The Moderns Page #2

I mean, the lady has been

publicly disgraced.

I mean, the original works...

...they should remain with her

as rcompense.

- Oui.

- No. Not me.

You've done it before.

That was a favor to the old man,

and you know it.

Just concentrate on selling those.

You vex me. You vex me terribly.

- We're from Ohio.

- What'd you tell him that for?

Do you see that man over there?

- Yeah.

- He's a writer.

He wrote a book called The Sun Also Rises.

I read it.

- That's Fitzgerald.

- Yes. Fitzgerald.

All, Coco.

Do you want me to leave?

You're good at it.

Je veux un whisky, s'il vous plat.

Whiskey?

Do you remember that time

when it snowed on the lake...

...and we couldn't get back to the cabin,

so we hid in a cave?

You said that if something

happened to us...

...it wouldn't be all that bad because

they would find our skeletons embracing...

...and that had to be worth something.

Do you remember, Nicky?

Yeah. I was wrong about that.

I was wrong about a lot of things.

In fact, there's something

I never understood until just now.

What's that?

I don't trust you, Rachel.

All the trust is gone.

You hate me.

How can I hate someone

I don't even know?

You know me, Nicky.

- I don't have any cash.

- I don't want your money.

But I'll take it.

Rose, I want to settle up.

That ought to cover what I owe you, what

I'm going to owe, and drinks for everybody.

Give me a bottle of cognac.

No, the good stuff.

There's someone waiting to see you

in the garden.

Oui?

Hart.

Merci.

Yeah, yeah.

Filthy bastards say they'll sue me if I break

my contract, and it's got a year to run.

I'd rather slit my throat.

- Are you listening to me?

- Yeah. What?

I'm seriously thinking about suicide.

Oiseau, you haven't been serious

since 1919.

I picked up a lot of bad habits in my day,

but suicide was never one of them.

Don't worry.

It's not a habit you'll keep for very long.

- L'Oiseau.

- Good evening, Alice.

You're looking dashing.

You remember my friend Nick Hart.

I've come to the conclusion

that I dislike the abnormal.

It's so obvious.

The normal is so much more simply

complicated and interesting, n'est-ce pas?

Does Hedley like his new friends?

The pilot fish.

Charming lot.

Not terribly interesting, but I like their tea.

- Do me a favor, pal, tell me a good joke.

- You're standing in one.

Oiseau, my little birdy!

I've brought my friend Nick Hart,

the wonderful painter.

Merci, monsieur.

Yes, the scribbler.

You know, Hart...

...there's only two things

that can really kill a man.

Suicide and gonorrhea.

- You been talking to Oiseau?

- You!

Young man. Come.

Go get her, champ.

I have a very important question

regarding your work.

How old are you?

- 33.

- Won't do at all.

American painters are 26 this year.

I'm not.

Precisely my point.

Then you won't fit in at all.

- You won't approve of that, either.

- Pardon?

I could always move towards the theater.

I'll introduce you to Jean Cocteau.

Hemingway! Remember, the sun also sets.

Yeah, right on your big...

Hey, Bunny.

Hem.

I don't think we speak

to Miss Stein that way.

She never listens anyway.

She's joking. She's just being funny.

Nathalie de Ville, Nick Hart.

Enchant.

I'm surprised you don't

already know each other.

I've long wished

to make your acquaintance, Mr. Hart.

I've followed your career with interest

and concern.

Concern?

Yes. I always believed that you'd be

so much more successful by now.

But then I also believe

that a good woman...

...can inspire a man

to do truly great things.

Yeah?

Or prevent the poor bastard

from doing anything at all.

Why are you reluctant

to receive a woman's sincere compliment?

It's because there's so few sincere women

in Paris lately, it's a shock to his system.

Bonsoir, Nathalie.

See what I mean?

- Why were you flirting with Nathalie?

- She excites me.

I used to excite you, Nicky.

- Does your husband know that?

- I don't know. Does he?

Is there something happening here

that I don't know about?

She's exquisite.

Nicky?

What do you want from me, Rachel?

I don't know.

There you are.

You remember Mr. Hart, don't you, Bertie?

My husband is in the art business here.

It's a pleasure to meet a businessman

in Paris these days.

Indeed. I much prefer them.

Haven't I seen your work

in a window display somewhere?

- I don't know, have you?

- I didn't like them at all.

I thought they were

cheap and meretricious...

...rather like your suit.

I would suggest you find

another occupation and a new tailor.

Bertie.

Rachel.

Sit down.

Duels are terribly old-fashioned.

Too bad. I'm very good with a gun.

You may suggest an alternative.

Drink this slow, but don't stop.

The American gym in Montparnasse.

Three rounds?

That's good.

I like that.

It's very American.

Let's see.

Would a week from Wednesday

be convenient?

Say, noon? No, 12:30.

Much better.

12:
30?

I'll be there.

Of course you will.

Yeah, much better.

- Ever been in battle?

- No.

When you don't know

what you're up against...

...you've got to walk

with two pumpkins between your legs.

Come, my dear.

I want you to get rid of Oiseau

and that friend of his.

I'll take care of it.

Say whatever you want,

just get rid of them.

Maybe we shouldn't have

come here tonight, I don't know.

Gertrude Stein is not the least amused

by your Mr. Hart.

I'm going to ask you to leave.

Come on, Alice, now, we're artists,

temperamental people!

Hart, marriage is absolutely bitched.

Monsieur Hart?

Thank you.

Mrs. Stone seems to have

an alarming effect on you, Mr. Hart.

My advice is to have

nothing to do with her.

Rachel.

She's a romantic thug.

Either you do things Rachel's way,

or you pay the consequences.

Do you fancy her?

Or is it a little bit more than that?

If I didn't need the ride,

I'd say it's none of your business.

Don't confuse sex and love, Mr. Hart.

It'll spoil both of them for you.

Have you ever been in love?

I understand Stone made his money

in the rubber trade.

Bertie? I guess you could call it that.

Bertie invented the first

really effective prophylactic...

...but now he's obsessed with buying

the best collection of modern art in Europe.

There's to be an exhibit of his latest

purchases in about two weeks' time.

I wouldn't fight with him if I were you.

I like your face the way it is.

Do you like mine?

A man would have to be

either blind or a fool not to.

I guess I'm in need of

a little flattery these days.

Why do you paint, Hart?

Because I'm completely unemployable.

No, I mean, seriously, why painting?

It's guaranteed to last a lifetime,

it's impervious to mildew and rot.

Besides that, I'm good at it,

and it gives me pleasure.

Then why don't your paintings sell?

- The critics given you a bad time?

- I don't pay attention to critics.

If they don't respond,

that means I'm on the right track.

They have given you a bad time.

Never mind.

Perhaps when you're gone,

they'll recognize your worth.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes