Scene XVI

It's dinner time at the Parizeau household and each of the principle characters are seated as before, with the exception of GUILLAUME who is now included at the table, sitting behind JEAN-BAPTISTE and the farthest away from the head. DOMINIQUE has now almost finished her meal, and she stops for a moment to begin her customary interrogation of the children.

DOMINIQUE

To JEAN-BAPTISTE

Comment allait ta journée, Jean-Baptiste?

JEAN-BAPTISTE

Engrossed in other thoughts, not really paying attention

Bien

DOMINIQUE

Est-ce qu'il y a des autres choses?

JEAN-BAPTISTE doesn't hear this.

Jean?

JEAN-BAPTISTE still ignores his mother. She yells.

Jean!

JEAN-BAPTISTE leaps out of his deep thought and returns to reality

Merci pour être avec nous, Jean-Baptiste. Peut-être tu serais meilleure dans l'avenir de garder tes pensées des filles loin de la table.

CAROLINE giggles. DOMINIQUE turns her glance to her.

Et comment allait tien, Caroline?

CAROLINE

Instantly becoming serious

Excellent, maman. C'était excellent.

CLAUDETTE

Breaking the order, impulsive

C'est gentil d'avoir Oncle Guillaume mange avec nous.

GUILLAUME

Looking lovingly at CLAUDETTE

C'est tout mon plaisir, madame.

Bows. CLAUDETTE claps and laughs hysterically.

Je souhaite j'aurai beaucoup plus de repas avec vous.

DOMINIQUE and JEAN-CLAUDE share a secret, nervous look. To JEAN-CLAUDE

Speaking of which, there was something I was hoping to talk to you about.

DOMINIQUE

Her mouth suddenly full of food

Please, no business at the table.

GUILLAUME

Quite insistent

Perhaps after dinner then?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Takes a helpless look at his wife, then turns his gaze to his brother

Of course.

CAROLINE

Bored

Est-ce-que je peux être excusé, maman?

DOMINIQUE

Surrendered

Oui, allez.

The girls immediately leave the table, forgetting once again to bring their plates to the sink. JEAN-BAPTISTE waits a little longer to finish his food, then he takes his and the girls' plates in a stack. GUILLAUME hands his plate to his nephew who, with great fatigue, adds it to the pile and moves the dishes over to the sink. DOMINIQUE reluctantly rises from her chair, removing the remaining dishes. Before she leaves, she gives her husband a warning look which clearly indicates which course of action she is expecting he take.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Tired

Okay. What is it, Billy?

GUILLAUME

Deflated

You know I've been trying, Johnny. Trying really hard.

JEAN-CLAUDE

A little too automatic to reply

No one would deny that.

GUILLAUME

I need a job, John. I just...there's no other way to say it...I need one.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Detached

I would agree with that assessment.

GUILLAUME

Desperate

Can you stop being so god-damned inhuman for once and actually try to listen to me?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Suddenly candid

What makes you think I haven't been listening, Bill? I've been hearing this same sort of woe-is-me belly-aching since I was five years old.

GUILLAUME

Frantic

Johnny, you've got to help me.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Insolent

I don't have to do a god-damned thing and that's the cold, hard truth of it, Will.

GUILLAUME

Wounded

How can you say that?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Standing and walking over to pat his brother on the shoulder.

Look here, Billy. I know what you're going to say, so just ask me.

GUILLAUME

Pitiful

You...You got any spare jobs lying around?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Strolling away

No

Stops and continues his line before GUILLAUME can protest

And here's why

Gyrates to face his brother

You don't need a job, Bill. You need freedom. You've been tethered to me so long that you've forgotten how to be your own man. You need to go back out into the world, Bill. You need to explore your skills. Find your talents. Trust your instincts. You need to stop defining yourself as a Parizeau and think who you are as Guillaume.

GUILLAUME

Defeated

Okay, fine, whatever.

Looks up with pouting eyes

Can I still crash here, though?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Shaking his head, exhausted at this. He looks around for any trace of his wife before answering, then shrugs

Yes, for now.

GUILLAUME

Smiles through his pain

Thanks, Johnny. You're the best.

Scene XVII

The scene moves to the same construction site from Scene XV but during the day and some months later with the highway completed. JEAN-CLAUDE and CAO (a short and skinny man dressed in a short-sleeved white short and think black tie and plain, steel tie clip, wearing leviathan glasses constantly threatening to droop lower on his stubby nose) stand on either side of LESSARD. The minister LESSARD is a lanky man with pudgy, bubbly facial features and explosive black hair around the sides of his head. A toupee covers some of his forehead, but a rather distinctive patch remains visible on his right. He's wearing a three piece, beige suit, with a polyester white shirt and a light blue, black striped tie. A tiny flag of Quebec pin adorns his lapel. A close look would reveal that his cuff-links are stamped with the silver fleur-de-lis. He is standing at a polished podium, arms wildly gesturing in the French Canadian way. He is nearly finished his speech.

LESSARD

Et, en sommation, je dois dire une grande félicitation à mon ami personnel et l'ami de Québec, Jean-Claude Parizeau. C'est le travail fort and la dévouement de nos entrepreneurs Québécois qu'aider pour reconstruire notre province et nation après trois siècles de la négligence anglaise.

Turning to face JEAN-CLAUDE

Nous vous donnons notre grâce, monsieur Parizeau.

Returning to the media

Merci, et bon journée.

The reporters snap their final pictures and then leave. The three men all deflate themselves, becoming their normal selves. LESSARD is called away for a moment, leaving CAO and JEAN-CLAUDE by themselves. CAO is clearly a shy man, but he ambles over in JEAN-CLAUDE's direction.

CAO

Congenially

I'm very impressed, mister Parizeau. Your first project here in Montreal and you're already ahead of schedule and under budget.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Brushing this off

Nonsense, that's simply the way I do business. It doesn't matter when or where.

CAO

Chuckling at some inside joke

Well, in this city, it's a miracle to come by. I hope we can continue to count on such professional work in the future.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Bowing

Absolutely.

CAO acknowledges this and then walks away to hob-nob with some visiting dignitaries. LESSARD finds his way back to JEAN-CLAUDE. He is smiling the instant his face is focussed on the screen.

LESSARD

Euphoric

A good show, ne c'est pas?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Yes, extraordinary.

LESSARD

Pointing his finger at JEAN-CLAUDE, but not in an accusing way

You really do impress me, mister Parizeau, uh, may I call you Jean?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Non-committal

If you like

LESSARD

Taking this as an absolute affirmative

Excellent. Feel free to call me Lucien.

Putting his arm around JEAN-CLAUDE's shoulder.

Walk with me, Jean.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Muddled, and a little bit worried

Okay?

LESSARD

Ignoring this

You know, I never tire to hear of stories like yours, Jean.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Incredulous

Really?

LESSARD

Dreamily

Hmm. Stories of a young francophone in Montreal (pronounces it Morréalle) growing up behind the English estates, getting beat up by Anglo schoolyard bullies and then fighting his way to the top in the Englishman's world to carve out a humble piece for himself.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Shy

That's not even close to how it happened, sir-

LESSARD

Who gives a fuck, Jean? Star Wars wasn't real. The Iliad wasn't real. Hell, maybe even the moon landing wasn't real. But boy, didn't it sure inspire a whole hell of a lot kids to become astronauts.

Stops walking and turns to face JEAN-CLAUDE

You ever read any Plato, Jean?

JEAN-CLAUDE

I think I probably ate more playdough than I ever read.

LESSARD

Chuckling

Some of my professors at Laval might think they had the same intellectual quality.

Returning to reality

Anyways, he had this sort of disturbing idea about society being based around what he called a "noble lie".

JEAN-CLAUDE

Has the lingering sense of where this is going

I may have stumbled upon it at one point or another.

LESSARD

Smiling awkwardly

Good, good. Then perhaps you know what I'm getting at, Jean.

Stops and turns around

Now, you'd probably agree that a highway paved by an Anglo is just the same as a highway paved by a Quebecois, no?

Waits for JEAN-CLAUDE's nod

I mean, if a road is just a collection of asphalt and rocks, why would anyone give a shit about who made it?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Matter-of-factly

To get the cheapest bid.

LESSARD

Shaking his head

No, no, no. That's why I would choose you to build this road. But why did they (points to where the reporters were previously standing when he gave his statement) choose you to build this road?

JEAN-CLAUD

Bored

I'm guessing it's not for my handsome good looks.

LESSARD

It's for the story, Jean. It's for the inspiration. They look at you and see a poor French boy striking back at the world, rising above the ashes of our forefathers to rebuild the nation that will be ours again.

JEAN-CLAUDE

I'm sorry to offend you, but with my business in Toronto, I've never really bought into the whole separat-

LESSARD

Spirited

Like I said, who gives a fuck? You dance the dance, I talk the talk, they see what they want to see and everybody's got their cheque in the mail. Why ruin a good thing?

JEAN-CLAUDE

It was never my intention to-

LESSARD

Frenzied

To what?

Mockingly raising his hands in the air

Expose corruption in the highest levels? Take down the whole of the establishment with your bare fists? Build your bridge half-naked, with blisters on your hands, blood in your brow and sweat on your back? Just one man out of all humanity against humanity for the sake of humanity?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Annoyed

What the fuck is that supposed to mean?

LESSARD

Standing in front of JEAN-CLAUDE's face, points to the road

What the fuck is this supposed to mean?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Confused

I'm not sure-

LESSARD

Yelling

What the fuck are you trying to do, Jean?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Angered

I'm not trying to do anything! I'm trying to expand, grow, be successful. I'm trying to win!

LESSARD

Rolls his shoulders, uncomfortable at his previous energy

Jean, Jean, you keep missing the point. This isn't a competition. There are no winners, and there are no losers. Just a bunch a fellas all making a profit anyway they can, like it's always been.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Straining to remain civil

It wasn't always this way.

LESSARD

Feigning helplessness

Hasn't it? You think MacDonald would have ever built the railroad if he had follow the law? You think Chaplain would have founded Quebec? Would there ever be a sidewalk poured or a road paved in this town if we had to have the law do it for us?

JEAN-CLAUDE

I built this one.

LESSARD

Don't make it your last.

Instantly regrets what he said

Look, don't take me the wrong way. You got the highway and you've got the bridge. I can't do a whole lot about that. There are some really angry fellas out there, but whatever, they'll get over it. Just make sure to make your regular donation to the party and consult Lavalin on all future tenders.

JEAN-CLAUDE

And if I refuse?

LESSARD

Hey, I can't force you to do anything. I can only make gentle suggestions.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Refuses to continue this charade

With all due respect, you can shove your gentle suggestions up your hairy-

LESSARD

Plugs his ears

Okay, okay, I get it. I've done all I can. I hoped you'd be rational but I guess that was too much to ask. Rien n'a jamais changé dans toute l'histoire de l'humanité.

Walks away, but turns back for one more word

I'm sorry, mister Parizeau. I really did like you.

LESSARD wanders away, raises his hand to get attention of some colleague in the distance. He leaves JEAN-CLAUDE in the dust, his jacket flapping in the light, summer wind.

Scene XVIII

JEAN-CLAUDE and his daughters are playing hide-and-go-seek in their backyard on an early August afternoon. JEAN-CLAUDE runs after the twins making ogre noises, but he deliberately sets his pace so that he can never overtake them. CLAUDETTE and CAROLINE are just a little ahead when they decide to huddle underneath the deck to hide. JEAN-CLAUDE evidently sees this, but instead of finding them, chooses to smile and pretend he doesn't know where they are.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Playfully

Je vais trouver vous, mes petits choux.

Looks in the completely opposite direction

Humm. Où pourvoirez-vous être?

Dramatically pulls back a blue tarp to reveal an empty table. The girls giggle in the background. He proclaims, as if he had just made a Nobel prize-worthy discovery

Voici?

Disappointed

Non, ce n'est pas là.

Runs over to the barbeque and excitedly lifts the lid

Peut-être ici?

Again, almost heart-broken

Non, pas là aussi.

Snaps his fingers as if having had a wondrous epiphany. He waltzes over to the deck and stands just above the girls

Oui, mais sous la véranda. Ah, oui. Ils doivent être voilà.

JEAN-CLAUDE gets ready to pounce, with his daughters softly laughing beneath him. Before he gets the chance, the girls run out from underneath the deck and run at the father. Seeing that they have just been spat out from the earth, JEAN-CLAUDE pretends to be terrified and trots away in a bout of theatrical horror.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Screaming as his daughters run after him

Zombies!

CLAUDETTE is the first to take the hint and immediately lowers her speed, droops her head, begins drooling, and stretches her arms out in front of her as if a member of the undead. CAROLINE sees what fun this is and joins in soon afterwards. They slowly advance on their father who pretends to trip over nothing and falls, holding his shin like an injured soccer player. CLAUDETTE approaches and begins to moan, opening her mouth and licking her teeth. CAROLINE is much more reserved, but she is still participating, her arms out and groaning.

CLAUDETTE pounces on her father and begins pretending to eat him. She gurgles and roars in delight and then begins tickling him. CAROLINE joins in on this and soon the two girls and laying on top of their guffawing father tickling.

The scene suddenly changes to a hazy, red-skied post-apocalyptic backdrop. The three are in the same position, except the girls are actually members of the undead, chewing pieces of flesh from their father's leg and belly. JEAN-CLAUDE genuinely cries in agony.

Again, the scene changes back to the regular world where the children continue to play, only JEAN-CLAUDE laughs and fights off his daughters a little less enthusiastically.

CLAUDETTE's undead face slurps on a chunk of bloody flesh.

CLAUDETTE's living face smiles in delight.

The zombie girls begin disemboweling their father, throwing up a long string of intestines and playing with them like kittens and string. JEAN-CLAUDE screams in existential terror.

The girls continue to tickle their father. JEAN-CLAUDE half-heartedly laughs and swats them away.

A close-up of JEAN-CLAUDE's face shows a red and black torrent of bile come flowing up from his lungs, spreading over himself in thick, viscous streams. He coughs, straining violently for oxygen, as the cancerous blobs come even more rapaciously from his mouth. His hollow rasping and fight to remain alive are pitiful and futile.

A close-up of JEAN-CLAUDE's face shows him deeply disturbed, his daughter's laughter in the background. Little emotion is read on his face, but his thoughts are severely clouded. He seems lost in a trance, even as the twins continue to play with him. He simply makes automatic movements to placate them, and they don't seem to notice.

GUILLAUME approaches from the other side of the house. He seems downtrodden and filthy. He is wearing his usual stained undershirt, although it has become an even darker shade of brown. His face is precariously unshaved and unclean, his eyes are dull and his manner is hopeless. His belly has become more pronounced. He speaks in a prosaic, monotonous voice and returns his brother from his reverie.

GUILLAUME

There's a call for you.

Turning around to leave, but decides he must clarify first

Inside.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Getting up from the grass, his daughters whining at the end of their game

Okay, thanks, Billy.

He slowly stands up, clearly in pain from the effort. He massages his back and winces.

The girls have already left their father and begun chasing GUILLAUME. CLAUDETTE pulls at her uncle's arm and pleads for him to play with her. GUILLAUME refuses to acknowledge her presence and continues trudging towards the house. The girls stay behind, disheartened and befuddled. JEAN-CLAUDE limps towards his daughters and holds CLAUDETTE's out-stretched hand as the three walk into the house.

CLAUDETTE

Naively

Pourquoi est Oncle Guillaume triste, papa?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Shakes his head as the enter the house

Je ne sais pas, Claudette. Je ne sais pas.

JEAN-CLAUDE loses the girls inside the house, who run around doing another game. He picks up the phone and puts it to his ear, evidently dreading what he might hear.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Automatically

Yeah, I know they're striking. (pause)

Anxious

What do you mean in Montreal, too? (short pause)

Irate

What the fuck do you mean they're on strike here too!

Scene XIX

JEAN-CLAUDE is furiously pacing his office. LAWYER, dressed in a sharp, grey pin-striped suit and ANNE sit behind his desk, looking at him nervously. JEAN-CLAUDE looks out the window, thinking.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Turning back to them

But you agree it's illegal?

LAWYER

Absolutely. There's no question they're in violation of the contract.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Ecstatic

Great! Let's get an injunction and we'll bring them back to work tomorrow.

LAWYER

Gives ANNE a look of pain, then sighs and returns to his client

I'm afraid I'm going to have to counsel you otherwise.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Talking through his teeth he is so irked

I wrote that fucking contract three months ago. The ink hasn't even dried yet, and they're already trying to ruin it.

Shakes his head in earnest tenacity

No, I'm not going to stand for it, Bob. I'm going to make every single one of those fuckers pay for this.

LAWYER

Bushed, trying to calm JEAN-CLAUDE and get of this office

Jean, in cases like these. It's often cheaper to negotiate with the unions instead of entering some long, drawn-out court battle-

JEAN-CLAUDE

Interrupting

Who said anything about a long court battle? If these guys are clearly striking illegally, shouldn't it pretty straight-forward, huh? Quick and easy, Japanesey.

Looks to ANNE for some support

Am I right?

LAWYER

Cautious

It's... It's not really that simple, Jean. With the wrong judge and a huge back-log, we could be talking about several months before we see any injunction. And certainly years before any financial settlement.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Pacing around again, excited, his body thrilled for a fight

Oh, I don't give a shit about the money. I just want to build that fucking bridge!

LAWYER

Throws his hands in air, surrendering

From where I stand, I just don't know if it will be possible. Certainly not if you don't negotiate with the unions. I mean, see what they're asking at least. A ten percent pay increase might seem unreasonable now, but compared to the expenses you'll incur-

JEAN-CLAUDE

Pointing his finger to the door, his face tightened in abject fury

Get out.

LAWYER looks at ANNE worriedly, but gets no response.

Get the fuck out, Bob!

LAWYER reluctantly stands up to leave. JEAN-CLAUDE doesn't think this is fast enough and throws a book at him.

Now, god damn it!

Points an accusing finger at ANNE

I am not bending over to those cocksuckers.

ANNE

Exasperated

You could at least see what they want, Jean!

JEAN-CLAUDE

Throws over his chair, screaming

They want me, Anne. They want to pick into my chest with their tiny fingers and gorge my heart out. They want the bridge. They want the company. They want the fucking world, Anne. They want the whole fucking world.

ANNE

Raising her voice

Can't you see that you're being completely unreasonable, here!

JEAN-CLAUDE

Violently shakes his head

No, being unreasonable would be breaking a fucking contract and trying to force your employer to his fucking knees. That's would be fucking unreasonable!

ANNE rolls her eyes

Can't you see what's going on here, Anne? This isn't about wages. It's not about benefits. Hell, it's not even about worker safety. It's about what I'm trying to do here. It's about me fighting their bullshit mob bosses and their stranglehold on this whole fucking city. That's what this about, Anne. That's what this about.

ANNE

Cursing

Oh, dammit, Jean. You've gone totally insane. It's that stupid bridge. I told you it was a bad idea. I told you all it could be bring was trouble. And what did you do, you just-

JEAN-CLAUDE

Interrupting, holding up his hand as if in defence, yelling as if in agony

No!

Breathing heavily, red-faced and pleading

No, I can do this. We can do this.

He slumps into his chair, exhausted.

ANNE

Standing and walking up to her boss. In a defeated tone

How?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Raises his arms in the air

That's what I can't figure out.

JEAN-CLAUDE wanders over to his window and looks out onto the city again as the sun begins to set. A few new skyscrapers have been added since he last peered through this port-hole. ANNE is not sure what is going on and simply remains seated, waiting. JEAN-CLAUD follows a flash of sunlight as it streaks down the steely surface of an office tower, disappearing behind a beam as the sun falls into night. His eyes narrow, and a thin smile reaches his lips.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Snaps to attention

Get me Frank on the line.

ANNE

Not following this line of logic

The Toronto foreman?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Annoyed

Yes, the Toronto foreman. I have more than a cursory knowledge of the people working for me.

ANNE

But why?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Conceitedly

I'm going to give my striking workers a job. Here, in Montreal.

ANNE

Incredulous

You're going to actively recruit scabs?

JEAN-CLAUDE

No, no, don't be ridiculous. They're two different companies. Why should they give a damn if they're both owned by the same person? I'll bus them into the Montreal for two weeks, and then bus them out for a few days and then-

ANNE

Now suffering from a head-ache

Wait, wait, wait. You're going to bus in workers from Toronto to scab in Montreal?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Slowly, as if speaking to an invalid, not understanding her point

Yes...

ANNE

Trying more obviously to point out the stupidity of her boss' statement

You're going to send in Torontonians to take the jobs of Quebecois workers in the middle of greatest anti-English movement of this province's history?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Stubbornly, turns back to the window

Yes. I most certainly am.

ANNE

Shakes her head, but can't help smiling. Sighs

Okay. What else can I do?

Scene XX

It's a tyrannically hot summer's day in the middle of the Quebec country-side surrounding Montreal. In the centre of the screen is an empty ravine, filled with sand and dust from a river long-since dried up. The ravine is in the middle of a highway, splitting it directly in half. Frayed support beams and concrete ruins betray where the old bridge once stood.

The half of the highway which leads to the city is blocked by picketing construction workers, still dressed in their hazard wear and hard-hats, as well as separatist, Francophone protestors waving similar propaganda as was seen in Scene X. They are all angrily chanting different defiant slogans and the occasional anti-Anglo sentiment.

A yellow school bus, converted for its purpose with steel bars on the windows, blocked with cardboard to protect the identity of the workers, begins to approach. This incites the mob to violence, hurling mounds of earth and pieces of broken concrete at the bus. The vehicle stops about twenty metres from the protestors, unable to withstand the barrage. A particularly brazen young student, his face hidden in a blue bandana, stuffs a strand of cloth into a bottle of vodka and lights the cloth as a wick. He tosses the Molotov cocktail unto the hood of the bus where it bursts in flames.

Although the missile does not do much damage, the driver of the bus and the GUARD with his rifle held at his front are seen to be terrified at this turn of events. The driver vehemently begins to spin his steering wheel, ignoring the protests of GUARD and turns the bus around. The mob cheers and makes hideous, sneering insults as the bus retreats.

Scene XXI

The scene suddenly changes to a close-up of JEAN-CLAUDE's twisted, enraged and reddened visage.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Yelling at someone who doesn't appear in the shot just yet

What the fuck do you mean they turned around?

ANNE's pleading but equally angry face is seen.

ANNE

Holds up her hand in an accusing gesture

And what exactly were they supposed to do? Get themselves killed!

JEAN-CLAUDE

His head vibrating from fury

If that fucking bridge doesn't get exactly on schedule I will kill them myself!

ANNE

As if negotiating with a petulant child, taking a pause after every word

It's not going to happen, Jean.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Pounds the table in his office, the shot clearly revealing the background now

It is, even if I have to lay every blasted brick and mortar with my own fucking hands!

ANNE relents. JEAN-CLAUDE calms down as an idea occurs to him. Euphoric

Anne, I need you to get the city manager on the line immediately.

His speech slows as if he's hit a mental road block, but he snaps and excites again

And I want you to call the security contractors we've been using and ask for six more guys on the construction site by tomorrow morning.

ANNE

Skeptical

You've got a hundred angry protestors out there and you're going to invite six armed men to the party?

Shakes her head

I don't like where this is going, boss...

JEAN-CLAUDE

Irritated

Can you just do it, Anne?

ANNE gets up from her chair and leaves, after taking one last look at her boss, as if judging his sanity. JEAN-CLAUDE stands out behind his window, looking out as the sun sets on the city. His hands are situated on his pelvis, a stance of power and ego. Finally, the phone rings and JEAN-CLAUDE excitedly sits down to answer it.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Apprehensive

Mister Frontenac?

At ease and speaking quickly

Yes, it's Jean-Claude Parizeau.

Pauses as if interrupted

Yeah, listen. A little while ago you said that you hoped that you could count on my professional work in the future, right? (pause) Yeah, well, I put my money where my mouth is. (pause) I need twelve city police officers (pause) What? (pause) Then call the police chief after we're finished! (pause) Anyways, twelve officers to stand guard on the St. Mary's bridge site from the east side tomorrow at dawn. (pause) And? And do nothing. Just stand there with sirens blazing for a few hours and then leave a couple guys behind to sit there for the day. (pause) Yes, that's all.

Waits expectantly, then hears the news he's been waiting for. Ecstatic

Thanks, sir. You won't regret it.

Pushes the phone down and lays back in his chair, satisfied, the king of the world. Then, suddenly, another idea occurs to him and he franticly picks up the telephone and dials a number. He holds the receiver to his face

Allo? (pause) Allo, Claudette. C'est papa. Est-oncle Guillaume là? (pause) Peux-tu se donner la téléphone? (pauses and smiles) Merci, Claudette. (pauses, becomes serious) Hey, Billy, how're you doing (doesn't wait for an answer) Great, anyways, I think I might finally have a job for ya. (pause) Oh, nothing too serious. I just need you stand around with a few guys for a bit, you know work security at one of my job sites. (pauses, because slightly annoyed) Hey, it's the best I got. You want it or not? (pause) Thanks, Billy. I knew I could count on you.

Scene XXII

The scene moves to the same setting as Scene XX just a little earlier in the day. There is also a slightly smaller mob and they seem less energetic than before. GUARD's hat can be seen at the bottom of the shot, approaching the mob.

GUARD

Cautious, holding his arm out to calm those behind him

All right, nice and easy now.

GUILLAUME is first to be seen slowly walking behind GUARD in the general direction of the protestors. Six other guards follow all spread out across the road. Each guard is wearing the same grey uniform and carrying a rifle. GUILLAUME sports the same uniform, but not a gun. The same yellow school bus as before advances from off screen. The guards take one step at a time, the mob finally noticing their approach and getting restless.

GUARD

Slowly, stretching out the syllables

Easy

The troop continues but the mob has begun hurling insults

Easy

The troop stops as the mob start throwing rocks and pieces of the disturbed earth.

Hold your ground

The foreheads of the each of the guards are glistened in sweat. GUILLAUME is stock still and terrified

Men...

One of the guards starts to look back. GUARD yells

Hold your ground!

Just as the bus comes to a halt, some thirty metres from the crowd, the mob begins to scream and advance. Two guards turn tail and run. GUILLAUME positions himself behind GUARD. GUARD cradles his weapon, putting a round in the chamber. The mob is now running towards the troop, madness in their eyes. The rest of the troop with the exception of GUARD and GUILLAUME breaks off. GUARD aims his gun at the oncoming protestors. GUILLAUME screams and tries to prevent the firing. The mob are only a few metres from the two, and flames erupt around them as Molotov cocktails are flailed. One can see some of the leading protestors are carrying baseball bats raised above their heads, only steps away from GUILLAUME and GUARD. GUARD levels his rifle at the mob and fingers the trigger as another fireball erupts by his side.

A police siren is heard. From the other side of the ravine, six squad cars pull off the side of the road, with police officers spilling out of their vehicles. The mob is instantly caught in their tracks. Regaining their gall, the guards reluctantly return to their positions beside their commander. GUILLAUME is visibly relieved. The officers cross to the flank the mob whilst the guards push through them at the centre. This creates enough of a space for the bus to continue driving to the worksite. The protestors shout and curse, but arrest any violent activities.

Scene XXIII

JEAN-CLAUDE and DOMINIQUE are inside their house, arguing as this walk down towards their basement.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Riled

What the hell was I supposed to do? He was laying around on our couch all day. I wasn't just going to let him rot on the sofa.

DOMINIQUE

Equally irked

That's why I've been telling you to kick him out for the last two bloody months!

JEAN-CLAUDE

Walks past the door and down the first stair. Sardonic

I'm sorry for not wanting my brother to live in some cardboard box. I know I'm so fucking evil for trying to look out for my family. How will you ever find it in your heart to forgive me?

DOMINIQUE

Rolling her eyes

Could you at least try to be serious for once, Jean?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Stops walking down the stairs and turns to shout at his wife

You want me to be serious. Fine. Let me be one hundred percent serious with you.

Yelling

I'm not throwing my brother onto the fucking streets!

Someone coughs off-screen. JEAN-CLAUDE freezes. He languidly turns his head. JEAN-BAPTISTE and about ten of his compatriots are sitting around a table lit by only one bulb hanging from the ceiling. LEADER is standing. He is lightly bearded and wears a cap similar to Che Guevara's. He is clearly the oldest and has just been interrupted from some great sentimental speech. About half of his audience wear communist red colours whereas the others sport FLQ paraphernalia and all are adorned with a fleur-de-lis wherever possible. JEAN-BAPTISTE seems embarrassed, sensing the discomfort of his friends. JEAN-CLAUDE is livid. Slowly and deliberately he says, pointing to the door

Get the fuck out of my house.

JEAN-BAPTISTE

Pleading

Peux-tu ne pas parler cette poubelle anglaise, papa?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Ignoring this, no longer keeping his tone in check

Get the fuck out of my house.

JEAN-BAPTISTE makes as if to confront his father, but LEADER gestures for him to remain seated.

LEADER

Calmly

Okay. Tout le monde est bien.

Walking up to JEAN-CLAUDE who doesn't even flinch, without much accent

You have a lovely home, sir.

Walks up the stairs, past JEAN-CLAUDE and his wife. His fellows soon follow, all too afraid to make eye contact with the adults.

JEAN-BAPTISTE sits alone at the table in silence, his arms crossed in angry.

JEAN-BAPTISTE

Cantankerous

Why did you have to embarrass me in front of my friends?

JEAN-CLAUDE recuses himself from the situation, knowing that if he engages his son he's bound to hurt him. He stands by a shelf and beats his head against it in frustration and disgust. DOMINIQUE has no such self-control and she descends from the stairs like a harpy and slaps her son across the face.

DOMINIQUE

Incensed

Don't you dare give me that bratty teenager horse shit! Those weren't your friends, Jean-Baptiste. They're rebels. Brigands. Terrorists!

JEAN-BAPTISTE

Defiant, but on the verge of tears

Then you can call me a rebel, brigand and a terrorist, too.

JEAN-CLAUDE

Taking his head of the wall, pitiful

Oh my God, John. This is so fucking pathetic.

JEAN-BAPTISTE

Is it more pathetic than stealing the jobs of good honest Quebecois and giving them to the English?

JEAN-CLAUDE

Running up to his son, accidentally pushing DOMINIQUE to the side.

Now you listen here, tough guy. You see this house. Your clothes. Your college fund. Your fucking dental plan. There's not a single piece of this family not paid for by them. If you want to bitch and moan, and go "oh, poor me", feel free. But do it on your time ...in your own fucking house!

Shakes his head in disgust

You know, when I was your age I was already working my ass off trying to save enough money to leave for New York-

JEAN-BAPTISTE

Interrupting, sarcastic

Oh, great another story about the Big Apple. Heck, by now we probably have close to the entire fucking history of New York already recited.

DOMINIQUE

Pointing at her son, flippant

Hey! Watch your mouth, young man.

JEAN-BAPTISTE gives her a snarky look

Why I oughta-

She interrupts herself to start barraging her son with her folded cooking apron. She whips him on the head with it repeatedly as she scolds

You piece of indulgent, spoiled, narcissistic-

JEAN-CLAUDE

Catching his wife's hand

That's enough, Dominique.

She struggles. He responds by tightening his grip and bellowing

That's enough, Dominique!

She gives him an insolent glare, but relents. JEAN-CLAUDE releases her and turns his attention to his son. Evenly

Go to your room, now.

JEAN-BAPTISTE hesitates, scared. His father roars

Now!

JEAN-BAPTISTE runs up the stairs. JEAN-CLAUDE angrily walks off to another part of the basement. From off screen he shouts

And where the fuck are the pickled onions, anyway?

Scene XXIV

It's the middle of the night on the bridge worksite. GUILLAUME, GUARD and two police officers are sitting down in the clearing on the east side of the ravine. The remaining six guards look after the west, where spot-lights have been set up to allow the workers to continue right through the evening. But out here, that hustle and bustle is little more than background noise, drowned out by the crickets. A flickering red ember from GUARD's cigarette briefly illuminates his rough, scarred features. GUILLAUME leans forward, interested in some story that is being told.

GUILLAUME

Intrigued

And how was it? ...Vietnam? What was it like?

GUARD

Takes a draught of his cigarette and for a moment seems to have ignored the question, then, with great poignancy

Hell.

POLICE OFFICER 1

Bored, his arms crossed

Can you elaborate?

POLLICE OFFER 2

Swats his colleague on the arm

Hey, don't be rude

Focussing on GUARD

What were the Viet Cong like? I heard they were really nasty.

GUARD

Distant

Yep.

Almost spits out the "p" and then is silent for a time.

They sure were.

POLICE OFFICER 1

Frustrated

But how?

GUARD

Turning to face the man

You ever tried to arrest a jungle before, pal? How about a land mine? Or even better yet, some good-old fashioned shit on a stick. Damn, they really liked that one. You fall the wrong way, get impaled. Fall the right way, get sliced and die of infection. Yeah, ever get any action like that walking up and down St. Catherine's street, taking the occasional break at a titty bar, wolfing down some (separates the syllables ludricously) pou-tine?

POLICE OFFICER 1 shakes his head. GUARD turns back to face GUILLAUME.

Didn't think so.

GUILLAUME

Still stuck with a child-like fascination

And what about the women?

POLICE OFFICER 2

His interest perked as well

Yeah! Tell us about that.

GUARD

Smiles and lifts his hands, ready to use them in some obscene gesture

Well, there was this one yella lady, name was-

SENTRY

Calling out from the distance, interrupting GUARD

We've got a group of people charging this way. I think it's the same mob from this morning.

GUARD leaps to his feet immediately and stands on higher ground to get a better look. GUILLAUME slowly stands up, his muscles and tendons tightening, causing him severe pain. The six other guards fall back to get direction from their leader. However, before he can speak, a car is heard revving up.

The troop looks in the sound's direction and sees the police car being started by POLICE OFFICER 1. POLICE OFFICER 2 stands outside, ashamed to be spotted.

POLICE OFFICER 2

Cowardly

I'm sorry. We can't be seen here.

Hangs his head.

I...I'm...I'm sorry.

POLICE OFFICER 1

From the car

Get in already! I'm leaving.

POLICE OFFICE 2 winces and then runs towards his vehicle. Even as he is hopping in, the car spins around and rushes away from the scene. The troop is left alone. GUARD moves quickly to repair their dispelled spirits.

GUARD

Cool and collected

Okay, now it looks from here like they're still a few hundred yards out. All we need to do is walk over to that there highway, stand our ground a bit and the workers'll be fine.

SECOND GUARD

Angered and afraid

Yeah! And what about us.

GUARD

Firm

We'll be fine...if we manage to keep our cool. We walk out there. He show 'em our guns and if they get rowdy, I fire off a warning shot. That's all. That's it. That's over.

Reassuringly

Can we do that?

The men all nod.

Okay. Let's get moving, then.

The troop quietly strolls along the ravine and then walks up onto the road. The mob is only about forty metres away, but has clearly stopped.

THIRD GUARD

Whispering, spooked

Why have they stopped?

FOURTH GUARD

In some sort of existential terror

They're going ta kill us, man!

GUARD

Shushes them

Shut up. Shut the fuck up.

An idea occurs to him. In a hushed voice

I think they're trying to parley.

Turning to the troop, his voice slightly louder

Hey, do any of you fellas speak French?

GUILLAUME

Reluctantly, after watching everyone else in the troop shake their heads

I do...

GUARD

Putting his arm across GUILLAUME's shoulder, friendly

Okay, new plan. You go and talk to them, tell them we're really sorry and we love Lévesque, vive le Quebec and all, but we really just need them to leave and then we'll cover you and all go back home, safe and sound.

GUILLAUME

Extremely skeptical, more than a little fearful

I'm not really sure that that's the best ide-

GUARD

Interjecting

What! Do you want to stand here all night, shitting your pants hoping they don't come over, or do you want to end it, here and now?

GUILLAUME

Hemming and hawing

I guess, I could, maybe-

GUARD

Jumping on his indecision

Excellent. Now look alive soldier.

Pushes GUILLAUME out in front of him.

GUILLAUME walks forward a bit then turns to look back. Although GUARD is still a few paces behind, the rest of the troop have already taken cover from ditches on either side of the road. GUILLAUME gulps and continues walking forward.

The face of RINGLEADER is lit by two gas lanterns being held by striking construction workers in the front of the mob. His hair is grotesquely black and greasy, combed back to present a menacing style. He is clad in a black leather jacket seared with various lacerations and his black-gloved hand holds an aluminium baseball bat. A steel blade with a swastika embroidered on it, maybe even one of the knives carried by Nazi officers, is strapped to his belt. He leads a mob of similarly fearsome men, maybe thirty in all. Although some are indeed workers, the students have long been forgotten and many of the crowd appear to be from a more criminal section of society.

GUILLAUME stops dead in his tracks, but RINGLEADER walks forward, each footstep echoing into the night.

RINGLEADER

As if stating the most innocent and simplistic of intentions

Nous voulons passer.

GUILLAUME

Je suis désole, mais je ne peux pas l'accepter.

RINGLEADER

This is of no immediate consequence to him.

Vous n'avez pas beaucoup de choix, monsieur...?

GUILLAUME

Not wanting to surrender his name

Mon nom ne tient pas de l'importance.

RINGLEADER

L'importance de ton nom dépend de qu'est-il.

Sizes up GUILLAUME

Qui est tu, monsieur?

GUILLAUME

Un garde qui souhaite pour le départ de vous.

RINGLEADER

Studying the man in front of him

Tu apparais très familière, garde.

GUILLAUME

Worried

J'ai un visage commun.

RINGLEADER

Laughs despicably

Tu pourvoirais vivre un mille des siècles et n'es jamais commun, mon ami.

Points at him, almost playfully, toying with him

Je connais cette face.

GUILLAUME

Visibly shaking with fright

Non, c'est pas moi, monsieur. Tu penses d'une autre personne.

RINGLEADER

Ignoring this, turning to his lieutenant.

Cette personne de que tu as me décris, le frère de ton patron, est-ce-que lui?

The lieutenant thinks for a moment and then shrugs. RINGLEADER smiles and takes a step towards GUILLAUME.

Ah, je savais que je te connais.

Takes another step

Ton frère n'était pas sage lorsqu'il t'envoyait d'ici.

GUILLAUE slowly steps back, but RINGLEADER continues to advance. Ominously

Il faut commencer courir, peut-être.

GUILLAUME squeals and starts to flee. Howling at the chase like mad dogs, the mob follows their RINGLEADER rushing with his bat flying. GUILLAUME trips and falls, and RINGLEADER rushes forward to smash his ribcage with a single blow off his baseball bat. GUILLAUME screams in pain and puffs mists of blood.

From just behind the carnage, apparently unnoticed by the mob until now, GUARD fires a warning shot into the air. This fails to make any impression on RINGLEADER who continues to crush the poor GUILLAUME with ever more brutal swings. The rest of the mob enters a frenzy. GUARD tries to fire another shot, this time into the crowd, but someone fires back. GUARD is shot squarely in the face, his right eye and nose suddenly missing.

FOURTH and THIRD GUARD are seen running away, with two others preparing to do the same. SECOND GUARD rushes from his hiding spot and shoots his rifle into the crowd, exploding the head of one the mob. By this point, GUILLAUME's mangled body is being beaten by every instrument that the crazed mob can find. FIFTH GUARD fires a round into the crowd killing a young worker, the bullet ripping apart his chest. In retaliation, a Molotov cocktail is tossed in his direction and he is engulfed in flames, screaming in total agony. The one in the crowd carrying the gun shoots at FOURTH GUARD whilst the guard runs away and he falls, shot in the back. SECOND GUARD reloads and fires, hitting RINGLEADER square in the groin.

The crowd suddenly stops. One of the guards who was planning on running turns around and fires, killing the man who was carrying the gun. The mob begins to panic. SECOND GUARD fires again, this time indiscriminately, and no one falls, but the mob runs in the opposite direction. Some trample each other in a stampede, as they can't see each other in the darkness. They yell in pain as their fellows punch and throttle their way out. The guards continue to fire, ignoring their wounded and dead for a moment.

Both of the gas lanterns fall in the confusion, and although one hits the pavement and has no effect, like all the previous Molotov cocktails, the other violently shatters on the dry grass below, sending flame in all directions. Soon, a smoky, devouring fire has lit across the ditch and is threateningly close to the workers on the bridge. The work camp is licked up in seconds and bursts into brilliant flames. THIRD GUARD tries to warn the workers, whilst his fellows look over GUILLAUME, whose eyes are beaten closed, and mouth is pouring drool and blood, half opening and closing like a fish out of water.