The Constant Nymph Page #3

for a monument.

What would I print

for an epitaph?

Pull up a chair.

About the epitaph,

let it just say...

..."Albert Sanger,

a dirty old man."

No, no, I would say...

..."Albert Sanger, musician

and genius."

And then, if you like,

I could add...

"He was, also, a dirty old man."

No, thanks.

Tell me,

-What about your concert in London?

-It didn't go.

As the English say,

it flopped.

It made them uncomfortable.

Oh, by the way, your daughter

Toni is back.

Antonia? Oh, yes, she went--

Did she tell you were she went?

Yes, yes, and she was completely

innocent, I'm sure of that.

What's going to happen to

the children when I'm gone?

Lewis, I'm helpless.

I haven't got 20 pounds.

Didn't Paula's and Tessa's mother

have people in England?

Oh, yes.

When I ran out with their daughter,

Evelyn Creighton, their mother,

the Creighton family

disowned her.

There was a time when her brother,

Charles, hunted us all over Europe.

His idea was to shoot me on sight,

the American fashion,

and take the sister Evelyn back.

Then, the children came.

He gave up the hunting,

forgot us.

But this brother, Charles,

still alive?

You know this kind of people.

Good old Boston type.

Lewis,

if anything happened to me,

look up for this Creighton family.

They're very rich, get them

to do something for the children.

-They should go to school.

-I know, I know.

Oh, by the way,

you've got a guest.

-Trigorin.

-Keep him away from me!

Little monkeys.

-What is that music?

-Mine, I'm afraid.

Just a trifle I brought

for the children.

You mean, you wrote it?

It's nothing at all.

Leave the door open,

I want to listen to it.

Sugar candy.

It's very nice.

Nice, yes... nice.

You're ashamed of

melody, aren't you?

No, I have no gift for it.

Shut that door.

If you'd done that in London

you wouldn't have failed.

What?

-That is me?

-That is you.

Oh, if I could only

make you understand.

What would I make of it?

A love scene in an opera!

A symphonic poem,

what you will!

Go away, and tell Kate

to bring me some more brandy.

Mr. Bercovy, don't try to explain.

It's a disgrace.

Toni is a child!

But-but, please, madame,

try to understand me, I--

Madame, you're laboring

on a misapprehension!

We know all about it, Fritz!

Lewis! It's so nice

to see you.

Hello, Fritz, you look

very well!

Lewis, from man to man,

I must see Antonia.

From man to man, I doubt

that she will see you.

-No?

-You see, she's a little hurt.

My boy, the next time you ask

a young lady to Zurich...

...pick somenone less sophisticated

than the Sanger ladies.

Fritzie, I'm surprised at you!

But, Lewis, honestly,

from man to man,

I had no bad intentions.

I'm very fond of Toni.

So are we all.

Remember that, Mr. Bercovy.

Hey, there! What's the matter?

This is terrible. Sanger said

it was a very nice little piece.

-It is charming!

-Really?

-What's he doing at the piano?

-He plays.

Yes! Trigorin plays very well

for a flea trainer.

A flea trainer?

Paula, please!

-He knows, we told him.

-Oh, you did.

Very sad, Lewis,

but quite playable.

Thank you, Kate.

Sanger said it would make

a symphonic poem, but...

...somehow, I can't quite

agree with him.

Father instincts are

usually right.

Let's try it.

Where's your viola, Tessa?

I learnt it all perfectly

and I broke the strings.

Aw... Come on, let's hear it.

Ready?

No, no. Let's get together.

Nice on key. Paula.

"When thou art dead,"

"the birds will stop

their singing."

"When thou art cold,"

"no sun will ever rise."

"No more, no more the joyful

days upspringing..."

"...shall bless these eyes."

#Ah, say not so...#

Go ahead, sing it.

#When I am in my grave,#

#the flowers blowing

shall make thee garlands...#

#...twenty times as sweet.#

Beauty will live.

#Beauty will live...#

#...though I must sleep...#

#...unknowing...#

-Beneath thy feet.

#...beneath thy feet...#

#...beneath thy feet.#

Very pretty, darling.

Tessa!

Tessa!

-Why did you run away like that?

-I don't know.

It's quiet here, isn't it?

Yes, you hear things

in this kind of silence.

What do you hear?

-This is where I think out my words.

-Oh, poetry?

-No, just thoughts, I can't explain.

-Tell me one thought.

-You'll laugh.

-No, I won't laugh.

Well, there's so many, but,

sad things, like your music.

"I have tonight

a quiet desire to die."

"I have no tide of

exit note to leave."

"O, in this wound-cut earth to lie,"

"O, if they would not grieve."

"I have tonight a quiet desire."

You liked that?

Oh, it's very pretty,

but, you want to die?

I'm not in the least

anxious to die.

When I see troubles, I always

want to run away from them.

-Then you'd better run away from me.

-Oh, I'll never do that!

Really?

You're such a graceless

little baggage.

Strangely innocent.

I've got to talk to you.

-Why?

-Too many Frtizes around.

You know, you've got

to be protected.

Protected? But my heart

is a very simple heart,

Isn't that some protection?

If you were my little girl, I'd put you

in a convent or a school.

I've seen girls in schools, they all

have faces like plum puddings.

I'm not a raving beauty,

but you wouldn't like me...

-...with a face like a plum pudding.

-I'm thinking for your good.

You don't shut people up

in schools for their good.

Supposing I--

I wanted to gaze at the moon

one night...

...and I found myself in a dormitory

full of pudding faces.

You shouldn't go moon gazing.

-What when I got out of school?

-You'd be a perfect lady!

And would you like me

as a perfect lady?

You won't even look at us,

my pretty one.

I may go to school, I'm beginning

to see points in it.

But I shall always be

thinking of you.

No, you must learn quickly

to disapprove of me.

I happen to be very fond of you.

Which is a very grave mistake

to be fond of anyone.

Why?

Before you know it,

you become...

...unselfish, considerate,

self-sacrifizing,

all those tiresome things.

-Will you remember that?

-Yes, I will.

And don't go getting fond of

any unnecessary people.

You can be as fond of us

as you like, but--

-but please, don't-- don't--

-Don't what?

Don't go getting married or--

in jail or die, or

anything, please.

I'll try no to.

Say:
"Cross my heart

and hope to die".

Cross my heart

and hope to die.

Dear Lewis--

Tessa!

Tessa!

Lewis!

Lewis, quickly!

-What is it, Kate?

-Come up here!

He hasn't been coming out for days.

He was angry, but he--

Let's get him on the bed.

He-- he started to cry,

he asked me to

hold his hand...

...and then he fell

on the floor, on his face.

He cut himself...

He's dead!

He cut his nose!

Don't stay here.

Come, Tessa.

Don't you dare touch him!

Lina!

Look.

"To remind Lewis Dodd

of his nice little tune..."

"...a symphonic poem which

could be entitled 'Tomorrow' ".

Poor father!

We don't have enough!

Here comes Tessa with more.

Is it one of those things

coming on?

-Is it your heart?

-No, I'm a bit winded, that's all.

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