Maria

Morning!

Mm-hmm.

99% of your devotion is about food.

1% is about love.

How is your spine, Ferruccio?

As fragile as a twig, the doctor said.

Hmm. So you should be careful.

When I ask you to do something, you should occasionally tell me no.

I am careful, madam.

That is why I don't dare to tell you no.

Bonjour.

Buongiorno.

I slept until two,

and then he came into my room.

And I said in a very clear voice,

"I know you are dead."

And he went away?

And he went away, which is very unlike him.

Perhaps when... when men are dead, they become more manageable.

Perhaps.

Anyway, madam,

a doctor is coming today at 11:00.

Ferruccio made the appointment for you.

I cannot see a doctor today. I am busy.

You can tell him about the visions you are having,

and no doubt he will change your medication.

I'm perfectly happy with my medication and its effects.

I am happy with the theater behind my eyes.

Doctors often label revelation as illness,

when in fact it is a form of sanity they don't understand.

Right?

Madam, if I may ask,

you will be busy doing what?

Bruna, I want you to listen.

And I want you to be honest.

So?

It was...

magnificent.

Thank you.

How is that for a position for the piano, madam?

Hmm.

It's not right.

But I'm nice, so leave it.

Oh, there is a television camera crew coming to interview me in about an hour.

Perhaps hide the ashtrays.

- May I come in, madam? - Only if you must.

What did you take?

I took liberties all my life.

And the world took liberties with me.

You know what I mean, madam.

This morning, I took only Mandrax.

How many?

Two.

I need to go somewhere and I want Mandrax to accompany me.

Mandrax is not a reliable companion if you are going out.

I will drive you.

- Where are you going? - I will walk.

'Cause you would laugh.

What did Bruna say about your singing?

She said it was magnificent.

She's a housemaid.

And housemaids, of course, cannot know opera?

They are not qualified to judge it.

I know where you are going.

She said it was "magnificent,"

and before, she said it was "excellent."

So...

And so "magnificent" means

you have decided to try?

Yes. On the word of a housemaid.

- Madam, this television crew... - Hmm?

Is it real?

I'd like you to move the piano to the other window.

And as of this morning,

what is real and what is not real

is my business.

Yes, madam.

Oh! And I won't be here for the doctor's appointment

you made without my permission.

Madam, you must...

Don't cancel. Have them look at your back.

You're becoming a little crooked.

In case the television crew are real.

- Madam Callas. - Mm.

My name is Mandrax.

I'd like to walk with you through your life.

Mm.

A handsome interrogator always gets the most honest answers.

Should I call you Maria or La Callas?

Either is perfectly fine.

I prefer La Callas.

Then that is perfectly fine.

Unless, of course, you feel you're a victim of that identity?

Oh.

So much has been written about me,

and many unfair things.

Stories that are... pure fabrication.

Shall we sit?

Okay, roll.

Rolling.

I am quite rebellious by nature.

I heard a story once that you burned all your dresses.

What dresses?

Your old theater costumes.

That is true.

Bravo.

This will be worthwhile.

I burnt my dresses before I left Milan.

May I ask why?

No, you may not.

Uh, then, when did you last perform on stage?

You really should be more persistent with your questions.

I burnt my theater dresses, because they were a part of the past.

And to answer your... less interesting question,

I last performed four-and-a-half years ago.

Because performing on stage is also a part of the past.

You'll never perform again?

No.

Then tell me how it felt to be on stage?

An exaltation.

An intoxication.

Sometimes I thought the stage itself would burn.

And on the bad days?

Well, there are two sides.

One side says to fight.

And the other says, "You are awful, and you should be ashamed."

I'm afraid audiences expect miracles.

I can no longer perform miracles.

Perhaps we could speak a little of your life away from the stage.

There is no life away from the stage.

The stage is in my mind.

I have to go.

- Go? - Yes.

No, we were promised three hours.

Then come with me.

Come with you where?

"Come with me," said the Diva,

and there was really no need to ask where.

Then I will come with you, wherever you're going.

Walk with me across Paris.

My butler says that Mandrax is a very unreliable companion, but

I think we're a perfect combination.

You see?

When I am with you and your camera, Mandrax,

I don't have to perform, because everyone else is performing.

I'm late.

You're Maria Callas.

You're not late. Everyone else is early.

Hmm.

You're casting breadcrumbs as if I were a blackbird...

...and the stage a bird table.

Hmm?

It won't work, of course.