The Sheltering Sky

This film contains scenes of a sexual nature.

ARABIC CHANT

Well...terra firma.

We must be the first tourists here since the war.

-Tunner, we're not tourists, we're travellers.

-Oh. What's the difference?

A tourist thinks about going home the moment they arrive.

A traveller might not come back at all.

You mean I'm a tourist?

Yes, Tunner.

And I'm half and half.

HE SPEAKS ARABIC

CHILDREN LAUGH AND CHATTER

Prenez les valises. Combien? Oui, monsieur.

L'argent apres.

Attention.

Tu as oublie quelque chose.

HE SPEAKS ARABIC

12, 13, 14, 15...

Your profession?

Not that I'm aware of.

Voyons, monsieur. Madame is a writer...

Monsieur Tunner is a businessman.

Vous devez avoir une profession.

My wife wrote one play five years ago

I thought it was wonderful, but the reviews were somewhat guarded.

Mr Tunner's only business is giving dinner parties on Long Island.

My husband's a composer.

He chooses to be modest.

Voila! Un artiste.

C'est tres bien, tres bien.

How long do you plan to stay?

Mr Tunner will stay about four weeks.

My wife and I will stay on for a year or two.

A year or two?

In this place?

That's it!

MUSIC: "Je Chante" by Charles Trenet

BOY: .."Le Monde", "Le Figaro", "L'Express...

The Italians are giving women the vote.

Encore trois Pernods.

We can take the train to Boussif. Then we have to take buses.

You've been to North Africa before. Kit and I will follow your plan.

My only plan is I have no plan.

Whatever you say.

OLD MAN: 'Because neither Kit nor Port had ever lived a life of regularity...

'they had made the fatal error of regarding time as non-existent.

'One year was like another.

'Eventually, everything would happen.'

I had a strange dream last night. I just remembered it.

Port, please. Other people's dreams are so dull.

I know, but I won't remember it if I don't tell it.

I was travelling on a train...

which was going to crash into a mountain of sheets.

Consult Madame La Hueff's "Great Gypsy Dream Dictionary".

Shut up.

I knew it was going to crash, but...what?

Why do you go on when you know it's boring?

Maybe Tunner would like to hear it.

Dreams are my cup of tea.

At some point, I felt I could stop the crash if I could open my mouth...

and scream.

Then I realised it was too late...

because I had reached up and broken off my teeth with my hand...

as if they were made of plaster.

I started to sob...

those terrible dream sobs that shake you like an earthquake.

It's all right, Tunner, leave her. >

Is she crying?

Kit has days when everything in the world is a sign for something else.

A white Mercedes can't just simply be a white Mercedes.

It must have a secret meaning about the whole of life.

Everything is an omen. Nothing can just be what it is.

I got 'em from the bellboy.

He said they belonged to General Montgomery.

I thought they might be Monty's.

Er...excuse me.

You're not staying at the Grand Hotel by any chance?

Yes.

Oh, good. I'm Eric Lyle.

I don't suppose you could... spare me 20 centimes, could you?

I don't have enough change for a sherry.

Oh. Oh, thanks. Thanks awfully.

Eric! You filthy toad!

What are you concocting?

Hello, Mother. Buying cigarettes.

You wretched little liar! You are imbibing!

You know what the doctor told you.

SHE SIGHS

What, sweetie?

Nothing.

Why did you have to tell your dream in front of Tunner?

I was telling it to him as much as I told it to you.

I realise you find dreams boring...

but why do you take everything so seriously?

What is a dream?

It's just that I don't trust Tunner. He's such a gossip.

And who might he gossip to here?

You forget, we'll be back in New York some day.

Perhaps. But I don't care if he tells the whole Eastern Seaboard.

Who gives a damn?

And what do you mean you don't trust Tunner? >

I don't feel at ease with him.

You might have said before we brought him along.

-You invited him.

-He invited himself.

Well, we let him come. YOU let him come.

Don't misunderstand me. He's tall, he's very rich, he's handsome.

I like him very much.

What does it mean you don't trust him? That must mean something.

Of course I mean something.

It's just not important.

I think I'll go for a walk. Want to come?

No, thanks. I'm really enjoying this room after all that sea.

I think I'll go for a walk. Want to come?

No, thanks. I'm really enjoying this room after all that sea.

I think I'll go...

-SHE LAUGHS

-No, thanks!

What do you want to do?

Isn't it time for you to rub my tummy?

I know what you're thinking.

That's a wonderful scent.

What do you mean about not trusting Tunner?

Port, let's just not talk about it.

OK, baby.

Anyway, Tunner is much more your business than he is mine.

Port!

DOOR SLAMS

-Bonsoir, monsieur.

-Bonsoir.

CHATTER IN FRENCH

ARABIC CHANT

PROLONGED CHANT

Qu'est-ce que tu cherches la? Monsieur, qu'est-ce que tu fais la?

Nothing.

DOGS WHIMPER

My name is Smail. I was in the Fifth Battallion of Sharpshooters.

Look.

I fought the war.

Much people died. Nothing to eat. That's all.

You're sad, monsieur.

No, I'm tired.

You live a short time.

Il faut rigoler. Have fun.

Yes, I know.

I will take you to a friend of mine - a girl.

Beautiful.

More than the moon.

You mean a whore.

Huh? A whore?

FAINT BANG

Port?

Je veux faire ta chambre, madame.

Non, merci.

Comme tu veux, madame.

Come, monsieur. See by yourself.

Monsieur...

HEY!

It is very late. Where are we going?

Down here. That's her tent. Come, monsieur, come, come.

DRUMMING IN BACKGROUND

Don't you take off your shoes?

No, thank you.

You pay her because you take up her time, that's all, monsieur.

-Why are you whispering?

-Shh! Because of the men in the other tents.

< Her name is Mahrnia.

DRUMMING CONTINUES

PIPE PLAYS

SHE SPEAKS ARABIC

SHE SPEAKS ANGRILY

SHE WAILS

EXCITED SHOUTS

STOP IT! STOP IT!

HAMMERING ON DOOR

God!

Who is it?

-TUNNER:

-Me! You awake?

Not very.

It's the best time of the day. You shouldn't miss it.

I'll be there in a minute, Tunner.

-KNOCKS

-You all right? >

Yeah.

Hi!

Hi!

Hello, Tunner.

You holding a seance in here?

You're in a disgustingly good mood.

I'm looking at you.

Where was Port last night? I waited up for him.

-You waited up for him?

-We had sort of a date at the cafe.

Then I read in bed till late. He hadn't come in by four.

He's already gone out again.

You mean he hasn't come in yet?

Will you order me some petit dejeuner?

I'd like some of their awful coffee and plaster croissants.

< Hello.

'You're a very curious person. It's hard to understand you.'

Stop trying to be interesting. On you it looks terrible. >

You're too good-looking.

-Are you ready?

-Hmm?

-I'm taking you shopping.

-Are you?

-Yes, before it gets too hot.

Didn't you say you wanted to buy a mosquito net?

That was yesterday. I'm exhausted. I don't know what I want.

You dress. And I'll wait in Port's room.

I'll even shut the door.

Do you and Port ever share the same room?

When you travel for months on end, you have to do this.

The first rule of marriage is never to confuse sex with sleep.

And Port usually works at night.

You mean he snores.

Or you do.

(Bore, bore, bore!)

KNOCK

May I come in?

Well, of course.

What happened to you?

Kit...

-Port...

-What is that?

It's only Tunner.

Why is he in my room?

< You know what, Kit? I've decided that you need me!

He's waiting for me while I dress.

-Stop it! Stop it!

-Go ahead and finish.

< Well, well!

What the hell is all this mess?

Back from the wars, eh?

And do you look it!

Kit and I were just going for a walk.

God, man, have you seen yourself?

Yes, I need some coffee.

Would the two of you get the hell out?

-Tunner, come on.

-See you later, old man. And get some sleep.

I feel quite, quite wretched today.

I suspect the malaria is coming back.

He looks like that murderer in Massachusetts last year...

< that sliced up children.

< I think the murderer's appearance was more wholesome.

What revolting water!

Then don't drink it, you sissy.

I'm so tired of your talk about dirt and worms. Don't drink it!

< Nobody cares.

(They are both monsters!)

She's a travel writer, guidebooks.

But they do own that Mercedes and they are driving to Boussif tomorrow.

Oh, God, how awful!

A choice between two tortures - taking the train or going with them.

Don't suffer over the choice before they give it to you.

Great! Another omen.

Oh, not again!

Useless frogs!

Yes, please. I would like, erm...

Yeah, mmm...kebab...

and, er, with some...

< What was all that about this morning with Tunner?

It looked as if he slept in my room.

I didn't want him to know you hadn't been back last night.

Is that so objectionable?

No, it's very considerate.

But what was he doing in my room?

You haven't told me what you were doing last night.

You haven't asked me.

And I'm not going to.

I'm sure they're going to ask us. And I'm terrified of trains.

I hate choices.

'Rather than make any effort to ease any tension between them...

'she was intransigent about everything.

'It could come about now or later, that much awaited reunion.

'But it must be all his doing.'

LAUGHTER >

You were right. The young monster just woke me up.

They're leaving in an hour by Mercedes to Boussif.

And, joy of joys, they've asked us to join them.

I knew it!

It's much faster by car - probably five hours instead of eleven.

Probably a lot safer, too.

Certainly a lot more comfortable.

The trains are hellish.

Why is it so dark out?

It's not dark. It's beautiful.

There is one slight problem.

They can't take all three of us.

Well, that settles it, then.

We can't leave Tunner.

What do you mean? He's not some kind of damn guest of ours.

We don't have to be with him every minute.

You don't have to, no.

You mean you do?

I'm not going to leave Tunner here and go off in that Nazi car

with that hideous redhead and that little criminal.

Little criminal?

He gives me the creeps.

But you can do exactly as you like.

I'm going on the train with Tunner.

Kit, you're terrified of trains.

Yes.

But now I've made my mind up.

To go with Tunner?

Yes.

Can you read in this light?

I'm just looking at the pictures.

I'm sorry. I get very nervous on trains.

Now, listen. I want you to forget about all that stuff.

I am here to make sure nothing happens to you.

'They search our rooms, they steal our things and they eavesdrop.'

Who does all this?

The Arabs. They are a stinking low race.

They hate us all. So do the French.

They loathe us most.

-I find Arabs very sympathetic.

-Because they're servile.

Once you turn your back...

-Once in Mogador...

-Shut up! Who wants to hear about your stupidity?

-Come on, Mother!

-Don't speak to me like that! You need a smack on the face!

How about some medicine for the nerves?

Not champagne?!

Oh, Tunner! Tunner!

Just what the doctor ordered.

We're saved!

Port would have a fit.

Port isn't here.

< Look! A burro!

It reminds me of Spain. That's a horrible country.

-Full of soldiers, priests and Jews.

-Jews?

They run the country, like everywhere else.

Only in Spain, they call themselves "catolico". Catolico!

-No, we must make it last.

-Why?

-Because it's magic. It stops trains.

Well, I've got lots of magic.

BOTH LAUGH

DISTANT CHANTING

Is that a man singing?

Hard to tell.

Drink up.

I think I was never meant to live.

Kit, I know you're nervous. That's why I brought the champagne.

Just relax. Take it easy.

-Who was it said...?

-No, Tunner!

GIGGLES

Champagne, yes, philosophy, no!

Gracious! Aren't we picturesque?

Yes, well, your presence completes the portrait.

Has your lovely wife arrived?

-She came last night, but I haven't seen her yet. She's asleep.

-Of course.

We're off to Ain Krofa tomorrow...poppet.

Apparently, there's a fairly decent hotel there.

Not as grand as this one, of course.

Grand?

My dear Mr Moresby, it's positively luxurious!

They say it's the best hotel from here to the Congo.

From now on, there's nothing with running water.

Nothing at all.

Mr Moresby, mind if I join you?

Pretty damn dull, isn't it?

Even worse with Mother Lyle around!

I was wondering, could you lend me something?

Just a little - say 10,000 francs?

5,000, perhaps.

As a loan, of course.

I'm not one of those fools who think all Americans are millionaires.

It's just that my mother's mad. She won't give me a penny.

What am I supposed to do?

Even 500 would keep me in smokes for a fortnight.

I'd never get it back and I haven't got it to give away.

I can let you have 300 francs, if that's any use to you.

I notice you smoke the local tobacco. Fortunately, it's very cheap.

THUMPING

(Oh, my God!)

(Tunner! Tunner!)

Tunner!

Wake up!

Wake up, Tunner!

What? What is it?

You're in my room!

-Hi.

-Hi! Get out of here!

Jesus! What time is it?

It's almost midday.

I can't remember anything!

I'll see you later.

Yes, you will.

HE HUMS

Tunner! Any champagne left?

Champagne! I'm in a panic.

-Last one.

-Thanks.

Tunner! Do I snore?

Snore? No!

Hello.

# La, la, la, la

# Oh, Port and Kit

# Oh, Kit and Port

# I love you, Port and Kit

# I love you, Kit and Port. #

Will you trade me if my chain slips?

No!

If Tunner didn't take such long siestas, we'd never be alone.

I think he's in love with you.

Port, don't be silly.

Sillier things have happened.

The way he hangs round making inane conversation.

The way he looks at you when he fingers his DDT can.

What else?

The ferocity with which he counts your luggage.

He counts yours too.

Hey, look.

Some day they'll kick the French out of this country.

With trousers like that, who can blame them? >

BOTH: # I said, Oh, Suzanna

# Now don't you cry for me

# Cos I come from Alabama

# With a banjo on my knee. #

Can you make it to the pass?

Huh!

Hey, wait!

SHE LAUGHS

Bye!

Wait!

Wait!

Ha!

You know, I miss times like this, places like this...

more than anything in the world.

I know you do.

This is what I wanted to show you. This place.

Yes.

Come on!

Here the sky is so strange.

It's almost solid.

As if it were protecting us from what's behind.

Look.

< What's behind?

Nothing. Just night.

I wish I was like you, but I'm not.

Maybe we're both afraid of the same thing.

No, we're not!

You're not afraid to be alone.

You don't need anything.

You don't need anyone.

You could live without me.

Kit, you know that for me loving means loving you.

No matter what's wrong between us, there could never be anyone else.

Maybe we're both afraid of loving too much.

HE SOBS

SHE SIGHS

PROLONGED MOAN

Let's leave here.

OK.

OK.

FLIES BUZZ

God!

Oh, oui, les salauds. On voit bien que nous sommes a Ain Krofa.

Pearl Harbour, Tunner! We're being attacked.

Jesus!

Attendez de les voir dans la ville. On dit comme la neige noire!

Quand est le prochain bus?

-Il y en a un pour Bou Noura le dimanche, et un camion pour Messaad.

-Oui.

That's it, then - on to Messaad.

Can't stay here a week. I'll be dead.

Good morning.

-BOTH:

-Morning.

My God! What are all these flies?

Welcome to Ain Krofa!

EXCITED CHATTER

It does have a smell all of its own, doesn't it?

Bienvenus.

Je peux vous donner une chambre magnifique.

Non, monsieur. Trois chambres, s'il vous plait.

Do you think Port suspects something?

I think he knows...

but he doesn't know that he knows.

SINGING

SHOUTS

What is that song?

I keep hearing it.

Abdel Wahab - "I'm weeping on your grave."

I am weeping for my gin and tonic.

According to Port, everyone eventually gets used to anything.

If it's true, there'd be no progress.

It's true. I just don't know whether it's good or bad.

Neither.

This may be the only hotel in town,

but I can do better than this at the market. Look at these corpses.

They're weevils. Must have been in the noodles.

They're in the soup now.

It's thick with them.

HE SLURPS

You all can eat here at Carrion Towers if you like.

I can find better stuff than this at the market.

So long, then.

All right.

Seems as if bad food is the only way I can be alone with you.

It is fairly awful, isn't it?

It truly is.

They may have eggs in the kitchen.

CAR HORN

-Oh, no!

-Oh, yes!

Get rid of these little brats!

Come here, Mummy.

SHE SPEAKS ARABIC

Go away!

Sod off, you smelly bugger!

Could you be happy here?

Happy?

Happy, how do you mean?

I mean, could you like it here?

How do I know?

I wish you wouldn't ask me questions like this.

Really, I can't answer them!

What do you want me to say? Yes, I'll be happy in Africa?

I like Ain Krofa so much.

But I can't tell whether I want to stay for a month or leave tomorrow.

You couldn't leave tomorrow, even if you wanted to.

I can't find out how to get out of this place.

No buses, not even a fruit truck. Nobody speaks English.

Anybody for a nightcap?

Not for me, thank you.

Well, then, good night.

You sure?

That's kind of you, thanks, but no.

-Night!

-Port.

Good night.

PLUCKING ON STRING INSTRUMENT

KNOCKING

Come in.

It's me - Eric.

I hope I'm not disturbing you, old man.

Why are you tiptoeing?

Don't know.

It's about the money you lent me. I'd like to pay it back.

You don't need to. It was a gift.

I'd like to all the same, really.

Just, erm, 300...

..300 francs, wasn't it?

Mother and I are leaving in the morning and I knew you were here.

I hope you have change for 1,000.

-Would you like me to look?

-If you could.

Where are you going tomorrow?

Messaad.

You're kidding?

That is exactly where my friend would like to go - Mr Tunner.

-Oh?

-Yes.

I, erm...

Well, we're...

we're leaving before dawn.

I could go and tell him right away.

You wouldn't mind giving him a lift, would you?

Could you stomach one of my cigarettes?

Oh, yes, thank you.

We can forget about the money.

Oh, well...

All right.

If you really want to get rid of him!

Excuse me.

Merci.

"K, gone to Messaad with the Lyles.

"Maybe I'll find you more champagne.

"See you in Bou Noura. Love, Tunner."

So what happened to Tunner?

Gone with the monsters.

He left me his cushion.

Good.

We're meeting up in Bou Noura? Is that the plan?

More or less, yes.

More or less?

Less, actually.

Port, are you packing?

Yes, I am.

There's a bus to Bou Noura after all.

A bus today?

Yeah. It leaves in the afternoons.

It didn't exist yesterday.

You know how transport is here - always improvised.

This trunk.

You wrote "Mexican Overture" sitting on this trunk. Remember?

Did I?

Yes.

So we're off on our own, then?

Yes.

We've been married a long time.

I don't think ten years is such a long time.

SHOUTING

What in God's name are you doing?

Celebrating!

I'm not sure what, but I am.

I felt like I'd die if I didn't see my things.

We've been living like refugees. I haven't unpacked since the boat.

The only trouble is there are no mirrors here.

So, how do I look?

Well...

Have you seen my glasses, the ones with the clip-ons?

Have you seen my passport, the one with the photo?

No!

I lost it.

You haven't?!

That's all right, then.

Yes, I have.

GOD, WHAT A BORE!

Have you seen anyone in my room?

Did you look through everything?

Yeah.

Port, are you cold?

Yeah, I am a little bit.

I should notify someone.

The sooner the better, I suppose.

Do you think sooner is better?

By the way...

you look OK.

DOG BARKS

Hi.

My passport wasn't lost. It was stolen by Eric Lyle.

< I told you he was a criminal.

The Lieutenant says it'll be at the Messaad Foreign Legion barracks,

where it'll bring the highest price. That's where young Eric was headed.

Port, it's awfully peculiar that someone could be constantly cold...

in the Sahara Desert in September.

I'll feel better once we get to El Gaa.

El Gaa?

The most beautiful city in the Sahara.

It's odd to be here without official proof.

When are we going to El Gaa?

We could have taken the bus tomorrow, but it was full.

Don't worry. I'll pack your things.

What about our plans? What about Tunner?

What about Tunner? He'll catch up.

Or maybe we'll still be here.

We're standing in a cemetery.

We are?

Look at the markers.

No names, no dates, just pieces of broken pottery.

Don't you ever think we should stop?

Stay somewhere, at least for a while.

Stop? Really stop? Stopping?

Maybe we could in El Gaa. It's very beautiful there.

It's certainly much warmer.

Timbuktu, El Gaa - it doesn't matter.

But if you'll be happier, we'll go to El Gaa.

And we'll stay in El Gaa.

SHIVERING

PIPES PLAY

CHATTERING

DRUMS AND PIPES

MUSIC ENDS

CLAPPING AND WAILING

THEY CHANT

HE SPEAKS ARABIC

Si tu ne vends pas ta maladie, tu ne trouveras pas un acheteur.

Tu ne seras pas sauve.

FRANTIC CHANTING

KNOCKING

Oui?

Merveilleux, monsieur. Ils ont trouve votre passeport a Messaad.

Monsieur Tunner arrive demain.

-Monsieur Tunner?

-Oui - votre ami.

-Demain?

-Oui - avec votre passeport.

Monsieur.

Non, monsieur. Le car pour El Gaa est complet depuis une semaine.

ARABIC

Tu es malade, monsieur?

Non, mais ma femme est tres malade. Nous devons partir aujourd'hui.

-Mais c'est pas possible!

-C'est possible. C'est tres possible.

Oui, c'est possible, c'est possible, c'est possible, c'est possible...

C'est possible?

-C'est possible?

-C'est possible. Americain?

-Oui.

Port? Port?

Come on, get up. You'll ruin your back. Get up.

Port? Port?

Come, sit up. Port, please.

Come on. Sit up, I'll help you.

Port, please.

HE BREATHES HEAVILY

Come on, Port. Come on.

There.

Let me cover you. You're freezing.

Is that better?

My God!

Something's really wrong with me.

What do you think it is?

Huh?

When...

When do we arrive? Not till noon?

You need to sleep.

Come on, darling, put your head on my shoulder. You need to sleep.

OK? Can you rest?

You'll feel better if you sleep. Can you sleep?

You haven't called me darling for more than a year.

Port.

Tu t'arrive a El Gaa. Tu t'arrive a El Gaa.

Le sel de Sudan, la plume des autruches, les peaux des leopards.

Les valises! Les valises!

Les valises, s'il vous plait.

-Are you all right?

-Yes. I slept so well.

-It's great here.

-Oh, my God!

-Wind!

-It's wonderful!

You've arranged my suite of rooms?

LAUGHS: Yes, and I found the four-star restaurant!

Drinks on the veranda!

I love them all together like this.

-As opposed to individually.

-I didn't mean that. Why do...

Port, what is it? What's wrong?

Port, can you get up?

Une hotel! Une hotel!

Please, try to stand.

Just try to stand, please. Can you walk? Please.

Are you here? Are you here?

Stand up. Put your arm round me.

I bit my tongue.

Right this way. It's all right.

-Il y a un fondouk?

-Il y a un fondouk la-bas, madame.

I always wondered what it would be like to bite my tongue.

Port, can you walk? Just a little bit further.

If you stay in one place, you'll be fine.

Port, stand up, please!

Please! Are you all right?

-Do I have a fever?

-Yes, you're very hot.

Please, Port, don't panic. I'm going to take care of you.

What was the...hotel in Salzburg with...reindeer on those plates?

Port, can you stay here?

Yes, I'm all right. Hurry. Hurry.

I'll hurry.

S'il vous plait, Hotel du Ksar?

Hotel du Ksar!

-You'll be all right?

-Yes, good.

I'm cold.

Port, I'll be right back.

S'il vous plait, plus vite.

Ou est l'hotel? Ou est l'hotel?

Pas loin, madame.

C'est loin? C'est loin?

-Encore beaucoup?

-Non, non.

-Voila l'hotel.

-Non, vite, vite!

HAMMERS ON DOOR

SPEAKS ARABIC WITH WOMAN INSIDE

Pourquoi elle nous laisse pas entrer? Open up, please!

Who are you, madame?

Vous etes la proprietaire?

You cannot expect me to let you in. We are free of the epidemic.

Madame, what epidemic?

You did not know? Mais oui, madame, partez!

OK, calm. I have to think.

-Viens, madame.

-Ou on va?

-Fondouk.

-Fondouk, oui.

WHIMPERING

PIPES AND DRUMS PLAY

We must leave here! On doit partir!

Not now!

Un camion. Une voiture. Un autobus.

N'importe quel prix.

Port?

Port!!

Shut up! Shut up! Arretez! Arrete!

MUSIC STOPS

Port, come on, you have to help me. I can't do this alone. Come on.

Il n'y a pas des autres flutes?

Port. Port, can you hear me?

La musique, c'est encore? Encore.

Port...please.

MUSIC STARTS AGAIN

Porter, can you hear me?

I found a truck.

It's going to a village called Sbaa. They say there's a fort.

The Foreign Legion is there. It's going to be all right.

It's going to be fine.

Attention.

All right, baby?

All right?

Madame! Madame! Madame!

Madame!!

-Can typhoid kill you?

-Not always, madame.

One of my men will bring a mattress. It will not be very comfortable.

But what can you expect? You are in Sbaa, not in Paris.

Give him the pills every two hours.

Au revoir. Be courageous, madame.

You have to take these.

There are two pills. I want you to swallow them.

Here's some water.

Port, it's time for your pills.

Time for your pills.

Here you go.

Here they are.

Here's some water.

Try to swallow it.

Did you get it?

I'm going to go out, all right?

I'm going to get some air.

I'll be back in a little bit.

You feel cooler. Yes.

THEY SPEAK ARABIC

Merci.

Port.

I want you to have some soup.

It looks good. Can you sit up?

Good.

Here.

Port. Port, try to swallow it.

Port.

Port, try again. Here.

COUGHS

Please try some more. It's hot now.

Port.

Oh!

WIND HOWLS

SHUTTER BANGS

Port?

Port?

Port...here.

I've put your pills with some milk.

Please try to swallow it. Can you?

Can you try to swallow? Just swallow.

I'll do some more, OK. Swallow, honey, swallow.

Can you swallow?

I know, I know.

Can you try?

Swallow, please. Please.

LAUGHS

OK.

HE GASPS FOR BREATH

FLIES BUZZ

Kit?

Kit?

-Kit?

-Yes?

I was trying to get back, and right now I am.

Yes.

Is there anyone here?

What?

Is there anyone here?

No, no. No, there's nobody here.

Hi, how are you? Good to see you.

Is...is that door locked?

Yes.

Cos there...

..there are these things I want to tell you, but I can't remember them.

Well, fever's like that.

Do you want some warm milk?

I don't think there's time.

I don't know.

-I'll just go and get it.

-Please stay here.

I'm so glad you're feeling better. I was going crazy.

I'm so glad you're feeling better.

I know I shouldn't be afraid, but I am.

Because sometimes I'm not here.

And there...is so far away.

And I'm all alone.

And you know, I don't... think anyone could ever get there.

Do you...?

No, Port, you have to stay down.

Do you know how awful it is?

SHE CRIES

See... Kit...

..all those years, I lived for you, and I didn't know it.

And now I do know it.

Yeah, I know it.

Port, I'm right here.

-But you're going away.

-No, I'm not! I'm right here!

I'm here, Port, I'm here!

Will you stay here? Will you stay here?

-No, no, no.

-Please stay in this room!

Port, I'm here!

-I can't, I can't.

-No!

SHE WEEPS

Port!

Stay here!

Port, please, stay here!

Stay with me.

Port? Port?

Port? Port?

Look at me.

Port! Here. I'm right here.

See me?

Stay here, please!

Porter! Porter!

Please don't go!

Please don't go! Please!

Please!

VIOLENT COUGHING AND SPLUTTERING

Il y a un docteur?

Can you help me? A doctor?

PROLONGED SCREAM

Ou elle est passe? J'aurais du l'enfermer.

Aidez-moi! Help me!

Il y a un docteur?

Un docteur? Can you help me?

Please!

Can somebody help me?

Please!

DISTANT VOICES

Can you put this up?

Please take it. Please.

CALLS OUT

MAN REPLIES

HE SPEAKS ARABIC

CAMEL GRUNTS

WHOOPING AND SHOUTING

CHATTERING AND LAUGHTER

HE SPEAKS ARABIC

SINGING

ARABIC CHANTING

DISTANT SHOUTS

CHANTING CONTINUES

HE SHOUTS

THEY LAUGH

THEY SHOUT IN ARABIC

DRUMS AND SINGING

DRUM AND HIGH-PITCHED SCREAM

WAILING

PIPE PLAYS

EXCITED CHATTER

THEY ARGUE WITH WOMAN

THEY ARGUE IN ARABIC

ARABIC PHRASE

HE REPEATS THE PHRASE

< HE REPEATS END OF PHRASE

< HE SAYS ANOTHER ARABIC WORD

HE REPEATS WORD

SHE REPEATS IT

Toes!

Knees.

Thighs.

You like it?

Bye.

HORN BLARES

-Oh, dear!

-Hmm?

-Oh, I say!

-It's that Tunner feller.

-What?

He's still here!

Come on!

Madame, bienvenue! Bienvenue!

Vous avez fait un bon voyage?

-Pas trop fatigue?

-Non, non, non.

Vous voulez la meme chambre?

Hello. Hello there. Hello.

I thought you'd gone back to America.

How long have you been in Bou Noura?

Three months.

Are you with the Moresbys? Such charming people they were.

Have you heard from them at all?

Yes, they're fine.

Will you excuse me?

Au revoir.

Venez, madame. Venez vous reposer.

Amenez vite les bagages.

DRUMS AND SINGING

WAILING

SHE SPEAKS ABRUPTLY

MUSIC STOPS

CHILDREN GIGGLE

FLIES BUZZ

Here, here. Here, take it.

No, take it! It's money.

It's real! It's French money!

Just take it all! No!

No!

Leave me! Please!

Let me go!

Please!

Please let go!

Let go!

Oh, God!

Please!

I can't breathe! I can't breathe!

GASPS

No, no!

Let go!

Please!

Mrs Katherine Moresby?

I'm from the American Embassy.

You must be absolutely exhausted.

I flew all the way here to bring you back.

How long have you been down here?

SHIP'S HORN BLARES

We're putting you in the Grand Hotel. You'll be more comfortable.

It's more comfortable than anything down in your neck of the woods.

Your friend Mr Tunner has been bombarding the Consulate with wires.

He was very upset about you, so we let him know we'd found you.

I hope you don't mind my presumption, but I wired Mr Tunner.

I shouldn't be surprised if he's in town now. Probably at the Grand.

Ah, then, here we are.

I'll keep the taxi cab for myself.

Well, then, I'll go inside and see.

Kit.

MUSIC: "Je Chante" by Charles Trenet

.."Le Monde", "Le Figaro", "L'Express"...

Are you lost?

Yes.

'Because we don't know when we will die,

'we get to think of life as an inexhaustible well.

'Yet everything happens only a certain number of times.

'How many more times will you recall a certain childhood afternoon

'that's so much part of your being, you can't imagine life without it?

'Perhaps four or five times more. Perhaps not even that.

'How many more times will you watch the full moon rise? Perhaps 20.

'And yet it all seems limitless.'