"Stage Career" Movie Script
Translated by Tian Dawei
Subtitles in sequence:
The plot and characters in the film are all fictional.
If there is anything in common with the real thing, it's all coincidence.
Charming footlight light...
grow old,
Let the youth appear.
A story about a ballet actress and a harlequin.
London. Early summer evening of 1914...
A street in a London ghetto. Horses, horses and pedestrians come and go. The sound of street performers waving their hands and playing the organ can be heard and the hustle and bustle of the market in the distance.
On the sidewalk an artist waving the organ; passing pedestrians and chariots; a few children circling around the organ waving. The organ sounded louder and louder; in the distance came the noise of the street...
The front door of Ms. Olsop's rental apartment. The camera pans in through the door and stops in front of a door. The organ sound fades away.
indoor. A girl in pajamas is lying on her back on the bed. She was disheveled and delirious; a small bottle was gripped tightly in one hand resting on the pillow.
The door to the kitchen was wide open, and there was a gas stove in the kitchen. The other door to the room was closed, and the crack in the lower door was stuffed with a towel.
On the street, three children curiously admired the little monkey squatting on the hand-turned organ.
Cavallo appeared at the end of the street, drunk and staggering forward. He said hello to a man and woman approaching, trying his best to look sober. Now he went up the steps in front of the apartment and started fumbling for the keys.
With trembling hands, Cavallo tried to insert the key into the keyhole on the door.
Two little girls and a boy looked out of the doorway. The hand-turned organ stops.
Cavallo gave up the idea of unlocking and started knocking on the door.
The three children stood by and watched. The older girl spoke first; the younger girl repeated her every word.
Girl A: Ms. Olersop isn't home!
Girl B: Ms. Oller Sopo is not at home!
Cavallo smiled at them, thanking them for their notice. With great effort, he finally unlocked the door.
Cavallo entered, closed the door, and walked up the stairs, pulling a cigar from his pocket. After climbing a few steps, he stopped.
He was about to light a cigar, but smelled a suspicious smell and tried to identify its source: he sniffed the cigar, then looked at the soles of his shoes...and found nothing. He walked towards a door and looked carefully at the towel protruding from the crack of the door. He tore out the piece of cloth that blocked a small hole in the door and threw it to the ground. After hurriedly glanced inside, he slammed the door open a few times with his shoulders.
girl indoors. Cavallo walked over to the girl lying on the bed, carried her on his back, and carried her out the door.
The porch of Oller Sopo's apartment. Cavallo came with the girl on his back, and she was still unconscious...
Cavallo walked out of the pharmacy with the doctor, the doctor carrying the medicine box. There are pedestrians on the sidewalk. The doctor and Cavallo walked hurriedly into the distance.
The porch of Oller Sopo's apartment. The girl was still lying unconscious on the steps. The doctor prepares to administer first aid; Cavallo leans on the handrail of the stairs, answering the doctor's question.
Doctor: Has the gas been turned off?
Cavallo: What gas?
Doctor: Which room does she live in?
Cavallo: Well...that's it.
The doctor covered his mouth and nose with a handkerchief and hurried away. Cavaro cough.
The doctor walked quickly inside, opened the window, turned off the gas stove in the kitchen, and went outside, leaving the door open.
On the porch of Oller Sopo's apartment. The doctor came over to Cavarro, who was still leaning on the handrail of the stairs.
Doctor: She should be moved to another room. What about the landlord?
Cavallo: She's not at home.
Doctor: Do you have a room?
Cavallo: Hmm... um... on the third floor.
Doctor: Excellent. Please do me a favor and pick her up.
Cavallo and the doctor struggled to support the girl up the stairs.
Cavallo: Let's go, miss.
Doctor: Come back and bring my medicine box, be careful with it.
Cavallo: I'm sorry, but I'm afraid you'll have to worry about it yourself.
Cavallo interior. Cavallo and the doctor put the girl inside the house. They put her down on the bed carefully. Cavallo was exhausted.
Doctor: Can you open the window? She needs fresh air.
Cavallo: Yes...I need it too. (walks towards the window, stops halfway) Give the hospital a call?
Doctor: No time. Give her a gag first. Please give me some water.
Cavallo: Over there.
The doctor went to the bedside table and poured a glass of water, mixed with emetic.
Doctor: I need a lot of hot water and a towel right away.
Cavallo stepped aside, his movements almost robotic.
Cavallo: Water...towel...
He took the towel from the sink and went back to the bed.
same room. Cavallo has not taken off his top hat until now. He walked towards the bed with a small porcelain basin in his hand. The doctor had finished first aid on the girl and was looking at the small bottle.
Doctor: Was this bottle originally in her hand?
Cavallo: Yeah. Is this what your pharmacy sells?
Doctor: I know. Have you known her for a long time?
Cavallo: Just five minutes.
Doctor: Excellent. She needs someone to take care of her these days.
Cavallo: Call the hospital?
Doctor: (rubbing his hands with a towel, preparing to leave) Oh, there is no need. The danger has passed. Besides, sending her to the hospital would certainly lead to all kinds of cross-examination and interrogation. Those who attempt suicide go to jail.
Cavallo listened in astonishment.
Doctor: She'll be fine in two or three days... (Already walking to the door, turning back to Cavallo) Let her rest in peace. If she wants water, give her orange juice. Tomorrow, if she wants to eat, she will give her a small bowl of chicken soup. Hard things can't be given to her at all. Come to the pharmacy in ten minutes, and I'll give you the medicine.
Cavallo: For me?
Doctor: Oh, no! Of course it was for her...
After the doctor left, Cavallo closed the door.
Cavallo staggered to the bed.
The girl's head rested feebly on the pillow, and she opened her eyes. It was obvious that she was still in pain.
Cavallo smiled and spoke to her.
Cavallo: Are you tired?
Girl (her name is Tilly): (panduly confused)...where am I?
Cavaro; (flat and serene) In my room, two stories above yours.
Tilly: What happened?
Cavallo: Well...it was getting dark today, when I got home, I smelled a smell of coal coming out of your house. I smashed the door and invited the doctor...
The girl closed her eyes again.
Cavallo: (Voiceover) ...I'll carry you here with the two of them.
Tilly: Why don't you let me die?
Cavallo: (fatherly) Why are you in such a hurry! ...are you in pain?
The girl's eyes were closed, as if she was about to cry.
Cavallo walked to the window, glanced down the street, turned back to speak to the girl, his tone was a little more impassioned, as if he were speaking a monologue on stage.
Cavallo: It may be true. The rest is nothing but fantasy! ... It took millions of years of evolution to mature the human mind. But now you want to destroy it, let the miracle of creation, the most important thing in the universe be destroyed completely! What can the stars in the sky do? They do nothing! They hang high in the air, unable to move their position in the slightest...
Cavallo went to the edge of the bed and sat down. The girl continued to listen with her eyes closed.
Cavallo: ...is the sun, what can it be? For 28 billion years, it has been spraying raging flames... But what will happen? It just consumes the power given to it by nature in vain... Can the sun have rational thinking? Could it be aware of everything going on around it? can not! But you can! ... (finding that the girl has fallen asleep) I'm sorry, I'm bothering you...
He stood up, still staggering, and picked up a violin.
Cavallo: So here you are... Your end is here! ...
He went out of the room, went to the head of the stairs, leaned over the rail, and bent over, trying to hear what the landlady Olesoppo was saying below.
Ole Sopo: (Voiceover) What a sin, what a shame! You see! My poor door! ...
In the porch of the apartment. The plump Ms. Olersop stood downstairs, facing the wide-open door of the girl's room, and said angrily to her female companion:
"Wow, it's slamming the door! This guy must have taken his stuff and ran away. Look at it, I have to tell her to go to jail for me!"
Lady Olisopo's female companion, a grim old woman, listened in silence.
Oller Sopo: I knew she was a scumbag! ...She still pretends to be serious! The hen that lays eggs doesn't crow, and the mother-in-law who steals doesn't laugh...
Madam Ole Sopo walked into the girl's room with the attitude of a conqueror. Her female companion remained at the door of the room, standing upright as if she had swallowed a pole.
Ole Sopo: (Voiceover) It stinks...
With his violin in his arm, Cavallo tiptoed down the stairs.
Oller Sopo: (Voiceover) Strange thing. She took nothing with her. Well, if she doesn't pay the rent arrears, she won't take anything away! ...I see you slamming the door again! ...
Cavallo went downstairs and slipped quietly out the door.
Oller Sopo: (gets out of the room with his girlfriend) Nothing to say, good work here. Come on, she's finally on the street now, and if she wants to come back, she can't! (disappears outside the door with her silent girlfriend)
on the street. Cavallo took his violin and decisively walked into a shop that read "All kinds of used goods and sundries" at the door.
The sidewalks are crowded with people. In the distance came the noise of the street and the rumbling of horses and horses.
On the porch of Oller Sopo's apartment. Ms. Olersop, holding a stack of underwear, walked towards the stairs. She cried out on her back:
"Cavalro—sir! Mr. Cavallo! …"
With no response, she groaned up the steps.
on the street. Cavallo came towards the apartment, holding a large bag in his hand.
Cavallo walked up the steps in front of the apartment. The noise of the street was faintly heard.
Ms. Olersop went up the stairs and disappeared at the turn of the first flight of stairs.
Cavallo staggered open the door, came in, closed the door, leaned against the door panel for a while, and then walked forward.
Cavallo climbed the stairs.
Ms. Olesoppo walked up to the third floor with her underwear in her hands, crossed the aisle, and knocked on Cavarro's door.
Cavallo staggered upstairs. My foot stumbled, and a few oranges fell out of the paper bag.
Oller Sopo: (Voiceover) Mr. Cavallo, is that you?
Cavallo: Huh? ...
Ms. Olisopo leaned against the railing and bent down to look down.
Oller Sopo: I've ironed your underwear and brought it here. on your bed?
Cavallo: (Ignoring the oranges that fell to the ground, running up to him quickly) Please wait!
Ms. Olersop was still leaning against the railing and watching him.
Cavallo: (Voiceover) Here I come! ...
Cavallo had reached the second floor; he ran forward and dropped a few more oranges. Now he runs to the third floor.
Cavallo: Wait a minute! Wait a minute! ...
Staircase on the third floor. Ms. Olersop was standing by the railing as Cavarro finished the last few flights of stairs. His paper package fell to the ground. He snatched the underwear from the landlady, hurried into his room, and closed the door. After a while, Cavallo opened the door a crack and wanted to come out to get a paper bag, but found that Ms. Olsoppo had not left, and immediately closed the door again. Then he opened the door again. Ms. Olssopo picked up the paper package and handed it to him, and he greeted her with a hasty, yet staggering gesture.
Oller Sopo: You lost something. This is your mandarin.
Cavallo: Thank you.
When Ms. Olersop was approaching, she looked at Cavarro suspiciously.
Cavallo greeted her again with his playful, doll-like gesture, and closed his door.
Ms. Olersop went down the stairs, suddenly had a thought, and walked back on tiptoe. She crossed the hallway at the top of the stairs and stood in front of Cavallo's door, peering into the room through the keyhole.
Through the keyhole can be seen: a young girl lying on Cavallo's bed with her eyes closed.
Ms. Olersop decided to act - she slammed the door open.
Oller Sopo: Oh, that's what you're doing tonight!
Cavallo: Hey, you... get out! (Pushes the landlady into the hallway, turns back and closes the door; this is the time to settle down and return to her words.)
Oller Sopo: Let go of me! What is this woman doing in your house?
Cavallo: It's not what you think at all!
Ms. Olersop looked at Cavarro.
Oller Sopo: I just want to know, who smashed the door!
Cavallo: (resolutely) Me.
Oller Sopo: You? ! ...
Cavallo: Your tube is leaking...
Ole Sopo: (frightened) What is mine?
Cavallo: I mean...there's a pipe in the room leaking gas.
Oller Sopo: This is really suspicious...
Cavallo: Who is this girl?
Ole Sopo: You don't know after a long time of trouble! She moved in a month ago. Say where to do things. snort! That's what people like them say... but why are you asking about this?
Cavallo: You listen to me. She turned on the gas switch, got poisoned, and tried to kill herself. I happened to be back at this time.
Oller Sopo: (no more listening, he quickly walks to the stairs) Ah, is that the case? I immediately reported to the police station and told the hospital to go.
Cavallo hurried after Ms. Olersop; it was only after a few flights of stairs that she was barely held back.
CAVALRO: (standing next to the railing) You're going to be talking about it in all the papers... I'm afraid you won't be too happy about it.
Oller Sopo: I don't want her to stay in your room!
Cavallo: My dear, I don't want either. You will allow her to go back to her house.
Oller Sopo: That can't be done! Besides, I have already rented that room.
Cavallo: But... you can't just throw her on the street, can you?
Oller Sopo: She never wants to go back to that room again!
CAVALRO: Then she'll have to stay where she is now.
Oller Sopo: What? ! I'm not allowed to do this kind of scandal in my apartment.
Cavallo: It doesn't matter at all. The two of us can count as a couple, at least to those who don't know us.
Oller Sopo: What is "countable"? Thankfully it doesn't count! She'd better get out sooner! couple! ... (Ms. Olersop steps downstairs) Be careful with this slut! Rotten shit! She has been suffering from some illness since she came here.
Cavallo listened indifferently.
Ms. Olersop went downstairs. Cavallo leaned against the railing and watched her go down.
Cavallo: I hope she doesn't get into trouble...
Cavallo went back to his room.
He stopped beside the bed and looked at the girl.
Cavallo picked up a piece of linen between two fingers and put it in the basin. Suddenly the girl began to cough violently. Cavallo hurriedly walked to the medicine bag hanging on the wall, took out the mouthwash, adjusted it, looked around, turned and walked towards the girl...
She lay down with her eyes closed.
Cavallo tiptoed to the bed, covered the girl's feet with a quilt, then took out his pajamas from the drawer, tucked it under his armpit, and staggered towards the camera. Suddenly he remembered something, went back to the bed, pulled out a pair of ironed trousers from under the mattress, and walked away...
Cavallo walked into the inner room and sat down on a sofa bed. Above the bed hung a poster in a wooden frame with the words "Cavallo" written in large letters. On either side of the poster hangs a photo of a harlequin in costume (Note 1).
night. Three wandering musicians on the street (with accordions, flutes and violins) had settled in front of the bar, tuning their instruments. One of the musicians asked the buddies, "Are you all right?" and began to play. The sound of music suppressed the hustle and bustle of the street from far away.
A small band of wandering musicians played a slow and melancholy folk song.
Cavallo interior. Cavallo was lying on the sofa bed in his pajamas, staring at the pictures on the wall. The light of the streetlights reflected in the windows. The sound of the band playing is now weaker.
on the street. The three wandering musicians continued to play. The music is loud.
On the sofa bed near the window, Cavallo was sleeping.
From the street came the sound of hoofs; then gradually the sound of a band tuning in.
Another photo appeared on the wall. This is the costume image of Beast Tamer Cavallo...
in the theater. Footlights on the stage illuminate the closed front curtain. The orchestra conductor was already standing in front of his podium. The sound of the band tuning can continue to be heard.
Cavallo, dressed in the costume in the previous shot, is ready to go on stage; he greets the stage manager standing behind him: "Come on! …"
Stage manager rattles the bell.
The curtain has been drawn. The band played Cavallo's prelude to the show, and Cavallo came on the stage. He snapped his whip, stood in the middle of the stage, and sang:
I am a circus performer,
Specialize in beast training.
The beasts I have trained are countless,
Lion, tiger, wild boar.
Regret not being ridiculous,
only to end up ruined,
Some say that I am a drinker,
Some say that women are really bad luck.
All I can say is that the mountains and rivers are exhausted,
Who knows that the willows are dark and the flowers are bright:
Take off your shirt and watch,
A plan comes to mind!
In previous years I trained elephants,
Often tired and sweaty.
Why don't you change your appetite?
Accept it as a flea apprentice?
Why go up the mountain to catch wild beasts,
Through all the hardships.
Genius is at your doorstep,
It takes no effort.
Find one of the fleas, (without telling the origin!)
Take pains to educate it.
I treat it tenderly and lovingly in every possible way,
Marry it a good wife.
I feed them and live them,
Ask them to sleep on soft beds at night.
They don't like chicken and fish,
Eat the ready-made dishes that grow on me:
my ribs,
my pork ribs.
You see: how happy,
The flea couple ate,
Relax in the garden.
Cavallo took off his hat and scratched his head:
My apprentice is not free to eat,
Look, learn all the tricks!
Master, I really like it.
Use them as your backers.
Come see them all! Come and see!
My trick is really good!
Come see them all! Come and see!
Rich gentlemen out of pocket!
See Phyllis and Henry,
very knowledgeable,
Performing a good show:
Trapeze!
Gentlemen, if your body is itchy,
Don't scratch and scratch,
Just kill a genius,
The guilt is no small thing!
After a few ditties were sung, Cavallo slapped his whip and walked to the depths of the stage, from where he brought out a small table. The table top was covered with a cloth on which some writing could be seen. He moved the table to the foot lamp at the stand.
The accompanying music for Cavallo's program is low-pitched.
The words on the table: "Phyllis and Henry - trick-playing fleas."
Cavallo slowly opened a small box, sometimes with a whip.
Cavallo: Phyllis! ...Henry! ! ...
He picked up the small box, looked inside, and expressed his anger:
"Phyllis! Henry! Hee, that's enough! What does this look like? I'm ashamed! Stop arguing! Phyllis, stay in the box. Henry! Hey, get out!"
Cavallo made a sound of the whip, as if a trained flea had jumped into the heart of his right hand; then, setting the whip aside, he made another appearance, as if a flea jumped from right to left, jumping back again...
"Hey, jump!... jump!..."
Now the "fleas" are back in the box.
He put the small box back on the table and saluted the audience with a smile. Then he lowered his face, scratched his left hand indifferently, and with another sound of the whip, he said to another "flea":
"Phyllis! Phyllis! Phyllis! . !"
His eyes were fixed on another "flea" jumping onto his left hand. He put the whip aside and extended his right hand to the "flea".
"Phyllis!...Hey!...Jump!..."
The "flea" jumped into his face, and he made an appearance as if he had caught it and put it back in his hands...
"Hey, jump! …"
But Flea seemed unwilling to obey, so Cavallo had to grab it from his face again. He lowered his voice and rebuked it angrily in a threatening tone:
"Do you have to ask me to tie you up?"
... So he put the "flea" back in its place.
Now it seems that the "flea" is finally obedient.
Cavallo told it to jump back and forth from hand to hand several times. After performing the trick, he saluted the audience with a smile; then ordered the "flea" to jump from left to right.
"Hey, jump! …"
Suddenly, the "flea" jumped into his cuff; soon it was on his back. Cavallo began to search desperately for "fleas", blaming endlessly:
"Stop biting, stop biting now! Phyllis! Phyllis!...Climb out! Phyllis! Did you hear me? Don't forget that the doctor won't let you eat more! Phyllis! Don't bite! Don't you understand! Stop biting! Phyllis! Phyllis! Did you hear me? Get out now! You've gone too far!... Phyllis! What are you doing? Hey, you This little rascal!...Phyllis! Henry misses you!...Run away, Phyllis... Phyllis, stop biting!!"
Relaxing music muted non-stop to accompany the show.
Cavallo rang the whip again and walked towards the footlights, trying to get rid of the "fleas".
"Phyllis! Phyllis! Climb out!... Climb out! What are you trying to do? Little idiot!..."
He walked along the stage in a state of restlessness.
"Phyllis! Phyllis! Enough now! Phyllis! Do you want me to tickle?"
He reached into his waist and finally caught the "flea". He looked at the "flea" in surprise:
"Oh!...This is not Phyllis! Where is Phyllis?..."
He jumped up suddenly, as if he had been bitten by another "flea".
"Ah!... She's here! Phyllis!..."
He made some hilarious gestures along the way and walked backstage.
The audience applauded. The music stops.
A smiling Cavarro appeared on stage again. With quick, small steps, he walked to his little table and thanked the applauding audience.
Applause came from outside the picture; the applause suddenly stopped.
Cavallo looked around.
The camera pans from the stage where Cavallo is standing to the auditorium. It turned out that the pool seat was empty... quietly silent.
Cavallo looked forward in surprise.
Cavallo interior. Cavallo sat on the sofa bed with the expression on his face just now. He looks around...
The chimes of the chimes from the street. Cavallo let out a heavy sigh like a moan, and lay down again, pulling the quilt over him.
Cavallo's Outer Room. Tilly lay on the bed. Cavallo came out of the inner room. He was ready to go out: tiptoed to the chest of drawers, pulled open the drawer, and took out a pair of gloves. Tilly was tossing and turning in her dream, turned sideways, and turned her back to him. Kavara was looking at the girl, wondering if she had fallen asleep, then walked out of the room and closed the door behind her.
The porch of Oller Sopo's apartment. Cavallo descends the stairs. Ms. Olsop came out of the house where Tilly had lived with a newly hired maid.
Oller Sopo: You have to make arrangements quickly. They'll be there at twelve o'clock.
Maid: Where do these clothes go?
Oller Sopo: You just leave it in the aisle, okay? ... (noting Cavallo) Mr. Cavallo, wait a minute. I have a new tenant coming today, so your wife's clothes have to be taken over there.
Cavallo: My… what?
Oller Sopo: Your wife. This is Miss Simpson, the new mother-in-law.
Cavaro; Hello. Can you wait until I get back to get it? My wife is not feeling well.
Oller Sopo: Of course you can.
CAVALLO: (Continuing to the maid) Then...you'd better come in and see her from time to time. I have a bowl of chicken soup on the gas stove; when she wakes up, I'll give her a hot drink... Do you understand, dear? (smiles away)
Oller Sopo: We're not a hospital here!
CAVALLO: (Voiceover, to the maid) Please, please!
The coffee shop is full. Three customers sit at a table in the foreground.
The band played a waltz.
Cavallo walked towards the inside of the coffee shop. A woman sitting at the table stopped him.
Woman: Cavarro! always good?
Cavallo: Okay, thank you.
Impressions of three people sitting at the table talking.
A: Is this Cavallo?
B: Yes, it's him.
A: He has become so old.
B: Still drinking...
A: Oh, what a pity! Such a great actor!
C: What happened in the past! ...
A: It's strange to say, but a few years ago, he was an idol worshipped by Londoners, and now he can't even find a job!
B: It's his own fault. At that time, he was drinking all day, so that he was often unable to go on stage.
C: But at that time, I always thought that he was particularly amused when he was drunk.
B: Now he's not amused at all, sweet man!
Cavallo stood at the counter drinking milk.
The waltz still sounded.
A well-dressed man without arms walked into the interior of the coffee shop.
A: (one of the three sitting at the table) Hello, okay?
Handless Man: Okay, thank you. (walk over)
C: Who is this?
A: Oh, you must have seen his play: - Claudius, the almighty foot. His feet can do anything.
C: This is terrible.
Cavallo put the glass of milk on the counter. Claudius came.
Claudius: Cavallo! (This encounter surprised and delighted him)
Cavallo: Claudius!
Claudius: I know I can find you here. I went to your old house to find you, but I was told that you had moved out for several years.
Cavallo: Yeah... I'm tired of paying the rent, so I'll.... Where have you been?
Claudius: At home, America. I had already decided not to play this stuff, but then I got bored to death, so now I'm on stage again... How is your life, old man?
Cavallo: Oh...that's okay. I had a disease, (with finger heart)...Old ox broke the car...
Claudius: I heard...
A hawker of matches came to do business.
Hawker: Want a match?
Claudius: No, thank you.
Hawker: Want a match?
Cavallo: No, thank you.
Claudius: Tell me, are you still on stage?
Cavallo: I've... been idle for over a year. Looking at the current trend, I'm already thinking seriously... I'm afraid I'll follow in the footsteps of our friend. (shaking his head to the distant match vendor)
Claudius: Why didn't you write to me if you were in trouble?
Cavallo: I've never liked to bother friends... who are just acquaintances.
Claudius: But if you're short of money...
Cavallo: I'm a little tight. But I can still stand on my feet. I'm negotiating terms with a troupe manager, and everything is going well. It is up to my manager to sign the contract. He asked me to meet here at twelve o'clock... (Looks around. Wall clock hands at one-thirty) It seems he means twelve in the middle of the night.
This set of obvious lies made Cavallo feel ashamed, and a wry smile appeared on his face.
Claudius: Listen to me, tomorrow morning I'm leaving for the mainland, and we won't see each other until I go. So if you put your hand into the inside pocket of my dress, you'll find a wallet with twenty pounds in it.
Cavallo: No, no. I would never have dreamed of this amount.
Claudius: You only make me happy.
Cavallo: No... Really? ...
Claudius: Take it. Maybe it's my turn to put my foot in your pocket sometime.
Cavallo: I'll give you a promissory note...
Cavallo took the wallet from Claudius' pocket.
Claudius: Don't open anything - return it when it's convenient.
Cavallo took the money and put the wallet back in his friend's pocket.
Claudius: All right. It's getting late and I have to go and buy a ticket. I have to run quickly.
Cavallo put the money in his pocket, he was deeply moved, and he murmured something.
Cavallo: Of course…. I hope you... understand, since I...
Claudius: Of course. Goodbye, old man.
Cavallo wanted to shake his hand, but remembering that Claudius had no hands, he patted his shoulder. Then, he turned away.
Cavallo: (Whispering) Thank you.
Claudius: I hope all goes well.
Claudius went away. Cavallo took a sip of milk.
Claudius: Take care! ...
The waltzing ceased.
Cavallo's room. The door opened and the maid came in. She went to the bed and woke Tilly.
Maid: Are you awake? Your husband wants me to come and see you.
Tilly: (surprised) Who?
Maid: You sir. He wants me to warm you up some chicken soup.
Tilly: My husband?
Maid: Yes. Come on, let me do you a favor. (helps her sit up) You haven't eaten anything today! Drink some hot soup and you'll feel better.
Tilly: Thank you, no need.
Cavallo came into the room; he put the violin in its case and a bouquet of flowers on the table. Tilly and the maid looked at Cavarro together. He hung up his umbrella, top hat, and took off his raincoat. The maid walked over to Cavallo.
Maid: Your wife doesn't want to eat.
Cavallo: If you don't eat it, don't eat it! For a poor husband, this couldn't be better...
The maid smiled and left. Cavallo hung his raincoat on the hanger, picked up flowers and a tall glass full of water from the table, walked to the bed, and stopped at the girl's feet.
Cavallo: Um... (smiles) How do you feel?
Tilly sat on the bed and smiled, her hair loosened and draped over her shoulders.
Tilly: A little better, thank you.
Cavallo: (closer) You don't mind calling "Mrs." It's all because of Ms. Olsop, who doesn't want to ruin her reputation in front of the new maid, so... (pours the water from the cup into the basin) Anyway, after the illness is cured , you can be free, or you can "divorce".
Tilly: (smiles) I think I'm better now.
Cavallo put the vase of flowers on the chest of drawers beside the girl's bed.
Cavallo: Hmm...not quite. It's not necessarily going to go bad if you stay here for a while anyway...
Tilly: You have been too kind to me. But I think I can go back to my house now.
Cavallo: I'm afraid that's not possible.
Tilly: Why?
Cavallo: Ms. Olsoppe has rented out your room; the new tenant is arriving today.
Tilly: (sadly) Ah...I understand...
CAVALRO: (sitting on the armchair by the bed) Anyway, you can stay here for as long as you want...until you decide what to do next.
Tilly: What else can I do? I'm desperate... (covering face and sobbing) Oh, why don't you let me die and end everything! ?
Cavallo: Don't say that. Now that you are alive, everything will be fine.
Tilly: I have nothing, and I am sick!
Cavallo: (stands up and walks back to Tilly) You listen to me...I don't know your situation. But if you're sick, and you've got the kind of disease that Ms. Olersop is referring to, then it's time to think about what we can do to cure it. Don't despair. If this is... you certainly understand what I'm talking about...
Tilly: (with tears in her eyes) I don't quite understand...
Cavaro: Well, well, let's say this... a single woman wandering around the world fell ill. So...if this is that kind of disease, it can be cured. There is a medicine that was invented not long ago; it works so well that thousands have been cured. That's it...if you have any of these ailments, don't be afraid and say to me, maybe I can help you a little. I'm an old badass and nothing can scare me.
Tilly: (Her voice is serene and calm) Not that at all.
Cavallo: (crossing his arms, standing in front of the girl) Are you sure?
Tilly: Of course.
Cavaro: But you've been sick, haven't you?
Tilly: (Frankly) Yes, I was in the hospital for five months. I have acute rheumatism.
Cavallo: That's it! So what's wrong with you now?
Tilly: But I can't work now.
Cavallo: What kind of work do you do?
Tilly: I used to be a dancer.
Cavallo: Dancer! ? (Cavaro has a surprised look on his face)
Tilly: I used to be in the Imperial Ballet.
Cavallo: (laughs. He's satisfied with the discovery) Aha, I thought you were... hum... so you're a dancer? I'm sorry, but... we haven't introduced each other yet. What is your name?
Tilly: Theresa Embros. But people call me Tilly.
Cavallo: (introducing himself) It's an honor... I'm also an actor. My name is Cavallo. Maybe you know me?
Tilly: (with heartfelt surprise) So you are the great actor! ?
CAVALRO: The past...not worth mentioning...(Picks up the goblet. Changes the subject) But tell me, what brought you to such an end?
Tilly: I think it's health.
Cavaro: (leaving the bed and pouring the water from the goblet into the jar by the washbasin) Then we should get back to health. Hmmm, in a place like this, it's not easy to do that... (walking towards the bed with a mug while talking) But this place welcomes you...as long as you agree to do the card Mrs. Farrow; in name, of course.
Tilly: (agreeing) Won't I give you a lot of trouble?
Cavallo: None! I've had five wives... [leaving the bed, stepping over the threshold of the door through the closet, talking incessantly, walking to a table) One more, one less, and I wouldn't be too special Feeling warm and cold. Plus I've reached the age at which (puts the cup on the table, turns around, and continues talking) Platonic love can be kept at the highest moral level. (Stands by the bed, with her back to the camera. Tilly always sits silently on the bed listening to him.)
Cavallo interior. Cavallo ate at a small table in the inner room. Tilly sat on the bed drinking chicken soup.
CAVALRO: So, let's get this straight: your mother was a tailor and your father a duke?
Tilly: (a smile flashes across her face) The Duke's fourth son... that's a big difference.
Cavallo: (continues to eat) But...how did he marry your mother?
Tilly: My mother used to be his maid.
Cavallo: It's a lot like a novel of the kind that usually appears in newspapers, magazine supplements... Was your father rich when he was alive?
Tilly: No. He was kicked out of the house.
Cavallo: Oh, so...is he the only sister alive now?
Tilly: Yes. She is in South America.
Cavaro: (stops eating and looks at Tilly) Tell me, is it just disease that has brought you this far?
Tilly: (hesitating) This, and...
Cavallo: ...and what?
Tilly: (looks into the distance) Oh...the extreme emptiness of everything...I even see it on flowers...heard it in music...life is purposeless...meaningless...
Cavallo: Why do you have to make it meaningful? Life - it's a desire; it's meaningless. Desire - this is the foundation of all life. It is it that makes the rose a rose, and that it grows vigorously in this way (in a braid of roses with hands), and it is it that keeps the rock in this way. (clench fist)
Tilly lowered her eyes to hide her smile.
Cavallo: (noting this) What are you laughing at?
Tilly: (smiles) I laugh at the way you imitate roses and rocks...
Cavallo looked at his fist, which was still clenched, and laughed.
Cavallo: Oh, I can imitate almost anything. Have you ever seen Japanese pine? It's a little slanted, it's so long...
Cavallo imitates the image of a tree, with his eyes half closed and his hands stretched out, making two oblique branches.
Tilly smiled like a child.
Cavallo continued to imitate.
Cavallo: Violet, it looks like this...
He imitated the image of Violet Lan, holding his cheeks with both hands, and made a humble expression on his face.
Cavallo: The ones that are a little darker, like frowning, look like this...
He changed the expression on his face, frowned, and spread his hands a little.
Tilly laughed. How fun he played all this!
Cavallo got up from behind the table, talking, and walked over to Tilly to get the plate in her hand.
Cavallo: Well, the meaning of a thing, whatever it is, is just a way of judging it. At the end of the day, a rose...it's a rose! Not bad at all! I allow it to thrive.
Cavallo went back to the table, put the plate away, and turned back to Tilly.
The trio of wandering musicians is playing again.
Cavallo: Hmm...you think about it, it wasn't so long ago that life lost any meaning to you. (Brings a glass of water and puts it on the chest of drawers beside Tilly's bed. Tilly watches him silently) And now you have a husband and a home for now. If you're thirsty, here's the water... (goes to the door leading to the inner chamber) If it's convenient... a door on the left, like every floor...
Cavallo smiled and closed the door.
The trio is still ringing.
night. Three wandering musicians stood at the door of the bar. The musicians stood and played. The music was loud at first, and then gradually subsided.
night. Cavallo's room. He slept on the sofa bed by the window, with some old photos hanging on the side wall. Hear the sound of the band tuning before a play opens.
music. Cavallo, wearing a straw hat and holding a civilized stick, took quick small steps and walked all the way to the stage. At the center of the stage, he "plucked" a flower and continued walking. He took out a salt shaker from his pocket, sprinkled some salt on the flower, and swallowed it greedily. Cavallo threw away the flower stem, made a toe spin, and then sang:
good spring...
The birds are roaring,
cat begging,
Shaking his head and waving his tail... Spring is chaotic!
good spring...
earthworms tossing,
Bullfly insomnia,
It's all hurting the lovesickness... fault!
what,
every spring,
Make us itchy?
what,
without a trace,
Make our souls sway? ...
Oh...it's love! ...
It's love!
Cavallo sang to the end and did a burlesque dance.
Oh love!
love! ...
love, love, love...
love, love, love...
He twirled a few toes to the beat of the music.
Tilly comes out from the left; she is wearing a dancing dress and holds an open parasol, and when Cavallo, who is continuing to dance, enters the scene, she immediately closes the umbrella and stops.
The music is interrupted.
Tilly held on to her parasol and adjusted her stockings.
Cavallo: (walking towards the entrance, asking) Excuse me, do you have a hammer?
Tilly: (turning her head in surprise, smiling slightly) I beg your forgiveness...
Cavallo: If you're asking for something like that, I'm going to call the police.
Tilly: I beg your forgiveness again...
Cavallo; what you "re" and what you eat (Note 2), I don't care!
Tilly: But I didn't eat anything!
Cavallo: Really? Ouch, what a pity! Here's your money: buy a sandwich to eat. (Want to give her a coin)
Tilly: Sir! I ask you to apologize to me!
Cavallo: Want me to apologize? interesting! Then I'd like to ask you who you are. What family were you born in? Does your name appear in the noble family tree?
Tilly: Providence made me belong to Smith's gatekeeper.
Cavallo: Never heard of it!
Tilly: This shows your ignorance.
Cavallo: Oh, that's gotta be a good cover... But you interrupted my sonnet.
Tilly: What interrupted you?
Cavallo: It didn't interrupt "what", it interrupted my sonnet...my ode to earthworms...
Oh earthworm,
Why do you, earthworm,
into the soil,
Hiding?
Oh, earthworm, earthworm!
you and me,
don't miss it,
Earth Spring!
Shake your head!
Tail up!
facing the sun,
smile!
Spring is coming...
Spring is coming...
Spring is here...!
Tilly: Nonsense! How can earthworms smile to the sun!
Cavallo: Why not?
Tilly: First of all, earthworms can't laugh.
Cavallo: How did you know that? Maybe you did some research on its sense of humour.
Tilly: Of course not.
Cavallo: Then what else do you say?
Tilly: But the earthworm is a creature with no mind at all.
Cavallo: (smiling flatteringly, approaching the girl) Uh...why must there be thought in poetry? Don't you know that there is a so-called freedom of poetic language?
Cavallo wrapped his arms around Tilly's waist.
Tilly: Come on, I've never given you such an excuse for freedom!
Tilly pretended to protest, but put her hand on his shoulder.
Cavallo: It is not given, and there is no need to give it! What the two of us are doing now is many times greater than both of us! Now I am beginning to understand the true meaning of life. Oh, what a colossal waste of energy! What drives us to keep running, running, running! ?
Tilly: Yes! What does all this mean? Where are we going?
Cavallo: Honey, you're heading south! ...while your hand is in my pocket! Hmm...it doesn't matter...
Tilly: How did it get there?
Cavaro: Pure lodestone, my dear...pure lodestone...
Cavallo backed away with a smile.
Tilly approached Cavarro again and put her hand on his shoulder.
The music was on again: the band played a slow and sentimental waltz.
Tilly: Why are you so hostile to me?
Cavallo: (deliberately making a cold appearance, rubbing the gloss of the nails on the girl's hand) You should be serious.
Tilly: But then, it will be difficult for me to get to know you.
Cavallo: Please read my memoir in Police Daily.
Tilly: You're a weirdo...
Cavallo: How do you see it?
Tilly: Talk about earthworms like that!
Cavallo: Why can't they be said that way? Even the mood of the flies is romantic.
Tilly: Flies?
Cavallo: Oh, yes. Could it be that you have never seen them fly from the stable to the dining room (Note 3)? Or how do they meet in butter when they fly over the sugar? You must have read the book "Life of a Bee"?
Tilly: No, I haven't read it.
Cavallo: You know, bees are crazy in the hive (Note 4)!
Tilly: Really?
Tilly walked up to Cavarro again, just as he sneezed loudly, blowing a puff of powder from her shoulder.
Cavallo: I beg your pardon!
Tilly: Oh, good luck and long life!
Cavallo: Indeed, the size is not enough!
Tilly: What did you say?
Cavallo; didn't you say, "Oh, what a thin dress!"? Oops! Oops! Oops! (Note 5) ... (pulling out a feather clasp from the belt behind him and putting powder on Tilly) My dear, you are covered in dust today! Too much dust! Turn around... Where did you get it from? From a bookshelf, a picture shelf, or something else? What is this? talcum powder? gunpowder? Hey no! It's white sugar! ... (smell the feather traps as a bouquet of flowers)
Tilly: You think, all life is subject to love! What a good thing this is!
Cavallo: I don't think it's good.
Tilly: Of course it's a good thing.
CAVALRO: On the contrary, it's a scandal, a strange thing, a terrible thing, a terrible thing... ah, but it's a wonderful thing!
Tilly: I like you.
Cavallo: Me?
Tilly: You're smart and...amorous.
Cavallo: Ouch, stop encouraging me! ... (jumps to the side with a sharp stride)
Tilly: To be honest, there are too few passionate people in the world.
Cavallo: In other words, the convenient opportunity to vent is too rare... (he made another sudden jump happily)
Tilly: (backwards in fright) Ouch! ...
Cavallo: Can it be allowed? (gives her the feather clasps as a bouquet) Feel free to use it.
Tilly bowed her thanks and danced close to Cavallo, who held out his hand to her.
Cavallo: Please...
The two held hands and danced backstage. The music gets stronger. Thunderous applause.
Cavallo's Outer Room. Tilly sat on the bed and cried.
knock on the door.
Timing: (wiping away tears) Please come in.
Cavallo: Hello! how do you feel?
Tilly: (Voiceover) Better. thanks.
Cavallo: Scare... what a day! The sun is shining, the pot is squeaking, and the rent is paid...
Tilly sat on the bed, turned her face away, and tried her best to hide that she was crying. Cavallo spoke and walked to the cupboard.
Cavallo: There must be an earthquake in this place. I know, know, know... (removes a plate of food from the cupboard) What do you want for breakfast? We have eggs, ham, cheese, green onions... oh, I dreamed that we were both acting on the same stage; the lyrics said spring... (puts the plate on the table)
Tilly: (turns face away) It's funny...
Cavallo: Yes... When you are dreaming, many wonderful ideas often pop up in your head, but when you wake up, you forget them all. (Picks up two smoked herrings from the plate) You know, I've been dreaming about theaters a lot these days. I'm playing my old stuff again...
Cavallo stopped beside the bed, Tilly was still on the bed, her face still turned away.
Cavallo smiled and showed Tilly the herring.
Cavallo: Look at you!
Tilly forced a smile through her tears.
Cavallo: Herring. —Is it not worthy of admiration?
Tilly covered her face and wept.
Cavallo: What's the matter with you?
Tilly: (desperately) My legs! I tried to get off the ground this morning and fell. I can't stand my legs...
Cavallo: (attempting to console her) You're up too early.
Tilly: (with hot tears) No, not because of this. My legs are completely numb...my legs are numb...I know...I know!
Cavallo: Alright, alright, don't panic. After breakfast, I will invite a doctor.
Tilly: I'd better go to the hospital.
Cavallo: Whatever you want. But let's listen to the doctor's opinion first.
Tilly: I can't stay here and cause you trouble...
Cavallo: I'm not complaining...
Tilly: (crying) For you... I'm such a big burden! But it's not my fault. This is what you are going to save me.
Cavallo: Well...you know, we all have to make mistakes.
Tilly broke into a smile; there was an expression of deep gratitude on her face.
Tilly: I feel so bad...
Cavallo: (looking at Tilly with a fatherly gaze) You must be having a hard time! A girl like you suddenly decides to end her life this way... well, when you live my age, everything will be different.
Cavallo put the herring on a plate.
Tilly: Why?
Cavallo: Hmm...at this age, life has become a habit. (Smell the herring-stained fingers and wipe them clean with a towel hanging from the washbasin.)
Tilly: Used to having no hope...
Cavallo: Then you don't have to live with any hope! Live without thinking about any future! ...that's it...that's it... (sniffs the towel, then throws it away) There's always some short-lived happiness.
Tilly: But when a person loses health...
Cavallo: (re-goes to the bed and takes another towel from the chest of drawers) My dear girl, six months ago people thought I was done for. But the fight is still going on! You should fight too! (hang a clean towel on the washbasin)
Tilly: I'm tired of fighting!
Cavallo: Aw! ...that's because you've been wrestling with yourself. This is also destined to have no hope! But fighting for happiness—that's a magnificent thing!
Tilly: Happiness...
Cavallo: (standing in front of Tilly) It exists, I assure you!
Tilly: Where is it?
Cavallo: Listen to me, when I was young, my dad didn't give me toys, and I always lost my temper at him. And he said to me: (pointing to his forehead, staring at Tilly) "This is the greatest toy in the world! Here lies the secret of happiness! …"
Tilly listened to Cavallo's words in a trance.
Tilly: Listening to you, no one would have thought you were a comedian...
Cavallo: I've...started to understand this...(going to sit in the armchair behind the bed) That's why I can't find a job.
Tilly: (puzzled) Why?
Cavallo: (sits down in the armchair) Alas! ...because they lack imagination! ... But maybe it's because, fleeting years are like water... I'm getting old... I'm finished. ...
Tilly: (smiling) No, it won't. Since you hold the view you just said...
Cavallo: Probably because I drink too much.
Tilly: Usually, when a person drinks, there is always a reason.
Cavallo: Oh, yeah...
Tilly: (thinking) You're unfortunate, I think.
Cavallo: No, I'm used to this. (Gets up from the round chair, talking, goes to the bed) It's a little more complicated to talk about than that...you know, the older you get, the more you want to live your life more passionately. (Sits down on the edge of the bed, with her back to Tilly, who listens silently to him) And then there is a melancholy that overtakes you, which is fatal to a comedian. As a result, this is what happens: I lose the connection with the audience, and I can no longer take a break for inspiration... So, I start drinking... Before I go on stage, I have to have a couple of sips. After the trouble, I couldn't get laughter without drinking... So I drank more and more. Digging deeper and deeper into this unstoppable mud pit.
Tilly: Then what?
Cavallo: Had a heart attack and nearly died.
Tilly: Are you still drinking?
Cavallo: I drink it sometimes, when I get sick. This kind of habit is of course very bad, but you may also do it sometimes... (turning to Tilly with a smile) But what do you want for breakfast?
Tilly: What a sad thing it must be for a person to be so hard on being ridiculous.
Cavallo: Hmm... It's even sadder if people don't want to laugh. But, on the other hand, when you look under the stage and see people laughing there, and hear a rustling sound, getting louder and louder, rising straight up at you from under the stage... that's how you feel all over your body Excited... Forget it, let's talk about more pleasant things. And in general...I hate to think about those audiences.
Tilly: I don't believe it. You love your audience so much.
Cavallo: (pushing away the plate of food) I dare not say that. Maybe I really love them, but they don't make me happy.
Tilly: But I think they make you happy.
Cavallo picked up a tray from the small table beside him and put it on the dining table, while talking, he spread the napkin on the table and prepared breakfast.
Cavallo: If you take a single audience, then I agree. There's something huge inside everyone...but, as a group, the audience is like a headless monster that can be pushed around at will, and you never know it's going to be right away. Which direction to go to. (Suddenly pauses and goes back to bed) But I always forget about breakfast. I'll cook two tender eggs for you, what do you think?
knocking.
Cavallo: Please come in!
Maid: (into) Telegram.
Cavallo: Oh, thanks.
The maid came out. Cavallo opened the telegram, read it, and walked towards the bed. Tilly looked at Cavalo silently.
Cavallo was excited; he sat down on the edge of the bed.
Ladder suit: Is everything going well?
Cavallo: This is exactly what I was looking for.
Tilly: Good news?
Cavallo: My manager Ryderfern asked me to go.
Tilly: That's great!
Cavallo: You are right.
Cavallo patted the bed, stood up, walked to the small wardrobe behind the bed, took out his tie, stiff collar, and started putting on his coat.
Cavaro: This is the decisive turn. The managers of these theaters have been stomping on me; they have tried to keep my head up mentally. Now they need me! Now I have to settle accounts with them. For their contempt, for their indifference, I want them to pay! No... I still have to be polite with them. This makes them appear more identifiable and can make them submit. I should be at his office at three o'clock in the afternoon. I'll drop by and go to the doctor and tell him about your leg. Oh, I just forgot about breakfast! (Unbuttons the stiff collar, picks up a herring from the plate, asks Tilly to eat) How about the herring?
The guest lounge of theatre manager Leidfern & Associates. Advertisements and posters hang on the walls, and the wall clock is pointing at four-ten. Cavallo took his pocket watch from his pocket and set the time with the wall clock.
The lounge was full of waiting guests, chatting with each other. A secretary came out of Redfern's office. He walked into the lounge and sent a message to the people waiting to be interviewed, and almost all of them were rejected indiscriminately.
Secretary: Without your job...without you...without you...without your...
The guests murmured humbly and gradually left. The secretary walked back to the door from which he had just come out. At the door he found a woman sitting there with two hunting dogs lying beside him, and he stopped.
Redfern's office. The secretary comes in.
Redfern: Who's out there?
Secretary: Miss Parker.
Redfern: No one else?
Secretary: And Cavallo. He came at three o'clock.
Redfern: I forgot about him. let him in.
Secretary: (Voiceover) Mr. Cavallo.
Cavallo walked into the office, and the door closed immediately.
Ledfern: Good night, Cavarro.
Cavallo: Good night.
Cavallo took off his hat and sat down at the desk. Lederfern, who had just stood up to welcome Cavarro, also sat down.
Redfern: Please take a seat. I'm so sorry about yesterday, I've been delayed because I have something important to do and I can't get away...I can tell you good news: Middlesex Hall has hired you to perform for a week.
Cavallo: What conditions?
Redfern: I don't know yet. But if I were you, I probably wouldn't have to worry about these things.
Cavallo: I don't care at all. It doesn't matter to me more money and less money.
Redfern was at ease and didn't mind.
Cavallo: Where does the poster put me in?
Redfern; I'm afraid I wouldn't have to worry about it.
Cavallo: (with a smile) You might mean to say that the Middlesex poster doesn't put me in a prominent position?
Redfern: I can't say whether I can invite you for a long time.
CAVALRO: (Resolutely) The question is not whether to hire or not. But do you think I'll allow these managers to mix my name with those... unknown characters and make a mark for them? No sir. The name Cavalro is still worth a few bucks.
Redfern: (quietly) You're wrong, it's worthless today.
Cavallo was a little dissatisfied.
Cavallo: But they still came to me...
Redfern: They're not looking for you... they're just trying to impress me.
CAVALRO: (with bitter sarcasm) They're too polite...but you, I hope, at least take the name seriously...
Redfern: (trying to get out of this embarrassing situation quickly) Now listen to me. I'm telling you to open the sunroof. For more than six months, I have insisted on the name "Cavalo" in front of these managers every day...
Cavallo listened solemnly.
Redfern: (Voiceover) ...but your name is a poison to them. They don't even listen.
Cavallo: Reassure them. They won't hear it.
Redfern: (embarrassed) I'm sorry, but you should be aware of current affairs too.
CAVALRO: (After a moment of silence) You said that beautifully.
Redfern: (again embarrassed) I'm just doing my best to help you. I hope you agree.
Cavallo: Okay...as you like...whatever you want!
Redfern: (getting up and walking towards the door) Yeah, that's how I like it. As soon as the contract is signed, I will inform you...
Cavallo also stood up and walked to the door. Ryderfern patted Cavarro on the shoulder.
Ryderfern: Get your spirits up now!
Cavaro: Hmm...if they take my name as poison...then I don't use it. I'm going on stage with a different name.
Redfern: I think it's a great idea.
Cavallo: Yes... (walks out and closes the door)
On the porch of Oller Sopo's apartment. Cavallo pushed open the door; behind him was the pedestrian street. The doctor who had given Tilly the first aid was just about to go out; he stood down to talk to Cavallo.
Cavaro: Hello, doctor, how is my patient?
Doctor: The poisoning has been resolved. As for her legs, I don't think there's anything wrong with them.
Cavallo: But didn't she tell you that she had acute rheumatism?
Doctor: Yes, but I don't think she still has this disease now. The disease must have affected the heart, but her heart was perfectly normal. I think it's a case of mental paralysis.
Cavallo: What kind of disease is that?
Doctor: It's a form of hysteria, it has the characteristics of paralysis, but it's not paralysis.
Cavallo: How do you explain that?
Doctor: It can be said that this is a psychological phenomenon: self-induction. Due to the attempted suicide, she subconsciously concluded that she had lost the ability to walk.
Cavallo: Doctor, can I help her?
Doctor: First of all, it depends on her own efforts. This kind of thing needs a psychologist.
Cavallo: Dr. Freud.
Doctor: Hmm.
Cavallo: Hmm...I believe I can do it.
Doctor: Yes... yes... (walks towards the door with a smile)
Cavallo: Goodbye, doctor.
Doctor: Goodbye.
Cavallo closed.
Cavallo's room. He didn't put on his shirt, stood at the small table by the door of the inner room, wiping the dishes, and continued talking to Tilly, who was sitting on the bed.
Cavallo: Tell me about your sister Louise.
Tilly: There's nothing more to talk about. She couldn't find a job, was cornered, and became a prostitute.
Cavallo: How old were you when you found out about it?
Tilly: About eight years old.
Cavallo: (lifts the jacket from the chair and puts it on) Tell me the whole thing about it.
Tilly: (recalling) This was after my mother died. Louise is the sweetest to me. She was all for me. She took care of my life and even helped me learn dance. But later, I found out what kind of occupation she was doing: Once, when I was walking home from dance school with a few girls, I saw her, and so did my companions, she was on the road... swinging around...
Cavallo: (He has put on his shirt) So what about you?
Tilly: I ran away and cried... I cried while I ran, that's all...
Cavaro: (Picks up an orange from the table and peels it) And then what?
Tilly: I tried so hard to forget about it... Soon I was sent to technical school and graduated at sixteen. Then I joined the Imperial Dance Company.
Cavallo took a bite of the orange.
Tilly: Later, Louise went to South America, and there is no news since then.
Cavallo: Haven't you ever felt any discomfort in your legs before?
Tilly: No.
Cavallo: So when did it start?
Tilly: About two years after that incident. Ever since Melissa joined the dance troupe.
Cavaro: (wiping the orange juice dripping onto the vest with a napkin) Who is Melissa?
Tilly: A classmate at the dance school.
Cavallo: Was it the one who happened to be with you when you saw Louise that evening?
Tilly: Yes.
Cavallo: (shrugs his shoulders, turns and puts the oranges on the small table) Hmm...it doesn't take Floyd to understand that you must have stopped dancing since you met this girl again. (Carrying a bowl with fruit, walks to Tilly's side)
Tilly: Why?
Cavallo: The dance drama reminds you of the miserable life of your sister who paid your school fees...and the money she paid for her school fees was her illicit income. So from now on you are ashamed of dancing.
Tilly: If I ever want to dance, I'll make myself look down on myself.
Cavallo: That's it, it's bad here. This is the misfortune of all! We all look down on ourselves...
Cavallo asked Tilly to eat fruit, but she didn't want it. So Cavallo put the plate on the chest of drawers, picked a grape, went to the window, and looked out the window.
Cavallo: Wandering the streets! In order to survive, none of us are struggling, even those better than us... This also constitutes a part of everyone's life history, which is a history written on the water! ... (returns to Tilly) These words need not be said any more. Have you ever been in love?
Tilly: No...really—no.
Cavallo: Ah...
Tilly: I think this is just a kind of spiritual admiration, not love.
Cavallo: This is more complicated. Talk to me about what happened. (sits in the armchair beside him)
Tilly: (recalling) This is a very pointless thing. My relationship with him is very shallow... all this is actually made by me out of fantasy. After I got out of the hospital...
Stationery shop. Tilly was arranging the goods behind the counter and hanging a paper lantern.
Tilly's voice: . . . Found something in the Saldu stationery store.
A young man (Navel) walks into the store. He went to the counter where Tilly was standing.
"Oh...he's a regular here. A young American. He buys staff paper every time..."
The young man stopped at the counter, his hands in his pockets.
"...the number of purchases, depending on his financial means, is sometimes more, sometimes less. He looks so lonely, so helpless, so cringe. I wouldn't have noticed it at all, if it wasn't for one customer at a time... …”
Another customer came into the store, and as soon as he approached the counter, he asked Tilly what he wanted (his voice was inaudible). But now Tilly was taking care of Neville.
"...trying to get ahead of him. I ignored the rude customer, and the American smiled gratefully at me..."
The young man smiled and said something to the girl (his voice was inaudible). Tilly answered the young man's words with a smile across the counter, and then went to count the sheets of staff paper.
"...The woman who cleaned the room in his apartment told me his name was Neville. He composed music. Lives on the top floor. I know he skips meals some days, but saves money to buy staff paper. . From his eyes..."
Neville looked seriously.
"...I can see this in his worried eyes. I usually give him a few staves."
Tilly quietly rolled the staff paper into a cylinder.
"...once I even asked him for extra money; maybe he noticed, but I'm not sure..."
Tilly smiled and said thank you (her voice was inaudible), and handed the scroll to Neville.
"...often at dusk, after work..."
Tilly stood at the door of a building whose windows were shining brightly, and she looked up.
There was the sound of the piano—it was heard that the player was a skilled pianist.
"...I walked by the door of his apartment. I heard him play the piano, and heard him play some phrases over and over again. So I stopped, as if intoxicated. At this moment, my heart was full of melancholy... …”
Tilly listened intoxicated.
The piano sound crescendos, then weakens again.
Cavallo's room. Tilly sat on the bed. She looked as if she were dreaming with her eyes open; Cavarro was sitting next to her in a small armchair.
Cavallo: Um... what about later?
Till
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