Original subtitles

"The velvet on which men's pleasure and vice lie down is as black as night."

--From the ancient sacred books of the Babylonians

BLACK VELVET

I've begun to understand.

Memories of love are never erased.

If she didn't send a rose to her husband's grave as she does every morning,

it would seem to her like she's forgetting him more and more.

So, is this Laura coming or not? Did you get your third husband to send her to you?

Have you convinced him he can trust us?

Of course, he trusts us.

Of course, it's wrong.

She arrives the day after tomorrow. It'll be up to you to receive her.

Give her the big room on the second floor.

Give the one on the first floor to Emmanuelle and Carlo when they arrive.

Good, then the group is complete.

Tomorrow, I'll tell old Hal. Who knows, maybe he'll have a party for everyone.

Listen, Mommy, now I'm get to meet the happy couple, Emmanuelle and Carlo.

By the way, what about Ali? You're not consuming him for me?

You can take Ali whenever you want. I have much more to do.

I thought my third husband would be my last.

But it wasn't like that.

He left me. Left me after I'd given him life. He was just selfish.

He separated me from my daughter, Laura.

Little Laura, who will soon be with us.

It's been three years since she had a vacation with me.

I would have been happy with a man like Edward.

Dirty son of bitch.

Why? Why did you leave me?

Don't worry, madame. It will be a nice holiday for everyone.

Has Mr. Antonio woken up? Where is he?

The gardener told me that he retired to meditate in the desert.

That's the house.

The house?

The palace.

What will my room will be like?

I'd like the smallest of all.

How is Emmanuelle feeling?

She has a splitting headache.

Well, it doesn't seem like a good reason to me.

You're stupid.

Come here!

- Carlo, click-click.

If I catch you, I'll give you a click-click.

That is Philae, one of the most beautiful temples of ancient Egypt.

The most beautiful, however, is Abu Simbel, which we will visit last.

Where could a great actor rest more worthily than in the midst

of the silent ruins of an ancient temple surrounded by water?

The grandest arena on the noblest stage.

Everything I've learned, I learned from a dream,

and I'm afraid, in my anxiety, that I must

awaken and find myself still in my prison.

You know, Hal, we also staged Calderon's "Life is a Dream" this year.

But our acting coach was much better than you.

Thus I came to know that every human happiness passes like a dream.

It's true, Hal. That's right.

What?

You've never been a great actor, and you very well know it.

Why don't you recognize it?

Wasn't Hal Burns a great actor?

But do you realize it?

Didn't anyone tell you that Hollywood is empty without me?

Hal, you left Hollywood because you were unsuccessful.

You were old, and no one was asking you to make a film anymore.

You know it, but you don't want to admit it.

Who told you these horrible lies? What enemy has woven these foul deceptions?

I forbid you to talk about it again!

Poor Hal! How you struggle to keep up your illusions.

Isn't it better to live in reality and abandon dreams?

Enjoy your old age and don't watch your old movies anymore.

They're really worthless, poor dear.

How about getting back on board? The road is long.

Mom...Crystal is going to want to dress up for the party.

Come on. Tomorrow is going to be a great day.

Monsieurs et madames, ladies and gentlemen, we've to do our best to honor old Hal.

Stop!

I'll make you famous with one of my photos.

Carlo, put right away that camera. I can't stand it.

Magda, don't delude yourself into not letting us express the best of ourselves.

There is no better or worse than us.

There is only boredom. Infinite, immeasurable boredom... Eternal.

Sorry, I didn't mean that, even though it's the truth.

I want to offer you a ritual.

A ritual, here at the best of ourselves.

All life is ritual.

What ritual is better than life?

You're right. I don't know why it takes people so long to understand.

Worms. Disgust.

Fear of death, of being alone.

I'd get pounded like grain in a mortar.

My kingdom for a horse.

To escape, to flee so that no one knows I'm nobody.

I'm nothing... Nothing... Nothing.

What are you trying to do? You can't.

I'm still young, but I already smell like a corpse.

Come on, Mom, you must be tired, and tomorrow we have to go to Abu Simbel.

Come on, we'll go home.

Hal, thanks for a beautiful evening.

I hope you'll be fit for tomorrow in Abu Simbel.