Blind Date (2007) - full transcript
A married couple has suffered a tragedy, and now the only way they can now relate to one another is by meeting as different characters through a series of personal ads.
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
[scattered applause]
[scattered applause]
[girl]
My father was a performer--
a magician or a conjurer.
He would make things disappear
and appear again.
He did this in a funny way.
His goal was to be good
at being not very good.
A lot of people, I think,
were just confused by him.
My mother felt that I was too
young to see his act.
I don't know
if this was true or not.
I know that she no longer
watched it at all.
I don't know
how many people actually did.
[scattered applause]
♪♪
[man]
Pick a card.
All right.
[phone ringing]All right.
You remember?I remember, yeah.
[phone ringing]
[phone ringing]Okay.
Hello-- hello?
Yeah.
No, you're going to
have to speak up
'cause it's
a little busy in here.
Mm-hmm.
I'll tell him.
He's not here,
I'll tell him.
Janna, right?
Yeah, okay, bye.
Is that your card?
No.
Is that your card?No, no.
All right.
Is that your card?
No.
That?No.
Is that your card,
is that your card?
Is that your card?
Is that your card,
is that your card?
Is that, that?
No.
Where is it?
It's a pity.Yeah.
♪♪
Uh, red wine, please.
Cabernet all right?
Sure.
It's quiet now.
I-- I called before.
You called?
To say I'd be late.
I asked for Donald.
Donald?
I'm Janna.
Janna, right.
Right.
Is he here?
Who?
Donald.
Yes.
I'm sorry.
Let me
start it again.
What?
Start again?Why?
I thought this was gonna
be something else.
All right.
Mom and Dad are always playing
games with one another.
Sometimes these games
make them very uncomfortable.
I think they play them
because it's something that
they can still do together.
I guess they take
some comfort in that.
Janna.Yes?
Hi, I'm Don-- Donald.
How do you do?How are you?
Good, good.
Hi, hi.Oh.
This is for you.
My, where'd
that come from?
It's magic.
You shouldn't have.Oh, please.
Well, there's lots of things
I shouldn't have done,
but I did them.
Would you
like a drink?
Red wine.Red wine.
Wow, that's fast.Well...
Well, I have to say,
I am pleasantly
surprised.Really?
Yes.Why?
Well, I mean...
you know, you never
know what you're going to
get from these ads.Oh.
[chuckling]
Your first time?
Yes.
Mine too.Oh.
Would you like to
sit at a table?
Sure.Shall we?
Good evening.
Can I get you
something from the bar?
Uh, yeah, I'll have
a vodka martini
straight up,
very dry, very cold,
with, uh-- do you
have onions?
No, sir,
no, we don't.
All right.
Uh, well, just give me
a couple of
olives then, please.Very good.
One would-be gimlet.
What?
A martini made with onions
would be a gimlet.
No.
A gimlet would be
made with lime.
And how's
the lady this evening?
The lady
is just fine.
Are you--
I'm new, yeah,
I'm new, yeah.I thought so.
This is my first--
Why don't you just bring
us a bottle of whatever
the lady is having?
Okay?Yes, sir.
Rude boy.
Especially since
I'm not alone.
You're certainly not.
A Gibson.
Pardon?
A martini made with onions
is called a Gibson.
You're right.
I have to say, you're very
brave to answer my ad.
I mean--It was very charming.
You had no idea
what I would be like.
Well, you were very
sweet on the phone.
A real gentlemen,
a true gentlemen.
I try to be.
I mean... I respect
you very much.
Thank you.
There you go.
[cork popping]
Bring us
something else.
Would you like to try
a Cabernet?
That is a Cabernet.
I don't like him.
What-- what do you do?
I'm a magician.
Oh my.What?
My-- my father
was a magician.
No.
Oh, no.
Well, what do you
know about that?
But my act is not
the usual sort of, um...
No, it's, um...
It's sort of funny.
Sort of...
sort of funny?Yeah.
Is it something either
find funny or...
Or what?Or not.
Um...
Yeah, you know,
I guess you're right.
Yeah-- no, but it is--
it is funny.
It's sad funny,
but it's funny.
Like, everything goes
wrong in the act.Oh, I see.
I see how that
could be funny.Yeah.
You do?
Yeah.How?
Well, things going wrong
is sometimes funny.
Things going wrong?
Things not working out.
Uh-huh.
Such as?
Such as... I don't know.
Someone falling down,
slipping and...
falling down.
Huh.
See, I'm not so--No, no, no...
Not-- not-- not really
getting badly hurt.
Not getting badly hurt
or anything like that.Right, okay.
No, no, no, no--Yeah, I was going to say--
No, no,
that would be awful.
I mean, that would be--Yeah, no.
No, no, no-- not--
not-- not-- no, I'm--
I'm not--
I'm not like that.Oh, okay.
Like what?
Like...
like someone who likes
to see people get hurt,
who can laugh at someone
else's expense.
Yeah, okay, good,
I was going to...[stammering]
Yeah, 'cause I didn't
think you...
Right, I didn't
think that was you.
No, no.
I have to say, I did...
one time
I saw my father
fall down and hit his head
pretty badly,
and I have to say, um...
I laughed a lot.
I thought it was
pretty funny.
[chuckling]
Was he all right?Yeah, yeah, yeah,
he was fine, he was fine.
I mean, he had to go to the
hospital, but he was fine.
Did he bleed?
No.
So there was no blood?
Yes, there was no blood.Oh.
Well, there you go.What?
If there had been blood,
it wouldn't have been funny.
Blood makes it
not funny.
Yeah, I guess
you're right, yeah.
But I have to say,
I did keep
wanting to see blood.
Really?Yeah.
I mean, I wanted to
see him bleed.
To make
him more human?
Pardon?
To humanize him?
Oh, no.
I knew he was human.
I just
didn't like him.
Why?
He was unlikeable.
And I still am.
You're not drinking.Oh, oh...
Cheers.
I'm sure
it'll be fine.
Great.Excellent.
Unbelievable.
Must be difficult being
a beautiful woman.
Oh, I don't-- I don't
think I'm beautiful.
You're wrong.
You're wrong.
I'm a dancer.Oh.
May I make
an observation?
Certainly.
You seem to
have nice breasts.
Thank you.
When did you
get them?
When I...
started my period.
Uh-huh.
How old were you?
13.
I got ice cream
and tits.
From whom?
My father.
Why?Because I was...
I was very sad.
Sounds like a nice guy.
He was.
Very likeable.
Lucky you.
Did you cry?
Uh... yes.
My mother said it was
one of two important
moments in my life.
Really?Mm-hmm.
What's the other?
I haven't had it yet.
What is it?
When a man
kisses your feet.
Really?
"Then he really
loves you," she said.
Oh.
Huh.
You know, I wanted to
become a podiatrist.
Really?No.
Can I ask you a question?
When do you say
that a man loves you?
When he...
he doesn't mind when
you don't want to make love.
Excuse me?
When he doesn't mind
when you do not
want to make love.
[laughing]
Do you find that funny?
[laughing]
Why do you find that--No, no.
No, I just have a story.
You know...
[laughing]
You know, all this talk
about funny, it is funny.
I mean, and-- and--
Who's funny, what's funny--
As it turns out, you're
the one who's funny, Janna.
[laughing]
You are the one
who's funny.
That's funny.
[laughing]
Pick a card.
Fuck you.
Fuck you
and your cards.
[door slamming]
[man on radio]
Hi, I'm meteorologist
Jason Harris.
We'll look at our forecast
across the nation.
You're going to be greeted by
lots of sunshine
in Chicago,
same southward
to Jackson, Mississippi
and on into New Orleans
this weekend.
And Saturday, New England
is gonna be a beauty.
It's that time of year
when you wanna get out
for fall leaf watching.
So let's see
how things are shaping up.
Well, very nicely across
the northeast
and we're talking
about peak colors there.
Most of the mid-Atlantic,
DC and Baltimore,
down to Atlanta
will have another dry day with
temperatures reaching
up into the high 80s.
And the weather temperatures
are not too bad.
We're still ahead of an
approaching cold front
with temperatures
making it up into the 70s.
We'll find in the afternoon,
sunshine.
Today we're in fine shape.
The temperature
will later come down
into the later night hours.
From here...
[rustling]
... make sure you make plans to
get out there and enjoy it.
Sunshine will dominate
our weather through out
the entire weekend.
And in addition to that,
temperatures topping out--
♪♪
♪♪
I need to be discrete.
I think
I told you I'm married.
Yes, you mentioned.
I would never do
anything to hurt my wife.
I'm not
looking for any--
I know, I know.
I only want a dancing
partner, nothing more.
Right, I understand.Good.
I'm really just looking for
a little,
you know, contact.
Like this?
Yes.
But that's it.
I know.
I know.
I know.
What are you
really looking for?
Lately, my wife...
... she won't
allow me...
Won't allow you?
To make love to her.
Oh.
And I've tried everything.
I've been very, very,
very, very...
... I think,
very patient.
But I'm a man,
after all.
And...
I guess I took
the ad, you know...
Hoping one thing would
lead to another?Yes, yes, yes.
I guess.
Yes.
Why won't she allow you?
'Cause something
happened
and ever since
then, she's changed.
I'm sorry.I know.
Me too.
I was very, very sad,
but I mean...
... life goes on.
Not always,
not for everyone.
Not for your wife.
No, not for my wife.
That happened
to me once.
What?
The thought of sex
made me sick...
Oh.... because of
an emotional strain.
Oh.
Did it... last?
A long time.
It lasted a long time.
I went to the doctor
and...
he told me to be patient.
But things got difficult
with my husband.
He...
he couldn't
understand why...
... I couldn't make love.
He thought
it was an excuse
because I didn't
love him.
He thought
you didn't love him?
He thought
I didn't love him.
One night, he came over
and...
he held me tight.
He pushed me
to the floor.
It was awful.
He was much stronger.
It hurt a lot.
I'm sorry.
I thought
that after that...
I would be afraid of men.
I'm not.
In fact...
just the opposite.
I'm less afraid.
Some men...
are very sweet.
Are you sweet?
You seem sweet.
No.
Please.
[sighing]
Why don't
you have a seat?
I slept
with my mother.
Maybe I'll have
a beer.
Was it nice?
It was all right.
I sodomized her.
I think
I will have a beer.
Excuse me.
Did you hear
what I said?
You're very sweet,
I think.
I ass-fucked my mother.
Come on, come on, come on,
come on, come on, come on.
This is
heartless shit.
I mean, come on.
Come on!
I don't think it's going to
work out between us.
My father burned
another picture of me today.
He thinks it'll make
him forget...
but I know he never will.
Besides, burning something
only makes you
remember that thing more.
[phone ringing]
[Janna on answering machine]
Hi, this is Janna.
Please leave a message
and your number
and I'll call you
as soon as I can.
[answering machine beeping]
♪♪
[bell dinging]
Oh!
Tequila.
[groaning]
I'm Janna.
Right.
I have a lot of
tension in my hands,
so if you can't cope,
leave now.
Okay.
I'm sorry?
I said okay.
Where was I?
You have tension.
Because of a man.I see.
A very, a very sweet,
but...
difficult, stupid man.
Do you love him?
Yes.
Does he love you?
I should hope so.
How long have you been
aggressive?
About two years
since it's been off.
What was on?
It must have been
to be off.
Pardon?
If it's off,
it must have been on.
Sorry.
Where does he come from?
Powerlessness.
Okay.
But I miss him.
Does he miss you?I think so.
So why aren't
you two together?
Are you-- are you that
simple or is it an act?
Pardon?
There's more than
just missing him.
I know that.
Then don't ask such
simple, dumb questions.
Okay.
Can you tap dance?
I'm afraid not.Neither can I.
Are you having
a drink?
No, I'm fine.
I'll have a beer,
please.
If I had
a lot of money...Uh-huh.
... and a driver, bodyguards
and makeup artists,
I would fight all day.
Why?
Because I love it.
So you're aggressive
because you love someone
that you can't be with.
More or less.
Constant aggression?Sometimes.
Regularly.Where does it come from?
My thoughts.What kinds of thoughts?
Painful thoughts.
What kinds of
painful thoughts?
Is that important?Yes.
When I think
of my father.
What happens?
Why?
Because he's dead.
So you get aggressive
when you think of
your dead father.Yes.
Okay.
Did you
love your father?
A lot.Uh-huh.
What did he do?
He was a conjurer.
Oh, a magician.Did I say that?
No.What did I say?
You said conjurer.
You said conjurer.
Yes.
Exactly.
You search for people who
resemble your father?
Maybe.
Old people?
Old codgers?
Old conjurers.
That was funny.Thanks.
What else makes you
aggressive?
When I think
of my daughter.
What else makes
you aggressive?
When I think of
her father.
Why?
Is he dead?
Yes.
No.
[siren blaring in the distance]
He, uh...
... he hurt me.
How?
He hurt me.
I heard you.
Watch your tongue.
Sorry.
He raped me.
This is a cute place.
Can you send me
a copy of the interview?
♪♪
Dearest Diary,
Dad played hide-and-seek today.
Mom did not like this game.
She said it made the world feel
even bigger than it really was
and she didn't like that.
But it was always one of
Dad's favorite games.
Maybe because
he was very good at it.
[speaking gibberish]
[glasses clinking]
[glass shattering]
♪♪
[singing in foreign language]
[singing in foreign language]
[glass shattering]
[singing in foreign language]
[singing in foreign language]
[singing in foreign language]
♪♪
♪♪
[knocking]
[knocking]
[Don]
Yeah.
We had an appointment?Mm-hmm.
Not here.
[keys jangling]
[lock unlatching]
Wait here.
We had an appointment?
I'm Janna.
My name's Maria.
Maria.
Okay?
I don't mind that
you're called Maria.What?
I don't mind that
you're called Maria.
Do you?Well, sometimes.
A little, yeah.
Huh.
I mean,
it's a girl's name.
Sometimes it is,
yes.Yeah.
Do you feel
that feminizes you?
What?Feminizes you?
Yeah, well
I mean... come on.
You wanted help,
I'm here to help.Yes.
Thank you... Doctor.
That was
Rilke's name-- middle name.
Who?
Rainer Maria Rilke.
Who was he?
The poet.
The German poet.
Oh, German.Yeah.
I don't like
the Germans.
Why?
Because they have
a tendency to encroach.
I'm a very private
person.
I don't like that.
Maybe we can
change that about you.Yeah, maybe.
Was he gay?Who?
Your German.
No.
Would that bother you?Yeah.
Look, can you...
... can you just
talk to me normally?
All right.
Will that reassure you?Yes, it will.
It will.All right.
Okay.
You seem irritated.Yeah, I am,
I am irritated.
I'm having a hard time.
I'm having
a hard time right now.
And if you just talk to me,
you know, normally,
then I'll
probably calm down.
Are you asking me
to change my behavior?
No, I'm just saying that if
you're here to help--
Which I am.Right.
Then just
please be helpful.
That's all I'm saying.
Sorry, I just--You seem...
What?... overly sensitive.
Yeah, I am, yes, yes.Exposed, raw.
Yes, raw, yes, raw.
Very raw.Does that--
does that feminize you?
I don't know.
Then it's
a good thing that I'm here.
To help you now.
Yes.
I think we should
get down to business.Okay.
Have you
sought help before?
No, no.
Does that hurt?
No.Good.
It was funny, though.
Do you think?I do.
Even better.
Are you married?
Are you married?
Yeah, I... yes--
no-- sort of, kinda.
Does she know?About what, about what?
Your problem.What problem?
What, with the Germans?
The name.
Oh.
Oh, no, no.
Yeah, I mean, she knows,
yeah.
How did she react?
I told her
on our first date.
She was very understanding,
very loving.
Loving.
But...No buts.
No buts.
You know what?What?
You should
write it down.
What should I write?
What you feel.
Why on earth
did you draw a car?
What?A car.
It's not a car.
It's a carp.
It's a fish.
I know
what I'm drawing.
You may think you know,
but it's quite
evident that that's a car.
Look.A car.
It's a carp.It's a car.
No.
♪♪
I died when I was five.
We were in
a car accident.
My mother was driving
and my father was singing in
the passenger seat.
He was
making her laugh.
Who's fault was it?
I don't know.
They lived and I died.
They say the loss of a child
is the greatest loss of all.
When their
games weren't enough,
my parents reached out to other
people for solace.
This always happened with
people they didn't really know.
[no sound]
[door closing]
These other games were rare,
but I guess they thought they
were necessary.
The problem was
that they always caused
Mom and Dad to end up feeling
more uncomfortable
than they did
after their usual games.
And then things between them
would become
more complicated than before.
♪♪
[laughing]
[laughing]
He's a bad boy.
He's a bad boy.
[retching]
[retching]
[moaning]
[toilet flushing]
♪♪
♪♪
[scattered applause]
[scattered applause]
[toilet flushing]
[cane tapping]
♪♪
Oh!
Sorry.
Hey, what...
Sorry, sorry.
Janna?
Janna, is that you?
Yes.Oh.
[glass shattering]
Janna?
I'm over here.
Can I have a beer,
bartender?
Yes.Bartender?!
I'm here.Oh.
Can I have beer,
please?
Coming right up.
And you?
I had
my red wine.
What are you wearing?
My velvet top.
Thought
you were a rabbit.
No, I'm...
I'm not a rabbit.
Oh, I like rabbits.
Well.You feel like one.
Really?Yeah.
People are watching.
People are--I don't care.
I can't see them.
Bartender?
Bartender?!Here you go.
Oh.
Did she
give me the beer?
Where is it?It's right here.
Where?
Where?
Cheers.
Would you take care of
me if I were blind?
No.Would you
be my guide dog?
No.
You would
have me stumble?Yeah.
At least
three times a day.
You wouldn't feel
sorry for me?
You wouldn't--Of--
Of course not.Pity me?
No, of course not.Why not?
I didn't
make you blind.
No, I didn't say guilty,
as I said-- I said--
you should feel guilty.
I said pity--
feel pity, take pity.
If you have to think about it,
I guess that's a bad sign.
I think
pity is a waste.
And waste is a pity.
Will you marry me?
Hmm?
I don't think so.Why?
Don't you like me?
I like you.
I think you're gorgeous.How can you tell?
Oh, come on,
let me see.
Oh, yeah, oh my God.
Look at this,
I was right!
You're gorgeous.
You have a sweet voice,
such a nice voice.Don't.
Here,
these are for you.What?
These.Ah!
Now will you marry me?
Don't...
I'm just asking.
If you marry me, I'll bring
you flowers every day.
I have plenty more
where those came from.
They're fake.
Yeah, but they'll
last forever.
Are you there?
♪♪
[man on radio]
... also considered a member
of the old guard.
And here's another song
performed by Francisco Canaro,
"Cara Sucia."
♪♪
Are-- are you...
Don.Yeah.
Janna.Janna, right.
Hi.
How are you?
Pleasure.
Did you have any
trouble finding the place?
A little.
A little, yeah, I know, it's
a little bit tucked away.
Yes, but it's nice.
Yeah, it's...
it's unusual.
[laughing]
Look,
I've ordered wine.
I took the liberty.Oh, wine is fine.
Oh, good, red.Oh, good, all right.
Shall we sit
at a table?
I have a table reserved.
Reserved?Yeah.
[chuckling]
Could you bring that
over to our-- do you mind?
Thank you.
They say that red wine
is good for you.
Yeah, that's
what they say.
Healthy.I wouldn't
have thought that.
Yeah, well,
that's what they say.
Well, I'm glad
they say it.
[speaking French]
Oh, do you speak French?
Uh, no,
I don't think so, no.
You're not sure?Um... well, no.
I mean, I can do
a lot of things,
but I don't think that speaking
French is one of them.
I mean, it might well
have been at one time,
but I-I... I don't
think so.
I don't remember.
Do you?
Remember
if you speak French?
No--
[laughing]
That was funny.
I have
a sense of humor.Well--
Here you go.Thank you.
Well, I'll drink
to that.Oh.
[glasses clinking]
[clearing throat]
Ah.Um.
So...
What is it
that you do?
Well, mostly,
I'm a conjurer.
♪♪
What?
I can't believe it.What?
My father...
my father was a conjurer.
No.
Really?Yes.
Well, he was more of an
illusionist,
but... oh my God.
Can you tell me what
perfume are you wearing?
Sorry.I'm not wearing any.
Really?
You smell so good.Oh, it must
be my powder.
My baby powder.
Ah.
Something wrong?
No.
You sure?Yes.
Nothing at all.
You even
look like him.
Who?My father.
Really?
Handsome fellow.
[laughing]
That's funny.
Well, you know,
humor is key.
Oh, I'll drink to that.Yes, okay.
So... do you
have a fellow?
Why not?
Because I'm critical
and I love
tap dancing
and I want a child.
Ah.
Did you hear
what I said?Oh, yes.
I did.
You said that
you love tap dancing.
Of sorts.
I-- I-- I-- I--
I like to tap.
Mm-hmm.
That's a pretty
noisy pastime.
Well, I don't
do it at home.[laughing]
No, that would be very
annoying to the neighbors,
wouldn't it?Yes.
[laughing]
[exhaling]Ha.
Do that again.
What you just--
what you just did.
Well, that was
an accident.
Well, yeah,
but, it's so--
Why laugh--
you're always-- why laugh?
Why are you laughing?
[exhaling]
I used to
do that too.[laughing]
Laughing--
it's just so adorable.
How old are you?Young.
You're old, though.
Yeah, yeah, I am.
I mean, that's what...
that's what...
Yeah.
Uh, do you have
a middle name?
Yeah.
But I'm not going to
tell you what it is.
Why?
Maria.
It's Maria.
Oh, like the wind.
Pardon?
That song from the show.
"They Call
the Wind Maria."
Mariah.
Mariah.
"They Call the Wind Mariah."
It's from
"Paint Your Wagon."
The musical.I thought it was Maria...
No, it's Mariah.
Oh, oh, oh...
You're probably
too young to have...
Yes.Right.
I, on the other hand...
Don't you have
a girlfriend?
Or do you?No, no.
I do not
have a girlfriend.
Oh.
I can't have
a girlfriend.
Are you--I mean, I--
Ever since
my wife and, you know...
Oh, you're divorced?
No.
Back together?
No, no.
Well, what then?
I don't know.
I don't know.
♪♪
Would you like
to dance?
I'm not
much of a dancer.
I thought you said
you tap danced?
A little.
Well?Anyway, it's sort of--
it's different.
You do it alone...
... or...
beside someone.
In tandem?Yes.
I understand.
Then I'll lead.
Okay?
All right.
♪♪
They kissed that night for
the first time in years.
I didn't want to look,
but I couldn't help it.
They kissed for a long time.
Mom suddenly
felt that she was young
and that they were
in love again.
I could tell that
my father felt the same way.
But no matter how much she
wanted to,
Mom could not go back
to loving Dad like that again.
I knew she couldn't
because it made her afraid that
she would forget me
and to her, that would be more
unforgivable than losing me.
This made
my father more than sad.
It made him very angry.
[glass shattering]
[record scratching]
[yelling]
[knocking]
Don?
Don?
[crying]
♪♪
[knocking]
Hello?[Janna]
Yes.
You're still here.
Yes.
Couldn't you wait?
No, I guess
I couldn't.
You've been in there
for so long
I thought
perhaps you'd fallen in.
I...
She wished she had.
That's
a terrible thought.
It seems they're
the only kind she has left.
Is she almost done?
Why?
She almost thought
he couldn't do without her.
I guess he couldn't.
He couldn't
live with her,
but he couldn't wait for her
to get out of the bathroom.
Just like
romantic fiction.
It's hardly romantic.
Everything's romantic when
two people are in love.
Mmm.
Didn't you ever
read romantic fiction?
Yes, secretly.
Really?
When he was not home.
Huh.
He didn't know that.
He knows now.
Yes, he does.
He had
come for the ad.
Yes.
She placed it because...
she knew something
had to happen.
Such as?
Something certain.
Because everything...
had become unraveled.
And it was all...
... it was...
What?
All...
What?
Just... shit.
[toilet flushing]
[door creaking]
[chuckling]
Afraid?
Yes.Of?
I don't know,
I don't know.
What's the alternative?
To keep going?
I don't know.
We don't
have to do this.
I can't do this.
I'll help you.
Maybe we should wait.
For what?
For...What?
What?
[exhaling]
I'd like a glass
of red wine, please.
Please.
Okay.
Okay.
I'd like that
red wine, please.
♪♪
I'd like you to
ask me to dance.
Would you
like to dance?
Yes.
♪♪
Janna... Janna...
[whispering]
No, no, no, no...
I couldn't wait.
No, no, no, no...
Janna.
Everything
will... be all right.
[crying]
♪♪
[gunshot firing]
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
♪♪
[scattered applause]
[scattered applause]
[girl]
My father was a performer--
a magician or a conjurer.
He would make things disappear
and appear again.
He did this in a funny way.
His goal was to be good
at being not very good.
A lot of people, I think,
were just confused by him.
My mother felt that I was too
young to see his act.
I don't know
if this was true or not.
I know that she no longer
watched it at all.
I don't know
how many people actually did.
[scattered applause]
♪♪
[man]
Pick a card.
All right.
[phone ringing]All right.
You remember?I remember, yeah.
[phone ringing]
[phone ringing]Okay.
Hello-- hello?
Yeah.
No, you're going to
have to speak up
'cause it's
a little busy in here.
Mm-hmm.
I'll tell him.
He's not here,
I'll tell him.
Janna, right?
Yeah, okay, bye.
Is that your card?
No.
Is that your card?No, no.
All right.
Is that your card?
No.
That?No.
Is that your card,
is that your card?
Is that your card?
Is that your card,
is that your card?
Is that, that?
No.
Where is it?
It's a pity.Yeah.
♪♪
Uh, red wine, please.
Cabernet all right?
Sure.
It's quiet now.
I-- I called before.
You called?
To say I'd be late.
I asked for Donald.
Donald?
I'm Janna.
Janna, right.
Right.
Is he here?
Who?
Donald.
Yes.
I'm sorry.
Let me
start it again.
What?
Start again?Why?
I thought this was gonna
be something else.
All right.
Mom and Dad are always playing
games with one another.
Sometimes these games
make them very uncomfortable.
I think they play them
because it's something that
they can still do together.
I guess they take
some comfort in that.
Janna.Yes?
Hi, I'm Don-- Donald.
How do you do?How are you?
Good, good.
Hi, hi.Oh.
This is for you.
My, where'd
that come from?
It's magic.
You shouldn't have.Oh, please.
Well, there's lots of things
I shouldn't have done,
but I did them.
Would you
like a drink?
Red wine.Red wine.
Wow, that's fast.Well...
Well, I have to say,
I am pleasantly
surprised.Really?
Yes.Why?
Well, I mean...
you know, you never
know what you're going to
get from these ads.Oh.
[chuckling]
Your first time?
Yes.
Mine too.Oh.
Would you like to
sit at a table?
Sure.Shall we?
Good evening.
Can I get you
something from the bar?
Uh, yeah, I'll have
a vodka martini
straight up,
very dry, very cold,
with, uh-- do you
have onions?
No, sir,
no, we don't.
All right.
Uh, well, just give me
a couple of
olives then, please.Very good.
One would-be gimlet.
What?
A martini made with onions
would be a gimlet.
No.
A gimlet would be
made with lime.
And how's
the lady this evening?
The lady
is just fine.
Are you--
I'm new, yeah,
I'm new, yeah.I thought so.
This is my first--
Why don't you just bring
us a bottle of whatever
the lady is having?
Okay?Yes, sir.
Rude boy.
Especially since
I'm not alone.
You're certainly not.
A Gibson.
Pardon?
A martini made with onions
is called a Gibson.
You're right.
I have to say, you're very
brave to answer my ad.
I mean--It was very charming.
You had no idea
what I would be like.
Well, you were very
sweet on the phone.
A real gentlemen,
a true gentlemen.
I try to be.
I mean... I respect
you very much.
Thank you.
There you go.
[cork popping]
Bring us
something else.
Would you like to try
a Cabernet?
That is a Cabernet.
I don't like him.
What-- what do you do?
I'm a magician.
Oh my.What?
My-- my father
was a magician.
No.
Oh, no.
Well, what do you
know about that?
But my act is not
the usual sort of, um...
No, it's, um...
It's sort of funny.
Sort of...
sort of funny?Yeah.
Is it something either
find funny or...
Or what?Or not.
Um...
Yeah, you know,
I guess you're right.
Yeah-- no, but it is--
it is funny.
It's sad funny,
but it's funny.
Like, everything goes
wrong in the act.Oh, I see.
I see how that
could be funny.Yeah.
You do?
Yeah.How?
Well, things going wrong
is sometimes funny.
Things going wrong?
Things not working out.
Uh-huh.
Such as?
Such as... I don't know.
Someone falling down,
slipping and...
falling down.
Huh.
See, I'm not so--No, no, no...
Not-- not-- not really
getting badly hurt.
Not getting badly hurt
or anything like that.Right, okay.
No, no, no, no--Yeah, I was going to say--
No, no,
that would be awful.
I mean, that would be--Yeah, no.
No, no, no-- not--
not-- not-- no, I'm--
I'm not--
I'm not like that.Oh, okay.
Like what?
Like...
like someone who likes
to see people get hurt,
who can laugh at someone
else's expense.
Yeah, okay, good,
I was going to...[stammering]
Yeah, 'cause I didn't
think you...
Right, I didn't
think that was you.
No, no.
I have to say, I did...
one time
I saw my father
fall down and hit his head
pretty badly,
and I have to say, um...
I laughed a lot.
I thought it was
pretty funny.
[chuckling]
Was he all right?Yeah, yeah, yeah,
he was fine, he was fine.
I mean, he had to go to the
hospital, but he was fine.
Did he bleed?
No.
So there was no blood?
Yes, there was no blood.Oh.
Well, there you go.What?
If there had been blood,
it wouldn't have been funny.
Blood makes it
not funny.
Yeah, I guess
you're right, yeah.
But I have to say,
I did keep
wanting to see blood.
Really?Yeah.
I mean, I wanted to
see him bleed.
To make
him more human?
Pardon?
To humanize him?
Oh, no.
I knew he was human.
I just
didn't like him.
Why?
He was unlikeable.
And I still am.
You're not drinking.Oh, oh...
Cheers.
I'm sure
it'll be fine.
Great.Excellent.
Unbelievable.
Must be difficult being
a beautiful woman.
Oh, I don't-- I don't
think I'm beautiful.
You're wrong.
You're wrong.
I'm a dancer.Oh.
May I make
an observation?
Certainly.
You seem to
have nice breasts.
Thank you.
When did you
get them?
When I...
started my period.
Uh-huh.
How old were you?
13.
I got ice cream
and tits.
From whom?
My father.
Why?Because I was...
I was very sad.
Sounds like a nice guy.
He was.
Very likeable.
Lucky you.
Did you cry?
Uh... yes.
My mother said it was
one of two important
moments in my life.
Really?Mm-hmm.
What's the other?
I haven't had it yet.
What is it?
When a man
kisses your feet.
Really?
"Then he really
loves you," she said.
Oh.
Huh.
You know, I wanted to
become a podiatrist.
Really?No.
Can I ask you a question?
When do you say
that a man loves you?
When he...
he doesn't mind when
you don't want to make love.
Excuse me?
When he doesn't mind
when you do not
want to make love.
[laughing]
Do you find that funny?
[laughing]
Why do you find that--No, no.
No, I just have a story.
You know...
[laughing]
You know, all this talk
about funny, it is funny.
I mean, and-- and--
Who's funny, what's funny--
As it turns out, you're
the one who's funny, Janna.
[laughing]
You are the one
who's funny.
That's funny.
[laughing]
Pick a card.
Fuck you.
Fuck you
and your cards.
[door slamming]
[man on radio]
Hi, I'm meteorologist
Jason Harris.
We'll look at our forecast
across the nation.
You're going to be greeted by
lots of sunshine
in Chicago,
same southward
to Jackson, Mississippi
and on into New Orleans
this weekend.
And Saturday, New England
is gonna be a beauty.
It's that time of year
when you wanna get out
for fall leaf watching.
So let's see
how things are shaping up.
Well, very nicely across
the northeast
and we're talking
about peak colors there.
Most of the mid-Atlantic,
DC and Baltimore,
down to Atlanta
will have another dry day with
temperatures reaching
up into the high 80s.
And the weather temperatures
are not too bad.
We're still ahead of an
approaching cold front
with temperatures
making it up into the 70s.
We'll find in the afternoon,
sunshine.
Today we're in fine shape.
The temperature
will later come down
into the later night hours.
From here...
[rustling]
... make sure you make plans to
get out there and enjoy it.
Sunshine will dominate
our weather through out
the entire weekend.
And in addition to that,
temperatures topping out--
♪♪
♪♪
I need to be discrete.
I think
I told you I'm married.
Yes, you mentioned.
I would never do
anything to hurt my wife.
I'm not
looking for any--
I know, I know.
I only want a dancing
partner, nothing more.
Right, I understand.Good.
I'm really just looking for
a little,
you know, contact.
Like this?
Yes.
But that's it.
I know.
I know.
I know.
What are you
really looking for?
Lately, my wife...
... she won't
allow me...
Won't allow you?
To make love to her.
Oh.
And I've tried everything.
I've been very, very,
very, very...
... I think,
very patient.
But I'm a man,
after all.
And...
I guess I took
the ad, you know...
Hoping one thing would
lead to another?Yes, yes, yes.
I guess.
Yes.
Why won't she allow you?
'Cause something
happened
and ever since
then, she's changed.
I'm sorry.I know.
Me too.
I was very, very sad,
but I mean...
... life goes on.
Not always,
not for everyone.
Not for your wife.
No, not for my wife.
That happened
to me once.
What?
The thought of sex
made me sick...
Oh.... because of
an emotional strain.
Oh.
Did it... last?
A long time.
It lasted a long time.
I went to the doctor
and...
he told me to be patient.
But things got difficult
with my husband.
He...
he couldn't
understand why...
... I couldn't make love.
He thought
it was an excuse
because I didn't
love him.
He thought
you didn't love him?
He thought
I didn't love him.
One night, he came over
and...
he held me tight.
He pushed me
to the floor.
It was awful.
He was much stronger.
It hurt a lot.
I'm sorry.
I thought
that after that...
I would be afraid of men.
I'm not.
In fact...
just the opposite.
I'm less afraid.
Some men...
are very sweet.
Are you sweet?
You seem sweet.
No.
Please.
[sighing]
Why don't
you have a seat?
I slept
with my mother.
Maybe I'll have
a beer.
Was it nice?
It was all right.
I sodomized her.
I think
I will have a beer.
Excuse me.
Did you hear
what I said?
You're very sweet,
I think.
I ass-fucked my mother.
Come on, come on, come on,
come on, come on, come on.
This is
heartless shit.
I mean, come on.
Come on!
I don't think it's going to
work out between us.
My father burned
another picture of me today.
He thinks it'll make
him forget...
but I know he never will.
Besides, burning something
only makes you
remember that thing more.
[phone ringing]
[Janna on answering machine]
Hi, this is Janna.
Please leave a message
and your number
and I'll call you
as soon as I can.
[answering machine beeping]
♪♪
[bell dinging]
Oh!
Tequila.
[groaning]
I'm Janna.
Right.
I have a lot of
tension in my hands,
so if you can't cope,
leave now.
Okay.
I'm sorry?
I said okay.
Where was I?
You have tension.
Because of a man.I see.
A very, a very sweet,
but...
difficult, stupid man.
Do you love him?
Yes.
Does he love you?
I should hope so.
How long have you been
aggressive?
About two years
since it's been off.
What was on?
It must have been
to be off.
Pardon?
If it's off,
it must have been on.
Sorry.
Where does he come from?
Powerlessness.
Okay.
But I miss him.
Does he miss you?I think so.
So why aren't
you two together?
Are you-- are you that
simple or is it an act?
Pardon?
There's more than
just missing him.
I know that.
Then don't ask such
simple, dumb questions.
Okay.
Can you tap dance?
I'm afraid not.Neither can I.
Are you having
a drink?
No, I'm fine.
I'll have a beer,
please.
If I had
a lot of money...Uh-huh.
... and a driver, bodyguards
and makeup artists,
I would fight all day.
Why?
Because I love it.
So you're aggressive
because you love someone
that you can't be with.
More or less.
Constant aggression?Sometimes.
Regularly.Where does it come from?
My thoughts.What kinds of thoughts?
Painful thoughts.
What kinds of
painful thoughts?
Is that important?Yes.
When I think
of my father.
What happens?
Why?
Because he's dead.
So you get aggressive
when you think of
your dead father.Yes.
Okay.
Did you
love your father?
A lot.Uh-huh.
What did he do?
He was a conjurer.
Oh, a magician.Did I say that?
No.What did I say?
You said conjurer.
You said conjurer.
Yes.
Exactly.
You search for people who
resemble your father?
Maybe.
Old people?
Old codgers?
Old conjurers.
That was funny.Thanks.
What else makes you
aggressive?
When I think
of my daughter.
What else makes
you aggressive?
When I think of
her father.
Why?
Is he dead?
Yes.
No.
[siren blaring in the distance]
He, uh...
... he hurt me.
How?
He hurt me.
I heard you.
Watch your tongue.
Sorry.
He raped me.
This is a cute place.
Can you send me
a copy of the interview?
♪♪
Dearest Diary,
Dad played hide-and-seek today.
Mom did not like this game.
She said it made the world feel
even bigger than it really was
and she didn't like that.
But it was always one of
Dad's favorite games.
Maybe because
he was very good at it.
[speaking gibberish]
[glasses clinking]
[glass shattering]
♪♪
[singing in foreign language]
[singing in foreign language]
[glass shattering]
[singing in foreign language]
[singing in foreign language]
[singing in foreign language]
♪♪
♪♪
[knocking]
[knocking]
[Don]
Yeah.
We had an appointment?Mm-hmm.
Not here.
[keys jangling]
[lock unlatching]
Wait here.
We had an appointment?
I'm Janna.
My name's Maria.
Maria.
Okay?
I don't mind that
you're called Maria.What?
I don't mind that
you're called Maria.
Do you?Well, sometimes.
A little, yeah.
Huh.
I mean,
it's a girl's name.
Sometimes it is,
yes.Yeah.
Do you feel
that feminizes you?
What?Feminizes you?
Yeah, well
I mean... come on.
You wanted help,
I'm here to help.Yes.
Thank you... Doctor.
That was
Rilke's name-- middle name.
Who?
Rainer Maria Rilke.
Who was he?
The poet.
The German poet.
Oh, German.Yeah.
I don't like
the Germans.
Why?
Because they have
a tendency to encroach.
I'm a very private
person.
I don't like that.
Maybe we can
change that about you.Yeah, maybe.
Was he gay?Who?
Your German.
No.
Would that bother you?Yeah.
Look, can you...
... can you just
talk to me normally?
All right.
Will that reassure you?Yes, it will.
It will.All right.
Okay.
You seem irritated.Yeah, I am,
I am irritated.
I'm having a hard time.
I'm having
a hard time right now.
And if you just talk to me,
you know, normally,
then I'll
probably calm down.
Are you asking me
to change my behavior?
No, I'm just saying that if
you're here to help--
Which I am.Right.
Then just
please be helpful.
That's all I'm saying.
Sorry, I just--You seem...
What?... overly sensitive.
Yeah, I am, yes, yes.Exposed, raw.
Yes, raw, yes, raw.
Very raw.Does that--
does that feminize you?
I don't know.
Then it's
a good thing that I'm here.
To help you now.
Yes.
I think we should
get down to business.Okay.
Have you
sought help before?
No, no.
Does that hurt?
No.Good.
It was funny, though.
Do you think?I do.
Even better.
Are you married?
Are you married?
Yeah, I... yes--
no-- sort of, kinda.
Does she know?About what, about what?
Your problem.What problem?
What, with the Germans?
The name.
Oh.
Oh, no, no.
Yeah, I mean, she knows,
yeah.
How did she react?
I told her
on our first date.
She was very understanding,
very loving.
Loving.
But...No buts.
No buts.
You know what?What?
You should
write it down.
What should I write?
What you feel.
Why on earth
did you draw a car?
What?A car.
It's not a car.
It's a carp.
It's a fish.
I know
what I'm drawing.
You may think you know,
but it's quite
evident that that's a car.
Look.A car.
It's a carp.It's a car.
No.
♪♪
I died when I was five.
We were in
a car accident.
My mother was driving
and my father was singing in
the passenger seat.
He was
making her laugh.
Who's fault was it?
I don't know.
They lived and I died.
They say the loss of a child
is the greatest loss of all.
When their
games weren't enough,
my parents reached out to other
people for solace.
This always happened with
people they didn't really know.
[no sound]
[door closing]
These other games were rare,
but I guess they thought they
were necessary.
The problem was
that they always caused
Mom and Dad to end up feeling
more uncomfortable
than they did
after their usual games.
And then things between them
would become
more complicated than before.
♪♪
[laughing]
[laughing]
He's a bad boy.
He's a bad boy.
[retching]
[retching]
[moaning]
[toilet flushing]
♪♪
♪♪
[scattered applause]
[scattered applause]
[toilet flushing]
[cane tapping]
♪♪
Oh!
Sorry.
Hey, what...
Sorry, sorry.
Janna?
Janna, is that you?
Yes.Oh.
[glass shattering]
Janna?
I'm over here.
Can I have a beer,
bartender?
Yes.Bartender?!
I'm here.Oh.
Can I have beer,
please?
Coming right up.
And you?
I had
my red wine.
What are you wearing?
My velvet top.
Thought
you were a rabbit.
No, I'm...
I'm not a rabbit.
Oh, I like rabbits.
Well.You feel like one.
Really?Yeah.
People are watching.
People are--I don't care.
I can't see them.
Bartender?
Bartender?!Here you go.
Oh.
Did she
give me the beer?
Where is it?It's right here.
Where?
Where?
Cheers.
Would you take care of
me if I were blind?
No.Would you
be my guide dog?
No.
You would
have me stumble?Yeah.
At least
three times a day.
You wouldn't feel
sorry for me?
You wouldn't--Of--
Of course not.Pity me?
No, of course not.Why not?
I didn't
make you blind.
No, I didn't say guilty,
as I said-- I said--
you should feel guilty.
I said pity--
feel pity, take pity.
If you have to think about it,
I guess that's a bad sign.
I think
pity is a waste.
And waste is a pity.
Will you marry me?
Hmm?
I don't think so.Why?
Don't you like me?
I like you.
I think you're gorgeous.How can you tell?
Oh, come on,
let me see.
Oh, yeah, oh my God.
Look at this,
I was right!
You're gorgeous.
You have a sweet voice,
such a nice voice.Don't.
Here,
these are for you.What?
These.Ah!
Now will you marry me?
Don't...
I'm just asking.
If you marry me, I'll bring
you flowers every day.
I have plenty more
where those came from.
They're fake.
Yeah, but they'll
last forever.
Are you there?
♪♪
[man on radio]
... also considered a member
of the old guard.
And here's another song
performed by Francisco Canaro,
"Cara Sucia."
♪♪
Are-- are you...
Don.Yeah.
Janna.Janna, right.
Hi.
How are you?
Pleasure.
Did you have any
trouble finding the place?
A little.
A little, yeah, I know, it's
a little bit tucked away.
Yes, but it's nice.
Yeah, it's...
it's unusual.
[laughing]
Look,
I've ordered wine.
I took the liberty.Oh, wine is fine.
Oh, good, red.Oh, good, all right.
Shall we sit
at a table?
I have a table reserved.
Reserved?Yeah.
[chuckling]
Could you bring that
over to our-- do you mind?
Thank you.
They say that red wine
is good for you.
Yeah, that's
what they say.
Healthy.I wouldn't
have thought that.
Yeah, well,
that's what they say.
Well, I'm glad
they say it.
[speaking French]
Oh, do you speak French?
Uh, no,
I don't think so, no.
You're not sure?Um... well, no.
I mean, I can do
a lot of things,
but I don't think that speaking
French is one of them.
I mean, it might well
have been at one time,
but I-I... I don't
think so.
I don't remember.
Do you?
Remember
if you speak French?
No--
[laughing]
That was funny.
I have
a sense of humor.Well--
Here you go.Thank you.
Well, I'll drink
to that.Oh.
[glasses clinking]
[clearing throat]
Ah.Um.
So...
What is it
that you do?
Well, mostly,
I'm a conjurer.
♪♪
What?
I can't believe it.What?
My father...
my father was a conjurer.
No.
Really?Yes.
Well, he was more of an
illusionist,
but... oh my God.
Can you tell me what
perfume are you wearing?
Sorry.I'm not wearing any.
Really?
You smell so good.Oh, it must
be my powder.
My baby powder.
Ah.
Something wrong?
No.
You sure?Yes.
Nothing at all.
You even
look like him.
Who?My father.
Really?
Handsome fellow.
[laughing]
That's funny.
Well, you know,
humor is key.
Oh, I'll drink to that.Yes, okay.
So... do you
have a fellow?
Why not?
Because I'm critical
and I love
tap dancing
and I want a child.
Ah.
Did you hear
what I said?Oh, yes.
I did.
You said that
you love tap dancing.
Of sorts.
I-- I-- I-- I--
I like to tap.
Mm-hmm.
That's a pretty
noisy pastime.
Well, I don't
do it at home.[laughing]
No, that would be very
annoying to the neighbors,
wouldn't it?Yes.
[laughing]
[exhaling]Ha.
Do that again.
What you just--
what you just did.
Well, that was
an accident.
Well, yeah,
but, it's so--
Why laugh--
you're always-- why laugh?
Why are you laughing?
[exhaling]
I used to
do that too.[laughing]
Laughing--
it's just so adorable.
How old are you?Young.
You're old, though.
Yeah, yeah, I am.
I mean, that's what...
that's what...
Yeah.
Uh, do you have
a middle name?
Yeah.
But I'm not going to
tell you what it is.
Why?
Maria.
It's Maria.
Oh, like the wind.
Pardon?
That song from the show.
"They Call
the Wind Maria."
Mariah.
Mariah.
"They Call the Wind Mariah."
It's from
"Paint Your Wagon."
The musical.I thought it was Maria...
No, it's Mariah.
Oh, oh, oh...
You're probably
too young to have...
Yes.Right.
I, on the other hand...
Don't you have
a girlfriend?
Or do you?No, no.
I do not
have a girlfriend.
Oh.
I can't have
a girlfriend.
Are you--I mean, I--
Ever since
my wife and, you know...
Oh, you're divorced?
No.
Back together?
No, no.
Well, what then?
I don't know.
I don't know.
♪♪
Would you like
to dance?
I'm not
much of a dancer.
I thought you said
you tap danced?
A little.
Well?Anyway, it's sort of--
it's different.
You do it alone...
... or...
beside someone.
In tandem?Yes.
I understand.
Then I'll lead.
Okay?
All right.
♪♪
They kissed that night for
the first time in years.
I didn't want to look,
but I couldn't help it.
They kissed for a long time.
Mom suddenly
felt that she was young
and that they were
in love again.
I could tell that
my father felt the same way.
But no matter how much she
wanted to,
Mom could not go back
to loving Dad like that again.
I knew she couldn't
because it made her afraid that
she would forget me
and to her, that would be more
unforgivable than losing me.
This made
my father more than sad.
It made him very angry.
[glass shattering]
[record scratching]
[yelling]
[knocking]
Don?
Don?
[crying]
♪♪
[knocking]
Hello?[Janna]
Yes.
You're still here.
Yes.
Couldn't you wait?
No, I guess
I couldn't.
You've been in there
for so long
I thought
perhaps you'd fallen in.
I...
She wished she had.
That's
a terrible thought.
It seems they're
the only kind she has left.
Is she almost done?
Why?
She almost thought
he couldn't do without her.
I guess he couldn't.
He couldn't
live with her,
but he couldn't wait for her
to get out of the bathroom.
Just like
romantic fiction.
It's hardly romantic.
Everything's romantic when
two people are in love.
Mmm.
Didn't you ever
read romantic fiction?
Yes, secretly.
Really?
When he was not home.
Huh.
He didn't know that.
He knows now.
Yes, he does.
He had
come for the ad.
Yes.
She placed it because...
she knew something
had to happen.
Such as?
Something certain.
Because everything...
had become unraveled.
And it was all...
... it was...
What?
All...
What?
Just... shit.
[toilet flushing]
[door creaking]
[chuckling]
Afraid?
Yes.Of?
I don't know,
I don't know.
What's the alternative?
To keep going?
I don't know.
We don't
have to do this.
I can't do this.
I'll help you.
Maybe we should wait.
For what?
For...What?
What?
[exhaling]
I'd like a glass
of red wine, please.
Please.
Okay.
Okay.
I'd like that
red wine, please.
♪♪
I'd like you to
ask me to dance.
Would you
like to dance?
Yes.
♪♪
Janna... Janna...
[whispering]
No, no, no, no...
I couldn't wait.
No, no, no, no...
Janna.
Everything
will... be all right.
[crying]
♪♪
[gunshot firing]
♪♪
♪♪