All language subtitles for Joseph Losey - (1968) Secret Ceremony

(LOUD THUD)

(DOOR BANGING SHUT)

(COUGHING)

(STIFLED COUGH)

(CHURCH BELL TOLLING)

(STOP BELL RINGING)

Mummy...

VICAR: anoint you
with this saving ofl

in Christ Jesus Our Lord,

that you may have eternal life.

GODPARENTS:
Amen.

VICAR: Joseph, do you believe
in God, the Father Almighty,

creator of heaven and earth?

GODPARENTS:
I do believe.

VICAR:
Do you believe in Jesus Christ,

His only son, our Lord,

who was born
and suffered for us?

GODPARENTS:
I do believe.

VICAR: Do you believe
in the Holy Ghost,

the Holy Catholic Church,

the communion of saints,
the forgiveness of sins,

the resurrection of the body
and life everlasting?

GODPARENTS:
I do believe.

VICAR: Joseph, are you willing
to be baptised?

GODPARENTS:
fam.

VICAR: Joseph, ! baptise you
in the name of the Father,

and of the Son
and of the Holy Ghost.

GODPARENTS:
Amen.

VICAR:
May Almighty God,

the Father
of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

who has given you new life

through water
and the Holy Ghost,

and forgiven you
all your sins,

Himself anoint you
with saving prisms,

in the name of
Jesus Christ our Lord,

that you may have
eternal life.

GODPARENTS:
Amen.

- VICAR: Peace be with you.
- GODPARENTS: And with you.

VICAR:
Take this white garment,

and see that you carry it
without stain

before the judgment seat
of Our Lord Jesus Christ,

-that you may have eternal life.
-(BABY CRYING)

Take this burning light
and keep true to your baptism

throughout a blameless life.

Keep the commandments of God,

that when the Lord shall come

like a bridegroom
to His marriage feast...

(VICAR SNEEZES)

...you, in company
with all the saints,

may meet Him
in the heavenly courts

and there live forever.

Amen.

Go in peace, Joseph,
and the Lord be with you.

Amen.

(STRIMMER WHINING)

(STRIMMER GETTING LOUDER)

(GATE CLANGING SHUT)

You... you... wait here.

Wait.

(DOOR BANGING SHUT)

(FOOTSTEPS CLATTERING ON STAIRS)

Mummy!

Mummy!

I'm not who you think I am, kid.

Now, there's a good girl.
Let go.

Will you let me go?!

What the hell
do you want from me?

Can't you say something?

The cat got your tongue?

Would you like some breakfast?

Yes.

Ooh...

(DUMB WAITER CREAKING)

(PASSING SIRENS)

-(CHIRPING)
-{CHUCKLING)

(DOOR OPENING)

(CHIRPING STOPS)

(CLOCK CHIMING)

(CHINA CLATTERING)

Hmm!

(EXHALING)

Oh, that was delicious!

Mmm!

Thank you.
I've never had a more...

(BURPING)

(COUGHING)

scrumptious breakfast.

Mmm!

You didn't prepare that
all by yourself, did you?

Nobody helped you?

Don't you remember?

Don't I remember what?

You let Nanny and the cook go.

- Oh, 1 did?
- Fired them ruthlessly.

Are you here all alone?

There's nobody else downstairs?

Nobody.

Well, is anybody
coming later on?

No.

Where's Daddy?

You know damn well
where he is!

Well, I wouldn't have asked
if I'd known, would I?

The last postcard
was from Philadelphia.

- It was?
- You tore it up yourself.

Then I haven't
the faintest recollection.

You said never to mention
his name again in this house.

Well, I can change my mind,
can't 1? It's my house.

After his scandalous behaviour
in the kitchen?

You mind your manners.

“Wasn't me who threw the inkwell at him.
- Don't you be fresh with me.

“Wasn't me who ordered him out of the house.
Cut that out!

"I don't want to hear
that man's name again."

We all have our days.

I may have lost my temper.

"Albert, Albert, Albert..."

I don't want to hear
that name again!

Are you still jealous?

Young lady, you go to
your room at once.

He touched me.

(HARD SLAP)

(GASPING)

Oh, excuse me.

Won't you?

Oh..
(SOBBING)

LEONORA:
Oh.

Oh, you poor little doll.

I don't know
what came over me.

It was like having
my ears blown out.

Oh...

Would you like me to
move in with you for a while?

To take care of you?

What do you mean?
You've always taken care of me.

Oh, you've got fever.

Every time you went out,
shopping or to the doctor's,

you said,
“I'll be back. I'll be back,"

and you always came back,

except the last time
when the pain was bad

and the wind knocked down
the cherry tree.

I'm back now.

I'don't usually take a nap
during the day, but...

1 might now.

Oh, [ just might,

You're sweet,

Where did you get
these awful stockings?

(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)

Would you like me to
wash your back?

No, thank you.
I can reach it myself.

What are you doing,
a big girl like you?

CENCI: On Sundays, Mummy,
you always let me wash your back.

- Is it Sunday?
- Oh, you're a silly Mummy.

Oh, I'd better get out
before I fall asleep.

And drown?

What do you know
about drowning?

Ducks don't drown. Look.

No! No, let it be!

(LAUGHING)

No!

Dont... no, let it be!

(BOTH LAUGHING)

(SOBBING)

(HISSING)

(CHILDREN PLAYING OUTSIDE)

I'm so glad you're back.

Can I crawl into bed with you?

Please, Mummy, can [?

(LEONORA MOANING)

It's so nice, isn't it?

You used to say,

"Remember, all one needs
is a great big bed

"with all the people
one loves in it."

When you're older,
you'll appreciate

the advantages
of sleeping alone.

I'm scared when I sleep alone.

There's nothing to be scared of.

“What about the moon dog?
- The what?

The moon dog.

He sits up there, watching me.

Oh, that's just a nice old man
who forgot to shave.

Nobody's just a nice old man.

Sometimes he shows his teeth
and goes "Grr!"

Well, you just say,
"Down, boy. Down."

Down, boy! Down!

- He's gone.
- See?

He'll be back.

Not if you say your prayers.

Prayers? In the afternoon?

That's when the good Lord
has time to listen.

Why? What does he do
at night time?

He worries.

CENCI:
I don't know any prayers.

"Dear God, by whose mercy..."

"Dear God, by whose mercy..."

"I am shielded for a few hours.”

"I am shielded for a few hours.”

"Let no-one snatch me
from this heaven."

"Let no-one snatch me
from this heaven."

CENCL
Since you're so clever,

why can't you understand
that my virginity

is the only thing I possess?

(GIGGLING)

Ha ha. I know it's funny.

Sssh...

Mother is asleep.

But, [ wamn you,

1 will do absolutely nothing
to hurt her feelings.

You stay in that chair, you hear?

And eat this.

Mother is Mother.

Now, that's something to be.

You're a teacher. You can
put that in your passport.

What have I got?

Cenci...

Engelhard.

Virgin,

That's me.

That's all I am.

1 often think of
our day on the Downs,

and the leaves
on which we lay.

I didn't mind getting wet.

I saw the clouds beyond you.

You said, "Am I too heavy?"

I didn't mind that,

or your breathing,
or anything like that,

as long as we were dressed.

But I will not undress for you.

I won't let you get that close.

Do you want to touch my hair?

All right, you may
touch my hair.

(GIGGLING)

Oh...

Let go of me!

I'll give you the sound
if you let go.

Hmm.

What's so great
about that sound anyway?

Why do you make such a fuss
about that sound?

(GASPING)

Take your hand off me!

Please!
Take your hand away!

Take your bloody hand off me!

(MUSIC BOX SUDDENLY PLAYING)

Mummy...

Come along, Mummy.

Come along.

(ENGINE REVVING)

(REPEATED CLANKING)

(CLOCK CHIMING)

Where...?

(FAINT CLANKING)

(FOOTSTEPS)

Good morning, Mummy.

- Good morning.
- How's the pain?

Pain?

I slept marvellously.

CENCI:
Oh, I'm so glad.

Spring has come overnight.

(CLANKING GETS LOUDER)

Where are my clothes?

What do you want to wear?

Well, er, you... you choose, darling.

You've always had such, er...
distinguished taste.

An!

LEONORA: No.
That's too drab for a spring day.

That should be worn on a day
when it rains like piss.

(CHUCKLING)

1'beg your pardon. I don't know
what made me say that.

You... you know, I was having, er...
tea the other day, at the, er...

when this... the, er...

the Duchess said
the self-same expression.

Can you believe it?

(CUTLERY CLATTERING)

Oh!

Oh...

that must be an original!

It is!

I'd completely forgotten it.

When was the last ime
1 wore it?

It must have been...

Oh, yes, of course, the, er...
the Queen's birthday party.

Just the thing for
a formal occasion.

Like the opera.

- Or the ballet.
- The opera.

Or a sit-down supper party.

Oh, God, I'm getting so fat!

I keep on retaining
all this terrible water.

It puffs me up so.

Is that necessary?

Keep still.

What's the matter
with your hair?

I.--

I never could stand anyone
mucking around with my hair.

It makes me fidgety.

It gives me goosebumps.

Please stop!

But we can't have you
walking about

looking like a whore.

No.

(DOORBELL RINGING)

Who's that?

Aunt Hannah and Hilda,
I suppose.

(FOOTSTEPS)

(DOOR CLOSING LOUDLY)

(FOOTSTEPS)

We've been to the cemetery.

- Lovely blowing weather.
- Frost.

There wasn't a flower
on your mother's grave.

Do you think that's proper?

Its... too cold for flowers.

Cenci, your mother is dead.

And you mustn't go traipsing
round the streets looking for her.

No.
- Are you listening?

- Yes.
Well, don't interrupt.

I can't get a word in edgeways.

Mother's in the garden,
pruning roses.

There isn't a soul
in the garden.

(CHUCKLING)

One of your morbid jokes again.
Very well, two can play.

Daddy Albert was arrested
in Philadelphia.

- I don't know what you mean.
- For interfering with a minor.

Leave me alone!
Why can't you leave me alone?!

You're all nerves, Cenci.

Haven't even
offered us any coffee.

- These young people!
No discipline.

And when did you last
have a bath?

(FLICKS SWITCH)

(RECORDING OF BIRDSONG)

(CLATTERING)

We have a perfect right
to visit your mother's bedroom.

You've lit the fire.

Why afire,

when it's unseasonably warm?

Wasting all that money.
- It's stifling hot in here.

Stifling.

HILDA: Oh...

Ooh!

(BIRDSONG RECORDING PLAYING)

Look! Hannaly, look!

Ooh!

All these dresses!

Oh, Cenci,
they'll hang here till they rot.

Oh, Cenci, you might
just as well get rid of them.

You might give us one or two.

Look, this one, for instance,
looks just right for me.

Oh, the black fox!

(CHUCKLING)
Oh, dear, the black fox.

Christmas '55,
everyone sloshed,

and Gustaf still alive.

- Ah, dear Gustaf.
- Carving the roast.

The most generous brother
that ever...

gave me an electric razor
by mistake.

And sang.

Oh, Cenci,
the moths will get at it.

Anyway, it's too middle-aged
for a girl like you.

What would you want
with a thing like this?

Isn't it, Hannie?

Oh...

No!

You can't have the mink.

Look at your mother's bed!

It's warm.

At eleven o'clock in the morning.
No, it's nearly noon.

A decent bed
isn't supposed to be warm.

Cenci, are you alone?

Yes.

(DOOR CLOSING)

Have they left?

You didn't tell them
about me, did you?

They think you're dead, Mummy.
(GIGGLING)

(LAUGHING)

(DOORBELL RINGING)

(KNOCKING)

(LOUDER BANGING)

MAN:
Hello! Anybody home?

(KNOCKING)

(MAN WHISTLING)

(WHISTLING)

(DISCORDANT CHORD)

(WHISTLING CONTINUES)

Hello, Margaret, is that you?

Hi, there.

How have you been?

No, no, don't tell me.

Aren't you going to let me in?

You know I'm harmless
before lunch.

Now, for Christ's sake,
come on out.

See you around the campus.

(WHISTLING)

(POKER HITTING FENDER)

(DOOR OPENING)

(FOOTSTEPS)

Where have you been?

Christ! Who gave you
all that money?

- I've been to the bank.
- What bank?

It's Tuesday.

If you don't want me
to go to the bank anymore,

just say sol

No need to shout,

Sorry.

Did you...
go anyplace else?

Did you...

meet anyone else?

No.

LEONORA: Darling,
you know you can trust me.

I wouldn't trust you
with a crooked penny.

LEONORA:
Somebody... called.

Who?

Albert.

Don't know anyone
by that name.

Give Mummy a kiss.

Oh, my God!

(CENCI MUMBLING)

Ah.

(CHUCKLING)

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

Was...?

Was Daddy Albert
agreat lover?

What do you mean?

Was he greater than
Daddy Gustaf?

1 guess so.

Was he...

stupendous?

Stupendously...

gentle?

And also brutal?

Did he make you give out...

a sound?

What kind of sound?

(PANTING)

(MOANING)

(GIGGLING)
Let me hear you do it.

(MOANING)

(CENCI GIGGLING)

(BOTH LAUGHING)

CENCI:
Are all men clever like that?

(THUNDER RUMBLING)

They're just little boys that...

need to have their...

bottoms wiped.

(BANGING)

(CHOPPING WOOD)

I'm going out.

- Can I come too?
- No, darling.

Please, let me come with you,

Will you put
that bloody thing down?

Pleeeease?

It's laundry day.

1 wouldn't touch
your filthy laundry.

Cenci, you do the laundry,
or no telly this week.

Ha! We haven't got a telly!

Oh, you're impossible today!

You're coming back,
aren't you, Mummy?

Oh, don't be silly.
Of course I am.

- Come back soon!
- will.

(ENGINE REVVING)

(TRAFFIC PASSING)

(BELL JANGLING)

HANNAH:
Coming!

One moment.

Holy Mother of God!

Hilda!

- Hilda!
- Yes? What is it?

Oh, really...
oh, all right,

Well, who the hell are you?!

Um... I'm Leonora.

Leonora? Who?

Margaret's cousin.

You and your
damned apparitions.

I could have sworn it was our
dear departed sister-in-law.

Poor Margaret was smaller.

Her eyes were a different colour.

- She was skinnier too.
- Especially towards the end.

Well, poor Margaret wasn't
exactly what you'd call thin,

Not what I'd call thin,

but towards the end,
she looked like an umbrella.

Then I really don't know

how you simply
could have made the mistake.

That's Margaret's purple velvet!

Yes. Cenci gave it to me.

Would you care for some tea?

Thank you.

So you're poor Margaret's cousin?

- Yes.
-(BIRDSONG)

Iwonder why she never
happened to mention you.

My dear, you know
what she was like.

It's very odd, isn't it?

And poor Margaret
always insisted,

especially after Albert
went back to the States,

that she and Cenci were
quite alone in the world.

She never counted us.

We were always the poor relations.

She never forgave us
for being...

slightly Jewish.

Like our Saviour,
on his mother's side.

(CAT MEOWING)

Actually, we didn't get along either.

Oh?

It was just...
misunderstandings.

What about?

Well, I'd rather not discuss it.

Money?
- Family matters.

What money?

Well, surely you know
that Cenci was heiress

to the Engelhard fortune?

- Stinking rich, she is.
-(POURING TEA)

She's never given me
ared cent.

A what?

-(CAT PURRING)
- You're not American, are you?

LEONORA: Yeah.
Why? Any objections?

Small world, isn't it?

They do get around,
don't they?

Well, I have problems of my own.

I wasn't even informed
of Margaret's illness.

I mean,
can you believe that?

Ilive in Tunbridge Wells,
but that's no excuse.

They had my address.

They could have
sent me a postcard.

I mean, I'm not one
to nurse grudges, but..

Did she suffer?

Didn't Cenci tell you?

Well, she, erm...
didn't go into detail.

Spent her last three months...

shut up in that house.

Didn't want to see anyone.
Not even us.

- Sacked the servants.
- The nurses.

- Even the doctor.
- Said they were trying to poison her.

Oh, well, she talked
a lot of rubbish before the end.

Her mind was
neither here nor there.

Poor Cenci, she had to do
everything for her mother.

She was nurse, cook,
housemaid, the lot.

(SIGHING)

She simply idolised her mother.

1 remember the night
before the funeral.

She sat there by the coffin,

I'll never forget her face
as long as I live.

In my opinion,
it was then or thereabouts

that she became unhinged.

She had such a demented look.

Alittle smile...

you know?

(INHALING SHARPLY)
We were petrified.

Then she started babbling
utter nonsense,

saying her mother
had gone to the hairdresser.

She'd been away from home
along time.

Perhaps she was lost.

She ought to go out
and find her.

She never turned up
at the funeral.

Locked herself up in the loo.
With a doll.

That poor child.

She never had it easy
in that big house.

Dotty mother of hers.

And Gustaf.

Dear Gustaf.

You met Gustaf, didn't you?

Er... only once.

The most generous brother
that ever lived.

Dropped dead
when Cenci was nine.

And his poor body's
still warm in the grave.

When poor Margaret
picks up that Albert.

Albert!

His stinking pipes,

his tweeds, his books.

- His walk.
{(GIGGLING)

His terrible, languorous,
insinuating walk.

His hands.

(CAT MEOWING)

- LEONORA: What do you mean, his hands?
- don't want to hear about it.

Oh, let her know.
Let the whole world know.

- I could see it coming.
- It was inevitable.

I don't want to hear about it.

The randy bastard.

True.

Poor Margaret
found them in the kitchen,

his hands on Cenci, like this.

(HANNAH CHUCKLING)

And poor Margaret yelling,

"Albert, get out of the house!
Get out, get out!”

But Cencf's still a child!

- Cenci, a child?
- Cenciis 22, if she's a day.

Well, she'll...

always be a baby to me.

Crazy people
never look their age.

That's disgusting!

You're all disgusting!
Why didn't you stop it?

Why didn't you do something?

You've all let her down.

You've abandoned that child,
all of you, for the...

Well, her mother...

she had no business to die
and leave her alone.

Why didn't you call someone,
a doctor or the police?

My dear, what do you think
we would have gained by it?

On the contrary.
You would have lost.

- Lost?
“What do you mean, lost?

Lost the chance to go on
stealing things at that house.

- I beg your pardon!
- don't know what you mean!

If that little thing has
come to you, telling tales...

- She has said nothing.
Well, then, come to the point.

To come to the point,

I'm talking about
anumber of valuables

missing from that house.

To come to the point,
I'm talking about

several of
"poor Margaret's" dresses.

Oh, rubbish, absolute.

Well, Cenci doesn't appreciate
family heirlooms.

To come to the point,
I'm talking about this doll.

-(DOLL SQUEAKING)
- Ah!

Look what you've done!

You killers!

If ever you dare drag your ass
around to that house,

on any excuse whatsoever,

I'll set the cops on you.

You keep it.

(SQUEAKING)

(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)

(KNOCKING)

(HEAVIER BANGING)

(RAPID KNOCKING)

(THREE SHARP RAPS)

Is your goddamn mother home?

I'm not going to eat you,
you silly bitch.

May I come in?

These are for you.

Where's Mom?

- Gone out.
- Oh?

Whatever happened to the, er...

unmentionable disease?

Oh, er... she...
made a remarkable recovery.

Well, what do you know?
(CHUCKLING)

And after all that fuss about, er...

"abdominal anguish”.

Plain spastic colon,
that's what it was, you know.

Brought on by her unhealthy
disrespect for sex.

You know, love...

she never really forgave me for...

treating her as though
she were a woman,

The first time
I touched her hair,

she called me a pervert.

I was usually pleased.

"Albert... why, whatever
are you doing, Albert?"

(CENCI GIGGLING)

And how's Daddy Gustaf?

May I say hello?
- Door's locked.

Oh, I've got a knack
for opening doors.

There's absolutely
no need to fear the dead.

They're no longer
in the majority, you know.

They used to outnumber us,
I suppose, oh... ten to one,

but we're catching up.

We're dancing on their graves.

I'm very fond of life, myself.

Look at him.

I'm rather good
at laying ghosts.

Hello, Gussie.

Come on.

Say it. Repeat after me,
"Hello, Gussie."

- can't.
- Sayit. "Hello, Gussie."

(CHILDISH VOICE)
Hello, Gussie.

(GASPING)

Hello, Gussie!

Do you like my beard?

No.

We'll cut it off,
Right now.

Come on, you cut it off,

Go on, into the kitchen.

Why don't you like it?

It's so... scraggly,

50 vile.

My sheep's clothing, kid.

I grew it in
the city of brotherly love.

Fools everybody.

Kids get up and give me
their seats on the bus,

cops call me sir.

All the little sophomores think

I'm just a benign old poof
from England

dabbling in cybernetics

until we get to the parking lot,
then I grab 'em.

Plough into
the groves of academe.

The wretched lecher,
they call me.

Still a virgin, are you, Cenci?

Are you still a virgin?

- Yes, Father.
- Yeah, me too.

Total celibacy.

No, that's not true.

Why can't I be honest with you?

In the past twelve months,
there's been a masseuse,

two faculty wives,

the tiny little black lady
majoring in political science.

Except...

Never mind.
Let's get on with it.

Except for your portraits
everywhere, on the mantel,

over the kitchen range,
facing the tub.

I it staring at them all night.

It's my own
closed-circuit system.

1 look at your goddamn face

and I make up
soap operas about us.

They always end up
happily in bed.

I've talked it over
with Grabscheid.

He's head of the, er...

psychology department,

He says that incest
is a rather boring symptom

of the private property system.

Do you realise that, right now,
all over the Australian bush,

fathers are bashing
their daughters

like there's no tomorrow.

- Still got your freckles?
- Hmm.

- Yes.
- Let's have a look.

No!

Would you like me to
take you to the circus?

- To the zoo?

No.
- All right, you're fired.

You're through.

1 don't need you anymore.

London is filled
with stray daughters.

I'm staying at the Cadogan.

That's where Oscar Wilde
got caught, you know.

If you don't watch out,

I might tum into a fag
or something worse.

- Come on, say something nice.
- I won't.

You punk.

You bow-legged little pisher.

You... you've never really
understood my longings, have you?

The extraordinary purity
of my longings?

No, Father, I haven't.

The first time I ever saw you,
you were eleven.

You came sliding down
the bannister in blue jeans.

I thought, “That's for me.”

Let me have
that sound at least.

(GIGGLING)
No.

Come on,
let me hear that sound.

No.
Well, after all,

I'm only your stepfather.

No.

Let me hear that sound!

(HESITANT MOANING)

I can't help meself.

(SHIP'S HORN BLOWING)

(INDISTINCT WHISPERING)

Please give me strength
to go back to that house.

It's not the money,
you understand, it...

For three years,
I've been wandering

from place to place
like a Jew.

Do you think I like sitting
on that park bench,

as the cars come cruising by,

waiting for some poor bastard
nobody else will sleep with?

Oh, God...

I want that child.

I'd cherish her
to my dying hour.

I already lost
a little angel once

on a spring day,
out of neglect.

How can anyone kill so casually,

just by looking away,

just simply by not being there?

This time,
1will not be careless.

Oh, please, God...

-{(DOOR OPENING)
-{GIGGLING)

(HUMMING)

(PICKING OUT A TUNE)

(GIGGLING)

(HUMMING)

(GIGGLING)

(HEAVY BREATHING)

No! No!

Please! No!

(GIGGLING)

(PLANE FLYING OVERHEAD)

(CLOCK TICKING)

(GLASS SHATTERING)

-{(DOOR OPENING)
-{FOOTSTEPS)

Cenci?

-(DOOR OPENING)
-(RAPID FOOTSTEPS)

Cencil

(FOOTSTEPS APPROACHING)

-(CENCI SOBBING)
- Cenci?

Cencil

Are you hurt?

“Where have you been?
- Who was he?

Albert.

Cenci...

(WOMEN LAUGHING)

ALBERT: Never mind.
I can afford it.

They've made me
a full professor.

HILDA: Americans are
reckless boobies, aren't they?

Fancy making you a professor!

What is it
that you teach, Albert?

Well, we have this enormous
auditorium with 3,000 seats,

completely wired,
taped, bugged.

We fill it with
human guinea pigs

and we plug them all in,

their armpits,
their salivary glands,

their tear ducts.

We run these old
Jean Harlow movies

and then we measure
the humidity,

the salivation,
tumescence...

- The what?
- You know, there's this

marvellous genius
of a professor in the lab.

He's invented a tiny little
camera which we insert

in all sorts of marvellous
private little places to photograph...

What?
- Love.

What sort of stone is this?

What is it, pumice?
Limestone?

Couldn't you have been more generous?
Why didn't someone let me know.

The last American address
you left us was 172 Spring Street.

- Well?
- You omitted to say what city.

(CHUCKLING)
Oh.

You know, she wasn't half bad,
poor Margaret.

Lovely soft, dark, raven hair,

and so bloody proud
of her breasts,

those fantastic, opulent,
mother-of-pearly globes.

I want marble for Margaret.

Do you hear?

I want a marble stone for her!
(STAMPING FOOT)

(SHIP'S HORN BLOWING)

(ENGINE REVVING)

Hey, wake up, lazybones.

Who do you think you are?
Sleeping Beauty?

It's 9:30 and the cleaners
have been here for half an hour.

Now, come on, get up.
Come on, get up!

Now, come on.
There's a good girl,

- Will you hurry up?
- I'm coming.

(TUNING PIANO)

(PLAYING CHORDS)

(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)

Two lumps?

Four, as usual.

- Help yourselves.
-(DOORBELL RINGING)

- Thanks.
- Excuse me.

LEONORA:
Yes? May I help you?

Miss Engelhard?

Yes.

Thank you.

(PIANO TUNING INDOORS)

(PIANO CHORDS)

(PIANO MELODY)

(PHONE RINGING)

- Hello?
- ALBERT: Hello.

(DEEP VOICE)
What do you want?

Miss Cenci, please.

Who's she?

What number are you?

None of your business.

(PHONE RINGING)

Persistent, isn't he?

(UPPER-CLASS VOICE)
Hello?

Not much of a conversationalist,
are you?

(DIALLING TONE)

(LAUGHING)

(STRUMMING HARP LOUDLY)

(CLAPPING AND LAUGHING)

- Good afternoon, Mrs Engelhard.
- Oh, hello.

Miss Engelhard.

This way, please.

Your room, Miss Engelhard.
This way, Mrs Engelhard.

CENCI:
Thank you.

Oh...
- Oh, that's terribly sweet.

Thank you.

Oh, look, Mummy.

I trust everything
is to your satisfaction?

- LEONORA: Absolutely.
- CENCI: Super. Thanks so much.

LEONORA:
Thank you. Thank you.

Are you dressed?

Yes.

Isn't the sea lovely, Mummy?

- Are you happy?
- Mmm.

What have you
decided to wear?

Er... the... the green chiffon,

There's a little boy out there
building a sand castle.

Oh, darling, we're going to
be late for dinner.

- You go ahead, Mummy.
- I wouldn't dream of it

I want to make an entrance
with my daughter

No, really, Mummy.
You go ahead.

I have a surprise for you.
Please?

- Are you all right?
- Yes.

Please.

(PIANO PLAYING LIGHT MUSIC)

OLD MAN: (VIA ELECTROLARYNX)
Who is this wonderful woman?

She is too beautiful for words.

She's so beautiful,

- Who is she?
- Yes, she's very beautiful.

OLD MAN: You should try
to find out if she's...

NURSE:
You're too loud.

Sorry to have kept you waiting.

1 didn't think I could make it.

The usual thing?

Yes, the usual thing.

Er...did...

did you, er...
actually throw up, darling?

[
I'm famished now.

Well shall we, er...
shall we order?

I think I'd like an
enormous piece of red meat.

Good.

Er... we'd like to order now.

- WAITER: Yes, madame.
- For three.

Very good, madame.

Thank you.

You don't look like
my late wife at all.

She was well-bred
and rather frail,

except for her famous mammalia.

Oh, excuse me.
That's a, er...

a private joke in questionable taste.

Still, sometimes
one has to choose

between good taste
and being a human being.

You look more like a cow
than my late wife.

Oh, no of fence.
I'm very fond of cows.

(MOOING)

Also, she had no cousins.

I beg your pardon.
She had one, James.

Obviously, you're not James.

What do you want
with my daughter?

You have no right
to ask me any questions.

No right?
You must be out of your mind.

- I'm her legal guardian.
- No, you're not.

Very well, I'm not.
Not yet, not legally.

I've had no time to make
the necessary arrangements.

I've been away.

But I assure you,
lintend to take every step

to ensure my rights.

Warner and Swayze
are my attorneys. Who are yours?

You have cause to fight me?
On what grounds?

[1l'hit you with
everything in the book.

Cenci,

Cenci, at fifteen, chewing
on the edge of her blanket,

lifting up her skirts
at the slightest provocation,

like, for instance, me.

You dirty bastard!
You raped her!

(ALBERT LAUGHING)

I couldn't rape
a randy elephant,

I'm much too... tentative.

I need encouragement,
and I love her.

I've always loved her.
I make her feel like a woman,

I've always made her
feel like a woman,

even when she was sweet sixteen.

What do you make her feel like?
A retarded zombie?

I try to protect her from...
- Listen, you mysterious bitch,

you fluff, you cow.

I don't need any instructions
in fatherhood from you.

When she was smaller,
I used to take her ice skating.

You try ice skating
with varicose veins.

I'd hold her hands
at the dentist's,

get up in the dead of night
and put her back to bed

when she was sleepwalking.

I'd drive her to school
in all sorts of weather

and comb her long hair,

Oh, admittedly, I might
take her face in my hands...

but only with the utmost
delicacy, like so.

You stay away from me.

I don't care
what she's told you.

I'm excruciatingly shy.

She was always a great one
for encouraging...

sin,

...[don't...
- Blue sin...

- don't want to hear.
- Red sin,

fabulous purple sin.

I never could resist
those freckles,

that skin, that fish mouth,

She used to come to my room
once in a while,

-with a bottle of baby oil.
- If you don't shut your foul mouth...

She'd ask me to lie down
with my face down.

She'd straddle me
like I was & horse,

her long silk hair
falling in a wave

-and swishing against my back...
- Ah!

While she started
to rub me down.

She manipulated
my toes so cleverly,

my hair stood on end,

and always,
she'd ask me to turn over,

still in the saddle,

and her long hair
falling in a wave

-to cover my embarrassment.
- Cenci!

- But I never touched her.
- You lying bastard!

Let her go.

She needs me.

The best thing her mother
ever did for her was to die.

If you don't let her go, she'll just
keep getting smaller and smaller.

Until, finally, at about 25 or 30,

you'll find her in a corner
with a baby bottle.

(MIMICKING BABY CRYING)

(SOBBING)

I'm sorry.

I'had a daughter once.

She was a very unusual child.

What happened to her?

She vanished.

(SEAGULLS CRYING)

(DOOR OPENING)

CENCI: You missed
a fabulous dinner, Mummy.

You bet your skinny ass.

The beach hasn't changed a bit
since the last time.

Nothing ever changes here.

Yeah.
It's a real swinging joint.

I think I'd like to
go for a walk now.

Why don't you just do that,
sweetie?

What's the matter, Mummy?

My goddamn back is killing me.

Ah... all that bending
in the woods.

You wouldn't like to
massage it for me, would you?

Oh, yes, please.
I'd love to.

Oh, poor Mummy,
stiff as a rod.

You just relax,
and be a perfect child of God.

Am I doing all right?

Am I the perfect masseuse?

Yes. In which newspaper
did you last advertise?

(GIGGLING)

Enjoy.

Enjoy.

Get off my back,
you little bitch!

CENCL:
Why is your pillow wet?

LEONORA:
None of your frigging business.

Id... better go to bed now.
I'm simply exhausted.

What in hell do you have to be
exhausted about at your age?

Well, you know, in...
in my condition...

Condition?

- What condition?!
- One gets easily tired.

Bullshit!

I believe that, tonight,
for the first time,

-it kicked me!
- There's nothing there to kick!

As I was leaving
the dining room,

1 could distinctly
feel it kick me!

- Cenci, this has got to stop!
- I've missed the birth twice!

Don't! Don't! Don't!

- Twice!
<(CLOTH RIPPING)

No! No!

My baby! My baby!

(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)

(DOOR OPENING)

What are you doing
in my mother's clothes?

Get out!

WOMAN SINGING:
J Hush little baby

7 Cry no more

7 Father's gone fishing... }

- Madam!
- IMother's a whore

7 Back in the morning

1 To guard your life

> With two short prayers

1 And a carving knife

(BIRDSONG)

(TRAIN PASSING)

CENCI SINGING:
I Oh that I were

> Where I would be... &

(PHONE RINGING)

7 Then would I be

» Where I am not

J But where I am

J There must I be

And where I would be

2 [ cannot...

(BIRDS CHIRPING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

(KNOCKING)

Who is it?

(DOOR CREAKING OPEN)

Hello.

I'm sorry to disturb you, miss.

Good evening, Leonora.

I've been meaning
to return your key.

Are you all right?

What are you talking about?

I telephoned every day.

In reference to what?

1thought you might need...

something.

Need something?
Need what, for instance?

(CAR HONKING OUTSIDE)

Well, I's such a big house.

Thank you, but I've...

all the help I need.

Iwouldn't ask for much.

Are you applying
for a position?

In'a manner of speaking.

Do you have references?

Look kid, I've had lots of
experience dealing with...

What?

Children.

With suicides?

Well, I've only tried it once.

Explain yourself.

After the...

funeral.

My baby.

- Oh, I thought I'd show him.
“What... what funeral?

What baby?

Show him? Show whom?

You'll have to be
a great deal more precise.

Oh, have a heart!

I.--

I can't even remember
her face anymore.

1look at her pictures
most days, and...

all I see is a little stranger.

Bernard fades too.

That was his name, Bernard.

Not Bernard, but Bernard.

(LAUGHING)

Bernard

(BOTH LAUGHING)

Bernard

Bernard

"You'll be sorry
when I'm dead, Bernard,"

I said to myself.

"It may be a mortal sin

"but it'll break
your lousy heart, Bernard,"

I said to myself.

I dressed up in all my finery.

L'even had my hair
done up in curls.

I set the table for two,
with candles.

I swallowed every goddamn thing
I could lay my hands on.

Aspirin, Disprin, Veganin, codeine,
the lot.

I lay down on the sofa.

The music was playing.

I drifted off down a cool river
toward the sea.

If you've got to go, then...

that's the way to do it,
like in a poem.

Except I became violently sick.

I staggered off to the loo.
I could hardly make it.

I started to go blind.

I was puking
like a drunken sailor.

I slipped and fell,
and broke my bloody hip,

and that's how he found me.

Do you know what
Bernard said to me?

(CHUCKLING)

(GOOFY VOICE)
"You could have killed yourself, honey."

I haven't done anything wrong.

Let me stay. Let me stay,
for Christ's sake!

No!

-{(DOOR BANGING SHUT)
- INAUDIBLE)

(MOUTHING SILENTLY)

Mum...

(MOUTHING SILENTLY)

- Cheers.
Cheers.

(MUSIC BOX PLAYING)

(DOOR CLOSING)

(GROANING)

-(CHILDREN PLAYING)
-(SHIP'S HORN BLOWING)

There were two mice
fell in a pail of milk.

One of them yelled for help,
and drowned.

The other kept paddling
around and around,

fill, in the morning,

he found himself
on top of butter.

SUBTITLES BY POWERHOUSE FILMS LTD