"THE SOCIAL AQUARIUM"
An adaptation of Proust's Remembrance of Things Past
Copyright 1999 by Emily Zants
SYNOPSIS
Using flashbacks to a magic lantern show about a medieval princess, memories of a washroom on the Champs-Elysées, a sadistic homosexual brothel, and scenes from Marcel's everyday, bourgeois childhood, the story satirizes concepts of social class differentiation, moving from Marcel's first dinner at the home of the supreme icon of high society, the Duchess de Guermantes, to a dinner at a parvenu's summer house where the male icon of high society, the Baron de Charlus, is introduced thanks to his love for a musician, Charles Morel, then on to another dinner where Charlus tries to introduce all of high society to the musician at the parvenu's town house, and finally to a party where everyone has aged considerably and is found together at the home of the current supreme icon of high society, formerly the wife of the parvenu and now the wife of the Prince de Guermantes.
FADE-IN:
INT. LARGE AQUARIUM - EVE (1888)
At first, there are only exotic varieties of camouflaged fish, such as Gurnards, Scorpions, Butterfly Blenny, Porcupinefish, etc. Larger fish eat the smaller ones. Then it becomes clear they are in an aquarium.
This aquarium scene dissolves into the social scene before the curtain rises on the season's opening night at the Opera. The decor of the first and second circle boxes should have some resemblance to the aquarium. Tritons, nymphs and sea shells bedeck them along with murals of Neptune and his sea goddesses. The gowns of the aristocratic ladies are inspired by the camouflage of the fish. The men's beards echo Neptune's. Pearls and coral bedeck their hairdos.
The people with orchestra seats are all watching for the social elite to appear in their theater boxes. They point at the creatures as they enter, and WHISPERED in the b.g. are "Duchesse de Guermantes, Baron de Charlus, Princesse des Laumes, Queen of Naples, Princess de Parme".
Among those gawking are some journalists who are less subtle and bluntly inquire,"Who's that young triton in the Princess's box?" "Look, the Queen of Naples."
MARCEL (O.S.)
The first time I saw the Duchesse de Guermantes was at an opening of the operatic season. Some friend of my father's had been called out of town, and knowing my love of the theater, sent me his ticket. The seat was in the middle of the orchestra section, an ideal location for a spectator observing the performance of society.
(A beat)
She appeared in the box of the Princesse de Guermantes as some goddess of the sea, amidst deities preening themselves and lolling in the spotlights before the admiring eyes of the bourgeoisie, the ordinary fish of the social ocean. She seemed to float in a world as mysterious to me as Neptune's.
(A beat)
Years later, I received an invitation to have dinner with her to see her painting by Monet, thanks to the intervention of her brother-in-law Monsieur de Charlus.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. GUERMANTES' SALON - 8 P.M. (SEPT. 1898)
8 dinner guests (DUC AND DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES, age 40; MARCEL, partly Jewish, age 25; PRINCESSE DE PARME, age 37; M. DE BREAUTE, age 40; MME. D'ARPAJON, age 35; MARQUISE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD, extremely fat but quite amiable, about 40; and M. DE BEAUTREILLES, age 40) are dressed in formal dinner attire and gathered chatting just outside the dining room doors.
The doors to the dining room swing open as TWO WAITERS come out mechanically and station themselves by the doors. The MAÎTRE D' bows low in the direction of the Princess.
MAÎTRE D'
Madame is served!
The men and women begin to pair up and enter the dining room. The Duchess enters last, taking the arm of Marcel. The ensuing dinner service is perfectly mechanical.
PRINCESSE DE PARME
Did you hear? General de Monserfeuil lost the elections.
DUC DE GUERMANTES
Oh, it's nothing serious, Your Highness. It's the seventh time.
M. DE BEAUTREILLES
He consoled himself by impregnating his wife.
MARQUISE DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
What! Poor Madame de Monserfeuil is pregnant again? But then she's like me, a puffed up frog.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
But a frog in an interesting position. It's the only pond where the poor general doesn't drown.
A LACKEY walks up to the Duke, momentarily stopping the seating ceremony.
LACKEY
Excuse me, Sir. Two ladies are in the foyer who say there is no hope left for your cousin, the Marquis d'Osmond.
DUC DE GUERMANTES
Nonsense. Tell them I'm sure Osmond will live to bury us all. Will you please go to the house and inquire about the state of his health.
(A beat)
But don't report to me until after dinner.
The lackey bows and departs. The seating ceremony begins anew. The Duchess is addressing Mme. d'Arpajon.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
I don't see why I should go to the Greek Minister's costume ball. I'm not Greek, after all.
MADAME D'ARPAJON
But everyone will be there, Oriane! It will be delightful!
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
It's delightful sitting by one's own fireside.
MADAME D'ARPAJON
Well, the party season will soon be in full-swing and there will be lots of other balls.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
I won't be here. I'm going to visit the fjords of Norway. They've always intrigued me.
MADAME D'ARPAJON
During the heart of the social season? Oriane! You are an original!
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
Everyone will be debating the Dreyfus affair, which I find extremely tedious. It has no consequence for me one way or the other for the simple reason that I have no Jewish acquaintances and plan on remaining in this happy state of ignorance. So you see, I won't miss a thing by not going to the balls.
PRINCESSE, DUC, AND DUCHESSE
PRINCESSE DE PARME
By the way, Oriane, your cousin Heudicourt paid me a call the other day. Of course she's a woman of brilliant intellect. After all, she's a Guermantes! But they say she's a terrible gossip.
The Duc looks at his wife in bemused stupefaction. Mme. de Guermantes laughs. The Princesse is not sure whether they are laughing at her or their cousin.
PRINCESSE DE PARME
But, you don't agree?
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
But Madame is too kind to pay attention to Basin's facial expressions. Come, now, Basin, don't look as though you're insinuating bad things about our relatives.
PRINCESSE DE PARME
He thinks she's too vicious?
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
Not at all! I don't know who told Your Highness she's a gossip. On the contrary, she's an excellent creature who has never spoken ill of anyone nor done anything bad to anyone.
PRINCESSE DE PARME
Ah! I never noticed such a thing either. But as I know it is often difficult to not have a little malice when one has a lot of wit...
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
And of that she has even less!
PRINCESSE DE PARME
Less wit?
DUC DE GUERMANTES
Now Oriane, you heard the Princess say she is a brilliant woman.
PRINCESSE DE PARME
Isn't she?
DUC DE GUERMANTES
She's certainly brilliantly fat.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
Madame, he isn't serious. She's as stupid as a goose. But that's not quite accurate. I've never known anyone like her. It's pathological, a kind of innocence; she's a cretin.
DUC DE GUERMANTES
I must tell Your Royal Highness that Oriane's cousin is brilliant, good, fat, anything you like, but is not precisely –how should I say it–generous.
PRINCESSE DE PARME
Yes, I know, she is quite tightfisted.
DUC DE GUERMANTES
The word is most appropriate. It's found in the tenor of her household, and particularly in the cuisine, which is excellent, but limited.
BREAUTE, DUC, DUCHESSE
M. DE BREAUTE
How right you are, Basin. I spent a day at Heudicourt, where you and Oriane were expected. There had been sumptuous preparations for your arrival. Then, in the afternoon, a messenger brought word saying you wouldn't be coming.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
That doesn't surprise me.
M. DE BREAUTE
Your cousin reads the telegram, is most upset, then immediately, saying to herself that there is no need to spend money for a seigneur of no importance like me, she calls the valet and says in front of me, "Tell the chef to take the chicken off the menu."
DUC DE GUERMANTES
But you must admit the food is perfect. I don't know a house where one eats better.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
And less.
DUC DE GUERMANTES
That's very healthy.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
Well, I've had very poor dinners there, as elsewhere, only the consequences aren't as serious because the stomach is more sensitive to the quantity than the quality.
PRINCESSE, DUCHESSE, DUC
PRINCESSE DE PARME
She does have all the manuscripts of M. de Bornier.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
She must have dreamed it. I don't think she even knew him.
DUC DE GUERMANTES
But no, Oriane, surely you remember that dinner where Bornier sat next to you.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
Of course, Basin, but it wasn't at our cousin's, it was at the Austrian Embassy. I thought a Squadron leader had been seated next to me. I didn't dare breathe until the Gruyere was served.
The Waiters are changing plates.
MARCEL'S POV
MARCEL (V.O.)
I wonder, can Mme. de Guermantes really be a descendant of that Genevieve de Brabant projected from the magic lantern when I was a child? Just imagine, I fell in love with her because of those images.
CUT TO:
SERIES OF SHOTS
Magic lantern scenes of the GOLO and GENEVIEVE DE BRABANT story flash as the v.o. tells the story.
A) Wedding scene before a medieval chateau.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
Genevieve had married the SEIGNEUR DE BRABANT just before he left for the Crusades.
B) The Seigneur de Brabant is mounted on horseback with his entourage and addresses GOLO, his intendant.
SEIGNEUR (V.O.)
As you are my intendant, Golo, I leave thee in charge of this estate and all that I hold sacred. Take care that, when I return, I find all as I am leaving it.
C) Scenes showing Golo entreating Genevieve to be his lover. And the rejection.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
Unfortunately, Golo fell in love with Genevieve. She would have nothing to do with his advances.
D) Scene with Golo alone, in despair.
GOLO (V.O.)
She has not accorded me a single private rendezvous in all these nine long months. Well, she will pay for her haughtiness.
E) Golo scribbles a message at a desk, then reads it aloud.
GOLO (V.O.)
How does this sound: Seigneur, it is with great sadness that I inform you of your wife's infidelity. I have just learned that she has given birth to a son, the fruits of her wantonness.
F) He applies a seal to the letter and calls in a COURIER.
GOLO (V.O.)
Go to the Crusades and find the Seigneur de Brabant. Deliver this message, sealed, and return with his orders.
G) The courier departs.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
As the Sire de Brabant had left for the Crusades quite soon after the wedding, he did not know that Genevieve had conceived his child. M. de Brabant could only believe the intendant.
H) The courier returns and reports to Golo.
COURIER (V.O.)
Sir, the Seigneur de Brabant has ordered his wife quartered and his son killed.
I) Golo dismisses the courier and shows great grief.
GOLO (V.O.)
Never would I have imagined such cruel punishment! I cannot bear to see her torn to pieces in front of my own eyes. Yet I must obey the Seigneur.
J) He rings a bell. When the VALET answers, he gives his orders.
GOLO (V.O.)
Send me the executioner.
K) The EXECUTIONER arrives.
GOLO (V.O.)
The Seigneur de Brabant has ordered Genevieve quartered and her son killed. Take them into the forest and execute the orders of our master.
L) The executioner is mounted on horseback with 4 other HORSEMEN and Genevieve, blindfolded, holding her SON. They are in the forest and the 5 men are huddled together, looking with pity at Genevieve and shaking their heads in disapproval.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
They found Genevieve much too beautiful and gentle. The idea of attaching those frail limbs to the horses and watching her torn to bits was too horrible. No, they would just abandon her in the woods with her baby and let nature take its course.
M) They untie her hands and feet and ride off, leaving her alone with her baby. She sees a doe and follows it to a cave.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
She tamed the doe to get milk for her baby and lived off berries, nuts, and roots she found in the woods.
N) M. de Brabant returns from the Crusades and decides to go hunting. In the woods, he chases a doe, the one Genevieve had tamed, which leads him to the cave where he finds Genevieve in very weak condition along with the baby. Startled, he listens to her story.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
Upon returning from the Crusades, the Seigneur de Brabant goes hunting. Pursuing a doe, he arrives at the cave where Genevieve lives. He recognizes his own son and the truth of Genevieve's story.
Returning with her and the baby to the chateau, he orders Golo quartered.
(A beat)
And this was all Marcel knew of the illustrious ancestor of the Duchesse de Guermantes. The child had fallen in love with the lovely Genevieve. As he matured, he transferred that love to the descendant, Oriane de Guermantes.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. GUERMANTES' HOTEL COURTYARD - AFTER DINNER
All guests are strolling in the garden near a magnificent fountain by Hubert Robert. The conversation of Mme d'Arpajon and the Marquise de la Rochefoucauld is very animated. A breeze blows the spouting water jets.
ARPAJON, ROCHEFOUCAULD
MADAME D'ARPAJON
Oh, I would agree with you, Madame, that he shows us the world as ugly because he can't distinguish between ugly and beautiful, or rather because his unbearable vanity makes him think that everything he says is beautiful, and in that piece there are things that are ridiculous, unintelligible, poor taste, difficult to understand, and as hard to read as Russian or Chinese–but if you take the trouble to get past all that, the reward is worth the effort. He has such imagination!
She is so involved in her argument that she fails to notice the WIND occasionally blowing the FOUNTAIN'S WATER across her path. As she comes abreast of it, a gust shoots the stream coming out of the fountain inside the low-cut neckline of her dress. The Duke roars with laughter, sincerely enjoying the poor woman's misfortune.
DUC DE GUERMANTES
Bravo, Old girl!
MADAME D'ARPAJON
(Indignant)
Old girl?!
MME. DE LA ROCHEFOUCAULD
Come, dear, let me help you dry off.
The two women exit.
PRINCESSE, DUCHESSE
PRINCESSE DE PARME
Mme. d'Arpajon loves Victor Hugo's poetry.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
No, she doesn't understand a thing. She has taken up literature since she has been abandoned. I must tell Your Highness that I bear the brunt of all that since she comes to me to whine every time Basin hasn't gone to see her–which is almost every day. It's hardly my fault if she bores him. But I'd rather he were a little more faithful to her because I'd see less of her.
PRINCESSE DE PARME
At least she reads Hugo, a poet, and not Zola!
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
But Zola is a great poet!
PRINCESSE DE PARME
Zola, a poet?
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
But of course! May Your Highness notice how he aggrandizes everything he touches. He has an epic dung heap. He's the Homer of the sewer.
COLONNADE - DUCHESSE, DUC, MARCEL, BREAUTE, PRINCESSE, BEAUTREILLES
They enter a colonnade where there hangs an Impressionist painting by Monet. The Duchess addresses Marcel.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
Marcel, here you have the Monet you wanted to see, "Miss Sacripant."
MARCEL
Do you know who the model was?
DUC DE GUERMANTES
Indeed. It was Odette de Crécy in one of the theatrical roles she played at the time. Curious, isn't it. Dressed in men's clothes, her sex is somewhat ambiguous.
MARCEL
How characteristic of Monet! He seems to grasp the ambiguity of the sexes as an esthetic study. It's difficult to recognize the Madame Swann I know in "Miss Sacripant."
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. RESTROOMS OF CHAMPS-ELYSEES - 2:50 P.M. (FALL 1893)
MARCEL (V.O.)
I was invited often thereafter to these intimate dinners at the Guermantes'. As I left that evening to visit M. de Charlus, I thought of the words my grandmother had uttered at the end of our last stroll on the Champs-Elysees.
INT. RESTROOMS - MID-AFTERNOON.
The ATTENDANT, elderly, overly made-up with a little bonnet of red flowers and black lace above her auburn wig, is chatting with the PARK-KEEPER, dressed in a green uniform, standing just inside the door.
The GRANDMOTHER, quite elderly, but well-dressed, enters flushed, her hand over her mouth, hurrying to a stall. MARCEL, then about 20 years old, follows her and stops just inside the entry to await her.
PARK-KEEPER
So you're still here? You aren't planning to retire?
ATTENDANT
And why should I retire, Sir? Where would I be better off than here? Where could I live more at ease, or with more comfort?
And then here there's always someone coming and going–plenty of entertainment. My little Paris, I call it. My customers keep me up to date on everything that's happening.
A GENTLEMAN, 60 yrs. old, dressed in an elegant business suit, looking somewhat sad, enters carrying a newspaper as the church clock strikes 3:00.
ATTENDANT
Ah, you couldn't come yesterday, Sir. I hope there was nothing wrong?
GENTLEMAN
Well, thank you, Madame. But my wife died and I couldn't make it.
ATTENDANT
Goodness! That would upset one's little habits. But you mustn't let go of things, Sir.
Just come here the same as before. It will be a little distraction in your grief. The cabinet to the left always awaits you.
He nods and enters the stall. The Attendant leans closer to the Park-keeper so as to not be heard by those in the stalls.
ATTENDANT
I'm very particular about my customers. That one is a magistrate, in the very highest position. I don't admit just anyone into my little parlors, as I call them.
Marcel moves uneasily towards the exit, but the Attendant addresses him.
ATTENDANT
You wouldn't like to use the third stall, Sir?
MARCEL
No, thank you, Madame.
ATTENDANT
You're sure? Well, you're welcome to it, but I know not having to pay for a thing won't make you want to do it if you don't feel the need.
A shabbily dressed WOMAN enters, feeling the need.
ATTENDANT
I've nothing free right now, Ma'am.
WOMAN
Will it be long?
ATTENDANT
Well, Ma'am, take my advice and try somewhere else; you see, these two gentlemen are waiting and I only have two stalls; the others are out of order.
The woman leaves.
ATTENDANT
Not much money there and not the kind we want here either. She's not clean, wouldn't treat the place with respect. Then poor little me, I'd have to spend the next hour cleaning up after her ladyship.
The gentleman emerges from his stall, washes his hands, and leaves, smiling as he tips the Attendant.
ATTENDANT
Well, thank you, Sir, and as I said, you just come here like you used to and get back in your little habits. It will do you good.
(A beat)
Now take him, for instance. Been here every day God has made for the last eight years, at 3 o'clock sharp. Always polite, never makes any mess. He stays a bit like today to read his papers and attend to his little business. That is my kind of client.
Marcel sees his grandmother open her stall door and begins to leave, slowly.
EXT. RESTROOMS ON THE CHAMPS-ELYSEES
The grandmother catches up with him outside, but doesn't speak. After a moment, he turns and notices her hat is crooked and her gait unsteady.
MARCEL
I was afraid you were sick Grandma? Are you feeling better?
The grandmother is obviously making an effort to articulate and to appear as though nothing is wrong.
GRANDMOTHER
I heard that whole conversation. Could anything have been more like the Guermantes or the Verdurins? Heavens, what fine language she put it in.
CUT TO:
INT. TRAIN - EVE (SUMMER 1903)
NARRATOR (O.S.)
For I had also become acquainted with the Verdurins. The faithful of Madame Verdurin's "little church", as they called her salon, arrived by train every Wed. evening at La Raspeliere, which the Verdurin leased each summer from a noble in need.
Dressed in formal attire, 4 people are seated in the compartment, including Marcel (age 30); BRICHOT, an elderly academician (age 50); DR. AND MRS. COTTARD, a distinguished doctor and his wife, both about 50. Brichot speaks to Marcel first.
BRICHOT
If you are just beginning to frequent the Verdurins, Sir, you will find there is no milieu where one enjoys more "comforts of life", as they were called by one of those inventors of dilettantism, of I-don't-give-a-damnism, and many other words in "-ism" in style with our little snobs, and in particular Prince Talleyrand.
DR. COTTARD
You know, Madame Verdurin is so devoted to those who are faithful to her. She once told me she was the only General we need obey, that any of us who loved his mother and father more than she and was not ready to leave them for her, was not worthy of her.
MARCEL
But your sick patients must make you miss a Wednesday reunion quite often.
DR. COTTARD
Not unless the patient is a Minister or a member of the President's Cabinet.
MADAME COTTARD
Indeed, it is true. Just imagine, our poor old cook cut the veins in her wrist accidentally, and, as my husband was already wearing his white vest, we had to call the head of the clinic to come take care of her.
SANIETTE, an archivist, about 50, in evening attire, appears in the doorway of the compartment.
SANIETTE
You haven't seen our violinist, Morel, have you? I've been looking all over for him.
BRICHOT
No, and if he lets Mme. Verdurin down again this evening, she will be mortified, as our delightful hostess has invited her neighbors, the owners of La Raspeliere, to join us.
DR. COTTARD
(Obviously impressed)
The Marquis and Marquise de Cambremer are coming this evening? Why I didn't know!
Saniette turns to Marcel to explain.
SANIETTE
You see, she has an obligation to invite them. Otherwise she won't be able to make a better deal with them next year. Too bad they are just boring provincials.
BRICHOT
The Princess Sherbatoff should have boarded at the last station. Perhaps she didn't see us. Shall we go look for her?
They all proceed to stagger through the train, checking compartments, and, at the end of the second car, find the PRINCESSE SHERBATOFF alone, seated in the corner. She doesn't look up as they enter, engrossed in a book.
DR. COTTARD
Your Highness, we must have missed you at Maineville! May we join you in your compartment.
PRINCESSE SHERBATOFF
But of course! How good to see you all.
DR. COTTARD
And may I present to you this young gentleman, Monsieur Proust, invited to join us this evening.
She bows in acknowledgement.
MARCEL (V.O.)
Goodness, it's the woman I saw in the train last night. I thought she must be the Madame of some house of ill repute!
SANIETTE
Princess, have you heard whether Morel will make it this evening?
PRINCESSE SHERBATOFF
Oh yes! A migraine kept him in bed yesterday, but tonight he is coming accompanied by one of his father's old friends whom he met in Doncieres.
SANIETTE
Good! The Boss won't be upset.
(A beat)
But do you suppose she knows her old friend Dechambre died?
DR. COTTARD
For heavens sake, don't tell her. You know how sick she gets when one of the faithful die! And I'll have to take care of her! Ah, but here's our station.
They all quickly descend from the train and climb into a waiting carriage.
CUT TO:
INT - FOYER OF LA RASPELIERE
LA RASPELIERE - a distinguished Provençal country residence; the windows inside have half-curtains.
M. VERDURIN, 48, in a smoking jacket, greets the arrivals. Saniette is waiting patiently for the valet to take his coat.
M. VERDURIN
Saniette, what are you doing standing there like a bitch in heat?
SANIETTE
I'm just waiting for a valet to take my coat.
M. VERDURIN
But you're out of breath! Did you just climb 5 stories? What an imbecile!
Turning to the newcomer, Marcel.
M. VERDURIN
I hear you find the area charming. Why don't you come stay with us for a few weeks? The air is lovely.
Marcel, shaking hands, nods, and proceeds into the living room followed by the others. Only Brichot lags behind with M. Verdurin.
BRICHOT
Ah! poor Dechambres! To die so young!
M. VERDURIN
Well, yes, but what do you expect? We can't do anything for him now. Our words won't resuscitate him, will they? On the other hand, the bouillabaisse won't wait. Come.
M. Verdurin thus ushers Brichot into the salon. At that moment enter MOREL and M. DE CHARLUS, the latter about 50 yrs. old, very elegant, but extremely intimidated by a milieu with which he is not familiar.
SKI, the resident artist of the moment (age 35), is already present in the b.g. MME. VERDURIN (age 47) approaches to greet the arrivals.
MME. VERDURIN
Ah! Here they are. Charlie, dear, how are you this evening?
CHARLES MOREL
My dear Madame, my friend, the Baron de Charlus. Baron, Mme. Verdurin.
The Baron bows extremely low.
MARCEL (V.O.)
Heavens! It's the son of my uncle's valet!
MME. VERDURIN
Saniette, play the young lady and pass the hors d'oeuvres.
The Baron looks suspiciously at Saniette, uncertain of Mme. Verdurin's meaning. But she immediately takes charge of him and introduces him to the others. He regains his assurance. Morel goes immediately to Marcel, bowing, and greets him as though he were king.
MOREL
Dear Sir, how glad I am to see you here this evening.
Morel hesitates, fidgets, obviously has more to say to Marcel.
MOREL
My dear Sir would be doing me a great favor by hiding from the others the fact that my father was a mere servant to your uncle. It would be better to say he was the intendant of such a huge estate that he was almost equal to your parents.
MARCEL
Now that would make me appear to be enormously well-to-do myself, wouldn't it, Morel? But I shall not reveal your ancestry, never fear.
Cottard, who had strayed out of the room, enters precipitously.
COTTARD
Madame Verdurin! Madame Verdurin! The Marquis and Marquise de Cambremer have just arrived!
Mme. Verdurin shows none of Cottard's excitement.
MME. VERDURIN
Come, Professor. I'd like you to meet the Baron de Charlus. Professor Cottard, Baron.
Mme. Verdurin turns to greet the Cambremers.
COTTARD
Baron, Sir. I'm so delighted! I didn't know we would have a Baron here this evening as well as a Marquis and Marquise.
Mme. de Cambremer spots M. de Charlus, and bows profoundly when Mme. Verdurin introduces her. M. de Cambremer knows she has been seeking that introduction for years.
M. DE CAMBREMER
Now aren't you glad you came tonight?
Morel has drifted to the other side of the salon. The Baron approaches Marcel.
BARON DE CHARLUS
So Bloch is a good friend of yours, is he? Perhaps you could ask him to arrange a fun little party for me at his Temple.
For example, a wrestling match between your friend and his father where he would wound him like David, Goliath. A rather pleasant, exotic farce, don't you think?
MARCEL
I doubt the father will consent to a battle that could put his eyes out.
BARON DE CHARLUS
Since the Synagogue is blind to the truths of Christianity, it really doesn't matter.
MARCEL
Perhaps I could introduce him to you?
BARON DE CHARLUS
Never in your life! Unless, of course, he consented to the Asiatic spectacle I just suggested. Then I might address a few words to him.
He storms off in the direction of Morel. Mme. Verdurin is consulting with her husband.
MME. VERDURIN
Do I ask the Baron de Charlus to escort me to the dining room? As you will have Mme. de Cambremer on your right, we could exchange courtesies.
M. VERDURIN
No, no, since the Marquis de Cambremer is higher ranking, the Baron is his inferior.
MME. VERDURIN
Well, then, I'll put him next to the Princess.
She turns to speak to the Marquis.
MME. VERDURIN
You must have noticed I made some changes in the house. To begin with, those two diabolical bronze statues by Barbedienne and the little skin chairs. I sent them up to the attic immediately. Shall we?
The marquis casts a glance at M. de Charlus to see if he dare precede him, then takes her arm. Charlus escorts the PRINCESSE SHERBATOFF and the rest follow into the dining room.
INT. DINING ROOM - 8 P.M. SUMMER
Saniette sits between Marcel and M. de Charlus. Saniette obviously makes M. de Charlus quite nervous.
BRICHOT
Did you notice the river in the valley? It runs next to the steeples of the church, located in reality quite a distance from them, and yet appears to reflect them.
MARCEL
If I'm not mistaken, Monet is particularly fond of that effect of the sun. I've seen several sketches of it in his studio.
MME. VERDURIN
Monet! You know Tiche? But you know he was my most intimate friend for some time. Fortunately I no longer see him. Leaving our little nest was most detrimental to him. Later I will show you a portrait I had him do of Dr. Cottard.
MME. COTTARD
He painted the professor's hair mauve! Do you think his hair mauve?
MME. VERDURIN
That doesn't matter. He was a beautiful painter, but what he shows now–now that he no longer frequents us.... I call that scribble. But it was a woman who dragged him down, ruined him.
The chicken and asparagus are being served. The asparagus is tied in little bundles as in Monet's painting of asparagus.
SKI
I remember the painting he called a Bunch of Asparagus he sent over hoping you would buy.
MME VERDURIN
Ah! Nothing but a bunch of asparagus! just like the bunch you are eating, and for 300 francs! Even the best are only worth one louis.
MARCEL
But Madame, where else can you find a creature that changes colors from green, white and iris and then, after being consumed, plays that little farce on you by filling your chamber pot with perfume.
Some guests hold their noses; some laugh.
PRINCESSE SHERBATOFF
At least you appreciate the little vegetable!
COTTARD
I still don't know why you never wanted to receive Tiche's wife, for then he'd still be with us.
MME. VERDURIN
Do you mind being polite? I don't receive hussies in my house, Professor. Isn't the Professor something else?!
CUT TO:
INT. DESSERT COURSE - 1.5 HRS. LATER
SKI
What is this pretty thing we are eating?
MME. VERDURIN
That is called a strawberry mousse.
SKI
But it is ravishing! We should open some bottles of chateau-margaux, chateau-lafite, some porto!
M. and Mme. Verdurin exchange looks and cast their eyes up to the ceiling, shocked by the implied cost.
MME. VERDURIN
I can't tell you how amusing I find him: he only drinks water.
SKI
But it's not to drink! You would fill all our glasses and they'd bring some marvelous peaches, enormous nectarines: there before the setting sun... Ah! that would be as lush as a Veronese!
M. VERDURIN
And would cost almost as much.
Ski grabs M. Verdurin's cheese plate and the two start a tug of war over it.
SKI
But get rid of these grotesque-looking cheeses.
MME. VERDURIN
(addressing Marcel)
Ski, in contrast to Monet, only follows his fantasy. You will see him light his cigarette in the middle of dinner.
M. Verdurin signals to her that it is time for the gentlemen to go smoke their cigars. The gentlemen excuse themselves and go into the salon.
SALON
VERDURIN AND CHARLUS
M. VERDURIN
I'm sure it doesn't matter that we seated you on the left.
M. DE CHARLUS
Come now! That hardly has any importance, here!
M. VERDURIN
But it was on purpose. I don't attach any significance to titles of nobility, but since M. de Cambremer is Marquis and you are only Baron...
BARON DE CHARLUS
I beg your pardon, but I am also Duc de Brabant, Prince d'Oléron, de Carency, de Viareggio and des Dunes. But that makes absolutely no difference. Don't be upset about it. I saw immediately that you weren't familiar with nobility.
The women enter.
MME. AND M. DE CAMBREMER
MME. DE CAMBREMER
My goodness, they have put up half curtains. What poor taste! But then what can you expect? They don't know, and where would they have learned? They must be retired merchants. Considering that, it's not too bad.
BRICHOT, CHARLUS AND MME. VERDURIN
MME. VERDURIN
And what can you two be talking about?
BRICHOT
About a dandy who was the flower of high society, Maecenas, a library rat who was a friend of Horace and Virgil.
M. de Charlus smiles to himself while appearing to flatter Mme. Verdurin.
M. DE CHARLUS
I think Maecenas was something like the Verdurin of antiquity.
Morel approaches and Mme. Verdurin turns to speak to him.
MME VERDURIN
How charming your friend is! But how about a little piano music, Morel?
MOREL
If M. de Charlus will accompany me on the piano?
CONCERT
Charlus and Morel play the last part of Franck's SONATA FOR PIANO AND VIOLIN. During the performance, Mme. de Cambremer beats time adamantly with her head. Her coiffure, adorned with feathers, makes quite a spectacle. Afterwards, everyone congratulates the two musicians.
MME. VERDURIN AND BRICHOT
MME VERDURIN
I want to know what you were saying about Maecenas.
BRICHOT
To tell the truth, Madame, Maecenas interests me because he was the first apostle of that Chinese god who has more followers in France today than Brahma, even than Christ, known as the all powerful God "I-Don't-Give-A-Damn."
Mme. Verdurin screeches and runs to PRINCESSE SHERBATOFF, burying her head in her dress as though laughing hysterically. Finally she shows her face, and gestures as though wiping away tears.
CARD TABLE
M. VERDURIN
Whist, anyone?
Everyone gathers around the card table. Morel is one of the players; M. de Charlus hastens to grab a chair close beside him, leaving Mme. Verdurin standing.
MME. VERDURIN
By the way, Charlus, you wouldn't know of any old ruined noble in your neck of the woods who could be my concierge?
M. DE CHARLUS
But of course, of course, though I don't advise it.
MME. VERDURIN
Why not?
M. DE CHARLUS
I'd be afraid for you that the elegant visitors wouldn't go any further than the concierge's lodging.
Mme. Verdurin, in awe of the baron's titles, visibly swallows her pride.
DISSOLVE TO:
SAME SALON, SEVERAL YEARS EARLIER (1900)
MARCEL V.O.
I was sorry I hadn't been invited to the Verdurins' while Monet was still one of the faithful. I had heard of one evening when he had not shown up for their weekly dinner.
Monet and a friend move a bathtub into the center of the salon and fill it with water. The DINNER SERVICE and guests CHATTING can be heard in the adjoining dining room. Monet climbs into the tub, naked, and starts bathing. The same faithful, except Ski and Marcel, have just finished dinner and start entering the salon. As they enter, Monet climbs out of the tub, perfectly nude, swearing profusely at the intrusion.
MONET
Damn it! you can't have a moment's privacy around here. Shove it all! The world be cursed by all the diabolical elves of Mary Magdalene.
Everyone is standing in shock and surprise as Monet walks out of the room swearing.
MARCEL (V.O.)
Nothing so momentous had occurred this evening.
DISSOLVE TO:
VERDURIN FOYER - LATE IN THE EVENING (1903)
Everyone has left except the Verdurins, Charlus and Morel.
VERDURINS, CHARLUS, MOREL
MME. VERDURIN
But it is so late. Why don't you just spend the night here? There is a suite of two rooms on the second floor where you could play all the music you like. The walls are like a fortress, there's no one else on that floor, and my husband sleeps like a rock.
BARON DE CHARLUS
Thank you, Madame, but Charlie has to report back to his outfit. We wouldn't want him punished for having a good time, now would we?
They take their leave and climb into a waiting carriage.
CUT TO:
EXT. PARIS - EVE. (FALL 1906)
MARCEL (O.S.)
M. de Charlus gave a more spectacular performance a couple of years later in Paris. Ostensibly it was to help advance Morel's career. But by increasing Morel's indebtedness towards him, Charlus hoped to obligate him to remain with him.
SIDEWALK BEFORE THE VERDURIN HOTEL
BRICHOT, MARCEL, then CHARLUS
In front of the Verdurin Hotel, there is a charming flower garden in the middle of the courtyard. Brichot is approaching on foot, tentatively. Marcel is arriving in a carriage. Upon seeing Brichot, he instructs his driver to stop at the corner and proceeds on foot himself.
Brichot has recently had a cataract operation which has restored some sight, but the narrator knows he can't have seen him arrive at that distance. Brichot is gingerly walking along, feeling his way down the sidewalk.
MARCEL
Good-evening, Brichot. Do you mind if I accompany you? (taking Brichot's arm to help guide him) Are you going to the Verdurins's?
Tracking back to capture the arrival of M. de Charlus and his entourage. M. de Charlus is much more corpulent now than in earlier scenes; he is almost 53 but is trying to look 30; he is visibly made-up.
Whereas his vice was carefully concealed when we first met him, it is now rather apparent. There are two or three suspect males who seem to be following him, hoping to attract his attention, and who disappear when he joins the narrator and Brichot.
CHARLUS
So, Brichot, now you walk around at night with a handsome young man? Wait 'til your students at the Sorbonne find out! But I'm interrupting something! You looked like two lovers, arm in arm there! But I won't apologize; you were almost there.
BRICHOT
Is Charlie already here?
CHARLUS
Ah, that I wouldn't know. You know I know nothing about what he does.
MARCEL (V.O.)
But they live together! Who does he think he's deceiving?
CHARLUS
For me, he's a good little friend, for whom I have the greatest affection, as I'm sure he has for me, but there is nothing else between us, you understand, nothing. He came this morning to tickle my toes. He knows however that I detest having others see me still in bed. Don't you? Oh! one is ugly enough to scare people away. I know I'm not 20 any more, but one still has a bit of coquetry.
At that moment, Saniette arrives, hurrying because he's afraid to be late. They all greet one another.
BARON DE CHARLUS
But I'm so glad you could come this evening. I advised Mme. Verdurin to have another soirée for her own guests, but tonight I have done the invitations and have invited a few people from a different milieu who can be useful to Charlie's career. After all, it's very nice to have the most beautiful things performed by the greatest artists, but they remain stuck in cotton balls if the public is composed of the dry goods merchant across the street and the corner grocer. You know what I think of the intellect of high society, but it can play certain rather important roles, and particularly that of spreading the word. For example, I've invited my sister-in-law Oriane, and if she comes, tomorrow Charlie's fame will be the topic of conversation in all the salons of Paris! Who cares if she understands; what is important is that she talks, and that she does to perfection. As a consequence, the name of "Morel" will be engraved in everyone's mind more surely than after a review in the newspaper.
(A beat)
(Addressing Marcel) But you, handsome youth, we hardly ever see you in the Verdurin's salon.
MARCEL
My cousin Albertine, keeps me busy escorting her about.
CHARLUS
(addressing Brichot)
Oh! He's going out with his cousin! How pure can we get!
(turning to Marcel:)
But you did well not to bring her this evening. Charlie told me this morning that the daughter of the composer Vinteuil, and her girlfriend two individuals with a terrible reputation–were supposed to come. But just before dinner, Charlie said they weren't present at one of Mme. Verdurin's study sessions this afternoon, so who knows.
MARCEL (V.O.)
What an anguish I feel! Did Albertine refuse to come with me this evening because she had a rendezvous with Mlle. Vinteuil and her girlfriend?
INT. FOYER
M. de Charlus hands his overcoat to the VALET who is new and quite young. Suddenly staring at him, Charlus raises his index finger in the air, and speaks in a menacing tone of voice.
BARON DE CHARLUS
You! I forbid you to eye me like that.
(and turning to Brichot)
He has an amusing face, the little one, an entertaining nose.
And lowering the index to the horizontal, suspending it mid-air, he cannot resist and pushes it into the valet's nose.
He turns to enter the salon, and as the four of them cross the threshold:
SANIETTE
By the way, Princesse Sherbatoff died at 6:00.
SALON
M. Verdurin is waiting near the door to greet guests.
MARCEL
We're so sorry about Princesse Sherbatoff.
M. VERDURIN
Yes, I know, she's in a bad way.
SANIETTE
No, she died at 6:00!
M. VERDURIN
Saniette, you're always exaggerating.
M. de Charlus circulates about the room, conversing with various men.
GENTLEMAN #1
Speaking of, did you find out about the valet, I mean the one who mounts the carriage... And at your cousin Guermantes's, do you know anything?
M. DE CHARLUS
At the moment, no.
Charlus goes to another gentleman.
GENTLEMAN #2
I say, in front of the entry there was a young blond, in short pants, who seemed quite nice and superb hair. He called my carriage most graciously. I would have liked to prolong the conversation.
M. DE CHARLUS
Yes, but I think he's opposed, and then that kind takes time. And you, who like things to succeed on the first try, you'd be disappointed. Besides, one of my friends tried. Hopeless.
He continues to circulate as we are told:
NARRATOR (O.S.)
Mme. Verdurin has just discovered that Charlie Morel is refusing to perform at a friend's house because M. de Charlus will not go there, and she, Mme. Verdurin, has already promised the friend that Charlie will be glad to play at her party. Her powers as "Boss" in her little clan are being challenged, and not for the first time. Charlus' airs of proprietorship in her own house are an even worse offense.
He had already eliminated from the guest list all the names she had proposed. She was quite tolerant of his "Charlisme", but like any ecclesiastical power, she judges human weaknesses less serious than anything which might weaken the principal of authority, or modify the ancient code of her little church. She is ready for a kill.
M. AND MME. VERDURIN
M. VERDURIN
Would you like for me to take Charlie aside and speak to him about this?
MME. VERDURIN
No, it might upset him too much to play the violin and that would ruin the evening. It would be better to perform the execution afterwards.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
The final coup came from the bad behavior of the friends the baron had invited, those who had come out of friendship for the baron and also out of curiosity to see such a milieu. Every duchess went directly to the baron as though he were the host of the event, and never addressed so much as a word to Mme. Verdurin.
The Verdurins are standing within earshot of the baron and his guests. The DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES has just entered.
BARON AND DUCHESSE
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
Show me where mother Verdurin is; do you think it absolutely necessary that I introduce myself? I hope she won't put my name in the newspaper tomorrow; that would get me in trouble with my whole family. What! it's that woman with the white hair? She doesn't appear too bad.
WIDER VIEW
ROBERT DE SAINT-LOUP enters dressed in a military officer's uniform, quite tall, 5 years older than Marcel. He looks around and, as soon as he sees Marcel, goes toward him.
SAINT-LOUP AND MARCEL
ROBERT DE SAINT-LOUP
Heah there, little one! I got 48 hours leave in Paris, and when I went by your house, I was told you were here, so it's thanks to you that my uncle owes my presence today.
(A beat)
Let's not go too close to him or we won't be able to talk. I found a house of prostitution you're going to love.
MARCEL
My friend Bloch introduced me to some others.
ROBERT DE SAINT-LOUP
If Bloch took you somewhere, it must have been the Paradise of the Poor.
MARCEL (V.O.)
I can hardly explain to him that I met his beloved mistress in that Paradise before he ever introduced her to me!
ROBERT DE SAINT-LOUP
This one is much better. There are real young ladies, there. One called Mlle. d'Orgeville, I think, a family that is even a distant relative of my aunt Oriane. Her parents are too sick to take charge of her. Well, let me tell you, she isn't bored. I'm counting on you to find her some distractions.
MARCEL
And when are we going there?
ROBERT DE SAINT-LOUP
We'll have to wait until I get another leave. I'm due back tomorrow. But just look at Palamede! He's courting the Duke's mistress!
At that moment, Charlus is talking to a MME. DE SURGIS, (age 38) quite surprised by the attentions Charlus is paying her. Her two sons (18 and 19, very attractive) stand slightly behind her.
ROBERT DE SAINT-LOUP
I just can't believe that someone like him, surrounded by his harem, takes it upon himself to give me moral lessons.
Mme. de Surgis introduces the baron to her two young sons.
MARCEL
Are you sure it's the mother that interests him?
ROBERT DE SAINT-LOUP
Now he's even courting her two sons to get to her. If that isn't the limit! But do excuse me. I must say hello to my aunt so I don't have to pay a call on her later.
He crosses the room to talk to the Duchess de Guermantes. As he does so, the Baron signals to Marcel.
CHARLUS, MME. DE SURGIS, HER TWO SONS AND MARCEL
BARON DE CHARLUS
Marcel, just imagine, this young gentleman, asked if I would be going to Mme. de Ste.-Euverte's party. He's so innocent, no sense of needing to hide those kinds of needs, as if I had the colic.
BARON DE CHARLUS (CONT.)
If I did, I'd try to relieve myself somewhere more comfortable. Ste.-Euverte's very proximity offends my olfactory senses. When she's near I always think, "My goodness, someone has dug a cesspool," when it's simply the marquise, trying to extend an invitation, who has opened her mouth. Invitations to take a walk in the sewer.
MME DE SURGIS
Do you intend to dirty yourself there?
WIDER VIEW
The musicians are mounting the stage along with Charles Morel and taking their places.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
The aristocrats gather with familiar faces and look for someone unknown to them or something about the decor or the service to ridicule. At most they find an unusual coiffure, one that will come into style in high society in a few years. In general they experience the disappointment of socialites who, havE entered the Club Aristide Bruant in hopes of being accosted by a: "Hey! dig that mask! See how screwed up it is!" Instead they encounter a socially correct greeting.
The guests, laughing and jesting, pay no attention to the musicians until M. de Charlus imposes silence by striding before his guests and, taking on the airs of a prophet, casts a firm glance upon them that kills their laughter.
He is theatrical. Alternatively he castigates his guests with glances, and then, sitting down, presents the model of the religious attitude they are supposed to assume before ART. Late-comers do not even receive an acknowledgment from him. Silence reigns.
The MUSIC: The anguished Vinteuil theme is orchestrated for seven instruments. When played, the aristocrats show total indifference or distraction; Mme Verdurin buries her head in her hands; and Marcel is on the verge of tears.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
The relationship between Morel and the baron is echoed in the anguish expressed in the music For the baron, for Marcel, as for the composer Vinteuil, the same emotion rebounds upon hearing the music.
The concert ends and M. de Charlus, in the midst of receiving the compliments from his guests, approaches Mme. Verdurin to share his enthusiasm.
MME VERDURIN, CHARLUS
BARON DE CHARLUS
Well, are you happy? You should be for less! I don't know if your heraldic notions permit you to measure the exact importance of the production, of the weight I have moved, of the volume of air I have displaced for you! You have had the Queen of Naples, the brother of the King of Bavaria. If Vinteuil is Mahomet, we can say we have moved the least movable of mountains for him.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
No one approached Mme. Verdurin to congratulate her on her soirée. She no longer had any reason to delay the killing and had sent her husband to take Morel aside.
Mme. Verdurin signals to Brichot to come to her aid.
MME. VERDURIN
Brichot, tell the Baron what a superb performance Morel gave us.
She excuses herself, leaving Brichot with the job of keeping the Baron preoccupied while her husband speaks with Morel to prepare him for the execution.
BRICHOT, MARCEL AND M. DE CHARLUS
Brichot leads the Baron to the entry to join Marcel.
BRICHOT
Did Swann have those tastes?
CHARLUS
But how vulgar! Do you think I only know people of the sort? Of course not. Women were crazy about him.
BRICHOT
Did you know his wife, Odette?
CHARLUS
But I'm the one who introduced them! She was playing "Miss Sacripant" at the theater one evening when I was with friends of the kind and each decided to take a woman home. And though all I wanted was to sleep, bad mouths pretended I slept with Odette. She profited by paying me visits and I thought I'd get rid of her by introducing her to Swann. Then Swann had me escort her when he couldn't. And the lovers she has had since... She called herself Odette de Crécy, a name to which she was entitled, for she was only separated from a very nice M. de Crécy whom she took for every penny he had.
INT - LIBRARY
M. Verdurin is speaking to Charlie Morel.
M. VERDURIN, MOREL
M. VERDURIN
Here now, if you want we can go ask my wife for her opinion. I have said nothing to her, but we'll see how she judges things.
Morel, visibly quite upset, accompanies M. Verdurin to a side room where Mme. Verdurin is impatiently waiting.
SIDE ROOM
M. VERDURIN, MME. VERDURIN, MOREL
M. VERDURIN
He wants to ask your advice.
MME. VERDURIN
I'm of exactly the same opinion as my husband. You simply can't tolerate this situation any longer!
M. Verdurin is annoyed that she makes it look as though he had lied to Morel.
M. VERDURIN
Tolerate what?
MME. VERDURIN
I guessed what you must have told him. No! Charlus has made you the fable of the Conservatory. One more month of this life and your artistic career is ruined, whereas without this Charlus you should be earning more than a hundred thousand francs a year.
If you have heard nothing you are the only one. He has a terrible reputation. The police have their eye on him. He can do nothing for you; he is ruined by creatures who make him pay up to keep his vice secret. His hotel, chateau, everything, have been mortgaged. Of course no one says anything to your face.
MOREL
I don't know how to thank you enough. I won't put up with that kind of thing. It certainly isn't my cup of tea. But he promised to introduce me to the Queen of Naples. I'll break off with him this evening.
But Mme. Verdurin doesn't care to lose any aristocratic names from her entourage.
MME. VERDURIN
Oh, there's no need to break with him completely. You can see him here, in our little group where you are appreciated, where no one will speak ill of you. But demand your freedom. And don't let him drag you to all those biddies who are only amicable to your face; you should have heard what he said to them behind your back. When one of them told your Charlus that they liked his friend, do you know what he replied?
Morel gapes at her, confounded.
MME. VERDURIN
He said: "How can he be my friend? We're not of the same class! Say rather that he is my lackey."
MOREL
The traitor!
The Verdurins and Morel return to the main salon.
MAIN SALON
At that moment, Brichot, Marcel and M. de Charlus return to the salon and spot Morel with Mme. Verdurin. M. de Charlus, who has not had a chance to speak to Morel since the concert and is still glowing with the success of his event, and anticipating the greatest of favors to be accorded him, approaches him enthusiastically.
BARON DE CHARLUS
Ah! finally! are you satisfied, you young glory and soon-to-be young Chevalier of the Legion of Honor?
MOREL
Leave me alone! I forbid you to come near me! I'm not the first one you've tried to pervert.
M. de Charlus is stupefied, speechless, measuring his misfortune without understanding the cause, raising his eyes to each person present, seeking less the explanation than what he should say. Marcel and Brichot beat a hasty retreat. Both Verdurins look elsewhere. Taken aback, he stutters and almost whispers.
BARON DE CHARLUS
What does this mean? What happened?
M. and Mme. Verdurin go into the adjoining salon; Morel goes to the stage to pack up his violin. Tears flow from his eyes; he doesn't even cast a glance at M. de Charlus, whose legs are beginning to shake, and who finally stumbles rather than walks to a chair.
The QUEEN OF NAPLES enters, seeking a fan she left behind, and seeing M. de Charlus in the state he is in, approaches him and is talking to him while Morel rejoins the Verdurins who are watching from a distance.
MOREL AND VERDURINS
MOREL
But it's the Queen of Naples! And I can hardly ask him to introduce me after what I just said!
As hostess, Mme. Verdurin thinks she can make the introduction, and approaches the Queen and the Baron.
QUEEN, BARON, VERDURINS AND MOREL
MME. VERDURIN
I'm Mme. Verdurin. Your Majesty doesn't recognize me.
Without looking at her and while continuing to address M. de Charlus, she replies without intonation.
QUEEN OF NAPLES
Very well.
Morel approaches, anticipating an introduction. The Queen holds out her arm to M. de Charlus. She is furious with him for letting the Verdurins treat him this way, but he is her family.
QUEEN OF NAPLES
You don't look well, my dear cousin. Take my arm. You may be sure that it will always support you. It's quite solid enough for that.
And looking straight before her, she walks past all present.
QUEEN OF NAPLES
You know that once at Gaète it held the mob at bay. It will serve now as your barricade.
CUT TO:
MARCEL'S POV
As Marcel leaves the Verdurin house behind:
MARCEL (V.O.)
What a surprise Saint-Loup would have had if he'd stayed to see that finale! At one time Robert thought the baron was spying on him and his mistress. And how mistaken were the folks of Combray who, thinking M. de Charlus a Don Juan, criticized Swann for stupidly leaving his wife alone with such a man.
CUT TO:
EXT. CHAMPS-ELYSEES - LATE AFTERNOON (1921)
Marcel (now 50) is walking along the Champs-Elysees toward the Prince's and Princess's house.
MARCEL (V.O.)
For some years I had been quite ill for asthma and spent my time in a sanatorium hoping for improvement. Finally I decided to return to Paris, as the sanatorium hadn't helped my allergies. Seeing I had an invitation to a Matinee at the Princess of Guermantes' new mansion, I went to see my old friends.
A carriage draws up with M. de Charlus (age 70) and JUPIEN (age 55). M. de Charlus is recovering from a stroke he recently suffered which partially paralyzed him. His speech is still quite effected. His rich head of hair is entirely white, but he holds himself perfectly erect. Jupien is helping him out of the carriage to a park bench.
He obviously recognizes Marcel, mentally.
BARON DE CHARLUS
(rapid, garbled gibberish).
He eventually speaks more slowly and his speech can be comprehended.
BARON DE CHARLUS
Hannibal de Bréauté, dead! Antoine de Mouchy, dead! Charles Swann, dead! Boson de Talleyrand, dead!
(A beat)
But I need to rest here a moment. You and Jupien take a little walk.
Jupien and Marcel stroll off toward the Rond-Point.
JUPIEN
The attack didn't affect his mind at all, you know. At first he lost his vision completely.
MARCEL
That at least facilitated your surveillance.
JUPIEN
Not at all! When we arrived at a hotel, he asked me about the personnel. I'd tell him they were perfect horrors, but he didn't believe me, so he'd send me on some urgent errand. One day when I returned–I only tell you this because you once became acquainted with his Temple of Brazenness
DISSOLVE TO:
HOTEL CORRIDOR
Jupien walks up to the hotel room door. As he hears speaking inside, he stops to listen.
INSIDE THE HOTEL ROOM
On the other side of the door, Charlus is obviously blind and finishes wrapping his dressing robe around him. A YOUNG BOY (10 yr. old) is pulling up his pants.
CHARLUS
What! This was the first time?
Jupien enter without knocking and when he sees how young the boy is, he is obviously shocked.
CUT TO:
CHAMPS-ELYSEES
Marcel is still walking with Jupien.
JUPIEN
He had apparently been misled by an unusually mature voice, for the boy was no more than 10 years old!
As they turn back towards the Baron, they see him chatting coyly with a YOUNG PARK GARDENER.
JUPIEN
Good grief! If he hasn't already figured out how to strike up a relationship with a young gardener! I best let you go on your way, Sir. It was nice talking to you.
Jupien hurries back to M. de Charlus. Marcel turns into a side street.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT - STAIRWAY/ENTRY TO HOTEL - NIGHT (SUMMER 1915)
The street is in a nondescript section of Paris.
MARCEL (V.O.)
The Temple of Brazenness! that summer night when I saw Saint-Loup run out of that little hotel, and wondered if he really was involved in espionage, as rumored.
Marcel is standing in the shadows of the entryway, trying to discover why so many soldiers are going in and out of the hotel. He enters and decides to mount one flight of stairs.
He can see a small salon through a doorway where several soldiers, one only 18 yrs. old, and two strong workmen, one called PIERROT and one called MAURICE, are chatting quietly. All are under 30 years of age.
SOLDIER ONE
(the 18 yr. old)
I can't be killed; I've only been in the war six months!
SOLDIER TWO
It's amazing. In Paris, you wouldn't even think there was a war. And you, Pierrot, you still going to join?
PIERROT
Of course. I want to beat up on those dirty Boches too.
Marcel is about to turn and go, but stops dead in his tracks when Maurice speaks.
MAURICE
Strange. The boss hasn't returned and, at this hour, I don't know where he'll find chains anyhow.
SOLDIER ONE
So what. Since the client is already chained.
MAURICE
Yes, he's chained and he's not. If I were chained like that I could break out.
SOLDIER TWO
You shut the padlock, didn't you.
MAURICE
But it could spring open. The problem is, the chains aren't long enough. Don't tell me what's needed. I whipped all last night until my hands were bleeding.
Marcel decides to go on into the hotel.
SALON
MARCEL (V.O.)
What on earth is going on here?
He addresses the men in the little room as he enters. They are all perfectly polite and unperturbed by his entry. They puff on their pipes or cigarettes.
MARCEL
To whom do I speak to get a room and something to drink?
SOLDIER TWO
If you can wait just a second? The Boss had to step out a moment.
SOLDIER ONE
But the Chief is up there.
MAURICE
You know we can't disturb him.
MARCEL
Do you think they'll have a room available?
PIERROT
I think so.
MAURICE
Room 43 should be free.
The 18 yr. old (Soldier One) goes to the window.
SOLDIER ONE
Can we open a window a little? The smoke's getting a little thick.
SOLDIER TWO
Sure, but close the shutters first so the zeppelins don't see any light.
SOLDIER ONE
There won't be any more zeppelins. The newspapers say so.
SOLDIER THREE
What would you know? When you've been at the front fifteen months and have shot down your fifth Boche plane, then you can talk.
A young Chinese CHAUFFEUR walks in the door sporting a big gold watch chain across his chest. He is greeted enthusiastically by the soldiers and workmen.
Soldier Two spots the gold chain and gives an approving wink while giving a warning nod in the direction of Marcel.
Then the BOSS (age 45) enters with several meters of heavy chains, panting.
BOSS
What a load! If you all weren't so lazy I wouldn't have to do this myself.
MARCEL
I'd like a room, please, just for a few hours. I couldn't find a cab to get home and I feel a little ill. And I'd like something brought up to drink.
A service bell RINGS as the boss is giving orders.
BOSS
Pierrot, get some Cassis from the cellar and have room 43 readied. Ah, there's #7 ringing again. They say they're sick. Sick, my eye. They're on cocaine and half shot up. We'll have to kick them out. Now there's #11 ringing. Run see what they want. Come, Maurice, what are you doing? You know they're waiting for you. Go on up to 60-A. Hurry-up or the Chief will be furious.
Maurice takes the chains from the Boss, and precedes him out of the room. Soldier One addresses the Chauffeur.
SOLDIER ONE
How come you're so late?
CHAUFFEUR
I'm not. I'm an hour early. I'm not expected until midnight.
SOLDIER ONE
Who are you here for?
CHAUFFEUR
For "Pamela the Charming."
He flashes a big smile and the others nod in approval.
The boss signals to Marcel that room 43 is ready and Marcel goes upstairs to it.
CUT TO:
HOTEL ROOM 43
It is a somber room and Marcel fidgets as he drinks the Cassis that Pierrot delivers. Finally he decides to leave. He starts to go downstairs, then turns and goes up one more flight instead.
CORRIDOR UPSTAIRS
He hears noises coming from a room at the end of the corridor. He goes up to it and puts his ear to the door. Charlus is now 62 years old.
BARON DE CHARLUS (O.S.)
I beg you, take pity on me, don't strike so hard. Unchain me. Let me kiss your feet, humble myself. I won't start again!
MAURICE (O.S.)
No, asshole! and since you are bawling and want to grovel on your knees, we're going to attach you to the bed even tighter. No pity!
We hear the sharp CRACK of a whip, followed by cries of pain.
SIDE ROOM
Marcel notices the door to the adjacent room is open and that there is a peep hole in the wall with no picture covering it. Then we see what he sees.
WHIPPING ROOM
In the next room, M. de Charlus is chained to the bed. Maurice is holding the whip. Charlus is already bleeding and has scabs that show this isn't the first time. Almost immediately, Jupien enters the room.
JUPIEN
You have no need for me?
BARON DE CHARLUS
May I speak with you in private?
Jupien gestures to Maurice to leave. He steps out of the room.
BARON DE CHARLUS
No one can hear us?
JUPIEN
Absolutely not.
BARON DE CHARLUS
I didn't want to say anything in front of Maurice. He's a nice boy and he does his best. But he's not sufficiently brutal. He's attractive enough, but he calls me an asshole as though he had memorized a lesson.
JUPIEN
Oh no, no one told him anything, and after all, he was implicated in the murder of the Villette concierge.
Charlus smiles, not very convinced by Jupien's literary improvisation.
BARON DE CHARLUS
Ah! That's very interesting.
JUPIEN
But I have the butcher from the slaughter house here; he just happened to drop in. Would you like to try him?
BARON DE CHARLUS
Sure, why not?
CUT TO:
HALLWAY
Jupien leaves to summon Pierrot. Marcel flattens himself against the wall. Pierrot passes in the hallway and goes into the baron. Marcel sneaks back downstairs.
THE SALON
Marcel enters the little salon where Maurice is playing cards with the others. The Chauffeur who had gone for a walk, enters and speaks to Maurice.
CHAUFFEUR
What, already finished? That didn't take long!
MAURICE
Maybe it wasn't long for you, taking your walk. But if you had to whip with all your might in this heat as I did... If it weren't for the 50 francs he pays...
SOLDIER TWO
(seeing Marcel)
You're finished with the room?
MARCEL
Yes, I came to pay.
SOLDIER TWO
You best pay the boss. Maurice, go get him.
MARCEL
Oh, but I didn't mean to disturb you.
Maurice returns a moment later. Marcel tips him.
MAURICE
He's coming.
(receiving the tip)
Oh, thank you. I'll send it to my brother who's a prisoner of war.
The Boss enters, followed by Jupien.
JUPIEN
Heah! You're making too much noise, the neighbors will complain.
Jupien spots Marcel and stops dead in his tracks. He speaks to the others, panicked.
JUPIEN
Go in the other room, all of you.
MARCEL
But rather than disturb these men, it would be simpler if just you and I stepped outside a moment.
NEXT ROOM
Jupien leads Marcel into the next room, but we hear the footsteps of a heavy man coming slowly downstairs. Jupien becomes even more upset.
JUPIEN
Here comes M. de Charlus. He mustn't see you here. I'll be right back when the way is clear.
Jupien goes out and closes the door behind him.
HALLWAY
The Baron deposits his 50 francs in the bucket sitting on the counter, and speaks loudly enough for the soldiers to hear.
BARON DE CHARLUS
What a marvelous specimen the soldier is with his strength and health, and thinking only of the grandeur of his country.
Jupien accompanies the Baron to the front door and says good-bye. As he returns, a PRIEST comes down and starts for the front door. Jupien grabs the bucket in which he collects the money, shaking it to make the francs rattle.
JUPIEN
For the costs of the cult, Father.
The priest returns to pay and apologizes.
After he has left, Jupien retrieves Marcel from the side room. A YOUNG MAN in a smoking jacket comes in and, not seeing Marcel, goes up to the Boss.
YOUNG MAN
May I have Leon tomorrow morning at 10:45 instead of 11 o'clock? I have a luncheon to attend.
BOSS
That depends on how long the priest keeps him.
The young man is about to object when he spots Marcel. He moves even closer to the Boss so as not to be heard by the others.
YOUNG MAN
What's this? Who is it? This shouldn't happen. It's most disagreeable. I may never set foot in here again.
He turns to leave and as he does:
YOUNG MAN
Tell Leon to be available at 10:45 or even 10:30 tomorrow morning.
MARCEL (V.O.)
That was the Temple of Brazenness managed by the same Jupien whom my grandmother had found to be "a perfect gentleman" upon meeting him in the corridor of the Guermantes's compound in Paris thirty years ago.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT - GUERMANTES COURTYARD - 2 P.M. (1921)
Marcel enters the courtyard of the Guermantes Hotel, still distracted by his recent encounter.
SALON
Marcel goes into the salon. Most of the previous characters are there, but their hair is all white, they seem theatrically made-up and move more slowly than before. The first to spot Marcel is the DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES.
DUCHESSE AND MARCEL
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
My goodness, what a pleasure to see my very oldest friend.
MARCEL
Indeed, Duchess. When did we last see one another?
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
At Mme. d'Agrigente's. I had to go there often then, as Basin was enamored of her at the time. He always had me pay a "digestive visit" after he had feasted. What annoyed me the most was that I was obliged to keep up the relationship after he broke off. But as some poet wrote, "What matters the bottle, provided drunk you get." Poor Basin. He was always intoxicated, but had no taste in bottles.
MARCEL
Well, this evening here reminds me of the first time I went to visit the Princess of Guermantes. I wasn't sure I had even been invited. Anyhow, you had on a beautiful red dress and red shoes.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
How long ago that was! But are you sure I wore red shoes? I thought they were gold.
MARCEL
No, no. I distinctly remember they were red.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
Aren't you sweet to remember that.
BLOCH, age 50, very Jewish, and wearing a monocle, comes up and greets Marcel and the Duchess.
BLOCH
I shouldn't even ask you, Duchess, if you are going to Mme. de Ste. Euverte's party tomorrow. Everyone will be there.
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
But I won't be in Paris then. Just imagine, I have reached my age without ever seeing the stained glass windows of Montfort-l'Amauy. I'm going to see them tomorrow.
Bloch bursts into laughter. He knows perfectly well the Duchess has just made up her excuse for not going, though he himself would not have missed the party for anything. He has difficulty keeping his monocle in his eye while laughing.
BLOCH
Oh! Poor old Ste.-Euverte. She'll fall ill from it. Not have her Duchess!
DUCHESSE DE GUERMANTES
Do excuse me. I must speak to Marie before she leaves and here we've hardly had time to talk. But it's always like that in life. Let's hope that after death things will be arranged more conveniently. At least we won't have to expose our breasts in these low-cut dresses. For the big events, maybe we'll show off our bones and worms.
The Duchesse continues to circulate.
BLOCH
Now that she and the Duc are separated, it seems the Duc spends all his time with Mme de Forcheville.
MARCEL
With Odette?
BLOCH
Yes, and he is so possessive, he won't let her go out evenings. Yet she is delighted to get whoever she wants to come to her house by asking them to come see the Duc.
But I've been wanting to ask you. The mistress of the house, the Princesse de Guermantes–some time ago you spoke of her incomparable charm and beauty. I know she's aged since then, but still...
MARCEL
The Princessee de Guermantes I spoke of has died. The current Princesse is the former Madame Verdurin. The Prince, ruined by the war, married her afterwards.
BLOCH
But you must be mistaken. I consulted reference books on the subject, and the most recent edition shows the Prince de Guermantes married to the Duchesse de Duras.
MARCEL
True. But shortly after the death of her husband, Mme. Verdurin married the Duc de Duras, who was quite old and bankrupt. After two years of marriage, he died, and now she is the Princesse de Guermantes.
Two young American women and an elegant young Frenchman are conversing nearby.
FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN
Wasn't there some scandal concerning Gilberte de Saint-Loup's mother?
YOUNG FRENCH NOBLE
Yes, indeed. In her youth she married an adventurer by the name of Swann; but later she married one of society's most distinguished gentlemen, Comte de Forcheville.
SECOND AMERICAN WOMAN
How did Gilberte de Saint-Loup get to be so palsy-walsy with all the Guermantes?
FIRST AMERICAN WOMAN
Because she was born a Forcheville, of course.
SECOND AMERICAN WOMAN
Did Gilberte inherit Tansonville from her father, de Forcheville?
YOUNG FRENCH NOBLE
Not at all. It belonged to her husband's family, but was highly mortgaged. Gilberte's dowry paid it off.
GILBERTE, (age 49), much fatter than her mother, Odette de Crécy, (now 70), walks up to Marcel. He is having difficulty recognizing her.
GILBERTE DE SAINT-LOUP
You're thinking I must be my mother, and indeed, I'm beginning to look a lot like her. I'm so delighted to see you again after all these years. But there's someone else I see all the time now whom I understand you knew at Balbec, Andrée.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT. HAWTHORNE LANE IN COMBRAY - NOON (1887)
14 yr. old Marcel, his FATHER (35) and MOTHER (32), and GRANDFATHER are walking along a country path in Combray.
MARCEL (O.S.)
I didn't just remember Andrée from Balbec! but from a Sunday promenade in Combray.
FATHER
(speaking to Marcel)
Let's pay a visit to your aunt's former piano teacher, M. Vinteuil at Montjouvain. We've promised to stop by so often and never do. If you don't want to speak to his peculiar daughter, you can sit on the hill somewhere and wait for us.
They approach a modest house along the road with a rise in the hill outside one of the windows. The son is left outside while the elders enter.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
Years after his marriage, Swann invited M. Vinteuil to bring his daughter to play with his daughter Gilberte; M. Vinteuil, feeling his disgrace because of his daughter's lesbian tendencies, dared not accept, but commented after Swann had left:
VINTEUIL (O.S.)
What an elegant gentleman! How unfortunate he made such a bad marriage.
NARRATOR (O.S.)
And Swann was the first to regret M. Vinteuil's abstinence, for he had always wanted to ask Vinteuil if he was related to the composer who wrote the music that had become the "national anthem" of his love for Odette, one of the causes of his "bad marriage."
Marcel moves to the hillside where he sits down to wait for his parents and looks at the window of the house from the shade of a shrub located only a few feet away.
VINTEUIL'S DAUGHTER, (age 15) and her lesbian friend, ANDREE, (age 18), appear at the window. Mlle. Vinteuil points at a portrait of her father. The narrator clearly hears their conversation. Mlle. Vinteuil goes to close the window.
ANDREE
No, don't close the window. I'm hot!
MLLE. VINTEUIL
(coyly)
But Andree, someone might see us. I mean you can't even read these days without someone checking you out.
ANDREE
(ironically)
And what if they are! All the better!
After making an attempt to kiss Mlle. Vinteuil on the neck, she begins to chase her around the room until the two collapse on the couch in front of the picture of the father.
MLLE. VINTEUIL
(feigning surprise)
Oh! there's my father's picture looking at us!
ANDREE
(irritated)
Let him stay. D'you think he'd start whining and pack you out of the house, the ugly old monkey? So you know what I'd like to do with that horror?
She whispers something in Mlle. Vinteuil's ear (inaudible) and as Mlle. Vinteuil gets up and goes to close the window.
Mlle. Vinteuil
(feigning shock)
Oh! you wouldn't dare!
The window is shut and the narrator's parents reappear in front of the house. Marcel makes haste to rejoin them, waving so they won't call out to find him and reveal his presence outside the window.
GRANDFATHER
You should have heard Dr. Percepied's comments: "It seems that she plays music with her friend. That surprises you? Well, it was Papa Vinteuil who told me all about it yesterday. After all, she has every right to be fond of music, that girl. I should never dream of thwarting the artistic vocation of a child; nor Vinteuil either.
(A beat)
And then he plays music too, with his daughter's friend. Why, it must be a regular musical box, that house out there!
The narrator's family all laughs; Marcel remains silent.
DISSOLVE TO:
INT. GUERMANTES' SALON - CONT. OF RECEPTION ABOVE (1921)
GILBERTE
Shall we go dine out this evening, tête à tête?
MARCEL
If you don't find it compromising to be seen out alone with a young man.
(Everyone around laughs at him.)
...or rather with such an old man.
GILBERTE DE SAINT-LOUP
We can reminisce over old times.
MARCEL
Then you must invite some young girls to prompt my memories.
Gilberte seems to hesitate, thinking.
GILBERTE DE SAINT-LOUP
I can think of one who would make a charming companion for you.
At that moment, Gilberte de Saint-Loup, Gilberte's daughter, walks up to her mother, the spitting image of Gilberte when she was young and Marcel was in love with her.
GILBERTE DE SAINT-LOUP (MOTHER)
Gilberte, dear, I'd like you to meet my dearest and oldest friend, Marcel.
Marcel just stares at the look-a-like, confounded.
MARCEL
Yes, indeed, she does remind me of old times. She looks just like you when you were her age.
CUT TO:
INT. - ELEGANT RESTAURANT - NIGHT (1921)
There is an aquarium in the restaurant with the camouflage fish seen in the beginning, or different varieties to allow for a change of styles in clothing. Gilberte, her dress reflecting the camouflage of one of the fishes, and Marcel have come to the restaurant later that evening and are chatting over dinner.
GILBERTE
I remember the first time I saw you.
MARCEL
I do too.
DISSOLVE TO:
EXT - COMBRAY - 2 P.M. (1887)
A plain with lilacs and hawthorns in bloom to the left with a large but unpretentious house, a Church steeple in the center, and to the right, the ancestral Chateau of the Guermantes on a higher hill with the river and water lilies running down past the town. Located next to the town square is Aunt Leonie's house.
A garden gate opens; the Proust family emerges and moves out onto an unpaved street that heads into the country.
MARCEL, FATHER, MOTHER, GRANDFATHER
FATHER
Swann told us last night that his wife and daughter would be visiting Reims, so he was taking advantage of their absence and going to Paris for the day. We can stroll alongside his park without running into his wife. No one will be home.
The family strolls along a hedge of lilacs.
MARCEL (O.S.)
Though Grandfather had been a close friend of Swann's father, our family had refused to associate with his wife, a marriage far beneath his station! But ever since the day when I had learned that Gilberte, Swann's daughter, got to dine with my favorite author, I had envied her good fortune and was dying to meet her. I was not at all excited about going to Tansonville, the name of Swann's estate, when Gilberte wouldn't be there!
Trailing behind his family, he comes to a break in the hedge, and who should appear but Gilberte trailing her mother, Odette, and M. de Charlus.
The boy and girl (14 yrs. old) are both hidden from their parents' view and are definitely interested in one another; M. de Charlus is staring at the narrator, bug-eyed. Gilberte, so as to say nothing that would attract her mother's attention, gives Marcel "the finger." Marcel is obviously quite offended.
CUT TO:
INT. RESTAURANT - SAME DINNER ABOVE (1921)
GILBERTE
I remember I so wanted you to come play with me, but I couldn't say anything to you in front of mother. All I could think of doing was to make a gesture to get your attention. You must have thought me terribly crude.
MARCEL
On the contrary, I thought you wanted to show me your disdain and that you didn't want to have anything to do with me.
They both chuckle over their childhood misunderstanding.
EXT. RESTAURANT
We see Marcel and Gilberte seated at their table, being served elegantly. About us are FISHERMEN AND JOURNALISTS pressing their faces against the glass to look at these strange fish. They pull back from the window. A journalist addresses one of the fishermen.
JOURNALIST
Caught any big fish today?
The restaurant seems to be filled with water, the glass the walls of an aquarium. The evening dresses again reflect those of camouflaged fish, eating and eaten.
FADE OUT.
THE END
