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Stranger by The Lake
Stranger by The Lake
By Alain Guiraudie
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You OK?
Fine.
Decent turnout today.
It's looking pretty good.
It's not exactly hopping, but...
Well, I'm going in.
The water's nice.
Water warm?
Boiling.
Aren't you coming in?
Later.
Are you still digesting?
I'm not a big swimmer.
Sometimes I don't even go in.
Really?
I like sitting by the
water. It's pleasant.
Mind if I sit down?
Not at all.
Doesn't the silurus scare you?
The 30-footer?
15 would do the trick.
That's ridiculous.
Have you seen it?
No, but they're here. Those
suckers are everywhere.
I don't doubt there's a
silurus in the lake,
several even, but a
15-footer, no way.
12-footers aren't unusual.
Sure, they've spotted
12-foot siluruses.
And what's 3 feet?
I wouldn't want to bump
into one of those.
Me neither.
Still, a 15-footer?
Don't make me laugh.
I would have seen it by now.
You've never been in the
same place at the same time.
Do you come here often?
Do you want to know
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It'll work itself out.
- Wanna talk about it?
- No.
Mind if I stay?
Have I ever minded?
- No.
- So?
Why do you ask?
I don't know.
Apparently you like being alone.
I'm alone because
no one talks to me.
That's a little too easy.
You're not exactly approachable.
If you wanted company,
you'd seek people out.
How do I do that?
You go up to them,
make conversation.
That's cruising.
Isn't that why you're here?
Then why do you stay here?
Why don't you go over there?
Or the other side?
I like it here.
On the other side, I'd
spend the afternoon alone.
If I tried talking to people,
they'd think I was weird.
At cruising spots, at least
you can talk to strangers.
But I don't cruise.
What do you do now
that you're single?
For what?
For sex.
I do without it.
At your age?
What's age got to do with it?
I dunno.
Looks like he's not coming.
Want to go for a drink?
Not tonight.
I'd love to, but it's a bad time.
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I can't.
Hey.
Did you stay out late?
And you?
I went home to bed.
Hey.
Hello.
Coming to happy hour?
Probably.
- Later.
- Bye.
Good evening.
Good evening.
Can I share your towel?
Did you come alone today?
What do you mean?
Without your boyfriend?
What boyfriend?
The guy you're always with.
We're not together.
Really? I thought you were.
We barely know each other.
I'm surprised, you
seem happy together.
And what'd you do with yours?
He's not really my
boyfriend either.
He seemed hooked the other day.
It's just a casual thing.
Nothing serious.
What if he sees us?
He won't.
You're a good kisser.
That's not all I'm good at.
Kiss me. I'm gonna come.
I have to go.
Want me to get you off?
See you soon, I hope.
I'd like to stay a bit.
It'll be dark soon.
Aren't you done here?
Not even one drink?
No, I swear. See you tomorrow?
Is that your car?
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Yes, why?
No reason.
It's been ages since
I've seen a Renault 25.
They were discontinued.
I don't know why.
And it was a good car, too.
I'm very happy with mine anyway.
Well, see you tomorrow.
What's your name?
Michel.
And yours?
Franck.
Hello.
- Hey.
- What's up?
Keep walking.
He's taken.
- C'mon, he said hi.
- It's how he said it.
How should one say hi?
I know you local queers. You'd
screw the planet if you could.
- Well, this is a cruising spot.
- No, it's not.
Over there, yes, but not here.
Where's the line?
At those trees.
Where'd you meet anyway?
- What?
- I don't know him...
He pulled that crap last week.
He was alone,
and he came over just
to ask me not to stare.
He said he was taken,
and that I should stay
with my boyfriend.
What boyfriend?
He must've seen me with
the same man a few times.
Maybe now he thinks I'm with you.
You OK?
I can't wait to get back to work.
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Was he gay?
I assume so.
And you, doesn't ring a bell?
But I'm not always here either.
- And Tuesday afternoon?
- I was here.
- And you?
- So was I.
Were you together?
How late did you stay that evening?
I usually leave around 6, 6:30.
- And that evening?
- Same thing.
And you?
Late.
It was already dark when I left.
What did you do until nightfall?
I was in the woods.
With a view of the lake?
Sorry?
Could you see the lake?
I said I was in the woods.
Even in the woods, you
can see the lake.
Not from where I was.
Were you alone?
Hold on. Do we need an alibi?
We're not there yet.
I just want to know if
you noticed anything.
- And you?
- Me neither.
OK.
If you remember anything
you know where to find me.
Couldn't it be an accident?
We don't know.
But it sure wasn't the silurus.
Why'd you say you
didn't know the guy?
Because it's true.
You never saw him?
No.
Liar.
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Who, me?
Yes, you. And in private.
On Tuesday night, might I
ask who you were with?
Someone who could confirm
you were together?
- You think it was murder?
- We still don't know.
It would seem the victim
wasn't a bad swimmer.
Well?
Well?
I don't know his name.
Not even a first name?
You stay together till dusk
without introducing yourselves?
Or exchanging numbers?
No, sorry.
It happens.
How do you see each other again?
Maybe we won't.
You're with a man
who makes time fly,
and you don't try to see him again?
It's a small world, right?
You must all know each other.
Not necessarily.
But it's not like I
spend my time cruising.
Are you sure he was gay?
He had no female
companions we know of.
But that doesn't mean much.
Still, for such a handsome man...
I've kept you long enough.
Did you meet him here?
Swimming or cruising?
We cruised each other
while swimming.
Not bad.
And what was wrong with him?
Hasn't the Inspector
asked enough questions?
You don't answer his.
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