The Big Blue Page #15

EXT. ON PODIUM - NIGHT

On the podium, NOVELLI, the organizer of the championship,

stands in his tuxedo, talking into a microphone. An older

man in a worn out suit, stands next to him.

NOVELLI:

Ladies and Gentlemen, your

attention, please. Mr. Andre

Bonnet, President of the

International Diving Championship

Committee, is going to present

this trophy to the new world

champion of free diving. This

afternoon, our new champion

descended to the remarkable depth

of 280 feet.

The audience applauds.

NOVELLI:

This young man Tia...

NOVELLI can't quite read his notes.

NOVELLI:

Tiraro... Tirao-re... Moa...

ANDRE BONNET takes his turn to read the note. A young

Tahitian jumps up, heads for the podium.

TAHITIAN:

Tiraero Moameora.

NOVELLI hesitates to repeat the name.

NOVELLI:

... Let's all give him a big hand.

The audience cheers and applauds the new champion. ENZO

sits at a table, watching the ceremony.

ENZO:

(very sarcastic)

A one day hero!

He gets up and walks out of the room.

INT. BAR - NIGHT

JACQUES and JOHANA are sitting at the bar. The whiskeys

have gone to their heads. ENZO walks over to them.

ENZO:

A new world record! That's great!

It gives me something to beat

tomorrow!

(to Johana)

You ever been to Tahiti?

JOHANA:

No.

ENZO:

I'll take you there. We'll live

in the sun. You'll cook fresh

fish and we'll make love under the

coconut trees.

JOHANA smiles and shakes her head.

JOHANA:

You forgot the Hula!

ENZO:

Yes, of course, I'll do the Hula!

JOHANA:

You'll be lovely, but no thanks.

(to Jacques)

Jacques, would you do a native

dance for me?

JACQUES:

I don't know how... Excuse me.

JACQUES leaves the bar. JOHANA watches him go. ENZO

notices her way of watching him. He's a little jealous.

ENZO:

He looks strange, doesn't he?

Like a baby that just learned to

walk.

JOHANA:

Have you known him long?

ENZO:

Forever. We used to live on the

same island in Greece, when we

were kids.

JOHANA:

What was he like, when he was

little?

ENZO:

Little. Very little. And skinny,

very skinny too. That is compared

to me.

JOHANA:

(amused)

I get it, Enzo you were a superior

child.

ENZO:

Exactly! What is it Johana? You're

so crazy about him, you don't see

the truth?!

She doesn't answer.

ENZO:

Forget it, don't think of Jacques

as a human being. He's from another

world.

She smiles.

JOHANA:

And just where are you from?

ENZO:

Italy!

EXT. TERRACE OF THE HOTEL - NIGHT

ENZO sits at the grand piano in the corner of the terrace.

Beethoven was always a favorite of his.

JACQUES, very tipsy by now walks over, a glass in each

hand. He hands ENZO a glass, then takes off his tennis

shoes and sits them neatly on the piano.

ENZO:

There is nothing like music. It

speaks from the heart. Can you

tell me why we bother diving in

the dark, the cold, without ever

taking the time to breathe? Huh?

Can you tell me why we do it?

JACQUES nods.

ENZO:

Why?

JACQUES:

... For the mermaids.

ENZO smiles, moved.

ENZO:

My father used to see them

everywhere too... but the only one

he ever caught was my mother...

Actually she caught him.

A beat.

JACQUES:

Today at lunch, you asked me if I

had any questions.

ENZO:

Ah ha. You finally want to know

about women.

JACQUES:

Why? Are they what's most

important?

ENZO:

No... It depends... Sometimes they

are... What, exactly do you want

to know?

JACQUES:

... Everything.

ENZO:

Everything about what?

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