The Hands of Orlac Page #2

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I have the hands of a strangler,

come on, say it!

Or are you afraid

that I strangle you too?

Stephen!

Are you crazy? What's going on?

I'm sorry.

- I hope I didn't hurt him.

- There's no need to dramatize.

Let's say you're not the first

one this old grumpy man makes angry.

Do you think it was a simple anger?

Since this accident

I feel like I'm slowly becoming crazy.

- I'm afraid of myself, I'm afraid Louise.

- Come on, you know that Ange warned us...

Where there's a strong wind

it's the devil blowing.

Stephen, the case is closed.

You should try to work darling.

Even if the wind carries the notes away.

It's useless. I will never

find my mechanisms again.

You must try harder Stephen. Even the

great maestros have some hard times.

Try again.

Then stand there in front of me.

Everything is much more

easier when I look at you.

- You see?

- With you eveything is possible.

You're my miracle Louise.

Stephen!

Stephen! You're crazy!

I thought you wanted to kill me.

I'm sorry Louise, I'm sorry...

I can't stay here anymore.

Not a minute more.

No, let me go.

Let me go!

Mrs! Mrs Aliberti!

Sir?

You have a room?

You're alone?

Yes, alone.

For how long?

If only I knew.

I'm going to give you the

number 3 on the first floor.

It's a nice little room with a balcony.

You want to take a look?

I take it.

Ok.

First the sheet.

Please.

Where is your luggage?

I don't have any.

In this case I'm sorry but I'm

forced to ask you an advance.

Thanks.

Please follow me.

Don't worry. I'll bring it for you.

- Hello Mrs Aliberti.

- Hello.

So, not ready yet?

- I'm coming.

- Do not hurry.

We have a new neighbour.

- And then? -A very interesting

neighbour interesting me

and who will soon interest you too.

Again?

Yes, my beauty. Again.

- Who is he?

- I don't know. He pretends his name is Stephen...

...but he's not fooling

anyone, especially me.

He has a nice allure

and lots of money.

Your kind of man.

Very funny.

Tell me then why he's sleeping

in such a crummy hotel.

Smart. Very smart.

That's precisely the question

we need to ask ourselves.

If a guy like him doesn't go to the Grand

Hotel it's because he has something to hide.

And if he has something to hide...

it will be a piece of cake for us.

- And if I refused for once?

- One cannot go against his disposition.

You're absolutely and

wonderfully disgusting.

Then we're made for each other.

Oh, my God! I thought

this room was empty.

It was. I arrived this morning.

I'm sorry if I wake you up.

It's nothing.

Well, too bad. I'm leaving then.

Look what he's done to me!

Please try to help me with my dress.

I'm sorry to ask you but I can't

leave your room dressed like that.

Take this.

Thanks.

Neron is such a rough guy!

He almost broke my shoulder.

Neron?

His artist name. Neron and Li-Lang.

- Li-Lang, it's you?

- Yes.

In my country it means

morning flower.

Alas...

Why alas?

Because Neron is a madman.

He used to think he was a genius

actor. Now he's just a lousy ham.

So he takes his revenge on

everybody in general

and particularly on me.

Why don't you part with him?

Yes I could of course but I

feel like I'm paralyzed.

You don't know what it

means to be afraid.

On the contrary.

I'm afraid myself sometimes.

Do you want money?

No thanks.

But I'd like a glass of whisky.

Make yourself at home.

Do you like me?

You seem to be a nice guy.

I'd like to know you better.

But tell me something...

What are you afraid of?

Well...

keep your secrets.

But we're still friends, right?

Why not?

You will come to see me

at the Blue Monkey?

- Maybe...

- When?

One of these nights.

What time it is?

I'm still going to get caught.

If only I could leave him, go away...

disappear...

That's it, the show must go on.

The smile on command, the songs...

Poor Li-Lang.

Then?

Then what?

You know very well what I mean.

How is it going with Mr Stephen?

Very well.

You're not very talkative.

But I could make you talk.

- I did like you asked.

- And?

It worked.

It's not enough.

When are you seeing him again?

I won't be astonished to see him in

the audience one of these nights.

He has a wallet loaded

with bank-notes.

You already noticed that?

Yes. He wanted to give me money.

- To set up with him?

- No. To leave you on your own and I will

accept his offer if you keep on like that.

To leave us on our own? Us?

Our dear Li-Lang will never leave

us on our own, right Mephisto?

The car was found with no bumps?

No, don't send it to the pound. I'm leaving

for Marseille. I'm taking care of the car.

Yes thanks.

Emilie, ask Ange to get

the Citroen ready.

If we leave now we'll be in Marseille

before night. -Alright Miss.

You're lonely, darling?

That's it! He's here! He will

probably try to come to see me here.

Try to leave us alone.

A certain Mr Stephen would like

to greet Miss Li-Lang.

He's asking her for a

drink at his table.

Probably a gentleman.

Tell Mr Stephen that Miss Li-Lang will

be awfully glad to have one with him.

Take this.

And spruce yourself up

for your charming prince.

A prince? He looks

more like a bum tonight.

His coat could be used to

scratch some matches.

In default of matches you could

still serve to light him up.

While you're doing your

approach works...

I'm back at the hotel. You will

bring him back around midnight.

At exactly half past midnight I will

play him the big brother trick.

Which means?

I will break his door to

protect my little sister

from a fate more

disgraceful than death itself.

No, we don't have a

Mr Orlac in our hotel.

I'm sorry Mrs. I'm

sorry for bothering you.

Try the hotel on the other side of

the street. Maybe he's there.

I'm sorry Mrs.

Are you looking for Mr Stephen

Orlac the pianist? -Yes, you know him?

I recognized him at once.

I'm also an artist.

He's here. Room number 3.

What nonsense is that? There's no

Mr Orlac in the 3. It's Mr Stephen.

Yes, old girl.

But Stephen and Stephen Orlac are the

same article. Quod erat demonstrandum.

If Mrs wants to follow me.

You will wait Mr Orlac in his

room. He'll be back in a while.

You dance?

- So, you liked my number?

- Very much.

But you're a pearl

amidst a sea of swine.

A pearl?

It's true. I deserve a jewel case

but I'm working in cardboard joints.

We're going somewhere else?

The air is too polluted here.

And my job, you think about it?

I must sit at the tables.

Be nice with the customers.

It's part of my contract.

- You want me to talk to the manager?

- Oh no...

Surely not. Neron would take

this occasion to have my scalp.

Listen Mr Stephen.

It's not a place for you here.

Go back to the hotel.

I will see you there in one hour.

We'll be more comfortable in your room.

Don't you think?

Louise...

Why did you leave me?

I did not run away from you.

I ran away from me.

But it wasn't a big success.

So let'go home. Don't stay alone.

Loneliness will give you black thoughts.

If it was only that.

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