The Moderns Page #4

A fight is just a fight.

And when it's fought...

...it's something else.

That's horse liniment.

Under the circumstances...

...you did majestically, dear boy.

Oiseau will report it as a Pyrrhic victory.

- Pyrrhic?

- Greek to me.

Thanks for the workout, Hart.

Bring something of yours around

for me to look at.

I'm in a buying mood.

Rachel.

Excuse me.

May I introduce Armand?

An exceptional painter.

- Very modern.

- I'm leaving.

I never thought you could be such a brute.

That fight!

You were so unbridled.

You were so violent.

Would you people excuse Hart and I

a few minutes?

We have an urgent matter to discuss.

Very modern.

No, Armand can stay.

Armand speaks no English.

Indeed, le petit coquin rarely speaks at all.

The other night with you was wonderful.

But there's a complication.

My husband died unexpectedly

over the weekend.

As you can imagine,

it was a terrible shock.

- We were very close.

- Right.

A perfect couple.

I'm sorry.

You won't have to copy

those paintings now.

I see.

I knew you'd understand.

There is one hitch, Nathalie.

You and I had an arrangement.

I expect you to fulfill it.

But I intend to.

I intend to.

What would you like most?

A suit, or a watch?

A weekend together by the sea?

Because that was

part of the arrangement, too.

Remember?

Enjoying opportunities

as they present themselves...

...and not losing

what's most important to us.

Exactly.

Which is why you're going to pay, Nathalie.

In full. In cash.

Or you'll never see your pictures again.

Don't you threaten me, Hart.

I will never be threatened again by anyone!

You're behaving like a cheap whore from

the rue Saint-Denis, and not like an artist.

I'm ashamed of you.

Brute.

Brute.

So who is this Libby Valentin?

I mean, is she French or what?

She's "or what."

Is she really a nun?

Defrocked.

You know, I think it was Gustave Flaubert

who said there are only four reasons...

...for getting involved with women.

- Sex!

- One.

- Money!

- Two.

- Publicity!

- Three.

Goddamn it, what was the fourth one?

- Drunkenness.

- Drunkenness.

Buddy, Rachel's not for you.

She's not gonna make you happy.

Yeah.

I mean, in Hollywood...

...the women are gonna be tall.

- There's a reason.

- They're blonde.

- There's another reason.

Promiscuity is just a religion with them.

Oiseau, you know, you are absolutely right.

- No permanent attachments.

- That's right, buddy.

Do you realize...

...that drink...

...and permanent attachments

have been the undoing of virtually...

...all of our friends?

- That's right.

- Hit it.

"She's got a Sunday school face

"She's got..."

She's got a what?

"She's got a...

"She's got a Sunday school face"

- Wonderful song.

- I know that car.

Get some sleep.

Monsieur Hart.

Sh*t!

Nathalie.

Libby!

I disclaim all responsibility.

Come here.

I want to show you something.

- Lf I didn't know they were copies...

- What makes you think they're copies?

Because I've seen the originals.

Nathalie asked me to ship them

to New York.

I suppose you put my fee in your pocket.

Jamais.

Sur mon honneur, as a woman of God.

These are the originals.

Nathalie took my copies by mistake.

She did?

A little bit like stabbing yourself

in the back, isn't it?

So what are we supposed to do

with these?

I'll cut you in for 30 percent.

It's a crackerjack scheme, dear boy.

But now leave everything to me.

When it comes to artifice...

...moi, Valentin, am a master.

Stone will pay through his nose

to get these in his salon.

Should have heard him on the telephone.

Beside himself.

I'll get the money he owes me,

you'll get the money I owe you...

...and when Nathalie de Ville sees

these new beauties...

...at Stone's exhibition,

the Pope himself would blush with shame.

Perhaps this one, then,

which again is in keeping...

...with the whole anticipation

concept we discussed.

I particularly like this one with, as you see,

the focus on the lady...

No, I don't like any of these.

I need an ad that, when you look at it,

would jump at you.

Something simple but dramatic.

Jump. Yes.

Oui?

- Oui.

- Et madame?

Entrez, entrez.

Valentin.

- Libby, I changed my mind.

- About what?

- I don't want to show anything of mine.

- Okay.

I'll just pick it up when we go.

I don't want you...

...to participate in this.

Merci.

- May I call you on Friday?

- Yes.

- Thank you again.

- Thank you.

Excuse me.

What is he doing here?

It was Hart who put me in touch...

...with the owner de ces ouvres.

He wanted to come along.

Did you bring me

some samples of your work?

I've decided I prefer not to be collected.

Makes me feel like a manufacturer.

You're in the wrong business, then.

- Got anything to drink?

- No.

My wife is an alcoholic.

- How is your wife?

- What do you mean by that?

Not much.

- Do you want to see them?

- Yes! Let's see it!

Look at the skin tone.

The shape.

So sensual.

Did you know that Modigliani's

models were tarts?

All women are tarts.

That's why I love them.

I think...

...you could easily say...

...that these three works capture...

...capture...

...the true spirit, I'essence de modernit.

- I'm prepared to give you a bargain price.

- Yes.

I'm informed that

you specialize in bargains.

I have a certain talent in that area, yes.

But am I to assume

that money is an object?

Don't be daft.

Money is always an object.

For myself, I'm only interested in price.

See that Picabia?

I could burn it tomorrow,

and it wouldn't mean a thing to me.

But I did pay 7,000 francs for it...

...so I am not as impulsive

as I ordinarily might be.

In fact, if I'd paid less...

...it would be less beautiful.

Stone, I've changed my mind.

I think it would be an honor

for you to own some of my work.

I'll just run over to the gallery

and pick something up.

"It rained today.

"Even the rain seems like a lie here.

"I detest the verisimilitude of Parisian life."

- Bertie's downstairs.

- Rachel.

I decided to go to Hollywood with Oiseau.

- Yes?

- Yes. You're coming with me.

Am I?

You are.

Not in the tub.

- Why not?

- Trust me.

I don't know.

I think I need

more of a commitment from you.

Yeah? How long?

Are these genuine?

Est-ce que le ciel est bleu?

Ordinarily, I wouldn't care.

If a picture sells for a big price...

...and it's praised to the teeth

by the experts...

...is it really worthless, then...

...when it's discovered

the signature is forged?

Depends on whether

you're the buyer or the seller.

All the critics and art snobs will be

at my salon.

- I want to make an impression.

- Yes.

- Not a reputation.

- No.

I already have that.

Now.

The interesting part.

How much?

Une chanson...

... 5,000...

... amricains.

I'll take them.

- You will?

- But not at that price.

I've already given you

the dealer's discount.

I'll give you $3,000.

You insult me, Mr. Stone.

Not you.

- Take it or leave it.

- I'll take it.

I thought you might.

- Good.

- Good.

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