Waltz of the Toreadors Page #4

Grogan? Grogan?

Where the devil is he? Grogan?

- Leo, what's happened?

- Is he still outside?

Yes, General.

- Ah, there you are.

- Shall I go up?

Too late. She's bolted.

- She has gone?

- Out the window and down the wisteria.

All those years of cheating and pretending!

She's not sick.

One moment, my love.

- She left this note.

- These hysterical disorders...

My dearest, whatever anyone may tell you,

I have loved only you.

- I am leaving for ever. Emily.

- Oh, good, good.

- Good God!

- Do you think she means to kill herself?

The lake! We must go there at once.

- Wait a minute, wait a minute.

- General, no, this way.

Yes, there she is, there. There.

Oh, yes.

- Total recovery of the leg muscles anyhow.

- We must head her off.

Yes, she's making for the level crossing.

Two minutes to, and the train goes at five past.

- Leo, I'm still waiting.

- Yes, just a few more minutes, my love.

You follow by road and I'll cut across country

- and outflank her.

- Yes.

No, no, no.

- My...my car.

- My horse, my horse.

- Leo, you are not leaving me again!

- Only to save Emily's life, my love.

We shall be oft like two birds straight...

afterwards.

Saddle my horse!

I won't be here when you come back!

That's it. Hurry, hurry, hurry!

Come along now.

Leo!

- Leo!

Take cover, lads.

We don't want too many casualties.

- Leo!

- Leo!

- Leo, I forbid you to go.

- No choice, my love, it's an errand of mercy.

- If you leave me again, I shall kill myself.

- Be brave, my sweet, just a few more minutes.

- Right.

- Get off that horse immediately!

- I shall drown myself in the lake, Leo.

- Back in a minute, my love.

In the lake, do you hear?

Hold on, madam.

Ho...hold on, madam.

Hold on, I'm coming.

Shh.

Cheerie-bye.

Hold on!

I'm... I'm...

coming, madam.

Mademoiselle.

Be with you in a moment.

Oh!

- But he can't swim.

- I know.

I'm coming.

Excuse me, madam.

Next train's not till the morning, I'm afraid.

You're too late. You're always too late.

- Now, come along home with me.

- I prefer it here.

I don't care. Get up here, woman. Come along.

Come along.

General!

General!

Say something. Please. Please speak.

- My chest.

- What?

- I can't breathe.

- Oh.

ls that...?

- Is that better?

- A little.

Ought I to give you artificial respiration,

or something? I...

- Oh, yes, please.

- Oh, I see. I see.

Er...

All right?

Mm.

That's it.

Whoa!

What the devil do you think you're doing?

- I found this lady, sir. In the lake, sir.

- Does that entitle you to strip her naked?

ls she all right, sir?

What are you lot doing here? Go on, all of you.

Go on, back to the house.

Come on. Off. Go on.

And take my wife with you,

and give her to one of the maids.

Do I have to teach you

what a young girI's honour means?

- Leave your hands where they are.

- What?

Hands off! I've seen you already, my lad.

I've seen you with that last little tweeny we had.

I tried to avoid her, sir,

but she was always sneaking up behind me

in the passages.

The little b*tch.

Well, she... She said something

about a young one

for a change.

You seem to me, sir, to be completely devoid

of any principles whatsoever.

Grogan! Get out of that tin can

and come down here and give us a hand.

- Why, where's Emily?

- She's gone back to the house.

The other end. Now, then,

you get there and you get there.

- Go on, that's it. Now...

- Any bones broken?

Mademoiselle.

I'm going to give you a sleeping draft

just to relax you.

It's not relaxing I need, Doctor.

No, quite. I'm inclined to agree with you.

- I want action.

- Mademoiselle, women ought to be generals.

- But generals shouldn't be old women.

- You mustn't get excited.

Why? Why must I spend all my life

not being excited?

True, yes. That's true.

I'm inclined to agree with you.

Oh, I want very little of your medicine, Doctor,

and a lot of action.

What the deviI's he up to?

Grogan?

What's going on in there?

Grogan! What the devil are you doing

with that poor helpless girl?

I've just given her a sedative.

You must let her sleep.

Oh, I see, yes, yes.

Damn moggy on the bed.

Female.

- When will she be available?

- In a couple of hours.

lt was a small dose.

And er...Emily?

- Oh, er, a large one.

- Oh, yes.

You know, it's a pity

we can't put women to sleep permanently.

Just...wake them up for a little, at night.

- Yes, life...life would be simpler.

- Yes.

Mind you, I'm being very unfair.

She's never complained.

Never once in 17 years.

Come on, General.

- We both need a drink.

- Excellent idea, yes.

Mademoiselle?

Oh!

- Just a minute.

- God!

There we go.

We don't get any younger, that's what it is, yes.

- Give me your hand.

- What?

Give me your hand.

Oh.

- Your hand!

- Sh!

At last.

You know, I...

I should have made her my mistress years ago.

- You mean to say you never...

- What?

No, no, never.

Never.

Meeting in Paris,

once a year when I had to go

to see the Chiefs of Staff. That's all.

I see.

So that's why you go over to Paris.

Yes, once a year.

Once a year, I live in the sunlight

of a glorious love.

The rest of the time, I make a noise,

frighten the little virgins at the high school,

chase the house wenches.

I'm Lord of the Manor

General Fitzjohn.

And the world says, ''What a man!''

But I'm empty, my friend.

Nobody inside.

I'm alone, I'm afraid.

My poor old friend.

Even my bits of fun bore me to death.

It's only my terror of living

that sends me chasing after them.

Once the dress is off,

well...

You go up to her, General.

Hm?

You'll find ways of waking her.

Go up to her, before it's too late.

I will.

I will.

Oh, well, I feel decidedly better, decidedly better.

Good, good.

Just like I did years ago at that first ball.

Well, for heaven's sake, get on with it, General.

- Good night.

- Good night, Grogan.

- Good luck.

- Thank you.

- Kiss me, my General.

- Oh, honestly, Mademoiselle, I don't...

I don't really think I should, you know.

I'm...I'm only a lieutenant.

Oh, you must.

Are you asleep, my dearest?

Have no fear. It's only me.

- Your Leo is here.

I am here, my sweet. I am here.

And I'm thirsting for your love.

- Yes. Water. Water.

-Yes.

Of course, of course.

You are thirsting, too.

One moment, ma chrie. One moment.

Drink deep, my love.

We have 17 years to make up for.

There.

What, my love?

- I want your hand again.

- Yes, yes, of course, my love.

This dear, sweet, sweet little hand franais

that has waited so long to be grasped into mine.

You remember that meringue at Chez Michaud

15 years ago.

16 years ago.

16 years.

Oh, silly Leo.

lt was our first meeting after the ball.

I remember I ate the little bits of meringue

from your fingers.

Your fingers still smell of meringue.

I remember saying

I'd take you to some enchanted castle,

where our love would live for ever.

I know the very place in the Rue Pigalle.

You don't even have to register.

No, Leo. I must keep myself

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