"My name is Giovanni Episcopo." "You must be informed." "I'll tell you everything, from the start, so that all is clear to you... ..as it is to me now." "Well, have some patience, because I can't explain myself as I should" "But what I'm about to tell you is the whole truth." "I was one among the many, there, in the old State Archive." "My life went by peacefully, silent,.." "like those long office hours." "I was fond of my room,.." "of the shelves, where thousands of files lined up,.." "of the job, that showed me so much of people's life,.." "of my desk." "The window faced the Tiber, and through the glass I watched the seasons go by." "I liked the streets that I walked through twice a day since years." "Good morning." "Back from the office I used to stop by Mrs. Annunziata.." "for a cup of milk and coffee." "Then I got home." "I lived in a rented room, clean, full of light." "Where I spent with pleasure all my free hours." "The canary I had bought was always cheerful.." "and kept me company, together with an old tortoise." "I had no other friends." "It was a special evening the one when everything started." "It was a long time that I didn't afford a new suit." "An important event then...." "for me" "It seems to fit well, yes?" "It fits just fine, really well." "Maybe the neckline..." " Wear it for a while..." " Nice... great material." "Oh, it's nothing." " It's a British worsted." "You know, Mr. Episcopo, that you're very elegant tonight?" "Seriously." "And just where are you going?" "For a walk." " Just a walk?" " Where do you want me to go?" "If I may..." "I've embroidered your initials." " Thank you." "Well, don't forget." "Some water to Garibaldi and lettuce to Loretta." "Thank you." "Aren't you going to wear it?" " Oh, no, I'm not wearing it, thanks." "With his coat on, his suit won't show." "Then, no more affairs!" "Will you be late?" " No, no." "Eventually, I have the key." "Be careful not to catch a cold!" " Oh no, I've got a wool vest." "Alright." " Good evening." " Good evening." " Thank you, Santina." "Good evening, Mr. Episcopo." " Good evening." "Nice pair of legs, you saw?" " And what about that brunette?" "It's all fault of the masonry!" " The Tribune!" "Late edition!" "Honorable Giolitti's speech!" "The Tribune!" "Do you know the time please?" "Right away..." "It's 19:25." "Are you late?" " Yes, thank you." "Scandal!" "See you tomorrow." "# Ero a Parigi che cantar mi fa. #" "# In mezzo al frastuono dei Boulevard. #" "# E passeggiando sui marciapiedi, vidi un tipino davanti a me. #" "# Nasino all'aria, capelli d'or, le dissi con grande ardor:... #" "# .."Au revoir, madamoiselle, vi chiedo un favore." #" "# "Se voi darete a me un poco di amor..." #" "Let's get in, quick!" "Come on." " You must celebrate your new suit." "Sure, celebrate a lot." "By Jove, these events require some drinks." "Don't shout." " Are you shy?" "Then why did you wear it if not to be seen?" "Come." "Come and pay." "Come on." "That's better." "Waiter, 2, 3, 4 cognac!" " But I don't drink." "It's the same, we'll do it for you." "Hey, Doberti, come and have a drink." "Alright sir!" " Who's paying?" " Him!" " Do you know him?" "It's Episcopo, our model employee." "He's got a new suit." " Good, bring him here." " Pay up!" "But I can't stay...tomorrow I have to get uo early." " Why, we don't?" "Come with us." "Come on." " Let's go." "You had it turned inside out?" " No, no." " A cognac for me." "Cheers!" "I'll drink willingly to your health as well!" "Waiter, waiter!" "1, 2, 3, 4..." "Well, you cont them!" "Lauretta!" "Laurettina!" "May I?" "Come here!" "Mr. Episcopo, let me introduce Lauretta." "Drinks for all, Episcopo's treat!" "For me an aniseed." " For me too." "Excuse me, I didn't mean..." " What's this noise?" "!" "Silence!" "Go on, go on, move up." "It's your turn." "Here I am." "Make room, gentlemen, make room." "There's a beautiful move to make." "Better yet, two beautiful moves." "Stand back please." "No, not you, you stay here." "He plays well, doesn't he?" "Good cue!" "A double cognac." "Better, triple." "Napoleon." " Very well." "You're going to waste all your wages." "I wonder the prices..." "Damn, it came out badly!" " Let's see how it ends." "470 to 440 !" "This is the decisive hit." "The big one!" "Place your bets friends." "I've got game and stake in my pocket already." "Hurry up, less talking." "14,70." "14,70 ?" " Yes sir." " I won!" " Wait for me to hit, before saying it." "Why should I wait your hit?" "Haven't I made a Carolina?" "You're wrong, you didn't touch the red one." "They all saw." "Carlini, you say it." " I wasn't paying attention." "Actually, I..." " Don't say 'actually'." "You're an old idiot." "You!" "Yes, you!" "You say it." "You look like a respectable person." "I'm right, am I not?" " Really, I don't know the game." "But you have eyes to see!" "It's my turn to hit." " Well, if it is..." "What are you saying?" " I just said..." "You're not hitting, by God!" "And you can't withdraw your bet!" "If you need 50 lire, just tell me, I can give'em to you." "My coat!" " Right away." " You're not leaving!" "My dear friend, gambling, even billiard, is for gentlemen." "What?" "!" " Not for little poor employees who count every penny." "Ask for a chair, your legs are shaking." "Wait!" "You don't scare me!" " Go on." " Sure!" "I never feared those who thrive on frauds." "The adventurers that live on women, like you!" "Coward!" " Call the guards!" "These worms, they think they can teach me how to live!" "Me, Giulio Wanzer!" "One moment." "In a week, 10 days at the most, it will be alright." "Are you through?" " That's it." "Here." " Thank you." "How much?" " Well..." " You're kidding!" "The doctor is a dear friend of mine." "I'm very sorry for what happened." " Mah..." "Yes, I know, at my place you would have done likewise." "Let's go." "'Night." "I hate to bother you so much, but I'm home now." "No, no, I want to see you to bed first." "Settled..." "Be careful." "You know, they're simple people." "At this hour they're all asleep." "I can't understand people who go to sleep early." "They waste the best hours." "Wait, I'll turn on the light." "The lamp broke." " Is it you, Mr. Episcopo?" " It's me." "They woke up." "Oh, my God, Mr. Episcopo, what did you do?" "Antonio !" "Oh, my God..." "And the new suit, all stained with blood!" "What happened?" "What happened?" "Nothing, nothing madam." "I'm fine." "Good heavens!" " What happened?" "Well, it happened..." "Nothing happened, a small accident." "I knew it, I knew it." " It isn't serious, then?" "What serious, he only needs to be left alone, to have a rest." "Yes, to have a rest." " You heard ?" "Now go, and don't worry." "Surely you need something..." " No, I'll call if I do." " Shall I leave the lamp?" "Thank you, I got the candle." "Tomorrow I'll tell you everything." " Yes, yes." " Excuse me." "Yes, I know, nice people...but boring." "How long have you lived here?" " 16 years. - 16 ?" " Yes." "Once I stayed in a rented room as well." "The landlady's daughter fell in love with me." "It always ends up this way, right?" " Oh, no, she's so kind, poor thing." "But, three months later, I was in India." "I had 16 servants." "Two, just to swat mosquitoes." "Thank you." "Excuse me." " No, never mind." "In the darkness, one chats better." "And then, there's the moon." "Your girlfriend?" " My sister." "She's a nun." "There's something I don't understand, Mr. Episcopo." " What?" "How a man so full of potential shut himself in a hole like this." "Well, habits..." " It's always the same answer." "Habits..." "that's the real death of men!" "Always the same place, the same faces, the same smell of cabbage..." "One locks himself in a shell." "Life is an art, dear Episcopo." "One might even learn it, but it's an art!" "If, tonight, I gave you 500 lire, what would you do with them?" "Well, I wouldn't know..." "You'd run to the bank." "You don't know how many things can be done with 500 lire." "300 is enough for a passage on a boat to America." "The ocean, new worlds, new faces..." "Smoke, smoke." "Did you hear?" "Now she gets off the bed, she walks barefoot,... she opens the window..." "You are young, you have all the time you want, with money you can buy everything." "Even love." "There go the keys to the gate." "Now back in bed, waiting for him." "You never thought of these things, did you?" "They turned the lights off." "I wish you a good sleep." " Thank you." "Good night, dear Episcopo." " Good night." " We'll meet again soon." "Yes, thank you." "Wanzer came back often since then." "And, day by day, he started mastering my life." "Why shouldn't I have tried too?" "Does everything fit?" " Everything." "Everything fits!" "What he said was true." "Until then, I had not lived." "And that Sunday, when he came and said that I should go to another house,..." "I agreed immediately." "One believes to be fond of some people, of some memories,... of habits...then, suddenly, everything appears miserable to him." "He forgets everything." "Goodbye, Mrs. Adele." "I'm going, but will come back and see you." "Try to smile." "Tell me I'm doing the right thing." "Here, I leave you Loretta." "So long, Santina." "Goodbye, Mr. Antonio." "Mrs. Emilia?" "Where the hell did she go?" "Mrs. Emilia!" " Here!" "Look whom I took here!" "The accountant Episcopo, Mr. Giovanni." "Very pleased." " Dear sir..." " Very pleased." "The nicest landlady in the world." " Oh..." "From now on, Pensione California acquires its best guest." "A man with a great future." " I imagine..." " He always jokes." "Where is his room?" " Oh, please, please." "It's ready." "We were waiting for you." "Come, make yourself at home." "Please." "There!" "All is orderly, comfortable..." "You want full board, right?" "Full, full. 80 lire a month with down payment." " Well, well." "Sir..." " No, never mind, it's the landlord." " Oh, sorry." "Yes, unfortunately it's my husband." "Juvenile mistakes." "You understand?" "As I was saying to Mr. Wanzer, I prefer regular guests,... although one earns less than with comers and goers." "Beacuse, you know, they dirt everywhere..." "Wanzer told us about you, of the business you're about to start together." "What business?" " Eh?" "What?" "Yes, we're dealing..." " You need to change, don't you?" "Actually..." " He needs to change." " I'll let you go." " Yes." "I'll see you later at dinner." " Thank you." " Excuse me." "Why do you look at me?" "Don't I attend business, maybe?" " Yes." "So what?" "It may be that we'll do business together." "Plenty of money." "Giulio Wanzer's word." "Wait and see." "Well, do you like it?" "Here you can live like a lord, all French style." "Girls too..." "Gas light, piano..." "Cheerful people, not moldy faces like in that hole... where I found you." "And then...there's a small surprise." "The magic bell." "Watch out now." "You'll see now." "Come in." "Oh, Ginevra, excuse me, a mistake." "You may go." "Who is she?" " The most incredible girl in Rome." "Eyes, legs, mouth...all of her." "The landlady's daughter." "She helps in the house." "What say, uh?" "Careful not to steal her from me, because I like her too." " No way." "I was kidding!" "I grant you permission to do what you want with her." "Only you though!" " Oh my." " Because we're friends, right?" "As you see, only nice surprises with me." "Well then, until later." "Well, is something wrong?" "Aren't you having fun?" "Yes, yes, I'm having lots of fun." "Oh, good." "Because here, long faces are not allowed." "We play, we make music...you see?" "Ehm...do you have a cigarette?" " Mm?" "Sure!" "Canale, hurry and get the cigarettes for Mr. accountant!" "And a pack of cigars for me." " Alright...and the money?" "Well..." "You give it, I have no change." "It's one lira." " Yes, yes." "Here comes Ginevra." " Good evening, Ginevra." " What do you say, uh?" "Why so late tonight?" " You took time off, eh?" "It may be." " Ah-ah!" "God knows what happened!" "We want to know, we want to know." " Come here." "Serve me a glass." "Good evening miss." " Good evening." "No, no, no, thank you." " How are you, beautiful?" "We formally protest!" "If Pensione California deprives us of your sight...what's left for us?" "I propose two bottles to cheer Ginevra!" " I second that!" "You feel the race." "His father was a duke, they say." "Why, the guy with eyeglasses...?" " What's he got to do?" " Oh!" "..." "What a woman!" "Look at our accountant, how excited he is." "I dare say, I believe it!" "To have a girl like that around you and not being able to touch her..." "At times, I swear, I'm tempted to break down the room's door." "It takes one who'd marry her, so all the others would be settled." "It's an excellent idea." " They'd take advantage." "She wouldn't ask for better." " And her mother too." "Right, it's true, a benefactor is what's needed ." "One that would marry her for all." "Did you hear, Ginevra?" "They want to marry you." "What do you say?" "Ah, I'm hard to please." "But if you found a nice man, tranquil, wealthy, expert..." "Like Mr. Episcopo, for instance." " Sure, like Mr. Episcopo." "You can see it from miles that he's making sheep's eyes to her." "And then it has a nice sound, don't you think?" "The Firm Episcopo  company." "And company!" " A husband and 10 lovers in one bout." "What more can you ask for?" "Why not?" " Then it's done!" "Silence, and each one at his place!" "Come on, come on, I'll be the mayor." "Everybody come here." "Okay." "I'll be the witness." " Me too!" " Here are the orange flowers." "Silence!" "Miss Ginevra Canale, do you want... to marry this man, accountant Episcopo, Mr. Giovanni?" "Yes." " Well." "And you, accountant Episcopo, Mr. Giovanni,... do you want to marry this woman, miss Ginevra Canale?" "Yes!" "Yes!" "Yes!" "The rings." " Here they are." " Thank you." "Very good." "Perfect!" "In the name of the firm's colleagues, I declare you man and wife!" " Hurray!" "Hey, wait!" "It takes the final kiss, right?" "Come on, quick, move on." "We'll do that privately, right?" " We want it now!" "Come on, now, now, go on!" "Get moving." " Be brave, accountant!" " Be brave, a good kiss!" "Are you made of wood?" "That's how it's done!" "Take her, take her!" "Leave me!" "Leave me alone!" "I was your witness!" "She didn't want to kiss me." "Here are your cigarettes." " Thank you." "Keep the change." " Thank you." " Nothing." "Did you see our accountant Casanova?" "He hardly came here and already kisses the girl." "Congratulations." "Thank you, dear." "Thank you." "Stop it!" " Why, you don't like it behind the doors any more?" "Watch out, they can see us." " What a fuss." "Be quiet." "You rather, watch out." "Look what you forgot in my room." "When will we leave?" "I can't bear this any more." "I don't know, as soon as I conclude a certain deal." "You jus stay put and don't act hysterical." "It depends on you too." "Be gentle." " Is it him, the deal?" " Mm-mm..." "Why don't you even take him to your room?" " Does it bother you?" " Yes!" "As long as you're in my house, it does!" "Don't worry, I'll leave sooner or later." "If you hope to get something out of him, forget it." "I know his kind." "You'd prefer that I'd be stuck to some old boozer marquis." " I wish you did!" "At least those ones pay, that one there...not even the boarding." "You're up against all those who court me." " Shameless you!" "What do you mean?" "Didn't I explain myself well, maybe?" " Get away, you hear?" "Go away!" "Give me some change." "I'll get some later." "Tonight I feel like it." "Mm...that's enough!" "Don't make fun of me, by now, I didn't have the guts to back-step." "That night, my fate was set." "I became Wanzer's slave." "Deep in myself, I envied his ways, violent and self-assured,.." "his success with women." "I nearly fancied that some day I would have changed my life." "I understand it now." "This was my great mistake." "Stop coughing!" "You bother me." "No, you wait for me here." "All along, I bore humiliation and shame." "While my hidden thoughts were for her." "I looked for her everywhere..." "As long as I could see her." "Do you need something?" " Yes, I wanted a glass of water." "Here." " Thank you." "Another?" " Mm...yes." "The more you drink, the more you're thirsty, true?" " Eh, yes." "If you let it run, it gets even cooler." "Mm-mm..." "Good morning." " Oh, Mr. accountant!" "No office today?" "Ehm, yes..." "I had come to get a glass of water." " Here it is." "Did you see Mr. Wanzer?" "No, why?" " Just so." "May I help you?" " Oh, yes, thank you, but careful, it's hot." " Yes." "I like the water hot, and stay in it for hours." " Are you taking a bath?" "Yes, a bath." "Of course, not in fron of you." "How odd, uh?" " What is odd?" "That man and wife act like strangers." " Ha, we're married!" "I forgot." "Do you regret that joke?" " Eh, a little." "Really?" "Even the kiss?" " Yes, because it was only a joke." " That's kind of you." "You would be ideal for any girl looking for a husband." " Are you serious?" " Why, sure." "Discreet, nice, a good standing." "You'd be perfect." "Eh..." "I'm pleased that you say so, because.." "I always wondered how a woman, so young, so.." "beautiful.." "How can you adapt, miss Ginevra, to live in a boarding house.." "in such a background, and be a.." "Go ahead, say it: to be a servant." "But it won't last, whatever it takes." "I'm tired, fed up with this life." "Are you shocked that I speak this way?" " Oh, I understand you very well." "Giovanni..." "Come that way for a moment, I want to talk to you" " Yes." "Excuse me please." " Please." "Have a good day." "And a good bath." " Come, let's go." "Great day, today." "Shut the door." "I'm going to be late." "Look..." " Beautiful." "You know how much it's worth?" "Say a figure." " I wouldn't know." "Come on, say a figure." "5.000." "40.000!" "Listen, you give me 10.000 lire, I put down 8." "Didn't have any more cash." "The countess is totally broke, confidentially, she sells me the stone." "I've already sold it for 40 to old Nicosi." "It's a one-day business." "We have a net gain of 22.000 lire in our pockets." "We need to be quick." "The is the greatest deal of my life." "After, we can live peacefully for a long time." "You might even afford a country house,... you take a sweet little wife, cute, that cooks for you." "Knight Giovanni Episcopo!" "Nowadays even titles can be bought." "Money can do anything." "Come, let's go." " Where?" " To the bank." "Listen, Wanzer, the bank is closed, and it doesn't give more than 100 lire a day." "And then, I don't want to touch anything anymore... what's left is only the 10.000 lire that my father left me." "Sorry, Giulio, but I can't." " Oh, but nobody forces you." "Are they good?" " Yes." "Incredible !" "You refuse to get in one day what you saved cent by cent in 10 years!" "This means being crazy, reckless." "I proposed you this deal because I love you." " I know, but.." "I'm going." "Bye." "Bye, Wanzer." "See?" "Look what I found." " Yes." "Give me...!" "I found out you're a formidable poet." " Give it to me." " I wouldn't believe." "I'm disappointed." "I introduced you here, and you do something inappropriate." "Give it here!" " No, it's too beautiful." "You'd probably destroy it." "These verses cannot remain unedited." "The must be handed down to posterity." ""Oh, Ginevra, sweet flame..."" " I beg you, give me that paper." "Wait." ""I'd like to put a white gardenia on your black hair..."" ""and rest my tired forehead..."" "Please!" " Do your friends know that you write verses?" "No?" "Too bad!" "Tonight I'll read them to everybody, and she'll fall into your arms." " Give me!" "Give me the 10.000 lire." " I can't, I've only got 2.000." "Take them." "Give it to me." "10.000, I said." "If you can't withdraw at the bank, you are the Archive's cashier." "You take 8.000, and as soon as I cash in the 40, you put everything back." "And remember that I'm doing it for you." "You'll thank me afterwards." "But give me..." " You'll have it tomorrow at 5p.m." "It's a golden deal." "E' un affare d'oro." "Don't ever write poetry to a woman, it's no use, in fact...only kidding." "Bye." "Here are the files." "How goes it, Mr. Episcopo?" " Fine, thank you." "You look pale." "Maybe you're tired?" "Well, I changed my habits, but I feel well." "Very well." "I'm pleased." "My wife always talks about you, she can't resign herself." "She says: "Eh, he forgot about us"." " No, in fact, I recall her quite often." "Tell her." " Excuse me if I dare." "Are you happy with that friend of yours?" "Yes, yes." "He's fond of me, poor guy." "Well..." "Give my best greetings to your wife and Santina." " Thank you." "Will you come and see us sometimes?" " Yes, yes..." "I will." "I will." "This is our accountant, Giovanni Episcopo." "Archivist and cashier." " Good evening, Mr. Episcopo." " Good evening." "This is Mr. superintendent, who would like some clarification." "Please answer most exactly." " Yes." "Do you know a certain Giulio Wanzer ?" " Yes, I know him." "And do you know where he is?" " I have to meet him at 5p.m." "Gentlemen, please, excuse us." "Please, somebody bring me the signature book." "Do you know anything...about a certain precious stone?" "Yes." "I know that today he had to buy one." " Right...to buy." "But your friend, you see, doesn't pay cash." "He pays...with these." "This is not my signature." "Sir, isn't it true that this is not my signature?" "I've already declared so." "Here." "Please, check it out." "But, what happened?" " You're an honest person." "Be more cautious in choosing your friends." " Why, Wanzer..." " Eh, yes." "He may find his fortune in Argentina, but he's through with frauds here." "Good night e thank you, principal." " My duty." "I'm glad that this incident is over." "What did they want?" " What did you do?" " He forged some bills." "This is a fraud downright." " Why, no, he did some charity." "In Argentina ?" " Yes, they say that he embarked to Argentina." "Right...did he embark for real?" " But who is this Wanzer?" " Well..." "Excuse me..." "That hour of anguish was over." "I was a free man again." "The Wanzer nightmare vanished." "Toasted peanuts!" "Peanuts." "Thank you." "Come in." "Did you ring?" " Yes." " At your orders." "Miss Ginevra?" " There isn't anyone anymore, just me." "It's fine to be alone." "What an uproar!" "They questioned me too, you know?" "But me: quiet!" "What do I know about Wanzer?" "They had a fight." " Who?" " My wife and the daughter." "When the police left, the old lady got upset with the girl,.." "and she left for Tivoli." "Tivoli ?" " Yes, at her sister's." "For good, she says." "You understand me?" " Yes, yes, I understand." "Thank you." " Thank you." "Yes, yes, he got married, and it seems that the marriage turned out good." "And what a dowry." " And what a fortune." "But..." "Mr. Episcopo!" "Good morning, miss." " Didn't you know I was at Tivoli?" "Yes... no." "So...vaguely." "And you, how come you're here?" " You, in fact, what're you doing here?" "Well, every Sunday I do some walking..." "take some fresh air." "It's good for you." " Have you met my sister?" " No." "Mr. Episcopo." " Pleased." " Pleased." " My brother-in-law." " Pleased." "We got to go, it's starting." " Are coming along?" " Yes, yes." "Come on, some more pizza, yes?" " No, no, thank you." "Ah, you're afraid to get fatter yet?" "But you're wrong, very wrong, dear accountant,.." "because, remember, that all fat people are good people." "Mr. Episcopo, come see the valley." " Yes." "Please excuse me." " Please." " Excuse me madam." "Come, come and see how beautiful." "Oh, how wonderful!" "And to think that one always stays in town with this stuff so close by!" "One feels born again!" " Any news about that friend of yours?" "Wanzer." "Eh...no." "He left." "You know I'd like to take a walk up to there?" "If you wish, help yourself." "Go ahead." "No, I meant..." "Why, wouldn't you like to?" "Go to the waterfall?" " Yes." "Why, Mr. Episcopo, just the two of us?" " Eh, yes." "Wasn't it a good idea, this walk?" " Sure." "And now that we're here, alone.." "Come on, I thought you wanted to tell me something." " Eh..." "I thought a lot about what you told me that day in the kitchen." "Remember?" "Yes." "Well?" "Come on, speak up." "Well, it's not easy." "Since I saw you the first time, at the boarding house, I thought...well..." "I dared buying this for you." "Beautiful." "And then?" "Listen, Ginevra, what would you say about a small house just for you?" "To have a quiet life, with a person who would care for you." "You too..." "Very convenient to take a girl, give her a few dresses,.." "the same old small apartment, to have fun when one feels like.." "And then, one day..." "You were not lucky, dear accountant." "To come all the way to here just to tell me this..." " Oh, no, Ginevra, wait." "Let me go." " I beg you, listen to me." "You misunderstood me, I didn't mean to offend you." "You don't know it, but it's so." "I truly care for you." "Ginevra,... will you marry me?" "Marry... me ?" "Yes." "I will always love you." "You'll have anything you wish." "You will always be respected." "Tell me you will." "Good morning." " Good morning, Mrs. Ginevra." " Good morning." "Come, say hello." "Congratulations." " All the best!" "Congratulations!" " Congratulations!" " Congratulations!" "From now on you'll call me dad." "It was one year since I had married Ginevra, when the end of the century arrived." "That night, Rome was one big feast." "Look how beautiful!" "Tonight might be the end of the world." "Come on, let's not waste time, give me a kiss." " No!" "Give me a kiss." "What do you say?" "No..." "Delicious this waltz." " Madam, you dance extraordinarily." "Isn't it inappropriate, marquis, for a young lady like me?" "What's inappropriate, my dear lady, is only poverty!" "Business is going well, uh?" " Why?" "If they're good for the mother-in-law..." "isn't it all the same soup?" "No, enough, eh?" "Happiness." "Will this party go on for long yet?" "No dear, in fact, we'll anticipate the end of the year in order to please you." "Because, there's someone I don't like." " Oh, stop being so choosy!" "After all, what is she doing wrong?" "Since she left here, my daughter lost her most valuable friends." "But...new year, new life!" "Speak up, my God, speak up!" "Spit it out what you want to say!" "You plan to be here long?" " Do you want to take me home and dance the two of us?" "Didn't we stay long enough together?" "And then there's the whole life..." "think how long life is." "What a bore!" " What?" "You want to take her away?" "Ladies  gentlemen, last dance." " He's not happy if he doesn't spoil my night." "This dance is mine, right?" " Sure enough!" "If he's in a mood, I want to dance and have a riotous time as much as I can!" "Ladies and gentlemen, at your places please." "Silence!" "In a few minutes it will be the end of the century, of the world maybe!" "I suggest we all go out and around , maybe we'll see the comet, if it comes." "Good, bravo!" " Yes, yes, good, bravo!" " Let's go!" "My coach is at the disposal of the most beautiful ladies." " Good, bravo!" "May I offer my arm, Mrs. Episcopo?" " Oh, sure." "How dear our marquis!" "Oh, what a nice man, what a gentleman." "Shall we go?" "Where are you going?" " We're all going out and have fun." "No, no, wait." "Go and take Ginevra's scarf." "It must be on the sofa, in the living room." "Hurry, we'll wait downstairs." "Never mind, I found it." "Here it is, bring it to her." " Ha, here I am!" "I'm ready, lovely!" "In 10 minutes, everyone to hell!" "Have you seen which way my wife went?" " Down there, all on the coach." "Ginevra!" "Ginevra!" "Ginevra!" "Ginevra!" "Stop, stop, here is my house!" "Stop!" "Please." " Good night !" " Good night." "I'll escort her." "Doberti!" "Doberti, what're you doing?" " Come here!" " Doberti!" " Enough!" "Scoundrel!" " Scoundrel!" " Here I am!" "Let's go!" "What are you doing in the dark?" "May I know where you got to?" "I thought you would follow with another carriage." "We looked for you at length." "Uh, what a racket..." "At Piazza del Popolo you couldn't even move." "Oh, I have confetti in my hair and in my back." "Why do you look at me like that?" "What's up?" "Are you upset that I had some fun?" " Why did you marry me?" "That's great!" "What comes to your mind to ask me something like that at this hour?" "Answer me." "Why did you marry me?" "What did you think, that I married you for love?" "I was tired of my life." "Fed up with my father, my mother, with everything." "Do you expect me to be satisfied just being locked up in this house?" "And wait for Sunday to take the same old walk to the Pincio?" "With you?" "!" "How much fun!" "You couldn't expect more." "I gave you everything I had:" "my work, my name,.." "without asking anything of your past." "You're right, it's me who did a mistake." "I should have known I wasn't born to be an archivist' wife." "You're mean." " I'm young, me." "I need to live." "I needed someone like Wanzer." " Don't even name him." " Yes, yes, Wanzer." "Does it bother you to hear his name?" "With him I wouldn't have had such a boring, petty life!" "I can't stand you!" "Then go away!" "Go away, before I..." " You hurt me!" " Go away!" "Let go of me, you mustn't hurt me, I'm expecting a child!" "It's not true." " Yes, a child." "Yours, you get it?" "Yours!" "Go ahead... come on!" "Why don't you hit me now?" "What're you waiting for?" "Do it!" "Ginevra?" "Did you tell me the truth?" " Yes!" "Mr. accountant, the principal wants you." " The principal?" "Yes, and there's the division manager as well." "And they want me?" " Who else, me?" "Is it me who makes a mess?" "A mess?" "What have I done?" " What do I know?" "Beautiful women dear Novelli, one always pays for." "It's mathematics." "Either with money, or being cuckold." " And when money is over?" "Did I say something wrong?" "Come in, come in." " Thank you." "Good morning, Mr. principal." "Listen, I'd always received good reports on your work during these 18 years." "Right, 18 years." "I must confess that I was proud to have an employee like you at the Archive." "I would never have guessed to be forced to call you to order.." "for repeated and serious evidence of negligence." "I was about to say, Mr. accountant..." " Excuse me Mr. principal.." "It's a long time that I wanted to come and speak to you." "Yes, before you called for me this morning." "You see, it's many years that I work in here." "And after so many years one gets older and doesn't do well anymore." "I had a hunch of that, you know?" "It's just what I wanted to tell you.." "Maybe I'd better leave...this office." "Mr. principal, please...please accept my resignation." "Mr. Antonio?" "I must say goodbye." "I'm leaving." "For good." "You leave?" " Yes." "I gave my resignation." "How is that possible?" " Well..." "I only regret one thing, not to be able to see you any more." "You are the best person I've met." "Although lately we haven't had many chances to talk." "What do you say?" "And is the child well?" " Well, thank you." "With a nanny." "Away." "And, you have a prospect job, right?" " A job?" "Oh, yes, sure." "A good place, not so bad, in short." "No more fixed schedule, papers, shelves...procedures." "A free lance job." "I really needed to change air.." "after 18 years." "Now that I was leaving my work place, my failure was complete." "Until then I was worth as much as my wages." "From that day on, in my house, I was considered a useless weight." "We're leaving." " They gave us theatre tickets." " Watch the baby." "Bye." " Come." "Ginevra fell again in her mother's hideous web." "They prevented me from selling the furniture and the few things I owned." "I gave up all objection." "I only guarded my dignity trying to earn my bread." "I waited for the day when I'd be loved by my son." "For this, I adapted to any job, even the most humble." "Believe me, Giovanni, there's nothing else in the world." "Meanwhile, Ciro was growing up, I never left him alone." "We even slept in the same room." "At last, after years of misery, I had found a job." "At the cost of indescribable suffering and hypocrisies,.." "I managed to keep together the family of the accountant Mr. Episcopo." "Have you done your homework?" " Yes dad." " Good boy." "Well, why aren't you eating?" " It's a little cold." "Angela let the fire die." "I was late from the milliner's shop, and.." "By the way, look.." "Do you like it?" "No, don't worry, my mother paid for it." "Who could it be?" " Mah..." "Oh, I forgot, guess who I met today?" "Yes, it's got to be him, Wanzer." "Don't you remember?" "The one who brought you to the Pensione California." "Go open the door." "He wanted to see you again, so I told him to come over." "Go!" "He's back from Argentina and it seems he made a good fortune there." "Oh, my old man!" "How goes it?" "It's me, still the same Wanzer." "Madam..." "Well, is that the way to welcome an old friend like me?" "Oh, wake up!" "You didn't expect it, eh?" "How many years went by, right?" "You're back!" " Don't you see me?" " Come, come into the living room." "Thank you." "Ah, now I'm all set, really set." "After 7 years all the misunderstandings get settled automatically." "And then, you know, I made money down there!" "I always told you, Wanzer never goes down." "Never!" "Will you stay long?" " Who knows...it depends." "She didn't change a bit, our Ginevra, in fact, she's greener than ever." "You always feel like kidding." " No, family life seems to suit you." "Wasn't it me who arranged this marriage?" "Yes, it was me alright." "Remember?" "Remember?" "And this one?" "He resembles you enough, though!" "What's your name?" " Come, answer the gentleman." "Go on, what's your name?" " Bad-mannered!" "There, so he'll know better." "What have you done?" "You look much older, greenish." "Are you ill?" "Damn...it didn't get away." "Who would have ever guessed, that glass thrown... would remain printed on your face forever!" "?" "Nice shot, by Jove!" "At the time, I hit good." "Would you like a coffee?" " Yes, why not?" "Excuse me." "Say..." " I'm going for the coffee." " Stay." " It was best you hadn't come." "No, don't worry." "Since a few days she's a little upset." "Did she hurt you?" "Look at those shoes..." "They're in bad shape." "Saturday, as soon as dad gets the pay, he'll buy you a new pair." "You know, the shiny ones." "Do you like'em?" "Who is that man?" "You see, Ciro, many years went by." "One night, that guy, while arguing with another one.." "hit me by mistake, here." "But...you must forgive me.." "if I told you the story of the bayonet attack." "It was because.." "But this is the only lie I told you." "Do you forgive me?" "Why don't you send him away?" " Rest assured, soon he'll go away." "Do you know whre dad is?" " What?" "Mr. Giovanni." " Down there." "Well?" " Dad?" " What did you do?" "I wasn't feeling well, so the teacher said that I could go back home." "You're not feeling well?" "It was wrong of me to send you to school this morning, I shouldn't have." "Since yesterday you didn't look good." "You're pale." "Now I'll take you home right away, to bed." "Come, let's go." "If they look for me, tell'em I'll be right back." " OK." "Oh, it's you." "Back already?" "Madam, there's your husband with the kid!" "I'm through, I'm leaving." "How come so soon?" "What happened?" " Ciro isn't feeling well." "Come, I'll put you in dad's bed and make you milk and coffee." "But what do you have Ciro ?" "What do you feel?" " My head hurts." "But you, were you going out?" " Yes?" " Yes..." " He must be covered." "Let, give me." "We got to measure his temperature." "I'll go get the thermometer." "Wait, stay here, I'll go." "Well, what happened?" " He came back, Ciro's not feeling well." "How are we going to do now?" " How?" "I said today, and it got to be today." "Everything is ready now, and then it's no use postponing." "Go and get ready." " But..." " Go." "Stay here." "I'll be right back." "Ah, better so." "Listen Giovanni..." " Giulio!" "You go out and wait downstairs." " No..." " I told you to go out." " No." "Ginevra !" " Go on, go." " Ginevra!" "Let me through." " Don't get so hot." "You don't really think I would go away like that, Uh?" "You're not a boy anymore..." "Today or tomorrow is the same." "But I play absolutely fair, not damaging anyone." "I told you I made a fortune and I help friends when I can." "And I'm willing to settle you too." "Wanzer, don't take her away." "Don't take her away, not for me, for my child." "I humiliated myself, I coped with..." "everything,.." "you know that,.." "so that the poor thing had a mother." "It's my life only goal, the only thing that's mine." "We love each other, you understand?" "He doesn't know." "He never knew." "Hear hear..." "We're getting to tragedy." "No, Wanzer, listen, you mustn't do it, it's not right." "Go away, I beg you, leave us alone." "Now you're beginning to bother me!" " Don't shout." "That's what you get for speaking frankly." "You don't know how to live, you never understand when something's useless." "By now facts are what tehy are, it's no use to whine." "Listen..." " Let go!" " Wanzer, I beg you!" " Get out of the way!" "Leave my dad alone!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "When the game is over, it's over." "Do you want to drink?" "Where did he go, dad?" " He left, he went away." "Are you cold?" "It's comfortable here, yes?" "It's nice." "You hear the water?" "It seems a waterfall." "Do you want to play with those children?" "No." "You want to stay by me?" "By your dad?" "Dad!" "Do you want to go somewhere else?" " Home." "No..." "Not at home." "Why?" "Don't you want to go somewhere else?" " I'm cold, I want to go home." " Good evening." " Good evening." "May I serve you?" " A pair of shoes for the boy." "Nice ones." "Right away." "Please be seated." "Thirtytwo, right?" " Yes." "Are they comfortable?" " Yes, but better a little larger." " Yes." "Here, sir." " Look." " Yes." "Oh, look at these." "These are nicer." " Of course, it's patent leather." "A finer article, even the price says it." "See how shiny they are?" "Do you want them?" "These." "The Tribune!" "Edition with all the details!" "A stranger murdered at via dei Respighi." "The Tribune!" "Good evening, Mrs. Adele." "Do you remember me?" "You?" "Come in!" "Do Come in!" "Please come in!" "Santina!" "Santina, come!" "You!" "Mr. Giovanni..." "Is it your child?" " He's sick." "We were out and he fainted." " Give me, we'll put him to bed." " Poor child." "You know, my wife was out, I didn't have the keys, so I thought..." "How hot!" "We got to call for the doctor immediately, down, in the Pharmacy." "Yes, I'm going right away." "Let me do that, I'll take care of it." "You don't know me, eh?" "I'm aunt Adele." "Now we'll put him into daddy's bed." "You know, we didn't rent it any more." "Now Santina sleeps in it." "Ciro..." "I'll put them near you." "There's the child who's sick." "Santina went for the doctor." "You are tired, Mr. Episcopo, have a seat here." "Come to the other room for a minute." "Stay calm, he only needs some rest." "Daddy!" "Daddy!" "Daddy!" " Oh, Ciro!" "I'm not hot anymore, right?" " No, no, you recovered, see?" "I slept so much." " Good." "Set yourself well." "And mom?" "Mom!" "You know I was so ill last night?" "Dear!" "Listen, Ciro," "I have to go now." "Yes, I must go away, I can't stay here with you." "Give me a kiss." "When are you coming back?" " I don't know." "Soon." "In the meantime, you stay with mom." "Did you see what dad bought me?" "How beautiful!" "My name is..." "Giovanni Episcopo."