"This is how it always ends." "A little magic, a little smoke." "Something floating." "But it doesn't work without the right means:" "A little laughter, a man, a beautiful woman." "And love." "Let's start at the beginning." "First , a man." "No, he is not alone." "Yet." "That's the first step." "The man." "Then comes the laughter." "The woman." "Love." "Watch him." "We begin like this." "It's not like the beginning." "So take it easy." "But it's important." "Believe me." "A man comes into a bar." "He sees a beautiful woman." "Do they know each other?" "It doesn't look like it." "But even so ..." "They seem acquainted." "Who knows whom?" "Is this a beginning or a end?" "That's what we're about to see." "The beginning and the end." "Love and goodbye." "I know I don't need to say so, but anyway." "Remember: it is all film." "It is all a construction." "But even so, it hurts." " Hi." " Hi." "Coming?" " Coming?" " Yes." "To Rome." "We'll have to hurry if we're to make that plane." " Or what?" " No, I haven't time." " Alex." " Aimee." " Aimee?" " Yes." " Like her?" " Yes." "You know ..." "Yes, I know." "Perhaps you'd rather go to Paris, then?" "No, I wouldn't." "Oh ..." "Maybe we should wait a little." " Yes." "I think so." " Can I get you something?" "I'd like a cup of coffee." "You're not hungry?" "That's if they've got anything." "Two coffees, please." "Just what do you want?" "What do I want?" "I just want to go to Rome." "Maybe it's too ..." "Thanks." "Maybe it's too soon." " We need to know each other better." " I think so, yes." "All I know is that you are very, very beautiful." " If I may say so." " Yes, you certainly may." "Is that all you know?" "I know that if you are my dream, I am yours." "What do you want?" " I want to say goodbye." " Say goodbye?" "Now?" "No, first I have to come in." "Then I sit down at a table or at the bar, it doesn't matter which." "I am with a beautiful woman." "I place my order." "A cup of coffee, maybe." "I drink." "I look at her." "I tell her I love her." "She looks at me with a little smile." "She doesn't know me." "She knows that." "But she remembers me from somewhere." "In a way." "She doesn't give me the brush-off although perhaps she ought to." "She looks at me." "She waits." "The night passes." "Until she suddenly understands that I'm not lying." "I do love her." "There." "Right there is where I say goodbye." "It's time." "Let's take it from the beginning." "It's not so complicated." "There are four people." "Aimee and I, August." "We are married." "Then there's Alex, the young photographer, and his beautiful girlfriend, Simone." "They're not married." "Alex and Aimee are going to meet." "Not yet, but soon." "They're all looking for love, the dear children." "It can be a bit of a battle." "Let it begin!" " Very nice." " Very." "Very nice." "It's from Monica." "She wants us to have a drink with her at the bar." " Did you hear me?" " Yes." "Monica asked us out for a drink." " Now?" " Do you want to?" " You go." "I'm tired." " I thought we could have time together." " Before I go to Roskilde." " There's no time ... if Monica ..." " It's only a drink." " I'll sketch a bit." "I don't mind." " Are you sure?" " Yes." "Listen ..." "I've nearly finished my story." "I know how they'll meet." " Good." " I'll tell you tomorrow ..." "Sure?" " I love you." " I love you." " Are you taking your suitcase?" " No, I've got all I need in here." " Bye." " See you tomorrow." " How are things?" " What do you mean?" "I mean at home." "Life." "Love." "Isn't that what people usually talk about?" "Things are going fine." " How about you?" " Great." " That's great." " Yes, really great." "What would make you really, really glad?" " Glad?" " Yes." "Almost happy?" "What would make me almost happy?" "I don't know." " If I did, I'd do it." " You would?" " Yes." " No matter what it took?" "Yes." "No matter what it took." "I dreamed the other day that I had another girlfriend than Simone." "It wasn't because she was particularly good looking." "Oh, she had soft skin and small breasts, but she was   stupidly fragile." "And weirdly enough, this dread came over me that I'd hurt her." "I woke up in a panic." "Had I hurt her?" "It's true." "I was completely ..." "I've never been so scared of hurting another person." "I felt more responsible for her than I've ever felt for Simone." "Right then ... take care now, OK?" " Take care." " You, too." "Give Nan my love." "Will do." "Give Simone mine." " Will you be cross?" " About what?" "If I go now?" "I know dad wants to go drinking." "But I've got a thousand things to do tomorrow." " You're going?" " Yes." "Make me an excuse." "He won't accept a "no" from me." " What shall I say?" " That I've a meeting." "A deadline." " A deadline?" " Or something." "Do stay a bit longer." "After all, you never see him." " I don't want to." " You know he loves being with you." " I don't think so." " Of course he does!" " I don't feel like it." " What about us then?" " Could we got out?" " Yes, of course." " You'd do that?" " I'd like to." "I'd wait for you at the station." "We'll go out for a drink." "OK?" "See you at the station." "Darling   you're suffocating me!" "You're suffocating me!" " Quickly!" "Before he comes!" " See you." " Very stylish." " It was most kind of you." " Shall we move on?" "Where is he?" " He had to go." " He said he was really sorry." " Does he always just leave?" "No." "But you know what he's like." "Dedicated to his work." " How do you feel about that?" " Alex is ..." " He is very sweet." " Sweet?" "Do you love him?" "Yes." "Does he love you?" "Do you love me?" "Yes." "Why don't you ever say so?" "What?" "I do say so!" "Only when I ask." "Never by yourself." "I love you." "Yes." "Goodbye Simone." " It was nice while it lasted." " It was." "Bye!" "Alex!" " Are you OK?" " Yes." " I'm OK." " Sweetheart ..." " How did things go with dad?" " You are a bit of an idiot." "I know, I know." " Let me get a paper." " What for?" " Would you like a light?" " No." " Did you find any?" " No ..." "No." "I love you." "I hope you know." "I have to go." " Coming?" " What?" "To Rome?" "The plane leaves shortly." " To Rome?" " Yes." "Sorry." "Oh." " What do you want?" " Pardon?" " What would you like?" " A coffee, please." "Only coffee?" "You're not hungry?" "Two coffees." "Thanks." "Why Rome?" "Why Rome, exactly?" "Because I think it sounds right." "Don't you?" "You're beautiful, if I may say so." "You may." " Alex." " Aimee." "Thank you." "Thank you." " Who are you?" " What?" "Who are you?" "Have you already forgotten?" " Pardon?" "Have you already forgotten?" "Already forgotten?" "Oh, no, of course not." " Sure?" " Yes, I'm sure." " You're you, and ..." " So you remember me?" "But you're still late." " Late?" " Five minutes." " No, no, no, no ..." " We said 11 o'clock." "Oh, OK." "I didn't know it was this late." "I'm really sorry." "That's OK." "You're here now." " And you don't have to go?" " No, I'm going nowhere." "And you brought your photos?" " No." " You've forgotten them, too?" " Just what have you remembered?" " I've got some right here." " See?" " Nice." " What is it?" " A woman with three choices." "To stay where she is." "To make the leap ... or ..." "Or?" "She's the only one who knows." " What do you think?" " We'll see what happens." " You haven't decided yet?" " Not yet." "Give me some time." "Surely that's allowed?" "Time to think?" "It's an important decision, after all." "Yes it is, after all." "And you should never trust a man with a camera." "So I must be extra careful." " Can I trust you?" " Of course." "Promise?" "Why me?" "Because if I am your dream   you are mine." "Aimee is standing at the door" "Chapter I ... something floating ..." "Hi." "Good morning." " What are you going to do now?" " Have a shower." "You are sweet." "But you have to go soon." "Yes." "Oh?" "How soon?" " Very soon." " Very soon?" "Oh." "Is that it, then?" "You think so?" " No." " Good." "Hey!" "Whoa!" "What do we do now?" "Think of something." ""Think of something"?" "Thank you." " Got a light?" " Yes." "No, I'm sorry, I just gave my lighter away." "Sorry." "Aimee?" "Hi!" "Aimee." "See you at 1 P.M." " Aimee?" " Hi!" "Back already?" "How nice!" " How did it go?" " Just fine." "Hungry?" "Shall I order some breakfast?" " What did you say?" " Yes, please." " What did you do last night?" " Sketched." "Had an early night." " Can I see them?" " Now?" "No, later." "I think I've got to grips with my novel." "I know his problem." " That's great!" " What are your plans for today?" "I don't know." "Go for a walk." "Room 1235." "What would you like?" " I'd like everything." " Everything?" "Yes, breakfast." "Everything." " I'll get dressed." " Thank you." " Good morning." " Good morning." "I'm sorry, Mrs Banum!" "Do you need some help?" " Oh, no, why?" " If they're too heavy ..." "No, as you see, I am doing splendidly." "That's fine, then." " Who is it?" " Alex." " Who?" " Alex from upstairs." "I'm sorry, I can't hear you." "These doors weren't made for talking through." " Who are you, did you say?" " It's me." "Alex." "I just wanted to say that I can't get in." "Into my flat." "It's kind of ..." "Are they rebuilding or something?" " Rebuilding?" "Just what do you want?" " What do I want?" "I can't get into my flat." "There isn't a door." "Perhaps it's my fault." "But I don't understand." "It's very confusing for me as well." " There's kind of no door up there." " Up where?" "In my flat." "Your flat?" "What flat?" "Mrs Banum, I live just up the stairs!" "In the loft?" "Who on earth has given you permission for that?" "Did Simone put you up to this?" " Who?" " Simone, my girlfriend." "For goodness' sake!" "If you'll excuse me ..." "I'm having people for lunch." " Goodbye." " It's just that ..." "Perhaps we should leave today." "I don't feel quite well." "I don't feel like anymore lectures." "I think I'll cancel." " Really?" "Can you?" " Yes, of course I can." "I thought it was a big event." "It is." "But if I don't want to, I don't want to." "Don't you want to leave?" "Spend more time together?" "After all, we never talk." "Do you mean it?" "Yes, I mean it." "Why now, all of a sudden?" "Because I want to be with you." " Isn't that enough?" " Of course." "Yes, hello?" "No, not right now." "But ..." "We've already talked about that." "I've told you twice." "No, but ..." "I'll come on down." "Bye." "Was that Monica?" "I'll go and talk to her." " And then we'll leave." " Yes, we will." "Just a second." "Hi, Leo." "Have you got 100 kroner to pay off my taxi?" "I didn't bring any money." "Are you on your own, or is Nan there?" "She's in the living room." "Yes, of course." "Come on in." " Hi there!" " Hi!" "Having a drink, eh?" " Are you OK?" "Yes, we're just playing." "My door has vanished." "I've got no door." " Oh?" " Have you talked to Simone?" " No?" " The craziest thing's happened." "It's such a crazy story." "When I got home ..." "I can't find my wallet, Darling." "Have you any cash?" "Shall I take Mercedes so you can talk to your friend?" "I'm sorry, I didn't catch your name?" "What?" " What?" "What do you mean?" " What do you mean?" " Your friend." " You mean your friend." "OK, this is way over my head." "What's going on?" " Darling, he's come to see you?" " Me?" "I don't know him." "OK, listen." "I need to pay off my taxi." "Have you 100 kroner?" "I've only got 50." "What are you doing here?" " Is this anything to do with Simone?" " What are you on about?" "Beat it." " You're serious?" " I don't remember meeting you." "Come off it!" " Have you been talking to Simone?" " Please leave." " It's time for you to go." " Did Simone put you up to this?" " Beat it!" " Leo, what are you playing at?" "!" "You're really in for it if you don't leave right now." "Hello?" "Hi!" "Yes." "Obviously." "I understand." "No, that's quite all right." "Yes ..." "I'll go for a walk." "No, not at all." "It's quite all right, August." "See you." "Bye." "Simone?" "Simone?" "What the hell are you doing?" "What are you doing?" "Why?" "Just because I'm gone one night?" " What have I done?" " I don't know." "Excuse me." "You are such a fool." "Here!" "Here!" "I'll fetch my stuff on Monday if I can get into the flat." "Just a moment!" "Hey!" "These aren't my keys." "Sorry." "I am completely ..." "I just don't get it ..." "I know I've been a jerk and I'm really sorry." "Really I am." "Simone, please stop it." "Please?" "I am sorry, but ..." "I've really never seen you before." "All right?" " Where do you think you've seen me?" " You're my girlfriend." "Your ..." "Your girlfriend?" "You are my girlfriend." "You're 28." "Born in Stockholm." "You've two brothers, Kalle and Gorm." "How did you know that?" "Because you told me." "Listen, you love me and I love you and ..." "I'm sorry." "I've got to go." "Goodbye." "Hello?" "It's me." " On your feet!" " What's the matter?" "I'm your son!" "My name is Alex David." "It's been a very weird day." "That's why ..." "I need ..." "I need you." "You can see that, surely?" "You're my dad and I'm your son." " You're out of your mind." " Listen, Dad ..." "Listen ..." " No matter what, I love you." " What utter nonsense!" "Get away from me!" "I mean it!" "Get away!" " Can I help you?" " A table for two?" " Certainly." "Come this way." " Thanks." " Thank you." "The gents?" " That way." " That door." " Oh, over there." "There's nothing wrong, Alex." "Nothing wrong." "Everything will be all right." "You'll go out and she'll be there." "Hi." "Hi." "So you came." "I'm really pleased." "How fortunate!" " Is something wrong?" " No, not at all." "Everything's fine." " We've got a table over here." " OK." "Excuse me ..." "Thank you." "Are you ready?" "We're starting!" " How many interviews have we left?" " Not that many." "Three more." " That's good." " Is something the matter?" "No, nothing at all." "Excuse my asking, but is it to do with Aimee?" "I've just not seen her yet." "No, she's gone into town." "She only came for my sake." "OK." "It's not much fun for her, but ..." " But what?" " But nothing." "Let's begin." "Yes." "I'll go out and check ..." "Excuse me?" "Would you ask that man on his own if I could join him?" "Excuse me, Sir." "The lady at the bar asks if she may join you." " Her?" " Yes." " Yes, she may." " I'll tell her." " You're welcome to." " Thank you." "May I?" "Please do!" "My name is Aimee." "Alex." "You looked so nice that I wondered if you'd mind a little company." " Not at all." " Are you hungry?" "Yes." "I haven't had lunch." " That's a nice lighter." " I always have it on me." " Do you come here often?" " No, I wouldn't say so." " So they don't know you here?" " No." " What are you getting at?" " Is this a new place for you?" " What would you prefer?" " I don't know." "Either we sit here, look at the menu although we know what we want, we order, our order comes and it's good, as usual, we talk, listen   or not, not because we're bored," "but because we rest in each other's company." " Either that, or ..." " Or?" "We examine the menu because we don't know it." "We ask the waiter to explain half of it." "We look at each other." ""Who are you, really?"" "I want to know more." "I know nothing and I want to know everything." "Which do you prefer?" "Can't I have it all?" "Maybe." "Why are you so obsessed with love?" "I don't know if I am." "No, but you are celebrated for writing about it so passionately." "Because it interests me, I suppose." "As a man, do you think your view of love is different to a woman's?" "As I abhor generalizations, let me give you one." "I think that love is ..." "Fundamentally it means something different to a man than to a woman." "I think that for women love is a necessity." "Something she cannot live without." "That love is a conscious choice." "Something she decides on." "So love may be a choice one decides to make?" "Yes." "Isn't it?" "But romance need not exclude love as a conscious choice." "I think that we, men, want love to take us by surprise." "It is something we do not want to plan." "Because it is actually rather an embarrassment." "Something that gets in the way." "Whether it is an end or a means, love has to be imposed." "And to go on being so ..." "How about your wife?" "Is she an "imposed end"" "or did you "decide on" her?" " What was that?" " That was running out on the bill." " Without paying?" "You didn't pay?" " No." " No!" " No!" " No!" " Yes!" " You didn't do that." " Yes, we did." "You're a petty criminal." "No!" "What would you say if I said I was falling in love with you?" "Are you?" "Would you think it was weird?" "No." "What are you doing?" "Giving you my ring." " Why?" " So you know we'll meet again." " Again?" "What do you mean?" " When I go ..." "You're going?" "I'll come back." "Back where?" "Here." " Here?" " Yes, wasn't that the place?" "Yes!" "It was!" "Tonight or something?" " In a few hours' time, in fact." " Yes." "See you!" " So we're going to do it now?" " Yes." "Now." "But there's somebody I have to say goodbye to first." "Leave a message at the hotel about when I should meet you at that café." " So we're going to do it?" " Yes." "I'm saying goodbye." "You should say goodbye, too." "In Rome I'll have you to myself." "You certainly will!" "Alex ..." "I don't know who you are." "No." "Actually I don't know you, either." "You will." "Are you sure?" "I know." "Bye." "August, I need to talk to you." "Can we sit down?" "Before you say anything, I've something to show you." " Not now." " Maybe what you want to say ..." "I just want to show you." "Aimee ..." " I know that I'm not always easy ..." " Not now, August." " Won't you listen?" " You should listen to me." "Yes, I'm sure, but ..." "I know I'm bad at saying how much I love you   and how much you mean to me." "And I know you don't think there's any time for you." " Not now!" " But there is time for you." "It's because I'm so bad at all that that I want you to look at this." "For Aimee." "Without her there would be nothing." "I really mean it." "Aimee?" "Aimee, forgive me for being so stupid." "But I love you." "I want us to go away, you and I." "I have spoken to Monica." "I'll deliver my last lecture tonight and then we can go away." "Wherever you want." "Wherever you'd like." "You decide." "I can't." "I'm sorry." "Can you put me through to Aimee Holm?" "Room 1235?" "Thanks." "Oh." "Can you take a message?" ""Meet me at the cafe at 8"." ""I've got the reservations and everything"." "No, "I've got the tickets." Yes." "Thanks." "Goodbye." "I love you." "I hope you know." "Don't you understand?" "That we've always loved you." "Always." "Just a moment." " Aimee?" " Hi." " How lovely to see you!" " What do you want?" " Have you seen August anywhere?" " Isn't he having dinner with you?" " Aren't you coming, too?" " No." " Why not?" " I can't." "You're sure you don't know where he is?" "Yes." "See you, Aimee." "You look lovely." "Thank you." "Oh, Aimee ..." "If you have any problems with August you can always talk to me." " No, everything is fine." " You're not about to leave him, eh?" "You know he'd never survive." "I have to go now, Monica." "Goodbye." "Bye." "Hey!" " Hi." " Hi, handsome." "You following me?" " No, I just came by to see you." " Why?" " I came to say goodbye." " Goodbye?" "Shouldn't it be "Hello"?" " Hello." " Coming inside?" " You're with a bunch of people ..." " I'm with you." "Come on!" "I really did come to say goodbye." "Goodbye." "There are no words with you." "Goodbye." "Excuse me?" "Have you seen a man in his thirties?" "Tall?" "Dark?" " No ..." "I'm afraid not." " OK, thanks." " I really have to go now." " Just a bit longer." " Don't you remember me at all?" " No." "Where are you, Alex?" "Come on!" " I've got to make a phone call." " Say something nice." "You are a lovely, lovely woman." "I've got to make that call." "Excuse me?" "Can you give me some change for the phone?" " Here." " Thanks." " What's the matter with the phone?" " It's bust." " I have to go." " No." "I'm sorry." " Are you leaving me?" " Yes." "Goodbye, Simone." "Alex?" "Alex." "Will you ... will you kiss me?" "Just to say goodbye?" "Will you kiss me just once?" "The Krasnapolsky, good evening." "Can you see a girl with blonde hair in your cafe?" " She's Swedish, mid-twenties ..." " I can't see anyone." " The place is packed." " It's really important." "I've no time to look." " I'd like to pay." " 22 kroner." " Thanks." " It's simple." "She's got fair hair." "She is very, very beautiful." "Her name is Aimee ..." "Look, mate, I can't see her." "The place is jam packed." "Try again later." "Goodbye." "Have you seen a blonde in a black coat?" "Speaks Swedish?" "She came in and left again?" "Fuck!" " Darling ..." " You didn't come." "I'm sorry." "I'll do anything, anything." " Anything, Aimee." " You didn't come." "I mixed things up." "I had to understand it first." "Alex has wavered at the decisive moment." "He's losing Aimee." "The last one." "The only one." "Can their love survive?" "What will it take?" "A test." "For him and for her." "Of his love for her." "Stupid, perhaps?" "If he turns around ..." "If he doubts ..." "She will disappear." "Monica's in the bar." "Monica!" "What are you doing?" "What are you doing here?" " I don't understand." " Our plane's about to take off." " We're not due to leave for an hour." " Who's "we"?" "My husband and I." " What are you playing at?" " I beg your pardon?" "What are you playing at?" " Excuse me, my husband is waiting." " Cut it out." "Aimee, you know you know me." "Look at me." "You love me and I love you." "We'll get another plane." "We'll leave tomorrow." "Whatever." "We can go now ... cut it out!" "You know who I am." " My husband is waiting." " I love you." "We'll have to go now." "I'll talk to them." " What was all that about?" " A young man." " Who thought he knew you?" "Who thought he loved me." " How nice!" "Was he unpleasant?" " Not at all." "We're a bit pushed for time ..." "Goodbye, Aimee." "The woman has gone." "The laughter is silent." "But the man is still here." "No, not like that." "All alone." "Watch him." "It is all film." "It is all a construction." "But even so, it hurts."