Belle Famille - updated to chapter 29

You may be right - Google (other Search Engines are available) gives little else.

I don't know if it fits the context, but an 807 is ham radio code for a beer.

kitti wrote:Perhaps it's a Peugeot 807 lol

Now that sounds reasonable!

An 807 error is where a computer can't connect to a virtual private network!

Iris wrote:An 807 error is where a computer can't connect to a virtual private network!

So, an 807 arrived! It was either someone bringing the beer from the restaurant or a message on Laurence's iPad, which she always has with her, that she cannot connect to a virtual private network. Or maybe the police drive around in Peugeot 807s!

ETA: I've just had another look. The 807 arrives and Laurence gets out of it. So, it must be a Peugeot 807!

AnnaEsse wrote:

Iris wrote:An 807 error is where a computer can't connect to a virtual private network!

So, an 807 arrived! It was either someone bringing the beer from the restaurant or a message on Laurence's iPad, which she always has with her, that she cannot connect to a virtual private network. Or maybe the police drive around in Peugeot 807s!

Or maybe they have rellies in Canada (what a coincidence) 807 is the phone code for Ontario.

oui Kitty, la 807 is their car, a Peugeot. Sorry Anna.
Your translation is perfect.
The quote is very interesting imo.

frencheuropean wrote:oui Kitty, la 807 is their car, a Peugeot. Sorry Anna.
Your translation is perfect.
The quote is very interesting imo.

Thanks frencheuropean. It is interesting. She is seen getting out of the car, wet, goes into the restaurant, carries on eating and laughing.

Résumé of chapter 14 - from original French by Frencheuropean.

The 'flying squads,' comb the surrounding area. Stéphane spends the night at the police station while Laurence stays with the boys.

At seven o'clock in the morning, her husband returns with Inspector Paolo Andreotti, who speaks very good French. Well-built and with a youthful appearance, he has a lopsided smile, which gives him a deceptively idiotic look.

They sit down in the kitchen while the police search the lounge. Laurence remarks, with interest, that there are too many people in such a small space.

"Laurence stared at the totally innocent soles of the police officers' shoes, which were erasing the traces of her secret." They were erasing the traces, which could have revealed the accident.

Stéphane produced an account of the events up to the arrival of the police. Laurence, practically shaking, says she confirms what her husband has said, but Andreotti comments that that is not enough and that she must relate what happened when she went back with the cucumbers, without her husband.

"When I opened the lounge door, my son was already asleep. I hugged him.
- What time was that?
- It was early in the evening: perhaps 21.15
- Did you close the door when you left?
- The front door?
- Did you lock it?
- I believe so. I wouldn't have left the children without doing that."


Laurence is quite satisfied with her answers. Not so difficult after all! Andreotti is perplexed: no evidence of tampering with the shutters, a locked door. In search of a significant detail, he asks Laurence what she did with the cucumbers. She says she doesn't know. Andreotti notes that they are sitting on a small piece of furniture in the entrance hall.

The investigation begins with the customary enquiries about the Macands' activities.

A photo of Madec will be posted on every public building in Tuscany before the evening comes.

In the course of the day, Laurence toughens herself. The memory of Madec's body slips away, little by little, like a little raft drifting towards the horizon. Stéphane, totally disoriented with sadness and worry, nevertheless reckons that his dear wife, Laurence, will never be the same.

Résumé of chapter 15 - from original French by Frencheuropean.

Two days have gone by. Searches have turned up nothing: no one saw anything.

German Shepherd dogs were deployed on the ground, to the great consternation of Laurence, but since it had rained, they found no traces. They couldn't search the chalet, which Laurence had surreptitiously locked from the inside. She had scrubbed the floor and the skirting boards in the kitchen with bleach again.

The Josserands were only told the day after the disappearance. Sylviane and Laurence agree, with some regret, that a holiday is now out of the question. Sylviane suggests taking the boys back. Laurence reckons that the boys are a handicap for her. When they are around, she has to be strong, but when she is strong, she cannot cry. For the media, she has to be able to cry: "truth shines through the tears." And then, with their departure, the Josserands are also one less burden.

The site manager, who is worried about the upheaval caused by the disappearance and the consequences for the customers, is curtly sent packing by Laurence. Laurence then discovers, within herself, an unknown strength: "the strength of a mother, in pain at the core of her being."

A regional newspaper, "France West," tries to contact them by telephone. Stéphane is quite flattered but he is brought into line by Laurence who tells him that it's enough with the police, that "it's a case of abduction," and that they are not going to recount their life for the tabloids.

To herself, however, she imagines the front page of the newspaper, the photos. She hears herself saying: "I insist that the faces of my other two children are blurred," The small world of Granville seemed suddenly quite shabby to her.

"For Madec, Laurence was seeing bigger things."

Résumés of chapters 16,17 and 18 - from the original French by Frencheuropean.

Chapter 16

Still single at age 46, Paulo Andreotti lives, as is the custom, with his mother. He is happy with his life and commits a lot of time to his investigations.

It's strange that, if the child was abducted, he didn't make any noise and wake his brothers. No trace of chloroform was detected by the forensic police. What were the cucumbers doing in the entrance hall when they should have been found in the child's bedroom or in the kitchen? Unless it was the child who placed them there before going outside where he was kidnapped?

He is going to re-interrogate everyone, check up on criminal records and alibis.

He feels some affection for Laurence, who reminds him of a former conquest.

He thinks of his best friend, Simone Cazzi, who never had a chance in life: beaten by his parents; born on a February 29th (a present every four years) and who, just when he was happy, having customised the car of his dreams, saw that car crushed in just a few seconds by a bin lorry. He hasn't fared very well since.

Chapter 17

Laurence, who has not eaten in four days, pushes away the image of Madec's body that surfaces from time to time, repeating to herself, "I didn't kill him," On reflection, she concludes that "what's missing for the case to advance is a guilty party."

Her blood runs cold when Andreotti comes to inform them that the maritime brigade is exploring the coasts, searching for a body. She imagines the return to Granville in shame and sadness.

Andreotti also announces that the press is about to arrive to interview them and advises them to be wary.

Laurence, who flatly refused to begin with, looking offended, is quite happy however when Andreotti makes the remark that the press may be able to help in the search. She then pretends to be resigned to it: "in that case, of course..."

That evening, she fears the worst when the inspector knocks on the door. He brings them a photo, that of a suspect.

Chapter 18

Ron Murdoch thinks of his past. A teacher in an English school in Italy, he had been sentenced to 16 years in prison in England for interfering with young pupils. He had pleaded guilty, regretting that the death sentence didn't exist. On leaving prison, he found a job in a bar in Leicester. He fled to London because a 20 year-old barman, Magnus, had fallen in love with him and he had sworn never again to associate with young adolescents. Magnus, however, found him and they set up home together.

To please him, Ron, who had just had an inheritance from his mother, offered to take him on holiday. Magnus chose Italy, in a quiet holiday village. Ron hesitated and then agreed. However, shortly before the departure, he takes on to tell Magnus everything about his past. Magnus, knowing everything, reproaches him for having, with that confession, raised a wall between them and he leaves.

Ron leaves for Italy by himself. At the swimming pool, he goes to the rescue of a child who is drowning. Later, he goes to spend two days visiting the monuments of Florence.

On his return, he is visited by the police and the inspector informs him, in a quiet voice, that he is the prime suspect in the abduction of a little boy: Madec Macand.

The Josserands again! Who do you think they are supposed to represent here, because that name implies that they know the whole story. They are in on it. Are they supposed to be Oldfield and Tanner? This guy Dreyfus is good. He's thought of every little detail.

[quote="Iris"]The Josserands again! Who do you think they are supposed to represent here, because that name implies that they know the whole story. They are in on it. Are they supposed to be Oldfield and Tanner? This guy Dreyfus is good. He's thought of every little detail.[/

Sorry but why does the name Josserand implies that they know the whole story? It's just a family name in France.
..........................................................................................................................................................................I add the end of chapter 12 that was a bit difficult to translate ( merci encore Anna). It's when Laurence comes back to the restaurant, after having hidden Madec's corpse:

Chapter 12 ( the end)

She drives back.

"A short time later, a Peugeot 807 is seen parking in front of 'La Buona Tavola.' A woman in damp clothing is seen to get out. She is seen going back to her friends' table, tidying her hair, using her fingers as a comb, cutting out the cold part, which she deplored, of a 'four season pizza.'. She is seen eating. She is seen laughing."

The word Josser means a person who has run away from home to join the circus.

I am not joking. Two friends of this couple in the Dreyfus book have joined the "circus".

He might not have meant for that to happen but I can assure you it's true.

Iris wrote:The word Josser means a person who has run away from home to join the circus.

I am not joking. Two friends of this couple in the Dreyfus book have joined the "circus".

He might not have meant for that to happen but I can assure you it's true.

Merci Iris, I didn't know that. Josserand is a name not very rare in France.Probably not at purpose or?
In the book, the name of the Pope's secretary is "Comman" which is not common at all in French but sounds familiar in English. Strange

[quote="frencheuropean"]

Iris wrote:The Josserands again! Who do you think they are supposed to represent here, because that name implies that they know the whole story. They are in on it. Are they supposed to be Oldfield and Tanner? This guy Dreyfus is good. He's thought of every little detail.[/

Sorry but why does the name Josserand implies that they know the whole story? It's just a family name in France.
..........................................................................................................................................................................I add the end of chapter 12 that was a bit difficult to translate ( merci encore Anna). It's when Laurence comes back to the restaurant, after having hidden Madec's corpse:

Chapter 12 ( the end)

She drives back.

"A short time later, a Peugeot 807 is seen parking in front of 'La Buona Tavola.' A woman in damp clothing is seen to get out. She is seen going back to her friends' table, tidying her hair, using her fingers as a comb, cutting out the cold part, which she deplored, of a 'four season pizza.'. She is seen eating. She is seen laughing."

Thanks frencheuropean. I forgot about that part. I'll pop in onto chapter 12 now!

frencheuropean wrote:

Iris wrote:The word Josser means a person who has run away from home to join the circus.

I am not joking. Two friends of this couple in the Dreyfus book have joined the "circus".

He might not have meant for that to happen but I can assure you it's true.

Merci Iris, I didn't know that. Josserand is a name not very rare in France.Probably not at purpose or?
In the book, the name of the Pope's secretary is "Comman" which is not common at all in French but sounds familiar in English. Strange

I have never come across the name Comman, except for people mis-spelling it (meaning "common"). At first read I though it said Conman!

I thought the same Iris and I laughed a lot when I read it.

add me as a me too, Iris and french european, i thought it said Conman

Well, folks, finally got round to doing some more work on this today. My daughter was supposed to be coming for a birthday tea, and I have a fridge full of all sorts of goodies, but my daughter is poorly! Then all sorts of things, too tedious to mention, cropped up, culminating in my thinking I had sorted everything out when I heard that ominous and unmistakable sound of a cat being sick! So, after cleaning up, I have done chapter 19.


Résumé of chapter 19 - Original French by Frencheuropean.

Laurence is astonished to see the photo of Murdoch, who looks more like George Clooney than like a paedophile. Anyway, she considers that as he was found guilty of the worst crimes, he could pay twice.

She turns on the tears and exclaims:

"What's awful, inspector, is that he saved his life before."

A week has gone by and the investigation has become a murder case. Forensic analysis to do with Murdoch turns up nothing. Andreotti is not convinced of his guilt.

The media gathers in front of the chalet. The Macands pretend to ignore them. The magazine VSD offers 15,000 Euros for an interview. Laurence is flattered by the offer.

"She estimates that if they wait for more the bids will get higher. She comes to a standstill. Would haggling like this play on her conscience? It's all for Madec. For the happiness of his brothers and his family: for the possibility of living without him."

Obsessed by his past and by the weight of the recent suspicions, Murdoch thinks about committing suicide by throwing himself of the top of a cliff, but another man beats him to it and throws himself off first. That puts Murdoch off.

Résumé of chapter 20 - original French from Frencheuropean.

Tony calls and tells Laurence they need "a media plan."

The Josserands leave for France with the other two boys. Laurence wonders if she misses Madec and observes:

"For a while, her son's disappearance has occupied a more important place for her than her son himself. She would have wanted to hold him tightly in her arms - which he struggles against somewhat. Mule head. The mother remembered a colouring session. Why did Madec go over all the edges? Laurence had snatched the red crayon and filled a tomato in properly. In spite of the example, Madec still went over the edges. Snatching the book from her son's hands, Laurence had emptied out a box of felt pens and set to colouring all the other vegetables."


Andreotti arrives at the Macands' place. The Murdoch lead has gone nowhere. He will be interrogated again with a psychologist present and with the use of a lie detector. Laurence's blood runs cold when the inspector informs her that one of his friends is dead, having jumped from the top of the cliff and that divers are going to search along the coastline.

The hotel manager requests that the Macands leave the premises by noon the following day.

Madec's uncle wants to create a "buzz," to move the world. Necessary for that: 1 - money, 2 - getting known.

He is going to contact Yannick Noah, through a friend. (Note: Yannick is a former French tennis player, now a singer, who has set up a charity, with his mother, for underprivileged children)

He joins his sister in Italy and before the journalists, he declares: "I am spokesman for the Macand family."

Laurence can hardly believe her luck when she learns that all the divers have brought back is the body of Simone Cazzi.

Résumé of chapter 21 from original in French by Frencheuropean.

The Macands moved into a new hotel. During an inventory, the manager of the previous hotel pointed out the absence of the meat fork. Laurence looked him up and down, stating that it wasn't there when they arrived. Stéphane threw a large denomination bank note at the feet of the manager, who was asking to be reimbursed. Laurence appreciated the grandness of the gesture.

Ron passed the lie detector test with flying colours and Andreotti is more and more convinced of his innocence, but his bosses at ministerial level, begin to apply pressure. So, Andreotti places Ron on remand.

Yannick Noah has recorded a video with the text that Tony has sent to him. Tony is well pleased with the result. Turning towards the camera, the singer says:

"I will stop singing for a moment for this child. This child who is called Madec. This child who has disappeared. Just a moment for him. Because he must be found. Because together we can create miracles. Don't forget: just a moment. For Madec Macand."

But the video is not very successful. On the other hand, an article in a satirical journal, published on the internet, is a resounding success. It is headed:

"When Noah the demagogue thinks he's Columbo"

Laurence is furious with this failure.

Résumé of chapter 22 - with thanks to Frencheuropean for reading the book and sending the résumés to me in French.

The Macands decide to produce their own message, using their camera, back-lit, with close-ups that make their features look hollow, as though they have not slept well. This message is a success on the internet.

Meanwhile, in a drawing room in France, the Junior Minister of The Interior, someone who courts the media, puts down his newspaper, Le Figaro, and thinks this is a good opportunity to restore the image of the French police abroad. He decides to send one of his best inspectors to Tuscany.

Just when, on Tony's advice, the Macands are about to deactivate their phones to take out an Italian line rental, Laurence's telephone rings: it's a call from the Minister of the Interior. During the five minute conversation, the Minister presents himself as a father.

He assures them of his personal commitment to make sure that everything will be set up to bring their son back.

He was so convincing that for a few seconds, Laurence hoped that Madec would be found.

The French inspector, Jacques Braconnet, gets an unenthusiastic welcome from Andreotti, who anticipates a lot of useless effort, especially as, at the request of the Minister, journalists accompany the French police everywhere. Braconnet explains to the Macands that an abduction alert should have been launched. This doesn't bother Andreotti because, if he didn't launch an alert, "it was because he did not consider it to be necessary. Instinct told him that the truth was hidden elsewhere."

The French inspector wants to set up a reconstruction, which seems impossible to Laurence, who has totally erased the events of that evening from her memory.

At his headquarters in the Place Beauvau, the Minister thinks about the Macands' video seen on a magazine programme shown by TV channel TF1 (regretting that he had forgotten to call the presenter to wish him a happy birthday).

"In their despair, the Macands seemed to be united. What was their daughter's first name? Before her abduction, little Madaine (original first names hard to remember) must have been happy."

Stéphane, who is attempting to manage his absence from the hospital, calls the Josserands to let them know that the French inspector wants to do a reconstruction. Their trip will be paid for and it wouldn't take very long. Fabien voices their agreement, if it's good for Madec.

Stéphane relays the news to Laurence, who has returned from the hairdresser's ("look at my head. I'm ashamed to be on the telly.") The next instant, his wife slaps him. Taken by a sudden rage, he violently hits her across the face and she faints.

Résumé of chapter 23

After regaining consciousness, Laurence, who is not annoyed at her husband, (and even rather liked it) cries with him. It is beyond her power to change the events of that fatal night into something she'd like it to have been.

To get some air, Laurence walks to the rocks on the shore.

She has never in her life found fulfillment. Her husband has never understood her expectations, in spite of a willingness to try.

She thinks of her video: "She was not famous, but she was known. it was like being more real." From Tony, she learned the essential principles of media training: "Know when to be silent,...list the facts, think about the details of what she is saying." The golden rule, in crisis communication, being to "repeat the concrete details, over and over, robotically - and nothing but the concrete details (date, time, places, names)" She then realises that since the start of the day, she she has not thought about her son.

Andreotti has met a young woman who wants to set up home with him. Given the state of the world and the constraints of his job, he is hardly enthusiastic. In a local paper, he reads a news item: a bather has been injured in the foot by a meat fork. The newspaper calls on the local people to be careful of objects thrown into the sea. And Andreotti deplores that a newspaper should give so much space to a scratch on the beach, a quite insignificant event. Ah, "since Berlusconi, things have gone downhill..."

Continuing with the résumés which have been sent to me by Frencheuropean.

Chapter 24

The Macands' financial situation is cause for concern. The stay is expensive and Stéphane is no longer being paid. As Tony has organised a press conference, this presents an opportunity to appeal for donations.

Laurence, who has gone out through the back of the building, where the conference will be organised, spots a young journalist in the car park, just sitting idly in his car. She asks to speak to him in private, and once in the vehicle, she whispers: "The police know who killed my son."

As early as 4pm, a rich woman from Versailles writes a cheque for 50,000 Euros made out to a non-profit organisation, which had urgently been set up three days before. "Finding Madec."

Stéphane is furious because he has just watched the 1 o'clock news on France 2 with Tony and heard that Fabien and Sylviane figure "amongst the main suspects in Madec's disappearance (and probably his death) They were under investigation."

He telephones the news to Laurence, who exclaims: "they're totally mad!"

And she gets to thinking:

"The wheels were in motion. In a few hours, the Josserands would inevitably have seen the news. They would be indignant at being accused. They would lodge a complaint for defamation. And dig their heels in. Ruling out participating in any way in a reconstruction. Inspector Braconnet would give up his infernal idea."

It's looking good, muses a relieved Laurence, practically savouring the moment: the loss of a child accompanied by loads of things to do and exhausting disagreements, but which, all the same, make you forget, somewhat, the sadness of the loss itself.

Résumé of chapter 25 with thanks to Frencheuropean, as usual!

In spite of the reticence of the Macands, who find it inappropriate, Tony insists on organising a buffet for the journalists at the conference. On principle, Laurence has obtained an assurance that there will be no lump fish roe because the guests might think it was caviar.

Tony insists that if they are well fed, they'll write longer articles.

Although surprised, the journalists set upon the food and the champagne. "Everybody gets down to guzzling and they fight over the leftovers. There are injuries." Outraged by this behaviour, Stéphane smashes the glass of a journalist who is demanding a fourth glass of champagne. Laurence drags him into another room and puts him sharply in his place, being sarcastic about her husband's usual lack of restraint. He apologises.

AnnaEsse wrote:Résumé of chapter 25 with thanks to Frencheuropean, as usual!

In spite of the reticence of the Macands, who find it inappropriate, Tony insists on organising a buffet for the journalists at the conference. On principle, Laurence has obtained an assurance that there will be no lump fish roe because the guests might think it was caviar.

Tony insists that if they are well fed, they'll write longer articles.

Although surprised, the journalists set upon the food and the champagne. "Everybody gets down to guzzling and they fight over the leftovers. There are injuries." Outraged by this behaviour, Stéphane smashes the glass of a journalist who is demanding a fourth glass of champagne. Laurence drags him into another room and puts him sharply in his place, being sarcastic about her husband's usual lack of restraint. He apologises.

He has obviously been to a real beano with real journalists. The last time I was at one of those, it was run by Schlumberger, who are a well known oil company. Their corporate colours are orange and black. They had a champagne fountain with the champagne in it dyed orange, to match the décor, and you could tell all the greedy journos who had been quaffing the champagne by their big orange lips