Denis Petitjean

**Denis** is one of the many passengers you can pick up in Night Call.

## Passidex

* **You have met Denis.**

This is unmissable. You'll get it upon your first interaction.

* Denis knew you'd recognized him.

* **You wished Denis luck.**

After Denis says he'll wait until the studio opens, you can wish him **« Good luck. »**

* **Denis tried to explain why he's not racist.**

After Denis says he'll wait until the studio opens, you can ask him **« What exactly did you say? »**

## Transcript

« The Plaine Saint-Denis, please. »

Your passenger climbs into the cab and slams the door shut behind him.

**DENIS:** *"Good evening. Plaine Saint-Denis, please."*

He stops short, visibly sizing you up.

**DENIS:** *"Do you know where it is?"*

You nod yes.

**DENIS:** *"Avenue... des Magasins Généraux... so... you know the street?"*

**HOUSSINE:** *"Yes, sure..."*

He looks at you intently.

**DENIS:** *"You know all the streets of Paris?"*

His question drips with disbelief. You know his kind well, the sort who'd refer to you as "the Arab" and not bat an eyelid.

« Yes, I do, monsieur. »
« Yeah. »
« I go there all the time... »
(Nod.)

TBA

TBA

TBA

See below...

He goes on watching you for a while, then says...

**DENIS:** *"Well then, let's go."*

You start the cab. Your client stares out the window as if hypnotised. You watch him in the rearview mirror. His face is... familiar to you. His accent too, though you'd never be able to place it. Typical of some rural region, central France perhaps... You take another look. That's it, you've got it. He was a contestant on one of those reality shows where farmers meet women... You'd seen him on the show a few weeks before. You'd watched it from your hospital bed with a distracted eye. But something about it had bothered you... The show was a masquerade, life in the country seen from a very Parisian -- and cynical -- perspective. Full of scorn and contempt.

**DENIS:** *"Ok then, you've figured out who I am?"*

His remark -- and his accent -- bring you back to the present.

**HOUSSINE:** *"Sorry?"*

**DENIS:** *"You've recognised me, right? So you can make fun of me now."*

**HOUSSINE:** *"Make fun of you?"*

He shrugs.

**DENIS:** *"Yeah... Like all those other people do out there, on that there... Tweety thing."*

Tweety?... It takes you a second to realise he's talking about social media.

« I'm sorry. »
« I don't know what you mean by that. »
« Make fun of you? »

TBA

See below...

TBA

**DENIS:** *"You mean... you don't know who I am?"*

You hesitate before answering.

« No. »
« I don't watch TV. »
« Yes, I do. »

See below...

TBA

TBA

**DENIS:** *"Really?"*

He jabbers something you don't understand, then turns his attention back to the window.

**DENIS:** *"Sorry."*

He shakes his head, obviously moved. His shell is starting to crack.

**DENIS:** *"It's a living hell... imagine what I'm going through. It's a nightmare. Three months ago, I was a contestant on that stupid show 'Fields of Love.' Well, I said yes because... because my wife's been dead for 25 years. I've been all alone ever since. Just me and cows and udders..."*

He stops and shrugs.

**DENIS:** *"The show was aired like a month ago. At first, things were fine. Friends called, we had a good laugh and all. And then I find out the Innernet is laughing at me too. There are... those... those things... I can't remember what they're called! Moms? Mams! Mims? You know, those pictures that move all by themselves on the damn Innernet!"*

You have no idea what he is talking about.

(Nod politely.)
(Smile at him.)
(Say nothing.)

See below...

TBA - I SUSPECT ALL THESE CHOICES DO NOTHING

TBA

**DENIS:** *"So I made myself a Tweety account... to go 'n see what they're saying about me. Calling me a virgin, and a Nazi. That I screw my cows too."*

He looks away, as if someone else had spoken the words.

**DENIS:** *"They practically die laughing, a farmer who..."*

He doesn't want to finish the sentence.

**DENIS:** *"So yesterday I said I'd had it. I called my cousin to keep an eye on the farm and I left for Paris. I'm on my way to see those TV jokers right now. Six months ago, they said if there was any problem whatsoever, they'd take care of it. Well, there IS a problem."*

His anger has subsided somewhat. His face is returning to its normal colour.

« What do you think they're going to do? »
« What's your plan? »
« That's awful. »
« That's the way it goes nowadays. »

TBA

TBA

TBA

See below...

**DENIS:** *"Nowadays?"*

**HOUSSINE:** *"Yes... with the Internet, and all that. People do whatever they want. They insult each other, threaten each other... It's all so easy."*

Your passenger has a vacant look in his eyes. He seems to be light years away.

**DENIS:** *"Forget it."*

His eyes half-closed, he practically growls the words. There is a palpable air of sadness about him.

**DENIS:** *"At first... I told 'em I didn't want to be on their stupid old show. It wasn't for me. But they insisted... They showed me pictures of the women."*

He lowers his eyes.

**DENIS:** *"And then... well, I said yes... Should never have said yes..."*

You pull up to the address he gave you. The studio gates are still closed. You park the cab and cut the engine.

**DENIS:** *"Is it closed?"*

You nod yes.

**HOUSSINE:** *"It doesn't open until 6."*

You point to a sign posted near the gates. He sighs.

**HOUSSINE:** *"But there'll be hardly anyone her before 9 or 10 o'clock..."*

**DENIS:** *"I don't care. I'll wait..."*

He rummages through his pockets and pulls out a wallet.

« What are you going to ask them? »
« Good luck. »
(Say nothing.)

See below...

TBA

TBA

**DENIS:** *"I want them to apologise. On TV. During the show. In front of everyone. To talk about all the things they changed, all the bits of sentences they cut up and put back together."*

He fixes his gaze on you. His eyes narrow.

**DENIS:** *"You know... I'm not... racist."*

His voice is low and raspy.

**DENIS:** *"Don't believe the show... I didn't mean what I said.... And I didn't really say that stuff either..."*

« What exactly did you say? »
« They always do that. »
« It doesn't matter. »
(Say nothing.)

TBA

See below...

TBA

TBA

He nods.

**DENIS:** *"Yeah, well... them media.... they distort everything, they change things. Things are more... You know, more..."*

He's searching for the right word. It's no use. His hands are shaking.

**DENIS:** *"Oh well..."*

He fixes his gaze on you, visibly moved.

**DENIS:** *"I'm not very good at this. I've been..."*

He chokes up, gesturing with a hand as if to make it all disappear. When he starts up again, he's on the verge of tears.

**DENIS:** *"Anyhow, I'll just wait here until it opens."*

The passenger pays the fare and exits the cab. You watch him for a minute as he starts his vigil in front of the gates. Then you start the cab... It's back to the grind.

## Notes

STORY - THE JUDGE(N7) - [Distance: 5.62km, Fare: 19.1 - Tip: 4.58] - (Nod.), « I don't know what you mean by that. », « No. », (Nod politely.), « That's the way it goes nowadays. », « What are you going to ask them? », « They always do that. »

hypnotized -> hypnotised

recognized -> recognised

realize -> realise

color -> colour

apologise -> apologize