A Little Romance (1979)

[bunniefuu]

Oh!

Aah! Aah!

Choppers j j such a sweet, sweet guy was he j j and her tears flowed like wine j j yes, her tears flowed like wine j j she's a real sad tomato j it's a time-honored profession, an older one than yours.

Mm-hmm.

Besides, you've had thousands of dollars worth on the house, as they say.

Bingo.

A a

Bingo!

I hope, Mr. secretary, with this signing, France and the United States will begin a whole new era in our relations.

The president wanted to be here, but due to his wife's illness... look out!

Cut!

Cut! Cut!

What the hell are they doing?

Would you get the hell out of here?

Isn't somebody posted out there?

I'll see what happened.

Help yourself.

Would you get them the hell out of here?

Ok. Have we seen the doors yet?

I don't think...

No. Yes.

I don't... I'm not sure.

Lucy! Lucy?

Have we seen the doors in any sh*t yet?

No, no.

Ok. Leave the doors shut.

Shut... Shut.

I think.

Look, what's that damn redhead's name?

Monique.

Monique, Monique, you're nowhere near emotional enough.

I mean, he m*rder*d your husband.

You got to have tears.

George, I can't cry without menthol.

No, no. I don't like using phony stuff.

It's got to come out of the moment.

I plan on using menthol in my crying scene.

You don't have a crying scene.

Ok!

Let's take it from the top!

Makeup, could you get Monique a menthol ball?

Hi, Lauren.

Hi.

Enjoying yourself?

Mm-hmm.

Flying in!

Lauren?

Lauren?

Call me bogie.

Why?

Because...

All right. No talking!

Quiet on the set!

Hold it. Hold it. Are the squibs set?

Special effects?

When Monique fires, I want that mirror behind brod to shatter.

Because they belong together.

Lauren and bogie.

Lauren bacall, Humphrey bogart.

It's a $12 million picture!

You going to tell me I can't break one g*dd*mn mirror?

They were married.

Movie stars.

She called him bogie.

That's why I said to call me bogie.

It's in the script!

Oh.

Lucy, can I get a script over here, please?

What are you reading?

Simone fires at the president.

Nothing.

Lauren, darling.

What are you doing back here?

I bring you all the way out to watch the sh**ting, and you sit there with your nose in a book.

I got bored.

How could you possibly be bored?

George is one of the finest directors in the whole world.

I find this whole thing absolutely fascinating.

I could've done this g*dd*mn picture in Spain!

Can you believe this?

A $12 million picture, and they won't let me break one friggin' mirror!

Oh, I'm sorry, kid.

I'm not used to having kids on the set.

It's nothing she doesn't hear every day at school, right, darling?

I'll show you the setup through the camera.

Oh, I'd love it.

Up, up, up, up, up.

Oh, merci.

You had it. You had it.

Your mother?

She's very attractive.

Is she an actress?

No.

I thought maybe you came out here to watch her.

No. She came out here to watch him.

George di Marco.

You know him?

Sure. Bloody Tuesday, lips, the dandelion train.

I don't go to movies much. Is he a good director?

He stinks.

Really?

He's the worst.

You're not just saying that?

The only people who like his movies are two critics in Paris and one, I think, in Pakistan.

I have to go.

It was good talking to you.

Maybe I'll see you again sometime.

Right.

So long, sweetheart.

I didn't know you knew French.

I've lived here nearly three years.

How come you speak english?

School, but movies mostly.

I like the American ones.

It's beautiful here, no?

I think it's awful places like this were built when so many frenchmen were starving.

Mmm. This is fabulous chicken, bogie.

You're lucky to have a mother who cooks like this.

I don't have a mother.

I made this myself.

My name isn't really bogie.

I thought you said that...

A joke. Humphrey bogart was married with Lauren bac...

Never mind.

My name is Daniel.

You from Paris?

Just outside. La garenne.

You live with your father?

What does he do?

He sort of drives.

A truck?

No.

A taxi.

You shouldn't be embarrassed.

It's honest work.

Not the way he does it.

You have a father or just a mother?

I have a father.

As a matter of fact, I'm on my third.

Does your mother divorce them or just k*ll them?

They're all still alive.

What's the latest one do?

He's in telephones.

Telephones?

What does he do exactly?

Exactly, he's the head of ict.

In Europe.

So you're a capitalist.

My father's a capitalist.

My own politics are more radical than my parents.

It's easy to be liberal when you're rich.

I've seen it in films.

Kid! Your mother's got half the crew looking for you!

Come on! I have to go.

Me, too.

Thanks for the lunch. My pleasure.

Au revoir, Daniel.

Au revoir, Lauren.

A a

We can meet somewhere in Paris.

When?

Next week?

When next week?

Monday.

Ok! Where?

Where do you live?

Neuilly.

I see you at the gare St. lazare...

The train station.

3:00, Monday.

Under the clock.

Bingo!

Did you have fun out at that chateau today?

Mm-hmm.

He was so busy directing, he barely said hello.

He's so inventive. It's fascinating to watch him.

He has such a rapport with the actors.

You could tell that, couldn't you, darling?

Mm-hmm. May I be excused, please?

Don't you want to have some dessert, sweetheart?

No. I've got to call Natalie and get the homework soi cando it.

On Friday night?

Don't be such a drudge.

Why don't you watch some television?

No. I missed a whole day of school.

I really don't want to get behind. Excuse me.

She spent the whole time reading a book.

Don't you think a child her age would be interested in watching a movie being made?

Depends on the book.

Well, I don't know what to do.

I took her out there this afternoon simply hoping she'd enjoy herself.

She spent the whole time reading.

Natalie? Lauren.

What happened in school today?

We were playing mixed soccer with the boys.

Billy duchin and another boy were choosing girls to be on their team.

Can you imagine how nervous I was?

Natalie, he's your cousin.

Second cousin.

The kids don't come out funny or anything. I checked.

Did he pick you?

No.

How are you supposed to have kids if he won't even pick you for a soccer team?

Because in about two years I'm gonna fill out, my mother told me. Then he'll pick me.

Well, it's a start anyway.

Listen, what's the math homework?

Pages 226 through 232.

God, it's so hard!

And Mr. Stuart gave us a test that was just awful!

He says you're going to have to make it up on Monday after school.

Monday?

Oh, no.

Well, that's what he said.

I can't. I just can't.

Why not?

I met a boy.

God, I can't stand it! Who is he?

His name is Daniel.

He's French! God, what else?

He lives in la garenne, and his father drives a cab.

A cab? God, your mother'll have a fit.

If she finds out.

You'd better not tell her.

Are you in love?

You don't fall in love with a boy you just met.

Are you?

Yeah.

Are you gonna see him again?

I don't know if I can.

Well, if you do, then you'll see what I've been going through with Billy.

You don't know what love is like till you've fallen for your cousin.

Second cousin.

Right.

Got to go. See you Monday.

Good-bye.

Reading something you don't want me to see?

It's just a book.

I used to read those, too.

What is it? Come on, I won't tell.

An introduction to...

Metaphysics.

By Martin heidegger.

School has certainly changed since I was in the seventh grade.

Itisn't for school.

I'm just reading it for fun.

Fun? Heidegger?

Why were you hiding it from me?

Most people think anyone who reads heidegger's weird.

Oh, I don't.

Though I'll have to admit that philosophy was never one of my strong subjects in college.

Heidegger.

You really understand that?

Mm-hmm. Heidegger isn't all that hard.

His stuff is mostly etymological.

You know, like, why is there something rather than nothing at all?

Uh-huh. Mm-hmm.

You seemed a little distracted at dinner.

Anything wrong?

No, not really.

Nothing happened that upset you?

No.

Oh.

I thought maybe this summer we'd all take a trip together.

You and your mother and myself.

We could go to Germany.

We've never been there together.

That'd be nice.

Yeah. Maybe somehow we could arrange for you to meet heidegger.

He d*ed three years ago.

Oh.

We probably don't want to bother him.

No.

Damn rich American girls.

Keep you waiting.

I'll count to 20, and if she's not here by that time, the hell with her.

1... 2...

That's too fast.

1...

2...

3...

4...

Oh...

Oh. Um,

oh!

It's ok. I speak english. Don't strain yourself.

I'm so glad I found you! God, just think what...

Where is she? If I didn't, you'd probably never, ever find her again.

What's your name?

My name? Natalie woodstein.

Natalie, where is she?

Oh, yeah, she can't come.

Why not?

She got kept after school for a makeup test.

We've got this really mean teacher, Mr. stone, and...

Oh, yeah, she wants to know if you can come the same time Wednesday instead?

Ok. Ok.

Oh, yeah. She wants to know where. Here?

No, this is no good. Tell her the arc de triomphe du carrousel in front of the louvre.

The arc de triomphe.

No! Not the big one on the champs-elysees.

The small one in front of the louvre.

In front of the louvre.

Oh! That's the museum louvre, right?

Ok.

Thank god she got it right.

I was afraid you'd be at the other arc de triomphe while I was standing down here cursing you.

Natalie's ok.

She's just kind of, you know, terminally dense.

She's the only one in the whole school I can even stand. Ow!

Something the matter with your foot?

No. It's just new shoes.

They didn't have them in my size, buti liked them.

They're very nice.

Thanks. Ow.

You sure you're all right?

Fine.

Ok. Then why don't we mosey on down here a piece?

Let me carry your books.

You know... oh, I'm sorry.

That's ok.

I do that myself all the time.

Heidegger?

Oh, it's for school, an assignment.

They're assigning you heidegger?

Sure.

They are teaching you existentialism?

Heidegger isn't really an existentialist.

He claims he isn't. His writing says he is.

You read heidegger?

Not anymore.

He bores me.

Especially his fascination with the tall German poet, what's his name?

Holderlin! Holderlin!

Did you ever try to struggle through any of that stuff...

Empedocles? It's awful.

But the French translation is terrible.

Oh, believe me, it's terrible in any language.

I know! That's fantastic!

A a

what's your IQ?

I don't know.

You mean you've never been tested?

No. Why not?

I'm afraid I might find out I'm...

What?

A genius or something weird.

Well, people don't exactly love smart kids.

I know.

I'm 1671q.

I won't tell anybody.

And I read heidegger because I want to, not for school. I was lying.

I lie all the time. You have to.

Are you good at math?

Math? I'm sensational!

Especially things like probability.

I've won 850,000 francs on the horses.

850,000?

Just on paper, naturally.

That's fantastic!

Fantastique!

Fabulous!

Formidable!

Uh... uh...

Uh... uh...

Ah! You are english!

Oh, no, I'm American.

I love Americans!

I was stationed there for a time as a matter of fact. Washington.

You have been there?

Once when I was little.

Extraordinary city, very like Paris in many ways.

You sure you're all right now?

Perfectly, my dear.

Allow me to present myself.

Julius Edmond santorin, retired.

And now to show there's no hard feelings, will you join me in ahot chocolate?

I know a delightful spot nearby.

No, thank you. Thank you.

Ok. Good.

It's years since I was in Washington, but I have many fond memories.

We'll have lots to talk about.

I've never been in Washington.

I'm from la garenne. La garenne?

I have been there, too. Come along!

And so, emilienne, we had not been married very long, and, uh, she was not all that sophisticated, coming from provence, was offered vodka by the Russian ambassador,

and following the other guests...

Swallowed it straight back.

You can't imagine her surprise!

I shall never forget the expression on her face.

Will that be all, monsieur santorin?

Ah, parfait. Merci.

You were the ambassador to the United States?

Oh, no, no, no, no, no.

I was simply a humble attache at the embassy.

I didn't become ambassador until the end of my career.

Then it was Liechtenstein.

Delightful spot, but hardly the top of the diplomatic ladder.

Oh, that's fantastic!

What an incredible life you must have had, monsieur santorin.

Oh, no, please. Julius.

You make me feel my years less.

How old are you?

No longer young, Daniel.

No longer young.

Your wife emilienne?

She has been gone 12 years now...

To this very day.

I was on my way to the cemetery when I ran into a large, round object.

Um, the football, I thinkit is called.

I never saw it.

I said I was sorry.

She won't mind my being a little late.

I go to see her every week with all the best smiles and tears of all of my life.

And if god choose... And if god choose, I shall but love thee better after death.

Elizabeth Barrett Browning.

She's my favorite poet.

Oh, she was ours, too.

Fantastic!

Yes!

She's no longer so much in the fashion, but how we loved her.

I'll tell you a little story.

When emilienne and I lived in venice, we rented a small villa.

One Sunday the plumbing went out, and, of course, I couldn't get a plumber on Sunday, and so I went down to see if I could make some repairs myself.

And crawling about in the dark I came upon some paper.

Poetry?

Have you guessed? No.

We had been living in the br*wnings'® villa and didn't know it!

That's fantastic! Were they new poems?

No, all mostly drafts, which improved when they were published.

Some of the sonnets from the Portuguese.

And some pages from a journal which she kept, describing the people they met, the places they went, the trips to the lido, the kiss under the bridge.

What bridge?

Ahh, there is an old venetian legend which says that if two lovers kiss in a gondola under the bridge of sighs at sunset, when the bells of the campanile toll, they will love each other forever.

And they did?

She d*ed in his arms some years later.

And you and emilienne?

The legend is true.

Isn't he the most incredible person you ever met?

Incredible.

I mean, what a life he's had.

He's so dear, so sensitive, you know?

Don't you think so?

Isn't he wonderful?

Yes, he is wonderful.

I'm having a birthday party a week from Friday, and I want you to come.

Ok.

Hi, mother.

Hello, darling.

Hi, Richard. Hello, sweetheart.

Darling, how does this sound for the party?

Caviar on those tiny deep-fried potato skins, smoked scotch salmon, oysters on the half shell, champagne, and Russian vodka?

I'd just as soon have cake and ice cream.

What are you talking about?

My party.

Oh, this is for George's wrap party.

Wrap party?

Don't you know any of the jargon, Richard?

I guess not.

When a movie is finished sh**ting, it's traditional to have a party to celebrate.

They call it a wrap party. Actors, producers, crew...

So, we're having them all here?

Of course not.

I'm just having George, the cast, plus a few critics, a bunch of our friends, the schwartzes, Bernard durand, the food editor of le monde.

When is it?

The 3rd.

But that's my birthday.

You're not going to have a party?

Darling, sh**ting ends on the 3rd.

On the 4th, everybody's leaving but George, so it has to be the 3rd.

I'm sorry.

I've got an idea!

Why don't we have Lauren invite some of her friends to the wrap party?

Make it a combination.

Lauren's birthday and George's wrap party.

What do you say?

Ok.

Oh, thank you, darling.

Ok.

In a way, that solves one of my problems.

I mean, who was she going to invite to her party in the first place?

She doesn't seem to have any real friends, you know?

Other than that Natalie person.

I know. It's been hard for her, being the kind of kid she is, living in a foreign country these last few years.

That's why I've changed my mind.

About what?

I've accepted that transfer to Houston.

We'd be leaving next month.

Richard, we talked about that, and I...

I know, I know.

I think we made the wrong decision.

For Lauren... and for us.

Well, but... but Houston's so...

Well...

Houston is so...

Houston.

Until about 500 b.C., the greeks perfected their techniques of carving.

You can see that these statues are quite different from those Egyptian statues over there in their depiction of the human form.

Praxiteles, for example, is a master.

See how he really shows the anatomy as it is.

Notice the detail of the musculature.

Over here, on the other hand, we have doriphor by policlitus, and a perfectly splendid example of the school of Athens, the magnificent torso of Apollo.

The strength of Greek sculpture...

Have you ever seen a real one?

One what?

Sure.

Whose? His?

Whose?

You know, his.

Daniel.

Sure.

God!

Have you ever...

You know?

Done it?

All the time, every which way.

God, Lauren!

I would've preferred to have waited, but... but you know the French.

Now, works like this, which aren't even mentioned by the classical Greek...

Where?

Where what?

Did you do it?

Well, there's this old mattress down in the cellar, and we go... God!

Now, as we come downstairs, we'll see on our left the Apollo Belvedere, the original of which is in the Vatican.

It was supposed to show the ideal model of a man's body.

Note the bow in the extended arm and the head turned sideways, as if he was following the arrow with his eyes.

Unfortunately, this is only a replica, not a very good one.

Let us proceed to a later period.

Look, I want you to come to my birthday party on Friday,

and I want you to invite me over to your place tomorrow night.

What for?

Well, to tell you the truth, I don't really want you to invite me over.

I want to go out with Daniel but I want to tell my mother that I'm at your place doing homework.

And during this time that you're supposed to be at my house, I'll suppose you'll be doing it on the mattress in the cellar!

I was teasing you.

We've never done anything except go to the movies.

Really?

Really.

He's never even touched me.

Well, if you ever do, promise to tell me all about it?

Ok.

Three seconds of Mrs. dunaway's bare ass, and they won't let us in.

We'll take our business somewhere where we're treated like adults!

We don't have to do this, Daniel.

Yes, we do.

Have you ever seen one of those kinds of movies before?

Sure. Londet's father owns this p*rn house.

We go all the time.

That was it?

Yes.

Why did we go past it?

You'll see. Just follow londet.

I just noted there aren't any subtitles.

I sort of get the gist of it anyway.

She's so pretty.

Why would she...

What is he making her do?

I've never seen one of those before, either.

I wouldn't have taken you.

It isn't like that.

That's something else.

Itisn't love.

A a

I used to think...

Maybe a long time ago, like...

Like in the time of the pharaohs...

Or Louis xi that... there was somebody...

Made just perfect for me.

I mean, when you think about it and consider that your feelings of love begin when you're about 10, and if you live to, say, 70, well, that's pretty limiting, because what chance is there that he'll be alive at the same time you are, you know?

I feel the same thing.

I mean, even if she lived in my lifetime, what if my perfect woman lived in India or California or Brazil?

What chance is there that I'd meet her when I live in la garenne?

It's incredible, isn't it?

Absolutely.

Incredible.

I mean, a six-month sh**ting schedule must be k*lling you. No...

Hey, brod.

Oh, brod! I'm so flattered that you could come.

George told me not even to bother inviting you because you never show up at these affairs.

I figured what the hell?

The booze is free, and maybe I'll get laid.

He is such a delight.

And all next week, it's going to be mixed soccer with the boys, and Billy duchin's gonna be a permanent captain.

But yesterday I bribed him to pick me at least once.

God! Isn't it romantic?

Having a good time, sweetheart?

Fine.

You could've invited more of your friends.

I did, but, you know, a lot of them were busy.

I told you Billy duchin and Jimmy Ford could come.

I don't want them. I barely know them.

I'm sorry it's not much of a birthday party.

We'll make it up to you. It's no big deal.

Yes?

We came to see Lauren.

Oh, Lauren.

Lauren!

Hi, Daniel.

Hi, Lauren. I brought londet.

Bonsoir, londet.

Good night, yes.

Mother, this is Daniel michon and his friend londet.

Oh, hello, boys.

Londet, this is Natalie.

Lauren was beginning to think you weren't going to come.

I'm Richard king, Lauren's father.

Good to meet you, sir. Lauren speaks very highly of you.

Well, I'm delighted you boys could come.

Thank you for exciting me.

Why don't we go up to my room?

Oh, what a lovely idea, darling.

Go on ahead.

I don't know, Kay, letting a couple of frenchmen in your daughter's bedroom.

Could be dangerous, huh?

Yes. I don't.

Is it ok that I brought londet?

Sure. He and Natalie are made for each other.

Between her French and his english, they won't understand a word.

This is your room?

Mm-hmm.

I know.

My mother decorated it.

The only thing in here that's me is me.

What'd he say?

He said he sleeps in the same bed with his sister.

God, how awful!

What'd he say?

He said he has a...

Great amount of affection for her.

Hey, where'd you get that?

We can't toast your 13th birthday with Coca-Cola.

Great. Come on.

God, I'm not having any.

Well, at least try some, Natalie.

I like your father.

Richard? Yeah. He's nice.

Why you call him Richard?

Well, I called the first two "daddy."

It's easier to lose a Richard than a father.

Here's looking at you, kid.

Come on.

Uh...

My birthday. You drink champagne.

God!

Happy birthday, Lauren.

Happy birthday, Lauren.

Thanks.

Oh, the presents!

Let's open the presents.

Right, let's open your gifts.

It's a book.

It's Nancy drew and the ghost of blackwood high.

I hope you don't already have it.

No. It's one I missed.

Thanks, Natalie.

You can't give this up.

I want you to have it.

I couldn't get one of heidegger.

God!

Lauren.

Oh!

God.

Thank you, londet.

What I find absolutely devastating about your work is the way you go beyond the rationally acceptable.

You're looking for an art in that beyond, wanting the unknown, the dangerous to take over.

You're such a reckless artist.

You're almost irresponsible.

Yes.

Face our innermost frustrations.

Right, right. I'm glad you got that.

A lot of people don't get that in my work.

You know, sh**ting a film is really the easy part.

Hey, kid, how'd you do? Did you score?

I heard a story about a little French boy the other...

You apologize to her!

It was a joke!

Your jokes are as rotten as your movies.

The winner and new champ by tko.

You got a helluva right hand there, kid.

Just like when you hit ward bond in sin town.

Who?

Ward bond.

In what?

Sin town. Don't you remember?

Ward bond.

Sin town.

I'm fine. He caught me when I wasn't ready.

Lauren, upstairs to your room immediately.

And you, out.

Now, Kay, let's simmer down.

I want him out of here, Richard.

My coat is upstairs.

Well, then get it.

Dinner is served, everyone!

My god! They've been drinking!

Richard, he's gotten her drunk!

What have you gotten into?

Wait a minute, Kay!

Hey, kid.

Are you sure that wasn't Richard widmark I belted?

No. You never made a picture with widmark.

I didn't?

What is going on in...?

Hi.

Jesus Christ, Richard! Get in here!

They've been having an orgy!

Don't be ridiculous!

What were you doing?

We had some champagne, and I opened my gifts.

That's all.

Gifts?

Some gift!

I'd better go with londet.

Au revoir, Natalie!

Lauren!

It wasn't all...

You're never to see that boy again, ever.

Or at least until school is over.

Then it won't matter anyway because we're leaving for the states.

The states?

Your father has taken a job in g*dd*mn Houston.

We'll be leaving at the end of the month.

You better get used to the idea.

A a

But why now? What's the hurry?

I just want to be able to see you.

It'd be easier if we waited until summer.

Then we could take off somewhere.

I don't want to wait.

Why not?

Who knows what'll happen in the summer?

I want to go now.

We'd get caught.

Eventually.

Where would we get the money?

I got some Christmas money I saved up.

Christmas money won't get us far.

Shh!

This is really a terrible movie.

All di Marco's movies are terrible.

I told you. He stinks.

My mother's been watching me like a hawk.

This is the only place I could think of where she'd never suspect we'd meet.

You really want to take off now?

Uh-huh.

Maybe we could make it for a week or so before we got caught.

You mean it?

Where do you want to go?

Venice.

Why venice?

Because that's where people go who are in love.

But that's in Italy. It's very...

Please?

Venice it is.

A a

Don't keep me waiting here again without any money!

I couldn't get out of the apartment without Natalie, and she was late.

What did you want?

I've got an idea.

Go keep an eye out, okay Natalie?

I want to hear. I helped you sneak out.

Natalie! I won't move.

Don't worry.

Come on.

God! It's him!

She doesn't know what we're planning, does she?

Of course not.

Now, how much was that Christmas money you said you have?

About $150.

Ok.

Here is my idea.

I told you about my system with the horses.

I've won over 850,000 francs.

On paper.

I can take your 150 and try to hit a parlay.

How often do you win?

About 45% of the time.

Which means 55% of the time you lose.

I'm not a computer.

Sure.

Sure!

You can take all the variables for each horse in every race, cross-program their performances, make out ones for different jockeys, different distances...

What's that for?

You really are smart, you know that?

Yes?

Mr. king, your daughter's here.

She is? Send her in.

Take these down to Kendall, have him sign them and then mail them out, will you?

Yes, sir.

Hello, sweetheart.

Hi.

To what do I owe this pleasure?

I got to do a project for science, and I chose computers.

I was wondering if I could play around with one.

Maybe you can show me how to use it.

Just because I happen to run this place doesn't mean I know how these machines work.

We have people who do that.

I'll get somebody who understands it.

Claudine?

Yes, Mr. king?

Would you take Lauren down to operations and tell Martin that she'll be asking some questions.

Of course, Mr. king.

Now, you see? Simple as that.

Thanks, Richard.

How's Daniel?

Mother told me I can't see him.

I know.

You like him?

How could I not like somebody who punched George in the stomach?

Martin can see you now, Lauren.

Thanks.

There we go.

Now, miss king, what kind of information are you looking to get?

I want the three horses with the best chance of winning each of the eight races at longchamp tomorrow.

So, I need to program the performance charts for each horse going back for a year, then I want to cross-correlate the data, taking into account the variables of different times and different distances.

Forget it.

Why?

I've been trying to develop a program to do that for the past year.

I'm not even close.

Would... would you mind showing me your theory?

Show you my theory?

Just give you 10 months of my calculations?

Is that what you want?

You said it isn't working.

Maybe I can help you with it.

A a

I got it!

I got it! Look!

It's useless.

What?

I said it's useless.

All our work.

The whole damn thing.

Why?

Because we are stupid, that's why.

I'm stupid.

You have to be 18 to place a bet.

You do?

And even if we won all the money, we still couldn't go.

Why not?

We can't cross the Italian border.

Why not? We don't need visas.

I know, but they won't let kids across alone.

We need an adult.

Are you sure?

Positive. I checked.

Could we sneak across?

There will be border guards, barbed wire, machine g*ns.

I've seen it in films.

I want to go to venice.

I'm not going to give up this trip.

All we have to do is concentrate.

I've got it.

I've got it! Come on!

Wait! What is it?

Wait!

Yes!

Where is he?

I don't know.

Voila.

We have won all this?

Aw. Why don't we stop now?

I'm sure we can get to venice on what we have in great style.

The last time I was there, emilienne and I stayed at the gritti palace for 200 francs a day.

Ok. 5,000 on number...

5,000?

5,000 on number 6 to win.

Trip across.

Scratched! Damn!

Scratched.

Wait a minute, wait a minute.

Why don't we just pick the next horse, then?

No, no, no. Something's wrong here.

I should have seen it before.

Your computer screwed up.

Monaco never did well before, and your computer friend picked it to place. Impossible!

Snow queen.

But the readout said...

I've won with snow queen before.

Put it on number two...

Snow queen...

To win.

Come on.

A a

Come on.

There is no way that fille de fermier could've won that race.

No way.

It's ok.

Don't feel bad.

We came close.

Where's Julius?

Getting a drink somewhere, probably.

What does it matter?

A a

I'm sorry.

It wasn't your fault.

I mean, I should have followed your instructions.

It was wrong of me.

Whatever the result, I apologize.

What are you talking about?

I didn't bet on snow queen.

At the last moment, I had this, uh...

Sudden hunch...

And I put all the money on, uh, fille de fermier.

You mean we won?

You see, fille de fermier in French means "farmer's daughter," and emilienne was a farmer's daughter.

Actually, he owned around 30,000 hectares, but technically, he was a farmer.

You're the most wonderful man in the whole world, Julius!

I spent the whole week handicapping these horses, and you win on a lousy hunch?

I'm afraid so.

What does it matter?

The important thing is that Lauren gets to venice to see her poor mother, who, at the sight of her, will recover much, much faster, won't she?

Would you rather we had lost?

If we'd lost, we couldn't go.

And now we can.

If you think Julius is so wonderful, why don't you just go with him?

'Cause venice wouldn't mean anything to me without you.

And he lost all of our baggage, except for two pieces...

One containing seven pairs of my shoes, and a small case containing all of emilienne's lingerie.

Of course, you couldn't buy clothes in Nairobi in those days, so for a full week, I could change nothing but my shoes, and emilienne her underwear.

I was furious, but emilienne just laughed and laughed.

She had a very hearty laugh for a small woman.

It surprised many people.

Well, I think I'll go to the club car for a... a dubonnet...

Unless you care to come along?

No, no. You go ahead.

Well, I... 1 will be back shortly.

What's wrong?

Nothing.

Something's wrong. What is it?

Well, it's hard for me to have a good time, knowing my parents might be worried about me.

Why would they be worried about you?

They think you're in mont-Saint-Michel on a field trip for three days.

Don't they?

Mm-hmm. So0?

Well, what if Natalie calls?

Then they'll find out there's no field trip.

You were supposed to call her and tell her not to call you.

I forgot.

You forgot?

How could you forget that?

Well, there was so many things on my mind...

I think you want to get caught, you know that?

That's not true! 1s, too!

Is not!

Is, too.

Is not.

Is, too.

Hello?

Natalie?

Lauren, where are you?

Why?

God! I called you up today, and your mom wanted to know why I wasn't in mont-Saint-Michel with you.

I said, "why would I be in mont-Saint-Michel?"

And she got all hysterical, and, god, she started absolutely pumping me.

And she said something about calling school?

Oh, no.

Lauren?

What?

Why are you at mont-Saint-Michel?

I'm not. I simply said...

What are you doing?

Calling Natalie.

Hang up!

Tell my parents I'm ok.

Hang it up! Where are you?

I'm in Italy. I'm ok!

Hello?

Mrs. king? It's Natalie.

I just talked to Lauren on the phone.

God! She's in Italy!

I guess she got away to the phone...

Where in Italy?

I don't know where in Italy.

They made her hang up before she could tell me.

I can't believe you'd do a stupid thing like that, telling her you're in Italy.

Well, she sounded so worried.

Incredible.

Now where's Julius?

He was in the club car.

No. There he is.

Julius!

Julius!

You better get him.

Which the great lucion said, "he may have been an impostor."

Julius!

Julius, the train, it's leaving!

Oh, I left my money in my vest, and my vest is on the train!

Arretez!

Halt!

Stop!

His vest! The money's in his vest!

We've got to get off now!

But the money!

The train is going too fast.

He'll never make it.

Are you hurt?

I'm ok.

You should have gone without me.

No. We couldn't.

The money's on the train.

If there's one thing I've learned about life...

If you miss one train, there's always...

What?

There is always what?

There is always...

One's feet.

A a

It is very kind of you to offer us a lift.

You have to be very careful who you pick up on these roadsides.

Don't want to frighten you, but you could be robbed, you could be kidnapped.

You could be bored to death.

Hey, we're tickled pink for the company.

We haven't run into anybody that could speak decent english for a week. Right, Janet?

Uh, where can we drop you folks?

Oh, we don't want to take you out of your way.

Where are you headed for, Mr...

Oh. Duryea. Bob duryea.

Columbus, Ohio.

This is the missus.

We thought we'd spend the night in verona and then go on to venice.

Oh, well, that'll be just fine.

Just fine.

She sounded awfully scared and said she was in Italy.

And then there was the sound of struggle, and I heard one of the kidnappers tell her to hang up and then the phone went dead.

What makes you sure it's a kidnapper?

Of course it's a kidnapper.

You read about them doing it over here every day, and you sit there doing nothing!

It is a classic case. Look, I know.

I did all this in one of my movies.

This is life imitating art.

We've just received word from the Italian police that your daughter was aboard a train when it stopped across the border in Italy.

The telephone company shows that she called Paris.

To me! God!

They apparently got off the train in a hurry at this point, leaving behind a coat with 18,000 francs.

The ransom money!

Natalie, there hasn't been any ransom money.

Nobody's contacted us.

Your daughter was traveling with two other people.

One is named michon, but we have no record on him.

Daniel! God!

They've got them both!

What? Michon.

That's Daniel's last name.

Oh, my god! That filthy French boy!

Not that the French are filthy.

It's just that this particular French boy... is.

The man who's with them is another matter.

Julius Edmond santorin.

He has a long criminal record.

People think that Romeo and Juliet were the product of Shakespeare's imagination, but it's not so. It's not so at all.

As a matter of fact, Romeo and Juliet were born right here in verona.

I don't believe this. You don't?

Oh, excuse me, I didn't mean to...

Janet, how many shrimp did you have?

Oh, uh, four, um... No, five. Five.

That's right. That's what I had.

See that guy over there, at the next table? That Italian?

He has seven.

Don't tell me they don't see Americans coming.

Romeo and Juliet came from right here in verona.

Tomorrow we can see Juliet's tomb and balcony.

My wallet!

My wallet's been stolen!

It's gone! My wallet's gone!

Are you sure? Of course I'm sure!

I put it right in this pocket when I cashed a traveler's check at the desk!

That's right, I saw you.

Yes, you did.

How much did he get?

Oh, I don't know.

Must've been a couple hundred dollars, whatever the hell that is in lira.

Damn country! It's just one thing after another.

Luckily, I let Janet take my credit cards and my traveler's checks.

You've both been so very kind to the children and to me.

Let me pay for it.

I would really feel it an honor.

That's really very nice.

I mean, it's so embarrassing.

Oh, it's not embarrassing at all.

Grazie.

And if you please, here is just a little contribution towards the gasoline.

Oh, that's very... no.

Thank you so much.

Thank you very much.

Otherwise, we couldn't go on.

What's money?

Yes, thank you.

Hello!

Good morning!

Good morning. How are you?

I'm fine.

Avanti!

Buon giorno.

Good morning, sir.

Oh, ho ho ho!

Uh, where are, uh, Romeo e Julieta?

Romeo and Julieta?

Ah! The little boy and girl.

They couldn't wait.

They got up early and went sightseeing.

Ah.

Eh, grazie. Mille?

Grazie.

Ah?

Darling, what are you looking for?

The grand canal.

Janet, the grand canal is in venice.

I know.

We're in verona.

I know we're in verona.

I left the verona guide in padua.

What do you want to see in verona?

A hairdresser.

Janet, you just had your hair done yesterday.

Look at it.

Yeah, all right. I guess you're right.

You go look for a hairdresser.

I'll go look for a good cup of coffee.

Janet, look.

No, no, don't look.

Over your left shoulder.

That man reading the Italian newspaper there.

Isn't that that little girl with us... Loretta?

Lauren. Lauren, yes.

What's she doing in a foreign newspaper?

Well, read it.

What does it say?

Dove.

That's it?

You speak the language. What does it mean?

Bird. Peace.

It doesn't mean bird or peace.

Wrong. "Where."

What?

Not what, where. They want to know where she is.

She's right up here, isn't she?

I don't know.

Let's get a paper. Waiter!

I still can't believe we've actually seen it.

I mean, the real Juliet's balcony.

Fantastic, huh?

Fantastique.

Why didn't you tell me?

Tell you what?

About this!

You lied to me.

You weren't going to venice to see your poor, sick mother.

You were running away, both of you, and you have made me a kidnapper!

I'm sorry, Julius.

We'll explain everything to them.

They won't listen to you. Don't you understand?

They...

They'll put me away.

Put you away? What for?

Because I'm...

I can explain.

If we don't get out of here fast, we're going to be explaining to the cops.

Come on.

They'll be watching the station, checking cars.

You're right.

A a

Daniel!

Daniel!

Daniel!

We've got to go back.

He'll never catch up.

All right.

Where is he?

You didn't have to try to win.

All we had to do was get out of town.

Good idea. Let's get these off.

Yes.

I never did like wearing a number when I didn't have to.

So... what kind of crook are you?

Burglar?

Arsonist?

Embezzler?

A pickpocket.

English...

Language totally lacking in imagination or subtlety, but yes, I am a pickpocket.

I'm sorry, Lauren.

The money to pay for dinner last night?

I had to get you to venice.

How else was I to pay for the food and the rooms and the bicycles?

Oh, Julius.

It gets worse.

That day at the races...

I don't want to hear.

Well, I do. Go on.

The horse you picked for the last race lost.

Yes, but the horse you picked won.

Thank you for thinking that, but if I could pick horses, I wouldn't have to pick pockets.

You stole all that money.

Yes.

20,000 francs?

A good day.

Your hunch wasn't better than my system.

Why did you do it?

Because I had to get you to venice to see your poor, sick mother.

Are any of us so blameless?

What will we do now?

Venice is out of the question.

They know we were heading there.

It will be alive with police.

Well, at least we got to verona.

Almost as good as venice.

After all, verona was good enough for Romeo and Juliet.

True, it didn't turn out so good for them, but...

I haven't told you something.

What?

I have to go back.

We always knew we'd get caught sooner or later.

No. I mean back...

To the United States...

In two weeks.

For vacation?

For good.

That's why I wanted to go to venice.

Not just to run away...

But so we could kiss under the bridge of sighs at sunset when the bells tolled...

The way the br*wnings did...

And then we could love each other forever.

Why didn't you tell me?

'Cause I was afraid you'd think it was dumb, and it was.

It was all a bunch of lies, wasn't it?

All of it. You never lived at the br*wnings' villa, did you?

No.

And emilienne, she was a lie, too, wasn't she?

Well, there...

Was an Emma...

I loved very much.

But... she was young and couldn't wait for me to finish my term in prison, but no. There was no emilienne.

She was a fantasy.

She was a lie!

She was an attempt to bring a little romance into my life.

That's pretty sad.

Any sadder than sitting in a darkened theater pretending you are Robert redford performing heroic deeds?

What am I supposed to do?

Strap on my g*n and sh**t it out with the bad guys?

No, but I might take the girl I love to venice and kiss her under the bridge of sighs.

Why? That legend is just another one of your damn lies.

You could make it true.

What are legends anyway, but stories about ordinary people doing extraordinary things.

Of course, it takes courage and imagination.

Not everybody has that.

I may be an old fraud, Daniel, but I do know this.

Something that two people who are in love create together against impossible odds can hold them together...

Forever.

Where are you going?

Venice.

A a who else wants to come?

Police are police...

In venice or verona.

I hope they don't expect us to do this in here with all the criminals.

Bonjour, madame king.

Oh, bonjour.

Monsieur Marco, monsieur king.

This is Mr. michon, Daniel's father.

Would you please come in?

We have just received word that your daughter, Daniel, and Julius santorin were seen in verona.

Are they still there?

We don't think so.

There was some sort of local athletic event and we believe they used it to slip past the local authorities.

Jesus. You know, I could do a better job of finding these kids than you guys are doing.

You're always free to try, monsieur.

Perhaps you could win yourself another merit badge.

Inspector, do you have any idea what we're going through?

The thought of Lauren with that old pervert...

He isn't a pervert, Kay.

Inspector leclerc told us, he has a record as a pickpocket, not a kidnapper or molester.

You want to know what I think?

I think she ran away with Daniel.

Ran away? Richard.

If they ran away, why is the old guy with them?

I don't know.

Why would she run away, Richard?

Mr. king, they were spotted again.

I'm flying to venice at noon to coordinate things at their end. Would you care to go with me?

Yes, I would. Thank you.

There's an air France flight at 12:15 departing from orly.

I'll meet you there after I take Mrs. king home.

Richard, I want to come with you.

Well, someone has to stay here in case she calls.

Hmm?

Kay, listen.

Itis agood idea...

George? Yeah?

If you don't mind.

I don't think we're going to need to see any more of you from now on.

I think that's up to Kay, don't you?

I'd say it's up to Kay and me.

I've been standing around too long watching this go on between you, being too civilized to fight for her.

Maybe if I'd let her know how much I care about her, she wouldn't have had to find you.

Listen, Kay, you don't have to listen to this.

Oh, yes, she does.

You're forgetting something.

I've been in your shoes.

I'm her third husband.

I took her away from somebody myself.

George, you came along when Kay needed a little excitement in her life, but I don't think it would last between you.

Because I think all you're really interested in is seeing if you can take her away from me.

Well, you can't.

Uh, Richard...

He's been nice enough to offer us a ride, Kay.

Get in.

Wait a minute. Don't you think you're being just a little high-handed?

I'm sure you can find your own way home.

The basilica of San Marco was built between 1063 and 1073.

The five great domes were added during the 13th century, and after the sack of constantinople in 1204 by the venetians, uh, byzantine artists were brought in to transform this basilica into the treasure that we are about to see.

Yes, ma'am?

How much did it cost?

Well, that's hard to say, but in today's terms, I would say several hundred of millions of dollars.

Boy, for that kind of money, you'd think they could afford to get it cleaned.

Well, I wouldn't know that.

Uh, will you please follow me now?

You notice this end is sinking?

Much more. I wonder why.

Well, maybe because that end is rising.

How long are we staying?

And here is good evidence that venice continues to sink on its own foundation.

You can see the water marks here from the flood of 1966.

It flooded the whole floor of the basilica and filled the crypt up to the ceiling.

Now, rough seas and high tides remain a present and precient danger to the preservation of San Marco as well as all the banks.

Solutions are being sought. Some experts' opinions...

And now if you wish to follow me, we shall begin the visit of the basilica from this altar.

It was dedicated to the Madonna and finished in 1617.

Above the altar, you can admire the Madonna of nicopeia, a renowned and highly venerated icon which was brought here from constantinople in 1204.

There are more than 40 iconographies of the virgin in St. Mark's.

She welcomes you when you cross the threshold of St. Peter's and the chapels of St. clement.

And she is repeatedly portrayed in the mosaics...

My god.

Do you wish to confess, my daughter?

B-Bob!

Bob.

Bob!

Bob.

Bob. Bob.

Bob. Bob! Bob!

Quick. Come on.

I'm so tired.

You can rest later. Come on, quickly.

A a

Daniel.

I can't go any further.

Yes, you can. Come on.

Gondola! Hello!

Gondola.

Hey, maybe we should...

What?

Take that gondola and head for the bridge of sighs now.

It's too early. The legend says sunset.

What legend? Our legend!

It's going to be sunset when the bells toll or not at all.

Now, come on. Julius.

Wait, wait, wait.

The police are there.

We'll go in there.

No. Not this one.

Why not?

That one. Yes.

Here. Here.

Take these and, uh, take the money.

But what about you?

I will come back here around 7:00, give you plenty of time to reach your bridge of sighs by sunset.

What about you?

The three of us together are too easy to spot.

Ok. See you later.

Au revoir.

A a

Gentlemen, I believe you are looking for me.

I am Julius Edmond santorin.

You're going to see him.

Who?

Redford.

Suppose the police come in here.

Don't worry. I'm watching for them.

The one with the blue eyes, that's Paul Newman, right?

Very good.

Now, again.

What did you do with the children?

I can't tell you that. Not yet.

When, then?

What time is the sunset tonight?

Sunset?

Yeah. What time?

About, uh, 7:30.

Can you hear the bells of the campanile from here?

Of course.

Until they toll...

I won't tell you...

A thing.

Wake up, wake up. We're late.

We'll never make it.

We'll make it. Don't worry.

Wait, wait.

This is the best part.

A a

Where's Julius?

I don't know, but we can't wait for him.

We've got to find a gondola. Come on.

We want a gondola.

Gondola, gondola.

Bridge of sighs, and step on it.

15,000 lira in advance.

We've only got 12.

12,000. Take it or leave it.

No. 15.

Go to hell.

You go. You go.

What are you doing?

My father's a cab driver.

I know how to deal with these bastards.

All right, come on. I take you.

But I won't sing.

Thank god for that.

Avanti.

Inspector barloni.

Inspector leclerc de la surete.

Nice to meet you.

This is Mr. king, Lauren's father.

Monsieur king...

May I present myself?

I'm Julius Edmond santorin.

Mr. santorin.

Your daughter...

Is a very lovely girl.

Where is she?

I'm sorry they hit you.

I'd like to talk to Mr. santorin privately, if I may?

I assure you, monsieur king...

Your daughter...

Is safe...

And well.

A a

What are you doing?

There is the bridge.

You've seen it, now get out.

You've got to take us under it.

No. This is as far as I go for 12,000 lira.

Damn it. It's just down there.

No.

I don't understand.

If you assure me that she's safe and well, why can't you tell me where she is?

Where is Lauren?

At this moment, she isin a gondola going under the bridge of sighs.

What for?

A kiss.

Michelle, darling, I'll take that.

You get the large bag upstairs in the bedroom.

Uh, Michelle!

Would you get my brown leather bag... gloves?

Upstairs in the bureau, all right?

A a oh, my god!

Get in the car, Kay.

But you see who's there?

Get in the car.

Go ahead.

Thanks.

Nice car.

We have a lot of luggage.

The furniture's going to be sent on later.

This is my address in Houston.

I'll write every day.

Well, probably not every day.

I don't want you getting sick of me.

It may be a while before we see each other again.

I know.

By then, we'll be like everybody else.

We'll lose our lead.

I'll come to Paris with a bunch of college friends.

No. I don't want you to be like everybody else.

I don't want to be like everybody else.

We're not now, and I hope we never will be.

We are different...

And I'm glad.

Lauren.

We will be exceptionally gifted and remain true to each other.

We'll remember every detail, everything that's happened since we met...

Ok?

Call me bogie.

I forgot what I said.

You said, "why?"

And I said...

Because they belong together.