The Constant Nymph Page #2

I'm sure he couldn't cry.

If he'd fall in love, if some woman

could disturb him.

I'm sure he's never known

a woman.

If he could suffer,

that's what I mean.

What would make him suffer?

I don't know.

That's something that happens

to all of us.

Father, listen.

It's Lewis!

He's here!

Paula!

Paula, come on!

Didn't you hear Lewis?

Lewis Dodd!

Lewis Dodd!

-You're actually here!

-How are you, darling?

Hello, Tessa!

I've been swimming,

I've got my hair wet.

I wish you kids

would stop growing.

You make me feel very old!

You're growing up like sting weeds.

That's not very nice of you, Lewis.

Oh! What have you got there?

And those beautiful bags?

That's Mr. Trigorin.

The bags are his.

-Where did you find him?

-He's come to visit your father.

Mr. Trigorin staged a ballet

from one of your father's operas.

You are the charming daughters

of Mr. Sanger?

This is Paula.

And this--

this here is Tessa,

the pick of the bunch.

Girls, welcome your guest, please.

He looks like a flea trainer.

-Welcome.

-How long will you stay?

See what I mean, Mr. Trigorin?

They're charming little ladies.

-Ah, signore!

-Roberto, nice to see you!

Please, bring up these bags,

will you?

Oh, where is Toni?

-No, Tessie, you can't tell it.

-Of course, I can.

Lewis is part of this house.

Arent'you, Lewis?

What're you talking about?

Where's Toni?

Toni went to Zurich and

she wrote us a postcard.

She said she was staying with friends

only, we don't believe it.

Father's furious and says he'll

beat her when she gets back--

Wait, wait, one at a time.

You mean our mad little Toni...

...has become a "bad little Toni"?

Yes, and we think Fritz Bercovy

is at the bottom of it.

-We don't know, we're very upset.

-Who's Bercovy?

Fritz Bercovy, he's very rich,

he owns ten theatres now.

-Oh, little Fritz...

-It's very disturbing, Lewis!

-Yes, I know. She'll be back.

-We hope so...

-Oh, good morning, dear Lina!

-Madame Sanger.

Yes, sorry, Mme. Sanger.

-I've got a gift for you.

-A gift?

A beautiful and plump one.

It's waiting for you

on the patio.

-His name is Trigorin.

-Oh, Trigorin!

I know him from

Saint Petersburg. Trigorin!

She's driving Sanger mad.

I think he'd be glad...

-...if she left him.

-I don't know about that.

Children, please.

-Where do I sleep?

-In the loft.

Mr. Trigorin has

the guest room.

-Only if you'd take the other bed.

-With a flea trainer?

On the loft!

-May we help you--?

-No, darling, I'm sorry...

...but I'm dead.

I'm going to sleep.

Oh, if Sanger calls me, wake me...

(Thank you, darling.)

-...but gently.

-Yes, I will.

Here, let me do your hair.

Sanger said today that Lewis

was like the weather.

That if he never really cried,

he'd never be really great.

What do you think

could make him cry?

He must've been in love

and cried about that.

-He's never been in love.

-How do you know?

He may know

a lot of things but...

...he's never known real love

any more than we have.

-How do you know?

-I know.

There're things nobody has

to tell you about, you just know.

The way you moon over him is enough

to turn one's stomach.

I love Lewis, he's mine.

Do you think he knows about it?

I don't think he knows now, but...

...one day, he'll look at me

and he'll say:

"Darling, darling Tessa..."

And everything'll be all right.

-And you'll faint.

-Into his arms, probably.

And he'll be very glad because

he needs someone like me.

-Will you keep house for him?

-Of course I will.

Nobody on earth could be

more untidy than you.

Yes, except Lewis, so,

it'll be all right.

Shall you be engaged

or just married?

I'll be his very own wife and

love him as long as I live.

-Look, Tess, Toni!

-Where?

-Come on!

-Toni's back!

Toni!

Toni!

Toni!

Where did you get that hat?

-Hello, Tessa.

-Toni, you're b-- you're back.

-Of course, I'm back.

-Lewis is here.

-Lewis? Where?

-In the loft.

Kate!

Kate, Toni's back!

Toni's back!

-Hello!

-Hello, darling!

Kate, I'm back.

So I see.

If everyone's going to look

like that, I'm going.

Toni, may I ask

what is upon your head?

-The latest style. Zurich.

-Zurich? Oh!

-For a whole week!

-Did you have a good time?

I had a lovely time.

Anything I said I wanted,

Fritz got it for me.

-Fritz? Fritz Bercovy?

-Fritz, yes!

We had lovely meals.

-Not at Fritz's house?

-Of course not.

At the Splendid,

the best hotel.

Last night we had asparagus,

and lobsters...

-...and iced bombes and peaches...

-Did it make you sick?

Fritz had a saddle of mutton

and we had champagne.

We had champagne every night.

Did he buy you that hat?

No, I bought it

with my own money.

-Do you like it, Lewis?

-Superb.

It's large, but it suits you.

What have you done

to your hair?

-I had it dressed.

-Lovely.

-Sanger says he'll beat you.

-What will you tell him?

-The truth.

-What is the truth, Toni?

Anything you'd prefer to think

if that amuses you.

I know I did nothing

to be ashamed of.

Oh, we're all quite sure of that.

Fritz bought me a dozen

pairs of stokings.

All silk, every shade.

You took clothes from him,

how common.

Wrong, I threw them

out the window.

-I asked him what he took me for.

-Good for you, Toni.

They got caught on

the telephone wires.

People in the street looked

so surprised!

It was windy and they waved

like little flags.

I laughed so hard I nearly

fell out of the window myself!

-Fritz hated to see his money wasted.

-You sound as if you hated him.

I don't hate him.

I made him understand

he was mistaken about me.

I was so hurt...

...because I--

I really thought

he liked me decently.

Don't cry, Toni.

We knew nothing

could happen to you.

But you're home now,

and we love you.

Oh, Toni, darling.

No man is worth a single one

of your tears.

Come, Toni.

Toni, don't cry.

Don't worry about Toni.

-Are you sure she's all right?

-I'm sure she is.

Thanks.

-Sanger's awake now.

-Good. I'll talk to him.

Hey, Lewis, don't tell us

you've been working!

-For the little girls Sanger only.

-Little girls...

When I make a promise

I keep it.

Composed specially for

the Sanger circus. You see,

I made it very simple,

so that you'd have no difficulty

in playing it.

-Isn't it rather sad?

-No comments from you.

Learn it. I'm going

to your father.

"When thou art dead,

the birds will stop their singing."

-It doesn't sound like Lewis at all.

-It's a nice melody.

"When thou art dead,

the birds will stop their singing."

"When thou art cold,

no sun will ever rise."

-Come on, let's learn it!

-"No more, no more..."

"...the joyful days upspringing

shall bless these eyes."

"When thou art in the grave

the flowers blowing..."

"...shall hang their heads..."

Sanger?

-Where have you been?

-Waiting for you to wake up.

Pull that shutter, too.

If that mountain could be moved...

...the sun wouldn't come

blinding in here all day.

Where would you like it

moved to?

Over my grave.

I'd like a mountain

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