Smiles of a Summer Night (Sommarnattens Leende)

SMILES OF A SUMMER NIGHT

Your theater tickets, sir.

Thank you.

- It's 4:00. - Fine.

Miss Armfeldt is appearing.

Miss Armfeldt? I didn't know that.

Miss Armfeldt, the great actress.

Yes, I know.

What did he say at the mention of Desirée Armfeldt?

He blushed and gave a start.

- He gave a start? - Very noticeably so.

- Good-bye, gentlemen. - Good-bye, Mr. Egerman.

Out in the sun, gentlemen. Summer is here.

"Out in the sun, gentlemen."

He'll go straight home to his young wife.

So the son from his former marriage doesn't delve into Daddy's flower bed.

Is it true Desirée Armfeldt was his mistress?

For two years, after the death of his first wife.

Then she threw him out.

- A woman of easy virtue. - I should say so.

But then, she is an actress.

Well, that says it all.

EGERMAN — ATTORNEY-AT-LAW

Adolf, Mr. Egerman is here.

He'll be here presently.

Presently.

How do you do, sir?

I have to say that the photographs of your young wife

are the most excellent portraits ever taken by this studio.

An outstanding artistic achievement.

The subject...

The subject is always paramount.

Yes.

Anne Egerman is beautiful.

- Is my wife in? - Yes, sir. She's waiting with tea.

She's asked for you repeatedly, sir. - I'm a little late.

The weather is beautiful.

Yes, summer is here.

Though I prefer autumn.

Early autumn, that is.

- How old are you, Petra? - Eighteen, sir.

- A pleasant age. - Do you think so too, sir?

- Is my son at home? - He is reading to madam.

"Virtue arms the virtuous man,

and although temptation is an attack, it is not a defeat.

Apropos of this, Martin Luther said,

'You cannot stop the birds from flying over your head,

but you can keep them from nesting in your hair."'

Hello, children. Hello, Mrs. Egerman.

Forgive me for holding up tea, but I see you've had company.

Hello, my son.

How did you do at the examination? Silly question.

Brilliantly, I'm sure.

The professor praised Henrik.

He said it was nice to see a theologian who wasn't a fool.

Still determined to enter the church?

- Don't be mean, Fredrik. - I didn't say anything.

Oh, what fun! We're going to the theater tonight!

What shall I wear?

And you have time to go! What fun!

What shall I wear?

Imagine! You finding time to take your little Anne to the theater.

Henrik, look! Theater tickets!

Would you rather go with Henrik?

When I can go with you, who are always so busy?

What shall I wear?

The blue one with the feathers?

Or the yellow one?

Is it a comedy?

I know.

The white one goes with both laughter and tears.

How thoughtless of me to buy only two tickets.

But I suppose comedy is all too worldly for a man of God.

Perhaps.

Anne dearest?

To enjoy the performance to the fullest, I suggest we take a nap first.

Will you forgive us for deserting you?

See you at dinner.

- Stop walking like that. - How do you mean, sir?

- Just what I said: "Stop walking like that." - And how is that?

- You sway your hips, Petra. - Do I?

I do!

How funny.

Desirée...

how I've longed for you.

Pray tell me about the countess.

I have never met her, only seen her from a distance.

I fully understand your request, Madam de Vilmorac.

I shall, to the best of my ability, seek to depict the countess's person,

which, however, is all too nuanced and rich in mysterious contradictions

to be described in a few moments.

Her power over men is said to be of a singular quality.

Countess Celimène de Francen de la Tour de Casas.

- Who's playing the countess? - Miss Armfeldt, I believe.

- Isn't her first name Desirée? - It is.

May I have the glasses?

- Why did she look at us? - I don't think she did.

She looked at us and smiled. Why?

To acknowledge the applause.

- She's extremely beautiful. - It's only makeup.

How can you be sure? Have you seen her in real life?

We all know that each man has his dignity.

We women have the right to commit manifold sins against husbands,

lovers and sons,

excepting one: to offend their dignity.

If we do so, we are foolish and must bear the consequences.

Rather, we should make of a man's dignity our foremost ally

and caress it, soothe it, speak fondly to it

and handle it as our dearest toy.

Only then do we have a man in our hands, at our feet,

or wherever else we want him at that particular moment.

Do you believe this can be reconciled with true and sincere love, madam?

Do not forget, madam, that love is a perpetual juggling of three balls,

the names of which are heart, words and loins.

How easy it is to juggle these three balls,

and how easy to drop one of them.

I shudder at this lack of decency!

I want to go home.

I assure you that Her Ladyship's lack of decency is highly moral,

and her influence on all men greatly ennobling,

whatever their standing may be.

Why... is the play already over?

Madam is not feeling well. Help her to bed, Petra.

Certainly, sir.

To your health, my son.

I didn't know playing guitar was part of a clergyman's education.

A fine wine.

You have good taste.

I'm glad you're celebrating your examination.

- I'm so terribly unhappy. - Yes, of course.

- You're being sarcastic. - Why should you be unhappy?

You're young, the moon is out, you passed your exam,

and you have champagne and a girl who is decidedly... attractive.

Yet you are unhappy. Such are the expectations of youth.

- I don't love her. - So much the better.

We sinned, and still it was all...

If thrown from the saddle, you must remount immediately.

This is true of both love and riding. - That's disgusting!

Why confuse things, my boy?

Sex is the young boy's and the old man's toy.

Love is...

- So a young man can't love? - Oh, yes!

A young man loves always...

himself.

His self-love, and his love of love itself.

But a mature man like yourself knows all about love?

- I think so. - That must be wonderful.

It's dreadful, my son, and very difficult to cope with.

Are you being sincere now, Father?

Petra was so kind.

"Better luck next time," she said, laughing.

What did you say? Oh, yes!

One's first time is always a miserable farce!

Fortunately, women don't take it half as seriously as we do.

Otherwise the human race would die out. - You joke about everything.

You will too, when you see your own foolishness,

and the triviality of your illusions.

Madam wishes to say good night, sir.

I'll be right there, Petra.

You are a good girl, Petra.

I shall see to it you have a raise.

Would you be jealous?

Jealous?

If Henrik started courting me,

or if I took a fancy to him?

It's just a hypothetical question.

You and your ideas.

Would you be jealous? Answer me.

I can't answer unless I'm sitting up.

Yes, I believe I'd be jealous.

Because you're both so young and I'm so old,

and because I'm fond of you both.

You are frightfully old.

Why did you marry me? Can you answer that?

Is this a cross-examination?

Did you think I was pretty?

Well, yes. Awfully pretty.

Different from other women?

That too.

And I was only 16.

Well, yes... that too.

I was domestic and always cheerful.

And you made me cheerful.

And the wolf thought,

"I wonder what a young girl would taste like."

Is that what you think?

Admit the wolf had wicked thoughts.

Yes, perhaps the wolf did, sometimes.

Then the wolf was disappointed.

Why?

You were so lonely and sad that summer.

I felt so awfully sorry for you.

And then we got engaged.

It was I who suggested it. Have you forgotten that?

One grows forgetful with age.

I shall sleep now.

One day I shall really be your wife,

and we shall have a child.

Yes.

You must be patient with me.