The Lady Without Camelias Page #5

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When you told me to come to Rome,

when you married me,

when you made me do this film.

I've always done everything you wanted.

Everything.

What are you saying?

Maybe I never thought about

the consequences.

Or I ignored them, to avoid being scared.

As I'm scared every time

I see myself on screen.

I have to repeat to myself ten times

a minute, "It's me, me"!

Come on...

You know we're talking

about us, Gianni!

Also when I think of you, I have

to repeat to myself, "It's me, me!"

Why did you marry me?

You knew I didn't love you, even if

I never had the courage to tell you.

Why are you saying these things?

I wish they weren't true, but they are!

You've always known it.

And I don't know how you can

be happy about it.

Like you're happy about the film

which went badly!

This way I can't work anymore and

have to stay home all day waiting for you!

But my love, why do we have to say

stupid, degrading things to each other?

You've had a big disappointment

and suddenly everything seems a failure.

Our love too. You've been happy with me...

No, Gianni, no!

Come in.

Mineral water, sir.

Is the director here?

- He's in the hall. Should I call him?

- No, I'll go.

What's this story about you changing

the programme tomorrow?

I can't afford to ruin myself

with your film in high season.

- Sorry, signor Franchi, I'm not cheating you!

- You're not changing the film.

I have to,

I'd be better off paying a fine.

I'd be better off showing anything else,

don't you see?

We'll see, I'm going to the ministry.

Remember bills worth

- And another 12 million on the 25th.

- Don't worry, renew them.

I'm not worried at all.

I'm just telling you I won't renew them.

- Why not?

- I was happy to help you

and I'd be happy to stay in the affair,

if there was an affair.

But it doesn't seem a question of

recuperating the money with delay.

The question now is that the money

won't be recuperated at all.

You must understand that I can't continue.

- Wait, why worry? There's the second run.

- What second run?

You've got a curious way of thinking.

Why? It's only two hours to Monte Carlo,

we can eat there.

I need to go home for lunch.

You think those who work in cinema

live a completely different life.

Maybe all together in Cinecitta!

Maybe I'm ruining all your plans.

A single man, always travelling,

going to Rome for a while.

What's better than an adventure

with a film person?

- You can't think much of me.

- Quite the opposite.

If I asked you to stop,

it's because it's a place I like a lot.

A place where if two people

were talking here,

they'd end up

understanding each other.

And instead...

Since Venice,

I've thought only of you.

But you haven't thought about me.

That's exactly why I said

you have a curious idea.

Do you think a situation like this

is easy for me?

I've never been

in this situation before.

And now we're both in it,

why hide it?

Remember the day we met in Venice?

Just a touch of hands,

in the middle of a crowd,

and between us something happened.

Don't deny it, Clara.

Can you deny it?

Don't ruin everything.

I told you you don't understand.

Let go of me.

So let's go back to the city.

- Where do you want me to take you?

- I don't know. Anywhere.

- The centre.

- Fine.

- Did you send those flowers?

- We're sending them now.

- Forget it, please.

- As you wish, Consul.

Umbrellas! Umbrellas!

Don't ask me anything, please.

Clara!

Ercolino, are you eating with us?

Did Gianni call you?

Gianni didn't call but this is about him.

Has something happened?

Nothing serious, I hope. They called

from your house, but they didn't say much.

Don't worry.

Signora, you have no idea

what's just happened.

I found him in the studio,

he looked dead.

- Is he upstairs?

- Yes.

You stay here.

I'm going back to the kitchen, signora.

The doctor's upstairs.

If you need me...

Does signor Franchi

usually take sleeping pills?

He's been very stressed lately.

A lot on his mind.

Okay, okay.

But I want to know how many pills

were missing before today.

- Well?

- Well, it wasn't full.

Instead of discussing pills, wouldn't it be

more practical to take him to the clinic?

No, we've done the lavage.

Even if we suspected something,

he's out of danger now.

But I'd like to know

how full the tube was.

Who knows.

Clara!

Come.

Nothing to fear.

Things are calm now.

See?

He's just sleeping normally.

Let's leave him to sleep in peace.

He won't be waking up

for at least 12 hours, right, doctor?

Yes.

Anyway, Clara,

we'll take care of the rest.

Listen, Clara, you heard the doctor,

Gianni is out of danger.

Let's not think about it anymore.

Let's just say it's opened our eyes.

One thing is certain, he's in trouble.

No point discussing how he got into it,

what's important is to get him out.

And this, Clara, only you and I can do.

We have to finish Woman without Destiny.

It's the only thing we can do.

You understand, don't you?

- What is it?

- A telephone call.

- Shall I pass it here?

- Yes.

Come, Doctor.

Hello?

So did you decide

how many pills there were?

- Hello?

- Clara!

Clara!

Clara, it's me, Nardo.

If he was used to barbiturates,

I don't see how he could think

he'd kill himself with this amount.

Maybe it's a gesture...

- Signora Manni's car?

- It's ready.

- Be here at 7:
00 sharp tomorrow.

- I know.

Listen...

I wanted to talk to you about

Sunday's dubbing session.

- Can you move it?

- No, the film must be out in a month!

Clara can rest when it's finished.

- No, she said...

- Don't tell me stories now! Clara!

Your husband says

you want to rest Sunday.

No, I prefer to rest at the end.

Sunday I want to dub.

Why? Isn't it possible?

Yes, yes, we can, we can.

The schedule's fine as it is!

Will you tell me why?

We could have gone to Fregene, relaxed,

and spent Sunday together, alone.

Gianni, please.

Signora.

- There's a gentleman asking for you.

- Where? Who?

Tell him... No, I'll come.

- Shall I wait in the dressing room?

- What?

- Shall I wait in the dressing room?

- No. I mean, yes.

She used to be so nice,

now she's always upset.

Don't worry.

If you think it's amusing.

I don't think they get along.

- Who?

- Her husband, they're always arguing.

What do you care?

Nardo!

I'm here.

I heard about your husband.

I tried to reach you,

I was hoping you'd call me.

- Or that you'd come.

- Yes.

- He's better, no? Nothing serious?

- Nothing serious.

Just that... What shall I do?

I'm even more tied to him now.

I understand.

He was in a disastrous financial mess

and I didn't know.

Now we're trying to resolve everything

by finishing a film

that my husband wanted

to shut down months ago.

It was a horrible shock.

On the very day I came to you.

- Like a punishment.

- Clara...

I don't have a moment free

and I'm deadly tired.

What should I have done?

I couldn't have done differently.

If my husband's ruined himself,

it was for me.

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