"What I'm about to tell you is not a made up story." "It is my story." "My father was a night guard." "He went around all nigh long and came home at dawn.." "when we were still asleep." "He always left his cap on the table in the ante-room, near his bike." "All day long cap and bike stayed there and woe betide anyone who touched them." "Since the war, my father had taken the habit to leave.." "a bundle of stuff, bread or pasta, to help the shopping." "Then he went to sleep." "During the day, if the younger kids made noise.." "my mother slapped them and sent them out in the street." "Stop making noise!" "Your father is sleeping!" "Stop it!" "The poor man worked all night long!" "Hush!" "We lived at Porta San Giovanni." "My windows faced the square where all day long streetcars went by ." "I was 17..." "My hair was very long, Ghigo style." "Have a haircut!" "Cut it ou!" "You've bored me!" "I remember that once, near the cap and the bundle,.." "my father left me a pair of brand new shoes,.." "that were still expensive because of the war." "During summer, each day at 2:00p.m., my friends whistled from under my window.." "to call me and go to swim to the marsh." "My mother didn't like them." "I was 17, and it was about time I'd get a job,.." "rather than going to swim to the marsh." "Eh!" "It's them..." "Ciro!" "Hurry up, they're here!" "You might be late to work!" "That day she also shouted:" "Leave the new shoes at home!" "Who's touching them?" "!" "I put them under my t-shirt, instead." "Take the money on the table to get a haircut!" "You're hideous, that way!" "Did you understand?" "It was Iris, a young girl who lived next door." "How unpleasant I found her, then." "What are you laughing for?" "You thought it was your mother, didn't you?" "Eh?" "In the street, Nerone and the Pirate were waiting for me." "We called him "the Pirate".." "'cause he was crazy for gangsters and the underworld." "Then we went to whistle for Bruno,.." "whom we named "Moretto" (Blacky)." "Hands up!" " Get away!" "Come on, let's go to Coccolone!" "Wait!" "Coccolone was the most dandy among us." "His father worked at the Ministry and didn't want him to go with us." "He's always late!" "Run, run!" "My father just woke up!" " Come on!" "Come back home, or tonight I'll beat you to a pulp!" "Forget it!" "We were already running towards the marsh." "That day, the same day of the shoes,.." "while we ran towards the marsh, it started to rain,.." "suddenly, as it often happens in Rome during summer." "Hey, it's getting in through the holes in my shoes!" "Wait for me." " Where did he go?" "That way." " No, this way." "Ciro!" "Ciro!" "Ciro!" "Ciro, Ciro!" "Ciro!" "What are you doing here?" " I live here." "Here?" "Yes, why?" " Wow!" "Pirate, he's there!" " Look at him!" "What's he doing?" " Ciro, who's that guy?" "He met an ancient Roman!" "It's one who sleeps here." "Come down." "This umbrella, what's it for?" " For the bed." "There's a drop.." "coming down right..." " Look at his hair!" "He looks like Pinocchio's Geppetto!" " Is this your bed?" "Yes." " Move!" "Hey, Geppetto, there's no louses here, right?" " Some, yes." " Go!" " What's up?" "He says there are louses." " Fuckin' hell!" " You idiot!" "Louses can't jump." "Do you go looking for stubs?" " Yes." "Let's play him a trick!" "Do you have a match?" " Yes." "But don't let them see you, or he'll realize!" "Are you alone?" " Yes." "For real, you never cut your hair?" "When they lock me up, they cut it to the scalp." "It must be quite some time they don't..." " It's almost one year..." "Really, one year they don't trim your hair?" "You jerk!" " Shut up, or you'll get more!" "Calm down!" " But he didn't hurt me!" " I don't like these smartass jokes." "Guys, guys!" "It stopped raining!" "Let's go to the marsh!" "Hurry!" "Let's go to the marsh!" " It's not raining any more!" "Geppe', come with us to the marsh!" " What for?" " Come!" "It's fun...and you wash up!" "The marsh was behind the railroad,.." "in those meadows after the last buildings of the quarter." "To get there, you had to take a long detour." "Back then, the path was all green." "Elder plants grew at its sides." "Today that path does not exist any more." "The built all over." "Not even the reeds survived." "We undressed while running, and got to the shore in underwear." "We tied our clothes with the belts, ready to run away quickly,.." "because every now and then the guards would come." "What a beating if they caught us!" "At 3 in the afternoon, there was the whole San Giovanni in the marsh." "It was hot, and the water felt like a broth,...a broth of frogs." "Pirata, wait!" "Look at the new shoes!" " They bear bad luck!" "Move, I want to make a dive." "Even Geppe undressed, who never sunbathed,.." "and was bleach white." "Wow!" "Wow!" "Did you see that?" " Don't you get in the water?" "I can't swim." " No?" "Come with me." "Now I'll learn you how to swim!" "If you remained there you'd never learn." "I'll show you here how to do it." "Come on, jump!" " Yes." "Shall I dive?" " Eh!" "Jump!" "But I sink here!" " Ah, no." "No!" "Not so!" "Not this way!" "Move your hands!" "Don't stay with your ass up in the air!" "Don't breathe in the water, but outside!" "Don't breathe in the water, you can't breathe in it!" "Hey, Geppe'!" "What're you doing?" " Help!" "He doesn't understand a thing!" "Oh, guys!" "Run, I think that Geppe is drowning!" "Run!" "Geppetto is drowning!" " But where is he, where?" "Move, move!" "I'll dive!" "Is someone drowning?" "Help me!" "No, there are thorns here." "Put him here!" "Be careful, let him breathe, stand back!" "But how did it happen?" " I wanted to teach him how to swim!" "But if you don't know how yourself!" " What's that got to do?" "But how did it happen?" "How do I know?" " He just dove." "The guards!" "The guards!" "Run, Geppe, the guards are coming!" "Damn!" "My things!" "The new shoes!" "The guards!" "Back!" "There are the guards!" "Go back!" "Hide, the guards are coming!" "Eh!" "Damn, the shoes!" "Sergeant, I found these shoes." " Seize them!" "Let's go!" "Geppe', Geppe'!" "It's me, Ciro." "Ciro!" "What are you doing here?" "The hair..." "I didn't trim it, the new shoes..." "I lost them,.." "I'd better not go back home." "Does it bother you if I sleep here?" " No." "Did you eat?" " No." "I'll take care of it." "Ah, the guards got me." " Did they give you a beating?" "Some kicks..." " No!" " Eh!" "Eat!" " Thank you!" "Ciro!" " Are they expensive, the shoes?" "I'd say!" "70 lire!" " They can be scraped together..." "And how?" " With the butts!" "The easiest way." "They pay 100 lire for half a kilo." "In early morning we'll go around." "Provided it doesn't rain, or harvest goodbye." "If only!" "How long does it take?" " One morning!" " If only!" "Ciro, want a couple of bed sheets?" " Uh!" "?" "Here they are." "The bed sheets." "Look at that!" "These are the bed sheets?" " Eh!" " How did the guards catch you?" " I cannot run." "They say I've got flat feet." " They say?" "They look like two slices of liver!" "Geppe', do you know it's the first time that I sleep out of home?" "Don't worry, tomorrow you'll get back!" "Sure, and what do I tell them!" " Make up some excuse." "And then more than a beating, what can they do to you?" "Beat who?" "Bye." " Bye." "And so we fell asleep." "But I slept an agitated sleep,.." "I dreamt that my mother scolded me and my father gave me a beating." "Stop, stop!" "The shoes!" "Stop!" "It's not my fault!" "Ciro!" " I did not sell them!" "I lost them!" "The shoes..." "I lost them..." "They're there!" " Ciro!" "We're here!" "Let's go down!" "Not by there, by here!" "Get down here!" "He still sleeps!" "Hands up!" " Stop it!" "Ciro!" "Ciro!" "Wake up!" "What happened?" "They went looking for you everywhere." "Your mother even went to the police station." "I lost my new shoes." " No!" "really?" " What happened?" "Down at the marsh I lost my new shoes." " So, what now?" "Geppe says we go for butts." "With half a kilo we'll make 100 lire." "And you slept here all night long?" " Who dared going back home?" "What happened?" " Ciro lost his new shoes." " And now?" "Geppe says we go for butts." "But this one's got the sleep disease!" " Don't wake him up!" "Shh!" "Move, let me do..." "Hey, sweet sleeps!" "Ahaaaa!" "What a blow!" "Damn, what a head!" "Geppe', get up, that we must get the butts!" "We're all here!" "I'll get a bump like a ball!" " I already got them." "You already did?" " How it hurts!" "And when?" "Last night." "I wasn't sleepy." "This is a beauty!" " He picked this one at Piazza Venezia!" "Hey Pirata, wake up, you haven't unwrapped one yet!" "Is it a kilo?" " Not even half a kilo." "Will we get 70 lire?" " At least!" "70 lire..." " I'll be...!" "The whole morning unwrapping butts!" " Nothing left for the movie!" "Let's go." "Pirata, let's go!" " Coming!" " Come!" "70 lire!" "Damn it!" "What do you want?" " The canvas shoes, the 70 lire ones." "What size?" " 42." " Go have a seat." "And what about the rest of you?" " We're with him!" "With him!" "Bruno, come here." " I got an idea." " Yes." "Listen!" "No!" "Really?" "What?" " Look how many shoes on the shelves!" " Do you want to steal them?" "You too are with him?" " Eh." "There, it's done." " Ci', do they fit well?" "Yes, to perfection!" "It's right my size." "Very well!" "Excuse me, how much are they?" " What, you didn't see the price in the window?" "70 lire." " 70 lire?" "Good grief!" "I saw them at Santerini's at 50 lire." " Where?" "Where did you see them?" "When?" " Before, passing by!" "They're no good!" "Ciro, put'em back in." " Hey, are you nuts!" "They're cheaper there, let's go check." " We're sorry." "What sorry!" "?" "Couldn't you think of it before?" "Excuse us!" " But are you sure?" " Eh!" "Let's go!" "Come, Geppe." "Excuse us!" " Yeah, excuse us!" " Have a good day!" "Let's go!" "Run, quick!" " Where?" "What do I know?" "Run!" " But why?" "Run, come!" " If they tell you to run, run!" "Ciro!" "Hey, flat feet, hurry up!" "Hurry up, Charlot!" "But why have we run so much?" "Pirata made a raid." " Nothing much..." "I swiped them from the table." " Nice, eh?" "Look at that, he swiped the shoes!" " One doesn't fit!" "Which one?" " How?" " This one." "It's the dirty feet!" " The right one!" "It doesn't fit!" " Come, pull." " It doesn't fit!" "Oh!" "They're two left ones!" " Impossible!" "Here, look!" "They're two left ones!" "The thief of Baghdad!" " Mister X!" " The best thief of Chicago!" "Oh!" "Enough!" "He made the raid,.." "he had the guts,..." "but now you got to bring them back." "Whom to?" " To the store." "Or else they'll charge the salesman." "I'm going to another store, because they already know us there." "We're going with you." " Geppe will go with me." "Will you?" "Sure!" " Let's go." " Ciro!" "Bring'em back!" "..." "And how?" "It's easier said than done!" "Since yesterday we're doing nothing but run." "Oh, did you see those girls?" " Where?" " There." "Let's get closer!" " Me too?" " Why not?" "Come!" "You jerk!" "Dead asleep!" "Keep your hands down!" "What, was it me?" " Whom did you call dead asleep?" " You two." "What, is she your girlfriend?" " She's my wife!" "Hey Romoletto, show us who you are!" " Get away, you!" "Do you think I'm scared because you're a boxer?" " Who's got to buy tickets?" "They don't want to pay the tickets!" " You parrot!" "Did you hear?" "They even called you parrot!" "Who's a parrot?" " I said to him, not to you!" "Chief, they don't want to pay the tickets!" "We would get them, but we must get off here." "Let's go, Geppe'!" " Don't get off!" "Guards!" "Come with me!" "But I bought it!" " And where is the ticket?" "I bought it!" "The shoes!" "Here they are!" " But this is the shoe store!" "Get out the shoes!" "Guards!" "Call the guards!" "But what shoes?" " But what happens?" "They robbed the shoe store." " The stole my shoes!" "The stole my shoes!" "Who's going to give me back my shoes?" "To the police station!" "Who's going to give'm back?" " My name is..." "Run away, Geppe!" "They broke my window!" "They broke everything!" "To jail!" "Take him to jail!" "Nice appearance, your friend!" " Shut up, you odd nose!" " Who, me?" "Yes, you." "Since a long time Romoletto was courting her." "What do you want?" "Get away!" "I went home around two, hungry, without a penny.." "and the money for the shoes had remained in Geppe's pocket." "Where had Geppe gone?" "Vanished!" "And I hadn't trimmed my hair." "Ciro!" "Where have you been last night?" "Your mother said she'll give you two black eyes!" "You'll see!" "Mrs. Le', mind your own business!" "Go clean the house!" "Nice shoes you got!" "Where did you get them?" " Mind your own business!" "Excuse me!" " But what do you want?" "Nothing!" " So then?" "Ciro..." "Look!" "I got something for you." "Who gave them to you?" " Didn't you lose your shoes?" "Here are the shoes." " Geppe gave'm to you, that poor wretch!" "Where did he end up?" "They took him to the police station." " And how did he give you the money?" "What money?" " That for the shoes!" "He gave it while they were taking him away!" "Ah!" "Instead, Iris had bought the shoes with her shopping money." "At home, she said she'd lost it.." "and got a sound beating." "But, being very proud, she never told me anything." "That summer of 1943 seemed much hotter than the previous years." "I was expecting to be drafted.." "because the Allies had landed in Sicily.." "and they were calling even the younger classes." "Ciro, Ciro!" "I spent my days at home, on the bed." "My pals came whistling at the window, but I shouted.." "Tell them I'm sleeping!" "Ciro, Ciro!" " Ciro says he's sleeping!" "keep on sleeping!" "Don't look for a job.." "at 17 you should be supporting the whole family!" "Mom, enough of this story!" " You'll make me die of a heartbreak!" "Maria, cut it out!" "Let me sleep!" "And you support him too!" "Men sleeping, and I making the servant all day long!" "How nice!" "I must wash the dishes, mop the floor, do the shopping, I must do everything, and I must bust!" "At least, I'd bust soon, 'cause I can't take it any more!" " OK, I'll volunteer!" "I'll enlist, I'll go die in Sicily!" "So you'll be happy, no?" "!" "Dad..." "Dad..." " What?" "Are they all like that, the women?" " All." "At least open up!" "Can't you hear they're ringing?" "OK, OK..." "I'm going..." "Hi!" " Hi." "I came to give them back to your mother." "Maybe I'll go away." " And where are you going?" "In Sicily, to defend the sacred soil!" "But if you're not of draft age yet!" "I'll volunteer." " Volunteer?" "To fight the war?" " Yes." " And why?" " Just so." "Ciro, may we know who is it?" "Don't say anything to mom, she doesn't know!" " But who is it?" "It's Iris." "Ah, Iris!" "Why don't you come in?" "What are you doing at the doorstep?" "Good morning madam!" " Sorry, excuse me!" " Eh!" "What do you do?" "And what do you want?" " I came to return the scissors." "My mother says to excuse her." " It's been two days!" "Mom!" "Tell Iris to wait for me, I'll escort her!" "I'll go with you." " Where?" " To her place." "But if she lives next door!" " Let's go!" "Don't go." " Where?" "To Sicily, as volunteer." "We'll see." "Do it for your mother." "We'll see." " No!" "Promise!" "Alright." "If it's for my mother..." "I promise you." "Thank you." " You're welcome." "Ciro..." " Iris..." "Iris, dad's looking for you." "Bye." " Bye." "Mrs. Adele!" "Mrs. Adele, I'm not going!" " Where?" " Volunteer!" " Volunteer where to?" "To Sicily, as a soldier!" " My God, your mother never told me!" "And when did you decide?" " Before!" "And when did you change your mind?" " Now!" " Oh, Madonna!" "At the boxe match I came to know the real story about the shoes." "It was Sunday,.." "an amateur match in the gym of Via Frangipane." "Under-nourished!" "We, as usual, did not have the money for the tickets." "Go, Polidoro!" "Kill him!" " Come on, hit him!" "Polidoro!" "Hey, needy bundles of rags!" "Buy the tickets!" "Ciro, you'll always be a poor wretch!" "Damn you, it's your fault!" " It was Romoletto!" "But what happens?" "We got to try to get in!" " It's easy to say, get in!" "I'll take care of it, wait." "Well, how did it go?" " They robbed me." "What of?" " The victory!" "Didn't you see?" "Do me a favor, land me your bag." "Once inside, I'll send it out to you." "Alright." "Boxer." " Who are you, Ventrella?" " Yes." "About time!" "And you?" " I'm the second." "And you?" " The third." "And all the others, who are they?" " They're my friends, relatives." "You could have brought your mom too!" " What's going on here?" "There's Ventrella who brought the whole Sacred Family!" "Ventrella, it's an houre that we've been waiting for you." "Let's go!" "You want me to postpone the match?" "!" "Why such a delay?" "Your opponent is waiting for you." " For me?" "No, for me!" "This is Ventrella, coming from Terni!" "I greet you, Ventrella!" " Did you miss your train?" "But that one is Romoletto!" " Come!" "But I don't have the shorts!" " What do you have in the bag?" "But I..." " But what, are you afraid?" "I'm not afraid of anyone." "Let me through!" "Where's the locker room?" "And now?" " And now, he fights." " Let's go!" "Come on, let's go!" "But that one is not Ventrella!" " I know." "At that moment, came into the gym Geppe, who had just gotten out of jail,.." "after more than two months." "Ciro, he's here?" " Hey!" "When did you get out?" " Just now!" "Bravo, you started boxing!" "Who, me?" "Make room!" "Sit down!" " In the corner!" "Here!" "Put the gloves on him!" "You see that one?" " Yes, who's he?" "I'll fix him now." "Come, Ciro!" "Show him who you are!" "But what, did you eat it?" "It was the lemon to rinse your mouth!" "Romoletto!" "Ventrella!" "Let's go!" "Wait, one moment!" "Calm down!" "Shake your hands." "No low blows." "Go, Ciro!" " Move!" "What're you doing?" "Look how he fights!" "Go, Ciro!" "It shows he comes from Terni!" "Romoletto, make him dance the rumba!" "Go, Ciro, grind him!" "What, do you want to go home?" "Watch out!" "Movements must be free!" "Oh, you're loosing your combination!" " He's loosing his pants!" "We want him naked!" " Time out!" "Pull back!" "Find a belt!" " Nero', a belt!" "I don't have one!" " Nero', a belt!" "Pirata, a belt, go!" "Coccolone, give me your belt!" " The belt?" "Geppe, give me your belt!" "What?" " The one on your pants!" " Then they'll drop!" "Come on!" "Hurry up!" " Let go of me!" "Here is the belt!" " My pants will drop!" "Tie it well!" "Hold it with a pin!" " Out, out of the ring." "Good!" "Go!" "Go on, he's yours!" "Come on, Ciro!" "Courage!" "Come on, Ciro!" "Hit him hard!" "Go!" "Fill him of blows, Ciro!" "Be quiet!" "You're a battleship!" "Go!" "Bravo!" "Bravo, bravo!" "Hit, Ciro!" "Go!" "Ciro, give it to him!" "One, two, a right!" "Give it to him!" "Stop!" "Stop!" "You're going strong!" "Ciro!" "Keep it up!" "Don't eat it!" " Hit hard, for me!" "Hey, are you asleep?" " Is that boxe?" "He fights like a cart driver." "Seconds out!" " One, two, three!" "Go!" "Let me through!" "Let me see!" "I'm the second!" " Bend down!" "I told you I'm the second!" "Come on, Ciro, go on like that, go!" "Keep it up, Ciro, go!" "Break." "Keep it up!" "Very well!" "Then Romoletto, seeing that he was losing, told me with rage.." "Gigolo!" "You had your shoes paid by a woman!" " What?" "At that moment he gives me a blow, then another." "I don't remember well what happened after." "Hold on, Romoletto!" "Come on!" "Come on, Romoletto!" "You let Iris maintain you, they all know it!" "Low blow!" " Shut up!" "Go, Romoletto!" "Give it to him, I recommend you!" "Fill him with blows!" "To the eyes!" "You see he can't stand on his feet?" "Knock him to the floor!" "Knock him!" "Romoletto, you're a fakir!" "I like you!" "Give him a thousand blows!" "Knock him to the floor!" "Hurry!" "Hit him!" "Go!" "What happened?" " That you lost." "Attention!" "The match has been won by Romoletto." "Don't hold a grudge, for the shoes." "Let's go, Romoletto!" "You've been phenomenal!" "You pounded him well!" "I had told you so!" "Romoletto is great!" "Viva, Romoletto!" "Where did they keep you all this time?" "At the reformatory in San Lorenzo." " And how was it there?" "Bad." "But this time I saved my hair." "Let's go, we're closing!" " Let's go!" "Then it's not true that you gave the money to Iris." "What money?" " The one for the shoes." "No." "Who is Iris?" " A one." "A one what?" " Do you have that money?" "I spent some of it." " In short, how much do you have?" "Some 40 lire." "Do you have it here in your pocket?" " Why, do you want it?" "Of course I want it!" " Now I'll give it to you!" "It's a nice bundle!" "Let's go!" " Let's go..." "I sent Geppe for Iris and to tell her that I needed to speak to her,.." "and that it was something of vital importance." "Two hours later, I was waiting for her behind the building." ""Gigolo", I repeated myself." "To have a woman buy my shoes!" "Me!" "By a woman!" "I went towards her, I already had my speech ready." "Hi." " Hi." " Thanks for coming." "It was really extraordinary, on your part." "Ciro!" "They pounded your eyes!" "Poor thing!" "Did they beat you?" "I had a fight...because of you." " For me?" "Yes, with a rotten wretch!" ".." "Who payed dearly for it, though!" " Really?" "It's for this that I called you at this unusual time,.." "because I need to make sure that your love is sure, as well." "Ciro, you know that since a long time I love you." " Are you mine?" "Yes, forever." "And well, remember I don't take money from women..." "I pay them!" "Ciro, but why?" "What have I done to you?" " It's the money for the shoes!" "Let it be known!" "I didn't see my friends for some days,.." "until my eyes returned to normal." "The morning of July 19, the day when Rome was bombed ..." "Ciro, but what're you doing here alone?" " Fishing." "When I'm here, I feel like another person." "Did...something happen to you?" "Don't you undress?" "It happened that since the other night I broke off with my past..." "What past?" " Iris." "..and after telling her that, I threw the money at her saying:" ""There, I payed you"" " The shoes were 70 lire!" "Well, she didn't count them." " And what did she do?" " She fainted!" "On the ground?" " No, in the air!" "I heard the thud, but I didn't even turn back." "And the money, you left it there?" " I passed by this morning,.." "but someone had already swept it up." "There wasn't one coin left." "But what do I care!" "This is my true life!" "Far from the troubles, from women!" "I want to resume doing some sport." "Start my life all over!" "I don't want to know about Iris or anything else anymore." "Ciro, look what's happening there!" " Where?" " There!" "They're bombing!" "Iris!" "Mom!" "Iris!" "Mom!" "Mom!" "After that day, the war suddenly entered our house." "The Germans were in charge of Rome." "I feared the round-ups.." "and was hinding at Iris' house." "I spent my days on the small couch at the entrance." "The streets were traveled by women only, who reported terrifying news." "Oh, forgive me, Ciro." " Forgive my..." "If you knew what we went through!" " You must know!" "An horrible thing!" "They stopped all the people, poor them.." "then they lined them against the wall." "Something crazy!" "The Germans, they killed them all with the submachine gun!" "Ta ta ta ta ta!" "Nonsense!" " Ta ta ta ta ta!" " Cut it out!" "What a slaughter, what a slaughter!" "They killed them all!" "I acted as if nothing had happened, but I was scared as hell." "Iris took advantage of this to keep me locked,.." "until one day I heard our whistle down the street." "It was Bruno and Geppe." " Who is it?" "It's Bruno." " It's no one." "Ciro!" "Ciro, where are you going?" " Come on, move out!" " You won't go out!" "You're not going out!" " Let me through.." " No, you won't go out!" "Come in!" " May I?" " Come in." "Hi!" "Ah, Ciro, how are you?" " What are up to?" "I'm being a pasha." "And you?" " Some small business..." "Geppe became smart." " We would need a partner." " A partner?" "To do what?" "To go where?" "Ciro won't move from here!" "But now...is she in charge?" " Nobody's in charge of me!" "It's me who doesn't want to." "Pity!" "It's 15:32 and a half, we have little time." " I'll be!" "A trifle, 17 rubíes!" "If that deal goes through, I'll buy one with the calendar,.." "and with a mileometer." " What deal?" "Potatoes from Avezzano!" " Now it's a golden time!" "As they leave the fields they pay 300 lire per kilo!" "Yeah!" "Ill-gotten gains do not bring prosperity." "Mmmm!" "Mmm." " But the searches, the round-ups?" "For the idiots who get caught!" " For the idiots who get caught!" "You'll see what we find on the train!" " But do the trains run?" "Those that run, do run." " Crowded with girls who deal in black market." "Tell him what happened to you on the train!" " Two good looking ones!" "Two good looking ones!" " From Trastevere." "No!" "Would you make me laugh too?" " It's not stuff for women." "Then it must be dirty." "But...but...you had...to dust just now?" "Yes." "Now I'm dusting, and then I'll give the creolin!" "Oh!" "Golden jail, but iron jailer, eh." "What's grabbing you?" "Go to the kitchen." " No!" "I want to stay here!" "You, I don't care for, but I'm worrying about your mother." "These two will bring you to perdition!" "They'll make you be shot or killed in a bombardment!" "Stupid!" "You're doing all by yourself..." "Who told you I'm going with them?" "#Little black market, with some white flour,.." "#with plenty of beans, and pecorino cheese,.." "#and pecorino, I like so much,.." "#with a glass or half a liter, when there is,.." "#and pecorino, I like so much,.." "#Little black market, with some white flour,.." "#with plenty of beans, and pecorino cheese,.." "#and pecorino, I like so much,.." "#with a glass or half a liter, when there is..." "Oh!" "You want to get off here?" " You...you want to get off here?" "No..." "I'm going to Avezzano, to visit my sister." "And then you'll take your sister to Rome inside these bags?" "Dear girl, with this hunger, since I'm going there, I'll take back.." "some potatoes." " I get it!" "Your sister's name is black market!" "Ah!" "Little black market!" "#..with some white flour, #with plenty of beans, and pecorino cheese,.." "#and pecorino, I like so much... #with a glass or half a liter, when there is..." "Watch the tunnel!" "The tunnel!" "Mom!" "I'm afraid of the dark!" "And stop it with those hands!" "Look what a type... stupid!" " Guys!" "We've lost Mbriachella!" "Really?" "How're we going to do?" "We must stop the train!" " Yes, pull the emergency brake!" "He went to grease the wheels!" "The others laughed." "To me, it looked like something impossible." "At Arsoli the train stopped." "We went on by foot.." "because Bruno wanted to get to Rio Freddo before dark.." "and through the woods we lost our way." "Geppe didn't say it, but he was afraid." "Ciro, did you see those?" " Who are they?" " What do I know!" "Good evening!" " Are you Italian?" "German?" "American?" "English." " These are English prisoners." "Bread?" " Oh, they're hungry." " No..." "Apple." " Thank you!" "Oh, I'll give him the rest too, I've got some as well." " Go ahead." "Bruno has a lot of stuff." "Here it is, for you." "Come on, give'm what you have!" " May I?" " What do you want?" "Shut up!" "Here, Geppe'." "How long is you no eat?" "What day be today?" " Saturday." "Since Wednesday." " I'll be!" "Since Tuesday..." " Poor guys!" "Are you going far?" " To Casino." "No!" "Cassino!" " Cassino, Cassino." "Which way is it?" "There." " There?" " There." "Thank you." "Good evening." " Good evening." "They went straight in that direction,.." "and we remained with no supplies." "The farmers we met didn't give away anything." ""Too many fugitives, too many people escaping." "Enough, enough!"" "And they shut the door on our faces." "The day after, we arrived to a large farmhouse." "We were so hungry!" "What if they won't give us anything?" "They must give us something!" "See what it means to have given everything to those Englishmen?" "Englishmen?" "Englishmen?" "You are English?" "No afraid, no run away!" "I help always English prisoners." "You well masked, but I smart!" "I recognized right away!" "You be English prisoners?" " But what priso..." "You give us to eat?" " Eh!" "Come in!" "Come with me!" "Gabriella!" " What is it?" "There's three of those." " He took us for prisoners." "I'm taking them down!" " Hush, we're going to eat for free." "Bring something to eat!" " Eh!" "They're here." "I'll bring it right away!" "Be quick, I think they're hungry." "Gut morning, kildren." " Shut up!" " Why?" "Your English makes me vomit." " The less you speak, the better." "Make the Indian." "Bruno!" "Look there!" " They're three prisoners." "But, really?" " Yes, give me." "Be quiet for a moment." " Come, this way!" " Are you American?" " English." " They're English." "All three?" " Me Indian." " Come!" "Shut up!" "It must always be you!" " It's better here than in the house." "Wait a moment, no?" " This way." "Sit down." "Thank you!" "It be true that allies, when arrive, give reward.." "to those who give prisoners to eat?" " Yes!" "I always listen to radio London, and to Colonel Stevenson as well." " Yes, yes!" "And to Fiorello La Guardia too!" " Very good!" "So well behaved!" "Were they Italian, they would jump on us." "If they were Italian, I wouldn't give them anything." "To be long time no eat?" " What day to be today?" "Saturday." " Wednesday." " Oh!" "Tuesday." " Oh!" " It is evident." "Poor mama boys!" "What's that?" "The Germans!" "Hide!" "Hide!" " But what are you doing?" "Don't you see it's the truck of Mrs. Tosca.." "who came for the ham and the flour?" "What a scare!" "Good morning, Mrs. Tosca." " Mrs. Gabriella, you've got visitors?" "Yes, madam." " Who are they?" "Three prisoners: two Englishmen and an indian." " How young they are!" "Hey, children, what are you doing there?" "Go away!" "Do you want the whole village to know that there are prisoners?" "Go away!" "I'm coming there!" "Young and handsome boys!" "Where are you headed to?" " Casino..." "Eh?" " Cassino." "And...are you leaving immediately?" "Aren't you going to rest?" "If you stay, I'll return to bring you some cigarettes." "Cassino far!" " Eh?" "It's the Indian." " Do you smoke?" "Do you?" " No." "Do you smoke?" " Thank you." "So no stopping over?" " Here..." "So you'll remember me a little." " I remember all the same." "Ah!" "Really?" "Tosca!" " Eh?" "Tosca, let's go, come." "It was Fernando, the shoe store salesman." "Now he dealed in the black market and toured the small towns with Tosca,.." "who paid the expenses." "Did you load everything?" "I was talking with these boys,.." "who are three English prisoners." " Who, these?" "These are Englishmen from San Giovanni!" "Do you need a pair of shoes?" "Shoes?" "No understand." " Clowns!" " How, from San Giovanni?" "They're Roman, they fake in order to eat!" "Romans!" "My God, Romans, Lorenzo!" "Lorenzo!" "Lorenzo!" "What's up?" "What do you want?" " They're Romans!" "Who?" " The Englishmen!" "Oh, but we always end up running..." " And we're lucky it ended up well." "Wait, I got to take..." " Look!" "The prisoners!" "But what prisoners?" "Where are we?" "But what do you want?" "Get away!" "But what are you doing!" "What happens?" " No!" "We're not prisoners!" "We didn't do anything!" "Let go!" "But where do they take us?" "Help!" "Mom!" "Rest assured, commander!" "Here are the English prisoners." "Ah!" "From what prison camp did you escape?" "From which lager?" "No understand." " No understand." "Interpreter!" "They're prisoners." "Ask them where they came from, and where they were going." "German, no understand." " No understand!" "They don't speak German!" "Of course not, they're English!" "They don't understand English either!" "What the hell do they understand then!" "We are Italian!" "Romans!" " We're Romans!" "We're not English prisoners!" "Romans!" " We're Romans!" "From San Giovanni!" "Coliseum!" "Maybe they're French." "Question them in French." "I don't speak French." "What interpreter are you?" "Lock'em in the john and call someone who speaks French." "No, no!" "We're Romans!" "Let us go!" "We're not English prisoners!" "We're Romans from San Giovanni!" "Coliseum!" "We're Romans!" "We didn't do anything!" "Let us go!" "Let us go." "Let us go!" "No!" "Let us go!" " No, no!" "Let us go!" "Open!" "Open!" "Open, open!" "Ah..." "Ah, you dumb!" "Do...do you think they'll shoot us?" " And what have we done?" "I don't know." "If they shoot us, I want to get the satisfaction..." " Watch out!" "..to shout: "Down the Germans"." "Damn!" "One can't even sit down, here!" "I'd rather die standing." "Oh... oh... oh..." "Geppe'!" "Geppe'!" "Geppe'!" "Wake up!" " Eh?" "Geppe'!" " But what do I care?" " Get up!" "Airplanes!" " But what airplanes?" " Airplanes!" "They're bombing!" "They're bombing?" " Yes!" "And they let us locked in here?" "Open, open, open!" "Open!" "Open!" "Open, open!" "Open!" "Open, open!" "Open!" "Oh, God..." "Madonna!" "My God, I repent with all my heart!" "My God, I repent with all my heart!" "I repent, I repent!" "I repent, I repent, I repent!" "You'll repent later, now think of escaping!" " I repent!" "Ouch!" "They left." " Yes..." "You don't hear them anymore." " No..." " Ciro, I feel like being dead and in paradise." "We're not dead, are we?" " Idiot!" "If we were dead, we wouldn't speak!" "And then, you're heavy!" "This means you're not dead,.." "and me neither!" "It's right..." "Santa Madonna, it's true!" "Geppe', Geppe'!" "By now the danger has gone." "Geppe', Geppe', Geppe'!" "...#with some white flour, #with plenty of beans, and pecorino cheese,.." "#and pecorino, I like so much..." "Geppe'!" "It's Mbriachella!" "He's not dead!" "Mbriache' You're not dead?" " I'm alive!" " We too!" "When we were in the tunnel the train threw me upside down!" "They bombed us, me and Geppe!" " In the john!" "Where are you going?" " To Rome!" "Will you take us?" " Come, get up!" " Thank goodness!" "What a luck!" "Later we'll buy you a drink!" "Mrs. Adele!" "Mrs. Adele, open up!" "Mrs. Adele, it's me!" "It's Ciro!" "Open!" "Open up, Mrs. Adele!" "I'm Ciro!" "Open!" "Who is it?" " It's us." "Ciro, is it you?" "At last, we've waited for you for so long!" "They took your mother to the hospital." " Who?" "Your mother." " No!" "Which hospital?" "At San Giovanni." "Ciro!" "Where do you go?" "Wait." "There's the curfew!" "The Germans, Ciro!" "Ciro!" "Open, open!" "You, nurse, come here!" "My mother has been admitted, let me in." "You can't." " Let me in!" " There's the curfew." "You, let me in, please." "My mother's been admitted!" "You can't go in." " Yes, I must!" "Doorman!" "Doorman!" "Let me in, my mother's been admitted!" "But, my son, why do you come at this time?" "There's also my father's bike." "Let me in, for goodness sake!" "Let him in." "Sister, sister!" "My mother has been admitted here,.." "they brought her last night." " What's her name?" "We'll check now." "María, María." " María..." "María Bissolati." " María Bissolati..." "Be calm, son!" "Dad!" "And mom?" "She looked for you so much, but you weren't there..." "How did it happen?" "The day you left, the Germans made a round-up." "She came to my house to make sure you were with me,.." "and when she didn't see you, she started crying, saying:" ""The Germans got him"." "I told her they hadn't, to feel reassured, that you had gone for black market." "But she wouldn't believe me." "She started running down the stairs like a madwoman." "Then she felt ill and fainted." "The doctor said it was the heart." "It was a long time she was sick and never fully cured herself." "We brought her here and..." "I'm going home." "The kids are waiting for me." ""Liberty" was the name of the dance hall where now we spent our Sundays after dinner,.." "because, with the Americans, dancing had resumed." "No more cigarette butts, but whole cigarettes." "The 1.000 bills were worth little." "but there were plenty." "Gone were marsh and frogs!" "The manager of the dance hall was Fernando,.." "the shoe store salesman, who had changed trade once again." "Uh!" "Will you, miss?" "May I?" "Miss,.." "but why don't you wash your feet?" "All of us used to go to dance:" "Nerone, with a girl who lived next door,.." "Coccolone, with a cousin,.." "Bruno and Pirata, with two cigarette vendors." "And me..." "I went to dance too, with Mrs. Tosca,.." "the one who, when there were the Germans, dealt in black market with Fernando." "He passed by us close, and greeted first,.." "so as to show he was above it all, that he wasn't jealous at all." "Wipe yourself." "We'll meet outside later." " Yes." "What's up?" "Get away!" "Geppe'..." " Hi, Ciro." "Listen, I looked for you because I need a favor." " Yes!" "Go to Iris, try and help her." "Tonight I'm busy..." "And what do I tell her?" " Make up an excuse!" "She's not dumb!" "By now, I told her so many lies.." "that she doesn't believe me anymore." " If she doesn't, so much the better!" "Iris had put up a stall outside San Giovanni gate,.." "where then there was a big bustle and where they sold just about everything." "We were partners because I had put the money and she the work." "So then?" " He's not coming." "Let's go!" "Iris..." "Good evening." " Good evening." "He can't,...he told me to come and help you." " I don't need anything!" "Odd!" "On Saturday he always comes to get his share, the partner." "He had things to do." " And the money?" "He didn't tell you to get it?" "He didn't say anything, to me." "And yet it would fit you to be a secretary and a cashier." "I don't care if it fits me!" "If you want to say something, say it to him!" "I'm won't speak to him, nor do I want to see him." "But does he believe I'm dumb, deaf, or blind?" "That I don't know that since three months he goes with that dirty one.." "who got stuck to him, worse than..." "He too though, stays with her willingly!" " Because he's another dirty one!" "Go away, go away, you give on my nerves!" "And tell him not to come near me, or I'll spit on his face!" "And on hers too!" "Now, our meeting point was the North Bar,.." "that was in San Giovanni street." "The owner, they called him "Fair Hair",.." "because he was as bald as an egg." " Good evening!" "I felt tired, unhappy." "I was unhappy with Tosca,.." "with the lies I had to tell Iris, for not having the money for Albano." "We're down, eh?" "Eh!" "Love tires!" "It tires and wears out..." ""Fair Hair", a zabaglione for the gentleman." "Go get yourself killed!" "A coffee!" "Are you tired?" " Be quiet!" "Bruno, do me a favor, land me 1,000 lire for tomorrow." "Who's got any?" "I'm in blank!" "Guys, guys!" "Why not take something, rather than just the chairs?" " Yes, the tables." "Ciro, the coffee!" "Ciro..." "What do you want?" " I went to Iris." "What did she say?" "She knows everything." "She knows what?" "About Tosca." "She said that if you go near her, she'll spit on your face!" "To whom she'll spit on the face?" " To you!" "Ciro, I'm tired to be a postman between you and Iris,.." "to always go..." " Note it down, "Fair Hair"." " Yes." "Where are you going?" " Bye." "Ciro, I'll go with you." " I said: bye." "My father was going out at that very moment." "Better." "I would find Iris alone." "Good night, Mrs. Adele." "What I had in those days, I don't know." "I was unhappy, and fought with anybody." "The words that Geppe had said made my blood rise." "To spit on the face?" "To me?" "Iris was right:" "I was a pig." "But exactly her being right, made me even more angry." "What do you want?" " I'm watching what you're doing." "Can't you see what I'm doing?" "Cleaning!" " Yes..." "I never thought of it.." "but it's over a year that this house is tidied up by you." "If you never thought of it, keep on not thinking of it!" "You can be assured that I'm not doing it for you!" "Whomever you're doing it for, it's neat!" "In the meantime, don't get too close!" "I'm not that one, who reduced you to a rag!" " A rag?" "Yes, like a cat in August:" "pale, thin...worn out." "I got rid of her." " When?" "Tonight." " Or is it her that got rid of you?" "Nobody ever got rid of me!" "She didn't suit me anymore, that's all." " And why she didn't suit you?" "Maybe I was thinking of you..." " Sure, of me..." "Yes, yes, just you, only you!" "I don't believe you anymore." "I don't love you anymore." "No, no!" "I love you so!" "It's for you only that I do all this,.." "even if you don't look at me, even if you don't see anything!" "Because, no matter what you do, Iris will always love you!" "Is it so that you're going to spit on my face?" " What?" "Didn't you say to Geppe that you wanted to spit on my face?" "It's not true that I dropped Tosca." "Tomorrow I'm going to Albano with her." "Ciro!" "Ciro!" "Let's go!" "Get a move, Ciro!" "Hurry up!" "What are you doing?" "Sleeping?" "And how!" "Never mind him!" "Get up!" "Hey, stop!" "A tire blew up!" "Stop!" "Don't you see what happened?" "Nenfio!" " Come here!" "What do we do now?" "An almost new tire!" "Five minutes and I'll change it!" "What five minutes?" "Oh, she wants you!" "Look what a woman!" "#The syren of the lake so bewitched him..." "You call that a woman?" "Oh, curly!" "Looks like a tuna!" "I'll see you!" "Ciro!" "How lucky meeting you here!" " What are you doing here?" "We've got little time, while Nenfio changes the tire." "But if we have the whole day!" " You're wrong,.." "by now, our paths are different." " Eh?" " Let's go!" "But what's wrong with you?" " Ciro!" "I decided to give it a cut." " How, a cut?" " Between us." "But why?" "But what have I done to you?" "Nothing, but I've taken my decision." " Oh, Ciro, it isn't possible!" "No!" "Why?" "I'm tired!" " Tired?" " Yes!" "You're right, because I'm so jealous, but you should know how I suffer.." "when you're away from me." "I wonder:" ""What's he doing now?" "Whom is he with?".." "and I worry." "Why don't you keep these worries for your husband?" " Oh!" "What we are doing is not nice, nor honest." "To deceive a laborer, a man who suspects nothing!" "It's better if he doesn't suspect!" "No?" " My conscience revolts!" "I wake up in the morning with broken bones,.." "I lost more than 3 kilos." "Everybody says I'm worn out." "In short, I feel remorse!" " Remorse?" "Ciro!" "Let's go, Ciro!" "Come!" " We're leaving!" "Don't make scenes, I must go with them." " But I..." "Can't I come along too?" " No, get a streetcar and go back." "I won't wait." "It's better to avoid farewells, they're always painful." "Will we meet again, some time?" " Maybe, some day, who knows!" "Ciro!" " Ciro!" "Pirata!" "Look at the lake!" "There it is!" " Where?" "There, there." "How neat!" "So you dropped her?" " Of course?" " What a guy you are!" "Bruno!" "Look at those Americans how they run!" "But, are they crazy?" " But that's Tosca!" "Poor Ciro!" "She gets it on with two Americans!" "Ciro, it's Tosca!" " Hi, hi!" "Watch out, stop!" "Damn you!" "You ruined it!" "Can't fix it?" "What's there to fix?" "It's destroyed." "It'll take 30,000 lire to fix it." "What will I do now?" "Poor guy, Nenfio!" "With that truck, he maintained his family,.." "and five children, and his sister too." " Bitch!" "Who, the sister?" " 'Signorina'!" "But who?" " Tosca!" ""The day you leave me, I'll kill myself, I'll become a nun,.." "life for me will be a desert, a desolated land."" "But what're you saying?" " Her letters!" "What letters?" " Those by Tosca, full of promises and oaths." "Did Tosca really write you letters full of promises and oaths?" "Geppe', you sound like an echo." "She wrote you that she'd become a nun, by letter?" "But this is dumb!" " I'm not dumb at all." "Bruno, come here!" "What do you want?" " I have an idea!" ".." " Oh, go...!" "I have an idea to settle the truck's matter.." "and to get even with Tosca!" "Come!" "What idea is it?" " The letters!" "But, do you really have these letters?" " Yes,...at home." "Dad is not in!" "It's better, let's go." "Better." " Get away!" "Where are the letters?" "In a drawer, in my room." "What, did you lock it?" "What locked..." "I got the key!" "And how many are they?" " 13" " All love letters?" "Hell, how many did she write!" " This is nothing,.." "the other ones, I threw them away, or they'd be about one hundred." "She wrote me every day, and wanted that I'd reply." "And you?" " What for, to waste paper?" "!" "Here they are. 13." "Shall we send you, or shall we send Geppe?" "We can't send you!" " Maybe it's better that Geppe goes,.." "he's less noticeable." "Oh, get a lot of money!" "Give'm to me, I'm going right away!" " No!" "First we call her.." "and then we'll collect the letters." " Isn't it better to take them now?" "Be quiet, we'll get them later." "We'll call her from the bar." "Yes, yes." "Let's go right away, Ciro." "We tell her: "There's a friend who wants to speak to you"." " Let's hurry!" "We'll call her from the bar of "Fair Hair"." "I'll take care of it all!" "We'll be rich!" "I'll be damned!" "100,000 lire, guys!" "We'll be rich!" "Geppe', did you get it well?" " All clear!" " Come, drink." " Yes, yes." "I drink, I drink..." " Come on, drink!" "It's 90 lire." " What, are you afraid?" "We'll pay." " If you say so!" "Remember the newspaper!" " Which one, this one?" " Yes, give me." "Say: "I'm the friend"." " Understood?" " Yes.." "I am..." "I am..." "I am the friend that called you, eh?" " Yes, yes." "Here, drink." " I drink." "Drink, it'll give you courage." "Drink!" "Oh..." "Bravo!" "Go now." " It's almost 2." " I'm going, I'm going!" "..." "Did you understand well?" "Get moving!" " Then I go, eh?" "I go!" "I'm going, eh?" " Bye!" ""Fair Hair", a coffee." "I spoke with Amleto, a second hand truck costs 80,000 lire." "There'll be 20 left." "Good morning." " Good morning." "It's hot, eh?" " Yes..." "I'm the friend that called." "You?" "Don't you see that I'm fanning myself?" " Ah..." "Let's get in, there's people here." " But there isn't a soul!" "They might come!" "Watch out, lady!" "Come here!" " No, come here!" " Here?" " Here, here!" "You are married, right?" "Married?" "Yes...why?" "And a certain Ciro Bissolati, do you know him?" "What did you say?" "Ciro Bissolati?" "If I know him?" "Do you know him, or don't you?" "I know him like many others..." ""Good morning, good evening"." "And "good night", never?" "What do you mean?" " There are the letters here." "The money, did you bring it?" " What money?" "The 100,000 lire to have the letters." " What letters?" "These!" " Oh, my God!" "Eh, eh!" "Eh!" "One thing only I'd like to know: it was Ciro who wanted this?" "Was it Ciro?" "Oh, what a pain!" " I don't know any Ciro." "Don't try to fool me with pitiful lies!" "I know it was him, I know!" "Oh, what a pain!" "Feel my heart!" "Feel how my heart races?" "This heart that throbbed for him,.." "because I loved him so.." "and still love him, I adore him... damn stinker!" "But you cannot understand..." "you're so young!" "I'm a poor woman, weak and helpless." "Yes, a weak and helpless poor woman,.." "who gave all of herself in this last great love." "Oh, don't be as cruel as he is." "You are a good boy, I can read it on your face." "Lady!" "You dont enchant me!" "Well, for you I'll sacrifice myself!" "We'll make...70,000, so there!" " I wouldn't let this deal go by!" "A truck, these days.." "doesn't cost less than 100." " You hear?" "But, we need to check how it's set with the tires." "The tires are new, I'm telling you!" "Come and see for yourself!" "Last week I went to Calabria.." "without having to change even one tire!" "It breaks my heart, you know?" "If it weren't you, I would never sell it." "What say, shall we try it?" " Far out!" "Tell "Fair Hair" for Geppe!" ""Fair Hair", when Geppe comes, tell him to wait for us!" "Damn her!" "Oh, but that's Geppe!" " Yes, it's him." "What are you doing?" "Geppe', did you meet Tosca?" " How did it go?" "Why do you run away?" "What are you doing?" " We were waiting at the bar." "Wait!" "But what have you done?" "Waiter." " Here I am." "I'd like..." "Order me..." "A mint, thank you." "So, have you got the money?" " How did it go?" " No, the money, no." "Did she give it to you?" " No, she didn't give me it." "Give me the letters, I'll go." " You even gave her the letters?" " Yes." "I gave them back." " To her?" " Yes." "You idiot!" "Why did you give'm back?" " I'd give you a smack!" "Don't you touch me, or I'll give you a kick on your face!" "That way." " Thank you." "Madam!" "That way." "Ah..." "Beloved scoundrel..." "Eh?" "She's a poor woman, unhappy, helpless, and who still loves you." "But whom does she love?" " Geppe', you are are an idiot!" "You haven't thought of us, of Nenfio, of the impression we'll make on Amleto." "You're a wretch!" "Stupid, stupid, stupid." "Ah..." "Are you feeling sick, lady?" "No." "No, thank you." "I..." "I told her that it was for a charity purpose,.." "but she didn't have the money in the purse." "Boys, boys!" " What's up?" "They call you on the phone!" " And who is it?" "They said it's a friend of Ciro." "What do I know?" " And who is it?" "The friend of Ciro is me!" " Be quiet!" "Where?" "Hello?" "Yes." "It's Tosca!" "Well, since it's about a charity deed to help your friend in need,.." "I thought it over." "I'm at the bar Papetti,.." "in San Giovanni square." "I have got the money too." "Come immediately, and don't play games this time, eh?" "What did she tell you?" " What did she tell you?" "That she's waiting at San Giovanni, with the cash." "Me?" " Ah!" "Well!" "I did tell you she was a woman with a good heart!" "Let's go there right away!" "Don't make her wait!" "I'll go!" " Yes, go you too, it's better." "Come, Bruno, come!" "Look, look...you're Tosca!" " Why?" "I went to your house, but you were not in." "At my house?" "And what did you want?" "Are they yours?" "Are these letters yours?" "Would you want them?" "I'll give them to you, but on one condition." "How much?" " Nothing!" "I wouldn't know what to do with your dirty money!" "Then what?" "You must repeat something that I'll tell you." "To whom?" " To me." "What?" "Shall I repeat it?" "Well?" "What're you waiting for?" "Shall I go?" " No, no!" "So then?" " Are they all there?" " Well?" "I...am...a...cow..." " Louder, I didn't hear you." "I am..." "I am..." "I am a cow." " I couldn't hear the last word!" "I am..." "I am...a cow!" " Take!" "I'll be damn!" "Waiter, how much?" " 40." "Don't you drink any more?" " No." " Go!" "Wait!" " What?" " I'll go!" "I'll go!" "Wait!" "Lady, here I am." " The change!" " Coming right up." "Lady...but, it's me!" "Well, What's up?" "What happened?" " She left!" "I'll take care of it now!" "Madam, madam!" "Listen to me!" "Summer ended in a sad way." "Coccolone's father fell ill and died in a few days,.." "and Coccolone had to find a job.." "as a bartender in the cafe of "Fair Hair"." ""Fair Hair" made him work like a dog and took away his tips." "One coffee." "Less sugar!" "I spent my days there, because after the episode with Tosca.." "I had a bad fight with Iris." "Rosina, the cashier, gave me cigarettes.." "and I took them, because I did not care for anything." "Ciro, coffee is ready!" "And to think that a physique like yours must be so drawn..." "If I had your strength and courage, I'd go a long way!" "For instance, tonight the others go, and I stay at home." " Where do they go?" "For a certain little job." "Me, I don't like such little jobs." " Why, are you afraid?" "I know no fear!" "But I don't like certain things." " Why?" "Change the subject, clear?" "I insist, because you've got the talent it takes." "You've got it!" " Yeah, I'll make a vest with it!" "I'd rather find me a job." " Like Coccolone?" " No, on my own." "Even to be self-employed, one must have a base,.." "and, in order to have a base..." " Bye!" "It rains." "You'll get wet." "Better!" "I went back home, with a confused desire to see Iris,.." "maybe to make peace with her." "Instead, Iris was not at home." "Odd, at that hour." "Isn't Iris in?" "She didn't come, I was waiting for her for my homework." "Is Iris in?" "Is Iris in?" " No." "We wanted our snack." " She's not there." "Iris, will you give me a shirt?" " Iris' not in." "It needs that you marry her." "You see what happens when she's not there?" "Then my father left for his night watch,.." "and I accompanied him up to the stairway." " Bye, dad!" " Bye!" "Where is Iris?" " To the movies." " To the movies?" " Yes, with Mrs. Lanari's son." "To the movies?" "Iris had been to the movies?" "With the son of Mrs. Lanari?" "The son of Mrs. Lanari..." "that worm!" "That's Iris!" " Hush!" "We went to the movies, eh?" " Yes!" "Was the film interesting, or was the company?" "Everyone chooses his own company!" "Then you could choose another time for your companies, not lunch time!" "I choose the time that most pleases me!" "I'm not your servant!" "And then, when I get married, you'll have to get by!" "You'd better start to get used to it." " Ah, we're wedding!" "Congratulations!" "We are where we are!" "When it will be, I'll send you an invitation!" "It'd be...with the son of the Lanari?" "Nice beefcake!" "He's a good guy who earns his living by working,.." "and doesn't go around with sluts!" "He's an accountant...has a diploma." "Nice, a diploma!" "And...do you love him?" " I will!" "If it is so, what are you doing here?" "What do you want?" "What do you wait for?" "You know we can't pay you!" "So, leave!" "We can do without you!" "We don't need your charity!" " Ciro!" "Go away!" " Ciro!" "Iris." "What happened to you?" "Iris, Iris!" "Iris!" "Iris!" "Listen, Iris!" "Iris, where do you go?" "Listen..." "Forgive me, Iris!" "Forgive me!" "I love you." " Enough, enough!" "Look at me!" "Look at me, Iris!" "I love you, I love only you!" "I need you to go to work!" "I won't go with morons anymore, if you love me." "You'll marry me, won't you?" " Yes." "I'll work, for you." "I promise." " Yes." "But it's not easy, these days." " It will be easy, you'll see." "I'll look for, I'll find, I promise." "It would suffice to have a base." "It would suffice to have...a base." "Relax, don't worry." "Everything will be alright.." " Let's hope so." "Here, drink." ""Fair Hair"..." "Do we agree, then?" "Ah, Ciro..." " Hi." "But what happened to him?" " Tend the tables, they're calling you!" "A type like that is not easy to find,.." "In fact, I told him right away..." " Hey!" " Eh?" "What's up with Ciro?" " Ciro?" "Tonight there's a job, no?" " Where?" "Excuse me." "In Assisi Street." "I'm in it too!" " And Ciro?" "Pirata!" " Coming, boss!" "Who?" "That one?" "No!" "And who told him anything?" "You did tell me to keep my mouth shut with everyone..." "And the works, will they start soon?" " So it seems." "But why did send for you right at this hour?" "The engineer comes from out of town." " Let's hope they pay you well,.." "so we can start to put something aside." "First we must see if they accept me." "My heart says so, and my heart never fails." "Be tranquil!" "More tranquil than this!" "Well...bye." "Shall I wait for you?" " No, no, I'll be late." "The engineer lives far." "Bye." "Ciro!" "Ciro!" "Good luck!" "Thank you." "Bye." " Bye!" "Ciro, where are you going?" " Out." "Can I come along?" " Why, do I have a nanny?" "I'm meeting an engineer in Parioli, maybe I'll get a job." "No!" "You're going to Assisi Street!" "If you already know, why do you ask?" "Ciro, don't go there!" " Geppe', let me be!" "Iris!" "Iris!" "Iris!" "Isn't Iris in?" " No, she's there." "Iris!" "Iris!" "It's you!" "What?" " Do you know where Ciro went?" "For a job." "From now on let him be, you and the others." "No!" "Wait!" "No!" "Wait, Iris!" "Iris, Iris!" "Ciro went to steal tires at Pirelli's, in Assisi Street." "In Assisi Street?" " Yes!" "Run after him, 'cause he won't listen to me!" "For me, he may even die." "I don't care anymore." "Mr. Cesare!" "Mr. Cesare, have you seen Mr. Ferruccio, the night guard?" "Yes, he was here an hour ago." "He had his usual drink and then he left." "Do you know what round he does tonight?" " No, why?" "Just so." "Thank you!" "Oh!" "I heard a whistle, it must be Ciro!" "Push me up, that I'll warn Ciro for the tires." " Yes." "Are you there?" " Yes." "We'll wait outside." "Go!" "Good evening, Mr. Ferruccio!" "How goes it?" " Well, it goes." "Have a good round!" " Thank you." "Good night." "Master, have you seen Mr. Ferruccio?" "He just left!" "Mr. Ferruccio!" "Mr. Ferruccio!" "By there!" "Let's go home." "Shall we go?" "But what's Ciro doing?" "Do me a favor, you stay here." "Up, come on!" "Mr. Ferruccio!" "No!" " Freeze!" "Thief!" "Stop!" "Ferruccio, stop!" "Ferruccio, no!" " Thief!" "Run, run!" " Stop!" "Stop!" "Wait!" "Amleto!" "What happened?" " Out, out!" "Dad!" "Dad!" " Ciro!" "Ciro!" "Ciro!" "Go to the other room for a minute, while I fix you something to eat." "Come." "The youngest one ran towards me." " Ciro!" "I had bought one kilo of pasta,.." "and to hug him, I put it on the table, by the cap." "Then I understood!" "At that moment, I understood that it had been my father,.." "who secretly paid the broken window of the stationer's,.." "and the shoes we often lost." "It was him who paid...always...for all." "Hi." " Hi." "Even now, he had paid with his life, for me." "My youth without worries was over." "Now it was my turn to pay."