warsaw

INT. MARGO'S LIVING ROOM - NIGHT

It's many Martinis later. Most of the guests have gone. The

party has reached that static state - everyone's assumed more

or less permanent places.

Birdie passes, carrying a cup of coffee. CAMERA FOLLOWS her

to the piano where Margo sits on the bench beside the

pianist. He is just finishing "Liebestraum" and she stares

moodily into a Martini. Birdie halts beside her with the

coffee. Margo looks up. Birdie holds out the coffee. Margo

takes the onion out of the Martini, drops it into the coffee

and waves Birdie away. Birdie goes. "Liebestraum" comes to an

end. The pianist tries to ease into a more sophisticated

rhythm. Margo stops him.

MARGO

(quietly)

"Liebestraum."

PIANIST

I just played it.

MARGO

Play it again.

PIANIST

But that was the fourth straight

time.

MARGO

Then this will be five. I suppose

you think I'm too drunk to count.

PIANIST

No. You're just crazy about

"Liebestraum."

MARGO

"Liebestraum."

PIANIST

Look, Miss Channing... it's kind of

depressing. If you don't mind my

saying so, everybody's kind of

dying on the vine...

MARGO

My dear Horowitz. In the first

place, I'm paying you union scale.

Second, it's my piano. Third, if

everybody doesn't like kind of

dying on the vine, they can get off

the vine and go home.

"Liebestraum."

Unhappily, he plays "Liebestraum." Margo sips her Martini,

stares down into it again. Bill tiptoes up.

BILL

(whispers)

Many of your guests have been

wondering when they may be

permitted to view the body. Where

has it been laid out?

MARGO

(somberly)

It hasn't been laid out, we haven't

finished with the embalming. As a

matter of fact, you're looking at

it. The remains of Margo Channing.

Sitting up. It is my last wish to

be buried sitting up.

BILL

(trying to kid her out of

it)

Wouldn't you feel more natural

taking a bow?

MARGO

You know nothing about feelings,

natural or unnatural.

BILL

Then without feeling, your guests

were also wondering whether the

music couldn't be a shade more on

the - shall we say, happier side?

MARGO

If my guests do not like it here, I

suggest they accompany you to the

nursery where I'm sure you will all

feel more at home.

- Inser du att det är livsfarligt? frågar hon

Jag nickar.

- Värre än rysk roulette och popstjärneförälskelser. Det är din stackars själ som står på spel igen, förstår du det?

Jag gömmer ansiktet bakom en ridå av hårslingor och fingrar och viskar:

- Om fallet blir brutalt, plockar du upp mig då?

- Det vet du att jag gör.

Undine

Your laughter is light, your caress deep,
Your cold kisses love the harm they do;
Your eyes-blue lotus waves
And the water lilies are less pure than your face..

You flee, a fluid parting,
Your hair falls in gentle tangles;
Your voice-a treacherous tide;
Your arms-supple reeds.

Long river reeds, their embrace
Enlaces, chokes, strangles savagely,
Deep in the waves, an agony
Extinguished in a night drift.

- Renée Vivien