Twice Told Tales Page #4

in from the sky

like an avenging angel.

No, signore ,

you mustn't.

Giovanni!

Don't!

Don't!

The insect will still

have the poison on it.

Poison?

I saw the

butterfly die--

burned.

What is it?

What happened?

Giovanni...

You had no right

to come in the garden.

If you kept

that kiss I threw you

from my window this morning,

then I have every right.

Here, these are for you.

Thank you,

Giovanni, but...

I can't.

You know,

the closer I get,

the more beautiful

you are?

Don't come closer,

please.

Don't ever

come closer.

Ever?

Please.

Put the flowers

on the bench.

Now, leave

the garden.

My father doesn't

want anyone to--

But why

not, my dear?

Have I ever prevented you

from having guests?

Father.

You should introduce me

to your young friend.

I'm your neighbor, sir.

Giovanni Guasconti.

My pleasure, sir.

I see that you find

my garden attractive.

Your garden has

many attractions, sir.

Giovanni, please.

Please, leave now.

But tomorrow

is Easter Sunday.

Surely, you can go

to church with me.

No. I've tried

to tell you.

But of course you can go to

church with him, my dear.

Why shouldn't you?

Did I say something

to offend her, sir?

Young ladies

are sometimes

very difficult

to understand,

Mr. Guasconti.

Perhaps tomorrow,

she'll--

Yes, perhaps.

Good day.

Good day, sir.

Did you feel

very superior, father,

making a fool

of us both?

Under the circumstances,

I thought I was most kind.

You see?

I even brought

your flowers to you.

It's strange, seeing flowers

that weren't meant to kill.

Well, here,

take them, my dear.

After all, he brought them

to you with his own hands.

He held them.

And now

you hold them.

A very pretty, sentimental

thought, is it not?

Giovanni!

Giovanni!

Giovanni,

I must talk to you.

Please, come down.

I'll open the gate.

Giovanni,

I had to talk to you.

Let's talk in town.

They'll be celebrating

for the holidays.

No. I can't go.

There's no place

I can go.

Haven't you realized

that by now?

This isn't a prison,

Beatrice.

That gate is open.

Oh Giovanni,

if it were only true.

That's why I must

talk to you.

Forget me, Giovanni.

Forget you

ever saw me.

Is that why you

called me down here?

To tell me

to forget you?

Why should I? I couldn't

forget you if I wanted to.

We must both forget,

Giovanni.

Beatrice, I don't--

No further.

Listen to me.

You must listen.

You saw the butterfly die

when it touched

that plant.

Yes.

You would die

if you touched me.

What kind

of nonsense is that?

Why should you

and that plant--

This is what

you must understand.

Do you expect me to believe

such ridiculous--

It's the truth.

Let my hand

touch yours.

Will I die?

Are you telling me

that if I should kiss you,

I'd fall dead,

as that butterfly did?

Yes. As air is your life,

so is poison mine.

This is the way I've been

ever since I was born.

Since my father

made me what I am.

Your father?

We're both his creations,

the plant and I.

He used its poisons to change

the chemistry of my blood.

I refuse

to accept such a--

Oh.

How can I make

you understand?

Wait.

Wait.

See that lizard,

Giovanni?

Watch it.

Watch that

poor creature die.

Do you still want me,

Giovanni?

Does it still seem so pleasant

to want me in your arms?

In god's name,

why has your father

done this?

So that I can never sin,

as my mother did.

So that no man can ever

touch me with evil.

Now you know.

Beatrice!

Beatrice.

Beatrice.

No! No!

Beatrice!

You tried to kill yourself.

You tried

to take your own life.

Oh!

I want to die.

Oh, please, let me die!

Beatrice, child, I only wanted

to protect you from trouble.

I never wanted

to see you hurt.

Did you think

I would never need

a man's love,

or his strength?

But all these years

we've had together,

it can't be ended

because of that boy.

You blame him?

Are you so insane

that you don't know

what you've done?

But to take your own life

because of him?

Do you think

I won't try again?

You won't always be

around to stop me.

It was right to

awaken me, Giovanni.

Never have I seen

anything like this.

The acid has

eaten away

every organ

of the lizard's body.

What kind of a monster

is this Rappaccini?

Is this what he has come

to call science?

He tried to warn me,

to keep me away.

How can I help her?

Perhaps it's impossible.

Patience, Patience,

Giovanni.

There are many things

I can try.

It will take time.

Now go home,

try to get some sleep.

No.

Please. There is nothing

you can do here.

If there's

any hope at all--

I'll let you know

at once.

Yes, sir.

And so, unfortunately,

Beatrice couldn't be here.

She was quite upset

by what happened.

I had to give her something

to make her sleep.

But then perhaps

it's just as well

that we talk

by ourselves.

When I realized

how serious things were

between the two of you,

I wanted you

to have an explanation.

An explanation,

or a hopeless apology

for what you've

done to her?

You think my knowledge

is so little

that I cannot undo

what I have done?

Do you think I would have

brought you here

to offer my daughter's

hand in marriage

if I did not think

you could be married?

If that is the truth--

Beatrice wants you.

Her happiness

is my only concern.

Sir, it is mine, too.

Good. Then shall

we drink on that?

Are you sure

Beatrice will be

all right, sir?

Yes.

I don't know what

your experiments were,

but if it had to do with

making her immune to poison--

You need not

concern yourself.

The greater feat,

Giovanni,

would have been

to make the human mind

immune to the poison of evil,

rather than

the poison of chemistry.

To the only two men

who will ever be

in my daughter's life.

Sir,

an hour ago,

I felt as if the world

had been pulled out

from under me.

Now the world is back

where it should be.

Whatever else

you learn in your life,

remember this:

There is no more

potent force,

nothing can drive a man

harder or faster

to success

or destruction,

than the love

of a woman.

I think I...

I didn't get

much sleep last...

What is this thing?

What are you doing?

It's already done.

What?

You wanted Beatrice,

didn't you?

You can have her now.

Do you understand that?

As long as you

both shall live,

there can never be

anyone else

for either of you.

There will be no evil

in your lives, no sin.

What are you saying?

Go to her, Giovanni.

Touch her.

Take her in your arms.

Kiss her.

Make her your wife.

Make her your wife.

Nothing can harm you now.

You changed me.

You stand alone,

the two of you,

against all of the foul

things in this world.

Why don't you

thank me?

Or are you speechless

with happiness?

You've made me

the same thing she is.

That's what you wanted,

didn't you?

Holy wedlock that no man

could put asunder?

You're out of your mind,

insane.

You had no right!

You had no right!

You'll come back,

Giovanni.

There's nowhere else

you can go.

Rate this script:0.0 / 0 votes