Magic in the Moonlight Page #5

However she knows, it's not

through mystical vibrations,

I can assure you.

Oh, he's always been so militantly

scientific, even at six years old.

One of the most kind

and gentle local priests

said that Stanley was the only

child in the neighborhood

destined for Hell.

And why do you

still trek to Italy,

to pay good money to bathe

in plain spring water

that is not

a drop more medicinal

than the water that

flows from your own tub?

I'm not going to get into that

debate with you, Stanley.

It brings out the beast in you.

And I see you still

buy this stupid nostrum.

It's a health mixture.

Sulfur, molasses

and barley extract.

It's disgusting

and is of no proven value.

Perhaps if I needed an emetic.

Am I the only sane person

left on this planet?

I love him, but he was always

an incorrigible child.

Can I give you something?

No, thank you. Just a little

wine, if you have any.

We've just eaten.

Oh, are those little cakes?

Good heavens, are you seriously

going to have more food?

They're delicious.

Unbelievable!

Now, tell me something about my

Aunt Vanessa's colorful past.

Oh, leave her alone, Stanley.

She's not a performing monkey.

Do you have a telephone

I could use?

I'm sorry, it's 3:00, and I was

supposed to meet Brice for drinks,

but I'm never gonna make it.

Brice Catledge is the young

milksop who's smitten with her,

and ready to lay his

family fortune at her feet

to subsidize her chicanery.

Can you believe it?

He serenades her.

Well, it sounds

rather romantic to me,

but you wouldn't know

about such things, Stanley.

It would mean

joining the human race.

Here, it's in the study.

Thank you.

Why do you badger her?

She's quite likable,

even if she is a fraud.

You know, one of the

cardinal rules of magic,

is that the magician

must never repeat his trick,

because sooner or later, one

begins to notice the move,

and he's caught.

But the more I watch her... Yes?

The more I'm stumped.

Could she be real?

I'm beginning to question

my own common sense.

I've always questioned

your common sense.

You've always been so certain

about the world, Stanley.

And I've always tried to teach

you that we don't know.

We really don't know.

We're just poor,

limited human beings.

The goldfish doesn't understand

who changes

the water in his bowl.

If only she was real,

it would lift the dark cloud

that's followed me

since childhood.

Well, I'm sure your fiance would

appreciate a sunnier bridegroom.

Olivia likes me as I am. Sophie

agrees we're a match made in heaven.

Has she met her?

No, but there,

she's guessing correctly.

I told Brice I'd be late.

I said I was just sitting down

for some of your blood pudding.

Tell me something

about my aunt.

Do you have a, uh, handkerchief

or an article of clothing,

or a piece of jewelry

I could use?

Oh, my pearls.

These are beautiful.

wife.

Yes.

Wife.

I'm receiving a...

It's cloudy.

Cloudy...

Here comes the usual

theatrical fertilizer.

I see an important Englishman.

Perhaps a member of Parliament.

Go on.

A love affair.

I don't believe this.

You cannot possibly know this.

Something's wrong.

What?

He's married.

Aunt Vanessa?

I see a sequence of trysts.

I've never told her anything.

He cannot leave his wife.

No, he did not.

And so, you're heartbroken.

Sophie, you are a miracle.

And you vow

never to love again.

How does she do it?

You're never to marry.

This is beyond comprehension. I've

never known anything like it...

But this is a symbol.

This is...

The breakup.

He gave me those

on our last evening together.

Sophie. I'm so sorry.

Sophie, is there

really a spirit world?

Do you really tune in on it?

Is there more?

Have I not seen it?

Where have you

been all my life?

When did you first realize you

had this extraordinary gift?

Oh, uh, very young.

My... My teens.

Well, and you saw it

as a way to make money?

Well, my father abandoned

us, and we were very poor.

Eh, but it's astounding.

I mean, I've always

believed that the dull,

tragic reality of life

is all there is,

but you are proof

that there's more.

More what?

More mystery, more magic.

Ch. on, will you...

Oh, dear.

Oh, boy.

You leave this to me.

I did get a little

anxious vibration

when the engine

started smoking back there.

Don't worry, I'm gonna

have a look at this.

I actually have an inkling

as to what this might be.

What are you gonna do?

Yes, not to worry.

I think it's the, um...

I'm actually...

I'm actually rather good at

dealing with anything mechanical.

I don't understand it!

I put the entire

engine back together,

and I still have

these two pieces.

This doesn't make any sense.

If I can just get

these back into here...

You should hurry.

It's gonna rain.

Don't worry,

it's not going to rain.

No, I think I can

feel it already.

No, the skies are clear...

We gotta put the top up.

I have to be able to do this...

We have to put the top up.

It's raining.

No, please just

give me a minute.

Stanley, come on... If I

can only put this in here.

We have to put the top up.

Come here! All right.

You can't put the top up

without taking this off.

What? How are you gonna

do it without the...

The canopy has to come off.

Okay, okay.

Okay, lift! Pull!

It's stuck, it's stuck!

All right.

No, don't do that. You'll

break it, you'll break it...

It's lightning, it's lightning.

We'll be killed.

There must be a catch somewhere.

What do we do?

Get under the car!

God, I don't want

to go under the car!

It's fine. It's on

four rubber wheels!

It can't get

struck by lightning!

Just go under there! No!

Oh, we're gonna die!

Run! Run! Run?

Stanley!

Come now, I've got you.

I've got you. Okay.

Oh, my God.

Oh, God, we're gonna die.

I know this place! What?

I can... I know this place!

How? We can go in there.

Let's run! Go! Come on.

Will it be open?

Well, it'll be open!

It always used to be open.

Goodness! I found

that rather exhilarating.

Did you see that lightning?

Goodness me.

I can't believe

I found this place.

What is this?

It's an observatory.

I came here as a boy.

Oh, thank God we found it.

We just got a little wet.

It's water.

Are you kidding? We could've

been struck by lightning.

We could die of pneumonia.

I'm sure your fiance

wouldn't be too pleased.

Well, this would never have

happened if Olivia was here.

Oh, no?

Um, she's, uh, too competent.

She'd have fixed the car.

Is she also a mechanic?

Well, she's one of those people

who's good at everything.

How lucky for you.

Yes, yes. That's.

I suppose so.

What are you staring at?

You have no idea how

miserable you look.

I'm freezing. I mean, the...

Can you hold me, or something?

I can offer you my waistcoat.

No, you're wetter than I am.

Just put an arm

around me, or you know...

Body heat, it's...

My aunt used to

bring me here as a boy.

The roof opens up.

Oh, really?

You can see the universe.

It's menacing.

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