"Subtitles by TMDaines" "A production of" "No-one Goes Back" "Freely adapted from the novel by" "Dramatised and scripted by" "With the collaboration of" "Performers:" "And with the participation of" "Cinematography:" "Directed by" "Production Manager:" "Grimaldi School" "So some of you are returning for the second, the third or the final time." "Others are starting the academic year with the shyness of newcomers." "Girls, this is no longer your paternal home, and nor is it a college where you are guided every moment." "And yet your life is not quite free, but a point of transition between one way of living and another." "A bridge, in short." "During this transition listen to the voice of your ever-present conscience, which can calm your instincts." "Because you must be aware that the error of letting instincts prevail and letting matter prevail over mind would result in a long, bitter and painful road back." "As long for some of you as life itself." "Listen to it." "Because it would be easy to slip, as if on a slope, and give into your impulses and your desires which become ever more tempting." "They, at times, even take the image of happiness." "This is only an illusion however." "Therefore I say unto you, girls, pray, let us pray..." "Signorina Lorenza, Milly feels ill." "She wanted to come but she can't take any more." "May I?" "Come, dear, you're ill." " No, it was only for a minute, it'll go soon." "No discussion, it's Signorina Lorenza's orders." " Go!" " Come on, let's go!" "Right, listen, the meeting this evening is in Ale's room, OK?" " Good evening!" " Good evening." " Hi, Valentina." " Well, one, two, three, four, five." "Two missing and then we're ready." "What are you doing asleep?" "Listen, you can't have five minutes peace with you, calm down a bit!" "The sermon on instincts had an effect on you too then!" "Speaking of which, Anna, you should've seen you during the monsignor's tirade!" " What?" " You were a sight..." "how do you say?" "Inspired!" "I listened to him because the monsignor is what they call a priest." " Bless you!" " Why?" " Because it's all rubbish." " What are you doing?" " I'm copying music into Braille." "How?" "What's this thing here?" "It's a sort of typewriter for the blind." "Girls, have you seen the moon outside?" " Ah, already... the moon." " Valentina, turn it down a bit." "Turn it down, then we'll find the way to study." "After, after... wait a minute Valentina." "There!" " Oh!" " It's beautiful!" "With an evening like this, the whole country will come out to sing." "Yeah, me too." "It's starting to get cool though." "As soon as I come back to Rome I begin to hate the university and books." "Look at all the glowing windows." " Luis must be there." " Behind that dome?" "All the people living out there:" "the cinema, theatres, coffee..." "Bah!" "Everyone having fun!" "Oh, don't start, Valentina." " Oh, sorry." " Come in, Emanuela, we were looking at the moon." " Go on, turn it on." " Good evening!" " Good evening." " Emanuela, have you seen Xenia?" " Yeah, she's shut away in her room." " Good evening, Vinca." " Good evening, Emanuela." " Good evening." " Hi, Milly." " Another hat." " How nice!" " Do you like it?" " Very much." "You're always so elegant!" "I'll give you some homemade green liquor." " This dress is nicer than yesterday's." " Yeah?" "It's an exclusive model." "Your house?" "Yeah, the living room." "And this?" "This is my grandma and this kid is me." "And who's this?" "No-one, just a boy I knew, we always played together..." " and then..." " How nice, no?" " Here." " Thanks, dear." "Say, Emanuela, we were wondering." "What do you do all day if you're not studying?" " Well, I..." " She does a lot of that." "Emanuela studies then one day she'll marry, have her own house..." "Oh, yeah, I always forget that you can study this way." "And then she'll become somebody's wife." "Lights!" "Girls, lights!" " Oh, here's Signora Prudenzina." " Good evening, signorina." "Good evening, Signorina Prudenzina." " Who's smoking?" " Who's smoking?" "No-one!" "Me, Spanish cigarettes." " Oh!" "And what are you doing?" " We're giving in to our instincts!" "No, really, can you explain Monsignor Tommasi's speech to us?" "I want to better understand what was said about instincts." "It means, for example, controlling your pride." "And not making fun of a poor woman like me just to make yourself feel superior." " Ah, Silvia, did you hear?" " Yeah." "And it's not OK to telephone without reason." "Longing for men like you are!" "Very well, they've understood, Signorina Prudenzina." "Can't you see that we're just joking?" "Wonderful jokes!" "Anyway, get ready, I must turn off the lights." "Signorina Prudenzina, I don't have a candle." "I gave mine to Xenia so she could do her thesis." "Pity, you'll have to go to bed in the dark." "Ah, thanks very much for your help." "Thankfully we're lucky tonight: the moon's out." "You can't turn that out, can you, signorina?" "You, Vinca... one day, Vinca." "Listen, Vinca, don't you think you went a bit too far?" " Poor thing!" " Who went too far?" "Valentina could you do the lights so we can start studying?" " There!" " Would you believe it!" "What's this?" "Is it yours?" "Vinca, Signorina Prudenzina left you a candle." "She talks and talks, then in the end..." " Sure, but she always has a tone." " But she has the decency to be kind." "The table's wobbling, put some folded card under it, Silvia." "Ah, yes." "You know what girls?" "This table's just right for spiritualism." " Let's do it one of these evenings." " Sure, all we're need is spiritualism." " Why not?" " I always do it back at my place." "Our religion doesn't allow it, not in my room." " You're scared!" " Bah, scared of what!" " Fancy that!" " Not you, you with those eyes would make a great medium!" "But Anna, yes, Anna's scared!" "Summon the dead, hear them speak!" "Enough Valentina!" "Come on, why this discussion tonight?" " Yeah, exactly." " You're all scared!" "You're all scared!" "Ah, it's you." " You entered so..." " Valentina was just talking about spiritualism." "Oh, how scary!" " Xenia, what's wrong?" " Why do you stand here?" "Come in." " What is it?" " I found a letter from Belluzzi in my room." "It says that I have to collect my thesis because it's not acceptable." " It's not acceptable?" " Exactly." " I failed!" " But why?" "Don't stare at me like that." "But why did you fail?" "If you have to collect it, you can resubmit it, no?" "Of course not!" "When they tell you this, it means there's nothing you can do!" " You poor girl, Xenia!" " What will you do now?" "Can't your parents say something?" "They ate potatoes all year to keep me here." "And now I'll have to go back to my village." "Everyone'll say, "Of course she couldn't do it, she'd never make it."" "But I won't give them this satisfaction!" "I'd rather kill myself!" "Kill myself!" "What stupidity!" "Don't talk rubbish." "Worry about yourself and not other people." "But, after all, it is partly your fault." "You never studied, you always wanted to sleep and got up late." " Hey, Silvia." "Right now, really?" " Let her talk!" "It's all about her." "How many times has she said that to you?" "She dreams only of the graduation board rising and reading out "110 e lode."" "I don't dream at all though, I want it." "It isn't a dream, it's a highly respectable aspiration." "And you?" "You've studied for what then?" "Me?" "To earn a living, unfortunately." "If only I could get out of this mire, out of this misery!" "A great luxury car, a chauffeur who opens the door, hat in hand." "A beautiful coat on my back, one that's soft, white..." "Stay strong, this is everyone's dream, you know?" " Wait a second..." " A fur keeps you warm though, eh?" " Didn't you say that, Emanuela?" " Me?" "I didn't say anything." "Sure, you already have a fur coat!" "Look at those rings!" "It's an emerald, no?" "What's that got to do with anything?" "It's so tiring going on the way you do, tormenting yourselves..." "Life always takes care of itself." "Yeah, and it reserves these cruel tricks for us." "Come, Milly, sit yourself down here." "I'm sorry, Xenia, I'm really sorry." " You'll see that everything will work out." " Yeah, don't think about it." "Listen, Xenia, I'll give you a seat, sit you down, and you can stay with us." " Yeah, with us." " No, girls, I don't want to talk." "I want to go back in there." "And you can carry on with everything in here." "Your routine, your studies, university..." " So what's happening today?" " The introduction, no?" "No, he gets on with the subject straight away." " You'll see how interesting it is, Emanuela." " The lecture?" " No, the professor!" " He's a very intelligent man." " Loads failed the test because of him!" " Yeah?" " You know, he's a professor!" " How stupid!" " What's his name?" " Belluzzi!" " Oh!" " Andrea, how nice!" "How are you?" " Hey, I thought you wouldn't come any more." " I'm not like you!" " Here, Valentina." " Thanks." " His dad's a goldsmith, very rich." " Fancy Valentina!" " Nice though." " Hello, beautiful!" " Hi!" " Can I steal Vinca away from you for a moment?" " Of course!" " Hey, Anna." " How are you?" "Do you know each other?" " No." " Luigi Radice." " Emanuela Andoni." " Fresher?" " Just like you." " Just like me?" "What do you mean?" " Oh, just..." "Oh, sorry, signorina!" "Oh, it's you Custo!" "Sorry, bye!" " Where we sitting?" " Last year we were always at the front." "I prefer it up top." "Being on the front row is like being in the shop window." " What do you say, Emanuela?" " Oh, however you want." "Of course, at the front is the famous..." "what's his name?" " The professor?" "Belluzzi." " You can see him better, no?" "Can I, Emanuela?" "Oh, he who loves me, follows me." "Andrea Lanziani, a final year poet." "A fine man." " Emanuela Andoni." " Delighted." " Very nice to meet you." "Andrea!" " Would you like to come down also?" "There's a free place." " Thank you." "How nice of Valentina!" "She took Emanuela down there too!" "Valentina?" "Valentina's furious, my dear!" "Didn't you see?" " What?" " Valentina wanted to go down there with Andrea." " And?" " And Andrea brought Emanuela along." "So what, someone here, someone there..." " Oh, look, look!" " Yeah, I see!" "Before Belluzzi's class, all straight from the hairdresser!" "A collective phenomenon!" " He's an clever man!" " He's just like all the others." " If only they took the stage away from underneath him!" " Of course!" "It makes you ashamed to be a woman to see all of them waiting for a glance, a smile." " And then he never looks at them anyway!" " He doesn't notice anything." "He's here!" "He's here!" "Truly nice." " Is this the famous Belluzzi?" " Exactly." "An odd type, distinct, but he doesn't know how to choose a tie." "Well then, we meeting on Sunday?" " Yeah, Sunday it is then, OK?" " The professor!" " See you on Sunday." " Bye" " On Sunday" " Bye." "Hi Milly?" "Why don't you come out?" " The doctor gave you permission." " She wants to stay at home." "Bye and have fun!" " What flowers do you want?" " Whatever you find, thanks, any sort." " Did you know that Emanuela got a note from Andrea?" " Yeah?" "I knew right away that he liked her." "What did she say?" "That he should meet her at five at the Knights of Malta." " Is she going?" " She's going, she's going I tell you!" " That's great!" " Come on!" " If he likes her!" " I dunno, I don't think they'll get on." " Wanna bet?" " Stop it, you gossipers!" " What are you doing?" " Being crazy!" "It's the end of the month after all!" "What's the plan today, Silvia?" " Why, you coming then?" " I'd like to, I was just asking." " Let's go to the 1800s exhibition." "Laugh, laugh, you don't waste your Sundays at all, huh?" " Shush, I'm all on edge today." " Why?" "Luis was saying that we're going too late." "He's a fanatic, writing "Viva la Spagna" on all the coffee tables." " Bye Milly!" " Bye!" "Bye, have a nice trip!" "You're still here, Emanuela?" " Ah, it's you!" " Yeah." "I was putting a book back in Emanuela's room, now I'm off." "Bye, Milly." " Here, maestro, I've copied Bach." " Thank you, Milly." "What is it?" "The Third Corale in A Minor." " "Come, sweet death"?" " Yes, I think this is the title." "Why such a bleak title?" ""Spring" is its title here!" "I had never even considered it." "Are you sad, Milly?" "Are you unwell?" "No, I'm absolutely fine, only..." "carry on, maestro, please." "I didn't want to disturb you, maestro." "I wanted to say that our new colleague who arrives tomorrow is a musician." "The director instructed me to tell you that from now on it will not be necessary to disturb your for services." "Signorina Lorenza, on Sundays may I have permission to come here and play at this time?" "Of course." " Well, goodbye, maestro." " Goodbye, Milly." " Shall we go, Silvia?" " Come on, Valentina, stop messing around!" " What's with you?" "Let's have fun!" " You can go, I'm not coming." "It's all just a joke then." "Oh, come on, please be happy, we're already here!" "I want to see how Emanuela's dressed." "Why do you think Andrea asked her on a date?" "Because of her style:" "her perfumes, her clothes, her stockings..." "Of course!" "You still haven't worked men out yet?" "Lanzani is a genuine guy, you'll see that he'll end up married." "Wait!" "You think everyone will end up married without exception." "Emanuela is rich as it is, she has the chance to travel, she may wish to take a trip to see a painting or attend a concert, by herself whenever she feels like it, without getting money from anyone." "Ah, yes, you talk like quite the contrarian, but when you get home in the evenings and you're alone and it's just you and your spirit stove, then I'd like to hear what you think." "What I think?" "It'll be then when everything will be great." "Look, he's there already!" "My goodness, a quarter of an hour early." " Well, come on, we've seen him now..." " But Emanuela's not there." "And so we have to stay here?" "And wait for a quarter of an hour?" "Oh, listen, let's go past and I'll ask him, "Expecting someone?"" "Oh, you're joking." "I'm off." "The gallery closes at 6." "Yeah, listen really, be reasonable." "He's a really great guy, you know?" "Emanuela's so lucky!" "It's ten to five, right?" "Wait twenty minutes for me and then we'll go back to the city centre, OK?" " Yes?" " Could I see the girl Andoni?" " And you are?" "Her mum." " Please." " Thank you." "Stefania!" "Poor creature, she's always asking, "When's Mum coming?" "When's Mum coming?"" " Little darling!" " Mummy!" "Look how heavy you are!" "Come here, darling, let me look at you." "You smell nice, mum." " You're well, yeah." " Yeah, thanks." "Erm... the sweets?" "What sweets, darling?" "The American ones!" "The nuns were telling me how great they are." "We told her that you would bring them when you came back." "I'll bring them to you tomorrow, lots of them, and also a beautiful doll, OK?" "Yeah, a blond one and also a real aeroplane just like Dad's." "OK, dear." "Dad didn't come this time either, did he?" "No, dear." " Write to him that I got an award." " OK, I'll write." " And you're learning to write?" " Yeah." " You being good?" " Yeah." " Are you eating lots?" " Yes, yes..." " I don't like the spinach." " No, no, no!" "What's all this noise?" "It's my friends playing." "It's a great game." "The nuns make lots of games!" "Do you know it?" "It's horrible!" "I wouldn't let you all make this noise!" "Well, listen, Mummy is off, OK?" "Well then, dear, keep good and healthy." "Work hard, yeah?" "On Sunday I'll come back with everything that I promised, OK?" " You said tomorrow!" " Tomorrow is not possible, darling." "You can stay here for as long as you like." "Thanks, but my girl would rather go and play with her friends again." "It's not true, I want her to stay." "Take your hat off, Mum, take it off!" "Darling, I can only stay for a minute." "You know how far away you are." " What time is it, sister?" " Half past six." "Half past six?" "Would you let the taxi go for me, please?" "Oh, mummy, how nice you smell." "Listen, Vinca, we have to go, it's getting late." "OK, we can leave now." " Luis, watch the lipstick." " Where?" "You can't understand how much it annoys me." " Still there?" " No." " All right, let's go." "Come on, what is it?" "What we've just been doing in there has been frustrating me for a while, because you're an intelligent girl, to whom I could spend hours talking, but in the open air, on the Pincian Hill." "What's that got to do with me?" "Because you always want to go to the cinema to see a nice film, but even though I know that you don't, we still go anyway!" "That time that I asked you to come to the studio with me, "No no, you're mad!"" " You even said, "Who do you take me for?"" " Of course!" " You're right but it's your fault too!" " My fault?" "Yes, because I love you too much." "It's an illness of mine." " Not like my conscience and instincts!" " What?" " Nothing, it was just a speech by Monsignor Tommasi." " What speech?" "Nothing..." "Did she write to you again, Sol from Spain?" "No." "I spoke with Ramiro, he says that she's ugly." "Indeed, she's not the most beautiful, but let's change the subject." "I laughed so much, he says that when she talks about you she goes red." "It's not like Ramiro has seen her for two years either since we left Cordoba!" "And so what if she turns red." "She's a good girl, you know?" "She's nice." "One of those that parents take a liking to." "You find yourself at home with her a lot and in the end you get engaged." "Fine, defend her, defend her." "I hate her." " Hi, Vinca." " Hi." " Shall we meet on Wednesday?" " Of course." "Will you come to the studio?" "Oh, did you not ask your Sol to come to the office?" "You'll come, yeah?" "Come on, tell me, I need to know." "Then I can tell Ignacio to draw outside and leave us in peace." "All right?" " Fine, but call me first, OK?" " OK." " Watch the lipstick." "Bye." " Bye." "Hey you, did you go into my room?" " I made the bed." " Did you not see an emerald ring?" " No." " What's going on?" "Nothing, excuse me." " You didn't notice anyone?" "Any workers?" " What would they be doing?" "Fine, I'll go and see Signora Lorenza right away." " Oh, listen, Silvia..." " Emanuela, have you seen Xenia?" " No, listen..." " She's ran away!" " Who?" " Xenia." " Are you joking?" " I wish she was joking." "The draws in her room are empty and there's nothing in her closet." "She only left her books behind." "Let's go ask Milly." "She also took her nightgown with her." "Hey, Milly, you stayed at home, did you see Xenia?" "Yes, as she was leaving, she came out of Emanuela's room." "She was wearing her hat and had a package under her arms." "And what did she say to you?" "Nothing, that she had returned a book." " Did you lend her a book, Emanuela?" " Yeah, perhaps... yeah, I think so." " So, she ran away." " Ran away?" "Nothing, you were right, Signorina Prudenzina." "The porter says that he saw her leaving with a package." "There's nothing to say, she's long gone by now." " We will say that she went back home to Vigevano." " Naturally." "It cannot be acknowledged that a girl ran away from Grimaldi." "There are are things that cannot be hidden." "Signora Lorenza?" "We want to know where Xenia is." "She's left, she's gone back to her place in Vigevano." "But have you seen her room?" "And she wouldn't leave without saying bye to us." " Where has she gone?" " I repeat that she's gone back home to Vigevano." " That's not true." " And you know it perfectly well." "Tell us the truth, Signorina Prudenzina." " Did she kill herself?" " Did she kill herself?" "How can you say such a thing?" "Perhaps you suppose..." "Tell us, Signorina Lorenza, we're her friends, we need to know." " What's happened?" " We don't know anything." "She left with a package and hasn't returned and you make me think..." "Signorina Prudenzina, don't worry, she didn't kill herself." " How do you know?" " I know." "She talked to me and just from the things she said..." "LOAN FOR THREE MONTHS." "The undersigned has deposited an emerald ring." "Lira borrowed: 3000" "May I?" "It wasn't him." "I thought I saw the branch director of Fiat." "A wealthy man." "Who knows what he could fix you up with." " How kind of you." " No worries." "For me?" " Sure." " Thanks." "Let's stop being so formal." "At least it feels like we're old friends." " My name's Vandina and you are?" " Xenia." "You know what?" "In the end I feel sorry for you." "You start out with so many hopes, so many fantasies and then it all ends up the same." "Is there a vacancy at the first office?" "Nope." "Neither at the second." "First you skip a meal, then you satisfy yourself with milky coffee and when it's really bad you get used to whatever." "I started working in a small shop, a glove-maker..." " Ah, I never work." " Oh, well done, are you going to eat your baccalaureate?" "Of course you're a smooth sort, you'll be better off soon, you'll get lucky and besides you met me." "Now, truth be told, I do have some very good friends." "At the office I don't earn too badly, however at times..." "Now with winter, you need a coat." "I need to find something quickly." "Why?" "Are you really broke?" "Not broke really, but my money won't last for long." "Well, find something as soon as you arrive in Milan, meanwhile..." "And then one of these days..." "Do you speak any languages?" " Yeah, French and Spanish." " Can you type?" " A little." "You'll have to make friends in high places, those working in big businesses, smart people who can find something for you." "So much for this, no matches." "Thanks." " Very kind of you." " Thanks." "Who gave you permission to come here today?" "What did I say to you last Sunday?" "At this time on Sundays..." "If Signorina Lorenza saw you!" "Come on, right now." "Signorina Prudenzina, please leave me." "I know that I'm terrible but..." "Terrible?" "Who said that you were terrible?" "Don't beat yourself up!" " Don't underestimate yourself." " If I'm not able to do this either..." " Signorina Prudenzina, you're being very nice..." " Nice, who's being nice?" "I'm very worried that my father will make me go back to Milan." "Tell Signorina Lorenza that you let me stay here until... the last moment." "What nonsense you're saying!" "Listen, if you're not back in ten minutes then I'm coming to find you." "Also tell Signorina Lorenza that I'm not being brought my letters." "What letters?" "What letters?" "Who's bringing your letters?" "I told you that this is the last time I'll find you here, understood?" "All the chairs next to each other, we need to make a tight circle." " What spirit's going to come?" " They normally just say that one is very near." "Your spirits make me laugh!" "The name's the one that just comes to mind first." "You have someone, a name which you stubbornly keep in mind, which you then pass on to the others." "But is this séance really necessary?" "I would prefer to just leave." "Don't be silly, you're even lighting the candles." " I am?" " Shh!" " She's started playing again." "Poor Milly, have you seen her down there?" "Everyday it gets worse." "Always Hendel." "Always the same music at the same time." " But it's very beautiful." " It must be love!" "For Milly it isn't love, the poor dear, but exaltation." "Why is love something to be ashamed of for you?" "Enough." "Listen, if by some miracle you could open up someone else's head and look inside, don't you think you'd be ashamed?" " But why?" " Because we're all slaves to love." "You never know what may happen with love." "Even the impossible!" "No, no, nothing bad will happen to Milly." "When she looks at me, even if I haven't done anything bad, I still feel guilty." " Still, we all love her all the same." " But face it, it's more than that, we all know that she is the best out of all us... and that she knows it..." "She always has these encounters, so pure, so beautiful." "I don't feel bad for saying all this." "But what about it, she doesn't take offence, she doesn't get upset." "There must be a reason, no?" "Does Milly seem crazy to you?" "What's it got to do with being crazy?" "It's just the way she is." "You can't tell me that it's normal." " Something has happened to her..." " She knows that her days are numbered!" "Perhaps that's why she sees things much better than we do." "Inside she is pure, so she has nothing to hide..." "Vinca, the phone." "Your uncle." "Well, I'm still sure I'm right!" "Exaltation, illness, insanity but what Milly has is not love!" "Love, my dear..." "Is what your uncle has, right?" "Yes, exactly!" " So, the séance?" " Right, shall we do that now?" " Let's wait for her to come back." " I'll go take Milly her medicine then." " Emanuela, is there something..." " With me?" "No, why?" "I'll get the glass of water so we can get started sooner." "Hello?" "Ah, at last!" "Why did you not call me yesterday?" "I'm sorry." "Tomorrow?" "Where?" "At yours?" "Yes, yes, I remember but I don't know if I can." "Can I..." "Well, you could come and get me and we could talk a little stroll." "No, not the cinema, stop messing around!" "If you loved me, it would be enough." "No my love isn't yours, Luis." "Listen, I have a friend here who's called Mira, and she has the pain of them never seeing each other, never calling either and she's still happy." "Do you think she's crazy?" " How do you feel now?" " Better." " I must have ruined your meeting." " No, don't worry." " I'm sorry." " Imagine, they wanted to have a séance!" " Instead, we just talked about you." " Oh, who wrote to you?" " Signorina Prudenzina brought me the letter." "But enough now, thank you, you can leave me." "I'll keep my own company." " I'll lay in the armchair." " No, wait, Milly..." "You know how nice it is to reveal the words one by one, while lightly holding the card." "You see, it's much more beautiful than reading." "It's something... something arcane." " Anna is right?" " What?" " There's really something to envy about you." "Why?" " Because all of us in the face of you..." " It's true!" " Don't talk rubbish!" "Still, thank you, bye!" " Bye Milly." "If you need anything call us." "Emanuela, you too, you have something that's really troubling you." "Perhaps something that you don't to tell anyone that's weighing you down!" " How's Milly?" " She's better." " Thank goodness." "Yes, you too... no, shush." "Listen, Emanuela, I must tell you truth." "When you arrived, the first time I saw you, well, I envied you, you see." "I envied your clothes, the easiness of your life, your money, so much so that I wanted to find out whether you were a thief or a spy in order to shame you!" " But why tell me this, Valentina?" " Yes, exactly, why?" "But today I've seen that you're not so happy as you appear to be." "If anything, maybe, perhaps... you're the most unfortunate of all of us." " Can you close it then?" " Yeah." " How's Milly?" " She's fine." " Is she in her room?" " Yeah." "I wish..." "I wish you could forgive me." "I'd like to make it up to you." "What's wrong?" "Are you in love?" "Have you done something stupid?" "Thanks, it's nothing, dear." "Just a bit tired of life, homesick for Florence." "Thanks." "Excuse me, Valentina." "Emanuela." "I thought you were sick." "You telegraph in such a way, four words..." " I was just reassuring him." " No, Dad, I'm fine." " I'd like to talk to you." " Shall I?" " Please." "You with the sheets, come with me." " What is it, the girl?" " No..." " Is she ill?" " No, Dad, it's to do with me." " Shall we sit?" "Here, look." "I telegraphed you because there's something... well, living all the time behind this façade..." " Dad, I want to tell to the girls." " Which girls?" "My classmates, they are with me all day." " They tell me everything, they love me." " And what do you want to do?" "Talk, be honest, tell everything to do with Stefano..." "You know, I was engaged to a pilot and he died a month before we were to marry." "A terrible accident, the plane was ablaze... and I have a child... a child I go to visit every Sunday afternoon." "OK, darling." "I too would prefer it this way as these pretences cannot go on." "Someday it had to happen..." "Very well, I'll pick the girl up from school then." "Oh, wonderful." "I am so very grateful, Dad." "You leave here and we'll go back to Florence." "Then, at first, you can go with the girl to Sam Gimignano and stay there in the country." " Why San Gimignano?" "I want to stay here." " At school?" "But when the school finds out they won't want you here any more." " Very well, then I'll leave." " That's what I was saying, return to Florence." "No, I'll stay here in a hotel." " No, this won't work." " Why not?" "Emanuela, when this all happened" "I tried to meet you halfway and got you away from it all." "You then wanted to recognise the baby and I said OK." " I sent the girl to the best boarding school..." " Yes, I know, Dad!" "Let me finish, Emanuela." "Then you said you wanted to come to Rome to be near her." "At first I said no but then I ended up giving in." "I found this... how do you call it..." "this hostel." " Why must I always stay in here?" " Good afternoon, Emanuela." " Good afternoon." " Good afternoon." " Hello." " Hi, dear." "Emanuela, I won't say any more to you, I don't blame you, but since all this began it's done nothing for your mother's health." "So you must understand." "In Rome alone, no." "Because thus far you haven't shown any sense of judgement with men." "Enough with this tragedy already which will burden your whole life." "This is unfortunate too, sure..." "but... he was thirty years old." "A man who flies was always going to be exposed to dangers, God rest his soul." "Come on, you should have considered this." " Emanuela?" " What is it?" " Nothing." "I was just thinking of the day when I met Stefano." "I was walking down the Lungarno river, and came to the bridge on my right that would take me home but it was so beautiful that I went on." "After a few steps," ""May I, Emanuela?" "Let me introduce Commander Mirovich."" "If I had gone to the left..." "A girl walks over the bridge, a pilot down the Lungarno." "We would never have met." "Everything would be different." "And now I'd be free." "Why free?" "So you have met someone..." "No, no, why?" "So tell me, what's Emanuela doing today?" "Why doesn't she come today?" "How do I know?" "Why ask me?" "This is a right mess." "All right then, bye." " Run, run!" " What?" "I'm doing my thesis with him so I need to go talk to him!" " I'm doing mine with him too..." " Sorry for not remembering!" " Maybe we didn't hear that correctly." " Because you weren't paying attention." "Me, professor?" "No, did you not see me?" " Valentina, you coming?" " Yeah, wait." "I was sat on the front row." "The front row means nothing." " Custo!" "Custo!" " Me?" "Yes, you." "Come here for a moment, please." "Can you tell me whose verse I quoted today?" ""I am certain, Sir, that you loved me"." ""And I loved you and you took my love." It's Chiaro Davanzati." " See, a little attentiveness goes a long way." " Well done!" "It's not difficult for me though, it's the subject of my thesis." " Wait, Custo..." " Goodbye, professor." " We'll wait for you outside." " OK, bye." "Listen a minute, Custo." "You're always sitting up there in the back row and you never ask me anything." "It seems unnecessary to trouble you, professor." "But today I have something to ask you." "Can you be at my house for four o'clock tomorrow?" " At yours?" " Yes, at my house, I have a proposition for you." "But secretary isn't the right word." "A collaborator rather." "I always need to be doing new research and I need someone who understands me..." "who understands." " May I?" " Please, I don't smoke but smoking doesn't bother me at all." "I noticed the professionalism and dedication that you put into your work." "Thank you, professor, but I don't know if I'll be suitable." "I am used to working alone, for myself." " Wouldn't you like to even try?" " If you want me to, professor." "Thank you, I am very pleased." "I can't communicate with the youth of today, always so inattentive." " Here are the three volumes." " OK." "But of course, today's life is so varied, so simple..." "People have to be forced to study." "Of course, it's much simpler to live without aspirations." "Just give up and live life like a cat or a dog." "The tea's lovely and cold..." "Oh, you have a visitor, excuse me." " No, no, thank you, Dora." "Perhaps we need..." " Oh, of course!" " Teresa?" " Signora?" " Another cup." "My wife brings me tea this time everyday." " I'm glad that you can meet her." " My pleasure." "Darling Dora, this is the lady who will be working with me: a student." " Sorry, just a second." " A very intelligent student." " Signorina Silvia Custo, my wife." " Pleased to meet you." " It might be a bit stewed." " No, it's..." "Here's the other cup." "You know Dora, I just read a very interesting publication of hers." "Hers?" "How brilliant !" "You're already writing?" "After all, you're so young..." "how old are you?" " 25." " Here, done." "It seems to me, signora, that you need more lard on that lamb." "We'll see." "Answer the telephone." "Listen, Toto..." "Signorina, help yourself to the sugar, OK?" "Listen, it must be her about the shirts on the phone." " What shirts?" " I told you about this this morning." " Oh yeah..." " So what should we do?" "If she doesn't have the ones you want, shall we take the long sleeved ones?" " Yes, dear, as you wish." " Good, may I, signorina?" " Please." "Have you helped yourself, signorina?" "Signora, it's her about the clothes..." "and what about the lard?" "Go in the kitchen, I'm now coming." "Hello?" "How are you, Signora Colangeli." "I'm good too, thank you." "Listen, about the shirts..." "No, no, no." "No vests, otherwise he gets cold." "Long sleeves, long underpants, large ones, OK?" "Then he looks thinner." "Ah him!" "The men are always so foolhardy!" "I'll just tell him that you don't have the short underpants and vests." "When she brings me the cup of tea, when in the evenings we sit down for dinner, it's like a window being opened:" "the colours, sunshine, fresh air." "Dora is a woman so full of life." "A woman so... womanly." " Here..." " Thanks." "She's only given me one pain so far." " Not having a child." " I understand." "Back to us, by when could you have the materials prepared for the monograph?" " I don't have long, seven, eight days maximum." "Is that enough?" " It will be." " Silvia?" " Erm?" " Tell me, Silvia." " You're not feeling bad are you?" " No, I wanted to ask for a candle, have you got one?" " Yes, I think so." "I can't get to sleep and it's a long time to be laying there with your eyes open in the dark." " You smoke a lot now, eh?" " Yeah, it keeps me awake." "I won't be going to bed tonight and maybe even tomorrow." "I want to hand it all in on the right day, on time in fact." " Ah, yeah, I'm a little tired." " Well, it's all this work." "Belluzzi would understand, no?" "I'm doing all this for myself, what's to understand?" "He understands nothing." "I assure you it's much better to see him from afar." " I met his wife." " Ah, yeah?" " Yeah, his wife." "And he goes, "Those of us who are constantly working need an open window every so often."" "Oh, the candle!" "I did well to get away from there, I did." "I would never resign myself to being a breath of fresh air." " And I have never dreamed of living with a man." " Really?" "No, never." "Only as a child." "Our servants used to tell us stories about bandits and I thought of a bandit who said to me:" ""Come on, let's go, tonight we go steal together."" "And he pulled me into the saddle too." "But I was just a child." "I think you could well find yourself waiting for the bandit, while tending the fire, without even realising it." "You're mistaken." "Excuse me, but I have to continue with my work now." " Here's the candle." " Thanks." " Do you mind if I stay here for a bit?" " If you wish, but cover yourself up." "No, what are you doing?" "I'll go." "No, you're right, I smoke too much." " This report, signorina?" " Here it is." "The vice director is asking for the memo." "I am now finishing it, I'll bring it to you right away." " Signorina, the commendatore is here." " OK, thank you." "Good afternoon, director." " Good afternoon, Signorina Costantini." " Good afternoon, Commendatore." " Lots of work?" " Not too much, thank you." "Dear Commendatore, how are you?" " Signor Ricci, good afternoon." " Greetings, guys!" " How's it going, Gribaldi?" " Signor Ricci." " Good afternoon, signorina." " Thanks for the rose." "Well, a few things everyday." "I am consistent and faithful." " Good." " So wait and see." " Tell me, how's the old owl treating you?" " Great." "He says that you're wonderful, but he takes advantage of you." "A thousand lira is nothing!" "That's only good for socks and lipstick." "What a cheapskate!" "Well, I live here, no?" "But see, this is a big business, here the money comes and goes..." "If he doesn't treat you better, I'll find you another place." "There must be something going on, there's chaos here everyday." " Ah, yes... in fact, he called me..." " He did?" "No not him personally, he never bothers calling personally." " Go, they're already inside." " They'll wait." "Tell me, listen..." "I mean..." "today's Saturday, what would you say about going to lunch in Pavia?" "There's this place, how do you call it?" "La Certosa." "It's a national monument." "We'll go back, pick up Valdina and go for lunch at Icaro." "There'll also be Ezio and Milly." " Milly?" " Yeah, you know her?" "No..." "No, I don't think so, I was thinking of a girl who was at college." " She was called Milly." " Well then, what are we doing?" "I don't want to be out too late in the evening, because then in the morning I'm tired and can't work properly." "You don't want me to do dine alone, do you baby?" "Listen, try these cigarettes." " You'll get into the habit of it." " Thanks." "Well, now's not the right time." "Do you want to let them know you're here." "My girl, you don't know Dino Ricci." "They need me more than I need them!" "Got it?" "And if I made a waiting room it would only be for your beautiful eyes." "One moment, Signor Ricci!" "So many things!" "And, OK, not Pavia then, but there is something else and this shouldn't be sniffed at." "I'm thinking of organising a trip to Sanremo to meet some Frenchmen who are there in the morning." "Would you like to come with me?" "I could give get you a few days leave." " OK, but don't be like this in front of everyone." " You're right, sorry." "Although, baby, is it not time that we went on a little honeymoon. you and I?" " Ricci?" " I'm here." " Well?" " Cigarette!" "I've got some fantastic business." "A fleet of lorries to be sent..." "thanks... to Apulia and of course there's Horsh who will take the lion's share." "But to me... there still remains a good share all the same." "Damn, every time I turn on the radio I find this whining!" "No, leave it." " Do you like it?" " Yeah." "Horsh has dumped this business onto me, he doesn't care about the risks." " By the way, he sends his greetings." " Thanks." "He was very kind to invite us the other evening, no?" "He does nothing for nobody." "He takes an interest in the deal with the French..." "Thank goodness!" "Some more cheerful music." "You should see the hotel in Sanremo!" "Gentlemen, place your bets." "No more bets." "Do you not feel a bit of remorse for having abandoned us?" " 26, black!" " Oh, look!" "It would be a shame to leave." " Leave it on 26." " The whole lot on 26." " Leave it all again?" " Yes." " But this is crazy!" " Meh, no." "Place your bets, gentlemen." "Place your bets." "Let's play another game." "The men are not interesting when they're gambling." " An interesting woman, your girlfriend." " Really?" " Yeah, I think so." "A student, a graduate even." "Always reading a lot of books." " 26, black!" " Ullalà, monsieur!" "This is phenomenal!" " Suzette, he won again!" " Extraordinary!" " Enough now." "And now let's talk business." " Shall we go get something to drink?" " Certainly." "We can talk business tomorrow then." "OK, in the morning over lunch at Bordighera." "Ah, Bordighera is a famous trattoria, an extraordinary restaurant!" " And you can buy us lots of flowers, right, Xenia?" " Ah, of course!" " We need to take risks and he who risks..." " Tomorrow..." " Au revoir!" " Au revoir!" "Excuse me, Xenia." "Please bring us two cognacs." "And in the meantime take up to room 34 a bottle of chilled champagne with some chicken and caviar canapés." " Actually, caviar is better." " Dino?" " I'm here, darling." "Ah, a nice armchair in the evening..." "Uh-u!" "Bonne nuit!" "What does a fur coat like that cost?" " That one, the one we can see." " Yeah." "I don't know. 70 or 80 thousand lira." "You know that you were so shamelessly lucky." "Lucky?" "I was down to my last penny." "I was saved because the system is about persisting and redoubling." "Certainly, it takes courage." "Thank you." "I know." "I told you about how I ran away from college, right?" "You know when I failed." "I had even thought about killing myself." "And if I had passed what would I be doing now?" "Teaching latin to four kids?" "Here, with this you can go and rent a small house and buy yourself some things that you need." "The rest can be taken and paid for instalments." " Dino, please, I can't." " Come on, you're entitled to something." " You brought me good luck." " No." " Come on!" " What about you?" " Me?" "Darling, I'm fine." "What would Horsh do without me?" "Look, I handle everything, I sign everything, I speak," "I do everything myself." "If this business with the Frenchmen goes well, then I won't need him any more." "A house!" "And I could my name above the door?" "Whatever name you like, the house is yours!" "It's for me?" "Of course, though, if it happens to rain one night and I am homeless you wouldn't send me to sleep under the arcades of the Piazza del Duomo, right?" "What's happened?" "I called her and called her but she didn't respond." "Then, it soon dawned on us that..." "How was she, how was she?" " She was like that, collapsed." " Her hands on the letters." "She had to leave the day after tomorrow and she didn't want to." "Has something happened to Milly?" "Milly!" "Milly!" "No, come on, don't do that." "Listen, what's..." "Go, go." " One moment, Signorina Lorenza." " What for?" "Anna is with her, you can come back later." "We don't want to cause any unnecessary panic, go." "Don't worry..." "Milly!" "Milly!" "End of the First Part" "Second Part" "Who is it?" "A woman?" "Some white flowers." "Poor woman, it's a girl." "By the way, signora, have you noted down the four coffees over there?" " Yeah, and the orgeat?" " I've already put it back in the cellar." "A fernet." "Oh, but look just how pale you are." "Quickly, the lady is unwell." "Here, sit yourself down here." "For sure if you were not there, I would have fallen all the way to the ground." "You have been very kind." " Even in the church you were unwell." " You were in the church?" "Yes." "Oh, poor Milly." "She always said she didn't want to go back to Milan." "Stop thinking about it now, don't talk about it any more." "Feeling better?" "Drink this, it will perk you up." "It was so horrible for us." "Come on, you have to drink it all, it'll make you feel better!" "Drink it all!" "Did you know her?" "I saw her in passing, two or three times..." "She was blonde, slim, always spoke dreamily." "You know, for me Milly really was a dream." "How we would all be if we were without our worries." " Tell me, feeling better now?" " Thank you." " How much?" " At the cashier." " What a tragedy!" "A tragedy that won't leave us for a long time." "But don't go back, just ring to say you're eating out." "Oh, impossible!" "How could I do that?" "Why?" "I know a little trattoria close to here!" "Andrea, how could you possibly think like that at time like this..." "I wanted to tell you that I won't be back for lunch." " Here's OK?" " Yeah." "I feel a little unwell... no, nothing serious." "Thanks." " I'm staying for lunch at my parents." " Here comes your pasta!" "Thanks, I'll see you later." " Risotto?" " Risotto!" " And then some turkey fillets." " Great!" " And some chilled, white wine, as quick as you can as we're starving!" "You know that I waited for an hour that time at the Knights of Malta?" " An hour?" " An hour." " Why did you wait for that long?" " You know perfectly well why." " No, I don't know anything." " Ah, you don't?" " No..." " You really don't?" "Vinca, I really needed to come here and talk to you." " Guess where I was today?" " Today?" "Yes, why do you look at me that way?" "What is it?" " I was saying the rosary for Milly." " Ah..." "I came to see you as I told you that I was feeling bad and couldn't be there." "You were right, you know?" "He is a sweetheart that guy." "When he talks about his house, his old cat, what a guy!" "He talks so gently!" " If they heard you, today especially!" " I know but I couldn't take any more." "We suffocate in here, don't you know?" "We're in danger of becoming like Silvia." "Aren't you worried?" " Why will we?" " Because we'll end up that way unless we save ourselves." "Didn't you see Milly?" "Haven't you realised that you could vanish at any moment?" "It's such a long time since I felt young!" "You know there's only a little time to enjoy your youth." "Only a little!" "I heard steps on the stairs but didn't know it was going to be you!" "You don't want to come in?" "I understand, you're undecided." "I don't want to force you, I love you all the same." "Anyway, it was you who called me and said..." "You really don't want to come in?" "Well, do as you want then." "I'm going back to work." "Luis, come here." "No, get off, get off!" " Bully!" " Come here!" " No!" " Come here!" " No!" "No?" " No!" " Don't move then." "Why do you run then?" "Huh?" "Why do you run?" " I just run here!" " And you won't stop?" "You really won't?" " No!" "No!" " Come here, listen, Vinca!" "That's the Ines woman's voice." "Pilar is there too!" "Oh, if they were to see me here!" "Yes, it's really the Ines woman." " But she hasn't come up here." " Ignacio is there too!" "Something must have happened, otherwise he would've kept them out." "It's God punishing me!" "It's God punishing me!" "Have you heard?" "Did Vinca tell you?" " No, what?" " The war has broken out!" " Oh, Luis!" " We can just say that you come to give me the news!" "They're blowing up bridges, fighting in the streets!" "Let's go to Araño, he'll tell us where the meeting is." "I'll get my jacket then let's go." "Oh, it's pointless to tell the girls all this out of the blue." " Oh, it seems that..." "it'll be clear soon!" " Ramiro!" "Ramiro, why are you talking so quietly?" "It's nothing, Pilar." "I told you, stay here for half an hour and we'll be back soon." "Ignacio will stay here to keep you company." "I know..." "I heard that you're leaving." " No, who said that!" " I don't want Ramiro to go!" " I want us to get married straight away." " Relax, Pilar!" "Of course the boys are staying, what else would they do with themselves?" "Ignacio, the pen, the fountain pen." " Didn't you forget it the other day?" " Damn!" "What a nuisance!" " Don't get annoyed, I'll give you mine." " No, no, wait a minute." " Ramiro!" "Ramiro!" " Calm down, let's go!" "Come on, let's go!" "Here, a present for you, I took notes with it in the faculty for us." "Keep it for me!" " Luis, my love!" " What is it?" " You are going, yes?" " I don't know, maybe." "But I will come back." "Do you remember the conversation we had about Andalusia?" "We will go back to Spain, all of us." "Why are you crying?" "No... go, go..." "Listen, Luis..." " Te quiero." " Muchacha..." "Luis!" " Luis." " I'm here." " She's a nice girl, Vinca, huh?" " Yeah, indeed." " Well then?" " We leave tomorrow at ten." "Tomorrow evening." "Signorina Lorenza, they leave at ten, it's written all over papers!" "Let me go!" "Who knows if I'll ever see him again!" "But why, why do you want to keep me imprisoned in here?" "I understand, dear, but I need you to be strong." "I cannot let you out." "Alone at night, at this time..." " I could go with her!" " Me too!" " I'll go with Emanuela, let me go!" " Calm down, Vinca!" "Signorina Prudenzina, please stay here now." "Have you already locked up downstairs?" "Nerves!" "Hysterics!" "Camomile tea and then to bed, I'm not moving form here." "You're just doing it to be spiteful." "Always!" "Enough!" "Anyway you wouldn't make it in time!" " But I could make it!" " Oh, who knows what time you'd be back to the house!" "Oh, but when the train leaves, I'll take a tram and come back right away." "No more about it!" "Enough!" "Silence!" "Come on Vinca!" "Don't cry, come on!" " The keys?" " Yeah!" "The front door keys!" "Oh dear Signorina Prudenzina!" " What are you doing?" " She's going out, no?" "You poor thing, all this just to have a chance to see him for two minutes?" " Vinca, I don't understand you!" " Of course you don't!" "What do you know about these things!" "What sort of woman are you?" "Oh, signorina, thank goodness that you came sooner." "The poor lady is in despair, she was crying earlier." "What's that?" "Yesterday evening the professor was up late." "This morning the lady brought him a caffè latte but he didn't see us and bumped into her." "A mess!" "Everything was dirty, we all had to change!" "Here I am still with his trousers and the spirit!" "OK enough, I understand." "Where's the lady?" "Good afternoon." "Good afternoon, signorina, I wanted to ask you, please excuse me..." "I wanted to ask if you could help me." "You go and see when he arrives." " Yesterday evening Toto..." " Yes, and this evening he broke a cup, well?" "Only you can help me as he no longer gives me a straight answer, sometimes he doesn't even respond for a long time." "He's irritated, nervous, he's almost rebelling..." "I didn't say anything of course, understand?" "Signora, I'm sorry but I don't know what I can do here." "Get him to work less!" "This damned thing that he's doing, this inauguration... what is it?" "I don't know, well." "But it seems whenever he's up late, he's exhausted and his eyesight is worsening." "He doesn't bring the eggs any more, he doesn't want his injections..." " May I?" " For heaven's sake, signorina." "I am desperate!" "The professor, signora, here's the professor!" "What are you standing there gaping for, go open the door, relax, smile!" "Poor guy, if he sees you with that face." "Oh my God!" "Please excuse me, signorina..." "I beg you to help me, eh?" " Good afternoon, professor." " Good afternoon." " How do you feel?" " How do you think I am?" "Great, great!" " Ah, good!" " Good afternoon, professor." "Good afternoon, I am glad that you're here." "I have much to tell you." " Have you brought..." " I was in the library, nothing!" "It's in the library of the Risorgimento in the Antisci Mattei hall but it was closed so I waited there, here it is." " Oh, you smoke now, professor?" " Yes, I do it to perk myself up." "Ah, good, smart thinking." "I was worried about this all day long." "I'm feeling really quite weary at the moment." "In fact, I wanted to tell you that I cannot," "I absolutely cannot, for the sake of my health, fulfil my commitment to this commemoration." "But, professor, everyone knows about it, even the papers!" "I saw one about it here yesterday." "Here." " It's the most prestigious thing they've offered you." " Precisely." "For this reason they'll have to find someone else to do it." "You know very well, this is very hard work." "The research... and then the responsibility." " I'd rather quit." " But how could you?" "You've committed to it!" "It's more a question of dignity." "I don't know if I can be of help, I'll do everything." "The research, of course," " and other things." " And what about your thesis?" "I'll do it one way or another, don't worry." "Even so, I wanted to avoid it for this reason." "You take your work too seriously, spending night after night at your desk." "This is all very well, it's good, I admire you greatly..." "But I can't take advantage of you, I won't allow myself." "In a few days you'll be leaving for the holidays." "That doesn't matter, professor, I had already decided not to leave." "Let me do it, let me take care of it all." "Excuse me, professor, but the work that you were to do tonight," "I can just as well do myself." "It's research work, relatively straight-forward..." "Then you can look after yourself and get your energy back." "Excuse me, professor..." "You're not used to it, you feel bad when you smoke." "At the same time, you don't have to abandon the assignment." "It's not like a man of your status can give up, really you mustn't!" "You want to do all this for me, Signorina Custo?" "Naturally, professor, didn't you ask me to work with you?" "Besides, it's also for me now..." "it's also for me that..." "Professor, professor, the lady says that she forget..." "Yes, OK, I'll come right away." "Go, thanks." "Well?" "Shall I write your acceptance?" "Very well, write yes, that I accept." "Signorina Emanuela Andari Grimaldi School, Rome." "So it gives me great satisfaction to be able to send you the policy and money." "Because I've set my mind on making it." "And I will make it." "Love, Your Xenia" " May I?" " Come in." " Are old friends allowed in?" " Vandina!" "My goodness, how wonderful!" "The white telephone!" " How are you, dear?" " I was just writing a letter." "Finish, finish!" "Excuse me just a moment." "Sit yourself down." "Ah no, really!" "I'd prefer to look around!" "It looks like the house of a married woman!" "What can I say?" "You've good taste!" "You've good taste!" "Oh, how pretty!" "What a beauty!" "And this is you, no?" "How great you look!" "Really beautiful, you know, really beautiful." "When did you take it?" "You like it?" "About a fortnight or so ago." " How are you doing?" " Well, I can't say anything like you, I'm now in Milan!" " Look at your gown!" " Don't exaggerate now!" "But it's true!" "You know what they say?" "Miss Costantini is the number one woman." "And, you now..." "By the way, I wanted to ask you... you wouldn't happen to have a purse you don't use any more?" "All right, I'll have a look around, OK?" "My goodness!" "Raimondo Horsh?" "Him?" "He sent you these flowers..." "you know him?" "Yeah, he's a good friend of Dino, we go out for dinner in the evenings together." "Actually, he should be coming, he called me just now." "Oh wow!" "Listen, I wanted to say..." "I'm sorry, you know, while he has to be here" " would you mind disappearing?" " Don't worry about it!" " Take a tour of my room." " Of course, I understand!" "That must be him." " Mariuccia!" " Signora?" " I'll disappear." " Don't just let him walk in, introduce him." " OK." " I tell you, you could well do with a man like that!" " Come back soon and I'm sorry." " Don't worry." "Listen, don't forget about the purse!" "Thanks!" " Signora, Commendatore Horsh is here." " Tell him to come in." " Dear Horsh, how are you?" " Good evening, Xenia." "I didn't expect you so soon." "Please, make yourself at home." "I've had a wonderful little day." "I've been at home all day, reading, smoking... whatever I please." "Your flowers have been great company." "What are we doing tonight?" "Perhaps Dino will come up with something." "If he agreed a time with you, then he can't be too late." " Dino won't be coming." " Oh, no?" "Well, this surprise visit on your part is still very kind." "I haven't seen Dino since last night." "But you'll see, he'll be here before long." "Dino won't be coming, he was arrested." "Arrested?" "What do you mean arrested?" "Those lorries..." "the French contract..." "It's not the first that Dino has lived on the razor's edge." "And you?" "I don't know anything." "Oh, you don't know anything?" " I know everything though!" " What do you know?" "That Dino was doing all this for you, to cover your back!" "I understand perfectly well these last few days." "Dino didn't want to talk, he was nervous." "You were always on the telephone." "Now I'm going to go and explain everything." "Xenia, where are you going to go?" "You know perfectly well that the only person who can do anything for Dino is me." "But when?" "There's no time to lose!" "On the contrary, it takes time and patience." "But I want to see him soon, talk to him." "These things take time to resolve." "You will see him, but not immediately." "It's impossible." "I came specially just to do something for Dino." "And for you." "So, so, you believe that it's just a matter of time." "Oh, yes, it's in Ranieri's hands, you know what a lawyer he is!" "Don't worry, I wanted to come earlier but it was impossible." "Yes, I know... the first days, you know, are the hardest." "You keep hoping that at any moment they will open the door and set you free." "Your friends are out there and surely one will do something." "But instead the hours pass, the light fades..." "You were saying about the lawyer..." "Oh, of course, he's a smart guy and then there's Horsh too." "Horsh?" "Yeah, he visited me yesterday." "Yesterday was the fifteenth day since I was caught." "Yeah..." "Well, everything can't be going right all the time, can it baby?" " And how are things with you?" " Don't worry about me, Dino." "No, I do often think about the rent and the instalments on the furniture." "What are you saying, Dino?" "It's only a matter of a few days after all, right?" "A few days, really?" "Visits are now over." "Well, stay strong, baby." "And if you can, if you have time, come and find me." " Understood?" " Of course I'll come back." "Ciao, Pietro!" "Home?" "Viale Abruzzo." " Bye, have a nice holiday!" " Best wishes!" " Bye!" " Bye!" " Bye!" "Goodbye, signora, and thank you for everything." " But where are you going?" " Vinca's leaving the college." " Oh, of course." " Are you staying in Rome?" " Yes, at via Sistina, close to some Spanish friends." " Be good!" " It's just a mother and her daughter, they're quiet." " Thank you." "Bye Silvia." " Good luck." " And you, Silvia, where are you going?" " Me?" "I'm staying, signora." "Oh, the factories of Toma." "When you see them, you're just 20 minutes away." "Oh, listen, I'm sorry but close the window." "The wind is messing my hair up." " What do you care?" "We're in the countryside!" " I care!" " Maybe I was wrong to invite you again this year!" " Why?" "Because you're used to living in the city whereas I..." " Valentina..." " Eh?" " Valentina, look." "You can already see our house, you know?" "Where?" " There behind that group of trees." " Uhm..." "What a journey, the train will never arrive!" "Entering the living room, the large fireplace, my Granddad's saddles hanging on the walls and the big old furniture." "And the feeling of being at home." "Oh, what's all this?" "What's happened?" "How beautiful, huh?" "Come in Valentina." "We wanted to surprise you, everything is from Bari." "And the diffuser Dad brought from Milan, we installed it yesterday." "Look, this I got from an antiquarian, beautiful, also from Milan, 4200 lira." " And these lions?" " My God, all this stuff..." " Have you seen the lion?" " It's just like the De Felice's place in Bari." "What an expression, look at that face!" "We will redo the house all over again, unless... tell them about your company!" "Ah, yes, I decided to join a Milan company, big industrialists, a big deal, and so... you tell her because you..." "Why?" "Why are you scared?" "Well, in this case..." "We've decided to set up home in Milan." "In the city?" " Eh, I told you that it was about time!" " Oi, Valentina!" "And what will you say to Grandma?" "Grandma?" "Don't talk to me about here." "She's the cross we have to bear!" "Why, something happened?" "Yes, my dear, me and Mum were thinking that... that she's a crazy!" "She won't come down into the dining room." "Fine... into the living room." "She eats in the kitchen." "My dear, we can't take it any more!" " The other day Dad invited some people from Bari." " Exactly." " People of high regard, who..." " And she appears at the top of the stairs." "In slippers, with a shawl on her head, we all hope that the others won't see her and she starts to scream..." "oh, what a scene!" ""Alfonso, who said you could touch the old wine!"" "Exactly!" "Because I'm still the head of this house!" " Grandma!" " Donna Antonia!" " Oh Grandma!" " Come down here!" " My Anna!" "Mum, come down, at least today!" "In there?" "Like you've planned?" "Not even when I'm dead will I go down there!" " Just for a moment!" " You're trying to get me away from the kitchen!" "We made pizzas for Anna, come have a bite to eat!" "As long as I live this land is all mine!" "I am the head of this house!" "Remember that!" "Let's go, Anna!" "Anna be quick, people are coming soon!" "Come Anna, come." "What's wrong, Grandma?" "You know why they wanted me to go down, your mother wants to poison me!" "What are you saying, Grandma!" "But I won't touch anything she gives me!" "Yesterday they put it in the meatballs, like you do with dogs!" "Then he asks me, "How are you?" "Great!" I respond, while I gave them the finger under my robe!" " Come, come." " Oh, why do you talk like this?" "Don't put these things into my mind, Grandma." " Ah, Granddad's saddle is in here?" " Yes." " The chest of drawers also." " Yes, I saved everything!" "I went to dig them out from the rubbish, from the rubble of those damn workers!" "And you know what I do at night while they sleep?" "I come down and take everything that I can." "I keep it for you, for you, my dear Anna." "Here, eat eat eat!" " Grandma, do you love me?" "Really?" " My dear!" "Then you mustn't keep going to take these things." " Do it for me..." " I mustn't do it?" "Throw all this money away?" "Just like the grain!" "You know your mother wants a car?" "Calm down, Grandma." "It was so nice when there was peace in the family." "Try to get along again." "Perhaps all this will help Dad's business." "Oh this business!" "This business!" "It should be remembered that his mother and father were peasants!" "There, it should be remembered!" "My dear... what are you doing?" "Not eating?" "It's proper pastry, that of San Nicola, the one I make and you love so much!" "Listen, Grandma..." "can you carry me?" "Can you remember, I always think about it, down in the living room, I was in your arms and Dad comes back from a hunt and begins to roast the meat." "With red wine from Trani, but it's all over." "But why, Grandma?" "This is exactly what I wanted to talk to you about." "You know that they want me to sign a contract?" "Yes, with a company from Milan." "Exactly, from Milan!" "Since yesterday this eyelid has been blinking." "It's a sign of bad luck." "They want to sell the land, I know this very well." ""But I won't sign it!" I said, and I didn't!" " Anna come down, be quick!" " OK, I'm coming!" "Excuse me, Grandma, I have to go." "Then I'll come back, OK?" "Go, go... they're always partying down there!" "Wait until I lock the door." "You know, Grandma, if you love me, it will all go back to how it was before!" "Oh, how it was before!" "Ah!" "You know what they threatened me with?" "That I'll be locked away so the court won't require my signature!" "But tell them!" "Donna Antonia Bortone won't sign!" "And that they should be very careful!" "They should be very careful!" "Go... go..." "Mario, this is Valentina, a good friend of Anna's." " Delighted to meet you." " Pleased to meet you." " Working hard, huh?" " I'd say so with the situation he inherited." "My father never took too much care and the estate agent, like always in these cases, robbed him every chance he got." "Thus the house is a mess, you support the walls with your hands just so they don't fall." " See, when there's no woman at home!" " That's right, Donna Clelia" "Donna Matilde said that you've left Turin and your studies to come back." " Exactly." " No, no!" "If I was in your position I would sell everything and go back!" "In civilised places, it's different..." "Yes, but the land would only sell for a pittance." "Of course, if it rains the harvest is bad, if it's too hot, too cold... there is always something wrong." "Dear Signor Bortone, I don't agree." " Oh, Anna, finally!" " Welcome back!" " Good afternoon, how are you?" " Good, good!" "Anna, how smart you look!" "I'll have to reintroduce you two." "How many times you played together here, there and everywhere." "Running over the grass, the flowers, the pebbles, without making any fuss, for hours and hours..." "Many years have passed but Signorina Anna..." " No, really... then you left." " Yes, I went to Rome." "No, to Turin." "Two years I think with poor Don Salvatore." "You were in Rome some time after that." "When I arrived in September, you had already left." "Good, finally." "Put it here." "Yes, and now get the pizzas, quick!" "People, can I offer you a small drink and a slice of pizza, a bite to eat?" " Don't bother yourself." " Oh, with pleasure." "Mario come!" " Is that the front of your house?" " Yes, behind the olive grove." "On the border, once it was just a plot of land, how do you say?" "Outback!" "Anna, please could you help me cut the pizza?" "Yes, Mum." " Good, take the knife." "Make nice big slices." " OK." "I paid Mario Ponte a visit for Valentina." "If he settled down it would be a blessing, poor guy." "Even I feel sorry for him, alone in that house..." "The corkscrew, where I have put it?" "Mum!" "Mum, I'm leaving, I'm going to Milan!" " Goodbye, Mum!" " Let's go, we're going to miss the train!" "Leave, leave... go to Milan." "Sell the land!" "Sell the land!" "Is that Mario's window over there?" "Yeah." "Did you see?" "The light is still on." "He's not asleep." "You know, today, he couldn't do anything but follow me." "Any excuse was enough..." "Ah, yeah?" "I thought he was a responsible guy." "With this?" "He's a guy like any other, no?" "You know, I don't think he's uninterested in me." "You know, your mother told me..." " She already told me." " Ah, she really told you?" "I had a great idea." "Yes, he's a great guy, he's truly a great guy Mario." "So dark, strong..." "Almost an Indian prince." "Oh, there's something burning over there!" "Let it be, come to bed now!" "There's a fire I tell you!" "A fire underneath the branches!" "Hurry, get up!" "Grandma!" "Grandma, fire!" "Carmine, it's burning!" "Oh, for the love of God!" "Matteo, we need to make a chain from the water tank!" "A chain!" "Carmine!" "Carmine!" "Help me!" "Help me!" "Quick!" "Quick!" "Come on, faster!" " What will we do!" " Calm down!" " My father isn't here, you know!" " I know." "Don't worry, I'm here, I brought my men also!" " Anna!" " I'm coming!" " Calm down!" " But how did it happen?" " Who knows?" "Perhaps a cigarette!" " What cigarette!" " Quick!" "The fire was lit in multiple places, it was some scoundrel!" "Grandma, what are you doing?" "Grandma!" " It was my grandma, Mario!" " That swine!" "The grain!" "Quick!" "Quick!" "Quick!" "Saint Nicholas, have mercy, have mercy!" "Saint Nicholas, have mercy!" "You, over there!" "Let's get to the grain!" "Bring the buckets!" "Signorina, it's raining, it's raining!" "The crop will be saved!" "The grain will be saved!" "Calm down!" "The sooner it's extinguished the better!" " The crop's saved, right?" " Yes!" "Understood!" " You were great, Mario!" " Anna..." "You gave me such a fright though!" "Why don't you talk to me like a friend any more?" "As soon as you get back to Rome we'll marry!" "Di Matteo, there's another bucket of water there!" "Yes, put it out, good!" "Anna and Valentina are in Apulia, Vinca went to live with Donna Ines" "Silvia is working for Belluzzi." "I'll be getting married in Spring I believe." "Write to me, love, Your Emanuela." " So we're in agreement about the curtains, right?" " Yes, signora." "Oh no, not like that." "Come here." "They go like this, like this, like this!" "The little settee goes in that corner, the table over there." " Got it?" " Absolutely." " The bed goes here?" " Yes." " The glass cabinet is almost ready." " It arrived just as you wanted." " Very well, I'll see you in a few weeks." "Very good, are you satisfied?" " There's not anything else that..." " No, thank you." "Do you know, Xenia, that you're an extraordinary woman?" " No-one else is like you." " You think?" "I'm so tired, Raimondo, I'm so tired." "Very well, I know that you're in a hurry to leave, that you need some countryside and fresh air." "I hope that you can come back soon." "As quickly as possible." "In any case, I booked you a room at Gardone." "I booked under the name of Baroness Costantini." " Baroness?" " Yes, a widow." "For in the life of every woman, there needs to be a husband." "A husband who died in a hunting accident, let's say." "Very well." "The hotel is small yet excellent, the best." "You'll have a large window with a balcony over the lake, your own garden..." "You can't imagine anything more delightful." "The lake house and that's not just a figure of speech." "This swing gate with just the single key, naturally for you." "Just a few steps and you can go down whenever you wish and take a stroll along the lake, avoiding the need to go through the hotel." "Pass me that, Baroness." " Thank you, very kind of you." " At your service, Baroness." " Baroness?" " Yes?" " A call from Milan." " Tell them to ring back later." "Very well." " Baroness, your bags are in your room." " Good." "Should I unpack them?" "Yes, very well, go ahead." "But tell them to leave me in peace." "Excuse me, Baroness, you wanted to be by yourself and have a little peace, eh?" "I wanted that too." "I'm going to call the manager." "It's nothing to do with the manager, leave it be." "Baroness, you can just get here in two ways that's all:" "either by coming down from the hotel as you did, or by coming up from the lake like I did." "For sure, it was harder for me, no?" "I also ripped my trousers too!" "But you are who you are." "This place is yours." "I can find myself another hundred of them." "I don't understand why you want to go, if I go, then you can stay, no?" "You were so happy laying around." "So peaceful..." "So your picture will only be half done." "Don't you worry, I'll finish it by memory." "You know, when I see something it's hard for me to forget it." "A pity." "A pity because it's nice." "I wanted to tell you, if you want to stay here and finish it, then go ahead." "Thank you, of course, if you don't mind." "No, it's more because..." "I don't know but it seems..." "I think we might know each other, no?" "Know each other, us two?" "I'm very flattered, but how could I have, Baroness..." "Yes, but I wonder, and you have the air of someone who remembers where we met." " Come on, where did we meet?" " I don't know, it will have been a long time ago." "Maybe you were different?" "The prolonged applause of an audience in which you immediately recognise the most esteemed intellectuals and artists should assure you, professor, that Italian culture will be most grateful for the important research that you carried out." "I thank you, President, I'm deeply moved, but I'm searching in vain in the hall to offer at least half of your recognition to my collaborator, Signorina Silvia Custo, to whom most of this research is indebted." " Was that her?" " Yes, and how is the lady?" "Good, listen out for the doctor now, call me when he'll be coming out." "Silvia!" "Silvia, why did you not come yesterday?" "I came back home right away hoping to find you." " I didn't see you at the conference." " I was there, of course." " You were there?" " Yes, but I didn't want to greet you in front of everyone." "I should have at least thanked you for mentioning my name." " But you know I'm..." " Do you think I could have done it any other way?" "It's not easy for me to admit that I owe something to someone." "But in this case I was happy." "Really happy." "Listen, Silvia, do you mind if I simply address you like that?" "Listen, Silvia, the presentation of your thesis" " is set for the eighteenth, I think." " Yes, why?" "Because at the start of next month there is a post for you." "In Florence." "There's no need to go through a process, a teacher is leaving his post for health reasons." "I myself asked about it for you sometime ago." "In Florence?" " But it's a great city, no?" " But then I would be leaving here." "Of course, what could I offer you to remain here with me?" "You've lost enough time, no more." "And in life there is no time to lose." "Think, Silvia!" "A teaching post." "You can present your own ideas, your own texts." "It is certainly something a woman like you should have expected and desired." "And you completely deserve it, in every sense, really, in every sense." "Here with me you work, write, devote yourself, admittedly, with a level of satisfaction, I recognise you, everybody knows that but this is something else." "In Florence it would all be for yourself, just for you." "Quite, professor." "I thank you very much for being so kind to me..." "You're not happy?" "Why?" "You see once, my friend, Anna Bortone, you know her?" "We talked about her amongst ourselves, and I said:" ""You'll see, you'll see when you find yourself alone in the evenings in your room, alone with just your spirit stove." "Then you'll understand."" "Eight days ago I received this letter from Florence." "For eight days I was looking at your desk, trying to imagine it empty." "And you see, I only found enough courage to tell you about it today." "Thanks, professor." "But why... why then?" "You're right, Silvia." "It's not possible..." " Professor, it's the doctor!" " OK, I'm coming." " Where's the doctor?" " Over there, in the living room." "Signorina, the pen." "A pen, signorina." "The doctor asked for it." " A pen." " Ah yes, here it is." "Did you hear about the lady?" "This morning she fainted again and was feeling bad, and do you know what the doctor said?" "She is expecting a baby!" "Oh, thank God!" "In view of the special examinations, in view of the graduation examinations," "Signorina Custo has achieved 110 out of 110 e lode..." " Well done!" "Great!" " 110 e lode!" " Wow!" " You were such a work horse!" " Everyone knew it!" " Very pleased for you, Silvia." "Silvia dear, give me a kiss!" " Well done!" " Congratulations!" " Thanks for all coming." "Yes, genius, genius." "Unfortunately I think that she's just gifted, all brains." "Not true, she worked hard for a long time with me." "I think she'll make a great teacher." " Have you seen how pale Belluzzi was?" " He's aged!" " Truly!" " What's wrong, are you not pleased?" " Yes, fairly." " Fairly?" "I felt like I was on cloud nine with my 75." "I don't know, maybe it's because we are all disappearing..." " You're going to Florence, no?" " How lucky!" " Yeah." " When do you leave?" "I'm staying for Anna's wedding." "I am really happy for you, you know?" " Thank you." " Then within a few days..." " And then in a few days Emanuela goes too!" " How come?" "She's getting engaged to Andrea, no?" "It will be a slog but what can you do?" "The folks will support us and when we get engaged..." " It's over, Andrea!" " Great!" "There will be two or three centuries of the family who will want to see you, touch you, smell you, and so we decided to have lunch on Sunday, and then in the afternoon the big meeting with all the ancestors." " Sunday?" " Yes, I know that on Sundays you're with Anna or Silvia or Valentina or someone, but, I'm sorry, at this time this is the only day they can all do." "Excuse me, sister, good afternoon." "I'd like to see Stefania." "Signora, I have to tell you..." "Yes, visits are only in the afternoon but I have a commitment and I'd like to see her this morning." " Signora..." " Or tell her that I came and give her this." " Signora, we've been looking for you for days." " Why?" " We didn't know where to find you, the girl is sick." " Sick?" " Nothing too serious?" " Scarlet fever." " My God, scarlet fever!" " She's had a fever of 40 degrees since yesterday.." "Last night she was delirious, in pain..." "She kept calling you and calling you." "She's in the infirmary." "The fever rose to 40.6 degrees just now." "She started to hallucinate." "I know everything, I know that I have a bad fever, but Marinetta came to do my hair, you know Mummy!" "I know, darling." "Want to see, Mummy?" "My whole body is covered in red dots like lots of little strawberries." "Stay covered, darling." "My God, sister, she's so hot!" "Oh Mummy, you know, Dad came." "But the nuns didn't let him come up because I'm ill and so not to frighten him... but he left me lots of kisses!" "Soon the doctor will come so you can speak to him yourself." " He said that he'll come at one." " At one?" "And if you wanted to spend the night with the girl, then there is no regulations against it." " There's nothing against it?" " No, we can find you a bed." "Take a seat." "I can't wait for the doctor, I have to be in the city for one exactly." " Can you not call?" " I can't do anything at all." "And tonight?" "Tonight?" "I can't stay the night, sister." " But you're leaving me then!" " No dear..." " You're leaving?" "You're going?" " No, darling, I'm off just for a minute..." "Well then, take your hat off, Mummy!" "Take your hat off!" " Good afternoon, signora." " Good afternoon." " Emanuela, right on time!" " Hi, Andrea, how are you?" "Oh, please pass me that picture on the table." "You see?" "Do you think it's possible that he can get married?" " Just like this!" " What a beautiful baby!" "Emanuela, you like children, huh?" " Of course..." " Oh, I'm sorry!" " What a mess!" " I thought she had a certain air about her, but she's a real babe." "Truly a great girl." "We were talking with Leo and saying that we like her very much." "But why don't you say everything?" "I said that she's very beautiful too." "Emanuela, it seems like everyone here wants to make you blush!" "Excuse me, Mum; excuse me, everyone, but I need her for a moment." "I must introduce you to someone who's very important in my family." "Guess who?" "Guess... come!" " Oh..." " What do you think?" "Remember those drawings?" "The day at the trattoria with Milly." " Yeah, everything is all the same." " Look who's over there?" " What a cutie!" " Isn't he lovely?" "Come here and let us see you." " Look at this beauty!" " What a treasure!" "It's really good here, I like it a lot, I like it very much!" " I would be very happy here..." " Why do you say it with that tone?" "You'll live here shortly." "Yeah, it was like going back to my house in Florence, as a child." "The warm setting at the table reminded me of dinner at Christmas." " Even at ours there's big Christmas dinners and huge tables!" " Yeah?" "Is that not so, Muso?" "Even you at Christmas have your mouse." "What is it?" "Oh, nothing, it's just when you're happy sometimes, you feel a bit melancholic." "Go, go..." " What are you doing?" " I need to go out for a moment." "Now?" "Where are you going?" " To Vinca." " Right now?" "Aren't you seeing her this evening?" "What are you talking about?" "Vinca's no longer at the school, she's at via Sistina at Donna Ines'." " You've been there too." " Yes..." " And the guests arrive after five, right?" " Yes, but I don't trust you." "Women always spend lose track of time together." "I'm coming too." "The point is that it's about..." "OK, fine, but if you're late, I'll call you." "Whatever." "Tell me, Emanuela, you're not hiding anything from me, are you?" "What do you think?" "You see, I could never forgive you if you were hiding..." "if you were lying to me, see." "Andrea!" "I know, forgive me, dear!" "But it's just that you're so important to me!" "Well, as you wish, I'll call you or come pick you up later." " Via Sistina, 87, right?" " Yes." "Here, wait a moment, I have to go all the way to via Sistina." "Ah, Sister, I came to see if there was any news." "But it's better that I don't come in, I can't stop." " How's Stefania?" " Bad." "The doctor can't make a prognosis." "It all depends upon tonight." " Very well, you can go." " Shall I go?" " Yeah." " Do you know who was on the phone?" " No, I don't know." " Guess!" " It was Emanuela." " Ah, bless her." "She was with Andrea?" "Of course not, listen, it's still early now." " Yesterday he arrived at 5:25!" " OK, today he'll come a few minutes later." "Listen, she went, "Listen, Valentina, if they call and ask for me, tell them that I've gone out for something with Vinca," in a hushed voice." " Who?" " What do you mean, who?" "Emanuela, of course." " She's out for something with me?" " No!" "It was an excuse." "What a mess!" "She'll have said to Andrea she was coming to you but instead..." " Who knows where she's gone!" " Don't you see yet, Vinca?" " Not at all!" " Oh calm down, calm down, my dear!" "Every day, every day at this time you and Vinca... cut!" "Donna Ines, invoke Luis and see if he's next to some blonde." " Who?" "Sol?" "That one from Spain?" " Exactly." " So if Andrea calls, what should I tell him?" " Whatever you want!" "Excuse me, Valentina, but right now..." " Is there a blond woman?" " Knight, that's new!" "No, no blond woman." "Two of spades, the letter." "Always the letter yet Ramiro hasn't written for eight days!" "I can't manipulate the cards." "What are you doing?" "Why hide it?" "The five of spades, that's bad luck!" "Oh, here he is!" "Don't go to the door like that, there might not even be anything." "Letters can't possibly come every day." "Signora, read the cards for me too." "Is there any post?" "Yes, a letter for me." "Oh goodness, it's from three weeks ago!" " The two of spades and the letter, the two of spades..." " No, Pilar!" " It's bad luck, don't do that!" " Pilar, are you crazy?" " Throwing the cards like that!" " Oh God!" " What is it Vinca?" " Bad news?" " He's wounded?" " Speak up!" " What is it?" " He's marrying me." "He's marrying you?" "He never asked you, right?" "Yeah, but he was always worried about money!" "Look, "I stopped off at home and spoke with my mum." "She was always hoping to see us, me and Sol, together but I told her that you await me in Italy and that as soon as possible we will marry!"" "How wonderful!" "How could he marry that other woman, that little dull thing, so stuck up!" "And fat, fat too!" "Instead, that night at the station he couldn't tear himself away from me!" "I'll get it." " Did he say anything about Ramiro?" " Yeah, he's fine, great!" "Ah, good afternoon." "Oh Pilar, we'll have to get married together, you know?" "Getting married... he never even mentioned it!" "Just think, we'll always be together, he'll never leave me again!" " Vinca, it's Ignacio!" " Ignacio dear, come here!" "I got a letter from Luis, you know, we're getting married!" "He also spoke about you, "What's with old Ignacio?"" " When was the letter sent?" " When was it sent?" "Wait, let's have a look." "The 28th, around three weeks ago, 19 days ago!" "Oh Ignacio dear, what joy!" "Come here!" "So, excuse me a moment, I'll finish reading!" "Hello?" "Ah, it's you, Andrea." "No, it's Pilar." "Vinca's here." "No, Emanuela is not here, she never came at all." "Yes, yes, I'm certain!" "Is it Andrea?" "Oh goodness, what now?" "Excuse me, Andrea, if I have to leave now, I have to go to Vinca, some terrible news arrived:" "Luis died five days ago." "When do you think he'll return, Ignacio?" "I can't take it any more!" "He's marrying me..." "He's marrying me, what could be more beautiful?" "So not Sanremo?" "Not Sanremo, this spring, two years go I was there." " And neither at Icaro in Milan?" " Icaro in Milan?" " I've never even heard of it." " Sure?" " Absolutely certain." "All right." "Ah, how I love working for myself!" "I'm being serious, if there was no work, having time off would be boring." "Of course, you want a certain amount, not too much." " Of rest?" " Of work!" "Some people have the obsession of making it but they don't even know where!" "That is, well..." "money, fame, status and then it all turns to crap, compromises, whatever else... they start to not sleep at night, to not eat..." " But it's understandable!" " Ah, yeah?" "What do people want to get out of life?" "Don't you have any ambitions?" " Don't you want to achieve anything?" " Me?" "I already have." "I came to realise that I live." "Look, my train leaves within the hour and I have another ten minutes to stay here with you." "You're leaving?" " In the next ten minutes?" " Yes.." "And I see these ten minutes passing me by, I count them, I savour them..." "You painting is quite a pleasurable, and slightly humorous, sight." "I like it." "The lake with its fresh breeze, all is clear, these shades of green, it's a gift of nature, I'm not rushing or running about, I'm enjoying it." "Thus the hours instead of passing me by in a second, like those others, last 120 minutes for me." "Understand?" " Are you going to sell the paintings?" " Yeah." "And also I've been here for ten days so I don't want to get comfortable." "Do you sell... do you sell a lot of them?" "No, just enough for me." "Money isn't so important in the end, Baroness." "Enough that things don't cost too much and enough that one being left behind isn't a cause to mourn." "And then the world is open to everyone." "It's the same for everyone, there's so much stuff in the world." " Indeed, the more money one has, the less sense one has." " Oh, I know!" " Do you know Anna Bortone?" " Who, a nice girl I hope?" "A girl who was made just for you." "And you came to visit her at Easter two years ago with some of her relatives." "I'm sorry that I didn't have this pleasure." "I wasn't there then." "In the five days since we met you haven't remembered anything." "And you haven't realised that through all your questions, you have told me all about yourself." "Where you have been, the people you have met..." "No, give up, why does it matter so much?" " What will remembering do?" " Nothing, nothing at all." "It's just, don't you ever get it?" "Something that keeps bugging you." "It's like getting rid of a thorn from your finger." "Imagine, last night I was even dreaming of you." "Yes, last night." "Come on, help me, one last question." "When you travel are you always alone?" "Do you not have a family?" "I'm sorry that this remains so rough in the end it would be something really good." "You don't want to answer me, huh?" "A family?" "No, no family." "Please." "Not yet." "Well, a few months ago I was on the point of settling down but then I travelled in a second class compartment and there was a girl, who was clutching a package tied with a strap." "A shame, because even then there was something." "Ah, there was something..." "Thank goodness, and now it's over." "Why?" "Could there not be anything still?" "You see, Baroness, if you had wanted to revive this plant that you had neglected, it would be a wasted effort, what's done is done." "But there are other fish in the sea, one here, one there..." "Well, you see, what you can do, if you wish, is not neglect these others." "Understand?" "A shame, truly." "Signora, Commendatore Horsh." " How are you, Raimondo?" " Good thank you, Xenia." "I am glad that you have brought forward your return." "You didn't enjoy it at Gardone?" " Yes, it was very nice." " But then... this is doubly flattering for me." "I could almost not believe it was your voice on the phone." "I tried to relax myself and receive your news calmly." "I was dictating a letter but after that, I confess," "I was unable to continue." "As it was nearly six and you had told me that we would see each other later." "Did we not agree to go the club this evening?" "Yes, to the club." "But as I was telling you, I went out to distract myself, to help pass the time." "I was just going about, amongst the crowd of people, in the shops." "And so before a shop window I was thinking about what you had once said to me." "Would you like to turn away, please?" "How you would be so completely delighted when..." "It's splendid, Raimondo!" " Are you happy?" " Yes." "You see?" "Tarmac." "We'll take a coffee together." "There's some very interesting work on the horizon." "And so rubber." "Good evening, dear Tenerani." "You understand that rubber can be very useful in automotive transport." "We'll be eating together, there'll be someone else unimportant there whose capital is to be channelled into the deal." " Commendatore?" " Two usuals." "The deal is interesting but the man..." "You see the small guy over there who got up to meet us?" " A certain Bortone." " Bortone?" "Where have I heard that name?" "Is it Calabrian?" "Yes, more or less, Calabrian..." "Apulian I think..." "Apulian. yes, but soon we will move to Milan." "Milan's a modern city, a different environment, different ideas..." " And how do you say?" "Milan is pò pò!" " No, fifì!" "Oh, perhaps it's French..." "anyway we're moving to Milan." "Just as soon as my daughter gets married." " Ah, she's getting married?" " Why?" "I didn't know you had such an old daughter." "Yes, she's 24, she's just graduated in the last few days she graduated in belles-lettres." "And she's getting married." "She wants to go back to the country, she's marrying someone from down there." "A really good boy!" " What's their name?" " Him?" "Oh, my daughter!" "Anna." " It would be better on the 14th." " The 14th?" "Let's see..." "Great suggestion." "I don't leave until the 19th for Zurich." "It will be necessary for you also to be at this meeting." "I'm sorry but how can that be, I was just explaining to the Countess that my daughter gets married in Roma just on the 14th." "Well, she wants to marry in the chapel of the school where she's just been." "I don't share that view, I don't think it's best but my daughter is a sentimental girl, she becomes attached to places she has her own ideas and intentions." "Rome is great, I have much to do in Rome on those days." "We could be in Rome for the 14, correct?" " Oh, I couldn't..." " But why?" " We will fly to Rome." " In a plane?" " Of course!" "No, it's too much trouble!" "You are truly gentlemen, this is such a great favour." "You could join us and stay in Roma for a few days if you'd really like." "Yes, thank you." "Give it here." "Please, signorina, tell Signorina Lorenza that when she sent the gift and on the card it was just written Xenia," "I found out by chance from the messenger that she's staying at the Excelsior." "No!" "She said no, absolutely no." "How could we possibly invite her after she disappeared like that." "Talk to her, here she is, try and ask her." "Wait a moment, excuse me." "Signorina Lorenza?" "Signorina Lorenza?" "I would like..." "I would like to write to Xenia so that she'll come in two days." "Xenia?" "Does this appear conceivable to you?" "But why, Signorina Lorenza?" "We've never forgotten her, we've always loved her." "We won't ask her what she did, nor what she's doing." "And then we can be together for one last time before we all go our separate ways." "Silvia has delayed going to Florence and Vinca, after all that happened, has said that she will come." " Be kind, Signorina Lorenza." " But do you realise?" "Be kind... give me this..." "give me this as a wedding gift." " Oh... as you wish." " Oh, thank you!" "Listen, what can I do?" "You know that she said yes to me?" " About Xenia?" " Yeah." " Another one goes here." "I'm so pleased." " We'll write her an invite perhaps all together." " Yes, good, all together." "Girls, Emanuela's here with Andrea." "There's trouble!" "Come, you can see everything!" "Let's go, girls." "Close it!" "Close it!" "That'll look great if she saw us." " Let's go and see!" " Valentina!" "She's here, she's here!" " Oh, Emanuela!" " Hi, Emanuela!" " Hello, dears." "Put this in my room." "What is it?" "It's been five days since we saw you." "And then you have such a face!" "Things a bit stormy with Andrea?" " First the storm of love then the rain and then finally the sun." " Exactly." " It looks nice, no?" " Yes, but there needs to be another on each side." " Valentina, did you ask the woman about the centrepiece?" " Ah!" "Silvia, find something for me to do also, I want to get involved a bit." " Yes, let's take these vases." "Excuse me, dear." " Yeah, OK." "What is it?" "Nothing serious, no?" "With Andrea?" " We broke up." " You broke up?" "Why?" "Because I told him the truth, I told him I have a daughter." " And this?" " There, in the corner." "I was with her the last few days, she was so ill." "Do you condemn me?" "I feel so shell-shocked, so low." " But in the end, liberated." " Poor Emanuela." " Here's the pot, looks good?" " Yes, take it over there." "But you loved Andrea?" "He will pay." "I'm leaving with the girl, I don't know for where, but straight after Anna's wedding." "What is it?" "Do you recognise this music?" "It's Handel's "Largo"." "Ah, Milly's music." " It was Anna who wanted it, right?" " Yes." "So she's also with us today." "Have you seen Vinca, poor girl?" "She's wearing Luis' clothes." "She says she now won't wear anything other than them." "Yes, I know, she even went to live at the studio where he worked." "And you?" "When do you leave?" "Tomorrow morning, from Naples." " She's here!" " Well done, Valentina, you were really great!" "But Sister Lorenza can't enter because she wasn't invited." " Well, tell Signorina Prudenzina!" " I did but she won't move from the door." "Mario Ponte, do you agree to take as your lawful wife according to the rite of the Holy Roman Church the here present Signorina Anna Bortone?" " I do." "And you, Anna Bortone, do you agree to take as your lawful husband according to the rite of the Holy Roman Church the here present Signor Mario Ponte?" " I do." "I do..." "I join you together in marriage in the name of Father, the Son and the Holy Spirit." "Amen." "Join your hands." " Don Achi'..." " Don Alfo'..." "Well, one can see it's all been done with opulence." " No expense was spared." " Unbelievable..." " Only the flowers..." " And then to Rome... 10,000 lira!" "Goodbye, Signorina Lorenza." "Goodbye, Anna!" " Goodbye, Signorina." " God bless you." "Where's Signorina Prudenzina?" "This is a good girl." "If she had not been there, the saddle of your grandfather along with everything else, we would have had to say goodbye to!" " Goodbye." " Goodbye, Xenia." "My girl, how beautiful you are!" "You're so happy." "You deserve it, you know?" "Bye." "Bye, dear, have a good trip." "Best wishes and write to me!" "How I envy you, Anna!" "What a moment this must be!" "Bye!" "Vinca!" " Bye, Anna." " Bye, Vinca." " Bye..." " Bye, Anna!" "Well, girls, I'm off." "You know that I no longer live with Donna Ines, I live at Luis' studio." " Come and see me." " Bye." " Bye." " It's charming and very beautiful." " Bye." " Listen, Xenia, I'm leaving for Argentina." " Yeah?" " Tomorrow." "You know, I wanted to tell you, the emerald ring that you liked so much..." " Emanuela..." " I want you to keep it as a memento." " Do you want to?" " Thanks..." "Listen, Emanuela, excuse me a moment, may I?" " Excuse me, listen, come here a moment." " But..." " Just a minute!" " You'll see that everything will work out OK for her." " Yeah." " He's in love!" " Perhaps they'll happily end up together as well." "Do you remember when I first came here?" "You had just arrived." "God, what lust for life..." "How many hopes..." " And now?" " And now some fewer." "Don't cry, dear Xenia, it's pointless." "One would imagine that there is still a long way to go." "I will have my children in Florence and I won't deny them the dreams that we had." "On the contrary, you know..." "Xenia!" "Xenia..." " Thank you, babe!" " How are you, Dino?" " Look at how you've cut back?" " Me?" " Have you sold everything?" "There's nothing left?" "But work, Dino, you've been missing for several months." "Babe, when I get out, I'll have nothing and have to start all over again." "OK, Dino, we'll start again." "The End" "Subtitles by TMDaines"