Three Coins in the Fountain Page #8

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I'd like to be left alone.

Does the signora care to order?

Yes. Bring me six

double scotches, please.

- Six?

- Six.

Very good, signora.

May I ask what you intend to do

with six double scotches?

[Sniffles]

I intend to drink them.

May I suggest that you'll

live to regret it?

You may.

- But why six?

- I suspect a trick.

The Americans have thought

of a scheme to outwit us of our tips.

I must figure this out.

- How can one save on six drinks?

- Well...

That'll be all.

[Coughing]

Shall I slap you on the back,

or shall I call the waiter to do it?

Neither.

Shouldn't you be at your desk

attending to my work?

You've given up.

Why shouldn't I?

I had no idea you went in

for this sort of thing.

I don't, as a rule.

To the Fountain of Trevi.

To the lovely, romantic Fountain of Trevi,

where hope can be had for a penny.

- People are looking at you.

- Well, high time.

- Do you really think you should?

- I really think I should.

- Why?

- Because...

my life is ending.

Bambino.

Don't hug the shore with it.

Be... Be reckless.

You've got your whole life

ahead of you.

See what the world is like.

[Speaking Italian]

Oh! All right.

All right, all right.

Here, take it.

Take it home and play with it in

the bathtub, my brave little adventurer.

- What do you want?

- Really, Miss Frances.

Don't you think you're a bit

too old to go wading in public?

I'm not too old. I'm not too old

to do anything I want to do.

Allow me to assist you

from that ludicrous and liquid posture.

Go away. Go away, please.

Give me your hand, then.

[Sighs]

This'll make you feel much better.

I want my mother.

You haven't got a mother.

I haven't got anybody.

Nobody cares what happens to me.

[Sobbing]

Why didn't you let me drown?

A pity you didn't reveal

your capacity for vice earlier.

The years would've seemed

much shorter, and well-spent.

You needn't flatter me.

Miss Frances, please lie back.

You're going to feel dreadful later on.

I feel dreadful now.

- I've gotta get up.

- Why?

I've gotta help my friends.

They love me very much.

- I know.

- Oh, poor Georgio.

- Poor who?

- Oh, don't pretend you don't know.

I've got to get to Mr. Burgoyne

and make him give Georgio his job back.

Anita loves Georgio,

and Georgio loves Anita.

- Yes.

- But you wouldn't understand.

You hate everybody!

Well, I should certainly hate to see you

make a daily habit of this.

And I've got to talk to Dino.

I want Maria to have her prince.

Every girl should have her prince.

At least one.

My dear Miss Frances,

please try and get a little rest.

I'll do what I can later, but in the meantime

it's important for you to sleep.

Sing to me.

The only song I know would hardly be

appropriate..."The Star-Spangled Banner."

You'd have to stand up, and...

Do you think

you're going to be all right?

Miss Frances?

Sleep.

[Speaking Italian]

Signor Shadwell.

Show him in.

[Speaks Italian]

- Well, John!

- Hello, Dino.

I come bearing presents. You've always

wanted these first editions of mine.

- I've decided to give them to you.

- But I cannot accept.

- But you will.

- [Chuckling] Well, I'm overwhelmed, John.

- Why are you doing this?

- Saves my packing them.

- I'm going away tomorrow.

- Oh. Off to Capri again, huh?

America. I'm going home

after 15 years... to be married.

Miss Frances?

How did you know?

For years all of Rome has known how

Miss Frances felt. Should I be surprised?

You should be ashamed.

You might have told me.

It is much better

that you waited, my friend.

No man should marry

until he is at least your age.

I shall accept that

as a compliment.

- To your happiness.

- Thank you.

Now, at my age, you see,

we have no judgment.

- We feel too deeply.

- I can understand how you feel.

After all, you've just had a narrow escape

with that girl at the agency, haven't you?

- You know about this?

- Oh, all of Rome has known.

She almost tricked you

into marrying her, I understand.

Do you know what that girl did?

Kept a little black book on you, I believe.

Listed all your likes and dislikes.

- Even to the piccolo!

- Only a woman could sink that low.

[Scoffs]

The duplicity of this grasping girl!

Of course, we all grasp at happiness,

but there are such things as rules.

Exactly!

I knew you would understand.

And you're quite right in letting her

go back to America without a word.

She deserves to be unhappy.

She's going back to America?

Oh, she knows she did wrong,

so let her suffer for it.

You're well out of it, my boy.

You've acted like a man.

She deceived me.

She... She lied to me.

Why can't women

play the game properly?

Everyone knows that in love affairs

only the man has the right to lie.

- Naturally.

- She was very stupid to confess she lied.

She didn't have to. Very stupid.

See, to... to disillusion me so...

These girls in love never realize

they should be honestly dishonest...

instead of being dishonestly honest.

- Do you know what I mean?

- Hmm? Oh, certainly.

So don't let anyone convince you...

that you should be flattered she went

to such lengths to capture your interest.

Don't worry. I won't.

Of course,

I would be highly flattered.

But then, I'm an older man.

- Not much.

- Thank you.

Well, I'm glad that I leave you

in this happy frame of mind.

You know what you want, Dino.

Take care of yourself.

She'll be out of your life tomorrow,

and you'll never be bothered by her again.

- Home, Signor Shadwell?

- Not yet.

- To the Burgoyne villa, and hurry.

- Si, signor.

- I guess that's everything.

- Mm-hmm.

Well, good-bye, beautiful apartment.

Good-bye, romantic Rome.

Good-bye.

[Phone Ringing]

Hello?

Oh, hello.

Where?

Oh, all right, dear.

Uh-huh. We were just leaving.

Bye.

That was Frances. She wants us

to meet her at the Fountain of Trevi.

- [Speaks Italian]

- [Responds in Italian]

Why do you suppose Frances

wanted to meet us here?

Maybe she decided

to go back with us after all.

Well, she'd better hurry up.

Our train leaves in half an hour.

Why, it's empty.

[Workman Speaking Italian]

Signor, per che niente acqua?

- [Workman] Lo puliscano.

- Oh.

- Why isn't there any water?

- He says they're cleaning the pool.

Clean out the old dreams.

Make way for the new ones.

That fountain is a fraud.

When I tossed my coin in, I wished

I could stay for a year in Rome.

And here I am,

leaving after a month.

Well, I'm afraid there's no refund.

We can't wait around here much longer.

We're going to miss our train.

Oh, here she is. Well, what happened

to you? We've been waiting hours.

I only phoned an hour ago.

You're mighty mysterious.

What's this all about?

It's a surprise.

Look! The fountain's

coming to life again.

% % [Chorus:
Ballad]

Maria.

Georgio!

% %

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