Death Takes a Holiday

Flowers? Yes, yes. They're

beautiful, aren't they? More.

- All of them, sir?

- Yes, all of them!

My dear!

Oh!

Oh, Lambert, what are we going

to do with so many?

Beautiful flowers to a beautiful lady!

My dear, I'm not dead yet.

I don't need flowers.

Half dead, anyway.

Oh, you!

There.

Oh, you beast!

Grazia!

I thought I'd be back

before you missed me.

It's getting late.

Father's eager to get home.

He's expecting

Prince Sirki tonight.

Here they come. Come along,

we're waiting for you.

Lambert, sound your horn

for Corrado to slow down.

I... I've got

to catch him first!

Your son has no respect for

the nerves of your house guests.

And he has Grazia with him. Her

mother will never forgive us!

Apparently my reward for a misspent life

is not to be a peaceful death in bed!

The strangest shadow is

following us. Following?

It was right behind us

all the time we were racing.

It's the shadow of a

tree. It isn't a tree.

Sometimes it's close by and

sometimes we almost lose it.

Let's lose it!

Let's go fast enough to reach

the illimitable! Whatever that is.

Oh, it's catching up

with us!

Stephanie! Stephanie,

Are you all right?

Quite right, my dear.

And the others?

It's ridiculous!

We all ought to be dead!

You, Cesarea?

I marvel I'm still alive!

Heavens above!

The flower vendor!

Oh, I'll never

forgive myself for this!

Flowers, sir?

Fresh autumn flowers.

You're alive?

I think so. Yes, sir.

But Celeste... she's hurt?

Celeste?

You know, there... there was

a curious shadow before me.

I couldn't even see

the cart.

It's unbelievable that

no one was hurt. Yes.

Uh, in case you find

any further injury.

Yes, Excellenza!

Celeste,

looka what I got!

Whee! Don't tell me we're here,

just as if nothing had happened.

Nothing did happen.

What are we going to do

with these lovely flowers?

Throw them at people

we don't like.

You, for instance!

Or you!

That's for your best...

What's going on here?

Oooh!

That drew blood!

Children, children!

Those beautiful flowers!

Absolutely mad,

all of them!

Oh, you beast! What a ride.

Is my hair completely white?

Completely. Help me

get this off, will you?

We almost had an accident. Almost!

We flirted with the coroner's

inquest and passed on.

What happened, son?

Oh, I don't know.

My headlights must be

out of order.

There was a curious shadow in front of

me, and I didn't see the cart at all.

A shadow...

that's odd.

And just that last second some

instinct told me to swerve.

Oh, that instinct came

to me somewhat late.

I hit the cart. You did,

sir? Was anyone hurt?

No, nobody hurt,

not even the vendor...

though he went flying through

the air like a great crow.

Yes, he did fly a bit,

didn't he?

Good evening, Fedele. Good

evening, Eccellenza, Contessa.

I've had a glimpse of deep waters

tonight, and I don't like it.

You know, there seemed to be something

desirable in flying over the edge.

I had a curious glimpse of it. Yes, well

you ought to take something for that, Alda,

and I suggest a whiskey

and soda. Thank you.

Why are you so silent?

What's the matter, darling?

You.

Oh, don't worry about me, Eric.

I'd only disappoint you.

Why would you

disappoint me?

I'm too restless

for marriage.

Besides, I've had that once.

Your whiskey and soda, darling.

Ah, thank you.

Maria, did you think

we were never coming back?

No, I've been playing solitaire.

Is Grazia with you?

Your daughter is

in the garden with my son...

uh, our son, darling.

Grazia, dear.

Corrado, isn't this

the strangest night?

There's something miraculous

in the air,

like an old story you can't

quite believe.

I can almost hear a rustling

of wings in this garden,

in this moonlight.

Shall we go in now,

dear?

Darling, are

you all right?

Of course, Mother dear.

I was so frightened when

I heard of your accident.

But we had no accident,

did we, Corrado? No.

I like going fast.

It feels like wings.

Don't, Grazia. You disturb

me when you talk like that.

Oh, we think you've

been free long enough.

When are you going to fold your wings

and be my little daughter-in-law?

Father's going to build us

a villa in the woods, Grazia,

just at the top of the cliff. How nice.

Thank you, sir. Oh,

I'd do anything for you.

- Let's make it next month, Grazia.

- Do, dear.

You could be quite ready in a month.

I wish I could, but...

We could spend the winter in the

Riviera, and in Egypt and Greece.

You know how much you want

to see the Aegean Isles.

It's only a question

of making up your mind.

You know I love

you all,

and I want

to please you,

but I...

Don't you see?

I'm not ready.

But why, Grazia?

Because life is too...

There's a kind of happiness I

want to find first, if I can.

Aren't you happy

with me?

Yes, dear, but that isn't

quite what I mean.

I wish I knew how

to tell you.

There's something out there

that I must find first...

something that

I must understand.

May I go with you?

I'd rather be alone,

if you don't mind.

Leave her alone, my boy.

Life'll tame her fast enough.

She worries me so.

Oh, I shouldn't worry about her.

She's so young, she's just a

little frightened at the whole idea.

Bad evening for you, dear?

She's so lovely, Mother.

Yes... delicate, so fine. You'll win her.

If I deny every human impulse, if

I live only in music and poetry.

But love is music,

and love is poetry!

But Mother, one can't live

on beauty alone.

For instance, one occasionally

likes a drink.

Tonight I'd like a dozen

after what I've been through.

You'll never win her

that way. I know, Mother.

She loves you.

I'm sure of it.

And I love her till I'm half mad

with it, and there's nothing to do!

- What on earth was that?

- It's Grazia!

Where is she?

Is she hurt?

What's the matter with her? What happened?

I don't know. She was just lying

here. Get her into the house, quick.

Here, is she wounded?

It's all right, it's all right.

Get the couch ready for her.

Here, right here, Corrado.

There, on the sofa.

Is there brandy, there?

Brandy, quick!

Here, lift her up

a little, here.

Poor child. Poor child.

Oh, poor little dear.

No, she can't

take this yet.

Don't let it come in!

Oh, please don't cry so!

What do you suppose happened? Some

prowler may have frightened her.

Too much moonlight.

She'll come around.

If anyone's harmed her... Eric,

take Fedele and search the grounds.

Yes, sir.

Grazia!

It's Mother!

What frightened you?

Darling, try to tell us

what happened.

I don't know.

There was something

cold and terrible.

I was sitting by the

fountain, watching the water.

I could hear the music.

And then a shadow blew over.

That's what it was, a shadow.

It's all right, Grazia. You're safe

now. And then an icy wind touched me,

but it wasn't a wind because

all the leaves were still.

Perhaps you fell asleep,

and dreamed.

No, I saw it!

What?

What did you see?

A shadow,

an enormous darkness.

And yet it wasn't a shadow,

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