"Greece, 1965" "THE BIG BLUE" "Jacques, quick!" "Something's shining in the harbour!" "In the water!" "See it, there?" "It's a coin." "I saw it first." "You liar!" "I'll get it, but no fighting." "We'll split it." "You can't split a coin, dummy!" "Yeah, dummy!" "We'll buy something and split that, OK?" "OK?" " Stop pointing, I've seen it." " So have I." "Well, if it isn't the little Frenchman!" "So how is the little Frenchman?" "Fine." "Mind if I go instead?" "No." "Say so if you mind." "I will." "Good." "Roberto, mio palmo." "Start counting." "One, two, three..." "Bravo, Enzo!" "So whose is it?" "You saw it, but I dived for it." " Roberto, how long?" " Six." "I'll throw it back in." "You dive, and if you do it in less than six... it's yours." "I saw it first!" "We split?" "You can't split a coin, stupido." "Jacques!" "Is that a coin down there?" "Yes, I think it is." "I'll get it for you." "It will be for the poor." "Father!" "It's a gold coin." "Time to get up." "Shit." "Enzo!" "Jacques!" "Don't dive every day, Papa." "What would we live off if he didn't dive?" "Don't worry." "When I'm tired, the mermaids help me out." "Ever seen a mermaid?" "No." "I've seen them." "Shall I tell you where?" "Aren't you interested?" " In what?" " Where I saw the mermaids." "Why don't you ever ask questions?" "It's always me." "I'm the only one who ever talks." "Ask me something, goddamn it!" "Why did my mother leave?" "Pump." "Your mother didn't leave us." "She just went back to America." "It's her home." "Women are like that." "Unpredictable." "Like the sea." "Oh no, I can't breathe!" "Jacques!" "Jacques!" "Help!" "Daddy!" "Daddy!" "Cut it out!" "Hey, Jacques!" "Jacques!" "Sicily' 1988" "Aiuto!" "Aiuto!" "Aiuto!" "Roberto, mio palmo." "Yes." "How did it happen?" "My company has asked me to recover this wreckage." "Especially the engine." "The divers went down, the ship drifted in the current." "I'm in deep shit." "Look!" "Can you help?" "How many aboard?" "Only one, but he isn't breathing properly." "You have to act quickly!" "10,000." "Lira?" "Dollars." "That's crazy!" "You'd rip me off at a time like this?" "OK, what price do you put on this man's life?" "We have a saying in my village." "How does it go?" "I've forgotten." "What are you getting at?" "Forget it." "Enzo." "Forza!" "Shall we write out that cheque now?" "Can he hold out long?" "My brother... is world champion." "Now sign." "Well done, Enzo!" "Great!" "Thank you!" "Hey, wait, I have to speak to you." "Wait, let me tell you!" "Thanks..." "Really." "You're welcome." "Forza Italia!" "So Enzo... will you get a new car?" "No, we'll get a re-spray." "Giuseppe will do it for 25 bucks." "Tell him to put two coats on." "What'll you buy?" "A rosary for Mamma." "A dress for Angelica." "And a made-to-measure suit for you." "Most importantly..." "What?" "Find me the little French guy." "Find me Jacques Mayol." "The Andes Mountains" "El proximo paradero es bien el lago del Demonio?" "Lago del Demonio?" "Dr Laurence?" "No." "His assistant." "Welcome to Peru." "This way." "A cup of tea?" "Yes, I'd love some." " With whisky?" " Sure." "Hey, did you see that guy with the goggles?" "Sure." "The insurance agent's here." "Not before time." "Johana Baker." "Good trip?" "Thanks." "The accident happened 3 weeks ago." "Franck, he's ready to dive." "I'll go." "First dive in 2 minutes..." "That guy... who is he?" "Mayol." "Jacques Mayol." "Those are your experiments?" "Sending a guy under the ice?" "The truck fell into a crevasse." "We lost our equipment." "I want to see the driver." "In spring, affer the thaw." "You're sending him under the ice?" "What is he, a slave?" "My dear, science demands sacrifice." "And... how does he breathe?" "Jacques?" "He doesn't breathe." "Listen." "That's his heartbeat." "It's becoming slower and slower." "Amazing, isn't it?" "He's in the fluoroscope." "Look at his heart." "Impressive, isn't it?" "The blood drains from the limbs and collects in the brain." "It's a phenomenon hitherto only seen in water mammals." "Why does he do it?" "No idea." "How about taking him a towel or a drink?" "Coffee?" " Do I know you?" " We saw each other, just now." "In the lake?" "No, before the lake." "She looked just like you." "Thanks." "It's a gift." "Open it." "Are you going to live here?" "Where do you live?" "New York." "See you around, then." "Right." "Safe journey back." "The French Riviera" "I'll be 5 minutes." "It's a llama." "Darjeeling." "I've missed you, you devils." "Jacques, my friend." "How's it going?" "Enzo?" "Twenty years later, you're still in the water." "What are you up to?" "Training?" "Yes." "Right." "Check out the suit." "Class!" " You know I'm world champion?" " I know." "The world championship is in 10 days, in Taormina." "You're my guest." "Your ticket." "Why?" "Because you want to beat me." "You're the best." "We'll see." "I can barely hear you!" "I said the papers are in the glove compartment." "Get the customs office to send you a copy." "We can't send you any new equipment otherwise." "You'll have them by the end of the week." "Great." "If only all our clients were so helpful!" " Goodbye." " Dr Laurence?" "What?" "That diver of yours..." "where can he be reached?" "Jacques Mayol." "He must be in Taormina, at the World Diving Championships." "In Sicily." "Sicily?" "Mayol..." "Mayol..." "No reservation in that name." " Check." " There's no point." "This is the San-Domenico?" "Yes, and it has been for 127 years." "Be careful with it, it's a new paint job." "Countess!" "Ah, Jacques!" "Giacomino!" "How are you?" "My friend, my brother." "So..." "You decided to join us." "You won't be disappointed." "Paolo." "The key." "Remember my little brother Roberto?" "Hi." "You OK?" " Which room are you in?" " I haven't got one." "No room?" "Paolo!" "I reserve a room for my friend Jacques Mayol and you treat him like a stranger?" "Enzo, it doesn't matter." "He's a dear friend." "One of the best divers in the world." "And you sling him out?" "Have you gone mad?" "Stupido!" "It doesn't matter, I'll find a room." "Take mine." "I've got the countess's suite." "She's leaving for the cemetery." "She'll be more comfortable there!" "I'm glad you're here." "So, after all these years, you must have a few questions, right?" "Sure, loads of them." "Go ahead." "I never did know how to ask questions." "Are you married?" "No, no, no." "Me neither." "Because of my mother." "She's a curse." "A tornado." "Stubborn as a mule." "You know her." "I was engaged for a week." "I've never seen my mother so mad." "So you're not married." "Good for you." "You play the field, like me." "We're men!" "I'll say!" "Some say you're more fish than human." "Really?" "Forget it." "I was joking." "Ah, la madonna!" "I'll bet you my watch she'll be in my bed tonight." "You know each other?" "Enzo Molinari." "How do you do." "Johana Baker." "How do you do." "What a coincidence!" "Who'd have guessed?" "Incredible." "What a surprise!" "Sit down." "I'm not bothering you, am I?" "Not at all." "Emilio!" "Are you at the hotel?" "It was full." "They recommended a room downtown." "The place is full of tourists." "The world championships." "My title arouses envy." "What brings you here?" "I'm handling a claim in Palermo, so I decided to take a look around." "It's a lovely island." "No place in the world is more beautiful than Sicily." "Spaghetti del mare for our friend." "OK." "As I was saying, I'm world champion..." "Lots of people regard it as the most manly of sports." "Seeing men diving into the sea, their muscles tensed..." " Enzo..." " What!" "Mamma." "Where?" "Wait." "Shit." "She'll kill me if she sees me eating." "Eat, eat, for Christ's sake!" "Quick!" "Mamma!" "Tu credi che posso portare da sola tutti questo bagagli?" "Mamma, Roberto and an elevator should suffice." "What are you eating?" "Just a coffee." "I'm diving tomorrow." "Remember Jacques?" "This is his friend Johana." "Beautiful, isn't she?" "Spaghetti del mare." "I'm so hungry!" "Good." "American?" "Welcome!" "Here it is." "You're going to be busy." "I've no idea." "Why?" "Because..." "Maybe we could..." "You're competing, there are interviews..." "I'm sure a competition like that calls for a lot of concentration." "Doesn't it?" "Yes." "You can put them down." "Jacques!" "Johana!" "Get ready." "The Tahitian beat my record." "I'm tired, I don't want to go." "Roberto, the jacket..." "This one?" "Very elegant." "And the shoes?" "Very stylish." "Got any others?" "No." "Then they're stylish." "Let's go." "Ladies and gentlemen." "Andrè Bonnet, president of the World Diving Championship committee..." "Quit eating!" "Today, our new champion completed a dive to a depth of 107m." "Give him a hand." "A one-day hero." "Over to you, President..." "I'm glad about the new record." "Gives me something to beat tomorrow." " Ever been to Tahiti?" " No." "I'll take you there." "You'll cook fresh fish and we'll make love beneath the coconut trees." "Hey, you do the cooking!" "Excuse me..." "He has a strange bearing." "He walks like a child." "Do you know him well?" "We grew up on the same island, in Greece." "What was he like when he was small?" "Small..." "Very small." "Compared to me, that is." "So you were better than Jacques." "I still am." "Careful, you're too in love with him to see the truth." "Don't think of him as a human." "He's from another world." "And what world are you from?" "Italy!" "My friends, you are now invited for a drink around the pool." "At lunch, you wanted me to ask you questions." "Ah, I bet you want to know all about women!" "Are they what matters most?" "No." "It depends." "Sometimes they are." "What exactly do you want to know?" "Everything." "About what?" "Everything." "Mamma mia..." "So what with Mamma, Roberto and Alfredo, we yell all day long." "Angelica just cries." "When it's over, we all kiss." "How do you explain that?" "It's the same with love." "You catch your breath." "And you're not alone." "That's love." "It makes for one big, wonderful family." "Enzo..." "Yes?" "We have to stop this competition." "Why?" "Think about it." "If we carry on," "I'll beat you." "Hear that?" "What?" "He swans in, full of himself, and says," ""I'll beat you."" "That's why he's here." "Listen to her." "That's why he's here?" "To get a hammering, you mean!" "That's why he's here." "I'm unbeatable." "And..." " How old are you?" " Two years younger than you." "Just as I thought." "You're too skinny." "No ribcage." "Takes guts to go in with a body like that." "It's nothing to do with the lungs." "No, it's nothing to do with the lungs." "How long can you hold your breath?" "Longer than you." "Yes." "Hey, take it easy!" "You want to finish him off?" "I'll help you." "Did I win?" "Win what, the Jerkoff award?" "It was a tie." "You could have died." "You're crazy, like a pair of kids." "Stop moving, I'm going to be sick." "You'd have drowned if not for me." "My wallet." "It's here." "Give it to me, I want to show you something." "Sit down." "Look." "My family." "No human being..." "has a family like that." "I'm here." "Enzo!" "Si!" "Avanti!" "The officials are looking for you." "What about my concentration?" "Jacques does 2 hours of yoga before going down." "I'm entitled to a nap!" "Mr Molinari." "Sorry, I can't let you dive." "You're too exhausted." "You know nothing about the sea." "Pack up your hardware and leave." "The sea is mine." "I know when she's ready for me." "And today, she's ready." "You've been warned." "There." "One minute." "Three, two, one..." "Your shorts are too big for me." "Are they hiding?" "What's going on?" "I can't see them." "Something's wrong." "Hey, you can't do that!" "What's going on?" "Who knows?" "It's been going on for 2 days." "They won't eat." "Since the new one arrived." "It's over for today." "She's the new one." "How can you tell it's a female?" "The way she moves." "Hey!" "Jacques!" "Porque miseria!" "Jacques!" "Johana!" "Don't be sad, I only took back what was rightfully mine." "Here." "We're celebrating tonight, 8 o'clock, in my suite." "Mr Roberto, tell your brother to be more reasonable." "The press is waiting." "He can't come, he's indisposed." "Should I call a doctor?" "No need, Mamma has an idea." "Mr Mayol, help me." "He won't take his medal." "Everyone's waiting for him." " I'll try." " Most kind of you." " Who is it?" " Jacques." "My friend." "Come in." "Mr Molinari, allow me to insist that you attend the presentation ceremony." "For the press." "Like my brother told you, I'm indisposed." "I'm allowed to be, aren't I?" "So go tell the press that the great Enzo Molinari, completely exhausted by his 110-metre dive, is in no fit state to receive trinkets because he's... he's..." "Indisposed." "Exactly!" "But..." " Jacques, my friend!" " Why don't you want your medal?" "Because pasta should be eaten al dente." "Let me know what you think." "My office, in New York." "Panic stations, as usual." "I've got so much work to do!" " Want some?" " No!" "I'm sick of it." "Buon appetito, signorina." "Ah, Jacques!" "What's going on?" "I need a favour." "We're not stealing a dolphin..." "No, just giving him some fresh air." "Fresh air?" "OK." "Taormina by night." "The dolphin's pleased as Punch." "This way." "Let him go now." "We're freezing!" "He's safe now." "Leave him alone." "Jacques!" "Come on, Jacques!" "I'll be right back, OK?" "Good night." "Good night, Jacques." "Good night." "You don't need a stretcher to take her with you." "Johana." "What?" "Dolphins aren't the only ones who like to feel loved." "Jacques!" "Can I come tomorrow when you dive?" "Yes." "You've got a lot to learn about women." "What do they do?" "They're our doctors." "They wait 65m down." "What about him?" "He's going down beyond 100m." "It's a mixture of helium and oxygen." "Compressed air is too dangerous." "Three minutes." "It's fantastic!" "He went down to 108 metres!" "Enzo." "Congratulations." "That's wonderful." "I'm proud of you." "For you." "And you." "What's this?" "Gifts." "They're nothing." "I knew." "I guessed." "Still collect them?" "You didn't have that one." "No." "It's beautiful." "Thanks." "It's nothing." "I knew." "I told Roberto:" ""The little Frenchman will win."" "Is this a poem?" "Kind of." "Arecipefor spaghettis del mare." "I was right to bring you here." "You're world champion." "A measuring tape." "Here's your record." "You beat me by one metre." "Doesn't seem much from here, does it?" "Keep the measuring tape." "It'll be a souvenir, when you lose your title." "Jacques?" " Did you have a nice night?" " Yes." "I was with the dolphin." "All night?" "Yes." "With a dolphin?" "Yes." "I'm going back to New York." "Because my job, my work, and my life is there." "Will you take me to the station?" "Jacques!" "If you're ever in New York, call me." "Jacques!" "Is this OK?" "Fine, I love being woken up when I'm fast asleep." "Wake me at 11." "How come you're always talking?" "You don't even say anything." "I'm sick of it!" "So stop it, some people have something to say!" "Enough of the bullshit!" "Has she gone?" "Yes, she's gone!" "I'll take care of you." "I've got a job on an oil rig." "It's no picnic but it'll be a change of scenery." "Pack your bag, you're coming with me." "You'll never change." "We'll make a hell of a team!" "Just you wait." "OK?" "100 metres..." "Still thinking about her?" "Don't make yourself unhappy." "There are so many women around." "Plenty more fish in the sea, right?" "Smoking is strictly forbidden." "It isn't lit." "No cigarettes allowed on board." "We're not meant to piss either, right?" "Doesn't stop us bringing it on board, though." "Rules are rules." "What's your name?" "Noireuter." "Where are you from?" "Brussels." "Bella cita, bella cita." "180." "When I was 17," "I was so in love" "I almost killed myself for a girl." "Two years later, I couldn't even remember her name." "Believe me, everything fades with time." "I don't want it to fade." "230." "End of descent." "You've got enough air for 15 minutes." "What's with the voice?" "It's nothing." "Too much helium in the mix." "Does your voice come back?" "For others, yes." "For you... who knows?" "Try speaking." "And we were having a serious conversation!" "The helium has been adjusted." "Your finger." "Alcohol?" "That's not allowed down here." "Anything else not allowed?" "Make a list, we'll stick it on the porthole." " Suck your finger." " Alcohol is really dangerous at this pressure." "Enzo, it's very deep down here." "Suck your finger." "This'll have us seeing mermaids everywhere!" "How do you recognise a Belgian in a submarine?" "He's the one with a parachute!" "Yes, yes..." "Noireuter." "Coming?" "Hey, Enzo, where do I put my feet?" "Where do I put my feet?" "Hello, do you read me?" "Jacques..." "It's Johana." "You OK?" "I've been fired." "I had a job with Enzo." "We got fired too." "Really?" "It's weird." "Talk to me some more." "I don't know what to say." "You're so far away." "Tell me a story." "A story?" "Do you know... what you have to do to live among mermaids?" "Tell me." "You go down, way deep, where the water isn't blue any more." "Where the sky is but a memory." "Once you're there, in the silence, you stay there." "If you decide to die for them and stay with them for ever, then they come to you, and judge the love you have for them." "If it's sincere, if it's pure," "and if they like you... they'll take you away for ever." "I love your story." "What's wrong?" "I think I love you." "You live here?" "Yes, sometimes." "Who's that?" "Uncle Louis." "He spends his life in there." "Murderer!" "Uncle Louis, this is my friend Johana." "She's going to be staying here." "He's a bit deaf." "So I see." "Glad to know you, Uncle Louis!" "So, where are you from, Henrietta?" "It's Johana." "From New York." "New York?" "That's a nice name!" "No, I live in New York." "Ah!" "Those New York girls are a great lay." "Uncle Louis," "Johana is my friend." "She just got here, and she's staying with me." "For a while." "Great!" "I'll be seeing more of you." "Where will you stay?" "Here." "Here?" "In my apartment?" "It's my apartment." "Liar!" "Thief!" "Torturer!" "Go back to your tub." "I'll put a lock on the phone." "A drop of wine, Uncle Louis?" "Thanks, Henrietta." "I'll change my name." "This is... my room." "Enzo called." "He's coming, for the competition." "Will you compete?" "Yes." "Will you like it here?" "It's not his style to be late." "He comes on time or not at all." "25 francs!" "You dare claim that you caught this fish?" "It died of cancer!" "Enzo!" "Jacques!" "Johana!" "Where'd you find that?" "That?" "Don't call her "that"." "This is Miss Bonita Mariposa, the great Spanish actress, who'll take care not to damage my floors with her heels." "She's visiting us for a few days." "Johana." "Where's Mamma?" "She'll be here tonight." "Good." "He's gone completely deaf." "Not as deaf as you are blind!" "You take care of your eyes," "I'll take care of my ears!" "Sorry, Uncle Louis." "Drink and you'll talk less bullshit!" "Hey, what century are we in here?" "Second." "Hello, doctor." "Thanks." "What are you up to here?" "We're listening to music, with Enzo." "Dr Laurence." "So you're the famous Enzo Molinari." "Himself." "You have the honour." "I'm getting wrinkles." "I'm getting spots." "Are you going to come and live here?" "I don't know." "It's all happened so quickly." "We have to talk about it." "You're deeply in love." "It shows." "Yes." "I also noticed that you're dying to have a baby." "You're way off!" "It never occurred to me." "We barely know each other." "It's much too soon." "You really think so?" "Maybe he isn't ready." "He's a cute guy." "Intelligent too." "I can't have a baby by myself." "Why not?" "I've got one." "I loved his father." "We split up, but I've got his child." "Whatever happens, you do it alone." "Enzo!" "Yoo-hoo!" "Enzo Molinari, for classification." "Enzo!" "What time has he done?" "I'm not sure." "But it was long." "Not bad." "Bravo, Enzo." "Magnifico!" "Enzo!" "Excellent, Enzo." "Excellent!" "What!" "Can't you see I'm pissed off?" "The sea's choppy." "It'll calm down." "No, it's Mamma, Roberto, all that bullshit." "Nothing to do with the sea." "Don't give me a hard time." "So how did it go?" "Enzo worries me." "Did you dive?" "No, it felt wrong." "I love the baby." "It's so cute!" "Bravo!" "Let them try to beat me." "Will you be OK?" "Enzo." "What are they up to?" "No idea." "Excellent!" "Bellissimo!" "Thanks." "How was it?" "It's becoming dangerous." "Enzo went down 115 metres." "4 minutes 50 underwater." "Brilliant." "Enzo!" "Giacomino!" "Thank you, everyone." "Thank you." "Bravo, Enzo!" "Mio filio..." "Bravo!" "And now... and now..." "Some people caution against diving any deeper because we do not know the physiological consequences for divers." "Also, the safety divers are not used to going down beyond 100m." "What's he saying?" "But, affer consultation, the decision has been made to carry on the competition." "Bravo." "Good luck to you all." "One minute!" "Three, two, one!" "Can you see him?" "Hey, do you see him?" "Bravo, Jacques, Bravo!" "Thanks." "120 metres!" "He reached 120 metres!" "That's fantastic!" "Bravo!" "You OK?" "Coming!" "Hi." "Come in." "No, my taxi is waiting." "You're leaving?" "Can you give this to Enzo?" "There's no point." "Just tell him" "I said goodbye." "Kiss him for me." "Promise you will?" "Promise." "You shouldn't give up so easily." "This is for you." "Your baby?" "Yes." "A child changes your life, believe me." "For the better." "Look after yourself, Johana." "Thanks." "Thank you." "Welcome to Greece." "Everything OK?" "Welcome, Johana." "I'll give you the paperwork." "I can't stand the smell of fish!" "Why?" "Could you fetch me a glass of water?" "Does the contest make you nervous?" "No." "How do you feel when you dive?" "It's like slipping without falling." "The hard part is at the bottom." "Why?" "You need a reason to come back up." "Sometimes it's hard to find one." "I have the same problem." "Why?" "It's hard to find a good reason to stay." "I've found one." "Ciao, Enzo." "Enzo." "Is he here?" "Yes." "Good." "The way you look at the sea scares me." "I used to dive here when I was a kid." "I want to tell you something." "Not here." "How about here?" "I want to talk about my world." "My world is you." "I love you." "I want to live with you." "To have a baby with you." "I want us to have a home." "We'll have a car, a dog..." "Do you want one?" "Jacques, I might be pregnant." "Did you hear me?" "Jacques?" "Tomorrow's going to be a big day." "I've analysed the data from Mayol's dive." "At that depth it is physically impossible for the blood to retain enough oxygen to return to the surface." "The high pressure prevents oxygen from circulating through the body." "Any attempt to beat Jacques's record would be suicidal." "Is that clear?" "Yes." "Very clear." "They're only training." "Molinari has been world champion 15 times." "You want him to stop?" "Call off the competition." "Two minutes!" "Call Mayol." "One minute." "They're calling off the competition." "It's over." "Why?" "Too dangerous." "The doctors reckon... that going any deeper would be suicidal." "You say that because you have the record." "No, I never cheat you." "It does you credit." "I told you he shouldn't dive!" "But I sent Jacques to tell him!" "You're crazy!" "No!" "This is great." "Get away!" "Let him breathe!" "Get out of here!" "Clear off!" "Leave us alone!" "Clear the deck!" "You were right." "About what?" "It's better down there." "It's the place to be." "Let me go back there." "No." "No, Enzo." "Jacques." "Take me back down." "Please, Jacques." "No!" "Hey, look." "Lift his arms." "Take it off." "Here, Jacques." "Pull." "Lie him down." "Straps." "Heart massage." "Breathe, goddamn it!" "Come on, Jacques, breathe!" "Do you hear me?" "Jacques!" "You're staying with us, understand?" "That's it." "Yes." "You'll be fine." "He's OK." "Bravo." "Here." "You need some sleep." "Sleep now." "Then we'll talk." "I love you." "I wasn't on board." "The first and only time in 20 years." "I wasn't on board." "I have to go." "Tell Mamma." "I know this isn't the ideal time to tell you but I've got your test result." "It's positive." "Are you happy?" "Yes." "Good." "Scared." "But happy." "I'm having a baby." "So... no more ouzo." "And, of course, no more cigarettes." "Take care." "Jacques." "Laurence!" "Novelli!" "What's wrong?" "Dr Laurence!" "Jacques!" "Wait, we have to see Laurence." "What are you doing?" "Don't go, please!" "Stay here." "Why are you going?" "Jacques." "Why are you doing this?" "I have to go and see." "See what?" "There's nothing to see." "It's cold and dark." "There's no one there!" "I'm here!" "I'm real, I'm alive!" "Jacques." "I'm pregnant." "Did you hear me?"