Nico, 1988 (2017) - full transcript
The last year of singer Nico's life, as she tours and grapples with addiction and personal demons.
(distant blasting rumbles)
(speaking in German)
(woman speaking in German)
(woman speaking in German)
(waves crashing)
Nico: Ari, I'm going out.
I'm taking the bike.
(door thuds)
(minimalist music playing)
♪ I've been out walking ♪
♪ I don't do too much talking
These days ♪
♪ These days ♪
♪ These days I seem
To think a lot ♪
♪ About the things that
I forgot to do ♪
♪ And all the times I had ♪
♪ The chance to ♪
♪ I've stopped my rambling ♪
♪ I don't do too much gambling
These days ♪
♪ These days ♪
♪ These days I seem
To think about ♪
♪ How all the changes
Came about my ways ♪
♪ And I wonder
If I'd see another ♪
♪ Highway ♪
Man: So, here we are
with Lou Reed's Femme Fatale.
Nico: Don't call me that.
I don't like it.
Man: So, we are all really proud
that a big star like you
is living here in Manchester,
and not in Paris or New York.
Well...
um, this city reminds me of...
of Berlin after the war.
When it was all in ruins
and, um, I like that.
DJ: Yeah. Um, so...
do you want to tell us
something about your experience
with the Velvet Underground?
No, I don't.
I...
I started making my own music
um, after the experience
with....
the Velvet Underground, in 1968
(sighs)
and um...
it was Jim Morrison's idea.
He...
he asked me to write down
my dreams.
- And...
- Man: 1968.
I mean, that was like
almost 20 years ago!
Yeah, that's-- that's right.
Man: I mean,
those must have been
some of the best days
of your life!
Well, we-- we took a lot of LSD.
That was... what we did.
(engine revving)
I'm-- I'm sorry
about the interview, Nico.
Uh, next time I'll make sure
we get somebody that
knows more about your career.
Don't call me Nico.
Call me by my real name,
Christa.
Yeah.
You're Jewish, Richard?
Er, yes, I am.
Oh, I thought so. By the name.
Do you have a problem
with my being German?
Richard: No, of course not.
My father, he was a rebel.
He helped a lot of Jews.
The Nazis killed him
before the end of the war.
(engine revving)
(door thuds)
So... this is the place.
Nice little house,
perfect for one person,
cozy and... Please.
(stomping)
Sitting room, dining room,
uh, the kitchen is behind and...
Let me show you the bedroom
and the bathroom.
In some areas the ceiling
is rather low,
but you'll get used to it.
The boiler is quite noisy,
but it works perfectly well.
You must turn it on
half an hour before
having a shower.
And don't forget to turn it off
when you finish.
Don't worry, sir,
I take showers very rarely.
(Daniels chuckles)
(boiler groans)
I...
Oh, yeah, right.
(door thuds)
(exhales)
(boiler groans)
(boiler groans louder)
(boiler groans)
The lady is so charming.
Is she married?
No, she isn't.
Oh.
(boiler groans)
(breathing heavily)
(rumbling)
(child crying)
(crying continues)
Nico: Christian Aaron Boulogne.
Born on August the 11th, 1962.
Father unknown.
(organ music playing)
♪ Janitor of lunacy ♪
♪ Paralyze my infancy ♪
♪ Petrify the empty cradle ♪
♪ Bring hope to them and me ♪
She's brilliant, isn't she?
Fascinating!
Interesting, yeah.
Look Max, I don't mean
to blame you, yeah,
but you had a couple
of hesitations there
that confused me.
I-- You gotta be more careful.
I think we did Okay.
It was the first time
we played together.
- We never rehearsed.
- Alex: Yeah, well,
you played fucking fantastic,
so...
best thing in the show!
(indistinct chatter)
(EDM playing)
Jane, set up a couple of beers.
It's a nice club you have here.
Yeah, well,
it's going pretty well.
But I don't like
being a club owner,
I like the idea of having
my own artists to manage.
Hi, it was a beautiful concert.
What's your name?
Maia.
Maia.
Thank you.
Young people are boring.
Yeah, but the world belongs
to them.
Do you really believe that?
No.
Well, you're-- Yours-- you're
from Manchester.
- Alex: Yeah.
- Nico: Um... (sniffs)
And Sylvia, you're Polish,
right?
No, I'm-- I'm not Polish.
- Oh.
- I'm not Polish, I'm Rumanian.
- Nico: Ah.
- So, you're okay
doing all the driving,
with... everything
on the wrong side?
Yeah, it's fine. A bit weird.
Brilliant.
Max: That's good stuff.
Yeah, it's good stuff.
Of course it's good stuff!
You know, I-- I lost it
and then I found it
under my boot.
Can you believe
I walked on this for weeks!
Look at it, I mean,
it's good stuff, yeah.
Open the window.
Nico: You wanna do another one?
- You wanna do another one?
- Luis: Yeah.
(Nico sighs)
Your link with Paris is strong.
Yeah.
Your son lives here,
if I'm not mistaken.
Yeah, his-- his name
is Christian Aaron.
I call him Ari.
(woman chuckles)
Woman: And Ari didn't grow up
with you, is that right?
Uh, well, he-- he--
he was with me.
I mean, he spent
the first four years with me
and then he moved
to his grandparents' in Paris.
Um, his um...
his father's parents are French.
His father, you say,
but he never recognized him.
No, he didn't,
but his mother did,
as soon as she saw him.
I mean, he's the exact copy
of his father, so...
(inhales sharply)
Yeah um...
She adopted him, and...
took him away from me.
I was too young and...
and crazy to take care of him,
so...
Is he in music business too?
No, he's um...
- He is a photographer.
- Oh.
Yeah, he makes
beautiful pictures.
He's very talented.
Um...
is it true that
he recently tried
to commit suicide?
Yeah.
(cello playing)
(D&B music playing)
♪ And what costume shall
The poor girl wear ♪
♪ To all tomorrow's parties ♪
♪ A hand-me-down dress
From who knows where ♪
♪ To all tomorrow's parties ♪
♪ And what will she do,
Where shall she go ♪
♪ When midnight comes around ♪
♪ She'll turn once more
To Sunday's clown ♪
♪ And cry behind the door ♪
Could I please get
some more guitar, here?
Yeah. And the snare drum, up.
♪ And what costume shall
The poor girl wear ♪
♪ To all tomorrow's parties ♪
♪ Why silks and linens
Of yesterday's gowns ♪
♪ To all tomorrow's parties ♪
♪ And what will she do
With Thursday's rags ♪
♪ When Monday comes around ♪
♪ She'll turn once more
To Sunday's clown ♪
♪ And cry behind the door ♪
Nico: Parental authority
can be totally revoked
to those parents
that put manifestly in danger
the child's security,
health or morality.
(dogs barking in distance)
(boots stomping)
Please, er, um, Richard,
try to understand.
I-- I just have a, uh, temporary
cash flow problem,
It-- no-- it...
Nico, I promise
that in four days
you'll be sleeping
in the best hotel in Anzio.
Laura: Okay, brilliant.
So, for us,
four days is not soon enough.
Could we be please
in the best hotel
in Anzio, tomorrow?
That'd be really
really brilliant.
Please.
Yah, Scusami Domenico, uh...
I don't understand uh...
Oh, thank you for having us
in your home
It's okay, you're welcome,
you can stay in my place
four days, no problem.
- Okay, so what we'd like is--
- Nico!
Uh, it's an honor for me
to lodge you.
I'm...
I am a big fan of yours,
especially,
your-- your solo production.
Where-- where did you get this?
Uh...
I made it.
- (chuckles)
- I like it.
(knocking)
- Yeah.
- Richard: Present.
It's a book of poems
by Wordsworth.
1951 edition.
I, uh found it in Paris.
Oh.
Uh, the first poem,
The Prelude,
is the one that you
got the name
of your first album from.
Oh... (Sighs)
You mean The Marble Index.
No, I got the title
of that record from--
from-- from Coleridge,
Samuel Coleridge.
Really?
Yeah. But thanks, anyway.
(door thuds)
♪ Recognize the
desperate need ♪
Nico... uh, had uh, a love story
with one of the Stones,
didn't she?
The one who drowned?
- I've no idea.
- No.
♪ Janitor ♪
I think her music is hideous.
I don't understand?
Nothing.
(chuckles)
♪ Revive the living dream ♪
(Nico sighs in exasperation)
(boots stomping)
What the fuck are you doing?
What the fuck are you all doing?
(indistinct chatter)
Fuck you!
(indistinct chatter)
Idiots!
(waves crashing)
Christa!
(eerie music playing)
(airplane whirring by)
(plane engine rumbling)
(girl speaking in German)
(speaking in German)
What did you say?
There is an American military
air base close by.
They're all over Italy!
Americans. They're everywhere.
(plane engine rumbling)
(paper rustling)
You shouldn't take drugs
before playing.
Playing an instrument
requires concentration.
And you're a good player.
You're so sweet.
Where do you come from?
It's like you're
from another planet.
Yes, I am from Rumania.
I heard Rumanian women
are crazy.
(chuckles) Why? Who told you...
Bloody hell.
(sighs)
(door creaks)
Hello, good evening.
Hey. You're all right?
Yeah, and you?
- No, sorry don't...
- (Laura moans)
(Richard grunts)
(Richard grunts)
(Richard breathing heavily)
(clanking)
(bottles clanking)
(speaking in German)
(cabinet thuds)
- (thudding)
- (clanking)
Nico...
- are you looking for something?
- Do you have any Cola?
Yeah.
(bottles clanking)
- (Refrigerator door thuds)
- Oh, wonderful! Wonderful.
(Nico gulping)
Mm...
You know, I suffered hunger
as a child,
during the Berlin blockade.
Then later I started modeling
and I had to be always
- on a diet.
- (Domenico chuckles)
It was terrible.
I love eating so much.
Nico...
you made a big mess tonight.
Ah, well, he got me a band
of amateur junkies.
Domenico: Hm.
They are all amateurs except
for the violinist.
She's good.
Why don't you replace them?
No, it's not easy to find people
who want to play with me.
Good people, I mean.
(cutlery clanking)
I don't care.
I really don't care
about music anymore.
I don't believe it.
It's true!
You know, I've been on the top,
I've been on the bottom.
Both places are empty.
"My Heart is Empty,"
your best song for me.
Yeah.
I miss my son so much.
I never see him.
I was too young to take care
of a kid by myself.
I screwed up.
Yeah.
- What's this?
- What?
The yellow bottle.
- This one?
- Hm.
No, nothing.
Can I have some?
No. It's-- it's um...
it's Limoncello. Liquor,
it doesn't go with pasta,
it's shit and it's sweet.
The bottle is too precious.
- No.
- Yes, it is.
Ma no, Ma no, a friend of mine
made it. And...
It's been there for a long time.
It's an old bottle.
I don't even know how it is.
But...
- If you want...
- Yeah.
Mm... delicious!
Thank you
for this wonderful meal.
You're welcome.
Francesco: This is one
of the best hotels of the area.
I see.
The view is nice.
Francesco: Hm.
Nico is a star, Richard.
This is, uh, the least I can do.
What she did yesterday was bad.
Ah, Richard, was-- was very bad.
The city doesn't want to pay
the hotel.
But...
the hotel manager...
will let her stay here for free.
For free?
Well, I-- I only sang
three songs with them.
The rest of the time
I was-- I was playing
the tambourine
in the background.
I did the same thing
when I was a model. I...
I was there for my image.
Look...
My life started
after the experience
with The Velvet Underground,
when I started making
my own music.
I'd rather we talked about
the present and...
about-- about the songs
I am singing now, about the...
the record I am on tour with.
Giulio Barozzi,
nice to meet you.
All right.
Well?
Me and a few friends from here,
we have a jazz band
of local musicians.
We've been having
a pretty good success locally.
- I am the piano player.
- Yeah, he's a great artist.
And, uh, me and my boys,
we would be honored
if Nico were willing
to play for our guests.
Have you any idea of the type
of music she plays?
Not really, but it's the same.
That lady is a piece of history.
I heard you were in politics
before buying that club.
Is that true?
I was a member
of the Labor Party.
I am actually a socialist.
Nico: That's ridiculous!
You don't have socialists
in England.
Yeah, we do.
My whole family was socialist.
I could have pursued
a political career, but...
not really my thing.
So you're a lawyer?
No, no I studied
political philosophy.
Oh, but do you think
you can you help me
get my son out of that hospital?
(sighs) Um...
Well, last time he came out
he swallowed five grams
of opium.
It's a miracle he survived.
I think he needs to be cured.
(Nico sighs)
Am I ugly?
(scoffs) Yeah, really.
Good.
I wasn't happy
when I was beautiful.
Well, you can-- you can stay,
if it doesn't upset you.
Yeah. (clears throat)
Yeah, yeah. All right.
(piano playing)
(indistinct chatter)
(Laura) Oh, sorry.
Well...
we're ready.
(hissing)
Nico: Lisa...
I drank a very good liquor...
at Domenico's house.
Do you think you could get
a bottle of that
before leaving the country?
Um...
yeah.
Good.
(Nico sighs)
She never remembers my name.
Which I think,
she probably does it on purpose.
Oh god, are you all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
(clears throat)
(piano playing)
♪ There was a boy ♪
♪ A very strange
enchanted boy ♪
♪ They say he wandered very far,
Very far ♪
♪ Over land and sea ♪
♪ A little shy ♪
♪ And sad of eye ♪
♪ But very wise was he ♪
♪ And then one day ♪
♪ Then one day
He passed my way ♪
♪ And while we spoke
Of many things ♪
♪ Fools and kings ♪
♪ This he said to me ♪
♪ The greatest thing ♪
♪ You'll ever learn ♪
♪ Is just to love ♪
♪ And be loved ♪
♪ In return ♪
♪ The greatest thing
You'll ever learn ♪
♪ Is just to love ♪
♪ And be loved ♪
♪ In return ♪
(piano continues playing)
(birds chirping)
Nico: When the mental faculties
are altered by a disease
or an infirmity,
a system of legal protection
will provide for the interests
of the person affected.
The court of law can determine
those acts
that the person
under legal protection
can do by his or herself alone
or with the assistance
of a legal tutor.
One day I saw you...
in the garden
with your grandmother
and you were playing
with that...
a turtle.
Dorothée.
The name of the turtle
was Dorothée.
Yeah you--
You had a lot of pets
when you lived there.
(scoffs)
Tell me about them.
I had a goldfish.
His name was Joujou.
You know,
he lived for 12 years?
We fed him every day with mamie.
Why don't you come on tour
with me?
You could um...
you could project your photos
during my concerts and...
(exhales) we could put up
a show together, you and me.
(engine revving)
(speaking in Czech)
- (Alex coughing)
- Alex!
Alex!
(Alex sighs and sniffs)
(Alex groans and sniffs)
They'll find it for Nico, and
there'll be some for you too.
I love you so much.
(inhales sharply)
Then why don't you stop
taking that stuff?
Well...
I'm-- I'm sorry.
Ay...
(Sylvia sobbing)
(indistinct chatter)
Laura: Hello. Laura,
good to meet you.
- Man: Good to meet you.
- Milos: Milos.
Milos. Milos.
- Man: Nice to meet you.
- Laura: Laura!
- Uh, this is my staff.
- Hi, hello.
And I brought a good friend
of mine, Vladimir.
He wanted to meet Nico.
Uh, he doesn't speak English,
he speaks French.
He's a very famous artist
in Czechoslovakia,
Uh, he's well-known
for his poems and songs and...
(humming song)
Milos:
This is his most famous song.
It's beautiful.
Yeah, all right.
So...
Before we, you know,
get into all...
Can you get your hands
on any of the-- the...
you know the uh,
the white stuff?
You know China white?
Skag?
What?
Nico: Heroin.
We need heroin.
We couldn't bring it in
because of the border.
I can't.
I take enough risks
organizing the concert.
Richard: What do you mean,
take risks?
I obtained authorization
to do an art show
with the attendance
of an unspecified guest.
The identity of
this guest, Nico,
has not been revealed
to the local authorities.
This is why
your concert is illegal.
Richard: Uh, I don't understand.
We handed in a letter
at the border stating
that we were playing here
in Prague.
Milos: I know but the problem is
the local authorities.
They always find excuse
to stop concerts.
It's better if they don't know
where it is, huh?
But how will the people know
where it is? How will they know
- that Nico is playing?
- They will know.
Nico: Somebody stole my passport
and my money.
Who was it?
Have you checked your bag?
I've checked my bag, yes.
It must have been one of them.
Them, Christa? Who's them?
Yeah, you don't believe me, huh?
So, you-- you...
you don't even know
who they are!
So, You-- You--
You're defending them
because you are--
They're fucking communists,
like you!
(speaking in French)
I'm so sorry.
Okay.
(indistinct chatter)
(indistinct chatter continues)
(woman speaking in French)
What the fuck is going on?
What is he doing?
(woman speaking in French)
What are these voices,
what are they saying?
(woman speaking in French
continues)
Coming here was such
a stupid idea.
One of-- one of the many
stupid ideas you had.
You know, uh,
I don't believe you Christa.
I'm sure that you understand
what's going on here.
I'm sure that deep down
you must be proud
of what these people are risking
to see you perform.
You better believe that,
you prick. I don't give a shit.
(Laura scoffs)
(woman speaking in French
continues)
(door lock clicks)
Hey guys, it's time. Come on.
♪ My heart is empty ♪
♪ But the songs I sing ♪
♪ Are filled with love
for you ♪
♪ A man said that to me ♪
♪ That's how I know ♪
♪ Sometimes love
It does not show ♪
♪ Sometimes it does not
Even know ♪
♪ There is no witness
To my anger ♪
♪ When it stabs until he dies ♪
♪ I am looking
For the strangler ♪
♪ To help me, help me
With my crime ♪
♪ Show me the way to warning ♪
♪ Warning
For the morning light ♪
♪ I will stab it with a knife ♪
♪ The blinding sun ♪
♪ The heartbeat for the time
To come ♪
♪ The honesty ♪
♪ That lies ♪
♪ To you ♪
♪ My heart is empty ♪
♪ But the songs I sing ♪
♪ Are filled with
love for you ♪
♪ That lies ♪
♪ To you ♪
♪ My heart is empty ♪
♪ But the songs I sing ♪
♪ Are filled with
love for you ♪
(Nico screaming)
Hey, hey.
- We need to get off the stage.
- Nico: Why?
Just come on.
Bring your guitar. Let's go.
- (crowd cheering)
- (Nico screams)
(crowd cheering in distant)
(door creaking)
Richard: We have to be
in Krakow tomorrow.
Might as well go straight away.
I need to go back to the hotel.
- I-- I forgot something.
- Sylvia: No.
It's very important. Please!
- It's very important. Please.
- No.
- No! No!
- Laura: We can't go back!
Please, please.
- Nico: Please.
- It'll only take a minute.
Laura: Seriously?
(door thuds)
(metal rattling sound)
(rattling sound continues)
Thank you.
(door thuds)
(Richard sighs)
("Big In Japan"
by Alphaville plays)
♪ Winter's city side ♪
♪ Crystal bits of snowflakes ♪
♪ All around my head
And in the wind ♪
♪ I had no illusions ♪
♪ That I'd ever
find a glimpse ♪
♪ Of summer's heatwaves
In your eyes ♪
♪ You did what you did to me ♪
♪ Now it's history, I see ♪
♪ Here's my comeback
On the road again ♪
♪ Things will happen
While they can ♪
♪ I will wait here
For my man tonight ♪
♪ It's easy when you're big
In Japan ♪
♪ Oh, when you're big
in Japan ♪
♪ Tonight big in Japan
Be tight ♪
♪ Big in Japan,
The eastern sea's so blue ♪
♪ Big in Japan, all right ♪
♪ Pay, then I'll sleep
By your side ♪
♪Things are easy when you're
big In Japan ♪
♪ Oh, when you're big
in Japan ♪
♪ Neon on my naked skin,
Passing silhouettes ♪
♪ Of strange Illuminated... ♪
What is going on?
It's luminatia.
The day of the dead.
♪ I stay here at the zoo ♪
♪ Or should I go and change
My point of view ♪
♪ For other ugly scenes ♪
♪ You did what you did to me ♪
♪ Now it's history, I see ♪
♪Things will happen
While they can ♪
♪ I will wait here
For my man tonight ♪
♪ It's easy when you're big
In Japan ♪
♪ Oh, when you're big
in Japan ♪
♪ Tonight big in Japan ♪
I'm having fucking visions.
I'm too old for this.
You know, Christa,
back there in Prague
you did a great show.
I know.
If you went into detox
I can help you.
(scoffs) What?
Why do you wanna help me,
Richard? What for?
(Nico sighs)
I can help you with your son.
(Nico spits)
(Sniffs and scoffs)
(birds chirping)
Richard: The signatures will be
you and Ari.
(sighs)
The Royalties
from the Velvet Underground
will go directly
into this account.
And your share?
Well, I will have access to
the account for my percentage.
But... if you prefer
to make another arrangement.
Well, you'll find a way
to steal my money, anyway.
Christa... I hope that
you're not implying...
No.
Any news from the doctor?
Yeah.
Just the usual,
French bureaucracy.
Well, I have
the best Jewish lawyer.
I am not a lawyer.
Anyway...
Ari's leave is indefinite.
He can stay with you
as long as you like.
Depends how he feels.
Yeah.
Good.
Thank you.
I see that...
you've been reading that.
Finally.
Yeah. It's not bad.
We'll talk about it
when I finish it.
- Yeah, well, bye.
- Bye.
(boots stomping)
(door thuds)
Richard: Oh, Mr. Daniels.
I'm sorry,
- but I don't think that Nic--
- Oh, but she said
she was going to see me.
Christa!
Nico: Amos,
come on in, you old goose!
Uh... I brought you buttercups.
Nico: How nice of you!
(Nico laughs)
- Beautiful.
- (Richard sighs)
(techno music playing)
Isn't he beautiful?
- Just like his mother.
- No.
Just like his father.
So, welcome on board.
It's nice to have
an Italian in the band.
- You still have it.
- What?
The bracelet.
Oh, yeah, of course.
I wear it all the time.
You could have asked me.
I would have given it to you.
Stealing it was more fun.
(Domenico chuckles)
The thing is, Sylvia,
this has been a long time coming
and he's just not in any state
to go on tour again,
unfortunately.
Give him a chance,
you have to trust him.
- He's clean now!
- Oh come on Sylvia!
You're the only one
who believes that.
Can I be the one
to let him know, at least?
He's going to be devastated.
He already knows.
I told him yesterday.
Happy new year!
Happy new year.
Have you seen my show?
No, I haven't, I'm sorry.
I liked the keyboard,
Max is good,
but I-- I think
we need something more.
Would you like to play
the violin next time?
I love the way you play.
Thank you.
Do you like working with my mum?
Yeah.
She's a star.
♪ Since the first of you
And me asleep ♪
♪ In a Nibelungen land ♪
♪ Titanic curses trap me in ♪
♪ A banishment of stay ♪
♪ Symbols vanish
From my senses ♪
♪ Stem and stave
The view appears ♪
♪ Symbols captured
in a trance ♪
♪ Vanish from my glance ♪
♪ For the various defenses ♪
♪ I enforce
a strike the alarm ♪
♪ For the various defenses ♪
♪ That choose to be here
And there ♪
♪ And lose the direction
Everywhere ♪
♪ Since the first of you
And me asleep ♪
♪ In a Nibelungen land
Where we cannot be ♪
♪ Almond trees grow along
The mountain trail ♪
♪ From their tongues
The words are spelling ♪
♪ The telling numb ♪
♪ I cannot hear it anymore ♪
♪ I cannot hear it anymore ♪
♪Since the first of you
And me here and there ♪
♪ We lose the direction
Everywhere ♪
♪ Shrieking city sun shiver
In my veins ♪
♪ In flames I run
In flames I run ♪
♪ Waiting for the sign
to come ♪
♪ Will you spell
The words for me ♪
♪ Will you spell the words
For me to hear ♪
♪ Nibelungen ♪
♪ Nibelungen ♪
♪ Nibelungen land ♪
We've got a... you number five?
There you go.
And here we've got a...
And that's you.
(Laura clears throat)
Good.
Laura: Sorry. That's yours then.
Good.
Hey.
What are you doing?
Waiting for you,
for your usual visit.
I can be your consolation prize.
Again.
I'm sorry.
I thought you liked my visits.
I did.
I'm going back to London.
Today.
(sighs) That doesn't make sense.
We're a team.
You shouldn't mix feelings
with work.
Right.
Work. Team.
We were never a team, Richard.
Nico:
Do you know what my plan is?
No I don't.
My plan is to become
a very elegant old woman.
Not a fat old junkie,
like I thought before.
But a very elegant old woman.
What?
Fucking methadone,
makes me sentimental.
Uh... methadone does that.
Yeah.
- (knocking)
- Richard: Christa!
Christa!
(inaudible chatter)
(eerie music playing)
♪ My only child
Be not so blind ♪
♪ See what you hold ♪
♪ There are no words no ears
No eyes ♪
♪ To show them what you know ♪
♪ Their hands are old ♪
♪ Their faces cold ♪
♪ Their bodies
close to freezing ♪
♪ Their feelings find ♪
♪ The morning small ♪
♪ Too small to fill their ways
With breathing ♪
♪ The evening tall ♪
♪ Man and wife are feasting
The time ♪
♪ The time that lies behind ♪
♪ At home in sweetness
And delight ♪
♪ Drinking the bitter wine ♪
♪ Their hands are old ♪
♪ Their faces cold ♪
♪ Their bodies
close to freezing ♪
♪ Their feelings find ♪
♪ The morning small ♪
♪ The evening tall ♪
♪ The evening tall ♪
(Nico speaking in German)
(Nico speaking in German)
(machine beeping)
I'm so sorry.
You're not allowed
to record in here.
Why?
Hospital policy I'm afraid.
- Germans.
- (Laura chuckles)
Do you have kids?
Um...
No.
Good for you.
(machine beeping continues)
Man: Would you have preferred
more commercial success
over the years?
Nico: I-- I can't stand
that word, "commercial."
Commerciality.
I-- I would like it to be
on a larger scale, of course,
but... the audience-- I...
I-- I am very selective
about my audience.
Selective? I mean, in what way?
Well, I don't need everybody
to like me, I don't care.
(man scoffs)
Is it true
that you travel around
with a portable sound-recorder?
Um... I mean, are you looking
for something specific?
Yeah.
I'm looking for a sound
I heard when I was a kid.
Not that sound
in particular, but,
you know, the quality of it.
Um...
it was, um, the wind carried it.
And it was the sound of...
Berlin being bombed,
of the war ending,
of the city burning.
It was, um...
it was a sound
that wasn't really a sound.
It was, um, many things
at the same time.
It was, um...
it was the sound of defeat.
I have to confess you something.
That story about my father
being in the German Resistance.
It's not true, I made it up.
He died in the war as a soldier,
like everybody else.
I'm sorry I lied to you.
That doesn't matter.
I liked these poems.
Even The Prelude.
I don't-- I don't remember
reading it before.
But you're right.
The title of The Marble Index
it-- it comes from there.
I must have been too high
back then.
Well, of course, yeah.
There's this verse
I really like.
I mean, I...
I didn't really understand it,
but...
it's written for me.
It's about becoming old.
- Can you read it out loud?
- Yeah.
(clears throat)
"Though nothing can bring back
the hour of splendor
in the grass,
of glory in the flower.
We will grieve not,
rather find strength
in what remains behind."
I don't get it.
Richard: Well,
what don't you get?
I mean, why does it say:
"remains behind"?
What's left should be in front
of us and not behind us.
Oh, no, "remains behind" means
it has been left behind for us.
But who left it?
Richard: (chuckles)
Well, I don't know.
- Who?
- Richard: It's not important.
Oh.
Christa...
I'm in love with you.
I'm getting married.
You are?
With Daniels, the landlord.
He wanted to sell the apartment,
but he didn't want
to kick me out, so...
Oh I get it! It's a joke, right?
No, it's true.
As soon as I come back
from Ibiza, in September.
I want to stop playing music
and work in his flower shop.
I like flowers.
You don't like flowers.
Where is Laura?
I haven't seen her
for a long time.
It's the first time
you got her name right.
She's gone. Got another job.
(door thuds)
Goodbye.
Come on Rick, give me a kiss.
(sniffs) You look
after yourself. All right?
Bye.
If something happens to me...
Will you take care of him
when I'm gone?
(scoffs) Yeah, of course I will.
Take your time, relax.
When you get back, we'll
get started on a new record.
(engine revving)
("Big in Japan" plays)
♪ Winter's city side ♪
♪ Crystal bits of snowflakes ♪
♪ All around my head
And in the wind ♪
♪ I had no illusions ♪
♪ That I'd ever find a glimpse
Of summer's heatwaves ♪
♪ In your eyes ♪
♪ You did what you did to me ♪
♪ Now it's history, I see ♪
♪ Here's my comeback
On the road again ♪
♪ Things will happen
While they can ♪
♪ I will wait here
For my man tonight ♪
♪ It's easy when you're big
In Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan
Tonight ♪
♪ Big in Japan be tight ♪
♪ Big in Japan
The eastern sea's so blue ♪
♪ Big in Japan all right ♪
♪ Pay then I'll sleep
By your side ♪
♪ Things are easy
When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ Neon on my naked skin ♪
♪ Passing silhouettes
of strange ♪
♪ Illuminated mannequins ♪
♪ Shall I stay here
at the zoo ♪
♪ Or should I go
and change my point of view ♪
♪ For other ugly scenes ♪
♪ You did what you did to me ♪
♪ Now it's history I see ♪
♪ Here's my comeback
On the road again ♪
♪ Things will happen
While they can ♪
♪ I will wait here
For my man tonight ♪
♪ It's easy
When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ Tonight, big in Japan
Be tight ♪
♪ Big in Japan
The eastern sea's so blue ♪
♪ Big in Japan, all right ♪
♪ Pay then
I'll sleep by your side ♪
♪ Things are easy
When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ Oh, when you're big
in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
(speaking in German)
(woman speaking in German)
(woman speaking in German)
(waves crashing)
Nico: Ari, I'm going out.
I'm taking the bike.
(door thuds)
(minimalist music playing)
♪ I've been out walking ♪
♪ I don't do too much talking
These days ♪
♪ These days ♪
♪ These days I seem
To think a lot ♪
♪ About the things that
I forgot to do ♪
♪ And all the times I had ♪
♪ The chance to ♪
♪ I've stopped my rambling ♪
♪ I don't do too much gambling
These days ♪
♪ These days ♪
♪ These days I seem
To think about ♪
♪ How all the changes
Came about my ways ♪
♪ And I wonder
If I'd see another ♪
♪ Highway ♪
Man: So, here we are
with Lou Reed's Femme Fatale.
Nico: Don't call me that.
I don't like it.
Man: So, we are all really proud
that a big star like you
is living here in Manchester,
and not in Paris or New York.
Well...
um, this city reminds me of...
of Berlin after the war.
When it was all in ruins
and, um, I like that.
DJ: Yeah. Um, so...
do you want to tell us
something about your experience
with the Velvet Underground?
No, I don't.
I...
I started making my own music
um, after the experience
with....
the Velvet Underground, in 1968
(sighs)
and um...
it was Jim Morrison's idea.
He...
he asked me to write down
my dreams.
- And...
- Man: 1968.
I mean, that was like
almost 20 years ago!
Yeah, that's-- that's right.
Man: I mean,
those must have been
some of the best days
of your life!
Well, we-- we took a lot of LSD.
That was... what we did.
(engine revving)
I'm-- I'm sorry
about the interview, Nico.
Uh, next time I'll make sure
we get somebody that
knows more about your career.
Don't call me Nico.
Call me by my real name,
Christa.
Yeah.
You're Jewish, Richard?
Er, yes, I am.
Oh, I thought so. By the name.
Do you have a problem
with my being German?
Richard: No, of course not.
My father, he was a rebel.
He helped a lot of Jews.
The Nazis killed him
before the end of the war.
(engine revving)
(door thuds)
So... this is the place.
Nice little house,
perfect for one person,
cozy and... Please.
(stomping)
Sitting room, dining room,
uh, the kitchen is behind and...
Let me show you the bedroom
and the bathroom.
In some areas the ceiling
is rather low,
but you'll get used to it.
The boiler is quite noisy,
but it works perfectly well.
You must turn it on
half an hour before
having a shower.
And don't forget to turn it off
when you finish.
Don't worry, sir,
I take showers very rarely.
(Daniels chuckles)
(boiler groans)
I...
Oh, yeah, right.
(door thuds)
(exhales)
(boiler groans)
(boiler groans louder)
(boiler groans)
The lady is so charming.
Is she married?
No, she isn't.
Oh.
(boiler groans)
(breathing heavily)
(rumbling)
(child crying)
(crying continues)
Nico: Christian Aaron Boulogne.
Born on August the 11th, 1962.
Father unknown.
(organ music playing)
♪ Janitor of lunacy ♪
♪ Paralyze my infancy ♪
♪ Petrify the empty cradle ♪
♪ Bring hope to them and me ♪
She's brilliant, isn't she?
Fascinating!
Interesting, yeah.
Look Max, I don't mean
to blame you, yeah,
but you had a couple
of hesitations there
that confused me.
I-- You gotta be more careful.
I think we did Okay.
It was the first time
we played together.
- We never rehearsed.
- Alex: Yeah, well,
you played fucking fantastic,
so...
best thing in the show!
(indistinct chatter)
(EDM playing)
Jane, set up a couple of beers.
It's a nice club you have here.
Yeah, well,
it's going pretty well.
But I don't like
being a club owner,
I like the idea of having
my own artists to manage.
Hi, it was a beautiful concert.
What's your name?
Maia.
Maia.
Thank you.
Young people are boring.
Yeah, but the world belongs
to them.
Do you really believe that?
No.
Well, you're-- Yours-- you're
from Manchester.
- Alex: Yeah.
- Nico: Um... (sniffs)
And Sylvia, you're Polish,
right?
No, I'm-- I'm not Polish.
- Oh.
- I'm not Polish, I'm Rumanian.
- Nico: Ah.
- So, you're okay
doing all the driving,
with... everything
on the wrong side?
Yeah, it's fine. A bit weird.
Brilliant.
Max: That's good stuff.
Yeah, it's good stuff.
Of course it's good stuff!
You know, I-- I lost it
and then I found it
under my boot.
Can you believe
I walked on this for weeks!
Look at it, I mean,
it's good stuff, yeah.
Open the window.
Nico: You wanna do another one?
- You wanna do another one?
- Luis: Yeah.
(Nico sighs)
Your link with Paris is strong.
Yeah.
Your son lives here,
if I'm not mistaken.
Yeah, his-- his name
is Christian Aaron.
I call him Ari.
(woman chuckles)
Woman: And Ari didn't grow up
with you, is that right?
Uh, well, he-- he--
he was with me.
I mean, he spent
the first four years with me
and then he moved
to his grandparents' in Paris.
Um, his um...
his father's parents are French.
His father, you say,
but he never recognized him.
No, he didn't,
but his mother did,
as soon as she saw him.
I mean, he's the exact copy
of his father, so...
(inhales sharply)
Yeah um...
She adopted him, and...
took him away from me.
I was too young and...
and crazy to take care of him,
so...
Is he in music business too?
No, he's um...
- He is a photographer.
- Oh.
Yeah, he makes
beautiful pictures.
He's very talented.
Um...
is it true that
he recently tried
to commit suicide?
Yeah.
(cello playing)
(D&B music playing)
♪ And what costume shall
The poor girl wear ♪
♪ To all tomorrow's parties ♪
♪ A hand-me-down dress
From who knows where ♪
♪ To all tomorrow's parties ♪
♪ And what will she do,
Where shall she go ♪
♪ When midnight comes around ♪
♪ She'll turn once more
To Sunday's clown ♪
♪ And cry behind the door ♪
Could I please get
some more guitar, here?
Yeah. And the snare drum, up.
♪ And what costume shall
The poor girl wear ♪
♪ To all tomorrow's parties ♪
♪ Why silks and linens
Of yesterday's gowns ♪
♪ To all tomorrow's parties ♪
♪ And what will she do
With Thursday's rags ♪
♪ When Monday comes around ♪
♪ She'll turn once more
To Sunday's clown ♪
♪ And cry behind the door ♪
Nico: Parental authority
can be totally revoked
to those parents
that put manifestly in danger
the child's security,
health or morality.
(dogs barking in distance)
(boots stomping)
Please, er, um, Richard,
try to understand.
I-- I just have a, uh, temporary
cash flow problem,
It-- no-- it...
Nico, I promise
that in four days
you'll be sleeping
in the best hotel in Anzio.
Laura: Okay, brilliant.
So, for us,
four days is not soon enough.
Could we be please
in the best hotel
in Anzio, tomorrow?
That'd be really
really brilliant.
Please.
Yah, Scusami Domenico, uh...
I don't understand uh...
Oh, thank you for having us
in your home
It's okay, you're welcome,
you can stay in my place
four days, no problem.
- Okay, so what we'd like is--
- Nico!
Uh, it's an honor for me
to lodge you.
I'm...
I am a big fan of yours,
especially,
your-- your solo production.
Where-- where did you get this?
Uh...
I made it.
- (chuckles)
- I like it.
(knocking)
- Yeah.
- Richard: Present.
It's a book of poems
by Wordsworth.
1951 edition.
I, uh found it in Paris.
Oh.
Uh, the first poem,
The Prelude,
is the one that you
got the name
of your first album from.
Oh... (Sighs)
You mean The Marble Index.
No, I got the title
of that record from--
from-- from Coleridge,
Samuel Coleridge.
Really?
Yeah. But thanks, anyway.
(door thuds)
♪ Recognize the
desperate need ♪
Nico... uh, had uh, a love story
with one of the Stones,
didn't she?
The one who drowned?
- I've no idea.
- No.
♪ Janitor ♪
I think her music is hideous.
I don't understand?
Nothing.
(chuckles)
♪ Revive the living dream ♪
(Nico sighs in exasperation)
(boots stomping)
What the fuck are you doing?
What the fuck are you all doing?
(indistinct chatter)
Fuck you!
(indistinct chatter)
Idiots!
(waves crashing)
Christa!
(eerie music playing)
(airplane whirring by)
(plane engine rumbling)
(girl speaking in German)
(speaking in German)
What did you say?
There is an American military
air base close by.
They're all over Italy!
Americans. They're everywhere.
(plane engine rumbling)
(paper rustling)
You shouldn't take drugs
before playing.
Playing an instrument
requires concentration.
And you're a good player.
You're so sweet.
Where do you come from?
It's like you're
from another planet.
Yes, I am from Rumania.
I heard Rumanian women
are crazy.
(chuckles) Why? Who told you...
Bloody hell.
(sighs)
(door creaks)
Hello, good evening.
Hey. You're all right?
Yeah, and you?
- No, sorry don't...
- (Laura moans)
(Richard grunts)
(Richard grunts)
(Richard breathing heavily)
(clanking)
(bottles clanking)
(speaking in German)
(cabinet thuds)
- (thudding)
- (clanking)
Nico...
- are you looking for something?
- Do you have any Cola?
Yeah.
(bottles clanking)
- (Refrigerator door thuds)
- Oh, wonderful! Wonderful.
(Nico gulping)
Mm...
You know, I suffered hunger
as a child,
during the Berlin blockade.
Then later I started modeling
and I had to be always
- on a diet.
- (Domenico chuckles)
It was terrible.
I love eating so much.
Nico...
you made a big mess tonight.
Ah, well, he got me a band
of amateur junkies.
Domenico: Hm.
They are all amateurs except
for the violinist.
She's good.
Why don't you replace them?
No, it's not easy to find people
who want to play with me.
Good people, I mean.
(cutlery clanking)
I don't care.
I really don't care
about music anymore.
I don't believe it.
It's true!
You know, I've been on the top,
I've been on the bottom.
Both places are empty.
"My Heart is Empty,"
your best song for me.
Yeah.
I miss my son so much.
I never see him.
I was too young to take care
of a kid by myself.
I screwed up.
Yeah.
- What's this?
- What?
The yellow bottle.
- This one?
- Hm.
No, nothing.
Can I have some?
No. It's-- it's um...
it's Limoncello. Liquor,
it doesn't go with pasta,
it's shit and it's sweet.
The bottle is too precious.
- No.
- Yes, it is.
Ma no, Ma no, a friend of mine
made it. And...
It's been there for a long time.
It's an old bottle.
I don't even know how it is.
But...
- If you want...
- Yeah.
Mm... delicious!
Thank you
for this wonderful meal.
You're welcome.
Francesco: This is one
of the best hotels of the area.
I see.
The view is nice.
Francesco: Hm.
Nico is a star, Richard.
This is, uh, the least I can do.
What she did yesterday was bad.
Ah, Richard, was-- was very bad.
The city doesn't want to pay
the hotel.
But...
the hotel manager...
will let her stay here for free.
For free?
Well, I-- I only sang
three songs with them.
The rest of the time
I was-- I was playing
the tambourine
in the background.
I did the same thing
when I was a model. I...
I was there for my image.
Look...
My life started
after the experience
with The Velvet Underground,
when I started making
my own music.
I'd rather we talked about
the present and...
about-- about the songs
I am singing now, about the...
the record I am on tour with.
Giulio Barozzi,
nice to meet you.
All right.
Well?
Me and a few friends from here,
we have a jazz band
of local musicians.
We've been having
a pretty good success locally.
- I am the piano player.
- Yeah, he's a great artist.
And, uh, me and my boys,
we would be honored
if Nico were willing
to play for our guests.
Have you any idea of the type
of music she plays?
Not really, but it's the same.
That lady is a piece of history.
I heard you were in politics
before buying that club.
Is that true?
I was a member
of the Labor Party.
I am actually a socialist.
Nico: That's ridiculous!
You don't have socialists
in England.
Yeah, we do.
My whole family was socialist.
I could have pursued
a political career, but...
not really my thing.
So you're a lawyer?
No, no I studied
political philosophy.
Oh, but do you think
you can you help me
get my son out of that hospital?
(sighs) Um...
Well, last time he came out
he swallowed five grams
of opium.
It's a miracle he survived.
I think he needs to be cured.
(Nico sighs)
Am I ugly?
(scoffs) Yeah, really.
Good.
I wasn't happy
when I was beautiful.
Well, you can-- you can stay,
if it doesn't upset you.
Yeah. (clears throat)
Yeah, yeah. All right.
(piano playing)
(indistinct chatter)
(Laura) Oh, sorry.
Well...
we're ready.
(hissing)
Nico: Lisa...
I drank a very good liquor...
at Domenico's house.
Do you think you could get
a bottle of that
before leaving the country?
Um...
yeah.
Good.
(Nico sighs)
She never remembers my name.
Which I think,
she probably does it on purpose.
Oh god, are you all right?
Yeah, I'm fine.
(clears throat)
(piano playing)
♪ There was a boy ♪
♪ A very strange
enchanted boy ♪
♪ They say he wandered very far,
Very far ♪
♪ Over land and sea ♪
♪ A little shy ♪
♪ And sad of eye ♪
♪ But very wise was he ♪
♪ And then one day ♪
♪ Then one day
He passed my way ♪
♪ And while we spoke
Of many things ♪
♪ Fools and kings ♪
♪ This he said to me ♪
♪ The greatest thing ♪
♪ You'll ever learn ♪
♪ Is just to love ♪
♪ And be loved ♪
♪ In return ♪
♪ The greatest thing
You'll ever learn ♪
♪ Is just to love ♪
♪ And be loved ♪
♪ In return ♪
(piano continues playing)
(birds chirping)
Nico: When the mental faculties
are altered by a disease
or an infirmity,
a system of legal protection
will provide for the interests
of the person affected.
The court of law can determine
those acts
that the person
under legal protection
can do by his or herself alone
or with the assistance
of a legal tutor.
One day I saw you...
in the garden
with your grandmother
and you were playing
with that...
a turtle.
Dorothée.
The name of the turtle
was Dorothée.
Yeah you--
You had a lot of pets
when you lived there.
(scoffs)
Tell me about them.
I had a goldfish.
His name was Joujou.
You know,
he lived for 12 years?
We fed him every day with mamie.
Why don't you come on tour
with me?
You could um...
you could project your photos
during my concerts and...
(exhales) we could put up
a show together, you and me.
(engine revving)
(speaking in Czech)
- (Alex coughing)
- Alex!
Alex!
(Alex sighs and sniffs)
(Alex groans and sniffs)
They'll find it for Nico, and
there'll be some for you too.
I love you so much.
(inhales sharply)
Then why don't you stop
taking that stuff?
Well...
I'm-- I'm sorry.
Ay...
(Sylvia sobbing)
(indistinct chatter)
Laura: Hello. Laura,
good to meet you.
- Man: Good to meet you.
- Milos: Milos.
Milos. Milos.
- Man: Nice to meet you.
- Laura: Laura!
- Uh, this is my staff.
- Hi, hello.
And I brought a good friend
of mine, Vladimir.
He wanted to meet Nico.
Uh, he doesn't speak English,
he speaks French.
He's a very famous artist
in Czechoslovakia,
Uh, he's well-known
for his poems and songs and...
(humming song)
Milos:
This is his most famous song.
It's beautiful.
Yeah, all right.
So...
Before we, you know,
get into all...
Can you get your hands
on any of the-- the...
you know the uh,
the white stuff?
You know China white?
Skag?
What?
Nico: Heroin.
We need heroin.
We couldn't bring it in
because of the border.
I can't.
I take enough risks
organizing the concert.
Richard: What do you mean,
take risks?
I obtained authorization
to do an art show
with the attendance
of an unspecified guest.
The identity of
this guest, Nico,
has not been revealed
to the local authorities.
This is why
your concert is illegal.
Richard: Uh, I don't understand.
We handed in a letter
at the border stating
that we were playing here
in Prague.
Milos: I know but the problem is
the local authorities.
They always find excuse
to stop concerts.
It's better if they don't know
where it is, huh?
But how will the people know
where it is? How will they know
- that Nico is playing?
- They will know.
Nico: Somebody stole my passport
and my money.
Who was it?
Have you checked your bag?
I've checked my bag, yes.
It must have been one of them.
Them, Christa? Who's them?
Yeah, you don't believe me, huh?
So, you-- you...
you don't even know
who they are!
So, You-- You--
You're defending them
because you are--
They're fucking communists,
like you!
(speaking in French)
I'm so sorry.
Okay.
(indistinct chatter)
(indistinct chatter continues)
(woman speaking in French)
What the fuck is going on?
What is he doing?
(woman speaking in French)
What are these voices,
what are they saying?
(woman speaking in French
continues)
Coming here was such
a stupid idea.
One of-- one of the many
stupid ideas you had.
You know, uh,
I don't believe you Christa.
I'm sure that you understand
what's going on here.
I'm sure that deep down
you must be proud
of what these people are risking
to see you perform.
You better believe that,
you prick. I don't give a shit.
(Laura scoffs)
(woman speaking in French
continues)
(door lock clicks)
Hey guys, it's time. Come on.
♪ My heart is empty ♪
♪ But the songs I sing ♪
♪ Are filled with love
for you ♪
♪ A man said that to me ♪
♪ That's how I know ♪
♪ Sometimes love
It does not show ♪
♪ Sometimes it does not
Even know ♪
♪ There is no witness
To my anger ♪
♪ When it stabs until he dies ♪
♪ I am looking
For the strangler ♪
♪ To help me, help me
With my crime ♪
♪ Show me the way to warning ♪
♪ Warning
For the morning light ♪
♪ I will stab it with a knife ♪
♪ The blinding sun ♪
♪ The heartbeat for the time
To come ♪
♪ The honesty ♪
♪ That lies ♪
♪ To you ♪
♪ My heart is empty ♪
♪ But the songs I sing ♪
♪ Are filled with
love for you ♪
♪ That lies ♪
♪ To you ♪
♪ My heart is empty ♪
♪ But the songs I sing ♪
♪ Are filled with
love for you ♪
(Nico screaming)
Hey, hey.
- We need to get off the stage.
- Nico: Why?
Just come on.
Bring your guitar. Let's go.
- (crowd cheering)
- (Nico screams)
(crowd cheering in distant)
(door creaking)
Richard: We have to be
in Krakow tomorrow.
Might as well go straight away.
I need to go back to the hotel.
- I-- I forgot something.
- Sylvia: No.
It's very important. Please!
- It's very important. Please.
- No.
- No! No!
- Laura: We can't go back!
Please, please.
- Nico: Please.
- It'll only take a minute.
Laura: Seriously?
(door thuds)
(metal rattling sound)
(rattling sound continues)
Thank you.
(door thuds)
(Richard sighs)
("Big In Japan"
by Alphaville plays)
♪ Winter's city side ♪
♪ Crystal bits of snowflakes ♪
♪ All around my head
And in the wind ♪
♪ I had no illusions ♪
♪ That I'd ever
find a glimpse ♪
♪ Of summer's heatwaves
In your eyes ♪
♪ You did what you did to me ♪
♪ Now it's history, I see ♪
♪ Here's my comeback
On the road again ♪
♪ Things will happen
While they can ♪
♪ I will wait here
For my man tonight ♪
♪ It's easy when you're big
In Japan ♪
♪ Oh, when you're big
in Japan ♪
♪ Tonight big in Japan
Be tight ♪
♪ Big in Japan,
The eastern sea's so blue ♪
♪ Big in Japan, all right ♪
♪ Pay, then I'll sleep
By your side ♪
♪Things are easy when you're
big In Japan ♪
♪ Oh, when you're big
in Japan ♪
♪ Neon on my naked skin,
Passing silhouettes ♪
♪ Of strange Illuminated... ♪
What is going on?
It's luminatia.
The day of the dead.
♪ I stay here at the zoo ♪
♪ Or should I go and change
My point of view ♪
♪ For other ugly scenes ♪
♪ You did what you did to me ♪
♪ Now it's history, I see ♪
♪Things will happen
While they can ♪
♪ I will wait here
For my man tonight ♪
♪ It's easy when you're big
In Japan ♪
♪ Oh, when you're big
in Japan ♪
♪ Tonight big in Japan ♪
I'm having fucking visions.
I'm too old for this.
You know, Christa,
back there in Prague
you did a great show.
I know.
If you went into detox
I can help you.
(scoffs) What?
Why do you wanna help me,
Richard? What for?
(Nico sighs)
I can help you with your son.
(Nico spits)
(Sniffs and scoffs)
(birds chirping)
Richard: The signatures will be
you and Ari.
(sighs)
The Royalties
from the Velvet Underground
will go directly
into this account.
And your share?
Well, I will have access to
the account for my percentage.
But... if you prefer
to make another arrangement.
Well, you'll find a way
to steal my money, anyway.
Christa... I hope that
you're not implying...
No.
Any news from the doctor?
Yeah.
Just the usual,
French bureaucracy.
Well, I have
the best Jewish lawyer.
I am not a lawyer.
Anyway...
Ari's leave is indefinite.
He can stay with you
as long as you like.
Depends how he feels.
Yeah.
Good.
Thank you.
I see that...
you've been reading that.
Finally.
Yeah. It's not bad.
We'll talk about it
when I finish it.
- Yeah, well, bye.
- Bye.
(boots stomping)
(door thuds)
Richard: Oh, Mr. Daniels.
I'm sorry,
- but I don't think that Nic--
- Oh, but she said
she was going to see me.
Christa!
Nico: Amos,
come on in, you old goose!
Uh... I brought you buttercups.
Nico: How nice of you!
(Nico laughs)
- Beautiful.
- (Richard sighs)
(techno music playing)
Isn't he beautiful?
- Just like his mother.
- No.
Just like his father.
So, welcome on board.
It's nice to have
an Italian in the band.
- You still have it.
- What?
The bracelet.
Oh, yeah, of course.
I wear it all the time.
You could have asked me.
I would have given it to you.
Stealing it was more fun.
(Domenico chuckles)
The thing is, Sylvia,
this has been a long time coming
and he's just not in any state
to go on tour again,
unfortunately.
Give him a chance,
you have to trust him.
- He's clean now!
- Oh come on Sylvia!
You're the only one
who believes that.
Can I be the one
to let him know, at least?
He's going to be devastated.
He already knows.
I told him yesterday.
Happy new year!
Happy new year.
Have you seen my show?
No, I haven't, I'm sorry.
I liked the keyboard,
Max is good,
but I-- I think
we need something more.
Would you like to play
the violin next time?
I love the way you play.
Thank you.
Do you like working with my mum?
Yeah.
She's a star.
♪ Since the first of you
And me asleep ♪
♪ In a Nibelungen land ♪
♪ Titanic curses trap me in ♪
♪ A banishment of stay ♪
♪ Symbols vanish
From my senses ♪
♪ Stem and stave
The view appears ♪
♪ Symbols captured
in a trance ♪
♪ Vanish from my glance ♪
♪ For the various defenses ♪
♪ I enforce
a strike the alarm ♪
♪ For the various defenses ♪
♪ That choose to be here
And there ♪
♪ And lose the direction
Everywhere ♪
♪ Since the first of you
And me asleep ♪
♪ In a Nibelungen land
Where we cannot be ♪
♪ Almond trees grow along
The mountain trail ♪
♪ From their tongues
The words are spelling ♪
♪ The telling numb ♪
♪ I cannot hear it anymore ♪
♪ I cannot hear it anymore ♪
♪Since the first of you
And me here and there ♪
♪ We lose the direction
Everywhere ♪
♪ Shrieking city sun shiver
In my veins ♪
♪ In flames I run
In flames I run ♪
♪ Waiting for the sign
to come ♪
♪ Will you spell
The words for me ♪
♪ Will you spell the words
For me to hear ♪
♪ Nibelungen ♪
♪ Nibelungen ♪
♪ Nibelungen land ♪
We've got a... you number five?
There you go.
And here we've got a...
And that's you.
(Laura clears throat)
Good.
Laura: Sorry. That's yours then.
Good.
Hey.
What are you doing?
Waiting for you,
for your usual visit.
I can be your consolation prize.
Again.
I'm sorry.
I thought you liked my visits.
I did.
I'm going back to London.
Today.
(sighs) That doesn't make sense.
We're a team.
You shouldn't mix feelings
with work.
Right.
Work. Team.
We were never a team, Richard.
Nico:
Do you know what my plan is?
No I don't.
My plan is to become
a very elegant old woman.
Not a fat old junkie,
like I thought before.
But a very elegant old woman.
What?
Fucking methadone,
makes me sentimental.
Uh... methadone does that.
Yeah.
- (knocking)
- Richard: Christa!
Christa!
(inaudible chatter)
(eerie music playing)
♪ My only child
Be not so blind ♪
♪ See what you hold ♪
♪ There are no words no ears
No eyes ♪
♪ To show them what you know ♪
♪ Their hands are old ♪
♪ Their faces cold ♪
♪ Their bodies
close to freezing ♪
♪ Their feelings find ♪
♪ The morning small ♪
♪ Too small to fill their ways
With breathing ♪
♪ The evening tall ♪
♪ Man and wife are feasting
The time ♪
♪ The time that lies behind ♪
♪ At home in sweetness
And delight ♪
♪ Drinking the bitter wine ♪
♪ Their hands are old ♪
♪ Their faces cold ♪
♪ Their bodies
close to freezing ♪
♪ Their feelings find ♪
♪ The morning small ♪
♪ The evening tall ♪
♪ The evening tall ♪
(Nico speaking in German)
(Nico speaking in German)
(machine beeping)
I'm so sorry.
You're not allowed
to record in here.
Why?
Hospital policy I'm afraid.
- Germans.
- (Laura chuckles)
Do you have kids?
Um...
No.
Good for you.
(machine beeping continues)
Man: Would you have preferred
more commercial success
over the years?
Nico: I-- I can't stand
that word, "commercial."
Commerciality.
I-- I would like it to be
on a larger scale, of course,
but... the audience-- I...
I-- I am very selective
about my audience.
Selective? I mean, in what way?
Well, I don't need everybody
to like me, I don't care.
(man scoffs)
Is it true
that you travel around
with a portable sound-recorder?
Um... I mean, are you looking
for something specific?
Yeah.
I'm looking for a sound
I heard when I was a kid.
Not that sound
in particular, but,
you know, the quality of it.
Um...
it was, um, the wind carried it.
And it was the sound of...
Berlin being bombed,
of the war ending,
of the city burning.
It was, um...
it was a sound
that wasn't really a sound.
It was, um, many things
at the same time.
It was, um...
it was the sound of defeat.
I have to confess you something.
That story about my father
being in the German Resistance.
It's not true, I made it up.
He died in the war as a soldier,
like everybody else.
I'm sorry I lied to you.
That doesn't matter.
I liked these poems.
Even The Prelude.
I don't-- I don't remember
reading it before.
But you're right.
The title of The Marble Index
it-- it comes from there.
I must have been too high
back then.
Well, of course, yeah.
There's this verse
I really like.
I mean, I...
I didn't really understand it,
but...
it's written for me.
It's about becoming old.
- Can you read it out loud?
- Yeah.
(clears throat)
"Though nothing can bring back
the hour of splendor
in the grass,
of glory in the flower.
We will grieve not,
rather find strength
in what remains behind."
I don't get it.
Richard: Well,
what don't you get?
I mean, why does it say:
"remains behind"?
What's left should be in front
of us and not behind us.
Oh, no, "remains behind" means
it has been left behind for us.
But who left it?
Richard: (chuckles)
Well, I don't know.
- Who?
- Richard: It's not important.
Oh.
Christa...
I'm in love with you.
I'm getting married.
You are?
With Daniels, the landlord.
He wanted to sell the apartment,
but he didn't want
to kick me out, so...
Oh I get it! It's a joke, right?
No, it's true.
As soon as I come back
from Ibiza, in September.
I want to stop playing music
and work in his flower shop.
I like flowers.
You don't like flowers.
Where is Laura?
I haven't seen her
for a long time.
It's the first time
you got her name right.
She's gone. Got another job.
(door thuds)
Goodbye.
Come on Rick, give me a kiss.
(sniffs) You look
after yourself. All right?
Bye.
If something happens to me...
Will you take care of him
when I'm gone?
(scoffs) Yeah, of course I will.
Take your time, relax.
When you get back, we'll
get started on a new record.
(engine revving)
("Big in Japan" plays)
♪ Winter's city side ♪
♪ Crystal bits of snowflakes ♪
♪ All around my head
And in the wind ♪
♪ I had no illusions ♪
♪ That I'd ever find a glimpse
Of summer's heatwaves ♪
♪ In your eyes ♪
♪ You did what you did to me ♪
♪ Now it's history, I see ♪
♪ Here's my comeback
On the road again ♪
♪ Things will happen
While they can ♪
♪ I will wait here
For my man tonight ♪
♪ It's easy when you're big
In Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan
Tonight ♪
♪ Big in Japan be tight ♪
♪ Big in Japan
The eastern sea's so blue ♪
♪ Big in Japan all right ♪
♪ Pay then I'll sleep
By your side ♪
♪ Things are easy
When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ Neon on my naked skin ♪
♪ Passing silhouettes
of strange ♪
♪ Illuminated mannequins ♪
♪ Shall I stay here
at the zoo ♪
♪ Or should I go
and change my point of view ♪
♪ For other ugly scenes ♪
♪ You did what you did to me ♪
♪ Now it's history I see ♪
♪ Here's my comeback
On the road again ♪
♪ Things will happen
While they can ♪
♪ I will wait here
For my man tonight ♪
♪ It's easy
When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ Tonight, big in Japan
Be tight ♪
♪ Big in Japan
The eastern sea's so blue ♪
♪ Big in Japan, all right ♪
♪ Pay then
I'll sleep by your side ♪
♪ Things are easy
When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ Oh, when you're big
in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪
♪ When you're big in Japan ♪