The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Page #4

- Re-reading.

The Count of Monte Cristo.

Why?

- Because I'm thinking of

writing a modern version.

Of the Count of Monte Cristo?

- Yes.

Vengeance will still be the driving force...

...but I'm setting it in today's world.

And Monte Cristo will be a woman.

The Countess of Monte Cristo..?

- Yes, a woman.

I don't want to read it.

- I haven't written it yet.

But I've got a contract

with a book publisher.

If you cut me, I'll sue.

The doctor came yesterday.

- And?

He says I'll live to be a hundred.

- Good. I'll give you a great party.

I won't attend.

Who wants to live to be a hundred?

Jean-Do, don't tell a soul.

I still miss your mother.

I won't. It's our secret.

You should have married Cline.

- What difference would that have made?

You wouldn't have left her so easily.

And your children.

Do we have to talk about this?

- I know what I'm talking about.

No one had more affairs than I did.

Well, maybe Casanova, but no one else.

Having an affair with

another woman is no reason

for leaving the mother of your children.

There are no standards anymore.

It's not funny, it's true.

And bring your children to see me.

Sylvie brings them, too.

You should bring them as well.

- Ok, I haven't found time yet.

Here.

- What is that?

Orange blossom.

- Do I have to smell like a tart?

It's an aphrodisiac.

Good. That'll make

the girls come running.

- Sure, but give them a

chance to smell you.

Let me look at myself.

Not bad. My God, they don't make

them like me anymore.

I wanted to tell you something.

Can't remember.

- It'll come back.

I'm not so sure.

I remember less and less.

- Don't exaggerate.

Oh yes, I remember.

I'm very proud of you.

I really am.

And something else...

Can't remember.

A father's approval.

I found it comforting then...

...and I find it even more comforting now.

We are all children.

We all need approval.

I want to see my children.

I want to see my children.

Here we are. Father's Day.

Happy Father's Day!

I guess that even a rough sketch, a shadow,

a tiny fragment of a dad is still a dad.

Father's Day. My son wiping the saliva

that escapes my closed lips.

We have never before fitted this made-up

holiday into our emotional calendar.

[singing]

Claude says the book's going well.

I can't believe you're writing it.

I still think you're the most

surprising man I've ever known.

Have you had lots of visitors?

Laurent, Anne-Marie...

...Michel...

That's it? She hasn't?

I thought she was supposed

to be madly in love with you.

Well, that's her business.

Shall we practice that alphabet?

When I began a diet a week before my stroke

...I never dreamed of such dramatic results.

Now they know what it's like to have a

zombie for a father. Thank you.

That's not amusing.

Kids.

You want to play Hangman, dad?

I'll help you. Whisper a word.

The first letter is a C, the last an E.

The word has 7 letters.

# Le kangourou a saut le mur #

# Le mur du zoo #

# Mon Dieu qu'il tait haut #

# Mon Dieu qu'il tait beau. #

That's it.

- Say goodbye to your

dad, kids. We're leaving.

Bye, dad.

Bye, dad.

Bye dad. See you next week.

It's hard to describe my grief.

I'm their father, but I can't touch them,

run my fingers through their hair...

...and hug them tight.

But I like to see them play and laugh.

That's what I call a wonderful day..

I feel sorry for myself, don't you think?

You were genuinely happy.

You think so?

Perhaps.

I don't want to miss this.

Step aside!

Enjoy. See you.

- Yeah, see you. What are you doing??

I want TV-meals.

Or shall I go out for dinner?

I will treat myself to a feast at Le Duc.

What a coincidence to find you here.

- Isn't that amazing?

An oyster?

It seems like it was just yesterday

when I first heard your name.

Sweet.

No compliments.

And the next chapter?

Sunday. I dread Sunday.

When they turn the TV on,

they have to make sure

they're doing it right.

That is very strategic.

It can take hours until

the next good Samaritan comes by.

Horrible, these Sundays.

No speech therapists, no psychotherapist.

No physiotherapist, no visitors.

A skeleton staff.

Sunday is a long stretch of desert.

But today, Marie nobly suggests

she takes me to mass.

I have tried to explain to her that I am not

a religious man, but without avail.

All over the world

people are praying for me.

Top of the list is my daughter, Cleste.

And Marie, of course.

The most diverse deities

have been enlisted to help me.

In Nepal, I'm told,

they chant a mantra for me.

In Cameroon holy man has procured

for me the goodwill of Africa's gods.

I have assigned him my right eye.

I can't deny that I have attempted to

organise this vast spiritual energy...

...to support my existence.

It may not be admirable, it may even be

a touch hypocritical, but I'll try anything.

I'm very pleased to see you here.

I came to visit you a

few days ago. I brought

the Blessed Sacrament

to give you Communion.

But you were asleep.

Yes, he was asleep.

- What?

Would you like me to give

you Holy Communion now?

- No.

Yes.

- Would you like me to

say a blessing over you?

No.

- Yes.

Heavenly Father, have

mercy on Jean-Dominique,

who is cruelly afflicted.

Help his body to heal,

keep his spirits buoyant,

and help him to find faith.

- My spirit is very buoyant, mister.

In the name of the father...

- You made a fool of me.

Fa?

Father?

There are...

Father, there are monks in Bordeaux who

regularly dedicate their prayers to me.

...who regularly dedicate

their prayers to me.

Do they, that's good.

- But the results have been unremarkable.

We must be patient.

- Yes, the doctors say that, too.

But Jean-Dominque,

I want to suggest something to you

In a few weeks time, I shall be

leading a pilgrimage to Lourdes.

Lourdes?

Dear Beatrice and I thought you

might want to be part of it.

This is a trap.

- There have been

some miraculous cures.

That's true.

- I've been to Lourdes.

Let's stop and return.

- I am not turning back.

Hit's my car, I'll drive where I like.

You said you wanted a dirty weekend.

- I never said that.

Yes you did.

Lourdes is not the right

place for a dirty week-end.

You've got a one-track mind.

I want to see the Madonna.

I don't believe in any of this.

- I want to see her and drink holy water.

Spare me this.

You should do that too.

It will be good for you.

Imposing, hm?

I'll buy some bottles for the holy water.

That's it for me. I'm leaving.

- Stay. It could do you a lot of good.

Don't be so sure, it might be dangerous.

What if someone in perfect

health happened to be here when

the Madonna appeared?

One miracle, and he'd end up paralyzed.

You are terrible.

Hello.

- Good day, madam.

Look! Here's my Madonna!

Forget it.

- Yeah, get out of my life.

Okay, I'll give it to you as a present

Madame has a wonderful eye.

This Madonna been blessed by the Cardinal.

Do we have more 318's?

- Look in the storage.

How much is that?

-1899 franc.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes