Trapeze Page #3

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He never looked at it.

He's dropping our act. We are fired.

- Fired?

- It can't be.

- The bill is full. We are out.

- Where is Bouglione? He can't do this.

- I talked to him. It's a waste of breath.

- Then what do we do?

I was thinking, if we act quick

we might get a booking in Marseille.

- It's her fault. Wanting more in the act.

- Lola's right. Marseille is our best bet.

I wanted to go there in the first place.

Maybe it would be better if you

went ahead, then I could join you.

In case we don't get a booking,

it would save money.

We have no time to waste here.

Let's get the rigging together.

Ciao.

How are the hands?

Hot.

Throw me a triple and we'll call it quits.

- You mean it?

- There's always gotta be a first time.

OK, you're the boss.

Heads up down there.

Clear the ring for a minute. Heads up.

Now remember, don't fight that bar.

Your natural break will give you

all the height you need.

- The beautiful women love brave boys.

- Ta gueule!

And the great Chikki.

Tu peux pas faire attention,

espce d'imbcile?

Right.

Hup!

- What's he up to?

- They're trying for a triple.

Hup!

- What happened?

- I dunno, I... I froze.

You can't quit now, man.

Swallow the lump and let's go.

- Mike? You all right?

- I'm all right. I'm all right.

You almost had it, kid.

You almost made it. Your first triple.

Yeah, but what was wrong?

You broke too soon.

That's why you barreled into me.

But the triple itself was perfect.

That one moment up there,

I knew what you were talkin' about.

Now you know why I've been

drivin' you so hard, huh?

We're gonna give 'em that triple

on opening night.

- Wanna try it again?

- No, no.

Tomorrow, the next day, you can do all

you want. But now let's take the night off.

It's the young Orsini all right.

And the great old Ribble.

Give him a rubdown, Max. And remember

you're workin' on pure gold. Alley-oop!

Come, Tino.

We put a good shine on the gold.

The boy's good, huh?

At least it's good to see you smile again.

- How do you like my costume?

- That's an awful lot of spangles.

It's for opening night.

I wanted to make sure it wouldn't split.

It would be terrible if something happened

in front of all those people.

It's a good idea to try it out on a fast spin.

If it'll stand that, it'll stand anything.

Take a deep breath. Give it all you got.

- The costume will split!

- Let me worry about the costume.

- Sure wouldn't worry about that costume.

- My style is OK?

On a rope there's nothing I can teach you.

I want to learn all I can.

Maybe we should... talk about it.

Give me time to get out of this.

- Asleep?

- Shh.

- Paul, a small bottle of brandy.

- Brandy?

And a couple of cups.

- 400 francs.

- Shh. I'll pay you tomorrow.

- Maybe I'm dead tomorrow.

- I'll put the money in your coffin.

I was dreaming I had a box

at the Folies Bergre.

There were all these beautiful girls,

and one kept looking at me.

A little blonde with blue eyes? Take no

notice. I know her. She's not sympathetic.

Go on back to sleep

and dream about the triple.

- Where you going?

- Around.

- Wait, I'll come with you.

- Stay there. You need rest.

- I feel great.

- I know how you feel better than you do.

I'll see you around.

Go back to sleep.

Your little blonde has a friend waiting.

She'll probably look like Mike.

Come in.

Whatever kept you?

I hear the boy was very good today.

Good? He was great.

He missed the triple by an inch.

You should congratulate him.

You'll find him in the menagerie.

Let's drink to Ribble and Orsini,

the first pure act in years.

Let's hope the public like it.

They never asked for purity before.

- It's so long since they saw it, they forgot.

- No, Mike. Things have changed.

Why stick to a two act? People want light,

sparkle, something pleasing to the eye.

A bit of feminine beauty like Lola here.

Think it over, Mike,

while I go congratulate your boy.

I have great hopes for this act.

I watched you work.

Bouglione's wrong. Your way is right.

- He knows box office.

- That's all he knows.

That's all he cares.

The work itself he thinks nothing of.

- That bothers you?

- Why not? He throws out my partners.

- They are not bad workers.

- They're good.

All right. But they are not

in the same class as you.

- I've got a great flier.

- Always the flier gets credit.

What he does makes a flash.

Your partner is nothing without you.

My partners,

they can find work without me.

But your Tino, he had to come

halfway round the world to find you.

Does Bouglione appreciate it?

- He sure appreciates you.

- Oh, me.

He wants me to be like a bit

of window-dressing in some other act.

You don't like that?

All my life I wanted

to get better and better.

To be the best of all.

Like you.

Our act's pretty dangerous.

I don't care how dangerous,

so long as I am with the best.

With you, for example.

- You think we could work well together?

- I know we could.

- Can you stand heights?

- The higher the better.

- How are your wrists?

- Strong enough.

Legs?

I was always strong in the legs.

- How about your hocks?

- What?

Here.

Fine.

You'll really fly high?

Because I'm not afraid of anything.

But I am afraid.

That's why I'm stickin' to a two act.

Ma chi ti credi di essere! Ma chi ti cerca!

Egoista che non sei altro! Nemmeno se mi

dai un milione ci vengo nel numero tuo!

Brutto pallone gonfiato. Ti credi un artista,

ti credi. Lo sai cosa sei? Un pagliaccio!

Good morning, uncle.

What makes you so tall?

Max, what are you doin'?

Keepin' banking hours?

My alarm clock was late going off.

You like that, don't you, baby?

She's a proper woman.

Hey, take it easy.

- You had a good time last night, eh?

- You know everything, don't you?

Brandy, two cups. You drink by yourself?

- You feel good, eh?

- I feel great.

- Who are you trying to fool?

- Otto!

I know you. You used to be

a catcher for Mike.

Misser, you mean.

He couldn't catch a baby in a basket.

That night your timing was so bad

I needed arms ten feet long.

- You're so right.

- Mike...

This boy, Orsini. Hm? He's good?

- Too good for you. Go get your own flier.

- There are no fliers today.

- Harry, he needs an act. Sell him a snake.

- One? And break up the family?

Snakes are affectionate, especially

girl snakes. They all go together.

Look, Mike, I do you a favor. You can't

work with that leg for long, that I know.

So I catch him and I give you

a pension. How about it?

- Max, wanna fly to him?

- I'm too heavy. I'd break his arms.

- I stick around, Mike.

- Do that. I'll buy you a beer later.

Here, how about a snake act up in the air?

Clean and unusual family show.

Snakes are natural climbers.

When your snakes can fly

like this Tino, then I'm interested.

Hup. Hup.

- Still worried about the height?

- Not when we're swinging together.

- You'd be good if you wanted to be a flier.

- I'm glad I asked you to take me up.

Let the weight of your body carry you out.

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