Original subtitles

(birds chirp)

("Le Bal" By Gabriel Yared)

(gun fires)

- [Solal] In the summer of 1936,

the world's attention is on the Olympic Games in Berlin,

but my attention was on the raised arms of the Nazi salute.

Meanwhile, Jewish communities all over Germany

were being persecuted, and in Ethiopia,

the natives continue to be massacred

by Mussolini's Italian troops.

What a farce.

In a year, it will become much worse.

Soon, the wickedness of these people

will become unstoppable.

My name is Solal du Solal,

I am the Head of Cabinet for the League of Nations,

a puppetry of ministers and ambassadors in Geneva.

And I feel lost.

But above all, I am a haunted man.

(haunting orchestral music)

Haunted by a woman who looked at me

without even seeing me, through a mirror,

at a ball in Geneva.

A married woman.

Whose husband worked for me

at the League of Nations.

(motor rumbles)

A husband who would suffer.

- And I worked out that if you convert his earnings

into today's money, at our Grade B level,

we are in roughly 10 times as much as Mozart did.

And all that with 113 days leave a year.

- You include an entertainment and household allowances?

- Good God, if I included all our allowances,

we'd be earning more than Mozart, Beethoven, and Schubert

put together.

(hinge squeaks)

(footsteps click)

What a lovely surprise.

(people chatter)

Iraq, Palestine, Syria.

Anything that concerns the natives of these territories,

I'm responsible for Ariane.

- That's quite an empire.

Well, at least the natives have you to look after them

don't they, Adrien?

- well I personally don't look after them the governors do.

You know there are 1,700 doors 1,900 radiators.

Guess how many loos there are?

- I don't know.

And are the natives treated well?

- Yes, of course.

All the reports come to me.

And how are you sure the reports are accurate?

- They're official.

- That's all right, then.

And what does the Commission do with them?

- It reads the reports

and then congratulates the mandatory power

and civilising action it's taken.

Will you just stop?

- Stop what?

- Stop, you're acting just like the other night.

I know you think we're all a load of bureaucrats,

or Clarks, as you put it.

You should stop humiliating us.

I'm a diplomat.

We're trained to see the other side of the coin.

I can't just go around blurting things out

like you'd like me to do.

- Good morning, Adrien.

Mrs. Dueme.

- Good morning, sir.

- You've gone bright red, Adrien.

- Have you any idea what has just happened?

- No.

- He called me by my first name, Ariane.

- The Chief of Cabinet for the Secretary General

of the League of Nations.

Jewish, though you'd scarcely know it.

Women go mad for him, he just oozes style.

Well, I mean.

But he's been going too far.

He's trying to get the Ethiopian Emperor

to address the assembly.

Imagine a Jew defying the Italians for the Blacks.

We should invite him to dinner.

(footsteps patter)

(menacing orchestral music) That's his mistress.

- [Woman] Put your clothes back on!

- Why don't you shut up, sit down!

(conductor speaks in foreign language)

(audience clamours)

(Solal claps)

(audience applauds)

- [Solal] My solitary walks

lead me around the house where she lives.

I watch over her sleep while she ignores it.

I dared even visit the room where she breathes.

(gentle orchestral music)

- Piano's there, and your bath is ready.

(door thuds)

(key clatters)

(notes plunk melodically)

(lock clatters)

- Who are you?

I'm just a poor shepherd.

My sheep have been scared

by that music from your palace up there.

How dare you criticise me, you snivelling peasant.

The Himalayas are my domain.

My domain.

Who are you? - Turn around, don't look.

We will kiss each other.

Through mirrors.

Do you remember, now my Himalayan queen?

- Her Highness hasn't come out of her room

since that piano arrived.

(giggles) Not that one, another one, for her bedroom.

That girl gets more and more peculiar by the day.

- [Solal] You, you who are so different from other women.

Your purity will redeem them all.

From the first blink of your eyes,

I swear by the God of Abraham and Isaac,

a god I don't believe in, but I...

- Pervert!

- [Solal] Turn around.

I said turn around!

Just like all the other females of the species.

- Ariane, here is some tea for you, my darling.

Don't forget I've invited Mr. Solal for dinner tonight.

- [Broadcaster] And this morning, at the League of Nations,

the Chief of Cabinet.

His Imperial Majesty, the Emporor of Ethopia,

will deliver his speech in his native language.

Amharic. (shoe thuds)

The Italian journalists reacted to the politically tainted...

- Where is he?

- He hasn't turned up.

I think we've been snubbed.

- After all, he is a foreigner and with foreigners,

one never knows where one stands.

- This evening has been a disaster.

- On the contrary, Adrien.

Now if anything, he owes you something.

- Quite right.

Foreigners aren't liked anywhere, not in any country.

There must be a reason.

- Ariane, what are you going to do?

- We've got to hear his excuse, don't you think?

- No, I don't think anything of the sort.

Please don't phone.

- Where does he live?

- I don't know.

- I thought you said he lived at the Ritz, darling.

(gentle orchestral music)

(Solal sighs)

- (sighs) Always this damned need to be loved.

- Are you referring to me or you?

- Even when you're older.

(Solal chuckles)

- [Ariane] A more important engagement.

- I think he's having dinner with that King of Ethiopia.

If you're going to be stood up,

it might as well be for royalty, even if he is African.

- They must eat very late in Ethiopia.

(gentle orchestral music)

- I think we should invite the Head of Cabinet more often.

- Worn out, used up, no more love. (sighs)

Bags under my eyes, sagging skin.

Cellulite.

God's blessings.

All on show.

It's just not fair.

No.

I don't want your pity.

If you still have any feelings for me, please go.

Go.

I bet her mammary glands are in good condition.

- You're beside yourself.

- Maybe so.

This time is different.

- She probably weighs 50 kilos.

Of which 35 are water.

I'm in love with 35 kilos of water.

- [Man] What a stupid idea of this Solal

to bring this monkey emperor here.

What we need is a concrete plan

with clearly quantifiable objectives to save our image.

A programme of action rather than a plan, I say.

But the programme of action must be a specific project.

If this programme of action is perceived as such,

then the argument objective would be to set up a new section

within the secretariat.

- [Man] Would the secretariat retain the overall control?

- Of course. - Interesting idea.

- [Man] We'll recommend, an urgent ad hoc mission

to all capitals of Europe for consultation.

- [Man] That'll at least give us more time,

and show them we're doing something.

- [Man] And it should keep Sir John happy, too.

This Head of Cabinet has gone too far.

(man chuckles) (toilet flushes)

(people chatter)

- The agenda.

- Only one item, put forward by Sir John Hensell.

What actions should be taken to promote

the goals and ideals of the League of Nations?

- The programme of action should be a specific project

rather than a plan of action.

If the programme of action is conceived as such,

then the proposal is to send an urgent, ad hoc...

- An urgent, ad hoc mission to the main European capitals

to consult in the creation of a new section

within the secretariat.

To promote the goals, et cetera.

Was that not what you came up with in your subcommittee?

- Subcommittee?

- I want an immediate report on the sanctions

to be imposed on Italy. (paper thuds)

It is collective security.

It is the very existence of the League of Nations.

It is the confidence that each state must place

in international treaty.

Thank you, gentlemen.

I think Mr. Dueme would be very useful

on your mission, Van Vries, don't you think?

- I was going to suggest it myself.

- Good.

And I hope you will allow me to invite you out to dinner

to make up for the other night.

- I would be honoured, sir.

- The honour will be mine.

(pen scratches)

- [Mariette] So, shall I pack these?

- No, I don't need them.

(Mariette sings in foreign language)

- He's terribly refined.

The kind of man that looks in the Bible

to find the address of a hotel in Jerusalem.

How could anyone fall for a man like that?

Shifty, eyes like a snake charmer.

How can be attracted to men?

Hairy arms, stunted breasts.

Sounds like a toothpaste, a tube of Solal, please.

- Well, it's thanks to your tube of toothpaste

I've been promoted to Grade A.

Now he's given me this mission.

(sighs) You are quite, quite perfect, you know?

Perhaps just a touch of lipstick.

- I hate lipstick, too vulgar.

- [Adrien] Could you make an exception for tonight?

- No.

This dress is too tight on my hips.

- It doesn't look tight to me.

- It's too low cut.

- Nonsense.

- Fine, I'll go like that and look indecent.

- Stunning.

- You can see half my breasts, doesn't that bother you?

- I wouldn't say half, darling.

More like a third.

They're only a third uncovered.

- If I do that, it's half.

- Darling, what are you getting at?

- The truth.

Do you want me to unleash my breasts on this man?

- Ariane.

- All right, then.

I'll just show him the top half.

- We should go.

Please be nice to him.

- Nice, then there is no need for this masquerade.

(people chatter)

- Good evening, would you please inform Mr. Solal

that Mrs. and Mrs. Deume have arrived?

- [Concierge] Of course, sir.

The elevators are in that direction.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

- I scribble a little.

I mean, when my professional duties permit.

I believe I have a novel in me.

- I novel.

- A genre of its own.

No story, just characters.

I despise all traditional forms of fiction.

Actually, I'd like to write about Don Juan.

It's a character that's haunted me for years.

- Don Juan, interesting.

Tell me, Adrien, what does he do in your novel?

- Well, he.

He seduces.

Of course, sir, if there's any advice you could give me, I.

- Have you given him innate contempt?

- Um, well, it.

It's all a matter of...

- Don Juan doesn't respect any woman.

He knows that even the most virtuous can't resist him.

And after he's pleasured them, he's got to lie there,

with them caressing his shoulder,

waiting for him to tell them how divine it was.

- Fascinating.

- Women, Adrien, are here to constantly remind us

of our animal condition, and yet,

there is one woman who haunts my thoughts.

What's tragic, is there's a husband.

If I take her away, he'll suffer.

But I will have her.

And yet, she haunts my thoughts.

Her long, beautiful eyelashes.

Her solitude, nee malaise.

(phone rings)

Will you excuse me?

- I'll bet it's the wife of the Indian delegate.

She's ravishing.

- Your taxi's here.

- Already? - Mm-hm.

- Pity.

- We have plenty of time.

Would you like to ask him to come back?

Good man.

Allow me to get you a clean glass.

- Yes, hello?

Yes, could the driver please return in one hour?

Right.

Yes, yes, two cars, I see,

front of the entrance to the hotel, fine.

Yes, the cars will be going to.

Yes, they'll both be going to different destinations.

- If in one hour you are not on your knees,

I'll promote your husband to Head of Section.

- As I was about to say,

the thing that drives him,

that fuels his anger and obsession

is the hope that one day he'll fail.

That he'll finally meet a woman who rejects him.

Don Juan, I mean.

- I have to go downstairs.

We can continue the conversation there.

All your character needs is a few simple tactics.

It's child's play.

First of all, you must warn her, she's about to be seduced.

Done.

Second, demolish the husband.

Now, this is easier said than done.

Husbands often belong, they have a country of their own.

They have friends, family, a god.

Sometimes, your Don Juan even likes them.

- Mr. Van Vries, good evening.

Mademoiselle.

- Have you checked the British files?

- I will complete them on my return.

- He's like a woman.

He loves power.

- And you don't? - I like power?

Slumming it as a political clown for the League of Nations.

Every day I play my part in this ridiculous farce.

And I hide my contempt because I've sold my soul

for an apartment at The Ritz, three baths a day,

silk shirts, and my despair.

- [Ariane] So why don't you give it up?

- Disappointment. - In love?

- In myself.

Ah, where were we?

Don Juan.

Don Juan can only count on himself.

Only himself.

Of course, there are women who love him.

They sniff out his good genes, and they fall for his smile.

The one part of his skeleton already on display.

It's a shame.

I wonder, Adrien, what is the true value of feelings

that can be turned on by a few tiny bones?

Would Juliet have loved Romeo with his front teeth missing?

No, but his soul would've been exactly the same.

- Absolutely.

(midtempo orchestral music)

- You wanted to say something?

- Why doesn't your man go and find some old hag to seduce?

- Aren't we clever?

Because he's a despicable male.

He's forced to accept that the male lusts after flesh.

But how can he accept that women,

supreme wonders of a superior world, do the same?

He simply cannot stop being in awe of them.

It's not just his nature.

Eternally born of woman.

- What an awful dilemma.

- That's beautiful.

- I know.

Beautiful advice for a seduction.

- No, it's wonderful, please carry on.

- Three, roll out the poetic garments.

Behave like a haughty aristocrat.

A romantic spirit unhampered by social convention.

Under 24 hours a day, husbands can seem authentic.

Thus pathetic.

All men, even the seducers,

are pathetic when they're all alone

and they're not parading themselves for some stupid woman.

Pathetic.

Meanest of all.

- What wonderful options women have in this story.

- You should've said yes to the old man.

If all else fails, they'll be chased like a gorilla.

Women find constant tenderness monotonous, not masculine.

All they want is passion, a roller coaster of passion.

(head smacks) - Ah!

- Are you all right? (Solal gasps)

Move number four?

- Vulnerability.

Play it nine parts gorilla to one part little orphan.

That's the formula.

I'm fine, thank you.

And remember this, when your Don Juan declares his love,

don't forget that he has to let it slip out

that he'll carry her off to sea.

They love to leave.

Your taxi's here.

(engines rumble)

- Please let me come to the station with you.

- The station is no place for you at this time of night,

your taxi will take you home.

Stop being so insolent with him.

Be nice while we thank him for tonight.

Thank you for everything.

- [Solal] Thank you.

I'm sorry if I've been out of sorts this evening.

Forgive me.

- [Adrien] I'm indebted, Mr. Solal.

- Very good luck on your trip, Adrien.

- [Adrien] Thank you.

(engine rumbles) (passersby chatter)

(door clicks)

(midtempo orchestral music)

- [Solal] I want to take you to where I come from.

- Where is that?

- [Solal] Cephalonia.

- Cephalonia, I can't imagine.

- It's so beautiful and there are so many different trees.

Cypress and pomegranate, lemon and pine.

Circassians, astound-ilians, eye-lidians.

- My mother and I used to take mental pictures

of our happiest moments.

We would count to three,

and they were captured in our memories forever.

In real colour.

- One, two, three.

("Danse" by Gabriel Yared)

- Extravagance.

And she's supposed to be from a good Protestant family.

- Well it is her money, after all.

- [Man] The repeated violations of human rights in Germany

cannot possibly be treated as a purely domestic matter.

(gavel taps) - We should really

stick to the agenda.

- Under the nation's domestic policy,

leads to a foreseeable tragedy

for hundreds of thousands of...

- With the greatest respect.

- Additions of diplomatic protocol must yield to the demands

of common humanity!

If it is to mean anything at all,

this league must act now, or else face the consequences.

(men chatter)

The only solution worthy of our goals and ideals

of this League of Nations is to provide shelter

for these people.

We must allocate quotas to member states immediately.

(men chatter)

History will judge you. (men murmur disapprovingly)

(few men applaud)

(Solal pants)

- [Man] Gentlemen, carry on.

In such turmoil,

must understand that one continent, at least,

two that remain free of it.

- [Man] We prefer British immigration.

We have no racial problem, so why should we create one?

- It's a waste of time go on to these powerless diplomats.

I'm leaving for two weeks on a diplomatic mission.

- I think that's ill-advised.

- [Man] There's no room for bargaining for compromise.

(Ariane gasps)

- [Ariane] Stay.

Stay inside me.

- [Solal] I'll be back soon.

(patrons murmur)

(women giggle)

- [Woman] He's studying literature.

(sombre orchestral music)

(women giggle)

(crowd chatters) (fire crackles)

(book thuds)

- Not a very suitable outfit for praying.

- God doesn't pay attention to details like that.

Anyway, he knows what's underneath.

- So, the bath is ready.

- I love it when he undresses me.

It's not the same when I do it myself.

- So he also knows what's underneath.

(Ariane giggles)

(footsteps patter)

(group chants melodically in foreign language)

(sombre orchestral music)

- Hey, hey! - Hey!

(men yell in foreign language)

(punches thud) (Solal groans)

(Solal yells)

(kicks thud) (Solal coughs)

(book thuds)

- Your car is due, Ariane.

What on earth happened here?

- I can't decide what to wear.

- But that one's just perfect on you, Ariane.

- [Mrs. Deume] Mariette!

- Don't go.

- But I'll get into trouble.

- No, you won't.

You know what?

The funny thing is, Mariette,

the best time is when I'm waiting for him,

or when he's gone, and I'm remembering him.

(engine rumbles)

I must go.

- My darling boy, my darling Grade A boy!

- Hello, Mother.

- Welcome home, Adrien.

- [Mrs. Deume] Mariette, would you come down?

I've been calling your for hours.

- [Man] Italy either gives a payment

or partial sanction in Italy

because several member have recognised

Italy in the conquest of Ethiopia.

- We must owe our ultimate allegiance, not to nations,

but to our fellow man within the human community.

This organisation has failed once again.

(group chatters)

My passport. (group murmurs)

There you have it.

Now which one of you will have me?

I failed.

I continue pretending.

(phone rings)

(gentle orchestral music)

It is a scandal that we should not stifle.

I would point out the irregularity in his citizenship

that justifies the withdrawal of his French nationality.

I trust you all to understand

that I prefer to remain anonymous.

(dog pants)

(uplifting orchestral music)

- While you were away, Adrien,

I often stopped by your raincoat hanging in the hall.

I don't know why, but I was strangely moved by it.

Caressing the cuffs,

I noticed a button was about to fall off.

Tonight, before I leave, I'll sew it on for you.

I wanted to do something for you.

(water splashes)

(gulls call)

(waves crash)

(Solal laughs)

(Solal pants)

- We should go swimming at night, Solal.

We could be naked.

Just us in the whole big black sea.

(door smacks)

Solal?

(gentle orchestral music)

(phone rings)

Solal?

- It's such a beautiful day.

(phone clicks)

(horse snorts) (birds chirp)

(man speaks in foreign language)

(waves crash)

Yah!

What are you thinking?

- I'm thinking that I'm going to have to spend

the rest of my life kissing you.

- Yah, yah!

(people chatter)

(bell tolls)

(hooves clop)

(gulls call)

(waves splash)

(horse snorts)

(explosion booms)

(gulls call)

(explosion booms)

(door knocks)

(Ariane knocks) (Solal sighs)

(Solal laughs) (Ariane knocks)

- You look so handsome in your riding boots.

(Solal knocks) (Ariane giggles)

(elevator dings)

(door knocks)

Who is it?

- [Man] Room service.

- I didn't order room service.

Paulo?

- I'm at your service, (speaks in foreign language).

- Who are these from?

- From me.

I'm at your service, (speaks in foreign language).

- From you?

Why don't you put them over there, Paulo?

- I'm at your service, (speaks in foreign language).

(phone rings)

- [Ariane] Hello, Solal?

- So what did you think of him?

Or was he not brown shirt enough for you?

(phone thuds)

Don't tell me, you've changed your mind.

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- What if I wore those slippers?

What about when I'm old and senile and shuffling about

in those old slippers?

Would you be thinking about him?

- Who, Paulo?

- No, the handsome man

you were riding on a horse with yesterday.

- But that was you.

- That handsome young man in his black, shining boots,

that glorious specimen of male, revelling in his virility.

- This is absurd.

- I admit it, he's the one you're in love with.

- Stop it, Solal.

Okay, then.

Go on then, let's see.

(Solal groans)

- You are beautiful.

- And you are crazy.

(Ariane giggles)

(paper crinkles)

(door knocks)

(Paulo speaks in foreign language)

- Where would you like this?

- Oh, Paulo, come in.

Put it there, please.

It's a surprise.

There were no electric ones,

so this one will have to do.

Thank you, Paulo.

- So we need props already?

- I thought you would like this one.

(sombre orchestral music)

This one is related to your roots, isn't it, my love?

(paper crinkles)

So what is the music telling us?

- It is a history of doomed people, weeping openly,

for their calmly king.

He was weeping, too.

Weeping for having forsaken his people on Earth.

Whom he had not saved.

What would they do without him?

- Please carry on.

Strange, that's not what the record says.

Marketing people nowadays write anything to sell a product.

(birds chirp)

(people chatter)

(audience laughs)

(puppet speaks in foreign language)

(children speak in foreign language)

(man speaks in foreign language)

- [Man] Haile Selassie comes to the League of Nations

to claim to occupy Empire.

He wants Mussolini to give up Ethiopia.

(man speaks in foreign language)

- [Broadcaster] Italian journalists are ready

for an outbreak against the emperor.

They erupt into cheering, peddling, and whistling,

and suddenly, the lights are turned off.

(man speaks in foreign language)

(Mussolini speaks in foreign language)

(Hitler speaks in foreign language)

(audience applauds)

(rain patters)

(people chatter in foreign language)

- [Ariane] Solal?

- Chimpanzees, everyone!

Me, you, especially you!

Female!

You take everything with your sensuality!

- What are you saying?

We're not stopping, I won't listen to you, not tonight.

Don't torture yourself.

- So you're back to being human.

Silence!

- I haven't said a word!

- [Solal] Silence anyway!

(rain patters)

(Ariane sniffs)

- That stain won't wash.

- It is a scandal that we should not stifle.

I would point out the irregularity in his citizenship

that justifies the withdrawal of his French nationality.

You understand that I would prefer to remain anonymous.

(paper crinkles)

(waves crash)

(gulls call)

Ariane.

What would you say if I bought us a house?

Across the border with a view of the lake.

- A house of our own?

- Yes.

(gentle orchestral music)

(footsteps patter)

(birds chirp)

(Solal sighs)

(birds chirp)

- Oh, Sol, it's wonderful.

We'll make it so it's just right.

For you, my love.

For you and me.

- I'm glad you like it.

- We'll be happy here.

I know we will.

- You better get to work.

I trust you'll have it finished by the time I return.

- Where are you going, Solal?

- Geneva.

- You're going to Geneva?

- You want me to go back to work, don't you?

- All right, then.

I'll surprise you.

Leave everything to me.

It'll all be done by the time you come home.

I'll take care of everything.

(footsteps click)

Mariette!

(gentle orchestral music)

(moves into midtempo piano music)

- Hello, prodigal lover.

(sighs) You bought this.

So what are you doing here, Solal?

- I came to see you.

I've come looking for my job back.

- Oh, that's funny.

You spectacularly burn all your bridges

and now you decide you want to build them all up again.

So you think they'll have you?

- They'll find something for me.

- What's going on in there?

- My only country is woman.

- Ugh, nauseating words.

Coming from a professional seducer.

- Seducer?

I am bound in this theatre of absolute love.

- So what are you waiting for?

Bind yourself.

- I'm frightened to what I'd do to her if I stay.

But to be separated from her, I'll die of grief.

- What a patriot, trying to save your country.

You're definitely in love.

- Love is boring, compellingly so.

- Only for you, Solal.

So you've come to stay with me?

How nice of you.

Oh, I don't know why,

but you are welcome to stay here as long as you want.

(traffic hums)

(gentle orchestral music)

- A fierce statement, the League of Nation

should call for immediate cessation of hostility.

- We prefer the wording work immediately

for a cessation of hostility.

(Solal knocks)

(door thuds) - What went wrong?

Such a career, our highest post at the League.

And I can tell you right now, old man,

the ministry can't intervene on your behalf.

- That's not why I'm here.

I just want to establish my papers.

- I see (speaks in foreign language),

your nationality has been revoked.

And it's not because of that ridiculous scandal

you made of your passport.

It seems you have a vicious enemy in your ranks.

Something about an anonymous letter of denunciation

that outlines irregularities

that would have been difficult to prove otherwise.

Anyway, there's nothing I can do for you.

You'll have to do with a temporary permit

for stateless persons.

- How nice to have roots.

A smooth run from the cradle to the grave.

How nice not to have an inner enemy.

Or no, what was it you said, a vicious enemy in my ranks.

How would you cope if you were in my position?

Papers certified I was born, now they're cancelling me.

Keep it for your files.

I am the master of my destiny.

(haunting orchestral music)

(birds chirp)

- Solal? - Listen, my love.

I've decided to break with everything around us.

Only one thing matters now, us.

(gentle orchestral music)

- Keep your eyes closed.

(Mariette hums melodically)

You can open them now.

- [Solal] Mariette.

- Don't you like it?

- It's wonderful.

- I thought we could invite people.

- Did you?

(button buzzes)

(birds chirp)

(bell tolls)

(door thuds)

I'm surrounded by corpses.

Why can't they be left in the garden to live?

(diners chatter)

- Solal, there's a party in the villa next door.

- Then we should definitely go.

- Would you like to?

- Oh yes.

Considering you're already bored with me.

- Bored with you?

Solal.

- Why else would you want to go to a party

where you no absolutely nobody.

- I thought it would be fun.

- I rest my case.

- [Ariane] What case?

- Ladies and gentlemen of the jury,

this woman has all but admitted

that she is bored stiff with me.

- Good news about your lavatory,

the plumber's come to mend it.

About time, too.

- What are we waiting for?

Let's go and meet the absolute nobodies at the party.

Anything's better than being with boring old Solal.

- It's not true.

You know I love you.

- What if I had my arms cut off.

- What?

- Would you still love me?

- I don't know what you're talking about.

- Then let me explain it to you.

Imagine, all of a sudden,

that I'm not even remotely handsome anymore.

I'm hideous to look at.

I'm torso man as a result of a tragic accident.

How do you feel about me?

- I don't know, it's such a ridiculous idea.

- I'm a torso!

A foetid, wreaking heap.

But why would you love me, with no arms and no legs?

Why? - I don't know, I just would.

- But that's not a good enough madame.

- All right then.

Because I love you the way you are.

Because only you, my tormented soul,

are capable of asking all these absurd questions.

I'd be lost without you, Solal.

- Amputees!

- No no, that wasn't good enough for her.

They've got four lavatories now.

And do you know why?

So that the one don't know when the other one's

got to answer the call of nature.

Going to the lavatory's nothing to be ashamed of.

Me and my late husband,

we'd rather answer the call of nature together

than be parted, that's what real love is.

And I see the trouble they have coming up

with something to talk about.

Always wheedling my Ariane's childhood stories.

That's love, no.

They can't even see each other unless they're spruced up.

And she knows nothing about him, nothing.

No past, no present.

It's not good, I say.

They're love is haunted by electric spooks.

(button buzzes)

(gentle orchestral music)

- [Ariane] What are you thinking about?

- Circassians.

And eye-lidians, and pines.

- The pines of Cephalonia.

Why haven't you ever taken me there?

- I'd like to be buried there.

Somewhere by the sea.

(door buzzes)

Are these for me?

Thank you.

- Not now.

Not now.

(water splashes) (gulls call)

(midtempo orchestral music)

(water splashes)

(gentle orchestral music)

(button buzzes)

- Can I sit here?

There is something I need to tell you.

Can I speak to you as a friend?

- Of course.

You must think of me as your best friend.

- It was before I met you.

- And there as that dreary life

with a man you didn't love as much.

- Thank you for understanding.

- When did it end?

- Just after we met.

I wrote and told him it was all over.

- [Solal] When was the last time you saw him?

- Before we met.

I called him to tell him

I was going out to dinner with my husband.

And he begged me to stop by for a moment.

- And you went.

What happened?

(hit smacks)

Pull up your skirt. - No!

- [Solal] Pull up your skirt like you did for him.

- No!

- [Solal] You were his mistress.

- No.

- But you went to his place.

- Yes, I went to his place, but I was not his mistress.

- Who is he?

What's his name?

- What difference does it make?

- Is he young?

Oh, come on Ariane, is he young?

- 45. - Old?

- Brown hair combed back.

- You've given the game away, you know.

- What do you mean?

- You've admitted several times you were his mistress

without even realising it.

- I never said I was his mistress.

- You just did it again.

Instead of telling me you never said you were his mistress,

why didn't you simply say you weren't his mistress, ha!

- It's not true, we were just friends.

- If it was just an innocent friendship,

then why did you come to me wearing that penitent look?

Oh come on, Ariane, don't disappoint me!

Tell me the truth.

You know you were his mistress, and so do I.

- Yes.

- Yes to what?

- Yes to what you said.

- His mistress?

- But only once.

- How would you put it?

Did he pleasure you?

- No. - Did he pleasure you?

- No.

- I'll ask you one more time!

Did he pleasure you?

- Yes, yes. (sobs)

- How many times did you go to bed with him?

- Once, I told you.

- (scoffs) Once.

(glass clatters) (Solal groans)

- I'll get some... - Stay there!

To hell with the alcohol!

Why did you only sleep with him once?

This is what I find so confusing.

- I, I told him I thought it was better

not to take it any further.

- So, still sticky with him.

You told him.

- No, the next day.

- Oh, you even went back the next day,

you enjoyed it so much.

How did you put it, stay!

Stay inside me.

Maybe you were even a little bit in love with him.

But you decided you'd had enough.

Was that it?

- What do you want me to say?

- What I've been waiting for you to say!

So why don't you just say it?

- I can't say it.

(sobs) God, why have I started?

What have I done?

(menacing operatic music)

- It'll be all right, it'll get better.

He'll be back to you.

I'll make you some nice chamomile tea.

Darling, why in god's name

did you invent such a ridiculous story?

(button buzzes)

- This one is for you, I'm afraid.

- [Solal] It wasn't for you.

(paper crinkles)

What are you doing there, come in?

- You called?

- Oh, Ariane.

It's okay, my love.

Forgive me?

But if you wanna put all this behind us,

you must tell me everything.

- But then it will be worse.

- On the contrary.

It'll get it out of my system.

Anyway, so what?

I realise now that he wasn't important.

- I rather you ask questions.

- Is he French?

- German.

- (chuckles) Just my luck.

His name?

- Dietsch, you've seen him.

- Oh no.

Not the orchestra conductor.

- Oh please, it's all dead and buried.

I don't want to think about it anymore.

(Solal sighs)

- There, you see?

Nothing bad ever happens when you tell me the truth.

Tell me, how may others?

- My god, what are you taking me for?

- For a whore.

My little Salome.

For a shrew, spoiled, selfish little whore.

- You're disgusting.

I already told you, it's all dead and buried.

No, it's very much alive and unfinished.

(Ariane whimpers)

Don't you understand?

Dietsch will always be here, right here between us.

He's lying on top of you right now.

I can't stand living with any more.

Get out of this house!

- You lied!

I trusted you.

- We wouldn't be in this position

if you hadn't been on a flying trapeze

with a bandleader!

Did you grab hold of his baton?

- Can't you see, you're degrading our love.

- I'm degrading our love?

You've already done that!

You've Dietsched our love.

Did you tell him you were his woman.

You probably said it in German.

(speaks in foreign language)

- Stop it! - Yah!

- Stop it!

- Did you tell him you loved him?

- I didn't love him! - Then why did you give in?

- Because he was gentle.

- Gentle?

A man who just helps himself?

- You are disgusting.

- A man who just helps himself is a gentleman,

and I'm disgusting?

(Ariane gasps) Come here!

I said come here!

(Ariane whimpers)

(Solal groans)

(gentle orchestral music)

Forgive me, my love.

Forgive me.

I won't hurt you anymore.

- What's gonna happen to us?

- A new beginning.

Change of scene.

How would you like to go Turin?

(birds call)

(motor rumbles)

(phone rings)

(elevator dings) Let's go.

(gentle orchestral music)

(audience applauds)

(audience cheers)

I brought you a souvenir from the church.

I only have one more question,

and if you answer it, I promise never to refer to it again.

Did he have a special German way of making love to you?

The reason I'm asking is because I feel

I have an intimate relationship with him.

He's become a lover for me, too.

So tell me.

How does he do it?

- Go to bed.

(Solal sighs)

- I'm a despicable man.

- Don't say that, it's not true.

(Solal scoffs)

- I got his number, of where he's staying in Turin.

And why don't we call him?

- Please, this is absurd.

- You're the one who slept with him.

So why don't we call him up?

And we can, uh, refresh his memory.

- I'm exhausted.

I can't take it any longer.

Forgive me.

- Oh, I can forgive you.

On one condition.

That you call him up and sleep with him in front of me.

- You are insane.

- (scoffs) One more time.

What difference does it make?

At least then, we would be living the truth.

Hm?

Are you going to call him, or am I?

Our future depends on it.

- Is this supposed to be love?

- Don't you move.

Another surprise.

Now we can have ourselves a nice little threesome.

(midtempo orchestral music)

- You are more interested in him

than you are in me.

(Solal gasps) - Is this what it was like?

Did you fuck to his music?

Was it great? - Stop it!

Solal, don't do this.

For your sake and for mine.

Let me go on respecting you.

(children chatter playfully)

(door knocks)

(door knocks)

Could you make up our bed?

Go ahead.

- [Solal] Torso man.

- No, no, no, no.

I'm taking you back, Solal.

(sombre orchestral music)

- [Solal] She brought me back to Geneva.

Back.

To where we first met.

Again.

A new beginning.

- [Hans] Good evening, Mr. Solal.

- Good evening, Hans.

- If you would care to sign here, sir.

- This is what you want, isn't it?

- One, two, three.

It's so beautiful, Ariane.

There are so many trees.

Cypress, lemon, pomegranate and pine.

- Astound-ilians. - Yes.

- Eye-lidians.

I can see them all, Solal.

It's getting cold, Solal.

Bring your coat.

(water splashes)

(midtempo orchestral music)