Splendor Page #2

- Yes.

A handsome man!

He looks like you.

Rather, it's you who resemble him.

- Who's the other man?

- It's Marshall Tito.

A friend of yours?

Well, yes. Though

we never met.

What do they have for

breakfast in France?

Bye, see you tonight.

- Do you want some more chicken?

- No.

When I was leaving I saw that my sister

was preparing homemade tagliatelle.

- And I'll have to eat them.

- Well, unless you don't like them.

Rather... it's late.

- Want me to wait for you?

- No, I'll just finish these numbers.

- Good night, Chantal.

- See you tomorrow.

- You're Swedish, right?

- I'm French, from Maisons-Laffite.

Me, I'm Italian.

From Afragola.

My father sent me to work

at my uncle's hotel-restaurant.

- I don't really like it.

- Are you going back home, then?

Yes, unless I find another job.

And you?

I landed here when I was 20.

I was part of the ballet-show

"Les plus belles".

I stayed here, for love.

When we arrived on tour...

we would play in small places,

no Milan nor Rome.

One night while I was dancing,

I was stricken by a spectator.

Young, very good looking. And we

stared and stared at each other.

When the show was over, the handsome

young man came into the dressing room.

And took me with him,

just as I was.

With just a robe

over my silk dress.

Was this gorgeous young man

the owner of The Splendor?

Yes, it was Jordan.

Was he gorgeous as a young man?

This town is a bit like

Maisons-Laffite, my town.

It's kind of... Italian, old

Roman, because...

- Jules Cesar?

- O, Julius Cesar, the Italian.

He built the encampment...

and called it "mansions". Mansion

is "maison", Maisons-Laffitte.

You're so cultured.

You know so many things!

- I'm home, thank you and good night.

- See you tomorrow at the Splendor?

Do you always go to the movies so often?

You've been there almost every night.

Well, I... I go often. I really

like cinema as a show.

When I was in Naples, I never

used to go to the movies.

Good night.

Miss.

Miss... I have to

tell you something.

Go on.

I'll tell you tomorrow.

So what? A plate's been broken.

Let's eat.

Enjoy!

- The where and the when.

- The how and the why.

Good morning!

I guess we're colleagues from now on.

Yes, but we won't compete. You

want viewers, I'm looking for souls.

Looks like the souls will be

paying just like the viewers.

I'll never write a review

for the priest's movies.

But this Pope is smart.

He's opened 5,000 parochial

movie theaters in all Italy.

Think of what he's done, in terms

both economic and related to the...

congregation of youths

around the Church.

Yes, like when we used to go

to prayers to play ball.

Cinema has been inspired

by the Church.

A magic place, with columns,

marble, domes...

where people could gather

with the promise...

of another life, different

from every day life.

Movies are a kind

of great beyond.

And also equal to all,

there are no damned...

Pope Pacelli has understood.

People's souls are ours, he said...

even when they go to the movies.

Ah! "Wild Strawberries"

I've read Cacciraghi's review.

Powerful film. We'll see it today.

- I'll have a bite and will be back.

- Right.

- The when and the where.

- The how and the why.

- Thank you.

- Thank you.

Mr. Paulo, this is the first time

that you honor us with a visit.

No... I was here in...

wait... in '49...

with my poor mother.

She was a big fan

of the great Toto.

But Toto kept on making

movies after '49.

- My mother died in 1950.

- I'm sorry.

To really understand solitude...

you have to lose your mother.

- Is this the entrance?

- Yes.

- Can I go in?

- Please do.

Thank you.

- You're very courteous, you know.

- That's kind of you, thank you.

"The taste of strawberries...

"Returning to this place

from a distant past...

"nostalgically brought

to mind my youth.

"Sara.

"Sara.

"I'm your cousin, Isaac. I may not look

like the one from yesteryear, but you...

"you're still the same,

you haven't changed a bit.

"Good morning, beautiful cousin.

What are you doing?

Picking strawberries,

can't you see?

- How long have you been the

projectionist? - Since '37.

- Since '37?

- Yes.

- Is it hard work?

- It takes will power and attentiveness.

You have to prepare

it in the morning...

- See?

- It broke.

- So?

- You fix it.

You take the film and

cut between frames,

on the line. You scratch it,

remove the gel.

Take the acetone...

And you have amyl acetate.

See the frames?

You don't even notice it.

Then you continue.

It looks nice. What if

it happens again?

It means someone will be

booing in the seats.

"Good bye.

"Wait, Mr. Hulot...

"Did you hurt yourself?

"Mr. Commander...

"Mr. Police Chief.

"Watch out!

"Once again, attention!

"Get ready!

"Pamela, take two,

take three, take five.

- "Take seven.

- Stop!

- "Huh?

- This one was fine.

"Everyone to the starting

position, quick!

"Pamela, one four, second!

"Action!

"There!

- "Father, father!

- The Rex... The Rex.

"Hail The Rex! The fascist regime's

greatest accomplishment!

"As the representative for the mayor,

I wish you a good trip!

"Viva Italia!

- "Buy at Biscein's

- "How is it?

- "Buy at Biscein's

- "How is it?

"How is it? How is it?

"Good bye!"

They made me work a lot,

until late, for little money...

So I go and tell the man:

"Listen, I want to quit."

So he looks at me and says:

"Go, go, the school of life

has taught you nothing."

So I answered:

"If it's taught me nothing, then

you haven't even been there."

Good answer.

It was a nice answer.

It's just that I... didn't...

answer that way.

- How come?

- Because I... didn't...

think of it at the moment.

I just sat there,

I even blushed.

I said:
"Excuse me, then."

Yes, that was a good answer...

It came to me two days later.

I wasn't going to call two days later:

"Last Wednesday you said:

"Go, go, the school of life

has taught you nothing."

"Want to hear my answer?

If it's..."

It's outdated as an answer.

In movies, on the other hand...

In movies that doesn't happen,

because everything is prepared,

everything foreseen,

even the unforeseen.

The unforeseen doesn't happen, the

unforeseen is foreseen in movies.

The love scenes, for example.

In life...

you play it as it comes.

It's not all prepared.

When you make a

mistake, for example...

in the wrong place, or in an

uncomfortable, squeaky bed.

I haven't heard the bed squeak.

That's because I lubed

it beforehand.

Well, if you prefer watching things

in movies rather than doing them...

I'm leaving, good bye.

Good bye forever.

Well... "good bye forever"

is only said in...

Isn't it "I'm leaving forever?"

It's something that has to be prepared,

thought over, written, or else...

"I'm leaving then."

"What do you mean, leaving?

"Just yesterday you were saying..."

"Yesterday's gone."

"Yesterday's gone?" You

haven't kept your promise.

"You're promises are like the wind.

What, are promises just wind?"

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