S1m0ne Page #2

- Eight years ago.

In that whole time

I never left my computer.

- Uh-huh. Good for you, Hank.

- Well, it's good and bad.

That's what caused this...

the eye tumour...

- Microwaves from the screen.

- Oh dear, I'm sorry.

Don't be, because

it was worth it.

- You have to see her.

- Oh, I've seen those.

- Not like this.

- I'll take care of that.

Well, you're talking about

a 'syn-thespian, ' a 'virtual actor. '

- No, we call them 'Vac-tors. '

- 'Vac-tors'? I need flesh.

- No, we call them 'Vac-tors. '

- 'Vac-tors'? I need flesh.

- Flesh is weak.

- It can't be done.

It can be done. With my new

computer code, it can be done.

You and me...

we can do this

together.

I don't know anything

about computers.

See, that's why... you're

so perfect, Mr Taransky.

You have something...

that I don't have.

What's that?

An eye...

an eye for performance.

You know the truth

when you see it. I know.

I mean, I've seen your movies.

I love your movies.

- You love my movies?

- 'Straw God'...

that changed my life.

You saw 'Straw God'?

I have seen every frame

of your work.

You're the only

filmmaker

with the artistic

integrity...

to realise my vision.

You and me

art and science...

we're the perfect

marriage.

Hank... I've had

a rough day today.

But I tell you what

I'll call you about this next week.

- We can talk.

- I won't be here in a week.

- The tumour is inoperable.

- I'll call you about it, okay?

That's what I'm trying to say.

The tumour is inoperable.

I'll be dead.

Well, I'm already

dead, Hank.

Call me!

This week!

Please.

What do you mean she won't work

with me? She's done nothing.

She doesn't have a single

credit to her name.

Better no credits

than a Taransky credit.

You don't understand. I've mortgaged

everything to finish this film.

The creditors are calling me.

They're at the door, for God's sake.

Hello?

Damn it!

Mr Taransky.

Mr Taransky!

- Mr Taransky!

- No, I'm not him!

- Mr Taransky!

- I'm not him!

Mr Taransky!

Hank Aleno!

I represent the estate

of Mr Hank Aleno.

It was his last wish

that you have this.

What is it?

I have no idea.

He wanted you to have it.

Valarie!

Valarie!

Valarie!

Valarie, what are

you running from?

From Valarie.

Valarie, no!

Jack, are you there?

Something like this can happen

and what... was it for?

'Why are we here? '

Is that what

you're asking, Jack?

Why are we here?

No 'why'...

just here.

Just here.

Ladies and gentlemen

of the jury

I know I may be guilty

of a crime

but it was committed with

the purest of intentions.

I wanted to send a message

to the acting community

who... put themselves

above the work

who put themselves above me.

So, what did

you guys think?

So fake.

Totally artificial.

Like we're supposed to believe

that was 19th-century Lisbon.

- Come on.

- Guys...

who's looking at the sets

when she's on screen?

Oh, yeah.

There he is. That's my dad

Viktor Taransky.

- She was magnificent.

- She's absolutely unreal.

Breathtaking.

She wasn't too cartoony

or anything?

- Who, the nun?

- Or are you talking about the mother?

A star like that, who cares

about the supporting cast?

Congratulations again.

She's not of this earth.

- You should be very proud.

- Oh... 'not of this earth. '

- And the rest of the film?

- She's a miracle, Dad.

Where did you

find her?

Well, I saw her picture

on the computer.

Computer?

You really didn't notice

anything unusual about it?

Only your brilliance.

To be honest

with what you had to work with

I was expecting a train wreck.

- You really pulled it off.

- I did?

Yeah. I have a feeling

Mum will take you back after this.

Back on the lot.

That's what...

I know. I know.

Come on, let's go.

A dazzling new ingenue has come

from seemingly nowhere

to capture the hearts of movie-going

audiences around the world

to capture the hearts of movie-going

audiences around the world

in her debut film

'Sunrise, Sunset. '

But who is Simone?

We know so little about her.

And why the secrecy?

All we know for sure

is that she was discovered

by little-known director

Viktor Tarinsky.

Taransky.

Simone!

Simone?

- Good to see you too, Elaine.

- Where is she?

- She's not here.

- Why isn't she with you?

Why? Because she would never come

to something like this.

She's intensely private.

Back to work, everyone.

She's not here.

Hey, listen.

Have you read the reviews?

They're love letters.

Listen to this one. Oh, here.

'Simone has the voice

of a young Jane Fonda

the body

of Sophia Loren

the grace of

well, Grace Kelly...

and the face of Audrey Hepburn

combined with an angel. '

- Almost right.

- I can't wait to meet her.

Oh, I don't know

if that's going to happen.

Why not?

She is somewhat

of a recluse.

That's how

she stays so pure.

She isolates herself

in her art.

Viktor, it's my studio.

Elaine, it's my actor.

There are other studios.

There's only one Simone.

Okay, have it

your way, Viktor.

Hello, Walter.

Nobody came in or went out

just like you said.

Very good.

- Mr Taransky?

- Yes?

Is Ms Simone

coming in today?

She's already here.

She arrived before you got here.

She's going to leave

long after you're gone.

Remember

under no circumstances

are you or anybody else

ever to enter this set

without my express

permission, understood?

Yes, sir.

Mr Taransky?

What if it catches

on fire?

Let it burn.

Good morning, Simone.

Good morning, Mr Taransky.

Simone, a star is...

digitised.

Do you know

what this means?

We have stepped

into a new dimension.

Our ability

to manufacture fraud

now exceeds our ability

to detect it.

I am the death of real.

...death of real.

...death of real.

Too much Meryl Streep.

A little less Streep...

and a little more...

Bacall.

Much.

While we're at it

there's a little something

I want to add

to your repertoire.

You've got the wrong

Holly Golightly.

Remember that thing

Audrey Hepburn does

in 'Breakfast

at Tiffany's'?

How do I look?

- Give me Audrey.

- How do I look?

Perfect.

Perfect, Simone.

Perfect.

Oh, God.

I'm so relaxed

around you.

I'm so myself.

You did create me.

I just brought someone else's

dream to life.

Mr Taransky, we both know

I was nothing without you.

I was computer code.

I was ones and zeros.

I was nothing.

Well...

that's true.

I don't want to boast, but...

Are you ever going to tell

the truth about me, Mr Taransky?

I'm going to tell

the truth about you.

Why wouldn't I?

Of course...

with Hank's tragic passing

his secret did die

with him.

This is a classic case

of technology

in search of an artist.

Someone with integrity

someone with vision

someone who can see...

see beyond this

irrational allegiance

to flesh and blood.

Someone who can see that with the rise

in the price of a real actor

and the fall in the price

of a fake

that the scales have tipped...

naturally in favour

of the fake.

Someone who can see

that if a performance is genuine

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