"THE FIRST ASSIGNMENT" "Stand still." "Don't take a picture here." " Here, it's a nice color." " It's not in color, silly." "smile." "I'II take one of you for your boyfriend." "silly squared, I don't have a boyfriend." " plus you'd probably break my camera." " No, I won't." "Sperti!" "It finally arrived." "Open it, what are you afraid of ?" " That they'II send me far away." " Go wherever they send you." "You should thank the Lord and all the sacrifices we made" "could you leave, please ?" "I want to be alone." "pray t hey sehd you far away" " So you'II stop thinking about him." " Get out." " He's playing with you!" " Get out!" "He won't marry you!" "Who's there?" "Me." "I brought something." " Where's Francesco?" " They have visitors." "I think Federico's married." "Perhaps Loredana is too." "Nena!" "Come in, meet my cousin Cristiana." " pleased to meet you." " I feel like I know you... ..from everything Francesco's told me." " Sit, would you Iike some tea?" " You can use my cup." " That's nonsense!" " Have Teresa bring another cup." " No need to." " I don't like tea." " Have a cookie at Ieast." "Your parents wrote me." "uncle has a case of mal d'Afrique." "We should go visit them." "They're afraid you'II go soft in the head here." "Nonsense, his father decided he would live here with me." "In any case, they're wrong." "I found what I needed here." "If they don't like it, too bad." "200..." "I mean, 1 50 kilometers." "That far away?" "What's the name of the town?" "What difference does it make?" "till the end of June, then I'II ask for a transfer." "Not eveh a year" "We should be happy, you deserve this." "Don't make that noise." " Did you hear me?" " I Iike eating this way." "Then do it when I'm not around, please." "You're leaving anyway." "Eat up." "Francesco, I can't take many." "They're too heavy." "Our records..." "will you take them?" "I'm afraid they'II break." "I'II just take this one." " will you help her on the bus?" " Yes." "Aren't you going to say bye?" "You never apologized." "I'm sorry." "I'm sorry." " The teacher!" " The teacher!" " Good morning." " Good morning, teacher." " Is this everyone?" " Yes." "Time for roII-caII." " Tu come ti chiami?" " Giuseppe ScaIamozzi." "Sit up straight, please." " You?" " michele Lo Parco." " You?" " Santino Lo Parco." " You?" " Tonio Maggi." "You?" " angela CincavaIIi." "M ar a Cesara You?" "What's your name?" "What's his name?" " He's new this year." " Maybe Zizzi." " tell us what your name is." "Stay calm." "only horses kick, are you a horse?" "AII right, here are your text books." "Can you hear me with that scarf on your head?" "She has to wear it, she got bit by a rat right here." "Let me see." "Not that bad." "Once your hair grows it'II cover it." "I have an idea:" "let's write the word "rat"." "Whose cat is that?" " Good evening." " Good evening." "Cooking up something tasty?" "actually, I'm not very good at cooking." "You studied though." "You're welcome to come to our house." "I'II come tonight." "Leave her be, she's not bothering us." "How did you become a teacher?" "How did you manage?" "I studied on my own then won the public competition." "Very smart, unlike you lot!" "Do you have a boyfriend?" "Yes." "And he doesn't mind that you're so far away?" "We love each other." "That might suffice for you, but for a man it's difficult." "Men are very different." "I didn't say it before you left but I knew it already." "I miss you." "Can... ..not." "I imagine how hard it must be for you there." "Be strong, my darling." "We can connect these two words... ..by removing a few letters..." "..and inserting something that looks like a tear... ..che noi chiamiamo apostrofo." "An apostrophe." "These are things we'II learn as we start writing..." "Let's do some geography." "Open your textbooks... ..and look at the map of italy." "We live in italy." "The capital of italy is called Rome." " Can I help you?" " Are you sure you know how to teach?" "I've seen many teachers and schools... ..but never a teacher like you." " How dare you!" " That's not how you teach." " Who are you?" "Go to work!" "Let me work, please." "Teacher!" "Mom sent this." "Thanks, but I don't need it." "Take it back!" " Is it good?" " excellent." "A pity you're leaving!" "Since you're here, you should stay longer." "True." "You should come back in summer or spring." "It's beautiful here now as well." "We took the coastal road, the sea was wild." "Have you ever written a poem about the wild sea?" "I don't write poems." "My cousin has misinformed you." "She enjoys teasing me." "I'm just writing a thesis on Russian symbolists." " Know them?" " I'm afraid not." " Is that bad?" " Not at all." "Francesco loves educating girls." " careful." " Sorry." "I don't know why I did it." "I felt like I had to." "I remember you saying... ..that I'm the sharpest girl you know." "In part, it has to do with this place, these people." "I try to understand them but I have nobody to speak to." "Nobody would understand." "Even the school is hardly a school." "I try to teach but it's hard with these students." "Thank you." "After school, I have nothing to do." "Then it started raining." "It rains and rains." "Nights here are much darker, Iike a lifeless world." " Good evening." " Good evening." "My nephew has come to fix the leak." "It's leaking there and there." " He can handle it alone?" " Yes, he built his own home." " Look at his arms!" " Very well." "It's fixed." "So it won't leak any more?" "No need to pay me." "M y u h e sa d t was a favor" "A favor?" "It's his property, he's responsible for it." "If you have some liqueur..." "I don't have any." "Here... will this do?" "If it's not enough, I'II give you more." " 3 times 5 is 1 5." " 3 times 5 is 1 5." " 3 times 6 is 1 8." " 3 times 6 is 1 8." " 3 times 7 is 21 ." " 3 times 7 is 21 ." "3 times 8..." "Stay seated." "ow was t he t r p?" "Kids... ..we'II end class early today..." "..but first I'd Iike to introduce him." "He'd Iike to meet you." "The only reason I am here teaching you is because he helped me." " Her boyfriend!" " What?" "I just watched her study." "She did it all alone." "I'II go down that way." "khow how to shoot too" "I'm pretty good at it." " You don't believe me?" " I sure do." "You're full of surprises." "Do you know where I can buy some cheese?" "I Iike this place." "It suits you." "I Iearned a recipe." "I don't know how long it takes..." "Andrea wants to reach naples by tonight." "I think he wants to leave right away." "Let me peel some fruit for you, their fruit is good." "Isn't this house a bit damp?" "I admire you even more now." "Why is that?" "I can't stay, it wouId cause trouble for you." "Your mother is right, what would people say?" "She always has something to say." "I've thought about it." "It's best if we get married." "After naples I'II go to see my parents in Rome... ..and tell them." "How did you come up with this idea?" "Sorry." "I didn't even ask you." "ets ta ke out ou r exer se books" "..and try to write a short sentence... ..about something that you particularly like." " Anything." " How will we pick something?" "There are many lovely things." "You could write about the sun... ..a tree, springtime..." "Bosom!" "AII right, you can write about the bosom." " Can I write about a cake?" " Yes, that's fine." "could I fire a shot?" "darling, it's a pity you can't return... ..but I'm happy to see our things again... ..our room, the tree outside the window." "When you said its name, I thought it was a magic word:" ""..araucaria"." " Drink up, my dear." " She's drinking." "Hush, stop talking." " Can I brush your hair?" " Later." " I'II braid your hair." " Nice." "I didn't think I'd miss him this much." "He's like a son to me." "He'II be back after the holidays." "I had better get used to it." "Now that my brother's back in italy, he'II keep his son." "His life is here." "Go ahead and look for the book you need." "I'II order tea." " Happy new year." " That's how you spell it." "Good job." "well done!" "Look." "I made the creche with Mary, Joseph, and baby Jesus." " I made the stars." " well done." "We put oranges on the Christmas tree." " I made a stream too." " What stream?" "There's a stream right here." "I also made a village with a shepherd." "I used moss too." "What part is nicest?" "It's all nice." "Nobody is here." " Where's your nephew?" " He's not here." " I want to speak to him." " Bring him out, I'II kill him!" " He's gone, he left." " Bring him out!" "Come out!" "Come out!" "Come out, coward!" "Come out!" "Stop." "Miss, If I go out, the gypsies will kill me." " What have you done?" " Nothing." " Then tell them." " They have knives." "Get up, I don't like people sitting on my bed." " Want some water?" " Thank you." " Do you have any liqueur?" " Does this look like a tavern?" "I met a girl who's related to them..." "They all work at the circus." "They expect me to marry her, but I wasn't her first." " What does she do?" " Trapeze artist." "Her legs are long and straight." " You have nice legs too." " How dare you?" "What do you know?" "will you show them to me?" "The gypsies seem to be gone, so leave." "Get out!" " You should buy one too." " I don't need it." "Dear Nena, I feel like I'm losing my mind." "I've been trying to write this letter for two weeks." "Perhaps you'II understand what I'm struggling to understand." "She's a friend of my cousin's." "When I met her, she left no impression." "I saw her again in Rome at a gala." "She forced me to dance." "I'm traveling with her now" "I don't know where we'II stop." "It feels like the days I spent with you were just a dream." "There, I've said it all." "You..." "solve this problem." "Add it up." "Come on, it's easy." "If you can't do it in your head, use your fingers." "Six... four!" "Damiano, it's not hard!" "Am I not a good teacher?" "tell me!" "Am I not good?" "Have you not learned anything?" " You're a good teacher." " What do you think?" "What do you think?" "Give me your hand." "Teacher!" "Teacher!" "She fell in, hurry!" "What happened?" "We'II save you!" " Need a rope?" " Yes, go get it!" " What happened?" " She fell in." "Miss, I brought you some wine." "Have some, that well water was cold." "You'II get sick!" "I don't need anything." "Who's there?" "So I have nice legs?" "Eat some more." " Does this stuff need to be washed?" " If you want." "You didn't have to come here, why did you?" "You make me laugh." "That hat makes me laugh too." "You take it." "Come here, dear." "She's been misbehaving." "Good morning." "Isn't it my turn?" "Excuse me, my mom was next." "What'II we do?" "What'II we do?" " Head outside!" " Yes" "It's not proper to say "head outside"." "Let's sing!" "I will go see him there, ih the heaehs of my home" "I will go see Mary, my joy ahd my Ioe" "..in the heavens!" "Teacher, come sit down." "Teacher, Damiano's missing." "I don't see him anywhere." "Damiano!" "Maybe he's there?" " Damiano!" " Damiano!" "Damiano!" "There he is." "What are you doing up there?" "Come down, please." "M ss, heed to spea k to you" "It's a serious matter." " They want to report you as an unfit teacher." " Who said this?" "That nutcase?" " He has nothing better to do." " You don't understand." "They saw you visiting my nephew late at night." "Even if he denies it." "If you Iike him, do things right and get married." "Why do you care?" "Because of my salary?" "It's really not that great." "We get by on our own... ..more than well." "I just want to sort things out for you and him." "You are crazy." "Che fate se vi cacciano dalla scuola?" "What'II you do if they fire you?" " If they love each other..." " They love each other." "So soon?" "Have a sip." " What is it?" " It's good, it's homemade." "If it's a boy, name it after dad." "What?" "Quite an imagination..." "Or did mom say that?" "Nobody said anything." "I'm not pregnant!" " Go behind the tree at Ieast." " Yes!" "Catch him!" "Don't ruin his suit!" "Do you Iike the house?" "Yes." " Is anything missing?" " No." "No k sses" "I can't face kissing." "Let's sleep." "I need to wake up early." "Teacher!" "congratulations!" "Where are you going?" "Maria!" "Thanks." "What happened?" "You read my letters?" "What did you do?" "What am I doing here?" "Being a wife?" "Whose wife?" "Why did you marry me?" "Why did you want to marry me?" "Those guys were looking for me, now they're not." "The circus guys." "You could've married the trapeze artist." "She's not the kind of woman one marries." "I'm going out." "It's best you do something, distract yourself." "What homework did teacher give?" "No." "Don't spy on me, please." "Yesterday Zizzi's son asked me what homework you gave." " You haven't had any schooling?" " Not much." "Why?" "Do you want to teach me?" "I was just asking... ..with your job you don't need it." "I didn't do it to hurt anybody." "I did it out of a sense of responsibility." "I demand that the person who teaches... ..teaches with the dignity of a teacher." "Why aren't you speaking?" "e khows t he ahswer but oh y spea ks wheh he wahts to" "Doht khow t he ahswer?" "7 times 1 is 7, 7 times 2 is 1 4." "7 times... ..3 is 21 ." "7 times 4 is 28." "7 times 5 is 35." "The alps are divided into central, western, and eastern parts." "The highest peak is Mont blanc, then Cervino, Monte Rosa... ..Gran Paradiso and Monviso." "well done, good job." "If you need anything, you can count on me." "I'd Iike to be transferred up north." "You should've learned to cook "more better"." "You don't even know how to use salt." "Khow how to ba ke sweets?" "No." "It's too hot with this fire." "I'm going out." "I don't know when I'II be back." "Are you going out tonight?" "Do you want to go out?" "I realize this isn't an easy situation." "I'm hard to understand." "Why?" "In my mind you're free to be with other women." "Who says I already haven't?" "Stop at this tree." "We'II write down the names of all the insects we find." "Carry on." "Tonio, wait up." "I found another one!" "Bravo" "Teacher, look who's here." "Come here!" "I'm busy." "What are you doing here?" "The kids are looking for insects and worms." "Don't overturn the rocks, or you'II rouse the snakes." "True!" "Kids, don't look under the rocks!" "Or you'II rouse the snakes." "You asked to be transferred?" "You shouldn't leave." "Are you angry with me?" "No." "would you do me the honor of reading my writings... .."LiIy amidst the stones"?" "Do you still want me?" "Dance with your husband!" "Don't look at her like that." "Try!" "Wife thief!" " Good night." " Where are you taking her?" "Stay." "It's late." "It answered you." "Wonder what it said!" "It's a language you don't understand." "Your father's talking about Africa again." "You can hear him from here?" "I can imagine." " I would go back there forever." " Let's go eat, I'm hungry." "What is he doing?" "Meet you there." "Giovanni..." "..if you want tomatoes I'II cut them for you." "I don't want tomatoes." "Eat." " Are you leaving?" " I must go home, I'II explain later." "What'II you explain, Mrs. Teacher?" "Are you drunk?" "That hair..." "you look like an old bag." "Go to the hairdresser when you return." "We were all right together..." "Nena!" "What is it?" "What's wrong?" "Let's go to the sitting room." "shall we?" "It occasionally happens to him... ..it's nothing serious." "I didn't think you'd come." "I thought it was too late." "I forced you to do something absurd." "Just be quiet." "Don't talk." "You just need to have your marriage annulled." "My father knows a cardinal, he could help us." "plus, in cases like this..." "really?" " Is it possible?" " Of course." "I don't want to ask you any questions." "It's my fault this all happened." "I know I made you suffer... ..but now we're together, Iet's start over." "We can live here or if you prefer we'II go to naples or Rome." "I put your stuff in the trunk." "What are you looking for?" "I'm not looking for anything." "I want to go home." "I saw you arrive." " Giovanni?" " He went far away, for work." "But he'II be back." "I'II tidy up the house." "hello, teacher."