Death Takes a Holiday Page #5

English, but if it sounds like the French...

Your Highness perhaps

does not care for dancing?

Oh, yes. I found it

somewhat stifling inside.

I had hoped to make

your last evening, uh...

Yes, my last evening.

I leave at midnight.

Don't let me keep you

from your guests.

Eric, who is

this Prince?

What is he, he draws

and frightens us all so?

Alda, are you

in love with him?

Fascinated, completely.

My darling, can't you think

yourself out of this?

It's not only that I'm jealous,

but I'm worried about you.

Come on. Let's dance.

I'm too restless

to dance.

Let's go into the garden, then. Not now.

Dreaming?

Yes, things impossible.

Tell me.

You are

so fortunate here.

I think I used to

despise you all,

with your little whims and

desires, all leading up to nothing.

Now there is nothing I want

so much as to share them,

and I cannot.

I was just thinking

all that of myself.

My dear countess, you can have

whatever dreams you wish.

But suppose you had been set down,

for a few hours or a few days,

among the inhabitants

of the moon,

and that was all the life

you could have forever...

you knew no one there,

and no one dared to know you?

Do you really

feel that?

I am not one of you.

Then I wish

that you were.

You do?

I've waited

for someone like you.

Even though I am not

what I seem?

You are, though.

No.

I am a fear, a shadow,

a wandering thing.

Isn't there a story

among your legends...

of a merman who came

asking a woman to love him...

so that he might have

a soul?

Well, if there is, I'm sure

she gave him what he asked.

She'd give up her own soul

gladly. If she were in love.

Yes, if she were

in love.

You see, I have come

asking for that.

Of me?

Yes.

But also, it is impossible. Why?

Because you will take

one step toward me...

and know my secret,

and lose courage.

Try me.

You can give me a soul only if

you know me and can still love me.

Look into my eyes.

Look deep.

What do you see there?

Shadows.

Look into those shadows. Let your

thought go to its wildest reach.

I will you to know who I am!

No, no!

I want to live!

Eric! Eric!

Eric! Eric!

What is it, darling?

What's the matter?

I don't know, only keep me

away from him!

There's no danger, darling.

What danger could there be?

Oh, keep back...

keep back all of you!

How do you know when he'll

strike? Alda, Alda, be quiet!

Why, there's nothing

to harm you!

Alda, my dear.

Tell me what's happened.

Nothing! I don't know!

I don't know!

Sir, it's evident that your

presence here is unwelcome.

It has been made apparent in

many ways. Why are you among us?

Corrado, he's my guest! Guest or not,

I'll ask him what I like, and he'll answer.

My father says he has cause to

fear you. Who are you? Corrado!

I'm afraid I have no answer

for you, nor for anyone.

I warn you, however...

I've heard

that warning before.

Would you threaten the stars

because you dislike your destiny?

I came among you to warm

my hands at your fires...

your poor, pitiful little fires

that flicker out in the night.

Well, let them all go out! One

means no more to me than another.

Let them all go out,

if only I can save one spark

for the eternal cold!

Go. Go, Corrado.

Go instantly.

Let me speak

to His Highness.

Corrado.

Grazia's here.

She's looking for you.

All right, Mother.

Your Highness,

I hope that you...

I have been caught in this

web of flesh, Duke Lambert...

caught and tortured.

I thought to put it on like a

garment and cast it off as easily.

But to put it off is to die...

to die without having lived!

To die alone, without loving

or being loved,

and that I will not have. But your

promise... your promise to harm no one.

What does my promise matter when I

set it against this torture I feel?

What if there should be

one death among you?

You have years to live,

have you not? Years!

And I have

what remains of this day.

The very lovely and serene

princess of all delight.

My name is Grazia.

How charming of you.

Grazia, then.

You make it

sound like music.

It is like music.

It has overtones

that go singing on and on.

But they are not sad.

They are full

of grace and light.

When you speak like that,

I hear music, too...

great sweeping chords.

May I?

I could say

so much more.

Your Highness is being

very kind tonight.

Hmm.

I wonder if I am...

being kind.

Perhaps I should have

said gracious.

No, no.

Not gracious, either.

I have learned that even

the mightiest...

must sue

for certain favors.

Well, perhaps you're unfamiliar

with this custom, also.

When a gentleman is tapped on the shoulder,

he releases the lady to another partner.

I am grateful for the explanation.

I myself have touched

many shoulders,

but, uh,

for other reasons.

Grazia,

why did you come?

Oh, I don't know.

I kept wanting to.

I wanted

to see you too, but...

I didn't want you

to come just now.

Will you do me a great favor? If I can.

May I stay close to you

this evening?

Why?

Because...

I love you,

and I'm afraid.

But there's nothing to

be afraid of, Corrado.

You don't know.

Yes, I do.

And I'm happy to be here.

I wanted to come.

You mean you know what we're afraid of?

Yes.

And it doesn't

frighten you?

No.

Grazia,

come back to me.

There's some

terrible danger.

No, not danger...

happiness.

Grazia.

Please don't be unhappy,

Corrado.

I love you in some way

I can't quite make clear.

If I didn't feel

so far away,

I'd be in your arms now, crying

and holding you close to me.

I want to do that,

but somehow,

I think I never shall.

Grazia,

you're trembling.

I feel

a little cold.

Will you get my cloak

from the hall?

Yes.

Yes, of course.

The buffet is

served, Eccellenza.

What?

Oh, yes.

Yes,

thank you, Fedele.

You are cold.

Yes.

Grazia!

Father, what is it? What?

Oh, nothing, nothing.

Where are you going?

Why, Grazia

wanted her cloak.

Oh, no. Not now.

Why? Why not?

Prince Sirki has brought

her a cloak. Prince Sirki!

Father, she's hypnotized,

fascinated. We must save her from him!

No, we can do nothing.

What do you mean?

If we could, should I

be standing here now?

Lambert, what is it?

Oh, nothing, nothing.

Grazia's gone out into the

garden with Prince Sirki.

Prince Sirki? Why not? What's

wrong? Oh, Grazia's in no danger.

What's happened, sir? There's

nothing to be alarmed about.

But you're alarmed, Father. You're

terrified. There is some danger.

Oh, let me go to her.

No, no. Wait, wait.

Then I'll go. No, I forbid

you. You're risking your life.

My life... what's my life or yours?

You said you'd die for Grazia.

I would if it would save her.

Father, tell me who this prince is.

I'll know or I'll kill him! Kill him!

Why, if he but put out his

hand, it'd mean your life.

I don't care. I only know that Grazia's

in danger. No, no! Wait, wait, wait!

He's not Prince Sirki! He...

No, no. Don't tell, don't tell!

He is the one

whom all men dread.

He is Death!

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