Paul and Michelle (1974)

Anicée Alvina: Michelle Latour

Photos 

Quotes 

• [after a series of near-misses while searching for Michelle throughout Nice, Paul spots her across the busy boulevard. They joyfully hug, swinging each other around and around in the middle of the crosswalk, causing a traffic jam consisting of two blocks of honking motorists. Afterwards, Paul is reunited with Sylvie, his daughter, at pre-school] 

  Paul Harrison : Why don't we have some lunch?

  Michelle Latour : Umm, Sylvie and I have to go home.

  Paul Harrison : Home? Does home mean you're Mrs. Somebody-or-other?

  Michelle Latour : No, nothing like that. But I do live with Garry. He's been very kind to us. He's quite old... he's 32.

  Paul Harrison : I see.

  Michelle Latour : Paul, what can I say? I had to leave my job.

  Paul Harrison : That man, Bellancourt?

  Michelle Latour : Garry used to come to the shop. He rescued us really. He knows all about you... everything... how I have been waiting all this time.

  Paul Harrison : So? What am I supposed to do?

  Michelle Latour : Come to dinner tonight... meet him. Then you'll absolutely understand how it is.

  Paul Harrison : Oh, no... Well, alright.

• [Paul and Michelle search high and low through the nighttime streets of Paris for Sylvie who has wandered off. Michelle has all but given up hope when she spots Sylvie who is then almost hit by a car. The next day, Paul and Michelle are sitting on a park bench. They must face reality] 

  Michelle Latour : But you want to go on, get your degree, don't you?

  Paul Harrison : Yes, of course I do...

  Michelle Latour : Then there is only one thing to do. Sylvie and I must go.

  Paul Harrison : Go! But you can't do that. I mean you belong here, you and Sylvie with me.

  Michelle Latour : It's the best way. Not forever. Just for the time being. We'll go back to the cottage. I'll get a job in Arles. Don't worry, we'll manage. You'll be better off without us.

  Paul Harrison : But if you feel like this, why didn't you go off with Garry when you had the chance? You should have gone, shouldn't you?

  Michelle Latour : Maybe.

  Paul Harrison : I mean, why do you want to do all this... the abortion, going away... just for my sake?

  Michelle Latour : Something to do with loving you I suppose.

  Paul Harrison : You'd never believe I feel the same, the way I behave.

  Michelle Latour : It wouldn't be so bad. We can have all the holiday together at the cottage...

  [Michelle and Silvie leave by train. As the train pulls away, two pictures, one of Paul and the other, of Michelle, appear on the screen... just as they did at the end of the original movie, Friends. But these are not pictures of the innocent young lovers in the first movie. These are pictures of two serious, almost somber-looking adults... a very sad ending] 

• [Garry decides to go to New York. Paul and Michelle eventually move to Paris. Michelle is coming home from a hard day's work and she see Paul with an attractive and seductive schoolmate named Susannah. Paul sees Michelle running upstairs] 

  Paul Harrison : Michelle, Michelle. Well, what are you doing here?

  Michelle Latour : [angrily]  I felt sick. They sent me home. And what were you doing... leaving Sylvie? I saw you!

  Paul Harrison : What do you mean "you saw me"? I wasn't trying to hide.

  Michelle Latour : You left her alone!

  Paul Harrison : I was out for twenty minutes. She was sound asleep.

  Michelle Latour : So that's what you do when I am working!

  Paul Harrison : What do you mean?

  Michelle Latour : I saw you in the café with Susannáh!

  Paul Harrison : Oh, shut up! I'm tired!

  Michelle Latour : Don't think I am a fool! Don't think I ever notice what's going on!

  Paul Harrison : Don't be so ridiculous!

  Michelle Latour : Here we are, so short of money and you take her out for a drink.

  Paul Harrison : Well, what would you like me to do... screw her here in our bed!

  Michelle Latour : Stop shouting!

  Paul Harrison : Anyway, she paid for her own drink... coffee!

  Michelle Latour : So this is how it is to be, is it? When I am at work, you and Susannáh...

  Paul Harrison : Stop behaving like a jealous, old wife! Don't you trust me?

  [Paul runs out of the apartment and Michelle chases after him. In the meantime, Sylvie opens the door and leaves the apartment into the Parisian streets] 

• [Paul comes to dinner at Michelle's request in order to meet Garry] 

  Garry : Oh, Mickey,

  [that's what Garry calls Michelle] 

  Garry : Sylvie wants to say goodnight.

  Michelle Latour : [to Paul]  Why don't you come too?

  Paul Harrison : Alright.

  Garry : Hey Paul, I hope you don't mind me saying this to you, you have a beautiful daughter... I don't know what I would do without her.

  [Paul gives Garry a pseudo-smile. Garry is expressionless. Apparently, neither Paul nor Garry are happy about the turn of events] 

• [Paul and Michelle go to a hotel room and make love] 

  Michelle Latour : As if for one moment I could ever have doubted.

  Paul Harrison : Did you ever?

  Michelle Latour : Only until we had the bad times.

  Paul Harrison : What are we going to do?

  Michelle Latour : I don't know. I want nights and nights and nights like this.

  Paul Harrison : Michelle Latour... you are indescribably, earth shatteringly, nerve rackingly beautiful. What are you thinking?

  Michelle Latour : We smell much sweatier now than when we were young.

  Paul Harrison : We were a million times more passionate.

  Michelle Latour : And otherwise just the same.