The Devil Is a Woman Page #4

Is that all?

I thought it was something important.

[Knocking on door]

Don't shoot! I know that knock.

The note arrived a half an hour ago, Concha.

There's no answer, Maria. You can go home.

Life is difficult, isn't it,

with so many admirers?

- Sometimes it is.

- On the other hand, life is very easy for me.

[Music stops playing]

I'm going to leave you now.

I must say I'm grateful to Pascual

for his warning.

[People applauding]

If it hadn't been for him

I'd have fallen madly in love with you.

If this letter is causing your departure,

I'll read it to you.

"Dear Concha, I must see you again.

I am at your feet.

"I love you more than ever."

And do you know who sent this?

Your friend, Pascual.

You're a liar! Let me see it!

He must be mad!

Why, he told me that you destroyed his life!

If I destroyed your life...

- you couldn't write such a letter, could you?

- I'd wring your neck.

Kiss me, Antonio.

Pascual.

The King of Spades.

Did you write this letter?

A little earlier in the day,

you took an oath not to see her.

Answer me, Pascual.

Did you write this ridiculous letter?

I hope it provided you both

with amusement to know that I still love her.

Leave town, Antonio,

before I lose my temper and call the police.

I wouldn't put anything beyond you now.

All you wanted was to keep me

out of your preserves.

I'm going to stay now in spite of

your petty jealousy.

Call it what you like.

I'm not going to lose her.

How can you lose

what you never possessed?

I used to have a lot of respect for you,

Pascual, but you're behaving like a fool!

You young puppy!

How dare you talk like that?

We were friends, Pascual. I'll forget the blow.

- Your new victim, Concha, is a coward.

- I don't think he is.

You know better than to think me a coward.

And if you can find any friends

to act as your seconds, I'll be happy...

to discuss that point with them at the hotel,

tomorrow morning.

- Weapons?

- Pistols.

Reading the cards is one of her virtues

I forgot to tell you about.

[People screaming in panic]

- Who fired the shot?

- Was there a shot?

This card belongs to your deck, doesn't it?

[Rustling]

[Whispering] It's Concha.

Concha, how marvellous of you

to come here. I hope no one saw you.

I was here before. Where have you been?

I was out arranging the duel.

- Why don't you leave for Paris tonight?

- Alone?

- I'll come with you.

- You can't.

The borders will be watched.

Besides, we need passports.

Then there's the trifling affair

with Pascual in the morning...

which I have no wish to dodge.

All right, then you'll be killed.

Pascual is a dead shot.

You mean he used to be.

Right through the heart?

Nonsense! That shot was an accident.

He won't hit me.

If you die, Antonio, I'll kill myself.

Let's forget about the duel.

Tonight's the last night of the carnival.

Tomorrow will be time enough

to think of death.

You, too, were thinking of death.

Those letters are farewells.

I wrote them anyway. They're not important.

- Whom did you write to?

- Lots of people.

Any women?

Yes. There's a girl.

- Where is she?

- In Paris.

Do you love her?

Why do you ask?

You're not interested, are you, Concha?

No, of course not.

You wouldn't care if I were in love

with someone else, would you?

No.

That isn't true, is it, Concha?

You would care, wouldn't you?

There, gentlemen, you've done it.

I hope you're pleased.

No consideration for me.

Close your umbrella.

It's not raining anymore.

The Carnival is over, but not for me.

I told you to be careful with your arrests,

and what have you done?

Turned this peaceful gaol into a madhouse.

There, gentlemen, is the direct result

of listening to my plea.

[People murmuring]

Stop them. Tear their masks off.

Take their tin horns away.

Remove every vestige

of this nerve-shattering carnival. Go!

What are you waiting for?

I'll teach them to behave!

Alphonso!

Let those balloons go.

Order my carriage.

I want to go home and get some sleep!

- Your Excellency.

- Who are you?

I've had just about enough of this.

Take off your mask.

Come at once. By this time he may be dead.

Perhaps they're both dead.

Who may be dead by this time?

Make yourself clear.

- A duel.

- A duel?

They wanted me to drive them. I said no.

To arms! Guns! Horses!

Why don't you put up your umbrella?

It's raining!

We will have to hurry, sir.

The police might come.

If there are no further objections,

select your pistol.

You'll be placed back to back.

March 12 paces.

I will count three and you will then

be at liberty to kill each other.

I hope your injury will be slight.

Well, Concha, I might as well say goodbye.

One never knows.

Anything I might want to say to you now

would sound silly.

If we had never met,

this couldn't have happened.

Oh, Antonio!

You forced this on him, Pascual.

This is murder!

Listen to me, Pascualito.

- You never loved me or you couldn't do this.

- You know very well that I loved you.

You've always mistaken your vanity for love.

Make your final mistake.

Go and kill the only man I've ever cared for!

I won't permit this, Antonio.

I want you to leave here at once!

Now, gentlemen, when I say go,

march 12 paces...

and turn to face your opponent.

At the count of one, cock your pistols.

At two, raise them.

And at three,

take aim and fire at your own discretion.

Are you ready, gentlemen?

Go!

One. Two. Three!

Antonio! Are you hurt?

He didn't even take aim at me.

Morning, gentlemen.

A pretty mess. Arrest everybody!

Why don't you gentlemen go

to Madrid or Barcelona...

where they have the proper police

to cope with these things? Don Pascual.

Gentlemen, this is a serious matter.

I could have hushed it up

if it were anyone else.

But Don Pascual hurt?

There'll be the devil to pay.

Stop them! Arrest them!

I thought I made myself clear.

I want everyone arrested!

- Here! Where are you going?

- Good morning, Pacquitito!

I should have known!

You're the only woman in town

worth fighting for.

I'm sorry, Concha,

but I'll have to arrest this gallant gentleman.

Arrest him, I said! Take him away!

If only you knew

how willingly I'd exchange places...

with either one of them for your smile.

Do you still like me, Pacquito?

Concha, I haven't slept for 72 hours.

This carnival has been purgatory.

I'm about to go home to my wife...

which doesn't make my condition

more pleasant.

But if you smile at me once more,

I shall nevertheless be in heaven!

Go home to your wife, Pacquito.

I, too, haven't slept.

- Maybe we can meet tomorrow.

- I dream of the moment.

Every profession has its compensations.

Even mine.

How is the patient, Doctor?

Not serious, I hope?

It's my wish that the whole affair blow over.

There are some things

beyond even your wish, Don Pacquito.

My patient is seriously hurt.

I'm taking him to the hospital, and...

if I get him there alive, I'll feel very pleased.

Very pleased, do you hear me?

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