has been humiliated
but she preserved her honour
by not crying in public.
No one had seen her tears.
You committed the worst reprisal
against her.
You made her drink
the dregs of her shame.
That's so untrue!
Beware, Miss Amelie!
And good luck!
I have a new appointment for you.
Walk in front of me.
Go in!
This is your new job.
When the roll of toweling is used up,
replace it.
Make sure there's never
a lack of toilet-paper.
Supplies are stored in here.
It must always be kept locked.
Here's how you use this tool.
Any questions?
Who am I taking over from?
No one.
Did the cleaning women resign?
No.
They only work evenings.
Some days, we run out of toweling
or toilet paper...
Or a toilet bowl may be soiled.
It's embarrassing
when we receive staff
from another company.
Now you'll save us
from these inconveniences.
I forgot:
You'll also service the men's toilets.
Let me recapitulate:
As a child,
I wanted to become God, then Jesus,
then, aware I was too ambitious,
I settled for becoming a martyr.
Later, I swallowed my megalomania,
and became an interpreter
in a Japanese firm.
They put me in accounting.
Now there was no stopping
my downfall:
I got the job of "doing nothing".
But "doing nothing",
was still too good for me.
That's when I got
my final assignment: Toilet cleaner.
Still: From divinity
to the restroom, what a trip!
Very soon, I felt a strange relief.
Scouring toilet-bowls,
you don't fear falling lower.
Miss Amelie!
It's nice to have a job, huh?
Anyone in my place
would have resigned.
Anyone, except a Japanese.
I'd signed a year's contract,
I'd hold out to the end.
I'd behave like a Japanese.
I wouldn't lose face.
Much incomprehensible behavior
is due to being awestruck in youth.
As a child,
the Japanese universe so impressed me
that I still drew on these emotions.
With this incredible assignment,
I entered another dimension:
A universe of pure derision.
Fubuki expected me to resign.
By staying, I had called her bluff!
My dishonour landed back in her lap.
If you wish to complain
it must be to me.
I've complained to no one.
You know what I mean.
Not really, no.
If an important person comes in,
should I hide?
Miss Amelie...
Once again,
kind Mr Tenshi
found the noblest solution
to show his disapproval of my fate:
Boycotting the restrooms
of the 44th floor!
I bless Mr Tenshi.
Besides, this boycott
was a real vendetta on the company.
By using the toilets
of the floor below,
the employees wasted company time.
In Japan, that's called sabotage,
and is a serious crime.
That's why they use the French word:
Only a foreigner could be so base.
But Fubuki used the restroom
more and more.
She now brushed her teeth twice a day.
She hoped to annoy me: But I enjoyed
admiring her fiery beauty!
In this closed space,
worthy of the classical theatre,
two tragic actresses met
for a passionate brawl!
Soon the 44th floor men's room
became too blatantly neglected.
This can't go on!
Once more,
you've disrupted everything!
Now what have I done?
The men avoid the bathroom
on the 44th floor!
They waste time going to other floors.
You embarrass them!
I didn't choose to be there.
No justifications!
If you behaved with dignity,
it wouldn't happen!
Where does my dignity come in?
If you look at the men
the way you look at me
it's easy to explain.
Don't worry
I never look at them.
So why are the toilets avoided?
It's natural.
A woman's presence intimidates men.
Then learn the lesson from that!
What lesson?
Don't be present!
I'm relieved of my duties
in the men's room?
Thank you!
I didn't say that!
Then I don't understand.
When a man enters, you leave.
You wait till he has left to come back.
But when I'm in the ladies' room
I can't know if there's someone
in the men's room.
Unless...
What?
I have an idea!
Put a camera in the men's room
with a monitor in the ladies' room.
A camera in the men's room?
Think before