The Walk Page #3

- No.

- No?

- Not even a little bit?

- No, no.

Okay, but I'm going to tell you anyway.

You can tell me, but I won't care.

I know a place where

there are two beautiful trees.

I didn't realize it at the time

but Annie had become my first accomplice.

- Annie.

- Yes?

I was thinking

you should come up here with me.

No, I don't think so.

Yes.

It will be your baptism of the wire.

No.

Come on, Annie.

You must trust me.

Okay.

And breathe

and step.

Indeed, there were two beautiful trees

growing in the park of Annie's art school.

So, she arranged for me to

be able to hang my wire there.

It was perfect,

'cause I could practice every day

and I could see Annie as well.

Then, one day, while I was on my wire

I was approached by a very

serious-looking young man.

Do you mind if I take your photo?

Perhaps.

I am Philippe.

Jean-Louis.

Jean-Louis,

do you speak English, Jean-Louis?

Yes. Why?

Because I must practice.

I'm going to America.

To perform?

Exactly.

But my performance will not just be a show.

It will be a coup.

Yes.

I intend to rig my wire in secret

on the most spectacular stage in the world.

And then, without warning,

I will appear.

And I will perform a surprise

and illegal wire walk.

If it works, it will be the

artistic coup of the century.

Wow.

Well, you, my friend,

can see my photographs any time.

They're very rebellious.

So, you are not just a photographer,

you are an anarchist as well?

All artists are anarchists to some degree.

- Don't you agree?

- Yes.

And you, my artist, anarchist friend,

can be my

official photographer.

And so this is how

I make friends with Jean-Louis,

my second accomplice.

If that were to happen during your coup,

it would be the artistic disaster

of the century.

I need to know more.

Don't you know

how to knock on a door?

I need you to teach me

how to rig a high wire.

High wire for what?

You're a street juggler.

But I need to know

how to tie the correct knots.

I need to know what kind of cable to use, the

weight, the thickness, the load strength.

So, you want me

to just give you my secrets.

Secrets I've spent a lifetime learning.

Secrets I've only given to my sons.

You want me to just hand them over to you.

I can pay you. I have money.

I don't care what it costs.

Meet me at le cirque

at sunrise.

Bring your juggling money.

Place wood blocks between

the cable and mast.

Okay.

The wood blocks act as buffer,

so when masts flex, the wire won't snap.

And always, always

check the rigging yourself.

Never step on a wire

if you've not checked

all of the rigging yourself.

- Capisce?

- Okay.

There was this great Polish guy,

wire walker, Roman.

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