"TH E WI DE BLE E RO AD" "This is the best s eason for fishing." "In September the fish leav e the depths and run clos e to the shore where the water is still warm and the s eaweed is tender and sweet." "Thes e are my islands." "I know them well... e v ery reef, e v ery cov e, e v ery inch of the ocean bottom." "Only one man in the village knows how to fish like me." "Salv atore." "We grew up together, then he went on fishing with nets." "Not me!" "There was another boy we grew up with." "Gaspare." "How our liv es went s eparate ways!" "H e signed up for the Coast Guard." "H e has a uniform, state pay." "But I like what I do and I hav e something the y don't." "Can we help, Papa?" "Do what?" "Blow us all up?" "Stand back, both of you!" "There now." "You can come clos er." " Bore?" " H ere I am, Papa." "Sit there and grate." "There!" "Like that." "As fine as you can." "Tonino, you get the tar ready." "Fast." "Like chees e." "What if it explodes?" "Why?" "Does chees e explode?" "This is not an explosiv e." "It has to be fired." "Come on, giv e it to me." "Bravo, Bore!" "Mind your fingers!" "Is this okay?" "Better if it were finer." "But same thing anyway." "Detonators." "Thes e explode right away, only need a slight tap." "Careful." "Scared?" "There!" "Coast is clear." "Go on, Papa." "Stand back!" " Nothing." " Quiet." "There the y are!" "Sea bream, Papa!" "Sea bream, Squarcio!" "That's right, kids!" "My bombs ne v er miss." "Quick, Tonino!" "Jump in!" "How many, Papa?" "H ere!" "Grab this big one!" "Great!" "It weighs six kilos." "Mamma mia!" "Giv e it here!" "What are you up to?" "Throwing 'em away?" "I don't throw 'em away, I eat 'em." " Greetings, Salv atore!" " Greetings, Squarcio!" "How's it going?" "Not much..." "hope other nets..." "Good luck!" " H e's making fun of us." " Why's he doing that?" "H e can't hurt us six hours away at s ea." "Right!" "Stick up for a friend." "What's that mean?" "Friendship doesn't come into it." "Gaspare grew up with us too, and y et..." "The first officer?" "What do you want him to do?" "Calm down!" "H e'll arrest him if he gets a chance." "Domenico!" "H i, Squarcio!" "See what I'v e got here!" "You want some?" "Why are you so full of laughs?" "A pay rais e?" "I know." "800 lire isn't much." "But I don't s ell fus es or TNT!" "Too bad!" "I wanted to make you rich." "Don't worry!" "I'm just fine!" "N either rich nor in jail!" "Good luck then." "It's great to hav e an honest friend." "Good luck to you too!" "N ext time, try me again." "You ne v er know." "Ciao!" "Good luck!" "Ciao!" "Out come the rabbits in lov e..." "Wait!" "Let's both unload." "H ere." "Ciao, Salv atore!" "H i, Santamaria!" "Wait." "H e y, Grandpa." "Want a hand?" "No need." "Forget it!" "What did I do?" "It's your father." "You know damn well why." "I'v e got my reasons." "H i, Santamaria." "H i, First Officer." " H ello." " H i." " H e y, Salv atore." " H ello, Gaspare!" "Sardines again, eh?" "Yes, look, the y're bigger today." "You want some?" "First weigh 'em, then tell me how much." "Forget it, Gaspare!" "Not worth it." "Okay, no deal." "Okay, you'll pay for it." "I'll s end them home." "Okay." " By e." " By e." "Pull, Z erro, pull!" "Good catch?" "Sea bream and y ellowtail tuna." "And you, Santamaria?" "We didn't sail." "Stopped..." "The cops!" "Aren't thes e great, Gaspare?" "Can I offer...?" "No, it stinks!" "That's strange!" "It's the freshest catch." "A burnt smell!" "Ah, I hav en't done dynamite fishing for 20 y ears." "Yeah, right!" "Who's stopping you?" "Shut up!" "A violation as you speak!" "Thank God, I ne v er caught you in the act." "If it weren't for the law on catching people red-handed," "I'd hav e made you change jobs." "Why not tell the law?" "Yeah." "Eas y for you." "You're trouble!" "Who asked you to wear that uniform?" "If you want a new job there's always space on my boat." "Do the same for me?" "Going to s ee what's up." "I'll make you eat it raw!" "Eat it raw!" "All right, Tommaso Fiore." "Remember who gav e you bread after you wre cked your boat?" " I paid you back!" " Right!" "Die of hunger next time." "Natale won't giv e you a dime!" "And you guys?" "You forget when I bailed you out?" "I mean all of you!" "Not all!" "Such big talk, Salv atore?" "Set up your Co-op." "Go buy another fridge." "Tough guys!" "E p against me." "When the west wind keeps you ashore for a month or so, don't come to Natale." "I won't giv e you a dime." "Let's talk another time." "How much, the sardines?" "Not the old price." "The y don't s ell on the mainland." "The y e v en eat shark!" "Think it's good!" "So, how much?" "Big and small." "45 lire a kilo." "Better the y rot!" "Agreed?" "Really?" "Let's s ee, Natale." "Let's s ee what we can do." "Giv e it a try!" "No fear, it won't ruin you." "You'v e gotten fat on us the last 10 y ears." "Sea bream or y ellowtail tuna for the mainland bigwigs." " Put them inside, meantime." " No!" "All or nothing!" " But I'm buying." " Bravo." "At a fair price, right?" "What do you care?" "Nothing." "Just busting your balls." "It's not good for you!" "Maybe!" "Go ahead!" "Let the first come in..." "Start making change." " Thanks, Squarcio." " Thanks for what?" "Bore!" "Tonino!" "Diana!" "Ros etta!" " What did you bring?" " A surpris e!" "Let's s ee!" "Let's s ee, Squarcio!" "H is name's Papa, not Squarcio." "Leav e him!" "Let' em think we're brothers!" "Diana... to the kitchen." " I want to s ee the surpris e." " More madness?" "Bought it espe cially for you, Ros etta." "It's always for me, when you buy what you want." "Giv e me the s cissors, Tonino." " H ere the y are." " Thanks." "Hands off!" "From a Frenchman on the black market." "Wonder how much you paid?" " How does it work?" " I know how it works." "You do?" "Go on then..." "Be careful, though!" "Where's the cord?" "No power..." "It works on batteries." "Great, he y?" "Ros etta, wine for e v eryone!" "Not Bore, it's bad for him." "No, it's not!" "Want to s ee me drink a whole bottle?" "Six months since a catch like this." "Happy?" "Tomorrow we'll celebrate." "Listen to Mass on the radio." "And then, let's go out." "You want to keep me home for Mass?" " Only for your sake, Ros etta." " I know..." "Change the station!" "Seas:" "Ligurian, upper and central Tyrrhenian... northern and central Adriatic light swells... southern Tyrrhenian, Sardinian, and Sicilian..." "Ionian, lower Adriatic, swells, rough in places, wav es..." "What are you doing here?" "Why'd you come?" "Go away!" "Diana!" "No, no, Domenico." "Pleas e, dear, let me go!" "Why?" "I lov e you, you know." "I lov e you too so much." "But I swore we wouldn't do it again." "I'm ashamed, Domenico." "But what's wrong, Diana?" "Now you're crying?" "It happens when you lov e each other." "It happens to e v eryone." "Yes, but after the y're married." "And we aren't getting married?" "Will you really marry me, Domenico?" "Yes." "I want to marry you." "Diana!" "Leav e my brother alone!" "H e's smaller than you!" "Coward!" "Stop it!" "Hav e you gone crazy?" "Tonino, you don't know." "We're getting married." "H e swore he'd marry me." "Is that so?" "Yes, I want to marry her." "See me kill you if you don't!" "Don't tell Squarcio." "Domenico." "Poor Domenico." "You lov e me, right?" " Yes." " Yes." "Lov e." "And no spe cial leav e!" "No girlfriends!" "No weddings!" "No funerals!" "Nothing, no way!" "Not one." "Not one of them caught in the act." " Actually..." " Well, two!" "But in how many y ears?" "Look at this." "Fishermen's protests, certified letters, reprimands from H Q." "How can I catch such fast boats?" "And the y e v en threaten a transfer." "Enough!" "From tomorrow morning, do a s earch." "E v ery island!" "Rock by rock!" "Bush by bush!" "It's time to put a stop to this!" "As for me, you can stay a month." "But it's not as if that'll change the situation." "Not e v en a miracle will re-open the quarry." "Listen to me, go back home." "But how do you want me to say it?" "Shipping costs are too high." "Can't work." "What are you waiting for?" "You'v e already been fired." "Do as you pleas e!" "What can I say?" "Domenico!" "Why hav en't you come by lately?" "We'v e been here day and night." "The y said it would re-open." "What are you going to do?" "Go back to the mainland?" "I'v e got a plan for the beginning." "I must speak to your father." " You're staying here then?" " Yes, I won't leav e you." "See, First Officer, I went right ov er it without noticing." "Look." "Fus es, gunpowder, sticks and detonators." "A detonator for e v ery stick of TNT." "That's it!" "This time Squarcio pays!" "Back to the station, early tomorrow, 6:00 a.m." "Don't forget!" "Let me stay, First Officer!" "Tomorrow morning, I said." "One of us is enough." "Thanks, Santucci." "Now, go away!" "If one of us is spotted, all will be ruined." "Go!" "Stop!" "Halt!" "Squarcio, I can identify you." "Wait, Squarcio." "Let's talk!" "Stop!" "Stop!" "Squarcio!" "You don't shoot on sight!" "It was an accident, Squarcio." "It wasn't me." "An unfortunate accident." "An accident." "Tomorrow, we fish our catch for his mother." "How do I come into it?" "Domenico stole for you." "Not for me or anyone els e." "H e stole be caus e the quarry clos ed." "H e ne v er wanted to before." "H e was a good kid." "So you think." "But I don't come into it." "Yes, you do!" "I guarantee it'll suit you!" "Come on." "Let's go." "Just a drop." "No." "I'm tired." "I need to go sleep." "H uh?" "And not clear the table?" " Let me do it!" " Only take a minute." " Right, Diana?" " Yes, Papa." "And you, where're you going?" "Staying right here." "Must mend the net." "You like fishing with that better?" "Yeah, I know, it brings in too little." "How about you, Bore?" " Bore!" " H e y!" "Good night." "Bad day, today." " You knew him?" " Saw him, a few times." "Was a good kid, Domenico." "Honest..." "If only he hadn't been fired." "TNT's no us e in a dead quarry." "H e had to get a bit of mone y, poor boy." "That's certainly what he was thinking, no?" "What are you doing?" "For the mosquitos." "It was no one's fault." "Not e v en Gaspare's." "Life is so difficult, getting married and having children, getting them a life." "Yes, that's why so many things happen." "Pick yours elf up!" "Let's go for a walk." "Strong wind." "Tomorrow's going to be a hell of a day." "To the Commander at Naviglio di Montfalcone Station," "Re:" "Request for dis charge." "On the 18th of this month, my renewal comes due..." "First Officer, the y are dynamite fishing." "Right clos e by!" "N ext line." "Since I do not intend to stay long term in the Coast Guard, pleas e consider my resignation effe ctiv e as of the abov e date." "I await a de cision from my superior officers and my replacement as Squad Commander." "Signed, First Officer Gaspare Puggioni." " Send it off right away." " At your command, First Officer." "Hav e a good trip!" " Gaspare!" " H i, Squarcio." "Good day." "The y told me at the station you're leaving." "When's your replacement arriving?" "Should be here today." "In any e v ent, I'v e handed ov er my post." " What will you do now?" " Don't know." "Don't know y et." "Well, if you need something..." "No thanks." "H e y, don't be offended!" "We grew up together." "Friends, right?" "A loan." "No rules and regulations now." "Just the same, Squarcio." "Thanks." "All aboard!" " Ciao." " Ciao, Gaspare." "Good luck." "Goodby e, Squarcio." "Thanks for coming." "Goodby e, Gaspare." "I'm sorry." "I'm really sorry." "First Officer Puggioni!" "That boat belongs to the Coast Guard." "Right?" "Yes, I think so." "Great boat!" "I'v e ne v er s een one like it." "Not in thes e waters." "No, me neither." "Not around here." "Ready for the army but he can't swim?" "That's really shameful!" "And he thinks he's brav e." "I'm not afraid of anything!" "Don't run away, come here!" "No more big talk, eh?" "H urry up." "Down you go!" "Well, how's it going?" "Like it?" "A lot." "Very good." "Bravo." "So I'll tow you then." "Fine, but let me take a short break." "Papa, the Coast Guard!" "Look how fast the y go!" "Quick, e v erything ov erboard!" "E v en the roll of fus e wire!" "Tonino, ov erboard, quick!" "Finished?" "Bravo, bravissimo!" "Mov e!" "H urry, hurry!" "Stop!" "There the y are!" "That's Squarcio." "H ere the y come, boys." "Smile and play it cool." "Welcome, First Officer." "What's up?" "N eed some help?" "No thanks." "Getting to know you..." "This is me." "Like what you s ee?" "When did you start being so disrespe ctful?" "Since officers started being rude to fishermen." "All right, mutual respe ct." "Allow me to s ee one of thos e fish, pleas e." "Don't joke around." "That one, quick!" "How did you get such a big catch?" "With a golden hook." "Look!" "This one's got a broken spine." "Poor guy!" "Must hav e crashed into a rock." "Maybe I caught it already dead." "E vidence enough." "If an explosion had been heard, you'd hav e spent the night in jail." "Not sleep too well there, right?" "Well enough." "We'll meet again, Balzano." "Let's mov e it!" "See you again soon!" "Cheers, Chief!" "In fact, it's natural." "One first officer goes, another comes." "Except this one's got a motorboat." "Hav e you e v er s een such a moustache?" "Bet it'll do 10 knots." "I'm fit to bust with laughter." "Now for the dynamite fishermen!" "Quite the comic, your son, Salv atore." "Beware of ov erkill though!" "Ov erkill?" "Time you stopped making jokes about men who work." "Why, perhaps..." "do I liv e off interest income?" "Wors e." "With you it's like walking into a bank to blow up the safe." " Only the s ea is e v erybody's." " Exactly right." " It's not only yours." " You can profit too." "Who's stopping you?" "What are you afraid of?" "The Coast Guard?" "Or dynamite?" "If e v eryone fished like you, there'd be nothing left in a y ear." "I don't fish clos e to the islands." "You know damn well I don't interfere with anyone." "That's the only reason we still speak to you." "You couldn't s end Bore or Tonino?" "The y hav en't gotten back y et." "All right, I'll pay." "Rush home now." "What did you want to tell me?" "The new first officer with his motorboat." " Well, what's he done?" " H e's arrested Z erro." "You know, I always drop by your hous e when I go fishing." "Thought I'd like to say hello." "See?" "I'v e put your name on my boat." "A fine name, not like any other." "E v erybody us es the names of saints." "Not us." "Ours is called "Speranza."" "But "Diana" is the best of all, don't you think?" " How old are you?" " 16." "I'm 19." "Some other e v ening," "I'll drop by again if that's okay with you." "H ere's your father." "You'll be happy now." "Stay under the cov ers." "How'd it go?" "Nothing again today." "What's wrong with Bore?" "A bit of a sore throat." "Nothing s erious." "E v er since he got here, he's been after me!" "Where v er I go, I trip ov er him." " How do you feel?" " Fine." "It was a miracle he didn't lay a hand on us." "If Papa didn't know a strait via the shoals..." "Diana, I'm thirsty!" "What's his temperature?" "101." "I'v e just taken it." "Take it again!" "I bought it from a peasant who made it hims elf." " Squarcio." " What do you want?" "Now that we hav e a home..." "Well?" "...you could go back to fishing with nets." "Yes and then?" "We want to start ov er?" "I'd rather die!" "Yeah, with nets!" "Catch only enough not to starv e each day!" "Then you get a y ear like that one... two months, one after the other, without being able to s et sail," "N O AD VAN CE S..." "A y ear like that and you v anish, if you hav e no savings." "It was at the end of that winter that my mother died." "I promis ed to marry you but I'd rather not do it than make you liv e like my mother did... like all the women of the islands." "If I marry you, you hav e to hav e a happy life, Ros etta." "Happy at any price!" "And now I hav e to giv e it all up!" "E v erything I built?" "My family?" "For First Officer Riv a?" "Are you okay, Ros etta?" "Yes, Squarcio." "Fine." "E v erything's fine!" "Sometimes a guy thinks he's made a mistake." "Happy, Ros etta?" "We hav e a home, and three healthy, strong children." "All things that cost mone y." "Then Diana will get married and she too will hav e children." "Will you be ups et if Diana gets married?" "Why should I be ups et?" "I'll also be happy if she gets married." "You shouldn't worry, Ros etta." "I'll think of something, you'll s ee!" "The motor, Squarcio." "The motor!" "The new motor!" "Bore!" "The new motor!" " The new motor has arriv ed!" " Watch out!" "Look, Tonino!" "Hav e you s een how many crates?" "Accountant Carlo Festucci." "Squarcio, Giov anni Balzano" " Pleas ed to meet you." " H e couldn't find his way here." " Tonino?" " Yes, Papa." "Run and fetch my tools." "Bore..." " Sorry, Signor Balzano, first..." " Yes, mone y." "Go get cash from Mamma, now!" "H ere are the promissory notes." " Where?" " H ere." "You'll ass emble it at once?" "Sure." " On your own?" " Sure." "You know how?" " H ere it is, Papa." " Put it there." "H ere." "The old motor is all yours." "Did you s ee?" "We hav e to pay all thos e notes?" "With a motor like this..." "I can sail no matter the weather." "Let's drink to the motor!" "I thought we'd stopped dynamite fishing." "No, you hear?" "H e'll ne v er stop." "No one will e v er get him to stop." "That's for sure." "Isn't that Salv atore's son?" "What does he want with our sister?" "H e y!" "What d'you want with Diana?" "Go on boys, to bed." "It's 10:00 p.m." "But I'm not v ery sleepy." "H e won't catch me!" "Let him chas e me now!" "Let's drink to the motor!" "Let's drink to Z erro!" "Sooner or later, we'll all end up the same way." "Me, I'm changing jobs." "Afraid?" "Yes." "When the moon is full" "When the night is silent" "Out into the fields" "Come the rabbits in lov e..." "Look, my hands are shaking." "That's natural, Santamaria." "You're old." "Natural." "E v erything's natural to you!" "E v en if a guy dies, that's natural." "E v en if it's your fault, like with Domenico." "You shouldn't hav e said that." "You oughtn't say that!" "Leav e me alone, I said!" "Who's touching you?" "Get lost!" "Take me along, Squarcio." "I'm old." "Let's be partners." "Giv e me what you like." "I don't want a partner." "Go back to your son." "I can't." "It's too late." "H e doesn't want me anymore." "Salv atore doesn't want me." "I can ne v er forget that I'm in lov e..." "Look who's there." "Watch this!" "Don't do anything rash, Squarcio." "No, it's only for fun." "Accelerate!" "Full speed ahead!" "Nothing doing!" "See, Ros etta?" "We're going at least two knots faster." "The megaphone!" "H ere!" "H e y!" "Speranza!" "Stop!" "Get alongside." "Eas y now." "Don't worry." "Nothing'll happen." "Morning, First Officer." "May I?" "I'd like to introduce my wife." "This is First Officer Riv a." "My wife Ros etta." " N ice to meet you." " My pleasure." "Congratulations." "You'v e bought a new motor?" "How fast does it go?" "You didn't s ee?" "At the v ery least two knots faster than yours." "No one e v er dropped bombs inland near the islands." " On your orders?" " Sure." "Full speed ahead!" "Signora!" "We'll meet again, Balzano." "Grab hold of the rudder!" "Turn away!" "Turn away, Ros etta, for pity's sake!" "Don't look!" "It's nothing." "It's just a wound." "Squarcio, my hand!" "H urry!" " Grit your teeth." "You s ee?" "I told you." "I'm no good for anything anymore." "Calm down, Santamaria." "My son will hav e me at home now, right?" "Certainly, certainly he will." "Eas y now..." "pull up alongside." "Take the boat in tow." "Get him on board." "Quick!" "Quick!" "You made e v erything v anish, eh?" "I didn't touch a thing." "Let's hear what happened striking a match." "I wasn't here." " Ready, Commander." " Dire ctly into harbor." "Come now, don't cry." "Santamaria was old." "H is hands trembled." "That'll ne v er happen to me." "Squarcio, it's enough." "I beg you, I beg you..." "I swear." "Away, Ros etta, stop!" "I tell you it's nothing s erious." "H e'll make a good re cov ery, you'll s ee." "It's an old story." "Since he was a boy, he'd leav e the hous e and... once a dynamite fisherman, always..." "e v en if he is my father." "But he's wounded now." "H e's out of danger." "Didn't you hear what the y said at the hospital?" "H e'll manage to avoid prison." "The boat will be auctioned." " How's it going this y ear?" " Bad." "Natale still gets his price." "But I think there'll soon be another fridge on the island." " The Co-op?" " Certainly." "N eed any help, I know wholesalers on the mainland..." "Genoa, La Spezia..." "Thanks, First Officer." "But remember, there'll always be dynamite fishermen." "Listen, why don't we giv e each other a hand?" "Each to his own, First Officer." "Would you come drag in nets with us?" "Fair enough." "Goodby e." "Let's go to Campana Point." "Yeah, to fish for stones." "How so?" "Be caus e it's September, the fish are on the mov e." "Let's go to Saracen Cov e then." "Sure, to gather clams." "Okay, let's go where you want." "There he is, Commander." "Good!" "This time he won't get away!" "Half speed." "Stay sheltered from the wind." "Stay as clos e to the coast as possible." "Papa, how's it going?" "Look!" "Want me to come down there?" "No, go back to your post!" "Ahead, keep going ahead!" "No depth, Commander." "Don't worry." "Stick to the coast." "The first officer, Papa." "The first officer!" "How far away?" " Not quite a mile." " Start the motor, Papa?" "It's us eless." "The y'll find us... at the mouth of the inlet." "Quick." "Tie e v erything down." "The oars, the nets, e v erything... e v erything that floats." "You hear?" "Quick!" "Don't forget a thing!" "It doesn't matter about the knots." "Quick!" "H urry!" "H urry!" "Quick!" "H e's clos e." "H e's almost here!" "Remember the landmarks, that rock down there, the mouth of the bay, that high crag with y ellow moss... okay?" "Why don't you get the motor running?" "Remember, this is where Speranza goes down." "Now jump in!" "What are you doing, Squarcio?" "Why don't you start the motor?" "Mov e it!" " And you?" " Go!" "Jump, Papa!" "What are you doing?" "Eas y now." "Slow down." "Did we miss them leaving?" "Turn back." "Full speed!" "Got a cigarette, Squarcio?" "It's clearing up." "Let's hope... it's time." "N ylon line is better." "No, dynamite is better." "N ylon costs too much." "Well?" "Nothing doing." "I talked with that guy from Montefalcone." "H e also won't go down 90 feet without a diving suit." "If you find someone, I'll lend you the boat whene v er." "But it's difficult." "E v eryone is bus y saving their own skins." "Squarcio, take notice of what I say." "Quit now!" "Know what I do now?" "I s ell chees e." "I'm in much better shape." " E v en the boat's up for auction." " Poor Santamaria!" "Balzano... where's your boat?" "I lent it out." " Know what I regret?" " What?" "I'm sorry there's no deep-s ea div er on the island." "Yes, Chief." "A real shame!" "We could do with a div er." "See you, Chief." "Hope so." "Ciao, I was looking for you." "Ciao, Salv atore." " Hav e something to drink?" " Yes." "A bottle." "Listen up..." "a laughing matter!" "H e's got it bad for your daughter." " I will marry her!" " H ear that?" "H e'll marry her." "What do you think?" "Me?" "I say he's a fool." "I said the same." "H e's 20!" " You'll ruin yours elf, son." " That's my business." "Well?" "I told you." "If she agrees..." "I'll go and tell her." "E v er s een such a frenzy?" "Let's giv e them a hand and get them married at once." "At once?" "No, Salv atore." "No, not at once." "I don't agree." "Let's wait a bit." "It's got to be a grand celebration." "All right." "There's no hurry." "I'v e been meaning to say this for a while... if you agree, we could be together like before," "50/50." "Pov erty again, going 50/50." "You'll s ee." "Things will be better." "Soon we'll also hav e a fridge." "I'm not the Co-op type." "E nless you need a dynamite fisherman." "As you wish." "I'll pick up the tab for the wine." "Ciao!" "Be s eeing you..." "I told you, I can't accept." "Thanks, Renato, but I can't." "Thanks so much." "You're in lov e with someone els e?" "No, it's not for that reason." "Be caus e..." "I'm not who you think I am." "What do you mean?" "You s ee, he wasn't like us." "H e was from the mainland." "H e made it all sound so simple." "It s eemed as if there was nothing wrong." "H e would'v e married me, howe v er." "I'm sure of that!" "I hav e to go home now." "What a pity." "I liked you when you came by to say hello." "Diana!" "Listen." "Stop, Diana." "I'll marry you all the same!" "It's all the same to me!" "I want to marry you!" "Meanwhile, I'll start taking inv entory." "And then I'll talk to your husband." "No, wait!" "Won't you take a drop?" "No, thank you." "One table, one radio, one sideboard, one night-fishing lamp, one cast-iron stov e." " All in excellent condition." " Wait, I beg you!" "It's not my fault if the notes weren't honored." "Notes s e cured by property, ma'am." " One s ewing machine." " No, pleas e." "Not this!" "One s ewing machine in good condition." "What y ear?" " Didn't you hear my mother?" " Stop it, Tonino." "Pleas e, signore!" "It was a gift from my husband two y ears ago." "What's going on?" "What do you want?" "I don't enter into it." "Just following orders." "Scram, lous e!" "Get out!" "Get out!" " Okay." "Calm down, let's s ee." " Get out!" "Listen, wait a moment." "Maybe we can cut a deal." "H e'll wait a fortnight." "Don't worry, Ros etta." "Don't worry!" "The y're right clos e by!" "Who can it be?" "Start the motor, Renato." "Let's go!" "Quick, Tonino, quick!" "H urry!" "Out!" "Fast!" "Stop, Squarcio." "It's us eless!" "Let's wait." "You go!" "Quickly!" "Go away, I said!" "Take thes e, the y're yours!" "Your bomb killed them." "Take them home!" "Are you done?" "Thos e're ours, on the other hand." "We work here, Squarcio, with nets." "Take them now." "You know you're doing wrong, Squarcio." "Why keep on doing it?" "Come on!" "Are you afraid?" "There're fiv e of you." "We also worked as a fiv e, Squarcio" " Let go!" " Watch out!" "H e might fight back!" "We know you're in deep trouble but you shouldn't be doing this." " Shut up, you little snot!" " Enough already, Squarcio!" " Giv e us thos e bags!" " The s ea's ruined." "Now you bomb us at home." "No fish will be caught for six months, and you know it." "Thief!" "Stop, Squarcio." "Stop, you!" "You'll pay for this." "You're dead meat!" "Cowards!" "Cowards!" "You're dead meat!" "Sorry, children, but your father's doing wrong." "Let's go." "Slowly... that's the rock, the mouth of the bay..." "the crag with moss." "It's here for sure." "Halt!" "Let's take a look." "Why don't you let me try first?" "I might make it." "Okay." "Now stay alert, I'm warning you!" "If any boat comes by, cast your fishing lines." "If you hear the Coast Guard's boat, giv e me a signal, pull on the rope, like this, okay?" "There he is!" "Did you make it, Papa?" "How deep down is the motor?" "You're tired?" "Why don't you take a break?" "The wrench?" "There he is!" "H e won't make it!" "H e won't make it!" "H e'll get hurt!" "Tell him, Tonino!" "Make him stop!" "Papa!" "Papa!" "73, 74, 75, 76... 91, 92, 93, 94..." "I did it, boys." "I did it, Tonino!" " What's up, Papa?" " Nothing, it'll pass." " Do you want to drink?" " No." "Let me sleep now." "We hav e to wait till dark." "Attention, signori, pleas e." "H e y, did you s ee that?" "Your son's here!" "H e came like all the others, out of curiosity." "Just like me!" "Who cares about the boat!" "I looked for you e v erywhere." "I need an adv ance." "On what?" "No, I already told you, Squarcio." "Listen!" "The Co-op's fridge will be running in a few days." "No one's going to work anymore to make you fat." "I know." "So what?" "You can't imagine how much disgust I feel but I'm the only one willing to fill up your fridge." "And how will you go out fishing?" "Going to swim out there, maybe?" "I'v e got my motor back again." "Nobody bids 40,000 lire?" "Tiny little boats cost more." "Any bids?" "40,000?" "H e can bring the price down, as low as he wants." "But if Santamaria doesn't buy his boat back, there'll be no bids." "That's how we do things here." " Who bids 30,000?" " 30,000." "I hav e a bid of 30,000." "You s ee?" "You s ee?" "No more?" "Nobody bids more than 30,000?" "30,000 going once, 30,000 going twice... 35,000." "37,000." "A 24-foot boat, signori." "No more bids?" "40,000." "Can you lend me some mone y?" "You got nothing to giv e me?" " Going... going..." " 42,000." "42,000, Signori." "It's worth a lot more." "Courage!" "50,000." "No more bids?" "Attention!" "Going to the highest bidder." " Let's go." " 50,000, signori." "H e's leaving." "Should I go?" "Sure, go on!" "Pleas e, Signori, a moment more." "50,000 going once..." "50,000 going twice... gone!" "Got it?" "It's ov er with Diana too." "Salv atore!" "Courage, man!" "Go!" "Go!" "Thanks, Salv atore." "I'm sorry, but I had no more." "I'm sorry too, Grandpa." "Thanks... thanks..." "The boat's not what counts." "Come on, let's go." "It's always his fault!" "H e's ruined my life!" "Look at it!" "Stop it, Diana!" "No, that's it!" "First Domenico, and now Renato." "I can't go out with him." "H e forbids it!" "And why not?" "What has he done wrong?" "Nothing!" "H e just said that he lov es me." "H e only wants to marry me." "Come on, Diana." "It'll all work out." "No!" "It's not fair." "Tonight, he was going to take me dancing." "For a month, he's been promising." "E v erybody's going and I..." " Where to?" " To the Co-op party." "Get yours elf ready." "I'll take you." "Mov e it!" "Get dress ed!" " But..." "Papa?" " H urry up!" "I told you, I'll take care of it!" " No, Diana." "Papa said no!" " Papa's wrong!" "Let's drink to the Co-op!" "Cheers!" "Good health!" "Listen up!" "Tomorrow morning, 4:00 a.m., we s et sail all together!" "You're drunk, Tommaso." "You'v e already told us four times." "Right!" "Let them dance so the y'll fish better tomorrow." "Come down!" "As I said, we'll take the wholesalers' best offer and then we'll s ee if we should go dire ct to the market." "E v en Natale did this." "Diana, would you dance with such an old man?" "Would you hold this?" "Bravo, bravo, Salv atore." "H e y, Salv atore." "We're still going strong, eh?" "H ere, you next." "Dancing isn't for me anymore, I'm out of breath." " H e's holding her too tight." " Shut up!" "You shut up!" "You'll s ee what Squarcio says." "I could care less." "Instead, I do!" "Don't say again that Papa's in the wrong." " What do you know?" " More than you." "As soon as we're alone, you'll s ee." " You want to hit me?" " Yes!" "H e's dead meat, your father!" "H e y guys, stop that!" "I fight with father and son and you let her go with them?" "Diana's in lov e." "Renato is a good boy, you always said so." " And Bore and Tonino?" " The y went as chaperones." "H ere the y are!" " Did you enjoy yours elf?" " Yes, Mamma." "And you?" "Don't you like dancing?" "No." "But we had to chaperone Diana." "You can sleep well." "Mamma told me." " All's agreed." " Thanks, Papa." "H urry up, howe v er, be caus e we s et sail at 4:00 a.m." "Great!" "At 4:00 a.m., Squarcio." "You're going fishing?" "Yes, you know." "Easterly wind, tomorrow will be perfe ct." "An exceptional day!" "H e couldn't do anything with that boat, don't you think?" "What's important is that Santamaria is back with his son." "Certainly, he'll be happy." "In any cas e, I'll giv e him back his boat as soon as I can." "Just a few more trips done well and we'll be on an e v en keel again." "How many more trips, Squarcio?" "Oh... three, four." "We'll finish paying for the motor, get Diana married." "And after that?" "After what?" "We'll talk about that afterwards!" "It's 16 y ears, Squarcio, since I married you." "For 16 y ears, I'v e been afraid." "And you ne v er said anything about it to me?" "You think it's eas y to tell you anything?" "You know, no one giv es you something for nothing." "It's natural." "Yes, but we'v e got it all now." "A bit of land, the hous e..." "Meantime, you still hav en't been capable of giving me another son." "Still three more trips, you said so yours elf." " Fine, we'll dis cuss it later." " No, I beg you, Squarcio." "You must tell me right now." "Be caus e it's not true that I hav en't been capable." "We will hav e another child..." "A boy!" "A boy!" "Ros etta!" "Another boy!" "What can you fear, with four men in the family?" "Listen, we could e v en man a trawler." "There's no one who can fish like me!" "And my three sons on board!" "The finest crew in the Mediterranean." "And we'll hav e huge gear, all new." "We could e v en install a fridge and go far out..." "far out on the open s eas, and reach the coast of Africa." "Great things, you'll s ee!" "You'll s ee what I'm telling you, Ros etta." "Ros etta?" "Squarcio... is there really no other way to get all this?" "Stop!" "E v erybody, stop!" "Let's start here, facing west." "Now then..." "Good luck." "See you tonight!" "N ice boat, Squarcio!" "Where'd you get it?" "H e got it from his fairy godmother." "Giv e it back to Santamaria!" "Greetings to Natale for us, Squarcio." "You made it, Salv atore." "Each one adapts as he can." "Good luck." "Speak, Salv atore." " Spee ch, we want a spee ch." " Strength and courage, Salv atore." "Spee ches I don't know how." "We're doing this for our families, for our children you all know." "Louder!" "Come on, Salv atore!" "Continue!" "Speak!" "Listen up!" "By uniting our nets, we could enclos e 10 miles of s ea." "We'v e got our own fridge in the village, and strong arms!" "Now it all depends on us." "Good luck, fishermen." "Let's begin!" "Strength to the Co-op!" "Long liv e the Co-op!" "An extraordinary day." "Eh, sons?" "A great day for fishing." "Yes, Papa." "And the admiral knows nothing." "The admiral is sleeping." "E v en as we are back at s ea, why don't the y speak?" "What hav e the y got against me?" "What are the y short of?" "Bore, re v up the motor a bit." "Afraid of burning too much dies el oil?" "Tonino, on Sunday, the three of us will go fishing with nets." "Happy?" "From now on, I'm Natale's only supplier, and Tonino is ashamed of me." "I need to talk to him." "I need to talk to him, immediately." "Papa!" "Papa!" "Bore, take a look at Tonino!" "Is he aliv e?" "Bring him here." "H e's aliv e!" "H e's aliv e!" "You're aliv e, aliv e, big boy." "Aliv e!" "Try, Bore, try and help me." "Tonino needs to be taken to the village." "Let's try together, for mercy's sake." "My legs!" "Again... again..." "don't worry." "We can't make it, Squarcio." "We won't be able to make it." "Papa..." "Papa..." "Listen." "Your brother's losing too much blood." "You two'll make it." "Take him to the village, Bore." "Straight to the hospital." "Then come back with someone." "Go on, hurry!" "Grab him by the arms." "That way you can keep his chest rais ed." "Papa!" "Be strong, Bore!" "Be strong!" "Be brav e, Tonino!" "Gently... gently, Bore..." "Come, Bore." "Come quick." "Write down what I say." "It's best this way, you ne v er know." "Courage." "Write!" "I'm not able to." "Ah, Bore, you told me you'd learnt how." "It doesn't matter." "Then listen, and repeat it all well to Ros etta." "She'll take care of e v erything." "The boat must be giv en back to Santamaria be caus e it's his." "The motor, I'm leaving it to you and Tonino." "And all three of you must help Diana when she marries Renato." "Wait, one more thing." "Salv atore, the Co-op... it'll solv e e v erything, you know, Bore... like bombs... perhaps better." "Tell Salv atore from me that the Co-op... will do good business," "be caus e within a few y ears no one on the islands will know how to fish better than Squarcio's sons." "Don't cry, Bore... men don't cry." "You'll s ee, I'll make it." "Go now, my little one." "You'v e ne v er run the boat on your own... but I'm sure you'll make it." "You'v e got to hurry..." "Tonino's in your hands and perhaps me too." "Be strong, Papa!" "Strong, so I can make it in time." "The air v alv e, Bore!" "The wind's blowing, the northwesterly." "Pity..." "It was a great day for fishing... like I us ed to fish!" "TH E EN D"