The Sheltering Sky

---

Well...

terra ferma.

We must be the first tourists

since the war.

- We're not tourists. We're travelers.

- What's the difference?

A tourist thinks about going home

the moment they arrive, Tunner.

Whereas a traveler might not

come back at all.

You mean, I'm a tourist?

Yes, Tunner.

And I'm half and half.

No profession?

Not that I'm aware of.

Madame is a writer.

Monsieur Tunner is a businessman.

My wife wrote one play, monsieur,

five years ago.

I thought it was wonderful,

but the reviews were guarded.

Mr. Tunner's only business

is giving dinner parties.

One at a time.

Monsieur, my husband's a composer.

He chooses to be modest today.

An artist.

How long will you be staying?

Mr. Tunner will stay

three to four weeks...

but my wife and I will stay on

for a year or two.

A year or two?

In this place?

That's it!

The Italians have agreed

to give women the vote.

We can take the train to Boussif.

From there we have to take buses.

You've been to North Africa.

Kit and I will just follow.

- My only plan is, I have no plan.

- Right.

Whatever you say.

Because neither Kit nor Port...

had ever lived a life of any kind

of regularity...

they had made the fatal error of

coming to regard time as nonexistent.

One year was like another.

Eventually, everything would happen.

I had a strange dream last night.

Port, please. Other people's dreams

are so dull.

I know it's boring, but I'll forget it

if I don't tell it. I was...

traveling on a train

which I realized was going to crash...

into a mountain made of sheets.

Consult Madame La Hueff's

Dream Dictionary.

Shut up.

I knew it was going to crash, but...

What?

Why do you go on

when you know it's boring?

Maybe Tunner would like to hear it.

Would you?

Dreams are my cup of tea.

At some point...

I felt I could stop the crash if

I could only open my mouth and scream.

And then I realized it was too late

because I had reached up...

and broken off my teeth

with my hand...

as if they were made of plaster.

I started to sob.

Those kind of terrible dream sobs...

that shake you like an earthquake.

It's all right. Leave her.

Is she crying?

Kit has days when everything in the

world is a sign for something else.

A white Mercedes can't just

simply be a white Mercedes.

It must have a secret meaning

about the whole of life.

Everything is an omen.

Nothing can just be what it is.

I got them from the bellboy. He said

they belonged to General Montgomery.

I thought they might be Monty's.

Excuse me.

Are you staying at the Grand Hotel

by any chance?

Yes.

Oh, good. I'm Eric Lyle. Hello.

I don't suppose you could lend me

I haven't enough change for a sherry.

- Thanks awfully.

- Eric!

You filthy toad!

What are you concocting?

Hello. I was

just going to buy cigarettes.

You wretched little liar!

You are imbibing!

You know what the doctor said.

- What, sweetie?

- Nothing.

Why did you tell your dream

in front of Tunner?

I was telling it to him.

As much as I told it to you.

I realize you think dreams are boring,

but good God!

Why do you have to take everything

so seriously?

- What is a dream?

- It's just that I don't trust Tunner.

- He's such a gossip.

- Tunner?

Who might he be gossiping to here?

Port, you seem to forget

we'll be back in New York someday.

We may, someday.

I don't care if he tells it

to the whole Eastern seaboard.

Who gives a damn?

And what do you mean,

you don't trust Tunner?

I never felt at ease with him.

You might have said that

before we crossed the Atlantic.

- You invited him.

- He invited himself.

We let him come.

You let him come.

Don't misunderstand me.

He's tall, he's very rich,

he's handsome...

I like him very much.

What does it mean,

you don't trust him?

- That must mean something.

- Of course I mean something.

It's just not important.

I'm going for a walk. Want to come?

No, thanks.

I'm really enjoying this room

after all that sea.

- I'm going for a walk. Want to come?

- No, thanks.

I'm really enjoying this room

after all that sea.

- I'm going for a walk...

- No, thanks.

What do you want to do?

Isn't it time for you to rub my tummy?

I know what you're thinking.

That's a nice scent. What do you mean

about not trusting Tunner?

Let's just not talk about it.

Okay, baby.

Anyway, Tunner is much more

your business than he is mine.

Nothing.

My name is Smail.

I was in the 5th Battalion

of sharpshooters.

Look.

I fought the war. Much people died.

Nothing to eat, that's all.

- You are sad.

- No, I'm tired.

You live a short time.

Have fun.

Yes, I know.

I will take you to a friend of mine.

A girl.

Beautiful.

More than the moon.

- You mean a whore.

- A whore?

Come, monsieur, come.

See for yourself.

Monsieur, listen.

Hey!

It is very late. Where are we going?

Down here. That's her tent.

Come, monsieur, come.

- Why don't you take off your shoes?

- No, thank you.

You pay her because you take up

her time. That's all.

Why are you whispering?

Because of the men in the other tents.

Her name is Mahrnia.

Stop it! Stop it!

God!

- Who is it?

- Me.

Are you awake?

Not very.

It's the best time of the day.

You shouldn't miss it.

I'll be there in a minute, Tunner.

You all right?

Yeah.

Hi.

- Hi.

- Hello, Tunner.

Are you holding a seance in here?

You're in a disgustingly good mood.

I'm looking at you.

Where was Port?

I waited up for him.

- You waited up for him?

- We had sort of a date at the cafe.

Then I read in bed until late.

He hadn't come in by 4:00.

Then he didn't sleep much.

He's gone out.

- You mean he hasn't come in yet.

- Will you order some petit dejeuner?

I'd like some of their awful coffee

and plaster croissants.

Hello?

You're a very curious person.

It's hard to understand you.

Tunner, stop trying to be interesting.

On you, it looks terrible.

You're too good-Iooking.

Are you ready?

- I'm taking you shopping.

- Are you?

Yes, before it gets too hot.

Didn't you say you wanted to buy

a mosquito net?

That was yesterday.

I'm exhausted today.

I don't know what I want.

You dress.

I'll wait in Port's room.

I'll even shut the door.

Do you and Port ever share

the same room?

When you travel for months on end,

you have to set it up this way.

And the first rule of marriage is,

never confuse sex with sleep.

Besides, Port usually works at night.

You mean he snores. Or you do.

Bore, bore, bore.

May I come in?

Well, of course.

What happened to you?

- Port...

- What is that?

- It's Tunner.

- What's he doing in my room?

You know what, Kit?

I've decided that you need me.

He was just waiting for me

while I got dressed.

- Stop it. Stop it.

- Go ahead and finish.

Well, well.

- What the hell is all this mess?

- Back from the wars, eh?

And do you look it.

Kit and I were just going for a walk.

God, man, have you seen yourself?

Yes, I need some coffee. Would you two

get out of here and go on your walk?

See you later, old man.

Get some sleep.

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