MUSIC: La Route est Dur
by Georgia Brown
FAINT: What was the name, son?
I beg your pardon?
Oh. This way, sir.
Very good, yes. Do sit down.
Monsieur... Delarue.
Well now, Mr Delarue,
I assume you wish to take
advantage of our service?
Yes. You're aware
of our regulations.
Our society is only allowed to
make loans to government employees.
Yes, I think I fit
into that category.
I'm a philosophy teacher.
You are? Splendid.
I'm particularly happy to be
of assistance to university men.
You teach at Lycee?
Yes. Lycee Buffon.
Excellent. Very good.
Well, we just better get the usual
little formalities over, shall we?
I shall have to ask you for
some form of identification.
Anything will do, a passport.
Army pay book, voter's card.
Thank you.
Ah, yes. Yes, that's all in order.
Good.
Now, then, what is the exact
sum which you would like to...?
I'd like , francs.
Mm-hm.
Uh, no, no, no.
Let's say , .
, ? You know our conditions.
We loan money for six
months and only six months.
And owing to the heavy overheads
and the considerable risk involved,
we are obliged to ask % interest.
Per annum?
HE CHUCKLES
No, for the six months.
Hmm?
Yes. Yes. All right.
Good. Now, it's Monsieur Delarue.
Christian names? Mathieu.
Mathieu.
Thank you. Address?
Rue Oued.
All right. That's in th, isn't it?
Yes.
Profession, teacher at Lycee Buffon.
Place of birth? Paris.
And the date?
th of March, .
Your father's nationality?
French.
And your mother's?
French.
Well, that's done.
If you would just sign here, please.
Simple as that?
Simple as that.
When the money comes through,
you'll be asked to sign
for it over a stamp.
The stamp, of course,
will be your liability.
When the money comes through?
You're not going to pay me now?
What? Here, this minute?
Yes.
Monsieur, we shall need at least
a fortnight to make our enquiries.
What enquiries?
Ah, yes, you university men.
You're all the same, all idealists.
Oh, please understand
that in this particular case,
I don't doubt your word.
But speaking generally,
what proof do we have
that the identification papers
you've shown us aren't false?
I'm afraid those who
deal with money
inevitably become rather suspicious.
It's deplorable, I agree,
but we've no right to be trusting.
So, there we are. We have
to conduct our little inquiry.
We shall address ourselves
directly to your ministry.
Oh, nothing to worry about. We shall
proceed with all due discretion.
But you know officialdom
as well as I do.
I very much doubt if we
should be in a position
to help you much before...
..let's see now...
..July the th.
Th-That's no good. Hmm?
It's urgent, I need the money this
evening or tomorrow at the latest.
Monsieur... Now, look.
Say I were to pay you a
higher rate of interest.
Monsieur, we are not
common money lenders.
Our society has the
full encouragement
of the Ministry of
Public Assistance.
We might almost describe
ourselves as an official body.
Our rates of interest are
firmly fixed on the basis
of our expenses
and the risks involved.
We don't go in for
private transactions.
You've studied our
literature, I assume?
No, I came on impulse.
Ah, well,
shall we tear the form up then?
Oh, no, don't do that. Um...
No, I'll think of
something to tide me over.
Good. It's only a fortnight or so.
No doubt you'll find a friend
who'll, uh... No doubt.
This is your permanent address?
Yes.
Well, then at the beginning of July,
we shall send you a reminder.
Mm. Thank you.
Glad to be of service.
Oh. Goodbye, monsieur.
Goodbye. See you gain in July then.
Ah.
INTERNAL MONOLOGUE: Has she
managed it?
Oh, God. She must've done.
He'll agree. He's sure to agree.
Hello?
Hello, Sarah.
Hello, yes. This is Waymuller.
Oh, this is Mathieu Delarue,
could I speak to Sarah?
She's gone out.
Damn!
You know when she'll be back?
I don't know.
You want me to take
a message for you? Um...
No, no. Just tell her I called.
Thank you. Goodbye.
HE PONDERS: That's that, then.
If he won't give me credit,
I'll marry her.
My life's no longer my own.
It's heads or tails,
whatever happens to me now.
Oh, no, it isn't.
Whatever happens
must be decided by me.
I'm free.
Free to accept, free to refuse,
free to marry, free to give in,
free to run away.
My damnation will be
of my own choosing.
I'm condemned forever to be free.
KNOCKING
Monsieur Delarue,
an express for you, just come.
"Ploughed. Who cares? Ivich."
Not bad news, I hope?
Hmm? You look all upset.
A student I know has
failed the exams.
Oh, they're failing a lot
nowadays, from what I hear.
Yeah, that's true.
And them that pass,
are there jobs for them?
Um...
Exactly what I say.
Ah, well, then. Madame Garinet...
Monsieur Delarue?
Could, uh, could you
lend me francs?
Hard up? Till I get to the bank.
Hm? Well, let me see, then.
I've only got .
Now, you must bring me
the change this evening.
Right. Thanks.
And is that all? That's all.
Oh, monsieur.
Thank you, madame. Ugh.
"Ploughed. Who cares?"
She's going to do something stupid.
I must find her, and quick.
Why have you come back?
You've forgotten something?
No, my dear. No.
For you.
For me?!
I'm so happy for you and Mathieu.
I simply cannot get the
pair of you out of my mind.
When he calls on you tonight,
I want you to wear a
rose in your hair.
Oh, Daniel, how lovely of you.
Only, please don't tell
Mathieu that I've suggested it.
Of course. You understand me,
I want a token of myself
in the midst of your joy.
Daniel, you are the
most wonderful friend.
Do you know, I'm almost
tempted to ask you
if I could hide myself
somewhere in your room?
SHE LAUGHS
I should have such pleasure
in observing the ecstasy
of your reconciliation.
Oh, Daniel, my archangel.
You make everything sound
so pure and innocent.
But it is innocent.
When Mathieu comes to you tonight,
don't allow him to
reason or argue with you.
Say it all with your bodies, please.
Words are treacherous,
but the ache within you soothed
away by the tenderness of touch,
by the passion which
leads to oblivion.
How superior to words.
You sound as though you...
May I ask you...?
Yes.
Have you ever had a mistress?
You want the truth?
Please.
I haven't.
And yet, you know.
We all have imaginations.
Oh, but the things that you
imagine are so good, so lovely.
No sordid thoughts
or encounters for you.
I am right, you know.
About what?
You are as near to a
saint as a man could ever be.
Oh, you embarrass me.
But it's true.
You too, Marcelle, have
a spirituality about you.
Only when I'm with you.
Not at all.
When you and Mathieu
make love tonight,
you will be fully
aware of the rightness
and the righteousness of it.
You carry his child.
And Mathieu, like the prodigal son,
returns to the feast
of your loving and
generous flesh, his home.
You make it all sound so beautiful.
Then would you let me
hide somewhere and observe you?
SHE LAUGHS
Oh, Daniel, did you really mean it?
Oh, you are innocence itself.
It couldn't be, my dear.
I'd be so self-conscious.
HE LAUGHS
My dear girl, you believed me?
No, no. I was only
talking in the abstract,
exploring the principle that my joy
is your joy in all situations.
Besides, I have other
things to do this evening.
Oh, what?
Well, I really could
do with a workout. Mm?
An hour or two of physical
fitness in the gymnasium.
It's wonderful the way
you keep yourself in trim.
Well, it's a need with me.
Well, goodbye, Marcelle.
I wish you all joy and rapture.
Dear Daniel,
my archangel.
JAZZ-STYLE MUSIC PLAYS
FAINT CHATTER
MUSIC ENDS
CHEERING
I don't know alibis.
No need for alibis.
So, they recognise his
right to sit beside her, do they?
CHATTER CONTINUES
I gave you a kiss!
Oh! Do you mind?
Hey, where are you going?
He's running away cos I
promised to kiss him.
My dear, you didn't promise,
you threatened.
THEY LAUGH
Well, I'm not going
to kiss you, see?
I'm going to kiss Irma.
Oh! My dearest Ivich.
You're going to kiss me?
Passionately.
Ooh!
I say!
Oh!
Very good.
THEY CLAP
Oh, lovely!
CATCALLING
You taste of cashews. Hey!
Ivich.
Oh, it's you.
Look at that.
You've still got yours on,
but then, of course,
you are such a careful man.
THEY LAUGH
Take me away from here.
I feel degraded.
Well, don't look at us.
We didn't get her drunk.
We tried to stop her.
Oh, you're all such goody
goodies, aren't you?
Except me, Ivich.
Except me.
Except you?
You're just an old lecher.
THEY LAUGH
Come along.
SHE LAUGHS
I'm going to sit down right here!
Please! Right here.
You're coming home with me.
Oh, am I?
You need to lie down.
SHE LAUGHS
Do I?
SHE GIGGLES
JAZZ-STYLE MUSIC PLAYS
KNOCKING
Come in.
Well, if it isn't Monsieur Danny.
Well, do come in, monsieur.
How do you like our new premises?
Bobby told me he'd
given you our address.
It's hot. Yes.
We're right under the roof here.
Helps to sweat it out of you,
that's what I always say.
Well, monsieur...
Wash.
In a hurry, monsieur?
Wash!
Finicky as usual, aren't we?
YELLING: WASH...
..yourself.
Angry, monsieur?
Here.
You all right?
So this is where you live?
Yes.
Hmm.
You must lie down. Here.
How do you feel?
I'm quite sober now, but my
head's throbbing a bit, that's all.
I'll get you some tea.
I'm cold.
What?
Oh, I'm sorry.
You'd like some tea, wouldn't you?
CLATTERING
INTERNAL MONOLOGUE: How young
she is. So fragile, helpless.
That's my joy in her.
She's a child, and
I must help her to live.
I love her.
I love her wretchedness.
I love that sick, frail body.
Love isn't an ecstasy, not for me.
Its magic lies in
the certainty of disaster.
I don't like it.
What? Your flat.
Yes. So I thought, if you're
feeling better, we can go out.
Where to? Anywhere.
No, I'm glad to be here.
Are you? Cafes are such nightmares.
All those people going
round and round and round you.
Yes.
It's ugly here, but it's quiet.
I'll make the tea.
Tea, you?
You don't know how to.
I'll make you some Russian tea.
Only I shall need a samovar.
I'm sorry. I haven't got one.
I boil water in a saucepan.
Oh, dear, it comes from Ceylon.
Still, can't be helped.
You stay there.
I'm not leaving here until midnight.
Aren't you? When there's nobody
about, and I hate people.fo
You stay as long as you like.
No-one's likely to call.
If they do, we shan't open the door.
No, I'm free the entire evening.
HE PONDERS: That's not true.
Marcelle is expecting me at .
Well, let her wait.
We must let it
stand for a bit first.
Naturally.
Have you decided yet
what you're going to do?
I'm catching a
train midday tomorrow.
You phoned your parents? No.
No, I...Boris wanted to,
but I wouldn't let him.
You'll be telling them yourself?
That I failed? Yes.
I'll come and see you there.
At L'Aigle?
No. It's deadly.
Well, when are you
coming back to Paris?
Never.
Oh, you could have another try.
Your parents can't be so...
You don't know them.
They won't ruin your life
just cos you failed a single exam.
No, no. They won't
dream of punishing me.
No, it'll be worse than that.
They'll lose interest in me.
I shall be ignored.
Still, that's what I deserve.
Nobody will give me a job,
so I shall stay in L'Aigle
all my life and rot.
Oh, don't do that.
You hate L'Aigle. I loathe it.
You'll come back, I swear it.
You'll be here by October.
And in the meantime, I'll, uh...
..I'll arrange something for you.
But I've just told you, I'm
incapable of learning a job.
And that's not what
I was going to say. Um...
Would you let me help you?
By October, I shall
have a little money.
That's impossible.
Listen, every summer,
my brother and his wife
invite me to their villa.
I've never been.
But I must accept sometime,
and if I go, I shall save money.
Now don't refuse. It'll be a loan.
That's all.
Well, don't look at me like that.
I'd better get back to the hostel.
Ivich, why won't you accept?
I'm not taking your money.
You take money from your parents.
That's different.
Yes, it IS different.
You've told me over and
over again you despise them.
I have no need to
be grateful to them.
Do you think I want to
put you on an obligation?
A kept woman? No, that's offensive.
I don't think that.
I think you're taking
pity on me, that's all.
No, I'm not taking pity on you.
Then why do you offer me money?
Because I can't bear the idea
of never seeing you again.
You mean...
..your motives are purely selfish?
Purely selfish.
I must see you again. That's all.
Well, perhaps I will.
Does it matter where money
comes from?
SHE CHUCKLES
What will you tell your parents?
Well, who cares? I shan't be a
financial burden to them any more.
So, what does it matter?
But you will be going back
to see them? Tomorrow.
And then...
..return?
Maybe yes.
Maybe no.
Tea should be ready by now.
HE CHUCKLES
I'll, uh, I'll write to you.
Well, me too.
Only I'll have nothing to say.
Oh, well, describe
your house, your room.
Oh, God, not that.
It's bad enough living in the place.
Peculiar tea you have.
Cor...
THEY LAUGH
DOOR BELL TRILLS
Aren't you going to answer it?
We agreed not to open the door.
Oh, but you must.
You must open the door.
It might be important.
Open the door, quick.
Oh, Mathieu, you do keep
me on the go, don't you?
Waymuller told me you'd phoned,
so I dashed around.
I didn't even stop to put on a hat.
Sarah, I've got someone here.
Oh, it's Ivich Serguine!
Oh, dear me, what a
pale little thing you are!
You're working too hard.
Now then, Mathieu, I spent most of
the day chasing after Dr Waldman,
he's not been in Paris three weeks,
and he's embroiled in
shady deal after shady deal.
It was six o'clock before
I could get hold of him.
Oh, how kind of you, Sarah!
I am grateful.
Don't have to talk about it now.
Would you like some tea? I'm sorry.
I can't even sit down.f
I must dash along to
the left wing book shop.
A friend of my husband has
just arrived from Madrid.
You'll have news of Gomez?
Well, that's what I hope.
Now, then, my dear. I'm afraid
I've got some bad news for you.
Waldman refuses.
Ah, well, you'd like a
word in private...
Well, it's hardly worthwhile.
I've almost nothing to tell you.
I pressed him as hard
as I could. Hopeless.
The person in question must be
at his place tomorrow morning
with the money or nothing doing.
Oh, well, uh,
can't be helped. Don't let's talk
about it now.
I did everything I could.
I begged him to agree.
Is she a Jewess?
Well, I had to say no.
Then he said, "Why help them?
"I'll only put her right
if I have the cash.
"There are plenty of expensive
clinics in Paris she can apply to."
Oh, but the man is bitter.
Bitter.
Give them credit. Me? Never.
They're having us tortured
in the concentration camps,
but do any of them lift a hand?
French, English? Why not?
Better for business
to ignore it. Right.
I do the same.
Unless the woman gives me money,
I don't care what kind
of a mess she gets into.
But I can understand his attitude.
His father, his two brothers...
..they've been taken.
So what will you do?
I don't know.
You're not thinking... Yes.
That's how it'll end.
Oh, my dear.
Well, I must go.
Give me a ring tomorrow morning.
Tell me how things are.
I'd like to know. I'll do that.t
Goodbye, Sarah.
Goodbye, Ivich.
Goodbye, madame.
Ivich...
..I'm going to marry Marcelle.
Two days ago, she informed me...
..she was pregnant.
Why tell me? That's your business.
Well, you knew she was...
Your mistress? I am not
interested in that sort of thing.
And it's no good
putting on that face.
If you marry her, it's
because you want to want to.
I don't want to! I can't raise
the money for an abortion.
I've tried everything.
So that's why Boris tried
to get money out of Lola.
He was doing it for you!
Yes.
How sordid.
Still, that's none of my concern.
What time is it?
Quarter to nine.
Oh, well,
there are people about,
but one can always avoid them.
Are you going?
I've got all my packing to do.
Well, goodbye.
See you in October.
What, after this?
Good heavens, no.
Oh, do excuse me. I have no
intention of taking your money.
You'll need all you've got for
starting up the family household.
Ivich... Don't touch me!
Yesterday morning, when
you had the insolence to kiss me,
I said to myself, that is the action
of a lecherous, jaded, married man!
Shut up!
GROWLING: Shut up.
All right. All right.
All right!
God, bloody hell!
HE THINKS: Where am I rushing?
Rushing to Marcelle, am I?
Mm-hm!
No, I'm rushing from that
one up there. Oh, God.
Women, women, women.
Look at me.
A clumsy, bloody heap on a staircase
in between one shabby
passion and another.
Lola's key.
My God, this is the answer.
Go to her flat and steal the money.
It's easy.
She won't be there.
She'll be at the nightclub.
Yes.
Steal the money, and
give it to Marcelle.
Her pregnancy will be ended.
Aborted.
Then I'm free.
Free of women,
free of responsibilities.
I can be myself.
ALOUD: Right. I'll do it.
Haven't you a clean towel?
Sorry.
What time is it?
Nine o'clock.
PONDERING: Ten hours to k*ll
before it's daylight.
I can't go to bed. Not after
one of these little sessions.
It upsets me too much.
I think I'll take a stroll.
ALOUD: Mm.
I feel like bashing somebody up.
I'm in the mood.
Careful who you pick on, won't you?
Why do you say that?
You might get yourself hurt.
Me? Hurt?
You wanna have a talk with
a waiter at the Oriental,
you do, he'll tell you.
A big chap was in there one night.
Works at the slaughterhouse,
big, massive.
Anyway, he didn't
like the look of me.
Wanted to have me thrown out.
I said, "Come outside",
I said. "Come outside!"
And I set about him proper.
Give me one in the eye
to start off with. Bang.
So he comes back wild.
I knocked down his guard
and give him an elbow
right in across the face. Bang!
Right across the bridge of his nose.
Mad. He was mad.
He starts using his feet,
so I give him the knee jab
right into the crotch.
And down he goes,
groaning, bent double.
I left him pissing blood.
PONDERING: I'd like to k*ll him.
It would be beautiful k*lling him.
ALOUD: Mind how you throw
your weight about, won't you?
You'll get what's coming
to you one of these days.
Me? Ha.
There's nobody can frighten me.
A typical butch q*eer
with his strongman act.
Worse than the female q*eer
with her tatting and her housework.
It's all acting.
Let's have some fun.
Let's take him for real, shall we?
ALOUD: So you're
frightened of nobody, then?
But nobody.
Right. Show me how strong you are.
Come on. I want your best.
You want some more fun?
You're a glutton, you are.
You want some more fun,
only gently, like, eh?
No.
We'll stop playing at it?
Real thing this time.
Real thing. No holds barred.
Now, look, no dirty business.
You'll get the best of it,
you know, you'll be sorry.
That has yet to be proved,
my little darling.
Oh!
Ugh! Oh!
Ah.
Ugh!
GRUNTING AND GROANING
So, we're not playing
games after all?
Right you are!
Ah!
Oh! Ugh!
PONDERING: I'm too old for it.
I'm making myself ridiculous.
Right. I must finish it
before he does for me.
Submit!
Submit!
Who's got the best of it now?!
You, you old queen.
I give in.
Submit!
Yes, darling.
Well.
You're a real k*ller, ducky, when
you put your mind to it, aren't you?
Well, let's be frank.
You're out of condition, dear.
Come and see me more often,
why don't you, eh?
You need regular exercise.
Yeah.
HE EXHALES DEEPLY
Goodbye, monsieur.
Do come again...soon.
Monsieur?
Where are you going, monsieur?
PONDERS: What's the name of Lola's
neighbour, the n*gro?
Bolivar. That's it.
ALOUD: I'm going to see
Monsieur Bolivar on the third floor.
Why were you nosing
round this keyboard?
I was looking to see if his key
was there. Well, isn't it?fo
No, he's in.
Oh, God. Let's hope he is.
It's a / chance.
Yes. You'll find him in.
Thank you, madame.
JAZZ-STYLE MUSIC PLAYS
How much further do we have to go?
It's on the fourth floor.
It's a long way up. I'll say.
THEY LAUGH
Evening, madame.
Good evening, monsieur.
CAT MEOWS
MEOWING CONTINUES
It must not happen again.
Tonight must not happen again.
k*ll the beast.
k*ll the beast between your legs.
Put an end to it.
Right!
The act is very simple.
I shall probably bleed to death.
I'll be found lying on the floor.
And the beast will rest.
A little knot of offal...
..peacefully in my hand.
HE LAUGHS
How pretty a picture.
I like it.
Well then, do it!
What's wrong with me?
I can't do it.
Why not?
Pain?
I enjoy pain.
I love it.
Pain is exquisite.
Why can't I do a simple thing
like cutting it off, then?
Well, it is rather an important
decision to make, isn't it?
Death is the most
important thing in life.
Quite a thought, that.
Good.
Then I mustn't do it with
a desperate spontaneity, must I?
My own mutilation and death?
God, no.
I must approach it delicately.
I must savour it, relish it...
..as I would any other
unique and lovely thing.
Let's think of something else,
shall we? It always helps.
I shall then come back
to the subject of flesh.
Set the mood, darling. Set the mood.
MUSIC: Also Sprach Zarathustra
by Richard Strauss
Ah, that's more like it.
Now, let's say a little
bysie-bye to God's sweet air
and his charming universe, shall we?
Dear, darling stars.
You are all lifeless and inert,
I'm sure of it.
One day, the Earth is going
to cool down and be like you.
What's my difficulty, then?
One day, the whole of space
will be dead.
Your twinkling will be no more,
because there will be
no living eye to see it.
Right!
Daniel, take a leap into the
future and k*ll yourself.
Be nothing!
Oh, God.
You're still in your
morbid stint. Stop it.
You were going to change
the subject. Well, do!
You must think of something else.
Think, think, think.
Ah, got it!
Mathieu, give him his , francs.
After I'm dead, I shall become
an eternal enigma in his mind.
He'll ask himself, why did I do it?
Right.
There now, I feel so
much better for that.
There you are, then.
There lies the razor.
Inert, inanimate,
like the rest of the room.
And here is your hand,
living, controlled by you.
All you have to do is the act.
That's all, the simple act.
Well count up to five, shall we?
A simple, straightforward operation.
Here goes.
One.
Two.
Three.
Four.
F...
What's wrong?!
Why CAN'T I?
What stops me?!
Everything is dead.
That's why.
The room, the stars, the razor...
..all is lifeless.
I alone am alive!
I alone am free to act.
Freedom to act!
It MUST be preserved!
CAT MEOWS
MUSIC REVERBERATES
Darling.
Hello.
Hello, hello, hello.
Oh, you're so hot!
You're frightfully gay this evening.
Am I? Mm.
SHE GIGGLES
Let's sit, shall we?
HE GASPS
What have you done to your hand?!
Oh, I cut myself.
Oh, darling, it looks horrible.
It should be bandaged. It was.[
Only, I fell down. Fell down?
Hmm.
It started to throb,
so I took it off.
We'll have to look after it,
won't we?
What's wrong with HER?
It must be the heat.
Oh, well. I'd better respond.
It's expected.
Are you longing for it as I am?
Of course.
HE GASPS
Oh, darling!
Were you in a fight? Me?! God, no.
How did it happen?
It was...last night at the Sumatra.
THAT'S where you were.
Boris brought a Kn*fe.
He challenged me to stick it
into my...hand.
And you obliged?
You are completely dotty.
Here, give it to me.
Was Ivich there?
Er, when I cut myself? Uh-hm. No.
No, she was dancing with Lola.
SHE LAUGHS
Well, did you have a good time?
Oh, not bad.
You must take me there sometime.
Sumatra?! Hmm. Why not?
Be exhausted by it. Would I?
Well, I wouldn't want to make it
a regular thing, but...
..just once.
After all, it's been ages
since we went out together.
Good God.
That's what you say
when you're married.
She looks on us as married,
all but the wedding ring
and the Nuptial Mass.
Well, we'll soon put a stop to that.
Well, I won't be able to take you
out for at least a month.
The Sumatra closes next week
for its summer break.
There.
You sound a bit annoyed with me.
I do? Hmm.
Or you're thinking about
the last time you were here.
I was a bit tiresome, I agree.
Still, it's not every day of
the week that a woman has to tell
her lover she's pregnant.
Yes, I know.
It's...all my fault.
Oh, my dear, dear love,
it's NOT your fault.
You must never blame yourself.
We are expecting a child.
That's all there is to it.
Look.
What?
, francs.
Oh? Troubles are over.
You'll be in safe hands now.
He only deals with wealthy
patients, society women.
But I thought...
Oh, God.
MUSIC: La Route est Dure
By Georgia Brown