The Lady Without Camelias Page #3

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Just in time to do the scenes

without Clara, but he hasn't come.

Where are they? Ischia?

- Dr Franchi is back.

- He's back?

- What were you waiting for?

- I thought you knew.

- If you don't know...

- Who is this guy?

- The driver.

- Did you tell Gianni we're here?

He told me he was going

to the screening

and had an appointment

with you here, at five.

With me? How am I supposed to know?

Who has he gone to the screening with?

I don't know anything.

What are you all doing here

doing nothing?

Move! Go and call him again!

Tell him to come here

with his signora consort!

- Excuse me.

- No, no! It's so entertaining!

Financially, overseas would be better,

but you need to stay and

establish your career here.

Tell me the truth,

apart from your career

you love staying in Rome.

Don't get me wrong, I understand.

I understand your bachelor life.

I saw the Cardona family

the other night.

They seem to be doing well

in Australia.

The little one is already four years old.

You should see the baby that was born

down there, he's a dream.

My happiest colleagues got married

while they were vice consuls

and I've been a consul for a while now.

My next post, we'll do it together.

My mother doesn't believe it.

What about you?

Me? I know how to wait.

- Where would you prefer to go?

- I don't mind.

Here she is.

We were waiting for you,

I'm Simonetta Rota.

- Consul Rusconi.

- Pleased to meet you.

- Emanuele Fano.

- Pleased to meet you.

Are they here?

- Well done.

- Hello, Ercolino.

- How are you?

- Good.

You're doing great.

The honeymoon is over now though!

Go and get ready.

Make-up please!

- Listen, we need to talk.

- What's the matter?

- I imagined her differently.

- It's always the way.

- I saw it all in the screening.

- It's high class stuff.

The photography is amazing,

don't you think?

Speak then! The kissing scene

is a masterpiece.

- Of course, listen...

- What's the matter?

I wanted to ask you a question.

If instead of Clara in that scene

and all the others of that nature,

it was your wife...

What does Eugenia have to do with it?

I get it, you're jealous!

Those scenes are fine as they are.

Get the idea of doing them again

out of your head!

It's not about specific scenes,

it's a bigger problem.

That is?

- Clara is my wife.

- And?

For example...

It's a great picture, she looks lovely.

It cost me a lot of money.

I will not accept this anymore!

That's why I've decided to cut short!

What are you saying?

Clara won't make any more movies.

Have you gone mad?

She plays a girl from Calabria

who's seduced by a fellow countryman.

She comes to this house as a maid,

then he arrives and she runs away.

- Then what becomes of her?

- It ends badly.

I'd say I'm an admirer,

but honestly, I've never seen

any of your films.

I never miss one!

I've seen Goodbye Lady three times.

- The film's not great...

- But she's not bad in it, eh?

You should hear how she sings.

It's to die for!

I rarely go to the cinema

and I don't see many Italian films.

- Why is that?

- I'm often abroad.

- What do you do?

- He's our consul!

I'm working here for the ministry.

- You're a diplomat?

- Yes.

I wonder what it's like to travel a lot.

Maybe it's not for me.

It's a personal thing!

It depends on the place.

I've just been to Greece.

- Where to next?

- I'm not sure, here for now.

And you, signora Manni,

what are you drinking?

Nothing, the others are waiting.

- Can I do as I please, yes or no?

- No, sir.

If you're crazy I'll get you detained,

but you won't ruin me!

It's nothing to do with you, I'll buy it back!

You can sell me your half.

Tell me how much you want.

I want to keep the film and finish it.

- I'll withdraw my 50% then.

- I'll go to a lawyer!

Tell me how much

and we can forget about it.

- Can I listen?

- Of course, let's see what you think.

- Clara agrees with me!

- Look, this is...

- Clara, let's go.

- What's happening?

- Gianni, listen!

- That's enough!

Can you tell me what we're going to do?

He's crazy,

he's not reasoning anymore.

Turn it all off and dismantle it!

Everything!

If I do another film,

I authorize you to slap me!

I should allow my wife to be involved

in these games?

I told him not to change anything.

He took advantage of my absence

to turn it into a museum of indecencies.

- But can't it be fixed?

- No, it's clear cut!

- When will I start working again?

- Clara...

Do you realise how much

you have to do?

A villa to put in order,

new people, friends.

And Clara, today, before being

an actress, you're a lady.

Do you understand? A lady.

Let me decide.

- Good day, sir.

- Good day.

Good evening, Clara.

Welcome back.

- How are you?

- Good evening?

Did you have a good trip?

Sorry I'm late, I'm already dressed

and can start in five minutes.

This role as seducer is starting

to embarrass me a little!

Lodi, I need to explain...

Simonetta.

- Are they leaving?

- Yes, mama. Without filming anything.

That's called a "dolly".

Who's this girl?

What is she doing?

This is appalling!

Signora! What have you decided?

You need to ask my husband.

I told him you were in a hurry.

This house will never be finished.

It's been three months.

Your husband said you would decide.

I asked him this morning.

I don't know. How are these things

usually done?

There are many ways,

it depends on what you like.

Last night I went to the Romolo cinema

behind your house,

to see Goodbye Lady.

When people find out I'm working here

they ask me:

"Do you see her? How is she? "

I tell them, "She's very natural,

like one of us."

- Did you enjoy the film?

- Very much, signora!

When are you doing another one?

- I don't know, maybe never.

- Why?

- What cinema was it?

- The Romolo.

Look, it's la Manni!

The one from the films?

She's prettier!

Signorina!

Signorina Manni!

Will you let me in?

Are you leaving, Signorina?

- Signor Borra?

- Good day.

Excuse me, he's in the dressing room.

Come in.

Well...

- Sorry I'm not presentable!

- Relax, you look very handsome!

The office told me you were here,

I wanted to see you.

- Good!

- Ercolino, what's happened?

Damn it!

You've caused me a lot of trouble,

now you're pricking me!

Excuse me, dear. You've become a lady?

So go away.

A lady doesn't watch

a gentleman changing.

Explain to me clearly.

Did you need to go to Ercolino

for explanations?

I did indeed.

I finally found out what's on your mind -

that I should make no more films!

Tell me clearly - you don't want me

to finish this film

or no more films at all?

You admit The Woman without Destiny

didn't benefit your career

or your reputation?

If that's the question, here's a film

that's ready to shoot.

How can you like being an actress

so much?

I think I've given you everything

a young woman could desire.

- I'm bored, completely.

- Have you seen the sleeping pills?

Rich people don't get bored because

they know how to do things.

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