Trapeze Page #7

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Tino...

You know why I don't kill you?

Because I wanna see you a rigger again.

I want you watching me up there

with Otto. I've forgotten you, rigger.

Try to forget me!

Chikki and Rosa on yet?

Ah, Monsieur North.

We're always pleased to see you.

You need not have brought a pen.

The boy will be mine.

- You'll see no triple tonight.

- You've signed him?

I sent Otto, not Mike, up there tonight.

Tino will sign with me.

You had a good dinner? I don't want

your evening to be a complete failure.

Most kind of you, but an evening

in Paris is always a pleasure.

- You said he was not coming.

- Don't worry, I'll handle him.

You go in and change.

The boy wants Otto, he's got Otto. You're

through, you're finished. Understand?

You can't do that. Mr. North is coming.

What are you doing here while the show

is on? Get back to the stables. Vite.

I can remember when you were interested

only in circus. Think back, Bouglione.

Give me this night. Just this one night.

I warned you before. I'm only interested

in the public, not in Ringling North.

Now get out of those skins.

That's the way we'll keep it

for tonight. I'll tell her.

After tonight, make your own plans.

We keep the routine simple.

You do the somersault

and we do the passing trick.

He's coming, Tino. Ringling North.

You've got to work with me...

- I'll go check the rigging.

- Tino...

I did this to him.

We did. You and I.

But it's not Tino you think of now,

it's yourself.

You'd like to make up for the time you fell.

You don't care who you hurt,

who you destroy,

as long as you make that good at last.

That was true once, but not after today.

Maybe I was in love with you

all the time and never knew it.

But suddenly I knew it.

- And it was too late.

- Oh, please. I listened to you before.

Forget me, but not Tino.

Speak to Bouglione. Get him to talk to

the boy. He'll do it for you, you know that.

I know you promised me love,

and gave me a twisted moment.

You promised Tino greatness

and gave him empty words.

So leave me alone, and leave Tino to Otto.

- We can't. Not like this. For Tino...

- Let Otto catch him.

I told you. A magnificent horse.

What a judge I am.

Yes, Chikki.

You know everything about horses.

Otto will never give you that triple.

You've got to give yourself this chance.

Get off that bar.

Ribble and Orsini. Remember, Tino?

Please, Tino. Let's go down.

Get off that bar before I knock you off.

All right. Try and do it.

You asked for it.

John Ringling North's down there.

Let's show him some real circus.

Let's give him a triple. Come on.

You're not giving up, are you? I thought

you had nerve. What's happened to it?

- Stop, Tino. He's not sane.

- Shut up.

You.

Stop that act. Turn off the spotlight.

Take down the net.

Quick, quick!

Take it down, take it down!

No net, Tino. But that should be

right down your alley.

When you first came to me there was no

net. That's when I first figured you had it.

Ballet!

Quick. Ballet! Ballet!

Vite.

This is the night we've been working for.

Your night. The biggest night of your life.

- You have to get them down! You must!

- They won't fly without a net.

I guess I had you all wrong.

I guess you're only brave on the ground.

We can go down, or stay up here and see

how much nerve you've really got.

Are you scared, Tino?

Are your hands wet? Are they sweating?

Maybe you're too scared to go down.

Does the height bother you? Is that it?

You said I was the only man in the world

could teach you a triple.

Well, there's nothing more I can give you.

It's up to you now.

Come on, kid. Get up.

Pull yourself together. Give it a try.

Take the rosin.

That's it, that's it.

Get plenty on those wrists.

Make sure you force out

above those connecting wires.

Take a natural set. When you ride

down the hill, break full and strong.

Watch my swing.

Let me know when it's right.

And remember, kid, you can do it.

Mr. Ribble, can I get you

to hold it right there?

You boys made the circus circus

for me tonight. Get a picture of 'em.

How about a smile?

- Get some pictures.

- OK.

Can I take one smiling?

Hands up high. How about a smile?

How about a smile?

How about it? Make a smile.

I can't get over it, seeing a triple again.

How about it, Mike?

Tino made it easy for me.

How's it feel, boy, throwing your first one?

It feels like you should go on

throwing them, to a great catcher.

When you can fly like Tino,

anybody can catch you.

You fly in my circus, you fly with a net.

No nonsense like tonight.

- Now one of the three hands together.

- That's right. You two. You too, Miss Lola.

Mademoiselle, how do you feel

about going to America?

You're all having dinner with me. And the

way I feel, anything you want, name it.

I just wanna keep the act together.

- That's what I want.

- That's how it'll be.

How about one of the boy

and the girl together?

What's the secret of the triple, Mr. Orsini?

Knowing when to come out of that third

somersault. Your timing's gotta be perfect.

It's like a little clock inside of you

that's got the right time.

It's gotta tick alongside your partner's.

You only get a triple when it's the same.

- When did you first know you had it?

- Mike knew before I did.

- I didn't think I was ready, but he did.

- Were you scared?

If not for Mike, I'd have quit.

The first time I did it, I froze.

- But he made me try again.

- And he caught that one?

Not quite. But suddenly I knew when I did

I'd have the world in the palm of my hand.

That's the kind of feeling it gives you.

There's nothing else like it...

When you get to New York, Otto,

don't push him too fast.

Let him feel it out.

And remember he's lofty, so don't

stay back in the hole. Swing up to him.

Don't ever try to snatch him,

cos he'll overturn.

The act is still yours, Mike.

Still Ribble and Orsini.

There's too much between us, Otto.

Keep him breaking full and strong.

Make him drive that break, drive it hard.

Now that he's got it, don't let him lose it.

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