I was doing a research on Luc Besson for my company when I came across this site which describe in detail what changes his film, “The Professional aka Leon” went through. There were so many scenes being cut off, and it was currently being restored.
I remembered watching the film and having a little crush on the gorgeous Natalie Portman. It wasn’t anything lesbian, but the girly I-wish-I-was-you- crush. I remembered feeling so bitter after watching it that I was even crying myself to sleep. I remembered how the character Leon bought little Matilda a pink dress and we never saw her wearing it… but my, oh, my they actually have that on the restored version! And the first thing I’m gonna do is purchase it online when my first pay check rolls in.
THE PROFESSIONAL aka LEON : The Restored Version
LEON: Once you kill somebody, your life changes forever. You have to always sleep with one eye open.
MATILDA: I don't care about sleep. I want love or death.
LEON: Get off my case Matilda. I'm tired of your games.
MATILDA:(beginning to cry) I have a game. It makes you think. The kind of game you like, Leon.
(Matilda begins to load four chambers in the revolver. Cue Music: The Fight, Pt 1. The Swat Squad)
MATILDA: if I win, you keep me with you for the rest of your life.
LEON: if I lose?
MATILDA: you go shopping alone, again.
(She spins the chamber, snaps it shut. Puts the revlover to her head)
LEON: You're going to lose Matilda. I heard. There is a round in the chamber.
MATILDA: What does it mean to you if there's a bullet in my head?
LEON: Nothing.
MATILDA: I hope you mean that, Leon. I really do. Because if there's even a little bit of love in you for me, then you're going to regret you said that.
(Leon stares, unflinching)
MATILDA: I love you, Leon.
(Slow, subtle zoom on Leon's face. At the final moment he grabs Matilda's wrist and swings it away as the gun goes off, the bullet knocking over a lamp.
MATILDA:(crying heavily) I win.
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LEON: I'm going to do this alone today.
MATILDA: Did I do something wrong?
LEON: It's too heavy.
MATILDA: And I only get the shitty leftovers, right?
LEON: No, Matilda... You just need time to grow up.
MATILDA: I already have. All I do is get older.
LEON: (weary) And for me, its the opposite. I'm old enough, but I need to grow up.
(Leon leaves.)
MATILDA: Shit...
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(Leon in the window of the apartment, at night. He looks out, then brings his plant inside. He sits down at a table, and inspects the plant. Sound of a door opening, and Leon looks up, staring. Matilda emerges from the other room, wearing the pink dress he bought her, made up. Walking stiffly. Leon looks stunned, though in a fatherly way; like he's addressing how old she's becoming.)
MATILDA: Do you like it.
LEON: Yes.
MATILDA: So say it.
LEON: I like it.
thought out by marianah at 2:01 AM