"SENILITY" "I really like you." "But I don't want you to compromise yourself on my account." "I'm a man, it's different, but I like you too much to want to hurt you." "No one has ever spoken to me like this." "You mean that nobody has ever cared about you." "You see, Angiolina, you're too naive, honestly." "I'd like to give you a little of my experience." "You don't really know me." "I'm selfish and I've made many people suffer." "But I don't want to be like that with you." "And I won't be." "But now tell me everything about yourself." "Would you?" "There's really little to tell." "I'm always home, because even though we're poor, I don't need to work." " You seem to me quite free." " Really?" "In what way?" "I mean your parents aren't always with you, watching you." "I imagine you can go out when you want, right?" "Well, when there's nothing to do at home..." "Luckily, there's my mother and little sister." "We're three women and one man." " I wonder if he would like me?" " Who?" " Your father." " Why you think he won't like you?" "I hope so." "You see, it's difficult for me to communicate with others." "For example, I have no friends." "At my work, there isn't an atmosphere of sympathy among my colleagues and me." "It doesn't exist." "We have nothing to talk about." "It's the same with everybody except two people: my sister and a sculptor friend." "And I'm not too sure about him!" "That's why I work and then leave." "I'm better at home with my ideas and books." "Occasionally, I write a phrase that'll help me when I start writing seriously." "So, when do we meet again?" " Tomorrow is fine with me." " Tomorrow?" "Good." " At the same place?" " Yes." "At the same time." "Who knows if this meeting will bring us luck?" "Who knows?" "Bye." "At almost 40 years old," "I found myself with an unsatisfied desire for pleasures and love and the bitterness of not having enjoyed either." "This encounter promised to be a short and easy adventure." "Like those, I had so often heard and read about, but never experienced for myself." "A short and easy adventure:" "just what I wanted, because I knew I was weak, and deep down, I was very afraid of myself." " Emilio?" " Hi!" "What happened?" "It's almost 10." "I met a girl." "What?" "I met a girl." "And who is she?" "You don't know her." "Her name is Angiolina." "I met her by chance." "Be careful, Emilio." "Don't do anything stupid, please." "Come on, Amalia." "Can't I flirt with a girl?" "I'm not 18 anymore." "She's a pretty girl and I like her." "That's all." "We strolled for two hours and didn't even realize it." " And how is she?" "Beautiful?" " Yes, beautiful." "Very beautiful, refined, light." "She's a girl of the people, but without any heaviness or vulgarity." "She has a healthy and spontaneous joy." "She could be more astute, but she's just like a little girl." "With a... with a huge desire to live." "Is she honest?" "Yes, very honest." "Too much so." "I feel sorry for her." " You'll see her again?" " Of course." "That is to say... truly, I don't know." "I asked to meet her again, but I don't think she'll come." "Why should she?" "I spoke to her very clearly." "I told her not to expect anything from me." "At all." "I doubt I'll go myself." "Amalia, I have to leave." "Forgive me, if I were late." "What?" "Aren't you going to eat?" "You just got here." " I'm not hungry, really." " At least a little!" "I said I wasn't hungry." "I want to see Balli, maybe I can still catch him." "Bye!" "Emilio!" "Stefano!" "Stefano!" "Emilio!" "You want to go get coffee?" "No, I'm sorry, I have an appointment." "Why are you so late?" "I was afraid you wouldn't come." "Sorry." "How wonderful: your hair, your eyes." "What beauty!" "I don't feel well." "I have a toothache." "If you only knew... since yesterday and all night." "See!" "Ah, if I were braver!" "I'd take you in my arms... and never let you go." "Forever?" "I mean you don't know me." "You must know who you're talking with." "I not only lack money but also courage." "That's why I never married." " I've always been afraid of sharing poverty." " Not me!" "You want to know the truth, I'd be happy just to be near someone." "Even without money." "Misery is a terrible thing to share." "Believe me, I know." "You know nothing about love." "Poor Angiolina, what have you got yourself into?" "I wouldn't be good for you." "You need a more secure type." "I know many like that..." "Carlini, for example, or Barbi or Nelli," "Solid, real people." "Not crazy like me!" "But what do you think, that one is just the same to me as another?" "Such talk!" " No!" "I didn't mean that, I meant..." " You're wrong, you know." "Very wrong, if you think one man is the same to me as another." "I wouldn't even let Barbi touch my hand!" "Let alone Carlini." "Never Barbi." "Look, if that's what you think of me, I better go." "Let me leave." "No, Angiolina, you missed my point!" "What I meant was that you were too honest, too unselfish." "I meant that I didn't deserve you." "Dear Angiolina, how confused you were with my words." " Dear..." "Je t'aime beaucoup!" " What are you saying?" "It's French." "Say it!" "Je t'aime beaucoup." " Je... t'aime... beauk..." " No, no. - coup." "Je... t'aime... beau..." "coup." "You try it." " Je... t'aime... beaucoup." " Nice." " What does it mean?" "It means, "I love you very much"." "Say it." " Go on, say it." " No, no." " Go on." "Je t'aime beaucoup." "Come on, say it, please, say it." " No!" " Say it!" "Je t'aime beaucoup." " No, I don't want to." " Please, say it." "Why not?" " Why?" "Why don't you want to?" "Say it once!" " No, I don't want to!" " Good morning." " Morning, Vicentini." " Morning." " What a nice day yesterday was, eh?" " Here you go." " Thank you." " Good morning, Ma'am." " Morning, Sorniani." " Morning." "I saw you last night." " I said hello, but you didn't see me." " Where?" "You were with that beautiful Zarri girl." "But how do you know her?" "I met her at a friend's house." "Do you know her?" "For some time now." "Tell me, what is she up to nowadays?" "I haven't see her lately." "Indeed, I thought she had left town." "Hi, Brentani!" "Hi." "I think she's a respectable girl." "Who?" "The Zarri girl?" "Ah!" "Yes, yes." "Probably." "A while back, she fell in love with a certain Merighi." "Do you know him?" "Yes, I think so." "It would've been a lucky strike for her." "She hasn't a penny." "However, it's not clear what happened." "The truth is that his mother had her thrown out of the house." " Why?" " These things never work out!" "He took her from her home and brought her to live with his mother." "I don't have to explain it, do I?" "Day and night, in the fiancée's house." "It ended badly." "It seems Mrs. Merighi discovered some affair of the girl's." "And you, eh?" "You get on well, right?" "Really well..." "But it's true, that girl has something." "Something... spicy!" "If you keep this up, I won't have the courage to go to confession." "I never allowed anyone..." " Not even Merighi?" " Who?" " Merighi." " Merighi?" "Who told you about him?" "He was going to marry you, wasn't he?" "Why didn't he?" "Careful, it was me who didn't want to marry him." "I ended up sick of him and his mother." "A dried up old toad faced woman." "Do you know what she dared say to me?" "That I was his misfortune." "And if it weren't for me, he could've found a rich and educated wife." "After that, it was he who came to me crying, begging..." "Can you imagine what a life I would've had if I married him?" "Well, it's done." "A new day." "I was even sick for a long time." "I got better a year later." "Then, did you love him..." "a lot?" "Very much." "Yes, especially at first." "Of course, he was very handsome." "I wouldn't have married for his money, that's for sure." "Do you know him?" "No, only by sight." "It ended long ago." "It failed and was over." "Water under the bridge." "And after that, Angiolina?" " After what?" " After Merighi... anybody else?" " No." " Darling!" "Did Merighi kiss you like I do?" "No, I never allowed him to." "But you were engaged, he must have kissed you." "Like how?" "Like that." "Tell me the truth, how does he kiss you?" "Tell me!" "Why don't you want to?" "So many questions!" "I just want you to tell me what it was like." "Tell me!" "Go on!" "Of course he kissed me." "You'd want me to go a year without kissing my fiancée?" "What a guy!" " So then it's not true, that nobody has ever kissed you like me." " It's true." "I'm not at all jealous, you know." "You must have been in love." "Only I think, looking back, it'd be more painful." "And instead..." "Darling!" "Like that, yes!" "Yes, Angiolina!" " Darling..." " No, let go!" " Angiolina!" " Angiolina, don't you want to..." " I don't!" "No!" "Angiolina!" "Angiolina!" "Angiolina, are you crying?" "I beg you, don't cry, don't cry!" "Don't cry, I beg you, don't cry!" "If you really loved me, you wouldn't try to do me wrong." "You want my father to kill me?" "Poor Angiolina!" "You are honest." "Truly honest." "And have so little cunning." "It'd be better to be less honest and more cunning." "In exchange for the love I received, I decided to educate her." "To teach her to know life and the art of taking advantage of it." "One morning, I used the excuse of visiting her to enter her home." "I wanted to study Angiolina, now so important in my life, in the context of the things and people around her." "Although blind, all my life I acted the part of one who could see." " Good morning!" " Morning." "Is Miss Angiolina in?" " Ah, you want Angiolina!" "Please, come in!" " Thanks." " Angiolina!" " Thanks!" " No, that's not for you!" "Oh, Mr. Brentani!" "What a nice surprise." "This is my mother." " Pleased to meet you." " Likewise." "Please, make yourself at home." " Have a seat, please." " I brought some sweets." "I wasn't expecting you." "Quiet!" "My dad's sleeping on the other side." "Sit there and behave." "From the kitchen, they can see everything." "What are you looking at?" "Photographs." "That's my saint." "And that's my sister's saint." "The other one is my poor brother's." "Are there any more saints?" "Leardi." "Datti." "You're not going to be jealous of those people?" "Is that how you think of me?" "Here, I won't give you one, but two of my photographs." "Why, have you given it to others?" "Once or twice to a friend." "What's wrong with that?" "Who did you give it to?" "Leardi?" "I did not." "I gave it to an honest man." "A married man." " The painter Datti." " Yes, I know him." "I don't like all these men in your room." "How did you meet these people?" "Merighi introduced them to me." "OK." "OK." "Let's go." "Let's not talk about it." "I have to go to work." "You seem to be in a hurry." "Where you going?" " To the De Luigi's." " Who are they?" "What do you mean?" "I already told you." "The daughter is a friend of mine." "We work together, with her mother." "They have a tailor's shop, and so I earn a little money." "It's always better to be out." "You don't know what it's like here." "All day, my parents scream and shout." "At least at the De Luigi's, I feel a little like family." "The husband is old, and there are no young men, understand?" "So much for your rule." "This is the first time you walked with me in the street." "We make a good couple." " Why do you look at everybody so?" " Eyes are meant for seeing, no?" "Yeah." "He stopped, didn't he?" "You did your best to make him stop." "I did it to make you jealous." "Oh, my teacher, so serious!" " What a sourpuss!" " I'm not a sourpuss." "I'm sad." "I know I have no right." "Make fun of me too!" "You're absolutely right!" "I shouldn't forget it." "It's not like we're sleeping together!" "Keep your voice down!" "Do you have to say that?" "It's not an easy thing." "If I do it once, I do it forever." "But I love you." "I promise that I'll do it." "I promise." "But first, I want to be sure." "When you find me a boyfriend, one who'll marry me, and who assumes the responsibility that you won't take." "I have to think about my family." "I have to put myself... first." "You're selfish." "You want everything but give nothing." "Poor Angiolina." "What I make you do." "She will have been mine." "Sullied by another man, but possessed by me." "Angiolina, who was starting to become dear to me, will be dead to me forever." "And finally, I too will have experienced pleasure." "Indifferent and dismissive, like Stefano." "Emilio!" " Hi!" " Hi, Brentani!" "Hi, Stefano!" "Listen to me well: what you call crazy love is just a sickness." "A product of our decadent civilization." "A real man can love two or three women at once and in the same way." "Yes, sir, in the same way!" "With the heart and mind free!" "Totally free!" "Yeah, we know that you're lucky with women!" "Easy for you!" "If you want one, all you have to do is whistle." "And this one wants a pair of them, like eggs!" "What does that matter?" "I speak of the liberty a man must defend." "A man must defend his own liberty!" "So true." "The intelligent never lose themselves." "And love is losing yourself." "Don't worry, it's not made for intellectuals." "Bravo!" "Only you understand me!" "Waiter!" "Come on, Emilio, let's take a walk." "Let's leave these softies." " Good night." " Bye." " So long." "What have you been doing?" "Were you sick?" "I came looking for you the other night but you weren't there." "I visited your studio but you're never there." "And to think that I have a bad habit of spending the night in the cafe." "No!" "It's not our fault if we haven't seen you in a long time." "It's you who have forgotten us." "I'm not the one who abandoned Emilio." "He abandoned me." "He's also abandoned me." "He's always distracted, ready to run out." "He doesn't even work on his book anymore." "On Sunday, we went out." "It just takes for him to see a tall, lovely girl and he's lost." "That's what you told me, wasn't it?" " But, is she really so tall and lovely?" " I've never seen her." "He says he wants to introduce me, but he keeps her hidden." "Want to bet he's jealous of me?" "While I'm not sure if you'll like her?" "Of course!" "Did you hear?" "He's jealous of me!" "Jealous of his best friend!" " I can understand it." " I can't understand it at all." "I respect friendship." "The truth is that I'm selfish." " Maybe, it's love." " Love?" "It's not love, Amalia." "It's sex." "Don't think otherwise." "You don't know that sex is a fleeting thing." "He possesses a woman and then it's done." "Am I shocking you?" "No." "It's just that you lose the habit of... speaking about certain things, even thinking about them... as if they were sins." "Love was never a sin, Amalia." "We must love everyone and everything." "You must have energy, vitality and life will be on your side." "Everything has went well for me." "I've been very lucky." "You, on the other hand, Emilio are spoiled." "Here you are in paradise, You eat and drink like a king." "You're not accustomed to family life, but only enjoy it for a night." "But a life like yours:" "free, independent..." "There's no comparison." "See this cup?" "It's mine." "I'll make a mark." "From now on, I'm marked to live here." "OK?" "Don't forget it, Amalia!" "I've been waiting an hour!" "I was just leaving." "And in this weather!" "What?" "It's only six now." "What do I know, maybe it rang early?" "You know how much I hate to wait." "But it's 6:00." "Just look at the clock." " It is." " Probably!" "Maybe I was in a rush to see you, and I came here too early." "Besides, I have to go back home now." "If you knew how much I cried yesterday..." "What happened?" "Let's walk a little." "Well, tell me, what is it?" "Don't you want to tell me?" "First give me a kiss." "Now then, what is it?" " I'm getting married." " What?" "You're getting married?" "Yes, I'm getting married." "This solves my situation." "And you and I will have no more worries." "Just think!" "We can do anything we want." "Anything!" "Aren't you happy?" "Of course." "Don't you want to know who the groom is?" "But do you love him?" "How can you ask such a question?" "Then, don't marry him then." "What?" "You mustn't marry him." "You'll be unhappy with someone you don't love." "But we agreed!" "You said..." "Yes, I said so many insignificant things, too many things..." "Look, it's as if you were really mine." "And that's all I need, Angiolina." "It's such a complete feeling like this..." "It doesn't make sense." "Listen, leave things as they are." "I..." "I'll love you the same." "Let's continue as we are." "Deep down..." "Deep down, it's a material thing, only a formality." "We don't need it." "I don't desire you, look, I don't really want you." "But how?" "What do I do now?" "I can't go on like this." "My home is going from bad to worse." "If it isn't poverty, it's close." "My father doesn't work." "Always in and out of hospital." "Skipping meals isn't fun." "You talk so much because you can!" "Sometimes, I feel such desperation that I don't know what I'll do..." "Angiolina!" "Darling!" "You love me but you have no intention of marrying me." "What should I do?" "Tell me." "Must I always live in the middle of misery?" "Who is he?" "A very honest person." "A tailor." "His name is Volpini." "For sure, he's not the ideal husband." "But he's a good man, poor thing." "Generous." "I met him at Mrs. De Luigi's." "He has a tailor shop in Turin." "But, he's promised that when we're married, he'll let me come to Trieste." "That way, we can see each other." "You will be married soon?" "He wants to do it right away, as soon as he takes care of some business." "Just think..." "nothing will change between us." "We can meet and make love quietly." " What's he like?" " He has money, and will help me and my family." "He's a dwarf that comes up to here on me!" "He says he's small but that his love is great." "He's ugly, poor thing!" "Ugly as famine!" "And a little stooped." "He has such a face!" "Who knows that one day when I've forgotten you," "I might love him a little." "Who knows?" "Oh, sorry, Emilio, there's the tram." "I really must go, I'm sorry." "Angiolina!" "Angiolina!" "Angiolina, when do we see each other again?" "So this is Angiolina?" "This is Margherita." " A pleasure." "How are you?" " Now, we all know each other." "You'll see this one when there's light." "You're not missing anything." "What beautiful eyes, Margherita." "What do you think those of Angiolina?" "The eyes aren't bad." "However, the nose would need to be tweaked to be used as a model." "It would need a little touch up." " Oh, is that so?" " I may be wrong." "Let's look in the light." "Why did he want to meet me?" "Where has he seen me?" "He's never seen you, but I told him about you." "Did you see how he looks at me?" "What did you say?" " That you were a traitor." " What?" "That you were a traitor." "Angiolina, if you're looking for me to tell that your nose is pretty, you're mistaken." "Your nose should be like so." "I like it as it is." "Does it still hurt?" "If it hurts, take off your shoe." "Her feet always hurt" "No, thanks." "Don't worry about it." " There's always something that hurts." " Come on, take them off." "Don't be so whiny." "Take off your shoes." "Go on!" "OK, if you think so." "I'll take them both off." "You know, Miss, when the seasons change," "I feel such pains in my feet, legs and even in the chest." "Really?" "Poor thing..." "I'm always fine!" "You have an unbearable vanity." "Emilio was right." "Me?" "What do you mean?" "What are you afraid of?" "Why don't you say what you think of her?" "My friend, women think they're perfect if you worship them." "And they step on your neck." "Come on, tell them what I think of you!" "Long as a stick, half lame and insipid as a turnip." "See?" "And yet we love each other so much." "You've earned it." "Oh, don't act like a prude!" "As if you haven't said worse!" "But what did you say?" "Me?" "Nothing, nothing at all." "Why, what could I say?" "Go on, tell her, she's not going to bite your head off!" "Angiolina." "Forget Angiolina!" "Big Angie we'll have to call you!" " Big Angie!" "You know what you are..." " Waiter!" "Big Angie!" " What do you want to eat?" "Stefano, how about you?" " You decide, Emilio." "Big Angie!" "What would you like to eat?" "What a shame we see you so little." "He talks about you all the time." "He's a bit gruff, but goodhearted." "And intelligent!" "And one can forgive anything for intelligence, right?" "And compared to others, right?" " Yes." " What's there?" " Ham?" " No." "Big Angie, are you coming on Thursday to pose for me?" " Me?" "Pose?" " No, dressed, dressed." "You know I think you may be the right type." "Pose like this." "Not bad." "Would you like salmon?" " So, will you come?" " Oh, I don't know." "Yes, you do." "You'll surely come." "You want to." "Tell the truth." "And... when should I?" "Not right away." "I'll let you know." " Is he always so quiet?" "It's a bore." " He's a good man." "I admit that when it comes to goodness, he's more useful than me." "He thinks like me." "He always thinks I'm right though I can't reciprocate." "My dear man, a little more liveliness!" "You tell him too, Big Angie." "I was thinking, couldn't she pose for the work that you just mentioned?" "If I ask her, she'll accept." "I already accepted." "To pose?" " Yes." "I told him a moment ago, didn't you hear?" " No." "Yes, she accepted." "See, all things come to those who are good." "Big Angie!" "Big Angie!" "You know, your friend is very nice." "Who know how many women he's had." " Thanks a lot." " For what?" "You behaved very well." "You both acted perfectly." "Knock it off." "The whole time, I wanted to speak to you alone." "I'm in trouble, you know?" "Now what?" "Do you know what Volpini wrote me?" "I have the letter here." "No, I don't." "No big deal, but I wanted you to see it." "He wrote me a long letter." "He tells me that he can't marry until next year." " Why?" " Oh, it's confusing!" "He says he can't." "He's very busy with business, with work." "He wants first to open a big tailor shop in Venice." "Good." "It's better this way." "I told you not to do it." "So what?" "He says in a year, he'll have his business settled and then we'll marry." "But he says that we should consider ourselves already married." "You get what I mean?" "No, I don't understand." "If you can't get married..." "In the sense, he says, that he can't wait a year." "In case things go wrong." "He wants us to have sex first." "Ah, now I understand." "What a scoundrel!" "You see that I tell you everything?" "And that it's not true what you said before?" "Go on..." " Say that it's not true what you said." "Go on!" " What did I say?" "That I'm a traitor." "Go on!" "Say it!" "No." "Don't worry, Emilio!" "I'll get it." " Morning, Amalia." " Stefano!" "What a nice surprise." "Make yourself at home." "Come in!" "Come in!" " Emilio!" "Stefano is here!" " I was passing by and thought I'd stop in to say hi." "Ah, you're looking very well." "Am I wrong or were you going out?" "Only our Sunday walk." "If you want, I can accompany you." "Ah, of course!" "Emilio is in his room but you can go in." "I'll be ready in a moment." "Hello, Emilio." "You had fun last night, didn't you?" "A little at my expense." " I don't know what you can reproach me with?" " Oh, nothing!" "I behaved like I told you I would, didn't I?" "You should treat Big Angie the way I treated her." "One day, you'll understand." "Look, Emilio, it's not possible that you're taking Angiolina seriously." "And that you're pining for love for a woman like her." "Yes, dear Emilio, that's right." "It's clear that I'm not like you." "Respect and kindness are important to me." "I don't disagree." "Only, the face I'm looking at doesn't seem too happy." "I'm ready." "Shall we go?" "Morning." "Morning." "Morning." "Among the three of us, we know the whole city, eh?" "It's you who know everybody, not us." " Morning." " They're all greeting you!" "The woe that would've befell the world, if you never came!" "Of course, they all would've gone home." "Angiolina?" "Yes." "How beautiful she is!" " Good morning." " Good morning, how are you?" " She's going to marry that beast." " Now you see?" "I've thrown her in his arms." " Don't laugh." " You're crazy." "Swear to me that you'll never seek her out, that you'll never ask her to pose." " What?" " Swear that you'll never ask her to pose for you and if you meet in her the street, treat her as if you didn't know her." "OK?" " But why?" " Swear!" "I can get used to the idea of Volpini, but you never." "Swear." " Swear!" " OK, I promise." "Sorry, I lost track of time." "It's been so long since I saw them." "That's OK." "Do you remember them?" "They wanted to say hello." " No, I don't remember." " They're distant relatives..." " Really?" " Turn around..." "There they are." " Good morning." "Really, Emilio, you don't remember them?" "I can't move another step!" " Angiolina, have you seen who it is?" " Who?" " Balli." "Good night!" "Be still!" "I told you to be still!" "Emilio!" "Be still!" "If you come quickly, you'll arrive just in time." "No, I can't tell you." "Come here." " How nice you are!" " Get off!" " Remember, at the bar." "Try to hurry." "A shame, Emilio!" "You've missed a show which surely would've done you much good." "It had everything but romance." "They left five minutes ago." "Stop acting like a comedian." "This is about Angiolina, right?" " Yeah." " Look, I know all about her, there's nothing for you to tell." "You've seen her with a man." "I know him." "Volpini,her fiancée." "No, not Volpini." "This was the umbrella seller at Bari Vecchia." "The one who has the parasol stand." "Look, friend, this wasn't just talking but touching." "They were there chaperoned by a girl and they were kissing." "I can't tell you the look she gave me when she saw me." "They went that way." "Too bad you missed it." "Well, either this one or another, I don't think I'm surprised." "And I never said I was going to marry her." "You know very well, Stefano, I wasn't looking for an honest girl." "Just as well." "Tomorrow, go to her and dump her." "But quickly, on the spot." "So you can inherit her?" "Then she can pose for you." "Even nude, if you want." "See ya!" "I'm going to bed now." "I'm so bored I can't keep my eyes open." "Are you crazy?" "Now you're jealous?" " Look, you're wrong!" " Goodnight, Stefano!" "I knew she was like that." " Ah!" "What do you want?" " Sorry, sorry." "My God, let me find her!" "Oh Stefano..." "anything you want..." "Stefano..." "I was ashamed to find out my sister's secret in this way." "But her words aroused in me, a painful remorse... which transformed itself into a great compassion for myself." "I cried, and the tears gave me relief." " Mr. Brentani, so soon?" " Morning, is Angiolina in?" "Angiolina came back late last night." "Poor Mrs. De Luigi was sick and Angiolina was there all day." " Still sleeping, poor thing." " I must speak with her." "Go ahead, make yourself at home." "Go ahead." "You're almost like family now." "Please, go ahead." "Wait one moment." "Have a seat." "Brentani is here!" "Are you here?" "Just think..." "Volpini came without warning." "At home, they know nothing." "They think I was with Mrs. De Luigi." "You can imagine how boring." "I said," ""Don't you get tired of following me around?"" "Luckily, I found a friend you know, Giulia, and we went to a cafe." "And you know who was there?" "Balli!" "Your dear friend Stefano." "What a look he gave me." "He didn't even greet me." "Then he spied on me." "Some guy!" "Who would've ever thought?" "Watch it!" "I shouldn't have told you it was Volpini." "It wasn't him, so what?" "And you come to my house at these hours with my dad in there." "Are you crazy?" "Besides, what harm was in it?" "They were spying." "She asked me because he's very much in love, more than you." "For me, from this moment on, it's like you were dead!" "Do you know who you were with?" "With the umbrella seller at Bari Vecchia." "He kissed and touched you!" "Are you crazy?" "I won't put up with this!" "You were already lost in your mother's womb." "You're so dishonest that you imposed on me!" "I loved you." "Not to possess you, but with all my heart and soul!" "And what have you done for me?" "What have you done that you can demand that I'm only yours?" "From the moment you let me love you, you were mine!" "You were not free!" "Won't you even give me one kiss?" "I won't kiss you anymore." "Never again." "Never again!" "Emilio!" "Everybody possessed her except me." "If I had possessed her like the others, I wouldn't have suffered so much." "This was my despair." "Fine revenge, to leave her!" "I had punished myself, and not her." "Emilio!" "How are you?" "So, so..." "Why don't you ask me to dinner?" "I have nothing to do." "Fine, if you want." "And then I said, entering the restaurant," ""Do you want a portrait of the lady?"" ""It'll be done in 5 minutes, it'll look perfect."" "I always managed to get some money, for two, you understand?" "I've always had to work for two." "Didn't you feel embarrassed?" "I would've died..." "Embarrassed?" "Me?" "What for?" "Tell the truth, do you think I need to be embarrassed?" "Oh, it's magnificent!" "Look, Emilio, in two minutes!" "Bravo!" "You see what a genius friend I have?" "When you have to eat, dear Amalia, one does anything." "What counts is not giving up." " Do you play?" " No, a while back a little, but not anymore." "There was a time when I almost raised the white flag." "If I hadn't met Commander Motteri, I would be in another profession." "I would've ended up a hack like you, Emilio." "But it must be nice to know such intelligent and generous people." "Generous?" "Not at all!" "He was a crazy old man, he never left me alone, always on top of me." "Thank goodness he died." "This jalopy's a little old, isn't it?" "Come, play." "I ask you." "Me?" "Oh, no!" "It's been so many years." " Come on, try it." " No, it's not possible." "Play a little, please." "Just to let me hear what a piano sounds like." "No, I can't..." "Go on, play something." "I don't know, really." "To be honest, I don't like playing." "Besides, I don't remember anything." "I would make a mess of it." " No, no, that's not "do"." " It's not "do"?" " No." " This one?" " No!" " Ah!" " This one." "You tricked me!" "He tricked me!" "He plays great!" " Why, that's good!" " What can't I do?" "I bet every woman falls in love with him!" "Amalia, please." "Just think how many things they must have done!" "Amalia, please." "Orgies!" "Every night!" "Stefano has a boundless imagination." "Sometimes you don't know what is true." "Yes, imagination!" "Nothing but that." "It's all true, dear Amalia, all true." "Remember that week in Venice?" "If they aren't indecent stories, you can tell me." "I'm not a little girl." " Do you know what time it is?" " No." " Midnight." "Midnight?" "I didn't realize." "You must forgive us, Stefano..." "I'll walk you home." "I want to get some air before bed." "Good!" "By your face, you need it!" " Thank you, Amalia." " Certainly, you were bored." " The more thankful I am." " What do you mean?" "It was great!" "And the proof is I'm coming to bother you again." "Now, that my love sickness has passed." "Good night." "And see you soon!" " Good night, Amalia, sleep well." " Good evening." "You know, tonight was very nice." " Really?" " Yes." "Don't you realize anything?" " What do you mean?" " About Amalia." "Don't you realize when you're around, Amalia is nervous and even stutters." " Are you serious?" " Yes." "What are you trying to say?" "That's she's in love with you." "Yeah, it's so embarrassing, it makes you laugh." "I'm not laughing at her." "Given the years we've known each other and the respect I've always had for her," "I don't believe it!" "You don't believe it?" "When you don't come, she's sick, distracted, listless." "I can't bear to see her like that." " And how do you know?" " I know, I'm sure, Stefano." "I think it would be better if you didn't come to my home anymore." "You can't forgive that Amalia likes me and you want me to stay away from her." "Just as you couldn't forgive me because Angiolina liked me." "Don't you know I understand you well?" "I know you too well." "Your sister has nothing to do with it." "Not at all!" "You're jealous on account of Angiolina." "And now you're looking for an excuse to argue with me." "If I didn't pity you!" "That's right: pity you!" "Pity!" "I'd slap your face and never see you again!" "It's true, sadly true!" "She's desperately in love with you, and you know it's impossible, Stefano!" "Fine!" "Whatever you want!" "I won't step into your home again!" "We can see each other outside, whenever you want." "I'd just like you to understand that I'm not jealous." "Why should I care?" "Angiolina means nothing to me." "I just feel indifferent, you see." "If these houses got up and started dancing, I wouldn't even care, you see." "That's how I feel." "What will you tell your sister?" "I'll say..." "I'll say you're very busy with work." "As you wish." "Hey, how's the affair going?" "What affair?" "That tigress, Angiolina." "Ah, yes, yes." "I don't see her anymore." "You did right, you know?" "She wasn't a woman for you." "That one's been with half the city." "Look, you're wrong." "She's a good girl." "Honest." " Are you serious?" " Yes." "Come on!" "I've seen it with my own eyes." "She wasn't even 16 and she was already running around with all the town boys." "Please, that one's been with everybody." "Look:" "Giustini, one;" "Vicentini, two;" "Carlesi, Marchetti, Leardi..." "You can spare yourself the trouble of preparing coffee." " It's likely that he won't be able to come for some time." " Why?" "I think he's working." "He's very busy." "Very busy?" "Enough to not be able to come and have coffee?" "Emilio..." "I don't think Stefano is working." "Anyway, it's better he doesn't come anymore." "Why?" "I don't understand you." "Amalia, I've thought a lot before speaking to you about this." "You see, I don't know how to say it." "Believe me, it's not easy." "I beg you to understand." "I don't want to reproach you..." "You...are crazy." "Amalia, I just wanted..." "Stefano said something about me?" "Tell me." "No, no, I assure you." "Absolutely not." "He..." "I swear, he never said anything." "Ever." "Then why doesn't he come anymore?" "Because of work." "I told you." "You'll see, he'll come around in a few days." "He won't come!" "I know!" "I saw him on the street." "He pretended not to see me." "What an idiot I am!" "I don't know why I'm even crying." "It's just nothing." "I must be insane!" "I'm intelligent." "Nonetheless... like a young girl, I fell in love with just a look and a few words!" "Let him come!" "It doesn't matter." "Don't worry, he won't even see me!" "I'll stay locked in my room." "OK?" "Are you happy?" " I don't want to see him again!" " Amalia." "I told you because..." "don't act like this!" " Leave me alone!" "Leave me alone!" " Amalia!" "Leave me alone!" "Leave me alone!" " Amalia, I beg you, let me in." "Amalia!" " Leave me alone!" "In all my life, I had never believed in the pleasures that were offered to me." "Indeed, I never sought happiness." "But it was much easier to reject happiness than to get rid of pain." "The only salvation was to reject even the memory of Angiolina." "To see her never again." "But now I knew the meaning of "never again"." " Good evening." " How are you?" "It's been a while." "Yes, because..." "but then... but then as I was just passing by now..." "Have you forgiven me, Emilio?" "Do you know what I can't forgive?" "That you never looked for me." "And that you had no intention to." "You don't care anymore." "Hush!" "I really wanted to." "If you knew how many times..." "But I was ashamed." "I had decided to write you tomorrow." "And excuse me, but after all, what have I done?" "Angiolina!" "With that umbrella seller..." "Aren't you ashamed?" "Jealous!" "Jealous of that dirty individual?" "No, look... there's no reason to be jealous of that one." "If you think you did right by leaving me, you're right, I admit it." "But because of the umbrella man!" "Look, sincerely..." "Angiolina..." "Let's walk a little, without speaking, you want to?" "Dear Angiolina!" "That night I looked for you everywhere." "I thought I saw you around every corner." "I love you, Angiolina, I love you so much..." "Emilio!" "Are you crying?" "You love me that much?" "You know, I saw you down the street." "Why didn't you come before?" "Did you think I was still mad?" "No." "Come to my house." " Angiolina?" " Yes, Mom." "Volpini wanted me at any cost." "Nobody knew it." "Not even my mother." "I did it, but I thought only of you." "My Angiolina." "Emilio!" "Emilio!" "Emilio!" " Good morning, Emilio." " Paola!" "How are you?" "How pretty you are today." " Were you good?" " Very good!" " Is your sister in?" " Angela!" "Paola, let go, come on." "Paola!" "Let go, come now." " Mr. Brentani." " Good morning." " Good morning." "How early..." "Hey, nosy!" "Get in your room!" "Go on!" "Please, make yourself at home." "Sit down if you like." " Good morning." " Good morning." "My darling." "No!" "Not here, are you crazy?" "No!" "Why not?" "They'll see us." "What are you thinking?" "I don't want to disrespect my parents." "My father would kill me!" "I'm getting dressed now and you must go." "No, I want you..." "I want you!" "Let me go!" "I had experienced how important it was to possess a woman, long desired for." "I was satisfied." "But I had possessed a woman I hated... not one I loved." "How many times have you been with Volpini?" "What are you thinking?" "Once." "I already told you." "He realized that I didn't love him." "So he demanded a proof of love." "Only once?" "And then?" "With you, tonight." "As you very well know." "Why don't you ever tell the truth?" "Not even with me, why?" "Do you hear?" "It's my father." "He's unbearable." "And if he finds someone here he doesn't know..." "Angiolina." "Look, I found a place." "We'll see each other tomorrow." "This is the address." "OK?" "No." "Not tomorrow." "Thursday." "Come, come on in." "This is the door to the floor, but is always closed." "See?" "And here is the light." "In case you need it, here's the bell." "Two pulls." " Why you did take so long?" " Not my fault." "They wouldn't let me." "Come on, that's enough, handsome." "I was coming here, there was a guy who wouldn't leave me alone." "As soon as he saw me: attack!" "He was just leaning there." "I didn't know how to lose him." "It happens to me 100 times a day." "Libera nos, Domine!" "Then you complain... after all the ways you treated me." "I thought I was entitled to be someone to you, but I realize that's not true." "I count less than any other man." "But I left work to come here." "Mrs. De Luigi pays." "If I don't bring enough home, I hear it from my mom." "You never told me that." "What do you think my family lives on?" "My poor father's pension?" "Just imagine it." "We'd be dead." "Why didn't you tell me?" "Sure I told you." "But you only tell me that you love me and don't listen to me." "Besides, I don't like to complain." "Especially to you." "We have a ton of debts." "And Volpini, at least for now, won't help us." "That's why I must work, understand?" "Day and night." "And that's why... we can't see each other so often." "Angiolina... would you accept this?" "Oh, I don't know how to thank you." "May God bless you!" "I'll tell you everything like a sister." "Amalia?" "Amalia, is that you?" "Yes." "What are you doing?" "I thought you were in bed." "I went to the pharmacy." "What's the matter, aren't you feeling well?" "I'm fine, thank you, don't stop." "Keep working, I'm fine." "I tried to write again, but I didn't feel strong enough to overcome my listlessness." "I didn't know how to think anymore on my work." "My thoughts constantly returned to Angiolina." "Only Angiolina." "Angiolina, Angiolina!" " Angiolina!" " What are you doing here?" "Where have you been?" "With another?" "Who?" "Tell me!" "Tell me!" " You're crazy." " You reek of wine, Where have you been?" "Tell me!" "Yes, I drank!" "That's right, nosy, I drank a lot." "Please, don't start!" "It was with that old De Luigi." "He said, "Today I want to see Angiolina drunk"." "That crazy old fool!" "But he didn't succeed." " Angiolina!" " Emilio..." "Emilio!" "Angiolina, come with me." " Let me go!" " Come here!" " Let go!" "Here?" "No!" "Not here..." "Hello?" "Yes, it's me." "Where are you?" "Yes, I'll be right there." "Yes." "If they ask for me, do as you did yesterday." "Be careful." "The boss has his eye on you." "What is it?" "What happened?" " It was that scoundrel, Volpini." "That pig!" " Volpini?" "What is it?" "He doesn't want to marry me." "He says that I will deceive him." "That I'll make him a cuckold." "Some courage!" " Maybe he found out about me?" " Ah, no!" "I haven't spoken about you." "You realize that scoundrel has ruined me." "I came to find you because you're the only one who can advise me." " Does he have any proof?" " What proof?" "He knows nothing." "And besides, a deal is a deal." "He must marry me, my boy!" "He must or else..." "I've never seen you like this." "Besides, it's better you don't marry him." "Sorry, listen:" "you have to do me a big favor." "You're the one who knows all." "I don't want that pig thinking that I'm a fool." "You have to answer him." "You have to help me write a letter." "OK, OK, I will." "Thanks, I was sure." "I have to hurry." "I have to collect last week's salary." "If not, we don't eat." "I hope they pay me." "Sorry, but could you lend me something?" "Of course." " Here." "Is this enough?" " That's fine." "I'll pay it back." "When do we meet again?" "Tomorrow?" "No, I can't tomorrow." "I have too much to do." "Better this evening, at 7." "Then you can bring me the response." " The Paraci?" " No, outside, I don't have time." "The same spot, OK?" "I'll be there at 7." "Goddamn jerk!" "They'll find out!" "He should know that you were first!" "Once again, I wanted to cheat her." "The pain it caused to see her like that extinguished every desire." "At the same time, I felt even more attached to her by a strange anomaly of the heart and senses and the same indignation which I believed was contempt." "Amalia!" "Not setting the table yet?" "Amalia!" "Amalia!" "Amalia, are you..." "Amalia!" "Get out of here." "Amalia!" "Amalia?" "What is it?" "These vermin, always these vermin." "Let's get out of this house, so filthy, I didn't want it..." " But you wanted to come here..." " What are you saying?" " So many vermin..." " No, there's nothing!" "Amalia, it's me!" "Look at me!" "These disgusting vermin!" "You wanted to be in this dirty house!" "Get out!" "Get out!" "Ma'am!" "Ma'am!" "Get out of here!" "Before today, was she all right?" "Yes, I think so." "Else, I would've told you." "Why?" " What is it, Doctor?" " Pneumonia." "Very advanced." "But it's not possible it begun today." "It must have manifested itself at least yesterday, or earlier." "Yesterday?" " Then it must've been very slight because I would've..." " Listen." "The most serious symptom is delusion." "And when the body is intoxicated..." "I don't know!" "Intoxicated?" "What do you mean intoxicated?" "It means, the lady must be accustomed to alcohol, and this, in a sick body..." "Alcohol?" "Amalia?" "No..." "She won't even touch a drop of wine." "If it's not wine, it's something else that has the same effects when abused." "What could it be?" "I don't know..." "maybe ether?" "Ether?" "Amalia?" "That's impossible, Doctor, impossible!" " If you assure me..." " I do." " That's good, she'll be able to resist the fever." "I'll be back tomorrow morning." "This is for the injections, this for oxygen." " Go to Amalia, Mr. Brentani." "I'll see him out." " Thank you." " Mr. Brentani, are you going to the pharmacy?" "The sooner the better." " Yes." " I don't know where she keeps the towels." " OK, I'll find them." "Stefano!" "Stefano!" "Emilio, what is it?" "Amalia..." "she's dying." " What?" " Dying, it's my fault." "I left her alone, as if she didn't exist." " What happened?" " She abused ether." "It poisoned her." "To forget the loneliness and emptiness of her life." "I never suspected that she needed me." "The doctor fears she doesn't have the strength to go on." "Please, I don't want anyone to know, don't tell anyone." "Sure, don't worry about it." "Come with me, Stefano, I want you by my side." "Come." " Wait, I'll get my coat." " Thanks." "Ah, yes." "It's Angiolina." "I don't want to lie now with what's going on." "And I..." "I never had it in my head to really do it." "You knew that." "Besides, nothing happened, believe me." "And then you left her, didn't you?" "So..." "We've been lovers for a month." " Your lover?" " Yes, my lover." "No matter, come on." "I didn't know you would see it, I swear." "No matter." "Nothing matters." "Come on." "Stefano..." "Stefano..." "Stefano..." "Amalia, I'm here by your side, be calm." "I feel sick." "What happened?" "It's so dark..." " Let her rest." " Stefano, Stefano!" "A kindness so simple and so rare..." "Listen, Stefano, stay with her, I must go out." "Where are you going?" "Angiolina awaits me at 7." "We agreed this morning." "Don't go, Emilio." "You're crazy!" "No, don't worry, I'm not going to make a scene." "You could've done what you desired, but I don't care." "I only feel pity." " You can't!" " Excuse me!" "As you wish." "Your sister is dying." "But what have you done?" "Honestly, how you make me wait." "You know I have to leave soon, I told you, didn't I?" " And then..." " Then, what?" "It's better that you know." "I received a telegram from Volpini." "He says he's coming." "What on earth could he want?" "He's already waiting for me at my mother's house right now." "Go, go then!" "This is the last time we see each other, you understand?" "The last time!" " Why are you saying this?" "Let go of me!" " You know why?" "You know why?" " Because you're a whore!" " Stop it!" " A whore!" " Stop!" "Every time you've been with me, you'd just been in bed with someone else!" "Let go of me!" "What are you doing?" "Coward!" " Even with Stefano!" "Stefano!" " It's not true!" "Liar!" "Liar!" "Liar!" " Off of me!" " Do you know what you are?" " You can say it!" " Let go of me!" " Say it!" "Say it!" " Say it!" "Say it!" " Coward!" "Let go of me!" "Say it!" "Say it!" "Say it!" "Say it!" " Help!" "Say it!" " Help!" "Get out of here!" "Bastard!" "Get out of here!" "Get out of here!" "Bastard!" "Thank you, Aunt." "Thank you." "I'll walk you home." "No, Stefano, I want to be alone." "Goodbye." "Emilio!" "I was wrong." "No, it was me." "Death had passed, the great disaster... and I felt my mistakes, my errors... had no importance anymore." "I didn't feel remorse, but I understood that with Angiolina as well as Amalia," "I had separated myself from them without a final word... which would have at least sweetened the memory of both women." "Amalia couldn't hear me, and Angiolina, I didn't know how to tell her." "Now, I would live again as before meeting Angiolina, with dignity, without love or suffering, waiting for old age to arrive." "Angiolina, wait, I need to talk to you." " What do you want?" " Angiolina, listen to me, please." " Stop, don't come near me!" " What do you want?" " I want to talk to you, I need to..." " Are you crazy?" "Bruno, he's nuts!" " Go away!" " Angiolina, a moment, please, listen to me..." " Go away!" " I need to speak to you for a moment!" "Let me speak!" "Let me speak!" "Angiolina, please listen to me." "It really is important." " Listen to me!" " Let go of me!" "Angiolina!" "I must talk to you, we won't meet again!" "Never again!" "But first listen to me!" "I loved you!" "I love you still, Angiolina!" "Let me go!" "Let go!" "Let go!" "Angiolina!" "Angiolina!" "Angiolina!" " Apologize." " Please, Angiolina!" "Leave him." "Let's just go." "No." "He has to apologize!" " I beg you, Angiolina!" " Ask for forgiveness!" "Apologize!" "Sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry, sorry..." "You, come on!" "How much were we to blame, Amalia and I, for taking life so seriously?" "I'll never see you again, Angiolina." "I'm alone... alone... but I will love you forever." "Subtitles by sineintegral@KG"