The Big Blue Page #11

DUFFY:

I thought it was Spanish that you

spoke?

JOHANA:

(after a beat)

Italian is practically the same

thing.

EXT. PORT OF MESSINE - DAY

A ferry comes into the dock, as a plank is slowly lowered.

As it descends, four rail cars lie in wait in its belly.

JOHANA comes off the boat, carrying her suitcase, she wears

a light summer dress. She looks around, seeming a little

lost.

A white FIAT taxi screeches to a halt beside her. JOHANA

jumps. The driver whose arm loosely dangles from the car

window, grins at her.

DRIVER:

... Taxi?

EXT. SAN DOMENICO - DAY

The white FIAT taxi pulls up in front of the SAN DOMENICO

hotel, but it is JACQUES who gets out of it. The driver

helps him with his bags.

RECEPTIONIST:

(checking the books)

Mayol... Mayol... No reservation.

JACQUES:

(uncomfortable)

... Are you sure?

RECEPTIONIST:

Positive, Sir.

JACQUES looks down at the piece of paper stapled to his

ticket.

JACQUES:

This is the hotel San Domenico?

RECEPTIONIST:

Yes Sir, and it has been so for

127 years.

JACQUES:

(more and more

uncomfortable)

Yes, but... So, you haven't got a

room left?

RECEPTIONIST:

No Sir, the hotel is full because

of the Diving championship.

JACQUES:

Ah?!

The Receptionist starts working on his papers again.

JACQUES, completely lost, stares blankly at the hotel clerk,

wondering what to do next.

INT. HOTEL - DAY

The tiny FIAT clatters onto the sidewalk in front of the

hotel narrowly avoiding the Countess' limo. Parks its

frontwheels on the sidewalk, rear end in the road.

ENZO, followed by ROBERTO, get out of his car, like a king

descending from his carriage. On the way, he stops and

kisses a distinguished elderly woman's hand? The hotel's

CONTESSA.

ENZO tosses his keys to a doorman who stepped up to

complain.

ENZO:

(to doorman)

Be careful with that car, it's a

new paint job.

ENZO enters the hotel and sees JACQUES.

ENZO:

(yelling across the

lobby)

Giacomino! My friend! My brother!

ENZO and JACQUES. The two men kiss each other on both

cheeks, pound each others back. They are both moved.

ENZO:

(looking at him)

So you finally decided to join us?

You did the right thing!

(to the desk clerk)

Hey Paolo! Come stai? Get my

key!

(to Jacques,

gesturing over his

shoulder)

You remember my little brother

Roberto?

Roberto (26) nods to JACQUES who shakes his hand.

JACQUES:

I remember. Hi Roberto!

ENZO:

What room have you got?

JACQUES:

I don't have one.

ENZO:

You don't have a room?

(at the top of his

lungs)

Paolo? What did I just hear? I

personally called you to reserve a

room for my good friend Jacques

Mayol and you treat him like a

stranger?!

JACQUES:

(embarrassed)

It's okay, Enzo. I'll go somewhere

else.

ENZO:

Not only is Jacques Mayol a very

special friend, but he happens to

be one of the best divers in the

world! And you're throwing him

out! Are you crazy, or what?

Stupido!

JACQUES:

(really embarrassed

now)

Enzo drop it, I'll find something.

ENZO looks at him for a moment and gives him a warm smile.

He hands him his own keys.

ENZO:

Take mine. I'll take the Countess'

suite. She told me she was leaving

for the cemetery... She'll be more

comfortable there.

PAOLO half-heartedly, hands him the key. ENZO glances at

JACQUES to make sure he's properly impressed. He throws

his arm around JACQUES' shoulder, hugs him and gives him a

real smile.

ENZO:

(sincerely)

I'm glad you're here.

EXT. HOTEL TERRACE TAORMINA - JACQUES - ENZO - DAY

They're at a table on a terrace that overlooks the sea.

They've just arrived and all around them people are lunching

away furiously.

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