Opera

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No! I can't concentrate.

Please, maestro, i'm sorry,

but I can't carry on like this.

Let's take it from number 37.

Oh, my god! No, no!

Maestro, please let's take it

from

Stop! Stop!

I can't stand it anymore!

It's ridiculous. Poor

thing. Are you hurt?

It's ridiculous! This

is Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi!

I've never seen

such lousy direction.

We have a problem?

Yes, you!

This isn't one of your crummy movies! Birds

on stage, back projection, laser beams!

What is this?

An opera or amusement park?

I have to sing! How can I do that

with a raven on stage that hates me?

I can't imagine why

it should hate you, Mara.

Neither can i! But it never

takes its beady eyes off me.

It shrieks, whistles,

flaps its wings.

It's deliberately destroying my

performance! It's just a bird.

Yes, and birds should be with other

birds and not in the opera singingmacbeth!

Where is my manager?

I'm here, Mara.

I am going back to the hotel.

Come on, Mara.

Please, don't be like this.

I'll rest till 7:00. I shall

be ready to sing at 8:00.

Ready to sing, without ravens or

any other nonsense. A real opera!

What do we do now?

Oh, carry on

with the rehearsal.

If something like this happens

again, i'll take my ravens and leave.

Okay. Maestro?

Please, please.

We'll take it

from the

Thanks to you and your so-called

brilliant and original direction!

Ladies and gentlemen,

the great Mara Giacova...

Has been knocked down

by a car!

Is she badly hurt?

Call an ambulance. Hurry!

What a disaster!

What are we gonna do?

Hello?

Is that you, betty?

Yes. Tonight you make

your debut as Lady Macbeth.

What?

Are you happy?

Who's speaking?

Is this a joke?

Hello?

Hello?

Mira!

Come on, betty, come on.

Get ready.

In exactly one hour,

you've got to be on stage.

Mara Giacova has had

an accident. Here.

Someone already called.

I thought it was a joke.

Why are you crying? Are you

scared of making your debut?

No! But Lady Macbeth. I'm too

young. My voice isn't right.

You'll be a smash hit.

I'm afraid I won't reach

some of the notes.

Trust me. I'm not only

your agent, i'm your friend.

I know what you're going through.

Just opening-night nerves.

Don't let them show.

They're all coming to see you.

Don't show them how

"inconfident" you are, okay?

Stop!

Well, my dear Betty,

are we ready?

Mara's unfortunate accident is going

to speed you towards your destiny.

Tonight you will make

your debut in Verdi's Macbeth.

Do I see tears?

Tears of happiness, I hope.

Don't tell me you're afraid.

Afraid you'll fail?

I'm too young

for the role.

Verdi's first Lady Macbeth

was only 17.

Anyway, you know the opera by heart.

I watched you at all rehearsals

working so hard preparing yourself...

As though you were the star

and not the understudy.

Don't worry about the orchestra. They'll

only need half an hour's rehearsal. Excellent.

Come on. Stop it!

This is your big chance.

I know.

Think of your mother, how happy

and proud she would have been...

To see you in a great opera

following her career.

If people like you, next you'll

sing in New York and Salzburg.

What happened to Mara?

She got hit by a car,

or so I heard.

Ah, you are listening to

Prokofsky's recording of Macbeth.

Did you know it was

a production of ours?

It's the opera.

Macbeth brings bad luck.

What are you talking about? Everyone

says it. Macbeth brings bad luck.

It's a great opera, but I would much

rather make my debut in something else.

Don't let Patini hear

you say that. It's true!

Shut up! So you think this

opera brings bad luck, hmm?

I don't know.

It's what everyone says.

Well,

i don't say it.

Look, you have a wonderful

voice, you are very beautiful,

And you're making your debut

in a great theater.

You must make the most

of this opportunity.

It usually only happens to

people in the movies, huh?

Mm-hmm.

Don't throw it away.

Yes.

Five, four, three, two, one,

now!

Let her through,

let her through!

There's too much smoke.

There's too much smoke!

Dino, cut the smoke.

Cut the smoke!

Wait a second. No! The scar

should be on the other side!

Betty goes on in another two

minutes. Okay, two minutes for Betty.

Two minutes, two.

Oh, what are you doing?

Leave it!

Leave it!

Put it in the center.

Oh, no, no!

Stop it!

That's okay.

Just go away.

Be careful! Be careful

not to ruin the costume.

You've finally returned.

What are you doing here?

You're not allowed in here.

This box is for stage personnel

only. Come on. Let's go.

What the hell do you-

Stay where you are.

Betty?

- Keep your positions.

- Keep going.

It was an accident.

Nothing more. Okay?

Give it here.

Okay, maestro.

Well done, Betty!

You're so beautiful!

That's enough, Mara!

Don't be childish.

You're a star!

You really think so?

Bravo. You're wonderful! Wonderful!

Betty, my sincerest compliments.

You were sensational.

Thank you.

There'll be a first-night

party later on. Thank you.

Betty, you were magnificent.

Thank you, maestro.

Will you be at the reception? Yes.

Marc,

the press are here.

What about the accident

with the lights?

The shouting and the screaming!

What shouting and screaming?

You didn't hear it? It came

from one of the boxes. No.

Betty?

Oh, Marc!

Marc, wasn't she great?

I know we've had some trouble, but

it's got nothing to do with Macbeth.

The only bad luck Macbeth

has brought you is fame.

I know.

My mother was a singer.

You better run along.

People will be waiting for you.

Fantastic!

I mean it! Betty, you were

fantastic! You were great!

I just love Verdi's music.

I really do!

Oh, god, you were wonderful.

Just wonderful.

Just that damn, damn director!

I can't take him anymore.

Giulia?

You work here

in the theater?

Ah, no.

Excuse me.

Ahh, you're a fan of mine. Yes.

The first.

First what?

Congratulations.

Fan.

You were wonderful.

Thank you.

Do you want an autograph? Oh, yeah.

I'd like that.

Thank you.

Excuse me.

What name shall i-

Excuse me.

Alan.

Alan?

Mm-Hmm.

Thank you.

Are you a foreigner?

Oh, no.

Everything is ready, inspector,

and they're all waiting for you.

Okay. So you are a policeman, not a fan.

Can't a policeman be a fan? It's just-

I'm not an expert on opera,

but...

Your voice is-

Thanks for the autograph.

Yes?

Hi. What did the cop want? Hi.

My autograph.

Why is he here?

Who knows?

Oh, maybe because of the accident with

the lights. One of the stagehands died.

What?

Yeah, it's pretty weird.

Leave your costume there. Marc

says it needs a few alterations.

Listen. I don't want to go to the party

alone. Would you feel like taking me?

Please?

Sure, i'd love to!

I almost forgot.

You were great tonight.

And it looks like i'm the

last one to congratulate you.

So you think it would be okay if I had a

kiss? Even if i'm only the stage manager?

What do you say?

Did you really like me?

Really?

Like you? I loved you!

From the great Mara Giacova.

With her best wishes.

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