Gigi Page #4

Listen to your uncle, Monsieur Gaston.

He's an old campaigner.

How would you end it?

l'll write her a note.

There is no way of writing it

without it reeking of wounded pride.

Victor Hugo couldn't pull it off.

Then l'll telephone her.

And what would you say?

''Liane, you deceived me

with a skating instructor.

l never want to see you again. ''

You'll sound like

a jealous schoolboy.

That's impossible.

That's true.

That's true.

What do l do?

You go to Honfleur

and throw her out like a man.

That's a bore.

A bore? Not at all.

lt's pride.

Just imagine your chagrin

When she sees you wander in

And you find her

With that slippery seor

What a moment supreme

When she totters with a scream

-What will she do?

-Scream.

-What did yours do?

-Scream.

-What do they all do?

-Scream.

It's a bore

But think of the bliss

Of the pleasure you would miss

When she topples in a heap

And you leave her there to weep

On the floor

It's a bore

You must catch her if you can

For the dignity of man

Take advantage of the chance

You owe it, sir, to France

This is war!

All right

But it's a bore

Turn it around and leave it there.

They are there.

Terrible-looking rodent, isn't he?

Terrible, but typical.

Those chaps all look alike.

She looks older in the daylight.

Much older.

l don't envy him.

Neither do l.

She never kissed me like that.

-How is she kissing him?

-Wholeheartedly.

What do you expect?

You're legitimate.

He's forbidden fruit.

When do we make our move?

Wait, wait.

Come on.

Monsieur Lachaille, what a surprise.

l am honored.

Don't be.

Come on, get up!

Wait, wait!

You are making a mistake.

lt was just a coincidence,

my meeting madame here.

lt was a coincidence,

l suppose. . .

. . .that your lips

just happened to meet. . .

. . .in a long, ardent, passionate--

You keep out of this.

l don't want any discussions.

For 1 000 francs, this never happened.

You leave the lce Palace

and disappear. Forever.

-But--

-No ''buts. ''

You're coming with us now.

We'll take you to

the nearest railroad station.

1 000 francs?

There is nothing more to be said.

Goodbye, madame.

From the bottom of my heart, goodbye.

Gaston, my love.

What happened?

Liane d'Exelmans has committed suicide.

Again!

l'm sorry, girl.

What did you say?

l didn't know he left her.

My word!

Of course.

Call me as soon as you hear anything.

Anything at all.

How marvelous!

Paris agog.

Why didn't you tell me that Gaston

and Liane had broken up?

l didn't know it.

lt must've happened over the weekend.

When was the suicide?

-Last night.

-How did she do it?

The usual way,

insufficient poison.

Say, how many times

has she done it now?

Good evening, Manuel.

Good evening, Honor.

Gaston, my boy.

Congratulations.

Your first suicide.

What an achievement.

And at your age.

Like everyone in Paris,

we were just talking about you.

Thank you, Honor.

l came over to--

May l add mine, sir?

Thank you, Manuel.

l came over to get a--

lt was a stunning victory.

-Where is the champagne?

-lt's ready, sir.

l came over to get away

from the telephone.

l can imagine.

Any news from the corpse?

Fully recovered, according to

late morning editions.

And how do you feel?

Oddly enough, l'm not quite sure.

Make a guess.

Well, l'd say edgy.

Edgy?

Almost depressed. l don't know why.

There must be a reason.

l suppose it's to be expected.

l'm told Verdi felt that way after

the first performance of Aida.

-Get a glass for yourself.

-l have one, sir.

To you, Gaston.

May this be the first of many.

What about tonight?

Where do we go? What do we do?

l don't know. l should consider

what l do next very carefully.

l've been weighing the idea of

going to the country for a while.

You mean, leave Paris?

Yes. Why not?

Why not?

That's the one thing

you mustn't do.

Do you want people to think

you're despondent? Disturbed?

lf you leave, they will, you know.

No, no. That would be snatching

defeat from the jaws of victory.

No, no, no. For the next few weeks,

you should be out every night.

Maxim's, Moulin Rouge,

Pre Catalan.

The Pre Catalan is closed.

Open it!

You must be carefree.

Devil-may-care.

A different girl every night.

Keep them guessing who's next.

Play the game.

Be gay. . .

. . .extravagant, outrageous.

Grandmama!

lmagine. Gaston bought out

the opera last night. . .

. . .and brought the entire company

to his house for a performance.

l'll go.

Gaston, how are you?

You look all in.

-ls your grandmother home?

-Yes, she is.

ls that gold?

The handle, yes.

You must be very rich to have

a gold handle on your cane.

Gaston, what a nice surprise.

Don't let me disturb you, Mamita.

l was just preparing dinner.

Smells awfully good.

lt's just a pork cassoulet.

lt was impossible to

get any goose this week.

l'll have them send you

a brace from the country.

l brought you some caramels.

Thank you, Gaston.

Gaston, you spoil her so.

The champagne is for you.

You spoil me too.

Be careful.

You'll ruin your hands.

l have a manicure every morning.

What a nuisance.

-Not like that.

-No?

Like this.

All right.

-Where are you going with that tie?

-Let's not talk about it.

l'm having a small party

for 200 at the Eiffel Tower.

-Are you going away?

-Yes, for the weekend. Trouville.

A little sea air before the

next round of parties.

-ls Trouville by the sea?

-Yes, you little idiot.

You expect to find sea air

in the mountains?

Don't make fun of me.

l've never been to the ocean.

What will you eat

for dinner tonight?

Filet of sole with mussels,

for a change.

And a lamb filet with truffles.

lt's always the same.

lt can't compare. . .

. . .with your grandmother's cassoulet.

Why don't you stay

and have some with us?

-l wish l could.

-Why not?

All right, l will.

But people are waiting for you.

My car's downstairs. l'll send

the chauffeur with my apologies.

My uncle will be the host.

Honor? He'll do it very well.

l'm dying to take a ride

in your beautiful automobile.

Let me deliver it.

lf you want to.

Tell the chauffeur to take this

to my uncle's house.

-Go quickly.

-Thank you.

l can't wait to see

the face of the janitress.

And after dinner, we'll have

a serious game of cards.

And l'll beat you, as usual.

And you'll cheat, as usual.

Gaston, Gigi takes advantage of you.

Let her, let her, Mamita.

lt amuses me.

How is Honor these days?

The same.

A life devoted to the chase.

We've missed you, Gaston.

We haven't seen you since the suicide.

Yes, l've had quite a

full schedule lately.

So l've read.

You always do things

in the grand manner.

Your parties have

filled the newspapers.

Sometimes the cure is more

painful than the illness.

But l have to do it.

lt's expected of me.

Poor Gaston.

You're in a difficult position,

aren't you?

Yes, Mamita, yes.

Very difficult.

See, the whole of Paris

is watching me.

What are you talking of?

The whole world is watching you.

Yes, it's quite a responsibility.

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