"Exquisite" "No doubt about that" "Yes, yes, indeed" "Forgive me." "Excuse me, let me..." "Oh, it's quite unecessary." "Actually I'd like to take a look at the verandah" "Please do." "I'm afraid it's a bit untidy" "Oh!" "Don't bother." "I can manage" "Well, Professor?" "Well it's exquisite as I've already said, but..." "I can't buy it" "The price is not unreasonable" "Last Spring at Sothebys, you paid 3000 pounds." "Not a penny more" "Now, Professor." "I put in a bid myself for 3500" "Show you the better sale..." "Oh really Professor, that's quite unnecessary" "Though I am surprised" "Oongratulations, in any case" "Still you must admit that prices have risen considerably since last Spring?" "Only yesterday we had a request for" "Anybody here?" "Is anybody here?" "May I ask a favour of you?" "Yes, of course" "We'll leave it, you'll think it over" "I've thought it over" "I'm not bickering about the price." "It's the wrong time of the year anyway" "Taxes, work to be done on the house..." "Take it away" "I don't want the responsibility" "It shouldn't be weighing on you that much" "Don't worry, you'll be doing us a favour" "We have to look at some things in the Villa off the Via Oasia" "We'd want to leave it in the car and nowadays..." "We'll send for it later" "If you don't I'll send it back myself." "I'm not in the market gentlemen" "I'm still hoping that you'll change your mind" "Not to worry Professor, we know the way, I only hope we haven't disturbed you" " Not at all." "Have a good trip" " Thankyou goodbye" "You really should have this one" " I don't change my mind." "Goodbye" " Goodbye" "Have they gone?" "Yes, just this moment" "Good" "Excuse me, ah, are you the ah?" "The owner of this painting?" "That?" "Good God no!" "Are you sure it's won'th all that money?" " A frightfully oily pair those two." "They're not fencers..." " Fencers?" " Are they?" "But they are the proprietors of the Blanchart gallery Paris." "But, werert you with them?" "Oh no, I bumped into them on the landing" "Then to what do I owe this pleasure?" "Your housekeeper and the porter told me that the upstairs apartment is empty." "I would like to rent it" "Rent it?" "It's not for rent" "I'm moving part of my library up there." "I have no more room here" "Now, Professor, really?" "I've looked, the corridors, the service area... an enormous amount of shelf space." "And mind you, if you had simpler shelves in your study there'd be no more problem" "Thankyou for your advice but if you don't mind..." "Listen, Professor." "My husband who has never read a book in his life, unless I am very much mistaken has a mania for rooms lined with books." "Insanity if you ask me" "Well, he's had some other shelves made, not metal ones, I agree they're ghastly, but a wood, cherry wood, you have no idea the amount they hold" "I like the shelves I have and the apartment is not for rent" " Now if you'll excuse me..." " At least let me see it..." " See what?" " The apartment." "I may not even like it and that would settle everything" "It will only take a second, and you needrt budge, your housekeeper can show it to me" "Elmenia, I think she said her name was... isn't that it?" "Elmenia!" "She told me she's been with you for 25 years." "You're a lucky man" "Elmenia!" "Elmenia!" " The Professor has kindly given his consent..." " Elmenia bring me the keys to the upstairs apartment" " the upstairs, yes" "I don't wish to be rude but I must repeat this is a waste of time" "Yes, of course, but couldn't I have a little peek?" "For years I've been looking at those windows up there" "I often park in Piazza Oapotelli when I come downtown on errands" "Parking has become such a problem." "That is another reason why I am trying to get a flat in this neighbourhood," "I live 15 miles out you know" "Well?" " My daughter Laeita" " Hi" "By the way, excuse me I am Bianca Brumonti" " Your coat Sir" " What have you been doing here all this time?" "There's no heat up there" "That's alright." "Very difficult situation" "Oooh." "What's that?" "You know it's really nice up here" " Look" " Remind me to ask Stefano if he knows the owner of the Blanchart gallery" " They look like crooks to me" " La Oarlate Blanchard?" "They're famous like Ohristies or Sotheby's" "Oh!" "But that doesn't mean they wouldn't rob you blind" "I won't open the windows because they're barred" "Laetia!" "Besides, as I've already said I am in a great hurry" "Laetia!" "Lend me a hand" " Really Senora, I must ask you to..." " I'll shut it again, don't worry." "It's just to get an idea" "Anyway, it's so musty in here!" "It's beautiful, absolutely perfect!" "Bianca you're a genius" "It's perfect!" "Alright, calm yourself." "He's not renting to us" " What do you mean?" " It's probably being kept for mice or bats" "He just wants more money" "That is not the case!" "Mumma." "Oome here, look!" "If it's for rent, what's the problem?" "From the very beginning I informed your mother that this apartment was not for rent your mother insisted upon seeing it" "He's no son of mine, thank God!" "They say he looks like his father" "But it's only a coincidence" "Hey Bianca!" "You better get your arse down here real fast" "Thejoke may be on you!" "What's Oonrad doing here?" "Excuse me" "I can't see him" "I saw him." "Why is he standing down there?" "I don't know" "He said he couldn't come with me because he was meeting you" "Why meeting me?" "Stefano, I distinctly heard him tell you he was coming by to pick you up" "Oh, I must of got it mixed up or something" "I really don't remember" "I said I would do that!" "Didrt I?" " You'll only get yourself all dirty" " Wait we have to put on the bar" "The police are towing away your car" "You couldn't stop them?" "I've never been permitted to have the keys of your car my dear" "It's infuriating" " Arert you going to show me my little nest?" " Don't be funny" "Laetia, Stefano, if they've already hauled it away try and catch them in your car" " Alright, come on" " Yeah" "Senorina?" "Is Miseur Blanchard there?" "Yes, yes." "It's I" "Blachard!" "Is my Ooncierge still there?" "The man who brought back the painting." "Well that's too bad." "I say too bad because now you'll have to take the trouble of sending someone back here" "I've changed my mind, I've decided to buy it" "Sold it?" "I don't believe it, when?" "Professor, Senor Michaeli" "Oome in Michaeli, come in" " Am I disturbing you?" " No, no, no." "Oome in, come in, sit down" "Why are you standing there?" "Oh, yes..." "Yesterday morning I had a phone call from the Bianca Brumonti, whom you know" " I've met, but I don't know her" " nor do I wish to be..." " Yes, I understand" " I hope she's not the reason you've come all this way?" " No, I" "Here we come ready or not!" "Were you talking about somebody's mother?" "If you don't say you're pleased I'll have a coronary." " We bought it." "Where shall I put it?" " These people with you?" " We won him over" "As I was saying Professor, yesterday I received a certain telephone call with a proposal of considerable" "A proposal?" "Yes and as your lawyer" "I felt it was my duty to listen to an advantageous offer and also to advise you to" "Michaeli what are you trying to tell me?" "We forced him into it." "Listen Professor I know how you feel and I know how Mummy can be but I beg you to listen to me for a minute." "Just one year, one year?" "I swear if you knew what it meant to us you would probably give us the apartment free" "I believe Professor that Senora Brumonti tried to explain to you yesterday, that she wants the apartment only for one year." "You told me that you don't plan the renovation for the new library before this next Spring!" " And so that's why I took the liberty of" " No, no I'm sorry" "Rome is full of the kind of fancy apartments that will suit you." "But Mummy will invent a thousand excuses not to go and look at them" "From what the Marcasa told me it seems the young lady here is engaged to the ah..." "Oh, that's silly, we're only trying it out." "Anyway, Mummy's agreed I can leave home and live in Oonrad's house with Stefano." "And who's Oonrad?" "Oome on Professor you met him yesterday, the apartment's his, I mean it's for him" "You're an extraordinarily frank young lady." "I will answer you with equal frankness." "I am in no hurry to move my library upstairs and I am an old man." "Erratic." "Slightly hysterical." "Often disturbed by strange noises and strange people." "And having to put up with any sort of formalities..." "So now you see why I cannot rent you the apartment." "Oh, you're not old and you're not hysterical." "You're a fascinating person and you know it." "You're a tiny bit mad, granted." "But so is anyone who is at all interesting." "And you're a bit mad about this too aren't you?" "Now don't tell me you don't like it anymore." " Didrt he call Blachard while we were still there?" " That's right I forgot." "Mummy was right." "Blachard's a crook." "He sold us the painting for much less than he was asking you" "You shouldn't have told him!" "Why not?" "The professor should know how unethical they are." "They knew he collected this kind of paintings and they were trying to take advantage." "We're even Professor, that is for three months rent?" "Paid in advance." "Now then Professor, shall we make these young people happy?" "A one year contract." "Oh my God!" "Stop!" "What are you doing?" "Stop!" "Help!" "My God!" "Are you crazy?" "You're breaking the ceiling!" "What are you doing?" "Good God." "Domenico, Domenico!" "Answer me!" "Oh Professor, at last." " Good evening Elmenia" " Ah." "Good evening." " What's happened here?" " Did you see?" "You wouldn't believe what's been happening." "Oh my God, and this is nothing." "You should see the kitchen." "They broke the ceiling in Professor." "It's a good thing you were out, I couldn't prepare your supper." "It's all wet!" "It's not nearly as bad as some other walls in the house." "I've never seen such madness!" "As if there was a war on." "It seemed as though the house was being blown to bits." "I went upstairs to complain and they even refused to hear what I had to say." "And they slammed the door on me as well." "I wanted to call the police, but Domenico said wait for you, because you would handle the matter." "Stop chattering!" "Bring me the keys to the upstairs apartment, and get the flashlight!" "Yes, yes" "What have they done?" "Oall Michaeli" "Who's there?" "Is that you Mario?" "My house is filled with rubble." "Water is seeping in everywhere." "And now that I've seen all this I'm amazed the building is still standing!" "This is madness!" "Infuriating!" "So is your presence here, you come in like a thief!" "You might have been shot" "I'm glad I'm still alive." "If only to hear an explanation of all this destruction!" "I'll do what I want with my place." "They told me that you had allowed work to begin, even though the contract hasn't been finalised." "One bathroom." "The improvement of one bathroom is all the lease allows." "Which lease, under the circumstances I have no intention of signing." "Where as I have every intention of signing a claim for damages." "Excuse me, I was also told a lease is only a piece of paper to be shown to certain people if necessary." "But the contract is to be put in my name." "Your name?" "The large advance you were given is evidence enough that the house has been sold." "It's a simple one year lease!" "Not renewable don't you understand?" " Oan I make a phonecall?" " Phonecall?" "Would you mind if I ask you to clear up this matter with Madam Brumonti?" "In my presence?" "By all means, there is no possibility that Madam Brumonti can assert the contrary." " Have we heard from Senor Michaeli?" " Yes I telephoned but he wasrt in yet, but I left the word to call back immediately as soon as he gets in" "I see" "Oould I have a glass of whisky?" "Straight please" " There's no liquor in the house" " Not even...?" "Oharl!" "Madam Brumonti entre?" "Yeah, soon, bye." "Ah, I do it all the time, call the house in London instead of Paris." "You can add these calls to the damages." "Don't you really have any whisky?" "Or don't you want to give me any?" " There's wine, if you like" " Why I'm glad you're not a teetotaller" " A glass of red wine please" " Yes, Sir" "Hello?" "Ah, hi, it's you!" "You're a lying cunt." "Explain this latest bullshit and don't fuck with me, you'll only make it worse." "What are you talking about?" "What bullshit?" "The apartment bullshit sweetheart!" "The apartment bullshit!" "Would you stop shouting and clarify that?" "I'll clarify it, or rather, I'll have someone else clarify it." "Oh don't play games with me Conrad." "Conrad you ungrateful son of bitch..." "answer me goddamn you!" "Senora, this is the Professor" "Will you please get off the line?" "Let me speak a moment please" "I want to speak with that bastard." "Son of a bitch" "Hello!" "Will you get off the phone?" "Senora please!" "I am tired of all these lies!" "I do not say things that are not true, is that clear?" "Yes," "As for the rest you may speak with my attorney" "Goddammit, for heavers sake, Professor." "Listen to me now." "Please, be reasonable, I can explain everything." "I will explain everything to you." "There's nothing to worry about." "There's been a misunderstanding, Professor" "Shame I won't get to hear the explanation, you thought I would be good for another year" "Well you thought wrong, as of now it's all over!" "Madam la ma chies, la merde!" "Ount!" "Is it alright?" "Horrible, thanks" "Goodnight Elmenia" "Well, that's done" "I don't like to interfere in things that don't concern me" " Besides, I don't quite understand..." " You understand" "The richer they are, the lousier, cheap!" "Oheap inside, you know what I mean?" "Good God!" "What the hell has happened here?" "This is nothing." "You should see the rest of the apartment" "Stick it to them good, make them pay millions!" "Millions!" "When did this recording come out?" "That's a new Mozart edition, sent to me from New York." "Bernstein will be here this Summer, conducting the complete series for Rie" "I have the Bern recording." "Do you mind?" "I somehow never go to concerts myself." "Prefer records" "That's better" "I love that aria" "I have to make a phone call, sorry" "I was expecting a friend upstairs and..." "It's Oonrad, who's there?" "Seen Maro?" "No tell him not to come, I may drop by later" "Okay" "I'll just be a minute" "Jane?" "Who the hell do you think it is?" "Listen, is St Moritz still on for tomorrow?" "Well make up your mind, if you're going, I am going." "Hell no, just me" "Arthur Davis..." "Not you, silly bitch." "Listen, I'll call you back later, okay?" "Bye." "That's by Davis?" "Isn't it?" "Arthur Davis" "Surely by an English painter in the 18th Oentury" "Some friends of mine have a painting in their house by Arthur Davis." "A portrait with a landscape, I looked at it carefully." "That's interesting." "In that painting, in the centre, not to one side like this there's the exact same pavilion" "This painting dates from about 1750" "If you like, I'll bring you the photograph" "Are you interested in paintings?" "No, not really, but I've had the chance to study that one carefully" "It hangs near the phone" "Who's there?" "Machello?" "Any of my people there?" "Who else?" "If it's close" "What's up?" "Oh no, I've been screwed enough for one night." "I'll tell you tomorrow, bye" "Strange house, I don't like it, but it fascinates me" "Please don't get up, I know the way" "It's a shame things end like this" "I would've liked to come down and have a chat now and then" " Goodnight Professor" " Goodnight" "If you want some peace it would be a good idea to unplug the phone" "Madam Brumonti will call again when she should have left and she'll break your balls" "I don't want to talk with your lawyer!" "Those matters don't interest me!" "You're right and that's that!" "You surely think I didn't rush down here from Paris on a night flight crowded with Arabs to tell you that they did wrong to knock down a wall!" "A wall!" "You call this a wall?" "!" "My dear Professor, you behaved unspeakably" "If I had my own personal reasons for giving someone my version of our contract, you had no right to interfere!" "But since you have done so, I have every reason to believe you had some purpose in mind" "Perhaps you want to protect the interests of Earl Huble instead of mine?" "I don't know what you're saying, I'm not protecting anyone's interest!" "And certainly not those of a Huble, who I don't even know!" "You don't ha?" "Well then I'll tell you." "He's my kept boy." "Paid lover." "Alright?" "Do you also want to know how much money I spend on him?" "Oh!" "How awful to come to this" "Mummy!" "When did you get here?" "What's going on?" " Hi" " You bumbling little idiot!" "Now you'll have to put everything back the way it was" "Look I only did what you told me" "Everything as it was." "That's that!" "What's wrong, what did he say?" " Relax Mummy, for God's sake!" " Alright, shut up" "Where's Oonrad?" "I haven't seen him, last night we dropped in at the 74, but it was late" "Maro told me that Oonrad was thinking of going to St Moritz for a few days, while you were in Paris" "Didrt you tell him you were coming back?" "No." "I took the night flight, simply horrible, they all looked liked hijackers!" "Why the hurry?" "Don't you know?" "The old idiot told him I hadrt bought the apartment, now I'll actually have to buy it!" "He's no idiot cause he'll never sell it to you" " Isn't that right professor?" " What advice can I possibly give you?" "Your mother's hysterics don't concern me!" "I'm not interested in people who lose control of their own destiny" "I won't express an opinion, that would be as, as futile as the dramas you wish to involve me in!" "I am simply not interested and that is that!" "If as you say, our lawyers have signed this wretched lease, and if you promise to put back everything just as it was at your own expense you may keep the apartment and if you don't want it anymore, just tell me and I'll reimburse you for the painting" "Right now" "Ohoose for yourself and leave me in peace" "Oh I know we made a mistake, you seemed so understanding" "You're mistaken" "I promise you I won't bother you again about our family problems" "Now if you can just explain to Stefano what has to be done upstairs," "Oh remember, we've already agreed on one bathroom and I want it twice as big as the one up there now" "What's so funny?" "It's just as though we spoke two different languages" "Why?" "There's no possibility of us ever understanding each other" "And that's funny?" "Tragic obviously." "I guess I'm the one that's lost contact, as they say" "Let me show you, I've got the new plans for the apartment Professor" "The walls that I would like to strike out are marked in yellow here" "Which is the bathroom wall?" " Oan I use the telephone?" " Yes, in there" "Oh no, that was part of the old design, this..." "Is it out of order?" "Oh!" "Did you know it was unplugged?" " What?" " The phone!" "Yes, I forgot, last night" "You see, and then you complain of not having any contact" " I wasrt complaining in the least" " Still it surprises me" "Hello Jane, how are you?" "Thought I heard you were going to St Moritz" "Who wanted a ride?" "Jane!" "Where have you been?" "The whole population of Western Europe knows he's a born whore" "Stefano!" "Oonrad didn't make it" " I hate him, I swear, I really hate him!" " Hate who?" "Darling!" "Whose boudoir did you fall out of?" "We looked all over for you!" "Where did you end up last night?" "Here, we were listening to some music" "Here?" "Why didn't you tell me?" "Did you know mother's back?" "You had a fight didn't you?" "No, no fight." "Just told her we were through with it" "She's just hysterical, she caught the night flight." "I picked this up last night from those friends of mine." "See if I'm not right." "Interesting" "We'll talk about this later" "Very interesting" "It's hard to tell from a photograph" "It's notjust the landscape, it's more the technique" "The trees aren't like the trees, ah sorry, of other painters of the period" "It's a very sharp observation" "Did you, ah, study art history?" "Only a little, I liked it" "Why did you stop?" "Those were the times, 68, I threw myself into the student movement, deeper than most, got in trouble and had to run" "God knows how I ended up in the world I'm in now." "Well there's no doubt about it" "Oongratulations" "You know why I didn't think of it?" "Because of all my paintings that one has the most complete documentation." "Oome." "Oonrad's here." "I mean I was right, I mean you didn't have a fight" "What fight?" "That's what I am telling you, he didn't mention it." "Why the hell would he mention anything to you?" "Mummy, get some more rest" "I told Mummy you werert mad so then she got mad." "Oh please, call her, go see her, do something" " I'm through with it!" " You just got through saying there was no fight" " I'm leaving her anyway" " You mean you've decided to blackmail her" "It's tempting but I don't need it" "You bastard" "Be nice to her, for my sake." "I can't stand it when she's like this." " Professor..." " Huh?" "Professor you tell him" "No, no, no." "Please" "Oart say I blame him, why should he get involved?" " Shut up" " I need air, fresh air" "If that means you're going to latch onto Jane, forget it, she told Laetia that..." "Oh mind you're own business!" "Where you going?" "To Fiumuncinco?" "To see Gigi's boat" "Oh great!" "Me too!" "Maybe we can even go for a sail, it's such a beautiful day." "A friend of ours ordered this fantastic boat" "It doesn't have your terrace upstairs, but at least he'll not get kicked out." "Oh Oonrad!" "You're a genius" "Let's go right now." "You're staying here then?" "What for?" "To see about the house and if Mummy needs anything, trouble with the foreman, I don't know" "Oome off it, just give her a ring." "Besides, it's better if the Professor talks to the foreman" "That way there's no chance they will screw things up" "Oome on if you want, but now" "Keep the photograph, and if you want to see the original, let me know" "Just one quick call." "No, I'll phone from the bar downstairs, I've got to eat a sandwich, I'm starving" "I'm late and I'm not waiting" "But I've got cramps" "Professor, could you offer me something?" "Anything at all" " Laetia hurry up, come on" " It'll only take a second" "Elmenia!" "Elmenia!" "Oome!" "Laetia!" "Laetia, for Ohrist's sake, I haven't got all" "Shit" " What would you like?" " Ah!" "Stefano, Oonrad!" "Oome here!" "The Professor's been holding out on us!" "Stefano." "Take your car so you can be on your own" " I might be bothered tonight" " You're really leaving Bianca?" "I've got to get away" "I'm working on something" " You're working?" " Fuck off!" " Stefano want some cheese?" " Oh yeah thanks" " Bring me some glasses please" " You will excuse my fingers..." " Oh it's quite alright" " I think you will like this" " Thanks, may I have a little piece of cheese too?" " Move!" " Want me to answer it?" " Elmenia!" "The door" " No, I'll go, I'll go." "Professor, do me a favour and throw them all out" "Who is that?" " Mmm, that smells good, just a taste, eh?" " No, it's not ready yet." "Oalm down Stefano, Elmenia's not used to having so much confusion around her" "Too many cooks spoil the food they say" "The soup!" "You bastard" "He didn't want to rent the apartment at all, but I persuaded him just the same" "Because of you." "He didn't want alterations, yet we're making alterations and in the end he probably would've sold it to us too!" "But you have to spoil everything!" "You're suspicious, petty, mean!" "You've made me ashamed of everything I've done for you." "You make me ashamed of myself!" "I'll never forgive you for that." "Never!" "Just a minute!" "Leave me alone!" "Let go of me, it's finished, let go!" "I don't give a shit about the apartment, but you're absurd pretending to give me presents!" "You're hurting me, are you out of your mind?" "Stop biting me!" "Let me go!" " Go on, scream" " Yes!" "Oh Professor listen, here it is" "Plan A - you're coming down with us to the boat" "Plan B - this evening we come back here, eat dinner, devouring that stew and decide about the work upstairs" " Good" " Mummy!" "Sounds fine to me" " I'm sure Elmenia's a marvellous cook" " Exceptional, I've had a sample" "A stew and what else?" " Oh, stew and artichoke mousse" " Ah, perfect!" "Oan we get started please?" "Where to darling?" "Oonrad said he was going to take us down to see Gigi's boat at Fiumucino" "The Professor's coming too" "There's a west wind the sea will be lovely" "The sea is always lovely." "Oolours of the sea, voices of the sea, its moods," "I could never understand how the Greek Gods could concentrate so many wonders when they had before their eyes, always, but a haunting spectacle, fascinating, spellbinding," "I only have to think of the sea and it completely fills my imagination" "Then you'll go with us?" "I wouldn't think of it" "Oh, why not?" "Because the Professor doesn't care for such distractions, he wants to be alone, remember?" "Everybody says they want to be alone, but it's not true" "Yet, he lives alone all the same" "Professor, the truth." "You're such a mysterious man" "You must have been terribly handsome, you still are, I find you fascinating" "But why, why do you lead this sort of life?" "You live among people, you're forced to think about people, instead of their works, to suffer for the, to become involved" "Besides, someone said, crows fly in flocks." "The eagle soars alone" "We asked for it." "Oome on crows, get flying!" " Bye Professor, see you tonight for dinner" " Good-Bye Laetia," " Bye" " Senora" "But the Bible says - woe to him that is alone when he falleth, for he have not another to help him up" "Oonrad!" "The Bible?" "Goodbye Sir" "Goodbye!" " Elmenia, clean up the table" " Yes, Professor" "No one has called." "They probably had trouble with the car." "The traffic." "Such refined people would call I think, if they had the chance" "They are not refined people as you call them." "They are rude, stupid." "Useless people" "I will have my dinner now." "I will not wait for them another moment" "Very well, Professor" " Good morning Professor" " Good morning" " I want you to see this" " These are the samples?" "Well." "I haven't seen or heard from these people in over two weeks!" "I am wasting my time with these things" "What you care Professor?" "Do what you like, the house is yours" "When it came to the walls I could decide." "But, these..." " You must decide Professor" " I must decide now?" "Yes" "Well, alright" "Let me see" "Well the kitchen..." "I like ah..." "Ah!" "I like this colour" "Yes, that's a nice strong colour" "Very strong, for the walls" "Professor!" "Professor, come on out to the balcony a minute" "We've got something for you" "Professor?" "Come on out..." "We've got a surprise for you, can you open your door a minute?" "We won't even come in, we'll just hand it to you" "Don't listen to them, see you tomorrow Professor, goodnight!" "Oh, please" "I'll open the door" "Hi Professor!" "We did try but we had to bring you someone that will be able to sing to you." "Looks great upstairs!" "It really is great, we'll get a better look tomorrow in the daylight." "Sure wish we had another bed." "Professor!" "Do you still have my blanket?" " Your blanket?" "Yes, yes it's just where you left it" " I'll get it" "His name is Simon" "I'm warning you, that's all he can say, and he never stops!" "That's why we bought him" "Say hello to him..." "I've never kept an animal in the house" "Animals should be set free to live in their natural environment" "If he breaks your balls, send him up to me and I'll break his neck" "He drove Oonrad crazy on the boat, we put the bird in his cabin" "You made a big mistake not to come with us Professor" "What?" "You've got to be kidding!" "Believe me, you did a good thing..." "lucky..." "Oh Professor, if you could just keep the bird for tonight, I promise you that by tomorrow morning we'll..." "Listen young man, I want a word with you" "I wouldn't like to repeat the experience of the last time." "You were supposed to come back that evening and go over some plans with me" "More than a month has gone by" "Hey, come here!" "I found the skeletons, he's Bluebeard!" "What is it?" "Hey!" "Not bad" "Not bad." "It's brillant!" "Was it here or did you have it made?" "It was here." "It was very useful to many people during the war" "There's really nothing of interest for you to see, it's just a room" "Stefano, come on..." "My mother who was Italian lived here during the war" "She had this secret apartment built, to hide political refugees..." "Partisans, Jews..." "I know very little about her life in this house at that time" "She died before the war ended" "I was in America and I came back to relieve the Fifth Army" "I've been living here ever since" "Professor we're going, I can't keep my eyes open" " You coming Oonrad?" " Yeah alright." "I'd better get my blanket" "You know I am very disappointed, I was sure you'd fall in love with Simon" "Perhaps I will" "Well, I'm all set" "Once more I have the honour of sleeping above your head" " But no one is to know, you understand?" " No" " Oiao, goodnight" " Goodnight" "Bianca thinks he's on his way to Vienna, a well-earned vacation after being stuck with her in the same cabin for a month" "Oh shut up Stefano Oiao Professor, goodnight" "Goodnight Laetia." "Oome," "Ciao Conrad!" "See you tomorrow" " Goonight Stefano" " Goodnight" "Ciao Laetia" "Who's that?" "!" "Stop!" "Oh my God!" "What happened?" "I better call the police" "Don't call anybody, mind your own business." "If you want to help me get me out of here" "Alright, alright" "I'll help you downstairs" "Easy" "Don't move" "It's alright" "Where am I?" "In my apartment, you fainted twice, I practically had to carry you downstairs" "I'll be right back" "Lousy bastards!" "You better lie down" " Did you know the men who attacked you?" " I... no" "I didn't even see them, they got me from behind" "I had a good look at one of them, I am sure I could recognise him" "But you told me, with great insistence you told me not to call the police" "I assumed they were people you knew, someone you'd had an argument with" " I thought I'd make sure before calling" " For Ohrist sake, don't!" "It's my duty to help to call the police" " You don't have any duty" "I don't want to have anything to do with the police" "They won't find the bastards, they won't even look for them" "They're occupied by the several other festivities of city life" "Murders, rapes, robberies, strikes, demonstrations, the police don't give a damn about how my split lip" "If I get my name on their files, and the shit starts to fly..." "No, the police don't give a damn" "There might be some smart arse reporter, who recognise the name of the young man." "Her frequent dancing partner, that's the expression they like to use, with Madam Brumont of the well known fascists" "Now do you begin to understand?" "Good" " Blood" " Blood?" " There must be bloodstains all over upstairs" " Yes, but they will clean that up tomorrow" "I told you for Ohrist's sake, I told you I don't want anybody to know" " Let me go, the work men are here tomorrow" " Alright, alright" "I'll go, I'll clean them up" "You stay here..." "You stay here" "But take my advice, let me call a Doctor" "You shit, all you can think of is calling people" "Alright, alright" "Professor" "You mind if I stay here tonight?" "The idea of going back upstairs kills me" "Sure, sure, you stay here and rest, I'll be back soon" "It's humiliating to get beaten up." "At least if I kill you you save face." "This way people shall just laugh." "Did you hear?" "I kicked his arse in good" "Let me get you a tranquiliser" "No, I never take them" "What did you do?" "Lock me in?" "Elmenia comes in early, to clean up the study" "I'm sorry" "My nerves are all shot" "No, leave it open, I can't stand being trapped" "Seeing me like this, you probably think I am a coward along with whatever else you think of me" "Professor?" "Have you ever been afraid?" "Yes" "Yes, I've been afraid, I was in the war and I was afraid" "But there are many kinds of fear, I was even more afraid when I gave up my profession" "Afraid of not knowing how to begin life all over again" " Your profession?" " I was a Doctor of Science at the time" "Funny." "I thought you were a science professor when I first met you" " Once" " Once?" "The price of progress is destruction" "I began to realise that modern science can't be neutral" "In fact it has to serve practical ends" "I saw turning technology's power to liberate into a kind of a slavery" "As far as reality is concerned, it's a..." "Ah!" "Already here are you?" " The young people are with the Professor then?" " No, no" "Didrt they come last night?" "Oh keep quiet!" "Ghastly, isn't it?" " May I use the phone?" " I bring it to you" "I am so sorry but we will soon have our own" "Professor..." "I'm sorry I didn't know you were here" "The lady from upstairs wants to use the phone." "You slept here all night?" " What?" " You slept on..." "No, no, no." "I was... no..." "I woke up early, I came in here to do some work and I suppose I fell asleep" " I'll get your breakfast then..." " Yes, but ah, bring it in here" " The telephone is in the drawing room" " Thank you" " Poor thing, he must be famished" "Oh, Elemenia, would you bring me a coffee please?" "There's someone at the door, Elmenia" "Is Madam Brumonti here?" " Is that my chaffeur?" "Amici, I'm in here" " Yes Madam?" "Alright, alright, Amici." "Tell him I'll be right down" "Oh, in the meantime, tell him to go and buy some food for Simon" "Hello?" "Hello!" "?" "Daniela, Daniela, Daniela, come quick!" "Oh!" "Give me that Miss" " Thankyou" " Oh, I mean Madam" "So, that's a little American boy?" "He looks like you though." " Oare to come and help us?" " Yes, certainly" "Say something" "Say hello to Luisa" "He's shy" "Don't you like my house?" "Of course you do!" "Would you like a candy?" "How sweet, he's so shy" "Put it there, on the table" "Madam Brumonti asked for some coffee, I gave it to her" "Alright" "I was asleep for sixteen hours, why didn't you wake me up?" "It did you good" "Besides you would have difficulty slipping out unobserved" "When I woke up this morning Madam Brumonti was in the house" " Was she looking for me?" " No" "She came in to use the telephone, then she took Elmenia upstairs to give her a hand with something or another" "A lot of coming and going all day" " Does Elmenia know I am here?" " No" "No she didn't notice a thing" "I'd put that awful bird out on the back stairs and cover it's cage with a cloth." "Leave it in the kitchen, those creatures must be kept warm" "Why don't you give it to Domenico?" "He loves it so" " I'll return it to the person who gave it to me" " Is there anything more you wish Professor?" " No, no, thankyou, that's all for now" " Goodnight Elmenia" " Goodnight Professor" "Look, I want to tell you something" "I lied to you last night" "I know who beat me up and I know why" "I never doubted that" " You have every right to ask me questions" " There's no need to explain, I'm not curious" "Your lip seems to be doing fairly well" "It will be alright" "You can't wait for me to leave, can you?" "In a way" "Okay" "It was kind of you to help me" "I can understand you not wanting to be involved any further" "That has nothing to do with it." "I am accustomed to being alone" "The sense of another presence in the house disturbs me" "Prevents me from working" "Just give me time to make a couple of phone calls." "I'll see if I can leave tonight" "As you wish" "The things I told you about myself, remember?" "Well, they're true" "While trying to pull myself out of smaller messes, I've really got into big ones" "I wasrt always like this, once I..." "Oh shit" "I've become so fucking cynical about everything" "Everything I've ever cared about, I didn't really sleep all day" "I kept waking up, heard you moving about" "I imagined, I imagined I was telling you about myself" " asking your advice" " I'm afraid I have no advice" "Besides a young man of your age, your intelligence, should know what to do" "Make a clean break?" "Sure" "It's that simple" "If Elmenia's gone to bed, I'll get you something to eat" "Then I'm going to bed myself, make all the phone calls you want" "When you leave, shut that door carefully." "I'll straighten things up tomorrow" "I want to tell you everything, I have to tell you everything that's happening to me" "I need you near me, helping me" "Oh!" "We woke him up" "When you see a fair form, chase it, and if possible embrace it!" "Be it a girl or a boy" "Don't be bashful, be brash, be fresh, life is short!" "So enjoy whatever contact your flesh might at the moment crave" "There is no sex life in the grave" "What are you saying?" "You taught it to me, don't you remember?" "He says it's Ordors last poem." "You know everything, did you know that?" "Your wounded warrior Professor asked us to bring him a suitcase and a car" "Looks like he and Bianca are breaking up after all" "There's no such thing as a clean break" "What does that mean?" " The Professor knows" " Oh, he knows everything" "But how about telling me?" "The Professor said that I should change my life" "Oh is that all?" "Professor you don't know what you're asking" "Why what do you know?" "Stefano's major disaster in life is envy" "One day you must tell me darling, what that crowd's got that I should envy" "Yeah, well one day I will." "Poor Professor, you're still half asleep, don't worry, we'll be going now" "You see, it's only like a game we play." "There's nothing terrible in it, I mean when you were young, werert you the same?" "No" "Absolutely not" "You missed out on a lot" "But you must have had some kind of fun, you're wealthy and handsome..." "What did you do?" " What did I do?" " Right" "I studied, I travelled, I was in the war" "Got married, but that didn't work" "And then when I found time to look around I discovered I was in the midst of people with whom I had nothing in common" "Oh come off it Professor, we're not that far apart" " No, he's right" " How?" "Let's remember, society is what it is" "The fault is..." "Oh Oonrad will you please, not now with all that crap" "I want to hear more about the Professor, his private life, his past, present" "Present?" " Presently I'm an old man" " Oh Professor, stop it, you know you're not old" "You keep forgetting you're a very attractive man" "At least I think so" " What would you do if I wanted to kiss you?" " I wouldn't envy you" "Because if I put myself in your place I would see approaching me, the face of a man who hasn't been young for a long time" "Out it out!" "But I'm serious!" "I mean it, he really turns me on!" " I would marry him if he asked me" " I won't ask you" "Do you think of me as one of those characters in a comic opera?" "The old man who's mocked and betrayed?" "The only love story that would suit a man of my age is King Lear's, a father's love for his children" "You avoided that one rather nicely, no children, no fuss" "Ah, but the Professor would be a super father." "You know what, the first time one of those two creeps gets careless and knocks me up to hell with abortion!" "I am going to have the baby and give it to you" "I don't have much time left, I'd need an older child" "Someone to whom I could tell the few things I know" "Oonrad!" "Adopt Oonrad!" "He's intelligent and handsome, distinguished looking and if he'd only stop with all those schemes to make money he'd be perfect!" "Oonrad!" "You've just been adopted" "He'll be a bit expensive though, at least in the beginning li think you ought to be warned" "Like tonight he might even ask you for 5 million lire." "Poor Oonrad!" "A gambling debt in a low dive that was the only reason they bashed his face in thought we were going to pay his debt off with the money your mother gave us to fix up the apartment" "Whether she knows it or not, Bianca's always the one that pays his bills a gambling debt" "that wouldn't be so bad, shame it isn't exactly true" " Where's my jacket?" " I don't know" "I've got to go now if I want to be in Munich tomorrow evening there it is on the chair" "Oh yeah" "We'll walk you to the car, okay?" "You've got to persuade him to adopt you" "I'll do my best, if it makes you happy" "Professor!" "Tell your son he shouldn't drive like a madman" "You'll risk losing him before you've even adopted him" "And I'll risk losing my car!" "Would you come to my funeral Professor?" "You'd probably be the only respectable person in the whole procession" "Every whore in Rome, dressed in black, will be there" "Like a parade of snivelling widows followed by all the junkies, conmen and dykes and a delegation of faggots!" " Professor" " Yes?" " Professor, excuse me" " What is it Domenico?" "These two gentlemen would like a word with you" "I don't have an appointment with anyone" " They are the Police" " Police?" "Yes." "May I have a word with you Professor?" "I'm Sergeant Brunei, from the Oantelli Precinct" "We need a bit of information, if it isn't too much trouble" " I'm on my way out" " It'll only take a minute" "Ah, Oonrad Huble, is this gentleman living here with you?" "Absolutely not" "So you don't know this ah, Huble?" "You asked if he lived with me, I told you he did not" "But you do know him?" "Yes, we've met, as the guest of tenants who've rented an apartment belonging to me" "We would be very grateful if you could stop by the police station Professor." "At your convenience, naturally." " But I tell you, there's nothing" " The inspector can explain it all better" "The fact is that this, Huble, insists he was at your house the night of" "February 2nd and all day February 3rd" "I'll accompany you to the police station" " Simply ghastly" " Oh Mummy come on" " It looks awful" " But we could use a touch of colour over the sofa" "Well that's a lot of money for a little touch of colour" " It wasrt expensive" " It was Fifteen thousand dollars, it's practically a gift" "I think an oil painting would've been perfect there" " I'll go down to the Professor and ask him" " What?" "He can lend us one of his" "Yeah, some loose Rembrandt he's got hanging around" "Oh Professor!" "How nice" "Have you come looking for your Elmenia?" "I'm so sorry, I've really taken shameless advantages these last few days" " Elmenia." "If you've finished your work here..." " Yes ...there's some things for you to do downstairs" " Yes, Sir" "Are you revolted?" "You'll get used to it." "I let the children decide, since they're the ones who will be living here." "But tell me I'm right, I think an oil painting would look perfect there..." "Did you know that Oonrad Huble was stopped at the border?" "Stopped?" "By the police..." "But..." "When, where?" "He's in Munich?" "The children brought him to the airport the night we came back from our cruise" "He left here last night by car, but that's not important..." "It certainly is important because it's not true!" "What's not true?" "What is it Mummy?" "The Professor says that Oonrad left by car" "Yeah, we didn't tell you because you get so worried when he drives" " What happened?" "Has he had an accident?" " He just told you, he's been arrested!" "I didn't say that." "The police stopped him because they had some suspicions" "In explaining things, he used my name." "Mentioned that he'd passed the last few days at my house" " All very annoying..." " Is it true that he left last night?" "Yes, we were with him, he stayed on longer because he said he had some things to do, business or something..." "What I don't understand is all this mystery!" "Why didn't you tell me?" "!" "Really Mummy..." "It's all a part of that stupid mania of yours to join together against me and now Professor, you're in it with them, hmm?" "I'm not in anything, I merely allowed him to stay at my apartment, as he asked" "Ah, that's very sweet Professor, has Oonrad turned his boyish charm on you too?" " What do you mean?" " Exactly what I said" "Oh Mama stop it!" "Just because Oonrad stayed on an extra day or two and you didn't know it there's no reason..." "Keep still will you!" "?" "She turns smart only when she has to think up an excuse for spending the night away from home didn't you hear?" "They arrested him!" "Why?" "What did he do while he was here?" " Oart you understand how worried I am?" " It's not true, you're justjealous!" "You have to know where he is every second of every hour, let him breathe!" " Everybody has a day off" " Oh stop this" "Professor!" "Oould you explain to me why Oonrad asked you to put him up?" "It's not my place to tell you." "I didn't even tell the police, and believe me it cost me some effort" "It is not my habit to keep silent about such things, in any case they will probably search my house and up here too, they're looking for drugs." "What I didn't know was that the police have, shall we say, a long record concerning Oonrad Huble" "We knew all about that, tell him Mummy." "Oonrad belonged to a radical group in Berlin, that's why he has a record" " Don't talk nonsense" " You're being unfair" "You know he was arrested then, he was one of the most active" "How true, he was active alright." "Running around the barricade with a fanatical little bitch who by pure coincidence was the daughter of one of the richest men in Berlin!" "You can be sure of one thing, to reach his goal Oonrad's capable of exploiting anything, even a protest movement!" "Oh you love putting him down" "I may be infatuated with Oonrad but that doesn't mean" "I don't know what sort of person I am dealing with!" "Have you any idea why Oonrad couldn't get off the boat in Oannes?" "Because if he sets foot in France they'll put him in jail as quick as a wink!" "I am appalled, horrified!" "What sort of people are you?" "You entrust your daughter, a minor, to someone for whom you have absolutely no respect?" "!" "I certainly do not entrust her to him!" "They live together, in this house..." "Mummy's making him sound terrible, he's not that bad" "I'm notjudging anyone," "Oonrad may be a saint for all I know, unjustly accused!" "The important thing is that your mother considers him a wastron, immoral and a person of no consequence... and still she leaves her young daughter in his charge!" "She forces him upon her acquaintances!" "My acquaintances are all vaccinated, don't worry about that Professor, and yet Laetia isn't in the slightest danger!" "In my house I saw proof to the contrary... but we won't go into that" "It is my duty to warn you, in case you had..." "In case I had any illusions?" "No!" "I have no illusions!" "For me, that is your only possible excuse" "We have nothing further to say to each other" "Professor, Madam Brumonti asked me if I could give her a hand once in a while, I didn't know what to do, I..." "If you wish to help them then you are free to do so, I prefer not to see them anymore" "Yes, alright" "You were not at all nice to your Grandfather" "He's so happy to have us here, he's alone so much" "It's terrible to be left alone when you're old and ill..." "Alone?" "He's not alone, he has a cook and a maid and he's even got a cat..." "I don't have a cat" "Elmenia!" "Go upstairs at once, tell those people to stop making so much noise!" "Yes, yes, Sir" "Hello" " Oh is that you Professor?" " Yes this is he" " I hope we're not disturbing you" " As a matter of fact you are disturbing me!" "And I'd appreciate it if you turned down that music a bit" "Yes, Sir, I'll do it right away" " Thankyou" " Oh Professor" "Yes?" "Do you know we had our own telephone?" "Well it's quite evident that you have your own telephone now" " the number is 6, 7, 6, 0, 1, 3." "Did you get that?" " 6, 7, 6, 0, 1, 3." "If you need anything just call us" " Have you written it down?" " Yes, I've written it down" "Hello?" "Professor I know I am bothering you again, but you didn't answer my letter" " Letter?" " Yes, I've received no letter" "Oh you didn't see it?" "I slipped it under your door this evening" " Oh, oh I see" " I'd like an answer" "Something told me you wouldn't answer, so I decided to come down" "You haven't read it yet?" "Hail!" "Oonrad came back, so we decided to have, a sort of housewarming" "But then at the last minute we didn't feel like it, a couple of friends came by anyway we were listening to some music, dancing and talking, would you like to come up?" "Thank you but I ah..." "Did the police tell you, Oonrad had nothing to do with that mess they bothered you about" "Yes they did" "You said some terrible things to us the other day, we were quite upset" "I allowed myself to be carried away, I shouldn't have" "You made a lot of sense though." "But all those things Mummy said, I mean she really doesn't know everything about Oonrad none of us do" "Poor Oonrad, he would do just about anything to make money, he gambles, gets in trouble well you saw... and the only time he won big he spent it all on a present for Mummy" "He's so proud to know a man like you" "Maybe he once had ambitions we know nothing about?" "Anyway, would you please come upstairs?" "You'd make everybody happy" "Just for a little while?" " No" " It will never happen again" "Try to forget, I'm the one who mustrt" "We'll start all over from the beginning" " Will you come?" " No, I'm..." "I'm working" "If you wish, you may all come here to dinner tomorrow night" "Really?" " Half-past Eight" "Is this the wine from your country estate?" "Where is it exactly?" "Visconia, near Eretzo" "Good" "Hang on Professor, dinner's almost over, you'll be rid of us in a minute" "You're so gloomy, you didn't want to have us here, did you?" " Laetia forced you into it" " No I didn't, I..." " No it was my own idea" " Well then why don't you say something to us?" "Oh don't listen to him, we're all sort of down, not our fault though, there's a new tragedy here every 5 minutes" "It's the same everywhere" "I hadrt been home for lunch in a long while, so I went today" "Big mistake." "My father's workers have been on strike on a week" "He and my brother are still not talking and Dad just sat there, silent, at the head of the table, like you Professor" "But you don't have any workers striking..." "or a son posing as a Marxist" "You have the figures in your paintings, you're surrounded by calm, serene people, without any problems" "Do you like them all?" "Oh I have my preferences... and my infidelities" "For a long while I favoured the Sitwell family" "I went so far as to bring them into my bedroom, but that relationship proved to be incompatible" "I found myself quarrelling with the oldest daughter, the tall one over there" "And you are you going to quarrel with in this new family?" "What family?" "This one?" "Soon I'll be quarrelling with all of you, in fact I already have" "That's all over though, because, here we are!" "Old people are strange animals my dear." "Don't you know that?" "Oross, intolerant." "With sudden fears of the solitude they've made for themselves." "Which they then defend as soon as they see threatened, it was during one such brief attack that I invited you all to come here this evening" "I would say that now you've come back to your senses" "It's not right though" "I think it's time for a change" "Look Professor, your solitude is over, we just like it too much here, and we're going to be around this table a lot." "She's already formed a family Professor" "Yes, I've already formed a family and Mummy sits at the head of the table" "Well at least I'm part of the family" "Mummy!" "No, no, don't get up please" "Of course you're part of it" " Thank you darling" " We've just decided to form it" "Father, Mother and children" "You look sensational" "A slightly incestuous family, if I may say so" "Silly boy" "Again my apologies Professor" "Oh, it's nothing." "Elmenia, would you..." "Don't bother, I've already had my dinner" " But I'll taste a piece of that wonderful cake" " Yes, Madam" "May I say Madam, that we are delighted that you could join us" "You were wise to take on a spare father, since you're real one's gone" "Daddy?" "I just drove him to the airport." "Airports, nowadays, have become cemeteries" "What made you go all the way out there?" "I am still wondering myself, a nightmare evening" " I think your Daddy has gone just slightly mad" " He says the same thing about you" "My husband had invited a couple, friends of his, some people named Guspare, to dinner and since he first had to talk with somebody about an urgent matter, he asked me to stay on for a while and entertain his guests" "while he dealt with his business." "I was just saying hello to them, when my husband came in and like a wild man, he said he had to go away at once" "And what's more, I had to accompany him to the airport because he had to talk to me" "Dad had to talk to you?" "What about the Guspares?" "Simply aghast!" "For a moment, I even thought of sending them here" "Lovely idea!" "But where is Daddy?" "Where did he go?" "To Madrid" "He told the Guspares that the political situation is very serious and that he had to go off, I don't know, on some confidential business, something like that, with the Villa Verdi himself" "They seemed to believe him, if you ask me, your father, only just realised that the shooting season opens at the Villaverdes tomorrow" "He was there last year too" "Who did he speak to before dinner?" "I don't know dear, a man I'd never seen before." "He said he was a man that was from the press office of the Senate." "Shall we, shall we have our coffee in the library?" "But that's not the end of this crazy story you know" "Excuse me" "Was the man who spoke to your husband Berti Gesperti by any chance?" "I don't know I already told you" "Thankyou, I'll serve it" " Who would like some coffee?" " Mummy never takes coffee in the evening" "But tonight I will, just a little, with a drop of cream" " May I serve?" " Please" " Mummy?" " That's good" " Professor?" " Yes, ah, just black" " Conrad, how do you..." " I'll help myself" " Stefano?" " No thanks" "Now that we are after meal, I'll tell you the rest of my evening" "I'd listen carefully because it concerns you in particular" "After walking out on the Guspares, we dashed right off to the airport, and you know what my husband had to say to me?" "He demands, that was the word, he demands, that I get rid of you at once and never see you again" "Daddy said that?" "When was Daddy..." "Precisely!" "Never" "And yet he seemed so upset that at first I didn't want to contradict him" " I've never seen him in such a state" " Old flames never die, he's jealous!" "Oh Laetia, for heavers sake!" "He made it clear, that he had no objection to a replacement but Oonrad, no" "But then you should have heard the ridiculous things he said!" "That if I don't get rid of you, he will" "Then I lost my temper and I said, if this is how things are, I prefer to divorce and that's what we'll do" " To marry Oonrad?" " No!" "For that matter, Oonrad's never proposed to me, isn't that so darling?" " I am now" " And I thank you" "But the answer is no" "People marry to form a family, they divorce to desert it and to be free" " Free to marry again?" " No, free." "Just free" "That's not what you really mean" "Of course it is." "What's the matter with him?" " Tell them why you want to marry me" " Out it, you're a bore" " Oonrad" " Shall I tell them?" "Don't bother I can do it myself" "I'm not marrying you because you're 12 years younger than I am and because you're not the sort one marries" "Not the sort?" "Why not?" "You're not the least amusing you know?" "I'm not trying to be, answer me" "He's drunk." "He drank all through dinner" "I'm not drunk!" "And I'm not trying to persuade this woman to marry me" "It would be absurd." "I am what I am but I also know what you people are." "And I don't allow anyone to laugh at me" "No one is laughing at you" "I beg your pardon, I am not referring to you." "Now darling, tell me why, according to the rules of your respected society, I am not the sort one marries?" "Oh, enough of this bullshit" "What's wrong with you?" "Has something happened?" "Where I come from doesn't count, it's where I've been that matters right?" "Kept boy." "Illegal dealings, that's what counts" "Yes darling, that counts" "It only counts against me, because I wasrt successful because I'm still a lapdog, that an important lady boldly took into places where dogs aren't allowed and the others had to put up with the lapdog, when it stole from the kitchen, ripped the floor, bit people!" "I can't listen to you say these things!" "You know very well it's not true!" "Oh Bianca, for God's sake, you're only encouraging him!" "Havert we heard enough of his lectures on the corrupt capitalist society?" "Is that where we are again?" "That society doesn't even exist and if it did be grateful you were one of the last to benefit from it" "But it does exist, it does exist, even more dangerously today than ever, because it's camouflaged." "Oh no, not you Professor," "I'm no reactionary, I thought you understood that" "No I hadrt, that's been camouflaged too" "Though I've yet to meet an intellectual who doesn't say he's left wing luckily apart from rare exceptions, it never shows up in their lives or work" "The intellectuals of my generation, tried to find a balance between politics and morality, the search for the impossible" "That search sure keeps them busy, they're very lucky" "But his soul isn't tortured politically!" "Let alone morally" "So how can he justify his hatred for a society that lets him live like a gentlemen?" "Even if he did come in through the service entrance" "Alright, with a frayed shirt and a corduroy jacket which I couldn't button because I'd outgrown it!" "The first time I went into one of those marvellous houses and in the bed, of the lady of the house" "She wasrt beautiful like you, but she seemed stupendous to me, I had a lump in my throat and tears in my eyes" "I was really in love, when I held her" "It was what I wanted and I did everything I could to stay there" "My methods, which you are so ashamed of, I learned there they are the same methods your world uses" "Just the names are different, because the stakes are so much higher, they have beautiful ringing names, which you pronounce with great respect" "Instead of puking them out, you think you move among gentlemen, not knowing that they're murderers" "And I told you, that your husband has run off because they discovered that members of his crew were about to assassinate a dozen top Oommunists and other members of the government." "Enough to take it over, you would be amazed!" "I wouldn't be amazed, I'd say you're raving mad!" "My husband is an industrialist, right-wing, naturally, but where are the left-wing industrialists?" "!" "Some of them may say they are." "My husband is to the right, and says so openly" "Good for him!" "But from that, to say he deals in organised crime!" "In fact he does!" "Ask Stefano!" "He knows something about it" " You're crazy" " The lady's little lap dog" " has a sharp scent" " I see, you also do that, huh?" "Protection for what you call your small time activities" "When they come pounding on the door, everbody's running, to flush the coke down the can" "But not you, you're cool, they stopped you at the border but the next day they let you go" "Protection!" "Protection for being an informer and a slanderer!" "That's enough!" "No it's not slander, I have informed them and I am glad I did it" "Professor will you permit that in your own house?" "!" "You fucking son of..." " Get the hell out!" " No, no, no don't!" "Professor!" "I will not permit this!" "Not you and not you!" "People damned in hell while away their time accusing each other in the way you two do" "Just a minute" "Oonrad has volunteered his side of the story, allow me to fill out the picture" "As a matter of fact Professor you have had every opportunity to see the world he lives in" "All for small time operators, who for a bit of stuff went and split his lip upstairs" "Those are his people, that's what he knows!" " That's the world he should talk about!" " Answer him!" "You bastard!" "Stop both of you!" "You tear at each other like wild animals, I thought you loved each other" "You were friends, real friends, inseparable!" "Love each other?" "Friends?" "Oh, sure." "We're together all the time, we eat, we talk, we laugh and fuck together!" "But when the fun is over, where are your friends then?" "Each one goes his own way" "Yes, each one goes his own way." "People like you always land on their feet" "Fine, seeing you all agree, I'll clear out, that should make you happy" "That's what you want Professor?" "Isn't it?" "You've said some very offensive things" "Which I won't take back, nor apologise for." "Thanks for the dinner Professor, but take my advice, keep out of the mess, as you always have" "And stick to your charming dead friends, who can't be hurt by the violins of those Fascist clowns" "I hope you'll suffer" " I hope I get over it quickly" " You always land on your feet too" "It's hard at my age darling, but I will do my best" "Where are you going?" "I'll go with you" "No" "I always thought I was helping him." "Nice clothes, travelling, that's part of life too isn't it?" "And if in fact he did wrong, I was still doing something for him because I love him" "Leave me alone!" "You offended him, alright, okay." "And you fired him as though he were a servant, someone you caught stealing" "Even that was to be expected." "But you Professor, you had no right to turn your back on him, no, no right." "No, not you." "Not you, not you." "Oh come on!" "Lets not have any unnecessary guilt, if you want to, I'll go look for him right now and invoke his forgiveness." "I hope Oonrad will not forgive anybody, at least of all" "The day a certain Madam Brumonti came to see me, to ask about renting the apartment upstairs." "I refused." "Because I was afraid of having people around me that I didn't know" "People who might disturb me, everything has turned out far worse than I'd ever imagined" "If ever a landlord had difficult tenants, I believe I had them." "And yet I found myself thinking, as Laetia once said" "They could really have been my family." "A family that turned out well or badly, absolutely different from me" "But since I love this wretched family, I want to do what I can for it." "As it unawares has done something for me." "There's a writer whose books I keep on a table by the bed." "And read from time to time." "He tells about a tenant who moves stealthily into the apartment above him." "The writer hears the tenant moving about, stirring, walking, and then suddenly he seems to vanish." "For a long time he isn't heard again." "But he comes back." "Gradually his absence becomes more rare, his presence more constant" "His death." "The awareness that he has reached the end of his life announced to him, in one of death's many deceitful disguises." "Your presence above me, has meantjust the opposite to me" "And I don't believe I've been deceived." "You've awakened me, from a sleep, as profound, as insensitive, and as deaf as death itself" "Professor, they just brought this letter," "Elmenia," " what's the matter?" " Run upstairs and see if Mr Huble is there" "Go, go." "Go, go!" "Yes sir" "Dear Professor, I hope I am wrong but I don't think we'll ever see each other again." "Your son, Conrad" " Oh!" "Oh God!" " Please do not touch him" "Wait for the police" "Try to breathe normally" "That's better" "I'll be finished in a few minutes" "Professor," "You have visitors," "I've given the keys to Elmenia, my lawyer will be talking with yours, to see if you can recover some of the expense you went to upstairs" "and they'll handle everything for the police investigation." "I wish, I really wish I could also have some doubts" "Unfortunately, Oonrad killing himself was his way of having the last word." "It was his cruel, senseless way of punishing us forever..." "But there is one thing Oonrad didn't have time to learn..." "That we'll forget him" "We will forget." "He was too young to have learned this final, nasty, fact" "Grief is as precarious as everything else." "Goodbye Professor" "But don't believe her, he did not kill himself, they murdered him." "You were the only one to have a little faith in him" "Don't deny him that now that he's dead." "Good bye."