Amour Page #10

She closes her mouth again and he puts down the cup.

55.

GEORGES (CONT’D)

Good.

Then she spits it all out like a fountain. After a moment of

bewilderment, he slaps her.

SILENCE. He’s frightened by his own gesture. Then he puts

down the cup and sits on the chair beside the bed. They don't

look at each other.

LONG PAUSE.

ANNE:

(softly)

Help... help...

PAUSE.

GEORGES:

(softly)

Please, forgive me.

PAUSE.

ANNE:

(softly) Help... Help... Help...

Help...

SCENE 51 - INT. APARTMENT - DAY

The various paintings hanging in the apartment. Without their

frames. Like views on various realities.

SILENCE. Sometimes, the REMOTE sound of TRAFFIC in the

distance.

SCENE 52 - INT. HALLWAY - LIVING ROOM - DINING ROOM - DAY

Living room.

Georges is drinking tea and reading the newspaper. SILENCE.

Suddenly, the DOORBELL RINGS.

Georges, annoyed, puts down his newspaper, gets up, goes into

the hallway and goes to the front door.

GEORGES:

Who’s there?

EVA’S VOICE

It’s me.

56.

GEORGES:

Eva?

EVA’S VOICE

(a bit irritated) Yes.

Georges, panicked, thinks for a few seconds.

GEORGES:

Just a minute.

He goes toward the bedroom door, locks it and puts the key in

his pocket. He goes into the dining room, also closes the

door leading to the bedroom. He comes back. He is about to go

toward the front door, but remains motionless an instant,

opens the door of the toilet that is located just nearby,

flushes the toilet, closes the toilet door again and opens

the front door.

GEORGES (CONT’D)

Hello.

A brief kiss hello.

EVA:

Hello. What was going on?

GEORGES:

I was in the toilet. Sorry.

He closes the front door behind Eva, indicates the direction

of the living room.

GEORGES (CONT’D)

Come in.

Eva points to the bedroom with a questioning look. He shakes

his head as if to play down the question, and indicates back

in the direction of the living room, as if to say: “You

understand, huh?“. Eva is slightly irritated, but follows him

into the living room.

He closes the door.

GEORGES (CONT’D)

Why this unannounced visit? Where

have you come from?

EVA:

What’s going on with Mom?

GEORGES:

Nothing. What should be going on?

57.

EVA:

Well... (gesture toward the

bedroom)

GEORGES:

Don't you want to sit down first?

Eva wants to answer, but finally gives in and sits down.

Georges does the same.

GEORGES (CONT’D)

So why are you in Paris?

EVA:

What’s going on with Mom? Why don't

you answer the phone? After our

last conversation, I left four

messages on your answering machine.

Why don't you call back?

GEORGES:

Sorry. I didn't listen to it.

Forgive me.

EVA:

Don’t you realize we’re worried?

GEORGES:

Your worries are no use to me.

Eva glares at him.

GEORGES (CONT’D)

No, don't get me wrong. I’m not

criticizing you. I just don't have

the time to deal with your worries,

that’s all.

EVA:

Dad...

GEORGES:

No. Let's stop this conversation

right there. I’m taking care of

your mother. It’s a full-time job.

And I’m not saying that to

complain, just to explain why I

didn't answer your phone calls and

why I don't want to have any

pointless discussions on the

subject. Your mother is just as

could have been expected: bad the

whole time.

(MORE)

58.

GEORGES (CONT'D)

She is turning more and more into a

helpless child, and it's sad and

humiliating, for her and for me.

And she doesn't want to be seen in

that state either. Even the last

time you visited, she didn't want

you to come. You two have your own

life. Nothing wrong with that. But

let us have our life too. Even

though it's a lousy one. OK?

EVA:

Dad, what’s the matter?

GEORGES:

Nothing's the matter; your visit

caught me by surprise. And I'm

annoyed that you show up here to

check that everything's OK. Who do

you think you are?

PAUSE. Eva is speechless.

EVA:

I...

Then she gets up and makes to go to the door.

GEORGES:

Stay here, will you!

She stops short, looks at him.

GEORGES (CONT’D)

(softly, but insistently)

Please!

She hesitates a moment, but winds up leaving the living room.

WE HEAR HER PASS IN THE HALLWAY TO GO INTO THE BEDROOM AND

HER VAIN ATTEMPT TO OPEN THE DOOR.

EVA (O.S.)

Mom? ... Mom??

Georges remains seated, motionless, until she comes back. She

seems upset by the situation, as one would expect.

EVA (CONT’D)

Tell me, what’s going on? Have you

gone crazy?

GEORGES:

Please, sit down.

59.

EVA:

I don't want to sit down. What’s

going on here?

GEORGES:

(quietly)

Nothing’s going on. I want to spare

us all a pointless drama. I presume

your mother is asleep. She mostly

sleeps the whole day. And then she

wakes up at night. If you really

want to, we’ll go and see her in a

little while. Now, sit down. OK?

They look at each other.

Reluctantly, Eva heads toward her armchair and sits down.

PAUSE. Then Georges goes on in a quiet voice:

GEORGES (CONT’D)

We do our speech exercises every

day, or we sing together. Most of

the time, I wake up around 5. At

that time, she's still awake. Then

we change her incontinence pad. I

rub cream on her to avoid sores.

Then, around 7, I try to persuade

her to eat and drink. Sometimes it

works, sometimes not. Sometimes she

tells me things from her childhood,

then for hours she calls for help,

and then an instant later she's

giggling away to herself, or

crying. Nothing of any of that is

worth showing to anyone.

SILENCE. Eva looks down. Finally, she says:

EVA:

(softly)

You can’t stop me from seeing her.

GEORGES:

(also softly)

No.

They remain seated for a moment, finally Eva gets up. Georges

follows her into the hallway.

He unlocks the door and they enter the bedroom.

The bright light from outside filters through the blinds.

60.

Eva goes over to the bed, looks at Anne. Finally, she

caresses her face, shyly and clumsily. Anne opens her eyes.

Looks at her. No movement.

EVA:

It’s me, Mom.

Anne emits a FURIOUS SOUND.

EVA (CONT’D)

(helpless)

Can I do something for you? Mom...

ANNE:

Mom... Mom... Mom... Mom... Mom...

SILENCE.

Georges has remained by the door. After a while, they both

leave the bedroom, cross the hallway to come back in the

living room.

Georges closes the door. For an instant he puts a consoling

hand on Eva's shoulder. Then he sits down.

Eva, trying to compose herself, goes toward the window and

looks outside. Suddenly she starts sobbing.

After a while, Georges gets up and goes out of the room. Eva,

vexed, blows her nose.

Shortly after, Georges comes back. He has another teacup in

his hand, puts it down beside his on the table and sits down.

GEORGES:

The tea isn’t very hot any more.

Eva turns toward him.

GEORGES (CONT’D)

But it does make you feel better.

After a short PAUSE, Eva comes toward the table. Sits down.

He fills her cup.

EVA:

Thanks.

She takes the cup, drinks. Replaces it. Still can’t bring

herself to look at him.

61.

GEORGES:

It was silly of me to lock the

door. I’m sorry. You took me by

surprise, that’s all. I’m sorry.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes