Terror at the Opera (Opera)

No! I can't concentrate.

Please, maestro, i'm sorry, but I can't carry on like this.

Let's take it from number 37.

Oh, my god! No, no!

Maestro, please let's take it from

Stop! Stop!

I can't stand it anymore!

It's ridiculous. Poor thing. Are you hurt?

It's ridiculous! This is Macbeth by Giuseppe Verdi!

I've never seen such lousy direction.

We have a problem? Yes, you!

This isn't one of your crummy movies! Birds on stage, back projection, laser beams!

What is this? An opera or amusement park?

I have to sing! How can I do that with a raven on stage that hates me?

I can't imagine why it should hate you, Mara.

Neither can i! But it never takes its beady eyes off me.

It shrieks, whistles, flaps its wings.

It's deliberately destroying my performance! It's just a bird.

Yes, and birds should be with other birds and not in the opera singingmacbeth!

Where is my manager?

I'm here, Mara. I am going back to the hotel.

Come on, Mara. Please, don't be like this.

I'll rest till 7:00. I shall be ready to sing at 8:00.

Ready to sing, without ravens or any other nonsense. A real opera!

What do we do now?

Oh, carry on with the rehearsal.

If something like this happens again, i'll take my ravens and leave.

Okay. Maestro? Please, please.

We'll take it from the

Thanks to you and your so-called brilliant and original direction!

Ladies and gentlemen, the great Mara Giacova...

Has been knocked down by a car!

Is she badly hurt? Call an ambulance. Hurry!

What a disaster! What are we gonna do?

Hello? Is that you, betty?

Yes. Tonight you make your debut as Lady Macbeth.

What? Are you happy?

Who's speaking?

Is this a joke?

Hello?

Hello?

Mira!

Come on, betty, come on. Get ready.

In exactly one hour, you've got to be on stage.

Mara Giacova has had an accident. Here.

Someone already called. I thought it was a joke.

Why are you crying? Are you scared of making your debut?

No! But Lady Macbeth. I'm too young. My voice isn't right.

You'll be a smash hit.

I'm afraid I won't reach some of the notes.

Trust me. I'm not only your agent, i'm your friend.

I know what you're going through. Just opening-night nerves.

Don't let them show. They're all coming to see you.

Don't show them how "inconfident" you are, okay?

Stop!

Well, my dear Betty, are we ready?

Mara's unfortunate accident is going to speed you towards your destiny.

Tonight you will make your debut in Verdi's Macbeth.

Do I see tears?

Tears of happiness, I hope.

Don't tell me you're afraid. Afraid you'll fail?

I'm too young for the role.

Verdi's first Lady Macbeth was only 17.

Anyway, you know the opera by heart.

I watched you at all rehearsals working so hard preparing yourself...

As though you were the star and not the understudy.

Don't worry about the orchestra. They'll only need half an hour's rehearsal. Excellent.

Come on. Stop it! This is your big chance.

I know.

Think of your mother, how happy and proud she would have been...

To see you in a great opera following her career.

If people like you, next you'll sing in New York and Salzburg.

What happened to Mara?

She got hit by a car, or so I heard.

Ah, you are listening to Prokofsky's recording of Macbeth.

Did you know it was a production of ours?

1975.

It's the opera. Macbeth brings bad luck.

What are you talking about? Everyone says it. Macbeth brings bad luck.

It's a great opera, but I would much rather make my debut in something else.

Don't let Patini hear you say that. It's true!

Shut up! So you think this opera brings bad luck, hmm?

I don't know. It's what everyone says.

Well, i don't say it.

Look, you have a wonderful voice, you are very beautiful,

And you're making your debut in a great theater.

You must make the most of this opportunity.

It usually only happens to people in the movies, huh?

Mm-hmm. Don't throw it away.

Yes.

Five, four, three, two, one, now!

Let her through, let her through!

There's too much smoke.

There's too much smoke!

Dino, cut the smoke. Cut the smoke!

Wait a second. No! The scar should be on the other side!

Betty goes on in another two minutes. Okay, two minutes for Betty.

Two minutes, two.

Oh, what are you doing? Leave it!

Leave it! Put it in the center.

Oh, no, no! Stop it!

That's okay. Just go away.

Be careful! Be careful not to ruin the costume.

You've finally returned.

What are you doing here? You're not allowed in here.

This box is for stage personnel only. Come on. Let's go.

What the hell do you-

Stay where you are. Betty?

- Keep your positions. - Keep going.

It was an accident. Nothing more. Okay?

Give it here.

Okay, maestro.

Well done, Betty! You're so beautiful!

That's enough, Mara! Don't be childish.

You're a star! You really think so?

Bravo. You're wonderful! Wonderful!

Betty, my sincerest compliments. You were sensational.

Thank you.

There'll be a first-night party later on. Thank you.

Betty, you were magnificent. Thank you, maestro.

Will you be at the reception? Yes.

Marc, the press are here.

What about the accident with the lights?

The shouting and the screaming! What shouting and screaming?

You didn't hear it? It came from one of the boxes. No.

Betty? Oh, Marc!

Marc, wasn't she great?

I know we've had some trouble, but it's got nothing to do with Macbeth.

The only bad luck Macbeth has brought you is fame.

I know. My mother was a singer.

You better run along. People will be waiting for you.

Fantastic!

I mean it! Betty, you were fantastic! You were great!

I just love Verdi's music. I really do!

Oh, god, you were wonderful. Just wonderful.

Just that damn, damn director! I can't take him anymore.

Giulia?

You work here in the theater?

Ah, no. Excuse me.

Ahh, you're a fan of mine. Yes.

The first. First what?

Congratulations. Fan.

You were wonderful. Thank you.

Do you want an autograph? Oh, yeah.

I'd like that. Thank you.

Excuse me.

What name shall i- Excuse me.

Alan.

Alan? Mm-Hmm.

Thank you.

Are you a foreigner? Oh, no.

Everything is ready, inspector, and they're all waiting for you.

Okay. So you are a policeman, not a fan.

Can't a policeman be a fan? It's just-

I'm not an expert on opera, but...

Your voice is-

Thanks for the autograph.

Yes?

Hi. What did the cop want? Hi.

My autograph. Why is he here?

Who knows?

Oh, maybe because of the accident with the lights. One of the stagehands died.

What? Yeah, it's pretty weird.

Leave your costume there. Marc says it needs a few alterations.

Listen. I don't want to go to the party alone. Would you feel like taking me?

Please? Sure, i'd love to!

I almost forgot. You were great tonight.

And it looks like i'm the last one to congratulate you.

So you think it would be okay if I had a kiss? Even if i'm only the stage manager?

What do you say?

Did you really like me? Really?

Like you? I loved you!

From the great Mara Giacova.

With her best wishes. Thank you.

Hmm.

The great Mara Giacova can say she was literally struck by the curse of Macbeth.

"Good luck, little snake."

Ooh, you can certainly feel her sting there!

Looks expensive.

Ohh!

Whew!

What do you think it is?

Who knows?

Frog slime?

Acid? Poison?

Hey, what's wrong? What's wrong?

You idiot!

Yuck! Ginseng! Giacova would bathe in that stuff!

Filthy damn birds!

I'm sorry, I can't. It's not your fault.

I'm a disaster in bed. I don't know why. I'm sorry.

According to the legend, opera singers are incredibly horny.

You know, really. They say they make love before they go out on stage.

That way it sort of... relaxes their voice.

You know, sweetens it up a little.

Either i'm a lousy opera singer or-

Have I offended you? No.

Well, I mean... now that you're famous,

It seems like things are a little bit different between us.

No, don't say that. It's not true.