Deception Page #5

Yes. Yes, of course.

It's just that, well, all day long I've...

...been thinking myself

how I could help you...

...and well, now suddenly...

Jealous?

You wanted to help your

broken-down husband, didn't you?

Well, it's much better not to

have a broken-down husband at all.

oh, Schatzi, this makes such a difference.

And I can do it.

I was scared out of my wits at first.

You were scared too. I

saw it when you came in.

But I've been playing it

all the afternoon. I have it.

It's so wonderful. What a creation.

It's something I never

hoped for or dreamed of.

You think I can't do it?

Is that what's bothering you?

No.

- No? Then what?

Why did you go to see Hollenius?

[SOFTLY] oh, I...

I didn't believe you.

I thought it was Hollenius

who called you last night.

It sounded like it, what you were saying.

When you told me it was a girl...

...I thought you were...

Lying.

oh, I'm ashamed. I'm ashamed

to have gone to him...

...and to have asked if you'd been there.

Are you angry?

[CHUCKLES]

No.

A little sad perhaps.

But it doesn't matter.

All that matters is that you have

the concerto and he gave it to you.

And you must think of nothing

else but playing it wonderfully.

You really think I can?

- of course, darling.

of course you can.

You shall.

Now, tell me, how are you going to work?

Well, he suggested I should plug away

alone for the rest of this week and next.

And then we are to meet for dinner

and afterwards I'm to play it.

And he's to see how he likes it.

And if he doesn't like it, is it all off?

Well, he didn't say so, but

with anyone as unknown as I am...

...he has a right to protect

himself, obviously. But he'll like it.

I know he'll like it.

oh, it's like breathing a new air to talk

to someone with that feeling for music.

You're right about him, he gives,

it's royal, he gives one a life...

...years of happiness,

casually, as if it were nothing.

But he knows.

He knows what he is doing.

Monsieur Hollenius.

- Marcelle.

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

I've been away.

Madame? oh, my dear, I hope I'm not late.

Well, a little.

Karel. I trust I'm gonna

hear a remarkable performance.

Are you confident?

- And impatient.

So am I, for dinner.

MAN:
Madame.

- Good evening.

Mr. Hollenius.

[GREETING IN FRENCH]

HOLLENIUS:
Christine?

Monsieur?

Thank you.

Thank you, Alex.

Thank you, Andre.

Andre, this is my husband.

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]...

...[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]...

...[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]...

What about you, Karel?

- No, thank you.

Louis, un martini.

- Yeah.

Andre.

HOLLENIUS Well, my dear,

what are you gonna have?

Same as usual, a lecture on

eating and then what you decide.

HOLLENIUS:
Karel?

Tonight, really, I can't think about food.

HOLLENIUS:
You're mistaken.

The greater the pleasure...

...the more important to

preface it with a meal.

We should eat very well

tonight, though simply.

I wouldn't dull my perceptions for anything.

What have you got up your sleeve?

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

But in condition?

Uh-huh.

Mm-hm.

Hmm.

What do you think? I

think so, don't you? Hmm?

Yup. They might get three of

these fellows ready for us.

And do you know what I think

will go well before them? A trout.

A nice brook trout. Not too

large. From a good stream.

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

HOLLENIUS:
Mm-hm.

A trout and a partridge.

Could anything be more simple?

You know, I ask only one thing

of a meal, that it be excellent.

As with a musical

performance, my dear Karel.

I hope I shall do as well as the chef here.

You haven't tasted his product yet.

Nor, now I come to think

of it, have I heard yours.

We both have a pleasure to look forward to.

You have a pleasant surprise in store, Alex.

You're not very complimentary

to your husband, my dear.

Nothing would surprise

me but a disappointment.

However, my tastes are very simple.

A good, straightforward performance.

A trout and a partridge.

The only question is plain, the partridge,

I'anglaise, or roasted with truffles?

Eh, Christine? or aux choux?

No, of course, that would take rather a time.

Something that wouldn't take too long.

So you're eager to

exhibit your prowess, eh?

Why, I believe you're

nervous. oh, well, never mind.

Andre here will tell you

I'm very easily pleased, no?

[SPEAKING IN FRENCH]

Perfection. That goes without saying.

very well. Not to waste too much time,

the partridges roasted with the truffles.

You know, with a forcemeat

of pork and pullet livers.

Alex, that will take an eternity.

But mix into that forcemeat a half

glass, no more, of Madeira, not too dry.

Just to, uh... Hmm, you know.

[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]

A little advice to you. When ordering a

meal, even a frugal snack of this kind...

...always start with the pice de rsistance.

An ashtray, Andre.

Food or music, start always with

the keynote, the foundation stone.

With that thing of mine. I'm

sure you found it necessary...

...to begin with the fugato at the end

before making any study of the opening.

I'm right, am I not?

As a matter of fact, no.

No?

Are you joking?

- No.

I began to study it at the beginning...

- He plays it to perfection.

Which you will hear if we

ever get this meal over with.

You think I'm too slow?

I've been trying to tell

you, I don't know how long...

...Karel wants to play, not eat.

- oh.

Schatzi. Schatzi. Schatzi.

Don't upset me. Heh.

You know, Karel, sometimes I'm positively

terrified of this wife of yours.

I hope you never have any occasion to be.

Christine thinks I'm getting nervous. I am.

Well, then to business.

And to begin with, soup.

or a little canap, do you think?

oh, canap.

- Soup.

Now, please, let us at least agree

on what we're going to begin with.

Soup...

- Canap.

Let me make up your minds for

you or we shall never have done.

Tell me, Andre, have you Parmentiers?

If not, a petite marmite.

[SPEAKS IN FRENCH]

Good. Then all that remains

is to consider the wine.

Alex, we don't want any wine.

oh, but I do.

Darling, pretend it's yesterday

and you still have 24 hours to wait.

Mm-hm. Now...

...should one, with a partridge, take

an Hermitage or a very soft Burgundy?

I do hope the great haste in which

we're assembling this slapdash repast...

...is not gonna affect me

and render me incapable...

...of appreciating good music.

I do wish we had begun

with the fugato at the end.

It's the key to the whole thing.

We are having these birds stuffed

with truffles and a soupon of Madeira.

Darling, believe it or not, there

are places here in New York...

...where you can put a nickel in the

slot and something comes out immediately.

Therefore, I shall plump

for the Hermitage. Fourteen.

And you'd better decant it.

oh, darling, relax.

- Don't keep soothing me. Do you mind?

I was only thinking of you.

- Don't, please.

Now, now, children, temper, temper. It

plays the very devil with the digestion.

We'll end with the

simplest salad in the world.

And some little sweet kickshaw

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