"Good morning, Kan!" "Good morning, ma'am!" "Nice of you to have come and got me," "I appreciate it." "If I may say so, ma'am, it's a pleasure." "How did you know I was coming?" "I simply guessed." "Ah!" "You simply guessed it... by checking every passing car?" "Don't you like me anymore?" "Would it make any difference?" "Where are you going?" "That's not the way to the house." "It's the way to mine and my brothers' house." "Never mention them again." "I've heard enough about your terrible brothers as it is!" "Yeah!" "I know!" "Three little troublemakers." "The boss fired... because they were peeping... watching you undress..." "hiding on the balcony to look at you taking your clothes off!" "But there's a catch to it:" "You knew it, and you were deliberately provoking them... as you're provoking me!" "That will do!" "I want you to stop!" "I'm not taking orders anymore." "I just quit..." "this very minute!" "Stop the car!" "No!" "Leave me alone." "Oh!" "No!" "Please!" "Leave me alone!" "Oh!" "No!" "Leave me alone!" "You bastards!" "No!" "Oh, please stop it!" "No!" "No!" "Leave me alone!" "Leave me alone!" "Oh yes!" "O h yes!" "You see... you see, I did lead them on." "Cecilia!" "What happened to you, my love?" "I was very worried." "I'll kill them for this!" "Andre!" "There's something I've got to tell you!" "It's monstrous!" "My wife violated by two filthy pigs!" "I didn't tell you all this so you'd go and turn the thing into a tragedy." "I don't want you to think in terms of killing, of punishing..." "of revenge." "We've been married now for over two years." "You know I fell in love with you from the moment I saw you in Paris." "I left the man I loved..." "And I divorced." "My very dear friend!" "I'd like to introduce you to my niece, Cecilia." "Oh, she'll take good care of you." "Yes, she adores plush nightclubs, and Latin playboys!" "It looks like a very, very nice party!" "Yes, and I hope that we're going to enjoy ourselves." "Ah, Cecilia!" "May I present Andre, son of the departed Comte de la Motte." "Your father is dead, isn't he?" "Yes." "Good evening, my friend." "You look in pretty fine shape!" "I am, thank you!" "Just great!" "Never felt better in my Iife." "Thanks for inviting me, it's a great party." "Cecilia, dance with Andre." "Oh, she doesn't look it, but she's ever so shy." "You're so sweet!" "You didn't see Hamlet..." "with those dwarfs?" "Simply divine!" "You mean, you saw dwarfs?" "Oh, it was beyond words!" ""On s'en fout, nous on s'aime! "" "What's that mean?" "That's another one that we'll miss, heh." "Come on!" "Look at that over there!" " It's beautiful!" " Yes!" "Great eh?" "And right over there... is the River Seine!" "You want to see the Cathedral?" "Let's climb all the way up." "All the way up there?" "I'll race you!" "You better be fast!" "You want to bet?" "I'll tackle you flat on your bum if you dare beat me to the top!" "Look at this!" "You know, I think I've just changed my mind." "Let's go for a drink instead." "You're a sissy!" "And then, we got married." "And you brought me here... into your world..." "your land... your life at the embassy." "Weren't you happy?" "I was very happy..." "yes, very happy!" "I was yours - body and soul, for two years..." "yours alone." "I'd never been faithful to anybody before you." "The first few months were marvelous, deliciously exhausting!" "We made love for nights on end." "Then gradually... it's true, our passion died down." "I still love you." "So do I." "Our love will last forever." "I could never love another man ever again." "Nor I another woman." "When we made love today, when I came back, it felt like it used to, in the beginning when we first met." "I came so much, I thought I'd faint!" "And, do you know why?" "I'm very conscious of it." "It's because these two boys made me come so much," "I went mad." "They managed to bring out in me an extraordinary sensuality." "The animal in heat!" "Then, making love with you... came close to..." "absolute happiness!" "I desired you like the first time." "Didn't you notice it?" "And, in one single hour, I gave you... more love than I'd even given you over the past two years!" "And I felt no shame about my body, which others had just possessed." "Because genuine love has nothing to do with violent, carnal desire." "Don't you believe so, Andre?" "What are you leading up to now?" "I want you to understand something which is very important." "Wouldn't it be far, far better, my love, if we left our senses a certain freedom?" "You know what I mean..." "If we renounced physical fidelity?" "It wouldn't necessarily mean... that we would cool to each other... or, that we'd grow bored." "Or, that we would become indifferent to each other." "Do you mean that you've had enough of me?" "Of course not!" "Tell me, over the past two years, didn't you ever desire another woman?" "Yes, I did." "But we didn't make it." "You want me to swear?" "No." "But you were mentally unfaithful to me." "Now, will you admit it?" "Why not just be sincere?" "Why not always try to live with the truth?" "It might be better..." "far better to admit that I couId love somebody with all my might, but enjoy sex with another..." "And that coming back to the one you want and love is the biggest thrill!" "Who could have thought of that?" "I never hoped for such a thing." "Ah, I won the race!" "I wouldn't mind a kiss from my loving husband." "I'm sure you'll have no trouble finding a man who'll kiss you far better than me." "And if I'm right, a kiss from me would probably bore you." "Looks like we're in for stormy weather." "I can't stand it anymore, Antonin!" "Alright, tell grandmother all about it." "Come on;" "don't make fun of me." "I'm making fun of him!" "No man loved by a woman like you has a right to get angry at her." "I mean it." "Help me, Antonin!" "I propose we drink to friendship!" "Yes, let's drink to friendship!" "And now, to love!" "To freedom!" "Yes, to freedom." "I'll drink to that." "My dear guests..." "I think..." "I think I'd better beg your permission to retire now." "I think I'm drunk... wine, brandy, cocktails and whatnot... would you mind... helping your grandmother to her room?" "You will, huh?" "Okay." "You don't mind, huh?" "Jingle bells, jingle bells, jingle all the way..." "all the way..." "You want to dance?" "Why not?" "Exactly what do you want?" "I want to make love with you." "Roll me over in the clover!" "Roll me over!" "Put me down!" "Okay!" "You don't have to play the part of the drunk and decadent marquis any longer." "How was I, huh?" "Marvelous!" "That was no part." "I am a drunk and decadent marquis!" "Do you think we've got a chance?" "Sure." "She likes the idea, and she'll pull it off." "It seems to me that a lot of women seduce men just to prove to themselves that they're beautiful and utterly irresistible." "And, making love is, for many of them, a formality afterwards." "And, what about me?" "You too, my sweet friend!" "Don't tell anybody, because you'd damage my reputation as a man-eater!" "But you are a real man-eater!" "And you'd want..." "quite a few of them!" "You're all excited!" "What excites me is the way you speak." "We'd better get back to the dining room, don't you think?" "We've got to stick to our timing." "So soon?" "That's what I call fast work!" "Cecilia!" "Cecilia!" "I can explain!" "Wait a minute, Cecilia!" "You're a macho, that's what you are." "You machos can do anything you please." "It doesn't mean a thing, right?" "For Christ's sake, let me explain!" "Go ahead, explain." "Cecilia, wait a second!" "Listen to me." "Let me tell you." "Let me explain." "Cecilia, open the door!" "Come on!" "Thanks." "Thank you for the lesson." "I love you and I want you more than ever!" "Andre, it's funny, but it feels like my life began" " the day I met you!" " You mean that, darling?" " You love me?" " Very much!" "You know, it's kind of weird being in this house, like being thrown into the past." "Come on!" "Let's go in and join the others." "The house is still beautiful!" "Ah, so there you are!" "We'd almost given up on you,you know?" "Nice to see you." "Thanks." "How are you?" "So, you're still in love!" "Some people have all the luck!" "I'm so glad to see you." "Oh, come on, let's join the crowd." "May I present my niece." "She doesn't live in Paris, but..." "We've known each other for a long time." "Of course." "What's the matter with me?" "You owe me half a dance;" "remember?" "Yes, of course." "See you later." "They look good together, don't they?" "Yes, they do at that." "Ah, come one, Andre." "Why are you looking so sad?" "Oh, she isn't lost, you know." "He'll bring her back to you." "Goon!" "Enjoy yourself!" "Let's enjoy ourselves too!" "Come on; cheer up!" "Somebody told me that your first novel was autobiographical." "Yes, one day, I sat down and decided to write a story about my first abortion." "What do you call it?" "'Neither Virgin, Nor Martyr'." "Wow, that should sell!" "That is one hell of a title." "Come on, don't be such a prig!" "Will you come and dance with me?" "Oh, of course." "Cheer up, young man!" "A beautiful flower for a beautiful lady!" "What's wrong?" "Listen to me, Cecilia." "No!" "I've wanted you for years and years." "listen to me!" "" " For Christ's sake!" "Will you leave me alone!" "Cut it out!" "They won't miss us, Cecilia." "let's get away." "" " You're crazy!" "Stay here, just a moment!" "Come on, let go of me!" "Listen to the birds, how happy they sound." "They do!" "Listen, so close to Paris -- and yet so far!" "Oh, there you are!" "Ah, bravo!" "Oh, congratulations!" "Oh, you were marvelous!" "I was?" "You're too modest;" "I want to congratulate you." "If that's the way you feel about it." "Oh, yes, you were sublime, the way you held on to her." "" " Gave me a thrill." "" " What are you talking about?" "Yes, you did, and I'll have you know, my friend, we both expected no less from you." "What a wonderful display of mastery!" "Sheer mastery!" "You were too much for words!" "Last week on television, we lost the cup." "Ah, tragedy!" "We would have kept it if your horse hadn't tripped." "Tough luck!" "Oh, yes." "So, that's what you're talking about." "We're going to love, and want each other more than ever." "Yes, you know the way I feel." "You're not only my wife and my mistress " "You're also -- my confidant." "Well, now " "Now, we can do anything we want to!" "Not quite." "We can't love anybody else -- nor be infatuated." "The love we feel for each other must remain..." "the greatest." "Of course, darling." "But then, we've got to tell each other everything -- everything we do." "Yes." "You know, I read in a book a long time ago about lovers who came to an agreement." "They allowed themselves total freedom to make sure that they'd stay faithful." "That's what we'll do." "Want to know what happened next?" "She killed him with jealousy." "And you " "Would you have done it too?" "Of course!" "I would have done the same thing." "And you?" "I don't know." "Maybe the same." "Who are your friends?" "No idea!" "I just met them." "I met them yesterday at the riding club." "They're a strange couple." "I hope they're fun -- otherwise, we throw them overboard." "The way i tlooks to me, she can hardly wait to get me into bed!" "And he brings incestous ideas." "If it's that funny, would you mind letting me in on it?" "Sure, why not." "That's what we do for a living." "I used to be a pretty good classical dancer, but -- when George finished school," "I whipped up this act here we have together." "And can George do this?" "I don't get it." "He's my son." "I had him when I was just fifteen." "How old does that make him now?" "Sixteen." "Is it true you make love with him?" "I'm a bit leery what people say." "Yes." "I taught him on several occasions." "Who could have taught him better than me?" "And what does society have to say about you?" "No, that's precisely why we moved here." "We earned quite a bit of money since we started working together." "We just bought ourselves a club in town." "Will you be putting on your act there?" "Of course!" "I hope you'll come to see me." "In fact, we may come every evening." "It's hard to believe you have a son!" "You've got marvelous breasts." "I'd like mine to be as nice." "Don't be an idiot." "Your breasts are -- beautiful." "Unka!" "Unka!" "Unka!" "Yes, ma'am." "My husband isn'there yet?" "No, ma'am." "The telephone isn't working." "I called to get it fixed." "Will you run me a bath?" "Cecilia?" "Andre, where are you?" "I'm still downtown." "Yes, but where?" "I'm at Madam M's place, with three pretty girls straight off the farm " "They're helping me forget yesterday's inanities." "I want you." "So do I." "I'll tell you all about it when we make love." "Will you belong?" "It depends " "I'm smack in the middle of things." "You're a pig." "I love you!" "So do I." "Will you pour me another glass of that crap?" "Yes, sir." "You're not from around here." "You must be Portuguese;" "they're all over the goddamn place." "Kan?" "Come back." "Oh - come in, lady." "What can we do for you?" "They're all family:" "cousins." "Come on?" "Would you mind driving the car back?" "I'd rather not." "I'm glad you came, ma'am." "You made us all very happy." "I'm happy too, Al." "How will you get home?" "I don't mind walking a bit -- don't mind." "Ma'am, I wanted to tell you -- about my brother, Kan." "How should I tell you -- he loves you." "He shipped out on a boat." "He was gone a long while." "He wants to see you." "He told me..." "Then why did he go away?" "He's a proud man." "Goodbye, I've got to run." "Hello, Kan." "Morning, ma'am." "If you want to go in for a swim," "I'll take care of your horse -- like I used to." "You can count on me." "From here on in, I'll do whatever you say." "Kan, I'm so glad that you're back." "Me too." "Who's there?" "Sir!" "Oh, sir!" "What is it?" "The missus' horse comes back alone." "Do you know what time she left?" "No, sir." "She must have left bright and early." "I didn't hear her leave." "Why did you come back?" "You preyed on my mind." "You lived in me like an obsession." "I had to come back and hold you in my arms." "I had to tell you I love you." "I don't love you." "I know." "A lady like you could never fall in love with a guy like me." "I've got to ask you, Kan." "Please don't try to see me again." "Okay, I won't!" "In any event -- my boat leaves tomorrow morning." "That's the reason why I followed you today ;" "it was my last chance." "Would you be gone a long time?" "Who knows." "The best thing is to forget you." "Yeah, try to forget." "When I'm anywhere near you, I live through you " "I breathe through you " "I sleep through you " "It's more than I can bear." "Cecilia -- you know, I've been all over the world -- but the sea was the same " "It made me think -- of the waves right on this beach -- playing on your naked body " "That the wind, which blew in my hair -- was going to tousle yours." "Go away!" "Go away, you hear!" "Okay, I'm going." "But I won't come back." "I don't want to see you anymore." "Me neither, my wonderful love." "Let's say goodbye here." "My husband must be looking for me." "Alright." "I'll close my eyes so I won't see you go." "My ship leaves tomorrow at dawn." "I'll have the whistle blown three times -- once for each time we made love." "Maybe you'll hear it from your room." "Cecilia!" "You frightened me!" "Well, so did you." "When your horse came back alone," "I was so afraid something had happened to you." "Something did happen." "I was swimming when she -- bolted away for some reason." "Bravo!" "Bravo!" "Why are they applauding?" "I didn't like her at all." "She bored me." "I'm better than that." "Show us then." "There's nothing to it." "I could do it better." "That little bitch turns you on, right?" "Well, I thought she was pretty good." "What did you call her a bitch for?" "Because that's what she is." "That makes three of us." "So am I." "And if that gets a rise out of you, wait till I'm through with you!" "Okay, that's enough." "Easy does it." "I'm still thirsty." "I want another drink." "You think I'm drunk?" "Well, I'm not." "I'm as sober as a teetotaling judge." "And if you think she put on a show, wait till you see mine." "Come on!" "Wait and see!" "That's enough now!" "She's pissed." "Please, come back here." "Come and dance." "Come on now, that's more than enough." "Come back here!" "The bitch!" "Fucking A!" "Come on!" "That does it!" "We're going home." "Comeon; get up!" "Come on!" "No!" "No!" "The party's over, come on!" "Stop!" "How about that, eh?" "The dancing girl!" "What do you know?" "Hang on!" "I can tell she's going to run." "She just might at that." "Well, let's catch her." "What good do you think that will do you, huh?" "How the hell can she run so fast?" "Come on, you guys!" "No!" "No!" "Leave me alone!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "Stop it!" "No!" "No!" "You don't know what you are in for!" "So you finally came around!" "Any idea where he is?" "No." "But I know who he is with." "Her name is Ruth, and she's American." "She's the daughter of an oil magnate -- or, is it gas?" "How could he leave this way -- knowing the state I'm in?" "When they found you that day in the weeds, in pretty bad shape -- raped -- he said, "I hope she'll be okay." "In any event, she probably got a big kick out of the whole thing."" "When you came to, and it looked like you'd be alright -- he went away with Ruth, whom he'd met a few days before." "Where did they go?" "They left for the Far East." "But I don't know exactly where, or, how long they'll be gone." "He said you'd understand " "He said you had made a pact, and that you didn't stick to it." "So, he knows about Kan?" "Of course." "Andre is an intelligent man." "All he had to do was bring Kan's coat back to his brothers." "What can I do?" "The question is:" "do you still love Andre?" "I do!" "I swear I love him!" "You know, this thing with Kan was just plain crazy." "It was -- well, poetry " "And poems are usually very short -- too short." "We're the ones who shorten poetry to our measure." "Cecilia!" "Poor woman!" "With or without freedom, we remain -- victims." "Always the victim -- of a man's world." "Yes." "And you know why?" "It's because we're slavesof love, that's why." "That's how it is." "We may try our best -- but, it'suseless." "Just try to relax." "Calm down!" "And don't think about him anymore." "Don't think about him!" "He doesn't deserve you any more than the others do." "You're right." "I love you, darling." "Andre is here -- downstairs." "He told me everything." "He can't live without you." "All these girls -- and there haven't been that many." "It was just to make you jealous." "He doesn't want to keep on living this absurd way." "You decide " "Either it's him, or it'sher." "He'll wait downstairs for a few minutes." "If you don't come -- he'll leave, and never come back." "Is this for good?" "It's for good."