A Woman's Face Page #3

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And she wants evening gowns

and furs and perfume.

I don't like it.

- I don't either.

CHRISTINA:
Shh!

- It's too dangerous.

- Right. Right as rain.

Now listen, Anna.

Love is a beautiful thing...

You'll do as I say or I'll do it alone.

Come on, get out of here.

Now, here's what I want you to do.

And no milk of human kindness.

- Now look here, Anna...

- Be quiet.

You see, sir, we were all of us in danger of

becoming victims of this woman's passion.

JUDGE:
I see. And so you refused

to obey her any longer?

Well, not exactly. I mean, I wanted to.

But I did go back to the unfortunate

Mrs. Dr. Segert...

...and make a rendezvous for someone

at her house at 8 that night.

ASSOCIATE:
With whom?

- I don't know.

This woman never took us

into her confidence on all details.

I was just more or less

what might be called an innocent tool.

JUDGE:

Hmm. You may go. Call Vera Segert.

Just a minute.

Here are one or two details...

...which this innocent tool omitted.

It seems he served two years in jail

in Norway for impersonating a clergyman...

...and three years in jail in France for

operating a false massage establishment.

That testimony establishes

the criminality...

...of the associates of the prisoner.

ASSOCIATE:
Wait, please. Did you ever see

this woman before today?

This lady, this charming victim

of circumstance...

...is none other than she who came to me

about her letters on that afternoon.

Best of luck, my dear.

JUDGE:

Now, Mrs. Dr. Segert...

...could you tell us what happened

after your visit to the preceding witness?

That night l...

That night I was at home alone.

As usual.

JUDGE:

Your husband left you alone every night?

Well, no.

But every other Friday he lectured

at the university.

JUDGE:
This was Friday?

VERA:
Yes.

And promptly at 8:00 the doorbell rang.

[DOORBELL RINGS]

VERA:
Yes?

- I have an appointment with you.

- Is this your servant's night out?

- Yes.

We can talk in there.

You may, uh...

You may sit down if you wish.

You are pretty.

- Please?

- A friend of mine...

...who's a great judge of beauty

described you.

Really? Who was he?

Where did you get that dress?

I got it in Paris.

I believe that you have something to...

- To sell me.

- Yes.

Yes, I have something to sell you.

I hope I can afford it.

I'm sure you can.

The price is 10,000 kroner.

You can't. That's... That's...

I haven't it.

This afternoon he said 5.

This afternoon he was mistaken.

You have jewelry worth much more.

You wouldn't take my jewelry.

It's from my husband whom I love

more than anything in the world.

That isn't the way

you described him to Eric.

Give me those.

I wouldn't, if I were you.

Such silly letters. Such childish writing.

Such cheapness.

You call these love letters?

Have you ever read any real love letters?

George Sand? De Musset?

Keats? Browning?

Do you know anything about love

in that miserable soul of yours...

...that dribbles itself into these letters?

Can you imagine...

...Ioving a man so greatly...

...so completely...

...that you surrender everything

you have just to be near him?

Just to have him near you.

That's love as I know it.

So that's love as you know it.

[LAUGHING]

[WHIMPERING]

Now, get me the rest of your jewels.

And if you try any more tricks, there's

still one more letter in my friend's safe.

Hurry up.

[LOCK CLICKS]

Vera, darling. I'm back.

Vera.

Where are you, darling?

Vera.

[CRASH]

SEGERT:
Well, what have we here?

VERA:
Gustaf.

SEGERT:
Don't move.

VERA:
Gustaf. Gustaf.

Well.

- Gustaf, what happened?

- We have a visitor.

- This is yours, isn't it?

- Why, yes.

You found them in the street, I suppose.

Came through the window to return them.

Those are mine.

I presume you want this back too.

Stand up.

I can't.

Oh, you can't, eh?

Well, perhaps the police can help.

Call them.

[WINCES AND GRUNTS]

- What is it?

- My ankle.

Oh.

- Why don't you call the police?

ANNA:
Yes.

Yes, why don't you?

Darling, would you laugh at me?

She seems so miserable

and we are so happy, you and I.

[CHUCKLES]

Couldn't we let this poor woman go?

SEGERT:
Really, dear,

you do get sentimental at times.

Maybe it's because next week

is our anniversary.

Well, splendid.

Shall I give her this too?

[CHUCKLES]

Let's fix up the ankle first.

Oh, must we?

Oh. I'll get the bandages, darling.

Well, if I do let you go...

...you can thank her.

Bless her dear, sweet, unselfish heart.

Well, let's put you

in some more comfortable place.

Those things can be pretty painful.

- Want a cigarette?

ANNA:
Please.

Here we are.

Steady, now.

Well, oh, what's this?

Mind your business.

When did this happen?

- I said, mind your business.

- My dear young woman, this is my business.

It would be a shame

to send a scar like that to jail.

It wouldn't matter.

I've served 22 years already.

Oh, where?

Wherever I am.

Twenty-two years. You must've been

a child, then, when it happened.

A rather beautiful child I should imagine.

And isn't it a pity?

Now that little girl is just a thief.

It is a pity.

- Don't. You're breaking my heart.

- No, no.

Oh, no, you're not as tough

as you seem to be.

Oh, no.

No, of course not, Dr. Segert.

Shall we talk about love and birds?

Or perhaps your anniversary.

Have you read any good

love letters lately, doctor?

You know, dear, some kind deity

must have sent this woman to me.

What are you talking about, Gustaf?

Love. Get my book for me, will you?

Yes, that one.

This lady's interested in love.

As who isn't?

Now here's a man you ought to meet.

Splendid chap.

Does he appeal to you?

Very funny.

Well, turn the page.

I did that in the hospital here last March.

That girl is my particular pride and joy.

I didn't mean to be cruel. Forgive me.

- Gustaf, are you crazy?

- Probably.

Look, my dear,

would you mind letting my wife?

She's very sympathetic.

- I'm sure she is.

- You're very kind. Thank you.

You know, Vera, there's one man

in Europe who could fix that.

No.

No, Gustaf.

Not you.

Nothing like having your

wife's confidence.

You couldn't...

You couldn't fix this.

I bow to the superior judgment

of you experts.

- Don't joke!

- I don't.

It won't be any joke for you, either.

I warn you now, it'll mean pain, agony,

weeks, months and then perhaps failure.

Perhaps leaving you worse off.

Worse off?

Than what?

You know, I might.

I just might.

So that someone could look at me...

...and I could look back...

...and see in those eyes.

Gustaf.

Gustaf, listen to me, please.

Please, Gustaf.

You mustn't do it. You...

I begged him not to do it.

I told him no good would come of it.

No good for anyone.

Well, you may stand down.

Call the next witness.

I'm so sorry, sir.

It's just that the recollection of that woman

coming into our happy home...

Gustaf. Oh...

[CROWD MURMURING]

[SPEAKING INDISTINCTLY]

This will help.

Thank you, dear.

I'm ready to testify, sir.

We've decided to call you later.

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