The Razor's Edge Page #5

-to live in the Middle West.

- Hmm.

What in heaven's name

is this?

Is it alone?

Doesn't it come with something?

- What is it?

-It could be a pickle fork.

A pickle fork? Huh.

2.98, no doubt, at "Ye Gifte Shoppe."

4.50, Mr. Templeton,

at Obendorfer's.

- We know, because we sent it.

- Charming.

- Is it for use or ornament?

-[ Chuckles ]

- Both.

- Do you remember me? We met in Chicago.

- Oh, I most certainly do, Mr. Maugham.

- Hello, sir.

Sophie. Oh, darling.

How sweet of you

and Bob to come.

Let me see you.

Oh, you look beautiful, Isabel.

- Think so?

- Like a million dollars.

Or should I say 20 million?

- We never see you and Bob anymore.

- Congratulations.

- Where do you hide yourselves?

- I never thought I'd get her, but I did.

For reasons best known to ourselves,

we don't mix with the rich.

- We find it too expensive.

- How's the kid, Bob?

- Fine. Would you like...

- Oh, please, darling. Not now.

I'd love to come in to see you.

Where do you live now?

In a walk-up apartment

on the North Side.

I'd ask you and Gray to dinner, only I'm

afraid you wouldn't care for my cooking.

Don't you believe her.

She's the best darn cook in Chicago.

All's well that ends well.

I must say, they make a very

attractive couple.

-[ Laughing] Oh, no!

- Go halves?

- I hope they'll be happy.

- Why shouldn't they be happy?

They have everything in the world

to make them happy.

Money, position, a nice house...

Gray's father can't live forever.

What about Larry?

Have you heard anything about him lately?

Good heavens, no.

As soon as Isabel and Louisa

went away,

I dropped him

like a hot potato.

A most undesirable young man.

I tried to find him the last time

I was in Paris, but I couldn't.

I wonder what's happened

to him.

Shall I tell you something,

my dear fellow?

I don't care a row of beans.

[Train Whistle Blows]

[Men Singing In French]

[Whistle Blows]

[Singing Continues]

[Thunderclap]

[Whistle Blows]

-[ Speaking French ]

-[ Accordion Playing ]

[ Chattering ]

- Hey, Kosti.

- How about a beer?

- Well, I would like to wash up first.

- Oh, come on.

It's good, clean dirt.

You can wash later.

A couple of beers,

sweetheart,

and a deck of cards.

I looked for you last night.

You were out.

Was she pretty?

No. You're wrong.

I went to a lecture at the university.

Missed the last bus.

Had to walk back in the rain.

- It serves you right.

- Why?

Enlightenment

is the curse of civilization.

A man who wastes his energy

on knowledge is a fool.

The more he learns, the more he wants

and the more unhappy he becomes.

Tear down the schoolhouses!

Burn the books!

Strangle the teachers.

Then the world will get somewhere.

Ah, the beers.

And the cards.

[ Kisses]

We'll play for the drinks.

Why should a man who wants to

develop his brain work in a coal mine?

Answer me that. You could have gotten

a soft job on the surface.

I wanted to work below.

Hiding out, are you?

Police after you?

- No.

- A woman?

No, I just thought it would do me good

to work up a sweat.

What have the other Poles

told you about me?

Not much. They advised me not to play

cards with you because you cheat.

- Do you think it's true?

- Yes. I know it is.

- Then why do you play with me?

- For the fun of it.

Ha!

I've been watching you for days,

and I can't see how it's done.

You never will, my boy.

But I shouldn't have thought it worth your

while just for the price of a few drinks?

I like to keep my hand in. What are you

going to do when you get enough of this?

Go back to America?

I will, I suppose,

one of these days.

- And do what?

- Sell bonds.

[ Scoffs ]

You're a rum one, Larry.

But what about the answers

to all those profound questions

you have been asking yourself?

Don't you know, people have been

asking those same questions

for thousands of years?

Yes, but doesn't the fact that people

have been asking those same questions

for thousands of years only go to prove

that they can't help asking?

Very good.

Very good.

You're not altogether stupid.

As a matter of fact,

you sound like a very religious man

who doesn't believe in God.

I'm not sure

that I believe in anything.

Have you ever thought of

going to the East?

No.

India, for instance?

I went there.

I met a strange man,

a man I never thought

to meet in this world,

a saint.

People go from all parts

of India to see him,

tell him their troubles, ask his advice

and listen to his teaching.

And they go away

strengthened in soul, and at peace.

But it's not his teaching

that's so remarkable.

The man himself.

- Did he help you?

- No. [Laughs]

But that wasn't his fault.

It was mine.

How did you ever come

to go to India?

To escape my pursuer.

He followed me there.

I've wallowed in the gutters of half the

seaports of Europe to put him off my track.

He was waiting for me.

[ Chuckles ]

I know however far I flee,

one day he will come up with me,

and I shall feel

that terrible hand

on my shoulder.

Wouldn't it be better to face the issue

and take your punishment?

But you don't know

what the punishment is.

It's not prison or the hangman's rope.

I could face that.

It's mercy,

forgiveness, love.

Didn't anybody

ever tell you

that I'm an unfrocked priest?

[Thunderclap]

It's not the police

I'm running away from.

I'd kill anyone

who tried to arrest me.

It's God.

[ No Audible Dialogue]

-[ Thunderclap]

- Get out, you fool. I'm going to get drunk.

[ Speaking Foreign Language]

[ Both In Foreign Language]

Sorry we were interrupted.

They're pilgrims.

They come from many places,

some from quite far distances.

What has brought you here,

my son?

I've come to learn.

Ever since the war,

I've been searching for something...

Something that I've...

I've not been able to put into words.

I've been told that from you

I might find guidance.

God is the only guide.

But perhaps if we talk,

he may show me a way to help you.

To my friends, I'm a loafer

afraid of responsibilities.

I can't even make those I love

understand what I'm after.

The fact that you've taken the time to come

this great distance in search of knowledge,

proves that you're not afraid

of responsibilities.

Even to admit that you want to learn

is in itself courageous.

I've studied. I've traveled. I've read

everything I could get my hands on,

and nothing seems

to satisfy me.

Oh, like everyone else, I want

to succeed, I want to improve, but

not necessarily in the terms

of what the world calls success.

Somehow I've lost confidence

in the accepted values.

I try to get excited at the prospect

of settling down,

minding my own business

and making good,

but it only increases

my urge to move on.

I know that if I do find

what I'm looking for,

it will be something

that I can share with others.

But how to find it,

and where?

All your restlessness and confusion

are not unique, my son.

The whole world

is restless and confused.

It will always be so,

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