Intermezzo: A Love Story

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Ladies and gentlemen...

tonight, Mr. Stenborg and I

leave for our homes in Sweden.

And, while in a few months,

I must start again on another tour...

Thomas has decided

to settle down at home...

and to give to young artists

the benefit of his wisdom and his genius.

New York has always been kind to us.

And so I am glad that New York is the scene

of my last concert...

with a man, who, for many years,

has been for me more than an accompanist.

A man whom I am proud to claim...

as a friend and a teacher...

whose loss, I am sure, you'll regret

as keenly as I do:

Thomas Stenborg.

- Did you ever see an impresario cry?

- I never did, Mr. Moler.

Well, watch me.

Well, Thomas, here we are, home.

Yes, home.

The reporters are waiting.

Get ready for the cameras.

Let's stand on our heads for the press.

Step lively.

- Where, Mommy? Where is he?

- Look, Margit, here he is.

There he is, darling.

- Daddy. I remember him.

- My baby. My little Ann Marie.

Hello, darling.

Welcome home, Holger.

Hello, Greta darling.

Hello, Greta. How are you?

- Thomas, it's good to see you.

- Wonderful to see you.

- Dad.

- Good heavens! It's Eric.

I didn't recognize you.

I can't kiss you anymore.

What do we do? How do you do?

- It's good to have you home.

- Thanks very much. It's good to be home.

- Hello, Emma.

- Emma, here's our wanderer.

You've taken wonderful care of them.

- It's good to have you back, sir.

- Thank you.

Hello. Who is this?

- His name's Angus, Daddy. He's my dog.

- So the family's grown since I've been away.

How are you, Angus?

Come on.

I'm really home at last.

I can't believe I've ever been away.

Look at it. Nothing's changed.

We have a game we play while you're away...

that you haven't really left us at all.

There's better air to breathe in this room

than anywhere else on earth.

It's the truth.

I play the piano, Daddy. I take lessons.

- Do you indeed?

- Yes, I already play Mozart and Beethoven.

That's wonderful, Ann Marie.

Who's your teacher?

A Miss Hoffman. She's a very clever pianist.

Greta Stenborg wants Thomas

to take her for a pupil. She has talent.

She'll be lucky if Thomas takes her.

Do you want to hear me play, Daddy?

I've been waiting to play for you so long.

I'd love to hear you play right now.

If you knew the times I've thought

of this moment, back home, with you.

- You played some wrong notes.

- You mean this?

Those are known as dissonant chords.

You'll learn to play them in time.

I don't want to.

- Tell me some piece you do like.

- I will.

- What is it?

- Wait. You'll hear.

This one I like best of all.

We play it almost every evening

when you're away.

This is a brand-new record.

The other one wore out.

I see. Show me.

Wait.

It's beginning.

You made that music yourself, didn't you?

- Yes, Daddy wrote that piece.

- That's why I like it the best.

I know this so well.

Here comes the prettiest part.

Good morning, Miss Hoffman.

- We haven't met, have we? How do you do?

- How do you do?

You've been teaching your pupil

plenty of self-confidence.

She's been correcting me.

She tells me I play false notes.

He did play something funny, Miss Hoffman.

Some notes all mashed together.

Come along.

Do your lesson well.

I'll be listening outside.

I will.

Now we must begin.

And one, two, three, four.

Watch those fingers, three, four.

One, two...

- Eric! Where are you going?

- Never mind.

I'm going to school,

and then to a football game.

Football? Isn't he stupid?

- But he's a boy.

- What's that to be so stuck up about?

Come, come.

You know what I'm going to do?

I'm going to do what Thomas has done:

Settle down.

When you're ready for that,

you won't say it so desperately...

with that determined look in your eye.

All right, then you're coming with me.

Yes, that's it. We're going away together.

Everything will be just as it was

in the beginning.

Remember the first time we went away?

It was winter when we left here.

We crossed the Alps,

and suddenly it was spring.

You said the blossoming locusts in Capri

made everybody sing. Remember?

It's as if you were telling me a fairytale:

"Once upon a time. "

- Once upon a time.

- Yes.

- Things are different now, Holger.

- How?

- We have a home.

- We'll run away.

When we come back,

we'll be all the more appreciative of it.

- The children?

- They can get along without you for a while.

It does children good

to take care of themselves.

Take care of themselves.

Ann Marie is only six.

We'll take them with us. That's it.

Why didn't I think of that before?

Eric would lose a year at school.

Of course if you're going to make

all kinds of difficulties...

No, please. You know how I'd love

to come with you.

But, darling, you must realize

that our home is my responsibility.

Just as concerts and practice are yours.

Yes, I suppose you're right.

And that spring you spoke of...

that sort of happiness

could only come once in one's life.

Mommy, I've just thought of something.

- Something important, Mommy.

- What is it?

May I invite Miss Hoffman

to my birthday party?

But, Ann Marie.

Tell Miss Hoffman she'll be very welcome

to come to your party.

Thank you.

Miss Hoffman, you're very welcome

to come to my birthday party.

We're going to have ice cream and cake.

But really, Mrs. Brandt, I didn't mean to...

Ann Marie will be very disappointed

if you don't come. And so will we.

- Won't we, darling?

- Yes. You must come, Miss Hoffman.

- How many candles are there?

- Seven.

- No, eight.

- There's one to grow on.

- Take a deep breath.

- No, wait.

Did you make a wish first?

All right, then, blow.

- Keep going.

- Come on.

She gets her wish.

You must cut the first piece, darling.

- Don't watch.

- Help her, Charles.

Who's the engineer in the family?

- Who gets this?

- The first piece is for Daddy.

- No, darling. Mother must have it.

- It's your birthday. Keep it yourself, silly.

- I'll cut the rest.

- All right.

Not so long ago, your daddy and I

went to a birthday party in China.

- In China?

- At a mandarin's house.

His name was Cho-Ching-Chang-Chip-Chop.

- Did you have ice cream and cake?

- No, indeed.

We had swallows' nests,

some roasted silkworms...

snake soup, and cricket eggs.

You didn't eat that?

We had to take

a double helping of everything...

or the mandarin would have murdered us.

Well, Uncle Charles,

nobody will murder you here.

Please, may I have your attention

for a moment?

I have a wonderful surprise for you tonight.

You've all sat enraptured by the music

of Rachmaninoff and Paderewski.

Now you are going to be thrilled...

by being present

at the very first recital of someone...

I'm convinced

is going to join that distinguished company.

I trust

you'll extend an appropriate welcome.

Miss Brandt, will you do me the honor?

- I must sign her up immediately.

- I can't wait to hear her.

Wait, Daddy.

Remember, darling?

How did I do, Mommy?

- Daddy and I were very proud of you.

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