The Secret of the Grain

We're crossing the fishing port.

Starboard is a tuna boat

with its heap of nets in the back

and the skiff on the poop deck.

The skiff holds one end of the net

as the boat circles a tuna shoal.

Most tuna boats are at sea now.

They make 3-month excursions

off the coasts of Libya, Malta, Cyprus,

Turkey and the Balearic Islands.

There, on the right,

those are trawlers.

Those boats over there.

On either side of the seine

are grids

to hold the nets open horizontally

when it's dredging behind the boat.

They go out on day trips,

Monday through Friday,

from 2 in the morning

to mid-afternoon,

until the boss says

they have enough.

That's the fish crier's compartment.

It got its name

because there once was a man

yelling what fish they had,

and the price.

Now that's all over.

Everything's on computer.

THE SECRET OF THE GRAIN

That's the scrap area.

That's where scrapiron is stored,

before being shipped to Turkey.

There used to be ovens in France.

We lost the matches.

Unless it's a manpower problem.

Marie, take over a minute!

God damn!

Over there,

concrete blocks are piled,

forming a breakwater.

This is crazy, Madeleine. Stop!

What's crazy? This?

I'm working.

This is no time.

It's exciting!

Hurt me.

It's not the time.

If you look behind you,

on the left

you can see

boats pulled ashore for repair.

This is called

the harbor careening area.

That's where repairs are made

to the boat's underside,

meaning every part

which is immersed.

Rudders,

paint, propellers, etc.

Slimane!

What is it?

So a schedule is toilet paper?

What schedule?

I made one up.

You weren't on it this morning.

You talk schedules and deadlines.

How can I finish?

You don't finish the job!

This project is stagnating.

We've been at it 3 days!

- Exactly! It's been 3 days!

- Talk about schedules.

That's the problem.

This project's going nowhere.

If you can't move these jobs,

what do I tell the others?

Jose, quit it.

I'm talking to Slimane.

It's not your business.

Keep out of it.

Everyone stops.

When does the job get done?

You play me for a fool!

What's the idea?

What's up with this job?

It should be done!

You read the schedules now.

Don't ask questions

and things will be simple.

You're making my life difficult.

I'll read that schedule...

I had to cut your hours.

It's early. Things are still slow.

I don't get it.

Look on the bright side.

You'll have time

with your grandkids.

To go fishing.

Who asked you?

I got my orders.

We're over quota for man hours.

Listen, we're trying

to stave off the worst.

Anybody who's not happy...

Don't give me that stare.

I said don't!

You want me out, is that it?

I only said it's slow now.

Can't pay you to loaf.

I work.

I know.

- I do my job.

- I know.

I've worked 35 years.

In salt.

Between the sea and the yard.

So what?

You're not profitable anymore.

You're tired and you're tiresome.

That's the truth.

You had 2 days to finish that boat.

Two days is two days.

Not 21/2, not 3.

Know what you're costing me?

There's work to be done

on that boat.

I don't know.

I'm not a businessman anyway.

You don't know what work

that boat needed. You don't.

I'm sorry for you, Slimane.

I don't get you.

Ren made you a good offer.

You said no.

Ren!

I've been on the yard since '69.

Ren says I got 16 years in.

Not even half of the truth.

Not our fault

you were off the books.

We took over in '90.

What happened before...

- I don't get it.

- You don't?

I don't. Tell me.

You know, but you won't say it.

How long have I been on the yard?

You have to choose.

You want to go on working,

you accept flexible hours.

- Otherwise...

- What?

You know our conditions.

How many times do I have to tell you?

All right, I got it.

You got it.

I hope you got it.

How are you?

Guess what happened to us?

What?

Got stopped in the no fishing zone.

Really hurt us.

The fat guy who used to be a crier.

- Right, Henri?

- He hates us.

Bastard.

He had a field day.

Smiling, from ear to ear.

I said, "Come on, be reasonable.

I got overhead."

and banned for a week.

Stubborn ass.

We all got a job. We fish.

He gives out fines.

You better be careful.

There's no more work.

Now I've got work trouble.

I told you, they want us out.

I told you to get out.

Either get out,

or they'll throw you out.

Anyway,

till you get fed up...

Hey, that's how life is.

Life is not all rosy.

What did Michel say last night?

He needs help to break up

that old boat, La Source.

- Lots of work.

- An old freighter.

Yeah, I'd say two weeks.

Honest boss, he'll pay you.

You got no worries.

I worked for him. He's straight up.

Give him some fish.

I'll just sort it and I will.

Aziz, pass me the crate.

Pass me the fish, please.

Jeremy, sort a while

so I can serve Slimane.

Not a lot.

That OK?

Just 2 or 3 mullet and that's fine.

I'll clean them.

Give him more.

I give him the crate?

I'm not kidding.

That's all I needed.

I got to pay the diesel bill.

Riadh!

Out of the bathroom!

Turn that shower off!

I just got in!

You don't pay the phone,

the water, the electric!

End of the month,

nobody helps me.

Shoes!

Smells like fish.

No, it doesn't. It's fresh.

It smells like the sea.

The sea...

Then I clean it

and I smell like the sea.

It's cleaned, don't worry.

Clean or not,

it won't pay the bills.

You never eat fish here?

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