Delta of Venus (1995) Movie Script
[WOMAN]
PARIS, JANUARY 6, 1940.
AGAIN, SHE WROTE ALL NIGHT.
SHE STRETCHED,
LOOKED OUT AT THE RISING SUN...
THEN BUNDLED UP AGAINS THE EARLY MORNING CHILL.
AS IF DRAWN
BY SOME INVISIBLE FORCE...
[BELL RINGING]
SHE HEADED OFF
ACROSS THE WAKING CITY.
HER CRAVINGS WERE VAGUE,
POETIC.
SHE WAS EXPECTING SOMEONE.
HER EXCITEMENT GROWING,
SHE RAN
THROUGH THE TREELINED PARK
TO THE BANKS OF THE SEINE.
OUT OF THE MIST,
SHE HEARD THAT FAMILIAR SOUND--
WITH OARS DIPPING
INTO THE FRIGID WATER.
THE CREAK OF THE SKIFF
POWERING FORWARD,
CUTTING ARROW-STRAIGH THROUGH THE STILL RIVER.
AS SHE WATCHED HIM...
SHE ASKED HERSELF...
HOW COULD A MAN SHE'D NEVER ME FILL HER WITH SUCH LONGING?
SHE KNEW THE ANSWER.
IT WAS PRECISELY THIS FEELING
SHE HAD BEEN STARVING FOR,
TO FALL IN LOVE IN SUCH A WAY
THAT THE MERE SIGHT OF A MAN,
EVEN A BLOCK AWAY,
WOULD MAKE HER TREMBLE
AND SOFTEN AND MELT.
I THINK IT'S THE BEST WORK
I'VE EVER DONE.
I'D LIKE YOU
TO TRY AND SELL IT.
THERE IS NO BUSINESS.
IF I WERE YOU,
I'D CONSIDER GOING HOME.
THIS IS NOT A TIME
TO BE IN EUROPE.
NO.
NO, I CAN'T.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN
WHAT I'VE COME HERE FOR YET.
[SINGING IN FRENCH]
I LOVED YOUR BOOK.
YOUR BOOK IS WONDERFUL.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TOUR.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
HELL OF A PARTY, MARCEL.
ALL I HAD TO DO
WAS TELL PEOPLE
THE LIQUOR WAS FREE.
THEY'RE YOUR FRIENDS.
GOD BLESS THEM.
TO THE TWO MOST BEAUTIFUL
WOMEN IN PARIS.
TO OUR GIFTED BUT NAUGHTY
GUEST OF HONOR.
AND TO MARCEL, OUR HOST,
AGENT EXTRAORDINAIRE,
WHO BLESSED MY LIFE
WITH HIS BELIEF IN ME.
THANK YOU.
Watch out.
Watch out.
ELENA.
MARCEL.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE WORKING.
MY MUSE MUST HAVE
GONE TO THE BEACH.
I HAVEN'T HAD
A SINGLE COHEREN THOUGHT ALL DAY.
DO YOU MIND?
NO.
I KNOW YOU.
THIS MORNING...
AND THE MORNING
BEFORE THA AND THE MORNING
BEFORE THAT...
ON THE BRIDGE.
I WRITE AT NIGHT,
AND AT SUNRISE, I TAKE
A WALK ALONG THE RIVER
BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP.
I KNOW.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT ME?
ELENA MARTIN, AMERICAN,
CAME TO PARIS
FOUR MONTHS AGO
TO BE A WRITER,
WORKS HARD,
KEEPS TO HERSELF,
COULD BE SHY,
COULD BE A RECLUSE.
WELL, YOU HAVE ME
AT A DISADVANTAGE.
FOR NOW.
BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T HE?
AND DANGEROUS.
THE TRUTH IS,
I ONLY CONSENTED TO THIS
LITTLE GOING-AWAY PARTY
BECAUSE I HOPED MARCEL
WOULD PERSUADE YOU
TO COME.
NOW HERE YOU ARE.
TIME STOOD STILL.
WE COULD HAVE BEEN ON
THE DANCE FLOOR FOR 10 MINUTES
OR TWO HOURS.
I DON'T KNOW.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BOOK.
I HATE IT.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
DO YOU?
HE TALKED ABOUT HIS WORK
AND HIS UPCOMING TOUR,
HOW HE WAS LEAVING FOR NEW YORK AT THE END OF THE WEEK,
HOW HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO,
AND RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF IT ALL,
HE BEGAN
TELLING ME STORIES.
HE SPOKE THE WAY HE WRITES-- CLEAR AND PRECISE...
SHOCKING AT FIRST,
THEN BEGUILING.
I WAS AT A DANCE
LIKE THIS ONCE IN SAINT-TROPEZ.
I COULD SEE IT ALL.
EVERYONE WAS
DRINKING THEMSELVES BLIND--
TOWNSPEOPLE,
SOCIETY PEOPLE,
MIXED WITH FISHERMEN,
ARTISTS,
WHORES.
BONSOIR,
MESDAMES ET MESSIEURS.
THE BAND WAS HOT,
JUNGLE-HOT,
THEN THE BANDLEADER
ANNOUNCED THIS...
SPECIAL DANCE.
[BANDLEADER
SPEAKING FRENCH]
WHEN THE MUSIC BEGAN AGAIN,
IT WAS WILD, HYPNOTIC.
THEN THEY TURNED OU THE LIGHTS,
FIRST FOR FIVE MINUTES...
[SINGING IN FRENCH]
WHEN THE LIGHTS
CAME BACK ON,
SOME PEOPLE LEFT.
THE REST WAITED,
AS IF FOR A STORM.
THEY WAITED FOR THE LIGHTS
TO GO OUT AGAIN.
THEN THE LIGHTS WENT OU FOR 10 MINUTES.
PRETTY SOON,
YOU COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE WHORES
AND THE TOWN GIRLS.
THEY WERE ALL
IN THE SAME STATE--HOT,
GIDDY AT THE PROSPEC OF BEING CAUGHT BY THE LIGHT.
SOME WERE BARE-BREASTED,
THEIR DRESSES TORN.
AND FINALLY, FOR 15 MINUTES,
WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON,
ALL YOU COULD HEAR
WAS A WOMAN'S MOAN,
RISING IN ECSTASY,
LOST TO THE WORLD,
PERCHED
ON THE EDGE OF A CLIFF.
SHE REFUSED TO RELEN UNTIL SHE ACHIEVED FINAL
AND COMPLETE RELEASE.
FLESH.
SHE WAS HUNGER AND FLESH.
WORKERS OF THE WORLD,
UNITE!
WORKERS, UNITE!
[SHOUTING]
[CHANTING]
CHAOS,
MADNESS.
THE SCENT OF WAR
HAS CREATED HYSTERIA.
EVERY PARTY TURNS INTO
A POLITICAL RALLY,
AND EVERY RALLY
TURNS INTO A PARTY.
[DOGS BARKING]
COMMUNISTS AND FASCISTS,
RED BANNERS
AND GRAY SHIRTS.
THIS IS THE WRONG TIME
TO BE IN EUROPE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
I JUST THANK GOD I'M HERE.
[DOG WHIMPERS]
LAWRENCE!
LAWRENCE.
HARRY.
LAWRENCE.
WHAT A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE.
MILLICENT, THIS IS
LAWRENCE WALTERS...
YOUR BOOK
IS WONDERFUL.
[HARRY]
AND...
ELENA MARTIN.
CHARMED.
I PUBLISHED
HIS FIRST MANUSCRIP FOUR YEARS AGO.
CAUSED ONE HELL
OF A STIR.
CHURCHGOERS,
CONCERNED
HOUSEWIVES.
I REMEMBER I VERY WELL.
NOW HE'S SO FAMOUS,
EVERY PUBLISHER WANTS HIM.
I LOVE YOUR WORK.
COME ON, ELENA.
GOOD LUCK
WITH YOUR TOUR.
TALK TO YOU, HARRY.
I'LL BE AT THE PLAZA.
[ACCORDION PLAYING]
[RADIO]
THIS IS LIBERTY,
BROADCASTING SYSTEM.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
USED TO BE
THE STAIRWELL.
WHEN THE STAIRS
FELL APART,
THEY CLOSED IT OFF
AND TURNED I INTO A FLAT.
PERFECT.
DO YOU MIND?
BE MY GUEST.
AHH. I LOVE WHISKEY.
WHISKEY...AND WOMEN ON BRIDGES
IN THE EARLY-MORNING FOG.
TOO MUCH WHISKEY.
[SCREWS CAP ON FLASK]
BEFORE TONIGHT,
I ENTERED EACH ROOM
LOOKING FOR A MIRACLE,
WHICH NEVER TOOK PLACE.
NOW HERE HE IS,
ASLEEP IN MY BED.
BEFORE TONIGHT,
I WAS GROWING SAD
WITH RESTLESSNESS AND HUNGER.
I FELT THAT NOTHING
WOULD EVER HAPPEN TO ME.
I FELT DESPERATE WITH DESIRE TO PLUNGE INTO LIVING.
MERCI, MONSIEUR.
TRES BIEN.
I PASSED OUT.
LOOK AROUND YOU.
TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
TELL ME A STORY,
LIKE YOU'RE WRITING IT.
DESCRIBE IT TO ME.
I SEE...
I SEE...
I SEE A WEALTHY MAN...
WHO'S RETURNING HOME
FROM A VISIT TO HIS MISTRESS.
HE'S SAD...
BECAUSE HIS ARTHRITIS HAS BEEN
ACTING UP AGAIN
AND HE KNOWS THAT SHE'S
GROWN BORED WITH HIM,
TAKEN ON A YOUNGER LOVER.
THERE THEY ARE,
KISSING...
JUST LIKE
THEIR GRANDPARENTS KISSED
AND THEIR PARENTS KISSED...
AND THE WAY...
WE KISSED LAST NIGHT.
[GIGGLING]
YOUR TURN.
I SEE AN ADVENTURER...
A DREAMER...
A VERY GOOD WRITER.
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?
I PEEKED AT ONE OF YOUR STORIES
ON MARCEL'S DESK
WHEN I WAS AT HIS OFFICE
THE OTHER DAY.
I SWIPED ANOTHER
WHEN I LEFT THIS MORNING.
YOU WHAT?
"SOMETHING...
IN HER HAD CREATED
A PERPETUAL DEFIANCE
"OF THE VERY POSSIBILITIES
OF EXPERIENCE,
"AN URGE FOR FLIGHT.
"SHE HAD STOOD MANY TIMES
ON THE EDGE
AND HAD TO RUN AWAY."
YOUR WORK MAKES ME JEALOUS.
OF WHAT?
YOUR SPIRIT.
YOUR POTENTIAL.
[WOMAN SINGING
C'EST COMME AU PRINTEMPS]
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?
TELL ME WHAT YOU FEEL.
YOUR BODY...
PRESSED AGAINST MINE.
DOES THAT EXCITE YOU?
OH, YES.
DO YOU WANT ME
TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU?
YES.
AH...
AH, JEAN LUC.
ELENA, JEAN LUC.
HOW DO YOU DO?
PLEASE, PLEASE.
[ORGAN PLAYING]
SOMETIMES
I COME HERE TO SLEEP,
SOMETIMES TO WRITE.
IF THERE'S A GOD,
I THINK THIS IS THE CLOSES I'LL EVER GET TO HIM.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU'RE LEAVING.
IT BREAKS MY HEART.
COME WITH ME.
I CAN'T.
I NEED TO WORK.
DEATH TO FASCISM!
DEATH!
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
DEATH TO FASCISM!
WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!
[SHOUTING]
[WOMAN SINGING CHAQUE JOUR]
SO, SO...
THE CRUSADER--
HE PUTS A CHASTITY
BELT ON HIS WIFE
AND GIVES THE KEY
TO HIS BEST FRIEND.
YEAH?
AND HE'S BARELY
RIDING A MILE
WHEN HIS AMIGO
COMES GALLOPING UP
SHOUTING WILDLY--
STOP! STOP!
YOU GAVE ME
THE WRONG KEY.
HA HA HA.
WHY DO YOU ALWAYS RUIN
THE HIT LINE FOR ME?
PUNCH LINE!
PUNCH LINE,
DARLING.
SO HOW'S WORK?
GOOD.
BAD.
I DON'T KNOW.
MEANWHILE I SPEN MY LAST CENT ON AN ANGEL.
MIGUEL HAS
A PROPOSITION FOR YOU.
MY LIFE DRAWING CLASS
NEEDS A NEW MODEL.
EVERYONE'S
MODELING NUDE.
IT'S THE RAGE.
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
I'VE DONE I A TRILLION TIMES.
IT'S LIBERATING.
A BODY IS
A BODY IS A BODY.
IF IT DOESN'T WORK,
YOU CAN ALWAYS
TAKE UP PROSTITUTION.
OH, DONALD.
IT'S WHAT YOU ALL WANT,
ISN'T IT?
YOU MUST BE JOKING.
NO.
YOU DO NOTHING
BUT HAVE SEX ALL DAY.
SOMEONE ELSE
PAYS FOR EVERYTHING.
A VILLA IN THE COUNTRY.
I MEAN, LIFE IS GRAND.
IT'S MADE,
AND SOMEONE ELSE
IS PAYING FOR IT.
YOU ARE A VICIOUS,
VICIOUS, VICIOUS
LITTLE MAN.
ELENA. ELENA?
YOU SHOULD WORK
FOR HIM.
YOU HAVE
A BEAUTIFUL BODY.
[BAND PLAYING]
[SINGING]
I SEE A WOMAN
SURROUNDED BY MEN
ON A COLD PARIS STREET.
I SEE A SOLDIER
WHO'S FRIGHTENED
OF LEAVING
THE ONLY WORLD
HE'S EVER KNOWN.
I SEE A BOY
DRESSED AS A SOLDIER
WHOSE MOTHER,
WHEN SHE
DROPPED HIM OFF
AT THE TRAIN STATION
YESTERDAY MORNING,
REMEMBERED SENDING
HIM OFF TO HIS VERY
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
I SEE
A RED-HEADED WOMAN
WHO KNOWS
THE BOY'S THINKING,
"WHAT IF I DIE
WITHOUT EVER
HAVING MADE LOVE
TO A WOMAN?"
SO BEAUTIFUL.
I'VE NEVER LET ANYONE
LOOK AT ME BEFORE.
NO, NOT THERE YET.
SOFTLY.
[PANTING]
I CAN TASTE MYSELF.
I LOVE I WHEN YOU KISS ME.
I WANT YOU INSIDE ME.
[MOANING]
[MOANING]
THE WORLD IS NOW SHUT OUT.
THERE'S ONLY THIS SOUND,
THIS FEEL,
THESE FLEETING MOMENTS
THAT ARE LEFT.
BY THIS TIME TOMORROW,
HE'LL BE GONE.
IT'S ONLY
A QUESTION OF TIME
BEFORE YOU ARE ALL MINE
FOR, MY DARLING,
CAN'T YOU SEE
YOU BELONG TO ME?
AND IT'S ONLY
A QUESTION OF...
AH, THAT'S SWEET.
'CAUSE THE LOVE
THAT LIVES IN YOUR HEART
THE MAN OF THE HOUR.
I LOVE THAT MAN.
FOR, MY LOVE,
IT'S OUR DESTINY
BEAUTIFUL.
DON'T YOU THINK?
SUBLIMELY,
TERRIFYINGLY,
GORGEOUSLY,
DANGEROUSLY SO.
JUST ENOUGH MADNESS
IN HIM TO KEEP HIM
INTERESTING.
...TO ME
[APPLAUSE]
YOU WERE GREAT.
THANKS.
THANK YOU.
SO...WHERE IS HE?
SAYING GOOD-BYE--
DON'T SAY IT.
PAY NO ATTENTION
TO HIM.
HE'S JUST JEALOUS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
[OPERATIC SINGING]
I WAS JUS SAYING GOOD-BYE
TO AN OLD FRIEND.
WHY HER?
I ASKED YOU A QUESTION.
BECAUSE I HAVE
A PASSION FOR
SELF-DESTRUCTION.
BECAUSE SHE MEANS
NOTHING TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I EXPECTED.
PLEASE, ELENA.
I WAN TO TALK TO YOU.
I'M SORRY ABOU WHAT HAPPENED
ON THE STREET.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I EXPECTED.
PLEASE.
I DON'T WAN TO LEAVE LIKE THIS.
[THUD]
[OPERATIC SINGING]
HE WAS GONE NOW--
OUT OF PARIS
AND OUT OF HER LIFE.
THE FALL WAS MUCH GREATER
THAN SHE HAD EVER KNOWN,
'CAUSE SHE'D VENTURED
SO FAR INTO EMOTION
AND HAD ABANDONED
HERSELF TO IT.
THE MOST TERRIFYING ASPEC OF HER FEELINGS
WAS THAT SHE WAS UNABLE
TO SHRINK BACK AS BEFORE
TO SHUT OUT THE WORLD.
SHE REALIZED THAT HE HAD NOT ONLY PENETRATED HER BODY...
BUT ALSO HER VERY BEING.
[LAUGHING]
PLEASE, MARCEL,
IF YOU CAN' SELL MY STORIES,
JUST GIVE ME
SOME WORK.
I DON'T CARE
WHAT IT IS--
TECHNICAL MANUALS,
TRANSLATIONS,
ANYTHING.
WE'RE IN A DEPRESSION.
NOBODY'S PUBLISHING.
NOBODY'S BUYING.
BUT YOU COULD TRY.
I HEARD FROM LAWRENCE.
THE TOUR IS GOING WELL.
HOW NICE.
HE'S WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
TAKE THIS.
NO.
MERCI.
BUT I COULD NEVER.
I'VE NEVER
BEEN SO NERVOUS.
GOOD.
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED
ONE SHOULD CONFRON THAT WHICH FRIGHTENS
THEM THE MOST.
[CHATTER IN FRENCH]
[OPERATIC SINGING]
OPEN YOUR EYES,
ELENA.
PUT YOUR HANDS
ON HIS HIPS.
PUT YOUR HEAD
AGAINST HIS BACK
AND LOOK OUT.
PIERRE, ELENA.
ELENA, PIERRE.
BE HAPPY.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
[RING]
BONJOUR. OUI.
FOR YOU.
NO. NOT UNTIL YOU'VE
PAID YOUR RENT.
FOOLED YOU.
HELLO.
MARCEL.
YEAH.
WHEN?
CIAO.
YOU SOLD IT?
SOLD WHAT?
OH, THE STORY. NO.
BUT YOU SAID
YOU HAD GOOD NEWS.
PERHAPS.
IT DEPENDS ON YOUR REACTION
TO WHAT I HAVE TO PROPOSE.
I RECEIVED A CALL
FROM SOMEONE YESTERDAY,
A PERSON
WHO COLLECTS EROTICA.
I WOULDN'T NORMALLY
HAVE THOUGHT OF YOU
FOR THIS TYPE
OF ASSIGNMENT,
BUT IT PAYS WELL.
HOW WELL?
200 FRANCS A PAGE.
THAT'S A FORTUNE.
WHAT KIND OF A PERVER WOULD PAY THAT MUCH
FOR A DIRTY STORY?
IF THAT'S YOUR REACTION,
THEN THIS ISN' THE JOB FOR YOU.
WHO IS HE?
LET'S JUST CALL HIM
A SERIOUS COLLECTOR.
WHO IS HE, MARCEL?
I WANT TO KNOW.
HE WISHES
TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
WHERE DOES HE LIVE?
YOU ARE SUCH
A PAIN IN THE ASS.
[BELL JINGLING]
HE LIVES IN A VILLA
THAT HE INHERITED
FROM HIS FAMILY.
IT'S CRUMBLING
AND SURROUNDED
BY VINEYARDS.
THERE WAS A TIME
WHEN HE HAD
WILD PARTIES.
HE WAS
A LADIES' MAN.
AND?
AND...
SOMETHING HAPPENED.
SOMETHING HORRIBLE.
A NEIGHBORING FARMER
ONE DAY LOOKED
OUT HIS WINDOW
AND SAW HIS CYPRESS
TREE BURNING.
THE COLLECTOR'S CAR--
AN OLD BENTLEY--
HAD CRASHED INTO I AND EXPLODED
INTO FLAMES.
THE FARMER
PULLED HIM OUT,
BUT HE WAS
BADLY WOUNDED.
NOW HE'S CRIPPLED,
AND HIS FACE IS SCARRED.
HE STAYS INSIDE.
HE DOESN'T GO OUT.
HE READS, HE YEARNS,
AND HE DREAMS.
I'LL DO IT.
ELENA WENT TO A DANCE
AT A SEASIDE PAVILION
IN SAINT-TROPEZ.
ALL ANYONE COULD HEAR
WAS WOMEN'S MOAN
RISING IN ECSTASY
ABOVE THE SUDDEN SILENCE.
FLESH.
FLESH.
[MOANING]
IT WAS HUNGER AND FLESH.
"DEAR ANONYMOUS,
"I WAS INTRIGUED
"WHEN MARCEL SUGGESTED
YOU WRITE EROTICA FOR ME.
"WHAT MAN
WOULDN'T WANT ACCESS
"TO A WOMAN'S
INNERMOST THOUGHTS,
"TO BE PERMITTED ENTRY
TO THAT SECRET PLACE
"WHERE FANTASIES ARE BORN?
"IMAGINE THEN MY DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN I READ YOUR STORY,
"WHICH WAS TRITE
"AND REVEALED NOTHING PROFOUND ABOUT A WOMAN'S DESIRES.
"OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE
SO FRIGHTENED OF INTIMACY,
YOU NEGLECTED
TO SIGN YOUR NAME."
LOOK.
I WANT TO PROVE
THAT I CAN DO THIS,
EVEN IF IT'S
ONLY TO MYSELF.
HE PAID ME
FOR A STORY,
SO I'LL DELIVER
A STORY.
IF HE LIKES IT,
I'LL DO MORE,
AND IF NOT,
AT LEAST I'LL FEEL
BETTER ABOUT HAVING
TAKEN HIS MONEY.
O.K.?
I HAD FORGOTTEN
HOW YOUNG YOU ARE.
MONSIEUR.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
FORGET ABOUT BOOKS.
I AM WHAT YOU WANT.
[RUFF RUFF]
IT'S O.K.
IT'S O.K.
IT'S O.K.!
[MAN SPEAKING FRENCH]
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I WANTED TO TALK.
I'M LISTENING.
I'M A WRITER.
YOU WANT TO KNOW
IF I FEEL ANYTHING...
IF I STILL
TAKE PLEASURE.
YES.
I REMEMBER YOU NOW.
THAT NIGH IN THE STREET.
HAVE YOU BEEN WONDERING
ALL THIS TIME?
WONDERING WHAT?
WHY LAWRENCE SPEN HIS LAST NIGHT WITH ME.
I'M SURE YOU
MADE HIM NERVOUS.
ARE YOU IN LOVE
WITH HIM?
I THOUGHT I WAS.
AND SO BIJOU,
FEELING A GROWING COMPASSION FOR ELENA,
TOOK HER WITH HER
TO SEE A CLAIRVOYANT...
A BIG MAN FROM WEST AFRICA.
EXCEPT FOR HIS
EVERYDAY GRAY SUIT...
THE MAN LOOKED LIKE A MAGICIAN.
HE GAVE BIJOU A HEAVY STARE...
THEN STEPPED AWAY
TO TAKE OFF HIS OVERCOAT.
YOU ARE IN LOVE
WITH A MAN THA MAKES YOU SUFFER.
YES.
HE HAS PECULIAR HABITS.
YES.
YOU ARE UNHAPPY
AND COMPENSATE
BY BEING UNFAITHFUL.
GO TO SLEEP.
HE NEVER TOUCHED HER,
BUT SHE COULD FEEL HIS HANDS INCHES AWAY--
WARM AND DRY,
HEAVY AND ELECTRIC.
[MOANING]
[GROANING]
[MOANING]
HE NEVER TOUCHED HER.
NAKED, HE TOWERED OVER HER,
MAGNIFICENT AND TALL,
LIKE SOME AFRICAN KING.
HE TOOK HER OVER COMPLETELY,
AND SHE SURRENDERED.
FLESH.
SHE WAS HUNGER AND FLESH.
"I WAS IMPRESSED
WITH YOUR STORY
"OF THE RED-HEADED WHORE
AND THE CLAIRVOYANT.
[MAN]
"SO MUCH SO,
THAT I AM ENCLOSING
PAYMENT IN ADVANCE
"FOR YOUR NEXT LITERARY EFFORT.
"I MUST, HOWEVER,
CAUTION YOU ON ONE POINT.
"LEAVE OUT THE POETRY.
CONCENTRATE ON SEX...
ONLY SEX."
[WOMAN]
DOES ANYONE EXPERIENCE PLEASURE
FROM READING
CLINICAL DESCRIPTION?
DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WORDS
CARRY COLORS AND SOUNDS
INTO THE FLESH?
[MAN]
THE LANGUAGE OF SEX
HAS YET TO BE INVENTED.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE SENSES
HAS YET TO BE EXPLORED.
CONCENTRATE,
DON'T DRIFT.
DARE TO TAKE IT FURTHER.
[WOMAN] I HAVE GIVEN YOU A VOICE, A RICH VOICE,
AN EXTRAORDINARY VOICE.
I HAVE GIVEN YOU A BACKGROUND.
I HAVE SAT FOR HOURS
AND WONDERED HOW YOU LOOK.
IF YOU HAVE CLOSED YOUR SENSES UPON SILK,
LIGHT, COLOR, CHARACTER,
YOU MUST BE BY NOW
COMPLETELY SHRIVELED UP.
[MAN]
WHO I AM IS OF NO CONCERN.
CONCENTRATE ON THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN YOUR MIND.
I WANT GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION,
HARD-EDGED,
UNADORNED.
NO LESS.
NO MORE.
I THINK
IT WOULD BE BES IF WE DIDN'T POSE
TOGETHER ANYMORE.
DID I DO
SOMETHING WRONG?
NO, NO.
IT'S JUST THA YOU EXCITE ME,
AND IT SHOWS.
IT'S EMBARRASSING
TO ME.
[WOMAN]
PIERRE WAS A DANGEROUS MAN--
SELFISH AND ALL-CONSUMING.
HE LIKED TO MEET ELENA
IN DARK PLACES
SO THAT BEFORE THEY COULD
SEE EACH OTHER'S FACE,
THEIR HANDS BECAME AWARE OF EACH OTHER'S PRESENCE,
LINGERING
IN THE WARMEST CURVES,
KNOWING BY TOUCH THE PLACES WHERE THE SKIN WAS SOFTEST.
HIS PASSION WAS SO INTIMATE,
ELENA SOMETIMES WONDERED
IF HE WAS REAL
OR A FIGMEN OF HER IMAGINATION.
[MAN]
YOUR IMAGINATION IS REAL TO ME.
DON'T BE FRIGHTENED.
[WOMAN]
HIS DESIRE WAS IMPERATIVE
AND UNEXPECTED.
HE COULD NOT WAIT.
WITH HIM, SHE LEARNED HASTY DEPARTURES FROM RESTAURANTS,
WILD DRIVES
IN CURTAINED TAXICABS.
HER BREASTS UNDULATED
LIKE WAVES UNDER HIS HANDS,
PAINFULLY AWAKE,
SENSITIVE, AWARE.
AND HER BODY BEGAN TO TREMBLE,
AND SO DID HIS.
AND HIS SEMEN
CAME INSIDE OF HER
AND MIXED WITH HERS
LIKE LITTLE WAVES
BREAKING OVER SAND,
ONE ROLLING IN AFTER THE OTHER.
MOANING, BREATHING HEAVILY,
SHE AWAKES HAVING EXPERIENCED A LITTLE DEATH,
A DAZZLING LITTLE DEATH
THAT NO DRUG
OR ALCOHOL COULD GIVE.
[MAN]
FIRST THERE WAS THE WORD,
AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH.
I FEEL A GROWING IMMEDIACY IN YOUR WORK.
TAKE ME INSIDE.
LET ME BECOME PART OF YOU.
I LIVE IN PERPETUAL EXPECTANCY.
[WOMAN]
YOU HAVE BROKEN DOWN
THE VEILS OF FLESH
AND ALL THE CUSHIONS
THAT PROTECT THE NERVES.
THE EFFECT IS DELIRIUM,
BRIEF AND STOLEN.
I COME AWAY WITH PIECES OF YOU STICKING TO ME.
LATE AT NIGHT,
WHEN I CAN'T SLEEP
AND MY SKIN TINGLES
AT THE THOUGHT OF YOU,
I LIE IN BED
AND FEEL YOU PRESSING
YOUR WEIGHT AGAINST ME,
ENTERING ME.
SOMETIMES THE IMAGE
IS SO POWERFUL,
I WAKE WITH YOUR SCEN ALL OVER ME.
I SEE A WEALTHY WOMAN
WHO HAS A LUST FOR THE UNKNOWN.
SHE'S INTERESTED ONLY IN MEN THAT SHE'S NEVER SEEN BEFORE
AND WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN.
HER HUSBAND DEVOTES HIS LIFE TO SATISFYING HER CAPRICES.
HIS PLEASURE COMES
FROM WATCHING HER.
HER PLEASURE COMES FROM KNOWING SHE'S BEING WATCHED.
THERE YOU ARE.
WE WERE ABOUT TO REPORT YOU
AS A MISSING PERSON.
I'VE BEEN WORKING.
I CAN'T SEEM TO STOP.
IT'S JUS POURING OUT OF ME.
I'M WRITING THE WAY
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO.
IT'S SO ADDICTIVE,
I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT.
BREATH OF NIGH COMES WITH NO WARNING
DEVOURING THE TWILIGHT AIR
PROWLING, THE SHADOWS
ARE CALLING
TO THE GIRL...
[MAN]
ELENA, YOU, TOO,
HAVE INVADED MY SLEEP.
I SEE MYSELF AS THE MEN
IN YOUR STORIES.
I LOOK FOR YOU IN ALL THE FACES OF THE WOMEN I PASS.
I FEEL YOUR EXCITEMENT.
DARE TO TAKE IT FURTHER.
[WOMAN]
YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THE WORLD.
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
I CAN HEAR MY OWN VOICE.
I'M CONSUMED WITH EMOTION, FEAR, AND EXCITEMENT,
WHITE HEAT AND HUNGER.
HA HA HA!
THE FASCIST WORE
A HEAVY WORN BEL THAT CAME UNDONE
WITH A SNAP.
USING IT AS AN INSTRUMENT OF SUBMISSION,
HE WRAPPED I AROUND ELENA'S WRIS AND DREW HER TO HIM.
HE DARED HER TO RUN.
ELENA STOOD HER GROUND.
[SLAP]
[MOANING]
A GREAT SADNESS
WASHED OVER ELENA
AS IF ALL THE DESPAIR
SHE EVER FEL WAS ROLLING ITSELF
INTO THE CORE OF HER BEING,
GATHERING FORCE,
WAITING TO EXPLODE.
[MAN]
I WAS BOTH ALARMED
AND DELIGHTED
TO DISCOVER THE DARKNESS THAT LURKS INSIDE YOUR IMAGINATION.
ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR ME,
ANOTHER LAYER REVEALED.
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
HITLER HAS INVADED
BELGIUM AND HOLLAND.
THEY ARE MASSING
AT OUR BORDERS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
THE WORLD AROUND HER
WAS TURNING DARK,
BUT ELENA COULD NOT SEE IT.
INSTEAD, SHE ALLOWED HERSELF
TO BE LED STILL DEEPER
INTO THE UNKNOWN...
TO A SECRET PLACE
WHERE OPIUM SMOKERS
WENT TO SEEK RELEASE...
TO INDULGE IN THEIR DESIRE FOR DREAMS.
LEILA SINGS
IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
SHE TEARS
YOUR SERENITY
TO SHREDS.
SHE SPREADS
ANXIETY AND REGRET...
NOSTALGIA EVERYWHERE.
SHH.
THEY KISSED UNTIL THE KISSING BECAME A TORTURE
AND THE BODY GREW RESTLESS.
TIME STRETCHED,
ELONGATED.
SHE COULD ONLY
SEE THINGS IN PARTS.
NOTHING WAS WHOLE.
AS ELENA FELT HERSELF
DRIFTING OFF TO SLEEP,
THE LAST THING
SHE CAN REMEMBER THINKING
WAS THAT LOCKED
INSIDE ALL WOMEN
WAS THE SAME SECRET PLACE
WHERE FANTASIES ARE BORN.
SHE UNDERSTOOD THEN
THAT HER QUEST TO FIND
HER OWN SECRET PLACE,
HER DELTA OF VENUS,
WAS THE QUEST FOR PERMANENCE,
THE DESIRE TO BE FOREVER LINKED TO THAT HIDDEN PART OF HERSELF.
HERE.
IT'S GOOD.
BELIEVE ME,
HE'LL BE PLEASED.
HE'S WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
HE WANTS YOU
TO LEAVE PARIS.
NO.
WHAT IF HE STOPS
PAYING FOR THE STORIES?
I'LL WRITE THEM
ANYWAY.
WHAT IF I REFUSE TO BE
THE GO-BETWEEN?
WHO IS HE,
MARCEL?
IS IT YOU?
NO, IT ISN'T ME.
MARCEL REFUSES
TO REVEAL YOUR IDENTITY--
YOU, WHO KNOWS MY SECRETS, MY DARKNESS.
IT HURTS TOO MUCH TO KNOW
THAT WE CAN NEVER MEET,
NEVER TOUCH.
[MAN]
I WANT YOU TO
LEAVE PARIS, ELENA.
HITLER IS ADVANCING.
THE FALL OF FRANCE
IS INEVITABLE.
[WOMAN]
IF I LEAVE, THE LINK
BETWEEN US WILL BE BROKEN.
[GERMAN SPOKEN
ON RADIO]
YOU'LL BE LOST TO ME
FOREVER.
[MAN]
THEN YOU WILL LEAVE ME
NO OTHER CHOICE
BUT TO STOP
BUYING YOUR WORK.
[RADIO]
LAST NIGHT, GERMAN BOMBERS
TARGETED LILLE AIRPORT,
CAUSING AIR-RAID SIRENS
TO BE SOUNDED IN PARIS.
FRENCH AIR FORCE PURSUIT PLANES WERE SUCCESSFUL
IN BRINGING DOWN
ONE OF THE BOMBERS.
BOTH FRENCH AND R.A.F. PLANES
ARE ALREADY FULLY ENGAGED
IN AIR BATTLES
WITH ENEMY AIRCRAFT...
I JUST KEEP THINKING
WHAT'S GOING ON
IS JUST A BAD DREAM.
DON'T BE FOOLED.
GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN.
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO?
WE'VE MADE ARRANGEMENTS
TO GO TO MEXICO.
I HAVE FAMILY THERE.
MAYBE WE CAN
JOIN YOU.
I CAN SEE IT NOW.
AN ENTIRE COUNTRY
FILLED WITH NOTHING
BUT EXQUISITE DEVIANTS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
TO THE ONLY FAMILY
I'VE EVER KNOWN.
AMEN.
LAWRENCE.
ELENA.
DONALD.
STRANGER.
MIGUEL. GUAPO.
LEILA.
ARIEL.
I MISSED YOU ALL
VERY MUCH.
IT'S ONLY
A QUESTION OF WHEN
WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN
FOR, MY LOVE,
IT'S OUR DESTINY
FOR YOU TO BELONG
TO
ME
I'M WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
ME? OR THAT GIRL
WHO USED TO WATCH YOU ROW
EACH MORNING ON THE SEINE?
ARE THEY
THAT MUCH DIFFERENT?
YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
[RADIO]
WITH THE RAPID ADVANCE
OF THE THIRD REICH
TOWARDS THE FRENCH BORDERS
AND THE INCREASING THREAT OF BOMBING RAIDS ON THE CAPITAL,
WE ARE RECEIVING REPORTS
OF CONSIDERABLE PANIC
IN THE STREETS OF PARIS
AND THE BEGINNINGS
OF A MASS EXODUS FROM THE CITY.
RESTAURANTS AND MARKETS
ARE CLOSING.
FOOD IS BECOMING SCARCE.
FRENCH NAZI SYMPATHIZERS
ARE BECOMING
INCREASINGLY MILITANT.
VIOLENCE IS INCREASING RAPIDLY.
THE POLICE APPEAR TO BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SITUATION.
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED
BY REUTERS
THAT FRENCH AERODROMES
AND MILITARY BASES
HAVE BEEN THE TARGETS
OF ESCALATING AIR ATTACKS
BY THE GERMANLUFTWAFFE.
THE FRENCH GOVERNMEN HAS ORDERED
ALL FRENCH OFFICERS ON LEAVE
TO RETURN TO THEIR POSTS
IMMEDIATELY,
AND A GENERAL MOBILIZATION
OF ALL FRENCH ARMY RESERVES AND ENLISTED MEN
HAS BEEN PUT INTO EFFECT.
LAWRENCE ASKED ME
TO TALK TO YOU
ON HIS BEHALF
BEFORE I LEFT.
HE THINKS
HE CAN JUST WALK BACK
INTO MY LIFE?
NOT A LETTER,
NOT A POST CARD
THE WHOLE TIME
HE WAS GONE, MARCEL.
WHAT DOES HE EXPECT?
HE CARES ABOUT YOU.
THAT'S WHY HE CAME BACK.
DO YOU REALLY
BELIEVE THAT?
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD
ALWAYS TRY AND RETAIN
AT LEAST A LITTLE HOPE.
[ENGINE STARTS]
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF,
MARCEL.
[FOOTSTEPS]
I HOPE
YOU DON'T MIND
MY ASKING MARCEL
TO TALK TO YOU
ON MY BEHALF.
IT BROKE MY HEAR TO SEE HIM GO.
BEFORE HE LEFT,
HE STOPPED
BY MY HOTEL
AND DELIVERED
YOUR LAST STORY
TO ME.
"THEY KISSED
UNTIL KISSING
BECAME A TORTURE."
"AND THE BODY
GREW RESTLESS.
"TIME STRETCHED,
ELONGATED.
SHE COULD ONLY SEE
THINGS IN PARTS."
"NOTHING WAS WHOLE."
YOU'VE TURNED INTO
AN AMAZING WRITER,
ELENA.
HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN
SO STUPID?
ELENA,
I CAN EXPLAIN.
LISTEN TO ME.
ELENA!
PLEASE.
ELENA.
PLEASE
LET ME EXPLAIN.
IT WASN' UNTIL I LEF THAT I KNEW
HOW MUCH
YOU MEANT TO ME.
BUT WHEN MARCEL
SAID YOU WERE
DESPERATE--
DESPERATE!
I'M NOT DESPERATE!
I'VE NEVER BEEN DESPERATE!
MONEY...
I KNEW YOU'D NEVER
ACCEPT A LOAN,
SO I HAD TO COME UP
WITH SOMETHING
TO HELP.
BULLSHIT!
BULLSHIT? BULLSHIT!
YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT BULLSHIT?
LET'S TALK ABOU THE FIRST TERRIBLE
PIECE YOU WROTE.
THAT WAS YOUR STORY!
SAINT-TROPEZ, THE ORGASM
THAT WOULDN'T END.
THAT DOESN'T MATTER.
EVERY STORY
YOU WROTE AFTER THA WAS WONDERFUL.
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU
TO JUDGE ME?
LOOK AT MY EYES.
YOU TURNED ME
INTO A CRAZY MAN.
I CAN'T DENY I ANYMORE.
I'M NOT ONLY IN LOVE
WITH YOUR WORK,
I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
LET GO OF ME.
[DRUNKEN SINGING]
[SCREAMING]
FOR YOU,
MY AMERICAN
BEAUTY...
TO WEAR
NEXT TIME
WE'RE TOGETHER.
YOU DON'T LIKE
MY PRESENT?
I DON'T THINK SHE DOES.
HEY...
I DON'T THINK
I LIKE YOU.
THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE,
MY FRIEND.
FRIEND?
DID YOU SAY "FRIEND"?
DID YOU SAY "FRIEND"?
YES.
DID YOU?
I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND!
[YELLING ORDERS]
BASTARDS.
[YELLING IN FRENCH]
YOUR STORIES
WERE ALL REAL,
WEREN'T THEY?
IT WAS ALL REAL,
WASN'T IT?
EVERYTHING
I WRITE IS REAL.
I'M THE WOMAN
IN ALL MY STORIES.
WHY HIM?
WHY THE FASCIST?
BECAUSE I LOVED
THE SMELL OF HIS SWEAT.
BECAUSE LIKE MY MENTOR,
THE COLLECTOR,
I WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT IT WAS LIKE
TO FEEL PASSION
WITHOUT LOVE...
TO TAKE WHAT IWANTED.
IS THA WHAT YOU WANT?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
IS IT?
[CLOTH RIPPING]
[OPERATIC SINGING]
[MOANING]
YOU REALLY DO LOVE ME,
DON'T YOU?
HE WAS CONDEMNED
TO LOSE HER.
THEY WOULD NO STAY TOGETHER...
BUT HE WAS
IN HER BEING FOR GOOD.
ELENA HAD ONCE WRITTEN TO HIM, "YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THE WORLD."
IT'S TRUE. HE DID.
HE OPENED UP
HER EYES AND EARS,
HER MIND AND HEART.
FROM NOW ON, NOTHING COULD
KEEP HER FROM CREATING.
FROM NOW ON,
GOOD OR BAD,
SHE KNEW SHE WAS CAPABLE
OF MANY LOVES.
THERE IT IS.
IT'S A HEART BEATING.
IF I MOVE,
THIS PERSON KNOWS IT.
IF I DROP AWAY,
THIS PERSON FEELS IT.
I EXIST IN HIM.
THAT IS LIFE.
THERE'S SOMETHING
HAPPENING THERE.
I AM THE WORDS
YOU DARE NOT SPEAK
I AM THE NEED
THAT KEEPS YOU WEAK
THE SALVATION THAT YOU SEEK
I AM
I AM THE WOUND
THAT WILL NOT HEAL
I AM THOSE SCARS
YOU CAN'T REVEAL
A HOLY SHRINE
AT WHICH YOU KNEEL
I AM
AND AFTER
EACH DISASTER STRIKES
THE TRAGIC
YET POLITE GOOD-BYES
I'M LEF WITH ALL THE BITTER TEARS
THAT CRUCIFY
IN EVERY HOPEFUL
LOVER'S BREATH
ASCENDING
FROM EACH LITTLE DEATH
I RISE TO FIND
THAT I AM LEFT ALONE
LEAVE ME YOUR DARKNESS,
I'LL MAKE IT LIGHT
AND ALL YOUR WRONGS,
I'LL SET THEM RIGHT
I AM THE CANDLE
IN THE NIGHT
I AM
PARIS, JANUARY 6, 1940.
AGAIN, SHE WROTE ALL NIGHT.
SHE STRETCHED,
LOOKED OUT AT THE RISING SUN...
THEN BUNDLED UP AGAINS THE EARLY MORNING CHILL.
AS IF DRAWN
BY SOME INVISIBLE FORCE...
[BELL RINGING]
SHE HEADED OFF
ACROSS THE WAKING CITY.
HER CRAVINGS WERE VAGUE,
POETIC.
SHE WAS EXPECTING SOMEONE.
HER EXCITEMENT GROWING,
SHE RAN
THROUGH THE TREELINED PARK
TO THE BANKS OF THE SEINE.
OUT OF THE MIST,
SHE HEARD THAT FAMILIAR SOUND--
WITH OARS DIPPING
INTO THE FRIGID WATER.
THE CREAK OF THE SKIFF
POWERING FORWARD,
CUTTING ARROW-STRAIGH THROUGH THE STILL RIVER.
AS SHE WATCHED HIM...
SHE ASKED HERSELF...
HOW COULD A MAN SHE'D NEVER ME FILL HER WITH SUCH LONGING?
SHE KNEW THE ANSWER.
IT WAS PRECISELY THIS FEELING
SHE HAD BEEN STARVING FOR,
TO FALL IN LOVE IN SUCH A WAY
THAT THE MERE SIGHT OF A MAN,
EVEN A BLOCK AWAY,
WOULD MAKE HER TREMBLE
AND SOFTEN AND MELT.
I THINK IT'S THE BEST WORK
I'VE EVER DONE.
I'D LIKE YOU
TO TRY AND SELL IT.
THERE IS NO BUSINESS.
IF I WERE YOU,
I'D CONSIDER GOING HOME.
THIS IS NOT A TIME
TO BE IN EUROPE.
NO.
NO, I CAN'T.
I HAVEN'T GOTTEN
WHAT I'VE COME HERE FOR YET.
[SINGING IN FRENCH]
I LOVED YOUR BOOK.
YOUR BOOK IS WONDERFUL.
GOOD LUCK ON THE TOUR.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
HELL OF A PARTY, MARCEL.
ALL I HAD TO DO
WAS TELL PEOPLE
THE LIQUOR WAS FREE.
THEY'RE YOUR FRIENDS.
GOD BLESS THEM.
TO THE TWO MOST BEAUTIFUL
WOMEN IN PARIS.
TO OUR GIFTED BUT NAUGHTY
GUEST OF HONOR.
AND TO MARCEL, OUR HOST,
AGENT EXTRAORDINAIRE,
WHO BLESSED MY LIFE
WITH HIS BELIEF IN ME.
THANK YOU.
Watch out.
Watch out.
ELENA.
MARCEL.
I THOUGHT YOU WERE WORKING.
MY MUSE MUST HAVE
GONE TO THE BEACH.
I HAVEN'T HAD
A SINGLE COHEREN THOUGHT ALL DAY.
DO YOU MIND?
NO.
I KNOW YOU.
THIS MORNING...
AND THE MORNING
BEFORE THA AND THE MORNING
BEFORE THAT...
ON THE BRIDGE.
I WRITE AT NIGHT,
AND AT SUNRISE, I TAKE
A WALK ALONG THE RIVER
BEFORE I GO TO SLEEP.
I KNOW.
WHAT ELSE DO YOU KNOW
ABOUT ME?
ELENA MARTIN, AMERICAN,
CAME TO PARIS
FOUR MONTHS AGO
TO BE A WRITER,
WORKS HARD,
KEEPS TO HERSELF,
COULD BE SHY,
COULD BE A RECLUSE.
WELL, YOU HAVE ME
AT A DISADVANTAGE.
FOR NOW.
BEAUTIFUL, ISN'T HE?
AND DANGEROUS.
THE TRUTH IS,
I ONLY CONSENTED TO THIS
LITTLE GOING-AWAY PARTY
BECAUSE I HOPED MARCEL
WOULD PERSUADE YOU
TO COME.
NOW HERE YOU ARE.
TIME STOOD STILL.
WE COULD HAVE BEEN ON
THE DANCE FLOOR FOR 10 MINUTES
OR TWO HOURS.
I DON'T KNOW.
TELL ME ABOUT YOUR BOOK.
I HATE IT.
I KNOW WHAT YOU MEAN.
DO YOU?
HE TALKED ABOUT HIS WORK
AND HIS UPCOMING TOUR,
HOW HE WAS LEAVING FOR NEW YORK AT THE END OF THE WEEK,
HOW HE DIDN'T WANT TO GO,
AND RIGHT IN THE MIDDLE
OF IT ALL,
HE BEGAN
TELLING ME STORIES.
HE SPOKE THE WAY HE WRITES-- CLEAR AND PRECISE...
SHOCKING AT FIRST,
THEN BEGUILING.
I WAS AT A DANCE
LIKE THIS ONCE IN SAINT-TROPEZ.
I COULD SEE IT ALL.
EVERYONE WAS
DRINKING THEMSELVES BLIND--
TOWNSPEOPLE,
SOCIETY PEOPLE,
MIXED WITH FISHERMEN,
ARTISTS,
WHORES.
BONSOIR,
MESDAMES ET MESSIEURS.
THE BAND WAS HOT,
JUNGLE-HOT,
THEN THE BANDLEADER
ANNOUNCED THIS...
SPECIAL DANCE.
[BANDLEADER
SPEAKING FRENCH]
WHEN THE MUSIC BEGAN AGAIN,
IT WAS WILD, HYPNOTIC.
THEN THEY TURNED OU THE LIGHTS,
FIRST FOR FIVE MINUTES...
[SINGING IN FRENCH]
WHEN THE LIGHTS
CAME BACK ON,
SOME PEOPLE LEFT.
THE REST WAITED,
AS IF FOR A STORM.
THEY WAITED FOR THE LIGHTS
TO GO OUT AGAIN.
THEN THE LIGHTS WENT OU FOR 10 MINUTES.
PRETTY SOON,
YOU COULDN'T TELL THE DIFFERENCE
BETWEEN THE WHORES
AND THE TOWN GIRLS.
THEY WERE ALL
IN THE SAME STATE--HOT,
GIDDY AT THE PROSPEC OF BEING CAUGHT BY THE LIGHT.
SOME WERE BARE-BREASTED,
THEIR DRESSES TORN.
AND FINALLY, FOR 15 MINUTES,
WHEN THE LIGHTS CAME BACK ON,
ALL YOU COULD HEAR
WAS A WOMAN'S MOAN,
RISING IN ECSTASY,
LOST TO THE WORLD,
PERCHED
ON THE EDGE OF A CLIFF.
SHE REFUSED TO RELEN UNTIL SHE ACHIEVED FINAL
AND COMPLETE RELEASE.
FLESH.
SHE WAS HUNGER AND FLESH.
WORKERS OF THE WORLD,
UNITE!
WORKERS, UNITE!
[SHOUTING]
[CHANTING]
CHAOS,
MADNESS.
THE SCENT OF WAR
HAS CREATED HYSTERIA.
EVERY PARTY TURNS INTO
A POLITICAL RALLY,
AND EVERY RALLY
TURNS INTO A PARTY.
[DOGS BARKING]
COMMUNISTS AND FASCISTS,
RED BANNERS
AND GRAY SHIRTS.
THIS IS THE WRONG TIME
TO BE IN EUROPE.
IT DOESN'T MATTER.
I JUST THANK GOD I'M HERE.
[DOG WHIMPERS]
LAWRENCE!
LAWRENCE.
HARRY.
LAWRENCE.
WHAT A DELIGHTFUL SURPRISE.
MILLICENT, THIS IS
LAWRENCE WALTERS...
YOUR BOOK
IS WONDERFUL.
[HARRY]
AND...
ELENA MARTIN.
CHARMED.
I PUBLISHED
HIS FIRST MANUSCRIP FOUR YEARS AGO.
CAUSED ONE HELL
OF A STIR.
CHURCHGOERS,
CONCERNED
HOUSEWIVES.
I REMEMBER I VERY WELL.
NOW HE'S SO FAMOUS,
EVERY PUBLISHER WANTS HIM.
I LOVE YOUR WORK.
COME ON, ELENA.
GOOD LUCK
WITH YOUR TOUR.
TALK TO YOU, HARRY.
I'LL BE AT THE PLAZA.
[ACCORDION PLAYING]
[RADIO]
THIS IS LIBERTY,
BROADCASTING SYSTEM.
[MUSIC PLAYING]
USED TO BE
THE STAIRWELL.
WHEN THE STAIRS
FELL APART,
THEY CLOSED IT OFF
AND TURNED I INTO A FLAT.
PERFECT.
DO YOU MIND?
BE MY GUEST.
AHH. I LOVE WHISKEY.
WHISKEY...AND WOMEN ON BRIDGES
IN THE EARLY-MORNING FOG.
TOO MUCH WHISKEY.
[SCREWS CAP ON FLASK]
BEFORE TONIGHT,
I ENTERED EACH ROOM
LOOKING FOR A MIRACLE,
WHICH NEVER TOOK PLACE.
NOW HERE HE IS,
ASLEEP IN MY BED.
BEFORE TONIGHT,
I WAS GROWING SAD
WITH RESTLESSNESS AND HUNGER.
I FELT THAT NOTHING
WOULD EVER HAPPEN TO ME.
I FELT DESPERATE WITH DESIRE TO PLUNGE INTO LIVING.
MERCI, MONSIEUR.
TRES BIEN.
I PASSED OUT.
LOOK AROUND YOU.
TELL ME WHAT YOU SEE.
WHAT DO YOU MEAN?
TELL ME A STORY,
LIKE YOU'RE WRITING IT.
DESCRIBE IT TO ME.
I SEE...
I SEE...
I SEE A WEALTHY MAN...
WHO'S RETURNING HOME
FROM A VISIT TO HIS MISTRESS.
HE'S SAD...
BECAUSE HIS ARTHRITIS HAS BEEN
ACTING UP AGAIN
AND HE KNOWS THAT SHE'S
GROWN BORED WITH HIM,
TAKEN ON A YOUNGER LOVER.
THERE THEY ARE,
KISSING...
JUST LIKE
THEIR GRANDPARENTS KISSED
AND THEIR PARENTS KISSED...
AND THE WAY...
WE KISSED LAST NIGHT.
[GIGGLING]
YOUR TURN.
I SEE AN ADVENTURER...
A DREAMER...
A VERY GOOD WRITER.
HOW WOULD YOU KNOW?
I PEEKED AT ONE OF YOUR STORIES
ON MARCEL'S DESK
WHEN I WAS AT HIS OFFICE
THE OTHER DAY.
I SWIPED ANOTHER
WHEN I LEFT THIS MORNING.
YOU WHAT?
"SOMETHING...
IN HER HAD CREATED
A PERPETUAL DEFIANCE
"OF THE VERY POSSIBILITIES
OF EXPERIENCE,
"AN URGE FOR FLIGHT.
"SHE HAD STOOD MANY TIMES
ON THE EDGE
AND HAD TO RUN AWAY."
YOUR WORK MAKES ME JEALOUS.
OF WHAT?
YOUR SPIRIT.
YOUR POTENTIAL.
[WOMAN SINGING
C'EST COMME AU PRINTEMPS]
WOULD YOU LIKE SOME TEA?
TELL ME WHAT YOU FEEL.
YOUR BODY...
PRESSED AGAINST MINE.
DOES THAT EXCITE YOU?
OH, YES.
DO YOU WANT ME
TO MAKE LOVE TO YOU?
YES.
AH...
AH, JEAN LUC.
ELENA, JEAN LUC.
HOW DO YOU DO?
PLEASE, PLEASE.
[ORGAN PLAYING]
SOMETIMES
I COME HERE TO SLEEP,
SOMETIMES TO WRITE.
IF THERE'S A GOD,
I THINK THIS IS THE CLOSES I'LL EVER GET TO HIM.
I CAN'T BELIEVE
YOU'RE LEAVING.
IT BREAKS MY HEART.
COME WITH ME.
I CAN'T.
I NEED TO WORK.
DEATH TO FASCISM!
DEATH!
[SHOUTING CONTINUES]
DEATH TO FASCISM!
WORKERS OF THE WORLD UNITE!
[SHOUTING]
[WOMAN SINGING CHAQUE JOUR]
SO, SO...
THE CRUSADER--
HE PUTS A CHASTITY
BELT ON HIS WIFE
AND GIVES THE KEY
TO HIS BEST FRIEND.
YEAH?
AND HE'S BARELY
RIDING A MILE
WHEN HIS AMIGO
COMES GALLOPING UP
SHOUTING WILDLY--
STOP! STOP!
YOU GAVE ME
THE WRONG KEY.
HA HA HA.
WHY DO YOU ALWAYS RUIN
THE HIT LINE FOR ME?
PUNCH LINE!
PUNCH LINE,
DARLING.
SO HOW'S WORK?
GOOD.
BAD.
I DON'T KNOW.
MEANWHILE I SPEN MY LAST CENT ON AN ANGEL.
MIGUEL HAS
A PROPOSITION FOR YOU.
MY LIFE DRAWING CLASS
NEEDS A NEW MODEL.
EVERYONE'S
MODELING NUDE.
IT'S THE RAGE.
NO, I DON'T THINK SO.
I'VE DONE I A TRILLION TIMES.
IT'S LIBERATING.
A BODY IS
A BODY IS A BODY.
IF IT DOESN'T WORK,
YOU CAN ALWAYS
TAKE UP PROSTITUTION.
OH, DONALD.
IT'S WHAT YOU ALL WANT,
ISN'T IT?
YOU MUST BE JOKING.
NO.
YOU DO NOTHING
BUT HAVE SEX ALL DAY.
SOMEONE ELSE
PAYS FOR EVERYTHING.
A VILLA IN THE COUNTRY.
I MEAN, LIFE IS GRAND.
IT'S MADE,
AND SOMEONE ELSE
IS PAYING FOR IT.
YOU ARE A VICIOUS,
VICIOUS, VICIOUS
LITTLE MAN.
ELENA. ELENA?
YOU SHOULD WORK
FOR HIM.
YOU HAVE
A BEAUTIFUL BODY.
[BAND PLAYING]
[SINGING]
I SEE A WOMAN
SURROUNDED BY MEN
ON A COLD PARIS STREET.
I SEE A SOLDIER
WHO'S FRIGHTENED
OF LEAVING
THE ONLY WORLD
HE'S EVER KNOWN.
I SEE A BOY
DRESSED AS A SOLDIER
WHOSE MOTHER,
WHEN SHE
DROPPED HIM OFF
AT THE TRAIN STATION
YESTERDAY MORNING,
REMEMBERED SENDING
HIM OFF TO HIS VERY
FIRST DAY OF SCHOOL.
I SEE
A RED-HEADED WOMAN
WHO KNOWS
THE BOY'S THINKING,
"WHAT IF I DIE
WITHOUT EVER
HAVING MADE LOVE
TO A WOMAN?"
SO BEAUTIFUL.
I'VE NEVER LET ANYONE
LOOK AT ME BEFORE.
NO, NOT THERE YET.
SOFTLY.
[PANTING]
I CAN TASTE MYSELF.
I LOVE I WHEN YOU KISS ME.
I WANT YOU INSIDE ME.
[MOANING]
[MOANING]
THE WORLD IS NOW SHUT OUT.
THERE'S ONLY THIS SOUND,
THIS FEEL,
THESE FLEETING MOMENTS
THAT ARE LEFT.
BY THIS TIME TOMORROW,
HE'LL BE GONE.
IT'S ONLY
A QUESTION OF TIME
BEFORE YOU ARE ALL MINE
FOR, MY DARLING,
CAN'T YOU SEE
YOU BELONG TO ME?
AND IT'S ONLY
A QUESTION OF...
AH, THAT'S SWEET.
'CAUSE THE LOVE
THAT LIVES IN YOUR HEART
THE MAN OF THE HOUR.
I LOVE THAT MAN.
FOR, MY LOVE,
IT'S OUR DESTINY
BEAUTIFUL.
DON'T YOU THINK?
SUBLIMELY,
TERRIFYINGLY,
GORGEOUSLY,
DANGEROUSLY SO.
JUST ENOUGH MADNESS
IN HIM TO KEEP HIM
INTERESTING.
...TO ME
[APPLAUSE]
YOU WERE GREAT.
THANKS.
THANK YOU.
SO...WHERE IS HE?
SAYING GOOD-BYE--
DON'T SAY IT.
PAY NO ATTENTION
TO HIM.
HE'S JUST JEALOUS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
[OPERATIC SINGING]
I WAS JUS SAYING GOOD-BYE
TO AN OLD FRIEND.
WHY HER?
I ASKED YOU A QUESTION.
BECAUSE I HAVE
A PASSION FOR
SELF-DESTRUCTION.
BECAUSE SHE MEANS
NOTHING TO ME.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I EXPECTED.
PLEASE, ELENA.
I WAN TO TALK TO YOU.
I'M SORRY ABOU WHAT HAPPENED
ON THE STREET.
I DON'T KNOW
WHAT I EXPECTED.
PLEASE.
I DON'T WAN TO LEAVE LIKE THIS.
[THUD]
[OPERATIC SINGING]
HE WAS GONE NOW--
OUT OF PARIS
AND OUT OF HER LIFE.
THE FALL WAS MUCH GREATER
THAN SHE HAD EVER KNOWN,
'CAUSE SHE'D VENTURED
SO FAR INTO EMOTION
AND HAD ABANDONED
HERSELF TO IT.
THE MOST TERRIFYING ASPEC OF HER FEELINGS
WAS THAT SHE WAS UNABLE
TO SHRINK BACK AS BEFORE
TO SHUT OUT THE WORLD.
SHE REALIZED THAT HE HAD NOT ONLY PENETRATED HER BODY...
BUT ALSO HER VERY BEING.
[LAUGHING]
PLEASE, MARCEL,
IF YOU CAN' SELL MY STORIES,
JUST GIVE ME
SOME WORK.
I DON'T CARE
WHAT IT IS--
TECHNICAL MANUALS,
TRANSLATIONS,
ANYTHING.
WE'RE IN A DEPRESSION.
NOBODY'S PUBLISHING.
NOBODY'S BUYING.
BUT YOU COULD TRY.
I HEARD FROM LAWRENCE.
THE TOUR IS GOING WELL.
HOW NICE.
HE'S WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
TAKE THIS.
NO.
MERCI.
BUT I COULD NEVER.
I'VE NEVER
BEEN SO NERVOUS.
GOOD.
I'VE ALWAYS BELIEVED
ONE SHOULD CONFRON THAT WHICH FRIGHTENS
THEM THE MOST.
[CHATTER IN FRENCH]
[OPERATIC SINGING]
OPEN YOUR EYES,
ELENA.
PUT YOUR HANDS
ON HIS HIPS.
PUT YOUR HEAD
AGAINST HIS BACK
AND LOOK OUT.
PIERRE, ELENA.
ELENA, PIERRE.
BE HAPPY.
[TELEPHONE RINGS]
[RING]
BONJOUR. OUI.
FOR YOU.
NO. NOT UNTIL YOU'VE
PAID YOUR RENT.
FOOLED YOU.
HELLO.
MARCEL.
YEAH.
WHEN?
CIAO.
YOU SOLD IT?
SOLD WHAT?
OH, THE STORY. NO.
BUT YOU SAID
YOU HAD GOOD NEWS.
PERHAPS.
IT DEPENDS ON YOUR REACTION
TO WHAT I HAVE TO PROPOSE.
I RECEIVED A CALL
FROM SOMEONE YESTERDAY,
A PERSON
WHO COLLECTS EROTICA.
I WOULDN'T NORMALLY
HAVE THOUGHT OF YOU
FOR THIS TYPE
OF ASSIGNMENT,
BUT IT PAYS WELL.
HOW WELL?
200 FRANCS A PAGE.
THAT'S A FORTUNE.
WHAT KIND OF A PERVER WOULD PAY THAT MUCH
FOR A DIRTY STORY?
IF THAT'S YOUR REACTION,
THEN THIS ISN' THE JOB FOR YOU.
WHO IS HE?
LET'S JUST CALL HIM
A SERIOUS COLLECTOR.
WHO IS HE, MARCEL?
I WANT TO KNOW.
HE WISHES
TO REMAIN ANONYMOUS.
WHERE DOES HE LIVE?
YOU ARE SUCH
A PAIN IN THE ASS.
[BELL JINGLING]
HE LIVES IN A VILLA
THAT HE INHERITED
FROM HIS FAMILY.
IT'S CRUMBLING
AND SURROUNDED
BY VINEYARDS.
THERE WAS A TIME
WHEN HE HAD
WILD PARTIES.
HE WAS
A LADIES' MAN.
AND?
AND...
SOMETHING HAPPENED.
SOMETHING HORRIBLE.
A NEIGHBORING FARMER
ONE DAY LOOKED
OUT HIS WINDOW
AND SAW HIS CYPRESS
TREE BURNING.
THE COLLECTOR'S CAR--
AN OLD BENTLEY--
HAD CRASHED INTO I AND EXPLODED
INTO FLAMES.
THE FARMER
PULLED HIM OUT,
BUT HE WAS
BADLY WOUNDED.
NOW HE'S CRIPPLED,
AND HIS FACE IS SCARRED.
HE STAYS INSIDE.
HE DOESN'T GO OUT.
HE READS, HE YEARNS,
AND HE DREAMS.
I'LL DO IT.
ELENA WENT TO A DANCE
AT A SEASIDE PAVILION
IN SAINT-TROPEZ.
ALL ANYONE COULD HEAR
WAS WOMEN'S MOAN
RISING IN ECSTASY
ABOVE THE SUDDEN SILENCE.
FLESH.
FLESH.
[MOANING]
IT WAS HUNGER AND FLESH.
"DEAR ANONYMOUS,
"I WAS INTRIGUED
"WHEN MARCEL SUGGESTED
YOU WRITE EROTICA FOR ME.
"WHAT MAN
WOULDN'T WANT ACCESS
"TO A WOMAN'S
INNERMOST THOUGHTS,
"TO BE PERMITTED ENTRY
TO THAT SECRET PLACE
"WHERE FANTASIES ARE BORN?
"IMAGINE THEN MY DISAPPOINTMENT WHEN I READ YOUR STORY,
"WHICH WAS TRITE
"AND REVEALED NOTHING PROFOUND ABOUT A WOMAN'S DESIRES.
"OBVIOUSLY YOU ARE
SO FRIGHTENED OF INTIMACY,
YOU NEGLECTED
TO SIGN YOUR NAME."
LOOK.
I WANT TO PROVE
THAT I CAN DO THIS,
EVEN IF IT'S
ONLY TO MYSELF.
HE PAID ME
FOR A STORY,
SO I'LL DELIVER
A STORY.
IF HE LIKES IT,
I'LL DO MORE,
AND IF NOT,
AT LEAST I'LL FEEL
BETTER ABOUT HAVING
TAKEN HIS MONEY.
O.K.?
I HAD FORGOTTEN
HOW YOUNG YOU ARE.
MONSIEUR.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
FORGET ABOUT BOOKS.
I AM WHAT YOU WANT.
[RUFF RUFF]
IT'S O.K.
IT'S O.K.
IT'S O.K.!
[MAN SPEAKING FRENCH]
WHAT DO YOU WANT?
I WANTED TO TALK.
I'M LISTENING.
I'M A WRITER.
YOU WANT TO KNOW
IF I FEEL ANYTHING...
IF I STILL
TAKE PLEASURE.
YES.
I REMEMBER YOU NOW.
THAT NIGH IN THE STREET.
HAVE YOU BEEN WONDERING
ALL THIS TIME?
WONDERING WHAT?
WHY LAWRENCE SPEN HIS LAST NIGHT WITH ME.
I'M SURE YOU
MADE HIM NERVOUS.
ARE YOU IN LOVE
WITH HIM?
I THOUGHT I WAS.
AND SO BIJOU,
FEELING A GROWING COMPASSION FOR ELENA,
TOOK HER WITH HER
TO SEE A CLAIRVOYANT...
A BIG MAN FROM WEST AFRICA.
EXCEPT FOR HIS
EVERYDAY GRAY SUIT...
THE MAN LOOKED LIKE A MAGICIAN.
HE GAVE BIJOU A HEAVY STARE...
THEN STEPPED AWAY
TO TAKE OFF HIS OVERCOAT.
YOU ARE IN LOVE
WITH A MAN THA MAKES YOU SUFFER.
YES.
HE HAS PECULIAR HABITS.
YES.
YOU ARE UNHAPPY
AND COMPENSATE
BY BEING UNFAITHFUL.
GO TO SLEEP.
HE NEVER TOUCHED HER,
BUT SHE COULD FEEL HIS HANDS INCHES AWAY--
WARM AND DRY,
HEAVY AND ELECTRIC.
[MOANING]
[GROANING]
[MOANING]
HE NEVER TOUCHED HER.
NAKED, HE TOWERED OVER HER,
MAGNIFICENT AND TALL,
LIKE SOME AFRICAN KING.
HE TOOK HER OVER COMPLETELY,
AND SHE SURRENDERED.
FLESH.
SHE WAS HUNGER AND FLESH.
"I WAS IMPRESSED
WITH YOUR STORY
"OF THE RED-HEADED WHORE
AND THE CLAIRVOYANT.
[MAN]
"SO MUCH SO,
THAT I AM ENCLOSING
PAYMENT IN ADVANCE
"FOR YOUR NEXT LITERARY EFFORT.
"I MUST, HOWEVER,
CAUTION YOU ON ONE POINT.
"LEAVE OUT THE POETRY.
CONCENTRATE ON SEX...
ONLY SEX."
[WOMAN]
DOES ANYONE EXPERIENCE PLEASURE
FROM READING
CLINICAL DESCRIPTION?
DON'T YOU KNOW THAT WORDS
CARRY COLORS AND SOUNDS
INTO THE FLESH?
[MAN]
THE LANGUAGE OF SEX
HAS YET TO BE INVENTED.
THE LANGUAGE OF THE SENSES
HAS YET TO BE EXPLORED.
CONCENTRATE,
DON'T DRIFT.
DARE TO TAKE IT FURTHER.
[WOMAN] I HAVE GIVEN YOU A VOICE, A RICH VOICE,
AN EXTRAORDINARY VOICE.
I HAVE GIVEN YOU A BACKGROUND.
I HAVE SAT FOR HOURS
AND WONDERED HOW YOU LOOK.
IF YOU HAVE CLOSED YOUR SENSES UPON SILK,
LIGHT, COLOR, CHARACTER,
YOU MUST BE BY NOW
COMPLETELY SHRIVELED UP.
[MAN]
WHO I AM IS OF NO CONCERN.
CONCENTRATE ON THE PEOPLE
WHO LIVE IN YOUR MIND.
I WANT GRAPHIC DESCRIPTION,
HARD-EDGED,
UNADORNED.
NO LESS.
NO MORE.
I THINK
IT WOULD BE BES IF WE DIDN'T POSE
TOGETHER ANYMORE.
DID I DO
SOMETHING WRONG?
NO, NO.
IT'S JUST THA YOU EXCITE ME,
AND IT SHOWS.
IT'S EMBARRASSING
TO ME.
[WOMAN]
PIERRE WAS A DANGEROUS MAN--
SELFISH AND ALL-CONSUMING.
HE LIKED TO MEET ELENA
IN DARK PLACES
SO THAT BEFORE THEY COULD
SEE EACH OTHER'S FACE,
THEIR HANDS BECAME AWARE OF EACH OTHER'S PRESENCE,
LINGERING
IN THE WARMEST CURVES,
KNOWING BY TOUCH THE PLACES WHERE THE SKIN WAS SOFTEST.
HIS PASSION WAS SO INTIMATE,
ELENA SOMETIMES WONDERED
IF HE WAS REAL
OR A FIGMEN OF HER IMAGINATION.
[MAN]
YOUR IMAGINATION IS REAL TO ME.
DON'T BE FRIGHTENED.
[WOMAN]
HIS DESIRE WAS IMPERATIVE
AND UNEXPECTED.
HE COULD NOT WAIT.
WITH HIM, SHE LEARNED HASTY DEPARTURES FROM RESTAURANTS,
WILD DRIVES
IN CURTAINED TAXICABS.
HER BREASTS UNDULATED
LIKE WAVES UNDER HIS HANDS,
PAINFULLY AWAKE,
SENSITIVE, AWARE.
AND HER BODY BEGAN TO TREMBLE,
AND SO DID HIS.
AND HIS SEMEN
CAME INSIDE OF HER
AND MIXED WITH HERS
LIKE LITTLE WAVES
BREAKING OVER SAND,
ONE ROLLING IN AFTER THE OTHER.
MOANING, BREATHING HEAVILY,
SHE AWAKES HAVING EXPERIENCED A LITTLE DEATH,
A DAZZLING LITTLE DEATH
THAT NO DRUG
OR ALCOHOL COULD GIVE.
[MAN]
FIRST THERE WAS THE WORD,
AND THE WORD WAS MADE FLESH.
I FEEL A GROWING IMMEDIACY IN YOUR WORK.
TAKE ME INSIDE.
LET ME BECOME PART OF YOU.
I LIVE IN PERPETUAL EXPECTANCY.
[WOMAN]
YOU HAVE BROKEN DOWN
THE VEILS OF FLESH
AND ALL THE CUSHIONS
THAT PROTECT THE NERVES.
THE EFFECT IS DELIRIUM,
BRIEF AND STOLEN.
I COME AWAY WITH PIECES OF YOU STICKING TO ME.
LATE AT NIGHT,
WHEN I CAN'T SLEEP
AND MY SKIN TINGLES
AT THE THOUGHT OF YOU,
I LIE IN BED
AND FEEL YOU PRESSING
YOUR WEIGHT AGAINST ME,
ENTERING ME.
SOMETIMES THE IMAGE
IS SO POWERFUL,
I WAKE WITH YOUR SCEN ALL OVER ME.
I SEE A WEALTHY WOMAN
WHO HAS A LUST FOR THE UNKNOWN.
SHE'S INTERESTED ONLY IN MEN THAT SHE'S NEVER SEEN BEFORE
AND WILL NEVER SEE AGAIN.
HER HUSBAND DEVOTES HIS LIFE TO SATISFYING HER CAPRICES.
HIS PLEASURE COMES
FROM WATCHING HER.
HER PLEASURE COMES FROM KNOWING SHE'S BEING WATCHED.
THERE YOU ARE.
WE WERE ABOUT TO REPORT YOU
AS A MISSING PERSON.
I'VE BEEN WORKING.
I CAN'T SEEM TO STOP.
IT'S JUS POURING OUT OF ME.
I'M WRITING THE WAY
I'VE ALWAYS WANTED TO.
IT'S SO ADDICTIVE,
I CAN'T GET ENOUGH OF IT.
BREATH OF NIGH COMES WITH NO WARNING
DEVOURING THE TWILIGHT AIR
PROWLING, THE SHADOWS
ARE CALLING
TO THE GIRL...
[MAN]
ELENA, YOU, TOO,
HAVE INVADED MY SLEEP.
I SEE MYSELF AS THE MEN
IN YOUR STORIES.
I LOOK FOR YOU IN ALL THE FACES OF THE WOMEN I PASS.
I FEEL YOUR EXCITEMENT.
DARE TO TAKE IT FURTHER.
[WOMAN]
YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THE WORLD.
FOR THE FIRST TIME,
I CAN HEAR MY OWN VOICE.
I'M CONSUMED WITH EMOTION, FEAR, AND EXCITEMENT,
WHITE HEAT AND HUNGER.
HA HA HA!
THE FASCIST WORE
A HEAVY WORN BEL THAT CAME UNDONE
WITH A SNAP.
USING IT AS AN INSTRUMENT OF SUBMISSION,
HE WRAPPED I AROUND ELENA'S WRIS AND DREW HER TO HIM.
HE DARED HER TO RUN.
ELENA STOOD HER GROUND.
[SLAP]
[MOANING]
A GREAT SADNESS
WASHED OVER ELENA
AS IF ALL THE DESPAIR
SHE EVER FEL WAS ROLLING ITSELF
INTO THE CORE OF HER BEING,
GATHERING FORCE,
WAITING TO EXPLODE.
[MAN]
I WAS BOTH ALARMED
AND DELIGHTED
TO DISCOVER THE DARKNESS THAT LURKS INSIDE YOUR IMAGINATION.
ANOTHER SURPRISE FOR ME,
ANOTHER LAYER REVEALED.
WHAT'S HAPPENED?
HITLER HAS INVADED
BELGIUM AND HOLLAND.
THEY ARE MASSING
AT OUR BORDERS.
[SPEAKING FRENCH]
THE WORLD AROUND HER
WAS TURNING DARK,
BUT ELENA COULD NOT SEE IT.
INSTEAD, SHE ALLOWED HERSELF
TO BE LED STILL DEEPER
INTO THE UNKNOWN...
TO A SECRET PLACE
WHERE OPIUM SMOKERS
WENT TO SEEK RELEASE...
TO INDULGE IN THEIR DESIRE FOR DREAMS.
LEILA SINGS
IN A DIFFERENT WAY.
SHE TEARS
YOUR SERENITY
TO SHREDS.
SHE SPREADS
ANXIETY AND REGRET...
NOSTALGIA EVERYWHERE.
SHH.
THEY KISSED UNTIL THE KISSING BECAME A TORTURE
AND THE BODY GREW RESTLESS.
TIME STRETCHED,
ELONGATED.
SHE COULD ONLY
SEE THINGS IN PARTS.
NOTHING WAS WHOLE.
AS ELENA FELT HERSELF
DRIFTING OFF TO SLEEP,
THE LAST THING
SHE CAN REMEMBER THINKING
WAS THAT LOCKED
INSIDE ALL WOMEN
WAS THE SAME SECRET PLACE
WHERE FANTASIES ARE BORN.
SHE UNDERSTOOD THEN
THAT HER QUEST TO FIND
HER OWN SECRET PLACE,
HER DELTA OF VENUS,
WAS THE QUEST FOR PERMANENCE,
THE DESIRE TO BE FOREVER LINKED TO THAT HIDDEN PART OF HERSELF.
HERE.
IT'S GOOD.
BELIEVE ME,
HE'LL BE PLEASED.
HE'S WORRIED ABOUT YOU.
HE WANTS YOU
TO LEAVE PARIS.
NO.
WHAT IF HE STOPS
PAYING FOR THE STORIES?
I'LL WRITE THEM
ANYWAY.
WHAT IF I REFUSE TO BE
THE GO-BETWEEN?
WHO IS HE,
MARCEL?
IS IT YOU?
NO, IT ISN'T ME.
MARCEL REFUSES
TO REVEAL YOUR IDENTITY--
YOU, WHO KNOWS MY SECRETS, MY DARKNESS.
IT HURTS TOO MUCH TO KNOW
THAT WE CAN NEVER MEET,
NEVER TOUCH.
[MAN]
I WANT YOU TO
LEAVE PARIS, ELENA.
HITLER IS ADVANCING.
THE FALL OF FRANCE
IS INEVITABLE.
[WOMAN]
IF I LEAVE, THE LINK
BETWEEN US WILL BE BROKEN.
[GERMAN SPOKEN
ON RADIO]
YOU'LL BE LOST TO ME
FOREVER.
[MAN]
THEN YOU WILL LEAVE ME
NO OTHER CHOICE
BUT TO STOP
BUYING YOUR WORK.
[RADIO]
LAST NIGHT, GERMAN BOMBERS
TARGETED LILLE AIRPORT,
CAUSING AIR-RAID SIRENS
TO BE SOUNDED IN PARIS.
FRENCH AIR FORCE PURSUIT PLANES WERE SUCCESSFUL
IN BRINGING DOWN
ONE OF THE BOMBERS.
BOTH FRENCH AND R.A.F. PLANES
ARE ALREADY FULLY ENGAGED
IN AIR BATTLES
WITH ENEMY AIRCRAFT...
I JUST KEEP THINKING
WHAT'S GOING ON
IS JUST A BAD DREAM.
DON'T BE FOOLED.
GET OUT WHILE YOU CAN.
WHAT ARE YOU
GOING TO DO?
WE'VE MADE ARRANGEMENTS
TO GO TO MEXICO.
I HAVE FAMILY THERE.
MAYBE WE CAN
JOIN YOU.
I CAN SEE IT NOW.
AN ENTIRE COUNTRY
FILLED WITH NOTHING
BUT EXQUISITE DEVIANTS
FROM AROUND THE WORLD.
TO THE ONLY FAMILY
I'VE EVER KNOWN.
AMEN.
LAWRENCE.
ELENA.
DONALD.
STRANGER.
MIGUEL. GUAPO.
LEILA.
ARIEL.
I MISSED YOU ALL
VERY MUCH.
IT'S ONLY
A QUESTION OF WHEN
WE'LL BE TOGETHER AGAIN
FOR, MY LOVE,
IT'S OUR DESTINY
FOR YOU TO BELONG
TO
ME
I'M WORRIED
ABOUT YOU.
ME? OR THAT GIRL
WHO USED TO WATCH YOU ROW
EACH MORNING ON THE SEINE?
ARE THEY
THAT MUCH DIFFERENT?
YOU HAVE NO IDEA.
[RADIO]
WITH THE RAPID ADVANCE
OF THE THIRD REICH
TOWARDS THE FRENCH BORDERS
AND THE INCREASING THREAT OF BOMBING RAIDS ON THE CAPITAL,
WE ARE RECEIVING REPORTS
OF CONSIDERABLE PANIC
IN THE STREETS OF PARIS
AND THE BEGINNINGS
OF A MASS EXODUS FROM THE CITY.
RESTAURANTS AND MARKETS
ARE CLOSING.
FOOD IS BECOMING SCARCE.
FRENCH NAZI SYMPATHIZERS
ARE BECOMING
INCREASINGLY MILITANT.
VIOLENCE IS INCREASING RAPIDLY.
THE POLICE APPEAR TO BE UNABLE TO CONTROL THE SITUATION.
IT HAS BEEN REPORTED
BY REUTERS
THAT FRENCH AERODROMES
AND MILITARY BASES
HAVE BEEN THE TARGETS
OF ESCALATING AIR ATTACKS
BY THE GERMANLUFTWAFFE.
THE FRENCH GOVERNMEN HAS ORDERED
ALL FRENCH OFFICERS ON LEAVE
TO RETURN TO THEIR POSTS
IMMEDIATELY,
AND A GENERAL MOBILIZATION
OF ALL FRENCH ARMY RESERVES AND ENLISTED MEN
HAS BEEN PUT INTO EFFECT.
LAWRENCE ASKED ME
TO TALK TO YOU
ON HIS BEHALF
BEFORE I LEFT.
HE THINKS
HE CAN JUST WALK BACK
INTO MY LIFE?
NOT A LETTER,
NOT A POST CARD
THE WHOLE TIME
HE WAS GONE, MARCEL.
WHAT DOES HE EXPECT?
HE CARES ABOUT YOU.
THAT'S WHY HE CAME BACK.
DO YOU REALLY
BELIEVE THAT?
I BELIEVE WE SHOULD
ALWAYS TRY AND RETAIN
AT LEAST A LITTLE HOPE.
[ENGINE STARTS]
TAKE CARE OF YOURSELF,
MARCEL.
[FOOTSTEPS]
I HOPE
YOU DON'T MIND
MY ASKING MARCEL
TO TALK TO YOU
ON MY BEHALF.
IT BROKE MY HEAR TO SEE HIM GO.
BEFORE HE LEFT,
HE STOPPED
BY MY HOTEL
AND DELIVERED
YOUR LAST STORY
TO ME.
"THEY KISSED
UNTIL KISSING
BECAME A TORTURE."
"AND THE BODY
GREW RESTLESS.
"TIME STRETCHED,
ELONGATED.
SHE COULD ONLY SEE
THINGS IN PARTS."
"NOTHING WAS WHOLE."
YOU'VE TURNED INTO
AN AMAZING WRITER,
ELENA.
HOW COULD I HAVE BEEN
SO STUPID?
ELENA,
I CAN EXPLAIN.
LISTEN TO ME.
ELENA!
PLEASE.
ELENA.
PLEASE
LET ME EXPLAIN.
IT WASN' UNTIL I LEF THAT I KNEW
HOW MUCH
YOU MEANT TO ME.
BUT WHEN MARCEL
SAID YOU WERE
DESPERATE--
DESPERATE!
I'M NOT DESPERATE!
I'VE NEVER BEEN DESPERATE!
MONEY...
I KNEW YOU'D NEVER
ACCEPT A LOAN,
SO I HAD TO COME UP
WITH SOMETHING
TO HELP.
BULLSHIT!
BULLSHIT? BULLSHIT!
YOU WANT TO TALK
ABOUT BULLSHIT?
LET'S TALK ABOU THE FIRST TERRIBLE
PIECE YOU WROTE.
THAT WAS YOUR STORY!
SAINT-TROPEZ, THE ORGASM
THAT WOULDN'T END.
THAT DOESN'T MATTER.
EVERY STORY
YOU WROTE AFTER THA WAS WONDERFUL.
WHO THE HELL ARE YOU
TO JUDGE ME?
LOOK AT MY EYES.
YOU TURNED ME
INTO A CRAZY MAN.
I CAN'T DENY I ANYMORE.
I'M NOT ONLY IN LOVE
WITH YOUR WORK,
I LOVE YOU.
I LOVE YOU.
LET GO OF ME.
[DRUNKEN SINGING]
[SCREAMING]
FOR YOU,
MY AMERICAN
BEAUTY...
TO WEAR
NEXT TIME
WE'RE TOGETHER.
YOU DON'T LIKE
MY PRESENT?
I DON'T THINK SHE DOES.
HEY...
I DON'T THINK
I LIKE YOU.
THAT'S YOUR PREROGATIVE,
MY FRIEND.
FRIEND?
DID YOU SAY "FRIEND"?
DID YOU SAY "FRIEND"?
YES.
DID YOU?
I'M NOT YOUR FRIEND!
[YELLING ORDERS]
BASTARDS.
[YELLING IN FRENCH]
YOUR STORIES
WERE ALL REAL,
WEREN'T THEY?
IT WAS ALL REAL,
WASN'T IT?
EVERYTHING
I WRITE IS REAL.
I'M THE WOMAN
IN ALL MY STORIES.
WHY HIM?
WHY THE FASCIST?
BECAUSE I LOVED
THE SMELL OF HIS SWEAT.
BECAUSE LIKE MY MENTOR,
THE COLLECTOR,
I WANTED TO KNOW
WHAT IT WAS LIKE
TO FEEL PASSION
WITHOUT LOVE...
TO TAKE WHAT IWANTED.
IS THA WHAT YOU WANT?
[BREATHING HEAVILY]
IS IT?
[CLOTH RIPPING]
[OPERATIC SINGING]
[MOANING]
YOU REALLY DO LOVE ME,
DON'T YOU?
HE WAS CONDEMNED
TO LOSE HER.
THEY WOULD NO STAY TOGETHER...
BUT HE WAS
IN HER BEING FOR GOOD.
ELENA HAD ONCE WRITTEN TO HIM, "YOU HAVE GIVEN ME THE WORLD."
IT'S TRUE. HE DID.
HE OPENED UP
HER EYES AND EARS,
HER MIND AND HEART.
FROM NOW ON, NOTHING COULD
KEEP HER FROM CREATING.
FROM NOW ON,
GOOD OR BAD,
SHE KNEW SHE WAS CAPABLE
OF MANY LOVES.
THERE IT IS.
IT'S A HEART BEATING.
IF I MOVE,
THIS PERSON KNOWS IT.
IF I DROP AWAY,
THIS PERSON FEELS IT.
I EXIST IN HIM.
THAT IS LIFE.
THERE'S SOMETHING
HAPPENING THERE.
I AM THE WORDS
YOU DARE NOT SPEAK
I AM THE NEED
THAT KEEPS YOU WEAK
THE SALVATION THAT YOU SEEK
I AM
I AM THE WOUND
THAT WILL NOT HEAL
I AM THOSE SCARS
YOU CAN'T REVEAL
A HOLY SHRINE
AT WHICH YOU KNEEL
I AM
AND AFTER
EACH DISASTER STRIKES
THE TRAGIC
YET POLITE GOOD-BYES
I'M LEF WITH ALL THE BITTER TEARS
THAT CRUCIFY
IN EVERY HOPEFUL
LOVER'S BREATH
ASCENDING
FROM EACH LITTLE DEATH
I RISE TO FIND
THAT I AM LEFT ALONE
LEAVE ME YOUR DARKNESS,
I'LL MAKE IT LIGHT
AND ALL YOUR WRONGS,
I'LL SET THEM RIGHT
I AM THE CANDLE
IN THE NIGHT
I AM