" Your throat's tight today." " Yes, I didn't sleep much." "Hello?" "Nina, has the summer exodus begun?" "It's due to happen next weekend." "Ah, thank goodness!" "Now chaos will make room for chance!" "Professor, help me find a Chinese language partner." "I figured you'd be going to the countryside or even the sea!" "No, I'm staying in Rome." "I have tons of work and no time." "There's lots of time in the summer, there is time." "Let's hear it!" ""Before a great beginning there is chaos."" "How is it?" "Good or so-so?" "Early as always?" "No, I'm on time." "Obsessed with lateness." "Don't you get tired of waiting?" "Homer!" "So, you'll be looking after the animals?" "Yes." "Good!" "Do it carefully because it will change your life." "They'll be like your children." "I'm sure..." " I can't wait." " I know..." " Vitamins!" " Yes, vitamins..." "Alina and Saverio Adolfi can't take your call, please leave a message after the beep and we'll call you back when we return on August 29th." "For emergencies, contact us at 0923975642." "Thank you." "Nina, not home yet, darling?" "Come on, I know you're there, pick up..." "My parents are happy you're staying with Homer, mom especially." "But the dog can't be alone for too long, okay?" "My plane is taking off, gotta go." "Give Homer his sleeping pills," "Armando his carrots, and vitamins for the fish... that's all... bye!" "And don't eat too many sweets!" "A NATION OF POETS, ARTISTS, HEROES," "SAINTS, THINKERS, SCIENTISTS," "SAILORS, EMIGRANTS" ""Avoid going out after midnight."" "Professor!" "You're pressing too hard, you should caress the paper." "You said I wasn't pressing enough!" "With the pencil, but this is ink!" "You're not even looking at me." "That doesn't mean I can't see you... and you're messing up again, Nina!" "We're wasting time!" "Do this: close your eyes and list every step I take when I make an espresso coffee." "You get the sieve, add coffee, and water... and flip it..." "Precision, Nina, precision!" "List every single part of the espresso machine, how many spoons of coffee..." "Do this exercise with everything, run through your every gesture mentally." " You'll improve." " If you say so..." "Straighten that wrist, please." "More." "Homer, where are you?" "Above: a seal, a barrier that stops the heart from fluttering." "And below..." "Xin: heart." "Ambition." "Let's go see what's happening." "Hi." "It's 1:00 AM, when do you plan on stopping?" "Maybe you could leave and get off my... off my rooftop and I can study in peace." "Mr. Bruni lives under the other rooftop and he has to get up early tomorrow." "How considerate, but I'm getting up early too, like Mr. Bruni." "Should I leave a written notification?" "Mr. Alfredo was about to get married." "He was all dressed up." "See how elegant he is?" "But the bride didn't show up, apparently she ran away." ""Go down the stairs daintily at night and in the day!"" " That's for four people, right?" " Yes, four." " That's for six?" " Yes." " That one." " You prefer that one?" "All right." "We went a bit overboard today." "The closed-eyes exercise was very helpful." "What did you write?" ""Ambition", like you asked." "I never asked you to work on ambition, that's not for you." "I asked you to work on "Love"." "Love?" "But I was sure..." "You have some loose screws up here." "Come on!" "Paper!" "On top we have "Claw", at the center, "Xin", heart," "and below "graceful movement"." "Straighten that wrist." "You're following me." "All the opposite." "Does it matter?" "Fabrizio." "Nina." "I think I have something of yours." "I doubt that..." ""Nine wishes", "questions to the heavens"," ""alas my destiny hasn't changed"..." "My notebook!" "Thanks!" "You have it." "As of tomorrow, I'll carry it with me, so if you decide to keep following me," "I'll give it back." "But that's blackmail." "No, it's an agreement." "BACK AT THE CAMPSITE" "I'M WAITING FOR YOU, BUT BE CAREFUL." "ETTORE" "I can't sleep..." "Dunno, maybe it's the new bed." "I feel locked up..." "Think it's serious?" "I'm probably just overdramatizing." "New bed isn't why you don't sleep, it's empty bed." "You too alone." "Nina, sit straight." "Open up the diaphragm, or how will you breathe?" "And straighten that hand!" "Professor, let's call it a day." "Nina, rigor and discipline." "It's boiling in here, can we open the window at least?" "If we open the window it'll get hotter." "In the summer, windows should be closed." "Is that clear?" "Here..." "No, Professor!" "What are you doing?" " For six, right?" " Yes, thank you." "Hello?" "Good evening, yes, hello." "My assistant, Dr. Liberati, and I are calling about an emergency in your neighborhood, they've shut off the water..." "Excuse me, I'll put you on hold." "No!" "This wasn't the deal." "We weren't supposed to meet by chance." "Who says it's by chance?" "You're right." "But explain the singing lessons." " You give singing lessons?" " Yes." "Nice..." "Do you teach novices, too?" "Sure." "Yes, but classes are over unfortunately." " What a shame!" " Could you make an exception?" "I'll think it over." "Promise!" "I don't need to promise to think it over." "Bye." "Miss, you're not home?" "Out in this heat?" "The creatures have arrived." "Better come and get them at once." "It's urgent, very urgent, miss!" " This must be yours." " Thanks." "I didn't realize I'd lost it." "Of course not, otherwise you'd have it." "True..." "How come you never take the elevator?" "Panic attacks?" "Why are you obsessed with China?" "I'm not obsessed." "I don't blame you, China's the future." "I hope it'll be mine." "I hope to move there this September." "Is that for Homer?" "Pass me the ginger." " What?" " This one." " This?" " Yes." " So you're going to sing in China?" " What are you saying?" "I heard you singing Mozart." "You know Mozart!" "How was I?" "Did you like it?" "Pretty good." "Why not do it as a job?" "So you don't have a job?" "Dunno what you want to do when you grow up?" "I bet you already know." "No, but I'm 11." "Right." "Remember to breathe." "Miss, miss!" "How lucky!" "You forgot to pass by for Homer's pills and vitamins." "And Armando?" "The guinea pig." "How is he?" "I hope you put him on a diet." "Listen, you must come with me, because that dog isn't well, he needs help." "He's depressed." "You've got nothing to do anyway." "Come." "I wanted to tell you, miss, that in a few weeks I'll be getting marvelous creatures from the Gulf of Mexico, they're very rare, super-rare, special, super-special." "So special that Mr. Adolfi literally fell in love with them, he always stared at them." "And I think they'd make a wonderful gift." "A complete gift, a person-to-person gift." "These aquatic creatures so fine, so colorful, so soft..." "It's like watching a video." "Like these aquariums, you look at them and become entranced... it's like watching a movie, the movie of our lives." "Drink up, Homer, it's now a matter of life and death." "Good boy." "Ettore?" "Who let you in?" "Explain..." "Keep quiet and come with me." "No, I can't, it's late." "All right." "I like that you never ask questions." "I'm in a waiting room, but I don't know what for, then suddenly I'm locked in a plane that can't take off, then in a theater, watching a choir rehearse but I can't hear anything." "Please continue." "And then I wake up and I can't fall back asleep..." "This house is strange." "Since I got here it feels like nothing happens." "I wouldn't say so." "I was sure you wouldn't come today." "Actually, that would've been better." "I'll leave if you want." "Come in." "The door!" "No, no!" "Never mind." "Let's not waste time today!" "Let's talk." "Describe your day to me." "I'm curious!" "That's a question?" "Seeing how I'm forced to stay in the house all day..." "Forced?" "Let's say you forced yourself!" "Never mind your trivial remarks..." "Describe your day." "Today, I didn't do anything." "I tried all day to do something, but in vain." "So then give up, you weren't meant to do anything." "Watch your pronunciation." "Think of what you're saying, the meaning." "Why don't you sing it once?" "All right." "Fish." "Sea." "Beach." "White." "Column." "Portico." "Runner." "Runner?" "Yes, there's usually runner here at night." "No sign of him tonight." "This doesn't seem like a place where people live." "I don't know if they live here..." "They appear and disappear, intermittently, just like you." "When I first saw you at the cafe I thought you were a dog-sitter." "Then the music school." "Then the Chinese." " What do you really do?" " All those things." "But only until September." "Then I'll start afresh." "Lucky you." "Every time I try, I only make things worse." "You never know..." "Maybe everything will change." "I'm leaving." "Where are you going, to China?" "Even further." "Turn!" "Turn!" "Hi." "What are you wearing?" "Excuse me?" "When he sees you wearing that, he'll know." "Bye." "Three, two, one..." " Nice, right?" " Yes." "I made them last night." "People don't do one thing in life anymore." "Want one?" "One all for me?" "I'm tired of cooking for people who don't understand." "And all these weddings stress me out." "A year later you see them separated at another wedding." "But maybe that rule always holds true:" "when you finally get what you really want... you don't want it anymore." "No cake then?" "So know what you want and then don't do it." "I'll think about that one." "I wrote you a letter." "Oh God, should I be worried?" "No, I don't think so." "When do I get it?" "Dunno, I have to find the right moment." "Now." "Now would've been okay, but I don't have it." "Can I get a preview?" "Dear Fabrizio," "I imagined entering your life would've had a different effect, but instead I liked it..." "I can't deny this frightens me, but I'd rather not think," "I'll just let things happen by chance or by necessity." "Affectionately yours, Nina" "Bye." "Right, good night." "Let's go, Homer." "Good night." "Again!" "Steady your voice more." " Want to take a break?" " No, let's try again." "Enough..." "I should stick to baking and forget about this." "I can't hack it, I'm not good enough." "No Marta, it's just an exercise, give it time." "What time?" "Either you've got it or you don't." "But you're trying." "What's the use, Nina?" "Excuse me a second." "L.T. Martinez Music School..." "The nuns are on a spiritual retreat, call back in September..." "No Fabrizio, not now, I'm with Marta." "All right, see you later then." "Nina, where the heck did you go?" "I waited, but it got late." "When do I get the letter?" "Good evening, Lost  Found Office... we've found a heart under a colonnade." "There was even a spleen nearby, too." "The owner should kindly call 3397811387." "I repeat, 3397811387." "Thanks." "Ettore, what the..." "I brought you meatloaf." "You don't just barge into other people's houses." "Your parents didn't teach you anything?" "It's 6:00 AM!" "What if I wasn't alone?" "Only one guy has visited you, and he didn't sleep over." "You're spying on me?" "Hello, Homer." "Should I be worried about your..." "your sis..." "Should I be worried?" "Is she all right?" "Homer, answer me!" "Homer, I'll be waiting for you at the cafe." "He left you this." "You're right not to see him anymore, even if he was "the one"." "That's precisely the problem." "I can't..." "Can't what?" "Be normal like others." "Have a job, a house, a boyfriend." "What's wrong with being like the others?" "I'm afraid." "You'll always be special." "Summertime suggestions:" "a few refreshing ideas to counter this heat wave." "Cotton shirts, lots of water, falling in love." "What's not recommended:" "appearing then disappearing." "I'm reading in a newspaper that waiting is increasingly contemporary." "Homer must've bought the same newspaper..." "I leave in three days." "Will I see you?" ""I hope so."" "Alfredo!" "Hi, Armando." "Miss, are you coming to pick up the creatures or not?" "I'm closing for vacation, you can't leave them here or they'll die." "Come in, Nina, sit down." "I have something for you, but I can't find it." "It must be here..." "Things tend to disappear." "Don't worry, give it to me next time, maybe you'll find it." "No!" "Now or never." "I can sense it:" "it's all about a vibe." "Here it is!" "Listen to yourself." "Learn to listen to yourself." "Once you learn that, others will hear you." "You were missing this." "It's yours." "Let's go to work." "Out you go!" "Don't kid yourself, it's not him." "Plus it's your move, isn't it?" "A wish, for all the things I need to shed and forget, because space is limited and one must travel light... for the time I neglected, misused, cancelled." "For the pleasures I never knew and those I was unable to offer." "A wish, like a caress to the life I never felt." "A wish for the stories of others." "For those who stay and those who go." "And me?" "What do I want today?" "In my bones I'd like to feel my absence, my necessity." "In my bones, I'd like to feel the future." "What do I want?" "A room with a view, romance, people, things, a voyage, the sea, the lightness of dawn." "A life with someone, a life for someone." "What do I want tonight?" "A dedication, a promise." "A caress, that caress." "The things I lack and those I don't know." "For me the future has always been the finest place on earth." "So I want the future, or a witness." "The certainty of having lived." "I want all this." "I want everything." "But above all I want to feel, I want to feel myself." "There are no exams right now, not in three months, or a year." "Who knows when..." "But I worked myself to the bone!" "You had better things to do?" "Going to China was important!" "I guess it wasn't meant to be." "It wasn't destiny." "Not meant to be, not destiny, a coincidence, it should've been different." "Enough!" "This summer's hardly begun and it's already over." "We're leaving tomorrow, mom?" "Yes, sweetie." "I'll miss you." "You'd better be careful, sunlight is the number one cause of aging skin." " Here, use this." " All right." "Come here." "To get to your house do you take a bus or a train?" "Or can you walk?" "No, it's not in walking distance." " But it's in Rome?" " Of course." "I'll be terribly bored this winter." "Why?" "Because everyone in my building works." "But you'll be in school, with all your classmates again." "So what?" "They aren't my friends." "And you're not like the others." "Leave a message after the beep." "Good evening." "We've found a bag containing 12 spring rolls and half a kilo of melted chocolate ice cream..." "Nina, tomorrow I'm leaving." "Too quiet." "Thanks!" "Go sit down now." "Giorgio went to visit his grandparents in July." "Before he left I went to say goodbye." "I always say goodbye to the people I love." "I don't know where you're going with this..." "Anyway, he left." "Wrong... he's leaving today." "Should we have breakfast?" "This is for you." "A gift for you, no need for silly things like goodbye kisses on the cheek." "Thanks..." "Come over whenever you want."