Le Dernier Croissant: Le Dernier Croissant
Une comédie du quotidien, douce et locale, sur la file du matin, les habitudes de quartier et la façon dont un minuscule drame de petit-déjeuner peut rapprocher des inconnus.
Dans une petite boulangerie de quartier à Paris, trois clients matinaux se retrouvent coincés devant la vitrine quand il ne reste qu’un seul croissant. Une minute d’hésitation se transforme en concours d’excuses, en négociation absurde et en moment de solidarité inattendu.
Characters
Monsieur Dubois
supporting
Monsieur Dubois is a distinguished senior Caucasian gentleman with neatly combed gray hair and an impeccably trimmed, distinguished white mustache. He has sharp, intelligent brown eyes. He wears a classic, neatly pressed beige trench coat over a dark suit and tie, exuding an air of old-world charm. He carries a folded newspaper under his arm.
Madame Dupont
supporting
Madame Dupont is a chic and efficient adult Caucasian woman with sharp, determined green eyes and sleek, dark brown hair styled in a professional bob that frames her face. She wears a sharp, tailored navy blue business suit, a crisp white blouse, and sensible low heels, projecting an image of professionalism. She carries a modern smartphone in one hand and a stylish leather handbag.
Boulangère Marie
supporting
Boulangère Marie is a friendly, middle-aged Caucasian woman with a warm smile and a slightly tired but kind expression. She has light brown hair, tied back simply in a low bun, and kind blue eyes. Her hands are often dusted with flour from her work. She wears a traditional baker's white uniform, including a clean white apron over a white shirt, and a small, neat white cap. She is seen arranging a tray of freshly baked baguettes.
Antoine
supporting
Antoine is a young adult Caucasian student with perpetually messy, light brown hair that falls over his forehead and slightly sleepy, shy hazel eyes. He wears a comfortable, slightly oversized dark blue hoodie, faded jeans, and worn sneakers. A practical backpack is slung over one shoulder, and he often clutches a well-used, thick textbook to his chest, indicating his student status.
Page 1
Panel 1: An establishing shot of a quaint Parisian boulangerie, 'Le Croissant Enchanté,' nestled on a cobblestone street. The morning sun casts a golden glow on its charming facade, a classic red awning, and a display window filled with various pastries.
Narrator: “Paris, early morning. A city awakens to the scent of freshly baked bread.”
Panel 2: Inside the bustling boulangerie, Boulangère Marie, a friendly woman with flour-dusted hands, meticulously arranges a tray of baguettes. Her smile is warm, but she looks a little tired from the early start.
Panel 3: Monsieur Dubois, an elderly gentleman with a distinguished mustache and a neatly pressed trench coat, enters the bakery. He carries a folded newspaper under his arm and looks eager for his morning treat.
Panel 4: Madame Dupont, a chic woman in a sharp business suit, strides in purposefully, phone in hand. She looks efficient and a bit rushed, her eyes scanning for the counter.
Panel 5: Antoine, a young student with a backpack slung over one shoulder and messy hair, shyly enters, looking a bit sleepy but craving something sweet. He clutches a worn textbook.
Panel 6: All three customers stand side-by-side in front of the glass display case, their eyes fixed on a single, perfectly golden croissant, the only one left on the shelf. The rest of the display is bare where croissants usually are.
Page 2
Panel 1: A close-up on the lone croissant, gleaming under the bakery lights. It looks incredibly flaky and delicious, almost like a piece of art.
Panel 2: A wide shot showing Monsieur Dubois, Madame Dupont, and Antoine. Their faces are a mixture of longing, surprise, and dawning realization. No one dares to move or speak first.
Panel 3: Monsieur Dubois clears his throat, hand rising slightly as if to point, but he stops himself, glancing nervously at the others.
Panel 4: Madame Dupont, noticing Monsieur Dubois's gesture, quickly steps slightly forward, a determined glint in her eye, but then she too falters, sensing the silent competition.
Panel 5: Antoine shifts his weight, looking down at his shoes, then back up at the croissant, a silent plea in his expression. He seems too shy to make the first move.
Panel 6: All three stand frozen, a palpable tension in the air. Boulangère Marie watches from behind the counter, a faint, knowing smile playing on her lips, observing the silent standoff.
Page 3
Panel 1: Monsieur Dubois is the first to speak, leaning slightly forward, a theatrical sigh. He gestures vaguely with his newspaper.
“Ah, that last croissant! My doctor insists I have a light, flaky breakfast for my... delicate digestion, you see.”
Panel 2: Madame Dupont raises an eyebrow, a sardonic smile on her face. She taps her smartwatch impatiently.
“Delicate digestion? Monsieur, I have a crucial board meeting across town in twenty minutes. This croissant is vital fuel for my brain, which, I assure you, is anything but delicate.”
Panel 3: Antoine, looking even smaller between the two, timidly raises his hand slightly. His voice is soft.
“I, uh, I have an exam today. A very important one. And I forgot to eat, so... brain food?”
Panel 4: Boulangère Marie leans on the counter, a hand under her chin, clearly enjoying the unfolding drama. Her eyes sparkle with amusement.
Panel 5: Monsieur Dubois puffs out his chest, gesturing more dramatically. Madame Dupont crosses her arms, a determined look on her face, ready to counter.
“An exam? Bah! My grand-niece is visiting from Lyon, and I promised her a 'véritable croissant parisien' for her first morning here! It's a matter of family honor!”
Panel 6: Madame Dupont retorts, her voice rising slightly, while Antoine looks back and forth between them, wide-eyed. The croissant seems to glow with importance.
“Family honor? I'm negotiating a multi-million euro deal! The fate of three hundred employees rests on my performance. This croissant is practically corporate espionage!”
Page 4
Panel 1: Monsieur Dubois looks aghast at Madame Dupont's claim, then leans in conspiratorially, lowering his voice as if sharing a profound secret.
“Corporate espionage? Madame, my cat, Minou, is recovering from a frightful encounter with a pigeon! Only the finest croissant crumbs will soothe her delicate nerves.”
Panel 2: Madame Dupont rolls her eyes, then pulls out her phone, displaying a complex calendar. She speaks with an air of absolute authority.
“A cat? Please! I've already rescheduled three meetings, two flights, and my daughter's ballet recital just to be here. This croissant is a symbol of my unwavering dedication!”
Panel 3: Antoine, desperate not to be outdone, fumbles with his backpack, pulling out a crumpled, heavily annotated textbook. He looks genuinely stressed.
“I... I overslept because I was studying all night for my philosophy exam on existentialism! This croissant is my last hope for understanding the meaning of life!”
Panel 4: A three-shot close-up of their faces: Monsieur Dubois's jaw set, Madame Dupont's eyes narrowed, Antoine's brow furrowed. They are all intensely focused on winning this 'excuse competition.'
Panel 5: Boulangère Marie, trying to hold back a laugh, clears her throat loudly, attempting to interject and bring some order to the absurd situation.
Panel 6: The customers ignore Marie, continuing their dramatic posturing. Monsieur Dubois gestures to the heavens, Madame Dupont points accusingly at the croissant, and Antoine looks on, overwhelmed but still in the game.
“My very soul yearns for its buttery embrace! It is my destiny!”
Page 5
Panel 1: Monsieur Dubois suddenly changes tactics, extending a hand as if to broker a grand deal. His expression is now one of a seasoned negotiator.
“Alright, alright! Let us be civil. I propose a lottery. The one who guesses the number Boulangère Marie is thinking of wins!”
Panel 2: Madame Dupont scoffs loudly, shaking her head. She holds up her credit card, offering a different, more 'practical' solution.
“A lottery? Monsieur, this is a bakery, not a casino! I'll pay double! Triple! Name your price, Boulangère Marie!”
Panel 3: Antoine, eyes wide, pipes up with a surprisingly practical suggestion, though his voice is still a little shaky.
“Or... or we could just... split it? Into three pieces?”
Panel 4: Monsieur Dubois and Madame Dupont both turn to Antoine, then to each other, considering the idea. Then, they begin to bicker over the logistics of a fair split.
“Split it? But who gets the wider end? The flakier side?”
Panel 5: Boulangère Marie watches them, a genuine, warm smile now on her face. She seems to find their absurdity endearing.
Panel 6: The three customers are now animatedly debating angles, crumbs, and the structural integrity of a bisected croissant, drawing diagrams in the air with their hands. It's utterly ridiculous.
“A perfect third is mathematically impossible, Monsieur! We need a protractor!”
Page 6
Panel 1: Monsieur Dubois suggests a complex system of rock-paper-scissors to determine who gets the first cut, then the second. Madame Dupont dismisses it as 'childish' and proposes a bidding war.
“Absurd! We should bid, Boulangère Marie as auctioneer! Highest offer takes all!”
Panel 2: Antoine timidly suggests they could just take turns buying it each day, but his idea is quickly steamrolled by the escalating debate between Monsieur Dubois and Madame Dupont.
“But what if one day someone is late? It would ruin the rotation!”
Panel 3: Monsieur Dubois throws his hands up in exasperation, his face contorted in frustration. He looks like he's about to give up.
“This is impossible! It's just a croissant, for heaven's sake!”
Panel 4: Madame Dupont sighs dramatically, running a hand through her hair. Her earlier determination has faded into weary annoyance.
“Indeed! I have a multi-million euro deal to close, not to mention a cat with delicate nerves, and we're arguing over pastry geometry!”
Panel 5: Antoine looks between the two, then down at the croissant. He looks utterly defeated, perhaps even more tired than before his 'brain food' quest.
Panel 6: A quiet moment. The three customers stand in silence, side-by-side, looking at the croissant, a shared expression of exhaustion and mild absurdity on their faces. The air is still.
Page 7
Panel 1: Monsieur Dubois looks from the croissant to Madame Dupont, then to Antoine. His expression softens, a small, genuine smile forming on his face.
Panel 2: Madame Dupont catches Monsieur Dubois's gaze. Her own features relax, and a flicker of a smile appears, mirroring his. She seems to understand something unspoken.
Panel 3: Antoine, seeing the shift in the others, slowly looks up, a tentative hope blossoming in his eyes. He feels the tension dissipate.
Panel 4: Monsieur Dubois chuckles softly, a genuine, warm sound. He gestures to the croissant, then to the group.
“You know what? This is ridiculous. Antoine had the right idea from the start. We share it.”
Panel 5: Madame Dupont nods, a full, genuine smile now on her face. She even offers a small, friendly wink to Antoine. The absurdity of the situation has given way to camaraderie.
“Indeed. A perfect solution for a perfectly absurd morning. Boulangère Marie, my dear, three small pieces, please!”
Panel 6: Antoine beams, relief and happiness washing over his face. Monsieur Dubois and Madame Dupont share a laugh. A newfound camaraderie sparks between the unlikely trio.
Page 8
Panel 1: Boulangère Marie, with a knowing grin, carefully takes the last croissant and, with practiced skill, slices it into three perfectly equal pieces on a small wooden board.
“Voilà! One croissant, three friends.”
Panel 2: Each customer receives a small piece on a napkin. Though small, each piece looks just as golden and delicious. They hold their portions, looking delighted.
Panel 3: The three customers bite into their pieces of croissant simultaneously, eyes closing slightly in shared enjoyment. The taste is clearly divine.
Panel 4: They exchange warm smiles and nods, a silent acknowledgment of their shared experience and the unexpected bond formed over a single pastry. Monsieur Dubois offers a small bow.
Panel 5: Boulangère Marie watches them as they happily exit the bakery, a content and knowing expression on her face. She tidies up the counter, ready for the next customer.
Panel 6: An exterior shot of 'Le Croissant Enchanté' under the bright morning sun. The street is now a little more lively, and a sense of warmth and community emanates from the bakery.
Narrator: “Sometimes, the simplest things bring people together in the most unexpected ways.”
