"First, there is water." "And water is life." "And where there's life, there's love." "But where there's love, there's also hate." "That's the way of the world." "So... you're the genius?" "Sit down..." "Marcello Romei." "Let's see what you can come up with, in two hours, on the immortal verses of Catullus:" "'Odi et amo', or rather:" "'I hate and I love'." "Each morning, in my village, surrounded by water, the theatre of hate took place, some were actors, others spectators." "Sooner or later I'll kill it!" "You hear me, Rozzani?" "I'm going to kill that rooster!" "Nobody in my village realized how imprisoned we were." "Good morning, Miss." "Resentment was second nature to the people of my village." "Good morning, Mayor." "Morning." "But in my village there was a peculiar tradition." "A tradition that should have led everyone to happiness." "No one remembered how it started." "But everyone followed it without questioning it." "There you are." "Papa told me that I must leave you a tip." "Thank you." "Well, I'll go now." "I think I might have a chance with the rector's daughter." "Pietro, I found some more!" "Have you no shame?" "This American music!" "Where do you find those records?" "There's nothing wrong with them." "You're a hero, my son." "You must set the example." "I'm sorry, Don Tommaso, but I just can't stop him." "Your son isn't the only one tempted by the Devil." "But he's the most dangerous." "No one can imagine the power of music." "But if you took a close look, this tradition had brought very little happiness." "Many had ruined their lives by following it." "And I was the son of two of them." "How do I look?" "It's useless, Armando always wins." "At least I'm trying." "I always liked the rector's daughter." "Then go off and get married!" "You talk like that because you've never been in love." "The ritual of this tradition took place on the 18th birthday of every girl in the village." "Good luck, Pasquale." "Let's hope." "Any boy interested in her had to bring a gift." "At 3 o'clock." "But the gift was not for the girl." "It was for the father." "And my decision is..." "Signor Armando Cesari!" "Always him!" "Excellent choice, Sir." "She has to be back by 8 pm." "Trust me, Sir." "Unfortunately, that's how most couples came together." "Papa!" "You forgot your lunch!" "Go back to bed!" "Go!" "I was a son of this tradition." "But I was also a witness to the unhappiness it brought." "Signor Romei?" "May I have a moment of your precious time?" "You know that I consider you to be a promising student." "There's a foundation in Rome, the Carlo Pisacane Foundation, that pays universitytuition for a deserving student." "I signed you up for the qualifying examination." "Professore, I want to stay here, with my father." "A delegate from Rome is coming on Saturday at three o'clock." "You'll get 3 hours to write an essay." "About what?" "Only the delegate knows." "And please don't disappoint us, neither me, nor the school." "You shouldn't get up so early." "You'll fall asleep in school." "Anyway, I'm coming fishing with you soon." "Get your diploma first and we'll see." "You know what I do on Saturday?" "I stay home and give this place a good cleaning." "Don't worry, dad..." "We're getting by just fine." "Even without mom..." "I often asked myself how I could escape from this tradition." "So I was taken by surprise when it actually came to me." "Do you still need me?" "No." "Damned dog!" "Bloody hell!" "Thank you." "I'll take care of the rest." "You're Marcello Romei, aren't you?" "Do you remember me?" "Are you alright?" "Yes, I'm fine, thanks." "So, is everything ready for the gift carousel?" "What did you expect?" "You're already one year late." "First you send me away for a modern education, and now that I'm back, you treat me like an object?" "Elena, I am not fond of this tradition either." "But certain things can't be changed." "Not even by the Mayor?" "Especially not by the Mayor." "If your mother were here, she..." "My mother isn't here anymore!" "And I don't think she would have approved." "I won't be here on Saturday." "No?" "And what shall I do when all the boys come at three?" "Play football?" "I didn't tell you, Pasquale, but yesterday I saw Elena at the harbour." "So I was right after all." "How is she?" "I can't find the words." "You?" "The best student in the class?" "She is..." "Don't tell me 'different'." "I've got to find away to be alone with her." "You know the way:" "Find a gift for her father." "No, not like that!" "How else, then?" "It's the only way a fisherman's son can win the Mayor's daughter." "That's what I don't accept." "There must be another way." "Oh, yeah?" "If you find one, let me know." "Hey, Romei!" "You know who came back to the village?" "'Gasping Elena'." "Don't you dare, Armando." "I see:'Marcello the Gentleman'." "How long is it since we last saw her?" "5-6 years?" "She should be ripe enough for the picking by now." "You might be surprised this time." "How?" "By the Mayor's contempt for your father." "Romei, everything has a price." "Help me out here:" "You haven't participated before, maybe because you don't like girls?" "It just seems to be my fate," "I shall get them all." "Are we doing nothing today?" "No." "No?" "No, I'm already done." "We'll see about that." "Hurry it up, boys!" "10 more minutes!" "Fate had trapped me and forced me to do what I never intended to." "But how?" "Yes, how?" "Damn rooster!" "I'm going to slice its throat right open You hear me, Rozzani?" "Right open!" "I'll have my revenge one day!" "Who the hell is it?" "Do you know what time it is?" "Excuse me, Signor Rozzani." "It's me, Marcello Romei." "We're not all fishermen." "Butchers are asleep at 5." "I was just wondering:" "Would you sell me your rooster?" "Huh?" "How much would it cost?" "You got me out of bed for this?" "You sell fish and I sell meat." "We're not made to do business together," "Understand?" "Good night, my boy!" "The butcher in our village was a creature of habit." "Every hour on the day he had to deliver meat to the bar." "What are you doing here?" "Where are you going?" "The gift!" "Rozzani has it!" "Didn't you want to find another way?" "Rozzani's rooster wakes the Mayor up every morning..." "If I bring it to him, he'll finally be able to sleep." "And he'll give me Elena!" "Are you out of your mind?" "If Pizzuti asks about me, tell him I'm sick." "Sick?" "What's your problem, my boy?" "Why are you following me?" "Believe me, Signor Rozzani, it's not easy for me to ask you this, but I really need your rooster." "But what do you need it for?" "As a gift." "As a gift?" "Ah, as a gift..." "Del Ponte's behind this, isn't he?" "Listen:" "I hate the Mayor." "Even if you brought me all the fish from Mar Tirreno," "I'd still keep that rooster." "At that point..." "I knew she was mine for the taking." "So what did you do?" "I put my hand on her knee." "Marcello's not coming today." "He's looking for a gift for Elena." "So he's really going for it?" "And what's the gift?" "I hope I misunderstood that part." "Misunderstood what, Mr. Curti?" "Nothing, Professor." "Marcello..." "He wasn't well last night, he isn't coming to school today." "I saw him last night, Professor." "He was fine." "Thank you, Mr. Cesari." "But no one asked for your opinion." "Don't ever come back!" "Where are you going, my son?" "I have a quick thing to do." "Isn't it a bit early for such things?" "May God be with you." "Excuse me..." "I'll give you the rooster!" "Thank you, Signor Rozzani!" "But on one condition." "Whatever you say!" "One bottle of the Palmieri's limoncello." "But people say there are only 20 left." "How can I ever get one?" "Only 20?" "In that case, instead of one," "make it two!" "But that's impossible!" "2 bottles for a rooster." "Take it or leave it." "Happy fishing, Marcello Romei!" "Not very much was known about the Palmieri Sisters." "Nobody knew when they were last seen in the village." "But also, no one really missed them." "Signorine Palmieri!" "No!" "You're wrong!" "I'm wrong because you're leading wrong." "And who are you?" "You wanted to see me, Professor?" "Pasquale." "What is Marcello up to?" "I told you." "He's sick." "Did he talk to you about the exam tomorrow?" "A chance like this only comes once in a lifetime." "We all know that Marcello deserves it." "If I were him, I wouldn't hesitate." "It's for him to decide, Professor." "It's his life." "We'll see what his father thinks." "Thank you, but..." "Drink!" "Drink!" "A nice tea is always good." "How lovely!" "Now that we no longer go to the village, the village comes to us." "Did you come alone?" "Ladies, I don't know why, but I think I can trust you." "Of course!" "Wait, Bernardina." "Let's first see what he wants." "You see..." "I want to get the first date of the Mayor's daughter tomorrow." "Is she your first love?" "Well..." "Such a sweet young thing he is!" "And so?" "I thought about a gift for her father." "Is that tradition still alive in the village?" "You see, I've found the gift." "But the person to whom it belongs will only give it to me in exchange for..." "For?" "For?" "Two bottles of your limoncello." "Ladies, I know you only have 20 bottles left and..." "We haven't produced anything since our poor father died." "The 11 bottles left..." "Not 20." "...are our only remaining source of income." "And 11 minus 2 would leave us" "only 9." " Excuse me," "I'm just curious." "Who wants our limoncello?" "Signor Rozzani." "That cretin of a butcher?" "Two bottles to that rowdy?" "Never!" "Never!" "We're sorry, Marcello." "Terribly sorry." "My dear ladies, as the son of a fisherman, I know what misery is." "So I would never want to be the cause of yours." "I should never have come." "But it seems to be the way of the world that kindred spirits remain separate." "A longtime ago, we planned to marry." "Twin brothers." "We made such ravishing couples!" "We ordered the most beautiful wedding dresses in the region." "From the dressmaker, Di Meo." "Do you know her?" "But unfortunately our two grooms-to-be..." "Fell in love with the dressmaker." "Both of them!" "And they cancelled the wedding." "Both of them!" "In all the confusion we never got the dresses." "If you bring us our wedding dresses, we'll give you 2 bottles of our limoncello." "Thank you so much, Signorine!" "Thank you so much!" "See you tomorrow!" "Be careful around that woman!" "She's a real seductress!" "A very sweet boy, you were right." "Ah, first love..." "I can't believe a girl as clever as you would consent to such a thing." "Well, I haven't quite decided yet." "Be careful." "This island is full of snakes." "2000 tongues and 4000 eyes." "You can change now." "Where's he going?" "To Marcello's father." "We have to warn him." "Of what?" ""Of what?"" "I've been wanting to talk to the dressmaker for a longtime, but I had always put it off." "This time I had a good excuse." "Signorina Di Meo?" "I'm here." "Good morning, Signorina." "Do you have a little time for me?" "Come here." "I bring you my father's greetings." "Really?" "How long does it take to make a wedding dress?" "Are you getting married?" "No, it's just that..." "Were you ever in love?" "Me neither." "Until the day before yesterday." "And you already want to order a wedding dress?" "Actually I need 2 wedding dresses." "The Palmieri Sisters would like to have their wedding dresses." "And they're sending you?" "It's complicated." "I want something from them and they want something from you." "Just tell me one thing:" "Do you still have them?" "Elena?" "Are you finished?" "I'll bring it to you at home later." "Thank you, Evangelina." "Listen, those lunatics defiled my honor!" "I never even blinked at their grooms!" "Look!" "All the residents of this island all let me do their mending," "but no one respects me." "That's not true!" "My father and I have always respected you..." "As well as your brother..." "You're ruining my day." "You're wrong." "I'm ready to fight for the honor of your whole family." "I'll look after my honor, as I've always done." "As for my brother's, it's too late anyway." "One must let go of the past." "This is no matter for kids!" "And I'll never give the wedding dresses back to them!" "So did it work out with the rooster?" "Rozzani wants 2 bottles of the sisters' limoncello." "So what?" "In exchange, the 2 sisters want their wedding dresses back." "And who wants to marry them?" "The seamstress hates the sisters." "She'll never give up the dresses." "It's a question of honor." "And you can't trade anything for honor." "Not even the barber's pistol?" "Why didn't I think of that?" "Yes, the one that killed her big fascist brother!" "If I bring her that pistol, she'll never refuse me the dresses." "Thanks!" "But another problem." "Pizzuti is going to your father's." "Oh, Christ!" "What time is it?" "You must stop him!" "How?" "Take the short cut over the headland." "And you?" "Me?" "I..." "I'm going for a shave." "Our barber also tried to escape from his fate." "His fate, however, seemed more complicated than mine." "Pietro, what's gotten into you?" "I've never charged you, why do you want to pay today?" "What you did for this village can never be repaid." "Here." "There are very few people like you!" "Could you give me a shave?" "Marcello, are you here?" "Signor Romei?" "It's me, Professor Pizzuti!" "Is that the famous pistol?" "Why do you keep it there?" "My mother put it up there." "You're the one who used it." "You can do what you like with it." "Things aren't as simple as they seem." "Do you like American music?" "I've never really listened to it." "I'm crazy about it." "They call it Rock  Roll." "That's real life!" "Understand now?" "The problem with the priest of our village was that he pretended to act exactly... as if he were the priest in our village." "In the name of the Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." "It's been a while since I saw you." "I'm all ears, my son." "Father, I need your help." "That's why we're here." "I am thinking of joining the priesthood." "You?" "Marcello Romei?" "Everyone has a special calling." "I feel called to help the people." "Don't take on too much." "But to do this..." "I realized that I must make compromises." "Marcello, you have to be very careful." "There are those who compromise so much, that they end up selling their souls to the Devil." "Then I must beg forgiveness." "Did you sell your soul to the Devil?" "Well, I promised someone... your... your record collection." "What?" "You promised someone those records?" "Are you completely crazy?" "But it's for a good cause!" "Lord, convince him!" "I see your knowledge of Christian retoric is already impressive." "And I congratulate you on your calling." "But this cross is too heavy for you to bear." "There he is." "Signor Romei!" "Signor Romei!" "Damn it, he can't hear us." "And he can't see us!" "Let's go." "American Music!" "What's it called?" "Rocky?" "Rocka?" "Rock  Roll, Don Tommaso." "You want the voice of the Devil?" "Then bring me the voice of God." "With every new turn it seemed like I was seeing our village for the fist time." "It was like a game." "Even before I met up with Signora Lombardi I asked myself:" "Who would be next?" "Hey, young man!" "What are you doing here?" "Damn!" "Your absence from choir is noticed, believe me." "I miss the choir as well." "But unfortunately it's all over for me." "Are you ill?" "In one sense..." "Signora Lombardi, I would be happy to help you." "Thank you, Marcello, but it's impossible." "You're still just a child." "Well, try me." "He wanted..." "He wanted me to pose for him." "Naked." "It was the summer of 1932." "I wasn't much older than you are now." "An innocent girl." "He assured me that the painting would only be shown in Roman galleries." "How could I have known that one day someone from this very village would buy the painting?" "I found out by chance." "At a dinner." "Since then I can't allow myself to be seen in church or anywhere else." "What if someone recognizes me?" "I only go out at night, like a ghost." "And if I were to try to get the painting back?" "Thank you, but that's impossible." "Let me be the judge of that." "Stealing it is out of the question." "And buying it as well." "I can't ask my husband for the money." "And trading?" "Well, what could I ever trade with the Cesaris?" "Are you saying Signor Cesari has the painting?" "Armando's father?" "Do you know his son?" "Marcello, bring me the painting and I swear" "I'll sing for God for the rest of my life." "Elena Del Ponte returned the day before yesterday." "Doesn't she study abroad?" "It's her birthday tomorrow." "If you're asking me for money to buy her a gift, forget it." "Why?" "Are things so bad between you" "and the Mayor?" "That's of no concern to you." "Besides, what does it matter to you?" "One girl more or one less." "Your mother and I met thanks to this tradition." "And we hope that sooner or later you too will find the right girl." "Me, I like Elena." "I don't believe you." "You like everyone and no one." "What'swrong?" "Don't tell me you were happy with your father's choice." "Sometimes I ask myself:" "What was the gift?" "What are you saying?" "Sorry, mom, I have to go." "And who exactly is this naked woman?" "I can't tell you that." "Oh, I forgot:" "'Marcello the Gentleman'!" "So my father's painting is the last thing on your list." "At least for now." "It depends on what you want for it." "Here's the deal:" "I'll give you my father's painting, and if your plan works, you give me Elena." "What?" "You heard." "You bring her to the harbour bar and disappear." "Take it or leave it." "How can you ask me such a thing?" "I already told you:" "Everything has a price." "Forget it!" "Some things can't be bought." "Really?" "I didn't know that." "You're a real son of a..." "Talking about your mother?" "You know where to find me, Marcello Romei!" "Hello, Liliana." "Hello, Salvatore." "I suppose Armando will be coming tomorrow." "I would prefer it if he didn't." "Me too." "As Mayor you really must do something to put an end to this awful tradition." "It's done enough damage already, don't you think?" "Don't think you're the only one who suffered." "We only have one life." "And you and I have already ruined ours." "I'm really sorry, but we didn't make it." "Pizzuti got there before us." "It doesn't matter anymore." "And the barber?" "To satisfy him I had to make deals with 2 more people." "I bet you can't imagine who's next on the list." "Our dear friend Armando Cesari." "What's that idiot go to do with it?" "I should have got one of his father's paintings." "And why don't you try?" "Listen." "It's time to face reality:" "I can't make a deal with him." "With anyone else, but not him." "Listen, Marcello Romei!" "If you really want 'Gasping Elena', then get up, go to that house, ring the door bell and ask for the damned painting!" "And if this daddy's boy tells you to run naked around the village with a carrot in your butt, you'll do it." "Understand?" "This circle is never going to close." "You started this circle!" "And you'll close it!" "You!" "Good evening, Marcello." "I saw that you..." "It's called asthma." "I get it when I get emotional." "Is it true that everyone calls me 'Gasping Elena'?" "It's because looking at you makes one gasp." "I was wondering:" "How many will be there tomorrow?" "Usually everyone goes." "And you?" "The son of a fisherman doesn't easily find a gift for the Mayor." "But you found one?" "Actually, I did." "It's just that it costs me so much." "Then we'll see each other tomorrow." "How was school?" "I didn't go." "I don't understand you, but at least you're not a liar." "I had to try something." "Sit down." "You want to be a fisherman for the rest of your life?" "You have opportunities." "And thanks to your teacher there's a big one tomorrow." "And what do you do?" "You don't even go to school." "You're running after I don't know what." "Do you want to know what it was?" "What was it?" "It was..." "It was a dream." "Dreams aren't meant" "for people like us." "Papa!" "You sit on your boat day in, day out to be alone." "You sit here every night without seeing anyone." "Don't you realize?" "You're dreaming, too." "But dreaming of what is no more." "First love isn't always the good one." "That might be true for you and mom." "How dare you?" "Listen, you should think more about yourself." "Mom's gone." "She left." "And she was right to leave." "Because you were always in love with the dressmaker." "And she knew it." "Rozzani, I'll have your damned rooster on a skewer!" "You understand?" "On a skewer!" "Good morning, Marcello." "So early?" "It was in the drawing-room, but one daymother hid it downstairs." "And what will your father say?" "I'll handle my father." "Do I have your word?" "You have my word." "At least tell me who she is." "What about the carrot?" "Did he ask for it?" "You have to cover me!" "Pizzuti will kill you!" "You must stop him from catching me." "At any cost!" "You can count on me!" "And me, why should I do it?" "Because you're my friend." "And what are you going to do for me?" "Have you ever seen a naked woman?" "Hurry up, Signor Cesari." "Of course, Professor." "Good morning, boys." "Good morning, Professor." "Where is Marcello Romei?" "And Pasquale Curti?" "Do you like it?" "It's for today." "What do you mean?" "I've changed my mind." "And why this?" "I'm the daughter of the Mayor." "Well then." "Let's hope there's a boy worthy of you on this island." "We'll see." "Have you got someone in mind?" "No." "You see, Elena, I know this might seem like child's play to you," "but it can change your life." "Excuse me." "You want everyone to hear you?" "Come in." "Sorry, I never thought it would come to this." "Alright, alright." "It's 10.25." "The test is at 3 pm." "I'll go to the harbour." "And I'll search the streets." "It's looking bad, I'm telling you." "Go ahead." "With my compliments." "Did you see it?" "Only what was necessary." "Well then, you may inform Don Tommaso that I will attend the choir rehearsal this afternoon." "Excuse me, but Don Tommaso is like the saint of the same name:" "He only believes what he sees." "I'm wondering... in your opinion," "is a pact made in the Devil's interest valid?" "But you made me a promise!" "I too can be a sinner." "But I need those records!" "Not all needs are Christian needs." "Well?" "Well?" "We can't even trust priests." "Really?" "Let me try." "What is it?" "Pasquale Curti!" "He's not well!" "He's speaking in tongues!" "Mama mia, Holy Mother!" "Oh my God!" "Help me!" "It's my first exorcism." "Demons, I am possessed by demons!" "Be gone, Satan!" "Abandon this body!" "Be gone, Satan!" "Abandon this body!" "Leave him to me!" "Satan, leave this soul in peace!" "Never!" "This soul is mine!" "Leave him to me!" "Leave him to me!" "Satan, abandon this body!" "Never, never!" "This soul is mine!" "Help me, Don Tommaso!" "It's mine, mine!" "All the Lord's archangels, Anael, Gabriel," "Raphael, Ezekiel, help me!" "Don Tommaso, it went away!" "It went away?" "Already?" "Yes, thank you!" "But are you sure?" "Yes, I feel better than ever." "I have to go now." "What are you doing here?" "And where is Marcello?" "That way!" "That way!" "I wasn't born yesterday." "If you say he's gone this way, it means he's gone that way!" "Go!" "It has to soften a bit, come backing half an hour." "This one isn't mine, but I'll take it anyway." "Pietro, I'm in a hurry." "Thank you, I know what all this has cost you." "You can't even imagine..." "How about that limoncello?" "I'm working on it." "Wait!" "Where are you going?" "Come here!" "Sorry, Professor." "Didn't mean it." "What happened, Professor?" "Don't ask." "Coffee." "Have you seen Marcello Romei, by any chance?" "I'm looking for him too." "So that's two of us." "Three, with his father." "If you find him, bring him to the church." "Sorry, but if I find him, I'll take him to the school." "First comes the soul!" "Signorina Di Meo!" "What are you doing?" "Are you crazy?" "What do you think you're doing with that?" "Don't tell me I should give it back to the barber." "We all know what it means to you." "Put it away!" "I didn't steal it." "I swapped it." "You have no idea what you're starting here." "Open the door!" "It's me, Mariano!" "Evangelina!" "Open up!" "Don't even think about it!" "I didn't come for that." "You think you can change the world, but you can't." "They'll make you pay for trying." "Really?" "Like you made her pay?" "You're right." "I know you have suffered." "Me too." "Let's start over again, Evangelina!" "So you'll give me the wedding dresses?" "I burnt them." "I couldn't look at them anymore." "Although... the dresses are always the same:" "I made them the way my father did." "I still remember the lace the Palmieri Sisters wanted." "Their blue roses, too." "It could be ready in half hour." "But I need 2 dresses!" "All I have is one." "I know where we can find one." "Professor, I was looking for you." "Armando and Marcello..." "Now what?" "They've challenged each other to a duel." "What kind of duel?" "Marcello's got the barber's pistol!" "Armando challenged him over Elena!" "It doesn't mean any thing to me anymore." "They'll be ready by 1.30 pm." "Thank you, dad." "Well?" "I don't get it." "I saw the 2 of them come here with pistols." "I'm sure of it." "Perhaps we've arrived too early." "Oh, no!" "It's too late!" "We've arrived too late!" "They've already shot each other!" "They're dead, Professor!" "Forgive me Marcello, my friend!" "Armando didn't mean a thing to me!" "But you, Marcello, you I loved!" "Forgive me!" "It's a pity there's no scholarship for best actor." "Damn you, Pasquale!" "Are you disappointed that I'm giving up the scholar ship?" "Of course I'm disappointed." "But you've decided to go for your dream." "Prepare yourself!" "A nice tea" "is always good." "Thank you, but..." "Drink it!" "Drink, drink!" "Strange." "I don't remember it like this." "Because you've taken mine!" "Don't you see the blue rose on the left?" "The one with the rose on the left was mine." "Yours was on the right." "Bernardina, you're muddling everything up." "Just like with the men." "Pardon me?" "You never knewwhich one you were kissing." "Dear Rosetta, the moment has come to confess that I knew very well" "that I was kissing yours sometimes." "What a tramp!" "Do you realize what I've had to put up with my whole life?" "And now give me my dress!" "No, you're ruining it!" "Leave it to me!" "Let it go!" "Rosetta, you're ruining it!" "Let it go!" "She didn't say which one was mine?" "And which was mine?" "Enough!" "The time has come to go from 11 bottles to 9." "Well, Professor?" "Nothing!" "You?" "No, but I have faith in Providence." "Hey, you!" "Wait, Father!" "Hold on tight!" "So now, you two are teaming up?" "!" "What is all this mess?" "Go, Marcello." "Or you'll be too late!" "I made it!" "They're right behind me!" "They're right behind me!" "This is worth at least 2 naked women, my friend." "3 o'clock, Marcello, 3 o'clock!" "Or you'll regret it!" "Signor Rozzani!" "Only one bottle?" "I guess I bet on the wrong horse." "The race isn't over yet." "Signor Rozzani!" "Finally!" "How was your little fishing trip?" "Just one bottle, Signor Rozzani." "Just one?" "Shall I give you half a rooster?" "Do what you want." "Well then, we've both lost." "Don't worry, people like you always land on their feet." "It's only a game!" "We're 19!" "I don't want to be 19 my whole life!" "Here's the rooster." "Give me the bottle!" "Come on!" "And you?" "You come into my house and bring this as a sign of respect for my family?" "But, Signor Mayor, this is..." "I'll tell you what it is!" "It's a bad joke." "Thank you so much!" "She has to be back home by 8 pm." "I need more paper." "Be careful." "Quantity doesn't always mean quality." "That's true for hate." "Not for love." "Signorina, Signore?" "Hello." "May I have some tea?" "But of course." "And for the gentleman?" "I'll have tea as well." "A nice tea is always good." "Isn't it dumb, this tradition?" "Tiring, more than anything else." "Yes, I see." "Next time I'll be more presentable." "What makes you think there will be a next time?" "One can hope..." "Some of those people seemed quite happy for you." "Yeah, Pasquale and Diego." "They're my best friends." "Mine have left the village." "Things have been rather hard since my mother died." "You lost your mother as well?" "In a certain sense." "Tea for the lady and a nice tea for the gentleman." "Is everything OK?" "Yes." "I have to..." "Oh, of course." "The girl has quite a temper." "You'll have to explain everything to her." "I've decided not to leave her alone with you." "The working class is rebelling?" "Excuse me." "My dear 'gentleman'," "I know something that a court of law would find interesting." "I saw your hands steal a painting from my wall." "If you don't leave me Elena," "I'll accuse you of theft!" "You damned son of a..." "Strange how you think of your mother in such situations." "How can you be like this, Armando?" "Stop trying to understand everything." "Is something wrong?" "Everything's OK." "Hello, Elena." "Hello, Armando." "You can go now." "It's my turn." "Excuse me?" "Didn't he tell you?" "It's part of our deal." "You should know that half the village is involved." "Me, I traded a naked woman for you." "Are you crazy, Armando?" "I'm not, but Marcello obviously is." "Tell me that's not true." "Yes, I made an agreement, but..." "Better than gasping!" "Where are you going?" "You're mine until eight o'clock." "What are you doing, boys?" "How are you, Signor Cesari?" "Shall I get you some ice?" "How are we today, Signor Cesari?" "Come on, let's go!" "We only have a few minutes left." "It's 17.55." "What's the matter?" "The matter is..." "This young delinquent stole one of my paintings!" "Gentlemen, I know this boy" "and I can assure you that..." "It's true, Professor." "And why did you steal it?" "I didn't steal it." "I made a deal with your son." "With my son?" "I wanted the date with Elena." "Excuse me, but you brought me the rooster, not the painting." "It's a long story, Gentlemen." "So, who has the painting now?" "The painting is now... with the Voice of God." "Really?" "Very interesting." "And I traded the Voice of God for the Voice of the Devil as they go hand in hand." "That's the way of the world." "Yes, Signor Delegate." "That's the way of the world." "But in these 2 days I've learned that on this island everyone wants something from somebody else." "Our little island is governed by hate and by envy." "All because of this wretched tradition, which I've also become entangled in." "May I go now?" "Well, a few things still need to be explained." "It's all in my essay." "I hope you like it, Signor Delegate." "I'm quite certain I will, Marcello Romei." "What happened, Marcello?" "Why did you do that to me?" "I would give anything to make up for what I did to you." "And the most absurd thing is that, in the end, I lost what I most desired in the beginning:" "Just to be with you." "Don't you see?" "You ruined everything." "No, not everything." "Not our walk together through the village, not the few minutes alone with you at the bar." "Only for those few moments" "I would have made deals... with the whole of Italy." "Give it back to me!" "I'll butcher it!" "I know you did it on purpose!" "Give it back to me!" "May I?" "Please." "When are you leaving?" "I've realized that the sea is good for my asthma." "First there is water." "And water is life." "And where there's life, there's love." "But where there's love, there's also hate." "That's the way of the world."