PROUST   In Venice. A palazzo on the Grand Canal, possibly.

MASSIS   All of us?

PROUST   Of course.

MASSIS   Well … er … that’s quite a tall order. To begin with, the authorities wouldn’t let us just go to Italy and back.

PROUST   Why not?

MASSIS   Well, the war. The frontiers.

PROUST   Well, those are details, I have powerful friends. Artistically, how does it strike you? Practical considerations apart, can you see any objection to the scheme? Imagine the sun rising over the lagoon while the moonlight fades.

MASSIS   There is another difficulty.
He gets out a piece of paper.

MASSIS   I didn’t want to mention this.
He hands the paper to Proust.

INT. PROUST’S BEDROOM. NIGHT.

Proust has just been examined by Dr Bize.

BIZE   No sense in my giving you advice. You’ll just carry on as usual.

PROUST   I like you, Monsieur Bize. Before you were a doctor I think you must have been a patient.

BIZE   We soldier on.

PROUST   I have a young friend, a viola player, a charming and gallant young man of immense talent. He was wounded at the front and is now convalescing. However, the exigencies of the war effort are such that he’s been threatened with a return to active duties. I cannot believe that the fortunes of war are so nicely balanced that they can be tipped by a return to the colours of one broken string player. You are associated with the medical board. Is it beyond the bounds of possibility that you could write a letter on his behalf? I’m approaching Pozzi, who has a formal position on the board, but I just wondered in addition if you …

BIZE   Of course, Maître. I should have to see him.

PROUST   Of course, of course. He’s a charming fellow. It must be happening all the time.

BIZE   All the time.
Dr Bize and Proust shake hands.

INT. PROUST’S APARTMENT. HALL. NIGHT.

Céleste closes the door of the salon behind Dr Bize as they enter the hall.

BIZE   He seems better. Or at any rate no worse. The same, which is the most one can hope for.
Céleste helps Dr Bize on with his gloves and hands him his cane and hat.

BIZE   Who’s this viola player?

CÉLESTE   These young men. They take advantage. Money, favours … And they’re not grateful. He’s too soft-hearted. I wish they’d leave him alone. When you think of the others, mown down like so much grass in a meadow. He’ll end up getting upset, so then he works harder, and then he makes himself ill. You’d think he’d have more sense.
Céleste opens the door to Dr Bize, who leaves.

INT. DOCTOR BIZE’S SURGERY. DAY.

Massis is being examined by Dr Bize.

BIZE   What did you say it was?

MASSIS   A shell. A fragment of shell. My companion was killed.

BIZE   Oh dear. Pain?