"Good evening, Rome." "India-Hotel-870 here." "115 miles to Papa-Alfa..." "Papa-Romeo-Sierra, sorry." " Maintaining 250." " Roger IH-870 Itavia." "An estimate to Punta Raisi?" "Yes, we estimate Raisi at 13." "Roger, IH-870." "Cleared to Raisi VOR." "No delay expected." "Call back for descent." " Does it have sugar?" " Yes." "Here, Gianni..." "IH-870, when ready cleared to 110." "Report on leaving 250 and reaching 150." "IH-870." "IH-870." "IH-870, do you read me?" "IH-870, do you read me?" "Respond, 870!" "Respond, 870!" "Respond, IH-870!" "Your attention, please." "Flight Itavia IH-870 from Bologna... is reported as delayed." " Where have they gone?" "IH-870 flight from Bologna is delayed." "Delay" "Delay UNKNOWN" "I will read out the list for passengers who embarked in Bologna." "No!" "First you must tell us what you know!" "The airplane lost contact with the control tower in Rome." "For us, at the moment, the plane is missing." "THE INVISIBLE WALL" " But what are you doing?" " Can't you see what I'm doing?" " You can't, just every time..." " Write, write..." "You said you had to write, so write." "Holy Mother of God!" "Come on, Annina!" "Why don't we just talk?" "At least, let's talk while you pack your suitcases." " Yes." " Hey, Rocco, it's me." "Look, I'd do that piece on the flight controllers, but I don't decide..." "That's not why I'm calling." "Did you hear about the lost DC-9?" " What DC-9?" " Itavia's." "It was shot down." " Shot down?" "What are you saying?" " They blasted it off with a missile." " I must go back now." " Wait, explain..." "Good night." " Who was that?" " Somebody." "I must go now." "Hi, Rocco." "Hey, Rocco, did you hear the news?" "I want to see the article on Grandi's agreement," "We'll pull that out tomorrow." "We open with the missing plane, right?" "Yes, we'll list the latest aerial disasters in Italy, and a footnote on this damn route to Palermo." "Will you do it?" "Yes..." "We'll talk later." "Corrà, you go to Bologna, you speak with the relatives. 80 lines." "Giacomo, you go to the Rome and Palermo control towers." " Listen to me, 30 lines." " Ok." "Franco, you go to the pilots' union." "Elena, you look for the Minister of Transportation." "Carlo, go check if there are any VIPs in the passenger list." "Rocco, drop everything you're doing and off you go to Palermo." "You're pale, what's wrong?" "Had a fight with Anna?" "No, I'm fine However, at dawn, the last thread of hope... has been definitively lost." "An air rescue helicopter... reported finding a dark oil blob and some debris." "And around 9 a.m. a few floating bodies have been located." "Later, the motor-ship "Carducci"... has located the fuselage tail cone." "The remains of the DC-9 and the bodies, lay scattered, incredibly... within a radius of 25 miles." "How can that be, Commander, a radius of 25 miles?" " An in-flight explosion." " And how?" "A bomb?" "The plane took off from Bologna with a two-hour delay." "Had it been a time bomb, it would have exploded before takeoff." "Maybe the plane broke up." "Maybe it was old..." "I've flown it many times." "Last time two days ago." "It was old, but worked perfectly." "Calm down, gentlemen, you can't cross the line." "Have you recognized a body?" " Who are those guys?" " I don' know." "Investigators, maybe." " Excuse me, what sector are you from?" " I know nothing, leave me alone!" "Hey, this little fish is for a necklace." "You want it?" "You're a journalist, right?" "What do you want?" " Inside there, did you find...?" " No, I did not." " Was he the girl's father?" " Why don't you leave me alone?" "What did you see inside there?" "How many are there?" "Thirty." "Are they injured?" "Are they very hurt?" " Do you believe that's important?" " Yes." "I think so." "There are corpses." "There are... body parts." "Here, have these." "You give them back to me when we meet again." "Alberto hasn't been found." "And I hope they never find him." "I hope he remains right where he is." " Don't write that, promise?" " Sure." "Sorry." "I changed my mind." "Take me to the Olympic Village." "Ok." "BOMB OLD PLANE" "MISSILE BODY PARTS" "I HOPE THEY NEVER FIND HIM" " Wait here." " Yes sir." " What do you want?" " I looked for you the other night!" "What's this thing about a missile?" "Who told you that?" "Why do you hang up the phone when I call?" "You mustn't call me at the office, you already know that!" "Now you're at home." "What's with that missile stuff?" "What missile?" "I don't know anything." "The one you told me about the other night!" "What did I say?" "I just said a plane had gone down." "Get it?" "You said it was shot down!" "There's a huge difference!" " You misunderstood!" " No, I understood perfectly." "You said it had been shot down." "Yes or no?" " Confirm that, at least." " That's enough!" "Don't ever call me again!" "Now get lost!" " Hi." "How did it go?" " Fine, fine." "It's a 40 line article on Itavia." "It might be interesting, huh?" " Not a good start..." " The company has many debts..." " What else?" " Rocco interviewed the pilots, relatives at the morgue and the like." "We put it all together, right?" "Yes... maybe." "Who wrote about Bologna, yesterday?" "Me, director." "It's Corrà." "Ah, Corrà, my dear." "Listen to me, huh?" "I get the situation, but there's too little info and too many emotions." " Did anyone go to the pilots' union?" " Franco did." " Franco who?" " Now he'll say Arcangeli." " Franco Arcangeli?" " No director, Franco D'Ambrosi." "Ah yes, D'Ambrosi, the funny guy." "What did the trade union say?" "According to them, they should have been able to transmit a "mayday"." " And what's a "mayday", pal?" " It's a last request for help." "An "S.O.S."" "All those who write about this terrible tragedy... please avoid using aviation jargon." "People don't understand it and, frankly, it sounds awful." "Remove "mayday" from your article, please, Franco." " And put "S.O.S.", okay?" " Director, Rocco here..." " has some quite serious news." " Ah, Rocco, how are you?" " I'm fine, director, thank you." " Tell me, tell me about it." "I know of nothing so serious that our spine cannot bear." "Mine and the newspaper's." "There's a rumor that the airplane might have been hit by a missile." " I guess I didn't understand." "Hit by what?" " By a missile." " Where did you get that from?" " Who could have launched this missile?" " I don't know, director." " Well, where does the rumor come from?" " From the armed forces." " Who was on that plane?" "Nobody important." "I think we could mention the hypothesis." "We need some grounds, even for the hypothesis." "Do we have a statement from the Ministry of Defense?" "Not yet, we focused on the dead, so far we haven't found anyone..." "Let's insist." "I would publish the note anyway." "Ok, 50 lines, no more." "And I want to read it first." " Very well." " So long." "...throughout yesterday and even during the night, the rescue operations continued." "The submerged plane was located..." " I was thinking..." " What?" "Why would someone shoot down an airplane full of people?" " Perhaps it was a military exercise." " Then it was a mistake." " Maybe." " And why don't they say it?" "...two days after the disaster, the investigators hold few elements." " ..." "There is only one certainty." " And, excuse me..." "Didn't they realize it was an airliner?" " Yes." " ..." "The weather... has improved significantly, which facilitates the task of identifying the remains." " Maybe they wanted to kill someone?" "...most of the passengers must be trapped... inside the aircraft's fuselage, which has sunk about 9000 feet deep." "A rescue mission is discarded in the short term." "This is one of the few bodies..." "Before we begin to enumerate the problems... and the more general ones related to aviation security..." "I must express my deepest condolences... to the victims of the disaster and their families... struck by an atrocious blow... by an immense pain, to whom I can only say... that their grief extends throughout the country." "This evocation of the victims emphasizes the intention of the government... and of the Minister of Transportation... to identify the causes of the disaster, to evaluate every aspect..." " ... thirteen, fourteen..." " determine any liabilities..." " Sixteen." " in case they exist... which I consider the only way to bring justice to the deceased." "There are sixteen." "To clarify the causes of the incident... a suitable Formal-Technical Research Committee has been constituted... composed by representatives of the different administrative branches... and various experts, who will immediately begin the task... based in Palermo, for the examination of the remains... and any other aspect related to the incident." "Imagine a freeway." "An airway is like a freeway, with aircraft moving within it... who are assisted or, rather, separated from each another... according to international security rules." "None of which were omitted in this case." "Photocopies have already been prepared for you." "Excuse me, but military exercises were in progress that evening..." "During the day, sir, during the day." "Check your sources." "By 9 p.m. they had ended completely." "However, in my capacity as General Staff spokesman..." "I can predict you will receive an official statement... which confirms what I'm saying." " Excuse me..." " Could it have been a mid-air collision?" "But, young lady, come on..." "A collision?" "Do you really think the loss of an airplane can be hidden?" "If there's a plane there's a pilot." "There are relatives of the pilot." "There are friends..." "Would they all remain silent?" " And the radar records?" " The records are sealed." " Who's she?" " Sandra Bella." "Under the court's orders while the investigation is carried out." "General, what do you think about the missile hypothesis?" "I've read it..." "I've read it." "Excuse me, sir, but, how can you publish such things?" "A missile, come on!" "Just to sell a few more copies..." "Do you know how much a missile is worth?" "No air force in the world can afford to lose one..." " just like that." " If indeed it was "just like that"." "I have children." "One of them could have been in that airplane..." "Don't you believe I would say the truth if I knew otherwise?" "Instead of that, why don't we browse the aircraft logbook?" "Flew over 15 years on Hawaiian Airlines." "I said Hawaiian..." "where it was used for fish transport." "Where are the fish?" "At sea." "What's in the sea?" "Salt." "And what does salt do?" "What does it do?" "You should know better than me." "It corrodes." "Salt corrodes." " Do you follow me?" " What, are you wriiting about salt?" "At the time of the incident, the aircraft had accumulated... over 9000 landings and takeoffs." " Then it broke apart." " Broke?" "Toys break." " Did it break or not?" " The term is "structural failure"." "Yes, sure!" "I'll get him!" "Rocco!" "A call from the newspaper!" "Yes..." "No, I haven't met him." "Now?" "For lunch?" "I just finished lunch." "Eat, eat." "Go ahead." "I now live on memories." "I steal the aroma from other people's dishes... thus I borrow the pleasure of others." "I know what you're thinking..." "That I invited you out of my own interest." "Because I sell aircraft." "Which is partly true." "If they prove that the plane failed..." " I guess I would have problems." " Let's say that's a possibility." " But the airplane didn't fail." " And how do you know?" "What is really needed is to recover the plane." "At 9000 feet deep, that's almost impossible." " It is risky..." " For whom?" "The guy at the Air Force said the plane was old." "There are no old airplanes." "There is lack of maintenance." "You surely know that there are thousands of planes of that model... and that at least half of them have flown more than this one." "I want to know if there was a bomb." "A reasonable assumption, but it would be hard to explain... how someone could detonate a bomb on a plane flying 2 hours late." "Only missiles have no timer." "There's a lot of traffic in Rome." "Here, everyone does what he pleases..." " And the same goes for other areas." " Who are they, that do what they want?" " Okay, I know him." " Right." " I heard you were looking for me." " No, not at all." " Is it about the plane?" " Something like that." "It's none of our business." "These things do not interest us." "We are guests here." "But the Saratoga was at Naples..." " Isn't it your carrier?" " I think so." "I just need to know what the radars saw." "When in harbor, the radars are off." " They don't work." " But how can that be?" "That night, the DC-9 almost hit the head of the..." "Commander of the 6th Fleet." "And the radar was off?" "Don't fighter jets fly at night?" "No." "When the Saratoga is at port, nobody takes off." "But there are land bases." "Sigonella, Capodichino..." "What, have you come to criticize?" "I don't know anything about this story." "We don't care about things that don't affect us directly." "Swear to God?" "A diplomat never swears." "Yes, yes." "But when..." "when's he coming back?" "Ah, he's in New York." "I see." "Thanks, good bye." "Hey, Rocco." "Have you seen the report of the investigation?" "Please, please, silence everybody." "This is high priority." "A plane has been found in Sila." "Damn, another one..." "Why do planes keep falling every 20 days?" "I need someone to go immediately to Crotone." " Rocco, are you going?" " But what plane is it?" "A fighter, a Libyan MIG." "Turned up this morning in the mountains and these idiots tell us just now... an hour from the print run." "A Libyan fighter..." "And how did it get to Sila?" "Take the first flight to Calabria and perhaps you'll find out." "Hey, send Corrà, he's Calabrian and maybe..." "Tomorrow I have to meet a judge I know." "Allocated." "Corrà!" "Where is Corrà?" "Corrà!" "Come on, come with me." "I'm late." " You said we would talk." " We're talking." "What do you want to know?" " What's in there?" " The secret proceedings." " What scenarios are you considering?" " Those you already know." "A bomb, a collision, a structural failure, a missile..." "You already have the radar data, right?" "They told me it might take a while." "You know the armed forces." "And when will the plane be recovered?" "I've already ordered it." "But the government's in the middle, and I don't need to explain how they work." "Shouldn't you already have some forensic results?" "Even that takes time." "So you tell me nothing." "Look, everything is into the hands of the investigating committee." "They're going to England." "They have a laboratory we can't even dream of." "When they come back, we'll see..." " Everything right, sir?" " Yes, thanks." " Good afternoon." " Good afternoon." "Open the gates!" "Excuse me." "I'm a journalist." "Give me a few minutes, I came on my own." "Professor, in Italy, nobody... knows anything about this story, nobody says anything." "Sorry, but I cannot answer any questions." "No, no." "I won't ask any questions." "You'll ask me." "Why don't you ask me what I intend to write about the autopsies?" "Why don't you ask me?" "Go ahead." "What do you intend to write?" "I'll write that in one of the passengers' legs... a woman, a splinter at least this big was found." "And I'll write that because of the type of wound, here, in England... you are trying to determine where that splinter came from." "Because if by chance it came from outside the plane..." "If it came from something external..." "Why would this piece of metal be inside the plane?" "Therefore, I don't know." "It could come from..." " The nose landing gear." " The nose landing gear?" "What else are you going to write?" "I'ill write that there was no structural failure." "The plane was okay." " You don't drink?" " I don't drink." "Did you know that particles speak?" " How do they speak?" " They speak, speak." "You just have to understand what they say." "We've shot them against foam rubber seats, just like those in the airplane." "And they said:" "If I, metal particle, am driven by the explosion of a bomb..." "I'll penetrate to a certain extent..." "However, if I'm pushed by the shock wave of a missile, I'll penetrate more." "And they... the particles..." "How much did they penetrate?" "You've done well coming here." "Make sure you get paid." "You've earned it." "Professor!" "If I write that the particles penetrated deeply what happens?" "Do I insult them?" "Hey, Professor!" "Will I offend the particles?" "The destruction of the Ustica DC-9 was not due to a structural failure." "Of course you didn't see it, it appeared on page six, very tiny..." "No, I can't." "I haven't finished yet, Anna." "I should be a pharmacist, then." "Coming back home every day." "I have to meet someone at the BBC." "Yes, Rebecca." "So what?" "And is it my fault that she's the only one I know here?" "She can help me." "She's useful, useful!" "Useful in jerking me off?" "Well, you're getting vulgar!" " How much do I owe you?" " It's 32,000, sir." "Yes, yes." "I'd like that." "Sorry, I have to hang up." "No, no." "I'll call you." " Hi." " Hi." " Was it for me?" " No, for me." " Am I interrupting anything?" " And Rebecca?" "How was she?" "Answer, it must be for you." " At this hour?" " Weren't you just talking?" "Yes, hi." "Hello." "It was for you." " Yes, hi." "Hello." " Hello!" "Hello!" " Has this ever happened while I was away?" " Yes..." "Yes, today..." "Even on page six, it seems someone read it." "Spring, 1981" "Unfortunately, your father was very ill, as you know." "Therefore we had to impose a limit on the compensation." "The maximum compensation will be 24 million." "But can't it be a little more?" "That's almost nothing." "Twenty-four million is a good sum." "But my father was only 50." "Sign here, please..." "You..." "I don't remember well..." "have lost five relatives, right?" "My son... my wife..." "and three grandchildren." "We believe it fair to consolidate the compensation for 5 passengers." "This is the highest authorized sum." "Do you agree?" "Please, do you agree?" "He was one subject away from graduation." "Too bad." "A degree earns points." "He went to the University at Trento, But he dealt a lot in politics." "Unfortunately, politics doesn't earn points." "Not always, some have achieved a lot." "We don't have a clear picture here." "Your husband, what did he do?" "My husband was an activist and wrote in the newspaper." " He was a freelance journalist." " No." " And his monthly wages were?" " Nothing." "Very little." " How old is your daughter?" " Eight." "Look, I understand that the figure we offer is not very high..." "But this is all I can do." "We have charts, rules." "Besides, your husband Alberto, and I mean no offence..." "Professionally speaking, he was disastrous." "He was better than many." "Sign here, please." "...What will you eat?" "She's already begun her diet... she won't eat this, she won't eat that, we go to the movies, she doesn't watch the movie..." " Excuse me." " I'll leave her." "Should I leave her?" "Good day." "You could not resist writing that phrase, huh?" "It was a beautiful phrase." " I thought I'd meet you, sooner or later." " Thanks." "Only once Silvia asked me if her father had suffered." "I told her everything happened so fast that he didn't even notice." "That at that moment he was happy, returning to our side... to be together at home, and that he was carrying presents for her." "She never asked again." "He was sweet." "Even during the hard times, always gentle, a delicate person." "As if... he liked everything but could do without anything." "Why did you sign?" "Because I had to, obviously." "I need the money." "Silvia is growing." "I have..." "We don't have a bank account, or... or a home of our own." "We have nothing." "Why don't you go before court as "private party"?" "It could be a way to enter the investigation." " To control what is done." " Yes, I thought about it." "But I'm on my own and the other party has judges, ministers and generals." "Sorry, but this place..." " Excuse me?" " No, I just wanted..." "He's a good person." "No problems." "Goodbye." "Fall, 1981" "Yeah, yeah, okay." "So what?" "The article on the office renovation... at the High Council of Justice." " You tell me..." " Yes, yes." "Okay, okay." " Rocco, for you." " Thanks." " Rocco..." "They've arrived." " Who?" "Who?" "The ones I told you about, the Cardinal's hairdressers." " But who are they?" " Hush!" "Shut up, walls have ears." "Wait, wait." "I'll show you." "Take a look." " Two hookers." " You don't like the merchandise?" " Sorry, but I've got work to do." " They'll smooth your locks." " Franco, really..." " Ok, I'll tell Corrà." "Last chance." "I'm telling Corrà..." "Yes but, Corrà..." " Have you been followed?" " No." "Don't look at me." "How do you know?" "I did it like the last time." " What's this sketch?" " It is a radar chart, a plot." "Is it from the Services?" "Is it from you?" "If I had wanted to give you a radar plot," "I would have brought it myself." "Maybe it came from another section, which dealt with it." "We worked on the plane affair for just a few days." " Then who did?" " Not us." "I see, but then... who?" "Air Force Information Service." "The SIOS." " So maybe they sent it?" " I don't really think so." "They would more likely want it back." " Really?" " I believe that whoever took down the DC-9, made a mistake." " He wanted to destroy another plane." " What plane?" "The DC-9 was at the right time in the wrong place, that's why everybody is so keen on this." "You mean keen to hide things." "Certainly not keen enough to hit the right target." "And which was the right target?" "All the articles about this story have been compiled in a file... where they're ranked according to their seriousness and credibility." "Two indexes are used: from A to Z... and from 1 to 10." "Almost all of yours qualify as 10-Z." "Therefore, it would be good if you calmed down a little." " What I write is annoying..." " It is..." "Yes, I would say so." "But there are 81 dead." "Let's not make them 82." "Do you know when I can find your husband?" "Yes, I met him in England." "Ah, he's in Washington." "And when... in 15 days?" "Okay, thanks." "Good morning." "Anna, why is your phone always busy?" "What hides in your heart?" "Mr. Ferrante?" "My name is Matteo Giordani." "I envy you, you know?" "Honestly." " Why?" " Well, the way you write." "Agile, enjoyable. "With flowing pen", as our parents would have said." "In my case, every word is a struggle." "Three, four drafts and then refine, adjust, change." " You're a journalist." " No." "I decided to be a lawyer." " You're a recent graduate." " Almost half a century ago." "In fact, I was a magistrate for 35 years." "But now I'm retired, so I have plenty of free time." " Unfortunately, I don't." " I understand." "I won't take your time." "I will assume the legal representation... in a process that, no doubt, will be crucial to define... the moral future of our fragile democracy." " And what process is that?" " The massacre of the DC-9." "In fact, until now, nobody has signed as private party." "They will." "That's the first thing I intend to do." "81 families must have justice." "But in order to convince them I must study, I must know." "That's why I'm here." "And you will help me." " Have a seat." " Thanks." "I prefer this one." "There you go." "This material belongs to the first days." "And the rest?" "Ask the ordinance for whatever you need." "Can we treat each other familiarly, since we'll be partners?" " Yes, of course." " Thanks, Rocco." " And what can I say, Anna?" " Nothing, you won't see me again." " But what are you saying?" " The truth." "I'm hanging up." " Where are you going?" " Bye." " But listen, don't hang..." "Don't embarrass me in front of the phone operator..." ""Cocks and blows"" "That's all they understand." "You have to hurt her, Rocco!" "You have to make her bleed." "You don't know what you missed with those two." "Let Corrà tell you." "They even had their own place." "Tell him, Corrà!" "I only did it because of you." "700 copies in an afternoon!" "He says he'll return tomorrow, but I'll report sick." "Sick!" "I'm sick!" "I'm sick!" " What is it?" " Someone opened my car." "Shit!" " Did they take your radio?" " No, nothing." "Nothing's missing." "Damn, lucky Rocco!" "You lucky bastard!" "Anna!" "Anna!" "Anna!" "It's not just the mess you left..." " you emptied the house!" "You even took the stove!" " That was mine!" "No, no, it was mine." "There's a big difference." " Ok, I took the wrong stove." " Anyway, I wanted to apologize." " Apologize?" "You?" "Come on!" " Why can't I apologize?" " I want you to forgive me." " Forgive what?" "Everything, honey, everything." "Listen, Rocco." "There's somebody else." " What?" "You never said anything." " No, I know." " Since when?" " For a while." "Anyway, I don't want things to change between us right now." " We can remain friends." " Yes." " I'm fond of you, Rocco." "I don't want to lose you." "After all, three years are three years." " Huh?" "What do you say, Rocco?" " Yeah, okay, honey." "No, that's not the worse." "The schedule is." "Twelve hours!" "It's not a job like others, like a carpenter's." " They can hurt their fingers or a hand." " In summary..." "We're under pressure." "We're always under pressure." "Always at the limit." "At the razor's edge." "There he is!" " What are you doing here?" " I called you all day." " I didn't know." " You didn't know..." "Just 5 minutes, please." "I can't say anything, because I have nothing to say." "I think my phone is tapped." "At home and in the newspaper." " So what?" "We're all under control." " Either it was you or the Services." " What are you thinking?" " So it must be the Services." "I have to go." "And let these poor guys go home." "Don't worry, want to get sick?" "There are more important things." "Bye!" "Winter, 1982" " Hi, Rocco!" " Hi, Rebecca." "Nice fur." " What is it?" " It's synthetic." " Original!" " Give me your document." " It's even dubbed into Italian." " Why?" "It seems the RAI has purchased the report." "Very original!" "It will air the day after tomorrow." "You can have the scoop, but not before tomorrow." " Let's begin." " Let's go, Charles." "These are the headquarters of the National Transportation Safety Board," "America's most prestigious center for the investigation of transport." "The Italian investigators have arrived here... to explain the sky conditions at the time of the tragedy." "John McDull, Air Traffic expert in this area has worked on the data and performed its analysis." "That's my plot." "It is the DC-9's route... based on the data obtained by the radars at Campino and Rome... only minutes before the aircraft disappeared." "This line shows the DC-9 en route to Palermo." "But McDull has found other things." "At 20:58:11 hours, 1 minute and 34 seconds before the explosion..." "The main radar at Rome captured a signal here." "29 seconds later, another signal was located here." "12 seconds after the explosion, a third signal was located here." "In short, the radar track shows a flying object... traveling at the same speed and performing the same maneuvers... as a jet fighter." "The thing that probably happened here is this:" "The DC-9 moved along this route." "The fighter jet closed in an locked the DC-9 on its radar." "Made a first turn here." "Proceeded and made another turn here." "By then the DC-9 was here and the fighter was here." "It positioned itself at level flight, and fired a missile... a few moments later." "And the interception took place... more or less at this point." "45 seconds had elapsed." "Interception took place more or less at this point." "45 seconds had elapsed." " So?" " Have you seen the chart?" "As it stands it's pretty useless." "It's too technical and hard to understand." "We could try to make a diagram." "No, it's not that." "I would leave it as it is." "I'm fed up with the phone calls for every article in this story." "So what do we do?" "Publish the BBC stuff?" "It'll be broadcast tomorrow." " Who is it?" "Rocco?" " Yes." "Don't you think it will be better if we wait a while?" "Why should we let them get the scoop when the story is ours?" "Ok, but let's stick to the facts." "We highlight the facts and list the breaking news... from the radar signal analysis... and we cite the American expert source." "Should be around 100 lines." "Do you want an impact headline?" "While we're at it, why don't we make it a page opener?" " What do you think, Giulio?" " Which page?" "The first, four columns, illustration and all." "And this time I'll unplug the phone!" " Yes?" " I'd like to speak to the Air Force Chief of Staff." " Who's speaking?" " Rocco Ferrante." " He's not here." " Not there." "Tomorrow we're publishing... that the DC-9 was intercepted by a fighter jet." " Right." " We wanted to have your comment." "I don't know what to say." "I'm alone here." "Should I then write that you refuse to comment?" "It's just that I'm not authorized." "And the boss isn't here." "Don't waste my time." "I'll find him sooner or later." "Either tell me where he is or I'll write that he refuses to comment." "Excuse me." " The kitchen's closed." " I'm looking for..." "Who told you we were here, if you don't mind telling me?" "Since you ask, I do mind, General..." "Don't you think coming here is a bit too much?" "You should be glad to see me." "Look what I've brought." "This way the Chief of Staff can think it over." " It's you, finally." " Finally." "I'd like you to have a look at this." " And, so?" " You're not impressed?" "I don't see why I should be." "And I don't understand your urgency either." "What's the matter?" "Are you excited?" "General, I'm showing you a paper that publishes the news that..." " the DC-9 was inter..." " That's what you say." " No." "An American expert says it." "I just want your comment." "You have nothing to say, General?" "Look, you want comments, go to the Air Force spokesman." "You have the phone number, I think." " If there's no further business, you can join us." " No, thanks." "So, according to you, nothing." "I'm giving you the news, Mr. Spokesman." " I know you're interested in the story." " It's not personal, it's a report... made by American experts that concludes there was another plane next to the DC9." "What plane, sir?" "Our radars would have detected it." "But nobody saw anything, neither in Licola nor Marsala." "All your speculations clash with this basic truth." "The Air Force knows nothing about it and is guilty of nothing." "Maybe you didn't want to see." "The Marsala radar, oddly, was out... due to some maneuvers." "There's an 8 minute hole!" "The hole is subsequent to the incident." "Four minutes later." "Yes, but the radar operators changed the tape and..." " deactivated it 4 minutes earlier." " I'm sorry, I won't go on with this." " Fine, we'll leave it there, General." " Good bye, sir." " Hello." " This is Rocco." " Hi." " Have you read the paper?" " Yes, it seems interesting." " Has the President said anything?" " Well, there's a judge in charge..." "What do you want him to say?" " Didn't he say anything?" " Look, I really don't know." "He spent the morning with the unions, the ministers." "He's going to Brussels." " Call me." " I'll se if I can." "Look at you!" "Are you offended?" "I've had enough of you." "I've had enough of you!" "Asshole!" "Did a fucking missile hit your head?" "All right!" "Enough!" "Sorry, sorry!" " Stop!" "I exaggerated, sorry!" " Do you know what I say?" "Go fuck yourself, Rocco!" "All right, all right!" "I'm sorry." " Let go of me!" " Stop it!" " Mr. Minister..." " Good morning, I'm in a hurry." " What do you think of the report?" " I think you know more about it." " If it was a jet fighter..." " A fighter?" "I don't really know." " We'll have to see." " I'm talking to the minister." " Any statement?" " Not for this, not at this time." "Can you tell me the subject of your talks with the Defense Chief of Staff?" " How long have you been here?" " So?" "Is it coming?" "Anyhow, I'm on it." "I'm interested." "I'm paying attention." "I'll get to the truth!" "Very interested!" "Congratulations!" "I've explained it several times at the ministry." "No wreckage, no conclusions." "Look, here's the answer." " What does it mean?" " They give me freedom to decide." "If the hunt fails, if they can't find the wreckage, the parts that... could lead to an investigation, then the ministry... will sue me for the tidy sum of 6.35 billion lire." "I don't get it." "If they find nothing, then you have to give them 6 billion." "And 350 million lire." "So what do we do, will you give them to me?" "I might." "Hey, Rocco!" " I thought you were at the paper." " No, today..." " I've come to get some things." " Are you leaving?" "Yes, two weeks." " So where are you going?" " Bali." " Bari?" " Bali, Bali, the island!" " How nice!" " Alone?" " No." " Very nice!" " And you?" " No, I'm not going to Bali..." "And the missile?" "I'll see you." "Throw away these?" " "Grandi Agreement"." " Listen, listen!" " Throw them away?" " Go ahead, do it." ""Reagan reelection"." ""Italian EEC Presidency"." "Out!" "Out." "Out." "Listen, Corrà..." "Did the Libyan jet fighter fall over Sila on July 18, 1980?" "Can't remember, it's been five years." "Why?" "Look: "Hellish Gridlock." "Air and naval exercises... with allies, simulation of enemy penetration. "" " Says it was on July 18, over the Sicilian Channel." " So?" "There were four aircraft carriers, four corvettes... ten cruisers..." "How did the MIG reach Sila?" "Right through the middle of 60 planes, and nobody saw it." "Worms this size." "All over the body." "When I tried to get the fingerprints, the skin peeled of completely." "The pilot's face had disappeared, the brain was liquefied." "Dissolved suprarenal and pancreas." "In your opinion, when did he die?" "Certainly not on the 18th, when the plane fell." "He had been dead 15 or 20 days, since the end of June." "If the dead man was an enemy pilot, then why did you sign the autopsy stating... that death had occurred on the 18th?" "The judge said corpse recognition was enough, a formality." "It was urgent." "Doubts about it kept growing in me." "My colleague was worried also." "We finally decided to submit a report... where the date of death was in doubt." "And we sent it to the prosecutor." "Next day, the police chief summoned us to the station... where we met someone that was coming from Rome." " Dressed as a civilian, but said he was an officer." " And who was it?" "Didn't say his name." "He showed us a picture of the pilot's body... with blood that was still fresh." "I respectfully mentioned that the photo wasn't dated and didn't prove... that it was taken on July 18." " He seemed irritated by this." " Did they threaten you?" " Not at all!" "So why did you certify the report when you weren't convinced?" "You should live around here for a while." "We all know each other." "The notary, the judge... the chief of police..." "So whenever somebody asks you for something unorthodox... it's ridiculous to demand that the rules be respected." "What goes on around here is so trivial that you think: "nothing will happen"." "We're just like these gentlemen." "Dead souls." "So, according to you, two forensic doctors, respected by all... invented the story of the officer who came from Rome." "I'm not saying anything, just taking notes of your statement." "What do you mean "taking notes"?" "Do you confirm or deny it?" "Is it true or not that an officer came from Rome with a Polaroid picture?" "I don't remember the event." " Did you see the plane crashing?" " I already told you no!" "Then why do the policemen say you did?" "This is your signed statement." "I don't know how to read and write." " But here it says that you saw..." " I didn't see anything!" "I heard... and then I came out and saw smoke that was black, black, black..." "Are you happy?" "The plane was flying towards that point, and it disappeared in those woods." " I heard an explosion." " Did you go and see?" " No." "Because it appeared again immediately over there." "It turned and left." "What do you mean reappeared?" "Are you sure?" " It's very important." " I'm sure." "We've talked about it so many times with my friends..." "For a while." "Then..." "Who would have imagined a reporter from Rome was going to come?" "After so much time." "I really wasn't expecting it." "Nice, isn't it?" " So?" " Yes, I saw it!" "It was coming down in that direction, toward Sila." "But it wasn't on July 18 like you said." "It was before, way before." "Because I was still working." "I hadn't gone on vacations." " Do you remember the exact date?" " Sure." "It was June 27." "I can guarantee it." "I don't know the exact time..." "But... it was getting dark." "It was at dusk." " You can keep it, I'm not publishing." " Did you read it through?" " Twice over." " They're testimonies." " Testimonies?" "They're all different!" "Not a single corroboration!" "There was an air duel between NATO and Libyan jets on June 27." "Why?" "We don't know." "The DC-9 is caught in the middle." "A Libyan plane gets hit... and flies toward Italy." "Why?" "Nobody knows." "And when it runs out of fuel, it crashes in Sila." "It stays there for 21 days." "Then, on July 18, during a NATO exercise, a fighter flies to Sila, drops something that makes a lot of noise... the police hurry, discover the plane and the pilot's body." "Are we all nuts?" "What kind of paper do you want us to become?" "Yes, I understand." "I thought so." " What did you think?" " Nothing, nothing." "Say whatever's on your mind." "Come on, say it." "The less we talk about this, the happier everybody is." "Even you." "In this country, if you're not covering up..." "Look, if there's someone who needs a cover, that's you." "Understand?" "You're obsessed with this story!" "Know what the director says?" "If he wants to say something, he can do it in my face." "No, I have something to tell you." "The two forensics signed a report that says July 18, not June 27!" "The policeman denies that a Secret Service agent traveled to Calabria." "There's no way to prove this, you know it!" " Do you believe what I wrote?" " Yes, could be." "Could be true!" "What you and I believe doesn't mean a thing." "Just for starters, NATO, Libya, and the Secret Service are involved." "I don't want one piece of evidence." "I want a million!" "Why do you go on with this job?" "I'm thinking of working at a drug store." "Nice little boxes." "Headache?" "Take this pill." "Ear ache?" "Have these drops." "Instead..." " Have you been to Bali?" " Bari?" " Bali, the island." "No." " And you?" " No." ""Life is cruel. "" "Who said that?" "We've certainly been had with this story." "Since you like to work alone, speak for yourself." "Will you go down 9000 feet to get the wreckage?" "The relatives have made common cause for the civil suit." "The lawyer Giordani says that that changes everything." "What changes?" "What?" "Sure, it's a free country." "Anyone can say what they please." "They all can say what they want." "The problem is that nobody's listening." "PARIS Winter, 1986" ""And so", "the war between sparkling wine and champagne"," ""at least in is most vulgar and violent form"," ""like road blocks and spilled vats", "will not be taking place"." ""Both the French and the Italians are very optimistic"." ""Even though a lot of marketing information is available"," ""it seems that brut is drunk as an appetizer and not as a dessert"," ""and it also seems to be gaining popularity"." ""51% of consumption still belongs to the traditional sphere":" ""that is corks that pop up when a cake is cut"." "The operation is under way to recover the plane... that exploded over Ustica skies on June 27, 1980." "There's a lot of interest and controversy involved... in the search to determine the causes for the disaster... that caused the death of 81 people." "Among the hypotheses, the one of a missile that hit the DC-9... seems unlikely." "For now, the most credible version... is that of a terrorist bomb aboard." "When things get complicated, it's better to stay apart." "Especially in this game, where there's only one dealing the cards." "And who would that be?" "How do you make people tell the truth?" "Imagine if it was the Americans." "Their bases are everywhere." "There are even nuclear warheads stored in Comiso." "Let's think instead it was the French." "They're smart." "They represent civilization." "Look at the streets, the palaces!" "By the way, have you eaten at "Petit Zinc"?" "Let's say it was them." "What do we do?" "No..." "The public mustn't know." "What good would the truth do?" "It would just make for further distrust of the institutions." "But now they'll recover the remains." "The forensics will find out the truth." " Are you sure?" " What do you mean?" "Of course I am." "The said it in the news." "There's the black box, the tape." "Everything." " Are you sure they'll find everything?" " What do you mean?" "What if somebody has already been down there?" "Who knows?" "Maybe I'm wrong." "Do you know what company is in charge of the operation?" "And where that company is based?" "No?" "You don't know?" "Do your homework." "Find out." "Do your homework." "You'll be surprised." "What a beautiful city!" "For seven years, it's been lying at a depth of 9,000 feet... at the bottom of the Tyrrhenian Sea, between the islands of Ponza and Ustica." "These images are from a reconnaissance submersible." " "Today, the operation was finalized. "" " Can't even see a fish." "...32 immersions." "Almost 70% of the DC-9 has been brought to the surface." "Nevertheless, the black box, with all the flight parameters... necessary for the investigation..." " "has still not been recovered. "" " What?" "Mother fuckers!" "Who do you mean?" "Do you know who's in charge of the operation?" "A company from Marseille." "And who does that company work for?" "The French Secret Service." "If it was a French jet that downed the DC-9, think they'd find anything?" " Let me write that." "Just 30 lines." " Here we go again." "...the experts will finally be able to solve all the mysteries... that still engulf this tragedy." "Fall, 1988" " Good morning." " Good morning, professor." " Here's the report." " When will the judge get it?" " In a couple of days." " And what does it say?" "We're all sure that it was a missile, but there are two who might not sign." "They fear that the word "missile" would produce a destabilizing effect." "I want you to publish the conclusions, without mentioning the source." "If the results are published, there's no turning back." "Even for those two." " How did you come to a conclusion?" " A lot of data." "Explosive type... impact violence, that must have been tremendous." "There were bone fragments all over the plane." "And due to the nature of the impact, the metal was turned outside in." "Today is a day of festivity for us." "Just now, 200 young officers have sworn to defend our country." "And I'm here in the name of our country." "To thank you, not to argue with reporters." "I say it now, to avoid misunderstandings." "I say it with absolute conviction." "What I read today interests me only to a certain degree." "Because I think that under the rule of law, we all should respect the rules." "Rules that force me to postpone comments and decisions... until the report is sent to the judge." " Does that mean that you won't comment?" " I can't comment when I don't know." "I've just said it." "Let's wait for the report." "Do you reject any direct or indirect responsibility for the Air Force?" "Absolutely." "I'll repeat." "After examining these two documents, I can state the following:" "First:" "On the night of the incident, no Italian airplanes... were in the area." "Second... no military radar detected the DC-9's fall... much less the alleged missile that hit it." "Don't you think that after 8 years you could say a little more?" "We've said all we had to say." "What about the others, General?" "The Americans, the French..." "Based on the facts and answers given at the time, i must rule it out." "But I only respond for my force." "Do you rule out the missile hypothesis, Mr. Minister?" " I'm not a judge." " The experts talk about a missile." "Newspaper scoops." "We can't open a hearing... based on what newspapers publish." "Another question for you, General." "Do you deny that the Air Force knew something about the incident..." " that is, that it bears responsibility, albeit indirect..." " Let me answer." "I've never doubted the loyalty of the Armed Forces... that have always offered the justice system... they're utmost collaboration and availability." "It's a shame that eight minutes of radar records have disappeared." "The original Folio at the Licola registry that can't be found..." "How would you qualify that?" "We can't go on with all these baseless accusations!" " It is you who won't come clean!" " No!" " Yes, it is." "As Defense Chief of Staff, I affirm... that we have come clean!" "We have nothing to hide in this business." "These continuous attacks!" "These slanderous insinuations!" " You're fostering an unbearable climate!" " Excuse me..." "Excuse me but I can't repress... the fury overtaking me!" " What do you mean, Admiral?" " Don't answer." "Let it be clear that in this story we're just witnesses!" "Witnesses to what, Admiral?" "Gentlemen, take your seats, please." "At ease!" "This is not the right place, but I think that I have to say it." "You've been systematically busting our balls for the last ten years." "I hope your missile explodes in your ass." "In the meantime it will explode in yours, General." "The whole thing." "Go, Rocco!" "Rocco..." " Rocco!" " Don't bug me!" "You were listening. "The prosecutor has accused 23 Air Force officers... who were on duty on the night of June 27, 1980... at the radar centers in Licola and Marsala"." "Come on, Franco, enough." "Stop it!" ""Parliament has formed the Parliamentary Investigative Commission.." "to inquire into the tragic DC-9 disaster. "" "What are you reading?" "Internal third edition." "Rocco, I think you got it." "If you get baldie's job, remember your friends." "Summer, 1989." "What is it?" "Everything will be fine, you'll see." "Calm and cool." "Hello..." "Are you Sgt. Caroli?" "Why didn't you accept the lawyer that the Air Force offered you?" "Because I'm better." "Besides, no questions in here." " Hi!" " Who's that?" " A sergeant from Marsala." " How's it going?" " Three don't remember and one of them was off... even though he's listed in the operations area." "He doesn't know what was written on the service log." " Where are they?" " There, all together." "Get out of here!" " How many more left after this one?" " Two more, I think." "Look..." "Easy, stay calm." "In the year of 1989, etc, before the examining magistrate, etc..." " appears...?" " Caroli, Luciano." "The defendant is warned that he has the right to remain silent, but even... in that case, the legal examination shall proceed later." "So..." "What were you doing on the night of June 27, 1980?" "I was following signs on the monitor... left by the DC-9 and a Boeing 720." "Calm down, Sergeant." "No need to get nervous." "You just have to say what you saw that night, and what you didn't see." "I... that night... saw it." " What did you see?" " The falling DC-9." "Go on, please." "At a certain moment, the signal started to deteriorate." "That is, it got weak." "I informed the lieutenant, because I thought it was strange." "At that moment, the DC-9 should have been over the sea." "At the same time, I contacted Punta Raisi and Fiumicino... to find out the departure time, maybe a delay." "Punta Raisi answered that they were expecting the DC-9 very soon." "Meanwhile, the lieutenant tried to communicate with the plane by radio." "But he didn't get an answer." "Let me get this clear." "You say clearly saw the plane falling." "Yes." "I saw the signal going from 7 to 5... and then to 2." " Your honor." "I request..." " I'll decide if I allow your question!" "It's taken you 9 years to decide to start this investigation!" " And now I can't ask a question?" " Sit down!" "Sit down!" "Or I'll have you ejected!" "If you want to take notes, we have something to say." "There's a new fact." "An important fact..." " which represents a turning point." " Has the sergeant talked?" "After years and years, and for the first time... there's a hole in this wall of silence." "In this rubber wall." "Contradicting all the declarations by dozens of criminal generals..." "Sergeant Caroli, from the Marsala Radar Center... has confessed to the judge that he saw the falling DC-9." "Caroli, what an idiot!" "It's not necessary for me to highlight what we have said all these years..." "I mean, the truth about what happened that night..." "And now?" "You're in serious trouble." "What are you going to do?" "What are we going to do?" "It's your fault." "You just write, and write!" "Nobody has tried to find out about the other airplane." " What was it?" "Do you know?" " No, I don't know!" "I only know there was a flight plan from Tripoli to Warsaw." " Tripoli?" " Yes." " A Libyan plane." "Who was on board?" "Your sister!" "Who was on that plane?" "Was it Gaddafi?" "Was it Gaddafi?" " The missile was for Gaddafi?" " We're always the fall guys!" "The ones that keep our mouths shut, the doormats like you and I!" "Like Caroli!" "It's easy to be a hero with a pen in your hand!" "But if we talk, we get fired." "And we have families!" "So don't bust my chops or I'll tell you what I think of you and the trial!" " Leave it!" " Just a moment." "Should I tell you?" " Are you mad?" "Let's go!" " Should I speak?" "Wait!" "I won't say it because I'm the biggest man here." "See you!" "Clown!" "You were one of the first to arrive at the rescue area." "Yes, we were the first to receive the alert and to send a pair of choppers." "Do you know if there was any American air activity in the disaster zone?" "If the log says so, it means there was activity." "As chief of the Secret Service, is it possible you didn't know about it?" "Can I say something in front of this Investigating Panel?" "For me, the truth is still in the bottom of the sea." "True, you left it there." "Yes, but, in a SISMI note, dated July 29, 1980... it says that the Air Force intelligence was immediately on the case... ten days before what you said, General." "I have documents that state..." "I'm asking you about this document." "Yes." "I'm thinking." "I understand that this is rather contradictory..." "No." "You're one step from committing a crime." "Can I smoke?" "Mr. President, at that time, our counterintelligence... was devastated by scandals." "It was weak and untrustworthy." "And why didn't you, as an active Minister, before the Chief of Staff... ask for the replacement of the people you didn't trust?" "I can't understand it." "It's almost a public servant's failure of duty, don't you think?" "Did you meet with the counterintelligence chief every week?" " Each day?" "Each month?" " Every once in a while." "When armed forces member are suspected of covering up and conspiracy... to be objective we have to add the TV channels... the journalists, the lawyers... the politicians linked to the case, and the experts, the doctors..." "There's a lot money at stake here!" "As far as we're concerned, the results of our investigations... have always been the same." "There might have been some mistakes, some negligence, some imprecision, some unfortunate coincidence." "But that's all." "No conspiracy, no national or international plots." "Not military, not political, not Italian, not on behalf of NATO." "No cover ups, no deliberate lies." "No air killer, no missile!" "Nothing!" "Admiral, for the sake of truth, you should at least have some doubts." "You can't come here saying everything is certain." "Excuse me." "Maybe there's been some misunderstanding." "Mine was only a theoretical disquisition." "We can all be part of a cover-up, even without knowing it." "Of course, not this Panel." "Nor the legislators." "As for the press... experience tells me that what journalists write... is not always the truth!" "There he is!" "Still furious, Admiral?" "Are you satisfied with your testimony?" "Are missiles only used in exercises, Admiral?" "Who's paying off the journalists?" "Say it!" "Give us names!" "Who's paying them off?" "Say it!" "Give us names!" " We're not covering up!" " I didn't say that." "Didn't say it?" "Yes, you did!" "We all heard you!" " Where's the car?" " That way." "A short distance." " Do you know who's paying them off?" " That's a lie!" "You lie!" " Are you scared of repeating it?" " I'm not scared!" " Here, it's raining." " Let's go!" " I'm not scared of anyone!" " I'd like to know... who's been paying you all these years!" "I've said everything!" "I always say what I think!" "The truth, Admiral!" "Tell the truth!" "We deserve the truth!" "We've been waiting for ten years!" "Ten years!" ""It took ten years"," ""ten years of lies"..." ""ten years of questions without answers"." ""Why did those in the know keep silent?"" ""Why did the investigations lead to nowhere?"" ""Why was this truth so painful..." ""that it required silence," ""cover-ups", "evidence concealment?"" ""On the night of June 27, 1980 a war took place":" ""there were 69 adults and 12 children returning home"," ""going on vacations", "who were reading the paper"," ""or playing with dolls. "" ""Those who knew decided that the citizens", "us", should not know:" ""they tampered with the evidence", "eliminated radar data"," ""burned the logs", "invented imaginary exercises"," ""intimidated judges and blamed the experts"." ""And most importantly", "they have committed the gravest crime":" ""they forced the weak to participate in the big lie"," ""turning honesty into vileness"," ""transforming the desperate defense of a job"," ""into mediocrity", "vileness"." ""Now", "finally"..." ""while outside this court where the State is questioning the State"..." ""it's raining"..." ""many are seeing a ray of light"." "Wait." "I don't like the last three lines." "Just add..." ""Why"" "USTICA, A NATIONAL SHAME" "Subtitles by supersoft and scalisto"