English Audio Request

Scene V – Boatride A La Seine

Location notes: Jesse and Céline board the boat at Quai de la Tournelle, facing Notre Dame from the south, and get off the boat at Quai Henri IV. In reality, their ride would only cover 1 stop on the normal boat route, and take about 5 minutes. In the film, they stay on the boat much longer. We know the boatride on film does not exist by counting the number of bridges that they pass through – 7. In reality, riding the boat between those two stops, you would only pass under 2 bridges. The Quai de la Tournelle is only 5 min. walk from the bookstore. Note Céline’s mild protests about getting on the boat were not entirely about Jesse being late for his plane; these boats, known as “les bateaux mouches,” are rather looked down upon by the Parisian locals.

Jesse: Yeah, but isn't it dangerous? I mean, aren't a lot of those guys getting killed these days?

Céline: He promises me he doesn't take risks. (They veer right from the sidewalk to walk close toward the river.) But I often worry. He goes in this trance when he starts to photograph some things.

Jesse: What do you mean?

Céline: Well, once we were in New Delhi and we passed a bum, that was lying down the sidewalk…

Jesse: A “bom”?

Céline: A bum! A homeless...

Jesse: A bum (laughs), alright.

Céline: Anyway, like, he looked like he needed help, but his first reaction was to photograph him. He went, like, really close to his face, fixing his collar, to make it look better. He was like totally detached from the person.

Jesse: Yeah, but don’t you have to be like that to be good at that job?

Céline: Yeah, I mean, I'm not...you know, I'm not...I'm not judging him for it, you know? What he does is essential and incredible. All I'm saying is I could never do it.

Jesse: (Motioning to tourist boat.) Let's get on that boat! Come on!

Céline: No!

Jesse: No, come on, it will be fun!

Céline: You don't have time! We gotta go.

Jesse: It's just about to take off. Look, I've got... I've got...15 more minutes...um, do you have a cell phone?

Céline: Yeah.

Jesse: Alright, look, I got that...that driver guy's number, and I can call him, and then they... can pick us up at wherever the next stop is.

Céline: OK, you know I've never been on these boats, it's for tourists, it's embarrassing!

Jesse: C’mon.

Céline: OK, alright. (To the boat attendant.) Ahh, c’est bon? On peut rentrées? (Is it OK for us to get on?) (They board the boat.) Deux tickets, s'il vous plait! (Two tickets please.)

Jesse: No, I'll get it, I'll get it.

Céline: Non, non, c'est bon, j’ai de l’argent! (No, it’s OK, I have money!)

Jesse: Alright, alright, alright.

Céline: (To the boat attendant.) C'est ou qu'il s'arrete…le prochain arrete? (Whene does it stop…the next stop?)

Attendant: C’est au quai…merci monsieur. (At the next quai…thank you, sir.)

Jesse: So, you're in love with that guy?

Céline: What guy?

Jesse: The... the war photographer.

Céline: Yes, of course. (To the attendant.) Merci. (Thank you.)

Attendant: Merci.

Jesse: (To the attendant) Merci. (To Céline.) I'm sorry, do you...do you have that cell phone?

Céline: Oh, yeah. OK.

Jesse: (Turns on the phone.) Alright, what do I tell him?

Céline: Yeah, tell him to pick you up at "Quai Henri IV"

Jesse: Oh, shit. At "Que..."

Céline: Henri quatre, Quai Henri quatre...HEN-RI QUA-TRE... (Laughs.) What's wrong with you? No, do you want me to...Henri quatre.

Jesse: Henry four?

Céline: Yes!

Jesse: Come on, why didn't you say so?

Céline: I'm sorry! (Walks slowly to the bow of the boat as it pulls away from the dock while Jesse speaks on the phone.)

Jesse: (On telephone.) Yes, is this Philippe? Yeah, Philippe, this is Jesse Wallace...uh yeah. Listen, I'm...I'm ah, on one of those boats, right? Um and we're gonna arrive at...uh...Henry Four...at Port Henry Four, you know, you know what that is? Alright, gre...And you have my bags, right? Yeah, so will be there in...I don't know it's the next stop. OK. Au revoir. (Heads to the bow of the boat and sits down next to Céline, facing the back of the boat.)

Céline: OK?

Jesse: Yeah, yeah.

Jesse: (Looks up at Notre Dame Cathedral behind the boat.) Oh, wow! Notre Dame...man, check that out!

Céline: Oh, wow!

Jesse: I heard this story once, about when the...the Germans were occupying Paris and they had to retreat back, they wired Notre Dame to blow. But they had to...they had to leave one guy in charge of hitting the switch and the guy, the soldier, he...he couldn't do it. You know, he just sat there, knocked out by how beautiful the place was. And then, when the Allied troops came in, they found all the explosives just lying there...and the switch unturned and they found the same thing at...Sacre Coeur...Eiffel Tower...a couple of other places, I think.

Céline: Is that true?

Jesse: I don't know... I always liked the story, though.

Céline: Yeah, that's a great story. But you have to think that Notre Dame will be gone one day. There used to be another church or cathedral at the same...right there.

Jesse: What, right in the same spot?

Céline: Yeah. Yeah, this is great, I've never done this!

Jesse: Yeah.

Céline: I forget about how beautiful Paris is.

Jesse: It's not so bad being a tourist, you know.

Céline: Thank you for getting me on the boat.

Jesse: Well, you're welcome. You know, I think that book that I wrote, in a way, was like building something. So that I wouldn't forget the details of the time that we spent together. You know like, just as a reminder that...that once we really did meet, you know, that this was real. This happened.

Céline: I’m happy you’re saying that because...I mean, I always feel like a freak because I'm never able to move on like (snaps her fingers) this! You know? People just have an affair or even...entire relationships...they break up and they forget! They move on like they would have changed brand of cereals! I feel I was never able to forget anyone I've been with. Because each person have...their own specific qualities. You can never replace anyone. What is lost is lost.

Each relationship when it ends really damages me; I never fully recover. That's why I'm very careful with getting involved because...it hurts too much! Even getting laid - I actually don't do that. I will miss of the person the most mundane things. Like I'm obsessed with little things.

Maybe I'm crazy, but...when I was a little girl, my mom told me that I was always late to school. One day she followed me to see why. I was looking at chestnuts falling from the trees rolling on the sidewalk or...ants crossing the road...the way a leaf casts a shadow on a tree trunk...little things. I think it's the same with people. I see in them little details so specific to each of them that move me and that I miss, and...will always miss. You can never replace anyone, because everyone is made of such beautiful specific details.

(Smiling directly at Jesse.) Like I remember the way your beard has a little bit of red in it. And how the sun was making it glow that...that morning, right before you left. I remember that and...I missed it! I'm really crazy, right?

Jesse: Alright, now I know for sure. You wanna know why I wrote that stupid book?

Céline: Why?

Jesse: So that you might come to a reading in Paris, and I could walk up to you and ask, "Where the fuck were you?"

Céline: (Sits down close to him.) No, you think I'd be here today?

Jesse: I'm serious, I think I...I wrote it in a way to try to find you.

Céline: OK, that's... I know that's not true, but that's sweet of you to say it.

Jesse: I think it is true. What do you think the chances were of us ever meeting again?

Céline: After that December I'd say almost zero. If we're not real anyway, right? We're just...characters in that old lady's dream. She's on her death bed fantasizing about her youth...so of course we have to meet again!

Jesse: Oh, God! (Sighs loudly as he walks to the side of the boat, and looks back at her.) Why weren't you there in Vienna?

Céline: (Hesitantly.) I told you why!

Jesse: Well, I know why, I just (pounds his fist into his hand twice) I wish you would've been! Our lives might have been so much different!

Céline: You think so?

Jesse: I actually do...

Céline: Maybe not, maybe we would have hated each other, eventually.

Jesse: Oh, what, like we hate each other now?

Céline: (Follows him to the side of the boat.) You know, maybe we're...we're only good at brief encounters, walking around in European cities, in warm climate!

Jesse: Oh, God, why didn't we exchange phone numbers and stuff? Why didn't we do that?

Céline: (Puts a finger to her mouth in a sarcastic gesture.) Because we were young and stupid?

Jesse: You think we still are?

Céline: I guess when you're young...you just believe there'll be many people with whom you'll connect with. Later in life you realize it only happens a few times.

Jesse: Yeah, you can screw it up! You know, misconnect...

Céline: (Circles from his left to his right.) Well, the past is the past. It was meant to be that way.

Jesse: What, you really believe that? That everything is fated?

Céline: Well, you know, the world might be less free than we think.

Jesse: Yeah?

Céline: Yeah, when given this exact circumstances, that's what will happen every time. Two part hydrogen, one part oxygen, you'll get water every time.

Jesse: No, no...no, I mean, what if your grandmother had lived a week longer, you know? Or passed away a week earlier, days even, you know. Things might have been different, I believe that!

Céline: No, you can't think like that.

Jesse: I mean...I know you shouldn't on most things, but...it's just...on this one it seemed like something was off! You know, I mean...in the months leading up to my wedding, OK, I was thinking about you all the time. I mean, even on my way there. I'm in the car, and a buddy of mine is driving me downtown, and I'm staring out the window, and I think I see you - not far from the church, right – folding up an umbrella and walking into a deli on the corner of...13th and Broadway. And I thought I was going crazy, you know? But now I think it probably was you.

Céline: (Quietly.) I lived on 11th and Broadway.

Jesse: You see?

Céline: So, (sigh) what is it like to be married? You haven't talked much about that. (Circles back to Jesse’s left and leans on the front railing.)

Jesse: I haven't? (Sarcastically.) How weird?! I don't know, we met...you know when I was in college...and uh…we broke up and got back together, for a period of years, and then...um…what…we were sort of back together, and she was pregnant...so, marriage.

Céline: What is she like?

Jesse: She's a great teacher, a good mom. Ahh, she's smart...pretty...I remember thinking at the time, that so many of the men that I admired most, you know, that their lives were...were dedicated to something greater than themselves.

Céline: So you got married because men you admired were married?

Jesse: No, no, it...it's more like I have this...this idea of my best self! You know? And I wanted to pursue that...even if it might have been overriding my honest self! You know what I'm saying? I mean, it's funny like...in the moment I remember thinking that it didn't much matter the "Who?" of it all...I mean that…that nobody is gonna be everything to you...and that ultimately it's just a simple action of committing yourself, you know meeting your responsibilities that...that matters. I mean what is love, right, if it's not respect, trust, admiration…and I...I felt all those things! So cut to the present tense, and I feel like I'm running a small nursery with somebody I...used to date, you know. I mean, I'm like a monk, you know. I mean, I've had sex less than...10 times in the last 4 years. (Céline breaks into laughter.) What? What, what? Are you laughing at me?

Céline: No.

Jesse: It sounds pathetic?

Céline: What monastery do the monks have sex…uh, 10 times?

Jesse: OK, I'm doing better than most monks, alright? But I do, I feel like if somebody were to touch me, you know, I would (waves his hands for emphasis) dissolve into molecules.

Céline: Well, we're here. (Looking back, and nudging Jesse in the elbow.) We've gotta go. Come on.

Jesse: (Looking back to see they’ve suddenly arrived.) Shit!

Céline: (To the boat attendant.) Bonsoir! (Good evening.)

Attendant: Bonsoir!

Jesse: Bonsoir.

(They walk up a ramp toward Philippe, who is waiting with the car.)

Céline: I'm sorry, uh... to hear that.

Jesse: What?

Céline: You know, that you're not that happy with your marriage. Well, this friend of mine, she's a shrink, and uh...

Jesse: Yeah? How's she doing?

Céline: She's a mess, but...no, she was telling me that she's been dealing with a lot of couples that are breaking up for the same exact reason.

Jesse: Uhum, what reason is that?

Céline: Well, all these couples expected after a few years of living together for the passion, that consuming desire, to be the same as in the beginning.

Jesse: Yeah…right.

Céline: It's impossible!

Jesse: No, I know, I know that...

Céline: I mean, God, otherwise we would end up with an aneurysm if we were in that constant state of excitement, right? We would end up doing nothing at all with our lives. Do you think you would you would have finished your book, if...if you were fucking somebody every 5 minutes?

Jesse: I might have welcomed the challenge.

Céline: But, you know it's not true, for your wife after the birth of your son...she has to give all her love to the little one!

Jesse: Of course…of course.

Céline: Imagine that she was totally obsessed with sex, right, and you’re like a wild cat...that wouldn't make any sense, right?

Jesse: Everything you say makes sense! It's...it's not about sex. I...

Céline: No, I know, it's...obvious. I...You know, couples are so confused, uh lately. I think it must be that...men need to feel essential, and they don't anymore. Because it's been imprinted in their heads for so many years that they had to be the provider...like I, I'm a strong independent woman in my professional life. I don't need a man to feed me but I still need a man to love me and that I could love, you know. (They approach the car.) So, uh...your driver's here. Well, I guess this is goodbye, and...uh, you'd better give me your...

Jesse: No, no...why don't we just give you a ride home, wherever you're going. Huh?

Céline: Well, I can take the Metro...

Jesse: No, no, no. My flight it's not until 10, right? They’ve got me arriving two hours early. This way we can keep talking. No, no no…(Speaking to Philippe.) Monsieur...can…

Céline: (Speaking to Philippe.) Ca vous arrive me deposer au passage 18 rue des Petites Ecuries? (Can you drop me off at 18 rue des Petites Ecuries?)

Jesse: Oui. (Yes.)

Philippe: Oui, oui. Allons-y, allons-y. (Yes, yes. Let’s go, let’s go.)

Céline: D’accord. Ce n'est pas de probleme pas? (It’s not a problem, is it?)

Philippe: Non, non, c’est pas de probleme. (No, no, no problem.)

(Jesse and Céline get in the back seat of the car.)

Céline: Vous pouvez me laissez au metro...au metro Chateau d'Eau. Ca ira tres bien. (You can drop me off at the metro...at the Chateau d’Eau stop. That would be great.)

Philippe: Entendu! (Got it, thanks.)

Céline: Merci!

Jesse: You told him where you are and all that shit?

Céline: Oui, oui, yeah. (Céline speaks in French to Philippe, directing him to her apartment. She mentions Boulevard de Strasbourg at some point, but this is perhaps intentional misdirection for the film audience; you’ll see why, below.)

Jesse: So, he knows where he's going?

Céline: Yes.

(The car pulls away.)