"VENUS IN FUR"
"VENUS IN FUR" AUDITIONS HERE
...no, she doesn't exist
I mean, a sexy young woman
with classical training
and a scrap of brain in her skull
who can say "inextricable" without a coach
Listen...
Honey, in Vanda's day, at her age,
she'd be married with 5 kids and tuberculosis
She'd be a woman
These days, they sound like ten-year olds on helium:
It was like, totally like wild
like totally awesome
I've seen 35 idiot actresses
half dressed like hookers, half like dykes
I'd make a better Vanda
Just put me in a dress and a pair of heels
Honey?
Damn it
Knock-knock!
Am I too late?
Shit, I'm too late
Fuck!
For "Venus in Fur", everyone's left
I'm so sorry, I was way across town
My phone died
I broke a heel in a sewer cover
See what I mean?
Then this guy on the train
rubs up against my ass
Then it starts to pour
Fuck! Just my luck
Shit, shit, fuck!
Maybe I can rustle up some Valium...
Nah, just my usual luck
Thank you, God, for all the help
By the way, I'm Vanda Jourdain
Vanda?
See what I mean? I've even got her name
You know many Vandas?
I'm made for the part, the train breaks down
some guy tries to fuck me
- And you are? - Thomas Novachek
Hi
Hey, wait a minute!
You wrote this
Yes, I did. Well, I adapted it
And you're directing?
Within an inch of its life
I love your plays!
The ones I know, "Anatomy of Shadows"
Amazing, I saw it twice
That's not mine
My bad
I mean the other one
This is awkward
Anyway, this one's awesome. The parts I read
Pretty wild stuff. Really sexy
Or, like, erotic if humiliation's your thing
I'm not usually in leather and a dog collar
I'm really demure and shit
Just thought I'd get into the part
It's S&M?
The play?
Not exactly, and it's set in 1870
Oh, right
I guess this isn't too 1870
Not really
Maybe back then
S&M-ers dressed like this
My headshot and resume
Great, thanks
Where is that...
It's kinda skimpy
But I'm good. I'm made for this part
They said I was amazing as Hedda Gabler
"The Urinal Theatre"?
I somehow missed their season
You had an appointment?
Yeah, two-fifteen
Hours ago, right?
Vanda...?
Jourdain
People always ask "Is it a stage name?"
I don't see your name
Really?
My agent said it was set up
I'm not on it? Two-fifteen?
Shit
Thanks again, God
But now I'm here...
Wait! What are you doing?
I got a costume!
I found this great dress...
Really, don't bother
What? You mean don't read?
I mean don't read
I'm here so let's give it a go
There's no one to read with you
You can read with me
It'd be an honor to read with the author
Adapter
It'd be cool, straight from the horse's mouth
To tell you the truth, Miss...
Vanda
We're looking for somebody...Different
What're you looking for?
Someone...how can I put it?
I get it
Save your breath. Someone who's not me
I'm too short, too tall, too old, too young
My resume is crap
Ok, I get the message
Wait...
This sucks
It's ok
This really sucks
What a shitty day
We'll schedule more auditions soon
But I'm here now, save me another trip
Look, Vanda
I've had a bad day too
I saw a bunch of freaks. One with braces!
You don't want to audition now
I need to relax
My dinner's waiting
I understand. Dinner
It'll be better when I'm fresh
Thanks for coming
Love the outfit, very striking
I'll see you soon
I doubt it but thanks anyhow
You seem nice
It's just this goddam business
Plus 30 euros for the fucking dress
It's real 18-whatever, huh?
Very 18-whatever...
It's her, right? Total Vanda
She'd have a long dress. They hated their butts back then
That's a misconception...
Let me show you how I look in it
Pretty please
- Yes! - Thank you
Not you. Someone just walked in
I'll pick up some sushi on my way
Can you do me up, please?
Reading with Thomas Novachek!
You're not doing yourself any favors
I'm not an actor
You're perfect, the ideal Kowalski
Kushemski!
You're Kushemski
Not exactly
At your service, sir
Where do we start? You choose
Let's try the first scene
You have your sides?
They got messed up
Who gave you the whole script?
I dunno
My agent sent it
How did he get hold of it?
What's the problem?
It's top secret or something?
Doesn't matter
Have you read it?
I flipped through it on the train
It's like based on something
The Lou Reed song?
It's based on an Austrian novel, "Venus in Fur"
by Leopold von Sacher-Masoch
I bet
you read it in actual Austrian!
Well, more or less
The book was a huge scandal in 1870
I bet it was, it's S&M porn
It's not S&M porn
It's not porn?
Or porn-ish?
For medieval times, like, 18-whatever?
"Venus in Fur" is a great love story
It's a central text of world literature
Yeah?
Looks like porn to me
I know my sadomasochism
I'm in the theatre
Masochism comes from Sacher-Masoch because of this book
Masochism, Masoch, I shoulda seen that
So S&M is named after the guy?
That wasn't his goal
Sure, he called it serious, people called it porn
And you milked the book?
I adapted the book
made up the lines, the scenes
There's a lot of me in it
Fantastic
So where are we, like?
"Like" at an inn
somewhere on the edge of the Austro-Hungarian Empire
The Austro-Hungarian Empire...Remind me
It's complicated
So it's a fancy inn, huh?
Yes, a health spa for the wealthy
Very luxurious
At curtain-up, Kushemski is reading in his room
with his morning coffee
And knock-knock, Vanda enters
And that's "symbolic" for his character?
He's reading
People still read books
Books made of actual paper
Ouch, you got me
So this guy...What's his name? Sevran, Savrine...
Severin von Kushemski
Right!
What is he, what's he into?
Throw me some adjectives
A rich idler of his times
Intelligent, well-traveled, cultivated
A nerd
If you will
"If you will." I love it!
When did I last hear that?
Distinguished, like you
Want to know about her?
I know her inside out but...
Sure, if you want
I'd say
she's a young woman of her time
Despite her professed principles
Despite what?
Her professed principles
At first sight, she's very proper, poised and cultivated
No kidding, nothing else?
Anything I don't know?
Like...
That's cool, I'll manage
Mind if I change the lights?
The lights?
Kinda glary, right?
Oh please, make yourself at home!
How's that?
Not bad
Hold on...
I wouldn't know which button to push
Much, much better
I guess this is the divan
Yes, that's the divan
A desk
The book she brings back
The postcard, great
And what's this?
A phallic symbol?
It's from the last show here
A Belgian production
"Stagecoach" as a musical
Where do I stand?
Wherever's comfortable
Not so center
Stage left or stage right?
Left
Do you want to read the scene over?
Nah, let's wing it
How far?
To the end of page 3
And then you kick me out?
Let's try that
In other words, yes
I nearly forgot...
These words on page zero...
This quote, like
The epigraph?
Yeah
"And the Lord hath smitten him and delivered him into a woman's hands"
It's quoted in the novel
from the Book of Judith
That's the Bible?
The Apocrypha, yes
I'm pretty dumb
It's pretty sexist, huh?
"And the Lord hath smitten him and delivered him into a woman's hands"
I'm only quoting Sacher-Masoch's novel
Yeah, but you put it on page zero
Never mind, none of my business, I'm just an actress
I forgot the fur
- She wears a stole? - That's right
Fur...Fur...
Soft fur...
Ok, that's good
Maybe it's not...
Ready when you are
Knock-knock!
Come in
Herr Doktor Severin von Kushemski?
I'm sorry to disturb you
I'm Vanda von Dunayev
I'm staying in the room above yours
I found this book last night
A copy of "Faust"
with your bookplate inside
It was in the birch grove by the statue of Venus
Thank you so much
I had just asked the maid about it
I would have sent it but I found
this provocative postcard inside
A Titian, isn't it?
Yes
"Venus With Mirror", a favorite of mine
Your Venus seems as well-thumbed
as your book
Is she faithful?
I'm sorry?
To the original
Yes, it's a faithful copy of the painting
I understand your fascination, the picture's ravishing
Thank you for returning it
I couldn't help noticing the odd poem on the back
"To Venus In Fur." Did you write this?
It's just a bit of doggerel...
Doggerel, really?
"To love and be loved
"Ah, what bliss
"Yet there exists a greater joy
"The torment of that woman's kiss
"Who makes of me her slave
"Her cur, her toy
"I speak of Her
"My goddess, my dictator
"My Venus In Fur"
Interesting sentiments
If I were you
I'd guard this bookmark well
I appreciate your discretion
Would you like to sit down, Frau Dunayev?
Thank you
May I take your fur?
That's very kind
It's Tartar, isn't it?
Caucasian sable, probably from Kazakhstan
Caucasian sable from Kazakhstan, precisely
Kushemski stares at the fur in his hands
You're trembling, Herr Kushemski!
Yes, please forgive me
May I ring for something?
A coffee would be lovely
Have some of mine
How kind of you
Two sugars, please
He pours her coffee...
I hope I don't disturb you, trodding in my heels up there
Not at all
Trod in your heels to your heart's content
So you're a poet, Herr Kushemski
Just an amateur
And a trained lover of fur
The love of fur is...
I'll skip that line
No, read it!
The love of fur is innate
It's a passion that Nature gives us all
Come on, get into it!
The love of fur is innate
It's a passion that Nature gives us all
To caress a thick, soft fur
That peculiar tingle, that electricity
I suspect there's more here than a gift of Nature
Perhaps your mother swaddled you in sable as a baby?
I'm sorry, I'm prying
Please forgive me
Actually...
I had an aunt who was passionate about fur
That explains everything
We're all easily explicable
yet remain inextricable
"Inextricable"?
What do you mean?
Life makes us what we are
End of page 3!
So it is
That was good, Vanda
I was just stumbling around
You didn't seem to be
That's good actin' for ya! I tell you, I'm a pro
It was very good
I'm blushing
It wasn't perfect
No. Sure
Let's read on a little
Then Kushemski has his big speech
and we can skip to...
No, read it! It'll feed my character
- You're good, Thomas - I'm faking it
No, you're really good
Who's your Kushemski?
I have a few possibilities
You should play him
I mean it, you'd be terrific
It's hard
And I put actors through this!
You're the director, it's your job to torture actors
First-time director
You'd never know
Directors never understand my work
Never get it right...
That's why you're perfect
You can make it right
I have it all in my head
I'll use Alban Berg's "Lyric Suite" for transitions
Great idea!
You know it?
No! But you see?
You know it inside out, characters and all
For Kushemski, off the top of my head
try something...
An accent or something
He's upper-class
Upper-class, exactly
With a hint of something aristocratic
Is this upper-class enough?
Or is it idiotic?
It is, but it's great
You didn't bring a smoking jacket, did you?
I did
I was kidding
Wanna try it on?
It'll help you. I bet it fits
It's beautiful
Is it real?
They said it's vintage
"Siegfried Mueller,
"Vienna,
"1869..."
I didn't notice
40 euros, not bad, huh?
Looks like it was made for you! How's it feel?
It feels good
A perfect fit
Sure looks good on you
Hello, gorgeous!
How much was the dog collar?
It's from when I was a hooker
Just kidding!
Let me give you a run-up
Perhaps your mother swaddled you in sable as a baby?
I'm prying, please forgive me
Actually, one of my aunts had a passion for fur...
This is hard for him
Obviously
So go for it!
I'm prying, please forgive me
Actually
one of my aunts had a passion for fur
That explains everything
We're all easily explicable yet...
we remain inextricable
"Inextricable"?
What do you mean?
Life makes us what we are
in an unforeseen instant
How's the coffee?
I've hardly tasted it but it's excellent so far
That's symbolic, right? He's the coffee
One sip and she's already hooked
Damn, you saw right through me
Have you had an "unforeseen instant, Herr Kushemski?"
Actually, I have
But I don't wish to bore you
Far from it, I'm enthralled
It's like an English mystery novel
I await the mysterious aunt who was fond of fur
We can skip the next speech
No, read it, I want to hear
I await the mysterious aunt who was fond of fur
I was an impossible child
Spoiled and cruel
Tormenting the servants
and our cat
I was also very rude to an aunt of mine
The Countess was a regal woman
Voluptuous and
terrifying
What's wrong?
Nothing
Feels strange, hearing out loud words I wrote
on a screen at 2 am
But you're doing fine
What did your aunt do?
One night, she took her revenge
She came into my room
wearing a long cape of Russian black fox fur
In her hand, she carried a birch cane
freshly cut
She was followed by the cook and the maid
She threw off her fur and rolled up her sleeves
I tried to escape
but the other two women grabbed me
pulled down my pants and flung me onto the fur
They held me down while my aunt laid into me
with the cane
My naked backside and thighs were on fire
The servant women urged her on
and mocked me, calling me a little girl
I struggled
but my aunt kept whipping me
until I begged her to stop
out of mercy
When she finally stopped
she forced me to thank her on my knees
She made me kiss her foot
Then she left the room...
threatening to return
All this witnessed by the two servants
and our cat
From that time on
for me, a fur was never just a fur
nor a birch cane a simple switch
In that brief moment, she made me
the man I am now
Did she return?
In my dreams, yes, with her black fur and her cane
She still visits me each night
You poor, poor man
Poor?
She taught me the most precious thing
She taught you what?
That nothing is more sensuous
than pain
Nothing more pleasurable than degradation
The Countess did her work well
She became my ideal
I've sought her replica ever since
and when I meet that woman
I shall marry her
Thomas, that speech is awesome!
Thank you. It took a lot of work
So, actually
this play is, like, all about child abuse
Are you crazy?
What does child abuse have to do with it?
This goddam mania these days!
Everything's a stupid social issue!
Child abuse isn't exactly stupid...
I know but don't be so trite!
This isn't anthropology or sociology
it's a play
Yeah, but...
There's a lot more here
than corporal punishment!
Ok, sorry
This impoverished world we live in!
Why do we always diminish things?
What's next on your list?
Sexism, racism, the class struggle?
You are quite unique, Herr Kushemski
If I were you, I'd be careful
Your ideal woman may be crueler than you care for
I'm willing to risk that
I know what you are. A supersensualist
An ascetic voluptuary
And you, Frau Vanda von Dunayev, who or what are you?
I'm a pagan
Meaning I'm young, beautiful, rich
and plan to make the most of that
I'll deny myself nothing
I respect your principles
Excuse me, I don't need your respect
I'll love a man who pleases me and please a man who makes me happy
But only as long as he makes me happy
Then I'll find another
Nothing is crueler than a woman's infidelity
For a woman there is
Enforced fidelity
Can I move?
Sure, move around
In our society
a woman's only power
is through a man
I'd like to see what Woman will be
when she becomes Man's equal
When she becomes herself
Little Vanda's way ahead of her times
Vanda...
How do you know the lines?
I dunno, I learn fast
You know the play by heart!
You said Vanda's very proper...
despite what?
Her professed principles
Right
She doesn't believe all this?
She says so
Women's rights, blahblah...
So it's all an act?
Why "professed principles" and not just "principles"?
I liked the alliteration, "professed principles"
I see
You sold your soul for alliteration
Guilty as charged
Between you and me, Thomas, you're a bad boy
If I may be so bold, I'd say
you're more than a pagan, you're a goddess
Really? Which one?
Venus
Vanda is Venus or am I crazy?
She's Venus in human form
come down to bust his balls
Not really
or not exactly
Ok, I take it back. You wanted it ambivalent
- Ambiguous - Right
It's the same story as "The Bacchae"
Exactly!
What's "The Bacchae" again?
Just kidding. An old play, right?
A very old play, yes
Citizens of Corinth!
Behold this mortal man, Testiculus
cursed for his offenses by the gods
and totally fucked for all eternity!
That kinda play?
More or less
Dionysus comes down
and reduces the proud King of Thebes
to a quaking jelly in a dress
Sounds hot!
After that
the crazed women of Thebes, the Bacchae tear him to pieces
Dionysus leaves triumphant
Yeah, I think I saw it
Here it's not Dionysus, it's Aphrodite
And she is..?
The Greek Venus
- Same person? - Same goddess
Hail, Aphrodite!
Am I insufferably pedantic?
Yeah, but it's kinda cute
What're we doing?
You are a goddess
Really?
Which one?
Venus
But Venus could only rule over slaves
So I should find myself one
Would you be my slave, Herr Doktor Kushemski?
I already am
I've been your slave since you entered this room
What?
Already in love with me?
Profoundly
I'm suffering as if I'd known you all my life
Subjugate me
Stand up and step away from me
I must say you do intrigue me
I like your frankness, your clarity of thought
Physically, you are not unattractive
But when a man submits to me, I sense a trick
This is no trick. Love me!
You see? Orders already
Marry me
I'm a frivolous woman, Herr Kushemski
You'd have to be very brave to love me
I explained my principles
I don't care, I want you for my wife
You don't know me
- Dominate me - It's absurd
I give you all power over me, eternally
Unconditionally. Do with me what you will
Dominate me, beat me if you like
This is certainly novel
Stand over there
Stand in the center
I'm fine here
You should be there, you're taking power
So take a power position
Try it again
This is certainly novel
It doesn't work
Try it again
I give you all power over me, eternally
Unconditionally. Do with me what you will
Dominate me
beat me if you like
This is certainly novel
You're not trying
You wanted me here, here I am. I said my line
It's only an audition
I want to see
if you can take direction
So do as I say and stand there
I give you all power over me, eternally
Unconditionally. Do with me what you will
Dominate me
beat me if you like
This is certainly novel
It is better!
Keep going
What do you want deep down?
To be your possession
Vanish into your sublime essence
Dress and undress you
Hand you stockings, put shoes on your feet
Have no will of my own
You call that love?
The only kind
In love as in politics
one partner must rule
One must be the hammer, the other the anvil
I willingly accept being the anvil
Enough
No, keep going, I love it!
Thomas, the insight, especially about women
You really understand women
Yes, years of study
- Where was I? - Being an anvil
Vanda
I seek pain and you pleasure
You mustn't defer to anyone's feelings
Use your lover as he'd use you
Rule him, wring him dry
You're incredible
If I can't be your husband, take me as your slave
Treat me with divine cruelty
Mistreat a man who loves me?
- I'll worship you even more - I don't want that
All women want worshipping, like our Creator
Create me
Ruin me
Annihilate me
Excuse me
No, I'm still here
Everything's good
I don't know
In a few minutes, I guess
I'll call when I leave
Me too, honey, take care
Yeah, fine
Sorry
The audition? We'll see
I'm at the temp agency, they've got something
Typing. A night job in a law firm
They need the contract tomorrow...
I dunno!
We'll see. That's life
That's life, ok
Incredible...
Your other half?
People still say that?
- What's "other half" now? - I dunno..."Asshole"?
Ok...
You wonder why I lied
It's none of my business
What does Vanda say? I'll deny myself nothing
I got other fish to fuck, so to speak
So you're the hammer, he's the anvil
What should I say?
"Whatever, baby?"
This isn't love, it's sex
You want sex, you take the rest
That's what the play's about
Is it?
Are you kidding?
I don't know, am I?
Will you stop!
Say what you think for once
Quit pussyfooting around
Shall I make some coffee?
- What? - Are you coming on to me, Tom?
Certainly not
I'm just offering you coffee
Symbolic coffee?
Not at all, real coffee
Would your wife like you offering me "real" coffee?
I'm not married
I thought from the call...
My Fiancee
Same thing. What would Fiancee think?
Didn't you once say, "Theatre's a great way to get laid?"
You actually read that!
I was young, it was my first interview
Never been married?
Never
Still living with Mom?
I'm twisted but not that twisted
So fox fur's your thing?
No, love is
You really are twisted
And my woman must be my muse
So Fiancee has wings and everything?
The way I see love
you take the plunge...
Jump right in
Head first
With fireworks, lightning and thunder
Coffee or no coffee?
I could only give myself to one man for life if he enslaved me
We're not a very good match, Herr Kushemski
We cancel each other out
I say we're made for each other
Don't you feel that, Vanda?
Don't you feel it too?
I propose a trial period
A contract. Call it a business deal
You have one year to prove you're the man for me
- A year is long... - Let me finish
I beg your pardon
I'll draw up a contract saying you're my slave for a year
So she had this all planned
She set it up before she came in
You think so?
C'mon, you wrote it
I'm not sure she had this "planned"
I'm not being coy
So you wanted it ambivalent
- Ambiguous - Right
Maybe she's just a horny bitch
I never considered that angle
Maybe it's even more twisted
Be my slave for a year, then you can fuck me
- Ambivalent again? - Ambiguous
For me, well, for Kushemski
you're his last chance, his only chance
Really? To do what?
To live
He wants to know if she's into whips
- He's auditioning her - She's auditioning him too
He's a perv
and she's an object like every woman in 18-whatever
Who are you really, Frau Vanda Jourdain?
I'm a pagan
No, I'm serious
You're coming on to me again
Where are you from, what's your story?
I'm an army brat, I grew up everywhere
Where, what cities, what countries?
I'll draw up a contract saying you're my slave for a year
Your wish is my command
Give me your hand
They shake hands...
There's a Greek officer at the inn
A Greek?
He's from Athens
He rides a snow-white stallion and wears black leather boots
I want you to get his room number
But, Vanda...
Resisting already?
Forgive me
Wait for me tomorrow in the birch grove by Aphrodite's statue
At what time?
Wait until I decide to arrive
Very well
And don't come without the Greek's room number
Now kiss my foot
He kneels and kisses her foot
I love that bit. Bang! "Kiss my foot"
Now put my fur on me
Severin...
Where will all this end?
That depends on you, Frau Vanda von Dunayev
Not on me
Thank you for the coffee, slave
Yeah, I'd like some now
Coffee, I mean
Pretty intense. The handshake was, like, electric
The joys of a repressed age
Conversation itself was erotic
Conversation was all they got
That's not how the book starts
The book?
Where's the first scene?
Venus naked in a fur by the fire
You know the book?
You've read "Venus in Fur"?
I took a look
When you said, "What's it based on?" you were lying
Ok, to get ahead!
Why didn't you keep that scene?
How could I fit it in?
At the start, before he meets Vanda
You can't do "Venus in Fur" without Venus
Same actress playing both
Naked on stage? For you, no extra charge
I'll think about it
Let's improvise, maybe you'll get some ideas
The lights
Where are we, top of the play?
Kushemski's room
At night. Ok, middle of the night, 2 am
Let's tone this down
A fire going, stage left
Very nice
Let's see, Kushemski is doing what?
I don't know. Reading
Yeah, right
No? Too cliche'd?
He's already reading when he meets Vanda!
We're not the city library
He can be writing his diary
I like it
Ok, I'm Venus
What the hell...
- Imagine me naked
You're a big boy
Pretend I'm Fiancee and improvise
I've never done it before
All the girls say that
But it's true
The fire flickers
We see Venus naked
draped sensually in a fur
So drape me in my fur
You're the director
Sensually, I said
Now sit at your desk
In character!
Write in your diary
Write for real
I am
Out loud! How else do we know who you are?
It's the start of the play
The lights are coming up
All we hear is the sound of an old clock
October 22nd, 1870
2:00 AM
I am staying at a health spa
ringed by forests and mountains
There's no moon tonight
Darkness and silence reign
No, wait, I hear...
A sparrow
A nightingale
The howl of a cat in heat
I feel
so terribly alone
Unhappy
Unfulfilled
What...
have the Germans invaded again?
I hope I do not disturb
Not at all
Hail, Aphrodite
¤o, you haff not forgotten me?
Forgotten you?
My dearest
and oldest enemy?
You are zo sveet
Von't you kiss my hand?
¤at's better, but Thomas...
Did I say Thomas?
Ja, but Seferin, it's zo cold in here
Effry time I visit you I am catching cold
You zee? Already I have pleggum in ze tubes
But you always strut around naked
But I am Fenus, I must be all ze time naked
It comes mit ze job
Von't you take off those scratchy clothes
and come cuddle mit me?
There's room here, under my fur
No, thank you
I brought zis mink especially for you
>From Olympus. It's heavenly
See ze label? "Made in Olympus"
Why would I
be interested in your fur?
I know your little quirk
Women don't interest you
their fur does
You should marry a raccoon
Better a raccoon than most women I've met
But if I open my thighs unter my mink
you vouldn't vant some love?
Is it love you're offering?
No, it's power
You dare to resist me?
I dare
I'll make you crawl at my feet
I'll make you beg
Never
You're mine already
And you'll be mine for all time
Never!
I'll be back
Then, poof, she vanishes!
Not bad, huh?
You could write it up and stick it in, So to speak
In theory anyhow
I thought
I'd add a little Marlene Dietrich
Yes, great, works beautifully
It shows another side of Kushemski
Yeah, with Venus at night, he says
"No, you bitch"
Next morning with Vanda
"Take me, please!"
We could bring the lights down, then back up
It's morning, knock-knock
and Venus reappears disguised as Vanda
- To get revenge - Brilliant
So is it you?
What?
He's you
Kushemski-Novachek, Novachek-Kushemski
He's not me
You said there's a lot of you in it
Maybe you're Vanda
The play has nothing to do with me
You're just the writer
Sorry, "adapter"
Like, "If a critic says it's me, I'll kill him"
I can invent characters
Sure, Herr Doktor Novachek
and you happened to find them
in an old S&M novel
It's a famous book
You didn't have an "unforeseen instant"
at age 12?
In the library?
No
With a cat?
No
You're still waiting for your...
"great moment"?
I'm not waiting for anything
I find the characters' relationship absolutely fascinating
Very complex, very rich
Of course
I love the characters' emotional depth
No one experiences this kind of thing nowadays
We no longer see this kind of rage
Meet some of my friends
Ok, fine,
I don't understand a thing
When you get home, Fiancee doesn't tie you up and whip you?
No
Ask her, see if Fiancee is up for it
Stop calling her "Fiancee"
Sorry
What does your "other half" think of the play?
She's not keen
People might think it's you or her
It isn't me or her
But let me guess about your...
Marie-Cecile
I bet she's younger than you. Good family
Probably grew up in a pretty home
on the coast
Near La Baule
Nantes, actually
But I bet her family spent weekends at La Baule
In a villa with a garden
She sails
She loves seafood
Correct
She's tall
A little bossy, in a nice way
Lots of hair
Long legs
and a nice pair of...
eyes
A fine mind
Prep school in Paris
Excellent grades, a degree
a Master's?
Am I close?
She has a Master's
She has a Ph. D.
She's doing a thesis in sociology
She has a dog, let's see...
Maybe a Labrador
named...
He has an intellectual's name
Bourdieu?
Derrida
You're very cultivated
I bet she's loaded
A crappy theatre, a Belgian cactus...
It's not the Comedie Fran caise
Her family's rich
Am I right?
Of course I'm right
But, hey, you're an artist
She loves that about you, loves your sensitivity
Maybe you're the first really sensitive guy she ever met
She loves books, opera, ballet, that shit
At night, a foreign movie, you discuss novels
before a nice quiet copulation
Nothing like some quiet copulation to help you relax
But a voice rumbles in the back of your mind
Calling for something else
I don't know what but it rumbles
But, hey, you're happy
You're very, very fond of her
You'll have a nice quiet life
watching foreign movies, discussing novels
and then you'll have kids
and then you'll die
Shall we read on?
Yes, let's read on
The next day in the birch grove?
All right
Here's our statue of Venus
Hail, Aphrodite!
Hail, Aphrodite...
Do you want to read the scene over?
No, Severin
It's not right
All this talk of slavery and domination
You've corrupted me with your words
I think deep down you'd enjoy controlling a man
No
Or even torturing him
No
Admit it
That's not me
- Can't I reason with you? - Reason be damned
Don't you see?
You'll never be safe in the hands of a woman
Of any woman
That line is so sexist
I could scream!
What's sexist about it?
You'll never be safe in the hands of a woman
It's in the book
So the book is sexist!
No, it's not!
On the contrary, it's...
A central text of world literature?
I didn't mean that
And this?
That ain't Titian, babe
it's S&M porn
The whole thing's one big cliche
In what way?
He gets spanked and suddenly he's into S&M?
It happened to Sacher-Masoch!
- Did it happen to you? - No!
So what do you know?
For me, it's a play about two people united forever
They're handcuffed at the heart
By perversion
No, by passion
His passion!
This is a chemical reaction
It's a sex and class war
Vanda is a sweet innocent
who meets a total pervert
You don't understand a thing
She says, "You've corrupted me"
Maybe she always had this thirst for domination
Maybe Kushemski brought it out
Maybe she's just a woman
The play's like an old anti-female tract
He makes her play along, then blames her
- It's not that at all - It is!
How?
Take the ending: she gets the Greek to whip him
She dumps Kushemski, dick in hand
and it's her fault when he wanted it?
I think old Kushie's hot for the Greek
How can you be so stupid?
How can you play her so well and be so fucking stupid about her?
And all the rest!
Fucking idiot actress!
Dumb bitch!
Fucking idiot!
Pain in the ass!
I'm sorry
What?
I'm sorry, I got a little carried away
What's said is said
I guess the play says beware what you wish for
Because she could come knocking
Don't fuck with a goddess, that's what it says
If you will
If you will...
What's modern for "if you will"?
"Whatever"
If you say so
Good thing goddesses don't exist
or you'd be fucked
Fine, you're right, I take all your points
Can we read on?
Please, Vanda
Don't you see you'll never be safe in the hands of a woman?
Of any woman?
You and I are adventurers, Vanda
exploring the limits of human nature
You're sick
The Countess poisoned you, behold the effects
- You love the effects, as I do - No
You love having power over me
No
Your desires will be my orders
I'll beg, I'll crawl. Make of me what you will
You're a mad visionary, a fanatic
You'll do anything to attain your dream
You are my dream
Break off with me, Severin, before it's too late
Do you love me?
I don't know
Then find out, do something to persuade yourself
How?
By doing what all lovers do
Make me suffer
I find that repulsive
and I despise playacting
I am not your Countess-Aunt. I am I
Try that again, defy him
I am not your Countess-Aunt. I am I
Again, stronger
What do you want, Thomas?
I'm not your fucking aunt! I am I, what do you want?
I don't know
This isn't about the play now
I just want more
I'm not her! I'm some stupid cunt who needs a job!
I'm not your aunt, I am I
How's that?
That's good, very good
I can't play this part, it's too hard for me
Don't go, Vanda, please stay
Beg me
I beg you
You're evil
Don't you see you have me in your power?
Liar
You're not in my power, I'm in yours
You say you're my slave but you dominate me
That's true
He says she has power but he has it, not her
The more he submits, the more he controls. Weird
It's complicated
Here's the contract we discussed
It states that you will show me absolute submission
You'll be my slave
You'll renounce your identity completely
Your body, your soul
your honor will be mine forever
Sign
Well?
It was supposed to be one year
So you're dictating the terms?
May I read it?
Why? Don't you trust me?
Sign
Good
Henceforth you'll call me "Madame"
and you'll speak only when I let you
You'll serve me my meals
and wait in the hallway for my orders
You'll dress me in the morning, undress me at night
Hand me my stockings, put on my shoes
I'll call you "Thomas"
- It's Gregor in the script - I've changed it
Henceforth I'll call you "Thomas"
You'll wear a footman's livery
As a gentleman...
As a gentleman you'll keep your word
Didn't you sign a contract to be my slave?
Your slave, not your valet
I fail to see the difference
Is this a game?
This is what I am
I'm stubborn, willful and greedy
When I start something, I finish it
The more you resist, the more I insist
But at heart you're of a noble nature
What do you know of my nature apart from your imaginings?
Please forgive me, I'm despicable
Give me your passport and your money
Give them to me!
We leave tomorrow for Florence
I'll travel in first class, you in third
Third class?
You'll eat and sleep in the servants' quarters
Well, Thomas, what is it?
Where will all this end?
End? We haven't even started
But, Vanda...
She slaps his face
She kisses him
She strokes his cheek
Did that hurt, darling?
Yes, exquisitely
Good
What have you learned about the handsome Greek?
His name is Alexis, he's a Count
He's beautiful, isn't he?
He's very attractive
I told you Kushemski's hot for the Greek
Get me a box near his at the opera tonight
I'll let Count Alexis seduce me
But...
What's the matter?
Am I not free to do as I like?
You electrify me
Silence, you dog
Bring me a birch cane
He brings her a cane
Do you hear that whistle?
It makes my nerves vibrate
like a tuning fork
I want to hear you whimper under the lash
To hear Herr Doktor Kushemski cry, cry like a little girl
My heart pounds in my breast
The air is on fire
What have you done?
Blah, blah, blah
What, blah, blah, blah?
Suddenly she's the Wicked Witch?
The air is on fire, my nerves are tuning forks
Why not lightning and drumrolls too?
Listen, Tom, I really like you
but this is way too corny
Corny?
Corny how? This is the play
My play!
It's a great play!
No one will make me think othe¤ise
You know nothing
I won't let anyone demolish my work
whether you're in it or not! Fuck you
Ok, it's your call
She holds a knife to his throat
God, I despise you
What are you doing, what is this, Vanda?
You think I don't understand your game?
You think you can use me, subjugate me?
I want no such thing
If you knew how delicious this feels
You know what?
I'll call Actors' Equity
Since you won't say if I've got the part
I'd love to give you the part
You say that now. Will you put it in writing?
Screw you, Marie-Cecile!
I'm still finishing up here
He's fucking me, Marie-Cecile!
Fucking me up the ass
No idea, soon
Banging me like a Labrador!
Go ahead and eat, I'll be there soon
Isn't there some lamb left from yesterday?
I'll call you when I leave
See you later
Yeah, fine
I don't know
I'll be home when I'm home
Go fuck yourself
Sorry
There was nobody there, right?
What?
You were pretending to talk to someone
That was my other half
- Who is this guy? - Who said it's a guy?
Why did you do that?
Why do you think?
You didn't like me answering my phone
Like female revenge, or something?
Something like that, like
Any other director woulda jumped me by now
I'm not any other director
Bullshit
If you thought you could, you'd have done it
Wrong
What if I let you?
How do you know so much about Marie-Cecile?
I met her at the gym
Sure...
She seemed real nice
Gorgeous too. Really
We got talking while we were undressing
Girl talk, like
I said I gave up acting to be a private eye
Or try to be
She told me about her boyfriend
A mysterious guy, a writer
She paid me to look into you
Find out who you are, see if you really love her
A premarital fact-finding mission
Your criminal record, financial situation...
I'm supposed to meet her
at the hotel later
for a complete report
Great body, by the way, congratulations
You're incredible
When a man says that, I sense a trick
Touche
Marie-Cecile never showers at the gym
Really?
She sure was wet
Shall we finish?
Yes
Put this on
Thomas, you kept me waiting
I'm sorry, Madame
I was polishing the silver
You look very elegant in livery
Thank you, Madame
Turn around
Oh, yes
Quite irresistible
I could forget you're just a footman
But something is missing
Hold on, that's not in the...
I'm improvising
Something is missing
Very fetching, the cherry on the cupcake
Feels nice?
It feels very nice, Madame
I might fall in love with you, dressed like that
Might fall..?
So you don't love me?
You bore me, whimpering all the time
You bore me
Is it the Count?
Are you in love with him?
Is it my fault he followed me here?
He doesn't love you. He wants you like a thousand others!
Insolent swine! How dare you?
Bring me my boots
Yes, Madame
Not there, in the bag
Idiot
Yes, Madame
And call me "Mistress," it's more degrading
Yes, Mistress
Do you like my boots?
Yes, Mistress
Would you like to put them on?
Yes, Mistress
I mean on me
Yes, Mistress
Tomorrow, I might tie you
to the fig tree in the garden
and prick you with my golden hairpin
Or...
harness you naked to a plow
and drive you with a whip
Would you like that?
Oh yes, Mistress
I'm very pleased with you, Thomas
Maybe I'll give you a candy
Is there anything else, Mistress?
Yes, one last thing
Call Marie-Cecile, say you won't be home
I can't do that
Really?
You can't?
No, I can't
No phony excuses
Marie-Cecile, it's me
I won't be coming home
No excuses
I can't tell you why
Say goodbye
Goodbye
Now turn it off
Isn't it wonderful?
The two of us alone here
This place is so nice
So secluded
I hardly know where I am
Come
A new life lies before you, before us
Just the two of us
The two of us and your friend the Count
I wish you'd stop harping on him
I don't punish you enough, that's the problem
Just as I was about to take you in my arms
You were going to?
Really?
Come
Come here
Put your arms around me
You see?
For an hour I can let you imagine you're free again
You simpleton
You'll realize you're what I want you to be
An animal
An object
A void for me to fill
I won't accept it
I won't do it! I refuse
I beg your pardon?
I've written you a letter
A letter?
To break off with me, perhaps?
The degradation you craved is too much to bear?
The degradation you craved...
I don't know how to play this line
What do you mean?
It's pretty straightforward
How do you hear it?
It's when... What's the cue line?
I've written you a letter
A letter?
To break off with me, perhaps?
The degradation you craved...
Lie down
The degradation you craved
is too much to bear?
You've probably carried it for days
afraid to show it to me
Well then?
Where is it? Show me this masterpiece
I could use some entertainment
That's great, Tom, that's awesome!
You should play Vanda
No, uh-uh
You should
Be Vanda
You understand her better than I do
You created her, you know her inside out
I don't know her lines
Of course you do
Be careful, Severin
I'm doing my best, Mistress
As usual, your best is not good enough
Bring me my fur
Yes, Mistress
Prepare a bottle of champagne and two glasses
Count Alexis will be here soon
But, Mistress...
If you don't like it, leave! Get out of my sight
Your fur, Mistress
Will you marry Count Alexis, Mistress?
I won't lie to you, Severin, that man makes me tremble
Fantastic
Hold on...
Sit down
He dwells in my thoughts
I can't shut him out
He dwells in my thoughts
and I can't shut him out
He makes me suffer
Magnificent!
I love this pain
Stand up and cross down
If he asks me to be his wife
I will say yes from the bottom of my heart
You're terrific!
You know he's jealous of you?
I've told him all about us
He probably threatened to kill you
He did
Did he strike you?
Yes
And you let him?
Yes, and it was sublime
More!
Yes, and it was sublime
Go on, throw it in his face
Yes!
And it was sublime!
I'll kill you both
I'll rip out your hearts and feed them to the dogs!
God damn you
Yes, kill me, Severin!
I can't bear this game anymore
Game, what game?
How can you love me?
I've been awful to you, don't you see?
I did all this to save you, to cure you
to show how much I love you
So none of that was true?
None of it
It was just a game, an act?
What of the contract?
The contract...
My sweet little fool
Severin, I've loved you since I first saw you
I couldn't tell you I'm not what you think
I'm so weak, so lost, you see
Not bad
You should subjugate me
You should tie me up, whip me
I'll tie you to the statue with your stockings
You want that, don't you?
Oh, yes, I beseech you
Do with me what you will
Promise me you'll never leave me
I'll never leave you, I swear
Stand up!
Hands!
I've dreamed of this
since I first met you
Stronger! More!
Humiliate me
Degrade me, subjugate me!
That's good, Tom
Really very good
Brilliant
Know what the problem is?
Whatever you say, whatever you do, this play
is degrading
An insult to women, pornography!
What are you talking about?
Just look at you
A damsel in distress
A helpless, submissive cunt
Beat me, hurt me, I'm a woman!
Fuck!
Fucking hell!
Strong emotions
That's good
We no longer see this kind of rage
Vanda...
Thank me
Thank you
Thank you what?
Thank you, Mistress
You thought you could dupe some idiot actress?
Use her to satisfy your sick needs?
Create your own female Frankenstein monster?
Use me, humiliate me?
No, Vanda, I swear
Thank you, Mistress
Thank you, Goddess
Thank you...
Goddess
Shit!
Bacchae of the Cadmea
Dance for Dionysus!
And the Lord hath smitten him...
and delivered him into a woman's hands