"IDENTIFICATION OF A WOMAN" "Where the hell did I put that thing?" "Keep calm." "Goddamn her paranoia!" "His wife was a very fearful woman." "When they divorced, she took her fears with her, but the alarm system stayed." "All right, all right." "I'm coming." "Uncle Niccolò, don't forget." "You promised me a year ago." "Yeah, I know." "I know." "You're right, damn it." " Everything okay?" " Yes." "It was my fault." "I'm sorry, Romolo." " I even brought this." "You never know." " Good thinking." " Good night." "The stamps..." "Again?" " Mr. Niccolò Farra?" " Who's this?" " So you're back at last." " What do you mean, "at last"?" "Hello!" "I've been asked to tell you something important... for you." "You know what time it is?" "You weren't in earlier." "What's your name?" "How about meeting somewhere?" "If it's so important, tell me now." "Who is this?" "Not over the phone." "It's a delicate matter." "Better in person." "Who asked you to call?" "I'll tell you when we meet." "Then give me your phone number." "I don't have one." "That's why we have to meet." "How's 10:00 a.m. Tomorrow at Fassi's ice cream parlor?" "Who is it?" "Why can't I stop thinking about you?" "Hello." "For some time you've been interested in a girl..." "very pretty, I'm told." "I've never met her." "Her name?" "I'm sure we're thinking of the same person." "Anyway, it's my business, don't you think?" "That's just the point." "I have a feeling it's not just your business." "I'm here to give you some advice." "Such as?" "Go on." "I want to hear the end." "That is the end." "This isn't a threat." "Just a simple warning." "You mind explaining that?" "Well, if you value your peace of mind..." " What can I get you?" " Nothing, thanks." "Here." "What some people will do for an ice cream!" "Tomorrow at 4:00, then..." "on the dot, eh?" " I need to use the phone." " Sorry." "Go ahead." "Good-bye." "See you tomorrow." "It's me." "I've got something amusing to tell you." "Can we meet?" "Could you get that?" "My secretary's gone." "Sure." "Who is it?" "I'd like to speak to the doctor." "She's busy." "May I help?" "My name's Farra too." "I don't understand." "Are you a gynecologist too?" "No." "I meant the doctor is my sister." "That makes me her brother." "I'm calling for an appointment, not to play games." "You're right." "Forgive me." "I'm sorry." "Niccolò Farra, the film director?" "That's what they call us." "Since you have to wait, you mind telling me what you look like?" "Why?" "You want to use me in a film?" "I don't know." "I don't know you." "I'm uneasy when I can't visualize the person I'm talking to on the phone." "Here's my sister." "Could I make an appointment for tomorrow?" "Just a moment." "No, I can't tomorrow." "Give me your name and number." "Maria Vittoria..." "Luppis." " Just a minute." "65-60-39." "Fine." "I'll have my secretary call you." " Can you wait a minute?" " Sure." "If man didn't exist, would God still exist?" "There are doubts even with man." "Imagine without him." "It's true." "What did God do before creating the world?" "Nothing." "Where's your bed?" "Find it." "Your panties?" "You take them off, but not right away." "I hope you're not one of those who need sex like their daily bread." "You're the one who asked where the bed was." "Could we just relax for a while?" "I have some problems." " Like what?" "Not really problems." "It's just that I started late." "Why was that?" "I went to school for a year in Wales." "Atlantic College, right on the ocean." "Never heard of it." "Only you blue bloods know these places." "Besides our other studies, we specialized in lifesaving at sea." "Lifesaving?" "If our canoes capsized, we had to save each other." "Winter, summer." "Even after meals, and in rough seas." "It was waves and canoes all the time." "But it was actually very nice." "Except there was no screwing." "It wasn't allowed, so I had to wait." "The college was very beautiful." "The doctor told me not to have sex for a few weeks." "My sister?" "You went to see her?" "I'm sure once won't matter." "A cigarette?" "Here." "Is that why the other night..." "Please, I don't like to talk about sex." "God forbid!" "I know." "I'm incapable of being on time." "Sorry." "What is it?" "Any suitors after you recently?" "There's always someone." "No, I mean one in particular." "Probably rich and middle-aged." "Why?" "This certain person even sent a stooge to threaten me." "What?" "Come on." "Threaten you?" "Two hours ago." "He called and we met." "He let me know it would be better if I didn't see you again." "Who is it?" "No one comes to mind?" " Try to think." " I'm trying." "I don't know." "Want me to swear?" "Does this face ring a bell?" "You sure?" "Never seen him before." "I say he's your lover boy's thug." " You think I hang around with thugs?" " Thugs, no." "But the Don Juans who pay them, yes." "Your crowd must be full of them." "I quit that crowd a while ago." "So what do we do?" "Yes, what do we do?" "You don't want to break up because of some jerk, do you?" "Of course not." "I wonder what he looks like." "Why don't you introduce me to some of your former friends?" " Good evening." " Evening, Carlo." " Mavi?" " Hi." "How are you?" " See you upstairs?" " Of course." " Ah, you're here?" " Leaving already?" " I'll be back." " How's Mother?" "Fine." "Call her." " My sister." " And him?" "One would think..." " Think what?" " Isn't that Mavi Luppis?" " Yes, she'd disappeared." "That you shared a canoe with each of them at Atlantic College." " Why?" " You're so at ease with them all." "They obviously feel at ease with me." "Besides, I told you I like men." "Especially in spring." "In spring I always feel like meeting new men." "Good thing it's still winter." "I've got time." "Just a moment." "I have something to tell you." "How are you?" "Long time no see." "Working on a new film?" " You go see them?" "Of course." "You mind if we leave?" "I wonder if anyone ever watched me while I slept." " Who's that?" " That man makes millions a day." "What does he do with it?" "Some here have nothing, but those with money know where to put it." "That's why it's not their fault if things go badly." "The system is to blame." " The what?" "It's true." "You think what we have is a society?" "We lack the concept of a single society." "Instead there's a society for every group." "You have a cigarette?" "Sure." "So now you're into politics?" "Good evening." "How are you?" "Is that blond lady your wife?" "You must both come to my place for dinner." "May I call you?" "Of course." "What did you mean by "my place"?" "Your place." "May I borrow it?" " I haven't seen you in ages." " I was in Paris." "What do you think of the elections?" "I think Mitterand's very nice." "I hope he does well." "In any case, we'll see." "One of my ancestors invented the double-bass." "Tell me, is there always this cliquish atmosphere at your cocktail parties and dinners?" "You all seem afraid of being spied on." "Can you blame us?" "Many have already fled the country." "I see." "Once it was the poor who emigrated from Italy." "Now it's this crowd." " Really?" "Now what will you do?" " It's always like this." "Let's go over there." " I see you like strawberries." " And you like your wine." "As always." "What are you doing?" "Oh, sorry." "Excuse me, but aren't you?" "Niccolò." "Excuse me." " Where were you?" " I want to introduce you." " I saw him." " Who?" "Your admirer." "I'm sure of it." " Point him out." " He's gone now." "How are you?" "See you later?" "Is something the matter?" "Niccolò's searching for a guest he doesn't know." " What has the poor man done?" " Nothing." "Then why are you looking for him?" "If someone here was hot for me, don't you think I'd have noticed?" "I never know if you're telling the truth." "So?" "A little dishonesty at the right moment is called for." "It's strange how, at one and the same time, you can seem intelligent and stupid, good and bad, bitter and sweet." "Me?" "Yes, you." "You've got all the good qualities that usually make up a character, and the flaws too." "It's as if you're incapable of..." "Mavi." "Listen... if you want to stay together, we have to listen to each other, even the things we don't like, and there'll be more and more of those." "No, let's stay right here a while." "I feel uncomfortable." "They must think I'm an outsider who's come to gawk." "They tolerate me for your sake." " Of course." "See?" "You think like them." "Can't you see I'm no longer with this crowd?" "I'm with you." "You want me to swear?" "Yes, you're cute when you swear." "You paid me a compliment!" "You know where the file for 120 is?" "Find it for me." "Niccolò." "Excuse me, but we were first." "Please be patient." "Who knows how long the poor guy's been waiting." "Well, he's not the only one." "Did you get my message?" " Yes." " Something happened to my sister." " An accident?" "No, they passed her over for head of the gynecology department." "It's an abuse of power." "I'm sure it's my fault." " What do you mean?" "He's starting to carry out his threats." "But the bastard doesn't strike at me... but at someone close to me." "That's a low blow." "Do your parents have any connections at the hospital?" "My mother might, but you can't get her to do anything." "What's wrong?" " I'm really angry." " Why?" "My mother's long-time lover won't leave me alone." "He keeps phoning, asking to see me." "Remember that party at Dandini's when I stopped to talk to a man?" "May I speak to you for a moment?" "There's something I've wanted to tell you for so long now." "May I one of these days?" "Tell me now." "You mean something that happened 20 years ago?" " How did you know?" " Intuition." "Paternity isn't an abstract concept." "Your mother always said if you just looked in the mirror, you'd know you were my daughter." "I'd know no such thing." "Look at our hands." "I've hated him ever since I was a child." "But he's adored me since the day I was born." "But he could never tell anyone, including me." "He couldn't touch me, caress me... because I always felt an instinctive repulsion for him." "I thought of him as a family friend." "I always avoided him." "Why?" "It's not your fault." "No, it's not, is it?" "See that girl?" "I was with a friend two days ago when his motorcycle got a flat." "A car was parked nearby." "I went over to borrow a screwdriver." "She was inside, totally naked, with a guy." "You see?" "She recognizes me too." "Niccolò, don't forget the stamps." "I may be crazy, but I want to make a film with you." "You'll have complete freedom." "I've sent the script over." "Let's see if those damned stamps are here." "A catalogue." ""Voices from the Other World, or, Think..." "I Exist." "Objective Proof of Life After Death."" ""Complete freedom," and he sends me a script." ""List of people who've communicated with the other world."" "I almost feel like calling one of them." "Good Lord." " Would you cut it out?" " Who, me?" "You disappeared." "What's up?" "If I don't put an end to this, I won't get any work done." "Think twice before stopping it." "Is that why you came back?" "Who was it who said, "Family life is an intrusion on one's private life"?" "I can't even think about myself, or the film I want to make." "What's this film about?" "I don't know the story yet." "That's why I didn't tell you before." "But the main character is a woman." "How can you know that if you don't know the plot?" "It's a feeling." "A feeling in female form." "It's hard to explain." " Another love story." " I didn't say that." "What possible meaning can a love story have today with all the corruption and decay around?" "Corruption is the cement that holds this country together." "Besides, corrupt people are the first to want love stories." "I'm looking for a face... an idea for the character, but all I can think of is her." "Won't she do for the character?" "Why the hell should Mavi be in my film?" "She's in my life." "Isn't it the same thing?" "Looking for a character means looking for settings and a story line." "And why can't you find them?" "Having a crisis, eh?" "What crisis?" "Listen... you and I have been discussing things forever." "We've examined and reexamined so many theories and ideas." "Meanwhile the world changes, makes all our words out of date, and becomes increasingly impenetrable." "Have you ever gone hang gliding?" "Me neither, but I can imagine it, and that's the sort of feeling I'd like with a woman." "But you always have to talk and say something." "Silence is oppressive." "I'd like to be silent with a woman." "Have the kind of relationship with her that you have with nature." "Unless you're crazy, what do you do at the ocean or in the woods?" "You just look in silence." "But though you don't realize it, there's still a dialogue." "You speak and you answer, as if it were another person." "My ideal woman would be like that other person." "Ideal woman!" "Are you waiting for her?" " Yes, I am." "Mavi, don't come over." "There's someone downstairs." "You hear?" " What are you afraid of?" "I'm afraid for you, not me." "Besides, it's not about fear." " You've lost your sense of humor." "That would be a shame." "But maybe humor itself has changed." "Then I won't come over." "Hold on." "I'm not coming over." "Look, I've got cellulite already." "I should be in the flower of my youth, but..." "You'll be old when no one's in love with you anymore, but I'm here now, so don't worry." "Are you in love with me?" "Hello?" "I ran all the way up the stairs." "No, I'd just gone out for some cigarettes." "How do I know you're not seeing this man secretly?" "I've told you so." "Want me to swear?" "No, I believe you." "You say you do, but you don't." "Whatever you say." " Is that man still there?" " Yes." "Invite him up for a drink." "Good idea." "I'll call you later." "My God!" "Who's there?" "It's me." "Don't turn on the light." "You're crazy." "Why not?" "That guy at my place followed me." "If it's dark, he'll go away." "He must have a family too." "Then you and I will go away." " Where to?" " The country, okay?" " Yes, my love." "My love..." "Will it be cold?" "Is the place heated?" "I don't know." "It's not my place." "I rented it a few times in the summer." "It might be cold." "Bring a sweater or something." "Look." "Think that's him?" "No, that's not his car." "Anyone out at night must have their reasons, whether silly or serious." "We think they're crooks." "You know why?" "We're the ones full of suspicion, for purely emotional reasons." "Here comes the fog." " Go slow." " Slower than this?" " I can't see." " We just follow the white line." " Sure this is the right road?" " Let's hope so." "Can I have a cigarette, please?" "Here." "You got a light?" "I don't want it." "You want it?" "Okay." "Mad at me?" "A traffic light." "What's this about?" "Nick?" "Where are you?" "I'm right here." "Don't disappear like that, please." "Think we're being spied on here too?" "I don't think so." "I say we are." " Why do you say that?" " I feel it." "Very well." "Want to bet we can shake them off?" "Watch out!" "You're crazy." "Stop." "I can't see a thing." "I said stop!" "Please stop." "I'm scared." "Enough!" "I'm frightened!" "Stop!" "Let me out." "You're a real..." "Excuse me." "Have you seen a girl with short hair in a jacket?" "Who can see anything here?" "There's a mess back there." "I don't know what happened, but shots were fired." "Didn't you hear them?" "It seems someone fell in the river." "Seems there's a gang of..." " Hooligans." "Stealing out of cars and assaulting passengers." "They even rang the bells." " They sure did." "Didn't you hear them?" "What about the ambulance?" "Are you deaf?" "I don't believe this." "Don't you feel well?" "How long are you gonna be mad at me?" " It's all built on hollow ground." " What?" "There's an old Roman villa underneath." "That's why they rented it to me." "The house is sinking into the void." "Time exacts its revenge." "Let's look." "I've never been down there." "Give me your hand." "Careful." "Come on." "It's damp." " It'll never light." " Why so pessimistic?" "Don't you trust nature?" "In Baku, in Russia, there's still a temple to the god of fire, with flames rising perpetually from the bowels of the earth." "It's actually petroleum that's burning." "They're swimming in it..." "lucky them." " I'm fond of you." " Why don't you say, "I love you"?" "I don't think I've ever said it in my life." "Too bashful, perhaps." "Tell me you love me, and then tell me what it means to love." "You don't love me." "You need me, and that's not love." "You need me in order to live or survive." "That's everyone's problem today..." "how to survive." "I'm not wearing it." "Why not?" "I like being cold." "But you'd like to see me wrapped in warm clothes so I don't catch pneumonia or even a cold." "Well, if I do, it's my business!" "You'll never catch anything." "You're immune to disease, like a shark." "They can swallow a license plate or the polio virus." "They digest it all." "I don't want to stay here." "Where would we go?" "There are no hotels around." "And all those disgusting creatures down there." "It's sealed up." "Don't be afraid." "You make me afraid." "Me?" "I thought you felt protected with me." "Afraid you'll ruin my life." "Couldn't your life be like our life the last few months?" "That life has been a temporary thing for both of us." "I don't even know any of your friends." "I know nothing about you." "And do you like the life I lead?" "Christ, you don't mince words." "Elena." "Did we rent the same house?" "Did you put down a deposit too?" "No, I just..." "Hello?" "This is Mr. Farra." "Is Miss Mavi in?" "I'm sorry." "She hasn't been here today." " Is she in town?" " I believe so." "Is her sister at home?" "I'm sorry, but she's out." "Thanks." "Very kind of you." "Too kind!" " What is it?" " Mr. Farra's on the phone." "He's looking for Maria Vittoria." "Let him look." "Excuse me." "You're Mavi's sister, aren't you?" "Yes." "And you're Niccolò?" "I'm sorry, but I can't help you." "Try to understand." "I see." " Been waiting long?" " A bit." "The doorman let me in." "My sweet little sister." "Come look." "What is it?" "Have you seen that nest?" " That's not a nest." " Then what is it?" "Who knows?" "Where are the birds when their nests are empty?" "Just flying around." "Did you find the stamps?" "Come on." "I've got a whole boxful for you." "Not very talkative today, are we?" "A brother and sister, both depressed, don't make a very happy pair." "When will I get to meet Mavi?" "Probably never." "Her fault or yours?" "Why do you ask me that?" "With your wife it was your fault." "Lucio, you've got your stamps." "Let's go." "Niccolò, why don't you make a science fiction movie?" "Not a bad idea." "Swimming, please." "You don't remember me?" "We saw each other at a party." "No, I don't remember." "Your boyfriend?" "No, a friend." "You like to swim?" "Then what are you doing here?" "Nothing much." "I like it." "I dove when I was young too." "I even won a medal." "Have you ever been in love?" "Have you ever wanted to be?" " Why not?" " I'm incapable of it." "Are you frigid?" "You believe in chastity?" "That could be a solution." "You don't look like you take drugs." "I don't." "Then what do you like?" "I like... to masturbate." "Better yet if someone else helps." "Especially a woman." "Why's that?" "A woman does it to give me pleasure." "A man does it for himself, to show off his virility." "With a woman it's much gentler." " You know Mavi Luppis?" " Sort of." "She's older than me." "She slept with one of my girlfriends." "Is this girlfriend young?" "Blond?" "Your height, by any chance?" "It was one night... at the beach." "We'd just finished dinner." "There was a boxing match on TV." "The men went off to watch and left us two alone." "That pissed us off, so we ended up in bed." "A sort of antimale protest." "Is Mavi in Rome now?" "I don't know." "Wait for me and we'll leave together." " Am I late?" " You changed cars." "I've changed my way of thinking and feeling." "I'll park." "What's this?" "You've gone high-fashion." "I thought the country made people simpler." "I am simpler." "Doesn't it show?" "Too chic, right?" " Why did you call?" " I wanted to see you." "Wanted to?" "Not anymore?" "Sure." "And you?" "What I really want to do is pee." " There's a bar there." " Not in a bar." "I'm sure it's out of order." "Then let's go to the theater." "These inconveniences don't happen in the country." "You slip behind a tree and you're happy." "I think you're happy when your body is in tune with your thoughts and ideas." "Mine's used to being out among fields, rivers, trees, frost." "Thoughts there are different from thoughts in the city." "Nature's laws don't count here." "I'd feel empty here." "That's why I called you." "Because you come out with things like that." " Meaning?" " I like them." " Let's forget the theater." " And do what instead?" "Let's get something to eat and talk." "Cute girls, though." "We'll come another night." "There's one of them now." "Hurry up." "We're late." "You know her?" "She's very sexy." " You wanted to pee." " Don't worry." "I can hold it for three years." "Why'd you come back to see the show?" "I didn't." "I came back to see how they make buns." "I've heard you're one of those decadent intellectuals... that one just can't talk to." "I'm not an intellectual, decadent or otherwise." "Two people told me so." "It must be true." "I haven't heard anything about you." "Ah yes, someone told me you're sexy." " Is that all?" " I'm sure people say a lot more." "I'll ask around." "Who are you sleeping with?" "A boy my age." "Ouch!" "Your director?" "Do you sleep with your actresses?" "Rarely." "I'm glad it's not your director." "Why?" "Two reasons." "The second is that his face would make Heine say," ""He's as sad as a German who died the day before."" " Who's Heine?" " A German who died two centuries ago." "And the first reason?" "Guess." "The horses are down there." "Down there?" "That's why I came here." "Here we are." "It's that house." "That one?" "It's charming." "It belongs to friends who live in that mansion." "Cute place." "Sit down." "Do I have to?" "What is it?" "Oh... just thinking about a woman." "You think about her often?" "No, that's water under the bridge." "I haven't ridden in ages." "Bouncing in the saddle gets me excited." "How do you know how to ride?" "A friend taught me." "Her father had a stable." "So you run in those circles too." "Too?" "You mean her again?" "I was already working at 16." "I went around in a van with a guy who sold dresses." "And I modeled them... 10 or 20 times a day." "I was dead tired at night." "I got 10,000 lire a day." "That was a lot for me." "A nice guy?" "Quite nice." "Inexhaustible." "After work he always wanted to go out dining and dancing, but I was too tired." "I went along just once." "And then?" "I never slept with him, if that's what you're asking." " You were thinking it, right?" " I admit it." "I was." "I must be going soft." "I've never been to your place." "Will you take me?" "You're welcome whenever you like." "I have today off." "Shall we meet later?" "You want the key?" "Good God, no." "I'd be too afraid of losing it." "Evening." "Don't like it?" "I don't know." "I came to see you in your place, not the place itself." "It's my place, but my ex-wife decorated it." "Where would you be if I wasn't here?" "In my study." "Where?" "Up there." "Beautiful!" "What are all those pictures?" "Women, as you can see." "For a film?" "I'm looking for a face." " What kind?" " Good question." "Pretty, huh?" "He's interesting too." "Very lively eyes." "They're terrorists, with very consistent lives." "In their world of virility, courage, and even cowardly acts, they could only have a violent relationship." "The girl left her husband over ideological differences." "She left her son with him and went to live with that other man." "She and her husband only cross paths in the papers." "Her husband's in prison too?" "What a saga!" "Those two have everything in common:" "Ideology, fanaticism, covert lives, danger." "They have to be good together." "It's normal relationships that start having problems." "Shall we go to the theater or a movie?" "These came this afternoon for the young lady who..." "There's a card." "It's like a funeral." " Where shall I put them?" " You keep them, Romolo." "What'll I do with them?" "Give them to the man downstairs." "He'll be delighted." "Goddamned fucking flowers!" "Who would send this stuff?" "Have you ever hated someone?" "Really hated?" "I don't think so." "Is it the same girl you mentioned earlier?" "She's not the one I hate." "It's the guy who sends me the chrysanthemums." "Japanese ones!" "He should know it's over, but he keeps on." "Hate is one of the few things I do believe in." "But there's too much around right now, and he's unloading his on me." "I'm sorry." "No, I'm the one who's sorry." "I'm not enough for you." "Don't think like that." "I feel so impotent, damn it!" "Second star to the right That's the path" "And then straight on till morning" "You find the path on your own" "It leads to the island of Neverland" " How are you?" " How am I?" "I gave you some advice before." "Here's some more:" "Let's not make a scene." "Exactly." "No scenes." "Go on." "What are you doing here?" "Nothing." "My car broke down." "I was looking for a phone box." "A phone box, eh?" "What a coincidence." "You can use the phone at my place." "I live nearby." "What do you want?" "No, you tell me who hires you to do his dirty work!" "Luckily the police chief was no fool." "Thank God." "He said, "You're looking for a stranger who's threatened you?" "Everyone threatens us here." "Wherever you go, you're never safe." "Want us to lock everyone up?"" "Why do you have to find out this man's name?" "You're right." "What do I care?" "You're going out?" "I came to be with you." "Want to know where I'm going?" "To look for her." " How will you do that?" " I have an idea." "You don't even know her name." "I'm not as dumb as you think." "Listen, forget it." "I already told you." "I don't give a damn." "Why that look?" "I'm trying to figure out if you're sincere." "Very sincere." "Anyway, I'd rather not be with you today." "Is that okay?" "May I stay a while?" "Of course." "Rummage around in the drawers if you like." "I'd rather rummage around in here." "No hard feelings, right?" "See you tomorrow, okay?" "Still here?" "I suddenly got very sleepy." "That's for you." "Page 41." "How did you do it?" "Some other time." "No." "Tell me now, please." "The florist's name was on the card with the chrysanthemums." "What idiots!" "So?" "So I went there." "They said a woman had ordered the flowers." "Probably a secretary." " Whose?" "I didn't ask." "I was looking for her, not him." "But what led you to her?" "This copy of Time was at the florist's." "A florist who reads Time?" "Come on." "Maybe he doesn't read it, but it was there." "Maybe the secretary left it." "Ida, if you're hiding something, I'll..." "You'll what?" "You said to drop it because you didn't give a damn about her." "Her, not him!" "For God's sake!" "You can't spend your whole life waiting to get revenge." "You can't understand." "Why not?" "I'm a human being like you." "A different sex only by chance." "Tell me the truth." "Why must you know?" "It's like when I look for the solution to a film's plot and can't find it." "I have my suspicions." "I want to know if I'm right." "Whom do you suspect?" "The father." "You think he's in love with her?" "Paternal love, paternal jealousy..." "it happens." "Framing a shot?" "My forehead's too big, right?" "That's what gives your face that incredible openness." "This girl here." "Will you help me find her?" "You want her for a film?" "Can we publish that?" "No film." "I just want her address." "All right." "Very pretty, isn't she?" "Very pretty." "Stay and talk a while." "We never see each other." "I can't today." "I'm in a hurry." "She was at this address." "Excuse me... do you know a girl called Maria Vittoria?" " Who?" " Mavi." "Ah, Mavi." "No, I don't know her." "Never heard of her." " Is Mavi in?" " Mavi who?" "There's no Mavi Luppis here." "I see." "Thanks." "Why don't you come in?" " Some other time." " As you like." " Is that you?" " Who else?" "You gonna open up?" " The thing's broken." " What thing?" "The lug to pull the bolt." "Why did you bolt it?" "He's downstairs." " Who?" " Niccolò." "He came up earlier." "Maybe you should close the door downstairs." "What are you doing now?" "Why did you stop?" "I went to get some oil." "Slide the matches under the door." "I hope you won't be leaving here too." "WAITING FOR YOU AT HOME..." "IDA" "It's open." "I have some good news... at least for us." "One of the actors is sick." "The show's cancelled for three days." "Do you know Venice in winter?" "The open lagoon?" "Venice in winter, yes." "But what's the open lagoon?" "Past the islands, toward the sea." "Here we are." "This is the open lagoon." "How solitary." "I always have so many friends around." "I like lots of company." "It's very beautiful, but sad." "It's the water that's sad." "The sound of the water." "Listen." "There's no joy in it." "Forgive me." "For what?" "For bringing you here." "It's a sickness with me... a professional quirk, finding locations like this." "One hopes solitude will stir the imagination." "Forgive me?" "If not, I'll jump in and never surface again." "If you do, I'll follow you." "The current will carry me out to sea, where I'll be swallowed by a whale." "And you and every other man who's loved me will roam the seas in search of that whale." "Like Moby Dick!" " Don't count on it." " Why?" "I don't like whales." "On the way here we were happy as larks." "I still am." "The solitude doesn't change that." "We always imagine happiness is somewhere other than where we are." "That must be why there's so much suffering in this world." "Maybe one should just get married first and resolve all the questions later." "Shall we get married?" "I don't see any other solution." "Has not seeing other solutions become a vice?" "That's our spot." "You can't dock there." "The doorman will take care of it." "Miss, there's a call for you." "Booth No. 1." "Yes, I'll see to your boat." "Are you sure?" "When did he call you?" "I don't know what to say." "It's so exciting." "How can I explain?" " Good news?" " Yes." "I don't know." "I'm going to have a baby." "I just got the results of the test." "Why are you acting like this?" "You were happy a minute ago." "You said you were taking precautions." "Yes, but..." "How long have we known each other?" "I must have already been pregnant." "We were looking for an ending." "Here it is." " You talk like a director." " I am one." "You Italian directors seem to be paid to be angry at the world." "And laugh at it too." "Which is just another way of resisting it." "But I'm at peace with everything that happens to me." "I'll suffer terribly if you won't see me anymore." "Seems there's a price to pay for keeping the baby." "You're my love." "Say that again." "You're my love... my feast, my New Year... my drug." "You're so many things." "But you don't bring order to my life." "Order for me is a guy who..." "You remember the day you showed me the pictures of two terrorists?" "You said..." ""They have everything in common:" "Ideology, fanaticism, covert lives, danger." "They have to be good together."" "This guy... if you see him... and even more, if you get to know him... we're good together too." "Besides, could you be father to a child that wasn't yours?" "It's a story about a spaceship that flies right up close to the sun." "Doesn't it burn up?" "In science fiction you can never say what's true to life and what isn't." "My spaceship is an asteroid that was captured in space and transformed." "It's made of a rare mineral that can withstand millions of degrees." "Why is it headed for the sun?" "To study it." "The day mankind understands what the sun is made of and its power, perhaps we'll understand the entire universe and the reasons behind so many things." "And then?"