Mr. Andrus, I have something for you.
Cablegram, Mr. Andrus.
Thank you.
Want a sleeping pill?
I suppose.
1 1/2 grain or 3 grain?
Tina, who's on duty tonight?
Dr. "Coldeyes."
You going to see him?
No, Tina, I'm going out by the lilacs
to play shuffleboard with myself.
Well, you don't have to be so darn rude.
"...laterally.
"Multiple fractures of the nasal bones,
"compound fracture of the right mandible.
Manic depressive..."
Psychosis, compulsive violence,
delusional episodes, alcoholism, acute and chronic.
Well, you're in a good mood.
Am I?
No.
But you're covering well.
What's bothering you?
The cable that you received this morning?
So, you finally opened it?
You don't miss much around here, do you?
What did it say?
Guess you can't afford to miss much, can you?
Oh, from Rome.
"Everybody is here. Why aren't you?
"And why do I waste my time looking for an actor
"to play 4 great scenes which you, repeat, you,
"could steal with your eyes shut. Stop.
"Besides, I miss you. Stop. It's been too long. Stop.
"Have rich part for you. Stop.
"$5,000 for 2 weeks' work. Stop.
"Jet to Rome pronto.
Don't just stand there. Get going. Kruger."
How many pictures did you two make together?
7.
And when was the last?
About 6 years ago.
Well, what ended it?
Hate.
Well, that's a long association
to be based on hate.
And love.
Mixed together with lots of ice and an onion.
The Kruger way.
First word in 6 years.
I've been sick, crazy...
Perhaps you feel it's an act of kindness on his part,
and you resent it.
Tell me, from what you know of Mr. Kruger...
Would you say he was the kind of man
given to acts of kindness?
Kruger?
He wouldn't give you the...
You don't believe that pitch, do you?
Doesn't matter whether I believe it.
Do you believe it?
Are you ready to go?
You tell me.
We believe that you've been well
for the last 3 months.
Why are you keeping it such a secret?
There's a difference between being well
and being ready to go out.
Now, in our opinion, you are ready.
What makes you so sure?
I didn't say I was sure. I said it was our opinion.
Suppose you're wrong?
I hope we're not.
Tell me, doctor, if I do come back,
will my next cure take longer or shorter or what?
We never promise a cure.
Pan-American world airways announces the departure
of flight 14 to Rome.
Passengers will board the aircraft at gate 24.
All aboard, please.
Hello, Jack.
Oh, hello.
Hello, Lou.
I said, hello, Lou.
I heard what you said, Jack.
I hated you when you were a star.
You were arrogant and irresponsible.
The most difficult client I ever had.
Now that you're nothing, I still hate you,
only now I can tell you.
That face from the dead.
This way, Signor Andrus.
Mr. Andrus? I'm Ravenski.
How do you do?
Publicity.
Mr. Kruger's expecting you.
Thank you.
I am sure it is him!
And I thought he died years ago!
Quiet! Silenzio!
Start the wind machine.
Turn on the paddle wheel.
Roll 'em!
Action!
Ta-ke me ho-me.
Later. First we must talk.
I have a-nother li-fe.
A hus-band... A fami-ly...
And a pro-ud na-me.
There's only one name for you.
On the streets of my village, they call them--
I kill you! I hate you!
I hate--
Cut!
Halt!
Print!
Oh--oh, no, signorina!
Signorina Barzelli, per favore, no, no!
What is she doing?
That's good.
All right, come on, Barzelli.
Come on. Get up. Get her out quick.
Here, quick, the towels now.
Barzelli, carissima, you were superb.
A Lily! Get going.
Oh, and, Janet--
any word for me?
I've just the word. "Nauseating."
Any more constructive suggestions, Mr. Kruger?
Yeah.
Pretend you're a man.
When you kiss Barzelli,
try not to kiss her like she was your mother
or your sister or your gym teacher.
What other good takes have we here?
Still giving your leading man hell.
Still making out with your leading lady?
You dog!
You stupid, stubborn, no-good bum, you--
Ha ha ha!
Oh, Jack! Ha ha ha!
This is my friend Andrus.
Mr. Andrus, how are you?
He's the only actor I ever made a friend of.
The only one who ever told me the truth.
Well, what are you waiting for?
Come on! Next set-up! Matching over-the-shoulder.
What did you think of it?
The scene?
Mm-hmm.
Terribly original.
Terribly or terribly terribly?
Terribly terribly.
- You mean Barzelli? - Mmm.
Well, we don't use her voice, just her chassis.
Here, we dub all the dialogue.
Well, tell me, son, how does it feel to be crazy?
Oh, I was afraid you'd never get out.
Oh, wait. You haven't got a script, have you?
Janet, give Mr. Andrus a script.
There you are.
Thank you. I--
look, don't expect too much.
I--I haven't read a word of dialogue
in over 4 years.
Oh, Jack, 4 days after you're buried,
you'll be better actor than this little creep.
Jack, drive your Maserati down to the excelsior.
Clean up, and I'll get you a suite as fast as I can.
My Maserati? My suite?
Well, you're in a triple-a picture, triple-a treatment.
You know, you've got to make these people
feel you're important,
otherwise, they'll walk all over you.
Say, how's Clara these days?
Fine. Dying to see you.
Oh, Carlotta's in town.
What a car.
Carlotta's in town.
You just said that.
Is she here by coincidence?
Who, Carlotta?
There is no coincidence. There never was.
Mr. Kruger? The cameraman is ready--
come on! Come on, will you? We're losing the sun.
Buona sera, signore. Buona sera.
Hello, George.
Hey, George, a taxi, huh?
Say, Brad?
Oh, Mr. Kruger.
- Still in Rome? - Mm-hmm.
Well, how long does it take you
to write a feature story?
Oh, it'll be in the issue coming out tomorrow.
Why don't you pick up a copy at the newsstand?
You're on the cover.
With my story about Barzelli and Davie Drew?
No.
Why not?
It was a lie.
I don't lie to the press.
I never have.
You lie to yourself, Mr. Kruger. That's worse.
Mr. Kruger, you are behind schedule.
I need 2 weeks to finish shooting this picture.
And I need time to dub.
Every word of every actor.
May I remind you, Mr. Kruger...
You have 2 weeks to complete this film,
including the dubbing.
After that...Here...
Page 62 of our contract.
I control the dubbing.
- You? - Me.
Can I get you something, Signor Kruger?
No!
Scusi, eh? Scusi.
I've seen movies you've dubbed, Signor Junkman.
You've had your actors mouthing their words
like mother guppies gobbling their young.
You give me 2 extra weeks,
and I'll give you a Maurice Kruger picture.
Don't you want the best movie you can get?
No.
Don't you have any pride
in what pictures you put your name on?
No.
The films I produce make money.
And you know why?
Because I'm an international peddler.
On this film, I will make 472,000.
Not lira, dollars.
Even if this film never shows in one single theater.
Provided, please, that it does not cost me
one lira more than our contract says.
So, dear friend,
you get no extra weeks.
You get no extra days.
You get not one minute.
You left the set at 7:20.
Where have you been?
With Barzelli?
In her apartment, or did Tucino lend you
one of his handy hideaways?
You and the tramps you use for stars.
"Maurice Kruger, the great lover."
You don't care what they are...
Old or young, thin or fat,
as long as you get your grubby hands on them.
If you made a movie in the--in the upper Amazon,
you'd have to make out with the pygmy queen!
You and that big bounce...
If I ever catch the two of you together, I'll--
don't forget!
I've got all the proof from all the other times!
In a box at the California bank!
I could have nailed you for adultery 10 million times!
And next time I will.
You're not going to get away with anything!
'Cause I'm going to take you for every dime you've got!
Every dime, Clara?
You're slipping. Used to be every dollar.
Now where do you think you're going?
Down the hall to see Jack.
Jack!
Bringing Jack Andrus here behind my back!
To feed your ego,
you fly over an actor you can't even use.
Now, Clara, I photographed a lot worse.
It's only a little part, so shut up.
Handing out $5,000 to a man
who wouldn't even look at you for the past 7 years.
And who could blame him after what you did to him?
You and Carlotta!
6 years.
Thank you, Clara.
For what?
Well, you've done it again. You've given me an idea.
The fix I'm in, only Jack could save my neck.
Save you? From what?
Oh, he'll scream at first.
The way he looked at that camera today was just pure lust.
But I can handle him.
Always have.
I did have a part for you.
4 scenes you could steal with your eyes shut.
That's why when you came on my set this afternoon...
I saw you...
Through the eye of a camera.
Killed me.
Well, it...It looks like you're stuck
for one round-trip plane fare.
If I could only dream up something.
Something to keep you with me.
I'll take the first jet.
I'll have the Porter make your reservations.
If you need any dough--
I don't.
Didn't they say it was OK for you to drink?
Here you are, Jack.
You and I made some good ones.
Yes, and a couple of great ones.
Looked like there was a federal law
prohibiting us from doing anything wrong.
Yeah, it seemed like our luck would never run out.
Only it wasn't luck.
We had the secret. We told each other the truth.
Jack...
Now, you could take my cast into the dubbing room,
just the same as I would,
and you could give this movie
the real Kruger sound.
Let me be absolutely sure I understand.
On this picture of yours,
are you proposing that I supervise the dubbing?
That's right, Jack.
That way we could be together again.
When your cable came, I couldn't believe it.
You were giving me a new start.
A chance to live again.
When I walked on your set today, I was home.
Home.
But you flew me 3,000 miles just to put me on.
Why?
Why'd you ever send that cable?
Well, just because your doctor wrote
and asked me to give you a job, any kind of a job.
I don't want your charity!
If I'm through as an actor, I'm through!
And to hell with you and the whole murderous business!
And then what?
You stupid, stubborn, washed-up ham!
Without me, you're a nothing!
Just a nothing! Go on!
Go back to your crazy house and stay there!
What the hell do I want with this?
That's all that's left of you.
Ungrateful pup!
Operator?
Operator, I'd like to put in a long-distance call.
F-Fairfield, Connecticut.
The Ridgewood Retreat.
I-I'd like to speak to Dr.--
Never mind.
Oh, Jack?
You're not going to leave
without saying good-bye to me?
You'd never forgive yourself.
Now, there's plenty of time for the plane.
Let me buy you a drink.
No, thanks.
A coffee, then. A farewell Espresso.
Now, you can't deny me that.
In Rome, they dub every word of every picture.
Dubbing makes or breaks you.
So? You always dub your own pictures.
I can't.
I'm trapped by a fine Italian contract.
Now, if you don't do this for me,
Tucino will.
That's doom.
I need you, Jack.
I need you.
Ha! I knew it!
I knew I could count on you.
And you can count on me.
On every picture I make from now on,
it's the two of us together. You'll be my right hand.
Now, you take tomorrow off.
Do some shopping, take in the sights,
do anything you want,
but meet me at the studio tomorrow at 6:00.
Oh, I've got a surprise for you.
You're back in the picture business, son.
Ha ha ha!
Jack...
You're not doing this for me
just because you're sentimental?
Just because I sang you a chorus of Auld Lang Syne?
I'm helping you because you "need" me.
What's the money?
Well, what I offered you in the wire.
The agreed price of $5,000.
Tucino won't pay that for a dubbing job.
Well, then, I will.
I'll pay it out of my own pocket.
Now, I won't let you do this for nothing.
I know you won't.
Because it is out of your own pocket,
because you are in a mess,
I don't want $5,000.
- Oh, please-- - I want 10,000.
♪♪ Should auld acquaintance be forgot ♪♪
♪♪ And never brought to mind ♪♪
♪♪ Should auld acquaintance be forgot ♪♪
♪♪ For the days of auld lang syne ♪♪
♪♪ For auld lang syne, my boy... ♪♪
♪♪ For the sake... ♪♪
...Poor player that struts and frets
his hour upon the stage...
Turn that off and get out. I want to get some sleep.
Tucino, you international peddler!
Take a good look at a movie that was made
just because we couldn't sleep until we made it!
You can't be a star in a cemetery.
Oh, stop pitching!
Can't you get it through your head I'm one girl
who doesn't want to be a star?
Because he was a drunk, you're a drunk.
Because he loved women, you're a tramp.
But you forget one thing.
He did it with style.
I said, turn it off!
I don't want to hear it! I hate him!
Make up your mind.
You hate him, and you build this shrine to him?
He died over 10 years ago,
and you've been holding your own private wake ever since.
Well, let me tell you something.
The acting isn't good enough.
It's a cheap performance of a bit player.
Shh!
...Until you can pull yourself out of this tomb!
Until you can see people as they really are!
Until you can do this to your father's picture!
...Poor player that struts...
And laugh! The way he would have laughed!
That's not a god talking, Georgia! That's only a man!
Oh!
You!
Oh!
Miss Morrison?
It's all right, miss curry.
Kruger...
You're great.
I was great.
- Ha ha ha! - Ha ha ha!
Why'd you do it, Georgia?
You know why?
Because I--I was afraid I'd...
Oh, Jack, when I think of all the years
we've thrown away.
Maurice, it's getting late.
Such a waste.
And for what?
Maurice, we've got a lot of work to do tonight.
Oh, yes, yes, Clara.
I'll have to be up until 3:00 rewriting.
Not again!
Georgia, come here.
Trying to give tomorrow's scenes some life.
For once, Mr. Kruger, just for once,
can't you leave a scene alone
until you see us play it?
Before you rewrite it into hash?
Nauseating little creep!
He's crazier loose than you ever were locked up.
Oh, uh, Jack...
Take the sound of this movie
into the dubbing room tomorrow.
The real Kruger sound.
Mr. Andrus, we'll run the rough cut
of all Mr. Kruger's shots so far at 9:30 A.M.
We'll run it at 10:30, Janet.
- But, Mr. Andrus-- - 10:30.
That's too bad.
Why?
Because I'd make you a good wife.
Well, right now, I don't need a wife,
I need a star.
It's cold now sitting on the ground.
All right, let's go in by the fire, shall we?
Hey, I thought everybody had gone.
Everybody has.
How'd you like it?
Loved it. I thought I was great.
What did you think of it?
I hate films.
Why?
Oh, when I have 2 hours,
I like to spend them my own way.
Not up there with them.
Why are you here with "them"?
A friend brought me.
He wanted to see your film.
He had to leave.
Why'd you stay?
You made me want to.
No, not me.
That was John Andrus.
Not a bad actor when he had the right director
and a part--
what's the matter with your eye?
It's nothing.
Oh, do you have a car?
Yes.
I'd like a ride back to Rome.
OK.
What's your name?
Veronica.
Veronica what?
Veronica what's-the-difference.
Idiots. They never look at anything.
Jack!
You just said that.
They told me you look marvelous, darling, and you do.
You look so healthy.
You look so rich.
I am.
Married at the moment?
Not exactly.
But he's naming an oil tanker after me. 60,000 tons.
How's buster?
Poisoned.
Buster was bound to be poisoned sooner or later.
I suppose.
I still have the house on the hill, Jack.
I've told you how you look to me, darling.
How do I look to you?
Carlotta!
Did you get my message?
The operator didn't quite understand it,
but you will.
Carlotta!
Suite 160.
How do you do?
You didn't answer her question.
How did she look to you?
Beautiful.
Who's buster?
A dog.
What kind of a dog?
Doberman.
She made him sleep in her bedroom.
So?
Only he didn't sleep.
He growled, and he snapped.
So?
So that's why somebody poisoned him.
Oh.
Was it hard to divorce her?
She found ways to make it easy.
It was damn hard.
It was about 3:30 in the morning...
Pouring rain.
I was drunk...
What are they screaming about?
Oh. Ha ha!
About how much they love each other.
Very Roman.
So, 3:30 in the morning...
Rain...
Oh, I drove down the hill
from Carlotta's house.
When I got to the last curve,
I must have been doing a good 90.
How much in kilometers?
Oh, about 140.
Uh...144.
When I hit that wall.
Maybe it happened because I was drunk,
maybe I meant to kill myself.
I still don't know which.
Well, I've been divorced for 3 years.
I hadn't seen her in 8--8 months.
She'd been in Europe, I stayed in Hollywood,
watching myself crack up,
and then, that afternoon,
I saw Carlotta driving down Wilshire.
She--she was wearing
that green chiffon scarf.
We--we always had a thing about green.
Would you like another Espresso--
she pulled up at the curb.
She said, "call me,
or just drop by any hour of the 24."
She drove away.
I tried getting drunk.
Tried calling the right phone numbers.
There I was...
3:00 in the morning...
Driving up the hill to her house.
It used to be our house.
I used the gold key
she'd given me our first Christmas.
The house was dark.
There was only a light on in her room.
The door to her room was open.
I'm glad you weren't killed.
I'm glad you're here.
Hey, what's this?
Eh, this is interesting. Look.
What do you make of this?
Why haven't they got any faces?
He waits for a client and then draws the face in.
Huh?
He wants to draw my portrait.
Sure. Sure.
Quanto? Quanto? 6,000 lira.
Cheap enough. Let's go.
Listen, who knows? You might be hanging in the Louvre.
Maybe. Ha ha!
Smile pretty. That's it.
Bene!
Do you know what time it is?
Uh-huh.
So do I.
Hey, when will I see you again?
Will I see you again?
I'll phone.
Oh.
I'll drive you home.
No.
Oh, you have to get to the studio early.
I'll take a taxi.
Uh-huh.
I said--
I know. "I'll take a taxi."
Good night, Veronica.
Good night.
Yes?
Yes, Carlotta.
Yes, I found it when I came in.
Look, Carlotta, you're the one person
I--I don't want to see.
At least that proves you've been thinking of me.
And I of you.
Every night for the last 4 years.
I know we can't make up for 4 years in one night,
but we might try.
Oh, poor Clara.
Janet, I want to run the whole thing over again.
Contessa, it's important. Immediately.
Joe, when you get to the end of this reel,
start at the beginning again.
She's so out of place here in Rome.
What other angles have we got?
You know Mr. Kruger doesn't go in for protection shots.
All day long, he's at the studio,
and at night, he--
all that rehearsing with Barzelli and all that.
Janet, how long have you worked with Kruger?
12 years.
Janet, for 12 years, you've lived vicariously
as "poor Clara," "poor Gail," "poor Madeline,"
and the other 2 "poors" he was married to before that.
And after 12 years,
you still don't know whether you love him or you hate him.
Mr. Andrus, you shut up!
Why don't we both shut up?
We found him last night floating in the lake
with a knife in his back.
A family... A husband...
A proud name.
No, Liz, no, that's not quite it.
Oh, it sure isn't. I'm lousy today.
No, no, no.
- Say, Liz? - Yeah?
What do you love most in the world?
Um, food.
You remember that ice cream parlor,
Wil Wright's, on sunset strip?
Those huge luscious banana splits
a dollar a throw?
Worth every penny.
Well, next time you dub, you think to yourself,
"we will have 10,000 banana splits.
Huge...luscious... Banana splits."
Got it.
Go ahead. Try again.
Ha ha ha! Do we?
You still have not understood.
I have another life.
A family... A husband...
And a proud name.
Liz, we'll call you tomorrow.
Whoo! I know. Don't call us, we'll call you.
Arrivederci.
Ready, Davie?
Let's try one.
Say, Davie... Why'd you run away
in the middle of shooting your last 2 pictures?
I, quote, cost the studio millions.
Good.
But that's not why you ran away.
I saw your first movie.
It's beautiful.
You broke their hearts.
Look, is this my 10,000 banana splits?
One trick to set Liz right,
another to straighten out Davie Drew.
Playing it friendly, the big brother bit?
Well...I guess that was the idea, Davie.
No dice.
I'll tell you why you ran away.
You were scared gutless.
You woke up one morning,
and they told you you were a star.
You didn't believe them.
You knew you were the same frightened little kid
you were when you went to sleep,
so you ran.
And you've been running ever since.
You were dead in Hollywood at the age of 22.
No studio would hire you,
and that's what you wanted, wasn't it?
You stupid little creep.
You think you discovered suicide?
I pulled all your idiot tricks and plenty more.
Only you still have a chance.
Nobody put a gun to your head and said you had to be an actor.
You wanted it.
Now do your job.
Oh, my job?
Certainly, Mr. Andrus.
And congratulations on the brilliant performance.
But you wasted your time.
To Kruger, I'm just 90 feet of film a minute.
He hired me for nothing,
he treats me like nothing,
and nothing's what he gets.
You're Kruger's stooge...
And you get...Nothing.
We'll, uh...
We'll get whatever we can.
The best thing you can get is to get packed.
Mr. Kruger gave you this job out of the goodness of his heart.
You'd be saving him money if you took your pay and got out.
Roll it.
Scusi.
Someday, you won't be able to keep that hand from shaking.
What'll you do then, go back to the asylum?
Signor Andrus, telephone.
Oh, thank you.
Yes?
Oh, Veronica.
The girl who left me her picture,
but not her address or her phone number
or her last name.
Tonight? I have to come back here.
Work after dinner.
Tomorrow, more work.
Oh, not tomorrow night.
And not Sunday
while only thieves and policemen work.
You'll pick me up?
At my house.
Well, Trestevari, Piazza Santa Maria, 24.
9:00.
OK?
I'll be the girl with the black eye.
Hey, why don't you stop going around
with guys who give you black eyes?
Janet, I'll be here for 2 weeks.
I have a job. Roll it.
There!
You and your friend Brad Byrd!
You had him all wrapped up!
I suppose you'll tell me you haven't seen it!
No, I haven't.
Liar!
With your sense of humor,
you'll probably find this amusing.
Listen to this.
"Prototype of the obsolete Hollywood talent,
"now flourishing in Rome is Maurice Kruger.
Once imitated by all, now only Kruger imitates Kruger."
Aren't you used to this garbage yet, Clara.
What does a $200-a-week hack like Brad Byrd know?
One year I'm a genius, the next year, I'm--
all right, then, read it for yourself
and see what Brad Byrd knows!
"Like the bourbon kings,
"Kruger learns nothing, forgets nothing.
"The set at Cinecitta
"is a museum of directorial clichés,
"including the ritual courtship
"of the leading lady.
Current is pneumatic Sicilian Barzelli--"
there! For the whole world to see!
You don't even bother to hide it!
Why should I?
Who in his right mind would expect me to settle for you,
a worn-out, dried-up, whining, meddling old hag?
My lawful wedded nightmare,
frustrated and stupid,
sticking your fat nose into everything!
Day and night!
Every minute.
Clara?
Open the door. Please, Clara.
Clara?
Clara...
Don't swallow all those sleeping pills.
The doctor will just have to come up
and pump out your stomach again.
You know how sick that makes me.
Clara?
I--I look at this film I'm shooting...
I like it.
What if I'm wrong?
It's another calamity?
Where do I go from here?
Took me 2 years to get this job, and that was a fluke.
How can a man go wrong and not know why?
What's happened to me?
Jack looked at my picture.
He hated every foot of it. I could tell.
What does he know?
What did he ever know?
He's a Jonah and a jinx.
Get rid of him once and for all.
Is it ego?
Self-indulgence?
Or...
Am I just plain afraid?
Oh, my poor...
I've seen the film you're shooting,
and it's beautiful. It's beautiful.
Will you meet me tonight?
After your party?
A Roman party?
I'll try to leave early.
I'm happy with you.
Content and lucky.
You're part of my life I thought I'd lost forever.
Try not to be too late.
When you were a star...
There in Hollywood...
Before Carlotta...
Did you have a lot of girls?
Girls like me?
Not as many as I should have.
Certainly not as many as they said I had.
What were you like then?
Lonely.
So famous and alone?
Everybody's alone.
Actors more so.
Then why would anyone want to be an actor?
That's a good question.
Why?
To hide from the world.
Everybody likes to hide once in a while.
Sure they do. Look at any movie theater.
What's the audience doing there?
Hiding in the dark, trading their problems
for mine on the screen.
Actors...what a job.
You know, I used to get up at 6:00 in the morning,
rush through my breakfast, jump in my car,
race down to the studio, get into wardrobe, makeup,
get up on that stage, and then at 9:00 in the morning
invent the telephone, win the west, sway juries,
make love to the most beautiful women in the world
hour after hour after hour.
I thought I had it made,
then, zoom...
I was a star.
Big business.
Hide from the world.
They were ramming it right up my gut.
Lawyers, agents, managers, partners.
All grabbing, carving up my whole life.
One day, I looked at them all,
and I asked myself, "who are these guys?"
"What are they doing here? What do they want from me?"
Then, the second question you ask is...
Who you really are.
Well, are you the face on the billboard
smeared with lipstick kisses from shrieking high school kids?
The face that barflies all want to take a poke at
to see if you're as tough as the roles you play in movies?
Is that you?
Or are you the face you see in the mirror?
The face of the guy you've been hiding all your life.
So, I started running, living in a crowd,
balling it, lots of laughs, lots of kicks,
through it all, Carlotta.
I kept running faster and faster,
and suddenly...
Dead ahead of me...
There was a wall.
Is there an answer?
Does any actor find it?
Some do.
Eh, that I don't have to worry about anymore.
That's for the Davie Drews.
What will you do from now on?
Finish this job for Kruger.
And then?
Live the future one day at a time.
See what happens.
"Vin Nobile."
From Siena.
You like it?
Very much.
And I like you very much.
I like girls with black eyes...
Soft mouth...
I'm going to kill you, Andrus.
All right, you scared me. Now, put it away.
- Where is she? - Where is who?
Don't kid me.
I didn't come here to have anyone kid me.
What kind of a kick are you on,
weed, goofballs, Bennies?
How many girls have you brought
to hotel rooms like this?
With her, you must have made history,
because she couldn't wait to rush home
to tell me she was through with me!
What did you do, get her drunk?
How many rotten, filthy lies did you tell her?
Say, Jack? Come on, get dressed.
I hate being late.
Oh, wait till you hear my anniversary toast to Clara.
It's a Lily.
What would you do?
About what?
We're working out the interaction
how you take a knife away from a killer.
Well, if the man with a knife isn't a man,
just a yellow-bellied little creep?
Well, you look him in the eye,
you walk up to him,
and still looking him in the eye,
you grab him by his limp wrist.
Don't fight my fights.
I was just going to break his nose--
in how many pieces?
The little creep.
Oh, my god.
I've never begged before.
I'm begging now.
Give her back to me.
What does she mean to you?
Handy tramp?
Two weeks of company in another town?
Studio's crawling with girls like that.
So's the Via Veneto.
You could pick and choose.
Can't you?
No.
All the stories about me over here and in Hollywood...
All of the filth...
Most of it's...True.
Till Veronica.
Look, Davie, you didn't discover first love.
You're not the first one to foul it up.
I can't live without her.
Anybody can live without anybody.
I can't.
Is he gone?
Yes.
You're wasting your time working with that creep.
Just keep him in his place.
Where is that?
At the toe of a boot.
Kick him. Keep on kicking him.
That's the only way I kept him in his place.
You didn't keep him.
The girl kept him here.
Hell of a girl.
You know, for a man who's lived with Carlotta,
how can you be so dumb? Don't you ever learn?
All women are just pure monster.
Go on. Get dressed.
Creep.
Jack...
Have you ever seen a billion dollars breathe?
He operates Japanese tankers
with Greek crews under the flag of Liberia.
Why don't you give up all this movie nonsense
once and for all?
And do what?
Enjoy yourself traveling with me.
Under the flag of Liberia?
He's so busy with his business, darling.
He takes up so little of my time.
He enjoys watching other men want me.
Leave it to me.
You need never have another worry in this world.
Come on! Come on! Everybody, here!
Come on in!
Quiet!
Quiet, everybody!
- Is it ready? - A beautiful--
quiet. Mr. Kruger's going to make his speech now,
so you go ahead and get it ready, please.
Friends...
In this day and age...
When cynicism rules...
I plead guilty to being sentimental.
Is it sentimental to Cherish wedding anniversaries?
Well, then, I plead guilty.
To enjoy the company of friends?
Guilty.
To propose a toast to Clara, my wife?
Guilty.
To Clara...
On this, our eighth wedding anniversary.
A tribute from a pen mightier than my own.
"You are my true and honorable wife...
"As dear to me as are the drops of blood
"that visit my sad heart.
"The hand that hath made you fair
hath made you good."
Then tell that hand
to stop working under the table!
Hmm?
Makin' out with that big bounce
right under my nose.
Cut it out.
Or I'll walk right out on you!
Now!
And then who'll wipe your nose and dry your tears
when those lousy reviews come out?
As for you, drop dead!
Aah!
No! No, please!
No! No! No!
What are you thinking now?
Let's get to the car.
I want to go home.
If that's what you want.
It's not what I want.
When you leave Rome, take me with you.
Let me go with you, please. Wherever you go.
Don't let it end for us.
Ever.
All right.
We leave in about 10 days.
You think that'll make Davie disappear?
Or Carlotta?
Davie?
How long have you known?
Since this evening.
Is he the first man you ever loved?
Yes.
Must have been a tough guy to love.
Are you still in love with him?
You didn't answer my question.
I would if I knew the answer.
You'll never find it by running away.
Are you telling me to go back to Davie?
I didn't say that.
But you won't take me with you.
I didn't say that, either.
What was the name of that wine?
Vin Nobile.
Veronica...
Come here.
There. Don't cry.
Good evening, Mr. Andrus.
402.
Yes, Mr. Andrus.
Thank you.
Up, please.
Come down later. I'll call you.
Look, Carlotta--
Oh. Yes, Ravenski.
What?! Heart attack?
Oh, my god.
Uh--well--how--how do I get there?
Well, wait a minute. Wait a minute. Yes? Yes?
Unh...
Get them out of here, please.
Get 'em outta here.
Please.
Unh...it hurts.
It's a harpoon.
We can take you to the hospital soon.
It had to happen now.
Couldn't wait another few lousy days.
If I don't finish the picture, I don't collect my last check.
Without it...
What will happen to Clara?
We haven't enough to pay the hotel bill.
Kruger's last picture...
Unfinished...
Botched by an international peddler.
It'll be finished.
Oh, sure, by Tucino.
He'll hire any no-talent hack who'll finish under budget.
Not by Tucino.
Well then, by who?
By me. The Kruger way.
What do you think I was doing
on our last 7 pictures, walking in my sleep?
I'll take care of Tucino. You take care of Kruger.
You know, I've been faking so long...
I don't think I can feel what's real anymore.
If I can...
It's what I feel for you, Jack.
Don't die with a lie.
You never felt for anybody but Kruger.
Now that's the way to talk.
You know, as soon as you start to die,
everybody's so polite it's nauseating.
Jack...
Jack, I've got to tell you.
Carlotta... She wasn't worth it.
It was all over town. Everybody was talking.
How she was prowling. So...
I took her to lunch at Romanov's
to read her the riot act,
and I said to her,
"now, Carlotta...You don't do this thing to Jack.
You're to cut it out right now."
Carlotta said, "I'm not cutting it out,
"so why don't you jump in the pool, Kruger.
The water's warm."
I let her drive me out to a motel in the valley.
I never could turn down anything
that was handed me on a platter.
How do you know? You never tried.
Thank you, Jack.
Jack?
Mr. Andrus?
Where's Jack?
Here I am.
OK.
Call Clara. Ask her to come to the hospital.
Tell her I'm on my knees.
You'll never be on your knees.
Heh. I know.
Tell her just the same.
Let's go.
Direct my picture, you?
Me.
You're insane!
Pazzo!
Traveler's checks.
All I have, my last cent.
If I finish one minute behind schedule,
one penny over budget...
Cash 'em in.
The money's yours.
No word from the police.
He was seen coming out of the excelsior
last night, but since then, nothing.
And the airlines?
Nor the buses or the trains.
There's a body in the morgue about Davie's age,
but it's been there 2 weeks.
I've covered everything
from the dog races to the Vatican library.
Carlo, dismiss the company.
Si. Until when?
Until we find him-- if we find him.
Take his stand-in,
shoot the rest of the film
of the back of his neck.
I couldn't do that to Kruger's picture.
Tomorrow morning at 9:00 precisely,
somebody shoots my picture.
If not you, somebody.
Tucino!
David Drew?
Ah, David Drew, actor, americano.
Davie.
Davie!
Hey, what is this?
What about the press release?
We'll figure it out. Come on up.
We've got to find out a way
to keep Kruger from hearing.
402, please.
Yes, Mr. Andrus.
Well, it's about time.
Where the hell have you been?
What time is it, anyway?
Where were you?
Right here waiting for you.
You know how many people we've had hunting for you,
combing this town?
What for? Why?
Grab a shower and let's move.
We've got 40 minutes.
Here, you might as well shave
while you're at it.
40 minutes for what?
Mr. Kruger had a heart attack.
Mr. Andrus will finish
directing the picture.
You?
Me.
Hello.
Pronto.
Do you know how?
Well, we'll find out.
Hello.
Look, can I have some breakfast?
Some orange juice and coffee.
Cinecitta studios, please.
So I started thinking.
Congratulations.
It finally hit me.
One more runaway, and I'd be finished.
Not just in movies. I'm not talking about that.
Me, I'd be finished--
what's left of me.
That's why I went to your place.
But I didn't expect to wait all day and all night.
What did you expect?
The answer neatly wrapped?
The riddle of life and love revealed
in one painless session?
I asked myself who, of everybody around,
fouled--fouled up his life the most?
So you came to my place.
I said to myself, "he's not completely stupid.
Must have taught him something."
Did it?
Not much.
Oh.
I did learn some.
Like what?
Shuffleboard,
the most comfortable position on a couch,
a few 12-letter words like "transference,"
"sublimation,"
the look on the face of somebody
who's taken the first step.
Why'd you bring me here?
You've got just 3 minutes with her.
Why?
Well, for one thing, you can't entirely dislike a man
who's tried to kill you.
For another thing,
now you've got just 2 1/2 minutes.
Cut!
And print.
Janet!
Well, did you-- did you call the hospital?
Mr. Kruger's on the danger list.
No visitors.
Are--are you sure about that take?
Oh, it couldn't be better.
Oh, Carlo!
Carlo!
Davie, would you mind
holding the chips a little higher?
Mr. Andrus.
Mr. Andrus!
Let's try to play this scene entirely different.
Play it calm and cool. Oh, Mario, listen.
I think we can get a kind of effect
by dimming down the lights
so at the end he's in complete silhouette.
Mr. Andrus.
She says that Mr. Kruger promised to rewrite the scene.
Mr. Andrus, she does not understand English.
Not even one word.
Now you get dressed.
Quiet!
Silenzio!
Mario.
Mario!
Yes, Mr. Andrus.
Oh, Mario, this setup I picked
is terribly original.
Can you do something better?
I have worked for many American directors.
No one ever asked me for a suggestion.
Suggestion? I'm begging you for help.
Ah, well, in this case...
Hands a little higher.
How's that?
Julio, OK?
He say he can see the shoulder.
Oh, very important.
You must keep your shoulders back at all times.
Well, get to the hospital?
Yes. They wouldn't let me speak to him.
No phone calls, no visitors.
Mr. Kruger's had a restless evening.
Mmm, thank you.
Now, then, hands in position.
Shoulders back.
Ah, mama, Mia.
Reaching for the jewelry.
Put the jewelry in the dish.
Now reach in for the poison ring.
Shoulders back.
She says can't you use somebody else's hands?
Absolutely not. Now bring out the ring.
Open the ring.
Reach for the poison.
Now pour in the poison.
Shoulders back!
Reach for the ring.
Open the ring.
Reach for the poison.
Pour in the poison.
Stop. Turn it backwards.
Hey, Davie.
Yeah?
Stop. Forward.
Now look, see.
See, when she glances over to you,
she smiles at you.
Yeah, yeah. What about after that?
Supposing I walk around in front of her,
pick up the parasol.
Very good.
That's it!
Barzelli, you're wonderful.
Davie, you're right.
That was the way to play it.
Mario, get me some lighting.
We've gotta get this today.
Mario, this has got to be a Lily,
your masterpiece.
Now how long is it gonna take you to light it?
Well, an hour, maybe less.
Do the best you can.
Mr. Andrus, excuse me.
This is the way I lined up the list of the retakes.
Will you check it, please?
So, Jack, how do you do it?
You shoot all day. You cut and dub all night.
When do you sleep?
While I eat. Look, reverse 4 and 9,
ah, 4 and 9.
How the hell did Lou Jordan get on this set?
The voice of the vulture is heard in the land.
True blue Lou.
So it begins, huh?
They sniff the scent of gold, the new Davie Drew.
Didn't take them long.
Long?
In 10 minutes, everybody on the Via Veneto'll know.
In an hour, it'll be all over Hollywood.
Mr. Andrus, telephone.
Not now, Janet. Look, Mario--
it's the hospital.
Uh, hospital?
Oh, Clara, uh--
of course. I'll be right over.
How is he? Is he--
Clara?
Carlo!
Mr. Andrus.
I'll be back before they light up.
Jack, got a minute?
I'm in a hurry.
Too much of a hurry to make a lot of money?
Lou, some other time. I'm rushing to the hospital.
Well, I'll walk you to the door.
How long before you finish this job?
It's already finished
except for 2 days of retakes.
Good. You're available. I can close the deal now.
You know how much finishing this picture means to Davie.
Yesterday he was poison. Today we can pick and choose.
We?
Yeah.
Didn't you know?
Davie made it clear.
On his next picture, you direct.
I've got just the package.
Davie, the number one best seller,
you.
What about Kruger?
What about him?
You look tired, son.
Oh, I suppose I am.
Maurice, you-- you look great.
You had me so worried, I was crazy.
They wouldn't let me see you
or even talk to you on the phone.
Finished under, hmm?
Oh, 2 days ahead of schedule.
When can you run the film?
It's great.
It's just the way you wanted it, the Kruger way.
Well, then you're all wrapped up.
Company dismissed?
Not quite.
Why not?
You're not gonna believe this.
I persuaded Tucino to give us 2 extra days for retakes.
Oh, you should have heard him scream.
Retakes?
On my picture?
Well, what are you waiting for, Maurice?
You dirty, lying, ungrateful,
double-crossing crook!
You, that he dragged out of a Broadway gutter
and saved from the nut house,
trying to steal his picture!
Shut up.
What, do you think we're stupid
and we don't know what's going on?
Janet told us every sneaky, slippery trick you pulled.
I tried to reach you every day this week.
Retakes, you call them!
Ha, throwing out Kruger's best work!
The scenes he wrote with his blood.
Knifing him in the back on his deathbed.
Maurice, you can't believe that.
So you finally did it, didn't you?
It took you 7 years,
but you finally got even with him for Carlotta!
Shut up, Clara.
Maurice, I want to talk to you alone.
Never! Never again!
From now on, whoever talks to Kruger talks to me first.
Maurice, for god's sake--
get off my set
and stay off.
You're washed up.
Maurice, I...
Tried to help,
not steal your picture. I--
Maurice, this may be the last chance I have
to talk with you.
That's true!
The last chance anyone has to talk with you.
Don't you see what she's trying to do to you?
You dirty, lying thief!
Clara!
Take a look at tomorrow's trade papers.
They've already got the story--
how I had to close down my picture
and throw you out.
It was too much for you.
You couldn't do the job.
Because you were drunk and unreliable!
Because you're still nuts and always will be!
Go back! Go back to your crazy house!
That's where you belong, in a nut house!
Well, that is the end of Mr. Jack Andrus.
Just one moment.
Mr. Andrus.
Mr. Andrus, there's a telephone call
from the Cinecitta studios.
They say it's very important.
Mr. Andrus.
Tucino's hysterical, Carlotta.
He wants Jack to come back
and finish shooting the picture
the way Jack wants to shoot it,
but I guess the Krugers pushed the button.
I see.
Look, Carlotta, I know how you feel about the guy,
but for once in your life, try and behave yourself,
will you, huh?
Come in...
Jack.
♪♪ Don't blame me ♪♪
♪♪ For falling in love ♪♪
♪♪ With you ♪♪
♪♪ I'm under your spell ♪♪
♪♪ But how can I help it? ♪♪
♪♪ Don't blame me ♪♪
♪♪ I can't help it ♪♪
♪♪ If that doggone moon ♪♪
♪♪ Above ♪♪
♪♪ Makes me need ♪♪
♪♪ Someone like you ♪♪
♪♪ To love ♪♪
♪♪ Blame your kiss ♪♪
♪♪ And blame all your charms ♪♪
♪♪ That melt in my arms ♪♪
♪♪ But don't blame me ♪♪
Jack!
Racing down your hill!
Seeing that wall dead ahead!
Jack, Jack, we're in Rome!
Not the house on the hill!
Jack!
Aah!
Did I aim at that wall
and try to kill myself,
or was I just too drunk to miss it?
3 years I've seen that wall.
I still don't know.
Aah!
Jack, Jack!
Aah!
What a wall!
Aah!
Well, now we know.
Porter.
Alitalia, flight 288.
Where the hell have you been?
They've been calling you every 2 minutes.
Where's Veronica?
At the plane on the runway.
Lou Jordan says you turned me down.
You won't direct my next picture.
Why?
Tell me why.
Here is your ticket, Mr. Andrus.
Don't you like working with me?
Very much, and we'll do it again.
But why not now?
I need you.
Don't you ever say that again.
The plane is waiting for you.
You don't need me. You don't need anybody.
Get that through your head.
I thought I needed Kruger
and I could never work without him,
but I could, I did.
I thought I needed Carlotta,
that she spoiled all women for me,
that I couldn't live without her,
but I could, I did.
I came here looking for the past.
I found it, and that hell with it.
I know I'm not off my rocker,
but I've gotta go back home to prove it.
Now I've gotta prove that the job we did together
was no flash in the pan.
Look, you know when we're gonna work together?
When it's right for both of us.
Mr. Andrus, please,
we've got our flight orders.
Veronica.
Cheer up, Davie.
This has gotta last me a lifetime.
Mr. Andrus, we must take off
or we'll lose our clearance.