Original subtitles

Look.

It's Coutray.

Now it's your chance, you can ask him.

-Mr. Coutray, -Yes?

-May I ask you a question? -I don't see why not.

All the season in London I went to your ballet.

-I guess I went every week. -Very nice of you.

May I?

I think Astarté is the finest ballet I have ever seen in my life.

Thank you.

I looked forward to seeing it over and over again

but after the first night you took it out of the program.

Why did you do that, Mr. Coutray?

I'm afraid I can't answer that question.

I see. I'm sorry.

Anyway it's a night I'll remember as long as I live.

-How many do I have to see today? -Eight, after this one.

And one...

Shall we go on?

I suppose so.

Cerette! Adele Cerette!

Paula, darling, what happened?

Are you hurt?

It's not my ankle!

Doctor, you don't understand.

I understand this sort of heart condition extremely well.

Since she was a little girl my niece has lived for her dancing.

There is nothing else for her.

It's the meaning of life to her.

I am, or was, a dancer myself.

And a very great one.

Do you think so?

And she would have been greater.

I tell you Paula cannot live unless she dances.

And I tell you plainly she cannot live if she does.

How can I tell her?

Tell me what?

That I'm not to dance anymore?

Is that it?

I'm afraid so, my dear.

I know you won't believe me just now

but you'll find, I assure you,

that there are other things in life.

Many, many things.

There are, darling. We'll find them together.

We'll learn to like other things.

We'll try.

Coutray!

Good night, Arnold.

At 10:30.

"Wind" 11 and "fire" after lunch.

Yes, like that! Hold it. Can you hold that...

I shouldn't have spoiled it.

At least you're flesh and blood.

I thought you might be an illusion.

The point is, do you happen to know what you're doing?

I'm trespassing I suppose. I know perfectly well I shouldn't be here.

The fact is I... I don't know how to explain but...

Did I ask you to explain?

Will you kindly stop pretending that I'm an ogre until you know who I am?

Charles Coutray.

-Then why are you frightened? -That's why I'm frightened.

Actually I'm a very simple ordinary kindly human being.

-I shouldn't... -Let me go on with this.

Let me tell you, my dear little... whatever you are,

it's not utterly unthinkable that you may have done me a very great favour.

You mean by...

I suppose you were here at the show tonight.

Very late. I saw just Astarté.

-Liked it? -Of course.

But you weren't exactly imitating Cerette, you know.

No. But of course, she's wonderful.

Of course, of course! Nothing is "of course".

Cerette does to absolute perfection exactly what I require of her.

That's why she's here dancing for me.

You have something different.

Whether you knew it or not, you did something different.

Sketchy, a little...

It moved me. What's more, reminded me.

If I could just once get hold of it

I could straighten out this mess.

Astarté? A mess?

You agree? You better not.

I can call it "a mess" because it's mine.

There's a whole sequence in this ballet that could be improved.

Ever since I first staged it these things have been aching me.

Where have I seen you before?

-You'd remember, wouldn't you? -No, I wouldn't remember.

And I don't remember and it doesn't matter. Now is what matters.

You are going to be of some small help to me.

Perhaps... possibly.

-How? -You're going to do that all over again.

Here? For you?

No, not here. I couldn't __ here.

You come __ to my studio.

-Tonight? -At once.

I don't think I possibly can.

I don't know who you are but let me tell you, you flatter yourself.

-Oh, no, I don't. -Yes, you do.

You're afraid for your virtue which is in no danger.

In my job, young woman, I see young women, young women...

I understand that. That's not the reason.

What is it then? Is someone waiting for you? Let them wait.

Married? No.

An affair of the heart, is that it?

And if it is?

If there is one thing I hate is a jealous lover.

I've seen more good dancers ruined.

__ you dance, by the way? Why have you never danced for me?

I nearly did once but

I've given it up.

-And you call yourself a dancer? -I don't.

Well, I do.

Have you been happy since you've given it up?

Have you found life worth living since you've given it up?

-I've make you angry. -Angry!

You still flub yourself.

I watched you, you are an artist.

And you throw it all away

in exchange of what's presumably some sort of bliss.

Splendid, Admirable. I envy you.

You __ better than dancing.

Then why do you stand there, the picture of misery?

If I told you, you wouldn't want me to dance for you.

Come, come.

-Where do you live? -Knightsbridge, Egmont Square.

Come along, I'll take you there. It's on my way.

Don't feel like that about me.

You poor lost child.

I'll take you where you want to go.

I don't know if it's right for you but it's on my way.

All right, thank you.

Get your...

We don't talk much, do we?

Do you think I said it all in the theatre? You think I'm an absolute brute.

I haven't been shouted at once since I stopped dancing.

You brought it all back.

It's like the drafts?? in the corridors and the messy dressing rooms

and the smells, the sweat, the liniment.

And breaking your back and being cursed up because you can't break it anymore.

And then breaking it a bit more.

And learning that is what matters.

That's when we're really alive. When we're making something,

when we are something bigger than ourselves.

Come so rarely, those moments. And if you turn your back on them they're lost.

You're lost.

Lost.

That's why I've never been happy with Astarté.

I was looking over the usual string of girls and one of them

an absolute imbecile,

but she danced... really like a flame.

Then she messed it up and the moment was gone.

It was you!

Don't attempt to deny it. I've got eyes in my head.

But you were very good. What took you away?

What can you love more than dancing like that?

-Don't. -I'm sorry.

Egmont square, 47. Wasn't it?

Don't stop him.

I'll come on.

You mean it?

Straight on, driver. Illingsley House.

Doesn't this make you blink a little?

It was a noble ball-room.

In this house, the old house. I was the only person in London who could have any conceivable use for it.

So I got it. For song.

Or a dance, rather.

The splendour has faded. Plaster keeps falling from the ceiling

but the dancing is infinitely superior.

If you capture a flame how do you keep it alive.

You feed it.

Sandwiches and small sausage-like objects.

I suppose you can't dance on a flat stomach.

Well, I can't watch on an empty one. A tiny drink?

I don't need even a tiny drink.

Maybe you'll have something afterwards.

-Afterwards I'd be a pig. -The slimmest pig that ever...

What do pigs do?

Eat.

How observant you are. See my studio.

You won't be alarmed if I change into something more comfortable.

Here is the real workshop.

-What's this? -A sketch, a note...

I do hundreds. Anyone of them means nothing.

I'm not a painter, I started out that way but I was no good.

-Were you a musician once? -Tried that too. 10th grade.

But I think more boldly than a real musician or a real painter.

I'm seeing these things as parts of a flow, movements of a dance.

Idiotic.

When I'm on the right track I get to hear the music.

Then composers, choreographers, painters,

they know how, I know what.

Sulks, fights, tantrums...

And at last, after all the blood, sweat and tears,

a ballet.

How interesting.

Like it?

If I had time to look at it...

Well, you haven't time to look at it. But you shall later. And everything.

First I'm going to look at you.

Off we go.

-Here? -Wherever you like.

Just what you did before.

You see, I was alone.

We're alone now.

I could hear the music.

Music?

Of course! In here.

And you fancied yourself in a costume, right?

You shall have music and a costume. I should have thought of it before, I'm sorry.

What's the matter?

Nothing.

Nothing.

I keep most of my original costumes.

Astarté.

Air.

Earth.

Fire.

Shoes, down here.

Things for your hair. You'll find there everything you want.

Hurry up.

I completely forgot about the __ party.

Tell them I'm dead.

Tell them I'm busy with another first night.

Tell them I'm finding something really worth celebrating.

You'll know about it, all in good time.

Not now. Good night.

That's right.

Higher, higher.

Good.

Hold it.

Good.

Don't stop. You can't stop now.

Go on, please.

Please.

Are you all right?

Perfectly. Perfectly all right.

I've never been so all right.

Have I helped you at all?

I'm just a little out of breath.

I haven't danced for so long.

I know, I keep falling all over the place.

You're a dancer, you're dancing itself,

you're music, you're a poem, you're...

you're a joy.

I used to think of you as so terrifying.

You terrified me for a moment.

You said if I knew I wouldn't want you to dance for me.

You'd have been wrong.

I must go.

And lose you again. Promise me I shan't.

I want us to be together. I want us to do these things together.

I want you to be with me always.

I'll be with you.

That's a promise?

I must go.

I'll wait for you.

Already I'm waiting for you.

You don't have to wait for someone who's with you always.

With me always.

You are.

Astarté to the devil.

We'll do something new, something on our own.

You'll be in the music.

I can hear you, like music all around me.

You...

You'll be in every movement of every ballet I ever do.

I'll have to mend my manners

but they are getting better already.

My manners have improved.

All this rot?? about a lover. I don't believe __ was a lover.

If there was, it was nothing but a dream, a shadow.

This lover of yours was nothing but a shadow.

Are you there?

Hey, you, what's your name?

I don't even know your name.

Are you there?

Is that you, dear?

I'm in here. I'm still up.

You're late.

And I'm glad you're late.

It means you enjoyed yourself.

What's happened to you?

My dear child, what has happened to you?

I danced!

I met Charles Coutray. and I danced for him.

My dear girl, you know you shouldn't.

I had to.

You must understand.

I'm alive again. I can dance.

He said I'm a dance.

He said I'm a joy.

A joy.

He made me promise...

-Darling, be quiet. -I promised him...

Please, go to bed now.

I'll come up but not to talk.

Tomorrow we'll talk of everything.

Tomorrow...

everything.

Tonight is all for you.

All for me.

My darling.

I've promised I'd be with him.

Paula!

Oh, my darling!

Anna!

Excuse me, please.

Come along, darling. You know it's time for your dinner.

Are we going to have lessons when we get to New York?

I told you, dear. Yes.

Why do you have to teach those silly old lessons?

After all I'm your governess.

I were you I'd be something else.

-That's not so easy. -Why?

When one is a governess, my dear, it's not easy to change.

Dear Eddie,

Here are lots of churches and monuments

which is OK I guess,

pretty educational and all I don't say they are super classy because I guess they are.

We live in a hotel which dad says was an old palace once

I bet you think it's fun but it is none.

It's no fun at all because I'm sitting here with that woman.

We call her "Mademoiselle" because she's French.

and full of irregular verbs. She just adores the irregular verbs.

She gives me a terrific pain.

Last June I was 11

but it's not old, I guess, if you compare it with Rome.

but pretty old for a guy to have a governess, for god's sake.

What she does? She reads me those mushy French poems all day long.

Mush, mush, mush.

Boy, am I tired of her silly old face.

Que c'est beau!

Saccharine succotash!

She's gonna read me another one. I think I'll drop dead.

Il faut que je lis quelques...

Perhaps you won't understand all of it

but I want you to get used to the sound of beautiful poetry.

Sure, sure.

It's about children.

The Lord says that they are his real creation,

more than grown-ups,

because they're not yet deformed by life on Earth.

They are his true servants.

Et la voix des enfants est plus pure que la voix du vent

dans le calme de la vallée.

Et le regard des enfants est plus pure que le bleu du ciel,

que le laiteux du ciel,

et qu'un rayon d'étoile dans la calme nuit.

You did understand, didn't you?

The voice of children

is purer than the voice of the wind

in the calm of the valley

A voice like the wind in the valley, That's something!

All girls are awfully corny.

I wish I were an old man. 25 maybe,

So I can do what I like and not sit around with governesses or any other girl, for God's sake.

You don't seem to realise that your papa and mama

are giving you opportunities very few other children have.

You must take advantage of them.

Or else one day you'll be very sorry.

Just like that person in Verlaine's poem, which I red to you.

What have you done? You are crying now.

What have you done with your youth?

You'll give me the "participe passé" of the following verbs:

Watch my lips, Tommy.

I'm sick of it!

Tommy Campbell!

Sorry, my boy. No children are allowed in the bar.

You come back in about 10 years and I'll mix you a nice drink.

Where are you going?

Who gave you permission to go to the park?

I go where I darn please.

-That's news to me, kid. -I'm telling you.

I think I'll go over to the witch.

-To see who? -The witch.

Haven't you heard of the witch? She lives in the annex.

Nobody lives in the annex. Except old Mrs. Pennicott.

That's her. She lives alone in that uncommon place.

So nobody will see what she's doing.

She is no witch, she is an American.

What makes you think a woman can't be both?

A witch and an American.

Who says Mrs. Pennicott is a witch?

Lots of people. She's a natural. She's very odd.

She's got a magic poem.

That's kid's stuff.

Do you know Carlotta, the chambermaid?

She heard the witch talk to somebody at midnight lots of times.

Only there was nobody around to talk to.

Except the dog, of course.

The dog?

Big German dog.

Of course, it's not a dog exactly.

It's been somebody else before.

You're crazy.

-What was that? -Birds.

I'm going now to see the witch. You wanna come along?

Or must you ask your governess?

I guess you're afraid because of the dog and all.

I don't blame you.

I don't blame any kid for being afraid.

Wait!

Always sits there drinking that green stuff.

A couple of nights ago Carlotta's seen her knit in the dark.

She don't need no light. She can see in the dark like a cat.

If you're scare stiff why do you come along?

I'm not scared! I'm not!

Keep your voice down. You're crazy?

I think I'll go over and talk to her.

But you wish your governess was here to take you home.

Good evening, young man.

I wasn't expecting company but now that you're here I'd like to see you better.

Will you come forward a little bit?

I think I've seen you before.

Don't you live in the hotel?

-What's your name? -Thomas Clayton Campbell Jr.

Your father is a famous man.

I like you.

But I can't say the same to your friend.

He's crude, vulgar, uncivilised.

He keeps staring at me all the time.

Did you hear me, Miss Schneider?

I don't care for the attention of the young man out there.

That'll do, Miss Schneider.

Tell me, boy.

What did they tell you about me?

I know my reputation in this place.

Do you think I am a witch?

I'm not a baby.

It's not the babies that believe in the supernatural.

It's rather the mature mind that believe

there are more things in heaven and earth

than are dreamt of in our philosophy.

-That's Shakespeare. -Sure.

I'm glad you converse over Shakespeare, he's fun.

Double, double toil and trouble,

Fire burn, and caldron bubble.

Now you're trying to scare me. That's childish.

You dissappoint me. I wasn't trying to scare you.

I was simply trying to carry on a literate conversation.

Oh, dear, they always do that.

They're so fragile.

Will you excuse me, please?

I've got to go back to my governess.

That's a fact. I have a French lesson.

Have you a governess?

I had a governess many years ago when my parents were living in Germany.

They wanted me to study German.

I didn't like my governess.

At least I didn't like my governess as a governess.

So I got rid of her.

What did you do?

I didn't kill her if that's what you mean.

Please, Miss Schneider.

What are you thinking?

Are you wandering whether I'm a witch?

Suppose you are a witch.

Suppose I am.

Would you do a guy a favour?

I've been waiting for 20 years to do a guy a favour.

Could you make me a man so I won't have to have a governess?

So I can do what I like?

Do you mean now, at once?

But don't you think that would be a terrible shock to your parents.

I'm afraid that isn't practical.

It isn't?

Perhaps you could do it a temporary basis.

While you are supposed to be asleep, for instance.

All right! What's wrong with that?

Nothing. I like it. It's a challenge.

Of course, you will have an object.

Something for you to concentrate on. Like this.

Now, at 9 o'clock, when you go to bed...

-Do I have to wait that long? -Well, at eight.

You twist this ribbon around your finger then you place it against your forehead

and you must pronounce my name.

I love to have my name pronounced.

Hazel Pennicott,

That's my name.

I could hear it over and over again.

It intoxicates me.

Sure.

I keep half of this.

I might need it for somebody else's wish.

-There. -Thanks!

Now remember you must be back in bed by 12 o'clock.

I knew you would say that.

Don't blame me. I didn't make the rules.

But the presidents, stupid presidents.

Thanks anyway.

8 o'clock sharp. We'll both try our best, shall we?

Maybe it'll work.

Quarter to 8!

Here's your dinner, Tommy.

I tried to keep it warm.

Why are you in bed?

I'm sleepy, kind of tired.

I just don't want anything.

But then you must be ill.

You look flushed.

We're supposed to take the train tomorrow morning.

I hope you're not ill.

I'm not! I feel fine. I'm just tired.

Can't a guy be tired?

Didn't mother give you the evening off?

It's late, isn't it? 10 to 8.

Don't you wanna go to the movies maybe?

Maybe want to have a nice walk in the moonlight now like in your poems.

You'd be so kind as to put on your robe and eat your dinner?

Please, get up.

Eat your soup.

It is true that your mama gave me the evening off.

She said "it's your last night in Rome"

She's so sweet.

Of course she doesn't realise that I don't feel like going anywhere.

I don't know anybody here.

It's only because of your mama that I'm staying.

Because sometimes I have the feeling that you don't like at all.

That makes me very sad, Tommy.

I don't want you to be sad! I want you to be gay!

I want you to go to the opera. Or to a ball.

Why don't you go to a ball?

Tommy, what is it?

I have decided to stay home and help you pack your bag.

I can pack my own bag.

Why don't you go to the Coliseum? You're crazy about the Coliseum.

Why don't you go and sit there and read a couple of poems.

Wouldn't it be nice?

And stop calling me "Tommy".

It's Tom, Thomas. Thomas Clayton Campbell Jr.

Que vous étes méchant !

Vous étes un petit garçon terrible !

Mais ça c'est intolerable ! Je diraït à vos parents !

Vous étes un démon. Un petit barbar!

Barbar yourself!

One minute!

Hazel Pennicott.

Mistress Hazel Pennicott.

One, two, three...

Saccharine…

succotash!

Hazel Pennicott.

Well, here I am.

What would you like to have, sir?

Well, I thought...

-Do you know Mrs. Pennicott? -Yes, I do, sir.

A very dear friend of mine.

Our tastes are very much alike.

You know that green stuff she likes to drink?

That would be a "darroque"

You're not going to drink that without water, are you?

-Why not? -It's too strong.

Not for me.

I drink it all the time.

Lots of it.

But then you must be a real alcoholic.

What a pity!

Do you wanna know something?

Girls always tell a man what not to do.

But that's a nuisance.

I see.

You actually hate that stuff.

You just can't let it alone.

That's typical.

I wish I could help. I wish you'd let me.

After all you'll find I'm not unuseful.

You wanna know something?

Something I just found out?

I can let it alone.

Where are you going? What's the hurry?

An important errand, madam which permits of no delay.

Il pleure dans mon cœur Comme il pleut sur la ville .

Quelle est cette langueur Qui pénètre mon cœur ?

Ô bruit doux de la pluie Par terre et sur les toits !

Pour un cœur qui s’ennuie, Ô le chant de la pluie !

Il pleure sans raison Dans ce cœur qui s’écœure.

Quoi ! nulle trahison ?… Ce deuil est sans raison.

I beg your pardon.

Does this book belong to you?

I found it on the path in front of the bench.

Thank you.

Silly of me to cry.

But I was standing there thinking of that poem

And then I suddenly heard it,

coming out of nowhere just like in a dream.

It was so strange, it moved me.

Wait, please.

I never thought that a man, a man like you, I mean,

could be interested in poetry.

Maybe you don't know many men.

I don't, that's true.

They are capable of the most subtle thoughts, feelings...

Of course, they have to be inspired.

Tonight I feel inspired.

Les chandeliers énormes suspendus dans le ciel

Oh, what a wonderful thing to say!

What?

To compare the stars with enormous chandeliers suspended in the sky.

I just felt like using the word "suspendu"

because I like it so much.

You do?

That's funny.

How a word can change its value and its colour from one moment to another.

It's funny how rapidly things can change.

Not only things, people too.

That's a fact, you know that?

The girl you are now is probably very different from the girl you were 2 hours ago.

That's very true.

And the man who sits beside you is very different from the person I was this afternoon.

I'd like to know what kind of man you were before we met.

You wanna know the truth? The honest truth?

I was terrible, monstrous, cruel and barbaric. A barbarian.

Do you know what I mean?

-I can't quite believe that. -That's true, though.

I've make a lot of mistakes in my life.

Hasn't everybody?

I made her unhappy. This afternoon I made her very unhappy.

-Oh, a woman. -A woman.

I made her cry.

I'm sure you didn't mean to.

I'm sorry I made you talk about things you don't wish to discuss.

Well, it's late. I'd better go.

Don't go, please, don't go.

You dropped something.

It's nothing. Just a toy. I don't want it.

A toy!

I picked it up somewhere. A kid's toy.

I was a bit crazy.

-I think there is bit of a boy in every man. -That's true.

I'm so glad to see you gay again. A moment ago you looked so depressed.

Let's talk about something gay. Life is so short.

You don't know how short.

You're young.

You're awfully young.

You aren't much older, are you?

I'm terribly old. I don't have much time left.

What do you mean?

Well, in a way I only have 2 hours to live.

I'm sorry, I didn't mean to frighten you.

I'm not gonna die in 2 hours but I'll have to leave you then.

We have so much in common.

The poetry we love...

There isn't much time.

There isn't much time at all.

I have the most amazing impulse.

You know what I'm thinking?

I'm thinking how wonderful it must be to be old.

Too old to feel any pain any longer.

No great pain and no great joy.

Just peace.

You're wrong.

You're awful wrong.

You shouldn't wanna be older than you are.

Before you know it, a few hours...

I mean, a few years and your youth will be gone.

They're too darn short anyway.

I know.

If you don't enjoy your life now

what will you have to remember?

Just a few books, maybe.

-A couple of poems. -Verlaine.

Yeah. And it said in that poem

that some girl red to me once.

What have you done?

And therefore it's absolutely necessary

and I should kiss you once more.

-I must go. -You mustn't go.

Stop here, will you?

Take Mademoiselle to a hotel.

Can you come to the station? I'm leaving at 10 in the morning.

I'll be there.

Will they change locomotives in the Alps?

I think so, Tommy.

-Do they have a diesel engine? -No, they're electric.

-Can we go and see the locomotive? -Not now, Tommy.

-Can I sit by the window, dad? -All right, Tommy.

There is a mailbox. Can I run over and mail my letter to Eddie?

All right. But don't be long, the train leaves in a few minutes.

Mademoiselle just told us she is not coming with us.

She's decided it was right for her to stay here.

-Good bye, Tommy. -Good bye.

I hope I didn't make you too miserable with all those irregular verbs.

Thanks again for everything.

-We thank you, Mademoiselle. -Good luck.

Thank you.

I wonder what made her suddenly decide to stay here. At the very last moment.

Who can tell? What's a woman's mind?

Did you notice how pretty she looked this morning?

Mademoiselle, why aren't you coming with us? You must come with us, please.

Je vous aime bien. Vous partez avec nous.

But you're speaking French!

Oh, how awkward of me.

Thank you.

Thank you, my dear.

You're kind.

And very pretty too.

Are you smiling or crying?

Maybe both.

Did you bring someone to the station or are you waiting for someone?

Maybe both.

Somebody gone, somebody expected.

But if you are waiting don't wait too long.

Because when one is as young as you are one doesn't have to wait for anyone.

They'll find you wherever you are.

I know.

My name is Hazel Pennicott.

Hazel Pennicott.

Thank you.

The girl on the platform. In Rome, last July.

I was on the train, you were on the platform.

That makes us almost old friends.

So I can offer you a cocktail.

I wanted to get off the train right then

but there were things in Paris waiting that seemed awfully important.

So I sat there and the train started.

Then I knew what I really wanted. People often don't know what they really want.

And they're darn lucky if the find out before it's too late.

And some never do.

A light, Monsieur? Will you be so good?

Look! She's jumping!

She jumped off the bridge!

Your name, if you please?

I don't wanna get mixed up in this thing.

I understand, Monsieur. But the regulations...

Please, your name.

-Pierre Narval. -Address?

Rue de Tournon, 37.

Occupation?

Bicycle repair shop.

Thank you, monsieur.

We may want to get a statement from you later.

Have they talked to you yet?

You were leaning over.

Watching something float under the bridge, You leaned over too far. That's what I told them.

Stick to it. Save you a lot of trouble.

-Who are you? -I pulled you out.

-Why did you come here? -Just thought I'd come.

Nina Burkhardt.

Courage.

Keep the spirits up, Nina.

Still here, huh?

Till tomorrow.

She's gone.

Finished.

Why did you do it?

I was finished too.

I still am.

But I'm still alive.

One can be that way, I know.

Are you gonna try it again?

Are you?

I haven't the strength to try again.

I wish the war was still on.

I wish someone...

Do it for you?

Don't say that.

That's something you must never say.

It's a lovely day outside.

I'd have bought you some flowers if I'd thought of it.

Where are you from? Italy?

From Orezia in the Tirol.

It was Italy.

Do you like it there?

The mountains, yes.

It was so green and fresh all the summer...

And in the winter, deep snow.

I went to Innsbruck one time to see the skiing.

The ski jump.

That's something.

Even I... I like to watch that. It's like...

Like flying.

That's right.

Did you ever do it?

-A little. -Were you good at it?

They said so.

What does it matter?

You don't look very big or strong.

It's balancing, timing,

and not being afraid of it.

Balancing, timing.

I'm getting tired. I think you better go.

All right.

You talk about wanting to die.

You found out you wanted to live when you were down there in the dirty water but you don't know how.

Where are you going when you get out of here?

Nowhere.

Suppose there was a life. Something different.

Altogether different from anything you ever dream of.??

Pierre Narval. Rue de Tournon, 37.

Thanks.

There's a guest missing, Pierre.

This one.

Yes, Rose.

I've been missing a long time.

Too long.

Well, Legay, how's business?

At Marcel's party business is forgotten.

That's what it was in the old days.??

The old days are gone.

Maybe they'll come back.

With another Pierre Narval to manage.

The same one.

A little joke, huh? Very funny.

A joke but no smile.

The smile but no joke.

No, Pierre. You just stick to your bicycles.

There are enough bicycles.

I'm going back in the bar.

You are mad.

-Pierre, you promised. -I was mad when I promised.

You saw what you are. A man with a devil in him. Fighting him.

You were the best. But you had to be better than the best.

Two turns, the crowd went crazy.

So you had to do three turns.

Platform a little higher. The lead wider.

We warned you. Everybody warned you.

But no. Another foot. And another foot.

And then...

You killed her.

You said it yourself. You said it over and over again that night.

I did not kill her.

It was an accident.

Such an accident. Could you ever keep a partner afterwards?

Four, five... How many girls left you?

You're well known, my friend.

You'll never find another.

You think not? I think I will.

Now, my friends...

Here, Legay.

Let's not spoil our little party.

Just enjoy yourselves.

Yes, Antoine, your stomach.

Rose __

After all, in a way, it was an accident.

Luck, chance, call it "fate" if you will.

Come in!

There's a young lady downstairs asking for you.

Pierre, it's not another...

What is it?

-What Marcel said: fate. -Don't you know what you're doing?

It's a sickness, a madness, an obsession.

Don't let it get hold of you again.

Don't let it ruin everything.

If you go there again, you'll kill yourself.

Think of this girl, whoever she is. Have pity on her.

Rose, you don't understand. She doesn't care.

She will. We women aren't strong as you are, Pierre.

She will care and you'll kill her. You know it.

You'll kill her too.

Good night, Rose.

Then have pity on me.

I thought we were going to be so happy.

Happy? With me?

Rose, find someone who isn't sick,

the ground is covered with them.

But I don't belong on the ground.

There she is, Monsieur.

Madame, the key.

-Number 27. Good evening, mademoiselle. -Good evening.

Come with me.

-How do you feel? -I don't know.

Rest, eat, have dinner?

-On the way here. -Good.

You're wondering what I want.

But you came without knowing. I like that.

I came because...

you seem like the only person

I could in any way call "a friend".

All alone, huh?

No family?

I had a husband. He's dead.

You're so young.

We were both young.

Is that why you...?

You were going to tell me what you wanted.

Up to a few years ago I was an aerialist,

a trapeze artist.

They said I was the best. Better than the best.

But I was unlucky.

They say I took risks.

But if you don't wanna take risks you can crawl about on the ground.

Like a fly with its wings off.

Up there on the bar you've got to do something.

Something no one else can do.

I suppose so.

I had a partner, wonderful girl.

We had to try new stuff now and then

the people pay to see.

And you had an accident?

That's right. An accident.

In this sort of business you mustn't have an accident.

The word gets around...

That's why I'm in a bicycle shop.

I wanna get back up there.

I've got to.

But I haven't got a partner.

I want you to be my partner.

Me?

But I've never...

How do you know I would learn.

I don't know, I have a hunch.

You jumped on skis

and you jumped into the Seine.

And you offer me a better way to die?

No. A better way to live.

A sort of job you've got no time to think of your troubles,

you've got no past.

Maybe you've got no future but who cares? You live for the moment.

You've seen it up there, lying across the top with the drums rumbling underneath.

Look.

I'm not out to kill you.

Myself either.

You'll be all right because you don't care for life.

People get killed when they cling to life.

They cling to the bar a split second too long.

The girl I spoke of, she didn't all right.

Fell in love.

With you?

I shan't do that.

There no room for that sort of thing.

You've got to be free.

Nerves right, timing right,

the bar comes up to meet you.

The hands are there to catch.

Well?

The hands that pulled me out of the Seine.

Hang on. Give me a little swing, backwards

Hang on.

That's the idea.

Pull on it.

Don't be afraid, you're not gonna hurt my hands.

That's it.

Now watch it again.

See?

Just hold there. It's easier up on the bar cause you have the momentum.

Up we go.

Down.

Up with the head.

Try another.

Pretty good.

Keep that knee down.

Hang on tight. Strong grip.

Enough for today.

Notice how the legs work.

Toes together.

You just take it easy. I'll get a little light swing.

Ready? Let's go.

Did you see that?

Get the bar.

Fasten your lines.

I'll be right down here to hold you. Just go off once and just take it easy.

Don't worry, I'm right here for you.

How was it?

It wasn't a bad fall but you're breaking a little too late and you're clinging to the bar.

Let's go up and try again.

The whole secret is timing.

Are you tired?

No. I'll do it again.

Keep your toes pointed.

Ready?

Head up.

We'll work on some mounts now.

Are you all right?

Yes.

You sure?

-I just got a little frightened. -Get down.

Jacques, get some coffee for us, will you?

All right, boss.

You let go too late.

When I say "now" you've got to let go.

When I say "go" you've got to leave the bar.

-I thought I did. -Like that, on the instant.

You don't stop to think,

you let go too late.

That's when accidents happen.

I know. I've seen them.

At the Winter Palace?

Who you've been talking to?

People talk, you know.

Oh, they've been at you have they?

More than once.

Do you believe them?

Why don't you believe me? It's like I told you.

Are you a murderer because you had an accident?

I know how you feel.

My husband had one of those accidents.

We were both in a concentration camp.

Later they let the women go.

I missed him so much.

I knew my husband had a plan to escape.

There was a man who said he could get a letter to him.

I trusted that man.

I wrote him and told him not to try to escape. That the Americans were coming.

That soon there would be peace. and we'd be together again.

That man handed over the letter to the Germans.

so they killed my husband.

I need'nt have written.

Timing.

Let's go on.

Right on.

Good girl.

Jacques, what do you say?

Okay, boss. You got one.

Same time tomorrow, boss?

I'll let you know.

I don't know yet.

Bye.

I thought Legay wasn't your agent anymore.

Changed his mind.

William Cyrus is here.

Big circus man from America.

We're gonna show him the act on the 6th at the Winter Palace.

The Winter Palace?

That's right. We have to find another place to work.

A place with more height.

You go home, I've got things to do. I'll see you later.

There was a man here asking for you.

He said he knew your husband.

Well, thank you.

I had to come.

I have been searching for you everywhere.

I had no rest.

I beg of you.

Listen to me,

I beg of you.

-Hello, Pierre. -Hello, Legay.

-Have you seen Marcel? -I haven't been home yet.

It's 8:45.

The audition for Mr. Cyrus is all set.

-At the winter Palace. -Wonderful!

-Well, I'm certainly glad I found you. -What's up?

-Come on, Marcel, it's 8:55. -Just a minute.

It's Nina.

-Anything wrong? -I don't know.

Some man came to see her. Some friend of her husband's.

He was up there for some time.

-So what? -I didn't like the looks of it.

I knocked on the door to make sure that she was all right.

There's no answer.

I walked in, tried to talk to her, she wouldn't speak.

Something is wrong here, something is badly wrong.

Can't be.

Not now.

What's happened?

What's wrong with you?

What is it?

Come on, tell me.

You can't get sick now, we've got no time.

You mustn't get away like this.

Look.

You and me, we're supposed to be too tough for this sort of thing.

Nothing but the act.

You're cold.

Cold as ice.

You've got to keep warm or you gonna get sick.

Maybe I've been working you too hard but I couldn't help it.

We didn't have much time.

Keep yourself covered and you'll be all right.

I'll be right...

You know, Nina,

we don't talk a lot, you and I but

you know what I think of you.

You heard what Jacques said this afternoon?

"You've got one"

I tell you those words lit up in me like...

I felt so proud of you!

Say something to me. Tell me what it is.

What did that man want?

It's about your husband.

I remember what you told me.

It's funny.

You're so young, so literal and you blame yourself.

You let it eat you up and it's nothing.

You blame yourself for nothing.

Some of us.

Never mind.

Try to get some sleep.

Try.

I'm here. I'll look after you.

There aren't many like you.

Nina, can you hear me?

You've got to hear me.

I killed her.

Everybody told me it would happen. They begged me to stop but I wouldn't.

There was some evil in me and I killed her.

But you...

if you did make a mistake

it was love.

For a man to be loved like that

None of us.

And you loved him like that.

Chess __

He carved them for me in the camp

with every little piece of wood he found.

He taught me to play.

That man brought them to me.

He begged me to forgive him.

They tortured him.

He saw Walter the day he died.

Walter forgave him.

You forgave him?

Forgive yourself, too.

Cry, cry, but listen...

I'll do anything you want.

I'll give it all up.

We could have been the greatest team in all the world.

But let it go. Let it go.

I'll do anything for you.

I'll do anything for you, Nina.

Anything.

Hello, Jacques.

Does it look good to you?

Never looked better.

The board is 2 feet higher like you said.

Where is Nina?

-Not coming. -Not coming?

No work today.

There aren't many days left.

More than you think.

Now what do you think you're doing?

I'm dreaming about the Seine.

Then you better get off of there quick.

All right.

Me, I like to work professional.

Professional, huh?

All right.

Man, the next time you go crazy, let me know.

Save your breath, you'll need it on the next one.

The great Narval!

Another!

You didn't wait for me.

I thought you weren't coming.

You said if we miss the day we'll never make it.

Wait a minute, I'm coming down.

I'm coming up.

Look, Nina.

You've been working all the year for this chance.

It's what you want most in the world, isn't it?

Let's get ready for the audition.

All ready?

We're next.

All set.

Boss,

watch out for the girl.

Especially in the last trip.

-What are you talking about? -Haven't you noticed anything?

No, I haven't.

I have.

All right. Say it.

She's clinging on.

Crazy.

She's not the same girl anymore.

When you're about.

If you wanna catch for me you mind your own business.

"Catching", that's my business. Not missing.

Stick.

-How are you feeling? -Fine

Now, Mr. Cyrus,

presenting, with an entirely new act.

His first appearance in over 2 years,

the great Narval!

Don't let the music throw you.

I love music.

Let's do it the way always do it.

All right?

Here we go.

Go!

Very good.

Trap the bar a little earlier this time.

Just pretend you are at the warehouse.

Mr. Cyrus, now you will see Pierre Narval and his partner

in the most perilous part of their performance.

The Death Dive.

Pierre, wait!

Hold it a minute.

What is it?

One second, Pierre.

I've never seen this one.

Of course, they'll do

I'm sorry, I couldn't possibly make such a large commitment

without seeing the act as it'll be performed.

I'm sure they'll be willing.

Just give me a minute.

Pierre, you've got to do it the way you are going to show it to the public.

-Without the net. -Now?

-Why? -Or he won't sign.

He wants to see it.

I won't do it.

Pierre, I'm ready.

Monsieur Legay, please tell them to take the net away.

Well, Pierre?

Take it away!

Ready!

Go!

Great!

The world is ours.

I could get you anything. Anything!

-You were right, Legay, you were right. -Was I?

But I wanted to see him.

Mr. Cyrus, I don't think we'll ever see him again.