Rencontres à part: Films, personnages et spectateurs de Woody Allen.

tel-00483686, version 1 - 16 May 2010
LEONARD ZELIG (Into the microphone, gesturing and smiling) Right—I‘ve never flown
before in my life and it shows exactly what you can do if you‘re a total psychotic. 8
BROADWAY DANNY ROSE
I.
LOU‘S VOICE-OVER Thank you, thank you. Oh, if you overate too much tonight I got a
great song that the paesans would understand. It‘s ―Agita.‖ Una-two!
As Lou sings to the sound of an accordion band, the credits fade off the screen, replaced by
the front of the Carnegie delicatessen at night, lit up with a long, bright sign flashing
CARNEGIE, then DELICATESSEN/RESTAURANT. People walk on the busy sidewalk;
cars drive by on the street. The camera moves in, closer and closer, to the deli’s front
window, its inside lights glowing out onto the street.
Lou is still singing as the front of the deli slowly dissolves to its interior. For a brief moment
the window, the reflected cars, and the deli’s busy kitchen area counter are one—until only
the counter is seen, stacked with dishes on its top. Its mirrored front reflects some diners
eating offscreen. (…)
The camera moves down the aisle, in the midst of all this activity, stopping at a table where a
group of men are getting up, coats in hand, saying their farewells. Revealed when they leave
is the table behind them, where comedians Corbett Monica and Morty Gunty are sitting and
eating. Lou’s singing trails off, filled in with the chatter of diners, waiters, and cutlery. The
two men’s voices are heard over the indistinct deli noise as the camera moves closer and
closer to their table. Corbett faces the camera. Morty sits opposite him, his back to the screen.
CORBETT I spent two nights in Florida.
MORTY You have to do the Miami jokes. If you‘re in Florida, you do Miami jokes, in
Atlantic city you do—
CORBETT (Interrupting) Morty, I tried Miami jokes. I don‘t know that works anymore.
(…)
Corbett and Morty’s face dissolve to a different view of the same table. Morty’s face is now
seen. It’s later that night. Three other comics, Sandy Baron, Jackie Gayle, and Howard
Storm, are also gathered around the table, which is covered with bottles, napkins, and cups of
coffee. A mirror hangs in the background; a waiter is first seen in the mirror; he then passes
in front of the camera. Other diners and waiters are partially seen. The comedians talk
among themselves, sometimes all at the same time.
MORTY Do you know that when I broke into this business in New York, that I-I could
play at least twelve to twenty weeks a year without leaving the city.
(…)
… they dissolve to another scene around the table, as seen from a different angle, a bit farther
away. It’s even later that same night. Corbett, Morty, Sandy and Howard have been joined by
comedians Jack Rollins and Will Jordan. The swinging doors and the coats on pegs are seen
in the background. An empty table is seen in the foreground.
WILL (Gesturing) The first impression I ever did…
(…)
8 ALLEN, août 1987, pp. 122-5.
35