Morel's Invention (L'invenzione di Morel)

THE INVENTION OF MOREL

Don't be afraid!

Please, listen to me!

You won't say you've seen me, OK?

I appeal to your generosity!

They're looking for me!

I can explain everything, believe me!

I knew that my opinions didn't count for much

But I didn't want them to be ignored!

I can explain, if only they would listen to me

And if it won't alarm your friends

Please! Say something!

You're insulting me! You're implying that I would disgust them!

Go and denounce me, if you want, but for the love of God...

...don't just sit there without speaking!

Would you believe me if I told you that I could take you back to a time before that evening...?

No, I can no longer believe you

Never again!

The influence of the future on the past

Is that some kind of joke?

Believe me, Faustine!... - No!

I know what you're searching for.

Too bad! It's a pity that you won't believe me...

...and that we cannot...agree.

- A pity? And why? - Because...we have such a brief season, three days only

And then it won't matter any more.

My word! Are you trying to frighten me? It's not as bad as that.

But no! I didn't mean to frighten you.

If I spoke too forcefully, please forgive me.

I didn't want to alarm you.

And then, we don't want to stand here discussing it for all eternity.

Morel, do you know I find you very mysterious?

There's no mystery!

Don't take what I say so seriously.

You know...sometimes a man wants to awaken curiosity in a woman to make himself more interesting.

Don't be angry - No, Morel.

There's something that you're hiding from me.

But sooner or later, you'll have to confess.

Yes, I'll make you spit it out.

No, this is not the hour for visions. Let's go in.

- Today, no...I didn't see it. - And does that displease you?

Tomorrow there will be a new one.

I have lost all confidence. All!

- Before you believed in me. - Now, that's no longer possible.

Would you believe me if I told you that I could take you back to a time before that evening at the Ritz?

No, I can no longer believe you.

Never again!

The influence of the future on the past.

Is that some kind of joke?

Believe me, Faustine...- No!

I know what you're searching for.

Too bad! It's a pity you won't believe me...

...and that we cannot...agree.

- A pity. And why? - Because...we have such a brief season, three days only.

And then it won't matter any more.

My word! Are you trying to frighten me? It's not as bad as all that.

But no! I didn't mean to frighten you.

If I spoke too forcefully, please forgive me.

I didn't mean to alarm you.

And then, we don't want to stand here discussing it for all eternity.

Morel, do you know I find you very mysterious.

There's no mystery!

Don't take what I say so seriously.

You know...sometimes a man wants to awaken curiosity in a woman to make himself more interesting.

Don't be angry - No, Morel.

There's something that you're hiding from me.

But sooner or later, you'll have to confess.

Yes, I'll make you spit it out.

Can you tell me why he chose this god-forsaken place?

I knew about it!

I don't deny it. But how did it occur to Morel?

He must have had his reasons.

What are you waiting here for?

Lunch is over. Aren't you in a hurry?

Incredible! Have you read the last piece he wrote in the Green Atlantic?

Don't forget that it's only our poor eyesight...

...that turns the manipulations of the prestigator into magic

How many times have we asked about the destiny of man...

...employing the same old formulae: "Where are we going? What are we waiting for?"

...like recorded music, we wait until we receive the command to be born?

- Oh, no! - Not again! - Not this evening, please.

Could we possibly choose some other topic of conversation?

But why? This interests me greatly.

- Morel, go on, please. - No, no, they're right.

We'll discuss it some other time, on a more propitious and opportune occasion.

Oh, well! Let's talk instead about the construction of the tennis court.

I say that a sports ground in this isolated spot makes no sense.

We're a small group. And the strongest would do nothing but repeat their victories.

But no! Tennis is played for pleasure.

It's not a competition, it's a ceremony!

It will also teach the men how to lose to the ladies.

- It teaches you how to lose. - That's educational, isn't it?

Yes, especially when it's a mixed double.

And then it improves the physique. It's an antidote to the sedentary life.

Behold the remorse of those who have overeaten!

One must think of these things before the dinner gong, my dear.

Yes, there's no better remedy than a good diet.

Is that not so, Morel?

A diet? No, that's an illusion.

The spirit deceives the body.

And the body repays the compliment by ignoring the benefits of the diet.

You musn't be impatient.

Do you see?

Hey...look!

Well played, Faustine.

And how was the voyage? Did all go well, captain?

Excellent. A calm sea and favourable winds.

Did you find it all? Could you bring everything we wanted?

- Yes, of course, everything - You'll excuse us, we'll catch up later

Good evening - How are you?

It's late. We must make our preparations - One moment.

I must tell you something. I didn't speak before because there were too many people.

But I must speak to you and no-one else.

- I'm listening. - No, not here.

Tonight, when everyone is asleep.

- So late? - So much the better.

The later the better!

But above all, be discreet, I don't want the women to know.

Hysteria feeds upon itself.

See you later

If I told them that they are nothing but recordings, all their gestures and all their words...

It wouldn't matter to me

Faustine...I must talk with you urgently.

- Now? Why? - You must listen to me.

Very well. Let's go to the museum - No!

Not there. It's better here.

- I'm cold. Let's go in. - I want to take advantage of this opportunity.

Far from the museum, and the gaze of our friends.

- It can't be that urgent. - I must warn you...

...and I know I can trust you, because you're different from the others...

...and you're not the nervous type.

Very well, but I refuse to remain here, conspiring and plotting.

- I feel ridiculous - Alright, as you like.

Tonight, when the rest leave...

...do me a favour, and stay behind.

Make sure that nobody is missing. I won't begin until everyone's here.

Who is missing? - Jane Grey.

Don't look so surprised.

Someone must go and look for her.

Now who will be able to drag her here?

She must be present.

Perhaps she's asleep.

I'm not beginning until she's here.

- I'll go and fetch her. - I'll come with you.

There's another empty place.

And when one wants an empty chair, one can never find it.

Go and search for him in the house. I saw him come in a while ago.

We've looked everywhere - Not well enough then.

You must bring him here.

Haynes is sleeping. Nobody can rouse him.

Alright then. Let's start. So much the worse for him.

Haynes is too fat and lazy. He stayed behind to sleep.

If we have to wait for him to arrive...we'll never begin.

I owe you...an explanation.

Nothing serious, but so as not to fall into...inaccuracies...

...I've decided to read my speech.

Listen to me carefully, please.

I hope you can overlook this whole tedious, unpleasant, incident.

Let us forget it!

This...and the good week we had together, will eventually lose their importance

I had intended to say nothing.

That would have spared you a very natural anxiety.

We could have all enjoyed ourselves right up until the last minute without anybody raising an objection...

...but since you are my friends you have the right to know.

I have made use of you...

...in this way: I have photographed you without your permission

Of course it isn't the usual sort of photograph.

It is my latest invention.

We will all live in that photograph...forever.

Imagine a stage...on which we all come to play the events of our lives during the last seven days.

We are playing them even now, at this moment.

All our actions here will remain recorded.

- How shameful! - I hope it's all a joke.

This can't be tolerated.

I could have told you, when we arrived: "We will live for all eternity"...

...but then we probably would have spoiled it all, with the effort of maintaining constant gaiety.

And I thought: "Whatever sort of week we spend together...

...even if we don't choose to spend the time profitably, it will be pleasant"

Isn't that so?

And I was right. I have given you all an enjoyable eternity

The works of men are never perfect...

...and nor are mine.

Some of our friends are missing

Claude, Marlene, Leclerc... and poor Charlie naturally...

...but I have them here with me!

If any among you want to see dear Charlie again, you'll be able to do so.

It was one of my first successful test runs.

Has it never happened to you to have the absurd hope...

...of realizing in perpetuity all your dearest fantasies?

Imagine a life with a woman in which it was not necessary to dominate and conquer?

Well, that is the origin of my invention!

At first I planned to come here with her, just the two of us.

But since I haven't succeeded in being alone with her after I confessed my love...

...I would have had to abduct her...and then we would have been locked in eternal arguments.

And that's no exaggeration when I use the term "eternal"

But now I must try and explain my invention.

I'll try and put it in simple language... which can be understood by all.

You certainly know of the radio-telephone... and of the telegraph...

...or the telephone, they all correct defects in our hearing.

And that the television or cinema corrects defects in our vision.