Religiosa Portuguesa, A

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THE PORTUGUESE NUN

A WOMAN ALONE:

Julie de Hauranne.

Your passport, please.

Miss de Hauranne,

are you with the film?

Yes, I'm an actress.

French people

rarely speak Portuguese.

My mother was Portuguese.

My father is French Basque.

So you know Lisbon?

No.

When I was little, we went to Porto.

Then my mother died.

I'll be discovering Lisbon.

One of your colleagues

is already here.

Yes. The director.

When do the other actors arrive?

There's only one.

The day after tomorrow, I think.

Only two actors?

I recorded the sound already, alone.

We're just filming images here.

You two don't speak to each other?

No.

And I'm never seen speaking.

So what did you record?

A 17th century French text,

that we only hear.

I never see French films.

They're for intellectuals.

Our films are popular in Portugal.

Only in Lisbon,

where there are many intellectuals.

No city is perfect.

I'll show you your room.

Thank you.

If you need something, dial 9.

I suppose this is your ball.

Yes, Madam.

Here you are.

Thanks, Madam.

Are you looking for someone?

I don't think so.

Are you alone?

Yes.

Me too.

What's your name?

Vasco.

I'm Julie.

How do you say it?

Ju-lie.

Madam Ju-lie.

Madam is very beautiful.

Good afternoon, Vasco.

Good afternoon, Madam.

If I'm alone

I don't want to be

If I'm not alone

I want to be

It seems I always want to be

What I am not

Happiness is being someone else

But that someone else is not happy

Because he follows his own mind

And not my designs

People do as they please

With what is only nothing

But regret if they don't do it

It lies abandoned on the road

Oh, Denis!

Yes, I'm here.

I'm out walking around.

Have dinner without me,

I want to explore.

A drink around midnight, perfect.

At the hotel bar, ok.

See you then.

If I loved you as much

as I've told you a thousand times,

wouldn't I be dead by now?

I've deceived you,

it is you who should be offended.

Miss?

Do you speak Portuguese?

Yes.

Isn't this square beautiful at night?

Yes.

It's beautiful in the daytime too,

but not the same.

I'll find out tomorrow.

Lisbon never shows us

the same face twice.

I haven't had a chance

to see that yet.

Where are you from?

Paris.

- Are you on holiday?

- No, I'm working.

Goodnight.

Here's my card.

My name is Enrique.

If I can do anything for you,

don't hesitate to ask.

Thank you.

Good evening, Denis. Excuse me.

For what?

I'm late.

Barely.

Did you enjoy your evening?

Yes.

Do you have friends in Lisbon?

Yes.

So you weren't alone tonight?

No.

Good.

When we recorded the text in Paris,

you didn't seem well.

I'd just separated from my boyfriend.

The one I knew?

You've known a few.

The actor?

Actors are my specialty.

The latest one, tall and dark.

He was short and blond. Alexandre.

I knew him, too.

He was nice.

Yes, he was nice.

I'm happy to be here to play

the Portuguese nun.

Do you think

you'd be happier if,

like her, you'd had only

one love in your life?

I wonder whether, in any life,

there is ever more than one love.

THE COUNT OF VISEU

There's sound,

but just a guide track.

Quiet on the set.

We're about to shoot.

Quiet, please.

Camera.

Roll sound.

Rolling.

Scene three, shot one, take one.

Action!

Cut.

Hello.

Good evening.

May I speak to Mr. Cunha Melho

de Lencastre, please?

Speaking.

This is Julie de Hauranne.

I don't believe I gave you my name.

We met at the restaurant last night.

I was just thinking of you.

Last night you were alone.

If you're alone tonight,

perhaps we could get acquainted.

I just made an appointment.

But I'd be happy to canceI it.

You mustn't do that.

It can wait.

Where are you?

At the Hotel Senhora Do Monte,

in Graca.

I'll be there in thirty minutes.

I spent my earliest years

in a quinta,

surrounded by olive trees,

with my parents and little sister.

Dad was gone a lot.

Those are the happiest memories

of my life.

I was five

when the Revolution began.

That Revolution always

seemed abstract to me.

For me it was very real.

It was surely necessary

for the country,

but I'd rather have lived

in ignorance of that necessity.

What did the Revolution do to you?

My father, the Count of Viseu,

held important positions

under Salazar and Caetano.

He was compromised.

When the new regime came in,

he lost the quinta.

Fair punishment, surely.

But it deprived me

of the one place I'd been happy.

Where did you go?

We owned a building in Lisbon,

near Principe Real.

We lived on one floor,

without much furniture.

After a year, my father died.

The following year I lost my sister.

My mother nearly lost her mind.

To create a connection

with the world,

I studied medicine

and became a cardiologist.

A noble profession.

Yes. But I've never practised it.

Since my mother died, I've lived

alone in that vast, empty flat,

with a maid who only comes

during the day.

After dinner, would you accept

an invitation to my home?

Yes.

Why did you call me tonight?

I was touched by the way

you approached me yesterday.

I don't understand it myself.

I told you

I had an appointment tonight.

Yes, and you cancelled it.

That touched me too.

But my appointment still awaits me.

In the next room.

I'll introduce you.

Meet my appointment.

It's loaded.

I'd decided to end my story

like a Russian novel.

Now you won't?

No, thanks to you.

What will you do?

Leave.

Where?

We kept the servants' quarters

at the quinta.

I'll go there tomorrow, to think.

One must never think too much.

I know.

I'll stay only a few days.

Then what will you do?

Something with meaning.

Perhaps I'll finally find the courage

to practise medicine.

I'm glad.

What shall we do now?

You came to my room.

We could have a love affair.

But that would be derisory in light

of the feelings you inspire in me.

When I called,

I wasn't looking for an affair.

Even less so now.

I'll take you home, then.

I wish we could stay here

and be still.

Modern life does not allow

for immobility.

Either we go to bed,

or I take you home.

Let's do as modern life says

and take the automobile.

You forgot the candelabra.

You are the light.

I wanted to show you Lisbon

from here.

Can you imagine ending

a Russian novel

tonight, in this city?

Lisbon is not a Russian city.

I realise that, thanks to you.

The energy Lisbon gives us

is life itself.

The chapel is open.

It often is at night.

Let's go in.

Yes.

That nun...

She often spends the night

in the chapel.

I suddenly felt like

I had replaced her.

Maybe you had.

What should I do?

Talk to her.

I can't imagine she talks like we do.

In Lisbon, nuns talk.

And in Lisbon,

I will be the Portuguese nun.

I think you already are.

But tonight you must rest.

I suppose so.

I'll take you back to your hotel.

In Lisbon, the weather

is always changing.

Yes.

But today there will be no rain.

Good.

Only showers.

Good morning.

I didn't get the call sheet.

Of course not.

This is a chaotic shoot.

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