"I feel within me many different people." "A multitude of beings, each of whom would like to do his own way." "The strangest thing is that they don't speak one at a time, but all together," "interrupting and contradicting themselves, and so merging into a great tumult." "What can I do?" "The age I remember best is when I was 12." "I was a quiet child, but not a day went by without being punished by my father." "We Uzeda's were an old family of Spanish origin, living in Catania since over 100 years, as kept repeating my grandmother, the Princess of Francalanza." "Italy was divided into several states, and Sicily belonged to the Bourbon Kingdom." "Raimondo!" "Do not abandon me, please!" "Princess, I am not Raimondo!" "I am Casimiro." "Your faithful servant!" "Baldassarre, who suffered to see me punished, was the son of my grandfather and a maid, but forced to work as a butler on the orders of my father." "Come on, little Prince!" "Just a few more feet!" "But why?" "Because..." "Because your father wants to make a man of you." "You know he loves you very much!" "I think he really hates me, instead!" " No!" "Come, my darling." "Let me see." "Does it hurt much?" "Consalvo!" "Consalvo!" "What is it?" " They hitched the coach." "Come look!" "Where is our father going at this hour?" "Something serious must have happened." "Why lower our flag?" "It means that someone died." "Who?" "Try to imagine." " Grandma?" "You see?" "Our father is talking to grandma." "He's not talking." "He's praying." "The feud Ganci, 7,000 ounces..." "Palazzolo's estate, at least 10,000." "You would have brought it all in the grave!" "Cursed you!" "Behave!" "Is it true that your aunt Lucretia is in love with lawyer Giulente but they won't let her marry him?" " True." "Watch him, poor thing!" "And your Aunt Clara?" " This is her third pregnancy." "Each time, the babies are stillborn!" "Look!" "She's smiling!" "We must give a tip to the undertaker who prepared her." "One day, he'll remember, and maybe he will do us too a nice service!" "There are your father's uncles." "At the opening of the will, they'll fight like cats and dogs!" "Uncle Raimondo." "Grandma's favorite son." "He just came back from Florence." "I want to be like him." "I want to travel, have fun, and meet new people..." "You know what they say about him?" " No, what?" "That he cuckolds poor Matilde with Donna Isabella." "the wife of Count Fersa." "Why Giacomo wanted all of us here?" " He did not say." "He may want to settle the issue of the division." " Calm down, please." "Calma, por favor!" "Beware, or your brother will take everything!" "Don't worry uncle, Giacomo will do everything right." "Poor dreamer!" "Don't come and complain to me later!" "Gentlemen, silence now, please." "Mr. Notary, we can begin." ""I the undersigned Teresa Uzeda, née Rizzà, widow of Consalvo VII, Prince of Francalanza, in full awareness of my decisions, I want, I command and I order..."" "One half!" "Your grandmother left half of the assets to that loafer of Raimondo!" "And your father..." "Your father was duped!" " What does duped mean?" "When you grow up you'll understand!" "Poor Giacomo!" " The law is the law." " Splitting with Raimondo all properties!" "Even half of the palace, his own home!" " We're going to get an earful!" "I'll tell the administrator to divide the property soon." "I trust you completely." "But now they're awaiting me at the club." "Take care of everything." "Father, sir." "What does it mean that you're duped?" "You must shut up, always!" "What're you doing still here?" " Waiting for our mother." "When will you return to the monastery, Giovannino?" "This evening, uncle sir." "Your mother lets you out too often." "If your father were still alive!" "If you keep on making me angry... to the monastery like your cousin!" "To the monastery, I'll send you!" "The monastery, never!" "Even this estate of Aci Trezza must I split with Raimondo?" "Sadly, since the law of primogeniture has been abolished," "Your Excellency can not claim the rights once belonging to the first born." "However, there would be a way to limit the damage." "Her Excellency your mother gave me these so that I may destroy them." "They are IOUs." "There, Excellency, look at the signatures of waiver." "Just delete them, and they will be again as before." "So they would turn into actual debts to be honored." "Debts... also of that loafer of my brother Raimondo?" "Of course!" "If one day your brothers want their share of the inheritance, and we put around again the bills, they'll have to first pay these debts." "My mother did such things?" "Well..." "If my mother did them..." "In early July cholera broke out in Catania." "It was decided to take refuge at Belvedere, our farm on the Etna, where cholera, as my father said, does not catch on." "We've arrived." "For me it was a happy summer." "We children could do as we wanted." "My father was so focused on the inheritance that he even forgot to punish me!" "The bills must be honored, my dear aunt." "Which means mortgaging the estate." " Unfortunately." "To exclude Raimondo, he sought the support of his relatives, Donna Ferdinanda and Don Blasco." "It's better here than in the monastery." " Actually, I like the monastery." "But if you say so..." " Yes!" "I say so!" "Aunt Clara was about to give birth." " Do not worry," "I'm fine now." "And aunt Matilde was always looking for her husband." "Have you seen Raimondo?" "No." " No." "Don't worry, he will surely return soon." "Come on, Michele, follow me!" " Wait!" "Consalvo!" "Consalvo, I can't get in!" "Consalvo!" "Come back, Consalvo!" "I can't make it!" "Fortunately my husband took your advice and we too left Catania." "If not from cholera, we would have died from heat!" "I can't get used to it." "In Warsaw, where I was born, the climate is very different." "So, Count?" "When do you return to Florence?" "In truth, Donna Isabella, once, departures gave me pleasure." "Now, just the idea, gives me a feeling of nausea." "Tomorrow my husband will go with your brother to look around..." "How beautiful the horses in the wild!" "Matilde!" "Raimondo, finally!" "Where have you been all this time?" " The weather is getting worse." "If it rained also in Catania, it would be better for cholera." "I asked you where you've been!" "I'll have the right to spend time alone, right?" "Uncle Raimondo!" "Donna Isabella lost it when she was with you at the creek." "I'll give it to Donna Isabella!" "Poor thing, she must be looking for it!" "You wretch!" "You must always do damage!" "What have I done?" "I've only told the truth!" "Shut up!" "Let go of me!" "Do not worry, everything will be fine." "Yes, but don't leave me alone." " Quiet." "Uncle Duke has arrived!" " Consalvo, go slow!" " Wait!" "Lawyer Giulente is here!" "Let that he be the first to greet you." "You are a Uzeda, you!" "And he is just a poor lawyer!" "Remember!" "Where is Giacomo?" "Giacomo left with Donna Isabella's husband, Count Fersa." " I want him." "I regret not finding him." "... to marry him, aunt." " Raimondo?" "He too is gone?" "You must help me." "Gentlemen, I have news of the utmost importance." "The reign of the Bourbons is about to end." "You won't be happy, I hope!" "This young man asked me to join the liberal movement." "You, my brother, together with revolutionaries?" "Allow me, Donna Ferdinanda..." "It's not about joining a revolutionary movement, but the moderate liberals." "Dreamers!" "The Piedmontese will kick you out, and give you their ass to kiss!" "And once they conquer Rome, they'll burn churches and holy places!" "Blasco, don't say nonsense!" "You think I could mingle with such people?" "The Duke is right, believe me." "I myself have decided to go." "What do you mean, go?" "Yes." " And where to?" "I want to join the fighting forces." "If there is to fight, I must be with them." "But..." "But, excuse me, you didn't tell me that..." "there was to fight now!" "Well, because I..." "If I were younger..." "I swear I would follow you!" " Yeah!" "If you were younger, you'd run away like hell!" "I'm your brother and I know you well!" "Blood of Muhammad!" " Holy Lord!" "Countess Clara's waters have broken!" "She's in labor!" " That's it!" "Here we go!" "Do not worry, Federico." "Rest assured, everything is going well." "Hopefully it won't end as before!" "Mom..." "I want to go in to see Aunt Clara." " You can not, darling." "Then I go to play." " Alright." "Federico!" "The news reached us en route!" "Count Fersa took me back in his carriage." "Donna Matilde..." "Is all right?" " She suffers terribly." "Calm yourself." "Soon you'll be the happiest man in the world!" "Thanks." "And Raimondo, where is he?" "He's out for a horse ride." "But he will be back soon." "Be brave!" "Be brave Clara!" "Oh, God!" "But what is it?" "Prince!" "What are you doing?" "If your father finds you here!" "Come on." "Baldassarre, go to the kitchen." "Get a large bowl." "And bring all the alcohol in the house." "What will you do with it, Federico?" "The baby was a girl." "Clara wants to preserve her." "Poor thing!" " What a misfortune!" "She'll never have a baby alive!" "Who can it be?" "Oh, my God!" "He's back!" "Who's come back?" "My husband!" "Quick!" "Woe if he finds you!" "What are you doing there?" "You've gone mad?" "An Uzeda, running away like that, like a thief!" "Don't ruin me, please!" "I beg you, don't do it!" "Please!" "Come quickly." "Come on!" "Count!" "What is it?" "Your brother the Prince is awaiting you in his study, urgently!" "What does he want now?" "Count Fersa, good morning." "What is all this urgency?" "I wouldn't have bothered you if was not at stake the honor of the family." "Is this yours?" "Count Fersa found it in his room yesterday afternoon, returning home." "I'll take care of hushing things up, so your wife won't suffer a scandal." "But now you must leave this place." "I thought you could return to Florence, at least for a while." "To Florence?" "But..." " But you need money, of course." "Mr. Marco will take care of supplying you." "On one condition, though." "It's the proxy authorizing me to handle your share of the inheritance." "Let's say it like it is:" "A blackmail, to better rob me!" "It's you, you!" "You want to take away what is mine!" "Be aware that, if you won't sign, will break out the scandal." "You will have everyone against." "The family, the Church..." "The whole Catania!" "If you will sign... you will get my support to hush up the matter." "Now though you must decide:" "be forgiven by your wife... or... putting yourself with that Fersa... if you prefer." "Here." "Uncle Raimondo, will you take me with you?" " Not today, another time." "Are you mad at me for the handkerchief?" " No." "Indeed, unknowingly, you helped me." "How?" "I'll explain, one day, when you are older." "That day Uncle Raimondo went away from the villa, abandoning the poor Matilde for the wife of Count Fersa." "My father had got what he wanted, and from then he started lording over the whole family." "It was his dream." "Commanding everything and everyone!" "Thank you." "Giacomo..." "I ..." "I ..." "I should speak to you." "I'm here." "It is about..." "lawyer Giulente." "What does he want?" "He wants to know if... if he can ask me... to be his wife!" "Have you ever heard of a Uzeda who married someone who wasn't noble?" "But Benedetto is a lawyer!" "He's an honest and courageous man." "Oh, yes?" " Yes!" "And since when being honest and courageous means anything?" "But I ..." "But you what?" "Nothing." " So much the better." "It is late, it's lunch time." "Don't be late." "I'll make you change your mind." "I swear I'll make you change it!" "Run!" "Run all you want, I'll wait here!" "I've heard you!" "Women!" "They're coming out!" "Hush!" "Rosa" "Rosa" "Why uncle and Rosa have gone into that room?" "I do not know." "Is she very beautiful, our cousin?" "Yes, very." "And they keep her locked in the closet." "But she's not a child!" "She's a fairy." "Light as a butterfly." "She has skin smooth as a rose." "And blue eyes." "Let's open the closet and look." "How ugly!" "Consalvo!" "What are you doing?" "Wretch!" " I want to see my cousin." "You're always the same!" "You go to your room to sleep!" "Now!" "Let go!" " This time I'll make you pay!" "And you'll see how." "Bread and water for yet another day." "And tomorrow we leave." "What is it, you lost your voice?" "Don't you want to know where you'll go?" "You will enter the monastery." "The Benedictines will take care of your education." "He became mute!" "At the monastery they'll restore his voice." "You have not eaten anything..." "Your father acts for your own good." "Or so he thinks." "He's not like you." "He hates me!" "Do I have to kill myself, to make him happy?" "Is that what he wants from me?" "That I end up underground?" "Don't say that." "Then why shall I go to the monastery?" " But there you'll find your cousin." "I am not a second-born like Giovannino!" "Mom, I won't go to the monastery!" "I don't want to go, I beg you!" "I can't do anything!" "It's your father who decides." "You know how he is." "Dear brother!" "Dear nephew." "St. Benedict is watching us right now, you know?" "Are you happy to become part of our family?" "Answer the father." " No!" "I didn't want to come here either when I was young." "You heard?" " Here is your cousin Giovannino." "He will take you to visit the monastery with Fra Carmelo." "Now, say goodbye to your father." "Come, Giacomo, I'll show you the new library." "You must shave, huh?" "I won't shave like you, I'm no sheep!" " All novices must shave their heads." "Come see!" "Here is my cousin Consalvo, who doesn't want to shave his head!" "Your Excellency, I beg you!" "Enough!" "I tried too!" "Where are you going?" "I am firstborn as your brother, Michele." "There's no reason to keep me here!" "I'm going." "They'll catch you soon." " Yes, if you're a telltale with Carmelo." "Fra Carmelo at night, doesn't care for those who go out, but for those who go in." "In here, at night is like a carnival!" "Wait and see." "We must hurry, this is the time they come." "They who?" " Wait and see!" "Look." "Look there." "You see those hooded guys?" "With the priests?" "Well?" "They're monks returning to the convent." "They're not monks." "They're women." "Women in disguise, to enter the monastery without anyone noticing." "What're you saying?" "They're the chicks of the monks." " Chicks?" " Yes!" "Their lovers." "You know how they name the monks of this monastery?" "The pigs of Christ!" "You're crazy!" "Your great-uncle had even a daughter with the cigars girl!" "Don Blasco?" " Don't you believe me?" "Then follow me!" "Who is that?" " The cigars girl, his mistress." "She's married to the barber of the monastery, Carino." "Don Blasco doesn't give a damn about the monastery." "He was forced to stay in here as a child." "Also Fra Carmelo has a mistress?" "Not him, he's a saint, although he's the bastard brother of Don Blasco." "He became such by dint of putting up with." "When I grow up I will marry your sister Teresa." "And you?" "I will never marry." " Why?" "My father will want to choose my wife." "That's why." "You must not worry." "One day everything will change." "Sooner or later revolution will break out, and we will finally escape." "And after that?" " After, we will all become equal." "So told me the cook." "Soon, even cooks may become nobles." "Yes." "And we nobles, what will we become, cooks?" "The nobles will be beheaded." " Us too?" "Not us." "The cook is my friend." "He'll save our lives." "They pray... at this hour?" "They are friars minor, Capuchin friars." " So?" "The Rule prescribes to Benedictine monks to pray in the the dead of night." "The Benedictines are rich, and to not wake up, have subcontracted to the Capuchines to pray in their behalf." "You were right, here it's really a carnival!" "Your turn, Serafino!" " My name is not Serafino." " It's the rule!" "Everyone takes the name of a saint." "Giovaninno is named Sebastianuccio, and you, Serafino." "Come on." "Come on." "There!" "Stand still." "That's it, Serafino!" "Bravo, Serafino!" "My name is not Serafino." "Come on." "Serafino, pray with your head straight!" "Serafino, Sebastianuccio!" "Garibaldi has arrived!" "Stay inside." "Let's shut ourselves in the monastery, or they'll kill us all!" "We are free!" " We are free!" "Garibaldi has arrived!" "Has arrived the Antichrist!" "It is the revolution!" "Garibaldi and his excommunicates will close the monastery and steal our riches." "Better take them ourselves before they do!" "Long live freedom!" "Stick it into your behind, your freedom!" "Long live the Bourbons!" "Don Blasco, we beg you, help us!" "We are free!" "In the 7 years spent in the monastery, many things had happened." "Raimondo did not return to Catania, and my father had definitively seized the maternal inheritance, leaving just crumbs to the others, as said laughing my sister Teresa, who every month came to visit me at the monastery with my mother." "A Bourbon soldier!" "Catch him, catch him!" "Death to the Bourbons!" "Death to the Bourbons!" "To death!" "Viva Garibaldi!" "The Bourbons at the stake!" "Come!" "Viva Garibaldi!" "Did you see?" "There is lawyer Giulente!" "He lost a leg!" " Viva Garibaldi!" "With him there's also your great-uncle, Duke Gaspare!" "Long live united Italy!" "Viva Sant'Agata!" "What's your name?" " Concetta." " What a beautiful name!" "My name is Consalvo!" "Are you from Catania?" " From where else?" " That's right!" "Why the hair like that?" " What?" "Why the hair like that?" "I'm just out of the monastery!" " The monastery?" " Yes!" "It was to be my prison!" "Long live freedom!" "I'm free!" "Free!" " Welcome back, young Prince." "Rosa!" "What's going on?" "My mother?" "Where is my mother?" "There is a doctor, with your mother." " The doctor?" "Consalvo, why here?" " What are you doing?" "Your father ordered us to reach safety, Catania will be set on fire by Garibaldi!" "She's very weak." "I fear it took the lungs" "But can she travel?" " I strongly advise not to." "I'll see you out." " Thanks." "Mom..." "Mom..." "It's me." "Consalvo." "It's me." "What are you doing here?" "Did they occupy the monastery?" "What have you done to her?" " She's resting, don't you see?" "Why?" "Why didn't you warn me?" " The air of Belvedere will do her good." "Did you hear the doctor?" "Mom can not travel." "I beg you, let me stay here with her." " You want them to cut off our heads?" "You're coming with us, get ready." "I am staying here." "We're leaving at dawn, and don't you dare to argue." "Consalvo!" "You're back!" "Teresa!" "You come too." "No." " I beg you!" "Teresa ..." "Mom!" "Consalvo..." "Come close." "Let's do as... as your father wants." "Let's leave." "Yes, Mother." " I'll stay beside you." "I won't leave you anymore, mom." "Tancredi!" "Stop playing!" "Come here, we have to leave." "And I told you to take care of the suitcases!" "Who is that child?" "I asked who is the child?" " He is the son of Rosa." "I did not know that Rosa had a son." "And why Aunt Chiara brings him along?" "Teresa, will you answer me?" " He's son to Rosa and Uncle Federico." "Uncle Federico had a son... with his wife's maid?" "She wanted it, after the last pregnancy gone wrong." "Now for Aunt Clara he's as her son, and she never lets him to Rosa." "It's a monstrosity!" "It's a monstrosity, don't you realize?" "Dear Giovannino, tomorrow... will come to Catania..." "Do not touch her!" "Don't touch her!" "Mom!" "Mom!" "Mom!" "Consalvo!" "Consalvo!" " Cursed them!" "Cursed them!" " Consalvo!" "Come back!" "Tomorrow we will return to Catania, where we will bury your mother." "You know the great pain that caused in me her loss." "But life... goes on." "Good news from Catania." "This morning came to see me lawyer Giulente and Uncle Duke." "Giulente will be appointed Mayor of the city, and has guaranteed that we are no longer in danger, thus, we may go back." "We will have, thus, a friendly mayor." "And, to strengthen this bond," "I thought it was honorable, to consent to his marriage with your Aunt Lucrezia." "How's that?" "Wasn't it just you, to say that never an Uzeda would marry a man without a title?" "I consented for the sake of the family, and to protect you all." "Sure." "Sure, I understand." "You too understand, true, Teresina?" " Moreover, I've a surprise for Giulente." "He can't get married with just one leg!" "Another good news... is that cousin Graziella," "bound by love for the holy soul of the deceased, has agreed... to take care of us." "We have also taken important decisions for your future." "Achieved 16 years, Teresina will go... to boarding school." "But I ..." " You what?" "You, Consalvo, with the new year, will start studying again." "Your new mother and I thought..." "Who told you to get up?" "Did you say "mother"?" "You said "mother"!" "My mother is dead!" "She's dead!" "How... and for whose fault... you know better than me." "The young lady has something to say?" "So much the better." "Back in Catania, my father was always locked in his pharmacy, preparing concoctions and sorceries against evil eye and bad luck, that he thought depended on me." "Consalvo, reverends Santuzza and Antonio are here to expel the Evil from the palace." "The Evil is perfectly visible." "Enough wanting to see it, without need for exorcisms." "My father squandered money for his deliriums." "And I, for revelry with Giovannino!" "I learned from Don Blasco, who, with what he stole from the monastery, lived merrily with his mistress and her husband, who didn't give a damn for being cuckold, seen that he was paid handsomely." "Meanwhile Sicily had become part of the new state, Italy." "And the wind of democracy had arrived even in Catania." "Welcome, dear aunt." " What is this stuff?" "Long live freedom!" "?" "Freedom is a word that means nothing, but that pleases everyone." "You see, Aunt, when ruled the king, we Uzeda's were friends of the king." "Now the beggars are ruling, and we need be their friends." "Turncoat you too?" "Traitor?" " No, what are you saying!" "Freedom also means... that, now that Italy is made, we must care for our own business!" "But come inside now." "Today, cousin Graziella and I we will make a happy announce." "Michele!" "Don't start gobbling everything." "Behave yourself!" "Follow the example of your brother." " What have I done?" "Giovannino?" "Have you seen Consalvo?" "Don't worry, he will come." "Don't worry." "You'll see that he will come." "He does it on purpose to spoil my party." " It's not true!" "So, Giacomo." "Shall we make this announcement or not?" "As some of you may already know, cousin Graziella, and I,.." "have decided to get married." "Hooray!" "Please, please." "Before formalizing this announcement, there is a surprise, for our beloved mayor, as well as new family member, lawyer Giulente." "I thought of a gift that would measure up to his... important office." "Pure mahogany." "This is for you." "Thanks." " Hooray!" "It's a dog a bit restless." "My gift for your marriage!" "I'm sure you will succeed to tame it in no time." "Baldassarre!" "Away!" "Away!" "What's he doing, this ugly brat, in my carriage?" "Goodbye, Tancredi." " Come back soon!" "Let's go." "He goes out!" "To spend my money among sprees and idlers." "Give him time." "He will change, you'll see." "Stop." "Giovannino!" "Climb on." "So, where are we going?" " To the monastery, our prison." "Go." "You see her?" "The girl with whom we danced the night of Garibaldi, remember?" "Beautiful!" "Cheers!" "Tomorrow I'll return here and I'll invite her to the hunting lodge." "Come on!" "My God, impressive to see the monastery in this state!" "What desolation!" "Consalvo, come and see where we slept!" "Giovaninno!" "Where are you?" " Novices!" "What is my duty inasmuch your Prior?" "To indicate the lost sheep the way of salvation." "Serafino, pray with your head straight!" "How many times shell I tell you not to drink the wine of the Prior!" "Bravo, Sebastianuccio!" "Fra Carmelo!" "What are you doing here?" "They drove us out, but I stayed here." "This is my home." "You remember the dormitory?" "You, Serafino, were sleeping here, and you, Sebastianuccio, there." "Brother Carmelo..." "Where are you taking me?" " Where do we take him?" "We go to celebrate the day of your liberation!" " You like to joke!" "To the port!" "Go on, to the port!" "And who repents..?" " Is not a sport!" " Gallop!" "A sip?" "Dear lady..." "Brother Carmelo!" "So, what're you doing?" " I can not go there." "You young people may have fun, but I..." " There are no other places at this hour." "I'll return to camp outside the monastery." "These are for you." "Take them." "I'll take them." "But you too must take something." "You are good." "Keep it up." "To the monastery." "Come on!" "Go!" "He's surely mad, this Orlando!" " He's insane." "Do you remember me?" " Certainly, Your Excellency." "Finally I found you." "I've been looking for you." " Why?" "Because I wanted to see you." "Now that you saw me?" " I want to see you again." "And when?" " You know the hunting lodge of my family?" "On the road to Biruni?" "Be there tomorrow night." "I will have a surprise for you." "For me?" " Yes." "Sure." "All for you!" "So?" "Will you come?" "Tell me that you'll come!" "Come on!" "Do not stand there." "This is for you." "Your Excellency is mocking me?" "I want you to try it on." "Here?" "Now?" "In the other room there are mirrors." "So you can watch yourself." "You stay here?" "Sure." "Don't be afraid." "I won't do you anything." "Is all right?" "May I come in?" "You're beautiful!" " It would take the shoes though..." "No,.." "You're beautiful even this way." "The most beautiful I ever saw!" "Imagine!" "Who knows how many duchesses and princesses you know!" "May I kiss your hand?" "Why do you always wear gloves?" " Just so..." "Listen..." "And if I asked you to marry?" "Prince, do not talk nonsense please!" "Come on." "Answer me." "Prince, if you asked me as a wife, you know what would say your father?" "What?" " That you've gone crazy!" " Yes?" "You think my father's will matters more than mine?" "Fathers are in command and children obey, don't you know?" "Not me." " You too, you too." "Not me!" "You too!" "Not me." " You too." "Not me." " You too." "Stop it!" "Not me." " You too." "Not me!" " You too." "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "No!" "Come on, Concetta..." "Do not touch me!" "I won't touch you, but, stop crying, calm down." "Here." " I don't want it!" "I will give you even more." "Damn you!" "Please forgive me." "I'm sorry." "Have you seen young prince Uzeda?" "Giovannino!" "Michele!" "I'm glad you came." "At Catania, secrets don't last!" "If you've judged me as better than what I am... you were wrong." "Please, Giovannino,.." "drink with me." "Michele give me a cigar." "Michele, go call a cab." "The brothers of the girl have sworn revenge." "You have to go away, Consalvo." " I do not care." "Do it for me." " Give me a light." " Come on." "Come on!" "Come on!" "Go away!" "You paid the coachman?" "The girls told me that..." "Consalvo sent away the carriage." "Sir, let us to introduce ourselves." "We're Concetta's brothers." "You nobles do things hurriedly always!" "And without thinking!" "Consalvo!" "Consalvo!" "Michele!" "Help!" "I do not understand if I feel more pain... or pleasure." "Do not talk." "Don't talk." "Hush!" "Deep down, I deserve it, you know." "Where am I?" " At aunt Ferdinanda's house." "To avoid the wrath of your father." "And aunt Ferdinanda?" "She's gone to your house." " It's for a family reunion." "Your attackers will not get off scot." "We'll organize a punitive expedition." "And one of these nights..." " No!" "No." "Don't do it." "Do you promise?" "I promise." "But now we must go." "Do not worry." "Come on, Michele." " Giovannino." "Thanks." "For what?" "Father, I beg you, let him come back." " Be silent, please." "Your brother is a wretch, who brings bad luck." "Leave him with just the clothes he has, blood of Muhammad!" "If you let him return, where will end up morals?" " You, you talk about morals?" "Yes, me." "Let's say the truth!" "They meant avenge their sister's honor." "And rightly!" "Now that your husband is mayor, he can intercede." "I marvel at you!" "Consalvo committed a dishonorable act!" "The fact that my husband is mayor, sadly does not change things." "If Benedetto can not help Consalvo, we can try to ask Uncle Duke." "Uncle Duke..." "Teresina!" "Now he's become a Parliamentarian!" "His mind is on other things!" "Rabble!" "They've taken Rome!" "Here's the result of the Piedmontese government!" " If Rome has fallen, the Pope is fucked!" "Don't stand there like chickens!" "Shoo, shoo!" "For the family's reputation, we should send Consalvo away from Catania." "And with whom should he make this trip?" "Well, I thought he should take along only Baldassarre." "And how much would it cost me, this... journey?" "After some accounts, not much more than if he stayed here doing more damages." "May his departure really serve to free the palace from his negative influences!" "Giacomo, you won't believe this nonsense?" "Santuzza claims that the palace is haunted!" "Enough with this Mother Santuzza, and the exorcist priest!" "Enough!" "Giacomo, will you understand or not?" "Your superstitions are medieval things!" "Superstitions!" "It's ancient science!" "The word itself says it." ""Supra"!" "Something that's above." "Something very high." "Nothing to be ashamed of, indeed!" "Weapons and amulets, together!" "Just like that!" "To protect oneself from evil." "And from misfortune." "All the more reason, right?" "If you believe in these things, you should consent to this trip." "Excuse me, Giacomo, but, with your son away from Catania, you should no longer fear his negative influences, right?" "Rosa, the cannoli." "Thanks." " Teresa in boarding school, and you, soon far away." "In Rome, you'll ask for an audience with the Pope, right?" "It's a good thing, no?" "Yeah." " I won't fail." "Now, if you'll excuse me..." "I must get ready." " Wait." "Giovanni, the bottle." "I sent for one of the most prized bottles from our cellar." "Seems right!" "No, no!" "Let me do it." "Even departures... must be fêted, right?" "To your trip." "To your long... stay abroad." "To your good health." "And to good luck." "Baldassarre said it hadn't snowed in Catania for 30 years." "I should have asked my father if snow was a good omen for my departure!" "He said goodbye with a smile, something he never did." "With Teresa in school and me far away, he would remain as undisputed master." "Thanks." " Congratulations, dear." "Uncle, Aunt..." "Good evening." " Welcome back, Teresa." "How was school?" " Like all boarding schools: dismal." "Excellency Uncle, how are you?" " Fine." "I greet the guests, excuse me." "Come on, Michele, say hello to your cousin." "Very honored!" "How are you, Princess?" "So formal, Michele?" "We know each other as children!" "Baroness Motta!" " News of Consalvo?" "He's fine, fine." " And when will he return?" " Soon." "May I?" " Don Blasco, how are you?" "Don Blasco?" "No!" "Just Blasco." "Benedetto." "I want to dance." "No, come on, in my condition!" "Our condition, is that we are husband and wife!" "As you wish!" "You dance perfectly!" "Is not seen at all!" "Giovannino did not come?" "We haven't met for two years." "My other son doesn't know the punctuality!" "Thank you." "You want?" "You're so beautiful!" "How you've grown!" "Do you grant me a dance?" "Nice couple!" " But what do you say, Aunt?" "Giovannino is second-born." "Don't stand there like a boiled fish." "Go keep her company!" "Do as your brother!" "But...but I..." " But you, what?" "I'd rather dance with you!" "And you, what grace do you ask?" " For Consalvo and Dad." "May St. Agata return peace in the family." "Nothing for yourself?" " For me?" "I'm happy, I'm not lacking anything." "And you?" "What do you ask?" " I no longer believe in God." "Don't say that." "You?" "I was shut in a monastery when I was 5, and I stayed there until I was 20." "To me, God was our jailer!" "However, now that I've seen you again..." "I too would have a grace to ask." "One for which, maybe, it is worth making peace with God!" "Which one?" "You really do not understand?" "If you ate less, this wouldn't happen!" " Mom, you're unjust!" "Dear brother, you have already arrived to Rome?" "I fear that you don't want to return, now that you've been to London and Paris, and you've studied economics, law, and political science!" "I miss you, and I wish so much to see you again!" "Fortunately Giovannino keeps me company, and makes me feel less lonely." "Yesterday at lunch I begged our father to let you return." "He was silent for a while, and I feared the worst." "Then he smiled, and said he will think about it." "A hug, and a greeting also from Giovannino." "...then, regarding women's vote, gentlemen, it's mere nonsense!" "Do we want the Parliament to become a whorehouse?" "Consalvo!" "Gentlemen, excuse me." "My dear nephew!" "Finally you came to see me!" "I'm sorry, I don't mean to subtract you from your friends." " Friends?" "Say rather... journalists!" "The most stinky race that was ever created in the world!" "Excellency!" "." " Excellency." "I see the young State resembles the old Monarchy!" "People bow, as at the Court of the Bourbons." "I hear that..." "in Sicily they talk of great changes." "You want to know my opinion?" "Easy said:" "The right-wing is doomed." "The Prime Minister calls me continuously." "Now that we're not far from new elections, he calls me increasingly often." "And you want to know why?" "Because he needs my votes." "Sorry, Uncle." "Forgive me." "You are from the right." "The Prime Minister, isn't he from the left?" "Dear Consalvo, they didn't teach you anything at all, huh?" "Right, left..." "Today they don't mean anything." "These days, everything changes so quickly, that we can no longer look at labels." "And the people?" "What will end up thinking, the people?" "The people?" "!" " I mean... the country." "The people?" "The country?" "Gibberish names!" "Abstractions!" "This country does not exist!" "There only are multitudes of citizens, among whom, if you seek well, you won't find even just two who agree entirely on something!" "Here's to the people..." "To the country." "But especially to my future." "And to the future of the Uzeda family!" "I am dying of sleep!" "It's the most beautiful love drama ever written!" "I just want to understand what says Romeo to Juliet." "You understand French?" "No." "I learned hunting better." "She is dreaming..." "A strand of her hair loosens up, caressing her face." "Love." "I beg you, go on." "What's he saying now?" "She speaks..." "How beautiful!" "I don't know what she's saying,.." "but her eyes speak for her." "And my heart responds." "Arise, O sun... and make the stars fade... that shine in the firmament." "Is something wrong?" "My sister Teresa..." "They'll take her away from us." "She got engaged." "That is good news!" "And to whom?" "Strange!" "She does not say." "Baldassarre!" "Prepare the luggage, we're leaving." "But!" "Really?" "Come on, come on!" "Beautiful cliff, huh?" "Are you Sicilians?" "No, we're Italians." "Baldassarre, you see?" "Still it's not known that we're Italian!" "Consalvo!" " Teresa!" "Let me see you!" "You're a woman!" "Young Princess!" " Baldassarre!" "Come on, come on!" "Welcome back, Prince." "Your Excellency, how are you?" " Very well!" "Baldassarre!" "Bring up the basket of gifts." "Allow me..." "Did you hear?" "It's a real pleasure to see you again!" "He brought me gifts." "Bought with my own money!" " I beg you, Giacomo!" "Well then?" "You don't ask me?" "About what?" "About my engagement." "Oh, right!" "And who is?" "Who is the lucky one?" "Giovannino!" "I love him." "And he loves me too!" "He asked me on the night of the procession." "Look what he gave me." ""Romeo and Juliet."" "It is our father who decided... that you can marry Giovannino?" "Nothing is official yet." "But I'm so happy!" " Listen..." "Tell me something..." "Who told you that you can marry Giovannino?" "His mother came to the palace." "Maybe they talked about marriage." "I wish so much it were so, believe me, sis." "It's that..." "Well, soon we'll know." "Then, beautiful as you are, sure you'll find someone who marries you!" "And who are you?" " Tancredi." "Is he the Tancredi that I know?" "You're a little man!" "Let me see!" "Does he look good with the hat?" " Yes!" "There is a surprise for you." "See, Tancredi?" "Consalvo has grown a mustache as our father." "Careful, it's heavy!" "Didn't I tell you to be quiet?" " Chiara!" "Please, he's a child!" "Leave him alone." "Excellency, your uncle, Don Blasco." "A heart attack." "At the farm." "There is danger that he dies." "You have to hurry!" "How is it possible that you and I... we have the same father?" "Yet,..." "we're so different!" "They're all here, huh?" "Giacomo, you've heard something of the will?" "Is this the time, Aunt, to think about that?" "Someone should think about it." "With the mountain of money he made!" "Jackals!" "But I am glad." "Because, if I die... when they'll go to open the will... they will all burst with rage!" "No!" "No!" "Don Blasco, no!" "I had returned to Catania full of new ideas." "While here, everything had stayed the same:" "as always, reduced to issues of self-interest." "Even in the face of death." "They seemed to pray for the soul of Don Blasco, but they were only thinking of when they would divide his inheritance." "One moment!" "Come in!" "You wanted to talk to me?" "No!" "The light bothers me." "I did hear that you are unwell." "What have you?" " I'm very fine!" "I'm glad." "I've been thinking about your future." "I want you to get married." "Candidates are not lacking, for instance,.." "the young baroness Motta." "Or young countess Altieri." "You'll have a house of your own... and an annuity all to yourself... considerable." "So then?" "Before answering, I ask you to clarify me a doubt." "Speaking of marriages,.." "my sister Teresa says she'll marry Giovannino Radalì." "It's none of your concern." "Then I shall answer myself." "If my sister Teresa will marry... her husband won't be Giovannino." "True, Teresa cannot marry a cadet..." "with no fortune, nor title." "Michele!" "The elder brother..." "is the candidate most apt to her status." "Michele?" "The cockroach!" "I think of the future of Teresa, and of our lineage!" "A well pondered alliance between us and the Radalì, will go to everyone's advantage." "And for what do they serve, these alliances?" "Oh, I understand!" "You've decided to wage war on someone!" "You make me laugh!" "You dare raise your hands on your father?" "The fathers strive for the sake of their children... not for their unhappiness!" "Anyway, I have no intention to get married." "That clear?" "Giacomo!" "The notary's clerk." "He just sent a copy of the will of Don Blasco." "It's all Consalvo's fault!" "Send him away!" "He came back to bring me ill luck!" "I want no longer see him." "Ever again!" ""The authentic will filed at the notary's, leaves as sole heir..." "Friar Carmelo" !" "Don Blasco has appointed as sole heir his bastard brother," "Friar Carmelo!" "How many times kicked you out of the house, your father?" "For now, I've arranged you here." "Then we'll see." "Excellency Aunt, how are you?" "At my age, how do you want me to be?" "I'll leave you two alone." "You must return to the palace, to make peace with our father." "But what are you saying?" "What do you mean?" "How can you defend him still?" "Consalvo..." " You are good..." "Too good!" "Your goodness has something excessive!" "As the wickedness of our father!" "Teresa, your goodness, risks making you his accomplice!" "Accomplice?" "You don't realize anything!" "How's that possible?" "You want to know why we quarreled?" "For you!" "You were flattered by your love for Giovannino." "But it's Michele they want you to marry!" "Yes, Michele, the cockroach!" "For this they made go away Giovannino." "Michele!" "It's not true!" " Yes, it is." " It's not!" " I told you it is." "It's not true!" " I told you it's true!" "Forgive me." "Our father is right." "You hate us!" "You hate us all!" "Teresa!" " Let go!" " Listen." "I love you." "Let me." " I have a duty to tell you the truth." "Enough!" "I've had enough with your crying!" "What are these scenes?" "You too want to rebel?" "Like that wretch, that I won't even name!" "Why you do me this?" " For your own good." "You'll be a Duchess." "I don't love Michele!" "Look at your aunt Lucrezia, who married Giulente for love, and then regretted it." "Who marries for love, always gets a shove, remember!" "These damn bells!" "They're busting my head off!" "I don't want Michele!" "Duchess Radalì has chosen, and I gave my word." "And my opinion does not count?" "You'll do as I say." "I won't marry Michele!" "If you don't marry him, you'll no longer be my daughter!" "Then I'm no longer your daughter!" "Teresa!" "Come back here!" "Graziella!" "Graziella!" "They make me die, look!" "I'm losing blood!" "We must call a doctor, soon!" " You want to kill me?" "The doctors carry along diseases!" "Call Mother Santuzza!" "She knows how to cure ill luck." "Amen." "It's... a small thing, right?" "Someone has planted evil within you, and it has sprouted." "Someone very close." "At first, the male." "Now even my daughter has turned against me." "Do what you need to do." "Much good health to me." "Good health to me." "Much good health to me." "Good health to me." "I exorcise you, sickening spirit!" "I'm told you wanted to talk to me." "Well?" "Come on." "Tell your father what you told me." "That you'll do like our progenitor, the Blessed Ximena, who agreed to marry a man she didn't love, and God rewarded her, making her a Saint." "As Your Excellency wants." "I will sacrifice myself like Blessed Ximena." "I will marry Michele Radalì." "Have you heard, Giacomo?" "Come here, my daughter, let me embrace you." "Daughter!" "You bring me back to life!" "Virgo suadentissima..." "Ora pro nobis..." "He will come!" "What happened to you?" "You're so pale!" "I was at Augusta." "I caught malaria." "But now I'm healed, unfortunately." "But what are you saying?" "They already brought the flowers for your wedding." "I wish you every happiness." "Do not go, I beg you." "I've always thought of you!" "Why didn't you answer my letters?" "If you had done it, I wouldn't have been so lonely." " What would have changed?" "I didn't have the courage." "My lord, here is your broth." "Tancredi, come here." "I won't do you anything." "I just want you to help me remove these damn bandages." "There!" "Bravo." "It hurts less, you know?" "What do you see?" "A red swelling, my lord." "Yes, but... it's disappearing, you know?" "Luckily I haven't listened to the words of doctors!" "Don't be afraid!" "Even you hate me, Tancredi?" "My lord, not me!" "Bravo Tancredi!" "Sit down." "Here they all hate me." "I taught them myself to hate me." "It is hatred, that makes us stronger!" "Not love, as say the weak." "Hatred,.." "keeps us alive!" "As a child... my mother kept me locked... in the dark... for days and days." "Never a caress... never an embrace." "Those were only for Raimondo." "I thought my mother was fond only of him!" "No, instead!" "It was me, that she preferred!" "It was me!" "She destined me the only... teaching really useful." "Hatred!" "Right, Tancredi?" "Certainly, my lord." "Now go and get ready." "Before long we'll go to church." "Baldassarre!" "I can't see the newlyweds, anything!" "You drank too much, I watched you!" "Oh, you watched me?" "And how come?" "Why do you say so?" "You make me suffer!" "I want to dance with you." "You can not." "No!" "You're hurting me!" "Everybody's looking at us!" "Mother, I..." "I think Teresa is too beautiful for me." "I'll see to it, don't worry!" "Excuse me." "Come, Michele." "Bravo!" "Bravo!" "Bravo!" "Good health to me!" "Good health to me!" "He keeps all these against me!" "All against me!" "You despise so much your father, but maybe you should learn from him." "Even after what he did to you?" " Want to see win your ideas of progress?" "Then you must be ruthless, like him!" "You must dirty your immaculate gloves!" "If you don't want to end up as all losers." "As Uncle Raimondo!" "Or as me,.." "who couldn't hinder the ruin that's going on in that room!" "You're wrong!" "I won't end up like them." "The evil is in our blood." "You can't fight against evil." "Say hello to Teresa for me." " You've decided to leave?" "Giovannino!" "What have you done?" "Close the door." "He's dead." "He killed himself?" "Don't touch him!" "It was not your hand, to kill you, but that of the Uzedas." "I won't allow anyone to tarnish his memory." "But, what are you doing?" "Giovannino thought it was empty." "Instead there was a bullet inside." "Just one, forgotten who knows when." "Accidentally, he pulled the trigger." "Giovannino!" "Consalvo!" "What happens?" "There was a terrible accident!" "What?" "What?" "Please..." "Make him nice." "May he smile." "Thou, who, from high in heaven, watch over human affairs, do so that, in this first night of marriage," "may be conceived a healthy and beautiful child." "Excellency, good morning." "Hi, Consalvo, you're always late." "Have a seat." "So then." "Are you really sure of your choice?" "Mind you, it won't be a joke!" "It's been exactly Giovannino's death to push me to this decision." "I don't want to end up like him." "And to that end, one needs become ruthless." "Moreover, which alternative is given me?" "My father awaits that I crawl back home, to do with me what he's done with Teresa." "You know how my sister spends her days?" "In the church's crypt, praying to be forgiven, in front of the mummy of the Blessed Ximena." "Think that as a child it terrorized her." "Anyway, back to us..." "If Your Excellency supports me..." "Uzeda traitors!" "Infamous race!" "Leeches!" "Plunderers!" "Oh, the Duke Gaspare!" "Good morning Duke, my respects!" "And so long, my lord!" "And I..." "I even gave him my leg!" "What else do you want to take?" "Huh?" "This one, you wanna take, huh?" " What are you doing, Benedetto?" "This one?" "Take it!" "But you've gone mad!" "Will you explain?" "Your uncle, the Duke!" " So?" "We should have hanged him in '48!" "He nominated your nephew Consalvo in my electoral district." "You get it?" "The district that was due to me!" "Oh yeah?" "I told you to watch your back!" "And you..." "Ooh!" "Sure..." "Blissful!" "With your mouth full of ideals!" "But you know what?" "You've deserved it!" "Cause you're a fool, that's what you are!" "You're right." "I am really... a fool." "Above all, for having married you!" "Twice a fool!" "Three times a fool!" "That enough?" "Or you want more?" "Mr. Mayor!" " No Mayor!" "Fool!" "Citizens of Catania!" "In fall of 1882 would be held the first elections with enlarged suffrage." "Uncle said that to win I should unite followers of the Pope and of Garibaldi." "As if to say, the devil and the holy water." "Against his advice, I had decided to stand for the left-wing alliance, seeking the votes of the people that he, with despise, called "the rabble"." "I'm here to bring you my sympathy." "My decision angered Aunt Ferdinanda, who still kept me in her home." "A descendant of the Viceroys who plots against his own blood, together with the party of beggars, and of homeless!" "Excellency Aunt..." " Leave this house today!" "Before I may curse you!" "And take along all these books, they ate your brain!" "From the palace, meanwhile, my father had made me know that he had disinherited me." "Stay there." "On my desk... there is a briefcase,.." "in leather." "Open it." "It is the testament... with which I've disinherited you." "Rip it!" "Rip it, is no longer valid." "I do not want your inheritance." " I leave you everything..." "Money,.." "securities, properties, everything." "Just one thing, I want in exchange..." "That you remove... the evil that I have in my head." "You are mistaken." "I have no power." "That evil... you've put it... in here!" "You're the only one... who can... expel it." "Do not fret, now Consalvo will do what you ask." "Isn't it true, Consalvo?" "Consalvo!" "I haven't put any evil in you." "It's the disease!" "If you let yourself cure,.." "you can heal." "Then, you want my death." "It's you!" "It's you my disease!" "No, it's not me." "Remove it!" "Listen..." " Remove it!" " Father..." "Do you hear me?" "Dad !" "Dad !" "He's dead." "How strange!" "After my father's death, for the first time," "I felt the desire that the Uzeda's would not end with him." "Gentlemen citizens..." "My platform has only one merit:" "its brevity." "Allow me to recall a little episode." "When Garibaldi was hosted in this same monastery." "Back then, I was a boy." "And when the other novices pointed out to me the hero of two worlds," "I came forward, and I saw, a few meters from me, that blond archangel of freedom, intent doing, do you know what?" "On praying!" "Garibaldi, the Antichrist!" "Praying?" "This, I'd never heard it!" "I hope for the formation of a party able to give us order inside, and peace with abroad." "Protecting the laity ... but as well the Church." "Able to achieve reforms, but able as well to preserve traditions." "The past and the future." "Machiavelli, but Bacon too!" "And after studying Proudhon," "I am convinced that property is theft!" "There are, however, some properties, that we must recognize as legitimate." "Long live the King!" "Long live revolution!" "Long live His Holiness!" "Traitor!" "I've deleted you from the testament, be aware." "He will return, the Bourbon King." "He'll return, and he'll put the rope around the neck of the likes of you." "You have no reason to be still angry with me." "Even the Viceroys of yore had to appease the crowds." "And so?" "What are you afraid of?" "That there is a great havoc?" "There won't be." "Because history is but a monotonous repetition." "Because men were, are, and will be, always the same." "The duty of our family is not that of despising the new laws, but of making use of them, understanding the new course of history." "To defeat evil, good is not enough." "Remember when our ancestors, to cure a disease, injected in the body a dose of that same disease?" "Today I'm about to do just that." "When I was a child you told me that, in life, only one thing counts." "More than affections, more than feelings." "More than any blood tie." "The money?" "No, Excellency Aunt." "Today there is one thing that counts much more than money." "What?" "The power!" "In order not to succumb." "To not be crushed!" "Ever!" "Special Edition!" "Consalvo Uzeda, Prince of Francalanza, victorious in his electoral district!" "Thanks!" "Long live Italy!" "Long live freedom!" "Long live the people!" "Long live democracy!" "On November 20, 1918, day of my 77th birthday, in Rome there was to be the first sitting of the Italian Parliament, in the new hall of Montecitorio." "I imagined already." "It would end in brawl as all the others." "Peace with respect, freedom with order, transparency of budgets, truthfulness of figures, work for everyone..." "We had promised the kingdom of justice and of morality." "But the partialities, the trickeries, the thievery, went on as before." "The powerful and the bullies of yore, were all firmly anchored in place." "Italy had been created." "Who knows when, the Italians would be created!" "English subs entirely revised by edam17@KG, January 2013 from a set credited to jdinic3 @fr.podnapisi.net"