Leïa Graja

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

Passidex

 * You have met Leïa.
 * You have heard all her stories.
 * You told Leïa about Ludwig.
 * You told Leïa about Crouky.
 * You told Leïa about Fragonard.
 * Out of people!
 * You introduced Leïa to Ethiopian jazz.
 * You told Leïa about the Japanese movie you saw at the hospital.
 * You shared a childhood memory with Leïa.
 * You thought about when you met Leïa.

Transcripts
'''« I need to go to Saint-Ouen. »'''

Your next passenger does not simply get in, she throws herself in. Energetic, lively, chatty, she looks like she never stops. She gives your her address and heaves a big sigh. You start driving.

'''« Saint-Ouen, please. »'''

You recognise the young woman getting into your taxi... It's the young movie buff who can't stop moving, talking, thinking. She glances up, recognises you and claps her hands together excitedly. You start driving.



Donnie Darko
LEÏA: "Oh my God... Oh. My. God. I'm going out of my mind."

« Something wrong? »   « What's going on? »   (Let her speak.)

TBA

LEÏA: "No, no. I just saw... this movie."

LEÏA: "I didn't think it could still happen... I mean, I've seen a ton of movies... But this one... this one..."

She takes a deep breath.

LEÏA: "This one was life-changing."

She exhales audibly, like she'd just revealed a terrible secret.

LEÏA: "I'm telling you, it knocked me on my ass. Incredible. First off, it was old, so I thought I wouldn't really be able to get into it. But from the minute it starts, you can tell there's something sketchy going on. It's not your typical movie. The main character is played by that heart-throb you saw in all the movies those days. He has a Danish name or something like that."

She waves her hand around.

LEÏA: "Anyway. The guy's in high school... even though he's clearly like 25, but it's always like that in American movies... He's in high school and doesn't feel well. You know, like he's squinting and bent over and all. At first, I thought he looked kind of stupid like that. It's obvious he's not 17... Then, all of a sudden, BAM!"

She pounds her fist into her open hand.

LEÏA: "I get it. It's me. I mean, he reminds me of me, you know? Of me when I was in high school."

She lets her last sentence hang in the air for a second and seems to be calming down. Her voice is slower, softer.

LEÏA: "The guy isn't doing well. He's seeing a shrink but his parents and sister are on his ass all the time. He doesn't know what to do with his life; he's totally lost. Then there's a disaster -- this crazy thing happens. You find out he did it... him or... the giant bunny that follows him everywhere!"

She literally jumps from her seat when she says that last part.

« A giant rabbit? »   (Let her keep going.)

LEÏA: "Yeah. Ok, so it's actually a dude with a rabbit mask. And big floppy ears like this..."

Silence.

LEÏA: "I know, it's weird..."

↓

LEÏA: "I was sitting there, wide-eyed, telling myself I must be dreaming, but there really was a giant rabbit standing there next to him. And it's not a nice bunny if you get my drift. It's out to get people, to get back at anyone it doesn't like."

Your passenger taps her hands together.

LEÏA: "Story of my life, dude! I'm tellin' you. Story of my life. Ok, without the giant rabbit part. But that could have been me up there on screen... My parents can't stand my passion for film. They want me to study something SERIOUS. They say they haven't been busting their backs all their life for me to be dependent on them."

She clicks her tongue and rolls her eyes.

LEÏA: "Yeah, right, like we have enough money for me to keep living off them! My little sister looks at me like I'm a retard and yet she spends all day every day watching mind-numbing sitcoms about losers on vacation."

She sinks into the backseat.

LEÏA: "Whenever I go home, no one -- I mean no one -- is the least bit interested in what I do, who I am, what I like... Not a soul to ask me what I saw and if I liked it or not. So, the main character hesitates and makes the wrong choice. He goes for revenge. See, the bunny... It's his conscience."

She pauses, looks outside.

LEÏA: "It's our collective conscience. You know, I'm not perfect... But I don't steal... I'm not... man, I don't know... like, something like that could really happen. 'Cuz you never know, right? I'm not perfect. No one is. Someone's gotta tell that giant rabbit. If the giant rabbit kills, if he's seeking revenge, well, it's kinda our fault that we were too stupid to see we're not worth much, right? See what I mean?"

« Uhh... no... »   « Yes! »   (Make fun.) (Say nothing.)

HOUSSINE: "Sorry."

LEÏA: "Um, actually... me neither."

She looks at you... and bursts out laughing.

HOUSSINE: "Yes, yes, I get what you're saying."

She scans your face.

LEÏA: "Ah well, good for you then... 'cuz I don't even understand what I just said."

She bursts out laughing.

TBA

TBA

LEÏA: "In any case, that movie blew my mind... Maybe I didn't actually understand it. But damn it did me some good... You think that makes me crazy?"

« No. » « Yes. »   (Say nothing.)

HOUSSINE: "It's just a movie. You get what you want out of it."

LEÏA: "Well... yes and no..."

She looks at you, filled with doubt.

LEÏA: "Otherwise, people could just throw whatever the hell they want on screen and it would do, right?"

HOUSSINE: "That must mean the movie was too complex."

LEÏA: "Or that we're too stupid..."

She smirks.

LEÏA: "Actually, the more I think about it, the more insane I think it was."

TBA

LEÏA: "They guy who made the movie... he must have spent so much time writing and making that film... and here I go thinking it means something totally different. How awful. That means he just... lost control of it. Completely."

She opens her eyes wide, like she's surprised at the thought.

LEÏA: "Fuck man. That's gotta suck balls. You're at some festival and some young thing comes to say "I loved your movie and how it addressed the challenges of the teen years..." And you're like "Uh, no, my movie was about mental illness!" The nerve!"

She pauses. You pull up in front of her place. She doesn't even notice and seems lost in thought.

LEÏA: "Or maybe not. Maybe that's actually what's cool about it."

Abruptly, like she just woke up, she hands you a bill to pay her fare. She stares at you intently for a few seconds.

LEÏA: "You must think I'm totally nuts, huh?"

« Yes... but I like it. »   « I absolutely do. »   « No. » (Say nothing.)

TBA

Your passenger bursts out laughing.

LEÏA: "Well, that was clear!"

LEÏA: "That's nice of you to say."

TBA

She takes a second to think and shrugs her shoulders...

LEÏA: "I think I could care less. I complain and all... but if that's the price to pay not to be a total idiot, I'm happy to pay it."

She looks up at her building.

LEÏA: "Ok, here goes... Wish me luck."

She hops out of the cab and disappears.



The Usual Suspects
LEÏA: "Oh my God. Oh my fucking God."

« Everything ok? »   (Let her talk.)

See below...

TBA

LEÏA: "That just... knocked me on my ass. No other way to say it."

She opens her eyes wide.

LEÏA: "I just saw the best movie. Called "Usual Suspects." But what a waste! What a fucking waste!"

« What's wrong? »   (Let her talk.)

See below...

TBA

LEÏA: ''"What's wrong? They got ransacked. Ransacked, man. I'm telling you. That movie is THE bomb, but they let everyone take their piece of it, you know? Make parodies of it. The movie started and like five seconds in, I was standing on my seat screaming... IT'S THE DUDE WITH THE GLASSES RIGHT THERE. SHIT, HOW STUPID CAN YOU BE? IT'S THE HANDICAPPED GUY! And obviously I was right. Then I just had to sit through the whole investigation. The cop wasn't too bad. He just didn't understand that the culprit was THE DUDE TELLING THE STORY FROM THE VERY BEGINNING. Well, yeah my friend, it was the handicapped guy. Ok, but wait a second. Seriously. Great idea. But don't just give it away! See, take me for example. I write screenplays, shorts and such, but when I have a good idea, I keep it to myself. I've got ideas, my friend. Things you wouldn't believe, they're so wild. But I don't say anything. Nothing. Too bad for everybody else. My ideas are mine. I don't want anyone swiping them. The guys that made that movie had an incredible idea. INCREDIBLE. But they let everyone use it to make stupid clips you can watch on your phone while eating a kebab! And the movie's old too. Came out before the internet was invented or something. And they still got ransacked. There's a parody with that guy with grey hair... same scene, same idea. So of course I laughed when I saw that scene, you know?"''

She sighs.

LEÏA: "And the end... well, you know how it's going to end if you've seen the parodies... But, you've still got two assholes arguing about it when you leave..."

Your passenger suddenly starts speaking with a southern accent.

LEÏA: " "So, you think it was really him?" "Um, yeah I do, moron." "

She sighs, drops the accent...

LEÏA: "Morons. They're not good enough for that movie. Not even for the parodies."

She seems really annoyed, but when she starts speaking again, her voice is oddly gentle...

LEÏA: "There are a lot of ideas here... I mean... on this planet. The same ideas just go around and around, we just keep repeating them. Since we don't live all that long and we lose our minds as we get old, we just forget someone already had that idea. So, I'm hanging onto my ideas. If someone steals them, I'll clobber them. If someone copies them... I'll clobber them too. And if someone parodies them... weeeeeell... Uh, wait, I don't know yet. Ok, I'll clobber them, of course."

Your young passenger smiles.

LEÏA: "Speaking of which... I bet you have lots of ideas. You must meet all sorts of weird people on the job. Especially at night."

She's very agitated.

LEÏA: "Come on, tell me..."

« Sometimes... »   « I can't say anything... »   (Say nothing.)

See below...

TBA

TBA

LEÏA: "What do you mean, sometimes? Be more specific!"

HOUSSINE: "Some clients are one-of-a-kind."

LEÏA: "Meaning?"

HOUSSINE: "They're mysterious."

Silence.

LEÏA: "Well shit, you have your pitch DOWN! Who's the weirdest passenger you've ever had?"

[Requires meeting Esmeralda.]

See below...

HOUSSINE: "Once a teenager... a little younger than you... wanted to pay me to help her run away."

LEÏA: "What did you tell her?"

HOUSSINE: "No."

You could see the deception on your passenger's face.

LEÏA: "Hmmm."

She imitates a rich, old lady.

LEÏA: "I believe I can do without your services from now on!"

She bursts out laughing.

LEÏA: "Don't take it to heart or anything... I mean, to each their area of expertise. I'm going to make great movies. Movies that are cool AND blockbusters. Yeah, blockbusters... A lot of people look down on them, but not me. But whatever, that's cool. Maybe it's because I come from a neighbourhood where people... bust things..."

She laughs. You've almost reached her destination.

LEÏA: "Or maybe you're planning on writing a script about a taxi driver listening to a girl talk about the movies!"

She stops.

LEÏA: "Huh, yeah. That doesn't really sound all that interesting does it? Your movie there? Never going to work."

She bursts out laughing. You pull up in front of your young passenger's building. She pays her fare and gets out in a hurry.

LEÏA: "Good night!"

She goes inside, the icy wind making her shoulders hunch. You wait until the light in the lobby has gone out to drive away.



Psycho
LEÏA: "Would you mind putting on some music?"

(Choose the "hits" station.) (Choose the "cultural" station.)

See below...

TBA

LEÏA: "Yeah, that's perfect..."

She lets the electro beat wash over her. You drive along for quite a while without saying anything. You like the song that's on. Despite its vocoded sound, it rings a touch dated... something about it reminds you of the VHS tapes you watched when you were young. All of a sudden, your passenger taps you on the shoulder and pulls you from your thoughts.

LEÏA: "Hey... can I ask you something?"

She doesn't wait for an answer.

LEÏA: "Do you think... that people have faces that go with their personalities?"

« And by that you mean? »   « Yeah, I think so. »   « It's possible. »   « No. »

LEÏA: "Well yeah, you know. When the dudes that look like weasels turn out to be traitors. Or like, the sexy blondes are inevitably superficial..."

HOUSSINE: "Ah, I see what you mean..."

LEÏA: "Like they... wear their personalities on their face."

« Yeah, I think so. »   « It's possible. »   « No. »

TBA

See below...

TBA

She pauses. She scans your face like she's trying to determine your personality.

LEÏA: "I think it's possible."

She starts speaking quicker, and quicker...

LEÏA: "I saw a really weird movie tonight. A black and white one... crazy old. Directed by Hitchcock, this famous British guy. The female lead steals money on the job..."

She opens her eyes wide.

LEÏA: "But like $40,000 or something. Which must have been worth a whole lot at the time... So, she goes to hide out in a motel. The owner is a bit precious. His name is Normal... so, with that kind of name, you know something's wrong from the start, right?"

Before you can provide an answer, she's moved on.

LEÏA: "And then, she gets slaughtered in the shower with this big knife! INSANE! They kill off the main character after... what... a half an hour? There's blood everywhere... Of course, you can't see anything. Old movies never show anything. You never even see it when people kiss. Yeah, so anyway. The dude who owns the motel... he so completely looks like a murderer. And she goes right there, gets a room, has dinner with him, they chat... No big shock when he slices her up."

She pauses. Silence fills the cab. It's like the rest of the story is missing... like your passenger is struggling to say something.

HOUSSINE: "And...?"

« He remind you of someone? »   « You experience something like that? »   « Did you steal money? »

See below...

TBA

TBA

LEÏA: "Well... yeah. I broke up with my boyfriend last night. It wasn't serious or anything, but when I met him, right away, I was like: shit, this guy just looks like a liar. Don't know why, it's just what I thought at the time."

She pauses... When she starts speaking again, her voice is filled with anger.

LEÏA: "And I was right. He totally played me. He's got some other chick in Villejuif. It sucks because this guy knows a ton about movies, right? He showed me some stuff... real films. There was one... a masked killer, like in Scream, who murders teens at camp. Like, they're totally getting it on and here comes the killer carrying a harpoon and BAAAAM! He slaughters both of them in one fell swoop."

She giggles.

LEÏA: "The crazy thing is that the killer is actually some kids... like seven year-olds or something. So good! Yeah, so, this guy I was with... he said he knew people in the industry... said he could totally help me get an internship or something like that. Total lies too, probably. There's nothing you can do with liars. Real, pathological ones. They believe all their lies. Can't tell the truth from the lies anymore. Something is not right in his head."

Your young passenger taps her thigh.

LEÏA: "Man, I say some really stupid shit, don't I? Like I'm trying to make excuses for that asshole."

You're not far from her place now... She slowly calms herself down. The dude in the motel... in the film? Obviously, he was the murderer. Dressed up as his mum. That he'd turned into a mummy...

She pauses.

LEÏA: "He was pretty fucked up."

She stares at you in the rearview mirror as you park.

LEÏA: "And you..."

« Got a problem? »   « Who do I look like? »   (Say nothing.)

TBA

See below...

TBA

LEÏA: "Hard to say... Your beard hides most of your face. But you look like... Cool. Er... I mean... Detatched. Yeah, detatched. Like the world, everything around us... like it's not really your place, you know? Like you're just passing through."

She flashes you a smile.

LEÏA: "Don't take it the wrong way... I'm just sayin'. Detatched and cool in a good way."

« No worries. »   (Say nothing.)

See below...

TBA

She looks down.

LEÏA: "Phew... I didn't want to hurt your feelings."

She hands you her fare.

LEÏA: "Thank you..."

A second later, she's outside. You watch her walk across the parking lot and up to the doors of her building. Once she's inside, you drive away.

