked, purple or pink t-shirt.
I never dared reach out for fear of awakening memories,
but if anyone knows what happened to them, drop me a DM.
I was evacuated right at the end.
Sadly, all the others left were dead.
I tried not to look. The few I saw seemed to be sleeping.
I hope that might console some of you.
We hid in a spot with a leak in the ceiling.
You asked my name. I didn't ask yours.
You had a tattoo and a kitchen apron.
You clasped my hand. We clung to each other.
When the police arrived, I let go of your hand.
Last I saw, you were wounded.
I hope you made it.
I hope you're alive.
That's all I want to know.
What are you doing here?
I call and you don't answer. I'm worried.
Come on in.
I don't get what you're doing.
There's someone else?
It's this support group thing?
You won't talk to me?
Vincent, what are you doing?
It's not funny anymore. You're coming home now.
- Enough is enough. - Vincent, put it down, please.
Why not talk?
You refuse my help?
You can't help me.
I can't help you?
I can't do that life anymore.
Why?
I have to watch you go mad and do nothing?
I wish I'd been in the fucking attack.
Nour found the names of two cooks working at the time at L'Étoile d'Or.
They'd dropped off the books, appeared on no one's list.
Excuse me, I'm looking for these two people.
She remembered that, in emergencies, the manager hired staff
outside a phone store.
It was a hiring point for undocumented workers.
Nobody knew the names she'd given me.
But I heard of a middleman in the restaurant trade.
No, thanks. I'm looking for Hakim.
Want to see me?
Get you anything?
No, thanks.
I was told you'd have info on a cook who worked at L'Étoile d'Or, you know?
No, I don't know.
Who gave you my name? I don't get it.
I'm just looking for someone working there before the attack.
- Someone swung him the job. - No.
Just a name or an address.
You don't know his name?
You don't know who you swung jobs for at L'Étoile d'Or?
I don't swing any jobs.
I don't rent people an ID. I work here.
I have two chefs and a commie.
I know their addresses, sure.
I'd like to help but you've lost me.
Somebody's been badmouthing me and I want to know who.
It's not about you.
It's important I find the person. He helped me.
That's all.
Who sent you here?
Forget it. Thank you.
Goodbye.
I know the guy you're looking for.
- Senegalese, with a tattoo... - A little tattoo, yes.
He's not been around lately. You know him?
Yes. Not his name but...
Driss Mbow.
On the ID he was loaned at least. In real life, I doubt it.
He lives in a center near La Chapelle. France Horizon.
I don't rent out IDs. We help each other out.
Anyone home?
Sorry, I saw the door was open and came in.
I'm looking for Driss Mbow.
Go play on the bed.
- You know him? You're related? - No.
I was in the attack with him, if he told you about it.
I just wanted to know if he's well.
I don't know if Driss is his real name.
It's Assane. Not Driss.
He's alive?
I don't know. He left for Italy. I don't know where.
Sorry, may I, just a second...
I have water.
Here.
He left some things. Want to see?
- If he comes back, can you call me? - Yes.
We're not family but we made the trip together.
I'll give you my number.
- And can I take a photo of him? - Yes, of course.
I've been at L'Étoile d'Or for six months.
People say that if the Senegalese, Malians and Sri Lankans
went on strike,
nobody would eat in Paris.
Café owners call us photocopiers.
Because we turn out perfect copies of plates.
In life, I always get lucky.
I make it through the rain.
The chef sent me down to the basement.
I heard the gunfire at the last second.
She didn't notice right away she was hurt.
I promised her we wouldn't die.
Not here.
I'd been through too much danger to die in this closet.
I need to find this detail.
Before, I never wondered if I was happy.
Now I do.
- We were happy, so happy. - Yes...
I don't get it.
Why associate it with me?
I have nothing to do with it.
It's just now I know I need to...
To make something of the whole thing.
Something new.
We should've had a kid.
You wouldn't talk this way.
I would.
It wouldn't change a thing.
It was a choice we made. Honestly, I...
I don't regret it.
Tell me now. That night, you weren't at the hospital. Were you?
Of course I was.
Yes, but not for an emergency. You went to meet someone?
No, it wasn't an emergency.
- Hi there, how are you? - How are you doing?
Good. This isn't a bad time?
Not at all. We invited some lawyers to talk us through legal procedures.
So? You found him?
No. I ran out of leads.
Sorry. I know how hard it is. So it was too late.
- Apparently. - I wanted to tell you...
I'll see you later.
- Do you mind if we go to one side? - Okay.
I know it wasn't you in the bathroom.
What makes you say that?
I was wrong.
I got confused.
I know it wasn't you.
My husband died there.
I got things mixed up.
- Someone was locked in the bathroom? - Yes.
You know who it was?
It was me.
I'm sorry.
Well, see you.
Very soon.
- Sorry about last time. - No...
No, it was me. I...
I wanted to call you...
Same here, but I didn't dare.
- You found him? - No.
Let's do it.
- Come on. - We're ghosts. No one will see us.
Take a look?
How about it?
It's lively, it's cool.
- Many people? - Yes, but there's space.
Okay, let's go.
But I'll check the emergency exits.
There must be some, in case the bride changes her mind.
We need an escape plan. For disasters.
Yeah, the bride. Let's go.
Quite the atmosphere.
That's calling. It's calling to us.
Here goes.
- Coming? - No.
Come on.
- You okay? - A bit hot.
Gotta breathe.
I think we...
We need to make up for that night.
How?
I'd have waited for you.
Until you came back from the bathroom.
To talk to you.
I'd have stood up.
Brought you a drink.
You'd have looked at me.
I'd have made you laugh.
- It would've worked? - Sure.
- I'm a funny guy. - Sure, I think it would've worked.
We need to outwit fate.
I think.
I have a scar.
So do I.
I'm going.
Going where?
I have one last thing to do.
- See you later. - Yes.
Essé!
- Hello! - Hey there!
Get your snacks, children.
- You okay? - Yes.
I tried calling but the line was dead.
I changed my number.
You know, I...
I wrote a letter for Assane and...
Do you have his address in Italy?
I heard that he's not in Italy.
I think he came back.
Came back? Really?
Works near the Eiffel Tower apparently.
- Do you know this person? - No.
Sir, I'm looking for this person. Recognize him?
- No, don't know him. - You don't know him either?
Hello, can I get a coffee, please?
- Here. - Thanks.
This one. Five Euros.
Snowballs? You want snowballs?
- Ten Euros. - How much for those?
Five. Five Euros. It's good price.
You want the big one? Ten Euros. Ten Euros?
No, I'll take it for five.
Thank you.
- Where are you from? - Wisconsin.
Wisconsin?
Thanks, man!
We walked for a long time, drifting.
He felt good knowing I was alive somewhere.
I felt exactly the same.
We were alive.
I was alive.
Thank you for holding my hand.
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