Original subtitles

Well...

Cheers.

How are you? I'm fine.

Just like old times.Mm.

It's been a long time.Yes.

I thought of you the other day.

Good God. Why?

Why?

Well, it's nice sometimes to think back. Isn't it?

Absolutely.

Do you know how long it is since we last met?

Well, I came to that private view

at the gallery, when was it?

No, I don't mean that. Oh, you mean alone?

Yes.

Uh... Two years.

Yes, I thought it must be.

Mm.Long time.

Yes, it is.

How's Robert?

When did you last see him?

Haven't seen him for months. Don't know why. Why?

Why what?

Why did you ask when I last saw him?

I just wondered.

How's Sam?

You mean Judith. Do I?

You remember the form.

I ask about your husband, you ask about my wife.

Yes, of course. How is your wife?

All right.

Sam must be tall. He is tall.

Quite tall.

Does a lot of running.

He's a long-distance runner.

He wants to be a zoologist. No, really? Good.

And Sarah? She's ten.

God. I suppose she must be.

Yes... she must be.

Ned's five, isn't he? You remember.

You're all right, though? Oh... yeah, sure.

Ever think of me?

I don't need to think of you.

Oh?

I don't need to think of you.

Anyway, I'm all right. How are you?

Fine... really.

All right.

You're looking very pretty.

Really?

Thank you.

I'm glad to see you.

So am I.

I mean, to see you.

You think of me sometimes?

I think of you sometimes.

I saw Charlotte the other day. No? Where?

She didn't mention it.

She didn't see me, in the street.

But you haven't seen her for years.

I recognised her.

How could you? How could you know?

I did.

What did she look like?

You.

No, what did you think of her, really?

I thought she was lovely.

Yes. She's very...

She's smashing. She's 13.

Do you remember that time... Oh, God. It was...

when you picked her up, and threw her up,

and caught her? She was very light.

She remembers that, you know? Really?

Mm. Being thrown up.

What a memory.

She doesn't know...

about us, does she?

Of course, not.

She just remembers you as an old friend.

That's right.

Yes, everyone was there that day, standing around,

your husband, my wife, all the kids, I remember.

What day?

When I threw her up.

It was in your kitchen.

It was in your kitchen.

Darling.

Don't say that.

It all... Seems... such a long time ago.

Does it?

I thought of you the other day.

I was driving through Kilburn.

Suddenly, I saw where I was. I just stopped,

and then I turned down Kinsale Drive,

and drove into Wessex Grove.

I drove past the house, and then stopped

about 50 yards further on

like we used to do, do you remember?

Yes.

People were coming out of the house.

They walked up the road. What sort of people?

Oh, young people.

Then I got out of the car, and went up the steps

and looked at the bells,

you know, the names on the bells.

I looked for our name.Green.

Couldn't see it, eh? No.

That's 'cause we're not there anymore.

We haven't been there for years.

No, we haven't.

I hear you're seeing a bit of Casey.

What? Casey.

I just... heard you were seeing a bit of him.

Where did you hear that from? Oh, people talking.

Christ.

The funny thing

was the only thing I really felt was irritation.

I mean, irritation that nobody gossipped about us

like that in the old days. I nearly said, "Now, look..."

she may be having the occasional drink

with Casey, but she and I had an affair

for seven years, and none of you bastards

"had the faintest idea it was happening."

I wonder.

I wonder if everyone knew all the time.

Don't be silly. We were brilliant.

Nobody knew.

Whoever went to Kilburn in those days? Just you and me.

Anyway...

what's all this about you and Casey?

What do you mean?

What's going on? We have the occasional drink.

I thought you didn't admire his work.

I've changed. Or his work has changed.

Are you jealous? Of what?

I couldn't be jealous of Casey. I'm his agent.

I advised him on his divorce. I read all his first drafts.

I... persuaded your husband to publish his first novel.

I escort him to Oxford to speak at the Union.

He's my... he's my boy.

I discovered him when he was a poet,

and that's a bloody long time ago now.

He's even taken me down to Southampton

to meet his mom and dad. I couldn't be jealous of Casey.

Anyway, it's not as if we're having an affair

now, is it? We haven't seen each other for years.

Really, I'm very happy if you're happy.

What about Robert?

Well...

I think we're going to separate.

Oh?

We had a long talk last night.

Last night?

You know what I found out last night?

He's betrayed me for years.

He's had other women for years.

No.

Good Lord.

But we betrayed him for years.

And he betrayed me for years.

Well, I never knew that. Nor did I.

What a funny thing.

We were such close friends, weren't we?

Robert and me, even though I haven't seen him

for a few months, but through all those years,

all the drinks, all the lunches...

we had together, I never even gleaned.

I never suspected... there was anyone else...

in his life but you. Never.

For example, when you're with a fellow

in a pub, or a restaurant, for example. From time to time,

he pops out for a piss, you see. Who doesn't? But what I mean is,

if he's making a crafty telephone call,

you can sort of sense it, you see?

You can sense the pip-pip-pips.

Well, I never did that with Robert.

He never made any pip-pip telephone calls

in any pub I was with him in.

The funny thing is...

that it was me that made the pip-pip calls...

to you...

when I left him boozing at the bar.

That's the funny thing.

When did he tell you this?

Last night.

I think we were up all night.

You talked all night? Yes.

Oh, yes.

I didn't come into it, did I?

What?

I just--I just phoned you this morning,

you know, that's all, because I...

because we're old friends.

I've been up all night, the whole thing's finished.

I suddenly felt I wanted to see you.

Well, look, I'm happy to see you. I am.

I'm sorry... about...

Do you remember? I mean, you do remember?

I remember.

You didn't tell Robert about me last night, did you?

I had to.

He told me everything. I told him everything.

We were up all night. At one point, Ned came down.

I had to take him up to bed, had to put him back to bed.

Then I went down again.

I think it was the voices woke him up, you know?

You told him everything? I had to.

You told him everything about us?

I had to.

But he's my oldest friend.

I mean, I picked his own daughter up

in my own arms, and threw her up,

and caught her in my own kitchen.

And he watched me do it. It doesn't matter.

It's all gone. Is it? What has?

It's all, all over.

Sam... turn that record down.

Hello.

Come in.

In here.

It's good of you to come. Not at all.

Are you going to sit down? Well, I might, yes, in a minute.

Judith's at the hospital... on night duty.

Hmm.

I must speak to you. It's important.

Speak.

Yes.

You look quite rough.

What's the trouble?

It's not about you and Emma, is it?

I know all about that.Yes. So I've been told.

Ah.

Well, it's not very important, is it?

Been over for years, hasn't it? It is important.

Really?

Why?

Well, I thought I was gonna go mad.

When?

This evening. Just now. Wondering whether to phone you.

Well, I had to phone you.

It took me two hours to phone you.

And then you were with the kids, I thought I wasn't gonna

be able to see you. I thought I'd go mad.

I'm very grateful to you for coming.

Oh, for God's sake!

Look, what exactly do you want to say?

I don't know why she told you.

I don't know how she could tell you.

I just don't understand.

Listen, I know you've got... Look, I saw her today.

We had a drink. I haven't seen her for...

And she told me

that you're in trouble, both of you...

and so on.

I know that.

I mean, I'm sorry. Don't be sorry.

Why not?

The fact is I can't understand why she thought it necessary

after all these years

to tell you so suddenly last night.

Last night? Without consulting me.

Without even warning me. After all, you and me...

She didn't tell me last night.

What do you mean?

I know about last night. She told me.

You were up all night, weren't you?

That's correct.

And she told you last night about her and me. Did she not?

No, she didn't.

She didn't tell me about you and her last night.

She told me about you and her four years ago.

So, she didn't have to tell me again last night.

Because I knew.

And she knew I knew

because she told me herself four years ago.

What? I think I will sit down.

I thought you knew.

Knew what? That I knew.

That I've known for years. I thought you knew that.

But we've seen each other... a great deal...

over the past four years. We've had lunch.

Never played squash, though.

I was your best friend. Well, yes, sure.

Oh, don't get upset.

There's no point.

Sam!

Sam!

I told you to turn that record down.

I did. Well, it's still too loud.

It's not the same record. Well, turn this one down.

All right, all right.

Why didn't she tell me? Well, I'm not her, old boy.

Why didn't you tell me? I thought you might know.

But you didn't know for certain, did you?

You didn't know!

No.Then why didn't you tell me?

Tell you what? That you knew. You bastard.

Oh, don't call me a bastard, Jerry.

What are we gonna do?

You and I are not gonna do anything.

My marriage is finished.

I've just got to make proper arrangements, that's all.

About the children.

You hadn't thought of telling Judith?

Telling Judith what?

Oh, about you and Emma.

You mean she never knew?

Are you quite sure?

No, I hadn't thought of telling Judith actually.

You don't seem to understand.

You don't seem to understand

that I don't give a shit about any of this.

It's true I've hit Emma once or twice.

But that wasn't to defend a principle.

Well, I wasn't inspired to do it

from any kind of moral standpoint.

I just felt like giving her a good bashing.

The old itch... you understand.

But you betrayed her for years, didn't you?

Oh, yes.

And she never knew about it. Did she?

Didn't she?

I didn't.

No, you didn't know very much about anything really, did you?

No.Yes, you did.

Yes, I did. I lived with her.Yes. In the afternoons.

Sometimes very long ones. For seven years.

Yes, you certainly knew

all there was to know about that.

About the seven years of afternoons.

I don't know anything about that.

I hope she looked after you all right.

We used to like each other.

We still do.

I bumped into old Casey the other day.

I believe he's having an affair with my wife.

We haven't played squash for years, Casey and me.

We used to have a damn good game.

He's put on weight. Yes, I thought that.

He's over the hill. Is he?

Don't you think so? In what respect?

His work. His books. Oh, his books. His art.

Yes, his art does seem to be falling away, doesn't it?

Still sells. Oh, sells very well.

Sells very well indeed. Very good for us.

For you and me.

Yes.

Have you read any good books lately?

I've been reading Yeats.

Ah. Yeats. Yes.

You read Yeats on Torcello once.

On Torcello?

Don't you remember?

Years ago, you went over to Torcello in the dawn alone.

And read Yeats.

So I did. I told you that, yes.

Yeah.

Where are you going this summer, you and the family?

The Lake District.

What do you want to do then?

I don't quite know what we're doing any more,

that's all.Mm.

I mean, this flat...

Yes.

Can you actually remember when we were last here?

In the summer, was it? Well, was it?

I know it seems--It was the beginning

of September.

Well, that's the summer, isn't it?

It was actually extremely cold. It was early autumn.

It's pretty cold now.

We were going to get another electric fire.

Yes, I never got that.

Not much point in getting it if we're never here.

We're here now.

Not really.

JERRY: Well, things have changed.

You've been so busy, your... job and everything.

Well, I know. But I mean, I like it.

I want to do it. No, it's great.

It's marvellous for you. But you're not--

If you're running a gallery, you've got to run it, you've got to be there.

But you're not free in the afternoons. Are you?

No.So, how can we meet?

But look at the times you're out of the country.

You're never here.

But when I am here, you're not free

in the afternoons. So we can never meet.

We can meet for lunch. We can meet for lunch,

but we can't come all the way out here

for a quick lunch. I'm too old for that.

I didn't suggest that.

You see, in the past, we were inventive,

we were determined, it was... it seemed impossible to meet...

impossible, and yet we did.

We met here, we took this flat, and we met in this flat

because we wanted to.

It would not matter how much we wanted to

if you're not free in the afternoons

and I'm in America.

Nights have always been out of the question,

and you know it. I have a family.

I have a family, too. I know that perfectly well.

I might remind you that your husband

is my oldest friend. What do you mean by that?

I don't mean anything by it.

But what are you trying to say by saying that?

Jesus. I'm not trying to say anything.

I've said precisely what I wanted to say.

I see.

The fact is that in the old days,

we used our imagination, and we'd take a night,

and make an arrangement, and go to a hotel.

Yes. We did. But that was, in the main

before we got this flat.

We haven't spent many nights in this flat.

No.

Not many nights anywhere really.

Can you afford to keep it going month after month?

Oh... It's a waste.

Nobody comes here.

I just can't bear to think about it actually.

Just... empty.

All day and night.

Day after day and night after night.

I mean, the crockery, and the curtains,

and the bedspread, and everything.

And the tablecloth I brought from Venice.

It's ridiculous.

It's just... an empty home.

It's not a home.

I know. I know what you wanted...

but it could never actually... be a home.

You have a home. I have a home.

With... curtains, et cetera... and children.

Two children... in two homes.

There are no children here, so it's not the same...

kind of home.

It was never intended to be the same kind of home.

Was it?

You didn't ever see it as a home,

in any sense, did you?

No, I saw it as a flat, you know?

For fucking. No, for loving.

Well, there's not much of that left, is there?

I don't think we don't love each other.

Ah, well...

What will you do about all the furniture?

What? The contents.

You know, we can...

...do something very simple...

...if we want to do it.

You mean sell it to Mrs. Banks for a small sum, and...

and she can let it as a furnished flat?

That's right.

Wasn't the bed here?

What?

Wasn't it?

We bought the bed. We bought everything.

We bought the bed together.

Ah.

Yes.

You'll make all the arrangements then...

with Mrs. Banks?

I don't want anything. Nowhere I can put it, you see.

I have a home, with tablecloths and all the rest of it.

I'll go into it with Mrs. Banks.

There'll be a few quid, you know, so...

No, I don't want any cash, thank you very much.

I'm going now.

Oh, here's my key.

Oh, Christ.

You take it off.

Can you just do it, please?

I'm picking up Charlotte from school.

I'm taking her shopping.

Do you realise this is an afternoon?

It's the gallery's afternoon off.

That's why I'm here.

We close every Thursday afternoon.

Can I have my keyring?

Thanks.

Listen... I think we've made absolutely the right decision.

You're gonna soak me.

Come on. Come on, boy. Up you get.

Fetch me his pyjamas, Makayla.

Come on, let's get this rinsed off.Coming.

Come on, sunshine... out you come.

That's it. That's it.

Mama, Mama. Yes! Yes!

Cheers.Cheers.

How's Emma?

She's just putting Ned to bed.

I should think he'll be off in a minute.

Off where? Dreamland.

Ah.

Yes, how is your sleep these days?

What?

Do you still have bad nights?

With Ned, I mean. Oh, I see. Well, no.

No, it's getting better.

But you know what they say? What?

They say boys are worse than girls.

Worse? Babies.

They say boy babies cry more than girl babies.

Do they? You didn't find

that to be the case?

Uh... yes, I think we did. Did you?

Yes. What do you make of it? Why do you think that is?

I suppose boys are more anxious.

Boy babies? Yes.

What the hell are they anxious about...

at their age, do you think? Well...

facing the world... I suppose.

Leaving the womb, all that.

But what about girl babies? They leave the womb too.

That's true.

It's also true they don't make such a fuss about it.

That's true.

Why do you think that is? I have no answer.

Do you think it might have something to do

with the difference between the sexes?

Good God, you're right.

That must be it.

What a surprise. I was having tea with Casey.

Where? Around the corner.

I thought he lived in Hampstead or somewhere.

You're out of date. Am I?

He's left Susannah.

He's living alone round the corner.

Oh.

Writing a novel about a man

who leaves his wife and three children,

and goes to live alone on the other side of London

to write a novel about a man

who leaves his wife and three children.

I hope it's better than the last one.

The last one? Ah, the last one.

Wasn't that the one about the man

who lived in a big house in Hampstead

with his wife and three children,

and is writing a novel... ...about them?

Why didn't you like it?

I've told you actually.

I think it's the best thing he's written.

It may be the best thing he's written, but it's still bloody dishonest.

Dishonest? In what way dishonest?

I've told you actually.

Have you? Yes, she has.

Once when we were all having dinner, I remember,

you, me, Emma, and Judith, where was it?

Emma gave a dissertation over the pudding

about dishonesty in Casey with reference

to his last novel.

Drying Out. It was most stimulating.

Judith had to leave unfortunately

in the middle of it for her night shift

at the hospital. How is Judith by the way?

Very well.

When are we going to play squash?

You're too good.

Not at all. I'm not good at all.

I'm just fitter than you. But why?

Why are you fitter than me? Because I play squash.

Oh, you're playing? Regularly?

Mm.

With whom? Casey actually.

Casey?

Good Lord.

What's he like?

He's a brutally honest squash player.

No, really, we haven't played for years.

We must play. You were rather good.

Yes, I was quite good.

I'll give you a ring. Why don't you?

We'll make a date.Right.

Yes. We must do that.

And then I'll take you to lunch. No, no.

I'll take you to lunch. The man who wins buys the lunch.

Can I watch?

What?

Why can't I watch, and then take you both to lunch?

Well, to be brutally honest,

we wouldn't actually want a woman around,

would we, Jerry?

I mean, a game of squash isn't simply a game of squash.

It's rather more than that.

You see, first, there's the game.

And then there's the shower.

And then there's the pint. And then there's lunch.

After all, you've been at it. You've had your battle.

What you want is your pint and your lunch.

You really don't want a woman buying you lunch.

You don't actually want a woman within a mile of the place,

any of the places really.

You don't want her in the squash court,

you don't want her in the shower...

or the pub, or the restaurant.

You see, at lunch, you want to talk about squash,

or cricket, or books, or even women with your friend,

and be able to warm to your theme

without fear of improper interruption.

That's what it's all about.

What do you think, Jerry?

I haven't played squash for years.

ROBERT: Well, let's play next week.

I can't next week. I'm in New York.

Are you? Yes, I'm going over

with one of my more celebrated writers actually.

Who? Casey.

Someone wants to film that novel of his

you didn't like. We're going over to discuss it.

It was a question of them coming over here or us going over there.

And Casey felt he deserved the trip.

What about you?

What? Do you deserve the trip?

Judith going?

No. He can't go alone.

We'll have that game of squash when I get back.

A week, or at the most, ten days.Lovely.

Bye.

Thanks for the drink.Bye.

Can I read? Just a little.

But you have to rest.

You don't want to be sleepy over dinner, do you?

No, I don't.

I love Venice.

Where are we going tomorrow?

We're going to Torcello.

It's Torcello tomorrow, isn't it?

What?

We're going to Torcello tomorrow, aren't we?

Yes. That's right. That'll be lovely.

Mm.I can't wait.

Book good? Mm. Yes.

What is it?

This new book. This man, Spinks.

Oh, that, Jerry was telling me about it.

Jerry? Was he?

He was telling me about it at lunch last week.

Really? Does he like it?

Spinks is his boy. He discovered him.

Oh, I didn't know that. Unsolicited manuscript.

You think it's good, do you?

Yes, I do. I'm enjoying it.

Jerry thinks it's good too.

You should have lunch with us one day

and chat about it.

Is that absolutely necessary?

It's not as good as all that.

Do you mean it's not good enough for you to have lunch

with Jerry and me and chat about it?

What the hell are you talking about?

I must read it again myself, now it's in hardcovers.

Again?

Jerry wanted us to publish it.

Oh, really? Well, naturally.

Anyway, I turned it down. Why?

Oh. Not much more to say on that subject

really, is there?

What do you consider the subject to be?

Betrayal.

No, it isn't.

Isn't it? Well, what is it then?

I haven't finished it yet. I'll let you know.

Well, do let me know.

Of course, I could be thinking of the wrong book.

By the way, I went into American Express yesterday.

Oh?

Yes. I went to cash some travellers' checks.

You get a much better rate there,

you see, than you do in a hotel.

Oh, do you? Oh, yes.

Anyway, there was a letter there for you.

They asked me if you were any relation.

And I said, "Yes." So, they asked me

if I wanted to take it. I mean, they gave it to me.

But I said, "No," I would leave it.

Did you get it? Yes.

I suppose you popped in

when you were out shopping yesterday evening?

That's right. Oh, well, I'm glad you got it.

To be honest, I was amazed that they suggested I take it.

It could never happen in England.

But these Italians, so free and easy.

I mean, just because my name is Downs

and your name is Downs, it doesn't mean

that we're the Mr. And Mrs. Downs

that they, in their laughing Mediterranean way,

assume we are.

We could be, and in fact are vastly more likely to be,

total strangers.

So, let's say, I, whom they laughingly assume

to be your husband, had taken the letter,

having declared myself to be your husband

but in truth being a total stranger,

and opened it, and read it,

out of nothing more than idle curiosity,

and then thrown it in a canal,

you would never have received it.

And would have been deprived of your legal right

to open your own mail, and all this

because of Venetian je m'en foutisme.

I've a good mind to write to the Doge of Venice about it.

That's what stopped me taking it by the way,

and bringing it to you.

The thought that I could very easily be a total stranger.

What they, of course, did not know,

and had no way of knowing, was that I am your husband.

Pretty inefficient bunch.

Only in a laughing Mediterranean way.

It was from Jerry.

Yes, I recognised the handwriting.

How is he? Okay.

Good. And Judith? Fine.

What about the kids? I don't think he mentioned them.

They're probably all right then.

If they were ill or something, he'd have probably mentioned it.

Any other news? No.

Are you looking forward to Torcello?

How many times have we been to Torcello?

Twice.

I remember how you loved it the first time I took you there.

You fell in love with it.

That was about ten years ago, wasn't it? About...

six months after we were married.

Yes.

Do you remember?

I wonder if you'll like it as much tomorrow.

What do you think of Jerry as a letter writer?

You're trembling. Are you cold? No.

He used to write to me at one time.

Long letters about Ford Madox Ford.

I used to write to him too, come to think of it.

Long letters about, ooh, W.B. Yeats, I suppose.

That was the time when we were both editors

of poetry magazines.

Him at Cambridge, me at Oxford. Did you know that?

We were bright young men. And close friends.

Well, we still are close friends.

All that was long before I met you.

Long before he met you.

I've been trying to remember when I introduced him to you.

I simply can't remember.

I take it I did introduce him to you? Yes.

But when? Can you remember?

No.You can't?

No.How odd.

He wasn't best man at our wedding, was he?

You know he was.

Ah, yes. Well, that's probably when I introduced him to you.

Was there any message for me in his letter?

I mean, in the line of business...

to do with the world of publishing...

has he discovered any new and original talent?

He's quite talented at uncovering talent, old Jerry.

No message. No message.

Not even his love?

We're lovers.

Ah, yes. I thought it might be something like that,

something along those lines.

When? What?

When did you think? Yesterday. Only yesterday,

when I saw his handwriting on the letter.

Before yesterday, I was quite ignorant.

Ah.

I'm sorry. Sorry?

Where does it... take place? Must be a bit awkward.

I mean, we've got two kids,

he's got two kids, not to mention a wife.

We have a flat. Ah, I see.

Nice?

A flat.

It's quite well-established then, your...

affair? Yes.

How long?

Some time. Yes, but how long exactly?

Five years.

Five years?

Ned is one year old.

Did you hear what I said? Yes.

He's your son.

Jerry was in America... for two months.

Did he write to you from America?

Of course.

And I wrote to him.

Did you tell him that Ned had been conceived?

Not by letter. But when you did tell him,

was he happy to know I was to be a father?

I've always liked Jerry.

To be honest, I've always liked him

rather more than I've liked you.

Maybe I should have had an affair

with him myself.

Tell me, are you looking forward

to our trip to Torcello?

Darling.

Darling.

Oh.

I must put this down.

What's in it? Lunch.

What?

Things you like.

How do I look?

Beautiful.

How was it? It was lovely.

Did you go to Torcello? No.

Why not? Oh, I don't know.

The speedboats were on strike, or something.

On strike? Yes.

On the day we were going. Ah.

I got your letter.

Good.

Get mine? Of course.

You haven't been here at all? No.

Needs hoovering.Later.

I've been dying for you.

I'm crazy about you.

God, it's been such a long time.

I couldn't bear it.

I couldn't bear it to be without you.

Oh!

I spoke to him this morning.

Who?

Robert.

Oh?

I'm taking him to lunch on Thursday.

Thursday? Why?

Well, it's my turn.

No, I meant why are you taking him to lunch?

Because it's my turn. Last time, he took me to lunch.

You know what I mean. No. What?

What is the subject or point of your lunch?

No subject or point.

We've just been doing it for years.

His turn, followed by my turn.

You've misunderstood me.

Have I? How?

Well, quite simply, you do often meet,

or have lunch, to discuss a particular writer

or a particular book, don't you?

So, to those meetings, or lunches,

there is a point or a subject. Well, there isn't to this one.

You haven't discovered any new writers

while I've been away?

No.

Sam fell off his bike. No.

He was knocked out. He was out for about a minute.

Were you with him?

No. Judith.

He's all right. And then I caught a bug.

Oh, dear.

So, I've had time for nothing.

Everything will be better, now I'm back.

Yes.

I bought something in Venice.

For the house.

Do you like it? It's lovely.

Do you think we'll ever go to Venice together?

No. Probably not.

You don't think I should see Robert for lunch

on Thursday...

or Friday, for that matter?

Why do you say that?

You don't think I should see him at all.

I didn't say that. How can you not see him?

Don't be silly.

I had a terrible panic when you were away.

I was sorting out a contract... in my office with some lawyers.

And I suddenly couldn't remember what I'd done with your letter.

I couldn't remember putting it in the safe.

I said I had to look for something in the safe.

I opened the safe.

It wasn't there.

I had to go on with the damn contract.

I kept seeing it... lying somewhere in the house...

being picked up.

Did you find it?

It was in the pocket of a jacket in my wardrobe at home.

God.

What would you have done... if Judith had found it?

I don't know what I would've done.

Listen, do you remember... When was it? Years ago.

We were all in your kitchen.

It must have been Christmas or something, do you remember?

All the kids were running about.

And suddenly, I picked Charlotte up...

and lifted her high up, high up,

and then down and up. Down and up.

Do you remember how she laughed?

Everyone laughed.

She was so light.

And there was your husband... and my wife...

and all the kids...

all standing and laughing... in your kitchen.

I can't get rid of it.

It was your kitchen actually.

Why shouldn't you throw her up?

Hello, Robert.Hello.

I'd like a Scotch on the rocks.

Scotch? You don't usually drink Scotch at lunchtime.

I've had a bug actually. Oh.

And the only thing to get rid of this bug was Scotch

at lunchtime as well as at night.

So, I'm still drinking Scotch at lunchtime

in case it comes back.

Like an apple a day. Precisely.

Cheers.Cheers.

How was Venice?

WAITER: Ready to order, signori?

What'll you have?

I'll have melone.

And piccata al limone with a green salad.

Insalate verde.

I'll have prosciutto, and melone...

fried scampi, and spinach.

E spinaci.

And a bottle of Corvo Bianco straight away.

Si, signore. Molte grazies.

Is he the one who's always been here,

or is it his son?

You mean has his son always been here?

No, is he his son?

I mean, is he the son of the one

who's always been here? No, he's his father.

Ah. Is he?

He's the one who speaks wonderful Italian.

Yes.

Your Italian's pretty good, isn't it?

No. Not at all.

Yes, it is.

No, it's Emma's Italian which is very good.

Emma's Italian is very good.

Is it?

I didn't know that. WAITER: Corvo Bianco, signore.

Thank you.

How was it anyway?

Venice. Venice, signore,

is the most beautiful place of Italy.

ROBERT: When were you last there?

Oh, years.

How's Judith? What? Oh... you know, okay.

Busy.

So, how was it? It was good.

I went for a trip to Torcello.

Oh, really? Lovely place. Incredible day.

I got up very early, and...

...right across the lagoon. Not a soul stirring.

What's the...

Speedboat.

Ah. I thought...

What?

It's so long ago, I'm obviously wrong.

I thought one went to Torcello by gondola.

It would take hours.

No, no.

Across the lagoon in the dawn.

Sounds good.

I was quite alone.

Where was Emma?

I think asleep. Ah.

I was alone for hours,

as a matter of fact, on the island.

Highpoint actually of the whole trip.

Was it?

Well, it sounds marvellous.

Yes.

I sat on the grass and read Yeats.

Yeats on Torcello?

They went well together.

One melone. One prosciutto e melone.

Prosciutto for me.

Buon appetito.

Emma read that novel of that chum of yours,

what's his name?

I don't know. What?

Spinks. Oh, Spinks.

Yes.

The one you didn't like.

The one I wouldn't publish. I remember.

Did Emma like it?

She seemed to be madly in love with it.

Good.

You like it yourself, do you? I do.

And it's very successful? It is.

Tell me, do you think that makes me a publisher

of unique critical judgement or a foolish publisher?

A foolish publisher. I agree with you.

I'm a very foolish publisher.

No, you're not. What are you talking about?

You're a good pub-- What are you talking about?

I'm a bad publisher because I hate books.

Or to be more precise, prose.

Or to be even more precise, modern prose.

I mean, modern novels, first novels, and second novels.

All that promise and sensibility,

it falls upon me to judge, to put the firm's money on,

and then to push for the third novel,

see it done. See the dust jacket done.

See the dinner for the national literary editors done.

See the signing in Hatchards done.

See the lucky author cook himself to death.

All in the name of literature.

You know what you and Emma have in common?

You love literature.

I mean, you love modern prose literature.

I mean, you love the new novel by the new Casey or Spinks.

It gives you both a thrill.

You must be pissed. Really?

You mean you don't think it gives Emma a thrill?

How do I know?

She's your wife.

Yes... yes. You're quite right.

I shouldn't have to consult you.

I shouldn't have to consult anyone.

I'd like some more wine. Yes, yes. Waiter!

Another bottle of Corvo Bianco. And where's our lunch?

This place is going to pot. Mind you, it's worse in Venice.

They really don't give a shit there.

I'm not drunk.

You can't get drunk on Corvo Bianco.

Corvo Bianco.

Same glass.

Where's our lunch? It comes.

I'll pour.

No, look, I'm sorry, have another drink.

I'll tell you what it is.

It's just that I can't bear being back in London.

I was happy.

Such a rare thing. Not in Venice.

I don't mean that. I mean, on Torcello,

when I walked about Torcello in the early morning alone,

I was happy.

I wanted to stay there forever.

We all...

Yes, we all...

feel that sometimes.

Oh, you do yourself, do you?

I mean, there's nothing really wrong, you see?

I've got the family.

Emma and I are very good together.

I think the world of her.

And I actually consider Casey to be a first-rate writer.

Do you really? First rate.

I'm proud to publish him, and you discovered him,

and that was very clever of you.

Thanks.

You've got a good nose, and you care,

and I respect that in you.

So does Emma. We often talk about it.

How is Emma?

Very well.

You must come and have a drink sometime.

She'd love to see you.

Vodka? At lunchtime?

Just feel like one.Hmm.

I ran into Judith yesterday. Did she tell you?

No, she didn't. Where?

In the street. In the street?

She didn't tell you? What street?

Kensington Church Street.

Kensington Church Street?

What the hell was she doing at Kensington Church Street?

Shopping, by the look of it.

She was carrying shopping bags.

Kensington Church Street

is hell of a long way from the hospital.

Of course, it isn't.

Well, I suppose not.

She didn't tell you?

I haven't really seen her.

I was out late last night with Casey.

And she was out early this morning.

Do you think she knows?

Knows? Does she know about us?

No.

Are you sure? She's busy at the hospital.

And then the kids.

She doesn't go in for... speculation.

But what about clues?

Isn't she interested to follow clues?

What clues?

Well, there must be some... available to her to pick up.

There are none... available to her.

Oh, well... good.

She has an admirer.

Really? Another doctor.

He takes her for drinks.

It's... irritating.

I mean, she says that's all there is to it.

He likes her, she's fond of him, et cetera, et cetera.

Perhaps that's what I find irritating,

but I don't know exactly what's going on.

Oh, why shouldn't she have an admirer?

I have an admirer.

Who? Uh, you, I think.

Ah, yes.

I'm more than that.

Tell me... have you ever thought...

of changing your life?

Changing? Mm.

It's impossible.

Do you think she's being unfaithful to you?

No. I don't know.

When you were in America, just now, for instance?

No.

Have you ever been unfaithful?

To whom? To me, of course.

No.

Have you... to me?

No.

If she was, what would you do? She isn't. She's busy.

She's got lots to do.

She's a very good doctor.

And she likes her life. She loves the kids.

Ah.

She loves me.Ah.

All that means something.

It certainly does.

I adore you. I adore you.

Yes.

Listen, there's something I have to tell you.

I'm pregnant. It was when you were in America.

It wasn't anyone else. It was my husband.

Yes. Yes, of course.

I'm very happy for you.

It's very quiet.

The house is empty. I should hope so.

Normally, it's quite lively.

The kids... you know?

Bloody noisy.

It's Judith.

Well, answer it.

Yes?

Yes, yes. No.

How are you?

And the kids?

Yeah, fine.

How's your mother?

Oh, no. Really?

Well, never mind. Tell her...

No, nothing.

No, I just have something.

Reading. Bloody awful.

Yeah, fine.

Nothing. Reading.

Oh, I'll be there by 05:00 at the art signing.

Yes.

Well, that's the whole point. I'm avoiding the rush hour.

About 5:00.

Give my love.

Yeah.

What's that? Oh, it's a flag.

Mm. A flag?

What an unusual shape.

Mm. Tell me what else there is?

Hmm? That's people in the boat.

Yes.

And there's the boats where we see the fishes.

Listen, darling. It's hot. It's lovely, toast and cheese.

Hello?

It's me.

Robert.

I'm going to be about an hour late.

That's all right.

How's Charlotte?Fine. She's just come in.

Everything all right? Yes. And you?

Yes.

Fine, see you later.Bye.

Hello? It's me.

Hello.

I've been trying to get you for days.

I've been--

I must see you. This evening, a drink.

Impossible. I-- A quick one.

Denise is going out. I can't.

Tomorrow. Tomorrow when?

12:00 at the pub. Okay.

Till then.

Who's that on the telephone?

Daddy.

He sends you his love.

Hello? It's Robert.

Robert. How are you?

I'm taking the afternoon off. What about some squash?

Squash? Squash.

Damn! What's the matter?

I can't.Why not?

Uh, I can't this afternoon. Dammit.

Why? What are you doing? Working.

I'm a working man. I'm not a rich publisher

who can prance about in the afternoons.

I have an appointment.

An appointment with a beautiful young poetess, I trust.

Yes. Casey has just finished the novel.

Good God.

I hope you're not going to send it to me.

Let's play next week.

It's my turn for lunch.It is. Tuesday?

Tuesday. Enjoy your poetess.

There's no one on top of you, that's the main thing.

No one clumping about on top of your head.

That's the kitchen.

And this is the main room.

It's clat.

It's a nice little flat.

A bit private.

Business people, are you? Yes. We live in Leicester.

Oh, Leicester.Yes.

But we have a lot of business appointments

in London, you see, and hotels

are so expensive. They are, I know.

You can't keep rushing back

to Leicester between appointments, can you?

No. It's impractical.

Well, you wouldn't get any business done, would you?

Mrs. Banks, would you just let us walk about

in it by ourselves for a few minutes?

You want to get the feel of it. That's right.

Go on... walk about by yourselves.

Get a feel of it.

Thank you.

I like it.

Do you?

I like you.

You will like it.

You will.

Let's take it.

Have you seen writer Casey?

Yes, I believe he's in there.

Hello. And what's your name?

Charlotte.Charlotte.

Hello. Hello, you.

Shouldn't you be asleep? Come on.

Good God.

I've been waiting for you.

What do you mean?

I knew you'd come.

I've just come in to comb my hair.

I knew you'd have to.

I knew you'd have to comb your hair.

I knew you'd have to get away from the party.

Aren't you enjoying the party?

You're beautiful.

Listen... I've been watching you all night.

I must tell you, I want to tell you.

I have to tell you--Please.

You're incredible.

You're drunk.Nevertheless.

Jerry. I was best man at your wedding.

I saw you in white. I watched you glide by in white.

I wasn't in white.

Do you know what should have happened?

What?

I should have had you in your white

before the wedding.

I should have blackened you in your white wedding dress.

Blackened you in your bridal dress

before ushering you into your wedding

as your best man.

My husband's best man.

Your best friend's best man.No... your best man.

I must get back.

You're lovely. I'm crazy about you.

All these words I'm saying, don't you see,

they've never been said before. Can't you see?

I'm crazy about you.

It's a whirlwind.

Have you ever been to the Sahara Desert?

Listen to me. It's true. Listen.

You overwhelm me. You're so lovely.

I'm not.

You're so beautiful. Look at the way you look at me.

I'm not... looking at you.

Look at the way you're looking at me.

I can't wait for you. I'm bowled over.

I'm totally knocked out, you dazzle me,

you jewel, my jewel. I can't ever sleep again.

No, listen, it's the truth.

I won't walk. I'll be a cripple.

I'll descend, I'll diminish into... total paralysis.

My life is in your hands.

That's what you're banishing me to a state of catatonia.

Do you know the state of catatonia? Do you?

A state of... where the reigning prince

is the prince of emptiness, the prince of absence,

the prince of desolation.

I love you.

My husband is at the other side of that door.

I adore you.

I'm madly in love with you.

I can't believe that what anyone is at this moment

saying has ever happened has ever happened.

Nothing has ever happened. Nothing.

This is the only thing that has ever happened.

Your eyes kill me.

I'm lost.

You're wonderful.

No.

Yes.

People are leaving.

Your best friend is drunk.

As you are my best and oldest friend,

and in the present instance, my host...

I decided to take this opportunity

to tell your wife... ...how beautiful she was.

Quite right.

It is quite right to...

to face off to the fact,

and to offer a token without blush...

a token of one's... unalloyed appreciation,

no holds barred. Absolutely.

And how wonderful for you that this is so,

that this is the case... that her beauty is the case.

Quite right.

I speak as your oldest friend.Hmm.

Your best man.

You are actually.