Deception Page #9

Don't you try to intimidate me.

You are not going to tell Karel.

You are not going to see

him after the performance.

You're not ever going to see

him again. Swear to me you won't.

I'll swear nothing. I'll do what I please,

see whom I please, say what I please.

You fool.

You cowardly, hysterical fool.

You and your...

...oh.

[PHoNE RINGING]...

...[RINGING CONTINUES]...

...[RINGING CONTINUES]

MANAGER:
Ladies and gentlemen.

The management regrets to announce

that Mr. Hollenius has not yet arrived.

Since his new cello concerto is being

broadcast from this hall at 9:30...

...Mr. Neilsen has kindly

consented to conduct in his place.

[APPLAUSE]...

...[TAPPING]...

...[MUSICIANS START PLAYING]

Mrs. Novak.

Mrs. Novak. You haven't heard

anything about Mr. Hollenius, have you?

oh, isn't he here?

No, Mr. Neilsen's taken over.

oh, well, I saw him in his

home just a short while ago.

What could have happened?

I haven't the slightest idea, Mr. Swansen.

[LOUD APPLAUSE]...

...[CROWD CHEERING]...

Congratulations, Mr. Novak.

- Thank you.

Well, Mr. Novak, it isn't very often...

...that New York gives a

newcomer a reception like that.

It was brilliant. A superb performance.

- Thank you, you're very kind.

It is a relief that the absence of the

composer didn't affect your performance.

oh, uh, did you find out

what happened to Hollenius?

I've been phoning his home. No answer.

- Karel.

Schatzi.

In 16 years, I've never heard

such a brilliant cellist.

We must give him a return engagement.

Mrs. Novak, you must be

very proud of your husband.

oh, I am indeed.

Would you forgive me if I borrowed

my husband for just a moment?

Why, certainly.

Well...

...was it worthwhile?

Worth while?

oh, yes.

oh, Schatzi, this means

a new life for both of us.

Have you ever heard such applause?

I want to play this

concerto all over the world.

Can't you see us going

from one place to another?

Taking it with us, giving

it to people everywhere.

oh, yes, our troubles are over.

Thanks to Hollenius.

Have you any idea what happened

to him that he didn't come tonight?

I have something rather distressing

to tell you about Hollenius.

Distressing? What is it?

Well, after you left he telephoned

and asked me to come by for him.

oh, so that's what made you

so late. He's not ill, is he?

When I got there, he

was in a strange mood.

He'd been drinking, not like himself...

...like a savage.

He talked about... About death.

His death in the strangest way imaginable.

And well, and then...

...he told me he loved me.

What?

- oh, there's no need to be angry, Karel.

It was nothing you could have

minded, nothing of that sort at all.

He spoke about, I don't know...

...about giving up, going

away, abroad perhaps.

It seemed that he suddenly realized,

when he heard about our marriage...

...that it was all a delusion, being

a teacher and a father and all that...

...and he had found out

that he was in love with me.

And what did you say to that?

Well, I tried to treat it lightly

but it seems that was a mistake.

Why?

- It seemed to drive him mad.

He shouted something like, 'I'll

show you.' And rushed upstairs.

And, well, then l...

...oh, this was very silly.

I got frightened.

The house seemed so

empty and so strange...

...as if something were about to happen.

I ran away.

As I slammed the front door behind me

I had the impression he was calling me.

Standing on the stairs, shouting after me.

A taxi was passing...

...I stopped it...

...and came here.

Why did he choose tonight of all

nights to make such a fool of himself?

When everything was going so well.

I suppose I can't blame him

for being in love with you.

But, Schatzi...

...don't you see what this means?

Now I understand why he behaved

like that at our wedding.

Why he broke the glass.

oh, this proves everything,

everything you told me.

So...

...it took this to make you believe me?

oh, I was a jealous fool.

You don't know how many ways jealous

people can torment themselves.

Forgive me.

oh, it's nothing. Nothing at all.

It's finished and done with.

And you're not going

to be jealous anymore,

because you know it was all nonsense.

And you're a success.

And you can live as you like...

...and play what you like...

...and have anything you want.

Even your mountain.

I think we ought to go by and see him.

To his house?

- Yes, of course.

Come. We'll say good night to our

friends outside and we go there...

No.

Karel, I don't want to.

oh, I know it's embarrassing for you.

But we three should be able to

understand one another better than that.

one extreme or another. This

morning you were at daggers drawn.

And now it's absolute adoration.

You seem to forget how

badly he's treated you.

I don't forget he gave me the concerto.

- Because you are the best person to play it.

He gave it to me because of you.

Because I needed it so badly.

He drove you nearly mad

through that dinner.

And quite mad at the audition afterwards.

Yes, it is maddening to

realize that one isn't perfect.

But I wasn't, I'd lost too many years for that.

But, Karel. Karel, you don't

know how malicious he was.

Yes, and sadistic, arrogant

and heaven knows what.

But what of it? He's a great artist.

But you don't know about Gribble.

- Gribble?

[CHUCKLING] oh.

The understudy. Yes, yes,

that was funny, wasn't it?

Yes.

Yes, that was funny.

What about him?

[SIGHS]

What about him?

Nothing.

Nothing, I suppose. That's right.

He was just the understudy.

He said if he wanted to, he could break us.

If he wanted to, he could break us.

That's right, he said if...

If he wanted to.

lf.

Why do you look at me like that?

oh, Karel, you do love me, don't you?

It wasn't altogether for nothing, was it?

What was for nothing?

- I killed him.

No.

No.

Tonight.

All the time, since you first asked me

about him, I've told you nothing but lies.

You mean...

...you and Hollenius?

one lie, one small lie at first,

to be explained next day I thought.

[SOBBING] And then it was nothing but lies.

You see, I thought you'd

leave me if you knew.

I thought you'd give up the concert.

I thought you'd have nothing.

But to kill him, how

could you? How could you?

I don't know.

I don't know.

I thought he meant to ruin us.

Today after the rehearsal...

...he threatened to tell you about us.

I was sure he meant to.

oh, I was wrong. I see that now.

He always told me...

...l'd be afraid of him and of

you until I told you the truth.

I went there tonight to beg

him not to tell you about us.

To threaten him that if he did, I'd...

He said he'd do as he pleased.

So I shot him.

[PEOPLE CHATTERING IN DISTANCE]

And then I thought...

...if I made it look as though

he'd done it himself, l...

...[SIGHS]

The concert's over. They're waiting for you.

Darling, I heard you play

tonight. That's all that matters.

That's what you've got to hold on to.

What I am or was doesn't

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