"This afternoon at 5:00" "II Duce will speak to the nation!" "You are ordered to turn your radios on!" "AII of you who have radio sets and radio gramophones are ordered to turn them on." "MussoIini will speak to all italians!" "You are authorised by order of the Fascist government to interrupt your work." "This afternoon at 5:00" "II Duce will speak to the nation." "I was twelve and a half when I saw her for the first time." "Even though I'm older now and my mind plays tricks on me, I remember it well." "Τhat day, MussoIini declared war on France and Great Britain and I got my first bicycle." "The frame is British, the gears are French, and the brakes are from..." "I forget." "But the chain is SiciIian..." "always keep it greasy." " Are you sure it's safe?" " I have new bikes too." "Mimi, we're at war." "Who can afford a new bicycle?" "Fighting men... on land, on sea and in the air," "BIackshirts of the revolution, men and women of italy and the Kingdom of albania hear this..." "Except for my father, who wasn't very fond of "Our Great Leader"" "everyone in town was happy that italy was going to war." "Maybe they couldn't see, and I surely couldn't have known how that day would mark my Iife forever." "The hour... of decisions from which there is no return." "Pino, think this ant knows he's dead meat?" "Who knows?" "If he's like you, he doesn't know shit." "The declaration of war has already been delivered to the ambassadors." "I'm free from misery." "Mary's son is my Lord." "Hey, guys!" "Lucky bastard, he's got a new bicycle!" "Man, she's beautiful!" "It's almost brand new." "Custom-made, just like the racers." " Now you're a man, Iike us." " So I can join the gang?" " "Don Agostino"?" " Okay by me." " "Don NicoIa"?" " I'd let him in." " "Don Tonino"?" " Sure." "And you, "Don Sasa"?" "I don't want some kid poking into our business." " Why?" "What are you doing?" " Can you keep your mouth shut?" "She's coming!" "What's going on?" "If you wanna be one of us, just shut up and watch." "Who is she?" "The deaf guy's daughter, our new Latin teacher." " What's her name?" " What a wonderful ass!" "What I wouldn't give for an hour with her!" " Too bad she's married." " If she weren't..." "What's her name?" "MaIena, the most beautiful ass in CasteIcuto." "The sun is bigger than the moon." "sol maior est quam Iunam." "Or sol maior est luna." "Can I screw your daughter, you deaf old fart?" "Yes, but hurry." "I Iove honesty more than wealth." "Seven thumbs long!" " Seven and a half thumbs!" " Mine's a bazooka!" " I got eight!" " Eight is nothing!" "That's just tickling a woman!" "One, two... three and two is five, two is seven and two is nine." "Torpedo!" "My submarine will rip MaIena in half!" "Once I skipped school and went by MaIena's house." "She was at the window, and she called out to me." "I thought she wanted me to get her some cigarettes." "I went up for the money, and her robe fell open." "And there she was, naked as the day she was born." "holy shit!" "She did it on purpose to excite me." "I was an idiot." "I should have jumped at the chance." "If it happens again, I'II bang her brains out." "She'd quit smoking first." "She knows you've got no balls." "You little runt, you've been here for two hours and you still haven't measured yourself." "Measure it!" "One, two... three, four... five..." "only six!" "You know what they say about a kid in short pants?" "Short pants: short dick!" "Fuck off." "My thumbs are twice as big as yours!" "bullshit!" "Who's got the biggest dick now, runt?" "You do!" "No, I am II Duce!" "Nobody's bigger than me!" " Ooh." "Renato's skipping school." " Shh!" "You, come here!" "I need some cigarettes." "What cigarettes do you want?" "Macedonia Extra." "I remember this suit very well." "It's your father's." "I sewed it 20 years ago, and it still looks brand new." "He only wore it to his wedding." "He wants to keep it for his funeral." "If he's buried in this suit, he'II go straight to heaven!" " My father's still young." " And you're too young for long pants." "I didn't ask for your opinion, sir." " Does he know about this?" " Of course he does!" "You little scoundrel, what the hell is this?" "Come here, mister." "So you want to skip school?" "Fine." "Who didn't at your age?" "Leave him alone!" "I know what I'm doing." "And you let your friends beat you up." "Fair enough." "Even though when I was your age, I'd beat my friends up!" "But stealing trousers from your father and getting them altered for yourself is just plain wrong!" "But, Papa, you don't understand!" "Understand?" "Who said you could speak?" "I'm ashamed to wear short pants!" "What about knickers?" "They're almost long pants!" "Enough!" "He's still a child!" "I'II tell our party secretary you won't let me go to the Fascist exercises." "Let's make a deal:" "The day someone cracks the skull of "Our Great Leader"... then you'II get long pants." "Swear it." "A beautiful young woman all alone here." "It's a crime." " Who's he talking about?" " MaIena Scordia, Nino's sexy new wife." "She must have somebody on the side, it's inevitable!" " Number fifteen!" " Me." "Right." "Nino brings her from her village with her ailing father." "And then a month later, boom..." "Nino's called to the war." "Who here wants to bet she's sleeping all alone?" "Not me!" "Why don't you let me sit with the others?" "You're too young to sit in the adult chair." " Good night, comrade." " Hey, who's out after curfew?" "Ah, it's you, Roberto." "And on the home front, report of fuel and food shortages are beginning to mount." "In the islands and outlying areas rationing of flour and sugar will continue..." "But, son, if you don't know the title, how can I help you?" "It's that pretty, romantic one..." ""Ma L'Amore No"." "Why didn't you say so?" "Ten lire." "Pay at the cashier's." " Don't you test it?" " What for?" " It might be defective." " It's brand new!" "Miss MaIena, this heart of mine, on fire, has written so many letters and if I didn't have the courage to send them to you it was only because I didn't want to do you harm." "So forgive me if I dare to send you this one." "I want you to know that this town has many gossips, who say bad things about you..." "that you have a secret lover." "I know it's not true." "You don't have anyone." "After your husband, the only man in your life is me." "I have to go." "I'II see you at school tomorrow." "So long!" "Don't get lost!" "MaIena's up in the employment office." " Looking for a job again?" " But who will ever hire her?" "No one in this town." "I've got a job for her..." "little boy, Iet me get by." "Hey, baby, give a soldier a break!" "Mr Lawyer!" "Your newspaper's upside down!" "Mind your own fucking business!" "Good morning, Signora MaIena, are you well?" "How is your father?" "May I?" "The show's over!" "She's gone now!" "I forgot the key!" "So it's true what people say!" "What's the matter with you?" "You look so strange." "You've poisoned me with your lies." "What lies?" "I've never spoken to you." "I knew it from the start..." "you're a loose woman." "But I've never done anything wrong." "Liar!" "I've been following you on my bicycle!" "I know where you went." "I know everything!" " Τhe lawyer, the dentist!" " No, Renato, I Iove only you!" "Liar!" " Amoroso." " Here!" " call." " Here!" " Costanza." " Here!" "Professor, can I put my dick between MaIena's tits?" "Can I put mine in her mouth?" "Can I put mine between her legs?" "Okay, but one at a time!" "You're all sons of bitches!" "Why didn't she marry someone from her own village?" "I'm sure no one wanted her." " They say she's a seamstress." " But she's so vulgar." "My son says she looks fake." "My husband says he wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole." "The Baron Bonta's mistress is much nicer." "At least Gina does everything in the open." "The baron screws her once a week and then goes back to PaIermo." "MaIena acts so superior." "Like we don't know what she's up to." "Wait and see." "She'II get hers." "The headquarters of the armed forces communicates:" ""Our brave and invincible fighting men have delivered a powerful blow" ""to the faceless war machine unleashed by the allies." ""In order to ensure the continued strength and vitality," ""of our forces at the front," ""all payment of civic pensions" ""will again be postponed..."" "It's ready." "Thank you." "It's not much, but it's all we can afford." "Me Tarzan, you MaIena." "Renato, you've got the biggest gun in the West!" "You're going to go blind!" "Right rank!" "Eyes front!" "Arms out, arms high, in quick succession!" "Have you heard?" "MaIena's husband was killed." "My father told me." "He read the telegram." "MaIena is available!" "Comrades of CasteIcuto, we are gathered here today to share in the tragic but honourable mourning which has struck our town." "To express our deepest condolences for the loss of Lt Nino Scordia, heroically killed in action in Northern Africa and to his bride MaddaIena who, stricken with grief, unfortunately isn't here with us." " She's already out looking!" " She'II need a warm bed now!" "But she is with us in spirit because SiciIian women, with their hardships, with their sacrifices, march shoulder to shoulder with fighting men." "The martyrdom of our fellow citizen in defence of his country was not a useless sacrifice." " Lt Cadei is so handsome." " A lucky girl will catch him!" "...that will carry us to the final victory of the Fascist Empire!" "Long live II Duce!" "From now on I'II be at your side." "Forever." "I promise." "Just give me time to grow up." "Now she'II take a lover for sure!" ""Once in the sack, there's no looking back!"" "She knows that." "She's 27 years old." "She knows her way around the block!" "Cusimano, the dentist, has gone crazy for her." "One day he was distracted as she walked by and pulled a healthy tooth instead of the rotten one!" "Dentist or not, why haven't we seen her lately?" "Guess she's too busy!" "They say she's fooling around with a shopkeeper in Catania with subversive tendencies." "Some say Cusimano, the dentist." " A family man." "It's disgraceful!" " When you're a born whore..." "I hear the priest has received anonymous letters saying her lover is this man, that man." "The voice of the people is the voice of God!" "I can't talk to anyone about my personal problems." "They're too intimate." "But you seem nice." "I'd Iike to confide in you." "Every day, I'II light a candle for you." "I'II even come to Mass on Sunday." "But you must protect MaIena Scordia from the town." "Yes, the widow... at Ieast for a few years." "Then I'II take over." "I am always at your service." "Renewed condolences, MaIena." "What a piece of ass!" "Son of a bitch!" "You little runt!" "Come back here!" " Can't you sing in italian?" " Can't you speak German?" "Renato, get up." "It's late." "Monster!" "You're a fetishist, a sadomasochist, or even worse, a pervert!" " What is that?" " It's just a French hat, Ma!" "Shame on you!" " How pretty." "Can I keep them?" " You shameless girl!" "What are you looking at?" "Get out of here!" "Come here, you little pig!" " Goddam pervert!" " What did I do?" "You're not permitted to sit at the table with us, understand?" " Answer me!" " Okay!" "You no Ionger have the right to speak to your sisters, understand?" "Lock me up!" "I'II show you!" "You're not to leave this room until further notice!" "Son, at Ieast have some soup." "It will do you good." "Pietro, he hasn't eaten for three days." "In the Soviet Union, they never eat." "still..." "What is this shit?" "The Fascists gave it to us." "At least it looks like coffee." "Sure, and I Iook like Vittorio De Sica." "Everything they give us is terrible!" "Look at these pockets." "They're always ripping open!" "This cheap thread doesn't hold the stitches!" "The thread isn't the problem!" "while our son recites poetry, his hands go to work in his pockets!" "What does that mean?" "Do you get it now?" "Just as well!" "Don't fix them." "Sew the pockets closed!" "But he'II have no pockets?" "He'II work it out." "It will be good for his health!" "Lights out!" ""...that the weary spirit may ne'er repose in more restful harbour..."" " Has he gone crazy?" " I think he's gone blind." ""while upon women's work you sat intent" ""content with the vague future you held in mind" ""was the scented May, and thus you used to spend your days."" " This child needs air." " Air?" "Air." "Good morning, Professor." "This letter is for you." "It says "urgent"." "You're dishonoured." "Your daughter MaIena is sleeping with the whole town." "It was an anonymous letter, but I read it!" "It says MaIena is a whore with everyone in town!" "So there's hope for us too!" "Take it back!" "I'II bust your ass, Mr Short Pants!" "Tonight was wonderful." "For me too." "I know it's been only ten months since." "But maybe I can see you again." "AII right." "You win." "Tomorrow." "Okay, as long as I'm not on duty." " Thanks for the flowers." " You're welcome." "Take care of yourself." "So see you tomorrow?" " until then." " Good night, Leone." "What time?" " Good evening, sir." " Good evening, my ass!" "How dare you pester my fiancée!" "There must be a misunderstanding." "I was invited." "You're a liar and a bastard!" "Because I'm in uniform, I cannot retaliate, sir." " But you will answer to me." " Anytime." "Anywhere." "Coward, scoundrel!" "Get up." "Come here!" "I'II tear you apart, you coward!" "I'II break you in two!" "Let me go!" "Or I'II have to get tough with you!" "Here's the adulterer!" "My wife!" " Officer, look!" "He's cheating on me!" " With a man?" "With a traitor!" "You said you wouldn't touch her with a ten-foot pole!" "It's the dentist!" "I've been spying on you a Iong time, you bastard!" "And as for you go steal husbands from your own village, you whore!" "We knew she had one lover, but two?" "But where does the dentist fit in?" "He fits in between her legs!" "Her father was forced to quit the school in disgrace." "He never wants to see his daughter MaIena again." "And the dentist's wife kicked him out of his house." "That dragon of a wife will drag him into court!" "What's the dentist got to do with it, poor guy?" "MaIena's the whore!" "She should be taken to court!" "That Lt Cadei seemed like such a gentleman." "How could he get mixed up in this?" "Everyone knows she's a home wrecker." "The lieutenant was asking for it!" "She's not from here." "She forgets where she is." "will they go to court?" "Of course, she could go to jail." "He's a married man!" "The dentist needed three stitches in his head." "But the dentist swore at the soldier first." "That's insulting an officer." "We'II all end up in court!" "while we were watching her caboose the lieutenant and the dentist were riding the train!" "She's either going to the lawyer's or the notary's." "Sure, but what will she do with two old men like them?" " Excuse me." " Come in." "Can I help you?" "May I speak to Lawyer Centorbi?" "please have a seat." "Sir, it's the widow Scordia!" "Can it be true?" "beautiful Madonna!" "Have her come in." "please sit down." "Charmed." "We now continue with the testimony of MaddaIena Bonsignore, the widow Scordia, called MaIena." "She could get two years in prison." "Everything will be fine, trust me." "You're accused of involving Dr Gaspare Cusimano in a secret and amorous relationship aimed at the breaking up of his family." "Do you know Dr Cusimano?" "Yes." "Are you or have you ever been his fiancée?" "absolutely not." "How could I be engaged to a married man?" "Why was Cusimano, at that unusual hour on his way to your house?" "I don't know." "Had he been in your company on previous evenings?" "Yes, once." "Where?" "At my house." "Jumped right in, the dentist did." "He looks stupid, but..." "How long did he stay?" "Not long." "What did you do?" "He brought me some medicine for my father." "If it was for your father, why did he bring it to you?" "I don't know." "What did you do after he gave you the medicine?" "He said goodbye and left." "Then why has Cusimano, a reputable professional, who, five years ago, had the honour of extracting one of II Duce's teeth publicly declare that he is your fiancé?" "He made that up." "I had nothing to do with it." "Your husband's crazy." "What kind of relationship did you have with Lt Cadei?" "I'm a widow." "My business and that of Lt Cadei are no concern of the Iaw." "AII right." "Did you know that, as a result of these affairs" "Lt Cadei was transferred to albania?" "One down." "And before his departure, he was questioned in judicial inquiry." "clerk." "He declared to have encountered the widow Scordia only twice in her home and to have had no amorous relationship considering their relationship "just a casual friendship."" "Son of a bitch." "Lt Cadei was received by my client and she makes no secret about having had for him certain feelings." "But unlike the married Cusimano who was, Iet's face it, guilty of a pre-seniIe dimming of the senses of an intoxicating kaleidoscope of desires..." "What's he saying?" "unlike the family man Cusimano," "Cadei is and was a bachelor!" "clever, that lawyer." "He's a bachelor himself." "careful investigation of the facts tell us, therefore that the Scordia woman committed no other crime than that of being iII-fated, alone and beautiful." "Here is her crime:" "her beauty!" "And from here, the envy, the lies, the disgrace that have deprived her even of a father's trust!" "And yet, she herself is still in silent agony, mourning over that unmarked war grave in faraway East Africa." "In the beating heart of our argument is an audacious, but nonetheless valid, thesis, which asks just one question:" "Can a young woman after the odyssey of a widowhood endured for the love of country hope for protection in the shelter of a new life?" "Does she have the right to yearn for, and to write a new ending to her own love story?" "Your Honour, the citizens of CasteIcuto reply:" ""Yes!"" "will Cusimano leave me alone now?" "Of course." "He's been put into a psychiatric clinic." "He wants to volunteer for the Forces in East Africa." "He doesn't realise we lost Africa ages ago!" "But let's forget Cusimano and the fickle Lieutenant Cadei." "Let's get to us!" "I know it's not much." "But it's all I have." "They've cut my pension." "Don't you understand?" "That's peanuts!" "My fee is much more than that." "You'II never have enough money!" "But how will I ever repay you?" "It's very easy, my sweet." " What are you saying?" " Be with me, my love!" "I'm in love with you!" "A woman shouIdn't be alone during these hard times." "I am a wealthy man." "You won't find better." "I'II take care of your father." "You'II never have to worry again." "I forgive her." "She did it to pay her lawyer's fee only once and never again." "But you didn't keep our agreement." "Now we're even." "...in the South, the allied bombings have forced thousands to flee." "Refugees are pouring into the countryside and the port towns." "Citizens of these regions have been alerted to possible severe food shortages and outbreaks of disease." "Signora MaIena, a more capable person than me wrote that the only true love is unrequited love." "Now I understand why." "It's been so long since you last came out of your house." "But the longer we are apart, the stronger my love becomes." "Τhey say you're about to marry Centorbi, the lawyer." "I know how badly they treat you here how the women in the market won't sell you any good food and no man would hire you for fear of his wife." "But how will you manage to live with a fat, old man, so ugly that no girl ever wanted him?" "Τhey say he never washes and stinks like a goat." "How will your smooth, white skin, bear rubbing against the sweat of an old man, who never does anything without his mother's consent?" "Is it true you're getting married?" "What are you writing?" "Give me that!" "Let me see!" "Get out!" "Stand up straight." "A little longer, Don PIacido." "More room in the waist, for when he gets bigger." "will they be ready tomorrow?" "The war has ruined my business, but it still takes time." "...as allied bombings continue." "Wait for me." "Lord, help me with my mother, I beg you." "Moron!" "Idiot!" "You can't treat me like a child." "I'm a grown man!" "Get this straight!" "Your father's good name will never belong to that disgusting whore!" "Never!" "Never!" "The lawyer was left high and dry!" "His mother still bathes him every Saturday!" "MaIena always has someone throwing a wrench in the works!" "It won't be hard finding someone to replace the lawyer!" "Come on, sit down." "The next in line already has a plan." "Yeah, his plan is in his pants." " A cut and shave." " Right away, sir." "Good morning, Antonio." "I brought some sugar and flour." " What about the bread?" " The best." " I can't pay right now." " That's no problem." "I'm sure we can find a way to make you some money." "Hurry, there's someone else over here!" "Stand back!" "It's Professor Bonsignore." "MaIena's father." "I'm here for you." "condolences, Signora Scordia." "condolences." "Step aside, kid." "Signora, what can we do?" "We're in the Lord's hands." "Don't forget my offer." "You don't have to go hungry." "Attention, loyal citizens!" "This is "a call to arms"." "We must maintain our faith and hope in the republic in the face of imperialistic aggression!" "Despite recent setbacks on the front and escalating hardships at home remember that nothing can dim our fervour for our glorious homeland!" "Can you believe it?" "Just a few years ago, II Duce promised that the Nazis would never occupy SiciIy." "Now he's sold us down the river!" "Look!" "The Germans are everywhere!" " Look who's here." " She's a redhead now." "Look how she's put together." "I'd Iike to cut off that hair." "I'd skin her alive!" "How disgusting!" " Who is it?" " It's me." " Me who?" " SaIvatore." "Antonio sent me." "I brought you some more food." "Come in." " Your hair looks terrific." " Do you Iike it?" " Yes, it makes you look younger." " Thank you." "I can come every Thursday!" "As long as you bring the food." "Now she's even screwing the Germans." " Who's that?" " MaIena Scordia, the slut." "She's teamed up with that other whore, Gina." "But with the Germans?" "Seems there are gymnastics at the Moderno hotel." "The two whores run from room to room servicing a dozen officers at a time." "holy shit!" "My good woman, this child is possessed by the devil!" "Jesus, Mary and Joseph!" "That's enough!" "It looks like you're posing for MicheIangeIo's Pieta of the poor!" "evil eye on blood is fed." "hold on fast till death is past." "Exorcise the devil from this child." "Goat red, on wood fed, hold on fast." "Head and taiI, evil eye release this child." "Cast the devil into the wild." "shameful!" "DisgracefuI!" "They cured my uncle this way and he had cholera!" "Your son's not sick!" "He's becoming a man!" "With a dick this big, he needs to fuck!" "Renato, wait here for me." "Come here." "Come on." "close the door." " My father?" " He's coming." "Ladies!" "Choose the one you Iike." "Ladies!" "What do we have here?" "Fresh young meat." "Lupetta, up to the room." "Treat him right." " What's your name?" " Amoroso Renato." "What a romantic name!" "Tonight we either die in a bombing or end up in jail." "Go ahead." " Is it your first time?" " No." "I've imagined it many times." "Let's go give that shameless whore what she deserves." "Stay back." "This is between the women." "Now you'II see what happens when you steal our men and sleep with the filthy Germans." "It's the end of spreading your legs, whore!" "Now let's see what men make of you!" "This will teach you some respect!" "The wicked come to a wicked end." "The madame is served." "Get lost!" "Disappear!" "I know that face." "Who is it?" "Nino Scordia, MaIena's husband." "MaIena, the one who did it with the Germans." "Poor guy." "He was better off dead." "Isn't that MaIena's husband?" "Hey, Giovanni, there's a strange guy." "Do you know MaIena Scordia?" "Who's she?" "Who are you?" "This is my family's house!" "We don't know anything." "When we came, no one was living here." "No one?" "Poor guy." "No one will tell him the truth." "What would you say, "I hear your wife is a prostitute"?" "I hear she's still a great piece of ass." "I lost an arm." "I wasn't dead!" "Then I was taken prisoner in India and I contracted malaria." "tell him." "Me "boy-bar."" "I have to get the coffee cups." "My family has lived in this town for generations." "Now no one will talk to me." "My house is a refugee camp, and my wife has disappeared." "No one in town knows where she is." "help me find her." "I want to bring her home." "Excuse me." "Don't you remember me?" "I'm Nino Scordia." "You mistake me for someone else." "could I have a light?" "You were the Fascist secretary, and you were his deputy." "You can help me." "Do you know what happened to my wife?" "Didn't she join the Communist Party?" "She was photographed with her arms around the Commie leader." "You're a family of heroes!" "You're right." "Those who fought the war for you bastards aren't heroes." "Go take a walk through the brothels of sicily." "You may find your wife there!" "Wait a minute." "Come back!" "Dear Signor Scordia, forgive me if I don't have the courage to speak man to man." "These last months have taught me much about courage, even if I have found little myself." "I'm the only one who knows the truth about your wife." "Around here, they only say bad things about her." "But believe me, your wife MaIena was faithful to you." "You are the only man she loved." "This is the honest truth." "It is true, a Iot of things happened, but back then, you had been dead a Iong time." "Τhe last time I saw her, she was on a train for Messina." "Best of luck." "I should sign "a friend", Iike all anonymous letters, but my name is Renato." "Good morning, Judge." "AII is well, thank God." "Eat up, my sweet pea." "Sons of bitches!" "Look who's here!" "Giorgio, look who's here!" "Why are you all looking at that woman?" "It's nothing." "I saw them in the square." "They were walking arm in arm." "Quiet." "She's here!" "It took a Iot of courage to come back." "Look who's here." "I heard it, but I didn't believe it." "What have they got to look at?" "They should leave her in peace." "She's got some wrinkles around her eyes." "She's put on weight too." "But she's still beautiful." "Good morning, Mrs Scordia." "Good morning." "Want some nice tomatoes?" "They cost less over there." "Thank you." "Nice things here!" "Like it, Signora MaIena?" " Try it on." " No, that's okay." " It's no problem." " Another time." "Give me your bag." "We'II discuss it later." "Good morning, Signora MaIena." "It's okay." "I'II get it." "Thank you." "Thank you for your help." "Good luck, Signora MaIena." "I pedalled as fast as I couId, as if I were escaping from longing, from innocence, from her." "Time has passed, and I have loved many women." "And as they've held me close, and asked if I will remember them" "I've said, "Yes, I will remember you."" "But the only one I've never forgotten is the one who never asked..." "MaIena."