The Big Blue Page #28

JACQUES nods and pushes the door open with the bags he's

carrying. They enter a huge, very old apartment filled

with models and paintings of boats.

JACQUES leads JOHANA to the other end of the apartment.

INT. BATHROOM - ON UNCLE LOUIS (SORT OF)

It's a huge old-fashioned bathroom. The centerpiece is a

deep ancient bathtub on faded gild feet. There's a rippling

shadow of a body under the bath water.

JOHANA gasps.

JACQUES:

Don't be afraid. It's my Uncle...

Louis.

He goes to the tub and pinches the end of a tube. UNCLE

LOUIS, underwater, has been breathing through it. LOUIS'

head pops out of the water, furious.

UNCLE LOUIS:

Assassin!

JACQUES:

(loud, as if speaking

to a deaf man)

Uncle Louis, this is my friend

Johana.

UNCLE LOUIS:

Did you buy the cassettes? The

Wagner, the Berlioz?

JACQUES:

I brought Johana to meet you.

UNCLE LOUIS:

Are you crazy? I have no use for

a woman! Since my accident.

JACQUES:

No, no. Johana is visiting me.

JOHANA:

(tentatively)

Bonjour Monsieur... Louis.

(she looks to Jacques)

JACQUES:

(whispering to Johana)

Uncle Louis. He's a 75 year old

amazing guy, isn't he?

JOHANA:

I'm very pleased to meet you, Uncle

Louis.

UNCLE LOUIS:

(to Johana)

Did you bring the cassettes, the

Wagner, the Berlioz?

(pointing to Jacques)

This idiot never listens to anything

I say. Sometimes I wonder if he

isn't deaf.

LOUIS climbs out of the bathtub, and pulls on a bathrobe.

Behind him he's pulling two insulated wires out of the

bathtub. We see that they're connected to small underwater

speakers. As they surface, incredibly LOUD MUSIC BLASTS:

the finale of the "1812 Overture",

(trumpets, timpani, cannons, etc...) The sound fills the

room, the apartment, and probably all of ANTIBES.

INT. DINING ROOM - JACQUES - JOHANA - LOUIS - LATER

The three of them are at the table. There are a few scraps

on their plates on a threadbare lace tablecloth.

Incredibly LOUD SYMPHONIC MUSIC is PLAYING. LOUIS is as

deaf as a fence post.

Everyone has to scream over the music.

UNCLE LOUIS:

Where are you from, Henrietta?

JACQUES:

(correcting him)

Johana... New York.

UNCLE LOUIS:

What kind of name is that? To be

named after a city?

JACQUES:

(smiling)

He doesn't hear too well.

JOHANA:

(yelling)

I said I was from New York.

UNCLE LOUIS:

(yelling at Jacques)

That explains it! The best lays

are from New York!

JACQUES:

Uncle Louis!

UNCLE LOUIS:

No, no. It's true. When I was in

New York, oh boy!

(to Johana)

Before my accident, you understand?

(then back to Jacques)

JACQUES stands up and lowers the music.

JACQUES:

(impatient)

Uncle Louis! Johana is my friend.

She's come to stay with me for a while.

UNCLE LOUIS:

Good. That way I'll see more of

you... Where are you going to stay?

JACQUES:

Well... here.

UNCLE LOUIS:

(outraged)

In my apartment?

JACQUES:

(with a sigh)

It's my apartment.

UNCLE LOUIS:

(jumping up)

Liar! Thief! Torturer! When you

were an orphan I nursed you at my

breast.

JACQUES:

Uncle Louis, we have a guest!

UNCLE LOUIS:

I'm going to put a lock on the

telephone.

(them calming down,

to Johana)

Did you bring the cassettes?

INT. BEDROOM - JACQUES - JOHANA

JACQUES' room looks like a diving equipment storage room

with a bed in it. JACQUES notices JOHANA'S gaze.

JACQUES:

(solicitously)

You think it'll be all right?

You'll be comfortable here?

JOHANA:

(catching her breath)

It's going to be... interesting.

EXT. PORT OF ANTIBES - DAY

JACQUES, JOHANA and ROBERTO are waiting at the port.

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