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Trance (2013)
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19 million, it's against you, sir. 20 million pounds. 20. Here's the bid at 20 million. 21 million. Back in the aisle. There is a painting, it's by Rembrandt. 'Storm On The Sea Of Galilee', it's called... ...and he's in it. Old Rembrandt, he's in the painting. He's in there, right in the middle of the storm, looking straight out at you. But...you can't see him. And the reason you can't see him is because the painting has been stolen. Lots of paintings have been stolen. They're still missing. 'Pride Of Lions' showing here on my left. Thank you. I start the bidding here at a thousand guineas. It used to be anyone could steal a painting. There was no need for a gun. AM it took was a bit of muscle and some nerve. And that... ...was that. But not anymore. Those days are gone. A business can't function taking big hits like that. So now we have procedures... ...and precautions and security measures. Now we have a policy. We have bag searches and magnetic alarms and silent scanners... ...and X-ray machines and cameras. Also we have drills. And the first thing they tell us is... Do not be a hero. This is a robbery! Now no piece of art is worth a human life. It's a sound piece of advice, that. No piece of art is worth a human life. But... ...in the event of an event... ...or situation we are to remove the most valuable item... ...or items and take them to a place of safety. I.E., the fast-drop slot... ...in a time delay vault. That's about all you can do really. Come and enjoy the auction. I mean, if you wanna let people in, if you want them to bid... And when you're trying to og the star of the show for 25 million sterling... ...you definitely want them to bid. 650,000. Sold to paddle 88. Congratulations, madam. Ladies and gentlemen... ...there will now be a brief interval. When we reconvene, our head auctioneer, Francis Lemaitre... ...will lead the auction for Goya's 'Witches In The Air'. Thank you very much. So we notify the cops about big ticket sales... ...and we even keep half a dozen Ukrainian ex-naval commandos... ...in a van outside, just in case it all kicks off. Or so they say. Simon, are you coming? I'm about to start. Uh... Yeah. Here we go. So, what happens, of course, is that just as we up our game, the villains up theirs. They don't just turn up on spec anymore. We have precautions, they have plans. They do research, they do recces. They learn about our cameras and scanners... ...and Ukrainian ex-naval commandos but some things don't change. It still takes muscle and it still takes nerve. Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen, and welcome to Delancy's. We are extremely honored to be selling Francisco de Goya's wonderful work... ...of 'Witches In The Air'. Goya, the father of modern art... ...and the first great painter of the human mind. Let's start the bidding at 5 million pounds. Thank you, sir. 5 million pounds. An opening bid. 5 million, 500 thousand. 6 million. In the center here at 10 million pounds. 11 million on the aisle. 12 million. 13 million. 17 million. Thank you, sir. 18 million. 19 million. Bad luck. 20? 21 million pounds. Take your time. 22 million. Thank you. Telephone bidder now. 26 million. 26 on the telephone. 27 to the lady on the aisle. Small one? Small one. 27 million, 500 thousand I'll take. Last chance. Hammer's coming down. I'm selling for 27 million, 500 thousand pounds. Sold. Paddle number 104. Get down! Get down! Gas. Gas! Everybody out now! Everybody get out the building now! Come on! Gas attack. Gas attack, gas attack. Attention please. Attention please. Please evacuate the building. Please do not use the elevators. Make your way to the nearest emergency exit. So when it happens, as one day it must... ...it is imperative not to panic. Follow the drill and let the training kick in. If circumstances allow... ...if, remember only if... ...in the event of an event... ...or situation... ...we are to remove, where possible, the most valuable item or items... ...and take them to a place of safety. Stop right there. Step back. Remember, do not be a hero. Put it down. No piece of art is worth a human life. No, no, no... Don't. Fucking idiot! Riz, let's go. Afternoon, Sister. And how are you feeling? Um... Fine. Been up? Mmm-hmm. Walking? Yeah. Walking and everything. You know who you are? Yeah, I think so. How do you feel about going home? Jolly good! Right, come on, troops, let's go. Thanks. Oh, fuck off! Fuck's sake. Hello? Hey, Simon. Franck wants to see you. Where is it? I don't know. I'm sorry, Franck. You must have taken it. You must have put it somewhere. Yeah, I must have. I know I... Well, did you or did you not? I can't remember! I got hit on the head! That you remember? Yeah, I got a big fucking scar on my head to remind me, don't I? What did you expect? You assaulted me. I had a shotgun. Simon, the plan was simple. All you needed to do was take the painting and bring it to me. I know, I... So, where is it? I don't know, I can't remember. I can't remember. I'm sorry, I can't remember. Franck! Amnesia's bollocks. Everyone knows amnesia is bollocks. No, it's not. It's not going to work. - What do you mean? - He cannot remember. How did you work that out? Look at him. Any man who knew would have told you by now. Hey. You know what? I ought to kill you. Why don't you? Finish the job and put me out of my misery. And then... ...you can find your own fucking painting. Riz. Give him some food. Well, his brain is intact on a gross level. On a smaller scale, who's to say? What I'm saying is we don't know. The memories may come back, they may not. All you can do is wait and see. Isn't there something you can do? For memory? Nothing. Except time. Some sort of medicine? There's no drug therapy for amnesia. What about other sorts of therapy? Here. - Pick one. - Ow! Hypnosis? He said it might work. What am I gonna tell him? I stole a painting and now I've lost it? You know, you make something up. What if that doesn't work? Doesn't work? Simon... Doesn't work?! Okay, okay. Urn... That one. Why her? I don't know. I like the name. Right. You walk across a wide open space. Exactly the sort of place which might once have made you panic. You are in Cape Canaveral and you are Head of Mission Control. The rocket is ready to launch and although you are excited... ...you will not prematurely release the rocket. And now you watch as the spider leaves its web... ...and crawls slowly across the floor towards you. There is 30,000 feet of air between you and the ground... ...and the sound of those perfectly functioning jet engines... ...is making you feel calm because you know... ...that you are not hungry... ...and that these are feelings of stress and loneliness... ...and that you will see the ball cross the green and disappear into the hole. Um, okay, um, my name is not Simon Newton. My name is David Maxwell. Uh, I cannot find my car keys. Please stop doing that. Stop hitting it. Say your name. Okay. My name is David Maxwell. Yeah, set. Seriously, what if I say too much? We wake you up. Mr. Maxwell? Mr. Maxwell? - Mr. Maxwell? - That's me. I'm sorry. Something the matter? Of course not. I'm Elizabeth Lamb. I'm... Mr. Maxwell. Please. Okay. You've come to find your car keys? Yep. They're just in here. I wish. Hang up your coat. Have a seat. Have you ever been hypnotized before? No. Um... No. No, at least not that I can remember. I suppose you've spent some time trying to remember where you put these keys? I've tried everything. I just keep coming up against a brick wall. Of course. So... ...I don't want you to do the work today. I want you... to sit back. And I want you to close your eyes. We're starting, right. I want you to think about someone else. Someone who could do it for you. Another man. Like you but not you. I want you to focus on him. Let him take over. Is he there? Yes. Is he under already? Do you wanna give him a name? Simon. Simon Newton. Get him out of there. No, no. Right, Simon. Welcome to the session. Thanks. It's really nice to be here. Now I want you to relax, Simon. I like your voice. And now your mind is starting to think. So think about those keys. And you now can feel them in your hand. The shape. The metal. And you can see the color. Blue. They are on a blue key-ring. And your mind starts to think about the last time you remember them. I'm trying to walk... ...and they're in my pocket. And I want you to picture them in your pocket... ...exactly as they were before you lifted them out... ...and you placed them somewhere. A safe place... ...that, when the time is right, you will be able to reach for them and they will be there. Where did you say they were? In the wardrobe. What's in the wardrobe, Simon? The... I'm sorry about that. Was I hypnotized? No, you were just finding your car keys. Whoa, whoa, whoa. Let me fucking get in through there. Really sorry. I kept thinking about the painting. She just kept saying "keys". Well, that's it, then, it can't be done. She got his name in 30 seconds. And she found the car keys. Whatever is in his head, she can find. What am I supposed to say, that I lost my keys again? You're the clever boy. You got us into this so now you think of something to get us out. And you make it work. Hey! Fucking pedestrians! Hey! St. Pancras please. You must think I'm stalking you. No, I just think you've put yourself under a lot of pressure. To be honest, I'm not here to look for my keys. I found them, thank you. I'm looking for something a bit more... ...personal. And... ...I can't tell you what it is. It's not porn. I promise. And I just really need to find this thing. Hypnosis is the perfect tool. I don't need to know what it is. So I 'd like you to close your eyes and imagine you're in an elevator. A wide elevator with velvet walls and thick carpets. And as the doors close... ...your eyelids become heavier. And as your eyes become heavier and the elevator begins to go down... ...you realize that this is the elevator of relaxation. And now you're on the third floor going down... ...and you could get out but you want to go on... ...deeper. Deeper. Deeper into relaxation. And you feel that perhaps you'll never want to get out. It's so safe here. So comfortable. So relaxed. I don't wanna talk to Simon anymore. I wanna talk to the men who are listening. The men who hurt him. Oh, fuck. You feel safe? - Safe? - Yes. I don't think you'll hurt me. You're right. Absolutely. It would be irrational. And yet we are like that, aren't we? All of us sometimes stupid. Irrational. It's fear, I think. Fear of the unknown. There are four of us but we are frightened of you. You don't need to be. I'm so glad to hear that. Simon is an unusual subject. He floats in and out of trance very easily. But... ...he's got a lot on his mind. Fear. Resentment. Anger. Why do you think he did it? Greed, most likely. Does he strike you as greedy? Everyone is-- sooner or later. Simon wanted the painting, that's it. For himself? Well, it's not like he did it for someone else. Quite sure of that, are you? Please don't. So, can you do it? Hypnotherapy will work. But? Only if it's a partnership. Very well. The finder's fee is 3%. It's not enough. See what I mean? It's not about the money. I have to have equal status in the group... ...otherwise Simon won't respect me. If you wanna make progress... ...you really have to move beyond getting one over on people, Franck. Hypnotherapy is a means of altering unwanted or dysfunctional behavior. The unwanted behavior in Simon's case is forgetting. You mean he's doing it deliberately? Not in the sense that you mean, Dominic. We keep secrets from lots of people, but most of all we keep them from ourselves. And we call that forgetting. Now, Simon... ...I'd like you to close your eyes. Okay, okay. I'd like you to think about being at home. Home is a place where you feel secure. In control. You are feeling refreshed and positive. And when the doorbell rings... ...you feel a rush of enthusiasm. Hello? Parcel for Simon Newton, please. Er... coming. Hey, Mr. Postman. Thank you very much. You are excited... ...but you stay calm... ...because you know that this is no ordinary package. Inside this package... ...is the memory that you have been waiting for. And you know that when you open it up you will find what you did that day... ...what you did with the painting. And now... ...taking your time... ...you open it. Now you're not going to rush... ...because it's a big step even to have got this far. Slowly... ...so as not to upset the contents... ...you open it. Franck. May I? Yeah. Are you okay? Fine. How did you meet them? Riz... ...I used to buy drugs from Riz. That was it really. Well, the thing is, I needed money. What for? Gambling debt. I was--I am... ...addicted... ...to gambling. I was really good at it, you know. I wasn't quite good enough, though. And not really good enough isn't really good at all. Not at that level. I tried to give it up. I tried everything I could to kick it. I should have tried hypnotism. You should. Maybe next time? Anyway, I did what all bad gamblers do... ...I borrowed more and played for higher and higher stakes hoping... ...that my luck would change. And when that didn't happen... ...I panicked. To various people... ...in various ways I am in for money I don't have. Never will. This painting came in. This fucking painting. Are you a gambling man, Simon? Because I'll wager you, anything you care to name... ...that I can flog this in the autumn sale for over 25 million. Sterling. And I know it sounds ridiculous, an inside job, but it just seemed like the answer. I didn't know any criminals so I thought Riz might. He brought me here. He introduced me to Franck. Franck cleared my debt in return for the painting. I owe him a lot of money. And I don't know what I'm going to do. He's afraid that once he's remembered, you'll kill him. - That's ridiculous. - Is it? Let's talk about killing. Have you ever killed anyone, Dominic? No. Well, yeah, in Iraq. Loads, obviously. But that's artillery, isn't it? You never get to see exactly who you've... Nate. Killed anyone? Define 'killed'. That's exactly why he won't open up. His behavior isn't dysfunctional, it's entirely logical. It's straightforward self-preservation. Why do you think he cheated you in the first place? So what do you suggest? How do we make him feel more secure? In an ideal world he'd kill you all. That would do it, right? Ideal. Most likely. Okay. But supposing, for the sake of argument, we don't go for that. Then what? He needs to see you weak and exposed to whatever it is you fear the most. Nonsense. Not gonna happen. He needs to know that you're vulnerable. If you're suggesting what I think... I'm a professional. I'm not going to put you on the stage. The answer is definitely 'no'. Now the next voice you hear-- will be Simon's. And he is going to say the word that I have prepared for you. And when he speaks that word... ...you will descend into your very own world of fear... ...from which only he can bring you back. Strawberry. Simon. Simon, say it! Strawberry. That was incredible. Are you all right? Yeah. Why? He doesn't know. Oh, I'm sorry, man. Shall I scrub your back? How did you...? Well, I used to... ...I used to, you know... So... ...we got enough, I think, to make our boy feel secure. Safe to remember, all that. I think so. Now we progress. I like that, it's good. Soon we'll have the painting. And what about poor old Nate? Does he still fall to pieces at every mention of the little berry? No. Sustained post hypnotic suggestion is more difficult. More difficult, but you can do it, right? Not to everyone, of course. 5%? Correct me if I'm wrong. 5% of the population? Yes. Can be described as extremely suggestible. Wow, 5%. Who'd have thought? And what can you make them do? Well, I'm just asking. I'm interested. All right. Well, let's see, if you had the right person... ...if you get a hold of them, dig right in... ...if you get them under your spell... ...if you work hard --and take your time... ...and do it right... ...you can make them want to do... ...almost... ...anything. There you are... ...in an open-top car... ...driving through the French countryside with a beautiful young woman. And the radio plays some forgotten song... ...and the sun burns the back of your heads in the warm wind... ...and with every mile you travel... ...all your problems seem so far away and so long ago. And soon a field of sunflowers gives way to a low building... ...of stone and tile. The girl's dress, her calves... ...leads you through a corridor to a vast room of paintings. Caravaggio's 'Adoration'. Cezanne. Vermeer's 'Concert'. Van Gogh. Modigliani. Manet. Degas. And Rembrandt himself. 'The Storm On The Sea Of Galilee'. These are the lost paintings... ...all the stolen and destroyed, but now together... ...authenticated, safe. She takes your hand and leads you into a final room. And it's in here... ...in this magical safe place... ...that you feel ready. And you reach into the package... ...and you lift out your memory. The memory of what happened that day. The memory of what you did. And now... ...safe and relaxed... ...you decide to watch. You decide to remember. ...fifty thousand pounds. Sold to paddle 88. I remember that day. I remember. I take the painting. I carry it in front of me. And I cut the canvas free with a razor blade. I conceal the painting. I carry on. Remember... ...no piece of art is worth a human life. Sound advice that. And I try to remember it. You see if you can. I discard the razor blade. We are to take the most valuable item, or items, to a place of safe... Franck?! Stay back. Put it down. Simon... He's about to look. I can't let him. Don't. From a safe distance... ...you see that you have been hit. Simon?! Simon! But you continue to watch. You continue to remember. I still have it. I wake up and I still have the painting. I get up and I go outside. There's a noise. I have to walk away. I cannot stay here, not with this painting. I feel my heart vibrating. My phone vibrating. I look at it. The car nearly kills me. She's in the car. Who is? You are! Oh my God. Are you all right? Elizabeth? I'm not Elizabeth. Shall I call an ambulance? I remember. I remember everything. Look, why don't I take you to hospital? Yeah. Elizabeth? Shall I help you with your seat belt? Why did you lie to me? What? You made me forget. He's got it on him. Look, he's got it on him. Okay, maybe I oughta just-- call for that ambulance. Open your jacket. Who called you? I'm sorry. Will you let me go, please? Tell him where you left it! I don't want you to go. Never mind her! Forget about her! Open his jacket! What are you gonna do with the fucking painting?! Just get him to tell us where he put it. Tell us where you left it! Simon, can you hear me? Yes, I can hear you. Good. Can you see the blue screen? Yes. I'm going to show you some images... ...while we scan the response generated in your brain by each one. The images will continue to run but you can override that by thinking of a particular one. And every 10 seconds the least chosen image will be discarded until there is only one left. However, every time you think of this one... ...you will receive an electric shock. And the more you select it the higher the voltage. Do you understand? Yeah. Hello. I slept on the sofa. I was worried about you. I had this dream. Wasn't a dream. I am so... ...so, so sorry. What is a person, Franck? Not my line of work. It's fine. Being obsessed with someone is fine? No. But to have feelings... ...yes. What we are... ...is the sum of everything we've ever said, done and felt... ...all wrapped up in one unique thread which is constantly being revised and remembered. Soto be yourself you have to constantly remember yourself. It's a full-time job but that's how it works. When you hit him on the head you broke the thread. He's fixing it... ...with false memories, with fantasies. There's a space to fill so... ...he fills it with me. He's in love with you? We call it transference. I don't know what to say... ...now. Okay. But where is the painting? The same place it's always been. Yes, but now you are the problem. Yes. But I may also be the solution. When in doubt --try something traditional. Traditional? Okay. Right, how's this? How would you... ...like to, with me, go out somewhere? What, you're gonna screw him, is that it? You'll fuck him just to get him to remember? It's not conventional practice, but under the circumstances... Pick me up at 8. Where would you like to go? You choose. I don't care. Coffee's on. Okay, but you wear a wire. Don't be ridiculous. You can keep the rest. Thanks, man. I don't like the idea of you being alone with him. I'm not wild about it myself, Franck. So if you can see any other way to deal with this obsession... ...I'd love to hear it. I'm glad I had you choose the place. It's nice. It is. I haven't been here in a while. Thank you very much. So what do you recommend? I... ...usually have the steak, which is a lie. I don't usually have the steak. I... ...I've never been here before. Simon. You need therapy. I've been feeling a little confused lately. I just imagined I'd been here before. I could have sworn that I'd met that waiter before. And then what happens? I give him what he wants... ...he's mine. And after that, he gives me what I want... ...what we want. Just like that? He isn't really receiving electric shocks. He only believes he is. Just here. If you just pull in here on the left, thank you. This is, this is me, actually. Okay? It's all right. Okay. Have a good night. There's a problem. He's jealous. Jealous? Of me? That's so cute. And that's why he doesn't wanna sleep with you. It's complicated but that's what he said. Yes. I really wonder how he gets that. Ask yourself. Because now it's my fault? I'm not assigning blame, Franck. But you are always. You can't do it because of this, because of that. There is always something but it's never your fault, right? "It's a partnership, Franck." "He's got to respect me, Franck." "We've gotta make him feel safe." "We've gotta show him our fear." "In an ideal world, Franck, he'd kill us all." In an ideal world, Elizabeth, you'd go hypnotize the guy. You'd bring me back the painting and you'd stop wasting my fucking time. Wait. Jesus! Fucking hell. Simon, it's Nate. We need to talk. Come up. Right before you close your eyes Whispering your prayers When the sandman blows your eyes I'll be there I must remember never to forget... ...that you're a criminal. You got a boyfriend? Now you ask? Mmm-hmm. No. I'm single. How is that possible? I was in a relationship... ...he was violent... ...so now I'm not. Got his address? That's very kind... ...but 'no, thank you'. You should get even. Get a little angry. To be angry is to be a victim. I've moved on. That's the only real victory. So why are you doing this, then? Because it makes a change. If you had to deal with morbid obesity and... ...panic attacks... ...you'd see the attraction. Can I tell you something? I'd rather not. Gather roses while you may While the bloom is full For the blossom soon will fade And the bloom grows dun Right before you close your eyes Whispering your prayers When the sandman blows your eyes Who'll be there? Hey. Listen, I... ...I... ...can you... Can you see me again? It's not exactly what I wanted to say, but... I mean, you know... Yeah. I think so. Good. Be careful. And as the image grows closer and clearer... ...you find you are watching what he did to you. You are watching the terrible things that he did. But, with every blow... ...that you watch rain down upon you... ...you become only more determined than ever. You know that it's possible... ...to change your life and move on. That you will not let this define you. You will not let yourself be violated by the memory... ...as you are violated by the act. Simon? This all part of your plan, yeah? What are you talking about? The two of you. Planning it together. Gonna get it out of me and then dump me. Simon, will you calm down, please. How long have you been fucking Franck? Where did that come from? It's true, though, isn't it? You know it isn't. Why would Nate lie about something like that? Because he wants Franck out. He wants the painting for himself. I don't fucking believe you! Don't believe what? The existence of greed in human beings? Grow up! For the past week, you've made every kind of excuse not to touch me... ...and now that the moment's come, you resort to some insane fantasy... Wait. Wait. I know what you want. There's something I have to do. I tried to know when to leave She sits in the bedroom and grieves There's a sequence that starts an again She can't get up anymore, with the pain The combination of these drugs Has left her hopeless and lost She wants to count the ways But she can't count again And I will be right here Till all the pain Just disappears And I will always stay How did you know? You told me. Close your eyes. Simon. Relax. When the silver shines so hard I tried to poison my life Always dreaming of the edge of the knife She always looked backwards And I couldn't sit here... You know where it is now? Maybe. Told her yet? You wanna talk? Yeah, it's about time. So... ...Simon... ...we're all here. Do you wanna talk us through it? Yeah. Good. Yeah, I really do. I... I'm sorry, I just feel a bit nervous. Come on, it's all right. Okay. Do you mind if I use your... Yeah, please, please... I'll just be a minute. So how long's this gonna take? It's all right. I told him to wait. He'll lie. I bet you anything he lies. He'd better fucking not. Don't worry, if it turns out he's lying, we just kill him. Hang on, we're gonna kill him anyway, aren't we? There's that. Shh! Fuck! Fuck. - Hello? - It's me. Simon? Where are you? I'm at Franck's house. Jesus. What are you doing there? Elizabeth, they're going to kill me. No. You were right. This is what they always planned to do. Don't you see, this is why I had to hide the painting. Simon, calm down. Where are you now? In the hallway. The doors are locked. All the doors are locked. Go upstairs to Franck's bedroom. There's a pool... ...and a hallway. Do you see the bedside table? Yes. Open the drawer. No, the lower one. Is there a gun? Yes. Do you think you can use it? I don't know. I've never used one before. Do you want me to call the police? No, no... No, it's better this way. Elizabeth? Yes? I have something to tell you. Are you ready? I remember. I remember where I put it. You don't have to tell me. No, no. I do. I might never see you again. I need to tell you where it is. Tell me now. It's in a red Alfa Romeo in the underground car park in Marble Arch. I love you, Simon. I love you, too. Please, Simon. Calm down, you've got it all wrong. It's not what you think. She's using you, Simon. She's using you like she used us. She has been using you from the start, Simon. Elizabeth? Elizabeth? So where has she gone? Huh? Don't let her get away. Not after all this. I know, Franck. I know what you were going to do to me. She put that there. It's not real. She's not coming back, Simon. Once she gets it, she's gone! If I wanted to kill you, why aren't you dead? Because she loves me. And I love her! That's what she thinks of you. It's my gun. It's empty. She took it from my apartment. Where the fuck do you think you're going? I got this. So... ...who knows? She does. You leave her alone. He found it the first time. The first time he came to see me. Remember? You thought you'd just found your car keys. But you were right, it's in there. It's in the car. I took it to pieces. It's not in there. No, it's not in his car. In the other car. The red one. Where is it? Please, I can show you. I can show you. Get him dressed. Go and get it. And take him with you. What is this? You're lucky you're still in, Franck. Go and get it. Bring it back here and we'll keep an eye on her. Promise. Say something. Allow the mushy shit. Doesn't give up, does she? Go and get it, boss. Like he says, you're lucky you're still in. Drink? Yeah. Cheers, mate. Franck. You see what she gave to me, Franck. That's what she thinks of me. Oh my God! Allow me, bruv, I didn't touch her. Wait, wait. Fuck! You knew. You... Help me! ...you knew... ...what I would like... ...didn't you? Help me. Help me. Okay. Get down the stairs. Get down the stairs! No, no, no... Please? Please don't. He can help us. Simon? Please. You go. Okay. It's really silly of me. I've been out of the country. And... ...I'm such an idiot. Everything's a mess and I can't find the ticket... ...but I really need the car. 1,848. Not a mistake I'll make again. Not here. Franck knows a good place. Don't you, Franck? You can drive. On you go. You, too. You sit in the back. Tie your hand on to the wheel. Tie it tight. Tighter than that. Here you go. I would like to know what happened. It's all inside my head, isn't it? There's something hidden... ...inside me. What is it? It's a memory. A memory? Suppressed? Yeah. Simon... ...maybe there are some things it's better never to remember. Don't! Franck, you're alive because I allow it, but I can change my mind. I have free will. Don't I? Yeah, yeah. Don't I?! Yes. All right, then. All right, then, let's see if I do. You take me to it. So... ...it's a year and a half earlier. You wanna stop gambling. That's all. All in. You select a hypnotherapist at random. And so you go to meet her. Simon Newton. Thank you very much. Hello. I'm Elizabeth Lamb. Hello, there. Nice to meet you. Simon Newton. Hello. Have a seat. Thank you very much. So...what would you like to talk about? Now I have a moderate problem with online gambling. I still have enough money to pay for dinner and things, though. You get along well. There is an immediate rapport. And so treatment begins. But your addiction is hard to crack and repeated sessions are required. Cheers. We should do this with alcohol. You grow close to the therapist. I miss you when I'm not here. Too close. And so you begin an affair. A strongly sexual affair. You stay there. She knows that it's wrong. She shouldn't do this, not with a client. But she does. If you look at the Sistine Chapel, there's tons of flesh but there's no hair. The hair serves to remind us of our biology. Our origin. But without it there's a perfection, untainted. Anyway, art moved on, as it must, it has to. But, actually, no, it was Goya's fault. 'The Naked Maja'. After that, it's always there, the hair. Yeah, that's the lady. That's modern art. No perfection anymore. Hey. Okay, I get it. She will do anything for you. You fall in love... ...with a kind of perfection. The kind you like. You're an elephant? No, I'm not an elephant. No, it's the Goya. It's 'The Witches In The Air' that I was telling you about. But then you become possessive. Suspicious. Night and day... ...you fear that you will lose her. It torments you. And you become jealous. - Who are you texting? - Sorry, work. You start to believe that you depend upon her. That without her you will die. You start to hate her as much as you love her. And then one evening... ...after you've accused her of looking at another man... You keep your mouth shut! Why don't you just sit down. Don't they make a beautiful couple? You can just look at him now. Just feast your fucking eyes! Elizabeth. No, I'm leaving. I'm leaving. She knows she has to get out. She has to break it off but you won't let her go. You persist. You apologize. You write long letters vowing never to do it again. You weep, you call. She is frightened. I need to talk to you for 2 minutes. Really frightened now. Please let me come in. And she knows if this goes on... ...there can be only one outcome. Hi. How are you doing? I just need you to let me apologize and see that you accept that. I need to see that in your eyes and then I'll leave you alone. I promise. In the end... ...she knows that you will kill her. Please, stop! Simon, you're hurting me. It's okay. No, it's not okay. The police are not interested. Lawyers advise her to change her name, to leave the country... ...but she will not do this. She will not be a victim twice over. Instead, she will take control. So she perverts the therapy... ...you've insisted on continuing. Simon... ...it's not the gambling that you want to forget. It's me. You want to forget me. You made me forget? She makes you want to forget. You're forgetting me. You're forgetting us. And you feel so much more relaxed. So much more free. Leave. And gradually-- day by day... ...week by week you do. You call less often. The passions subside. You're late for therapy. Then one day you don't come at all. At last you have suppressed the memory of me. But you knew. You knew I'd come back... ...one day. Your memory is not destroyed. It is locked in a cage. And with enough... ...force... ...enough violence... ...the lock can be broken. It comes back, the memory. Not completely. Not entirely, but enough to drive you... ...to make you feel you have been cheated. Enough to make you angry. Franck! What did she look like? You. God, are you all right? Elizabeth. No, I'm not Elizabeth. Shall I call for an ambulance? I remember. I remember everything. Why don't I take you to hospital? As the memory comes back... Okay? Shall I help you with your seat belt? Why did you lie to me? What? You made me forget. Okay, maybe I should just call for that ambulance. Elizabeth! Will you let go of me, please? I don't want you to go. I don't want you to go. And then... Look, I'm sorry, whoever Elizabeth is, she isn't me. A few months later you came back. Mr. Maxwell? Mr. Maxwell? That's... ...that's me. Is something the matter? Of course not. I'm Elizabeth...Lamb. You've come to find your car keys. Well, they're just right in here. Stop. Can you give her the keys, Franck? It's in the back. Is it there, Elizabeth? Elizabeth, is it there?! I'm sorry. I don't want it. I don't know that I ever really did. Maybe you can tell me sometime. No! No. No, no, no... Simon, you don't have to do this. I want... to forget that you did all this. No. Please! Bring it to me. Stop, please! Are you okay? No! Hey! Shall I tell you something? I'd rather not. There's a parcel for Le Pere. Thank you. Hello, Franck. It looks good... ...don't you think? Hanging on the wall. I thought it might make me think too much of him, but... ...instead I think of you. You want me to send it back, don't you? Or sell it. .. ...and divide the money. But... ...you know I can't do that. Not when it means so much to me. Not when I've worked so hard for it. Simon, you're forgetting me. You're forgetting us. Even when you have forgotten the one you love... ...you will gamble... ...lie, cheat... ...and steal. Sold! Steal for her a painting. Simon, a painting... ...for the woman you hurt. For the woman you left behind. Now perhaps, some day, you'll find me. I hope that you do. But, if it's all too much... ...if you wish that we'd never met... ...that it had never happened... ...I can make it go away, Franck. All you have to do is touch the screen. Press right here... ...and follow my voice. The choice is yours. Do you want to remember...or. .. ...do you want to forget? |
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