Original subtitles

Dear Red Shoe, I talked to my mother the other day.

She asked how Michael and I were doing.

He's my husband.

I smiled and said what I always say.

We're doing fine.

She told me that I work too much and that I should try harder to relax.

I told her I would.

promised I'd take the rest of the afternoon off and go buy Michael his

present.

Started out like any Tuesday.

Sun came up, the clocks moved forward.

Tuesday. But on this particular Tuesday, well, my husband slid into his 35th

year, and I slid into the dilemma of deciding what kind of... present to

him with on his special day.

And it was as I was thinking about this present that I realized how kind of

complacent and familiar our relationship had become.

What I'm trying to say is it was in thinking about his present that I

how in need our marriage was in desperate need of a kick in the ass.

Here I was, a woman, barely 30, married to a beautiful and

loving man for five years, a good job, a beautiful home,

friends, a dog, you name it.

And I felt completely and totally desperate.

I couldn't stop crying.

Nothing catch your fancy?

Oh, they're all very nice.

I'm Abby.

Hi. Hi.

For the true connoisseur, we have a pièce de résistance.

Interesting belt.

Oh, yeah.

My dad gave it to me, and I like the noise it makes.

Ah, my baby.

Don't go anywhere, okay?

That's my partner, Leonardo.

It's all in here.

What to buy him this year.

Window after window, store after store.

I looked at the sweaters.

He liked cashmere sweaters.

Standard present, safe.

Different color every year.

He's been a good husband, a great husband.

devoted, loving.

Not another sweater.

Not again.

Did you peek?

The photograph.

Oh.

Yes, I did. Thank you.

But I'm looking for a birthday cake for my husband.

Nothing in there interested you?

Oh.

Oh, no, I found them all very interesting.

It's just that... Oh, your husband wouldn't... No.

Michael simply wouldn't get it.

I have an idea.

Mrs... Sanders.

Juliet Sanders.

Wait right here.

Your name is Juliet, no?

I am Leonardo.

Have you ever experienced a bakery kitchen before?

I'd like you to come.

Vienna, come with me.

Come with me.

Yeah, bravo. You will love this place. This is where we make more than better.

We make magic here, huh?

We do everything.

You, you won't regret this at all. Because, you know, I... These are bats,

instance. Come, come, I show you. Come, come.

Mio tesoro.

She your wife?

La luce della mia vita.

She is my little... light bulb.

So what exactly did Abby tell you?

I show you.

Sweet, eh?

Delicate.

Like my mom is a tiramisu, eh?

Your face, your eyes.

Bellissima.

Bellissima.

What do you think, Juliet?

What am I doing here?

Do what?

What do you mean?

Though you want to bake a cake that looks like me.

Naked?

A skepticism.

And a fear.

are our enemies, Juliet.

Trust and courage are the recipes for passion.

Spontaneity is the secret ingredient of a good marriage.

You wouldn't be here if you didn't agree.

But just maybe it is the one

ingredient

Missing from you kitchen.

I'm going to make you birthday cake.

She smiled and told me to go home and think about it.

As I left, she slipped a videotape into the bag with bread and told me to watch

it.

You'll like it.

Made my way into the bathroom.

Locked the door.

I don't know why, but I took off my clothes.

Everything.

Earrings, watch, bra, panties, everything.

And I stared at myself in the mirror over the sink.

I looked at my legs, my ass, arms.

I lifted my hands to my breasts.

It was an hour before I was able to pull myself together.

I flipped the tape into the machine.

I pressed play, and then I pressed stop.

I must have stared at that.

blank television screen for a good 15 minutes before I worked up the courage

watch it.

Bonjour.

You may not recognize my voice, but my name is Leonardo.

I am the baker.

I'm here to present to you

A study in freedom.

At first what I saw kind of stunned me.

The truth?

I had no idea people actually did things like that.

my first reaction was to look away

and

then it suddenly all made sense i

mean i kind of figured it out

What was missing from my life was fun.

I wanted to have fun.

I was sick of being

nice, safe, a good girl.

I wanted to have fun.

The women in the tape were goofy and brave and silly and sweet and sexy.

Not another sweater.

Not again.

It's been a good husband, a great husband.

Come to Eden.

And on your way, you might pick up some soap and a little extra with the cream,

just in case.

So I made up my mind to do it.

Nothing ventured, nothing gained, right?

Very, very.

Raise your arms.

It's delicious.

something wrong, officer, sir?

Stoplight, ma 'am. Red stoplight, ma 'am.

Sweet, Michael.

Slip into something festive. I'll be home by eight.

P .S. Don't spoil your appetite.

Dinner's on me tonight.

Love, June.

Happy birthday, darling.

Your little cupcake has arrived.

And oh, do I have plans for you.

I sure hope you're hungry, birthday boy.

Because I'm going to stop you until there's nothing left of you.

Mum thought you'd surprise me.

Never had a surprise party.

Oh, darling, are you all right?

I'm sorry, Michael. It's okay. It's okay.

I just wanted to... I just wanted to...

I just wanted to stop the itch before it even began to tingle.

You are the most... beautiful...

lady.

Come on.

Normally,

I would have been really frightened.

But I wasn't.

I was just this nutty cake.

And even though his mother was there, and all his family...

He understood what I understood, and it was like they didn't exist anymore.

It was just us.

He didn't apologize to them or make excuses.

He was so sweet and gentle and loving.

I loved him for loving me.

For understanding.

And the best part, once in his life, he got his cake.

And he could eat it soon.

So there you have it, Red Shoes. A little courage. A little sugar.

A little whipped cream.

Chocolate.

Perfect present.

Yeah, and by the way...

Wait till he sees what I'm planning to give him for Christmas.

I'll keep you posted.