The Red Violin Page #6

Oh, and I have an envelope for you

from University of Montreal.

This says this arrived at 7 o'clock.

I was in my room.

- Yes, Sir.

- Well, why wasn't I notified?

- Sir, you told us not to disturb you.

- Not for a courier.

- I didn't know, Sir.

- If a courier comes, you call me.

- If a fax comes, you call me.

- Yes.

It's important. You get it? You knock

on my door and you put it in my hand!

- I need you to acknowledge.

- Yes.

This is my business!

Mr. Morritz, I'm sorry. You'd better

come up. They're waiting for you.

All right.

So nice of you to join us. I hope you

don't mind us starting without you...

but there was the question of unusual

expenses, both here in the office...

and at the hotel.

- Did you check my mini-bar too?

- It is our card. We are paying.

You made me wonder, so we decided

to come down and have a look.

And my... you have been busy.

With the courier bills and DNA tests...

Very curious procedures.

Leroux has a theory.

Tell me if she's wrong.

Is our little red violin

the Red Violin?

Yes. I just wanted to be

sure before I told you.

- This is very good news.

- I'll send off the press release.

Good work. Thank you.

Why don't you take these last

few days off... before you go home?

No. I won't forget!

He lied!

He lied to me!

And I knew it as soon as I saw it.

And I said it.

This instrument should be mine.

Son of a b*tch!

Ladies and gentlemen, Duval's...

would like to welcome

you to this awaited evening.

Our thanks

to the government of China...

for entrusting us with this

marvelous collection.

Thanks too to Madame Leroux...

who organized and made

possible this auction.

Let me remind you that

the conditions of sale...

are listed in the catalog.

Before we begin, it is my duty to

direct you to the conditions of sale...

that you'll find at the front

of the catalog.

I will not read them out loud at this

point but consider yourselves warned.

Now, we'll begin with lot number one,

showing on the turntable on my right...

a fine French cello.

And we'll start with US$ 10,000.

US$ 10,000.

- Anything else?

- No.

- Which airport, Sir?

- Dorval.

There is one stop we have to make.

US$ 400,000 at the back of the room.

The Stradivarius now at US$ 400,000.

Against the telephone US$ 420.

US$ 450,000.

Against you, Sir,

US$ 500 back to the front. US$ 500.

- Wait here. I'll just be a minute.

- I might have to go around the block.

All right, if you have to.

US$ 1,100 million. US$ 1,100...

US$ 1,200 million.

Is that a bid, Sir? Don't be shy.

All right, then I'll take it.

US$ 1,300 million.

US$ 1,400...

US$ 1,600 million.

US$ 1,600 million.

Not you, Sir? US$ 1,650 million.

US$ 1,675 million.

- M. Morritz.

- Please don't let me forget this.

Against the telephone now.

Against you, Sir.

US$ 1,810 million.

US$ 1,850.

US$ 1,875 million in the room.

US$ 1,900?

US$ 1,900 million.

US$ 1,900 million on the telephone.

US$ 1,920 in the room.

I've got you, Sir. Thank you.

US$ 1,940 million.

Not yours, ma'am.

Neither of yours.

US$ 1,940 million.

- Son of a b*tch.

- I'll take ten.

Do you want back in, Sir?

Is that a yes? No?

The Stradivarius now

at US$ 1,940 million.

Not yours, ma'am.

Neither of yours.

US$ 1,940 million.

Against you all in the room.

Is that all, then?

Fair warning.

US$ 1,950 million on my left.

Down to you two now.

US$ 1,950 million.

Not yours, Sir. Not yours, Paul.

- The bid is US$ 1,950 million...

- Did you clean this?

Who's responsible for...?

Excuse me,

I have to get the last lot now.

- What's going on?

- Sorry, but we're going to have to...

And... sold to the lady on my left.

- The last sale of the evening...

- Turn it on.

Wait.

- Where is she?

- The tag!

...Nicolo Bussotti, 1681.

- I put the tag on myself!

- If she would give us the pleasure.

- Too late.

And here she is now, lot 72,

the so-called "Red Violin".

- Here we go now.

- Call security.

So we'll open the floor,

and who'll start us off?

US$ 260,000! Good evening,

Mr. Ruselsky.

US$ 270,000.

Suzanne on the telephone.

US$ 280,000. Back to you, Sir.

US$ 300,000 at the back of the hall.

US$ 320,000.

I see you, Suzanne.

US$ 340. US$ 340 now in the front.

US$ 400 at the back of the hall. 420...

Against the telephone now.

-500?

- Stop it.

No? Against you, Sir?

US$ 600,000. US$ 700,000.

US$ 800,000.

US$ 900,000!

One million dollars, Mr. Ruselsky!

US$ 1,100 million.

US$ 1,200 million.

Not you, Sir? Ma'am?

- Are you sure?

- US$ 1,300 million. 1,400.

US$ 1,400 million.

- Mr. Morritz?

- Down to you two now.

US$ 2 million, Mr. Ruselsky!

Mr. Morritz?

Mr. Morritz!

US$ 2,100 million.

US$ 2,200 million.

Mr. Morritz!

Excuse me.

Is this what you're looking for?

- Down to you two. US$ 2,200 million.

- Yes.

- Your coat.

- US$ 2,200 million.

US$ 2,300 million!

US$ 2,400 million.

Merci.

US$ 2,400 million.

Is that all, then?

US$ 2,400 million.

- You may have it.

- All done, then.

- Are you okay, Sir?

- Yes. Take me home.

Right away.

Fair warning. I'm selling now

at US$ 2,400 million.

And... sold to Mr. Ruselsky!

Congratulations.

Hey, baby, it's me.

Yeah. I'm sorry.

Yes.

Yes. Yes, I wanted to,

every day, but...

Well, something came up, but it's

over now, and I'm coming home.

Oh, yeah. May I speak to her?

Hi, honey. It's Daddy.

How are you?

I miss you too.

I'm coming home.

And honey? I'm bringing you

something very special.

Madame?

Are you all right?

Is everything all right?

Yes, I'm sorry.

You have the visions.

No. I'd better go now.

My husband.

Of course. Go to your husband.

Thanks, Cesca.

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