Original subtitles

Uh, hello.

Paolo? It's me.

Hi.

- I can't wait. - Where are you?

Florence, tomorrow we'll be in Rome. Give me two days.

I'll be waiting for you.

Gagliano Giuso and "P. A.C." present.

Mauro Bolognini's movie.

Julian Sands.

Joanna Pakula.

Tebeki Karyo in the movie.

Husbands and Lovers.

Based on the novel by Alberto Moravia.

Starring Lara Wendel.

Marco Di Stefano

Jeanne Valerie.

Screenwriter Sergio Bazzini.

Composer Ennio Morricone.

Operator Giuseppe Lanci.

Producer Gagliano Giuso.

Directed by Mauro Bolognini.

Stefan, how do you live with me? I'm hurting you.

I love you.

I love you just the way you are.

- Where are we? - South of Perugia, I'll go make a call.

- Shall I come with you? - Yes, we'll have tea.

- Fill it up with gas. - All right. (chuckles)

Pierrot, it's Stefan. We're on our way.

Come on, bye.

- How much farther? - A couple hours.

Did you call Pierrot? What did he say?

Said he was expecting us yesterday. He doesn't change.

I've got it all laid out.

We'll discuss the script in the morning, and we'll work from 5:00 to 8:00.

But that's not all.

At half past ten. wives and friends meet at the restaurant.

And that's every night for the rest of the shoot.

- Well, not every night. - Of course not every night.

I'll be right back.

You have a lovely wife. Why are you cheating on her?

Because she's cheating on me.

- Welcome. Here are the keys. - Uh, thank you.

I'm sorry, but your villa has been occupied.

Nothing.

Here you go.

Let me help you.

Stefan, it's beautiful here!

Stefan!

Stefan, this is so romantic!

Piero recommended this place to me. He's nearby, across the Tiber.

I have to go there twice a day.

You look like a woman from a Greek vase.

You have the body of a dancer in the court of Agamemnon.

And dancing through the ages, I came to you.

In ancient times, dancers were forbidden intimacy.

They could only express themselves only in dance.

They were lustful, passionate and insatiable.

They immersed themselves in ritual orgies.

Stefan...

There's something I have to tell you.

I've been thinking about it for days now.

This is between you, me and Paolo.

I don't know how to say this...

We need to come to an agreement.

Which one?

I'll tell you right now.

Friday through Sunday. I'll be living with Paolo.

Anyway, I'll be with you for five days and two days with him.

All that matters is that you're happy.

Can we start the day after tomorrow?

All right. Uh-huh.

Elina.

I'm leaving.

Cut. Cut! Well done.

Hey, Stefan. I'm on my way down.

Stefan!

Louise.

- It's good to see you. - You too, how are you?

All right. Today's the last day.

You're going to love this project. The script hooked me right away.

A woman runs a store and her husband's in prison.

- Good morning. - This is my co-author.

Hello. I'll show you to Sarah.

This is Sarah. I want to give her the lead.

Her father led her into prostitution, but not in the physical sense.

A man stays in the room with her. He looks at her and masturbates.

There's a huge scandal coming. You know what Stefan can do?

It will give the movie magical charm.

Sarah, let's hear you out. Say whatever you think.

Your hopes, your dreams. Tell me everything about yourself.

Anything that comes to mind.

- He's here, isn't he? - He is.

Why are you looking at me like that?

- You're upset. - No, I'm not.

I'm disappointed. First Friday, and you're already down.

You keep promising, and in the end?

It's not fair, we have a contract.

Yeah, I remember the pact. But I thought I could get used to it

to the fact that you're with someone else.

I've been forcing myself not to suffer, but I can't.

It's hard for me to see to see you go.

But if I leave, I'll kill someone.

You're jealous and you want me to make me feel guilty.

I'm jealous. You love him the same way as we love each other.

You're walking on the beach, holding hands.

I see you in his arms.

I'm suffering because you're doing the same thing,

what you and I are doing.

- Where'd you get that dress? - Paolo gave it to me.

- I'm off. Bye, Stefan. - Bye, Stefan.

Why don't you go to Piero's? Have some company for dinner.

I'm not hungry.

What would he think if I come alone.

Did you tell him that on the weekends. I'm at my mom's and we're taking his car?

He did, but he's only thinking all he's thinking about is the script.

Why don't you visit Louise? She'd be happy to.

Make love to her. You said he was better than me.

She's good at sex, but I don't want to.

Just two days.

- Bye. Bye. - Bye. Bye.

Let's go!

Double whiskey, no ice.

One more time.

You were great.

My compliments.

You're doubly lucky: You have such talent and such a wife!

Thank you.

Terrific improvisation.

Elina, do you agree to marry Stefan,

to love and care for him in sickness and in health,

in joy and sorrow, until death do you part?

Yes.

- Hey. (chuckles) - Hey. (chuckles)

How was Friday?

We were at home, we had guests.

- Were there a lot of people? - Yeah.

- How much? - I don't remember.

And you were with him?

Of course, everyone thought I was his wife.

And what did you say to that?

What do you think? I didn't dissuade them.

And then what did you do?

Then nothing.

The guests were gone by morning, and then we went for a walk on the beach.

It was so beautiful. It wasn't dawn yet.

And I was drunk on champagne. Paolo hugged me.

- What did you do last night? - I got drunk, too, but alone.

I've been thinking about you all night.

And you didn't go to Louise?

No, I didn't. I didn't even call her.

How approximate.

I didn't socialize much with my classmates.

They seemed like children to me.

I used to stand in front of the mirror for hours and put on makeup.

And she'd tuck her socks rolled up socks.

Go on.

I did my hair and I hemmed the skirt.

And when my mom would go out, I'd go for a walk.

And why did you do all this?

- There were no men your own age around? - I was attracted to mature men.

I liked it when men looking at me.

I hate indifference. Horrible thoughts come into my head.

But I don't think I'm having a shift.

- I feel like I've been sick for a long time. - She's growing up.

- Where were you today? - Talking to a hooker.

- Where? - By the road, in the field.

- Did you like it? - I did.

What was her name?

Who?

- That girl. - I didn't think you'd ask.

I've never made love. I don't even know how.

But everyone's just talking about it.

It scares me a little bit. I'll do it when I grow up.

What's the matter, Stefan?

When your wife leaves, you stop working.

We'll put it off till tomorrow.

Until Sunday.

See you Sunday. Bye.

More whiskey.

Thank you.

- Uh, hello. - Elina, please.

- Who's that? - Her husband.

Now, just a minute.

- Elina! - Yes?

- It's for you. - Who is it?

Your husband.

Stefan, is that you?

Where are you? At home?

But I just got here.

If it's important, I'll be there.

It's important.

Wait for me.

I'll be right back.

- I have a strange feeling. - What's that?

It's like you're my lover and he's my husband.

Is it because something unexpected something unexpected?

And what does that mean?

Nothing.

- What did you want to tell me? - I can't do this anymore.

Do you really love me that much? Or are you just kidding?

No, I'm not kidding. I've taken on too much.

Fridays are just unbearable.

Your preparations in the bathroom are terrible!

And then you tell me me everything you did.

We agreed that we would to tell each other everything,

The contract can be changed. You can see him whenever you want.

But don't tell me about it.

Do you prefer the classic bourgeois adultery?

When the husband plays the fool and the wife becomes a hypocrite?

I live with you five days out of seven. I still love you.

Otherwise, I would have left by now.

- What would you do then? - I don't know and I don't want to know.

It's gonna be okay, go home.

- We'll talk about it on Sunday. - I won't be here on Sunday.

- I'll be at Louise's. - That's a good idea.

I could have 100 mistresses, move away, and you don't care!

Making a scene? What's the matter?

You're a whore. Here's the thing.

Elina!

I'm unhappy.

Me, too.

So what?

Easy, baby. Don't move.

Don't fight it!

Hi.

Are you hurt?

You don't have to whisper, the father has the kids.

Tell me what happened.

Elina sends her regards.

Is she doing okay?

It doesn't get any better than this.

With other women. I feel differently.

Everything is somehow more forgiving and frank.

But with Elina, it's the opposite.

I feel pleasure when she feels it.

I love her desperately, but I don't want her.

At least I want her less than I love her.

When I think of her, I don't think of her body, I think of her aura.

She often walks around around the house naked.

And no matter how hard I try, I can't feel anything physical.

Then love her less. Women need to be wanted.

Elina is young, she's still living the life of the body.

If this keeps up, you're gonna lose her.

Yeah, I can see she's slipping away from me.

Every Sunday, when she comes back,

I feel like she's getting farther away.

And I'm falling back into horrible thoughts and habits.

For her, love and lust are inseparable.

- Does she love you? - Yeah, but she has to cheat.

I live my life and I'm always afraid that she'll leave me.

- It drives me to other women. - Does that include me?

The only way to end it is death.

Her death or mine.

Elina!

When did you come back? Why are you back so early?

Something happened. It shook us both up.

That's why I decided to leave early, because we need to figure it out.

Did something bad happen?

- Something new, I'd say. - New? What do you mean?

It's never happened before, and we didn't think it was possible.

Which is what?

I can't tell you.

I just experienced things with him that I haven't experienced with others.

- Even with me? - Especially with you.

I don't want to talk about it.

For us, it was like exploring a new land.

- A discovery that shocked us. - What is it?

There are some things you don't understand.

You try to explain everything, to explain, to explain, to chew on.

But the world is not so simple and clear.

- It's dark. - Tell me what it is.

No, it's just between you and me.

I can't.

I don't want to talk about it.

If you promise not to give clever definitions, then I'll tell you.

I promise. I won't say a word. What happened?

- He hit me. - Hit you?

- Yes, I did. - And you want to see him?

You don't understand. I won't tell you anything else.

I'm sorry. I'll keep quiet. Go on.

- It's all your fault. - ??

This happened because of you.

I'll tell you about it.

When you called from the bar last night, I had just arrived at Paolo's.

He wanted to make love, but I didn't want to.

I'm not warmed up yet.

When he started fondling me, I blacked out immediately.

I was thinking about other things.

I got excited about your call and I went to the bar.

We were under the impression you two had switched roles.

It's like you're the lover and he's the husband.

When I got back, I went into the living room.

I didn't realize he was was stalking me behind the curtain.

Suddenly, he came at me from behind and threw me down on the bed.

He put his hands over my face he put his hands over my face.

Like he was trying to strangle me or blind me.

He put his other hand between my legs between my legs and squeezed hard,

as if he wanted to rip out my lust.

He was cold and cruel, it was so unlike him.

And then?

Then I didn't even realize what happened.

Instead of fighting, like any other woman would have done,

I started kissing his hand.

That hand that held my head to the pillow.

I kissed his fingers.

You know why?

Because in that moment, I realized that this man loved me.

For real...

And that's what I realized for the first time since we've known each other.

I guess that's when he realized that you really loved him.

Got it. He told me about it the next day.

And he also realized his cruelty and apologized.

He begged me on my knees to forgive him.

Promised it wouldn't happen again.

I was ashamed, but not as much as he was.

I was a victim of abuse, and he didn't know I liked it.

We both swore it was for the first and last time.

That same night, he was so tender, I couldn't believe it,

that he was so cruel to me was so cruel to me.

What was today? Why are you back so early?

- Because of Ravel. - Ravel?

Yes.

We spent the day in peace, confident that it wouldn't happen again.

But just before dinner. he sat down at the piano and started playing

this monotonous oriental thing.

It was the same hands,

that fluttered across the keys.

- They're iron now. - So he gave you a good spanking.

Yeah, that's right.

The situation is comical.

But I got a special feeling.

- And what's that? - Some kind of emotion.

At first, just the pain.

It was as if his hands had become iron.

But then that pain turned into a pleasant warmth,

that suddenly filled me.

- And what was that emotion? - It's hard to describe.

A feeling of love.

You can't explain love, it has to be experienced.

If you've experienced it, then you can explain.

A sense of submission. Submissiveness.

Remorse.

And you call that love?

You've awakened to masochism, and sadism in him.

More terms. You're missing the point.

And you're rattling off with meaningless names.

You're just a well-read intellectual.

- How do you see it? - Any way you like.

Yesterday you called me a whore.

And I think it's love.

Sadism and masochism are specific types of sexual perversion.

As a couple, they go beyond the usual perversion.

They envision active and passive roles,

being an unusual element of sexual activity.

Those words have a certain meaning. Here's the gist of your "discovery."

It's called sadomasochism.

Then explain it to me.

Why was it that after the "perversion" did we have such a good time in bed?

I kissed his hands. If you must know, I kissed his feet, too.

Did you kiss his feet?

Yes, I kissed his feet, like a grateful slave.

So why did you leave?

I needed to think it over.

And consult.

I wanted to spend the day with you, but you disappointed me.

I changed my mind. I'm going back to him.

We'd better forget about the treaty.

You were right-- let's not tell each other anything.

Read the book.

Elina!

Hold on. I don't want you to go.

No, wait. Promise me something first.

- What? - That we'll always be together.

I promise.

Uh, hello.

I'll get him.

It's for you.

Who's that?

I want to tell you that I love you.

I'll be right there.

- What are you doing here? - I wanted to see you.

- Why? - To see how you're doing.

Good. Today is Paolo's birthday.

- Do you talk to him about me? - No, I don't.

I gotta go, he's in a hurry to get home.

- To make love? - I don't know.

- When did we have sex? - 2 weeks ago.

- But now's not a good time. - Why not?

That's impossible, he's waiting for me.

But you think of him as your husband, and I'm a lover.

- Cheat on him. - What if he sees?

Elina! Elina!

- What's wrong? - Uh, nothing.

Stefan!

- Have you seen my husband? - Haven't seen him since this morning.

Thank you.

Elina!

Hi, Louise.

- Stefan's not at your place? - No, come on in.

- Do you want anything? - No, thanks.

- What's wrong? - I can't find him.

- Did you two have a fight? - Yesterday, but not a big one.

He was kind of jumpy.

I went back on Sunday and told him everything.

Stefan's not himself.

Suffering because of our pact.

But he loves me, even if I cheat on him.

- I understand him. - Why are you cheating on Stefan?

I need sex, Louise. There's nothing you can do about it.

But Stefan is pure as a child. That's why you don't understand him.

- Not many people can love like he did. - I know.

You don't appreciate him. We often we lose something and regret it later.

And it can last a lifetime. Why don't you have children?

We can't have them.

- Where have you been? - I wanted to leave.

I don't know where, because I've never gone before.

I wanted to get out of your of your life, to do something different.

But instead I'm waiting here for you, like an asshole.

I can't do without your visits,

when the gravel crunches under under the tires of your car.

The motor goes silent, the door slams. Your footsteps on the stairs...

Maybe you think that you leaving is making me sad?

No, it's a much harder comeback.

And wanting to know more about you.

I have a burning passion to spy on you.

I realized that your stories wasn't enough for me.

"He killed her because."

All these months. this is all she's asked of him.

She asked him a thousand times, teased him until he understood.

"He could not refuse her this last token of affection."

What does that mean?

Piero is celebrating the end of his work. He invited us to Balsena.

He asked me about you.

- Paolo? What did he ask? - How good you are in bed.

And what did you say to him?

The truth.

- Look how scared he is. - Of course, there's water around.

It's a perfect setting for this scene.

- Where's the bungalow? - Behind those palm trees.

You should have shot the whole movie on the island.

- You have some good ideas. - We'd be here for the midsummer party.

- It's beautiful here! - Yes, it is.

What's that?

- The former owner's mansion. - You want to shoot there?

I wouldn't mind.

You know.

Pierrot became my my first man.

He promised me the lead role in his movie.

Wait!

Am I good?

Paolo!

Are you out of your mind?

Where are you?

- What's that? - I slipped in the shower.

That's not true. It's him.

- Did he do it? - He did.

- When did he make it? - Tonight.

Did you have sex with him in this house?

Don't get excited. No, not in this house.

Where?

Where?

In the garden.

I didn't make love to you I didn't make love to you, you did.

I was scared, I stood up and suddenly I saw Paolo from the window.

And what happened?

I was overwhelmed with emotion, and I almost fainted.

It was the best meeting we ever had, first he turned me around.

Enough, I don't want to hear it!

But you were the one who insisted.

Stefan!

I'm leaving.

Bye.

When I get back, we'll make love.

Don't make that face. I love you.

Hello, Stefan? What's up? I'm waiting for you.

- I'm sorry, I'm not coming. - Why not?

I can't even cheat on her.

You're going home tomorrow. You'll be with him for five days!

Stop!

Stefan!

Stefan!

You love it!

That's enough!

- I don't want to anymore. - You want it, you like it.

You pig!

Wretched whore!

I hate you.

You've gone too far.

Stop playing!

I hate you!

We broke up.

Yesterday, he hit me again, and I couldn't take it.

Like love, hate I feel it instantly.

Are you sure it's over?

I'll never see him again.

I was there yesterday.

I know.

I saw you. You scared me.

- You wanted to kill me. - Yes, I did.

But when I saw you, my resolve vanished.

Paolo and I have been exploring the forbidden areas of love.

And before you even realize it, we entered the realm of hate.

I don't want you to suffer.