"Counselor, I've got him." "Down." "Come down." "Definitely down." "Excuse us for disturbing you so early." "How are you feeling?" "I'm a great admirer of yours." "I'm delighted to meet you." "May I?" "May I use your typewriter, Sir?" "Roll up your sleeve, please." "Keep it relaxed." "How old are you, sir?" "43." "Here, you may get up now." "Well, what are you working on now?" "Another film without hope?" " First time you're taking the cure?" " Yes." "Breathe deeply." "Come in." "Sorry." "I'll come back later." "No, come in." "Take a breath." "Deeply." "Good morning." "Okay if I smoke?" "Cough." "Breathe." "Did you read it?" "Yes." "Breathe." "What do you think of it?" "I made some notes." "We'll talk later." "The organism is sluggish." "Thank you." "You can get dressed now." "Pretty girl." "American, isn't she?" "You've got good stuff here." "This cure will do you a world of good." "Then, miss, e very day before breakfast, 300 grams of mineral water, three times at 15-minute intervals." "E very other day," " a 20-minute mud bath." " What time is it?" "After each mud bath a 10-minute bath in water, as pres cribed." " Meals." " I'll meet you at the springs." "After the first week, suspend all treatment for two days." "Thank you." "Sir." "Sir, your glass." "I'm here!" " Shall we dis cuss the film?" " Yes, sure." "Well, then you'll tell me if I should also show the report to the producer." "Frankly, I wouldn't want to get you in trouble with him." "No, don't worry." "I'm the one who called you." "You see, at first reading it's ob vious it lacks a fundamental idea," " or, say, a philosophical premise..." " Let's sit down." "That turns the film into a series of completely senseless episodes." "Oh, their elusive realism is, perhaps, even amusing, but what is the writer's real intention?" "To make us think?" "To frighten us?" "From the very opening s cenes, there's a total lack of poetic imagination." "I'm sorry, but this could be a most pathetic demonstration... proof that cinema is 50 years behind all other arts." "The subje ct doesn't even have the merits of avant-garde films, though it has all their drawbacks." "I made some notes, but I doub t they'll be of much help to you." "I'm amazed that you thought of me as your possible collaborator." "Frankly, I don't know how that would be possible." "No, no." "On the contrary, you'll be very helpful to me." "You see, this movie I want to dire ct, this film," "I postponed the start of shooting only be cause..." "Mezzabotta!" "Excuse me." "Mezzabotta!" "Mario, you're here, too!" "Guido!" "Look at you!" "What happened to you?" "What is it?" "Get lost." " Guido, hello." "How are you?" " Good." " You've gotten a little gray." " And you too!" "Don't drink that rubbish." "It's bad for you." "They gave it to me for my liver." "And you, what are you here for?" "Wait a moment." "Gloria." "Your daughter?" "My, how she's grown." "No, she's not my daughter." "Terrible!" "The cruel bees have sucked all life from these poor flowers." " Dear, let me introduce my friend." " Please, take my shoes." " Gloria, Gloria Morin." " Pleased to meet you." "I'm fine, thank you." "I know all about you." "Sweetie always talks about you." "We had a fight over your last picture, be cause I criticized it." "Oh, that's not true." "You loved it." "Let's go have a drink." "And you?" "Are you alone?" "Your wife?" "No, I'm alone." "Better that way." "I mean, better in general." "Have you heard about Tina and me?" " Tina?" " Well, we're waiting for an annulment." "That's why you see us together here." "We're engaged." "Congratulations." "So, Guido, what are you working on now?" " Here, it's ideal for thinking." " This is Daumier, my writer." " I'm sorry, what is your name, miss?" " Gloria." "Gloria Morin." "Delighted to meet you." "I'm a great admirer of yours." "I'm flattered." "Aren't you an actress?" "I've seen a picture of you somewhere." "An actress!" "Yes." "I have ambitions in that dire ction... to be truthful, enormous ambitions." "But that's all it is at the moment." "She has a degree in philosophy." " I'm Mario Mezzabotta." " Pleased to meet you." "I don't have the degree yet." "I'm still writing my thesis." " There is some difference." " What's the subje ct?" "It's on a very difficult subje ct:" "The Solitude of Modern Man as Portrayed in Contemporary Theater." "Interesting as a thesis subje ct, isn't it, Professor?" ""And the capricious appearances of the girl?" "What are they supposed to mean?" "An offer of purity?" "A tender gesture to the hero?" "Of all the s ymbols that abound in your story, this one is the worst." "Imbued in..."" "She didn't come." "Better this way." " How are you?" " Not bad." " Someone here knows you?" " I don't think so, but why did you bring all that luggage?" "It's only five suitcases." "You know evening gowns take up so much room." "But wait till you see them!" " Did you loade verything?" " Yes, everything." "Carla, there's no nightlife here." "E veryone goes to bed early." "But it's a fashionable spa." "There must be some event, a club in our hotel." "Have you been a good boy?" "Yes, yes, but listen I couldn't get you a room at my hotel." "And everybody knows me there." "So I found you something different." "A very good one, very nice." "Well..." "And this one, how does it feel?" "Gulp!" "Very well!" "You know, you look a little pale." "How come?" "Here, you see." "The hotel is right in front." "Madam, someone is here." "It may not look like much, but it's nice and quiet." "Are you hungry?" "I'll have sandwiches sent up to the room." "It's a little gloomy." "No, it's characteristic!" "Besides, I'm starving." " You had your meal but I didn't." " Good morning, sir." " Good morning, madam." " How is the solitaire coming?" "E verything is ready..." "the room, the bathroom." "Don't worry, the signora will be like one of the family!" " Could you bring us anything to eat?" " Yes, sure." " The restroom, please?" " Over there." " Shall I put together something?" " Yes, that's fine." "The train was cold." "My hands are all cold." " Are you happy I'm here?" " Of course." "Happy, happy?" "Or just a little happy?" "I'm delighted." "Smack!" "It smells good." "You know, Guido, this velvet dress, I was afraid it would wrinkle!" "Yes?" "Well, very well." "Instead, not even a wrinkle." "Imagine, after a three-hour trip." "You didn't even say if you liked it, Guido?" "What a pretty woman!" "And so elegant!" "That hat she's wearing, is it mink?" "Yes, mink." "Oh, mink." "What I went through to find this dress!" "I was just desperate!" "But you know me." "Once Carla makes up her mind..." " Smurf." " Gulp!" "There was a funny comic strip last week." " Here it is a nice behind." " Keep quiet." "They had this dinosaur..." "Guido, be good." "What do you want to do?" "You were really a good boy?" "But of course." "Anyway, the nice behind is hungry." "Oh, the wedding ring." "Listen, Guido, about that little favor you promised to do for me..." "What favor?" "See if she isn't going to talk about her husband again." "You don't think so?" "Wait and see, Guido, old man!" "Poor Luigi, he's so unhappy with his job." "My husband isn't the pushy kind, you know." "No, he just gets down on himself." "But he's not stupid." "No, he's really very intelligent." "Phooe y, how hot!" "He knows the history of Rome backwards." "He just needs somebody to give him a push." " It's always the same job, same pay." " Yes." "Careful!" "Don't break that purse." "I'm very attached to that purse." "He gave it to me." "Why don't you find him a job?" "You know so many people." "You promised so many times." "You know, I dreamt about it." "I dreamt you found him a job." "Then he went crazy, and killed us." "Whom did he kill?" "U s... both of us." "Do you want to know where?" "We were near the store where I bought you that tie." "The tie just like the one your wife bought you, remember?" "And when you put it on, I ne ver knew if it was mine or hers." "Well, we were there in bed, in each other's arms... naked." "And then he came in, and he killed us both with a broom!" "Make it darker." "Yes, like this." "Now go out in the hall." "And then pretend you came into the wrong room and found a stranger." "Oh, good!" "We ne ver tried that." "Stay right there." "Let me see you." "No." "You need different make-up, more like..." "More like what?" "Like a whore." "Come here." "Give me the pencil." " Don't move." " Pretty... this lamp." "I always wanted to get one like that." "What's the name of this hotel?" "Hotel Ferrovia." "I'll have my husband write me a letter here." "Then I'll let you read it." "He writes wonderful letters." "Yes, yes." "But you have to stay still." "Make a face like a whore." "Go." "Go out in the hallway." "You want me to put on an act like one of those actresses of yours!" "Go." "Go out." "Why?" "Don't you think I could?" "I wouldn't like the kind of life they lead." "No, I like to stay at home." "H urry." "Go out." "I'm going to sleep." "Suppose I ever did this for real?" "Would you be jealous?" "Why?" "Would you really do it?" "Who knows?" "What did she want?" "What was she asking?" "It was the owner." "She wanted to give me some mineral water." "Come here." "Come." "Open the sheet." "Guido..." "do you love me a little?" "Yes, of course." "You're my mother, aren't you?" "The tears I've shed, my son..." "Dad, wait!" "Don't go away." "We've talked so little among ourselves." "Dad, I had so many questions to ask you." "But I can't answer them yet." "Look how low the ceiling of my tomb is." "I would have liked it higher." "It's not good, son." "I would have liked it different." "Guido, couldn't you take care of this?" "You used to design things." "I would..." "Look who is here!" "Oh, your producer!" "He shouldn't have gone to the trouble." "Good morning." "My respe cts." "He doesn't have much time left." "Greetings." "How's this son of mine doing?" "Don't let him break you down." "Be careful!" "What?" "Isn't he doing well?" "It's sad for a man to realize how miserably he's failed." "How?" "With me?" "Mother prepared something for you to take along." "A little cheese..." "a couple of peaches." "Don't worry about me." "Of course it's a little lonely here, but your mother comes every day." "She keeps me company, you know." "She keeps everything tidy." "You always need a little dignity." "That's what we are used to." "Are you getting along well with your wife?" "Yes, Luisa." "You two have been the joy of my life." "Goodbye, my son." "But what place is this?" "Why are you here?" "I'm still not clear about that, Guido." "But it's better now..." "It's much better." "At first, my son..." "At first..." "Guido, I do the best I can." "What more can I do?" "Poor Guido, you must be tired." "Do you want to go home?" "I'm Luisa, your wife." "Don't you re cognize me?" "What are you thinking about?" " Good morning." " Good morning." "Good morning." "Guido, in a couple of days you'll have your interview." "Then you can ask all the advice you want for the film." "He is a beautiful spiritual figure, isn't he?" "And I have the old men here." "One's a Russian, one's a retired general." " What old men?" " Those for the father role." "H ide quick, hide." "Come here, you clown." "Well, what a pleasure to see you, you old Superman!" "I phoned you six times." "I know..." "about the s cript for Claudia." "Well then?" "I thought I'd send it to you." "It's practically in the mail now." " Is that so?" " You keep in really good shape." "Why did you give up acting?" "Listen, I didn't sleep all night." "I had a great idea for the spaceship!" "Let go of my arm, it bugs me." "And put on a jacket." "Sure, now I'll wear a tailcoat when I talk to you." " How are you?" " I'm fine." "Did you have a good trip?" "Yes, but we've been waiting an hour." "What a vision of loveliness!" "Beautiful." " You look beautiful." " Thank you." "You always say I'm lovely, but you never tell me about my part." "How was my s creen-test?" "Very good, or I wouldn't have called you." "You didn't tell me anything." "I said you want me to look motherly." "Do I have to eat a lot of pasta?" "Yes." "I've already gained seven pounds!" "You see?" "You already know more than I do." "You're the writer." "You tell me." "What part does she play?" "Well, didn't..." "Agostini!" "Excuse me." " I don't want to bother." " Go ahead." "The hotel is fine, the whiske y is superb, but I have three questions." "Yes, we can dis cuss this later." "What do you want?" "Oh, yes, excuse me." "Agostini, listen, I called be cause I didn't want to talk to him." "Every studio in the world wants Claudia." "We can't hold her much longer." "You have to tell her something." "Tell me, do you have a s cript yet?" "Two pages?" "An idea?" "Does Claudia know this could be the best part she ever had?" "Now, I will explain it to you." " You're going to lose Claudia!" " You want to see the old men or not?" "I tell you, the s cript's ready!" "What do you want?" " The old men!" " Where are they?" " They are here!" " Excuse me." "Listen, Carla phoned you." "She hates the hotel you put her in." " She's right." "It's ugly." " You want me to bring her here?" "I'll call the old men." "I'd like you to meet my little wife." "I'm pleased." "Very pleased." "My wife's a writer, too." "She writes for ladies' magazines." "She also has some questions to ask." "My readers are crazy about romantic stories." "Could you tell me something about your love life?" "Guido, here they are." "Greet the doctor." " Good morning." " Come over." "Come over." " You too, General, greet the doctor." " Good morning." " Good morning." " Good morning." " How old are you?" " 70." " And you?" " 64." " You?" " 68." "They're not old enough." "What?" "This one's ready to drop dead!" "N ext time, I'll bring you three corpses." "You wanted a pathetic type." "Just look at him, and you start crying." "If you kneel before your producer, what do I have to do for you?" "Get up, you'll hurt yourself." "How are you, Guido?" "Good morning, Producer." "Here is our life-giver." "I came by helicopter, with loudmouth here." "Where's the pool?" "Dear, we are not there yet." "Keep quiet." " Are you feeling better?" " What is it?" " It's nothing." " Always giving me gifts." " Just like mine." " It's self-winding." "A little watch." "A little watch." "Everyone look..." "a little watch." "Well, I hope your ideas are clearer by now." "Yes, I really think so." "Producer, we have the Americans..." "I saw her passport." "She's 52!" "A kid." "Good evening, signora." "Who are you, dear?" "Who are you?" "Dire ctor, could I ask you one more little question?" "Hewants to know the relationship between Catholicism and Marxism." "Thank you." "I understood." "You want to know what political party I belong to." "You're an honest man, like most Italians." "You must be able to answer me." "Is Italy fundamentally a Catholic country or not?" "Yes." "Shut up and eat your ice cream." "That's the estimate for the spaceship." "Producer, I need to talk to you in private." "Believe me, I can't work like this." "It's a madhousehere!" "We'll talk about it later." "What was that you were saying about cholesterol?" "Only the early Fitzgerald was great." "Then came an orgy of brutal realism." "Really, what does "left" mean?" "What does "right" mean?" "You are so this mad world..." "Who has ideas clear enough to be right or left?" "The Americans have a new theory for cholesterol..." "Are asparagus good?" "Very good." " How many s cenes will she be in?" " What do you mean?" " How many s cenes?" " Five." "Only five?" "Maybe six... or seven." "Good evening, Producer, Guido." "The Ambassador's looking at the lady." " So?" " Just thought I'd tell you." " Well, you told me." " You want me to dance with her?" "Yes, go ahead." "Dance with her." "I'm so anxious to understand the woman I'm playing." "I have to live with her a long time in advance." "She says she has to understand the character in advance." "I have to get inside her flesh, think her thoughts." "Didn't our dire ctor explain your role to you yet?" "No." "I'm sorry." "I can't tell you anything either." "I'm only the producer." "Right, Guido, I don't know?" "You don't have to know a thing." "And now three days for resting up." "They look like glass." "The first cherries of the spring..." "Thank you." "And for Guido?" "Here I am." "Mario Mezzabotta, all 200 pounds of him." "Do you want to take a walk?" "Naturally, you... you think I've lost my mind, right?" "Yes." "I'm 30 years older than she is." "So what?" "It's quite all right." "So I'm an imbecile... the old man who pays the bills." "So what?" "Could you create something true and meaningful upon demand?" "For instance, suppose the Pope gave you a commission?" "Yes, yes." "I'll think about it." "Excuse me." "Listen, I'm not fooling myself." "Certainly not." "Maybe she is with me just for the mone y." "Probably for sure." "But I've never felt so close to a woman in my life." "You saw her." "She's pretty, charming, intelligent." "She has all it takes." "Just for the mone y?" "Nowadays, there are younger men with mone y." "Plenty of them." "All right, she loves you." "Oh, yes." "And she didn't force me into this." "I de cided by myself, rationally." "She's never said a word against my wife, my family." "N ever a reproach." "How did you meet her?" "I met her in London." "She was one of my daughter's schoolmates." "How long have you been married?" " Many years. 31." " And your wife?" "How?" "My wife took it very badly." "She hates her." "Gloria instead, imagine, she's really fond of my wife." "Now tell me the truth, am I a fool?" "We must have a shooting schedule, or we'll lose a booking in Germany." "Must you keep me in the dark?" "What?" "You look like a snail." " What's that?" " A little snail." "Snail." "Listen to the sound of the bubbling spring." "The Latin people used to call it "Happy Water."" "Maya, let's see if we can amuse these people!" "Good evening, madam." "Allow me." "Ready, Maya?" "Tell me what I'm holding in my hand." "A velvet evening purse." " And inside?" " A white handkerchief." "A red handkerchief..." "some aspirin." "No narcotics, I hope!" "A wallet." "Is there mone y in it?" "There are exactly 2,725 lire." "And this lady here..." "what is she thinking?" "Nothing dirty, I hope." " Think about something?" " What should I think about?" "Think any thought you like." " Have formed your thought?" " Yes." "She would like to live another hundred years!" " Well?" " Yes, true." "And this pretty lady." " What's in your little head?" " Leave me alone." " Can I think of a person?" " But yes." "Go ahead." "Then..." "No, I'm embarrassed." "Forget it." "There is nothing to be embarrassed about." "Can I really think of a person?" "I'd be scared to have my mind read." "My dear, it would be quite pointless!" " Shall we go, madam?" "...a little kiss and a big smack." " That's it?" " Yes." "Here you go!" "Thank you." "Ladies and gentlemen, you'll think, "What a fake."" "I have to disappoint you." "Nothing is fake." "This is a demonstration of magnetic force and mental telepathy." "I transmit your thoughts to Mademoiselle Maya." "You really think you can hide your thoughts?" "Gloria, Gloria, what happened?" "You've gone all pale." "Leave her alone, please?" " Stop, please?" " Private thoughts are sacred." "It's only a game." "Ready, Maya?" "One moment gentlemen, stop there... what are you thinking of?" "You, for example..." "I'm thinking of my dire ctor, naturally." "My cross and my joy!" "How are you?" "Fine, and you?" "It's been a long time, eh?" "Yes, that's life, my dear." "I'll be right there." "You've be come famous." "Forget it." "Tell me, what's the trick?" "How do you transmit thoughts?" "I don't know how it happens, but it happens." "With any thought at all?" "Yes, until Maya gets fed up." " Want to try it?" " Yes, yes." "Wait." "Let's hope I don't fail with you." "I understand!" "I don't know how to say it." "Is this it?" "Is it "Asa..." "N isi..." "Masa"?" " Is that it?" " Yes." " Guido!" " What does it mean?" "Guido, come here!" "Don't make me mad." "I don't want to take a bath!" "Come here." "You little rascal." "Time to go." "Come here." "A bath in wine will make you strong like Grandpa was!" "Guido's afraid!" "Guido's afraid!" "Damn this wood!" "It's all wet this year." "This cat reminds me of your grandpa." "He never came home unless he was hungry!" "Aren't you ashamed?" "Go to bed!" "But once I slammed the door right in his face." "And I locked him out for two days!" "Oh, I know I should have married again." "I could have found somebody a whole lot better than your grandpa." "But I was afraid if I did marry again, your grandpa wouldn't wait for me... not in Heaven or in Hell or wherever they finally put him." "Quiet!" "Go to bed!" "To bed." "To bed." "Let's go!" "Is it true, you drank some wine?" "Auntie, Olga wet the bed." "Calm down." "Be good." "Be quiet." "Go under the covers, it's cold." "Stop doing it." "Did you say your prayers?" "My sweetheart..." "the sweetest boy in the world..." "Give me a kiss." "Whom do you like better?" "Isn't it true, you like me better?" "That's enough!" "Go to sleep!" "You can't fool me." "You're not asleep." "I can tell if you fake it." "Sleep well, my little babies." "Keep safe." "Guido, don't sleep!" "This is the night the picture moves its eyes." "When the eyes stare at a corner, that's where the treasure is!" "Say the magic words and we'll be rich!" "Asa N isi Masa..." "Asa N isi Masa..." "You had a few calls from Rome, sir." "I think it was your wife." "All right, tell them I am are ready." "Gino, get the Rome operator." " This is for you." " Thank you." " Good night, sir." " Good night." "Marcella, that Rome call." "U rgent." "Good night, sir." "Good night." "No, I'm not angry." "Only one thing could make me angry." "You know me." "No, no." "I forgive him everything." "Everything." "Everything I forgive him." "Good evening." "Could we have a little chat?" "Sit down here next to me." "Sorry, I'm very tired." "Besides, I'm expe cting a phone call." "Would you like a drink?" "No, thanks." "I've got a headache." "Give me your hands." "Sit down." "I have a magic healing fluid in my left hand." "I'll cure your headache." "Take off your hat." "Is it better?" "Yes, perhaps." "Why are you looking at me like that?" "Don't tell me I'm "lovely." Your compliments sound like insults." "Is there something wrong?" "I don't know." "I feel I'm a complete failure." "A failure in life... and in my work." "Why do you delight in torturing me?" "Torturing you?" "Come on." "Talk to me like you would with an old friend." "I need to feel close to my dire ctor." "Then..." "Do you have in Belgrade..." "My character hysterical..." "It's a new composition." " Play "Mystification."" " But I don't know "Mystification."" "Yes, play it." "This woman, the one that you..." "In the character I play, I can find prote ction and love." "I be come the character." "And I'm just as intense in life and in love." "That's why I'm alone." "I understand too much." "I forgive too much in the man I love." "Sir, your call from Rome is ready." "I am a very sensual woman..." "a naughty woman, too!" "Yes." "It's very close." "Give me a minute." " Thank you." " You're welcome." " Hello?" " Rome is ready." "You can talk." "Yes, hello?" " Do you want Luisa?" " Yes, thank you." "You feel guilty, huh?" "This is Rossella." "Oh, hello, Rossella." "Did Luisa call me?" "What kept you out so late, you vagabond?" "The cure?" "Some excuse!" "Wait, here's Luisa." "All right, goodbye, thank you." "Guido, I called twice." "Where were you?" "Sorry, Luisa, I was in the production office." "We were working." " How are you?" " I'm doing fine, and you?" "Is the treatment doing you any good?" "Do you feel better?" "Yes, but I can't really rest while I'm working." "What's new there?" "Nothing." "Rossella and Enrico stopped by tonight." "Are you having fun there?" "Did you find company?" "No, it's very boring." "Since I have to work, it's better this way." " Goodbye, Guido." " Goodbye." "Did you run into anybody you know?" "Or are always you alone?" " Of course I'm alone." " Oh, well." "Luisa, why don't you come join me?" "Just come over." "What does it take?" "When are you going to start this movie of yours?" "I don't know, Rossella." "Put Luisa back on." "Guido, should I come?" "Do you want me to?" "Of course." "If you like." " Maybe somebody can take you." " Would you like me to?" "Of course." "I asked you, didn't I?" " Do you want to continue, sir?" " No, thank you." " When should I come?" " Whenever you want, Luisa." "Watch out!" "I might really come!" "Darling, I told you to." "It would be nice." "Goodbye." "Good night!" " Hey, so long, stranger!" " Goodbye." "Good night, Guido." " Guido!" " One moment." "I have to go in the office to see Agostini." "We'll talk about everything in the morning." "260,000 for the steps..." " Good evening." " Do you need something?" "No, thank you." "Keep working." "What a hard-working production office!" "H i." "H i, Eleonora." "Doctor, since you are here" "I couldn't get hold of that German girl you wanted." " You must find her." " She's in Paris with a circus." "What do you want me to do about her, then?" "Good evening, Doctor." "What a honor!" "But you caught me in my underwear!" "Listen, about that farmhouse..." "There was this one." "Here is the photo, but who knows where it is?" "There's no address, nothing written." "It's on the prince's property." "But, what's going on there?" "It's my little nie ces!" "Eva!" "Little Eva!" " Good evening." " Good evening." "Go ahead, silly." "Come on out." "Maybe he'll give you a part!" " Pleased to meet you." " My pleasure." "Where are you from?" "From Trieste." "Long live Italy!" " You're very well organized here." " Tell him about my cousin." "Guido, she's got a cousin over six feet tall." "You have to see her." "Maybe you can use her in the film." "It's true, Doctor." "She is over six feet, like this." "Taller than me standing on the bed!" " Did you understand?" " She won a beauty contest twice." "Is Guido there?" "I'm coming right away." "No, go to sleep, Conocchia." "I'll see you tomorrow." "Sir, can I ask you something?" "Go ahead." "You know what my friend says?" "She says you can't make a good love story." "Shut up!" "She's right." "...360..." "I'll wake you up tomorrow morning." " No, thank you." "...piping 20,000, plastic tubing..." "We are always at your command, sir!" "Our production office never sleeps!" " I have a terrible headache." " Stop doing that." "They are always kidding around, but they are good guys." "Anything you need, Guido?" "Any new ideas?" "Anything to say?" "No, thanks, I don't need anything." "Go back to sleep." " Anything, Guido." " Nothing, thank you." "Good night." "Good night, my ass." "Who can sleep here?" "How can anybody sleep?" "Conocchia, calm down." "Listen, I'm in this business 30 years." "And I've made pictures none of you would have the guts to try!" "Stop shouting, you old fool." "So you finally said it..."old." You spoke the word, finally." " Conocchia is old." " What do you want?" " We don't need anything." " Conocchia is useless." "I see how you keep things from me, Guido." "I don't know when I should talk or when I should keep quiet." "I don't mean to bother you." "You want to keep the film a secret?" "Then keep it a secret!" "Conocchia, please, go to bed." "But if you want me to help you, like you always did... then tell me something! "Conocchia, get rid of that Frenchwoman." "Conocchia, do this, do that." "Conocchia, get lost! " Say something." "How you've changed, Guido, my friend." "What's that for?" "What are you crying for?" "Tomorrow I'm quitting." "I don't want to be in your way." "You need younger people around you." "But watch out... you're not the man you used to be." "A lack of inspiration, that's it." "And suppose it's not just temporary, Guido, old man?" "Suppose you're really finished, you uninspired, untalented fake?" "But what if I made her the s ymbol of purity... of spontaneity?" "What the hell does "spontaneity" mean, anyway?" "You heard what the writer said..." ""Enough of s ymbolism, and these escapist themes of purity and innocence."" "What am I looking for?" "Yes... it could be like this." "There's a museum in the village." "And you could be the curator's daughter." "You've grown up surrounded by classical art and beauty..." "You're right to laugh." "I've come here, never to go away again." "I want to create order." "I want to create cleanliness." "I want to create order." "I want to create cleanli..." "Hello?" "A call for you from the Hotel Ferrovia." "All right, put it through." "Hello." "Who is this?" " Hello!" "Who is this?" " Guido, I feel sick." "The water made me sick." "I got a fever." "You better come right away." "At this hour?" "Carla, I'll come in the morning." "Come..." "Poor girl... she's been calling you." "Here is the ice." "She's burning up." "She must have at least a 104 temperature." "Should I bring her the peas?" "The peas?" "When she was delirious, she kept asking for peas." "Don't worry." "Forget about the peas." "Just call if you need me." "Carla... did you run a high fever like this before?" "Carla?" "Yes." "It takes nothing." "One minute I'm fine and the next I'm burning up." "Then it goes away." "My husband's used to it." "It doesn't scare him." "No, no." "Lay down." "Don't bare yourself." "I'm hot." "I'm thirsty." "Wait, I'll bring you a drink." "Here, take it." "Don't drink so fast." "You'll bloat yourself." " Is it day or night?" " N ight?" "It's 4:00 in the afternoon." "We'll wait for a doctor and see what he says." "Maybe you better send your husband a telegram." "We can't assume all this responsibility." "No, no." "I don't want..." "If he comes, it'll be the end of this." "He'll take me home." "And I bought so many pretty dresses." "Why did you drink all that water, anyway?" "Water's for sick people." "You're not sick." "But when it comes to eating and drinking..." "What do you expe ct?" "You leave me alone all the time." "I made my will two years ago." "You don't die any sooner just be cause you make a will." "Anyway, I have a brother and a sister... and I wanted to be sure my husband gets the apartment." "I own it." "How would the poor man manage without it, even if he got married again?" "Ah, the bedsheets...!" "Guido, listen..." "tell me the truth." "The truth, all right?" "Why do you stay with me?" "What am I going to say to the Cardinal tomorrow?" "Yes, I read the outline your producer sent us." "Very interesting." "Realistically, however... you have the hero meet the Cardinal while taking a mud bath." "I'm sorry, but that's impossible." "A church dignitary would have a private cabaña." "Yes, but I wanted to make the meeting unconventional." "What do you mean?" "You see, the hero was brought up in Catholic schools, and..." " Good morning." " Monsignor, this is Signor Anselmi." " Pleased to meet you." " You'd be the dire ctor." "You're making a film on a religious theme?" "In a sense." "I was just explaining the hero's background." "Like most of us, he's had a Catholic education, and it's created certain problems, certain complexes." "A Cardinal appears as an oracle of the truth he can no longer accept." "N evertheless, it fascinates him." "He looks for help, for a revelation." " An ascent to Damascus?" " Something we all aspire to." "I realize this is not spe cific." "Perhaps even clums y." "That's not the problem." "I just don't believe the cinema is the proper medium for certain subje cts." "You mix sex and spiritual love too easily." "It depends." "Perhaps." "The film has a great responsibility." "It can educate... or it can corrupt millions of souls." "Still, His Eminence will be glad to see you." "You'll be able to ask a few questions." "Your Eminence, this is the film dire ctor." " Make yourself comfortable." " Thank you." "Forgive me for this intrusion, Your Eminence." "But my producer insisted I see you and ask your advice." "Are you married?" "Yes." " Do you have children?" " Yes..." "I mean, no." " How old are you?" " 43." "Do you hear that bird?" " Do you know what it's called?" " No." "It's called "Diomedes."" "According to legend, when Diomedes died, these birds flocked together and they sang a funeral chorus as they followed him to his grave." "Listen." "Doesn't it sound like sobbing?" "Guido!" "Guido!" "We are going to see Saraghina!" "I'm coming!" "Saraghina!" "Saraghina!" "Saraghina!" "Saraghina..." "the rumba!" "The rumba!" "Take this." "Shame on you!" "It's a mortal sin." "I cannot believe it." "Look at your mother!" " Look at her!" " Stop there!" "Oh, Lord, what shame!" "What shame... what pain..." "Oh, how shameful." "How shameful." "Shame." "But what pious Luigi abhorred most throughout his life... wherever he lived, was any contact with women." "He would flee their presence." "You would think he disliked some by nature." "Kneel down." "Not even with the marquise did he want to be alone." "Thus, had it happened while he was with her..." "Don't you know that Saraghina is the devil?" "I didn't know!" "I really didn't know!" "H i." "What does it mean?" "It's just another episode from your childhood memories." "It has nothing to do with a critical conscience." "You want to make a serious film about the Catholic conscience in Italy?" "In that case, you must lift everything to a more sophisticated cultural le vel." "You must use stringent, unassailable logic!" "You must excuse what I am saying but these tender, innocent scenes of childhood are completely negative." "They're drowned in nostalgia, these harmless little memories of yours." "They are the actions of an accomplice..." ""What?" said the priest." ""A Communist?"" "He did not think of him as a man." "Ah, the Catholic conscience..." "Think what Suetonius stood for in the time of the Caesars!" "But you?" "You start out intending to denounce... then along the way, you turn into an accomplice!" "Don't you see the confusion?" "The ambiguity?" "Oh, dear Doctor," "I'm truly very angry with you." " You don't need me anymore, signora." " Not true." "Not true." "N umber 127, mud bath." "N umber 129, massage." "N umber 131, inhalation." "N umber 133, inhalation." "N umber 145, massage." "N umber 147, mud bath." "N umber 149, inhalation." "Hello, Producer." "I understand what you want the film to say." "You want to show the confusion that man has inside himself." "You have to explain yourself clearly, make yourself understood." "Otherwise it is without purpose." "Guido..." "Let's go." "Attention please." "Doctor De Angeli is expe cted in the lounge." "Just be sure that what interests you, interests everybody." "Remember, the audience has to understand the film!" "If not, it be comes ego, arrogance." "Good morning, Producer." "Come here." "Breathe." "Breathe deeply." "Hello, Guido." "Here." "Sit down next to the blower." "I che cked the spaceship." "Work is progressing well." "Hey, where are we?" "Mario." "Guido..." "H is Eminence is waiting for you." "I repeat:" "Guido, H is Eminence is waiting for you." "H urry, get dressed!" "The Cardinal's waiting!" "Tell him everything." "Don't hide a thing." "And put in a good word for me." "For me..." "What luck!" "Put on your socks!" "What luck!" "The Cardinal!" "He can fix anything, e ven my Mexican divorce." "Ask him about my divorce, Guido." "He won't refuse you." "Be humble." "Throw yourself at his feet!" "Tell him you've repented." "With their backing, Guido, you can get everything you need in life." "Guido, please!" "We're in your hands!" "You have only five minutes." "Your Eminence, I am not happy." "Why should you be happy?" "That is not your task in life." "Who said we were put on this earth to be happy?" "Remember the writings of Origen..." ""There is no salvation outside the Church."" ""Outside the Church, no one will be saved."" ""There is no salvation outside the Church."" ""That which is outside the City of God... belongs to the City of the De vil."" "See the human phenomenon!" "The Fakir has broken all endurance re cords!" "Our experiment is looked into e very day by renowned Europeans." " 25,000..." "Is there another offer?" " 30,000." " 30,000." " 35,000." " 35,000." " 40,000." " 40,000." " 40,000." " Very well." "Any other offers?" " 50,000." "50,000." "We are now at 50,000." "Hello." " Hello." " When did you get here, Luisa?" "At 5:00." "We went to the hotel, but you were out." " How are you?" " Fine, I'm fine." "Whom did you come with?" "With Rossella, Enrico, and my sister." " Rossella, where is she now?" " Right here." "So you did come, after all." "You look wonderful." "He y, redhead." "You know, we haven't danced together for a year." "Dear Luisa, what a darling you are." "I'm so glad you're here." "It always happens like this... when you're not here with me, I feel..." "You feel lonely?" "Did you really miss me?" "Yes." "But you had all these lovely women to keep you company." "Ah, you have seen them." "Didn't you even have one adventure?" "Poor Guido." "What about your vaunted virility?" "N ice perfume you're wearing..." "and you feel so light." "How's the work going?" "Better?" "No, I don't think I've made much progress." "What's the film about?" "What's on your mind this time?" "Excuse me." " Hello" " Hello, excuse us." "Am I mistaken, or is Enrico a little bit in love with you?" "Isn't she darling!" "Brava." "Very good." "Good evening, signora." "Welcome." "Thank you." "Maestro, we're at your disposal." "Shall we go?" "Yes, yes." "I'll be right there." "Signora, tonight you'll see what insanity your husband forced me into!" "I shouldn't shake hands with this lovely lady." "She reads your soul through your fingertips!" "Who you are... what you do..." "Still with the mysticism, Rossella?" "Don't you have this kind of relationship with him yet?" "Meet Luisa's sister." "Look at the harem this dire ctor travels with!" "Sir, I have a script on nuclear disarmament." "It needs a courageous producer like you." "And is the lovely mystic part of the harem?" "No, I came along as sort of a chaperone." "Now, how about you?" "Does being alone agree with you?" "Really, you look like a new man!" " Yes?" " I was a little worried." "If you only knew how happy Luisa was when you asked her to come..." "But..." "I'm sorry I'm not coming." "My presence is not indispensable." "My friend, I insist!" "Come on, we'll take Conocchia'scar." "Guido, where's Conocchia?" "I don't know." "I was here a moment ago." "Rossella, you come with us." "Here, Rossella, right next to me." "I want to tell you of a strange event." " I see..." " Luisa, come here." "...one night, my sister's portrait changes expression." "Rossella, here, make yourself comfortable..." "Like she wanted to warn me of a hazard a threat." "I'll sit in front." "I was saying that two or three days later, my uncle says to me," ""Take me to the market." My uncle had an older car." "I was telling the story of a premonition..." "You see?" "You have to be crazy to listen to this dire ctor!" "Put something on." "It's humid here." "Renato, where are you?" " Renato!" " Right here." "Good evening?" "Listen, we have to be ready by the 20th." "Come, signora." "Watch your step." "The ground is rough." "We're behind schedule." "No, we got it up 200 feet." "Why did Luisa be come so rude and nervous all of a sudden?" "She was so happy to see you." "Did you say anything to upset her?" " No, I didn't" " And this, what's this?" "This is fascinating!" "They'll double expose this model... and create the illusion the spaceship is on the launching pad." " Rossella." " Here, I'm coming." " Am I right, Guido?" " Yes, yes." "This is the launching pad, the most important scene in the picture." "Come up." "There is no danger." "No photographs!" "Only one, Producer." "Your husband's going in for science fiction?" "How should I know?" "Ask him." "Carlo had wrote such a nice script on Martians." " Guido!" " Guido." "What are you going to do with this carnival?" "Can we trust this, is it safe?" "Producer, you see what they are saying about your efforts." "How many pounds of concrete did we use?" "Pounds?" "You mean, tons!" "400 tons, Producer." "Producer, I'll wait for you here." "I can't stand heights." "For what this cost, I could buy 10,000 apartments!" "It's pompous and stupid, like the dire ctor." "What a way for a sister-in-law to talk!" "Are you in love with him?" "In love with him?" "I just thank God I'm not married to someone like him!" "What's this?" "We have to go higher still." "I would gladly carry you." "That madman made us spend 80 million lire on this construction." "Why didn't he just use a painted backdrop?" "Nobody uses backdrops today." "Anyway, it's not your mone y, Conocchia." "Luisa... are you cold?" "Do you want my jacket?" "No, thank you..." "We'll be going back to the hotel soon." "Is anything wrong?" "You be came so sad all of a sudden." "Isn't that so?" "No..." "I'm not sad at all." "In the first scene, we see Earth... ravaged by nuclear war..." "Guido seemed very happy to see you." " Truly happy." " The spaceship... escaping atomic pestilence... the survivors try to flee to another planet." "That means 10,000 extras." "Maybe 15,000!" "A big crowd." "A big crowd that is leaving Earth..." "You're really putting all that in the film?" "The Prophet is laying it on thick!" "You'll scare everybody to death!" "Do you prefer pictures where nothing happens?" "Well, in my picture, e verything happens..." "I'm putting everything in." "E ven a sailor who does the soft-shoe." "Come here, sailor." "Show us what you learned in America." "Dance." "I'll give you a part!" "Dance!" "What's wrong, Guido?" "What is it with you?" "Rossella, stop acting like my big sister." "It annoys me!" "Signor Dire ctor, what part do I get?" "What does Luisa think of me?" "What does she want?" "What part do I get?" "Go away, sailor." "Go away!" "Luisa doesn't talk, not even to me." "And I'm her best friend." "I really don't know what she wants." "She's confused." "She says one thing today and another tomorrow." "What she really wants is for you to be different from what you are." "But why?" "Why?" "That's the mistake we all make." "That polite little fellow who hangs around her... is he in love with her?" "You'd like that, wouldn't you?" "It would save your guilty conscience." "What a no-good you are!" "Poor Enrico." "He's so ob vious that everybody knows how he feels." "But he just hangs around, and keeps Luisa company." "He is a very good friend." "I thought I had e verything clear in my mind." "I wanted to make a honest film..." "no lies, no compromises." "I thought I had something so simple... so simple to say." "A film that would be helpful to everybody... that would finally buryeverything that's dead within us." "Instead, I find I don't have the courage to bury anything." "I'm totally confused now... and with this tower on my hands." "Who knows why things turned out this way?" "Where did I go wrong?" "I really have nothing to say." "But I want to say it just the same." "What about those "spirits" of yours, why aren't they helping?" "You used to say they had good advice for me." "Well." "Let them work now." "Guido, I've told you... you have the wrong attitude toward them." "You're just curious." "Childishly curious." "And you want guarantees." "All right." "But what are they telling you?" "The spirits always say the same thing." "Even now." "They're very logical spirits." "And they know you well." "So?" "They say that you're free." "But you have to choose, and you don't have much time left." "You have to hurry up." "Guido!" "Are you coming up or not?" "Get me Room 320." "Still out." "Okay, thank you." "Do you have a headache?" "No." "It's a tranquilizer." "You take them often?" "Occasionally, to help me sleep." "What are you worrying about, now?" " What is it?" " Nothing." " You should see yourself." " Why are you laughing?" "I could ne ver be unfaithful to you." "I couldn't stand the ridicule, the effort of having to hide and lie." "But ob viously, you find it eas y!" "Listen, Luisa, I'm very happy that you're here." "But try to understand, I'm very tired." "I'm sleepy." "Then go to sleep!" "Good night!" "I don't know, what do you expe ct to find out about me?" "Treating everything like I were a boring burglar." "What do you know about my life, anyway?" "I know what you let me see." "And what do I let you see?" "Go ahead, tell me what you see." "Where are you trying to go with all these moral judgments?" "Nowhere." "I know we've been at a dead end for years." "It's you who's always calling me, always trying to start over again!" "I don't want to start anything over again." "Honestly, what do you want?" "Why did you make me come here?" "For what reason?" "What do you want from me?" "Relax." "I already saw her last night after I got here." "Don't explain." "I didn't ask you anything." "Just spare me the shame of hearing you swear to a mess of lies." "She must have been born in March or April." "She's definitely an Aries." "I know what kind she is!" "Yeah?" "Women born under her sign are perfe ct companions for weak, passive men without clear ideas!" "Luisa, I didn't know she was here." "I'm here now for the first time as you are." "In a place like this, with so many people coming, e ven she can be here." "Oh, so that's why you've been at me since last night!" "Why didn't you say it right away?" "What I find really insulting is that you'd think" "I'd go out with a woman who dresses like that." " Don't you see how she is dressed?" " Listen, let's take a walk." "Now forget it, Luisa." "It was all over with three years ago." "He can drive you out of your mind!" "He talks exactly as if he were telling the truth." "Look at him." "He thinks he is right." "How can you live like this?" "It's not right, ne ver telling others what's true and what's not." "Is it possible that everything is the same to you?" "Everything." "Sorry, I know." "All right, so I'm being a bore." "It's humiliating to have to act like a scandalized housewife." "But... what else can I do?" "I don't find it as amusing as you do, Rossella!" "No, dear, I don't find it amusing." "What do you say to her?" "What do you talk about?" "What really nauseates me is that she knows everything about our life!" "You and me." "The whore!" "That cow!" "You know, you're a real pain in the ne ck." "And yet..." "What a lovely voice you have, Carla!" "Oh, no." "I'm just an amateur." "And how pretty you are!" "I've been wanting to meet you for a long time." "Me too." "How elegant you look!" "And you as well." "Oh, I know I look like a hick." "No, don't say that." "You look very distinguished." "You really like this dress?" "It was in Vogue." " Really?" " What I went through to find it!" "But once Carla makes up her mind..." " Here he is!" " Here he is!" "Here comes Guido!" "Good evening, ladies." "Close the door, it's cold, there's a blizzard outside." "How are you?" "Are you okay?" "Now pay attention" "Each package is marked up with the right name on it." "Don't mix them up." "This is for Caterina." "He's such a darling!" "For my dear sister-in-law, who finally learned to like me, be cause she understood that's the way things are." "Now, we'll get the bath ready right away." "Gloria, this is for you." "You know what it is..." "Thank you." "She needs to talk to you, Guido." "I know what she is going to tell you." "But now we're sending her away be cause she's acting so jealous!" "What were you doing upstairs?" "Visiting those poor, lonesome girls up there." "Carla can't play the part." "She has no class!" "Leave him alone now." "He's tired." "He is going to take a bath." "Guido, it's beautiful!" "I always wanted one like this." "Carla, Edy, take the buckets." "Guido, my husband wrote me." "Is it all right if I go home for N ew Year's?" "If you don't want me to, I'll say I can't." "Yes, I think that would be all right." "Carla, please..." "Who's the little black girl?" "It's a surprise for you!" "She comes from Hawaii." "Don't you remember her?" "You always used to talk about her." "Thank you, Luisa." "It was very kind." "Very thoughtful of you." "That's my tiara." "I know." "I'll return it to you." "My dear." "How exciting to see you here again." " How are you?" " Fine." "Would you tell me just one thing, lovely lady." "Who are you?" "My name doesn't matter." "I'm happy to be here, don't ask questions." "Can I stay?" "Of course, my dear." "I'm bus y now." "But later?" "You're here too, Rossella?" "What are you doing here?" "I'm being your Jiminy Cricket." "Am I intruding?" " No, but why are you laughing?" " Oh, it's nothing." "I only wanted to see how you'd manage." "So you finally got your harem, King Solomon!" " About time, wasn't it?" " You're right." "Lower me in." "Guido, tell me, aren't you a little afraid?" "Of what?" "E verything's perfe ct!" "Can I stay too?" "I just want to observe you." "As long as you obe y the house rules." "Come, help us." "Here is Guido, all of him, including the hat." " Is this all right?" " Hello, Edy." "That dress is lovely!" "What are these house rules?" "I don't know." "He promised me a part." "He said I have to wear many dresses." "That's enough, girls." "Lift me out." "Gloria, the talcum powder..." "Oh, yes, yes, yes." "Guido, you're wife's cooking your dinner now." "Really?" "Yes, and you'll be all nice and ready." "Happy, girls?" "Isn't this what you always wanted?" "Of course." "Isn't he the sweetest boy in the world?" "Nadine, hurry up with the talcum powder." "Nadine, what did you say in Copenhagen?" ""We invite all our passengers to be our overnight guests in Copenhagen."" "What a voice, girls." "Listen." ""All expenses will be paid by the company." "We wish you all a delightful evening."" "Come over and help." "Saraghina." "I'm here." "Look, he is all red." "What nice legs Guido has!" "As straight as when he was a child!" "He likes to act like a child." "But he is complicated!" "Don't trust him." "He's a hypocrite." "He isn't a hypocrite at all!" "Why should he tell anything to strangers." "He knows how to fend for himself." "Help, Guido!" "Help!" "Who's screaming?" "Jacqueline." "She refused to go upstairs with the old women so we locked her in the cellar." "It's a shame." "I don't want to talk with those witches." "They're all older than me!" "I'm only 26." "Go che ck my birth certificate in Paris." "Jacqueline Bombon, 26 years old!" "July 4, 1938." "You've got no right to send me upstairs!" "It's not time yet." "Look how limber I still am!" "Look at this body!" "Look at this legs, at these breasts!" "Oh, Guido!" "Don't send me upstairs!" "It's the house rule." "It's the house rule, and there are no exceptions." "But Guido..." "Calm down, Jacqueline." "They say it's fine upstairs too." " That's not true!" " Your earring, Jacqueline!" "Thank you." "You always liked me." "Ask him to make an exception for me." "Guido, make an exception for Jacqueline." "You too?" "Breaking my balls!" "Let me stay just one more year!" "There is no exception." " I won't go upstairs!" " What did you say?" " I won't go upstairs!" " Say that again, if you dare!" "I'm not going upstairs." "She's crazy!" "We shouldn't have taken her in, Guido." "I always said so." "Jacqueline, read the rules." "Once a woman passes a certain age, she must live upstairs" " where she'll be treated as well - but will live in the memories." " That's the rule." " It's an absurd rule." "We shouldn't have accepted it at the beginning." "It's not fair!" "This is a rule of a man who doesn't have what it takes!" "A real man would not care about age." "In France, such a man would be a national disgrace!" "A man who discards us after squeezing out all we have." " They are right, Guido." " You're a monster!" "Re volution!" "Hail Jacqueline, who showed us the way to freedom." "Down with the tyrant!" "We have the right to be loved till we're 70." "What makes him think he's still young?" "He's a lous y lover!" "Talk and kisses..." "that's his speed." " Then he goes to sleep!" " Not true." "I don't sleep right away." "Guido, don't send us upstairs when we're old!" "Enough of this!" "They're re volting upstairs, too!" "How delicious!" "I came all the way from Paris." "What's my part?" "Oh, my part." "Oh." "We implore you, Gino." "No!" "Guido, I'll dance the conga for you." " You like it so much." " I don't like it anymore." "Signora Luisa, help me!" "No, no dear... that's my husband's business." "H is de cision is his only." "It's the house rule." "Guido, hurry up." "Your soup's getting cold." "Can't you see I'm bus y?" "What an extraordinary man!" "Excuse me, but..." "He needs this excitement." "He does this almost every night." " Thank you." " Don't you remember?" "Did you forget everything?" "Darling, you're wounded." " I'll get cream." " I don't want cream." " I'll get an ointment." " I don't want an ointment." "Some drops?" "It's not true that your are discarded like a squeezed lemon." "The truth is, he would like to keep you with him always." "The truth is, he's too good, too patient!" "He doesn't like you..." "you're too old." "One moment of silence, please." "Dear Jacqueline, we're happy to have had the pleasure of your company." "And we wish you good luck on the upper floor." "We assure you that you were the first showgirl in his life." "And we grant you permission to give a final performance of your act under the spotlight." "Thank you, girls." "That's kind of you." "I'll now sing a love song." "No, a sexy song!" "That was my spe cialty." "Remember, Guido?" "The Apollo Theatre in Bologna?" "Yes, I remember." "After all, it's better if I sing a happy song." "Oh, I dropped my pearls." "I did it again." "You're not even listening." "Goodbye, Guido." "Goodbye!" "Goodbye, Guido!" "I thought this would be an amusing situation." "I thought this could be the most amusing part of the story." "I even prepared a little after-dinner spee ch." "It started like this:" ""My dear ladies... happiness consists of being able to tell the truth without hurting anyone."" "Carla would have played the harp, as she does each evening." "And we would have been happy, hidden away here, far from the world." "You and I." "What's wrong?" "Why all this sadness?" "You see." "Now we've made him feel guilty." "Guido, it was a wonderful evening." "You shouldn't feel sad." "Do you need anything?" "E veryone is going to bed now..." "I still have some chores to finish up." "There's laundry to do, and the dishes to wash." "Then, I'll have to mend the bedsheets, clean the floor, and prepare breakfast for the morning." "It's nice, living all together like this, Guido." "At first..." "I didn't understand." "I didn't understand that this is how things should be." "But now..." "do you see how good I am, Guido?" "I don't bother you anymore." "I don't ask questions anymore." "I was a little dense." "It took me 20 years to understand." "20 years..." "from the day we were married... the day you be came my husband, and I be came your wife." "Do you remember, Guido?" "Do you remember that day?" "If you could be patient with me a little longer, Luisa..." "But maybe you can't anymore." "Frankly, I'd be delighted if I could be of help to you." "But really, you've come here this evening trying to do the impossible." "No actor could breathe life into the characters in your script." "They're too undefined, too generic, practically nonexistent." "What are we seeing?" "I'm not sure." "The screen-tests, I belie ve." "Do you feel sick?" "No, I feel fine." "Listen," "Agostini, go on stage and dance a little." "I'll play the piano." "Listen..."The self-centered man who cherishes himself alone... will end by strangling on his own emotions."" "Stendhal, in "A Roman Journal."" "If people would pay some attention to what they find written inside fortune cookies, there wouldn't be so many disappointments." "There he is." "N ear the door." "Always ready for a quick exit." "Good evening, everyone." "Sorry I'm late." "What kind of a joke is this?" " Guido, where are you?" " I'm up here." " Won't you sit with us?" " I'd rather sit up here." "Good evening, signora." "Good, you'll help us, too." " Go ahead, let's start." " Right away, Producer." "They rented the theater to us and there is no show." "Get going." "Young man, come to a de cision tonight!" "I brought all the screen-tests." "There's no time for jokes, doub ts or hesitations." "He has to de cide tonight." "That's why we're here." "We had all the tests sent from Rome... the old ones and the new ones." "E ven those we shot five months ago." "Now, we'll re view all of them." "You must cast the mistress, the wife, the Cardinal, Saraghina." "Is that clear?" "I don't want to be came the joke of the film industry!" "Mostly I don't wish it for you." "E verybody's just waiting to pan this film." "You don't have many friends left, on either side." "Remember, I'm here to help you any way I can!" "You've got to start this picture right away!" "Let's start with the screen-tests." "Test for Olimpia." "Come in, Olimpia." " Should I close it?" " Yes." "Now walk forward..." "swing your hips." "Set down your stuff there." "Good." "Now go to the mirror." "Look pleased with what you see." "More pleased." "Breathe in." "Now, come to the phone." " Not so fast!" "You're running!" " I'm not running." "Go there, where there is a mark on the floor." " Hello, give me room service, please." " How can I help you?" "I'd like a bottle of mineral water." "Not carbonated, please." "I want some mineral water." "But not carbonated." " Then, Fiuggi water?" " No, Fiuggi is carbonated." "No, madam." "Look this way, this way." " Fiuggi is the less carbonated." " Fine, then send Fiuggi." "Do you like this one, Guido?" "Better de cide now." "She's leaving for England." " She's leaving next week." " Shut up." "Or do you like this one better?" "This is an important character." "She must be immediately congenial." "Am I right, Guido?" "You, Bertucci, get out of the way." "Sit down, you're exhausted." "This is a defeated woman." "No fight left in her." "Read the lines." " All at once." " Yes, all at once." "I'm offering you your freedom." "You don't need me anymore." "I'm only in your way." "Please, think about this seriously." "Who's this one supposed to be?" "Didn't you hear?" "It's the wife." "She's a congenial type, isn't she?" "A spiritual type..." " Give me a cigarette." " I'm out." "Enrico, get me one." " Here's a cigarette." " Thank you." "You're welcome." "I can't go on like this any longer." "Then, tell me what I should be like." "Someone who does not tell lies all day long." "All the time." "That's it." "I don't care what you do." "The problem is not knowing the truth. ever." "E ven in the smallest things." "Luisa, I love you." "You lie like you breathe!" "Say this line again." " You lie like you breathe." " Now, get up." "How impudent!" " It's all from his own life." " Yes, of course." "Oh, I re cognize this actress now." "I know her." "Why, am I not alone as it is?" "What are you giving me." "What's there to look forward to?" "Look in this dire ction." "Now put on the glasses... and repeat the last line of dialogue." "Why, am I not alone as it is?" "Speak aggressively and bitterly." "He asks," ""You want a separation?" "What will you do alone?"" "And she answers, "Why?" "Am I not alone now?"" "Go ahead." "Continue." "Guido, you shouldn't think twice about this one." "She's perfe ct!" "We've been looking at screen-tests for five months." "Why are these women so old?" " But, Fiuggi is carbonated." " No, Fiuggi is the less carbonated among the mineral waters." "Well, then send up Fiuggi." "Put down the phone." "Miss Olimpia's test." " How about this one, Guido?" " Say it again." "Put more into it." "You know it's dangerous to leave me alone." "Why?" "What do you do then?" " Shall I say it again, Doctor?" " No, no." "Put the phone down." "Turn your head around." "Good, Olimpia." "Stop." "Luisa, where are you going?" "Back to the hotel." "I'm sleepy." " Good night." " Wait a second." "What's wrong?" "What happened?" "Nothing." "Nothing ever happens between you and me." "Did the screen-test offend you?" "It's just a movie." "Oh, I know it's just a movie." "And just a lie, even if you did put all of us in it." "You showed only what suits you." "The truth is another matter!" "But I'm the only one who knows it." "You're lucky I will ne ver have the nerve to tell the world the way you do!" "But go on, make your movie." " No, I'm not going to make it." " Make yourself feel good." "No, I'm not going to do it." "Go on!" "Make everyone think you're wonderful!" "What can you teach other people?" "You're not even honest with me, the woman who grew old with you." "Luisa, don't get melodramatic." "It's a good thing you made me come here." "We had to come to a final de cision." "Well, my mind's made up now." "You can go to hell!" "Now, signora, run." "Faster!" "Run faster!" "He said run." "Run!" "And you, shut up!" " Throw him out." " Now, sing." "Producer, you'll think I've gone crazy, but here are the latest figures." "I'm not paying this, Conocchia!" "You've gone crazy!" "Saraghina, look." "We have mone y." "Saraghina, the rumba." "The rumba." "Guido, say something." "What about this one, Guido?" "Frankly, I like the first one better." "She was from Naples, wasn't she?" "Don't you see?" "I can't answer." "I can't speak." "I stutter." "When will you be here?" "I'm tired of waiting." "Look at me!" "Don't leave me alone." "You know it's dangerous." "Put down the phone." "Don't leave me alone." "You know it's dangerous, sweetheart." "Look here." "Can't you come right away?" "I'm tired of waiting." "It's dangerous to keep me waiting." "Louder." "Put more voice into it." "Countess, walk, go ahead." "I told you to walk." "Don't put your hands on me." "Test, Signora Grazia." "Now bare your shoulders all at once." "Mone y, Saraghina." "We have mone y." "Stop." "Good." "That was good." "And you, what do you think?" "Go ahead, speak up!" "It's a free country." "He says nothing." "Somebody better have an opinion here!" "Damn!" "Don't try to hide." "We'll always find you." " How are you?" " Great." "I'm Claudia's press agent." "I met you 15 years ago." "Do you remember me?" " Yes." " Look, she's here." "Excuse me." " How are you?" " Fine, and you?" "So you finally came." "Let's go out." "Shall we?" "This is Caroline, my secretary." "Yes." "I'd like to talk to you alone." " When do we start to shoot?" " Soon." "Very soon." "What's my part like?" " I'll explain it all." " I'm so happy to work with you." "I hope I can help, but I want to know everything, understand?" "Where are we going now?" "So..." "This way." "How lovely you are." "I'm in awe." "You make my heart beat like a teenager." "You don't belie ve me, don't you?" "What a deep, sincere respe ct I have for you." "Claudia... who's the man in your life?" "Whom are you in love with?" "You!" "You came just in time." "Why are you smiling?" "I ne ver know if you're judging me, or pulling my leg." "I'm listening to you." "You said you wanted to talk." "Tell me about the picture." "I don't know a thing." "Could you walk out on everything and start life all over again?" "Could you choose one single thing, and stick faithfully with it?" "Could you make it the one thing that gives your life meaning... just be cause you belie ve in it?" "Could you do that?" "Listen." "Suppose I told you, Claudia..." "Where are we going?" "I don't know the road." "How about you?" "Could you?" "The spring should be nearby." "You can hear it." "Turn here." "No, the character I'm thinking of couldn't." "He wants to possess and de vour everything." "He can't pass up anything." "He's afraid he'll miss something." "He's dying, drained of blood." " That's how the film ends?" " No, that's how it begins." "Then he meets a girl at the spring." "She's one of those that serve the medicinal water." "She's beautiful... young, yet ancient... child, yet already woman, authentic... radiant." "It's ob vious that she could be his salvation." "You'll wear white, with long hair, just as you have now." "Turn off the headlights." "And then what?" "I don't like this place." "It doesn't seem real." "Instead, I like it immensely." "From the story you told me, I understand almost nothing." "This man you describe, who doesn't love anyone..." "He doesn't get much s ympathy, you know?" "In the end, it's only his fault." "Why should he expe ct anything from others?" "You think I don't know that?" "What a pest you are..." "just like all the others." "Can't I say anything to you?" "You look so funny in that hat." "You dress like an old man." "I really don't understand." "This man meets a girl who can be his salvation." "But he reje cts her." "Be cause he doesn't belie ve it." "Be cause he doesn't know how to love." "Be cause no woman can change a man." "Be cause he doesn't know how to love." "And mostly, be cause I don't want to tell another untrue story." "Be cause he doesn't know how to love." "Claudia, I'm sorry I made you come here." "Forgive me." "What a crook you are." "So there's no part for me?" "You're right, there's no part for you in the film." "There's not even a film." "There's nothing..." "nothing at all." "As far as I am concerned e verything could end here." " Here he is." " What are you doing here?" "E veryone is looking for you." "Where did you go?" "You know, we start shooting next week!" "The producer had a great idea." "A cocktail party at the spaceship to launch the picture." "Tomorrow afternoon!" "All media..." "domestic and international." "Guido, we're finally in business!" "Hold him!" " Let's go." "Stop this." " I want to go home." "Don't act like a child." "Here he is." "He has arrived." "Guido, where are you going?" "Come back here." "Yes, Signor Guido, I'm sure you'll do very well today." "Now..." "I'm curious to finally hear the storyline of your film." "Don't you take yourself a little too seriously?" "Leave me alone!" "I'll walk by myself!" "H i!" "Good luck!" "Producer, here he is." "We've been waiting for you for three days." "It's winter already!" "A moment please, gentlemen." "Do you think of moviemaking as an art form?" "In your opinion, could pornography be the most intense of shows?" "Why don't you ever film a love story?" "You has-been, what do you think you can teach?" "Do you really think your life would be of interest?" "Do you have anything to say?" "Do you know that this movie is the story of..." "Answer them." "Say something." "Guido, say something." "Anything." "Do it for me." "I guarantee it will be an art film." "And after this film, how will he live?" "...against divorce, tell me, as a friend." "Your questions are hostile." "I assure you, my dire ctor is in great form." "What should I do?" "Conocchia, forgive me if I treated you badly." "You've been the best of them all." "He contemplates, he takes into consideration..." "Answer them." "I bought your story." "I've paid the bills for months." "Make this picture, or I'll ruin you." "Now he'll answer all the questions you have." "Claudia, where are you?" "Where are your "spirits" now, Rossella?" "What should I do?" "Go away, disappear?" "You won't be the same husband anymore." "I won't be your wife." "When will you really marry me?" "Is it true you want a separation?" "You want to leave me?" "I can't go on like this to the end." "And your wife, what does she think?" "It's in your right-hand pocket." "I put it in your right-hand pocket." "No, some things you don't say to anybody." "Clown." "Buffoon." "Come out, lous y actor." "One minute." "I'm thinking of what I should say." "I'll be there right away." "What an incurable romantic." "Where are you running, you wretch?" "Take everything down, boys." "We're not making the picture." "You've got two days to clear the place out." "Get bus y, take it down." " I'm I right, Doctor?" " Yes, thank you." "So long, boys." "See you on the next picture." "We hope." "Goodbye, sailor." "You did the right thing." "Belie ve me, this is a good day for you." "Oh, it was a costly de cision." "But we intelle ctuals, I say "we" be cause I consider you one too, we have the duty to be clear-minded to the end." "There are already too many superfluous things in this world." "Why add mess to the clutter?" "Anyway, losing mone y is part of the producer's function." "Congratulations." "It was the only thing to do." "As for him, he had it coming, undertaking such a frivolous adventure." "Now you need feel no regret, no remorse." "It's better to destroy than to create what's unessential." "Besides, what's clear enough, valuable enough, to deserve to survive?" "For the producer, a bad film is a matter of economics." "But for you, where you stand, it would have been the end!" "Better to wash your hands of it... scatter salt, as the ancients did, to purify the battlefield." "All that's needed is a little geniality, something that cleans, disinfe cts." "We're already suffocated by words, by sounds and images that have no reason to exist... that emerge from the void, and return to the void." "Any man worthy to be called an artist should swear one oath:" "Dedication to silence!" "Do you remember what Mallarme said to the blank page?" " He was a poet, my dear," " Wait, Guido, wait." "Not a movie dire ctor." "We're ready to begin." " Good morning." " H is de cision to stop writing, his..." "All my best wishes." "If you can't have everything, nothing is true perfe ction." "Forgive me all this quoting." "We critics do what we can." "Our mission is to abort all... the worthless works... that each day try to come to life." "There is no need to leave behind an entire film... like the deformed footprint of a cripple." "How presumptuous!" "To think that others may benefit... from a narration of all the errors you've made." "Why pie ce together the tatters of your life, the vague memories, the faces, the people you ne ver knew how to love?" "What is this sudden joy?" "Why do I feel strengthened and renewed?" "Forgive me, sweet creatures." "I didn't understand, I didn't know." "I do accept you, I do love you." "How simple it is!" "Luisa, I feel I've been freed." "Now everything seems worthwhile..." "meaningful... true." "Ah, how I wish I could explain!" "But I don't know how." "E verything is getting back to the way it was before." "All the confusion of my life has been a refle ction of myself." "Myself as I am, not as I'd like to be." "But that no longer frightens me." "I can tell the truth, what I do not know, what I seek and have not yet found." "Only with this in mind can I feel alive and look into your faithful eyes without shame." "Life is a holiday!" "Let us live it together." "That is all I can say, Luisa, to you and the others." "Accept me as I am, if you can." "It's the only way for us to meet one another." "I don't know if what you said is right..." "But I can try... if you'll help me." "Welcome back!" "Come, come forward." "Wait, just a moment!" "I'll give you the signal!" "All right... now!" "Go toward the curtain." "Open up!" "E verybody down!" "Come down." "Talk among yourselves." "Mamma!" "Gulp!" "You know, I understand what you want to say." "You're trying to say you can't do without us." " Will you call me tomorrow?" " Yes." "But now go join the others." "E verybody hold hands." "Spread out." "E verybody together." " Maestro!" " Everybody hold hands!" "THE END"