Only Love (1998) - full transcript

- Hmm...

Francois...

... where am I?

- You're in Rome, my friend.

You're going to be all right.

Back in Africa I wouldn't have
believed it for a second.

- Where's Silvia?

Is she in Africa?

- Oh, no.

No, she's not there.

- What's going on?



Is she okay?

Francois...

where's Silvia?

- She's in Rome.

I've been in touch with her
throughout all of this.

- She left the mission?

- Yes, she left the mission.

There are already replacements
for both of you.

- Why are you being so evasive?

What's going on?

Francois, what's going on?

What happened?

- He's conscious.

- Have you said anything
to him, Francois?



- Nothing that would satisfy
his confusion.

I think you better come soon.

- Yeah.

Thank you.

Thank you, Francois.

- Grazie!

Oh my God!

- Buongiorno.

- Buongiorno.

- Scusi.

- Come here.

- Did Francois tell you
how you ended up here?

- No.

No one is telling me anything.

Would you come here?!

- It was too dangerous
to move you by road.

So my father provided
a helicopter to Gomba City.

And from there a plane to Rome.

- Well, that's very
generous of him.

- Matthew, you have to
listen to me now, please.

- ... certainly thank him
in person.

- No, you can't!

You can't!

Oh!

All right...

There was a bargain
with my father...

Getting you out of Africa...

There was a price...

- What do you mean?

What does that mean?

- Well, you're alive!

Yeah, you're alive!

Nothing matters more that this!

Nothing!

Oh... forgive me,
please, forgive me!

- I don't understand.

Forgive you for what?

- I'm going to marry Nico.

That was the bargain...

in return for helping me
to try to save your life.

God, I hate my father!

I'll hate him forever!

- This is insane!

You're telling me that if you
didn't agree to marry this guy,

that, what, I'd be dead?

- Well, do you suppose
I doubted it for an instant?!

- Well...

- Well, you don't know my him,
do you?!

- Well, what if I died anyway?

I mean, where did that
fit into your negotiation?

- I am yours, I am yours!

I am no one else's!

- You made a deal over me?!

- I made a deal for your life!

Do you understand?!

I know... I know what you must
feel, but I had no choice!

There was no hospital in
Gomba City.

There was no other place
we could have gotten you

to in time!

- Fine!

- I had to rely on my father.

There was no other choice!

- Tell him to go to ...!

- I can't!

- Well, what's he going to do,
put you in jail, sue you?!

Look, you were under stress.

You didn't know what
you were doing.

- I did know!

I did!

God... I want to die!

I want to die!

- Shh!

Nobody's dying.

- Oh God!

Do you remember what
you said that day?

You said, "Nobody's dying."

- Let me ask you something?

Did you tell
Nico about the deal?

- Uh... no.

It was not necessary
and would have been cruel

to tell him.

There had been enough
of cruelty.

- All right.

How's the pain?

- In my medical opinion,
I would say it's time

for something a bit more
narcotically aggressive.

- All right, I start you
on something today.

- Good.

I want to hear about your
life since that day.

Do you think that
would be possible?

- Of course, that would be
possible.

I just have to do
continue with my rounds.

We'll do it later.

- Yeah, sure.

- I did see the wedding,
you know.

- What?

- Yes.

- Oh, Matthew.

Why?

- I don't know.

I guess I just had
to believe it.

A bit different from that
little ceremony we planned in

Africa, huh?

- Yeah.

- What the hell are you doing,
you foolish boy?

- I guess I'm watching
the making of a dynasty.

- What?

- Forget it.

- What can be
the point of this?

This is masochism
beyond excuse.

I expected better of you.

- Yeah, but look...

Do you think there could ever
be a more beautiful bride?

- Oh, yes of course.

We've made the descent now from
masochism to inevitable

self-pity.

Mon dieu!

Your neurotic need overwhelms
your intelligence, Matthew.

It is intolerable!

Intolerable!

- You needn't
concern yourself so.

It will pass.

- Yeah?

Like textbook stuff, is it?

Psych. 101.

- Very like.

- Like hysterical blindness
is what it's like.

- I see shrinks worldwide
spewing forth papers

on the phenomenon.

So, what will you do now?

Will you go back to Africa?

- No, no.

I'm going home.

I'm in bad shape, man.

- Silvia.

It's much more to the point.

But that will pass too,
you know, though, of course,

I risk serious bodily harm
by saying it.

- See, I don't think so.

- I believe there is
altogether too much confusion

between self-pity
and true personal anguish.

Depending of course, upon the
observer's capacity for pity.

I have to say, it is a most
extraordinary circumstance.

- Thanks.

- But she's right,
you know that.

- What, why's that?

- Yeah.

Because you would never
have survived Africa.

You barely came through
as it was.

I envy you just a little.

- You envy me?

- Yeah!

- Why is that?

- Hasn't she sacrificed her
life for yours, Matthew?

What right has any man to
expect a love like that,

much less have it?

Do you suppose you'll
ever have such again?

I think not, sir.

- I've never met anyone even
close to her.

Not even close.

- Who is Silvia?
What is she

That all the swains
Adore her?

- Hi.

You've reached the Josephsons.

Wait for the beeps, leave a
message for Evie or Roger or

both of us and we'll get back
to you as soon as we can.

So why didn't she just renege

on this deal with her father?

It's horrible.

- You're not going to
believe it.

I mean, she's from
another world.

- I'll say.

- It's a matter of honor.

- Honor?

- Yeah.

- Like in "The Godfather"?

"Don't go against the family."

That's right.

I need you to cheer me up.

- Good!

So... what's next?

- I'm going to Boston.

- Good, what's there?

- School.

- For what?

- Neurosurgery.

- You're joking!

So, I am correct in seeing
a correlation between

the personal experience and
the professional aspiration?

- Yes, well, when I was
a kid a friend of mine got

kicked in the head by a horse,
and now he's a jockey.

I'm hogging all the spotlight.

- I always hated that
about you.

- I want to know how
you are doing.

- Me?

- Yes.

- Hmm... hmm.

I'm pregnant!

- No, you're not.

- Yes, I am!

- No you're not!

Oh my God!

- I'm not kidding, I'm not...

- Evie, oh my God!

- We're having some people
over for dinner tomorrow

night, want to come?

- Yeah.

- Good, good!

Oh, I have to make a phone call.

I think I will do it here.

Where are you off to?

- Uh, I have to go to
Cornell Medical Center.

- You said you were fine.

Are you fine?

- Yes, I'm fine.

It's just a check-up.

Look at you, you're just
pregnant and already

your maternal instincts
are kicking in.

- I love the dent, by the way.

Very fetching.

- Hey, congratulations.

- Thanks!

See ya.

- Mom!

- Dr. Frank...

Dr. Frank, please report
to Emergency.

- Doctor Heller?

- Excellent.

Thank you.

Now, when I first started at
Harvard, genetic engineering

was basically in its infancy.

I think it'd been
25 years since they had

discovered the structure of DNA.

But... there were
enough people, myself included,

that believed that all
diseases would ultimately be

cured by the infusion of
a repaired version of

whatever gene was defective.

- So you joined
the visionaries.

- That's right.

What's that you're eating?

That's not hospital food.

- Oh, well, Nico made other
arrangements.

- It looks pretty good.

- Yeah, do you want some?

- All right, I'll take a bite.

Thank you.

Mmm, I'll have Nico
make my arrangements!

So, where I come in
is with...

an approach...

that genetically manipulates
the cancers to make

them "A," more vulnerable to
attack, and "B,"

to enhance the inherent
tumor-killing potential

of the immune cells.

- Hmm, those are the papers
you gave me to read?

- That's right.

- Yeah, fascinating.

- Yeah, the trouble was,
I had to get those bureaucrats

down in Washington
to speed up their

archaic process and let me
try it out on some people.

- Ah, always the bureaucrats.

- Well...

they weren't altogether wrong.

I mean there were risks.

There was always the chance
we could have activated

the wrong gene and created...

some kind of
neoplastic nightmare.

But they finally gave in.

Up to a point.

They gave me one shot.

I'm Dr. Heller.

- How are you doing?

- Doing good.

How are you doing?

- We're okay.

- Hi.

- Hi.

What happened to Doctor Lee?

- Well, hopefully, I'm going to
be seeing to Joshua now.

- Josh.

- Josh.

Here's what's up.

We're hoping to try
something new, here.

Now, do you know
what pioneer is?

- No.

- No?

What about an astronaut?

You know what an
astronaut is, right?

- Yeah.

- Okay.

You know that the first
astronaut was a pioneer.

Yeah.

That's what we want you to be.

We want you to be a pioneer.

See, I've come up with a way
to reprogram...

I explained to him that I had
come up with a way to

reprogram the cells in his
blood, in the lab, so that when

we put them back inside
they'd gobble up the tumor

like it was Pac-Man.

You know Pac-Man,
the computer game?

- Oh, yeah, yeah.

- So up 'til then I'd been
hounding the FDA for

something like two years.

But fortunately, there was
a big old heartstring

twanging away, down there
in Washington.

Yes!

- Oh!

He's in a hurry!

- Yeah.

- What do you say, guys?

- Hey.

- Are we looking at history
here, or what?

- Even if it doesn't work.

- Yeah... and you're fired.

We first infused him at 3:20
on the afternoon of

November 10, 1990.

A date I will not forget.

- Is it gonna feel different?

- No siree Bob!

It was the longest ten days
of my life.

Just keep your head
still, okay?

- Okay.

- We had an encouraging
reduction on the first scan.

We infused him three times
in all, and got better

and better and...

the rest, as you say,
is history.

- I don't know but
they sure did.

- Josh... Josh... over here!

- Ladies and gentlemen,
we are here to announce

a dramatic medical breakthrough.

Some months ago,
young Josh Lipton was

diagnosed as having what...
up to that time...

was regarded as a universally
fatal brain tumor.

Since that time, he has been
undergoing experimental

gene therapy, under
Doctor Matthew Heller.

It has turned out
remarkably well

and the odds are now
that the recovery will

be permanent.

- I'll never forget that day.

- Hello?

- Hi, it's Evie!

- Evie, hey!

How are you doing?

- Good!

- Where are you?

- I'm here, in New York.

- Oh, you're kidding.

- No.

- What are you doing?

- I'm here for just a few days.

You remember Nancy Bates?

- Nancy Bates...
what, your roommate, yeah?

- Yeah, she's getting
married again.

Number three.

In New Jersey.

I'm her maid of honor.

Again.

- Hey, where've you been,
stranger?

- Oh, most recently, Tokyo.

So listen, are you free
for dinner?

- Yeah, as a matter of fact,
you called me on the one night

that I don't have to work.

- Good, good, good.

- Why don't you...
why don't you come here

and see my place?

Coming.

- Trick or treat?

- Hey.

- Treat!

- You look great!

Come on in.

All right, tell me about Tokyo.

- Oh, a hamburger costs $12.

- Forget about it!

Hey, here's to seeing you.

So, tell me everything.

Tell me, how's Roger,
how's the kids?

- Roger's fine,
I'm selling the kids!

- Oh, they'll be in
college soon enough.

You'll be all lonely,
calling me all the time.

How long were you in Tokyo?

- I feel like I've been there
since I was a very young girl,

about four months.

Yeah, four months.

Roger's a mega hit
with the locals.

- I'm sure.

- You look exhausted.

Are you working too hard?

You need a vacation?

- I guess.

- Yeah, you gonna take one?

- Yeah.

- Yeah, I've heard that before.

You seeing anybody?

- No.

- Now that's the problem.

- Oh yeah?

- Yeah.

What about the lawyer?

Wasn't she a lawyer?

- Yeah.

She got a great job offer
in San Francisco.

So...

C'est la vie.

- I'm beginning to
worry about you.

Don't tell me
that woman, the Italian,

is she still haunting you?

I've heard of lifelong
obsessions, but this is

ridiculous.

What about...

- Yes, what about it?

- Are you still playing?

- No.

- You told me you bought this,
what... what,

about a year ago?

- Yeah.

It looks nice, though.

Doesn't it?

- I could cry.

I mean it.

- Don't do that.

You just got here.

- You considered going to
the shrink again?

- I don't have time for that!

Hey, let's get
something to eat.

- Yeah.

Okay, let's drop the subject!

Health and happiness
later... hunger first!

- That's right!

- I'm hungry, too.

That's why you're off the hook!

I could introduce you to
someone while I'm in town.

- Evie.

- She's an architect.

Gorgeous.

- I'm on the verge of something
very significant with my work...

- Yeah, I know you're
on the verge!

- I don't have time for dating.

- What am I going to
do with you?!

- Is she one of the Rinaldis,
by the way?

- Yep.

- She's certainly run
the full course of treatment.

I assume she's here for
the Heller procedure.

- Right again.

- I think you may lose
this one, Matt.

- Yeah?

You think so?

- Well, it's up to you.

- See, the problem is, Phil,
it's kind of personal.

- Oh?

- Yeah, she saved my life once.

Isn't there some kind of
quid pro quo on that

kind of thing?

- Is it necessary that she
remain in the hospital while

we wait for the results, Doctor?

- Well, I would prefer it.

- Is it necessary?

- No.

What would you like to do,
Silvia?

- Who would prefer to remain in
a hospital if there's

a choice, Doctor?

- Pronto.

Si.

- So, what happened to
that little boy?

Your first patient.

- Oh, he's a freshman at
the University of Texas.

- And how many have there been?

- You are the 16th.

- And how many made it?

- Nine are alive.

- Including me?

- Oh, you're
gonna be the tenth.

Doctor, when do you think

she may be released?

- Well, this afternoon,
if you'd like.

- Bene.

Ciao.

- Ciao.

- Thank you, Doctor.

- I have a confession to make.

- You do?

- Yeah.

When we came to your office
for the first time,

you naturally assumed that
I hadn't seen you since that

day in Rome, in the hospital.

- Yeah.

- Well...

I saw you once more.

- You did, where?

- In Rome.

... with the use of gene

therapy, treatment of
gliomas is in an early

developmental stage.

Some very preliminary data
with experimental gliomas

shows a promising role
for gene therapy.

In contrast to
what Doctor Erin and

his group are up to
with their Murine model.

Now they have transferred
implanted intracranial

tumor cells with
the HSVK gene...

- Mille lire.

Grazie.

- Grazie.

- One.

- Mille lire.

Grazie.

- I'm sorry.

- Oh, I'm sorry.

- Oh my God,
this is so amazing!

I was just thinking about you.

Where are... come here.

Oh my God.

- We have to stop
meeting like this.

- You're a sight for
sore eyes.

- Shh!

- Oh, sorry, sorry, sorry,
sorry, it's just I... it's

a friend I haven't seen...
Sorry.

Come here, what...

- And after that, things went
form bad to worse

and the divorce was final last
month...

and after that, I decided
I had to get out of there.

I came here from
Venice two days ago.

I haven't been anywhere
except for with Roger,

in my whole life.

Tells you something.

I'm not sure what.

Can I have another drink?

- Yes, of course.

Scusi.

How are the kids coping?

- No, kids don't cope,
they just...

they just survive.

- Oh my God!

Look at them.

Oh, Evie, they're adorable.

- Yeah, they're home with
Roger while I tragically

circle the globe.

How long are you here for?

- Well, I was planning to
leave the day after tomorrow

but... I don't have to.

- I'd appreciate it.

Do you speak Italian?

- Poco.

You?

- Less than poco.

- Thanks.

Would you believe me if
I told you I didn't think

this was gonna happen?

- Yeah.

- But I'd be lying.

- Me too.

- When did you first start to
think about it?

- I guess there was
a defining moment when you were

coming down the Spanish Steps
the other day.

- I looked good, huh?

- Bellisma!

- Did you ever think
about it in college?

- You know I did.

Come on, you're so fine,
Miss Webster.

- I thought about it a lot.

- I guess it just wasn't
the right time.

- Yeah.

I always thought it would
ruin a great friendship.

- We won't let that happen.

- Please.

Oh, that's pretty!

Where'd you get that?

- Africa.

So, when do you have to
go back to New York?

- I don't have any definite
plans, but I'm beginning to

miss the girls.

The telephone isn't
doing it for me anymore.

So I want to get back.

I have a job waiting of me.

Julliard.

- Do you have any idea of
how beautiful you are?

Do you have a clue, even?

- Okay, okay.

- See, I could never say
that to you before.

- I don't know, anyway
I have to go back sooner

or later.

- Go back with me.

- You really want me to?

- Si, si, signora.

- 'Cause I really want to.

- Let's go back to the hotel.

- Where is it?

- Right here, the bulkhead.

- Thanks.

- Thanks very much.

- Champagne?

- "So where do we go from
here?" she asked shamelessly.

- We go straight ahead.

Yeah.

What do you think?

- Well, I just...

Rome is a very romantic place.

It's very far away.

It's a long flight back.

You have lots of
thinking-it-over time.

- Hey, the only thing I have to
think over is about how

I'm not going to let you
get out of my sight again.

- That's good.

Hey, you have to meet the girls.

- Yeah.

What if they don't like me?

- I'll... I'll cut off
their allowance.

- Yeah, that'll do it.

- Is he cute?

- He's yummy.

- How old is he?

- 16.

- What's his name?

- Phillip.

- I hate that name.

Plus, he's too old for you.

- There's someone I'd like
you girls to meet.

- Who?

- An old friend on mine
from college.

- Who is he?

- His name is Matthew.

You've heard me
talk about him.

I ran into him in Rome,
and we had a really

great time.

I'd like for you to meet him.

- Why?

- You'll like him.

He's yummy!

Hi.

- Hi.

- Hi.

Lily, Matthew, Rachel.

- Hi, guys.

- Hi.

- Well, I've heard
so much about you two.

I feel like I know you.

- Hey, I have an idea!

Let's sit.

- Good idea.

So, let's see, well, I know
you both are musicians.

Yeah?

Piano, violin.

- Other way around.

- That's what I meant.

The piano, violin.

Now that I look at you,
I should be able to spot

a fellow pianist.

That was my instrument,
way back when.

I'm a doctor now.

- Mm-hmm.

- I don't think I could have
handle the lack of

consistent work ultimately.

I mean, I don't mean that to
be discouraging at all.

- We're not discouraged.

- You want me to help you
with that?

- No.

Can you open this?

- So, there we are, we're
standing in front of

this painting,
and we basically bumped into

each other.

I mean, what are
the odds of that?

- Not too good.

- It's called kismet.

- What's that?

- Fate.

What do you think about
fate, Rachel?

- I believe in
self-determination.

- Well, I'm glad I finally
got to meet you two.

- Sure.

I have to go to the
ladies' room.

- All right, I think you
have to cancel their allowance.

- No, no, no, they like you.

- What?

- I can tell, trust me.

- I don't think we were at
the same table.

- Yes, we were.

- Yeah?

- Yes.

- They didn't say a word.

- They were listening.

Yeah.

- Little girls.

What do I know
about little girls?

- You have lots of chances to
learn if you want to.

- What do you think...

Paris or Detroit?

- For what?

- Honeymoon.

- Merci.

- Merci, Bonne journe.

- Au revoir.

Breakfast is served,
Mrs. Heller!

- Mrs. Heller, at last!

Say it again.

- Bonjour, Mrs. Heller.

- When I woke up this morning,
I thought I was dreaming.

- Well, I'm so
in love with you.

- Nice start.

- Suivi moi.

Do you have any idea how
beautiful you look

in the morning?

- When shall we see your
friend, Francois?

- Ah, that's right.

Actually, they invited us
to dinner tomorrow night,

if you want?

- Mm-hmm.

- You'll like him.

He's a character, for sure.

- I've been wondering
how the kids feel to you so far?

- Ah, are you kidding?

They're so great.

Anyway, I figure if it doesn't
work out, we just ship

'em off somewhere,
just over-night 'em.

- Have you ever missed having
kids of your own?

- Hint, hint.

Don't I have kids of my own?

- Yeah, but I mean
of your own.

- Oh, I guess the thought's
run through my mind

once or twice, you goddess.

- I have a confession to make.

- Yes.

- I was beating around
the bush the other day.

- When?

- When we were talking about
having kids.

- Oh really!

I would never have guessed that!

- No!

I'm found out!

Then you know what's on my
mind and in my heart,

and... I'd love to have
one together.

- Yeah?

- I always wanted a boy
and if he looked like

you that would be great.

- Yeah, but he'd have to
have your eyes.

Don't you think?

- Your mouth.

- Yeah, but your little ears.

But whose nose?

- Yours.

- No.

- Yes.

- Your nose.

Oh, come on.

- No!

- Think I'd be a good father?

- Yes.

- Yeah.

- Rachel and Lily adore you.

- Who?

- Okay.

You don't have to answer now,
just planting the seed.

- No, no, no, no.

I'm kidding...
Planting the seed,

isn't that my job?

- Hi, how are you?

Hello.

Evie!

Welcome to Paris.

Welcome to our apartment.

- Oh, it's wonderful!

Thank you.

It's beautiful!

- Mrs. Matthew Heller.

- Mm-hmm.

- Do you want some more?

- Yes, yes, please.

Thank you.

It's so good to meet you
after hearing about you

for so long.

- Oh.

It's all lies.

It's all lies!

Ladies and gentlemen.

May I have your attention,
please?

A very special toast to
a very special couple,

Matthew and Evie Heller!

- Thank you.

- There you go.

- To Evie and Matthew!

- Are you married, Matthew?

- Yes.

- Children?

- Two.

Girls.

- We have two boys.

Um, do you think
I might understand if you

were to explain it to me?

I mean, this, uh, procedure for
which you have become so famous?

I was a doctor once, after all.

- You know what?

If you don't mind, I think
I'll give you one of my papers

as a primer, is that okay?

- I would appreciate that.

- Do you still practice
medicine?

- No.

- You've been a fine doctor,
Silvia.

- It was impossible for me
to continue my career.

Nico and my children.

- He might have at least
granted you that.

- Have you remembered me,
Matthew?

Can't help wondering if
in your heart...

you believe this is futile.

- I don't do futile things,
Silvia.

- Wouldn't it be a remarkable
irony if it worked?

- How so?

- Once I saved your life
and now you save mine.

I've always loved irony.

Okay.

We'll scan you again
in three days, okay?

That'll give your immune system
a chance to kick in.

- If the fat lady's singing,
I refuse to listen.

- Sorry to keep you waiting.

Bit of a computer glitch.

Gonna be a few minutes.

- Tell me something about
yourself, Matthew.

- Okay.

What would you like to know?

- Well, how long have you
been married?

- Two years.

- Oh.

Not your first then, surely.

- No.

My first surely.

- How come?

- It's a long story.

- Perhaps there will be
time for you to tell it.

Um, how old are your daughters?

Is that your daughters?

- 12 and 14.

They're from my wife's
former marriage.

- Oh.

- Actually, you met her once.

- No.

- Yep.

- When?

- In Amsterdam.

We all had dinner one night.

Her name's Evie.

- Oh yeah, I remember.

Yeah.

She was quite charming,
as I recall.

- That she is.

- I remember wondering that
evening if you had once

been lovers.

Were you?

- No.

Not for a long time after that.

We ran into each other in Rome
a couple years ago and...

Actually, it was that
conference that I was there for.

- When I saw you.

- Yeah.

- Oh.

- You all right?

You sure?

- Yeah.

- Want some water?

- No, I'm fine.

Now she's your wife.

There's less and less
to massage, isn't there?

- But still so beautiful.

- I spoke to the boys today.

You must call them, Nico.

- Mm-hmm.

I will.

- I like this scent.

- Yeah, I thought for a change.

What time is your
appointment tomorrow?

10:00.

- Tell me again,
what's it called?

This, uh...
- A PET scan.

P-E-T.

Positron Emission Tomography.

- Has it been awkward for you
seeing Heller again?

- No.

- And for him, do you think?

- There aren't those
sorts of feelings, Nico.

I'm only another patient.

- Will we have the results
right away from this PET thing?

- Yes.

You mustn't be impatient, Nico.

We didn't come all this
way to be impatient.

- I have some overseas calls
to make.

Would you like anything?

- With you...

I'm ill, not incapacitated.

- Sleep, my love.

Sleep.

- We are, of course,
very discouraged, Doctor.

- Well, it's too early
for discouragement.

Now, naturally, I would have
liked more promising

results, but...
- Wait.

I don't recall reading in any
of your papers that you had

positive results on
every first infusion.

- That's right.

In no more than a third.

- So we do continue, do we not?

- We do.

- Excellent.

- You have it!

That was it, Peter.

Perfect!

Okay.

So we'll do it from
the beginning.

You have it.

- Hey, haven't said a word
about your father's

concert last night.

- I was hoping you
wouldn't ask.

- Uh-oh.

- Least said, soonest mended.

- My daughter, the philosopher.

- I just think he's overrated.

That's all there is to it.

- You are too young to think
geniuses are overrated.

You have to be 21.

- I'll say.

- Couldn't you go play
the piano or something?

- I much prefer dicing peppers
at the moment.

- His Mendelssohn last night
was embarrassing.

- Did you read the review in
"The Times"?

- I don't read reviews, Mom.

- I'm sorry.

I keep forgetting.

- ... chop spears...
- Hey.

- Oh, bless you.

- Slice into one-inch pieces.

Lamb chops and vegetables...

- What smells good?

- I like to think it's me.

- You always smell good.

What's cooking?

- New recipe.

Keep your fingers crossed.

- All right, stop.

- How you doing lately?

- Uh, I'm doing okay.

- Yeah?

- After about 10 minutes,
add...

- Dinner in a half-hour.

Don't dress.

- Good.

And are you behaving yourself?

And Marcello as well?

Well, tell him to stop or else
he'll have to answer to me.

She's fine, she's fine.

Of course she is.

I'll put her on to you.

Goodnight, sweetheart.

Sleep well.

I love you.

- Carlo, darling, how are you?

I'm quite well.

Have you gotten over your flu?

Excellent.

You sound so much better.

Oh, I miss you, too.

So much.

Why isn't Marcello there?

Well, tell him that we called
and that we'll call again

tomorrow and tell him
that he must be there.

Yes, it will be quite soon now.

I'll be home soon, I promise.

It must be your bedtime now.

Yes.

Well, goodnight, darling.

I love you.

Yeah.

Goodnight.

- You're quite sure
you feel up to this?

- Of course.

Everyone says it's
a wonderful show.

I want to see it.

Let me help you with this.

- You don't seem well.

- I haven't seemed well for
nearly two years, have I?

- Amore, that is not
what I mean.

- I want to see it.

I don't want to postpone things.

- All right.

- There we are.

Perfect.

- What would I do without you?

- We should go.

- Yeah.

- So what's the verdict?

- We might have overdone
the rosemary a little.

- No, nonsense.

It's great.

- I think it's great, too.

- Daddy's getting married.

- He's marrying Deborah?

- Not Deborah.

Deborah's history.

- What do you mean?

What happened?

- Vicky did.

- Who's Vicky?

- Some bimbo.

Plus, she's about 17 years old.

- She's what?

- She is not.

She's 29.

She told me.

She just looks young.

- Got a minute?

- Yeah.

What's going on?

- I don't know.

What is?

- No, it's E Flat.

- Show me the E Flat here.

Show me.

- Shut up.

- Girls, bedtime!

So... what's happening?

- What do you mean?

- I know you don't leave your
work at the office, but I've

never known you to bring
so much of it home.

Starting to hold out on me
when it's bad?

- No.

I'm hoping the news isn't bad.

- We have ways to
make you talk.

- All right.

Do you remember
Silvia Dallesandro?

- Yeah, the African Queen,
of course.

The one who made the deal
with her father.

- Right.

Well, I've been treating her.

- What for?

- Tumor.

- I know you hated it.

All that fidgeting.

But I'm enjoying it.

I think that the performances
are wonderful.

Especially...

- Silvia!

Silvia!

Dio!

Por favor.

Please, somebody,
get an ambulance.

Silvia.

Silvia, por favor.

- Let me talk to her!

- So, how did this happen?

That she's here?

- You know, I guess I've become
a kind of last-resorts guy,

which is a mixed blessing.

- She's that bad?

- Yeah.

- But I guess there's more
to it this time, hmm?

Yeah.

Well, you were in love with her.

She was in love with you
and you...

you were almost married.

She married someone else
and it's taken you a dozen years

to marry someone else.

Well, what's she like now?

- Evie.

Look, she's so ill.

It hasn't been exactly social.

- So she's as beautiful as she
was that night in Amsterdam?

- Is anyone?

- Excepting me, you mean.

- Yes, I'm sorry.

Excepting you.

Sweetie, listen to me.

Yeah?

This is.

Is she conscious?

Yeah.

Okay, all right, I'm on my way.

All right, I have to go to
the hospital.

- Bye.

- We'll talk later.

- Wait up or don't?

- No, don't.

- Did they tell you
what happened?

- Yep.

- She fell down.

Totally unconscious.

- I got it.

All right.

- Hemorrhage.

- No.

The scan didn't show any
bleeding, but you have a little

bit of swelling around the tumor
area, so I'm starting you

on some IV steroids.

- Would that have happened had
she stayed here in the hospital?

- No.

It's got very little to do with
activity, with the possible

exception of, say,
bungee-jumping.

- But I've already made plans
for the weekend.

- I fail to see
the humor in this.

- Oh, Nico.

- There's nothing wrong with
a little humor, Nico.

- I feel better already.

- So she should remain in
the hospital now?

- Well, I scheduled a PET scan
for the morning, so, yeah.

I'm going to have to insist
that you stay here tonight.

- She will, certainly.

- Believe it or not,
I would much prefer it.

- Good.

Why don't you get some rest?

I'm going to send a nurse in
in a few minutes to give you

something, okay?

- Yeah.

I'd appreciate that.

- All right.

- Yeah.

- I'll see you in
the morning, okay?

Good night.

You should get some
rest yourself.

- Thank you, Doctor.

- You scared the life
out of me.

- Oh.

It's all right.

Poor Nico.

Poor thing.

It's all right.

- Hi.

- Hey.

It's late.

Why aren't you sleeping?

- Tried.

Failed.

- What are you reading?

- "Anna Karenina."

Just started it.

- It ends badly.

- I know, I saw the movie.

Do women throw themselves under
trains anymore for love?

Was it her?

- Yep.

How'd you guess?

- Just a hunch.

It's 4:00 a.m.

- Tell me about it.

- Well?

Is she all right?

Is she dead?

What?

- She's not all right
and she's not dead.

- Are you going to be
able to save her?

- I don't know.

- What are her chances?

- If I had to say,
I'd say slim.

- Well, I'm sorry.

- Such is life.

- How casual.

- Evie, these are the facts
I deal with every day.

- Are we in jeopardy here?

- All right, listen.

I love you.

You gotta know that.

I'm absolutely mad about you.

I'm completely committed
to this.

- But I'm nervous.

- But you're wasting
your energy.

- But you're not telling
me anything.

- What do you want to know?

- I want to know...

I wanna...

I wanna...

- Yeah?

- I wanna know...

- Yeah?

- Does she know that you
married that girl from Detroit

that she met a long time ago in
Amsterdam and that she's

great in the sack?

- I'm sure she can intuit
that from the glint in my eye

when I talk about you.

- Yeah?

- Yeah.

- Can you intuit
how much I want you?

- Well, do you mean...

generally or right now?

- How does it look?

- I think I need another
24 hours.

- I think you're dreaming,
Matthew.

- Well...

Where would we be without
our dreams, Phil?

Okay.

It's begun to work.

There's been some reduction.

- Grazie Dio.

- To what extent, Matthew?

- 20%.

It's very promising.

- Grazie.

Grazie.

Grazie Dio.

- Hey, baby.

How was your lesson?

- I should have gone
for the saxophone.

- There are days like that.

Uh, what are you having?

- Veal Parmesan.

- That's a mistake.

Harvey Rothman stopped me in
the hall the other day to

sing your praises.

- Mom, why didn't you tell me?

- Saving it for when you
could really use it.

- This is a mistake.

- Yeah.

- So what did he say?

- He said enough
to make me very proud.

- You've been kind of
spacey the last few days.

- Have I?

- Is anything the matter?

- If I could just
lay off the heroin.

- Why did I ask?

- I'm sorry, baby.

I think I'm just...

I'm being paranoid
about something.

- What about?

- It's embarrassing.

- I promise not to laugh
hysterically and I won't

tell everyone.

- An old flame of Matthew's.

- What about her?

- She's reappeared on
the scene.

- Yeah, so?

He's not having an affair,
is he?

- No.

I don't think that
would even be possible.

- Why not?

- She's very ill.

It's touch-and-go whether
she's even gonna make it.

So it's not exactly romantic
circumstances.

- So what's the problem?

- I'm not positive it's not
exactly romantic circumstances.

- Who is this person?

And he really couldn't play
the piano anymore?

- No.

- That's very weird.

And they were actually going to
get married by an

African witch doctor?

I have to admit,
that's major romantic.

- It's an unpredictable
procedure, Silvia.

- You mean it's not
working after all?

- We have a slight gain.

Now I admit, today's results
are disappointing, but that's

no reason to stop trying.

Silvia.

- So we keep trying, right?

- That's right.

You have to keep trying.

Want me to call Nico?

- No, he's in Washington.

Um, I told him I'd call with
the results.

Will you have dinner
with me, Matthew?

I don't want to be alone.

- Yes, of course.

Yeah.

- You wish I'd never come.

- I'm glad you came.

- I don't mean
medically speaking.

- Well.

It has been a bit complicated.

- For me too.

You know, I used to
often to think of hearing

you play that first
time in Amsterdam.

That silly little practice thing
that made no sound at all.

- I heard it here.

- Oh.

The music in my heart
I bore long after

it was heard no more.

Poets always speak best for us,
don't they?

Damn them.

Did you forgive me, Matthew?

Please.

Did you?

Did you forgive me in time?

- That's a long time ago.

- Well, for me,
it's this very moment.

So please, say the words.

Say it to me.

- Silvia.

I...

- Please.

- Yes.

I forgive you.

- Perhaps that's what
I really came for.

- Mrs. Rinaldi.

- Good evening.

Will you come up for a drink?

- Okay.

- It's strange.

No matter how many years go by,
I still...

Some feelings don't change.

Try as I might,
it just won't stop.

It's so wonderful to be
close to you.

I want us to be together again.

- I can't.

- Can you tell me you
don't want to?

- I can tell you that
I can't want to.

- What time shall

I come tomorrow?

Matthew.

Matthew.

- Easy, easy.

- Nico.

- He's on his way.

I called.

- Oh.

Matthew.

Oh, it hurts.

It hurts so much.

- I know.

- This... this is...

this is a bad one, isn't it?

Yeah, yeah?

Oh...

Oh, God.

My children.

What bad luck for them.

Remember what I said, yeah?

I've always loved you.

Always.

- I've always loved you.

Music in my heart I bore
long after it was

heard no more.

- I fell in love with you...

the first time I heard you play.

What is it
that really matters in the end?

Only love.

Will... will... will...

will you do something?

Will you...

Will you play again?

Will you?

- Yeah.