The Diving Bell and the Butterfly Page #5

Don't we know each other?

- I don't think so, Mister.

I don't have change.

I can't make love to you

with her looking at me.

- I understand.

I wasn't stating a fact,

I was making a complaint.

Let me turn her off

No.

The only one in the whole world.

Blessed by the Cardinal.

Josephine, when we get back to Paris

we're going to have to split up.

Because of her?

- No. Because of everything.

Ok, you're right.

I'll go out again.

- Turn off the lights.

But not my Madonna.

La - la - la -. Come on, Jean-Do.

If you learn the L sound

you'll learn to swallow.

And you'll learn to say Lourdes.

Is that okay?

Is it comfortable?

'The Pressure Cooker' could be

the title of the piece...

...I'm writing about my experiences here.

I could also call it 'The Eye'

or 'The Diving Bell'.

Plot and location are well known.

In a hospital room, there's Mr. L,

at the climax of his life...

...trying to live with locked-in syndrome

after a serious stroke.

Ambitious and somewhat cynical,

because he didn't know failures before...

...becomes acquainted with misfortune.

We his slow transformation

listening to a commentarial voice...

...which tells the inner monologue of Mr. L.

I already have the last scene.

It's night.

Mr. L, who was paralysed since

the beginning of the piece...

...suddenly jumps out of his bed

and runs over the darkly lit stage.

Then it gets dark again and we hear

Mr. L's commentarial voice:

F***, it was a dream.

Stand up. I can stand up.

Everything is alright.

'I want to remember how all this happened

to me.'

Shall I ask someone?

No?

Hello, room 119.

- Who's that?

I'm Claude Mendibil.

I'm sitting with Jean-Do.

This is his father speaking.

- Yes, we were expecting your call.

So what do I do? Just talk?

Jean-Do can hear you.

He will answer you.

You'll hear me saying

the alphabet and...

- Yes, Cline told me.

Just talk, Monsieur Bauby.

Can he hear me?

Jean-Dominique? This is Papinou.

I'm sitting at the open window.

How are you or is that a fool question??

Yes, it's a fool question.

I miss you.

I miss you, too.

God Almighty! This is an impossible way to

conduct a conversation.

Everything goes out of my mind.

No, no, I've remembered.

I'm sending you a present.

It's a surprise.

I had a thought....

...about us. We're in the same boat.

I'm stuck in this apartment.

I can't get up and down the stairs.

You try four flights of stairs

when you're ninety-two years old.

we're both locked-in cases.

You in your body and me in my apartment.

Jean-Dominique, remember,...

...in the top right-hand drawer of my

writing desk there's a letter..

In it are my last wishes. It's in a file...

...marked 'Miscellaneous'.

I must stop now.

Don't cry.

- That's easy to say.

You're my son for Christ's sake.

Good-bye, Jean-Dominique.

I forgot, it's almost your birthday.

I'll call again.

Happy Birthday.

It can't be easy for a father to speak

to a son who he knows will never reply.

I thought an outing with

a new vista would do you good.

I have another surprise for you.

Close your eyes.

Close your eyes.

Okay, now open them.

THE COUNT OF MONTE CRISTO

That was not necessary.

In two volumes.

It's not a first edition,

but it's pretty old.

Would you like me to read something to you?

Which chapter?

We should use Roman digits.

We didn't think of Roman digits.

What would it be in Roman digits?

That's L, I, X.

That's faster. Next time.

50? Higher?

- Yes, higher.

Nine? 59? Ok.

Ok, there we go.

There's even an illustration.

The coincidence frightens me.

'They sat down beside him.'

'Noirtier was sitting in a wheelchair where

they put him from morning till evening...

...in front of a mirror which allowed

him to see the whole apartment...

without attempting any movement:

this was something that had

become impossible for him.

Sight and hearing were

the only two senses...

...which, like two sparks,

still lit up this human matter.'

'...this human matter.'

That's me, don't you think?

But no.

- But yes.

I frighten people, make them shudder.

You don't.

- I should have stayed away from Dumas.

Don't tamper with a masterpiece.

That's the lesson.

I didn't know Noirtier was the man

I was going to become.

My diving bell has dragged you down

to the bottom of the sea with me..

Jean-Do, I don't find it so bad that you

drag me down to the bottom of the sea...

...because you are also my butterfly.

That's a declaration of love.

After we finish this book...

...we'll write another one about

a long-distance runner.

You never know.

Perhaps I'll become like him...

'I missed you at the bullfight.

I hope we meet again next year.

Jean-Paul.'

Le Tango, Nmes.

'Dear Mr. Bauby,

the customized campmobile...

...can be delivered six to eight

weeks after your order.

Yours sincerely, Henri Raynaud.'

That's good news.

This is from Papinou.

'This is a present.'

Look, a photo of you as a kid.

Jean-Do, aged eight, Berck sur Mer.

From Anne-Marie.

Jean-Dominique Bauby's room.

- Who are you?

Cline Desmoulins. And you?

Ins. I want to speak with Jean-Do.

One moment.

I turned the speaker on, so he can hear you.

I can't speak with you there.

You have to, there's no one else.

Isn't the therapist there?

- No, she's not here today.

Darling?

I know I said I'd come but I got as far as

the train station and then turned back.

I just can't.

Please forgive me.

Cline?

- Yes.

Can't you just go out for a moment?

I have personal things to say.

I feel embarrassed.

- I can't leave him.

There's nobody else.

Wait, he wants to say something.

O?

One?

One minute?

I'm leaving. But not for long.

Jean-Do, are you alone now??

Darling...

I love you more than ever.

I want to see you but I haven't the courage.

I want to think of you as you were.

I hope you'll recover.

I miss you.

I miss you and I feel so alone.

I know you understand.

You're in my thoughts all the time.

I know your family is always with you.

Do you want me to come?

I'm back.

- Do you want me to come?

Do you want me to come?

- I'm back, Ins.

Every...

Every day.

Every day I'm...

Every day I'm waiting for you.

I can't understand you.

Could you repeat that?

I can't understand you.

He said:
I'm waiting for you every day.

If I don't get a seat on this plane,

I will miss my connection to Hong- Kong.

Take mine.

I'll take the next flight.

- Thank you.

Have a good trip.

But you're not going to Hong Kong

you are going to Beirut.

Anything wrong? You don't feel good?

Don't worry.

Most times I forget my dreams.

People who tell you

their dreams are tiresome.

But this one comes again and again.

I don't know why.

I'm afraid.

The feeling of doom wouldn't leave.

It took what I can only describe as

a miracle to lift my spirits.

It's dangerous to believe

in personal miracles.

They tend to make one

feel self-important.

Nevertheless, I must report that I believe

something miraculous did occur

I began to sing.

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