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I'm writing you from the ferry, and now I'm going back to Hollis's house.

This afternoon it started to snow.

In a shop window I've found a mask

that strongly resembles the one in my book.

I see Paul and Dorothy quite often.

We usually meet in the evenings at a bar next to our house.

Last night it snowed.

"ll go back to Paris soon, but I don't know when.

I don't know if I'll get there in time for Cynthia Boomang's party.

I don't feel like attending, there'll be too many people.

Ir�ne, Marie Marguerite and my brother will be there.

If I don't get there in time, you'll tell me about it later.

Who are you? You're fearfull

- How awfull - How awfull

She's nervous. Maybe it's because her guest hasn't come yet.

1 hope I'll go back there soon, but I don't know if I'll get there in time

for Cynthia Boomang's party.

I'll send a telegram to my brother,

and since we look alike, he'll go instead.

But I wouldn't like to embarrass him.

Anyway he's going to go there.

If I don't get there in time, you'll tell me about it later.

Is that all?

No. Then he sent a telegram to his brother: "I'll get there soon”.

Since then we've had no news.

I hope he'll come tonight. I've come to the house of this mean

Cynthia with the only aim of winning the heart of that young writer.

- And to keep Anne Margaret's company. - Well, she insisted.

- She doesn't look like that. - What are you suggesting, darling?

I'm wondering if your sudden rejection of Cynthia is because

Anne Margaret was her secretary before being yours.

She was her secretary only for three weeks.

Furthermore, she couldn't stand her, like everybody.

I've been unlucky enough to meet Cynthia

around five times in my life.

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

I'm sorry, tonight I'm speaking harshly because I'm nervous.

All this just because

Pedro hasn't come. And I've only come because of him.

But I'd been told that his twin brother would be here.

Yes, they look alike in a really strange way.

Does he also write plays?

No, he's a sculptor, and Pedro doesn't write plays, but novels.

He's won a literary prize.

I'm sure he can write the text I need,

the one that will express my present feelings.

- This is Pedro. - What an amazing resemblance!

Cynthia, Id like to know whether he'll come or not.

- I don't know, darling, we'll have to wait. - I'm sick of waiting!

I've come here to interview him.

He's not here, but you can interview someone else while you're waiting.

Whom?

1 don't know...

Jean Presnai, the writer, Nora Nasimov, the actress,

Tania Alaska, the dancer...

Pedro's brother, Luis Malmuth, the sculptor.

And many others! You can interview anybody you please!

But I'm particularly interested in him.

He's not here. There's nothing else I can say.

Sometimes, at night, we hear the tam-tam.

Then the sea becomes tempestuous, with waves up to 30 metres high.

And we feel something's going to happen.

A cataclysm.

Perhaps.

I'd love to hear that tam-tam in Andalusia, with you.

This summer I'm going back to Malaga.

She's going to provoke a cataclysm.

I've always been curious to know what happens in that pagoda...

- We drink, we dance flamenco... - Is that all?

- Do you have a light, please? - Yes.

- Thank you. - You're welcome.

- Madam? - Yes?

Excuse me, we haven't been introduced.

I'd like to know if you are Nora Nasimov.

Yes.

- May I have your autograph? - My autograph?

Of course, I shall be delighted. But it's a bit strange to ask

an autograph from an actress like me. Nowadays stage actresses

aren't as considered as they used to be.

But you're now at the peak of your career.

Did you see me in Slavisa, un petit peu plus?

Many times, why?

Because I know that role by heart. I play it mechanically.

I play it exactly as I did it for the first time, 15 years ago.

The director wanted it like this, and I play it every night

without taking any pleasure in it.

Now everybody wants the same, that I should mimic myself...

The director, the critics, the public.

And I'm sure you too.

But it's the other actresses who mimic you.

Do you think so? Theatre is my life. I've played 50 plays.

But what do people know about me? Just a few films I made

in a certain period when I needed money.

Do you like theatre?

Not at all, it's you that I'm interested in.

You're a darling!

- What's your name? - Isabelle.

- For Isabelle. Here you are. - Thank you.

What about your sister Dorothy? Is she coming tonight?

No, she's in New York.

Have you just come back from Bombay?

Yes. I've brought beautiful things that I'd like to show you.

I've been told you've brought a gorgeous gift for Cynthia Boomang.

An elephant.

In Bombay, the statue of the elephant god is immersed in the sea.

His name is Ganesh, the lord of writers and royalties.

- 1d like to show it to you. - Perhaps...

Later.

Apparently your Polish translation of Pedro's book

is impressive.

- Do you usually write? - Only from time to time.

I just don't understand, Cynthia.

You organize a party for someone who doesn't attend.

I'm sorry, he's not here. What else can I say?

1 don't know, have a whisky. Oh! You already have one.

1 don't know...

His brother is here. Would you like me to introduce you to him?

They have a strange resemblance.

I'll introduce you to him, he's a very good friend of mine.

Antonio, this is my friend Luis, a sculptor.

- Good evening. - Good evening.

How are you?

1'd been told you both looked alike, but not so much! It's amazing!

- You know where he is, don't you? - Me? I don't have the slightest idea.

You do know it, tell us. Don't be so cruel, tell us!

I don't know anything; I've nothing to tell you.

Tell us, tell us!

- What's the matter? - She knows where he is.

The one everybody's waiting for tonight.

I must confess I'm dying to meet him.

He's a very good friend of mine.

You're a liar! He doesn't know you. He's nothing to do with you.

In fact, he makes fun of you.

We're very good friends. We adore each other!

- Itisn't true, it isn't true! - Calm down.

She's jealous, leave her alone.

Jealous? Of you?

Now, tell us. What's the matter? Explain it to us.

I've nothing to say.

I'm just your secretary, this is how you makes me feel.

I have the right to keep quiet! My life belongs to me.

Do you understand? I'm afraid I won't speak a word.

Ok, do as you please.

What's up, Carole? Are you feeling unwell?

I'm just watching the spectacle.

Yes, it's quite interesting.

I knew it would happen.

There's some kind of unbearable tensi�n.

I have the feeling that in a while I'll feel like taking part of it.

Don't you feel the same?

I think you're enjoying the spectacle.

Perhaps you're thinking of someone.

Carole, Carole...

Would you like to know whom I'm thinking of? I can't bear it.

You look quite distracted tonight. Whom are you looking at?

- At my younger brother. - But where is he?

- Since when? - Since the beginning of the party.

Precisely from the beginning of the party we have all been waiting for

your brother, who hasn't come. Everybody.

At least he could have come in time.

What a fuss just because we were all waiting for him!

That's all.

In fact, I think the reaction has been out of proportion.

Everywhere you can hear the first sounds of the tam-tam.

It's quite strange that our young writer is so late.

He must have missed his plane.

Perhaps he was frightened, since terrible things happen here.

Aren't you of the same opinion, Mauro? Why don't you say anything?

- Carla... - What?

- Are you going to Andalusia this summer? - 1 don't know. Why should I?

I'm sick and tired of travelling so much. I feel like doing the opposite.

- And you? - Neither do I.

What a silence, no one's arguing anymore.

Hey, it's you!

Yes, it's me. Why are you so surprised?

- Out of nothing. Come in. - Have you met Adelfa?

Have you met Antonio?

- Good evening. - Good evening.

Estrella.

How strange! What's going on here?

We thought it was him!

- Who is "he"? - Pedro. He hasn't arrived yet.

So I think I'll have to resign myself to not seeing him tonight.

Ah, Estrella! Have you met Luisa Reichnen?

- We had met before. - Of course we know each other!

Me too. What have you done since then?

- How gorgeous! Where does it come from? - From Timbuktu.

Let me see it. How strange, you can see the bottom of the sea.

I'm very nervous. Tonight very strange things are happening.

I have a feeling. We have to be careful.

- Where's your husband? - He's sleeping.

He only stayed for five minutes. Did you want to see him?

- Not particularly. - Good for you.

Good evening, Rita.

- May I see it? - Of course.

Luisa, I must confess: I'm really thirsty.

The bar is over there.

- I thought you were still in Andalusia. - I came back the day before yesterday.

Have you been with my brother at La Pagoda?

Yes, everything's changed a lot. He doesn't dance anymore.

- So what does he do? - 1 don't know. I've lost sight of him.

We must talk. I've got something that might interest you.

Of course, Jean. Tell me.

Can you come to my house tomorrow?

Unfortunately I can only show it to you there.

It's too heavy, do you understand?

However, we can prepare the colour.

- Are you listening to me? - Yes, I do.

- Do you have a light? - Yes.

Thank you.

- Finally he hasn't come. - Who?

Pedro.

I read his book and I loved it.

I presume he must be hidden somewhere

in order to write something similar; to enjoy that wonderful land

that he has created. I think I'll do the same.

In spring I'll go to Andalusia, won't you go?

Perhaps.

It's so beautiful what he tells in his book...

Can this tam-tam really exist and provoke a cataclysm?

- Stay like this. - Like this?

Yes, you are the cataclysm. I'll take a photo of you.

Either it's Atlantis emerging again

or a continent submerging itself.

Besides, there are only serial catastrophes and cataclysms.

But what kind of cataclysms can that tam-tam provoke?

Typhoons, rising tides, earthquakes...

1 don't know. Maybe everything at the same time.

Were Pedro Malmuth here, he could answer.

But he's not here.

Mauro might know the answer to this mystery.

- What's up with him? - He is odd.

Tonight everyone is acting either strangely or unbearably.

Last summer there was a a violent storm in the Caribbean.

It was so hellishly hot that the water was boiling...

And that incessant tam-tam...

In fact, maybe it was Pedro's tam-tam.

He should have arrived...

What's this cataclysm about?

In fact, I don't know what time it is here. Anyway, he hasn't arrived.

But... The cataclysmis...

For example, there's a god that destroys things

just for the fun of it.

He lacks of moral values.

The cataclysm in Pedro's book, which I actually like a lot,

is not a punishing one

nor a moral one.

It's nothing but sheer cataclysm.

Is it like the Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse?

- The Apocalypse is you. - Really?

Excuse me.

I've been looking for you. I thought you had already left.

Not at all! I'm having a great time here.

I'm very happy to have come.

So I've been a good companion... Do you know who has just arrived?

- Estrella. - Estrella Heredia?

- Yes. May I ask you a question? - Of course. I don't mind at all.

Estrella, thank goodness you've come!

I'm so glad you're here! I was feeling unwell...

Why? It's true, you're trembling.

I shouldn't have come. I let myself be carried by curiosity.

I should have thought of Cynthia's odious reputation.

Something terrible has happened. An appalling scene.

And I think it won't be the last one tonight.

Tell me, darling.

Everything you're telling is dreadful.

Would you like something to drink?

No. Stay, I beg youl

- Carole... - Leave me alone, I've understood.

- I'd like to talk to you. - Any other time.

- No. Now, Carole... - Not now, leave me alone.

Leave me alone!

She's so mysterious...

What's up? Do you feel unwell?

It was two years ago. He also used to dance at La Pagoda.

Armande, will you come with me to Scotland?

Perhaps. Later on.

The tam-tam is a magical rhythm that exists in every culture.

I takes me back to Japan, where I heard a wonderful tam-tam.

If I had a tam-tam, I'm sure I'd provoke a cataclysm tonight.

You don't need any tam-tam to provoke cataclysms.

It seems that tonight the earth is again revolving.

Regarding the cataclysm,

have you heard about that black cloud that covers Neptune?

Contrary to belief, now it's been found that it isn't carbon dioxide,

but the remains of a huge explosi�n that took place

in that planet millions of years ago,

as a result of the accumulation of energy.

In the atomic age this is the driving force

and the earth is doomed to the same destiny.

After all, there are thousands of stars,

and the earth is nothing but a speck of dust.

So to speak...

I can't understand why people are SO nervous.

I think I'Il go to Andalusia in spring.

You're the fifth person in the party to tell me

you want to go to Andalusia. What will you all do there?

I'll go in search of a particular weed. A wonderful weed.

- Weed? - A philtre.

- A love potion? - Exactly.

Are you kidding? A love potion? Is it meant to be smoked?

No. To be drunk, like a tisane.

- Does it appear in Pedro's book? - Yes.

- Will you give it to someone? - Perhaps.

I'd never give such a thing to anyone, I'd be afraid of poisoning him.

My dear, you should know that all the great loves of history

have made use of philtres. - Really?

Cynthia, I think you have given philtres to many people.

But, what's the name of that wonderful weed?

I don't know. The gypsies know it, but they keep it secretly.

But, it must be terrible to do it like this.

I suppose that one can always take one step back.

Is a philtre really necessary?

Everybody needs it at least once in his life.

What do you mean?

While I was in Andalusia I never heard talking about that.

But, it must exist.

There are love potions everywhere.

Cynthia, have you ever tested it yourself?

Maybe. But the drinker should never know he's drinking it.

Otherwise, either the effects might be weaker or might not work at all.

- There's no such thing as antidotes? - Mill?

Poor devil!

...0Or a storm in Andalusia, that are a genuine disaster.

Sometimes it's windy, but it never blows too strongly.

She'll never get that philtre.

She should travel remote roads risking her own life,

and that poor Cynthia is unable to face up to it.

Both the plant and those who grow it have been concealed for centuries.

Anyway, I'm glad you've come.

Sodol.

We had only talked on the phone and...

Do you know what I have just been told?

I've been told that your brother Pedro is here,

dressed exactly like you.

No, no. How could anyone tell you such a thing?

People say strange things, but we'd better not pay attention to them.

There's no need to repeat anything.

- What sign are you? - The queen of the zodiac.

Don't get mysterious.

Anyway, whatever people say lacks of any interest.

Listen to the tam-tam. Do you remember?

And now, let's drink this wonderful philtre!

Here's to the tam-tam!

See you!

Do you really think that Pedro has drunk that philtre?

- That's what his uncle says. - Did he tell you anything?

He only told me about the emeralds.

But, the philtre is something different...

I don't understand why he doesn't come.

Gombrowicz, come with me. I'd like to talk to you.

Last night I drank a lot.

It left me a strong and bad taste.

I fell asleep; I woke up on the beach,

where I've found this mask, by my side, on the sand.

The owl mask

we had been seeing all night long.

I admire you a lot.

I'm dying to touch your hand,

may 1?

How wonderful, Gombrowicz!

How delightful!

1 would have loved listening to you.

I love you. Are you aware of it, Gombrowicz?

I love you. Do you understand?

What are you doing? Don't you see you're bothering me?

Gombrowicz, I think I feel like leaving this place.

How terrifying she is! I'm off.

I think I'm going to faint any minute now.

What are you reading?

Rodogune. Do you like Corneille, my little Isabelle?

Yes, especially when you play it.

Rodogune, it's been so long...

"Shall every of you think of what you owe me.

It's blood I'm begging from your hands, though I know

this trial doesn't imply bravery.

But since to me you owe your sceptre and your existence,

to me you should proof your love. Without this evidence,

my hatred will defy you for ever and ever.

Only by imitating me will you justify me.”

I need Marie Margaret.

- Marie Margaret! What are you doing? - I'm here, but I'm leaving.

No. Stay. We'll rehearse like we used to. You'll reply to me

with Jean-Jacques.

You'll play Seleucus and Antiochus.

“In vain thou pretend to be surprised. I'm telling thou,

this is the price of the throne, which is at my disposal as well as my conquest.

There shan't be first born nor king, unless thou bring me his head.

And since only my decisi�n can elevate thou,

in order to enjoy my crime, it has to be taken.

Allin all I find consolation

in not seeing my rival reigning instead of me.

Queen, from crime to crime thou have finally turned into a king.

I have absolved thee from thy father, thy brother and from me.

May heaven take you for victims,

may the punishment for my crimes befall you.

In your uni�n, may ye only find

horror, jealousy and confusi�n.

And to wish upon thee every ill,

may be born to thee a child that resembles me.

Ah! Ye should live in order to to turn your hatred into love.

I curse the gods for bringing me into this worid.

Someone get me out from here:

I'm dying, Laonice.

If thou shalt want me to owe thee one last favour,

please spare me from the affront of dying

at their feet.”

Who will it be at this sort of time? I'm scared!

Of whom? Of what?

After all that has happened tonight, I think I'm going to explode.

Cynthia, I think tonight

we have all lost our heads.

Oh! Nora, Nora! What a disaster!

It was Pedro. His flight has been cancelled due to bad weather.

Didn't he say anything else?

He sends you love and kisses, and he apologizes for not being here tonight.

This looks like a very conventional excuse.

Will he also go to Andalusia?

He's been in New York for a few days. He'll go to Andalusia to rest for a while.

I'm sure you're concealing something.

- Are you crazy? - Please, don't start again.

Had I known, 1 would have talked to him.

He doesn't have much money.

He could have reversed the charges.

Maybe that would have taken too long.

Longer than we've been waiting?

Anyway, tonight we won't keep on waiting,

but tomorrow, without fail, I'd like to read his book.