"IF I WERE HONEST" "Which ties should I bring?" "What?" "I asked which neckties the gentleman wants to bring along." " What ties?" "What do I need them for?" "It's the first thing they'll remove." "Tie, braces, shoe laces..." "I hadn't thought of that." "But maybe, in consideration..." "What consideration!" "They have no consideration!" "In there, they're all the same:" "bread, water, a plank and a number." "Paolo Vareghi exists no more!" "Paolo Vareghi is nothing but a number!" "Yes, but,.." "Vittorio..." "But, you think they'll cut my mustache and shear my head?" "I wouldn't know, sir." " Yeah, you never know anything!" "I'm sorry, I've never been there." " Neither have I!" "So what?" "And I don't want to go there!" "I'd rather die than end up there!" "Calm down, sir." " What time is it?" "Four and a quarter." " Are you sure my uncle got the letter?" "I brought it myself, asking to relay it immediately." "I want to try." "Vareghi's home?" "The Baron, please." "His nephew Paolo." "I do not know, sir." "Excuse me, I'll go and see." "Excellency, your nephew Paolo on the phone." "Tell him I'm not home." " Alright, sir." "What else he wants, this rascal?" "He wrote this morning and I replied "It's useless to insist"!" "I'm sorry, the Baron is already out." "Yes, about an hour ago." "Yes, by car." "I think he went to town." "Sure, good morning." "Okay, thank you." "He went out by car an hour ago." "He's surely coming here." "By Jove!" "Although selfish and evil, an uncle doesn't abandon a nephew, all the more that his name's at stake." "He read my letter and surely was touched..." "Why, what do you think?" " Well," "I would not disillusion you, sir, but I think your uncle won't lift a finger to save you." "No, no, Vittorio, It can't be." "It isn't possible!" "I'm guilty, I know I did an unworthy deed, but one can't ruin a man, a relative!" "A relative my foot!" "Suddenly pops out a person you've never seen nor known, you don't know what he looks like!" "Nephew!" "Nephew..." "A scoundrel!" "A slacker capable of anything!" "Yes, but don't forget he's the son of your brother." " So what?" "Even my poor brother was a wretch!" "It's been a relief for all when he left!" " Yes, you are right, Baron, but, if you could avoid..." " The punishment he deserves?" "Not at all!" "What must be avoided is the publicity." "Unfortunately, he bears our same name, and I wouldn't want some journalist..." "See to it, okay?" "Please." "They ring!" "Can it be my uncle?" " Hopefully." "No, it's definitely him!" "Go to open!" "I wait for him here." "Tell him I'm heartbroken, desperate!" "Quick!" "From Baron Vareghi." " Need a reply?" " No." "Good day." "No!" " Get off me!" " Sir!" " Get off me!" "What are you doing?" "But, are you crazy?" "And Uncle?" " It wasn't him." " And who was it?" "A letter from him." " And you threw the gun out the window!" "Sorry, I thought you wanted to kill yourself!" " It never crossed my mind!" "The man is a brute!" "A heart of stone!" " Why, what does he say?" "I'm a rogue, a scoundrel, I have to go to jail!" " Eh, sadly, now you just have to resign yourself." " Resign?" "Sure!" "Indeed, if you take my advice, I'd give myself up spontaneously." " Why is that?" "Because if you don't show up, they'll come and get you!" "And if I run away?" " They'd catch you the same." "Vittorio..." "Could it be them?" "May be." "Say!" "Is it you who has fun throwing guns out the window?" "So sorry, it was a mistake!" " A mistake?" "What mistake?" "It almost broke my head!" "Look, I'm still bleeding." "And feel that bump!" "I'm very sorry, sir, but we didn't do it on purpose." "I'd like to see on purpose!" "You deem it right to throw this gizmo out the window?" " We didn't throw it." "We were joking, and it got out of hand!" " Joking!" "With a gun?" "Empty, though." "Unloaded." "Just great!" "A poor man walks down the street, this thing gets on his head, he comes up and is told "We were joking"!" " You rant a lot!" "It was an accident, we apologized, what more do you want?" "Look, don't be a bully, it won't work with me!" "If you take that tone I go to the police and you'll deal with them!" "Go where you want as long as you go!" " No!" "What police?" "Don't overdo it." "For a small accident!" "Small, you say?" "But don't you see the blood?" "Yes, I see, I see..." " And feel here, feel here." "A small bump." "Now we'll see about disinfecting it with some alcohol." "No, I'll go to the pharmacy." " Good!" "Go, it's at the corner." "But there's no need for a pharmacy!" "We have all you need." "Rather, you need to rest, to take something, you'll be a bit dazed." "Of course I'm dazed!" " There, good, go in here." "Do go in, please." "Why let him stay!" "With all our troubles!" "You should send him to hell!" "But you're crazy sir!" "The police, the pharmacy, the gun..." "Without a firearms license, not 3 months!" "You'd end up locked up for years." "So what should we do?" "You need to calm him, treat him kindly." "Go to him." "Be gentle." "Come on." "A cognac?" " I don't drink." "A cigarette?" "I don't smoke." "You want to sit?" " No, I prefer to stand." "Great, it's growing!" " What's growing?" "The bump!" " I'm sorry." "It hurts a lot?" " Of course it hurts!" " Okay!" "Here it is!" "The alcohol to disinfect the wound." "You'd better sit down." " And what's that for?" "For the bump." "Sit down, please." "You have to compress it with something very cold." "It's a foolproof system." "You'll see." "Ouch!" "Be patient, it burns a bit." " Look what I was in for!" "No, no!" "It's a trifle, really!" "A superficial excoriation." "That's it." "Now we must apply the iron." "It's better to keep it for a few minutes." "Leave it, I'll do it myself." " Yes?" " Yes." " Careful." "Be careful." "But look at that..." "Be polite..." "Be polite!" " I'm very polite!" "What should I do?" "Tell him something!" "I'm truly sorry, I'm sorry, really..." "I know, you've already said..." "By the way, we have not yet introduced ourselves." "Why, you care?" "It's not that I care, it's custom." " If it's custom, go ahead." "I'm Count Paolo Vareghi." " I'm engineer Pietro Kovach." "Glad to meet you." " I'm pleased." " Look out!" " Thank you." "Oh, you're an engineer?" " Yes, a mining engineer." "Why, I don't look like one?" "I bet you mistook me for a beggar." "No, for heaven's sake, why say that?" " Yes, yes, I am a beggar." "I'm not ashamed." "3 degrees, 5 scientific publications, a solemn commendation by the Geological Research Institute, and all this to go on foot, with broken shoes and patched trousers." "I see, so you are currently unemployed?" "I wore out my pants by dint of sitting in the waiting rooms." "But this doesn't concern you, sorry..." "No, no, thank you..." "That won't work." " What?" "I guess what you're whispering..." "Thank you, I don't accept alms." "God forbid, sir, we weren't..." " It's not the first time it happened..." "I'm used to these slaps." "Keep your iron..." "Thanks for everything and good night." "No, wait sir, don't get so upset." "My master didn't want to offer you aims, indeed, he wants to offer you a job." "A job?" " If you would sit down..." "I'd better explain." "What do you want to explain?" " Wait a minute." "Please, sit down." "Give it here." "Do sit down." "You want it back on your head?" " No thanks, enough." " As you wish." "First of all, a question." "You have family bonds, wife, children, relatives?" " None." "Excellent." "Can you stay absent for some time from your normal occupations?" "I said I'm unemployed!" "Why, it implies going abroad?" "No, not really abroad, in a place..." "not too comfortable." "No matter, the effort doesn't scare me." "If I have to move, run..." " No, no, it wouldn't involve running." "Indeed, it would involve.. staying still." "But, let's not anticipate." "Sir allows me to explain things?" "For me..." "Explain, explain..." "Here it is." "We must start from long ago." "Anyway, the gentleman is not in a hurry..." "I have nothing to do." " But Vittorio, we're in a hurry!" "Those people can arrive at any moment." " You're right, I'll be brief." "Here you go." "It's about a pitiful case." "A distinguished, noble young man, with an illustrious name, being short of money tried his luck at gambling." "But gambling is the illusion of idiots!" "Agreed!" "Indeed, that young man has gambled, and has lost 50,000 lire." "What does a man of honor do when he loses 50,000 lire?" "He pays!" " It's what that fine fellow meant to do!" "But sadly, he had no money." "Then he's a scoundrel!" " Scoundrel who?" "Of course!" "Who gambles the money he has not is a scoundrel." " But I say!" "Don't digress now, gentlemen..." "Rather, let's come to the facts." "This fine young man, being indeed a man of honor, and knowing that gambling debts are to be paid within 24 hours, signed a check for 50,000 lire." "So he had the money." "If he signed a..." " That's it!" "You see, this is precisely the situation a bit delicate." "Skip it, Vittorio, skip!" " Excuse me, sir, he must know." "This good young man, well, in signing the check has committed a small distraction, I'd say, almost an oversight." "Instead of signing with his name, he signed with his uncle's name." "He forged the signature?" "Well, let's not insist on these expressions..." "Fact is, the thing came to the surface,.." " Naturally." "His uncle sued him for forgery,.." " Good!" "And the court sentenced him to 3 months." " Few!" "Few, few!" " What few?" "What few?" "You know you've annoyed me?" "Few, good... but what's it to you?" "Who asked for your opinion?" " None, but I say it the same." "To me, who acts thus is a rascal and..." " Calm down, calm!" "I'd even tell him to his face!" " Young man, mind your terms!" "I won't mind anything!" "I say it and..." "But by chance..." "That one would be you?" "Yes, it's me." "It took so long to figure it out?" "Excuse me." "I'm sorry I got carried away, but on certain topics I have my ideas..." "Well, the incident is closed." "Rather, shall we talk about the job?" "Yes, but I can't see how I..." " You'll understand now." "In few words, Mr. Kovach, you want to earn 10,000 lire?" "Ten thousand?" "Are you crazy?" " Don't interrupt me, Sir!" "10,000?" " Yes." "In 3 months. 5,000 now and 5,000 at the end." "Would you like to?" "Sure I'd like to, but I don't understand how I could earn this..." "A trifle,.. a very simple job." "You don't... you don't understand yet?" "Actually, I haven't understood." " It would be about..." "It would be about... going to prison." "To prison!" "?" "Three months." "Only three months!" "Instead of him?" "Give me my hat." " Why?" " Where's my hat, soon!" "Don't you think you insulted me enough?" " Insulted, Sir?" "But no one meant to insult you." "We made just a proposal." "See, I'm a poor devil, hungry, tattered." "In this world of misery I only own my name." "My name of an honest gentleman." "But your name will not appear in this affair." " How?" "I don't get it." "Excuse me, who is that must go to jail?" "He, my master." "So?" " So, by agreeing to take his place, you, as Pietro Kovach, you would cease to exist." "Who goes to jail is Paolo Vareghi." " And I?" "You, you.." "You nothing." "You'd continue to be the honest man, free and blameless, who walks head up." "Then why give me 10,000?" " To make you go to jail." "So I should go!" " Not as Pietro Kovach, but as Paolo Vareghi." "Which floor?" " Third floor, number 8." " Is he home?" "I think so, I haven't seen him leave." " Let's go." "Here, sir, these are the five thousand lire." "Now you just need to go and let them lock you up." "And, if they notice?" " Who should notice?" " Those of the prison." "Why, they know you?" "Who do you think should know me!" "?" "But they'll want to check..." "My documents, my ID." " No, no fear." "It never happens that someone resorts to a trick to be jailed." "So, we agree?" "Not on your life!" "I wondered so... out of curiosity." "But, you refuse?" " Sure..!" "It's them?" " Maybe." " Them who?" "The gentlemen who come to pick up the gentleman." "Engineer, you have yet a few minutes to think it over." "These are the five thousand lire." "You decide." "Is Paolo Vareghi at home?" "Yes sir." "Whom shall I announce?" " There's no need." "Paolo Vareghi?" "It's me." "Paolo Vareghi, of the late Mattia and Adele Corallo?" "Yes, sir." "Aged 32?" "Yes, sir." "By profession gentleman?" "Yes, sir." " Sentenced to three months imprisonment for forgery and fraud?" "Yes, sir." " Come with us." "Yes, sir." "May I say something to my domestic?" "Go ahead." "These are my papers." "Go to my home, Via della Colonnetta, 5." "Pick up my stuff and warn the doorkeeper that..." "I left.." " For business?" "Don't doubt it, I'll see to it." "These are... the keys." "Goodbye, and good luck." "Thank you." "We can go." "He's gone!" "He's gone..." "Poor guy." "I almost feel remorse." " But, why?" "He did a great deal!" "More than 3,000 lire a month!" "Kept and housed at the expense of the state." "What more could he want?" "What if he took the money and just out says that..?" " No, there's no risk." "He goes to jail, he's an honest man." "Rather, now we need to think about you." "You too must disappear, cease to exist." " But what should I do?" "Leave, hide where no one can recognize you." " But where?" "I'll see to that." "Luckily, I have a sister with a farm, near a village." "She'll be happy to host you for 3 months." "It's occupied!" "You wanted a room with private bathroom and heating?" "Hey, young man, this is a prison, not a hotel!" "Inside!" "Less talk!" "Hey man, you don't even greet?" "Good morning." " How much did they give you?" "Ten thousand lire." " Of fine?" "And of jail?" "Three months." " Damn, lucky you!" "I still got two and a half years." "It's the first time?" "Yes... it's the first time..." "I knew right away, one sees that you're a newbie!" "Hello?" "Who is it?" "Good morning, Counselor." "Good morning, Miss." "I'd like to talk to the Baron." "Huh?" "Oh, no matter." "Be so kind as to tell him that the person entered duly, and the utmost secrecy will be kept." "That's all, he'll understand." "Thanks Miss, my respects." "Where is my father?" " In the billiard room." "Oh, you're here?" " Good morning, Dad." " Hello, dear." "Mr. Mori just phoned, he says that the person entered duly." "What's it about?" "Don't be too curious." "Look at that shot!" "Admire your father!" " Dad," "I know everything." " What?" " You sent Paolo to jail." "Paolo?" "But you don't even know him!" "I didn't think you cared so much." "He's my cousin and your nephew." " Don't remind me!" "A rogue!" "He forged my signature!" "Poor guy, if he needed money..." " But look at that way of reasoning!" "Go, let me play!" "Come on, dad, you can't ruin a man's life!" "After all, it's only a trifle." "Trifle!" "?" "Don't you get that when a man degrades to this point he's not worthy of pity?" "It'll be a good lesson for him." "One day he may thank me for this severity!" "Oh yeah?" "Even thank you?" "Why?" "What have you done for him?" "Nothing!" "You never wanted to know him or help him." "If you had, maybe he wouldn't have ended up like that." "Y'know, easy to talk about honesty when you own villas, castles, millions." "But a poor young man left to his own..." "Don't start with the rants!" " No rants, it's a matter of humanity!" "Whose fault is it if he's degraded?" "Yours!" " Mine!" "?" " Yes, yours." "Indeed, you know what?" "He did well to swindle 50,000 lire!" "Enough!" "I forbid you to speak to me so!" " What's up?" "What's going on?" "Why the yelling?" "We hear you all over the house." "Nothing." "A small argument for reasons of game." "Yeah." "Dad wanted to send me to jail because I cheated at the game." "Speaking of jail, Demetrio, don't say no, give me 500 lire." "Why?" " An offering to a charity." "That's 500 lire!" "If you'd stop it once and for all with your charity!" "You know, now I'm the president of the prisoners' assistance Committee." "What?" "The prisoners?" "I won't give anything!" "But you always gave something!" " Well, this time is nothing!" " Why?" "Prisoners!" "What have I to do with the prisoners?" "I don't understand this unwarranted pity!" "If they're inside it means they deserve it, worse for them." "Go to hell!" "What have I done?" "Why did he send me to hell?" "No, Uncle, nothing against you." "He's edgy today." "Rather, Aunt, when will you go to jail?" " Me, to jail?" "Why should I go to jail?" "To visit the inmates." " Oh, true!" "But, tomorrow is the sanatorium, the day after the asylum, then the stunted children, I don't know..." "Please, let's go tomorrow." "I'm coming too!" " Tomorrow?" "Maybe." "Tomorrow, then." "Here we are, Sir, we arrived." " Finally!" "I couldn't stand anymore!" "That's your sister's home?" " Yes." "I call right away." "Maddalena!" "Oh!" "You'd better not say your name." "Y'know, a rumor, it's easy to mess it up." " Don't tell me." "Maddalena!" "Vittorio!" "How are you?" " Fine, and you?" " Yes, I'm fine." "Come, I'll introduce you." " Yes." "You've been so quick!" " Oh, well.." "Sir, here is my sister." "She says she has a magnificent room for you." "Yes, the best one!" "You're lucky that the judge's brother left just yesterday." "The judge's brother?" " Yes." " There was a judge here?" "There still is!" "But, an important judge." "President of the Tribunal!" "And he lives here?" " For a year!" "He's been very sick." "He needed a little country air." "Come and see, I'll show you your room!" "From here you can see the whole valley." "What a beauty, huh?" "Over there is the village, the church, the school..." "And that big building over there, you see?" "That's the penitentiary." "There is also the penitentiary!" "Yes, but now there is none." "They put the wheat warehouse!" "Say, what is this stench?" "Nothing, there's the stable below." "Shoo!" "Sorry sir." "Soon as they find an open door, these damn hens..!" "Shoo!" "What are you thinking, sir?" " I think how nice it must be in jail." "No, it's the first impression." "I'm sure you will be fine here." "And it's only 3 months." "Among stable, hens and penitentiary it'll be a lot of fun!" "And then, I don't like the story of the judge." " No, don't worry." "I checked." "It's a judge at rest." "A judge who doesn't judge." "May I welcome this gentleman?" "Very pleased to meet you!" "Please, it's not me, it's the gentleman." " Oh, Very pleased!" "I am judge Vasani." "And I am..." " Pietro Kovach, mining engineer." " Oh, it's a pleasure!" "Kovach, you said?" "Wait a minute," "Kovach..." "Kovach..." "This name isn't new to me." "Oh, yes, now I remember!" "I sentenced some Mattia Kovach to 20 years imprisonment, for killing his wife." " It wasn't me!" "Oh, well, of course, of course..." "Don't be surprised, I have a great memory!" "Just that I see a face or hear a name, they're printed here forever." "And your doctor prescribed country air too?" " Yeah, indeed." "And how much he sentenced you?" "I mean, how long has he prescribed you?" "3 months, with extenuating circumstances." "No, I meant,.." "save for complications." "Those bars, those padlocks!" "How interesting!" "Here we keep the most deserving." " Let's start, then." "For you, my good man." "For you." "Thank the ladies!" " Thanks." "What good faces they have!" "What did they do?" "One, bank robbery." " The other?" " A bite." " And for a bite he was jailed?" "Yeah, but a bite that ripped his wife's nose." " What horror!" "And he ate it?" " Well, despite all research..." "Shall we keep going?" "Stefano Englesh." "Stefano Englesh." "Stefano Englesh." " Stefano!" "Introducing yourself to the inmates!" " Why not?" "It's their home, we must be kind!" " Come away!" "What a disaster!" "Warden?" " Yes?" " The cell of Paolo Vareghi?" " Vareghi?" "I'll take you there." "But this cell is empty!" " Yes." " They escaped?" "Escaped?" "Oh, no!" "The inmates were transferred to another cell." "If you want to, visit it." "Please." "There, that's the cell of Paolo Vareghi." " Thank you." " Sure." "Are you Paolo Vareghi?" " No, I'm not." "It must be that guy." "Hey, mate, come here, a beautiful lady brought us gifts." "He doesn't want to be seen, he's ashamed, poor guy." "He's not yet inured, give it to me, I'll bring it to him." "Here, this is yours." "Thank you, ma'am." "What a thrill!" "Enough thrills for today, I'm tired." "Warden, distribute the other packages." " Yes, Countess." "And thanks on behalf of all." " Where is he?" "You lost something?" " Yes, Stefano, my husband!" "He was here a while ago, he's vanished!" " Vanished?" "Stefano!" " Dad!" "Oh, Countess, he's here!" "Stefano!" "What are you doing?" "Who told you to stay in here?" "Sorry!" "My usual distraction!" "Indeed I wondered:" "What did I do wrong?" "Why they put me in jail?" " But come on!" "You give such a bad impression!" "You can't be left for a moment!" "Damn, they've splurged!" "An apple, a fig, two cigarettes and a tin medal!" "Nice thing, charity!" "My word, when I'm out, I get their address and I'll go get the gift at their home!" "Hey, mate, wanna make an exchange?" "What exchange?" " Your cigarettes for my apple and fig." "But take it all!" "Here I am." "It's been a while since I met people so kind, so friendly, that it's been a real pleasure." "Come in, what is it?" "Excuse me, warden, I'd like a word with you." "Please, Miss, have a seat." " Thank you." " Please." "Leave us alone." "I am the daughter of Baron Demetrio Vareghi." " Nice to meet you!" "Please, sit." "Thank you, just one word, I'm leaving soon." "What can you do to make my cousin's detention less painful?" "Your cousin?" " Yes." "The inmate 2763 is Paolo Vareghi, my cousin." "By Jove!" " Why, you didn't know?" "Well, I couldn't suppose.." "I've come up the ranks, I know well the soul of a detainee, but I never imagined to have the honor..." "Here we get respectable clients!" "Well, within the limits of regulation..." "Indeed, Warden, I'd like you to do something for him." "Oh, sure, for such a respectable client!" "We'll put him in a cell for a fee." "And, how are those?" " Like the others, with the difference that you pay." "Oh!" "And also in those, does the window and door have bars?" "Of course!" "But the bed is more comfortable." "No favoritism and no partiality." "Your nephew will be treated like any other inmate." "Indeed, if possible, with greater rigor." " Rigor, rigor..." "Don't overdo it now." "After all, he didn't kill anyone!" "Baron, you told me..." " I said, without any particular regard." "But I won't be cruel to him." "What the heck!" "I'm not a brute." "And maybe, I have my share of fault." " You?" "My dear, easy to talk about honesty when you own villas, castles, millions." "If I had stretched out my hand, maybe..." "Well, now what is done is done." "Look, Counselor, speak to the warden." "Try..." "Yes, in short, let's do so that this poor guy..." "See if it's possible to let him have something, books, cigarettes..." "Hey, but don't say it's from me!" "Say, the swag, you hid it?" "Which swag?" " Yeah, you know..." "I have no swag!" " You afraid I tell on you?" "If you don't trust..." "Hey, you, come with me!" "Where?" " Don't ask questions, obey!" "May I know where you're taking me?" "Special treatment, cell with fee." "And who's paying?" " Not me for sure!" "If you don't know yourself..." "My respects, Baron." " But what do you do here?" "I'm here to serve you." "To serve me?" " Yes." "Something extraordinary happened." "This morning I came to the prison to cautiously gather information." "You know, I had no news, I wanted to be sure that no complications had arisen." "Well?" " As soon as I said I was your domestic, they said that the warden wanted to talk to me." "My blood ran cold!" ""Goodnight!", I thought, "They found out everything!"" "Instead the warden has been very kind, and he told me that, exceptionally, he authorizes me to serve you in the period of your imprisonment." "Really?" " Yes." "Indeed, he told me to fix your meals according to your tastes." "I don't know your tastes, I followed those of my master." "And here it is." "Risotto à la Rossini, devilled chicken, veal medallions with truffles, cheese, fruit and dessert." "Polenta, always polenta!" "You eat only polenta here!" "Polenta is healthy, young man!" "Healthy food, nourishing, wholewheat!" "Look in the mirror." "In these 3 days you fattened up already." "In 3 days I did nothing but gulp down polenta, chickpeas, chestnuts!" "And these hens always in the way!" "They have no another place?" "Where should I put them?" "Wring their neck, cook them, let us eat them!" "The kids!" "Even the kids now!" "You're too nervous, young man!" "Your doctor made a mistake to give 3 months, it'd take 3 years!" "What?" " Sure, 3 years of country life." "And then, you must do some motion!" "Motion is health, young man!" "How good it is in here!" "I never imagined... that life in prison was so comfortable and pleasant." "Yeah!" "Actually, neither I would've imagined!" "Say, you don't know yet who's so interested in me, who sends me all this nice stuff?" " No, sir." "I tried to investigate, I asked the guards, nothing." "No one knows anything, a mystery." "Not his uncle, or he wouldn't have sent him to jail." "True?" " Right." "Other relatives may not have known." "And even if they knew, they're at odds with him, so, they wouldn't care." "I have a doubt: it's Professor Tommasi?" "And who is he?" "The professor of crystallography with whom I graduated." "He liked me so much." "Maybe he got to know by chance..." " No, nothing to do with you!" "You forget that here you're not Kovach but Baron Vareghi." "True, I didn't think." "Ah, but the free ride is over!" "There remain only 18 days!" " So few?" "Why, you're sorry?" " Sure that I'm sorry." "Here one works so well, there is calm, serenity..." "Say, since the warden of the prison is so kind, couldn't I ask him to extend..?" "What, you would stay still in prison?" " Yes." "Of course paying the rent of the cell." "You like to joke!" "Here, these are the newspapers." "And these the cigarettes." "Anything else?" " Thank you, very kind." " You're welcome." "Have you seen, sir?" "The amnesty." ""By amnesty decree, are condoned the financial penalties up to 50,000 lire"" ""The penalties of up to one year for crimes of theft, embezzlement, forgery of deeds"" "I don't get this craze for amnesties!" "The poor judges work, they work to condemn people, and then, out of the blue, a decree!" "All free!" "Luckily, now I'm at rest, and I don't deal more with these things." "Here are the potatoes!" "Next time pull them out yourself!" "I'm tired of being a farmer!" "Hey, young man!" "Who doesn't work won't eat!" "If you want fried potatoes, you must pick them." "Had I known it was so hard, I'd given up fried potatoes!" "Here is the newspaper, if you want to read it." " I don't care." " Why?" "There is always something interesting." "Just now I read of a decree..." "Look, judge, don't annoy me with your papers and your decrees!" "I don't want to know anything while I'm here!" "God willing, in 18 days is over!" "I start to live again!" "Too nervous, too nervous, that young man!" "This is your stuff, if you want to check." "Meanwhile, sign." "A wallet containing 5,000 lire." "A leather moneybag containing 3 lire and 30." "A lanyard and a pencil." "Thanks." "So, can I go?" " No, wait a minute." "There is to wait for the order signed by the warden." "Sit there." "Meanwhile, shall we do our accounts?" " Which accounts?" "Don't you remember?" "Why, we part now?" " Sure, I'll go back to my master." "You, I don't know..." " Me neither." " That's 5,000 lire." "Actually they were for 3 months, sir." "You've done 18 days less." "If you want to deduct..." " Heavens, no!" "My master would never do such pettiness!" "Rather, I hope that the gentleman has been pleased with me." "Very." "During this time I considered you as my true master." " Thank you so much." "If you would remember..." "my modest work..." "I'll always remember, with much pleasure." "No!" "No, I meant,.." "the service is not included." "Oh, yeah?" "Excuse me..." "Thank you!" "Warden, I ask you to give him this." "He will need money, especially in the early times." "What should I tell him?" " Nothing." "But he will want to know..." " Okay, then tell him it was... the patronesses of the charity committee." "Allow me?" "Yes?" "Miss!" "There's your father!" "My father?" "All right, let him in." "Let him through." "What do we tell him now?" "Well, the truth." " What?" "But, yes, the truth!" " But.. but..." "Excellency." " Good morning, warden." "Clara!" " Hi, dad." " What are you doing here?" "I figured you would come, and so,.." "here I am." "Warden, I'm the uncle of a certain Paolo Vareghi who is to be released today." "Vareghi?" "Yes, indeed." " I'd be grateful if you would permit me to speak to him." "But certainly!" "I'll see to it immediately." "Allow me." "I don't grasp why you're here." "What did you want to do?" "What I hope you've decided to do yourself." " Right." "In fact, as you see, I'm not the ruthless man that you believed." "Oh, I'm sure." "Indeed, forgive me if..." " No, I have nothing to forgive." "Maybe you were right." "I was wrong to act so towards him." "Indeed, my real fault is not having made peace with his father, my brother." " It's no use thinking about the past." "Rather, what'll you tell him?" " No reproach, he's already atoned enough." "I'll give him some money, I'll send him, don't know yet, to America, or Australia." "I know influential people there, and if he wants, he can become a real man." "But, you want him to leave now?" " I think that's his wish." "But dad, don't you think that instead he may feel a longing of a family, a home?" "What do you mean?" " Well, at least for 2 or 3 weeks he can stay with us, right?" "In our house?" "Are you crazy?" "Why, what's wrong?" " A forger, just out of jail, in my house?" "Here we go again with the rants:" "The forger, honor, dignity!" "Dad, forget the big words." "Because of them we're in this situation." "Look Clara, I'll do anything but..." "Excellency, here's your nephew." "Paolo, you don't know me." "I'm your uncle, Demetrio Vareghi." "And this is my daughter Clara, your cousin." "Since we're here, you'll understand that we want to wholeheartedly forgive you." "Thank you, but I..." " My son, we are men." "We are not angels, but not devils either." "I'm not used to long speeches, I prefer to act." "I decided to help you, and I will." "I'll give you the means for you to start a new life, and when you get out of here, you'll go... er..." "You'll go..." "I mean, well, I mean..." "you will come with us, in our home." "You'll stay for a few weeks, and then... then we'll see." "Are you happy?" "I thank you so much, but..." "I can't, I can't accept." " Why can't you accept?" " Why can't you?" "Because..." "I'd better tell you everything..." "Okay, I get what you mean, you don't feel worthy." "Bravo." "These scruples do you honor and show in you that sense of dignity I expected." "But since we welcome you with open arms!" " But that's not why..." "Let me explain!" " Excuse me, Your Excellency." "My master is still troubled, very touched." " Oh, you're his valet?" "Yes, I am Vittorio, son of Vittorio, who had the honor to serve your father." "Ah, bravo, I'm pleased, bravo Vittorio!" "Then accompany your master to his house, make him rest, get changed, make him take a refreshing bath, and we will come pick you up with the car later." "Son: you're not Paul Vareghi!" "That's it, exactly!" "I..." " You're a new man!" "Remember!" "A new man!" "See you later." "See you later,.." "Paolo." "Goodbye, warden." " I'll escort you, Excellency." "No, no, no!" "Absolutely not!" "Hush!" " Hush what?" "Hush what?" "Can I ever abuse their good faith?" "And what would you do?" " Tell all!" "I want to return to what I am, my personality, my life!" "Now I'm going to tell the warden, come what may." "You're crazy!" " No!" "He'll explain the situation to the others!" " Oh, yeah?" "Tell him!" "You know what'll happen?" " What?" " We'll all end up in jail!" "My master for fooling justice, and me for complicity." "Good, go to jail, I don't care!" "But you'd come along!" " Me?" " Sure!" "For real this time, with your real name." "And not for 3 months only, with the all comforts, radio, books... but for a few years!" "Simulation of crime, impersonation, forgery, offense to the authorities.." "It's too late, we're in the cog!" "The warden." "Here I am!" "The archive has completed all the paperwork related to your position, thus, from this moment, you're a free man." "Warden, I have no words to express all my gratitude for the loving and fraternal care you had for me." "Mr. Vareghi?" "This time it's not the warden who speaks to the usual outgoing someone, but,.. man to the man." "I'm used to employ customary terms for they who go and they who stay, but this time for you I feel compelled to say new words, ie, it's so nice to see you leave, as it's painful not having you more with us." "With that I think I've proven all my admiration for you and His Excellency your uncle, to whom I ask you to convey my warmest tributes." "Thank you." "Mr. Vareghi!" "I was forgetting." "There's this letter to you." " For me?" "Now I can tell you." "Your cousin left it." "20,000 lire, and a letter." " What does it say?" ""Please accept a little help from a person who, while not knowing you, feels much affection for you." "Courage!"" "There's no signature?" " No." "She didn't want that I, that is she.." "in short, she didn't want me to know it was her." "Very generous." "No, sorry, these are for Paolo Vareghi." "The real Paolo Vareghi." " Ah, yes." "You also want the letter?" " No, not needed." "You can keep that." "Oh, come in, Paolo, come in." "Here we are!" "Maybe you don't remember ever being here, huh?" "Of course, the last time that you came you were just over six years." "Go with him, Clara." " Yes, Dad." "Come Paolo." " Thanks." "Where are the others?" " In the hall, Sir." " Add another place." "I'm sure you'll be fine with us." " Thank you, Miss." " No, not "Miss"." "Enough with this Miss." "Call me by name, Clara." "Okay, I'll try." " It's not difficult." "At first I too had a bit of awe." "I wondered:" ""What's he like this terrible cousin?"" "They'd told me such bad things!" " Oh yeah?" "As a child I imagined you as a kind of monster!" "Instead, soon as I saw you, I trusted you." "You're very good, Miss, er, I meant,.." "thanks Clara." "You know what dad said when we left you?" " What?" "I like that bad boy." "Too bad he's a scoundrel!" "I'm sorry." "Y'know, dad uses expressions a bit lively." "But now go and get changed." "This is your room." " Thanks.." "Clara." "Paolo!" "Listen, Paolo,.." "I wouldn't want you to..." "Well, I don't know how to say..." "If you hear some phrases, words, don't mind them." "Think only that dad.. and I, we love you." "As if nothing had happened." "Thank you, Clara." "Good evening to all." "Clara?" " Upstairs." "She'll be right back." "I'm going to say hello." " No, wait, I have news to tell you." "Paolo Vareghi is here." " He's already out?" " Yes, today." "He'll stay here a few days." "I wish that during his stay we don't talk about what happened." "So please, no hint, no allusion." "Indeed, you'd better pretend to ignore it all." "But Demetrio, I don't get..." "First you condemn him and now, at home?" "Yes." "So what?" "First it took a punishment, and now forgiveness." "And don't start with the big words!" "They're the cause of everything." "So we must embrace him as if nothing had happened?" "Now Paolo, besides being my nephew, is my guest, and when I welcome someone in my house, even the Emperor of China must feel honored to eat next to him." "And I say it once and for all." "And now.." "I'm going to get changed." "That's it, perfect." "But it won't last long this affair?" " Let's hope not." "It's not pleasant for me either." "But don't worry, as soon as we can we'll sneak off." "Rather, you'd better go down." " Down where?" "In the hall, in the garden, wherever." "But be cool, heck!" "Be frank,.. it takes a brazen face!" "But they keep talking of people I don't know!" "Be evasive, change subject, talk about anything else." "Like what?" " Of travel, adventures, women." "Which women?" " Yours." " Mine?" "Make them up." "A bit of fantasy, heck!" "And then, cast off that sad look!" "Be nonchalant, cynical, light-hearted!" "Go, now." "That's not true!" " Oh yes, look at him!" "He's the image of Uncle Bob." " I don't think so." " But sure!" "Do me a favor, take off your glasses." "Like that." "Turn around." "No, no, the other way..." "Look, nose, forehead, chin..." " No, you know who he looks like?" "Put your glasses on." "That's it." "Turn that way." "Lower your head a bit." "There!" "Turn around a bit, as before!" "Leave him alone!" "You've studied him all night like a rare beast!" "He's right!" "Turn around, look there, raise your head, smile..." "I would've already lost patience!" "Oh, well, for me..." "Forget it, Paolo!" "Don't listen to them, and drink this." "Thank you." "Please." " Say, Paolo." "Maybe you can give me information." "If I can." " You ever heard of some engineer Pietro Kovach?" "Pietro Kovach?" " Yes." "A mining engineer who wrote an excellent book." ""Millions under ground"" " Don't mind him, it's his mania." "What mania, let me speak!" "He's smart, Kovach!" "He knows the Earth's bowels as his own!" "And he must have a big brain full of talent!" " Thanks." " What?" "I meant, of course he's an expert!" "It's his job!" "I bet that if he came here, he'd make it pop out in a jiffy." "What?" " Oil!" "I wrote the editor to get his address." "Whose address?" " Of Kovach, to have him here to start research." " No, he can't!" "How's that?" "What do you know?" " I mean, he surely is very busy." "Oh, if you pay him well..." " Excuse me." "Excuse me..." "I'm a bit tired, I would..." "I would, if you allow,.." " But of course!" "After so many emotions!" "Come on." "Good evening everyone." " Good evening." "What an odd guy!" "I imagined him differently." "Well, poor guy, it must be the time in jail." "And that's the adventurer?" "I may be wrong but he seems a fool." "But don't you understand?" "The book!" "The only sold copy of my book, I had to find it right here!" "They wrote to the editor, they'll seek me now." " As to that, don't worry." "Your doorkeeper'll say that you are on a business trip." "But don't you consider the spite of fate?" "I waited for years the good fortune and now it comes." "There are people who want me, and I can't be there!" "Because I'm here, to play the part of another." "But where is that damned soul of your master?" " I told you." "In the country." " Doing what?" " Nothing, he waits." "Indeed, I wrote him a letter so that he doesn't move," "I made up an excuse so that he stays a few days more." ""I'm sorry to inform you that for misconduct the detainee was penalized with further 15 days of detention."" "15 days!" "15 days!" "Possible that a poor devil who's inside for 3 months should do another 15 days for misconduct?" "Only 15 days?" "But, for misconduct, you can double or even triple the penalty!" "Inhuman systems, barbaric!" " Oh, no, my friend!" "The prison has an educational function, the more you're in it, the better!" "Stop it with the chickens!" "My theory is that everyone should go to jail." " Everyone!" "?" "Sure!" "Mandatory prison, like school!" "Up to 18 years, everybody inside!" "Then, they get out depending on their behavior." "After 3 months, 10 years,.. never!" "Instead of going to law to put people in, you'd go to law to let people out." "Don't you think my theory is right?" " Who cares?" "I want to know how that idiot got his term aggravated!" "A friend of yours?" "What's the reason for these invitations?" "What is it?" "A baptism, a wedding, a funeral?" "Oh, no!" "You know, everyone wants to meet Paolo, and so..." "Paolo, the great rarity!" "My house has become a funfair!" "Uncle, why are you so mad at him?" " I'm not mad at him, but at you!" "The poor guy would like to be quiet, but you: "Paolo here!" "Paolo there!"" "Paolo!" " Here's another one now!" "Did you see Paolo?" " No, what do you want from him?" "Just to give him good news." " What news?" " The lawyer just called." "If you recognize the signature on the check we can get a revision." "How can I recogize it, if I stated it was false." " Just say you were wrong!" "It didn't seem yours, but it was yours indeed." " So I look like an idiot!" "No big deal, at your age..." "What age?" " Well, Stefano, for one, is always distracted." "But your husband is a bit dumb!" "I mean, he's got that thing, the gastric thing." "Here I am!" "I bet you talked about me!" " That's right!" "How, you already know?" " No, what are you talking about?" "I found him!" " Who?" " Pietro Kovach!" "And who is Pietro Kovach?" " Why, don't you remember?" "And then you say I have no memory!" "Kovach, the author of that book, "Millions under ground"!" "Let's put everything in place so no one will notice!" "You want me to do this toil every day?" "No, but everything suggests that there might be oil fields underneath." "We should dig, get to 500, 1,000 meters of depth!" "1,000 meters deep with this hoe?" "But no, with the necessary appliances!" "Surveys, drilling, hundreds of workers..." "Oh, if I had what I need!" "I can't see your aim." "What do you care if there is oil below?" "Think what joy if I were able to tell these people that there's a huge wealth in the ground." "I found it!" "I offer it to you!" " Paolo!" "Quick!" "Hide everything!" "Over there!" "Paolo!" "Paolo!" "Oh, good morning!" "Finally!" "We've sought you all morning!" "What're you doing here alone?" "I went for a walk in the woods, I love to look at the trees, the meadows..." "Then, passing by here..." "But just yesterday you told me you don't like walking!" "Oh, I said so?" " Well, maybe he doesn't like to walk with you!" "Right, he has no fun with me." "He needs romantic cousins, sentimental!" "What are you saying?" " Nothing, I know what!" "Bye, I'm going." "What's with her?" " Don't mind her." "Rather, there's good news for you!" "It seems we can get a retrial." "Which trial?" " But, yours of course!" "The one by which you've been convicted!" "Aren't you glad?" " Yes, very glad." "At last you can remove the stain from your name!" "No one will say that Paolo Vareghi is dishonest!" " Paolo Vareghi.." "But then you care for the name." "Yes, sure." "Every time I hear an allusion to that bad thing," "I feel a sense of rebellion." "For the name?" " Well, of course!" "I can't wait to be able to reply:" ""Paolo Vareghi is not guilty, he's innocent!"" "But, you don't say anything?" "Don't you wish it too?" "Yes, I wish it..." "But..." "I don't get it..." " Look Clara, if Paolo Vareghi was not me..." " How?" "Well, If I had not this name, your name, if I had an any name, the name of any poor devil, you'd want the same for me, just for me, as I truly am?" "Of course, it's for you that I want it!" "Because I know." "You're another." "Another?" " Yes, I realized by living next to you, day by day." "And the others too have realized." "The others too!" "?" "But let's not talk about this!" " No, let's talk!" "But I didn't imagine!" "Now I want to explain, justify!" "But no, it's a finished thing!" " But, not at all!" "I've done wrong, I know, I've done something dishonest, shameful." "But I want it to be known why I did it!" "I didn't even think of it, it was a cursed chance..." "Then I wished to go back, but by then..." "Why recall something sad?" "Look, Clara, I must!" "I want you to know how it was." "A poor wretch, jobless and penniless, is offered 10,000 lire, all of a sudden.." " 10,000?" "But wasn't it 50,000?" "No, I swear, they were 10,000." "And not even all of them, I got." "Strange!" "Dad said the check was for 50,000." "The check?" "But, this is what you were talking about?" "But of course!" "What did you think?" "Yes, in fact,.. now that I remember, they were just 50,000." "Ah, not to be able to get rid of that other one!" "Always him!" "What's wrong, Paolo?" " What Paolo?" "Enough with this Paolo!" "Clara, I must tell you something." "I lied to all, but with you,.." "with you I can't, I must not lie." "Sorry." "Miss, a phone call for you." "Who is it?" " I don't know, but it is something urgent." "Okay..." "Excuse me." "What did you want to say?" " Everything!" "The truth!" "I want to end it, I've had enough!" " Are you crazy?" " Far from it!" "She must know that I'm not her cousin." "The man she esteems and towards whom she shows so much generosity and affection, is me!" "Me, Pietro Kovach!" "I earned her affection!" "I'm the better man that she discovered day by day!" "Yes, a crook!" "What?" " A vile adventurer who slipped in her house by deception!" "Go tell her, and watch how her esteem and affection for you will increase!" "Let's not lose time, we have to leave." "Why?" " Didn't you hear that she wants to call for a retrial?" "You know what that means?" "Appearances, Interrogations, witnesses..." "Before the courts you can't claim to be Paul Vareghi." "The judges can't be tricked so easily!" "So, just not to forget." "Doctor, you owe me 37, right?" " Yes." "You, sir, 60 and the judge..." " No, I paid already!" "Sorry, I was distracted!" "How much better was our scopone!" "It took three hours to lose 10 lire." "Here, instead, wham wham, and he always wins!" "I open, 10 lire." "Ten." "No, I fold!" ".." "50 to see the cards." " Too much, I fold." " Three cards." "Three cards..." "I'll stick." "Just a moment..." "Oh!" "But that's jinxed!" "Again two pairs of 7!" "Engineer, there are two gentlemen asking for you." "Who are they?" "I don't know, but they seem to be two cops." "For me?" " Quick, stash the cards!" "Article 25 of the Rules of police!" "They want to talk just with you!" "Just me?" " Yes, yes..." "Good morning." "Good morning." "We went to your home, and they told us you were absent from over 3 months." "Finally we managed to find you!" "Oh, well..." "Here I am!" "I'm the Baron Vareghi." "Vareghi?" "And this is my brother in law, Count Stefano Englesh." " Pleased." "Shall we sit down?" "Fine." "Let's sit down." "Excuse me, but let's not get lost in chatter." "By now you found me, and I'm at your disposal." "Right, let's be practical." "Can you take responsibility for what you signed?" "I must!" " Demetrio, tell him about the millions!" "Millions?" " Yes." "In your book you argue that in certain regions you can find oil." "In my book?" "Millions, oil, but..." "whom do you want to talk with?" "With engineer Pietro Kovach." " Aren't you Pietro Kovach?" "Oh yes!" "Who do you think I was?" "What the heck!" "Now I understand!" "You want to employ millions to search for oil!" "That sounds good." "And.. how many?" "Want to know my impression?" "That young man can't be an engineer." "I watched that man carefully!" "There are too many mysteries about him!" "I think I know who he is!" " Who is?" "A big shot of the police!" "I don't deceive myself!" "I have a clinical eye!" "I just need one look!" "Should I come to your home?" "Yes, you'll stay as a friend, a family member." "There's plenty of room." "We'll give him the corner room, next to that of Paolo." "Paolo who?" " My nephew, who is now our guest." "Who, Paolo Vareghi?" " Yes, Paolo Vareghi." "Why, you know him?" "No,.. no, in name only." "But wait, wasn't he inside?" "Oh..." "You know it too?" "Yes, poor guy, he had a little mishap, but now he's been out for 20 days." "For 20 days?" "And he's there in your home?" " Yes." "He's at your home for 20 days as your nephew?" " Yes, we've reconciled." "But back to us." "So, you accept our proposals?" "Yes, I accept!" " And when are you willing to leave?" " Right now." "Great!" "The sooner we start, the better!" "Indeed, why not leave with us?" "Why not?" "I'm leaving with you!" "Ten minutes, the time to pack up." "I think, sir, that I'd better leave immediately." "To where?" " To inform my master of the situation." "Meanwhile you go to Ms. Claretta." "Try to dissuade her from the cursed idea of the retrial." "There she is!" "Giovanni?" " Yes?" " Dad is back?" " Not yet, Miss." "Do you know where he went?" " No, Miss." " Okay, thank you." "Go to her!" "Now?" " Immediately!" "There is no time to lose!" "Clara?" "Oh, Paolo!" "Claretta, I..." "I should talk to you for a moment." " About what?" "Well..." "It's about... the retrial." "Maybe dad'll bring us good news." "He went early to town." "Perhaps to speak with the lawyer." " Oh yes?" "You see,.." "I think it'd be better not to talk about it yet." " Why?" "Because... because... now I can't tell you." "It's a secret." "Indeed, I beg you not to ask me anything, but.." "one day you'll know all the truth, and then your father, your family and you'll understand many things." "And maybe you'll understand that your goodness was not wasted on an unworthy man." "And then also what I feel for you..." "No, I mean..." "Excuse me..." "I wanted to..." "No, I'd better not say anything." "No, Paolo I want to know your secret." "Don't you trust me?" " So much, but..." "Believe me, I just can't tell you." "And if I begged you?" " It'd be useless, I couldn't anyway." "Alright, I won't insist." "Keep your secret." "I don't care!" "Clara!" "Vittorio!" "Listen Vittorio, you know how to swear?" "I think so, Miss." "Tell me, your master is married by chance?" " Oh no, I assure you." "Swear!" " I swear!" "And tell me, he has some relationship, some history of women?" "Who?" "Him?" "For goodness sake, Miss!" "Swear!" " I swear!" "Thank you!" "That's all I wanted to know." "Oh, Dad!" " Hello baby." "I came with a guest." "Come in." "My daughter Clara, Mr. Pietro Kovach." " I'm pleased." "Clara, he's the one from the book!" "We found him at last!" "Oh, come here." "This is my nephew Paolo Vareghi." "Mr. Pietro Kovach." "Kovach?" " Kovach." " I'm glad to meet you." "Me too." " Paolo, accompany the gentleman." "Where?" " In the grey room, next to yours." "Vittorio, get a move on, take the engineer's bags!" "Say, I think I've seen you somewhere!" "I don't know, I wouldn't know..." " Maybe I'm wrong!" "Go ahead." "Please, engineer." "I'm sorry to disturb you, Mr. Paolo Vareghi." "Please." " Excuse me, Miss." " See you later." "Please, go ahead, Mr. Vareghi." "It's your house!" "Listen..." " Later, we'll talk later." "He already said there's oil!" " How does he know?" "With just a look!" "I'll bring him the maps." "Daddy, have you thought?" " About what?" " About Paolo." "Yes, the lawyer said it's possible." "We'll start the practice." "Dad, you're an angel!" "I'm so happy!" " What's with you?" "Why this enthusiasm?" "You know, I never told you, I didn't tell anyone." "Maybe I didn't know it myself." "But now I must tell you everything." " No, baby, don't say anything." "Why?" " Because I think I understand." "It won't do." " What?" "My child, let's be clear, I would've raised the topic myself." "I don't understand." " I've forgiven Paolo, and I've learned to esteem him, but he's been in jail, and you can't erase the past." "There!" "Now you know everything." "I swear I didn't want to, but it was like... a fatality, a cog..." "A comfortable excuse!" "While you were doing the good life" "I was in the country with stables, mosquitoes, judges, and cows!" "Come, come on in!" "Has he explained?" " Yes, the fatality, the cog..." "And now I understand the sequel, the aggravation for misconduct." "Bright idea!" "It was a nasty surprise when you saw me, right?" "By your expressions!" "But say, you intend to go on with this nice play?" "I swear, Baron, just today I meant to come to you." "Look who it is." "I want to talk to Mr. Kovach." "Here it is, Sir, the map of the region." "If you want to take a look..." "Oh, sorry Paolo, I mistook you for the engineer!" "It's me the engineer!" " Here's the map." " Oh, this is the map!" "When shall we visit the region?" " When you wish." " Tomorrow morning?" "So, I'll order the horses for the morning." " Perfect." "For me?" "Oh, yes." "What did he want?" " Didn't you hear?" "To see if there's oil in the region." " But, you're an expert?" "I don't know a damn about it." " You mean to exploit their good faith?" "Why, you didn't?" " But..." "It's not me who wanted it!" "I was the victim of a misunderstanding..." "of a cog!" " Well, let's stay in it!" "You keep on being Paolo Vareghi, I, Kovach, and our dear Vittorio, the faithful servant of both." "No, enough!" "I refuse to go on supporting this lie!" "Young man, no melodramas!" "So far it suited you, now it suits me." " So then?" " I'll look for the oil!" "It's a great chance to make a deal at my beloved uncle's expense, and you want me to drop it?" "No way!" "Millions under ground?" "And I'll make them pour out!" "Ah, wonderful, wonderful!" "This area is full of oil!" "You can even smell it!" " Smell?" "I don't smell anything." " You don't have a trained nose!" "And these lands are yours?" "No, unfortunately." "We own up to the swamp edge." "However, we can buy them." " Definitely, now!" "There's a treasure underneath!" "But no one must know!" "Utmost secrecy!" "First, no parties and no receptions!" "Please, cancel all invitations!" "No need to be so tragic." "If Clara has a liking for Paolo..." "Please, Magda, don't go back to this topic!" "Paolo will never marry my daughter!" "Because they're cousins?" " That too is a reason." "Marriages between cousins always give bad results!" "We have a proof in our family." "Just look at your husband." "We explored the whole area." "You can smell the oil!" "Look, don't annoy me with this damn oil!" "But such an important thing!" " Yes, it is, but now I have other fish to fry!" "Go, dear, go!" "So, we agree." "With the excuse of going to visit Uncle Ariberto, you will leave with Clara for Villa Florita." "There is a lot of youth, they dance, there's fun, it won't be hard to keep her there for sometime." " OK." "Start loading the bags." " Clara's coming." "Uncle Demetrio must be furious." "When I said bye he replied with a grunt." "And dad?" "Who knows?" "Around with the engineer." "I bet he forgot that we're leaving." "Then, when will you return?" " I don't know, soon, maybe even tomorrow." "If you knew what a bore having to go make this visit!" "Look, Paolo, whatever happens, whatever my father tells you, remember I'll always be close to you." "Why, what happened?" " Nothing.." "We had a harsh argument." "Y'know, he's stubborn as all the Vareghi." "But I too am a Vareghi, and you too!" "And we'll stand before him!" " But how, Clara..." " Clara!" "Now I have to go!" "Goodbye, Paolo." "Goodbye..." "Here she is at last!" "Sir, sir!" "What is it?" "I'm afraid there's trouble." "The Baron is in a hellish mood and wants you at once." "Where is he?" " Down in the studio." "Come on, come..." "You sent for me?" " Sit down, dear boy." "Look, son, you are here from about twenty days." "I'd be happy if you stayed forever in my home, but I think you too want to get out of this situation." "Yes, I can't wait to get out!" "Good, you think just like me!" "So, let's see..." "Do you like Australia?" " Australia?" "If you prefer America, to me it's the same, I'll let you choose." "I have important friends in both places." "But, you want me to go there?" " I think it's better for all to put an ocean between past and future." "In two days a ship will depart for Australia." "I'll book a first-class cabin for you, and one for your domestic." "Upon landing you'll find a trusted person and a credit transfer." " Then, I,.." "I,.." "Paolo Vareghi, I should go to Australia?" "Yes." "And.. you wouldn't know anything more about him... that is, about me..." "No one would see me anymore?" " This would be ideal." "And the engineer Pietro Kovach?" " What do you care about him?" "No, I wondered." "He'd remain here?" " I don't know, as long as necessary." "But, what do you care about Pietro Kovach?" "No, I don't care..." "so, wondering out of curiosity..." "So, we agree." "Yes,.." "we agree." "Who owns these lands?" "Farmers, smallholders..." "Lands that aren't worth anything, all weeds and swamps." "Well, here's the oil!" " What?" " Don't you understand yet?" "A simple affair, rapid, linear." "We buy it with little, we say there's oil, we resell it to my uncle for a fab sum." "And then?" " And as they dig, we hook it and so long!" "Baron, you are great!" " Thank you." "I seem to go back to the good old days, full of fun and adventures!" "I like it!" "How boring to live among these honest people!" "Well?" " He wants to send me to Australia." " You?" " No, you." "He knew that I..." " No, he knows nothing." "There's a steamer for Australia, and he's booked a cabin for me and one for my domestic." "Upon landing I'll find a trusty person and credit." "That's a complication!" " No, it's the solution!" " Why?" "The cabin is booked for Paolo Vareghi, and so is the credit." "You're Paolo Vareghi, I'm your domestic, we just have to go." "Perfect!" "We'll go to Australia, and you'll be again Pietro Kovach!" "Are you glad?" "If I'm glad?" "At last I'll be able to go back to my house, to my studies, to my obscurity of poor devil who asks nothing better than to live honestly!" "The day after tomorrow, 48 hours." "There's no time to lose, let's hurry!" " For what?" " For the other affair!" "Which affair?" " Nothing that concerns you!" "The payments have been made, these are the tradeoffs, the receipts..." "You're all set, now the lands are yours, and for good." "But, don't you think we've paid a bit too much?" " 30 lire per meter?" "But if they had known about the oil you'd have paid thousand-fold more!" "I gotta go now, see ya." " Wait, why the rush, what have you to do?" "But we must begin the works, hire workers, take decisions..." "Yes, you're right, go, go!" " Here, take this." "The tickets for your cabin and that of Vittorio." "The passport is in order?" "Passport?" " Yes." "Don't you remember that we renewed it six months ago?" "Oh yes, I remember." "These are the letters of recommendation, and a credit letter for the bank in Sydney." "Then, my dear son, goodbye, bon voyage and good luck." "I would ask you to tell Claretta that.." "I thank her for her kindness, and.. that I wish her well." "Yes, Paolo, I'll tell her." "I don't know why he's so late." "By now he should be here already." "Look, I got tired of waiting, I want to go home." "Have patience, Sir." "It'll be just a few minutes." "Why do you need me?" "I gave you letters, tickets, money, so..." "I don't know, some snag may happen, better wait." "You'd be safer too." "OK, let's wait." "Here you go!" "It's him." "Oh, Miss!" " Where is Paolo?" " Who.. er..." "No, one mom..." "Miss, wait!" "Paolo!" " Clara!" "I was afraid of not arriving on time." "When I heard you were leaving, I decided." "Paolo, I'm going with you!" "With me?" " Yes, we'll go to the ends of the world!" "No, I know what you think!" "I'm not afraid, I'm ready to face it all with you!" "Even poverty." "We will work, we'll earn a living, and we'll be happy!" "Clara, you.. you'd do this for me?" "Yes dear, I told you." "No one can divide us!" "My father too will have to surrender." "And if he won't forgive us, no matter!" "We'll go alone." "You and me." "Clara..." "Clara..." "Sir, finally!" " All set?" "Not at all!" "There's a complication!" " What complication?" "Oh, engineer." " Please, please..." "Don't trouble yourselves." "I think I came at an inconvenient time." "Far from it!" "Indeed, just the right time." "You are the first to get the news." "Me and my cousin got engaged!" "Engaged?" "Congratulations!" "And you'll get married?" " Of course we will!" " Good, good..." "And what do you think?" " Well, I..." "Don't you think that by now it's best to explain everything?" " Explain what?" "I don't get it..." "Well, Clara, you need to know..." "It's difficult to explain..." "Would you tell her?" " It's better." "Time is short and the steamer won't wait." "My dear Clara,.." "Well, don't marvel if I call you so familiarly, but I have the right." "Since your cousin Paolo Vareghi is not him," "It's me." "What do you mean?" " That's right." "It is a story a bit complicated." "Don't marvel at anything." "Listen... 30 lire per meter?" "Are you crazy?" "A land that is not worth 10 cents!" "10 cents a land that's above a sea of oil?" " But what oil?" "Where is it?" "Did you see it yourself?" " I couldn't, it's still below!" "Look, when it'll come out, then it'll be appropriate to speak of oil." "I have a great fear." "I'd like to be wrong, but I'm afraid..." "Tell Mr. Kovach to come here." "But Mr. Kovach is gone." " He's gone?" "And you knew?" " No, he didn't say anything!" "How long ago?" " About an hour." "Indeed, I asked him if he wanted the car and he said he didn't need it." "And he left any message?" " No, sir." "Okay, go on, thanks." "Are you convinced now?" " Of what?" " Of what!" "?" "Don't you understand, you old dolt, that he's just a common cheater?" "To whom did you give the money for the land?" "To him." "Let's hope to make it in time to grab him!" "There, now you know everything." "It's true what he told me?" " Yes." "I'm not to blame, I didn't want..." "So you've mocked me." "You had fun behind my back!" "No, I swear ..." " Yes, it's so!" "Who knows how much you laughed at me!" "Both..." "Both... and especially you!" "Me, this poor fool who had given you all her love, all her confidence!" "Oh, what a fool!" " No, Clara..." "Clara, please!" "How many times I wanted to tell you, how heavy was this lie, especially for you, Clara." "I swear that..." "No, that's it!" "Don't say more." "Good evening." "Clara!" "Good evening." " I'm sorry." "It's right that it ended like this." "Poor girl!" "Poor devil..." "Sir, what's with you?" " Why?" "Don't know, I'm afraid you're having sentimental scruples." "Tricking people can be fun too, but when people pay who have no fault,.." "I'd almost..." " What?" "You want to no longer leave?" "Right." "Better leave!" " Good!" "If I stay I might cause more troubles!" " There's no time to lose." "Oh, engineer, welcome back!" " Hello, Beniamino, I've been away for long." "Has anyone been looking for me?" " Yes, right now." "Two gentlemen." "There they are." "Are you Pietro Kovach?" " Yes, I am." "You're under arrest, follow us." " Why?" "What have I done?" "We don't know." "The Commissioner'll tell you." "Oh, look who's here!" " Welcome back!" "Come on, get in!" "Oh, look who's here!" "Welcome back!" "What, don't you recognize me?" " Yes, yes..." "But, you too were put back in?" " Nah!" "They didn't put me out yet!" "It's gone amiss, eh?" "They nabbed you again!" "How much, this time?" "Nothing." "I swear, really nothing." "Well!" "After all, what do I care..." "Clara!" "Dad!" "Why are you here?" "Why did you come back?" "Please, daddy, don't ask me anything." "I'll tell you later..." "But what's wrong?" "Are you crying?" "What happened, my little one?" " Oh, Daddy..." " Tell me!" "You were right..." "You were right!" "Master!" "Oil!" "The oil!" "But how can that be?" " You can't stop it!" "Yes, see?" "It first wet my foot then came out like a fountain!" "He was right, he was right!" "There are millions!" "Millions!" "Oh God!" "And we took him for a crook!" "Poor man!" "We must call now and withdraw the complaint!" "Who did you send to jail?" " Him, Kovach!" "We thought he was a crook!" "Kovach?" "The engineer?" "That poor wretch always in jail!" "You really have it in for him!" "It's wicked!" " What's with you?" "What do you care about Kovach?" "Oh, Dad, you don't know, you can't understand!" "Wait, let me get it, then the crook is Kovach!" " No, Paolo Vareghi!" "The one who was in before?" " No, that one is Kovach!" "Then Paolo Vareghi's innocent!" " No, he's the cheater!" "Then the one we put in is Paolo Vareghi?" " No, it's Kovach!" "Guilty?" " No, innocent!" " One moment, clarity, clarity!" "But here I'll go crazy!" " But warden, it's so simple!" "Maybe for you, Miss, but sorry, I don't understand a damn!" "Warden, the thing's complicated, it's not easy to explain." "What matters is that you free him." " Okay, so who should I put in?" "No one!" " And the check?" " A mistake!" " And the oil scam?" " Another mistake!" "Sir, if I'm not wrong, you're wrong too often!" "Here is your stuff." "If you want to check." "Meanwhile sign here." "I'm free?" " Perfectly free." "Then I could go?" "Just a moment!" "Did you hand over the bowl and the glass?" "No." " Well, go get them." "Escort him." " Let's go." "What elegance!" "Well?" "Don't you say goodbye?" "Enjoy your stay." " Farewell." "Bravo, bravo!" "All my gratitude!" "Dear engineer Kovach, there's been some misunderstanding." "Now it's all clear." "But there is yet one thing to fix." "There is here a paper that bears your signature." "But it can't be, I didn't sign anything." " Look well." "It's the contract that entrusts to you the management for the search of oil." "Absent-mindedly, my nephew signed once again with the name of another." "I had to recognize my signature on a check," "I hope you'll recognize your own on this contract." "It is I who beg you, Paolo!" "I mean,.." "Pietro." "I regret one thing in this story:" "that you're not really my nephew." "It depends only on you that he's part of the family." " True!" "Well,.." "We'll talk about this elsewhere." "Goodbye, warden." " One moment, please." "Listen ..." "Convicts!" "At this moment no one can understand more than me how valuable is the joy of the fleeting moment, as he who said:" ""Live joyfully if you want, tomorrow is not certain"." "But one thing is certain:" "That tomorrow each one of us... of you, will resume his place in life." "This is the wish that I make to you." "As with the one present here, rehabilitated outgoing, toward whom I invite all those who stay to bestow your warm farewell of discharge." "Best wishes!" " Good luck!" " Hope to see you again!" "Warden, sorry, but I haven't yet understood." "That one is Pietro Kovach or Paolo Vareghi?" "In confidence, I've come up the ranks, I know well the soul of the detainee, but I didn't understand it either!" "English subs by edam17@KG December 2013"