For Better And For Worse
Chapter 40

Prison.

Krist decides to broach a delicate subject with his nurse.

Krist: Claire, I want to talk to you about something.

Claire: okay, I’m listening.

Krist: I need you to help me.

Claire: help you in what way?

Krist: This is an extremely delicate subject so I would like to know if I can trust you.

Claire: you can trust me Krist.

Krist: How do I know I can trust you?

She doesn’t know how to show him her trust so she gathers her courage and approaches him to k**s him on the lips. Krist looks at her with a surprised look. Claire looks at him and says:

Claire: is that enough proof for you?

He does not say anything.

Claire: I’ll do whatever you ask of me Krist, everything.

Krist: okay, but first of all, I would like to remind you that I am married.

Claire: I know, but it’s stronger than me. Forget it and tell me what I should do to help you.

Krist: well, I’ll end up dying if I stay here anymore Claire, will you help me get out of here?

Claire: I would like to but I don’t see how I could help you.

Krist: do you know where the computer room is?

Claire: no, I don’t know. What for ?

Krist: I have to escape Claire.

Claire: escape, how do you plan to do it? There are surveillance cameras in all corridors.

Krist: That’s why I need your help.

Claire: what can I do?

Krist: I need you to get me the maps of the prison.

Claire: I don’t see how I can have them, it’s my father who has them.

Krist: Exactly, you have to get them for me. Find a way to sneak into his office and get them for me, please, before I leave this room.

Claire: Okay.

Anti-drug squad.

This morning, Léon brings drugs in exchange for money. Commander Boris tells him to speed things up a bit.

Boris: Commander, you must ensure that he integrates you more quickly with his bosses because there, too much money is going out unnecessarily.

Léon: I already told you, Commander, it takes time and money. These are people who don’t trust easily.

Boris: I know Commander, it’s just that I would like to put this matter to an end quickly.

Léon: we all want to end this as quickly as possible, Commander. But don’t worry, we’ll end this sooner or later.

Boris: yes, certainly!

Leon leaves.

Krist’s home.

Today, Stella comes back from university a little early so she decides to go open the salon and work there. There was no emergency at the hospital so Isabelle stayed at home. At noon, Séverin arrives at her house. After the greetings, she lets him in and serves him a drink. They talk.

Séverin: are you all alone at home?

Isabelle: yes, Stella has just left for the living room.

Séverin: is she going to do her hair?

Isabelle: no, she manages my salon.

Séverin: oh yes, you are a braider, glad to know that. So, if you’re alone, why don’t we go have lunch and relax a little?

Isabelle: well, I’m just getting ready to prepare.

Séverin: oh yes, I could help you if you want. I love the kitchen.

Isabelle: okay, that doesn’t bother me.

Séverin: great, I’m going to teach you a recipe that you’ll love.

Isabelle: okay, we’ll see.

They go to the kitchen.

Séverin: first, let’s check if all the ingredients I need are here.

They check what Isabelle has in the fridge.

Séverin: everything is there, we can start.

He therefore begins to prepare his famous dish and Isabelle helps him.

Isabelle: tell me a little about yourself.

Séverin: I am a simple man, I come from a fairly well-established family. I am an only child so my father focused everything on my studies. So I have a doctorate in business and corporate management.

Isabelle: wow, you’re a great man then!

Séverin: not as big. Last year I lost my father and I only have my mother left.

Isabelle: oh I’m sorry.

Séverin: thank you. Now, what if you told me a little about yourself?

Isabelle: what do you want to know?

Séverin: The first day I came here, you and your father reconciled so I would like to know what happened between you, if you would like to tell me.

So she tells him what happened with her father. Séverin felt sorry for her but hey, everything is sorted now. They continue to talk while cooking. Oddly enough, she gets along well with him. They finish the meal and serve to eat. She found the meal very delicious. Séverin tells her jokes to make her laugh and relax her. She felt like she was in good company. Isabelle was called to the hospital so he dropped her off before going home.

Fountain bar.

At night, in the basement, after Corneille has shared drugs with his employees, Jeff stops to chat with him.

Jeff: Boss, I want to talk to you about something.

Corn: ok, what is it about?

Jeff: I would like to introduce you to someone, a guy who helps me deal my share of drugs faster. It’s thanks to him that I never bring back the rest of the share you gave me.

Corn: oh yes, I understand now. Who is it ?

Jeff: I’m warning you, you might be suspicious but believe me, he’s clean.

Corn: So are you going to tell me who it is?

Jeff: the former commander of the anti-drug squad.

Corn: what, Commander Léon?

Jeff: Yes.

Corn: but you’re sick Jeff, how could you trust him and work with him? Commander Léon has spent his entire life ruining ours and you are joining forces with him?

Jeff: boss, he’s no longer a commander, plus the government betrayed him. He has good reasons to turn around.

Corn: You’re a fool to think he could change his mind. Who tells you he doesn’t want to infiltrate us?

Jeff: I know he no longer works for the government and he sells my share of drugs properly and completely.

Corn: And that’s enough proof for you to believe that he turned around and to trust him? You will immediately end this collaboration today. Come on, get out!

Jeff takes his bag and leaves. He replaces Léon at his usual place.

Leon: Hi Jeff.

Jeff: It’s over!

Leon: what!

Jeff: you and me, it’s over!

Léon: what are you talking about Jeff, what’s over?

Jeff: I told the Boss about you and he severely threatened me. He told me to cut all ties with you or risk replaceing myself lifeless. So take this last drug, you’re going to sell it and you’ll meet me tomorrow at the convenience store to get your share of the money.

He leaves.

Leon: Jeff wait!

He doesn’t stop and leaves.

Léon: oh shit! It won’t end like this, we’re not done yet. No, this is just the beginning.

He leaves too.

Meanwhile, inside the bar, Corneille joins Prosper in the computer room.

Corn: Hi Prosper.

Prosper: good evening sir, what can I do for you?

Corn: I need information on Commander Léon. Especially new information, since he was dismissed from his position

Prosper: right away!

He’s doing research on him.

Prosper: Since that problem with the government, and after his wife and daughter left, he never worked again.

Corn: Are you sure, he doesn’t even work for any government structure? Look carefully.

Prosper starts looking everywhere.

Prosper: nothing sir.

Corn: but if he hasn’t worked, how can he earn a living?

Prosper: with night work perhaps?

Corn: Thank you Prosper.

Prosper: Please.

Cornelius leaves him and goes to sit in the private room to drink a little.

Anti-drug squad.

Tomorrow morning, Commander Léon brings his bag of drugs to the brigade and places it on Commander Boris’s table.

Léon: it’s over, my mission is over.

Boris: what do you mean, what do you mean?

Léon: Jeff spoke to his boss about me and he ordered him to cut ties with me. They are too suspicious of Boris.

Boris: okay but you’re not going to give up like that?

Léon: no, I still have one card left to play.

Boris: I’m counting on you to succeed in this game.

Léon: let’s hope it works. See you later.

Léon goes to the convenience store and gives the money to Jeff who gives him his share.

Jeff: It was a pleasure working with you.

Leon: can I ask you one last thing?

Jeff: Sure.

Léon: can I have your boss’s number?

Jeff: no, I can’t give you that.

Leon: and why?

Jeff: you don’t give your number to just anyone.

Léon: okay, message received.

He leaves.

Prison.

It’s a little late and Claire should be home. She says goodbye to Krist, closing the door on him, and leaves. After he leaves, the lights go out an hour later so Krist gets up and starts searching the infirmary to see if he can replace a way out. It hits a ceiling that is not very well fixed. He takes a chair and goes up. He moves the ceiling to look inside, everything is black. He doesn’t see anything so he goes back down. He puts the chair back in its place and lies down again. He thinks of his wife. The more he thinks about her, the more he wants to go out and replace her, hold her in his arms, feel her warmth, k**s her, etc. But all this is impossible if he remains in this cell, which is why it is necessary for him to come out.