Deception Page #8

known fantastic interruptions.

This is a cello concerto,

not a flute concerto.

The conduct of the rehearsal

is not your business.

Kindly confine your performance

to your instrument, if you please?

Gladly, if you let us. You'll get

no performance from me or anyone...

...if you go on like this.

It's too much for any man.

It will be stood, Mr. Novak...

...by anyone who is going to play

under my direction. Please sit down.

No, I insist upon playing it

through once without interruptions.

very well, sir.

Kindly leave the stage.

[PEOPLE MURMURING]

This is...

Kindly leave the stage.

very well.

Mr. Gribble.

- Yes, Mr. Hollenius.

HOLLENIUS:
I want you

to take over the solo...

...since our temperamental

Mr. Novak seems...

...unable to endure the strain of a rehearsal.

After all, his own performance

needs no improvement.

We mustn't exhaust the delicate

creature for this evening's performance.

So you'll continue his part...

...while I polish more

details with the orchestra.

Now, gentlemen.

or perhaps, since these exhibitions

of temperament are so very wearing...

...we'd better let the

concerto rest until after lunch.

Mr. Neilsen.

- Yes?

Would you like to

rehearse your Beethoven?

By all means.

Thank you for your preparation

of the orchestra the past week.

It was a pleasure. - Mm-hm.

Jimmy.

- Yes, sir.

Thank you. oh, you. Go home.

Put some ice on your

head. Take a sedative.

Get yourself into a rational mood

for this evening's performance...

...which will be without interruptions.

NIELSEN:
Gentlemen, the

'Seventh,' second movement.

Alex. Alex, forgive me.

[ORCHESTRA STARTS PLAYING]

What do you mean?

I thought you meant to ruin Karel.

How should I ruin him, if you please?

- By putting Gribble in.

Gribble? I use Gribble as an understudy.

I didn't trust your husband's nerves.

I know, but I thought you meant to put him...

...in anyway, no matter

how well Karel played.

You know, I have encountered a

variety of infatuated women in my time.

None, so far, has had the effrontery to

suggest that I would employ my music...

...as an instrument of revenge.

You're right. I'm ashamed.

Moreover, if I wished to

obliterate such a rival...

...as your talented but

highly neurotic husband...

...I should employ simpler measures.

I would raise his unstable mind

to the highest of pinnacles.

I might allow my music to do that.

And then strike him down with

unlovelier but more appropriate weapons.

Weapons. What weapons?

His own weakness, my dear,

and his charming wife.

Let him play the concert. Let

him soar to the utmost heights.

And then, after the

concert, maybe at supper...

...casually one of those

little phrases, you know.

Careless reminiscence of a year or two ago.

- oh, no, Alex.

A tiny, innocent-appearing bombshell.

But you wouldn't.

You think not?

He certainly scared the

life out of me for a moment.

You see, his bark's worse than his bite.

I wonder if it's still raining.

Now...

...don't you fidget.

There.

Darling, hold your head still.

Please, how can I do this?

There.

How does it look to you?

Wonderful, superb.

See that you look up at me

before you begin to play.

[CLOCK CHIMING]

Darling, don't tense your hands.

Eight o'clock, you must be off.

- Dear, goodness.

Here.

There. Here's your scarf and your gloves.

There.

oh, let me look at you.

Not bad for a rented suit, is it?

oh, darling.

Now, remember, you look at me

the last thing before you start.

And the first thing afterwards.

Uh-oh.

Lipstick.

I'm sorry.

But you're not ready, not nearly ready.

- Don't worry about me. I'll follow in a cab.

Here...

...your hat and your gloves.

And your scarf.

Play well.

oh, more lipstick. Go on. oh,

Karel, you should have an umbrella.

KAREL:
Good heavens,

no. Don't you be late.

[DOOR CLOSES]...

...[DOORBELL BUZZING]

Show her in.

He's in the dining room, ma'am.

Good evening, my dear.

Why, you look positively majestic.

I think I'd better remain seated.

I thought you might be coming

along. Like a little Scotch?

There's hardly time, is

there? We'll miss the symphony.

[SCOFFS]

Compose a piece yourself, my dear.

And see how it sounds to you

after listening to Beethoven.

Do you mind?

No, I expected you wouldn't go.

You know, one scene a

day is quite my limit.

I mention this because

there is that about you...

...that suggests one of

your peculiar moods.

Excuse me. I've laid out your dress coat in

your room. Your other things are in the hall.

HOLLENIUS:
All right. You can

stay out as late as you please.

JIMMY:
If it's really all

right, sir. HOLLENIUS: Mm-hm.

JIMMY:
Thank you, sir. Good

night, sir. Good night, ma'am.

Good night, Jimmy.

He has a lady friend.

Slightly furtive about it. Heh.

[DOOR CLOSES]

Extraordinary how people try

to keep their little secrets...

...which can never be kept.

oh, but of course, you think they

can, don't you? Well, you'll find out.

Are you sure you won't have a drink?

No, thank you.

Well, personally, I intend to

have as much as is good for me.

And I'll tell you exactly why.

First of all, I'm unusually nervous

tonight. What's more, I'm worn-out.

Rehearsals, fuss, temperament, not even

an appetite for dinner, if you please.

Moreover...

Do you believe in premonitions?

Premonitions?

- Yes.

You know, I've always had

a great sense of tomorrow.

I mean, when I'm dressing or

eating or brushing my teeth...

...at the back of my mind, there's

something else going on, you know.

I find that I'm thinking about

what I'll be doing next Saturday...

...or next month or next year.

In a vague kind of way, I mean.

Well...

...tonight, before you came, I

was aware of something missing.

I realized I wasn't thinking of

next month or even next Saturday.

When I tried to think of

them, nothing came. Heh.

It sounds absurd but I

found it most disconcerting.

So you're afraid of death, Alex?

- oh, devilishly.

They say never confess a weakness

to a woman but I am, devilishly.

You've a lot to lose.

Well, it's true. I've lost a great deal already.

To pretend otherwise would

be extremely ungracious of me.

Did you mean what you

said today after rehearsal?

You mean when I called you

an offensive imbecile? Yes.

No. When you said you

were going tell Karel.

Christine...

...l'm extremely tired of this subject.

- Did you mean it?

Judge for yourself. I don't wish to be

rude but I'd rather listen to Beethoven.

Promise you won't.

This is one of those occasions

when my nerves are taut...

...when foolery drives me very nearly mad.

You must promise me.

Could you believe me if I promised?

I'm going upstairs for my coat.

What the devil...?

What's the matter with you?

What in heaven's name have you got there?

You bought it for me, remember?

When I moved into the studio.

For my protection, you said.

You give me that nonsensical object.

I've seen this sort of thing before.

Give it to me.

- You keep away.

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