Original subtitles

Would you like to hear, ladies and gentlemen,

a nice tale o love and death?

It tells the story of Tristan and Iseult, the queen.

Pray listen how, with utter joy and great affliction,

they have loved one another, and died on the same day,

he for her and she for him.

The word "Passion" means suffering:

Iike Christ's passion, Joan of Arc's passion.

With great affliction, they fell in love.

Who claims to be in love is actually suffering of love but,

What is unbelievable, - he enjoys this suffering.

In romantic tales loving equals suffering.

To love whole heartedly means to die of love.

That is why in the final scene,

when Iseult finds out Tristan is dead, she sees no way out.

O God! It's Dawn!

How brief is the night.

As brief as my beloved's life.

I shall prolong the evening, to die by his side.

So passion shall be as long as an eternal night.

That's it!

By the time of her death, Iseult comes into an ecstasies.

A nice but strange idea.

Love may not bring just happiness,

but to enjoy the suffering... is something else...

The 1 2th Century came up with this tale of love as passion.

And until now everybody finds beautiful to suffer for love.

Suffering is bad, anyway.

But it's better to live a great love than not to love at all.

I am not sure. Better alone than in love with the wrong person.

There's no right or wrong.

"Rightness is in the eyes of the beholder"...

I hope I look right for the part.

You're exactly the right person for the part.

You're kidding! Already?!

Even before inviting you to this audition.

Great! I love auditions in which I pass.

The tale begins when Tristan travels...

to Ireland to seek a wife for his uncle Marcos,

the king of a French province.

Tristan meets Iseult and rescues her from a dragon.

She is enamoured of the young warrior...

but he asks her hand for his uncle.

Determined to make Tristan fall in love with herself,

Iseult decides to cast a spell on him.

In the ship that brings them back to France...

she drinks with him the wine of love...

And they fall irretrievably in love.

From this goblet we drink death and love.

The herb infused wine has sealed our fate.

We shall henceforth never have joy without pain.

Let death come then.

We shall henceforth never have joy without pain.

Let death come then.

It would be so easy if we could drink love wine together...

and suddenly fall in love.

The wine is just an excuse.

When Tristan and Iseult drink the wine they realise...

they had fallen in love much earlier, unknowingly.

We do not perceive love in action.

This is why we don't know how it happens.

To explain the unexplicable...

we blame the love wine.

It is a beautiful "non explanation".

But the wine is just an excuse.

At least it gives one courage.

Happy love has no records on Western literature.

Lovers'happiness only moves us because...

of the prospect of unhappiness prowling them.

There is no ""romance " without suffering.

Tristan and IseuIt's romance became the model

for all love stories until this day:.

they love each other but can't overcome the obstacles and be happy.

This is the secret of Tristan and IseuIt's success.

And that's what the Middle Ages poets have discovered:

Unhappy, reciprocal love.

Unhappy, reciprocal love does not exist.

Love only hurts when it is not reciprocal.

I am happy only because you like me.

But it's very easy liking you.

I shouldn't be given any credit for that.

It must have been the love wine...

Playing Tristan's love for Iseult is much easier.

I am a little jealous of this theatrical love.

Who knows whether you are not acting with me too?

When we make a love scene, we end up loving a little bit.

And when we love someone we end up acting a little.

I mean, the love for that person.

Every love...

is reality...

and fiction at the same time.

From now on we should only play love stories like

Romeo and Juliet, Cyrano and Roxane...

When passion ended...

we'd start a new one.

One day you should write a play about us,

- with all that in it. - I will try.

I'll call it Romance.

At least I could tell that I killed some dragons

to conquer you.

Your sigh unfurls my ship's sails.

And your kisses cast me drift.

Adieu,

Ireland's daughter,

my wild love.

The farther I am, the more I long for thee.

Do you think about having a child?

A child?

Yes.

When I am really happy I feel like having a child.

I am really happy.

I am afraid of all this happiness.

Feels like we are challenging the world.

We will beat the world!

Love is as powerful as death.

It's in the Bible.

Iseult marries King Marcos.

But she and Tristan carry on loving each other and suffering...

until they die together because of this impossible love.

O God! It's Dawn!

How brief is the night.

As brief as my beloved's life.

I shall prolong the evening, to die by his side.

So passion shall be as eternal as night.

Pause...

What?

Shit Fernanda, give me a break.

Sorry, but that was funny.

I mean you should've paused after "eternal"...

You could include some jokes in this play.

Well, Fernanda, I don't know if you get it, but it's a tragedy.

What's wrong with that? Shakespeare's tragedies are full of jokes.

That's why the theatres were always full.

You seem to want to pigeon-hole things.

The audience wants to have fun. To laugh and cry at the same time.

That way they're going to choke.

Ana, your dress could be really short.

This is no vaudeville. Nobody came here to see my legs.

No one has come yet. Period. There's just us.

Who's going to pay to listen to rhymed verse,

watch a sad love story and find out that the lovers die at the end?

Tears are profitable, Fernanda.

The highest grossing films - Titanic,

ET, Gone with the Wind - and the soap opera...

they're all sad tales.

Tristan and Iseult has always been a great hit,

the biggest in the 1 2th century.

Love is a sad thing.

And passion shall be as eternal... ...as night.

There's a comma there.

There's no comma in my script.

By Comma, I mean a pause.

O God! It's Dawn!

How brief is the night.

The bill will run to fifty seven, tops.

We are six...

I didn't order any food.

You didn't, but you ate... and had some drinks.

I had a glass. Two glasses. And a dumpling.

Two dumplings.

One and a half. Never mind, I have no money.

All right, guys. Let's rehearse.

Friends that are here assembled On this blissful day

I will tell a nice love tale, of life and death as well.

A most noble legend, Of sortilege and passion,

Of Iseult, fair princess And her lover Tristan

Pray listen how under great affliction and utter joy

They loved each other...

- What the fuck... what's this?! - What's happening guys?

It's the subway... They are building a new station.

That's why the theatre's rent was so low.

But with our budget what else would you like? The Opera House?

- We can't rehearse that way... - Calm down, Ana.

Calm down?! Tomorrow's the opening night,

my costume is itching, my wig is shit...

and the Third World War is being declared...

on our last day of rehearse.

Give me a single reason to take it easy.

There's going to be subway station outside the theatre.

Property prices will go up.

- How long will it take? - Less than two years...

But for a subway construction, it's not that much.

How can I open tomorrow with this noise?

I'll manage it.

Cheerful audience, isn't it? They got here early...

- It's their first time in a theatre. - How do you know?

They're the subway workers.

I gave them some beers and invited everybody.

At least we'll be able to hear the applauses. If there's any.

I just hope their noise during the play aren't as loud as the construction..

Ana:

"So passion shall be as eternal...

...as night".

You have reminded me ten times of this pause, Pedro.

And you always forget about it.

Although there's no comma in my script...

and I've learnt it without a pause or comma, I won't forget it.

Take it easy.

Sorry.

Break a leg!

You too!

Friends who are here assembled on this blissful day...

I will tell a nice love tale Of love, life and death.

A most noble saga, Of sortilege and passion,

Of Iseult, fair princess And her lover Tristan

Pray listen how under great affliction

And utter joy

They have loved each other their whole life

And died on the very same day

O God! It's Dawn!

How brief is the night.

As brief as my beloved's life.

I shall prolong the evening, to die by his side.

So passion shall be as eternal... as night.

So passion shall be as eternal... as night.

There was no need for such a long pause.

It was perfect. It was the right... pause... Iength.

It was beautiful.

It was.

Is that all you have to say to me? "It was". Five letters only.

"But why should the sound of my voice matter?

You should listen to my heart's music".

Guys, Danilo Brezzi is outside. He's waiting to talk to you.

Really?!

Listen, he's producing the new seven o'clock soap, "Pearls and Pigs"...

I don't watch TV. I don't even have a TV set.

Yes, you do.

- But I don't watch it. - You do indeed, more than I do.

Congratulations.

That was great, a splendid show,

superb. Words fail me.

Thank you very much. Ana, this is Danilo...

- Brezzi. - Incredible!

- You are an amazing actress. - Thank you.

Do you mind taking a picture with them?

There was a moment when I cried.

Real tears.

It happens. They are a form of glandular secretion.

Now a picture of Ana with Danilo.

No, to the right... so that your name appears first on the photo subtitle.

Let's celebrate.

Let's!

Two hundred horses, five cameras. Thirty two hundred extras.

Wow, that's cool.

Production had to come up with eight hundred chemical toilets.

It is the single scene with most extras on Brazilian TV:

- thirty two hundred extras. - Sixty two hundred?

Thirty two hundred! Not even Spielberg did sixty two hundred.

Eighty toilets, isn't that fantastic?

It's not enough for all his shit.

Is it true you are going to build a fake shantytown to shoot "Pearls and Pigs"?

With water, lighting and drainage.

In the end he could donate it to the extras.

Dinner in S�o Paulo and breakfast in Rio, that's an ideal world.

- Let's go dancing now! - It is time to go home.

- Not just yet. The night is still young. - I need to get some sleep.

- No, you can sleep tomorrow. - It has been tomorrow for a while now.

- Do you need a ride? - I live near by.

- Don't forget to call me, heh! - I will.

O God! It's Dawn!

How brief is the night.

Danilo invited me to take a part in the soap.

Of course. He had to show off somehow.

It's just an audition... It won't hurt.

It won't hurt? Will you be paid?

- I don't think so. - But they should. It's your work.

It's just an audition.

Ana, are you sure you want to work on television?

It would attract more people to our play.

And how about our work projects here, in the theatre?

The soap is in Rio.

Work-wise, there's no problem, we work here Friday to Sunday.

If you can't bear being away from me, then we have a problem.

I wouldn't bear being away from you.

Neither would I.

A soap opera audition.

That's ridiculous.

Zil�'s audition. January 28th

Okay, action!

Honey, have you ever been unfaithful to me?

Of course not.

If you ever had, would you tell me?

Of course not.

How would I know that you are telling me the truth, then?

I have never lied to you.

But if you ever had,

would you confess it?

Of course not.

The audition was only a formality. I've seen you on-stage!

- We just need to discuss your contract. - There is a slight difficulty:

Ana can't shoot from Friday to Sunday. She's in a play in S�o Paulo.

Fine with me.

But hurry up. The airport is very busy on Fridays.

- Fuck, I am really late! - Bye, Danilo. And thank you.

I am here. I did my makeup on the way.

The airport was crazy.

I've changed the lighting on the first scene.

Have you!? Damn, I must rehearse.

Have you also been on the soap audition, Fernanda?

I was there for her, is that a problem?

Ana, aren't you going to tell that you passed the audition?

- Later. - Later, when?

- Later, some other day. - Are you crazy? The sooner the better.

He may find it tomorrow, by the papers.

All right, I will tell him tonight, after the play.

Valdir, can we go through the lighting in the first scene, please?

Friends that are here assembled On this blissful evening...

You know what pleases me in this soap? I'll do comedy.

This soap is going to be a major hit...

This play's very boring. The only thing you do is cry.

What would you expect?! I make my husband unhappy,

kill my lover and then myself at the end. That's hilarious.

- It depends on the point of view. - Of love, life and death as well.

It is just another woman betraying her husband.

I can't understand all these tears.

My mind is split, I like someone and fall in love with someone else.

It is a fatality. It happens.

Forget about it. Danilo is going to make you a star.

Did you notice he's crazy about you?

Pray listen how under great affliction. And utter joy

They have loved each other during their whole life, and died on the same day.

We shall henceforth never have joy without pain.

You can come with me once in a while.

Rio de Janeiro is not as far as Ireland.

It's said that Passion lasts three years at most.

Just like the love wine drunk by Tristan and Iseult.

Passion ends and love begins.

The ups and downs of desire,

routine,

and other temptations.

Do you regret it?

Sometimes I think loving you so much is not a good idea.

You may fall in love with someone else.

You may as well. It would not be fun if we were forced to love one another.

I would find it wonderful.

We'll drink love wine on-stage and renew the passion every night.

Tristan and Iseult will be on stage until death do them part.

Ticket sales have been low, Ana. I think I am going to call off the show.

Let's wait a bit longer.

Until the soap opera opens, maybe it'll help...

Friends that are here assembled On this blissful day

I will tell a nice love story Of life and death as well.

A most noble legend, Of sortilege and passion,

Of Iseult, fair princess And her lover Tristan

Pray listen how under great affliction And utter joy

They've loved each other their whole life And died on the same day

Are you mad? Calling off the play now that the house has been full?

I am not going to extend the season.

Nobody comes here to watch the play, they want to see the "soap actress".

Really? So what if people come to the theatre to see an actress!?

They don't come to watch Ana play,

but to see "Zil�, from the seven o'clock soap", a kind of circus attraction.

I want no other TV actors in my shows.

And I do not want to take part in your shows anymore.

Are you serious?

Whoever wants to work with me now will have to make a choice.

I can do both things.

It's not possible to work at the theatre only when you're free.

Nor to have a lover in S�o Paulo and live in Rio.

What's the problem? The theatre or the relationship?

Both.

Cut it out, Pedro. You are just being jealous.

- Why jealous? - Because my career on TV is a success.

Your career is a success?!

I'm talking about a life goal?

Theatre is more important than any soap, than success, than...

anything.

I can't go out with somebody who doesn't share the same ideas.

You don't love me any more, then. Is that it?

That's the problem with love...

it either creates demands and nobody has any peace of mind or...

...or it turns into a routine, killing people of boredom.

If you want to love somebody in the long run you must learn to enjoy routine.

"Marriage is love's tomb.

It's for those who are neither fit for great love nor for great friendships.

In other words, for the majority". Nietzsche.

You don't want to get married because you feel superior? Is that it?

I don't want to get married because it is boring.

Marriage has nothing to do with love.

People get married for love but end up...

slapping each other because of a leak in the kitchen.

I can't believe that you will stop going out with me because of that,

a quote by Nietzsche and a leak in the kitchen.

- I'd choose adventure over routine. - I would stick with both.

Rasing a child, for instance.

Is an adventure and a routine at the same time.

I don't want to have kids.

I want to do theatre.

"Either children or books."

Nietzsche again.

I want to get married, have children and work at the theatre.

But not with you.

I know that last year on the Twelfth of May-month,

To walk abroad, one day you Changed your hair-plaits!

I am so used to take your Hair for daylight

I love thee! I am mad! I love, I stifle!

Thy name is in my heart as in a sheep-bell,

And as I ever tremble, thinking of thee,

Ever the bell shakes, ever thy name ringeth!

Beatriz?

- How did you get in here? - I had the key copied.

And what brings you here? Haven't you humiliated me enough?

Paulo, I found out everything...

It was your mother who sent the letter...

- How... did you find out? - That does not matter.

What matters is what you have done...

Bastard! I hate you!

OK. Excellent, very good! Let's go through the second version.

Man, you must give me some hints...

If you told me what is going to be broadcast at the end I could work harder.

I don't know either, son...

If anybody knew the end, the whole media would know too.

Let's move on. Come on, action!

- Where's Ana? - At make-up...

Production, nobody leaves the studio.

Tie the cast to the set, will you?

Danilo came up with a wonderful proposal! I need to talk to you...

- Can you give me a minute? - No, I still have to go shoot 2 scenes.

Actually two other versions of the same scene.

If they don't come up with a fourth version,

when people find out he and I are brother and sister. Twins.

Let's go, let's shoot this scene, on your marks, attention, please.

Action!

- Where's Dinho? - Sorry, I was drying my hair.

You're just coming out of the shower!

I know, Marquinho. That's what I was going to ask you.

This air conditioning, man. I am going to catch cold with this wet hair.

Action!

Beatriz?

- How did you get in here? - I had the key copied.

And what brings you here? Haven't you humiliated me enough?

Paulo, I found out everything...

It was Camila who sent the letter...

How did you find out?

That does not matter...

What matters is what you have done...

Sorry, Paulo... I love you.

I love you, my darling...

OK! Go home everybody!

Dinho is in.

I can't stand having Dinho for my partner again.

I have kissed him onscreen more often than you, who have been his girlfriend.

What about a special show, only one episode?

We can sign a six-month contract and take it from there.

I want a break, Fernanda, go back to the theatre.

I cannot understand this obsession with theatre.

Why would you want to play to 300 people when you can reach 30 million?

Because the three hundred people are paying attention,

they are not doing the dishes, giving their backs to you...

I want to do something new.

Since when is theatre something new?

Theatre is ancient, it is one of the oldest things around.

Television is much younger than the theatre.

- Why bother with the theatre? - Do you really want to know?

When I was in the play nobody called me Iseult in the streets.

What if we called Pedro to direct?

- Pedro? - Yes, Pedro.

- My Pedro... my former boyfriend? - Our Pedro.

- He hates TV. - He might have changed...

I don't think it is a good idea. Pedro has no TV experience.

It is a special show, just one episode. It won't hurt.

Well, it will. Not even breathing is free around here. I have paid.

I've been working here for three years. Can't you give me this treat?

Will you give me three more years of contract?

Who knows...

Pedro is complicated, he's an artist.

He may quit the project, ignore deadlines, go overbudget...

I would be responsible for those. He's an excellent professional.

He would bring... fresh blood.

Probably mine.

Is Danilo the producer?

Yes. But it was Ana who suggested your name.

She has overcome the fact that you dumped her.

Sure, it's been over three years

Theatre is so nice, isn't it?

The only thing is that attendance is lower than any dinner party at my place.

I like to keep my creative freedom.

They are here to see my work,

not just my face scrunched in between two detergent ads.

All right then. I'll tell Ana that you have not accepted.

I did not say I won't do it.

If I can keep my creative freedom on TV, why not?

It'll all depend on your contract.

You'll be able to do certain things, and not others.

And the script...

Ana must have a good role. If she says yes, Danilo will follow suit.

She's coming to S�o Paulo to watch your play.

What about a dinner after that...to talk.

- When? - Are you free tomorrow?

- Tomorrow? - Great. I'll pick a nice restaurant.

Feel free to have whatever you like. It's my treat.

Should she book a seat for the play? I wouldn't think so...

Aren't you staying to watch it?

Do you know what I think about theatre?

All those live people moving around... such an embarrassment...

May I tell Ana that you have accepted the job?

Tell her that I was happy with her thought.

But it will all depend on the contract.

Of course he will accept it, you silly! He still loves you.

Hold on a second. Adriana!

Hi, go on, he didn't say, but there's no need, right Ana?

He got nervous when he heard your name.

Hold on a minute. Adriana, Andr�! Is anybody there?

He said "my Ana", but quickly switched to "my ex-Ana".

He was nervous. Did you get it?

Anyway, I booked a restaurant for you both after the play.

Hold on a second. Adriana! Andr�! Shit!

Ana, I can't find the restaurant's address.

I wrote it in a piece of paper but I threw it away. Can I call you back?

I leave a message on your cell, so you get it after the play is over. OK?

Oh, darling... tonight he'll do his best playing Cyrano to you.

He may even dump Roxane right in the first act. Bye.

Andr�!

Shit! Oh, these two! I tell you...

Hi.

The... Hey is missing!

- Did it hurt? - No... I am hard-headed.

- Is this Fernanda's office? - It is, yes.

- Is she in? - She is, indeed.

But she won't see anyone without an appointment.

- But I've made an appointment. - Have you? And with whom?

She did it herself.

Oh really? Have you met her?

Fernanda? Yes, I've met her...yes.

Where?

In a night club... one of these nights.

Yeah, she is a real party animal.

Fernanda? Very much so. She's hot.

You reckon?

Do I? Me and all the Vasco supporters.

The only thing is that she cheers for Botafogo.

Never mind, nobody's perfect.

Do you think she would be able to see me?

- I'll ask. And your name is? - Orlando.

- You are an actor, right? - Is it so obvious?

Wait a moment.

- You may come in. - Do I look all right?

You'd better button up your shirt.

- You reckon? - You look great.

- Wish me luck. - Good luck.

On second thought... I rather like the open shirt.

You are Fernanda.

At least I was when I woke up this morning.

Did you wake up alone?

You're really bold!

Sometimes.

- When? - When I see a beautiful lady.

And a liar!

I know that I was silly to lie,

but who hasn't lied for love?

My love for you makes you responsible too for my silly acts.

Did you rehearse this pass?

I did. It's by Shakespeare.

Your every detail is in me engraved

Last year on the twelfth of May-month,

You changed your hair, so nicely done,

That - a prey to your glow - I could not my eyes from it detach.

Like when the eye stares at the golden sun,

And thereafter a red disk on all things sees:

So I, when you are absent and my Sun has set,

See, upon all things,

your face glow.

- Hi. - Hi.

- It's been such a long time. - Three years.

Even more than that.

Has anybody ever told you that you look more beautiful live than on TV?

No, this is the first time.

Have you got a TV set now?

Yes, just to see some friends again,

once in a while.

Good to see you.

- That was my idea. - I know.

You have always had wonderful ideas.

- I must get some sleep. - It's still early.

Right, but whenever I have sex I disrupt my sleeping pattern.

I have a meeting early tomorrow. I don't need any rings round the eyes.

Now tell me something.

I liked you.

Really. But you can tell me the truth:

were you serious about the audition or were you just hitting on me?

- I was just hitting on you. - Really?

But I may be able to get you an audition.

- Really? - Really...

I'll let you know tomorrow.

Before we start talking business,

I'd like to let you know that I'm completely...

at ease about what went on between us.

I mean... you were totally right.

About love, work, all these things...

Was I?

You would not be able to stage your plays... with such freedom...

if you were seeing someone.

Yeah... maybe.

Though the noises from the subway still disturb the plays a bit.

I was also able to dedicate myself fully to my career.

You... It is incredible,

when I mention at the bakery that we were married I get big helpings.

Do you really say that we were married?

- That we went out... - At the bakery?

Only to friends, very few people.

It'll be very nice working with you again. I am very happy.

So am I.

Have you got any project in the pipeline?

I do.

Tristan and Iseult? Are you insane?

That thing is so depressing, a horrible ending.

It's a beautiful love story.

Yes, with a horrible end.

The end is slightly depressing.

Slightly depressing, Danilo?

He dies at the end and she commits suicide.

Hello! Who is going to sponsor it? A funeral home?

You will have to find another ending for it.

It takes place in the Middle Ages. There's no budget.

There's no sponsorship for that. It's out of question.

My idea is to adapt this story to the North-east of Brazil. In the old days.

In our version of "Tristan and Iseult",

the Proven�al troubadors will be North-eastern singers:

The medieval knights, such as Tristan, will be roughed cowboys.

Kings and queens, such as Marcos and Iseult,

will become wealthy landowners running cattle farms.

The characters are fantastic.

Dinho could play Tristan.

Danilo, nobody can stand seeing Ana and Dinho together again.

We thought about introducing somebody, a new face.

I find this interesting, a good idea.

Somebody with a really strong, remarkable face...

Exactly.

I think that a good actor, unknown,

could lend some credibility...

to the character. As a matter of fact... I have...

We have thought about something even more radical, Fernanda.

We believe Tristan could be played by a local person,

a true son of the land.

Have you gone mad?

Are you placing someone who isn't an actor to play with Ana?!

The notion that anyone could be a great hero...

and live a great romance would work nicely for publicity.

- That's true. - I find it risky.

Picture this: a great star...

Iike Ana living a romance with an utter nobody...

We could run some auditions...

Danilo, the irresponsible artist here is Pedro.

By the way, when can I have the script?

I've just got the idea!

- We'll start shooting next month. - Don't worry.

Everytime a screenwriter says that, I panic.

But I can do the audition.

The auditions for Tristan aren't open to actors.

And who are going to do him? A parrot?

Real people.

And what am I?!

Pedro wants to test the local people.

He wants someone who "is Tristan"...

instead of someone who "plays" Tristan. Do you understand?

I've studied years of my life to become an actor.

Now I am about to loose the best chance so far for being an actor.

Take it easy, babe.

Not everything is lost. You still got some things going for your.

You're a great actor.

You're sexy.

And I don't feel like having a two month...

dry spell in the drought-stricken midland.

Do take Colonel Marcos Batista as your husband.

His loneliness is an abyss that only talks to the echo of his own voice.

Did you come because of the colonel?

He is my uncle and godfather, and he wants you to become his queen.

A queen can be a slave to her circumstances.

But my godfather is a good and generous man.

And you, madam, would reign over his heart too.

How can you be so sure that he will love me?

Either love sprouts from the ground or it does not.

Because of you, madam, love will sprout like maize...

planted on a fair rainy season.

If Tristan and Iseult are in love with each other,

why does he still insist on taking her to marry Colonel Marcos?

And why does she accept that?

A hundred years ago in the outback, just like in the Middle Ages,

marriages were not determined by love,

but out of convenience.

For the first time the love for a lover...

out weights the love for a husband.

"Marriage is one thing, while love is another."

At that time it was.

While Tristan and Iseult suffer because of marriage,

their love is stirred up by that feeling as well.

"The farther I am the more I long for thee."

"Unhappy, reciprocal love".

I know that you do not believe in this theory,

but it has worked since the 1 2th Century.

There is no romance without pain.

Passion only lasts three years, remember?

I do. In your case, three months.

Ana, I only broke up because...

I thought you were seeing someone else.

What do you mean? What are you drinking? It's only juice, right?

I thought you were going out with... Danilo.

Danilo? How did you come up with this?

I thought...

- You thought? - I've heard it.

- I have. You and Fernanda. - Where? When?

I was standing here behind the setting and...

Behind the setting and you overheard a conversation I was having?

And you broke up because of that?

No, it was not like that either. I don't know, Ana.

You were going to Rio all the time and I was here alone.

I was working on a soap in Rio, remember?

I know. I was jealous about your working in the soap as well.

- Why didn't you tell me? - You told it was possible to do both.

I mean about Danilo! Why didn't you tell me anything about Danilo?

Pedro...

Because...

I was afraid you'd tell me you could stay with both of us.

I was afraid...

you would not like me any longer.

I was so afraid you would not like me...

that I tried stopping loving you. Before that.

That was not what you told me at that time, though.

I was led to believe that you did not love me any more.

I was the one left on my own still loving you.

"Unhappy, reciprocal love".

Damn this reciprocal love! Only now you tell me that it was reciprocal.

I wasn't seeing anybody.

I also thought you did not love me any more, Ana.

I have misunderstood everything as well.

Pedro, you should have known that stories where characters make decisions...

based on eavesdropping... nearly always lead to unhappy endings.

I know.

Mine had the worst ending possible.

Unfortunately I was on-stage as well.

How did you like the script?

It's great, the ending is still missing.

A script is worth nothing without an ending.

- You will find it. - I had to tell you this.

Pedro, that was over three years ago.

Passion only lasts three years, remember?

I do.

Next time you need to know something about me...

you should come straight to me and ask.

How did you like it?

The ending still needs some adjustments.

It's the only bit that needs rewriting.

A script is worth nothing without an ending.

I know it.

What if Iseult called off the wedding with Marcos...

to run away with Tristan?

That's too obvious, Danilo, much weaker than the original ending.

Sorry, but no ending is more obvious than death.

The only end to real life.

Any amateur could kill everybody at the end.

In fiction, which thank God has nothing to do with real life,

and which only aims at being different from it,

the heroes' death is a dreadful ending and you know that.

I am not sure. I know that this tale has been an absolute...

hit for the last thousand years.

Shakespeare took up Tristan and Iseult in order to write Romeo and Juliet.

Actually, anybody who has written...

a love story over the last thousand years, or a tale of impossible love,

or a love triangle, was copying Tristan and Iseult.

I am not sure. Would you like me to change the ending?

The tale has been copied a lot and, everybody changed it a little.

To write a tale exactly like Tristan and Iseult,

I didn't need you.

Take it easy. Let's start shooting. We'll work on the ending later, OK?

Everytime a director asks me to take it easy, I panic even more...

Friends I meet today On a very lucky day

Listen to my romance Made of love, life and death

Between Tristan and Iseult On these Northern lands

Tristan and Iseult in the Para�ba hinterland.

You will feel like a pizza in the oven, half Tristan, half Iseult.

I can tell. I should wear sun block down to my veins.

This is Jos�. He works in a farm near here.

Jos� de Arimat�ia Mariano, your servant.

Excepting cash, which I don't have, you can request from me anything you want.

This is Pedro, our director...

Hi Jos�, I've been told that you know everything round here?

It's a small place, sir. We end up knowing much about little.

You have heard of Ana, I suppose.

I admired you from TV. But in natural scale your beauty is much larger.

Thank you.

Jos� will be our guide round here.

It only takes fifteen days of rain to adorn everything here.

Some trees blossom, others are fragrant... and leaves are plentiful.

Nature here is keen on thriving despite all.

The world is not restricted to a single form.

One can change one's opinions and feelings.

And the world changes according to each one's feelings.

Maybe that's why it is not so easy to understand life.

One cactus grows down to the ground,

while the other one goes up.

For both cacti, one has to burn the thorns to feed the cattle.

That's not necessary for goats,

that can chew the branches.

They are more in tune with the region: they rise above life's difficulties.

This is a macambira plant.

You see, it stores rainwater here in the middle.

There are animals such as armadillos, the guara wolf, and the dwarf anteater.

Most animals are nocturnal.

Life in the scrub is generally wary.

Wow.

A rugged man: the moonlit backcountry.

I feel like I've been swept into a cordel novel.

It is not easy playing a part 24 hours a day.

I screwed up so many times.

Nobody noticed it.

I said "place" so many times instead of "put", I said the trees had blossoms.

Isn't that true?

They don't blossom... I mean they do not flourish.

Nonsense. The way you talk is not important.

I doubt there would be a home-born more authentic than you in this audition.

Do take Colonel Marcos Batista as your husband.

His loneliness is an abyss that only talks to the echo of his own voice.

His loneliness is an abyss...

that talks to the echo of his own voice.

Do take Colonel Marcos Batista...

as your husband.

His loneliness is an abyss...

that only talks to the echo of his own voice.

Do take Colonel Marcos Batista as your husband.

His loneliness is an abyss...

that only talks to the echo of his own voice.

- Did you come because of the colonel? - He is my uncle and godfather,

and he wants you to become his queen.

A queen can be a slave to her circumstances.

But my godfather is a good and generous man,

and you, madam, would reign over his heart too.

How can you be so sure that he will love me?

Either love sprouts from the ground or it does not.

Because of you, madam,

Iove will sprout like maize planted in January of a fair rainy season.

Great!

I suppose we have found our Tristan.

Iseult will marry the uncle Yet she's in love with the nephew

Tristan loves her secretly Not wanting to betray his uncle

Iseult does an enchantment And mixes it with the wine

I apologise, lady, for my mistakes.

I have not memorized the whole text yet, in all its xs and ys.

You already speak like Tristan, Jos�.

You didn't even need to rehearse.

Let's start with the wine scene.

Days before her wedding to Colonel Marcos,

Iseult serves Tristan an enchanted wine,

that will make him fall in love with her.

I prepared this wine for us as a toast to my wedding to your uncle.

He drinks.

Let us each drink half of the full glass of my happiness.

It seems that you, madam, have accepted this marriage.

Sometimes love sprouts shyly...

and only blooms naturally thereafter.

But sometimes love strikes like lightning, in its full power.

And we never forget that glare.

And how do you know it was not an illusion?

Since I have met you the thorny bush...

with the scented blossom has taken root in my heart.

When I distance myself I go blind looking for you.

When I draw near you a blinding light robs my eyesight.

Beware! Loving is suffering.

There's no way out.

My love is like an uncontainable wagon running down the hill.

Now they kiss for a long time and the scene is over...

Cause of the wine he has drunk, Tristan betrays his godfather.

Love is a magic spell.

It is fate and obstinacy.

Jos�, your reading of the scene was very, very good.

It is you who guides my feelings.

But my opinion now, is that I am not suitable, I'm way too shy.

I would never manage to kiss someone not meaning it.

Much less in the middle of a crowd, on display.

This may sound a bit odd.

But how many times, while watching a film,

have you not wished that the nice guy kissed the girl?

This happens when the scene has been well written...

and acted with real feeling.

On these occasions, the actors, the characters...

and the audience are inclined to kiss too.

Well, I think, Mistress Ana,

I was more willing than the character.

Never mind. Sometimes it is hard to separate these things.

You may become a good actor.

But first you need to rehearse.

What? What happened? Who hit on whom?

She hit on me. Not me... I mean Jos� de Arimat�ia.

And how about "he"? What did he do?

Nothing... I played the shy one, let her kiss me...

I see...

Ana came up with that talk that to play love scenes...

actors had to get to know each other better beforehand, or they will be shy.

I had to pretend that I was a fool.

- And that I was an idiot. - But what's the problem?

I will have to kiss her anyway in the scenes.

I wouldn't risk losing the role just because of one extra kiss.

- I think we'd better tell Ana. - Are you crazy?

Am I? I thought up to now I was only being an idiot.

Ana may get angry and cut me out of the film.

After they start shooting, then. She won't be able to do anything else.

We'd better not risk that.

The atmosphere would become unbearable in the set.

Uh-huh. Really?

You are better off rehearsing some smooching.

You are the one that came up with this, Fernanda.

Look, Orlando, you stand no chances with Ana, OK?

The longer it takes, the angrier she'll be when she finds out.

I was walking past a mountain in a dew-less morning.

And an unknown flower...

was like life's flower...

White rose or daisy I named the gravel flower.

The loving maiden is the abandoned rose, far from youth.

The mysterious white flower...

is born with the rose's fate.

It will wilt if no ecstasy visits her in the nostalgic gravel.

The thought of you together with my uncle hurts my love.

Ease down, my love, my heart belongs to you only.

- But when he embraces you... - I only feel your body.

- When his hand touches your body... - I shiver thinking of your tenderness.

- When he kisses your mouth... - It's your tongue that dances with mine.

- OK, that's all right! - Great. Let's move on.

Rodolfo should be arriving soon and I am re-writing his scenes.

Colonel Marcos finds out that Tristan loves Iseult...

"I've brought you up as a son and now you crave the father's bed".

He challenges Tristan to a duel.

"Justice, my God! Leave this traitor to my punishment".

But before he leaves for the duel, he forgives Iseult...

for loving Tristan.

"I know you like him. But I cannot stop loving you, madam."

All over these years I have never liked anybody...

Iike you.

I have never ceased liking you either.

But I suffered too much when we broke up.

I had to learn how to like other people.

And the other person now is Jos�?

"I have brought him up as a son and now he craves the father's bed".

- You are not Colonel Marcos. - And Jos� is not Tristan.

Are you Tristan?

I made him say everything I wanted to tell you.

And why didn't you tell me yourself?

You're right.

I acted like Cyrano de Bergerac,

who wrote love speeches to be spoken by his rival.

While I hid at the edge of a story,

another one was kissed by glory".

"So many years, and only now do I realise...

that instead of a friend, you were the lover."

Roxane!

- It was you! - No, no, Roxane, I swear!

"Ah, now I understand this dark martyrdom...

the letters, it was you...

the beautiful words, the nightly speech, still you".

- No, it was not me. - You loved me, I now know.

No, no, my dear love. I never loved you.

I was extremely jealous when you played Cyrano with another actress.

I would rather have kept playing Tristan.

Tristan and Iseult also meet up when it is too late.

Lovers always meet up when it is too late.

In life or in fiction, Pedro?

Both.

We wouldn't have gone different ways...

if I had made everything clear three years ago.

Making things clear is always good.

It is better than eavesdropping behind a door.

At least this time, when you leave, I will know the reason.

I'm not leaving you any more.

I'm afraid of making you suffer,

that jealousy spoils our love.

I don't know whether I want to love only one person forever,

Iike I loved you.

Even if that person is you.

If my fate is to suffer...

so be it.

At least, unhappy love stories usually make for beautiful tales.

But haven't you ever wished for a happy, reciprocal love?

All the time.

And always with you.

What's with you?

Why are you still seeing Ana?! Didn't she break up with you?

Sort of.

She is in love with Pedro, but still loves Jos�.

I see... How about Pedro? What does he think about all this?

He told her that he would agree with it and that he'd wait for her decision.

And Jos�?

I told her that I would agree with it and that I'd wait for her decision.

You're so funny.

You should drop out!

A tough guy like Jos� would never let his chick go round screwing other men.

I can't break up with Ana being Jos�.

She is the one who should do that when she learns I am not Jos�.

Why don't you turn into a hillbilly forever,

so you don't disappoint your sweetheart.

Easy, Nanda.

She's mad about Pedro.

When she finds out I am not the "Hero"...

she'll dump me with no regrets.

Watch out! I am not as nice as Pedro.

I missed seeing you asleep...

and waking up all disheveled.

Ah... you're so romantic...

You were right: we should learn to love the routine.

To miss you less,

I used to picture myself becoming pregnant with your child.

My tummy got bigger for a month, two months...

then the kid was born, turned two.

That way it seemed time was going by in our favour.

But time did went by in our favour.

Jos� came up...

You like him and even then carry on loving me.

And even then I am deeply in love with you.

Time went by in our favour.

I liked best your earlier love, when you left for so much fear of losing me.

I like it best now that I mustered enough courage to stay.

I don't know whether I would be as brave as you.

Well, it may be that now I am only afraid to leave.

Neither you or Jos� demand anything from me...

and that makes it even harder to choose.

I have never loved so intensely. I have never been so loved.

Maybe this is the unhappy, reciprocal love.

Don't worry. I've been thinking of killing Tristan at the end of the story.

Iseult survives and ends up with the director.

You are the one who should have played Tristan on TV.

I have been Tristan at the theatre.

And died of love at the end.

Oh, I am so damned late!

- Where are you going? - To pick up Rodolfo.

I have never imagined playing opposite Rodolfo Maia.

Boring Rodolfo.

He's already unbearable when shooting in the air conditioning.

Imagine him here in the dry midland.

He's entitled to. He's one of the greatest actors in Brazil!

One of the grumpiest and most expensive too.

Rodolfo, darling, how was your trip?

Fernanda, my contract clearly states that I only travel business class.

Sure, but no regular plane can land in this strip.

That's not my problem. Which one is my car?

Let's take this one here.

I did not ask that. I asked which car was mine.

This one. This one is your car.

Thank you.

- Could you give me a ride? - Of course.

Thank you. You're a sweetheart.

Let me introduce your driver, Edmilson.

Sorry for being bold, but I must give you a message...

from my wife who likes you so much as a child likes sweets.

When I told her I would meet you,

she grabbed me so hard that I got some emotion on your behalf.

There is only a kiss left of all she sent to you.

Right.

Consider yourself kissed.

Fernanda, are you working with an institution...

hiring mentally challenged people for half their pay?

It's here. Tristan is by the stream.

Iseult comes and notices Col. Marcos's reflection on the water.

He is on a nearby tree, watching their meeting.

She tries to tell Tristan. He doesn't see it.

Marcos climbs down the hill and speaks:

There's nothing I hate more than synthetic fabric!

I can't wear any synthetic fabric.

The whole country knows that.

I have said that on TV and in every magazine.

This is fake leather! It's plastic!

The temperature is 140� F and I'm wrapped up in plastic!

Rodolfo, that's all right. Leather is too heavy, but if you...

Leather is too expensive, that's for sure.

To save 100 bucks in production costs and improve your productivity,

you completely scorched my skin!

- Get me some water. - Right away, Colonel.

Chilled, no ice cubes and no gas!

Go, you feckless thing!

Jos� is working. Crew will get it. Someone! Get the actor some water!

I won't be able to spend four days in this plastic jacket.

Rodolfo. Listen to me. We will replace that tomorrow, OK?

However, you will spend five days shooting.

- Four. - Five. Read your contract.

The contract clearly states one week, with one day-off and two for travelling.

Then you will shoot during the day and travel in the evening.

Grrr... Fernanda!

Wait, Rodolfo. I promise you will have your leather jacket by tomorrow.

- Weighing 40 pounds! - Fernanda...!

Sit down, please. Here's your water.

No ice! No ice!

Someone, please get the actor some water. Please collaborate.

Rodolfo, there's barely any light left and I need to shoot.

One day, Colonel Marcos noticed that there was love

Between his wife and nephew, he barely believed

He saw with his own eyes what he never imagined before

Mistress Iseult!

My love is an immense wait smothering my chest.

I want to flee with you.

You must have lost your mind, these are the signs!

Can't you see I have married your uncle under the laws of consecrated love?!

And is he not like a father to you?

- This disgrace only heightens my desire. - Infamous!

Wretch, debris of all bandits I have decimated.

You are a demon that Saint Michael has forgotten to wipe out.

I have brought you up as a son and you crave the father's bed!

A condemned love has blinded my sight.

Even blind, you would still have your ears...

and even deaf, touch would still not desert you.

Not even a Christian bereft of all five senses would be led so astray.

Oh, spill upon me all disgraces,

I shall perish all illnesses,

but deliver me from betrayal by this Judas, whom I've loved as a son.

Had you spat on the holy host...

or violated each one of the Ten Commandments,

you would not be as cursed as you are now!

You, my uncle, loathe me but I hate myself even more.

Then, renounce this criminal love...

and get away to a land where nobody has ever heard my name.

- Run away, Tristan! - I cannot.

The love wine runs in my veins and burns my chest,

even though I do not want it.

I wish you had 40 lives so that I could slay you 40 times.

Pray!

Death is the only god I have to implore.

Loving your wife has been my punishment.

You are only going to blow out the last breath of a life.

You deserve to die...

but I cannot kill you.

Yet I cannot live without wiping this offence.

Killing you or dying, that will be destiny's choice.

You shall duel against me before day end.

May God vouchsafe his justice, for he is going to punish you.

And the greater your suffering the better for me.

Cut!

Wonderful, Rodolfo.

Colonel Rodolfo, you are an actor and a droll!

Thank you, I take that as a flattery.

You change completely when you are working.

You remind me of a sister, when she is working the mortar.

She is normally the sweetest woman around.

But when she pounds maize she becomes a furious hound.

She grabs the pestle, attacks and yells abuse...

as if she was possessed by a demon.

She can make the best maize cake in the state.

It's all down to technique.

And soul.

Don't go, Colonel.

I don't want to regret his death forever.

I know you like him.

But I cannot stop loving you, madam.

On behalf of the love you give, and which I do not deserve, call off this fight.

This world cannot hold so much love.

Forbidden love stokes passion even harder.

Like damned water which needs sluicing,

such was Iseult and Tristan's fate.

You should better tie your horse, uncle. It might escape.

One horse is enough for us both. Only one is returning.

Tristan!

"My poor love, I could not rescue you.

I want to die too and remain near you forever.

Descend upon us, oh love's night.

I want the eternal night, no other dawn away from your arms.

He who does not die of his love is not worth living thereof".

"Iseult plunges the dagger into her own chest...

and collapses next to Tristan.

The sun sets over the two lovers's stretched out bodies.

The End"

How can a story be so sad and so beautiful?

Because Tristan and Iseult died for us.

The story ends and it feels like we were the ones who died of love.

Without the need to actually die.

We may carry on cuddling until late...

especially because we'll take the day off tomorrow.

How wonderful!

To rehearse IseuIt's death while sleeping.

The end where both characters die is out of the question, Pedro.

You can't come up with a betrayed husband,

an adulterous wife, an ungrateful son,

deaths, love potions.

You can't hold 50 million viewers,

all of them waiting to find out...

what the hero and the heroine are going to do,

to avoid the problems that you created,

just to apologise for them on the last scene,

saying they did not manage it, they died, sorry.

Next: the evening news... For fuck's sake!"

But that's how it happened.

He died in her arms. She kills herself.

It's the end of Tristan and Iseult.

That's not how it happened, shit!

Tristan and Iseult do not fucking exist.

There are no Tristan and Iseult. It's a medieval tale!

How about this: the hero and heroine kiss:

a dragon comes up and eats them both.

Based on real facts.

You want a Cinderella ending, not a Tristan and Iseult one.

You always knew you had to come up with another ending to this story.

And I never told you I would do it.

Sorry, but I am not going to create a ridiculous happy ending...

for Tristan and Iseult just to secure your audience rating points.

This has nothing to do with the audience.

It's the last scene. Everybody is going to watch it anyway.

I can't betray the audience's confidence.

I don't want you to write a ridiculous happy ending.

I want you to write a brilliant ending, one that gives the audience...

and the characters a solution to the problems that we made up.

That you made up.

You created this story and 500 problems along with it.

Now use your day off to come up with an ending!

I can't come up with another ending!

Then go away and I'll hire someone else to write it.

Read your contract.

The Contracting Party may, at any time and at their sole discretion,

replace the Contractor in the quality of author...

as well as of director of the work piece in question.

- That's absurd... - Look, you have signed it.

Danilo may replace you whenever it pleases him.

Ana loves the ending. She will not agree with that.

Pedro, I've known you for a long time...

and I know you are a decent guy.

I am sure you are not going to try convincing Ana...

to kill herself with you.

She knows that's the best ending. It's good and it is good for her career.

Look... Ana has backed you up on this project.

She is your guarantor in the contract.

Everybody said you were troublesome,

that you might flip out and ignore deadlines or,

much worse, flee from the project.

You would not want to deceive Ana once again.

- Once again? - Yes.

She loved you and, due to your stupid jealousy, you turned your back on her.

She carried on believing in you and, because of your stupid jealousy,

you will turn your back on her once again?

- Why jealousy? - Cut it out, Pedro.

You told her you accepted her relation with Jos� but carried on being jealous?

How do you know?

Everybody knows it.

Everyone sees you are crazy about Ana but she's crazy about Jos�.

No, no! Who told you that I agreed with her about her seeing him?

- Was it Ana? - It was Jos�.

- Was it he? - Look, Pedro.

Jos� is an actor.

He pretended to be a scrub-tough in order to audition for Tristan.

I found that out when I drew up the contract.

His name is Orlando.

But, as you see now, he's a great actor.

Does Ana know about this?

No, we have decided to tell her...

after the job is over, not to... bring up a confusion.

- Not to bring confusion to the film? - Exactly.

You can't do that.

Ana has got deeply involved with Orlando, don't you think?

She got involved with Jos�,

the only one she thought to exist. And who doesn't.

For God's sake, she must know about this.

What if she becomes difficult and refuse to do the last scene?

We must somehow try to protect Ana.

Protecting Ana in this case is telling her the truth.

But we can tell the truth when the shooting is over.

- It won't make any difference. - It makes all the difference.

I can't direct Ana on the final scene knowing about such a thing.

What final scene? We haven't got it, you haven't written it yet.

I will do it.

You're right, I can't harm Ana.

But when she wakes up she will learn about this.

Pedro, I need to talk to you.

Congratulations, your acting has exceeded my expectations.

I would like you to let me tell Ana myself.

And why haven't you told her yet?

Fernanda asked me to wait.

But I would have told her.

It's funny that you are telling me this now,

exactly when I learned about everything,

and when Ana is about to learn it too anyway.

You don't have to believe me.

But you know that the best way for her to learn about it...

is believing that I had decided to tell her.

Do I? Why?

Why?

She will suffer much more if someone else tells her.

Besides, if you tell her, she will be so humiliated,

well the two of you.

Would you like to be a choice or the last thing left in her life?

Don't imagine that I enjoy this or that I want to do this.

It's going to be difficult telling her the truth.

Cause she will suffer anyway if she is really in love with me.

Or with Jos�.

Or both.

It seems we all are confused about "you two".

But you are right... Orlando.

OK.

The most important thing is that Ana learns about it...

before shooting the final scene.

I've waited for the right time to tell you.

I fell in love with you...

and ended up becoming a prisoner of Jos�.

And how about me? Who did I fall in love with?

Jos� is also a part of me.

"My love is an uncontrolled wagon running down the hill."

These are Tristan's words.

I know that I was silly to lie,

but who hasn't lied for love?

My love for you makes you responsible for my silly acts too.

You've tricked me. You have stolen my love.

There's only one thing I would like you to believe.

I'm not trying to take advantage.

And how do I know if you are telling the truth now?

If you want, I can leave the set tomorrow...

so you won't have to do the final scene with me.

That's why I decided to take heart and tell...

everything before the shoot is over.

- And? - We'll see.

- Is she going to do the final scene? - I think so.

And did she believe you?

I, Jos�, Tristan and Shakespeare...

did our best to convince her of our passion.

Jos�... isn't exactly who I imagined.

Orlando.

When did you learn about it?

I've just learnt.

Are you OK?

I still don't know.

I haven't been able to separate things yet.

What do you mean, Ana?

The person you are in love with does not exist. It is an illusion.

The person we fall in love with is always an illusion.

I am in love with you, not with Iseult.

I feel the same love for you as the one I feel as Iseult.

Sorry, I'd rather be loved from this side of the mirror.

It's hard to tell...

where the representation of a feeling starts and ends.

I have cried a lot today.

At some point I checked myself crying.

I was truly suffering...

and at the same time...

I was a spectator of my own suffering being acted out.

Is Orlando's acting still convincing?

I believe he still loves me.

I've changed the final scene.

- Has it changed a lot? - Everything.

What do you mean?

Now Tristan and Iseult live happily ever after.

- Are you serious? - I am.

Why have you decided to change the scene?

- I just did. - You or Danilo?

He convinced me. It'll be better, will pull higher audience ratings.

Will it be better or pull higher audience ratings?

It's the same thing.

Maybe you don't understand the difference...

between fiction and reality, but it does exist.

Real life is filled with deadlines, production costs,

agreements and commitments to advertisers.

That's reality.

Are you going to ruin one of the most beautiful love stories because of that?

Because of production costs and commitments to advertisers?

It's just a story.

Nobody is going to die because of that.

My poor love, I could not rescue you.

I want to die too and remain near you forever.

Descend upon us, oh love's night.

I want the eternal night, no other dawn away from your arms.

He who does not die of his love...

is not worth living thereof.

Cut!

OK, let's get the next shoot ready. Please refresh Ana's make-up.

Let's have some ambient sound. Silence, please.

OK, thank you. Let's hit it because it is getting dark.

Let's do it again: Iseult raises the dagger to kill herself.

Sound, camera, action!

He who does not die of his love is not worth living thereof.

My love! By thinking I followed you, I nearly fled without you.

I had to remain alive, Mistress Iseult,

so my love for you would not die with me.

Only your love keeps me alive.

Cut!

Let's have that close-up with the dagger to wrap things up.

Sound, camera!

Action! Cut!

Hey, folks! Thank you, everybody.

Time to go back home now.

Leaving is such an easy job. Nobody will linger too long.

- I also want to be off soon. - Aren't you going to wait for me?

- I'll go ahead and join the cast. - You're joining Ana, you mean?

I'm... I'm going to tell her everything now.

- I've already told her everything. - No, you haven't.

You're still pretending to be in love with her.

I'm not pretending. I'm in love with her.

Who do you want to fool now?

I'm being honest with you.

Do you think I'm a fool?

I'll tell her that you are my boyfriend and you are lying to her.

I've told Ana that we have split up with no hard feelings.

But I understand that you want some revenge.

Ana will understand too.

She is going to believe me, though.

Oh, yeah, she is.

Because every bastard can perfectly pretend to be in love with someone.

So can actors.

Tristan!

My poor love, I could not rescue you.

I want to die too and remain near you forever.

Descend upon us, oh love's night.

I want the eternal night, no other dawn away from your arms.

He who does not die of his love...

is not worth living thereof.

The make-up.

We had a continuity problem.

He who does not die of his love...

is not worth living thereof.

Shit! There's no other shoot?

That's the only one. It was getting dark.

He who does not die of his love is not worth living thereof.

Shit! What, now?

I don't know. Do you think we can keep it that way?

- Sure not! It's completely different! - I know.

He who does not die of his love...

is not worth living thereof.

- Shit! What a fuck, Pedro! - Yeah.

- You gotta solve this. - Well, there's one way out of this.

He who does not die of his love...

is not worth living thereof.

You've done it on purpose.

You've had her make-up touched up. Deliberately.

Really? That's a better ending, I guess. It might have been a lapse.

It is no fucking lapse, I'm sure! You've done it on purpose...

so that you would have your ending. I can't believe this!

Well, it happens.

Do you think I am going to leave it as it is? I am going to sue you!

Danilo, you can't sue someone because of a mistake.

The Brazilian Penal Code does not contemplate continuity mistakes.

- You are going to shoot this again! - In the outback? Tonight?

I am shooting this in a studio, doing close-ups.

If Ana agrees...

He who does not die of his love...

is not worth living thereof.

That's what I call a surprising end.

Pedro has written a happy ending and shoot a tragic one.

Your contract has now expired...

and Danilo will have to pay you for shooting this scene again.

I'm not shooting it again.

Danilo is upstairs and wants to have a word with you.

I think he'll invite you to play next soap's romantic couple, with Orlando.

I may accept it.

Ana, Orlando is not who you think he is.

He's told me about that.

And before you did, I knew about everything.

Pedro knew about everything too.

Pedro?

Orlando only told you the truth because Pedro demanded it.

He did not tell you out of his own free will. He was forced to.

Orlando... what a son of a bitch!

Any news?

Danilo has invited us to act on a soap.

No kidding!

- And I told him we're not interested. - No kidding!

- Let's be actors in the theatre! - But it is possible to do both.

It's not possible to work at the theatre only when you're free.

Ana, I've just bought a new Japonese car:

four air bags, 1 20 watt stereo system,

a subwoofer... it was quite expensive.

Hand it back. You are not going to leave the stage just to make money on TV!

Think about it, Ana.

Let's talk this over with Danilo at the screening party tonight.

I am not going to the party.

Why not? The whole media will be waiting for us there!

You can go on your own...

And remember to stay on the right-hand side,

so that your name appears first in the photo subtitle.

Guess who?...

I bet you are going to the screening party by yourself tonight?

Because I'm a psychic, darling. Didn't you know that?

Why don't we go together to the party tonight, for old times' sake?

Done deal. No, no, I'll pick you up.

I've just bought a new Japonese car:

four air bags, 1 20 watt stereo system, and a subwoofer.

You won't believe it, leather upholstery.

Tthat's all you have on your mind, heh...

Hi.

Hi.

It is almost over, last block.

I've seen it.

- How come? - Fernanda's shown it to me.

My poor love, I could not rescue you.

It's beautiful.

Congratulations.

To us.

This scene is yours.

I want to die too and remain near you forever.

At this moment thousands of spectators are crying thanks to you.

And... is that good?

I find it excellent.

If we must suffer, it might as well be due to a lie, right?

It ends more quickly.

He who does not die of his love...

is not worth living thereof.

Cyrano, Don Quijote, Romeo, Juliet.

True love stories used to end in death.

I'd rather Tristan and Iseult got married and lived happily ever after.

If they loved each other, they would get married.

Don't they love each other?

They are enamoured of love. They enjoy feeling love.

It's like a drug.

The love wine.

- Passion is a kind of intoxication. - And becomes addictive.

Tristan and Iseult died of a passion overdose.

FDA warning: "Love may harm your health".

And the happy ending, sealed with a kiss,

was a creation of the 1 7th Century novels.

The kiss only serves to placate people's fears.

It gives the idea that the lovers won't face any other obstacles.

But without any obstacles, love dies out.

There is nothing to tell.

The love story is over.

Not a kiss, nor death. Isn't there a way out?

I suppose the solution is never giving up looking for the way out.

Even if it does not exist.

Maybe the love stories have this purpose.

Which one?

To encourage couples not to give up looking for the way out.

Could be.

Have you got any project in the pipeline?

I do. It's a romantic story.

If there is a role for me, I would be glad to audition for it.

There's no need for that. You fit right in.

You're joking?! When do we start rehearsing?

Right away.

God! It's Dawn!

How brief is the night

As brief as the beloved's life

I shall prolong the evening, to die by his side

So passion shall be as long as an eternal night.

- Pause. - What?

"So passion shall be as long as night... eternal."

- There's a comma there. - There's no comma in my script.

Comma, I mean it's a pause.

Let's get it from the start. General rehearsal

I can't do Iseult on-stage. Everybody will see I am pregnant.

Don't worry! No one can tell you are pregnant.

- Worse still, they'll think I'm fat. - You look lovely, darling.

- I'm exhausted. - I told you:

it's not possible to work at the theatre and on TV at the same time.

It is. At the theatre, on TV and raising a child...

at the same time.

Friends that are here assembled On this blissful day

I will tell a nice love story...

- What the fuck is that?! - My God! It's the subway.

They are building a new station right in front.

- We can't go on with the rehearsal... - Easy, Ana.

Easy?! Tomorrow's the opening night,

my wig is shit, my costume is itching,

everybody will think I am fat...