Spirits of the Dead Page #2

- Unacceptable.

Power cannot be shared.

Suddenly I had a rival.

A rival, or rather a companion

who beat me in everything,

but who watched me

from a benevolent distance.

He exasperated me

but I felt extremely curious

about him.

Good God!

Wilson!

You again, as usual!

We were both expelled.

It took me a long time to forget.

has always haunted you.

- Before you leave...

- Let me finish!

Several years later

I enrolled in medicine,

out of curiosity.

I remind you that a doctor

is also a sorcerer.

We shall seek life

in the depths of matter.

And now I have the pleasure

of dissecting before you

a human body

which has always been

the dream of priests,

poets or philosophers.

To be precise, I shall open

a human heart.

If we were dealing with

a live body,

we'd process in this fashion.

Going laterally from the sternum,

between the 6th and 7th rib,

we'd find the apex of the heart.

But in the present case,

we shall section

all the ribs of the sub-auxiliary

region on the left

and the right

as far as the sternum.

Then we will separate

the diaphragm

and fold back the rib cage.

This will reveal the contents

of the thoracic cavity.

The heart, gentlemen,

is a hollow muscle

composed essentially of a firm

ventricular mass

and a softer auricular mass.

This pump

which gives forth

as much as it receives,

has come to be seen

as a symbol

of courage and generosity.

Does Mr. Wilson have

a comment?

No. In that case,

we may proceed.

Thank you!

Even in dealing with a corpse,

always be sure of the

cleanliness of your instruments.

It is said, gentlemen,

that the heart is the seat of

the emotions, the passions.

Indeed.

But experience shows that it is

the seat of our cares,

our sorrows.

Its only generosity lies

in the suffering it gives.

So, when we have cut the ribs,

separated the diaphragm

and folded back what is

commonly called the rib cage,

we can deliver our patient

from the source of her woes.

The doctor is a benefactor.

We will thus bring her relief.

Along with the heart...

No!

We'll remove despair

and the pain of love.

Gentlemen, we shall restore her

her pristine purity,

the peace of paradise lost.

Even if it's a living person,

make sure your instruments

are perfectly clean.

Here, put this on!

Cover yourself.

Did she die?

Forget about the girl!

It's him, don't you see?

I had to leave the University,

and I joined the Austrian Army.

To fight.

But no one fights anymore.

The twin garrison is infamous.

Thanks to me.

People have told me all about

the trouble. The poor women.

All was well...

until that night.

Don't. It's Wilson!

You recognize me?

I'm flattered.

There were many of us

the other night.

It was dark,

and you were so busy.

Good evening, Mr Wilson.

- Is that Wilson?

- Be careful, Tonina.

This Wilson is surely not

the lover you dream of.

He's made his reputation

from men...

not from us.

He loves parades, the theater,

dressing up.

He needs an audience.

But in private,

he puts on a poor show.

- Have you met him before?

- No... and I don't want to.

I hate wasting my time.

- Are you referring to me?

- You... you.

You are not the only

man alive, Wilson.

Are you taunting me?

Are you threatening me?

I'm challenging you.

Ace.

She loved cards. But I could

always keep my hand up.

I decided to teach her a lesson.

Court card!

Two hundred.

Double.

I'll see you.

Ace, Jack.

Wilson has lost.

Are you sure?

Ace, King.

I thought you were bluffing.

Bluff and window-dressing...

That's you, Wilson.

The card-player resembles

the lover.

He gets tired.

No staying power, my dear.

Court card.

Ace.

Will you accept my watch?

It has three jewels.

I'll see you, my dear.

Ace, King.

The same.

The game continues.

Court card.

Court card.

Ace.

Pour me a drink

while I collect.

From then on, she lost

inexorably until morning.

Ace.

All of it.

I want to see you.

Top card?

Top card.

Franz, count this up, please.

Thank you, sir.

Add a thousand.

Four thousand thalers,

plus a thousand...

- I can't pay you, Wilson!

- No problem.

I propose double or nothing.

It's your last chance.

If you win, we're even.

And if I lose?

You'll still owe me nothing.

But you'll be mine.

How? 0n what conditions?

Whatever conditions I choose.

Decide. Quickly.

It's six o'clock.

I accept.

Ace.

King.

Now we pick up from the deck.

Jack.

Your luck is returning.

No.

I was wrong!

You've lost, Giuseppina!

Where? When?

Here. Now.

We shall leave you both.

There's no need, in fact...

stay, gentlemen.

Your turn, Gino.

Well?

You would like something else?

He wants something else,

Giuseppina.

May he?

Madam,

you owe this man nothing.

He cheated.

Here is the proof.

All the cheat needs to do

is distract people's attention.

Simply empty a glass...

light a cigar...

take out a watch.

You are not known to us, sir.

Who are you?

Wilson knows my name.

Your jacket. Your watch.

Get out of here.

Wilson, I demand

your resignation.

You will leave town today.

We're not against pleasure, but

no cheat may wear our uniform.

For us, you no longer exist.

Wilson!

Wilson!

This is the end of your

following me.

This is the end of your

hounding me to death.

This is the end of your

torturing me. It's over!

Wilson!

Wilson...

You shouldn't have killed me.

Without me, you no longer exist.

Dead to the world.

Dead to hope.

If I die, you die as well.

My son...

I think it's a relief for you

to tell me these nightmares.

Promise the Lord never to

drink again.

Drunkenness makes man

like a beast.

You don't know

what you say or do.

- You don't believe me?

- Yes, I do. Be sensible.

Get some sleep.

Tomorrow you'll forget it.

You'll be ashamed

and ask God's forgiveness.

Give up your debauchery.

Seek the chaste love

of a good wife

and you'll no longer suffer

these hallucinations

which stem from your pride,

and only turn you in on yourself.

You cretin!

You don't believe me.

To hell with you!

The plane kept

circling the airport

seemingly unable

to decide to land.

It was the first time

I had been to Rome

and I had the odd feeling

that this trip,

put off for so long

was to be very significant

in my life.

For a moment, I even had

the absurd hope

that the plane wouldn't land...

but would take me

far from Rome.

It was not to be.

The airport's invisible nets

had already snared the plane

and were dragging it

helplessly towards earth.

Control tower, request authority

to disembark passengers.

Mr. Edwards...

There he is! Toby Dammit!

No! Stop it!

Please!

Bastard! What a jerk!

I'm sorry. Forgive me.

All those lights.

Those blinding lights...

I just can't stand them.

It's true.

I'm a night person.

I hate light. Yes, I hate it.

You swore you'd leave me alone.

I am Father Spagna.

Welcome to Rome.

Then you would be...

I represent the film production.

These are two directors,

the Manetti brothers.

Maurizio and Ernestino.

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