The Address Book
Pascal L.
TUESDAY
12.15-1.10 p.m.
We meet in a bar in Montparnasse. I tell him that the name of the owner of the address book is
Pierre D. Yes, they have known each other for a long time… through the film world. He says,
“He’s an intelligent fellow; he is touching because he’s a bit lonely. No duplicity in his
personal relationships. Deeply loyal to his friends. Unselfish.”
Pascal L. quickly tells the raw facts. According to him, Pierre was born in the Beauvais area. His
father was an elementary schoolteacher, his brother is a psychoanalyst, he lost his mother in the
70’s. He has been living in Barbès for six or seven years, in a bachelor apartment–three small
adjoining rooms, full of old papers, with an enormous number of books, video cassettes, very messy.
He lives alone.”
Has he always lived alone?
“I think so, I’m not sure.”
His tastes?
“He loves minor literature, B movies, serialized, 19th century novels… and also opera.” Pascal
L., who is a film director has given small parts to pierre: that of a school monitor who is
heckled by children and of a traveller on a train who strikes up a conversation with the film
hero and makes obscene remarks to him.
Can he describe Pierre for me?
“He’s not very tall. He shows some signs of premature aging like grey hair. He dresses
negligently. One senses that he’s really a caring person.”
It seems that two years ago Pierre may have confided in him about an unhappy love affair. Pascal
does not have anything more to say. He really does not remember. Two days ago he had dinner at
Pierre’s. Beef and pasta.
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