The Climax Page #3

for Franz. Franz Munzer, my fianc.

He should be waiting for you.

But if I'm not here...

He'll wait.

But, Doctor, I...

I'm sorry, my dear, but Count

Seebruck expects the report tonight.

I won't keep you a moment.

You know,

I heard you sing tonight.

I haven't heard a voice

like that in 10 years.

Thank you, Doctor. You have a

great career ahead of you, my dear.

I hadn't thought a throat examination

would be necessary after the performance.

It's a rule of the Royal Theatre.

You are part ofthat theater now,

my dear, and you must obey its rules.

From now on, your music

must come before everything.

But what about Franz? Oh, Franz,

of course. But that will come later.

It's hard to believe that it's 10 years since

I brought Marcellina here after a great triumph.

Ah, Luise.

This is Miss Klatt.

How do you do, Luise?

Is that Marcellina?

Yes. Perhaps I shouldn't say it...

and I don't say it boastfully...

but Count Seebruck told me

that my voice reminded him of hers.

It's true. That's why I behaved so

rudely that morning in the library.

I was certain it was Marcellina's voice

come back to life again.

That's a wonderful compliment,

Doctor.

You knew her very well, didn't you?

No one knew her better.

Now will you come with me?

Excuse me.

Don't mind Luise.

She was Marcellina's maid

and companion.

She worshipped her. And as a reward for her

devotion, I brought her here to keep house for me.

You're handy to the theater,

aren't you? I have to be.

You songbirds

are my official responsibility.

And if I'm too busy to get away, I can still

hear the opera through these ventilators.

It's like a private

performance, isn't it?

Oh, this is lovely.

That's Marcellina as Isolde.

She sang it beautifully.

She must be very real

to you, Doctor.

Yes. Let me show you.

I have souvenirs here

of every role she ever sang.

What do you think

became of Marcellina, Doctor?

That is a mystery

that has never been solved.

She used this fan

in Romeo and Juliet.

And this slipper is one of a pair

she wore in Mozart's Nozze di Figaro.

Oh.

What tiny feet she must have had.

Like a child.

That's true. A child.

What exquisite pearls.

She always wore them

in The Magic Voice.

She had them on

the night she disappeared.

How would you like to wear them

when you sing The Magic Voice?

I? Perhaps I'm talking out of turn.

Seebruck told me tonight

he plans on reviving it with you.

Oh. Oh, I can't believe it.

Shall we try them on for luck?

She always wound them

around her throat.

Like this.

Her slender,

graceful throat.

Exquisite to the touch.

- I shouldn't keep Franz waiting so long.

- I'm sorry.

I forgot all about him. Now

let's take a look at your throat.

I won't keep you

another moment.

You'll be coming here

regularly, you know.

From now on, I'm responsible

for your physical welfare.

Oh, just sit down there,

my dear.

Then you're not going to

operate on me? Of course not.

Well, all these things

are rather frightening.

I know exactly what you mean. I feel

the same way when I go to the dentist's.

Now then.

If you'll remove your hat...

and loosen your cape.

Now then. Sit back in the

chair and be comfortable.

This is only a routine examination.

It won't take long.

The light.

We're ready.

Now watch the light.

No, no. Watch it.

I... I can't. It hurts my eyes.

It'll only be for a minute.

I want to relax you

before I examine your throat.

You don't mind it now, do you?

Rest, my dear.

Restore those tired

and broken nerves.

Drive out all fear and weariness.

Chase away the shadows and forms...

that exhaust our emotions

and enfeeble us.

That's better.

You're relaxing now.

Body, muscles, nerves, brain.

You're gliding away

into pleasant places.

You don't resist anymore.

Gently slipping into another world...

a world of my design

where you will be helpless without me.

Can you hear me?

Can you hear me?

Yes.

I hear you, Doctor.

You don't want to sing again. Ever.

Tonight, you give your voice

and your will to me.

I'm in control.

Your voice will no longer

answer your brain.

It will obey mine instead.

Look at the mirror.

Keep looking at it.

You will never try to sing again.

Say it.

I...

I will never try to sing again.

That voice was never yours.

It belongs to Marcellina,

but it's leaving you.

I'm sending it back to her.

It must be silenced forever.

I forbid you to sing again.

My...

My throat.

I'll take care of that.

You will take this atomizer with you

and never be without it.

It will remind you of my control.

Shall we get up now?

I... I must have fallen asleep.

Just what I wanted.

And my throat?

Perfect.

I don't think it's going

to give us a bit of trouble.

Can I help you, Doctor?

Yes, Luise.

Send Miss Klatt home

in the carriage.

#Ah, tell me why this doubt

should fall to me #

# Whose tragic... #

#Ah, tell me why

this doubt should... #

#Ah... #

#Ah, tell me why this doubt

should fall to me #

#Ah, tell me why this doubt #

#Should fall to me #

# Whose tragic power #

#Seems to call to me #

#Ah ##

Marcellina, it's come back.

That voice... That voice

to take you away from me.

But I won't let it.

I won't let it.

How can you sit there when we don't

even know what's happened to her?

We know what happened.

She made a great success.

That is no reason to disappear into

thin air. I'm going to the police.

Here she is.

Angela, where have you been?

I'm sorry, Franz. Really.

We were worried about you.

Please forgive me.

Of course, but...

Won't you tell me what happened?

I... I don't know.

You don't know?

Angela, I waited for you at the theater

for hours. You must have gone someplace.

Let's not talk about it

tonight, Franz.

I... I'm very tired.

Some other time.

Angela, forgive me.

L... I was so worried

about you,

I forgot to tell you

how wonderful you were.

I was in the audience, you know.

You... You got five curtain calls.

Then when I left

and waited for you...

I didn't wait so long.

Leon told me that across the street

there was a little jewelry shop...

where men bought their present,

and then they...

Well...

For you.

To...

To remind you of your first success.

My first success.

Oh, Franz.

Oh, my darling.

Please hold me tight.

Franz, I... I'm afraid.

Afraid of what?

I... I don't know.

They tell me she's young, beautiful

and really can sing.

Good morning, Count. May I have a statement

for my newspaper? Now, gentlemen. Please.

The Magic Voice has been out

of the repertory for 10 years, hasn't it?

Yes, ever since La Marcellina's

strange disappearance.

Then you found the new soprano.

Then I found Miss Klatt.

Did you say "Klatt"?

Franz.

#Warriors bold

We are come to this garden fete #

#Marching to love

as we march to war #

Good morning, my dearJarmila.

Well, our baritone is positively

glowing this morning.

Glowing with new admiration

for you, my dear.

Few prima donnas would confess

so openly they had anything to learn.

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