Face the Music (1993) - full transcript

Reporter:
So how did your career
start, Mrs. Hunter?

Lisa:
Hollis.

When I was a little girl in
the bathtub in Minneapolis--

that's where I'm from.

And then I won a first prize
in a talent contest

and that was
a ticket to Paris.

I loved it here.

The bright lights,
the funky clubs,

the vibrant atmosphere.

And one day I got
my big break.

Reporter:
Weren't you nervous?



Lisa:
Well, a little.

I'd spent my last precious
francs on an overpriced dress

and a pair of gold earrings.

Ow! Shit.

Lisa:
I was so excited

to finally be trying out
my material on a live audience.

* Baby, is it true?

* It's lonely out there

* In a room at the top

* Where there's
nothing to share *

* You got everything
you live for *

* Fame and the rest

* Knocking at your door

* But you haven't
got me *



* Is she as pretty
as on the 9:00 news? *

* Are you happy at last?

* Has the room got a view?

* If we meet in a day
or a year *

* Well, I'll smile polite

* I won't shed no tear...

Reporter:
Is that when you met Charlie?

Lisa: Yes. No, no.
Actually, it was
after the show.

He ran down the street
after me to tell me how much
he liked my performance.

Miss!
Hey, excuse me!

- Hey, how are you?
- Hi.

Listen, I don't usually
chase women down the streets
of Pigalle,

but I just heard you
sing back there.

- Oh, yeah?
- Yeah, and I've got to
tell you, man,

I've never heard
a set of lyrics get
destroyed like that.

- Oh, thanks a lot.
- I mean, the band
really sucks.

- I know.
- Does your band have
a drug problem?

- Listen, they're not my band.
- Oh, okay.

The hell of it is
they're great lyrics.

- Yeah?
- Yeah, I've never heard
lyrics like that.

- Now, who writes for you?
- I do.

- Really? No shit?
- No.

But if you write songs like
that, you don't have to do that.

- Do what?
- Sing.

- I want to sing.
- You don't need to sing.

- Do I know you?
- Charlie Hunter.

I write music.

Give me five minutes.
Let me work on your song.

I'll make it a hit.
I promise.

Lisa:
There was no way I intended
going anywhere with him.

But he was
very persuasive.

So I came to Paris
to write music.

Only, lately,
I haven't been able
to reach my muse.

- Is she avoiding you?
- Yes.

- I can't understand why.
- Well, only tonight.

When I heard
your lyrics-- bang!

I'd like to hear
"My Way."

This is gonna
be better.

Okay, "Room at the Top."

All right, give me
the lead into the chorus.

Okay.

Wait, don't sing it.

Just say it.

"Fame and the rest
knocking at your door."

- Right.
- ( playing slowly )

- "But you haven't got me."
- "Haven't got me."

Oh, that's good.

* Haven't got me

* You haven't got me

- * You haven't got me...
- Uh-huh, there it is.

* Yeah, you haven't
got me *

* You haven't got me...

- I like it.
- Yeah.

- * You haven't got me...
- It's much better, isn't it?

* You haven't got me.

Woman:
And the winning song is...

"Room at the Top,"

Charlie Hunter
and Lisa Hollis.

( music playing )

Reporter:
Cindi Benendi presented you
with your award.

Lisa: Yeah.
It was the most exciting
moment of my life.

Look at this.

There's so many people
that I'd like to thank.

First, everyone
at Technosound.

Um, Fred and Lauren,
thank you so much.

- Julia, Mark.
- Right.

Well, Marion, of course.
Thank you.

- Um, who else?
- Um...

I know there's other people
that I'm forgetting,

but thank you so much.

( applause )

This is the happiest
day of my life.

There's only one thing
that would make me happier.

- Will you marry me?
- ( audience cheering )

Okay, okay.

- Oh!
- ( laughs )

So you guys won the biggest
award in the music industry.

- What went wrong?
- I don't know.

You meet,
you fall in love

and there's all this
great romance,

and later on when you really
need it, there's none left.

Besides,
we were really young.

- Mrs. Hunter...
- Hollis.

I hate to break this to you,
you know, but really,

nobody wants to waste their
time reading about a breakup

that's as boring
as their own.

- Was Charlie drinking?
- Gallons of Perrier.

Dope? You guys
must have been doing
great dope together, huh?

- Aspirin.
- Was he balling other women?

- Excuse me?
- Cindi Benendi.

Hey, I heard they had
a great thing going.

No, no, no.
It was nothing like that.

So what was it
like, then?

After the music awards,
she came to congratulate us.

And she said that she wanted
us to write a song for her.

( applause )

Supposedly "Room at the Top"
was her favorite song.

Thank you.
Thank you very much.

- I can't believe this.
- Isn't it great?

When are we
gonna get married?

Oh, I love you.

Lisa:
Charlie thought
it was a good idea.

I said great, but I wanted us
to write a song for me first.

You know, there's nothing
like creating as a team.

It's so stimulating.
It really brings you together.

I'm trying to walk here.

Walk somewhere else.
I'm trying to think.

Don't read that.
No, no, no, it's terrible.

Okay.

So what kind of image
are you coming up with?

It's like we're prisoners
of the skyscrapers.

Come on, we're in
the middle of a depression.
Write something happy.

Come on, this song
is for me, remember?

This is what I want
to sing about.

Okay, um...

Walls of the city so high
you can't see the sky.

That's it!
"Babylon high."

Yes!

* Walls of the city

* Babylon high...

- Oh, that's good.
- Can't see the sky.

No, no, no,
it needs more syllables.

"Skyscrapers scraping
the view from my eyes."

That's it. Okay.

* Skyscrapers scraping

* The view from my eyes...

- Right.
- Ooh, I like that.

Mmm.

Worshipping
pagan gods.

Gods on motorbikes.

Black.
Black's good.

Black and white
tuxedos.

- Do you love me?
- No.

- Liar.
- That's it.

White lies.
You're brilliant.

I am.

Reporter:
So you never recorded
"Ancient Witchcraft"?

Now that you're back onstage,
are you gonna try it?

Lisa:
It was my song.
But one day I happen

to be having lunch
with Cindi's manager

and he just happened
to mention that Charlie
sent the song to her.

* Walls of the city

* Babylon high

* Skyscrapers scraping

* The view from your eyes

* Gods in tuxedos

* Lying white lies

* No tomorrow

* Neon lights...

Lisa:
Of course, Charlie said it
all happened by accident.

- That was my song!
- But I didn't exactly
believe him.

Well, it caused
a little bit of friction.

So we had a very adult
discussion about it,

and I calmly told him
that I didn't feel like

he was being sensitive
to my need to sing,

and he said that he felt
that my attitude

was threatening
our work as a team.

We didn't exactly
break up.

We just drifted apart.

So anyway, after that,
I went back to the States

and I concentrated
on my own singing career
for a while.

How many men have you
had since you broke up?

( laughs nervously )
I don't really talk about it.

Come on, you're
a good-looking woman.

It's been three years
since you left Paris.

You must have guys
around you like white on rice.

Listen, I've really
enjoyed this interview,

but I'm afraid I'm gonna have
to cut it a little short

because I'm gonna be onstage
singing in about a half hour.

Listen, publicity
is the lifeblood
of the music industry.

You're gonna
regret this.

I already do.

* Ancient witchcraft

* Modern greed

* I don't know
where it goes *

* I know where it leads

* They say no use
in trying *

* This is where
we belong *

* I don't like
the singer, honey *

* But I'll take the song

* No one leaves
this city *

* Won't hurt to find

* There's a hole,
a hole in the wall *

* And I'll escape
tonight *

* Ancient witchcraft

* Modern greed

* Don't know
where it goes *

* I know where it leads.

( applause )

Wow, look at these.

You deserve
ever petal, honey.

- ( knocks )
- Hmm?

- That was a great show, Lisa.
- Oh, thanks.

You know, I knew I shouldn't
have done that song.

- I should always
trust my instincts.
- Oh, come on.

If it's something that I don't
feel that I should do,

then I just should not--

- Who?
- Moshe Mossek?

This guy's a producer.
What does he want with me?

It says,
"Please, please, please."
Please what?

Well, Mossek's been calling
about the possibility

of your writing the song
for his next movie.

You're kidding.
When did this happen?

- About one week ago.
- One week ago?

- Why didn't you tell me?
- 'Cause you won't do it.

Why not?
Do you know him?
Is he a jerk?

What, does he
pay peanuts?

Because he wants you
to write it with Charlie.

Oh.

Doesn't he know that
Charlie and I broke up?

He doesn't care.
He keeps calling from
all over the world

and I keep telling him,
but you and Charlie wrote
the song

that made him fall in love
with his third wife.

Oh, great.
A sentimental fan.

Well, he says it would
only be for this one song.

That you and Charlie
could at least talk about it.

Anyway, we don't know
where he is.

Well, he couldn't be
all that hard to find.

You know?
Not that I'd want to.

Of course not.
Charlie's in the past.

How can Mossek
be so insensitive,

asking you two to get
together to write again?

Well, it's not all
that insensitive.

I mean, it is
just one song.

- Mmm.
- Not that I'd want
to do it.

- You're still vulnerable.
- Oh, I'm not vulnerable.

No, not me.
It's Charlie.

- He's the one
that's vulnerable.
- ( knocks )

Lisa, you got a message
from a guy called
Charlie Hunter.

Speak of the devil.
What does he want?

He wants you to meet
him tomorrow at the Royal
Monsieur Hotel.

( piano music playing )

No wheels.

You know, I had no idea
you were working in
a place like this.

Yeah, well, you know,
things are tough everywhere.

You know, if you're
in trouble, I wish that
you had let me know.

- So...
- You called me?

- No, you called me.
- No, you called me.

No, I have a pile
of messages that says
you called me.

- Charlie, I have
a message that--
- Lisa.

Come on.

Oh, it's Marion.

Marion set us up.

- Charlie.
- What?

- I was thinking--
- Could you excuse me
for a second?

- Woman: Darling.
- Hey, honey.

I've been looking
for you all over the hotel.

Charlie:
Here I am.

So did Boulanger call
back with an answer?

He's gonna need
some convincing, yes.

That's okay.
We can take care of it.

- Yes, I know.
- Um...

- Lisa.
- Right, Lisa.
Julie Sanson.

Lisa?

I'm Charlie's fiancée.

Oh.

I didn't realize that--
well, anyway.

- ( laughs )
Heard an awful lot about you.
- Oh, really?

Well, anyway, we're all
checked out, ready to go.

- Charlie: Good.
- Checked out?

- You mean
you don't work here?
- No.

Okay, I'm sorry.
I couldn't resist the sympathy.

- We don't even have a piano.
- What?

I had an accident
with the last one.

Uh, so what do you
compose on?

- I don't.
- Charlie doesn't have
much time for composing.

We run our own real estate
investment company.

Real estate investment?
How interesting.

You know, darling, we really
do have a train to catch.

- Right. Right. Okay.
- Well, congratulations.

- You two seem really happy.
- We are.

And we'll be even happier
in a couple of weeks.

13 days.

We're getting
married.

- If Daniel can get
the paperwork sorted out.
- Right, Daniel is our lawyer.

Which reminds me, Lisa.
We're having a little problem--

We really have to catch
that train.

- --with our divorce papers.
- We can talk about this later.

Well, you obviously
have each other's numbers,
so we'll be in touch.

It was really nice
to meet you finally.

Pardon.
Pardon, pardon.

Charlie!

Taxi, sir?

It's nice to see you
again, Mr. Watanabe.

- Monsieur Watanabe.
- Yes?

You have a message
at Reception.

Thank you very much.

Charlie.
Charlie, wait up.

- Lisa.
- Hi, listen.

I probably shouldn't
mention this,

but I sort of got
the feeling at the hotel that
you guys needed some money.

- Do you know Moshe Mossek?
- Oh, sure. Moshe Mossek, yeah.

Yeah, well, he's been
after Marion for us to write
a song for his next film.

- Moshe Mossek's
a film producer.
- Yeah, he's a big one.

- You're kidding.
- No.

Oh, my God,
he makes great films.
Remember "Stardust"?

- You love that movie.
- Can we talk about this later?

- Ladies and gentlemen,
into the train, please.
- Come on, darling.

The thing is, Moshe
Mossek's only gonna be
here for a couple of days.

Maybe you should stick
around and meet with him.

Darling, there is so much
to do before the wedding.

Yeah, but you can take a later
train to Saint Martin.

- Right. It's not gonna
take that long, right?
- Charlie!

No, I think it's worth
meeting this guy.

We have just been through
all this in the car.

I know that, honey.
It's possible

that we can make enough
money to finish financing
the project ourselves.

- Seriously?
- Yeah, it's possible.

- Oh!
- Okay?

Go and speak
to this man.

Okay, I'll see you later.
Thank you.

- Call me tonight. Bye.
- See you later, Julie.

( whistle tweets )

Charlie.

( knocks )

- Charlie.
- Mr. Mossek.

- Wonderful to meet you.
- It's such a pleasure.

Lisa, it's really
great to meet you.

- God, that's a great suit.
- ( knocking )

- Oh, Julie Sanson.
- Young lady?

- I'm sorry.
- Hello, I'm Charlie's fiancée.

So you're having
some marital difficulties?

Oh, you could
say that.

You know, Christine and I
were having difficulties.

And then one night
we heard your song.

I'll never forget it.
It spoke to us to the bottom
of our gonads.

It made everything
all right forever.

Well, forever doesn't last
quite like it used to.

You have to write
this song, the two of you.

- Now, why us?
- Because this film
I'm making is about me.

About me and Christine,
when we fell in love.

Nobody else
can write that song.

Hi, Uncle Moshe.

Oh, all right, everyone.
Sorry I'm late.

I went up the Eiffel
Tower and got halfway up
and got stuck in the lift.

- ( phone ringing )
- I hate heights.

Donnie.

Don't mind me.

Oh!

Just hold on a moment,
will you?

This is my second wife's
sister's boy.

He's from Liverpool
and I promised her he'd get
a vacation job on the film.

- Both: Oh!
- And he's gonna be
your assistant.

- Both: Oh.
- This is great.

I've always wanted to write
songs just like you.

This is my big chance.

I read about you
in the paper today.

- Oh, yeah?
- I think you should
sue that reporter.

He's an organizational
genius.

He'll assist you.
There's no Julie here.

- Oh, that's for me.
- Honey!

Anything you want.
You ask and you'll--

Yogurt, pianos, whatever.
He's completely at
your disposal.

Lean on me.

Thanks a lot, but--

He'll save you time.
I need the song
by the weekend.

- The weekend?
- Wait, that's four days.

That's right, four days.

They're shooting
the last scene today.

We lock picture on Friday
and we remix on Monday.

Then bingo.
I'm so excited
about this film.

I mean,
it's the perfect film.

If it's so perfect,
then why reshoot?

In order to make it
10 times more perfect.

- But the weekend?
- A problem?

- Do I hear a problem?
- No. No, no.

- There's no problem.
- This is so exciting.

I just can't wait
to get started.

If we're gonna meet this
deadline, we're gonna have
to get started straightaway.

Yeah, no distractions.
We should rent a piano.

- Piano.
- Julie: But, darling.

Hole up somewhere.
My hotel, maybe?

- Hotel reservations.
- Honey.

Sweetheart,
what about the wedding

and the presentation
to Boulanger?

Yes, I can take care
of all that.

What I don't understand is
why you can't work by phone.

- I mean, you could fax
things back and forth.
- Fax machine.

No, I'm sorry.
That won't work.

No, we have to work alone
and we need peace and quiet.

- Donnie: Peace and quiet.
- She can come to
Saint Martin.

- Where's Seine-Maritime?
- It's just outside Paris.

It's peaceful, it's quiet,
and it has clean air.

Clean air.
Beautiful.

- Great, just like camping out.
- Wait a minute.

Moshe:
Perfect, that's a deal.

- Julie: Great.
- Uh, oh.

It's really nice
to meet you.

- Donnie: See you later.
- I guess clean air
would be nice.

- Marion: Hi, honey.
- Lisa: Hi.

Ah, so Charlie talked
you into it, huh?

We talked each other
into it.

Mm-hmm.
Look at it this way, Lisa.

- It's just a career move,
that's all.
- Yeah.

You haven't written
a song worth recording
since you broke up with him.

Thanks a lot.

( sighs )

Charlie Hunter
ripped my heart out,

chopped it up
into little pieces,

and made me eat it
for breakfast.

Two years after we broke up,
I was so depressed,

all I did was eat
Häagen-Dazs Rum Raisin
for two years.

It's taken me that long
to finally work my way back
to where I am.

And I've finally done it.
I'm there.

Right.
And it's over between
you and Charlie.

- And you know
he's marrying someone else.
- I know.

So just consider this
as a professional visit.

It'll put you back
on the right track.

Give you a jump start.

( dog barking )

( cows mooing )

( wings flapping )

( gunshot echoes )

( gasps )

Julie:
Lisa, hello.

- Hi.
- We weren't expecting
you quite so early.

Oh, yeah.

( puffs )
I'm just getting
something for dinner.

- Great.
- It's rather basic
here, I'm afraid.

We're still
semi-camping out.

I suppose I should
have warned you.

No problem.

- Julie: You okay?
- Yeah.

And this is
where we live.

As you can see,
we're still building.

And this ostensibly
will be our showcase.

Could you just
wait a minute?

- I'll shovel this stuff
in the kitchen.
- Sure.

( speaks French )
- Ça va, Jean-Marc?
- Ça va.

Charlie insisted on
building this fireplace.

You know how romantic
he is.

Yeah.

Oh, Thelonious, I told you
not on the furniture.

- It's Charlie's cat.
- Where is Charlie?

Oh, he's in town.

He's ordering a flock
of white doves to be released
at the wedding reception.

- How romantic.
- Mmm.

( cat meows )

I'm afraid the only decent
bathroom is through there.

But I'm sure you
won't mind sharing.

So we call ourselves
"The Great Escape,"

and basically the main idea
is to encourage people

to move out of the city,
the smog, the pollution,
the filth, the noise,

and into the countryside
where they won't be condemned

to a suburban nightmare.

And this is it.
Look, here is the farmhouse.

And, as you can see,
this large extent of land

is what we're negotiating
to buy at this moment.

- It's impressive, isn't it?
- Yes, very.

And this is Tom.
Tom, this is Lisa.

- Hello.
- Hi.

Tom is another
of our English imports.

And this is where
you are going to be staying.

I'm afraid it's not very
glamorous, but you should
be comfortable enough.

- Tom: Hey! Mind the mud.
- What?

- ( shrieks )
- Oh, I'm really sorry.

Are you designing
a swamp?

Oh, yeah, we're really
used to this.

We had a little problem
with the septic tank.

Excuse me, Julie.

Oh, yes?

Um, forgive me
for noticing this,

but I've been here
for less than 10 minutes

and I've already been
shot at, dipped in mud,

and I've had
my clothes fertilized.

Now, I'm only gonna
be here for a few days

and Charlie really wants
to write this song

and it could mean a lot
of money for you.

So I just want to know,
do you have a problem
with that?

No. No problem.

Great.

( humming )

Lisa.

- Hi.
- Hi.

- Julie sent you some jeans.
- Oh, thanks.

- You heard about the mud?
- Yeah.

- You know, um...
- Hmm?

I'm sorry I wasn't around
when you got here.

Oh, don't worry
about it.

No, I kind of got
hung up with the blood
tests and catering.

- The doves.
- And the doves.

So much to do
for a real wedding.

- Charlie.
- Yeah?

Are you okay?

Sure, why?

You just sound like
you're writing an article
for a bridal magazine.

- It's all because of you.
- Me?

What are you talking about?
You were never romantic with me.

You never brought me flowers,
you forgot our anniversary.

Yeah, and you were
always busting me on it
and you were right.

I got romantic with Julie
and it's been great for
our relationship.

- What a guy.
- ( horn honks )

Hey, Donnie.
You found it okay?

We got a bit lost,
but we're all right.

I got your piano, Mr. Hunter.
Check it out.

What the hell
is all this shit?

You wouldn't believe
what you can do with
this stuff.

Yeah, well, I can
tell you what you can
do with this stuff.

- Darling, this looks great.
- Where's the piano?

I thought you were
bringing a piano.

Well, the DK4AF
can synthesize not
only any piano

from concert grand
to honky-tonk,

but it also replicates
the exact sound

of every instrument
known to man

as well as a full range
of animal calls.

Oh, really?
Well, that's great,
but I don't want it.

I just want a real piano
with wood.

But this comes with
a digital transmitter.

You can send
a fully orchestrated
16-track demo

of your song straight
to my uncle's office.

Or you can just call
him up and hum it to
him over the phone.

Charlie, why are you
being so difficult?

Difficult?
I'm not the one
being difficult.

Darling, the boy
is only trying to help you.

Julie, please.
Just stay out of it.

Oh, goodie.

I can see the next few days
are gonna be fun, fun, fun.

Will you please?
Just don't start.

- All I want
is a real piano, all right?
- Okay, okay.

What the hell is this?
They didn't bring a piano?

- No.
- I need a wood piano.

Yeah, a wood piano.

Well, I don't know.
I guess some guys
still use 'em.

I'm gonna kill you, Julie.

( grunting )

( clock chiming )

Uncle Moshe's deal
didn't include a piano.

You just don't get
the same sound out of
an electronic keyboard.

The wood just resonates
in a particular way.

I know, I know.
But there's no way.
All right, Mrs. Hunter?

Hi, Donnie.

Hey, listen.
Uncle Moshe was
quite adamant.

He said all the guys
in the business
were using 'em.

Yes, but, Donnie, Charlie's
not like all the other
guys in the business.

- Thank you, Lisa.
- Good evening.

- Nice dress.
- Thank you.

- Ah, Julie. How are you?
- Hello, darling.

All right?
Very imaginative.

I love your choice
in textiles.

( laughs )

Darling, it's going
to get very chilly later.

- Could you get her
one of your sweaters?
- Sweater, yes. Absolutely.

- I'm sorry,
would you excuse me?
- Donnie: Mr. Hunter.

- Donnie.
- Could you help me
with this tent?

- Yeah, what is it?
- I don't know.

Fix this here.
You've got to pull
that out.

- Charlie.
- Daniel.

- Hi. Good to see you.
- Hi. Good to see you.

Lisa, this is Daniel,
our lawyer.

Lisa Hunter Hollis,
my ex-partner and wife.

Nice to meet you
after all this time.

These are beautiful.
May I?

Oh, yes.

- There you go.
- Thank you.

So you've known Julie
and Charlie long?

Well, I've known Julie
some time because we're
old friends.

Darling, could you help me
a minute, please?

Yeah.
Daniel, this is Donnie.

- Daniel Lombard.
- All right, Mr. Lombard?

Do you know about tents?
I seem to be having
a bit of a problem.

- Yes, I was a Boy Scout.
- Was you?

- The sweater. Sweater.
- No, darling, could you
just watch the pheasant?

- Yes.
- Daniel.

Julie.

( speaking French )
- Ça va, mon ami?
- Oui, et toi?

Well, I guess
you've met.

- Yes.
- Yes, sort of.

- I think these
can use some water.
- Oh.

Sweetheart, could you find
a vase for these?

- Yeah, I'll get it.
- Oh, I think Daniel
needs a drink.

A drink.

About two hours ago.
Oh.

Thank you.

Oh, listen, did you
get a chance to go over
that contract?

- What?
- The Libelle property.

You have to know about it
when Boulanger gets here
for the presentation.

No, I forgot.
I'm sorry, I'll get
to it tonight.

( screams )

Oh, lord, no.

Get the pheasant off.
Get it off.

- Oh, it's a disaster.
- Charlie: You all right?

Lisa:
I'll help you with
your tent, Donnie.

Charlie:
A little bit, please.
The flies getting to you?

Mmm, that was really
delicious, Julie.

Thank you.

- She's a fabulous chef.
- ( coughing )

Julie:
Oh, my God.
Here's some water.

Oh, I'm terribly sorry.
I thought I'd got all
the shot out.

Listen, would you like
another piece?

Oh, no thanks.

- I'll have some.
- It's his favorite dish.

- Really?
- Didn't you know?

We didn't
eat in much.

I'm the type
that burns water.

( laughs )

- Do you want me
to help you with that?
- Oh, thank you.

I'll make someone
a wonderful wife.

You're not married,
Daniel?

Not yet, no.

He's too busy
divorcing people.

( thumps )

Charlie:
Uh, Donnie?
Lisa, thank you.

Not found the right bird
then, Mr. Lombard?

It's a very nice spot
of claret, this, Charlie.

Yes, it's the '82
I was telling you about.

Seems strange to me to keep
it in a bottle for so long.

I think you should
just, like, drink it.

I'm real excited to work
with you, Mrs. Hunter.

Have you heard Mrs. Hunter
sing, Miss Sanson?

She's got a really
beautiful voice.

Oh, no, no.
I didn't realize you sang.

- Oh.
- Well, you know,
some people can sing

and some people can cook.

Indeed.

Indeed.

- Indeed, Donnie.
- Oh, sorry.

Oh, no, no.
You men sit down.

Sit down and talk.

There's something
I've been meaning to ask.

Why exactly did you
stop writing together?

- Well...
- I mean, it can't be like
what that article said.

- What article?
- It said something about

Mrs. Hunter went
back to America and hit
the bottle really badly.

And Mrs. Hunter OD'd
on aspirin when she found out

- that Mr. Hunter
was screwing Cindi Benendi.
- Dessert, everyone?

- Okay, Donnie, that's enough.
- Wait, there's a wasp!

- ( Julie screams )
- ( Donnie laughing )

I'm really sorry,
Julie.

- These are the...
- Watch your step.

...the dailies from
the reshoot yesterday.
Sorry.

They're pretty rough,
but I think you'll get
the basic idea.

I think I'm going
to leave you to it.

Thank you.

So why exactly
did they reshoot?

You didn't read
about it in the papers?

I mean, it was on
all the front pages.

No.

Right, Alison and Lance
broke up during the filming,

right, and it marred
the performance.

So they wanted to do
it over now that time
has healed the wound.

It's the romantic climax
that leads to where
your song will go.

- Oh, good, good.
- Great. Let's watch it.

- Okay.
- Camera.

861, take 18.

Director:
Both ready?
A lot of energy.

Action.

Oh, my darling,
it will never be
over between us.

I love you.
You must believe it.

Alison, I've got
to have a little bit more
energy than that.

Oh, yeah, I'd say
there's still a problem
with the chemistry.

Yeah, like Chernobyl.

Yeah, but the right tune
will fix that.

Charlie:
Yeah, maybe a dirge.

Director:
Alison, what is it now?

Tell him not
to kiss me like that.

Okay, all right.
I've seen enough.

No, no, no.
Let it run.

So you came back
to me.

Yes, I'll never
leave you again.

Director:
Alison, would you
please smile?

You're supposed
to be in love.

- I hate you!
- Ooh.

Director:
And action.

- Oh! Oh!
( screams )
- ( splashes )

( laughing )

- ( snores )
- Hey, get her out of there.

Oh, it's a good thing
they reshot it.

It's much better now, eh?

- Look!
- What?

Star light, star bright,
first star I see tonight.

Wish I may, wish I might,
have the wish I wish tonight.

- I wish it hits us.
- Come on.

Well, this is some
opportunity.

Okay, Charlie,
I know it's not a great film,

but that doesn't mean
it can't be a great song.

You know,
we write great songs,

so all we have to do
is just write one.

How hard
can that be, right?

I've got to go.
It's late.

I'll see you tomorrow
at 11:00.

Get some rest.

- ( bell tolling )
- ( rooster crowing )

( coughing )

( chickens clucking )

( Donnie groans )

Why didn't you
wake me up?

Come on, Charlie,
you're in my light.

Well, you're
in my way.

( chicken clucks )

Sorry, mate.

Sorry I'm late.
I overslept.

Really?

- Egg butty?
- What?

Egg butty?
I know how you feel.

Gross.

( phone ringing )

Hello, Hunter Studio.

Oh, all right,
Uncle Moshe.

Oh, yeah.
It's great, yeah.

Ideas are just bouncing
all over.

Yeah, we'll call you
when we're done. Okay.

All right. Bye.

( keyboard playing )

I can't tell you
what an honor it is

to be actually assisting
inside one of your
creative sessions.

I mean, not merely
a creative session,

but more like an intensely
creative session.

Donnie. Donnie.
We really need
to have quiet

before we can be
intensely creative,
okay?

Oh, sure.

- What is that?
- No.

Hey, I like that.
That's great.

- That's really fantastic.
- Could you...

When do you think they will
be able to marry us?

Well, we're still waiting
for a certified copy

of Charlie and Lisa's divorce
decree to arrive from New York.

I mean,
since Lisa's here,

maybe she could sign
an affidavit.

I don't see why that should
be a problem, do you?

That reminds me of that
song that we wrote once.

What was it?

Same chords.

Do you think
that Boulanger

will need the income
project for the year 2010?

I don't know,
but, you know,

Charlie really has
to read that contract.

He hasn't read it yet?

Oh, Daniel.

All right, I'm just
gonna speak to him.

All right, a bit
more to the left.

Good.

- Charlie.
- ( music playing within )

Darling.

- ( music stops )
- What?

Have you read
the contract yet?

- The what?
- The contract.

Oh, no.
No, I didn't.

I'll get to it tonight,
I promise.

Could you leave
us alone, please?

My pleasure.

Oh, great, Tommy.
You're starting on the path.

Sure.

Well, let's see
if it works.

- ( sputtering loudly )
- Charlie: What's going on?

Tom.

- What are you doing?
- Shut it off.

Tom, shut it off!

- What is it, Mr. Hunter?
- What?

- What is it?
- Quiet!

We need lots of quiet.

Okay, leave it to me.

Come here.

We need more juice, mate.

( motor stops )

If you want a tea break,

Miss Sanson says
you can take it now.

( footsteps on stairs )

Uh, I think somebody's
broken the cement mixer.

Well, we've got
a problem, mate.

Better get on
with the walls.

( playing melody )

( motor running loudly )

So what do you think?
This sound okay?

How am I supposed to know?
I can't even hear it.

Oh, Lisa, please.
Just don't start.

Me start?
Wait, Charlie, I'm the one
that got rooked

into coming here by Miss
Peace, Quiet, and Clean Air

and now I have
to work in the middle
of a construction site?

Look, I have to get it
done before the wedding.

It's important to Julie
and to me.

Of course, that's typical.
You never cared about what's
important to me, did you?

Julie:
Hope we're not
interrupting.

The wedding cake
samples have arrived

and we thought this
might be the perfect time
for a tea break.

- Did I hear cake?
- Fine. Fine. Great.

- Let's try it.
- ( hammer banging )

What's going on
out there?

Charlie:
Now what is it?
God.

Seems that Tom's
having a bit of a problem
with the cement mixer.

You've got to try this
chocolate, Mr. Hunter.
It's amazing.

Charlie, I realize
you're trying to work,

but there's something
we have to discuss right now.

- What?
- Well, it's that you
can't get married

without a certified copy
of the divorce papers

and that could take up
to three months to arrive.

And since we are
getting married in 11 days,

my darling, this obviously
poses rather a problem.

- Unless.
- Lisa: Unless what?

Well, unless you're prepared
to sign an affidavit

to the effect that you really
are divorced from Charlie.

No, wait a minute.
I already gave them a copy
of the divorce papers.

Oh, no. What you gave
them was a photocopy.

They want it certified
or an affidavit from Lisa.

Um, so, Lisa--

Lisa, um, you see,

if you wouldn't mind
signing here.

What does it say?

It's simply that
you swear that you're
divorced from Charlie.

French bureaucracy.
Deeply boring, I know.

( phone ringing )

Hello.
Hunter Studio.

Mrs. Hunter?

Someone called Marion
for you.

I'm gonna take
this outside.

Oh!

Oh, hi, honey.
How are things going?

I don't know.
We're just working.

You don't sound too hot.
You've got a deadline, you know.

I know. I know.
But it's just not happening.

Are you having any problems
with Charlie?

No. I don't know.
It's just--

it's really hard
to concentrate here.

Oh, listen, honey, I know
I set this whole thing up.

If it's getting too much
for you, just get out.

I mean it. Really.
It's not worth it.

No, don't worry.
I'm gonna be okay.

I'm gonna give it
another shot, okay?

Okay. I have to go
back to work,

so I'll speak to you
later, okay?

Okay. Bye.

And take care.
Take care.

Okay, bye.

( sighs )

- ( keyboard playing )
- ( water running )

Julie, which one
sounds the best?

Okay, here's the first one.

- ( music playing )
- ( gargling )

Or...

- ( music playing )
- Mmm.

Okay, so which one
sounds better?

Hmm? Which one
sounds better?

Well, they both
sound very good to me.

Yeah, I know that,
but which one sounds better?

- There's a difference.
- Charlie.

Do you realize that
we have a presentation
to Monsieur Boulanger

in three days and that
if we fail, we basically--

- well, we basically
lose everything?
- Yeah, I know.

Look, please, I just have
to finish this part.

- It's the bass line.
- And what about the wedding?

I mean, you still
haven't signed the affidavit
for non-citizen residency.

I didn't?
I thought I did.

I'm sorry.
I thought I did.
I'm sorry.

Okay, try the first one.

You don't really care
about the business, do you?

I don't think you
really want to get married.

Of course I do.

All you really seem to care
about is that song.

Oh, honey, come on.
I'm doing it for us.

Besides, you know,
it's gonna be over
in four days.

Don't worry.
It's fine. Relax.

I just think that maybe
we're making a very big
mistake, that's all.

You seem to resent me
for this wedding.

Come on, now, honey.
What are you talking about?

So much to organize
and I find myself nagging
you day in and day out

- over the same boring details.
- Honey, all right.

- I'm very, very, very tired.
- Honey. Come here, honey.

Come here.
Come here.

Come here.
Look.

I'm sorry.

I know I haven't been paying
enough attention to you.

But I do want
to get married.

I do.

It's gonna be such
a beautiful day.

It is.

You know, Lisa and I,
we just ran off--

no, wait,
listen to me, honey.

We just ran off and did it
like it didn't matter.

But you do.

And I want to see you
in that beautiful dress.

And then...

our friends,
your family--

You know, I want
those memories.

And I want them
with you.

Charlie.

( softly )
Do you really love me?

Yes.

- ( laughs )
- Oh.

Oh, Julie.

I'm sorry.

I've got to get
to the bass line, honey.

I'm sorry.

Honey, honey.
Please, honey.

- Good night.
- Fine. Fine.

I'll sleep
on the couch.

( cow mooing )

Chopping wood
for the fireplace?

Optimistic.

I mean, you promised that
this would be ready for today.

You promised.
I mean, look at it.

What am I going to do,
walk down the aisle naked?

- But-- but--
- But what?

But, madam, you've lost
so much weight.

Yeah, well, I'm stressed.
No one seems to understand
the stress I'm going through.

Excuse me, Miss Sanson.
Have you seen Mrs. Hunter?

Oh, wow.
That's a really beautiful
dress, Miss Sanson.

- It's really romantic.
- Thank you, Donnie.

Would you mind?
We're just trying to do
a fitting here.

- Morning.
- All right, Mrs. Hunter?

I've been looking
for you all over.

Bad news.
Uncle Moshe's called twice.

- What'd he want?
- He's getting really,
really impatient.

So I've been thinking,
for the bass line,

maybe we could use
a tuba, you know?

No, we can't put a tuba
in the bass line, Donnie,

because right now
we don't have a bass line.

We don't even have
a melody line.

Right now we don't
even have a note.

Been here a day already.
Would have thought you got
a little bit further than that.

Damn it, Julie,
it's not that easy, okay?

Could the two
of you leave us alone
for a moment, please?

- Yes, no problem.
- Sure.

Quite frankly, Lisa,
I just don't understand.

I mean, how many words
are there in a song?

I mean, there's what,
eight to 10 to a line,

five or six lines
to a verse,

three or four verses
in a song.

So what's taking
you so long?

What you don't understand,
Julie, is that we're
writing a love song.

And when you write a love song,
you need to use the word love.

And right now there are
only eight words

in the English language
that rhyme with love,
one of them being shove.

You've got a real nerve
coming here to my house--

Wait a minute.
You're the one that
invited me, remember?

Oh, right, like I was
just gonna leave

you and Charlie alone
together in Paris.

Well, you're marrying the guy.
Don't you even trust him?

Do you think I was born
yesterday or something?

Do you think I don't
know what this music business
stuff is really about?

Oh, wait a minute.

I'd like to know something.

Did Charlie give up music
all on his own

or did you have a little
something to do with it?

Do you want to know
quite how miserable

Charlie was
when I met him, hmm?

All I did, Lisa,
is make him happy.

Well, let me tell
you a little something
about Charlie, okay?

He loves music.
It's gonna follow him
around everywhere.

Do you really think
that he's not gonna miss it?

Well, let me tell
you a little something
about Charlie, Lisa.

He's got a completely
different life now.

And you want to
know something else?
He's in love with a woman

who loves him very,
very much indeed.

Who?

Now, I can't pretend
to know you very well,

or even know you
at all, Lisa,

but do you really want
to know what I see?

I see a very, very
confused little girl

tottering in here
in her high heels,

humiliating herself,
throwing herself at a man

who divorced her
how many years ago was it?

Something I said?

Come on, wake up.
Ch-ch-ch.

Lisa.

Lisa.

Julie:
Morning, my darling.

Good morning.

What happened?

Oh, she's fine.

It's a complicated
situation.

- She's gonna be okay.
- What happened?

Nothing.
It's-- it's fine.

Honey, will you
play nice, please?

- I'm being very nice to her.
- I'm sure you are.

- She's very oversensitive.
- I know. I know.

- It's a difficult situation.
- All right. Okay.

I'm sorry
about last night.

I'm sorry, too.

- Julie: I missed you.
- I missed you, too.

- I did. Mm-hmm.
- Julie: Mmm.

You know,
I'm all sweaty.

Donnie:
Mm-hmm.

- Mm-hmm.
- ( sighs )

Mm-hmm.

- Hi.
- Hi.

( motor starts )

- ( groans )
- Yeah, all right.
Uncle Moshe's on the--

How the hell are we
supposed to work like this?

I'll take a message.
Yup.

- Donnie, Donnie, Donnie.
- Hold on.

Remember that idea you had
with the tuba in the--

- The bass line.
- That's it. Exactly.

- I think that's a great idea.
- What?

I've been thinking about it.
It would be kind of a good idea

for you to sort of stay
in the studio and kind
of noodle around

- a little bit
with some tuba motifs.
- Noodle.

- It's a good idea,
don't you think?
- Yeah.

You could stay here in
the studio, sort of noodle.

In the studio?

Why don't we just
leave you to it?

Thanks,
Mr. and Mrs. Hunter.

- Cheers.
- You're a prince, kid.

Oh, great.
It's almost empty.

- Sit here?
- So, finally,

no distractions.

Thank you.

( sighs )

I'd like to tell you
about the plate du jour.

- I'll just have coffee.
- Yeah, me, too.

Just coffee?

Okay, why don't you tell me
about the plate du jour?

Roast beef and puree.

Ooh, well, I'm going
to have that.

- And my wife--
- I'll have a salad.

- Wife?
- Sorry.

Thank you.

- So...
- So...

- The song.
- The song.

- ( ringing )
- ( keyboard playing )

All right, so we have
to write a love song

about two people
who can't stand each other.

Needs some ice.

- Can I get some ice?
- Waitress: No ice.

Nice.

Um, we had something nice,
but we paid the price.

I hope she gets lice.

No, come on, Charlie.
That was good.

Want my advice?
Stop rhyming.

I wasn't talking
about you and me.

- You know...
- What?

I want to
apologize to you

for the way that I treated
your piano.

It's no big deal.

No, I really feel bad
about that.

I mean, you loved
that piano and I--

and you don't write
music anymore.

What happened to that guy
that I used to know?

- Well, people change.
- Not that much.

Bread.

Salad.

Roast beef and puree.

( keyboard playing )

( phone ringing )

( coughing )

- Hey!
- It's okay.

You do some of your
best work on your back.

- This is impossible.
- No, it isn't.

- This song is impossible.
- No, it isn't.

It's a piece of cake.

- No cake.
- Okay, so what do you got?

- The rhubarb pie
is fairly fresh.
- Fairly?

( playing glissando )

( coughs )

( song playing )

Hey, we've got fans.

"Lonely at the Top."

Oh, Charlie, it's true.
It is lonely at the top.

Oh, come on, Lisa.

You can't treat your lyrics
like the Ten Commandments.

We're never gonna write
anything that good ever again.

- We've lost it.
- No.

- Now, come on.
- We've lost it.

- ( horse whinnies )
- ( keyboard playing )

Do you have any
Jose Cuervo Gold?

- No.
- Yes. Yes.

- What is it?
- It's a tequila.

- I don't know.
- Okay, where do you
keep the booze?

- Over there.
- All right.

( sniffling )

I know
how you feel.

Charlie, no.
We're supposed to
be working here,

not destroying
brain cells.

Come on, we need
to take a break.

- Oh, God.
- Tequila.

Do you have any limes?
And some salt.

- Yes.
- Great.

- What do you say?
- Okay.

- Just one.
- Just one.

( music playing )

( coughs )

( music continues )

Okay.

- Ready?
- Ready.

One, two...

Ah! Wow!

Now, isn't that better?

( laughs )
It always is.

Julie on recording:
Hello, and welcome to
the Great Escape.

Please leave a message
after the tone

and we'll get back to you
just as soon as we can.

( beeps )

Good afternoon,
Lisa and Charlie.

This is Mr. Mossek's
secretary again.

- Mm-hmm, our honeymoon.
- Our honeymoon.

- Oh, what a great honeymoon.
- And we danced on the beach.

- Was it the beach?
- Yeah.

- Out in the rain.
- It started to rain.

- It started pouring.
- Pouring down.

- Rain pouring down.
- Rain pouring down.

- That's good.
- That's really good.
Get a pen.

Paper. Paper.
Tablecloth.

Can I borrow your pen?
Okay, great.

Rain falling down.
Rain falling down.

Rain falling
down on your love.

Down on love.
Down on love.

Rain pouring down,
lost your love.

- Right.
- Misplaced your love.

Misplaced your love.

And then salt...

- Rainbows!
- Rainbows.

Making rainbows
from nothing at all.

Mr. Mossek requests
that you contact him

at your earliest
convenience.

Moshe:
Where the hell
is that song, damn it?

You two better be
hard at work.

Oh, Charlie,

we've been listening
to this song for two hours.

Mm, do you have
something else in mind?

The melons are cheaper
in the market.

Oh, hello.

How are you?

Oh, fine.

I'm fine.
You?

Well, I'll be relieved
when you've finished

with that presentation
to Monsieur Boulanger.

Oh, yup.

How's Charlie?

Oh, he's fine.
He's fine.

Still busy with
that song, you know.

- With Lisa?
- Yup.

Julie, don't get me
wrong if I say this.

If I were about
to marry you,

I wouldn't be walling myself
off with my ex-wife.

( laughs )
You don't have
an ex-wife, Daniel.

Maybe I'm still looking
for the wrong girl.

Anyway, if you ever want
to talk, you know where I am.

Um, I'll get Charlie
to sign those contracts.

- Okay.
- And we'll see you tonight.

- Yes.
- About 8:00.

- Of course.
- Okay. Okay. Bye-bye.

( speaks French )

Oh, shit.

( truck passes )

Julie?

Try again.

Oh, shit!

Well, if it's any
consolation to you,

I feel exactly
the same way.

Okay, it was a mistake,
Charlie, okay?

Yeah.
You're right.

It's not the first mistake
I've ever made.

It's certainly not
going to be my last.

You want to know what
your biggest mistake was?

Walking out
on our marriage.

Oh, come on.
I was pushed out.

I was supposed
to sing that song.

- It was an accident.
- Yeah, right.

For the hundredth time,
I was sending out songs

and that one got mixed in
by accident.

There are no accidents,
Charlie.

You were always trying
to undercut me.

Oh, come on.
Don't be so paranoid.

- Paranoid?
- Yes, paranoid.

Undercut you?
Why would I want to
undercut you?

Come on, we had
the perfect life.

We ate food, we wrote songs,
we made love.

Yeah, yeah, but you never
wanted me to sing

and I always
wanted to sing.

Since you were
a little girl.

Since before I was
a little girl.

There was
a want-to-sing egg

and a want-to-sing sperm
and that was me.

Yes, yes, I've heard
all this before.

Yeah, you heard it,
but you just never
understood it.

You don't understand anything
unless it's me giving in to you.

- You know what
the trouble with you is?
- What?

You don't know how
to put anybody else first.

Oh, and what do you
put first?

Real estate income projections?
Very impressive.

It's a business.

The hardest thing is
is I'm just so
disappointed in you.

I must have been crazy
to think that we could actually
get back together again.

Get back together?

Wait a second.
Who said anything about
getting back together?

- Oh, come on.
- What? I thought we were
writing a song.

Oh, yeah.
And what was this?

A fast game of Monopoly?

You were the one
that ordered the tequila,
not me.

You know what tequila
does to us.

Come on, it takes
two to tango.

Anyway, I had to do something
to cheer you up so you could
write the song.

Oh, don't do that, okay?
Don't you do that.

You're always
blaming it on the song.

If you don't want something,
if you want something,

you never just say it.
It's always the song.

It's always the song.
The song, the song--

oh, my God, the song.

Well, I don't care
about the songs anymore

because I've got a person,
a real person,

and she's not gonna run
after the spotlight.

What happened
to this table?

We sat at it.
And then we ordered soup.
Didn't we, Oswald?

Soup?
You ordered the soup.

I wanted foie gras
with a little glass
of Beaumes de Venise.

He's got a very
delicate system.

I've told you, Oswald,
it doesn't agree with
your system.

Forget it.

Strange dress.

Excuse me.

There was a tablecloth we were
writing on earlier today.

- In the garbage.
- In the garbage.

Okay, the garbage.

Um...

Oh, mashed potatoes.
We ordered roast beef,
mashed potatoes.

- Yes, you didn't eat them.
- Yeah, we didn't eat them.

Then we danced
and then we wrote on the--

this is it.
Is this it?

This is it!
I found it.

Would you like me
to wrap it up for you?

( geese honking )

( music playing )

Charlie.
Hey! Stop!

Charlie, stop!

What were you gonna do,
leave me there?

( music continues )

What were you thinking?
Were you just gonna
leave me there?

I'm not talking to you.

Fine, I'm not
talking to you.

( sizzling )

( quacks )

Hello.

I'm afraid dinner's gonna
be longer than I thought.

- ( music stops )
- Do you want an aperitif?

Oh, yes, please.
I'm starving.

Mm, what's that smell?
It's amazing.

- Where are the others?
- Who?

Oh, Mr. and Mrs. Hunter.

They said I could work
on it in the studio

with the tuba
for the bass line.

And I put in some flutes
and some French horns.

And it's really coming
along great, too.

If you really
want to know,

I think they wanted to be
alone for a little while.

You are joking.

No.

Right.

( engine starts )

Julie, where
are you going?

What happened?
Where is she going?

I'm not really sure.

For your information, the song
sucks and I'm going home.

Great. Go.

I have to pack
before I can go.

- What happened?
- I'm not really sure.

She sort of blew up when
she found out you and Mrs.
Hunter went off together.

Who told her?

Um, I think I did.

Great. Great.
Great. That's just great.

- ( horn honks )
- Oh, my God,
it's Uncle Moshe.

( honking )

What are we
gonna say to him?

He's your uncle.

What the hell is happening?
I've been calling all day.

I leave messages
until my tongue is tired.

We're humming right
along, Uncle Moshe.

I mean, we got
a bass line already.
Let me play you a few bars.

- No, no. No.
- No, no, don't.

( music playing )

Turn that noise off.

Well, maybe it could use just
a little bit more vibrato.

- What is this?
- Well, it's funny
you should ask.

You see, Lisa and I
thought we had a solid,
stable breakup.

- And we--
- It turns out we hate
each other's guts.

Right.
My point exactly.

And you can't write
a love song if you hate
each other's guts.

- Right.
- I was afraid of that.

So I suppose you would like
to get out of the contract.

Thank you, Mr. Mossek.
That'd be really,
really kind.

Kind?
Kind is a word
I do not know.

You're trying to screw me.
Nobody screws Moshe Mossek
on a contract.

I've got a dozen man-eating
lawyers just waiting.

They'll sue you
from here to eternity.

I'll take your house,
your car,

- your business.
- ( cat meows )

I'll even take
your goddamn cat.

Did you ever hear
of Reginald Ray?

- No. No.
- No.

Well, that's
exactly my point.
And you never will.

He tried to screw me
and I smashed him like a bug.

But we can't
write the song.

Oh, yes, you can.
I'll be in Paris until
the end of tomorrow.

That's when I want
that song

just like it says
in the contract.

But, Mr. Mossek,
the contract actually says--

You must honor it.
That is all.

You signed it.
That is your word.

Your oath.

That is your holy
sacred deal.

Uncle Moshe.
The guy's a nutter.

Wait, Charlie.

The guy's crazy.
What are we gonna do?

- What are we gonna do?
- Yeah, what are we gonna do?

- ( scoffs )
- What are you doing?

- Bonjour.
- Bonjour.

- Have you seen Julie?
- Hours ago.

- Hours ago?
- Sorry.

( knocks )

You know I'm gonna
get fired over this.

Oh, come on, Donnie.
He's your uncle.

He's not
gonna fire you.

My Uncle Fred fired me.
And my Uncle Morris.

Uncle Moshe's
the last one.

I figure after him,
I'm all out of uncles.

Plus my mom's
gonna kill me.

You know what,
Donnie?

Maybe it's not so bad
to be on your own for a while.

Sounds terrible.

( laughs )
It's not.

It's really not so bad.

( keyboard playing )

( gunshots )

( duck quacking )

- ( gunshots )
- Charlie: Julie.

Julie,
put the gun down.

( gunshots )

Julie.

Baby.

( cocks rifle )

I want
to get married.

Yeah?
Well, good luck to you.

- ( gunshots )
- Jesus! Ah!

( puffs )

Put it--

Where were you?

When?

I was looking for you.
Yeah.

You mean earlier.

Oh, with Lisa.

Right, well,
God, you know,

there were just so many
distractions at the house.

We thought maybe if we could
get some peace and quiet,

we could get somewhere.

And how far did you get?

With the song?

God, you know,
we had a great start.

Yeah, had
a very promising start.

Came up with some
great ideas.

And then, you know,
we kind of got bogged
down a little.

You know, when you first
invited her out here,

I thought you were
testing me.

You were right to test me
because I didn't know if--

Julie, baby.

Don't cry.

Oh, I love
our life together.

I love
being with you.

God, I wish we
were in America.

We'd just run off
to Vegas and get married.

You know, just get on a plane
and forget about everything.

And the song?

I don't know.

Wait.
No, I don't care.

Really?

I don't care.

Charlie:
We'll have a long, nice,
quiet dinner tonight,

just the two of us.

Yes, I'd really
like that.

- Wouldn't you?
- I'd better call Daniel.

Yeah, I guess.
Call him.

Explain to him
the situation, okay?

Oh, hello, Lisa.

We thought you'd gone.

- Charlie, can we talk?
- Yes.

Mossek's gonna sue, okay?

He's gonna take your business
and he's gonna wreck my career.

What?
Sorry, he can take this?

- No. No.
- He can't do that.

He can do that.
He's just that insane.

Listen, we can
beat him, okay?

All we have to do
is write a song.

It doesn't
have to be a hit.

The contract does not say
it has to be a hit.

- Yes.
- Yeah, I think this is
a great idea, Lisa.

- But...
- Great. Well, all
I'm saying is

- I just have to stay
till tomorrow afternoon.
- What?

Our pleasure.
I'll make sure
you're not disturbed.

- You will?
- Charlie, I know we hate
each other's guts,

but I'll just work in my room
and he can work in the studio.

- We can just have
Donnie run interference.
- That's settled, then.

Maybe it might work.

- Fine.
- Fine.

( sighs )

Okay.

I think I got it.

Cheers.

Right, I'll
see you later.

Special delivery.

Fine.
Fine.

Why don't you tell her
she writes three more
verses like this,

we'll never have to write
another song together
as long as we live?

Mr. Hunter said

three more verses
like that

and you'll never, ever
have to write another
song together

as long as you live.

( playing melody )

Punches through the defense
like a gazelle.

He goes for the shot!

Donnie Parks,
the man from nowhere,

scores his hat trick
for England.

This looks like it could be
a red card for Donnie Parks

because he's tired of taking
tapes backwards and forwards.

The fans,
they can't believe it either.

The man's a miracle.

- Donnie!
- Oh, all right, Mr. Hunter.

I feel like a yo-yo.

That's what I am.
I'm a yo-yo.

The fruit of your distant
collaboration.

I hope she won't
be long.

I've got Uncle Moshe's
chauffeur waiting
outside for me.

She'll be here.

Okay, this is fine.

Here's the rest
of the lyrics.

Thank you.

So, we're all
finished.

Great.

- Yeah, great.
- Yeah.

- ( music playing )
- * Rain falling down

* I'm down on love

* Pain works hard
on my one day off *

* From the moment
I saw you *

* Things seemed
to change *

* Let a survivor
in from the rain *

* Making rainbows

* From nothing at all

* Finding our way

* Of walking tall

* Dance in the night

* Until we fall

* Making rainbows

* Making rainbows

* Of it all.

This is so beautiful
and so true.

I mean, it's gonna
be a hit.

And if you never
write another song,

you'll always be
remembered for this one.

And to think,
I, Donnie Parks,

was part of it.

Julie:
Oops, mind the puddle.

Don't want to go
through all that again.

Lisa:
Of course not.

Charlie:
Will you call me if you
hear any news from Moshe?

I will.

Well, I guess
that's that.

It's a hell of a note
to go out on.

- Yeah.
- So back to Paris?

Yeah.
Got to record a few tunes,

and then I think
I'll go to New York
at the end of the week.

Yeah, it's getting late.
You don't want to miss
the train.

Yeah.
You're right, I don't.

- Thank you, Julie.
- Oh, it was my pleasure.

Come back and
visit us sometime.

I'd love to.

- Bye.
- Bye.

Safe journey.

God, it's getting cold.

( thunder rumbling )

( purrs )

- ( switch clicks )
- ( music playing )

( moans )

- What are you doing?
- Do you like it?

I thought you'd
finished the song.

No, it's for you.
To play at the wedding.

Oh.

That's so sweet,
darling.

But what about
the choir?

You know, even you,
my darling,

can't beat Bach,
hmm?

Yeah.

You're right.

In addition to which,
the cultural and sports centers

are already attracting
multinational corporate
sponsorship.

So, as you can see
from the financial statement

and the income projections,
we are indeed presenting you

with a very,
very stable project.

And if you check the third
paragraph, Mr. Boulanger,

you'll see that the return
on your investment would
be considerable.

Well, what about
the fluctuation in
interest rates?

How would that
affect you?

Charlie.

( quietly humming )

( coughs )

Oh.

I was making some notes.
What?

I would be
interested to see.
May I?

Even a 3% variation
won't have a negative effect.

In any case,
certainly not before 2010,
Monsieur Boulanger.

Damn it, Charlie,
he almost said no.

- Yeah, but he didn't.
- No thanks to you,
my darling.

If Daniel hadn't
stepped in and saved us,

the whole deal would have
gone through the window.

Yes, but the important
thing is

we got their okay.
Champagne?

I really don't think so
at this moment, thank you.

( humming )

Your nuptial doves
have arrived.

Very romantic.

I thought there'd be more
of them in a flock.

How many doves
in a flock?

I'm afraid
I don't know, sir.

( phone ringing )

Just put it over here
on the chair.

Yeah?

Hi.

Right.

Oh, I know.

Yeah.

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh.

Uh-huh.

Yeah, uh-huh.

Bye.

Who was that?

- Lisa.
- Really?

Yeah.
Moshe hates the song.

He's having it rewritten
by Cindi Benendi's writer

and she's gonna sing it.

And the money?

Oh, come on, you've got
to be kidding me.

We're lucky
he doesn't sue us.

Oh, yes, Charlie,
we are so very lucky.

( humming )

- ( cork pops )
- Would you like some?

No?

That's too bad.

Mmm. Ah.

( humming )

( music playing )

Do you think you could
cut that out, Charlie?

I mean, some of us are trying
to work around here.

- ( faint tinkling )
- Charlie.

Charlie,
I can still hear it!

Daniel:
Fantastic news.

The papers for the marriage
have finally come through.

- Really?
- Great.

Charlie:
Would you like a drink?

Love one.

- Can we talk?
- Of course.

Daniel, do you
mind leaving us alone
for a moment, please?

Of course.

Charlie, what is
going on here?

Oh, great.

Great. Great.
Great.

What do you
expect me to do

when you sit glued
to that thing 24 hours a day?

It's not 24 hours.

Charlie. Do you
remember us, Charlie?

You remember us
that you cared about,

oh, what was it,
a whole week ago, huh?

And now I'm with
this stranger

that deigns to make love
to me from time to time.

Oh, well, thank you
for the input.

Let me work this one
out by myself, shall I?

Okay, now,
let me see now.

What do I feel
I'm competing with?

Your ex-wife?
No, no, she's left.

So... a song.

A mediocre piece of trash
that nobody seems to like.

And yet for this,
this terribly good idea

that was gonna solve
all our problems

and bring us fame
and fortune,

for this,
this you risk

everything that we have,

cared about,
and worked very hard for,

and that
has been us, Charlie,
for two whole years.

Do you remember
when we met?

Do you remember

how depressed
and pathetic you were?

Do you remember?

And now
you're a man with--

with a life

and a profession

and a wife, Charlie.

Only I will not compete
with your music, my darling.

I will not compete
with it because I feel
humiliated by this.

Do you understand?

You're right.

I can't do it.

Not for you.

Not for anybody
ever again.

I'm sorry.

I want you out
of my house, Charlie.

And I never want
to see you again.

Do you understand?
I never--

I never want to see
you again, okay?

( footsteps receding )

( door slams )

( doves cooing )

( cat meows )

( clattering )

Hello, Thomas.

Hello.

Something wrong?

Nothing I can do
anything about.

I've been there before.

The fireplace fell down.
There won't be a wedding.

Thought
that might happen.

The fireplace
or the wedding?

- Both.
- Ah.

What happened?

Well, we found out
we were 100% incompatible.

What about Lisa?

We're 200%
incompatible.

What are you
going to do?

I don't know.

What would you do?

You don't want
my advice.

- Oh, come on.
- I've spent 20 years
with the same woman.

- 20 years?
- Yeah.

First choice
is always best.

Well, I've got to go.

Good luck, mate.
You'll need it.

- Take care, Thomas.
- Cheers.

- ( meows )
- I know.

Yeah.

( horse whinnies )

Charlie?

Hi, Daniel.

What's happening?

( meows )

It's a long story.

Julie will fill you in.

( music playing )

Lisa:
* Yeah

* A dollar too much

* In need of a dime

* Spend what you got
like you were blind *

* Turn back the page,
you can't turn back time *

* Loving too many,
too many to hold *

* Bet on a loser
when you could have gone bold *

* Take a piece
of the action *

* You can't have it all

* Now watch me close

* I'm fine

* You can change the tune,
rewrite our lines *

* But you can't
turn back time *

* If I make a move,
you're moving in *

* Before you move in,
I'm already in doubt *

* Loving too many
I can do without *

* Watch me close

* I'm fine

* You can change the tune

* Rewrite our lines

* But you can't
turn back time. *

- Take five.
- Lisa: Okay.

That sounded great.

- That you?
- Yeah.

What are you doing here?

I had to come to Paris
to take care of some business.

More investors.

Well, you didn't have to
listen to all that, did you?

I mean, I know how much
you love my singing.

No, wait a minute.
I never said anything
about your singing.

Oh, no?

Maybe once.

Yeah, like when
we first met

and a few million times
after that.

You've improved.

Amazing what a little
practice will do.

Which you might
have done earlier if
it hadn't been for me.

Maybe it wasn't by accident
that I sent your song to Cindi.

I would have given anything
to keep you from recording it.

Why couldn't you have
loved me enough to want
me to succeed?

Because I loved you.
Because I was scared.

I mean, how could I--

how could I want you
to succeed at something that
might take you away from me?

But I didn't want
to go away.

But you did.

I mean,
that's what singers do.
They go on the road.

Anyway, that was
a long time ago.

You know, Charlie,
you could still work
in music.

You wouldn't have
to work with me.

People are always,
always asking me.

No. No.

But you used
to dream music.

You used to wake up
in the middle of the night

and write things down,
remember?

Yeah.

Last time that happened
was right after we broke up.

I thought it was the best
thing I ever wrote.

See, only I didn't have
anybody to play it to.

I didn't want to play it
for a producer or a singer.

I didn't want to sell it
to anybody.

I wanted to celebrate it
with somebody.

Only you were gone.

Listen, you want to come
in here and play it for me?

( playing )

That's nice.

- Okay, here.
- All right.

It's a little rough.

Oh, no.
It's perfect.

- Yeah?
- Yes.

* If the moon
should rise *

* With the sun
still high *

* If the story ends
bef-- *

* Because this tale
is broken... *

Right.

* Is there still time

* For promised lands?

* Promise to me.

Do you really think
this is a good idea?

Think tequila.

* Walls of the city

* Babylon high

* Skyscraper--

- Oh, can I help you?
- Huh? What? Yes.

Could you just hold--
there. Thank you.

Just-- whoa.
Let me get the key.

Where's the key?
I got the key.

- I have a key.
- Oh, really? Great.

Yes.

- ( lock clicks )
- ( door opens )

( snoring )

Charlie:
Light switch.

( both whispering )

What the hell
are you doing here?

It's the middle
of the night.

We got
your song, Moshe.

I know and it stinks
like rotten herring.

Cindi's recording
a new one tomorrow.

- Get rid of it.
- Get rid of it?

That's right.
Get rid of it.
This one's better.

Forget it.

Cindi will be in the studio
at 10:00 in the morning.

It's too late.

It's never too late.
Listen to this.

Just listen.

( music playing )

( softly )
What do you think?

( softly )
I think he likes it.

- Now the instrumentation--
- Shut up!

I'm trying to listen.

This is what I knew
you people could do.

Wait. Wait a minute.
Not so fast.

- There's one condition.
- Conditions?

- Mm-hmm.
- You're waving
conditions at me?

You're lucky
I didn't sue you.

You can forget about
any more money.

Oh, come on, Moshe.
We don't want
any more money.

You get the song
if and only if

Lisa sings it.

Oh, please.
No.

Oh, come on, Moshe.
Nobody understands
that song like she does.

Because nobody's
lived it.

I don't know.

First you send me
a terrible, awful song,

then you give me
this great one,

but she's got to sing it?
I don't know.

I'm not marrying Julie.

- You're not?
- Lisa: You're not?

- I'm not.
- He's not.

- Why not?
- I love Lisa.

You mean, the two of you
are gonna get married again
like Richard and Liz?

I don't know, Moshe.
I hadn't gotten that far yet.

What do you say?

Will you
marry me... again?

Yes!

Oh, Moshe, I think this
is your chance to give us
a really nice wedding present.

Terrific.

That's terrific.

Now will you let me
get some sleep?!

( sighs )

( snoring )

Christine!

Oh, I'm sorry,
my dear.

- ( Christine crying )
- Oh, don't cry.

My darling,

it will never be
over between us.

I love you.

I missed you
so much.

I love you.
I've always loved you.

* If the moon should rise

* With the sun still high

* If the tale should end

* For the spell is broken

* Is there still time
for promised lands? *

* Promise to me

* Fell on the streets,
I can't keep the score *

* Got two open tickets,
but I don't know what for *

* If there's no one in

* Who's minding the store?

* Minding the store

* Morning dawning

* Rise with the tide

* Morning, yawning

* Touched till I'm falling

* For someone somewhere

* To lay by our side

* Our side

* Mmm...

* If you lose my keys

* If I lose control

* Will you hold my hand

* On the final morning?

* Can we still change
the storyline? *

* Play our big scene

* Morning dawning

* Rise with the tide

* With the tide

* Morning, yawning

* Touched till I'm falling

* For someone somewhere

* To lay by our side

* Our side

* Can we still change
the storyline? *

* Play our big scene.