The Lady Without Camelias Page #7

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what you don't want to understand.

No, Gianni. It's not that.

I repeat, between us everything's finished.

I wrote it all in the letter.

I think I've been loyal.

Right, we can't talk

about these things by phone. I agree!

So...

When can I see you again?

This we can decide now!

No, get off the line, signorina! Get off!

But look, to have me find two lines,

that's inhuman!

What do you think, despite the blow

of that letter, the way you...

You have to think things over.

You can't just decide, all of a sudden,

that our life together is impossible!

What are you saying?

You have your whole lives in front of you.

- Let's see each other, then decide.

- Let me talk to her.

Hello?

Hello, Clara?

Darling, what has happened

that's so terrible?

You must try to understand

each other a bit.

Then you can put it right.

Mama, don't complicate matters.

Gianni and I will see each other,

but only for the separation.

Gianni knows it.

We can't put things right.

Nardo, just a moment please.

Who's there with you?

Who are you talking to?

I beg your pardon?

Clara! Is somebody there with you?

What do you want to explain?

There's little to explain!

And you have the gall to talk of loyalty!

You wanted an easy separation, easy,

and you're already there with another man!

Traitor! Liar!

I'll give you more than a separation!

I'll kill you! I'll kill you!

- It was a call from Rome.

- Ah! Someone knows you're here?

- My husband.

- What did you tell him?

The truth -

that I'm not going back to him.

That I've started afresh.

I'm not sure you're really weighing

what you're doing.

These aren't decisions

one can make so lightly.

It will also affect my life.

Not only in terms of my career,

but also my relationship with others.

For me that's very important.

It's extremely important!

Don't be afraid,

I've said nothing to Gianni.

You think I don't understand

these things?

I was joking.

Now I have to go back to Rome

immediately.

That's what I'd have advised too.

What's wrong, love?

Nothing, I'm upset our holiday is over.

It's best you leave,

I wouldn't want to compromise you.

- See you, Clara.

- Farewell.

- Anything new?

- A lady came. Should still be here.

Thank you.

Clara!

Good evening.

Sorry for coming at this time.

I needed to talk to someone,

not be alone

and you're the only person.

What's happened?

This morning I was the happiest

woman in the world, and now...

I finally had the courage to leave that house

where I never found myself.

Where everything felt false,

where I felt false.

Gianni and I got married

like in the movies.

It was all a mistake.

But with Nardo,

for the first time in a long time,

I fooled myself into feeling alive...

in flesh and bone.

I kidded myself.

When he realized for me it was serious -

you can't imagine, Lodi -

I saw in his face a fear

that was tender.

If it hadn't been so horrible,

it would've been ridiculous,

I, who thought of eternal love,

and he, who only wanted

an adventure with an actress.

And he had it.

So here I am.

I thought about leaving for Milan

with my mother.

But I'll tell her to go alone,

I'm not myself anymore with my family.

Last time I went home,

it was a disaster.

- Whens that merchandise arriving?

- It left on the 18th.

- Post-paid?

- Of course.

- I already have too many expenses...

- Isn't that the actress? In the movies?

- What's her name?

- I don't know. I don't know her.

- The packaging can't be like last time.

- Of course.

Lodi, I'm desperate.

I've nothing now, at 22.

At times like this you need courage

to throw yourself into work, Clara.

Have you some project,

some film in view?

It's about this

that I wanted to talk to you.

Are you sure cinema

is the work for me?

Frankly, I wouldn't know.

- Would you like anything?

- Thank you.

This will sound strange,

but you've had things too easy.

You succeeded almost without working.

Probably it's not your fault.

You had mediocre directors,

unsuitable stories,

you learned nothing.

You've never seen the better aspects

of Italian cinema.

Clara, you're beautiful

and till now they've done nothing

but photograph your beauty.

Maybe you can't do more than that

or maybe you can discover as an actress

the meaning of your life,

but you haven't tried yet,

neither for others or yourself.

How does one try?

Have you ever thought about

what being a serious actress means?

Have you ever asked yourself

what makes great actors successful?

Do you know all the suffering

they've had to overcome?

Long years of study, often obscure,

the hopes and disappointments?

Up until now cinema has given you

a superficial fame.

It's put you in a false world,

where you say you feel empty.

One can say you haven't even

started becoming an actress.

So you advise me to begin studying

to become an actress, a serious actress?

It's worth a try for somebody like me?

It's always worth a try.

- What took you so long?

- The under-secretary kept me.

So you're going to Paris

with the Commission?

- Any news?

- Nothing's been decided yet.

Look.

Isn't that la Manni?

Listen, didn't you tell me she left?

- Did you know?

- What?

That she was back.

If you want, drop me off here.

I'll get out and walk.

- Come on...

- It's no bother.

Aren't you repeating yourself?

In two months I've not seen her and

know nothing about her. No one has.

I think Emanuele told me

she's abandoned cinema.

She cut her hair.

I almost didn't recognize her. It's not bad.

I don't want to make a jealous scene,

it's not my style.

But if they don't send you to Paris,

you'll be happy to stay here,

now that la Manni's rediscovered.

- Clara Manni?

- She has to be here.

No, you're mistaken, she's not here.

She must be in another hotel.

- Signorina Manni, please.

- Right away, signor Borra.

Room 122, please.

I've started shooting with no actress.

Send him up.

Come on, Clara, you can't keep

refusing to do films.

- Isn't this the seventh?

- Exactly, Boschi.

And I'm refusing yours too

because I don't like it.

- But this is something big!

- Yes. Big.

Above all with lots of sex, no?

Paramours in scanty costumes,

double entendres,

a story that doesn't make sense...

just a pretext...

- I read the script, you know.

- And?

I'm interested in working.

Bring me something serious

and we'll talk about it.

- But this is serious.

- No more stuff like this.

Come in!

- Excuse me.

- Good day, Borra.

Hi, Claretta. Dear Boschi.

- Do you need to talk?

- No, I'm just leaving.

I need to confirm the role

to la Garofali.

I'm off to Cinecitta. See you, guys.

- Bye, Clara.

- Goodbye.

- Bye, signor Borra.

- Goodbye.

Well?

Did you refuse another film?

Pirandello!

Bravo.

How are the acting lessons going?

- I've stopped them.

- Why?

- I'm broke.

- How silly!

You should have called me before.

We're friends, I'd be happy to help.

- You've disappeared!

- I didn't call to ask you for money.

- I'd like a favor.

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