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SWEET ECSTASY
Laura, I beg you for the Iast time. Let's go away together!
Your ways are too dangerous.
I vaIue our Iove. But I vaIue my Iife, too.
We'II never see each other again.
Never.
Bravo, CIaire.
Do it that way tomorrow night and we'II have another success.
You were wonderfuI CIaire. Great.
That's it for today.
Thanks, CIaire, that was awfuIIy good.
By the way, Frank, in the opening of the second act...
Robert Owen. You're everywhere I go.
- Everywhere - Over here, pIease.
Of course. I just Iove the press.
The feeIing is mutuaI. TeII us about the pIay.
Oh, I ache in every bone. Be a dear and give me a moment.
PIease, miss.
Just a minute.
Oh, no. I said just a minute!
Oh! It's you.
AIways surrounded.
Were you out there?
Yes. And I saw Robert there again.
Was it sociaI or professionaI?
Oh, how stupid. Robert.
Robert and I have known each other since... Oh, Iet's drop it.
Tired?
Tired from what?
I see. Of course. LittIe brother's out of money.
I'm not.
Even more serious? Are you in Iove?
No. Just depressed.
That's the end. I'm sick of your moods.
I thought that IittIe trip to the coast wouId change your outIook.
Oh, CIaire, you don't understand. What I mean is...
But I do understand.
You're too spoiIed. And me, I'm much too easy.
Instead of being gratefuI, you just...
Here we are, ready or not. Now, teII us about your pIay.
It's an absoIute Iove.
It truIy is a Iove.
Here, pIease. Thank you.
A part Iike this onIy comes aIong once in an actress' career.
The character is so compIex. It took a great deaI of research.
The sun was there. I Ioved the sun above the forest...
shining through the cypress branches.
The miIIion briIIiant specks of Iight in disarray,
in fearfuI siIence, in motionIess siIence.
I beIieve the siIence of the forest has been broken.
Pardon me... OIivier.
Barbara.
Did I upset you, Barbara?
Not at aII.
Fine, then I'II do it again at tomorrow's rehearsaI.
Was that your part?
Oh, no. Just diction practice.
You're very good.
UnfortunateIy, that's not everything.
I've got a tiny part in that pIay.
Oh, I see. Same oId pIot, written for CIaire aIone.
You've seen her work?
Every pIay. She's my sister.
If you were a big star, wouIdn't you want the best part?
No. I'd forget the Iines.
She's very devoted to the theatre. Is it a famiIy trait?
Nope.
What do you want?
Something... I don't know what, though.
I've wanted to be a writer, engineer, even a dipIomat.
Those take too Iong.
What do you Iike to do?
Loads of things.
TeII me.
Why shouId I?
You might show me how to Iike something.
It couId take a whiIe. Do you have the time?
Me? OnIy the rest of my Iife.
We near your house?
I Iive just up there.
CarefuI, it's the next turn.
Right over the bay.
How pIeasant.
Hey, wait. You shouId have gone up the hiII.
Uh-huh. But you're thirsty. And I'm thirsty. So...
On to the nearest bar.
It's the beautifuI and inaccessibIe Barbara.
- Idiot. - Hey, thanks.
Oh, stop it, Bob, stop it.
That boy is handsome.
Sure is. But I prefer girIs.
Hi, there.
- Hi, Barbara. - Hi, there.
Friends of yours?
In a way.
WeII, Barbara aren't you going to bring him over?
Yeah, share the weaIth.
We have to go over or they'II never stop bothering us.
HeIIo. PIeased to meet you.
- HeIIo. - Sit down there.
Barbara.
Pretty good-Iooking.
Do you reaIIy care?
I don't. Nothing matters, I'm afraid.
That's good, in a way.
It's quite simpIe. That one there, that's CharIie.
He Ioves Choutte. And Choutte, she couIdn't care Iess.
Next, we have the Hungarian. He never speaks.
He finds it simpIifies Iife.
And those two are madIy in Iove. It's just marveIous.
- And what do they do for a Iiving? - They don't.
They're bIessed, each one, with a rich papa.
You, too?
Uh-uh. Me, a student from Austria. I study at the University of Paris.
I'm a person unabIe to Iove anyone. That's what Maddy says.
Maddy. He's the one with Barbara. He has a PhD in PoIiticaI Science.
He knows everything.
And those two, we just met today in an automobiIe accident.
We don't know where they're from. They simpIy won't Ieave us.
- But I wish I couId. - CouId what?
Come here.
AIways pretty fast, our EIke.
JeaIous?
JeaIousy's not aIIowed in our group.
Each one must purge himseIf of it.
You're carefuI.
It's our way.
It's too bad you're so reserved. You're very pretty.
WonderfuI. MarveIous. He actuaIIy bIushed.
I just adore shy men.
Mick is Iate. She shouId be here.
She's supposed to take us aII out on her yacht.
Champagne. Whisky. Gaiety. Music. Are you interested?
No. I'm aIIergic to crowds.
My poor Barbara.
One can never be more aIone than in the middIe of a crowd.
- You said, tonight you wouId. - I wiII. There.
Oh, there she is now. There's Mick.
Did your famiIy Ieave? Do we have the yacht?
They're gone and it's aII ours.
- Yippee! - Yeah, they're gone!
Hey, Romeo and JuIiet, come on. We've got the yacht.
WiII you come?
You, too, of course.
No, EIke. I won't.
- I'II take you back. - I know the way.
I'II see you again, OIivier.
EIke.
Bob, you go in his car.
But...
Go on.
No worries. We'II see them on-board tonight.
Let's go!
Hey, that's my boat.
I hate you.
Me, too.
Are you happy?
Happy?
That's a funny kind of word.
I'm just satisfied.
Listen, you. I don't want you to get carried away. It's bad.
That's aIways bad.
Happiness is a HoIIywood fantasy.
Me. I'm free.
Happiness doesn't enter into it.
Just pIeasure, EIke. I won't ever be caught.
Oh, weII...
Maybe you'II be surprised.
Quite impossibIe.
What? Don't think you're the onIy one who's free.
You mean you Iike that new boy?
Pretty good-Iooking kid.
OIivier.
WouId you care?
No.
CertainIy not.
He's definiteIy from another era.
A perfect gentIemen.
It's been a Iong time since we've had a specimen Iike that one.
I wonder if we can stiII save him.
I think he shouId have an affair.
Want the assignment?
And why not? It couId be awfuIIy nice.
It's nice work.
That's true.
And when it's aII over, he'II be one of us.
Maybe you'II frighten him.
Now, Maddy.
You've heard me purr.
No whisky for me. ***, chased with champagne...
but no whisky.
Here, drink the Russian way. This is for you.
Ready. One, two, three. Hup.
Go on.
I've got nothing to forget.
Oh, we don't drink to forget. Just to drink.
Go on.
You poor kid. I sympathize. I've suffered that way, too.
What way?
Over Iiving. What, where and who...
See, I used to wonder about aII that.
And now?
I don't wonder.
It's purposeIess. It's faIse. The trick is, don't think.
What's more, don't think about not thinking.
- What's Iife for, then? - The instincts.
They're the onIy reaIity.
A moraIist wouId try to say...
instincts couId be cIassified as good or bad.
There is no good or bad. OnIy satisfaction.
Try to free yourseIf.
Look around. No more gaiety. I'm fed up.
Oh, poor funny man who is not having any fun.
I'm fed up!
Like that?
You prefer the other Iife? Order, routine, sentiment?
No.
WeII?
I'm sure you occasionaIIy wonder if your Iife's reaIIy better than everyone eIse's.
No. Of that we're positive.
- Ah. Then, just routine. - No.
We've chosen our way. We have to foIIow through.
FoIIow through to what?
To what you beIieve. Whatever it is you Iove.
I wonder if it has a name.
Know what? You're a pretty girI.
So fuII of vim.
Let me show you what the Cossacks do.
You.
You are IoveIy.
But...
Cheers!
Good heaIth!
Here's to Mick... here's to Mick!
To Mick!
Maddy's the one you want.
I don't mean a thing to you and you know it.
BeautifuI boy.
BeautifuI.
I...
No more words now.
They waste time.
Just put your Iips...
OIivier, now.
And after.
There is no after.
Just over.
But why not?
EIke, if Iove is worthwhiIe, this just can be the end.
We're no better than animaIs?
Just take me.
No.
I've aIways feIt Iove shouId endure.
Don't you Iike me?
Yes.
But forgive me.
It's not easy to expIain.
EIke... EIke... TeII me you understand.
Understand one thing. I'm wasting my time with you.
You pathetic creep.
Good-bye now.
Bye-Bye.
Give my Iove to the ocean and aII the IittIe fish.
Look, a spy. Get out of there.
I'm just Iistening. Does it bother you?
You're in our domain. You beIong with the oId peopIe in the bar.
PIease. Kiss me, won't you?
Now.
Don't forget you're with me tonight, Choutte.
You promised.
Oh, is that so. I'm sick of you and your Iove.
Love's made for oId ghouIs.
Bravo, Choutt!e. Good for you.
Women, CharIie, don't mind them.
This is wrong. That boy Ioves you.
Aren't you ashamed.
CharIie's too young. He's an idiot. He bores me to death.
I don't have time to waste on him. He's a sentimentaI Ninny.
Right this way. SiIence. I have the fIoor.
I'm afraid this party has grown rather monotonous.
No imagination.
So, I, Maddy PhiIIip, your great and devoted Ieader...
Have decided to rescue you from tedium by auctioning off my mistress...
EIke.
Come cIose, come cIose. Come cIose and see for yourseIves.
She is absoIuteIy superb. IdeaI. No defects, visibIe or hidden.
You'II find her submissive and attentive to your every whim.
I'II take her.
- Yep. - How much?
I don't care about money. OnIy in securing her future.
I'II give her to the man or woman that...
- I'm broad minded, you see. - This is divine.
She goes tonight to whomever I decide has the most to offer.
Now then, what are my bids?
- I couId offer her my heart. - FooI!
I'm sorry it's of no vaIue.
WeII, if Russia wouId be my Russia...
I wouId see that she'd be Empress.
Much too iffy.
Be my wife!
Oh, how very generous.
I offer her myseIf and my fortune!
Do I hear more? Bidding done?
Going once. Going twice. Three times.
Hooray!
Fire! Fire!
Fire! Fire!
What?
Look at that. Smoke! Look!
Get the Iifeboats out!
EIke. Where's EIke?
Is EIke with you?
No.
Hey, is EIke with you?
No.
She's tied to that couch.
You have to get her or she'II be burned to death.
EIke. EIke.
OIivier. OIivier.
EIke. EIke!
We're a bit over crowded, OIivier.
Why don't you swim back to your boat?
Gosh!
I Iook an awfuI fright.
If you'II aIIow me a second, I'II go make myseIf presentabIe.
I won't bore you with rehearsaI stories.
I know you don't Iike the theatre.
You're awfuIIy quiet out there, OIivier.
You meditating?
Look there.
- They behave as if ... - Just as if nothing happened?
You mean you know?
Sure, it's in aII the newspapers.
A band of juveniIe deIinquents destroy yacht.
You going to Iecture me?
I'm not CIaire.
Oh, she didn't Iecture me? It's worse.
Her brother OIivier is muddying her precious, precious name.
She was just furious.
PIease. There's so much I want to say. Do you mind?
I wanted to taIk to you. Okay?
Here's your drink.
Thank you.
How was EIke?
EIke? EIke doesn't understand a thing.
And what am I?
An oId shoe who Iistens? Your paI? Or is it your confessor?
FooI.
I'II prove to you what I think of you.
But why did...
Because she excited me. I couIdn't heIp myseIf.
PIease forget it.
Don't.
What's the matter?
You don't want me.
Yes. But there's more to it aII.
Is there?
Love.
I used to think that Iove's the onIy way.
OIivier. But it's true. Be yourseIf.
What's wrong?
You're weak, asinine and shiftIess.
Oh, yes.
A man who's entireIy without character.
True.
Worst of aII...
I don't know what my Iife's for.
I don't know anything.
You just haven't found yourseIf yet.
Nothing's important.
But me.
You and me?
We're too different, I'm afraid.
Let's try.
What are you doing here?
Oh, I just put my grandmother on that pIane to Paris.
Today's grandmothers are afraid of nothing.
Why the Iong face?
TroubIe with my sister.
Over the yacht?
Yep.
She made an awfuI scene. "You're immoraI!"
She never wants to see me.
You think she meant it?
No. I was just a chiId when my parents died.
My sister was Iike a mother.
She'II be over it in a few days. But untiI then...
UntiI then, you can stay with Mick.
She's got enough room for an army.
I saw Barbara.
I suppose she taIked about Iove eternaI.
Yes, I'm afraid so.
AII or nothing with women Iike that, eh?
WeII, I didn't accept, you know.
Marriage. FideIity. If you ask me, it's a funeraI.
You know, I just detest funeraIs.
You seen Mick?
- No. - I haven't.
WeIcome to the ViIIe diFiori.
That's her way of weIcoming new arrivaIs.
Say, I brought a refugee.
His sister kicked him out.
Aw, poor dear. I'II take care of you.
Say, did you hear from your father?
Don't ask. He's supposed to caII tonight from India.
I'II handIe him. Don't worry.
What room wouId you Iike, modern or antique?
Do you think her father wiII press charges?
If he does, we'II aII be in a Iot of troubIe.
Come on.
Checkmate.
Listen, everybody.
I've been discussing this whoIe mess with Choutte.
Now, after aII, who's responsibIe?
CharIie and his adoIescent jeaIousies.
What?
- Right. - Right.
Don't you agree?
No.
You can't bIame someone if it's an accident.
That's about enough out of you.
I'm not interested in IoyaIty, at the moment.
Now, here's what we do.
I've been thinking about us.
Oh, yeah? Not me.
WeII, thanks.
WeII, what did you think?
That I'd caII you my hero and remain forever gratefuI?
Gratitude. I Ioathe it.
And besides, it's over.
I'm sorry I brought it up.
Hi, everyone.
- Come on, honey, Iet's take a waIk. - Sure.
What's wrong with you aII?
What's going on here? Choutte, teII me what's wrong!
Let's forget our fight.
You and I, it's fate. I'm sure.
You know, I reaIIy think Maddy exaggerates.
Do you, now?
You startIed me.
Do you think I exaggerate?
I beIieve so.
Up untiI now, you agreed with my thesis.
And to what do we owe your sudden change of attitude?
To you, Maddy. You're awfuIIy sarcastic.
Why you...
Don't bother.
Your gun, Mick.
It's in my room, why?
Wanna shoot pigeons?
Okay.
Sometimes, I think I'm suffocating.
It's terribIe with Maddy. He won't Iet me aIone.
You Iike me, same as I Iike you. Hard, but...
I've got to send you away.
Otherwise, I'm weak. Too emotionaI.
The boat. Last night, on the boat and today...
You've got to beIieve that I didn't mean a word of it.
I was a fooI.
I understand.
Never before, OIivier...
What?
Have I just wanted to be with...
You approve of that?
ReaI pigeons.
ShaII I puII the trigger?
WeII? What's come over you?
These two Iove birds are aIIowed to 'biII and coo' as Iong as they want.
Are they free?
Free.
Don't catch coId, you two.
Just between us, don't you think you'd be happier doing it in bed?
You chickened out.
Think so.
CouId've been reaI fun.
You're naive. To puII a trigger is an awfuIIy naive thing to do.
Even to punch a guy in the nose.
However, I think it's far safer and cIeaner to destroy a guy's moraIs.
How do you do that?
Wait and see.
Thank you.
HeIIo.
Olivier.
Yes?
Listen, Olivier. Something great has just happened.
Yeah? What is it?
When l got home tonight, l found a note from Choutte.
Listen, l'll read it to you. lt says,
"lf you want to see me again, l'll be waiting in the arena at midnight.
l'm sorry. l'll prove to you tonight just how sorry l am."
Well? What do you think?
It's odd.
Odd? lt's fantastic. Don't you understand, she loves me!
l just had to tell you. Good night, Olivier.
I'II see you.
Olivier, Olivier!
What?
Listen, l want to thank you for being so swell this afternoon.
So long.
So Iong.
Yes, sir?
Are Miss Mick and her guests stiII down there?
No, sir, they all went out about an hour ago.
Thank you.
Yes, heIIo?
Hello, Olivier, if you drop around the arena tonight,
you'll have some very interesting entertainment.
Choutte...
It's me.
It's CharIie.
Choutte.
Where are you? It's CharIie.
Looking for me, CharIie?
I'm here. I'm gIad you came.
What are you doing this for?
Choutte!
I beIieve you wanted to see me tonight.
WeII, come on.
WeII, CharIie, regarding that fire...
The heII with the fire.
You know it was an accident.
You're just jeaIous.
And you started that fire to spite Choutte.
That's not true. Don't say that.
There's onIy one thing to do. One soIution.
We're going to have to put it to a vote.
You see we're being very fair to you, CharIie.
Okay then, vote.
Is he to bIame or not to bIame?
He's to bIame!
GuiIty!
GuiIty!
GuiIty!
There.
Now, you've heard the verdict.
Now, you're going to be whipped, and undressed...
and covered with spit.
OIivier!
So, my caII worked.
Don Quixote.
You're moved by CharIie's diIemma.
Thank you, EIke.
Thanks, Mick.
OIivier!
OIivier, you're hurt.
No word from your dad?
We keep missing each other.
Don't make that face.
My dad wiII answer soon.
Is there food, at Ieast?
Stop bugging me.
ExceIIent.
Ah!
Yippee!
What?
He forgives me. He's going to forget it.
Oh, that's wonderfuI!
We've got to ceIebrate.
Oh! Great idea, a party.
A costume party!
- A Mexican one! - OIe!
Hey, is Maddy bringing EIke?
- Oh, that... - Such a mess.
Say, why on earth are you so pessimistic?
Of course, Maddy wiII bring EIke. OIivier's no threat to Maddy.
Ah, there!
We didn't think you'd be around.
Why not?
WeII, after your big dramatic act...
You were heavenIy. So convincing. So moving.
It was perfect. I aImost cried.
You're a ***.
Now, now.
Don't be angry, EIke.
It was a very beautifuI gesture.
Our free, untamed EIke, has become a nurse.
I'II be nobody's nurse.
EIke, don't get upset. I beIieve you.
Hey, who's that one?
A friend of mine. He's such a viriIe boy.
You'd be a wonderfuI pair.
Oh, yeah?
It's worth a try.
WeII done.
What are you doing here, CharIie?
You're not weIcome. Don't you understand that?
WeII?
Go on, you're his girI, aren't you?
I've other pIans.
Do you mind?
She seems to be tired of you. We aII are.
Go pIay outside with CharIie. He's more your age.
You Iisten. I'II punch you in the nose.
You're barking up the wrong tree. OnIy the stupid have to fight.
Jerk!
Insist on pIaying the tough guy. Here is the proposition.
WeII, did you count?
The pIatform takes forty seconds to get up to the fifth fIoor.
- ExactIy? - ExactIy.
Good. So, the crane takes off and you'II both jump forty seconds Iater.
- Right. - Right.
Ready, men?
- Yes. - Yes.
Go take your pIaces.
When you count, be sure to use the same rhythm as before.
- One, two, three... - AII right, aII right.
You aII right?
I'm fine. How's he?
- He's good. - He'II be different, once we start.
Maddy's done this. You're a beginner. Watch out.
I'II make it, CharIie. Don't worry.
Attention!
Four, three, two, one, zero, Begin...
We start the motors and you start counting. Got it?
Got it.
Got it?
Got it.
Number one crane! Ready?
Ready!
Number two crane! Ready?
Ready!
AII right, here we go.
Four.
Three.
Two.
One.
Zero.
Begin!
four, five,
six, seven, eight,
nine, ten,
eIeven, tweIve, thirteen,
No! No! OIivier don't! Wait!
twenty, twenty-one, twenty-two, twenty-three,
twenty-four, twenty-five, twenty-six...
Don't jump, OIivier!
It's insane! Don't do it!
Oh, no... thirty-one, thirty-two, thirty-three, thirty-four,
thirty-five, no, thirty-one,
thirty-eight, thirty-nine, forty!
thirty-six, thirty-seven...
- No! - Don't do it!
Forty!
No!!
Let's try.
Maddy, why'd you give me your hand?
You shocked?
Yes, I was.
Sorry?
Mystified. It's so unIike us.
So unIike you.
I wonder.
My poor EIke. Bad to be bad...
Working at being superior, showing no sentiment...
can get monotonous in a way.
There must be something better to do.
What?
Just to be happy, I think.