Amour Page #7

GEORGES:

Right now everything’s fine. I’ll

let your wife know as soon as we

need anything.

SUPERINTENDENT:

(to Anne)

It’s nice to have you back, Mrs.

Laurent.

ANNE:

Yes. Thank you, Mr. Mery. Thank

you.

17.

The superintendent hesitates another moment.

ANNE (CONT’D)

Yes, thanks.

SUPERINTENDENT:

Yes... So... Goodbye then, ma’am.

Welcome home again. Goodbye, Sir.

GEORGES:

Goodbye, Mr. Mery.

SUPERINTENDENT:

Goodbye.

He leaves the apartment.

There is a brief moment of perplexity. Then Georges says:

GEORGES:

(with a nervous smile)

Where do you want...

ANNE:

In the living room.

Georges pushes her toward the living room door, walks around

the wheelchair, opens the door, comes back behind the

wheelchair and pushes Anne into the LIVING ROOM.

The doorway is narrow. The wheelchair only just passes

through it. Georges pushes Anne toward the sofa and the

armchairs and then steps in front of her.

GEORGES:

Shall I make some tea?

ANNE:

(with a faint smile)

First come sit with me.

George registers her smile; he knows he’s behaving in a

clumsy way. He sits down in one of the two arm chairs.

ANNE (CONT’D)

Can you help me into the chair?

Georges stands back up.

GEORGES:

(eagerly)

Of course.

18.

He extends his hands. She puts on the wheelchair brake, lifts

the footrest with her left foot, raises her right leg from

the footrest with her left hand and then extends her left arm

to Georges.

ANNE:

It’s best if you put my arm around

your neck and your right arm around

me, that way it’ll be easy.

He does as he is told, pulls her up as they hobble together

the short distance to the second arm chair. Cautiously, he

lowers her down and helps her sit herself straight. Because

they are not used to it, the whole process appears awkward

and clumsy.

ANNE (CONT’D)

Thanks.

He smiles because it seems silly to him to answer “Don’t

mention it”. Then he sits down opposite her.

LONG PAUSE.

At first they are both ill at ease, but then they accept the

fact that words do not come easily. After a long while,

during which we hear the intermittent sound of the TRAFFIC

below.

GEORGES:

(softly almost to himself)

I’m glad you’re back.

ANNE:

(in a voice just as soft)

Me too.

Another PAUSE. Then Anne says:

ANNE (CONT’D)

Promise me one thing.

GEORGES:

What?

ANNE:

Please never take me back to the

hospital.

GEORGES:

What?

PAUSE.

19.

She looks at him. He has understood.

ANNE:

You promise?

GEORGES:

Anne...

ANNE:

You promise?

PAUSE.

GEORGES:

Anne, I...

ANNE:

Don’t talk right now. And don’t

give me any lectures. Please.

Rate this script:4.5 / 2 votes