Escape Me Never Page #8

today is the first time

in a long dress.

All right.

Change to short skirts.

How can I? The role calls

for a long, full costume.

If anything is to be changed,

it is your music, Monsieur Dubrok.

I hope you're not serious.

Professor Heinrich.

Madame Natrova,

if you would, perhaps-

May I make a suggestion?

Yes. What is it?

I was thinking that perhaps

something of Tchaikovsky

might be used at this point.

But Tchaikovsky!

That's wonderful!

His music is always good.

Don't you think so,

Monsieur Dubrok?

Certainly, madam, yes.

No one appreciates

Tchaikovsky more than I,

but not in my ballet.

This is my music, and it's

going to remain my music!

I tell you,

it cannot be danced!

The tempo is too fast,

too exhausting,

and just when I must catch

my breath before the finale!

What about a slower

tempo, Sebastian? What?

What do you want me to

do, change a Spring waltz

into some sort of

funeral dirge? Nonsense

I have spent weeks on my solo.

It must be done my way

or not at all!

Excuse me. Would you

tell Mr. Dubrok

I would like to speak

with him, please?

I can't go

out there now, miss.

Yes, but my baby

is very sick. Please.

I'm sorry, miss.

All right.

If she can't dance it,

let's get someone who can!

People come to see Natrova,

not to listen to the music

of an unknown composer.

If they'd sooner watch some

kangaroo hop around the stage-

Enough of this!

Both of you!

I'm finished!

We are dismissed!

We are dismissed!

Sebastian-

Don't you realize

what this will mean?

The posters are all

ready. Some of them are up.

Well, take them down, burn them,

do anything you want

with them. I don't care.

Don't argue with him.

It's useless.

Sebastian, Sebastian,

please come home with me.

The baby is very sick,

and I'm so frightened.

Is he? Well, get

a doctor for him.

But how can I? We have no money.

Darling, please, please, don't

you see I've got so much on mind?

I've got to have time to think.

I must talk to you, Sebastian.

Caryl, I was right, wasn't I?

That stupid, preening woman

With her ridiculous airs and-

It's not the ballet I want

to discuss at the moment.

Oh? What is it?

It's Fenella.

Fenella? Doesn't

anybody care about the music?

At least I expected you, a musician-

You're in no position

to force issues.

You behaved like a fool.

Thanks.

Thanks very much.

Don't let them do anything

to your music, Sebastian.

Fenella.

Why did you stay?

Well, I...

I thought there might

be something I can do.

Did you? How nice of you.

There isn't.

I'm not engaged to Caryl anymore.

Oh, but that's silly.

Caryl's a wonderful fellow.

What happened?

Please let's not talk about him.

I wish I could get away.

I hate London.

So do I.

I wish I could get away

somewhere, too,

somewhere where I could

pull myself together and-

I know a place, in the country.

Do you? Where?

Down in Kent.

It belongs to my family. It's lovely-

quiet and...

Is it?

Here we go.

He's coming now, darling.

Shh.

How is he?

Mrs. Cooper gave me some

medicine, and he's quieter now.

That's good. You shouldn't

let it upset you so much.

Babies always have earaches

or something like that.

Sorry I blew up

like that at rehearsal

Oh, that's all right. Now that

you're home, I'm not so frightened.

That's the last time I'll

ever write a ballet, I swear.

But, Sebastian,

there's money in it.

And when they do pay you

for the ballet,

do you think we could

use some of it for-

well, to get some

warm things for Piccolo?

He just can't stand

this cold climate.

Fat chance there is of

them paying me anything.

You mean they won't pay you?

Oh, but, Sebastian,

that can't be.

The ballet might not

go on at all.

Oh, don't worry about it.

Something will turn up.

It always does.

I wonder.

I had to do it. There comes a point

when one more compromise

would have ruined the music.

That point was reached

this afternoon.

Well, that's that.

No ballet, no money.

Money's not that important.

Not to you, perhaps.

What do you want me

to do, hack work?

If so, you're going to

be very disappointed.

You always seem to be

complaining.

Because I don't make you

a fortune, I suppose-

Oh, it isn't that, Sebastian.

The baby's sick, and I'm tired,

and I don't consider a

shilling for the gas meter a fortune.

What are you doing

with those clothes?

I've got to go down

to Surrey tonight.

Why?

To see Natrova,

make her listen to reason.

She's down there,

staying with friends.

But you said everything was over

with the ballet and finished.

Exactly. That's why I have

to go down and see her.

You said yourself you wanted the ballet

to go on, didn't you?

Don't lie to me, Sebastian.

You're not going down there

to talk to Natrova.

I know you too well.

What do you mean by that?

You know exactly what I mean.

No, I don't, but I do know one thing

- I'm getting out of here.

So you were going down to Surrey

to talk to Natrova, were you?

Yes, I was!

You liar!

I know who you were

going to see-

Fenella, and don't try to deny it.

Well, go on. Get out of here.

I don't need you. Go to her.

Let her tell you

what a genius you are!

Wait a minute. You'll

ruin that, you little fool.

That's yours

as much as it is mine.

Mine?

It's never been mine!

It belongs to Fenella.

You wrote it for her.

That night in Orzano, you

got the idea for it, remember?

Well, go on. Take your

precious ballet to her.

And I hope I never set eyes on

it, or you again, as long as I live!

You mean that?

Yes. Yes, I do!

Now, get out of here!

Get out!

Get out.

Who is it?

Caryl.

Oh. Caryl, would you

mind putting a shilling

in the gas meter, please?

Where's Sebastian?

He's gone.

When will he be back?

He won't.

I'm sorry, Gemma.

What was it you wanted

to talk to him about?

Fenella and I have

broken our engagement.

Oh.

Piccolo! Piccolo!

Oh, Caryl!

Mrs. Cooper! Mrs. Cooper!

Yes. What is it?

Please, Piccolo is

terribly sick. I know he is.

Would you try and do something?

Do you think a little warm oil

in his hair might help?

I think you ought to take

him to the hospital, ducky.

They'd know what

to do with him there.

That sounds like good advice, Gemma.

Yes, but I'd have to

stay there with him.

You see, he just couldn't stand

it with a lot of strange people.

Don't worry.

I'll go with you.

Nothing could happen to him,

could it, Caryl?

He's so little.

It just wouldn't be fair.

Thank you, Mrs. Cooper.

He is quiet now.

Do you think he's a little better?

You should have brought him sooner.

Oh, yes, I know, but-

There's nothing we can do now.

Well, then give him

back to me. I will take care of him.

It's too late.

No. That's a lie,

a dirty, hospital lie!

Give him back to me!

Give him back to me,

do you hear?

That's a lie!

Give him back to me!

It's a lie! It's a lie!

He'll be all right, Caryl.

He'll be all right.

It's just this awful

English weather.

As soon as he gets better, I'm

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