"retired to Petrella castle, on the border of Abruzzi." "You go that way, and you come with me." "Don Francesco Cenci wants to see you." "Who died?" "Come." "Come in, Mr..." "Mr..." " My name is Olimpio Calvetti." "Mr. Calvetti..." "We would like to express our gratitude to you." "Mine, and that of lady Lucrezia, my wife..." "Also my son Giacomo, although he remains silent, he expresses his gratitude." "So, where did you find my daughter?" " In the forest, near the castle." "I must have frightened her..." " I'm not interested in the details." "What matters is that she was found." "You've done us a service... so it's pointless keeping you here any longer." "How did you know she was my daughter?" " I didn't." "I headed towards the castle to find shelter for her..." "It was only when I arrived here..." " Of course." "You must be anxious to continue your journey." "Let me thank you again..." "It goes without saying that you can count on our friendship in the future." "But I don't have to continue, sir." "I live here." "I am Don Marzio Colonna's secretary." "Prince Colonna sends his regards..." "And he hopes you're pleased to have accepted his hospitality here in Petrella." "You are Don Marzio's secretary?" "I thought..." "I thought you were older." "I took my father's place." "Very well, I'm glad to have you here." "Are you familiar with your lodgings?" "I know the castle as if it was my home." "I lived here when I was a boy." "Very well..." "I'll have dinner brought to you." "You're at home." "I'll see you tomorrow." "You are right to feel ashamed." "You ran away from home like a thief." "Abandoning your father, your family..." "You've always been my burden." "Always!" "Disobedient, indolent..." "And now this ridiculous escape." "Is this how you return my affection?" "You'll pay for this." "Yes, my patience has a limit." "I'm tired of your foolish acts." "Tired!" "Do you understand?" "Do you hear me?" "I want to see you on your knees, begging me for forgiveness." "If I sometimes treated you badly, it's because I love you." "It's a father's duty to be strict with his children." "Even if it costs him their love." "Why have you always denied me your love?" "Why do you run away from me... every time I come to you with my heart in my hand?" "While..." "From now on you will obey me." " First, bring my brother back to life!" "You're upset because you lost your brother..." "What about me?" "How do you think I feel?" "I lost my first-born son." "But one must accept it, and accept that it is God's will." "It's always God's will that inspires you..." "I know, one must keep quiet, pretend, with you..." "We must respect your suffering." "No one can say what's on their mind in this house..." "But they all think the same thing, and you know it..." "Cristoforo is dead, and you killed him!" "What are you talking about?" "I told you a thousand times, I don't want you playing with the dogs." "Why have you got against this poor boy?" "Who put that chair there?" " It's Mr. Cristoforo's seat." "Take it away immediately!" "The lord's daughter..." "Why is she so unhappy?" "Her father doesn't treat her well." "At least, not always." "He locked her in the cellar." "Why not think about me!" "It's less dangerous." "Tell me..." "Why did she want to run away?" "Perhaps because she's crazy?" "Like the rest of the family." "Cristoforo wasn't normal either." " Who is Cristoforo?" "His first-born son." "The one who died." "They found him dead a week ago, with wide-open eyes!" "I've never seen a corpse like that in all my life." "It gives me goosebumps just thinking about it." "How did he die?" "Was he poisoned?" "I didn't say that." "Listen..." "The less you talk about it, the better." "I felt sorry for him." "He was kind." "You seem kind as well." "Am I mistaken?" "You mentioned a cellar." "Which one?" "By the oil mill." "Take my advice, don't get involved." "What are you doing down here?" "Don't be afraid." "Perhaps you don't recognise me?" "I'm the one who brought you home." "So you're meant to be my saviour." "It was chance that brought me to you." "Was it also fate that made you meddle in my affairs?" "Please forgive me, but I didn't think bringing you back here would hurt you." "Well, now you know!" "Leave me alone." "I don't want you to suffer because of me." "Tell me how I can make amends?" " Make amends?" "How would you like to make amends?" "Can you make it so that my father isn't my father, and I'm not his daughter?" "You think too highly of yourself; these matters concern me and my family." "Don't get involved." "You already did once before, and that was enough." "I just want to understand." "If my father finds you here, he'll cure you of your curiosity for good!" "I'm not afraid." " I have no use for your heroism." "What use would you be to me if I had you killed by my father?" "Don't forget that I'm not one of Cenci's servants..." "I'm Colonna's secretary." "Don't think you can change him..." "No one has ever stopped him from doing what he wants." "You won't be the one to change him." "Great idea going out at this time, and in this weather!" "A horse-ride in the rain refreshes the mind." "I really needed it." "Besides, I like seeing you with your hands dirty." "It's the only way to make you lose your temper." "It bothers you, doesn't it?" "Helping me get undressed." "You used to like it." "Perhaps you were kinder to me." "You shouldn't have aged!" " I'm not old." "It's Beatrice who is too young." "Why don't you marry her off?" "Do you have a good suitor in mind for her?" "She had hundreds of them, but you always rejected them." "My daughter won't marry the first one who comes around - she's fine with me." "I don't think she shares your opinion." "I'm sure she'd rather go to a convent." "Why do you hate her so much?" "She's the one who can't stand me!" "I've always loved seeing you upset..." "It's fun breaking a strong woman." " Let go of me!" "Why?" "We're married, aren't we?" "Just now you were complaining because you felt neglected." "I'm not here to indulge you." "Sometimes, eternal love can spring from an indulgence." "We could start over." "I don't want to!" "That's enough!" "My patience is at an end." "If you won't do your duty as my wife, then leave." "I've had enough of you." "Martina." "Scrub, scrub!" "You don't mind a bit of dirt..." "But my wife, she'd rather admire the landscape." "I don't like landscapes." " No?" "And what are these?" "Keeping the best ones for yourself." "Thief!" "If you bring me one like this again, I'll have you beaten." "Go away!" "Come on." "Who are you?" " Antonio's wife, Sir." "When did you arrive?" " Tonight." "Ah, tonight?" "Go, go..." "It doesn't hurt to have such stuff in the house." "The secretary's here as well." "Forgive me, sir." "I saw your daughter..." "She was locked in the castle cellar like a prisoner." "My daughter?" "And what concern is it of yours, what I do with my daughter?" "With all due respect..." "You can't leave her there." " His Excellency knows what he's doing." "If he believes it's appropriate to lock his daughter up, then he has his reasons." "No, we should let her out." "Immediately." "You're an animal." "Boy, I like to be addressed frankly." "I'm surrounded by servants here." "Idiots, flatterers..." "And nobody ever tells me the truth." "This one, for example..." "My bursar, a thief and a liar, like all the others of his kind." "I've put up with him for years." " Excellency!" "What is it?" "No, I don't want to look at any more registers today!" "You as well." "Go away!" "You find us in a difficult moment..." "But you shouldn't judge us by what you've just seen." "We're upset by a recent loss." "Especially my daughter." "Sometimes a father is forced to be severe..." "Beatrice has a difficult character." "But she should go up to her room and get some rest now." "I thank you for reminding me." "Go and give the order yourself, on my behalf." "Thank you." "Finally, someone who scares you." "I'd have never believed it, if I hadn't heard it with my own ears." "Unless you've learnt to have more respect for you neighbour." "It would have improved you." "Perhaps it was prison that taught you that you have no right to kill anyone..." "Not even a servant." "I don't want certain rumours to reach the Colonnas'." "You're right to fear him." "The more I think about it, the more I approve of your prudence." "Anonymous letters travel fast." "Especially after Cristoforo's death." "It's alive!" "How beautiful." "Are you going to kill it?" " No, we'll take it home." "Can I hold it?" "Yes, but don't let it get away." "Leonardo." "Look out!" "Mind you don't slip." "What are you doing?" "Leave that animal." "Don't worry, we're not going to hurt it." " Such cruelty." "Poor thing, you'll end up hurting it." "We'll let it go, if you want?" " No, the boy is having fun..." "He seldom does." "Go and play now, and be careful of the water." "Are you still thinking about it?" "Why shouldn't I be?" "Nothing's changed..." "My father is still the same." "He seems upset about what happened." "He's been very kind to you lately." "That's what scares me." "You don't know what he's capable of..." "Everything he does has a second purpose." "Then, why talk about my father?" "Yes, why talk about your father." "You're right." "Beatrice, I felt so sorry for you." "Why?" "Why are you always so unhappy?" "Why?" "Tell me." "Don't ever do that again." "Don't feel offended if I talk to you like this..." "You've been kind to me, I know..." "And I'm very grateful." "If I was in need of a friend, believe me..." "I would think of you." "But don't fool yourself, don't plan anything impossible..." "It's not my fault, it's the circumstances." "Why does something so simple upset you so much?" "What do you mean?" " You made it quite clear..." "I'm little more than a servant in this house..." "I was wrong to forget it." "Beatrice." "Beatrice." "See how good he is..." "He doesn't run away any more." "Come on, let's go home." "Are we going?" "Where have you been?" " Out for a walk." "I don't want you going out alone." " But I wasn't alone..." "Bernardo and Olimpio were with me." " Olimpio?" "The secretary." "The boy never goes out." "Walking does him good." "I don't want you getting too close to the secretary..." "And I don't want you socialising with him..." "You must maintain a proper distance." "Is that understood?" "Good." "Now, enough of the long faces." "I forgive you for all the things you said to me." "Come here." "Come closer." "Learn to obey me and love me, and we'll get along, you'll see." "I don't want to upset you." "I want to throw a party in your honour tonight." "I'd like you to wear this." "Try it on." "But it's one of Lucrezia's dresses?" "Precisely!" "I paid for it, so I'll give it to whomever I please." "It will look better on you." "Try it on." "Right now?" "Are you embarrassed?" "Are you embarrassed to get undressed in front of your father?" "Come here, I'll help you." "Go there." "You're beautiful." "You are as beautiful as your mother was when I met her." "She was 15 and I was 17." "Come here now." "Let's put on this dress." "Slowly." "Like that." "Your mother, poor thing, she's better off dead..." "She had turned ugly..." "Ugly and sad." "But you're 20 years old." "I feel like I was back then." "I feel so young." "Now, finish getting dressed, and then..." "Come downstairs." "Why must I wait for my father?" " There's a message that concerns you." "Me?" "What is it?" "We received a message from Rome, Your Excellency." "I believe it concerns Giacomo." "Yes, I already know about it." "I had decided to celebrate the return of peace in the family..." "But, unfortunately, every happiness has its bitter side." "You, follow me." "You too, madam, come." "Is this your signature?" " Will you tell us what's going on?" "It's very simple, madam..." "Your stepson, who you're always so keen to defend... has signed three credit notes, for a total sum of 6000 Scudi." "Naturally, he's unable to honour his signature..." "To honour it, am I right?" " The exact expression!" "It's not his fault you never give him any money." "You really think I'm a golden well." "Rufino, will you repeat to her..." "What you told me this morning?" " Right away, Your Excellency." "Out of the way." "We have a debt of over 100,000 Scudi..." "With interest between 10 - 15,000 Scudi, to be paid every three months." "And an income of around 25,000 Scudi..." " There..." "We have to accept it." "We could sell a piece of land or..." "I don't know, perhaps take out a mortgage." "You know very well that your mortgages exceed the value of your land." "What about the castle funds?" "The castle funds, I say!" "Your wife left this fund for Giacomo..." "Not even he can access it until his 25th Birthday, or unless he dies prematurely." "This is the state of our patrimony..." "Debts, taxes, mortgages." "And as if that wasn't enough, now we also have these!" "It's not like it's the first time..." "But I swear it will be the last!" "Giacomo, you leave on Sunday." " Sunday?" "In three days?" "Why must I leave?" "I haven't done anything." "Precisely!" "You never do anything." "You spend all day in here, with a long face..." "And when you go to Rome you spend money you don't have." "Sure, I understand, I don't want to punish you..." "Boys will be boys." "But they need action, adventure... otherwise they become sad." "Don Marzio Colonna found you an officer's post in a Spanish regiment." "There's a war in Flandres." "Don't thank me." "I'd like to be in your shoes..." "Our family was lacking a warrior." "Understood?" "I hope you'll honour us!" "You can't throw him out like a dog." "He'll be paid." "He'll earn money, instead of spending it." "The change will do him good." "Anyway, don't get involved!" "Enough of this sadness!" "I'm throwing a party tonight..." "And I want it to be splendid!" "A nice party, yes!" "It's madness!" "Your son's only been dead a week!" "I've had enough of tragedy!" "Is that understood?" "Every day he thinks of something new to make us suffer." "He's doing everything he can to torture us." "He's always been like that to me." "Always!" "I can't remember a single word..." "One act of sincere love." "I'm always so nervous." "An unnatural fear..." "The fear of feeling guilty, without knowing why." "All I wanted to do was hide." "Even when my mother was alive." "Once he hit me so hard, he drew blood... and he locked me in my room for two days, without food." "I've had enough." "You can't leave me now." "I don't want to be alone with him." "I put up with everything, his vulgarities and his insults, because I hoped for I don't know what." "What will become of me?" "You're lucky to be leaving." "At least you'll be free." "You'll forget about us..." "All of us." "Free?" "It's impossible, that's not what he wants..." "There will be an accident at the frontier, I won't get far..." "I won't make it to the army." "My fate will be sealed on the road... and my father will choose the spot." "You heard him talking about the inheritance..." "I'll end up like Cristoforo." " No!" "You remember what happened..." "They fought the night before, like always..." "And, as always, Cristoforo stood up to him." "But he threatened him, exactly like he did with me." "You saw him too the next morning, when we found him." "With his eyes wide open... and that green slime coming from his mouth." "Stop!" "I beg you." "We can't go on like this." "We must defend ourselves somehow." "What do you have in mind?" "What is it?" "A drug I bought in Rome." "I got it for myself, two months ago." "I wanted to end it all." "You die immediately, without suffering." "Now, it will be for him." "Not this." "I understand - you'd rather I disappeared." "It's our last chance." "It's the only way we'll be free." "But we must act tonight." "How?" " The pheasant..." "The one that only he eats." "And now, let the dance begin." "The most beautiful dancer will receive this ring as a prize from her knight... who will then..." "Or, better still, from our Secretary!" "And now, music!" "Go on." "Enjoy yourself." "And now, give her a kiss." "Kiss!" "Kiss!" "Beatrice!" "You left me alone." "Come here." "You left me alone for too long." "Stay here, next to me." "From now on I want you to govern my house..." "Here are the keys that make you the owner." "The castle is in your hands now." "What are you doing standing there, you idiot?" "I'm talking to you, Marzio!" "Start serving." "Would you like some?" "It's too tender." " Come on." "Come on, don't make me beg." "You wouldn't want to offend me." "Come on!" "A female stomach!" "None of my children are real Cencis..." "Music." "Giacomo." "Forgive me." "I didn't have the courage to poison him." " I should've known." "I did it for you..." "We wouldn't have had any peace after committing such a crime." "I thought I could trust you." "I was wrong!" "Try to understand." "It's better this way, believe me." "Tomorrow you'll leave for Rome, and I'll join you there." "What a great idea!" "And how will we live?" "Do you think my father will leave us alone?" "It means I'll have to bow my head again, like always!" "Perhaps you're also glad I'm leaving?" "How can you say such a thing?" " Leave me alone." "Giacomo." "I don't think I'll wait until Sunday." "I'll leave tomorrow morning." "Why?" "Beatrice, you mustn't keep secrets from me." "I'm not hiding anything." "You're beautiful..." "You're too beautiful." "And you're not a girl anymore." "Unfortunately, I wasn't the only one to notice..." "I don't understand what you mean." " Do you think I'm blind?" "Do you think I didn't see you while you were dancing?" "It's hard being a father..." "You bring a daughter into the world, watch her grow, tremble at her every step..." "Her slightest upset causes you to despair." "Then you watch her get taken away by the first man she meets." "Olivio isn't the first!" "I understand." "Why don't you trust me?" "Yes, I know, I've been a little hard on you..." "Sometimes." "And perhaps too much." "But I beg you for your own good, and for my peace of mind..." "Trust me." "Are you in love with that man?" "Don't be afraid." "Tell me the truth." "Yes." "Thank you for your loyalty." "It warms my heart." "Sadly, it's a rare quality." "Come here." "Come here and sit on my knee, like when you were a child." "Don't be afraid." "Come here." "That..." "Yes, this Olimpio of yours..." "He isn't the ideal husband for the daughter of a Roman patrician... but I don't oppose it." "I'm open to considering the thing seriously, you know?" "You see, I'm not an ogre." "I don't burst out in a rage." "Beatrice..." "You're the only person I really care about, you know?" "Your happiness means more to me than anything else in the world." "I want it well cooked with the right spices: thyme, onions, rosemary..." "You know better than me." "You asked for me?" " Yes, I asked for you..." "You don't mind if I'm informal with you..." "After all, you could be my son." "Let me see." "Yes." "Perfect." "You need a wife..." "I had noticed." "But it's only natural..." "A young man like you, in the prime of his life." "But be careful: don't be foolish enough to marry a poor woman..." "I know all about that." "Take my wife; she didn't have a penny when I married her..." "Now she's ugly, and she's always on my back." "Trust me, Olimpio... a wife's only virtue is a good dowry." "A father who's well off." "Take it to the cook." "Go, go!" "So it's not right that a young man like you rots here... while there are plenty of good opportunities in the city." "I have a letter from Colonna." "They want you back in the city." " What?" "I knew you'd be pleased." "You see?" "I care about your interests as though they were my own." "Do you really think you can get rid of me like this?" "And do you, filthy scoundrel... think that I would let you put your hands on my daughter again?" "Thank the Lord I don't break your neck!" "But rather kick you out of here... instead of having you whipped!" "As it is my right to do so!" "Get out of here!" "Out!" "Help!" "Help!" "He's attacking the master!" "Help!" "You vermin!" "I'll teach you to lay your hands on me!" "Vermin!" "Throw him out!" "Let go of me." "If you come back here, I'll kill you!" "I was so scared I'd lose you." "I'm coming with you." " No, that's impossible." "What are you saying?" " I can't take you away..." "You'd only be sacrificing yourself." "I have nothing to offer you in return." "But my only desire is to leave this house." "I haven't had one happy moment here..." "Don't leave me." "I beg you!" "No, we wouldn't get a mile away before they caught us." "Your father is watching you." "Listen carefully, I won't leave, I promise..." "Now go back to the castle and wait for me." "When will you return?" " As soon as I can." "Come forward." "Come forward!" "Are you afraid?" " No, I'm not afraid of you anymore." "Good, then you'll calmly listen to what I have to say..." "You want to talk to me with that?" " It depends on how well you listen." "I get the impression you don't quite understand me when I'm talking to you..." "I asked you to obey me, and you disobeyed me." "We're speaking two different languages." "So I thought of bringing along... an interpreter." "You won't need an interpreter to understand what I have to say..." "I've lived many years in fear..." "I've trembled before you." "Now it's over." "I'm calm..." "I'm finally free of you, and free of this nightmare." "I'm not afraid anymore." "One day I'll leave, and you won't be able to do anything about it." "Why should I care about your threats?" "They won't separate me from Olimpio." "I love him and I'll be his wife." "For the last time: beg forgiveness on your knees, or you'll regret it." "Ask for forgiveness!" "Ask for forgiveness!" "I pity you!" "You pity me?" "You pity me?" "You pity me?" "My love, what did he do to you?" "It doesn't matter." "Now that you're here, it doesn't matter." "Who let you in?" " Martina." "It was madness." "Madness!" "No, you're coming with me!" "I won't let you spend one more minute in this house." "No!" "Don't cry." "Don't cry." "You won't cry anymore." "It's over." "From this moment on, you'll be happy." "I swear." "It's impossible - you said so yourself." "I can never be with you." "It's not true." "You'll come with me, and your father won't be able to do a thing." "Scoundrel." "He'll pay for this." "I swear!" "I'll kill him!" " No!" "Stop!" "I beg you!" "I'll kill him!" "I'll kill him!" "I warned you that if you ever came back here, I'd kill you!" "Marzio, keep this room free for the administrator." "We must hurry." "We're leaving soon." "Take the horse." "Who's leaving?" " The entire family." "Put this in the litter." "We're ready." "Are you Giacomo Cenci?" " Yes, what do you want?" "I have to talk to you, and the rest of your family." "I must ask you to delay your departure until I deem it appropriate." "Who are you?" "My name is Marcantonio Ranieri." "I'm a judge..." "I have to ask you some questions." "Please follow me." "I've told you everything we know." "Will you let us leave now?" "Who authorised you to do this?" " The law-court in Rome." "It is my duty, and it is in your interests, to dispel the suspicions that arose... because of the manner in which Francesco Cenci died." "What suspicion can there be?" "The balcony palings were rotten and they collapsed." "You were in Rome." " Yes!" "How many times must I tell you?" "You left the castle on the eve of your father's death..." "In great haste, it would appear." "Why?" "I had to join Marquis Davalos' regiment." "But the Marquis leaves next month." "Why such haste?" "Do you still intend to join his regiment?" " No." "I understand." "You're injured." " It's nothing." "It looks like you were whipped!" " It was my father." "How?" "And why?" "I went against his wishes." "Does he always whip you when you go against his wishes?" "He had been drinking." "Were you on good terms with Don Francesco?" "Of course." "And you?" " Excellent." "You didn't sleep in your husband's room that night..." "Why?" " I was unwell." "Can we go now?" "You'll have to excuse me... but I'm just carrying out a distressful duty, believe me." "Naturally, I must add that you are beyond suspicion in all of this... but we must examine every possibility." "For example, someone could've sneaked into the castle while you were asleep..." "Broke into Don Francesco's room, stunned him... and pushed him over the balcony." "Unfortunately, the countryside is full of brigands..." "And with two women alone in the house." "Impossible, we would've noticed." " I know, I know..." "But, if you'll excuse my insistence..." "I'd like to have a look upstairs, so I can see for myself... if it's possible to enter Don Francesco's room without being noticed." "Quite a drop!" "Certainly, falling from this height, he must have died on the spot." "It was very careless of him not to have the balcony repaired in time." "Very careless." "His greed cost him dearly." " So what?" "Please forgive my zealousness... but you cannot deny me my reasons." "You're free to leave for Rome whenever you please." "What are you doing in my room?" "Get out!" "All this time away from you." "I never received any news from you!" "I thought I'd never see you again." "You're so pale!" "I beg you, go away!" "Don't look for me anymore!" "Leave me alone." "What do you mean?" " Leave!" "What do you mean?" "Why are you treating me like this?" "Don't worry..." "I won't cause you any more grief." "I love you, Beatrice." "I'll never forget about you." "But it's the last time you'll hear me say it." "You're free." "I should have understood, that to you... our love isn't that important." "Olimpio!" "Why are you so unjust?" "How do you think I've spent all this time?" "I thought about you every hour of the day and night." "I pictured you in front of me every minute of the day... and you talk to me like that." "You know I'm yours, that I belong to you... and that I always will." "Then, why?" "You must forgive me." "I brought you misfortune." "What you did, it was my fault." "What did I do?" "What are you thinking?" "No..." "I wasn't the one who killed your father." "That night, I couldn't even get near him..." "I hardly had time to see him on the balcony." "He was aiming his rifle at me." "He had the eyes of a madman, and he said he was going to kill me..." "Then, he stepped forward... to get a better shot... when the balcony posts broke, and he fell down into the courtyard." "Then I saw people coming, and I ran away." "You must believe me." "I couldn't lie to you." "It's true: after seeing what he'd done to you, I wanted to kill him... but I didn't do it." "I didn't even touch him." "I swear." "I beg you, forgive me." "You're leaving with me." " No, it's not possible." "Leave me." "You still have time, I don't want to hurt you anymore." "The only crime would be to lose you." "You must come with me." "A judge came to the castle, soon after the accident." "He asked us a thousand questions." "He suspected my father's death wasn't an accident... and I agree." "Something terrible happened that night... something that's followed us here, to Rome." "I don't want you involved." "I'm already involved." "But you must forget about your father, his death, the castle - everything!" "It's over, forever." "We can start a new life now." "There's nothing standing between us." "We're free." "You're crying!" "I've waited so long for you." "Come with me!" "Right now!" "Not yet." "Let some time pass, so everything will be forgotten." "I will join you, it won't be long." "And afterward, we'll have our whole lives ahead of us." "I'll wait for you at my brother's, at the Minerva convent." "I have to talk to you in private." "Did you often quarrel with him?" " Sometimes, my father was too strict." "You didn't answer my question." "Perhaps you didn't understand?" "I understood perfectly!" "Yes, sometimes I quarrelled with my father." "He wasn't easy to get along with, but that doesn't make me a murderer!" "Don't get excited." "Did he give you enough money?" " Certainly; he was more than generous." "Really?" "Is this your signature?" "These credit notes would've expired one week after your father's death..." "It came at a fortuitous time." "With the inheritance, you covered your debts." "My father gave me barely enough to live on." "That's not much for a generous man." "You said so yourself." "Who had an interest in Francesco Cenci's death?" "You!" "Who was the main heir to his fortune?" "You again!" "He had refused to pay off your debts again..." "He had enlisted you in the army to teach you a lesson." "That's why you killed him." "Arrest him!" "No!" "Let go of me!" "How dare you!" "It seems the respect due to our family..." "Nobles or peasants, it makes no difference to me..." "I know only innocent or guilty." "I want Francesco Cenci's murderer." "I did everything to get him, and you're not going to stop me." "I already told you..." " I'm not interested in what you said." "Francesco Cenci was murdered, and I have proof." "Someone cut the balcony palings, and you're the main culprit." "I've been quiet long enough." "Are you going to tell me again that his death was only an accident?" "My husband was murdered." "I always knew it, and I even knew who did it." "Why didn't you say that before?" "We had good reasons to stay silent." " What reasons?" "The night my husband was murdered, we weren't alone in the house." "There was someone else..." "A certain Calvetti." "It's not true!" "It's not true." "Olimpio wasn't in the castle... he'd moved out the week before." "You call him Olimpio." "Then you know him well?" "He's her lover." " It's not true!" "One moment." "Continue, my lady." "My husband found out about them, and he ordered Calvetti to leave." "It happened on the evening of his death, not a week before, as she claims." "You'll have all the time you need to defend yourself later." "Giacomo, were you aware of your sister's relationship with Calvetti?" "Giacomo!" "If you won't believe me, or my stepson Giacomo... question the servants." "So, you accuse this Calvetti of killing your husband?" "He swore vengeance." " That's not enough proof." "I saw him that night, with my own eyes." "I was in the corridor and I saw everything from the rear window." "Why are you lying like that?" "Why are you accusing him?" "What did he do to you?" "Olimpio is innocent..." "I'm sure of it now." "I swear!" "Now?" "Then you thought he was guilty before?" "No." "I've always been convinced of his innocence." "And you still insist he wasn't in the castle that night?" "No, he wasn't there." " She's lying." "I saw him." "And I'll prove it to you." "Giacomo, I beg you!" "Help me!" "I've never lied to you." "Olimpio is innocent." "He didn't kill our father." "You must believe me." "Don't leave me as well." "Here is my son." " Let him talk." "What's your name?" " Bernardo." "Bernardo, I'm your friend and you must help me." "Tell me, do you remember the night your father died?" "What were you doing?" "Sleeping?" "No." "Why weren't you sleeping?" "Don't be afraid." "They were shouting in the corridor." " Who was shouting?" "Olimpio and Beatrice." "Did you hear what they were saying?" "I only heard what Olimpio was saying." "Do you remember what he said?" "I'll kill him!" "The hearing is open." "Chancellor, read Mrs. Lucrezia Cenci's statement again." "The deposition of Mrs. Lucrezia Cenci... widow of Don Francesco Cenci." ""In front of the Court of Rome..." ""I declare that I was aware of the sinful and illicit relationship..." ""between Beatrice Cenci, daughter of my deceased husband Francesco Cenci..." ""and Olimpio Calvetti, the castle secretary." ""And that this relationship was the reason for my husband's murder." ""The crime was executed by Calvetti, with the complicity, perhaps involuntary..." ""of my stepdaughter, Beatrice Cenci."" " It's all lies!" "Why do you insist on defending him?" "That man is a murderer." "He murdered your father." "And you want to ruin yourself for him." "So, you declare that you saw Calvetti push your husband off the balcony?" "Certainly." " You're lying." "And now I know why..." "You hated him." "And you killed him!" "And you want them to think I was Olimpio's accomplice." "Beatrice, I beg you:" "think about what you are saying." "You may not be my daughter, but I always tried to be a mother to you." "I forgive your insults, I understand your resentment... but it was necessary to accuse Olimpio..." "We kept quiet for as long as possible." "I know you love him, but you have to forget about him." "It's your duty to yourself, and to all of us." "I'm begging you..." "Free yourself from a passion that can only have negative repercussions." "You're a hypocrite." "Gentlemen..." "I throw myself at your feet... and I plead with you to be lenient with her." "I speak to you as a mother." "Beatrice is young; she's still a child." "She's blinded by a disgraceful love, and what happened wasn't her fault." "Madam, you aren't the defendant's lawyer..." "Be lenient with her." "She'll have to be deserving of any such leniency." "But if she insists on behaving like this, then we can only think the worst." "You seem to be forgetting that you're the one who accused her." "What could I do?" "I kept quiet for as long as I could." "You may leave, madam." "I couldn't let them arrest Giacomo." "I don't know anything." "I already told you." "Try to remember." "Someone entered Don Francesco's room and they cut the palings under the balcony." "Marzio, you might have seen them, but didn't give it much thought." "For the love of God, try to think!" "Beatrice is in prison, and the guards are looking for me." "And if we can't prove our innocence..." "Try to remember!" " I'd do anything to help Beatrice..." "Anything!" "But I don't know anything." "Absolutely nothing." "Anyone could have done it." "But I didn't see anything strange in the lord's room." "I was sleeping the night he died... and I only came running out after the tragedy." "So you admit Calvetti was in the castle?" " Yes." "How long before your father's death?" " I don't know." "Who let him in?" " I don't know." "You paid Martina to open the door for him." "Martina?" " Yes, your maid." "She confessed." "She's lying." " We'll see." "Did your father give you the keys to the house?" "Yes." " The evening before the murder?" "Yes." " Then you let him in the castle." "I didn't do it." "When did you let him in?" " I tell you, I didn't let him in." "He persuaded you to let him into your father's room to cut the balcony palings." "No." "Then it was your idea." "We never entered my father's room." "Neither him or me!" " We found a half-burnt saw... in the castle fireplace." "Did you put it there?" "No." " Then it was Calvetti." "No!" "It was either you or him, or both of you." "Tell us the truth:" "who let Calvetti into the castle?" "Who cut the balcony palings?" "Who pushed your father off the balcony?" "Who killed him?" "I don't know." "I don't know." "If you want this court to show you some leniency... then name the murderer." "Your lies only make things worse." "Olimpio is innocent." "Innocent, she says." "Yet her stepmother says she saw Calvetti push Francesco Cenci from the balcony." "I'm afraid another confrontation between the two women will be necessary." "They won't change their statements." "I don't think they have any reason to." "Well, lady... are you ready to retract the accusations you made against your stepdaughter?" "No." "Then you confirm them?" " Yes." "Yet Beatrice accuses you of having instigated the murder." "She's lying." "She's lying." "Did you hear your stepmother's statement?" "Yes." "Even during torture she confirms it." "Do you insist on continuing this act?" "Do you admit that it was you who let Calvetti into the castle?" "Yes." " You admit... that you coerced him into murdering your father... so no one would get in the way of your affair?" "He cut the balcony palings." "Yes." "Were you present at the murder?" "Yes." "Confess!" " Yes, yes." "Giacomo..." "Giacomo, you're safe." "How?" "We're free, they don't suspect us anymore." "And Beatrice?" "It was horrible, but I held out." "I want you to remember something..." "I love you, and I did it all for you." "All I want is for you to be happy." " What happened to Beatrice?" "She confessed to killing Francesco." "It's not your fault." "I'm the one who's responsible, me alone." "I did it for you... and I'd do it again if I had to." "As long as I'm alive, nothing bad will happen to you." "Nothing bad?" "Look at us; do you call this a life?" "First my father, now Beatrice." "I'm worse than him, much more wretched and vile." "I don't even have the courage to be cruel." "When will it end?" "It feels like I'm sinking more and more everyday, until eventually they'll unmask us." "It won't happen, I promise." "You have to forget." "I would do anything for you." "What do I care about Beatrice?" "For me, there's nothing else in the world but you." "It's your fault it's gone this far." "What does it matter now who's to blame?" "Perhaps all is not lost..." "You still deny you murdered your father?" " Naturally." "But you confessed." " Anyone will confess under torture." "If you're innocent, there's still a chance to save yourself." "Admit you saw Calvetti murder your father, and that you lied to protect him." "We could consider you the victim of, shall we say, "an unhappy romance"." "Your youthfulness has moved the judges... and there are rumours going around Rome that we've been too hard on you." "Just for once, you could help justice." "Think about it..." "You can still live." "Of course, we can't absolve you... you're guilty of perjury." "But you'd only be placed in a convent for a length of time determined by the court." "And, when the echoes of this trial are silenced... it won't be impossible to obtain a pardon for you." "You could have a normal life..." "You could get married, have children." "Why do you insist on defending that man?" "Why?" "You ruined yourself for him." "And what has he done for you?" "Did he give himself up to save you?" "No!" "He's abandoned you." "You don't know what you're talking about;" "he hasn't abandoned me." "And I can't betray him." "Not now, or ever." "We must apprehend this Calvetti." "Do the impossible." "Be quick." "You're crazy; they're looking for you." " I came here to give myself up." "There's nothing else I can do." " No." "But it's me they want." "I can't let you die in my place." "Watch out!" "The guards." "Everything in order?" " Everything." "I brought her meal." "Don't worry." "I'm not here to hurt you." "If it was up to me, I'd let you kill whoever you want." "Bon appetit." "Save yourself." "It would be crazy to give yourself up." "What good would that do?" "Everyone's against us." "Lucrezia, Giacomo, even Martina." " Martina?" "The maid." "She told the judges I had ordered her to let you into the castle." "Martina said that?" "They must have paid her to make a false statement." "We must find her and force her to tell us everything she knows." "Meeting me has cost you dearly." " Don't say that." "Without you, I would have no reason to live." "But with you, I can handle anything." "I'll find Martina." "I'll get her to confess." "No matter what." "Have faith." "You'll see: we haven't lost yet." "For the love of God, hurry up!" "I'm not risking my life for 20 Scudi." "I think I heard a woman scream." " You hear women everywhere..." "I'm sure I'm not mistaken." "Well, I didn't hear anything, so let's go back to our quarters." "Let go of me." " If you scream, I'll kill you." "What did I do to you?" "What do you want from me?" "I know you told the judges that Beatrice paid you to let me into the castle..." "Why?" "It's not true." "You lied in court." "Who paid you?" "Tell me, or I'll strangle you." "Shout if you want - you're the one they're looking for, not me." "You're finished." "All I have to do is call them." "You're right." "I'm finished." "Thanks to you, they think I'm a murderer." "So it won't cost me anything to twist your neck!" "Who paid you?" "Who?" "Who paid you?" "Stop!" "You're hurting me." "Who paid you?" "Marzio." "Marzio!" "Marzio Catalano?" "The castle guard?" "He's the one who cut the balcony palings." "I saw him leaving Don Francesco's room with a saw in his hand." "I didn't understand what he was doing at the time... but when the lord died, he gave me some money..." "A lot." "So I wouldn't talk." "Then, at the trial, he gave me some more." "I didn't want to hurt Beatrice, or you... but I was afraid." "There was nothing else I could do;" "he threatened me." "But who gave him the money?" "Marzio doesn't have a penny." "That I do not know." "Ask him yourself." "Having examined all the evidence... the court of Rome finds Beatrice Cenci guilty of the murder... of her father, Don." "Francesco Cenci, Roman patrician, and decrees that she must pay for this unnatural crime with the death penalty." "In light of her age, and as a sign of clemency... punishment by quartering, which is expected for patricide... has been commuted to a less painful death by decapitation." "There were two of them." "They shot me." "Then it was Giacomo." "He ordered you to cut the balcony palings." "He gave you the money to bribe Martina." " He's a rogue." "I've always been a faithful servant, and I would never betray him." "Why did you lie before?" " I was afraid." "But you must avenge my death." "There..." "In that trunk." "I wrote everything down, in case something happened." "Give it to the judge, so Beatrice will be saved... and they'll hang them, him, and that whore of a mistress." "Lucrezia?" " In there, hurry." "Take this letter to Judge Ranieri." "It's important." "Judge Ranieri's office?" " Up there." "What's going on?" "Forgive me, sir, but it's very important..." "It concerns the death of Francesco Cenci." "Who gave you this?" " A wounded man heading for the city." "Who was he?" " I don't know; he died soon after." "Watch the doors." "Don't let anyone out." "Subtitled by Ryuma  Draxtra for Karagarga" " August 2011"