Oct
2
The Eternal Break-up Scene (Fellini, "La Dolce Vita", 1960)
- [In a car parked on the road.]
- Her: Why do you treat me this way? Not even a dog gets treated like this! If you loved me a bit, you'd understand some things.
- Him: Sure.
- Her: You don't love anyone.
- Him: Don't scream.
- Her: You don't know what loving means.
- Him: But you do know don't you?
- Her: You've got a hard, empty heart. You only care about women, but not love.
- Him: You've been saying it for hours. Stop. I want to go home.
- Her: Some men are happy to be loved and don't look for other women. You're the only one like this. What a disaster.
- Him: [Shouting] My disaster is having met you. I can't stand having you around anymore. Go away. Forever.
- [She gets out of the car and starts walking along the desolate benighted road.]
- Don't be silly. Come here.
- Her: No. Leave me alone. Let me live.
- [He starts the car and drives to her.]
- Him: Come on you idiot, get in.
- Her: No.
- Him: You're such a...
- [He cuts her off stopping the car in her path. Calmly.] Get in.
- Her: [Still weeping, standing on the shoulder of the road.] What do you want from me? You miserable worm. You'll end up alone like a dog. You'll see. Who'll stay with you if I leave you? Who could ever love you like I do?
- Him: I can't waste my life loving you.
- Her: You say I'm crazy, that I live outside of reality. But you're off the road. [Pleading] You've found the most important thing in life. You have a woman that loves you, who would give her life for you. You ruin everything. You're always restless, unhappy.
- [She climbs into the car.]
- [Endearing; sweetly.] Marcello, when two people love each other, nothing else counts. What are you afraid of?
- Him: [Severe] Of you, of your selfishness, of your miserable ideals. You offer me a miserable life. [Shouting] You only talk of cooking and bed. If I accepted, I'd end up like a worm. I don't believe in your maternal love. I don't want it. I don't need it. This isn't love, it's brutalisation. I can't live like this. I don't want to be with you any more.
- Get out!
- Her: No! You're disgusting! I feel sorry for you!
- Him: And you make me sick. Get out!
- Her: No! I'm staying here with you.
- Him: You are not. Get out.
- Her: No.
- [He drags her out of the car; she bites his hand; he slaps her.]
- Him: It's over. Get lost.
- Her: Hoodlum.
- Him: Get lost. [He throws her out.]
- Her: You are a thug, a bastard. Damn you.
- [He speeds off leaving her on the pavement.]
- Him: Get picked up by a truck driver!
- [She weeps until dawn. As the sun rises she sees him speeding back to her. She runs to him and enters the car. They drive off together.]
