"HIGH PLACES" "Count." "Donna Lina Rigotti, please." " Yes, Count." "Donna Lina Rigotti." "Yes?" "Hello?" "I'm sorry, Donna Lina can't right now." "Who is it?" " Count Domenico." "Give me the phone." " One moment." "Giandomenico!" "That's very nice of you." "What?" "From Pozzetto?" "You're a big darling!" "No, you don't say!" "The other night, at Lilli's, he was flirting with her." "Oh, no, I won't tell you how!" "You know the story of the elbow too?" "There was a plan to go to Sabata.." " Ssh!" "Quiet, quiet!" "You want to come up?" "I'm in the bath and I still have to shave." "Ok, come up then." "Come up then and wait in the parlor." "Come on up." "FURNISHED VILLA FOR RENT" "But couldn't you put it off until tomorrow morning?" "No, I'll need this place tonight at 7." "7?" "How can you if it's already a quarter to?" "Do what?" " The inventory." "What inventory?" " Of the furniture." "If you want to take possession of the house tonight.." "Now then.." "Then, 2 Egyptians hangers.." "in golden parchment and decorated." "One and two." "Large Egyptian console in parchment with crystal corbels.." "It doesn't matter." "I'll sign the inventory." "It's all here." "OK?" "Gimme." "Sorry sir, but I like to be precise." " Fine, but let's hurry." "11 porcelain pieces." "They're there." "2 artistic bronze statuettes with base." "They're there!" "One and two. - 2 Egyptian chairs in parchment, over here." "A decorated umbrella-stand." "Here." "American type cast-iron stove." "There." "Game with balls." "Here." "Coffee table in mahogany." "Here." " Yes." "In the salon.." "You skipped a page." "The anteroom isn't done." "You need an inventory of all this?" "Then we'll go back to the anteroom." "Then let's proceed systematically." "I'll start with the walls." "Walls covered with Oriental upholstery with motif of branches, leaves and birds." " One moment, Ma'am." "Birds?" "I don't see any." "What, you don't see the birds?" " No birds." "Branches, leaves but no birds." " Yet.. and yet.." "Upholstery with motif of branches, leaves and birds." "Maybe they were stolen." " From the upholstery?" "Dear lady, nowadays.." "But isn't this the motif here?" "Here's the head, the tail's here." "A bird with a head for a tail?" "Come on!" "Dear lady, your inventory isn't accurate." "And I'm expecting someone by train at 7." "It's 5 to." "Give it here, I'll sign." "Not there!" "Right here." "Here." "It's done." "And now, listen." "You look like a nice lady.." " No, I'm not nice!" " Yes!" "Very nice." "And you've rented this nice old house to me for a month." "I really wanted to rent it for a year." " Dear lady, that's life." "We all want to rent for a year, but we can only rent for a week, or for a day." " For a day?" "But you paid for a month." "Or a single night." " I don't understand." " They ringing for me." "Please go upstairs and stay in your room no matter what happens." "Mind you, the phone is not working, they cut the wire." " Thanks." "Now please go upstairs." "Is that the truck from the "House of Palms"?" " Yes." " Good." "We're always ready for any meal." "Within 15 minutes, you'll be served." "It's all just made, not reheated." "Neither time nor distance holds us back." "We do miracles." " Do you believe in them?" " In what, Sir?" "In miracles." " No, Sir." "But the "House of Palms" can do this and more." "Are they with you?" " Yes, my helpers." " Have them go to the kitchen." "The kitchen?" " This way." "Make sure they're not seen." "This is the dining room." "For my guests, the meal must seem home cooked, OK?" "Ok, Sir." "But.." " But?" "There's no more "buts"." " One minute." " Sir." "You've always been a maître d'?" "No, Sir." "I served 17 years as a butler for the Duke Canestracci Menotti." "Well then?" "Do we go for crepettes in béchamel, or for consomme?" "I apologize Sir." "It won't happen again." " Good." "What is your name?" " Buscaglione." " No, your first name?" "Emilio." " Very good." "Imagine holding me on your knees." "Me, Sir?" " You, Emilio." "I don't know if the gentleman realizes that I'm a steady man, and that nothing about me lends itself to such assumptions." "Ah, but what were you thinking?" "I guess you were asked before now to say that you were the butler of the house?" "Almost always." "Ah, human vanity!" "I'm only asking you for a trifle more." "Emilio: the old and faithful servant of my family." "You must say you saw me be born." "Do you mind seeing me born?" "No." "In fact, it'd be an honor for me." "An honor and a pleasure." "I love babies." "Then we have a deal." "You saw me born and you held me on your knees." "When I was this high." " The height changes it." "I get it now." "I've served the family for many years." "Indeed, my father, if you like, was butler here." "As a young boy, I was in the kitchen, then I traveled the world on ocean liners and when my father retired, due to the taxes," "I came back to take his place." "In 1911, during a hunting trip.." " Enough!" "Don't go crazy." "Tonight, you'll meet my parents." "Won't your parents be surprised?" " No, don't worry." "Emilio, go to the door." "Yes, Baron." " What?" "Baron?" "While we're at it, wouldn't you need a title?" "For heaven's sake, no aristocracy." "A simple family, wealthy and honest." "I won't deny if I had more time, I would've preferred an old Abruzzi maid." "Sir, that kind of thing is passé and you have too much taste for that." "Remember that we're in my parents' house." "Very good." "And you are, Sir?" "Giorgio." " Mr. Giorgio?" "Mr. Giorgio.." "I have to get used to saying it nonchalantly." "Mr. Giorgio, Mr. Giorgio.." "Mr. Zanetti?" " Zanetti?" "Mr. Giorgio Zanetti." "Ah, Giorgio.." "Mr. Giorgio." "Please come in." "Whom shall I announce?" " Febo Marcantoni." "And Maria Letizia Bruneschi." "Good day!" " I thank you for coming." "Zanetti." " Bruneschi." " Febo Marcantoni!" "You're on time." "Did you come together?" " No!" "We met by chance at the station." "Just think: two artists that haven't seen each other for years." "Now, it was like this." "I.." "like this was walking deep in thought, when all of the sudden.." ""You!" "But whom do I see?" "It's Letizia!"" ""Letizia!" "My dear!" "How are you?" - "Dear Febo, it's been so long!"" ""You remember, dear, our beautiful triumphs in Egypt!"" "Yadda, yadda, yadda.." ""Where are you going?" she said." ""And you?" I said." ""I'm going to Via Pietra 32." "Me too!"" ""Then you're hired by that young man?" - "Yes, you too?"" "That's great!" "So we came arm in arm here, like the time we left the audition." "And here we are." " Great." " Wait, there's more!" "We arrived at the piazza, and Letizia stopped." ""What's wrong?" I said." ""Did you forget something?"" ""No," she said. "Febo, do you remember acting in this town?"" "Something told me.." "I'm sorry, I had to improvise for tonight and we have no time." "We were told when we signed it was for a Tuesday or Wednesday." "Yes, but my plans have changed and I had to hurry." "I need you for this evening." " You must excuse us, Sir, we haven't met for 10 years, since the time of "Berti"." " You mean 7." "But we were in the "Flame"!" " The "Garibaldi Flame"?" "That was 15 years ago when Bracci was there." "When did Bracci die?" " It wasn't he who died but Ghislanzoni." "Ghislanzoni's dead?" " You didn't know?" " Poor man!" "Look, I've called you here for a special assignment." "It's not a movie is it?" " Not at all." "Because I've done film and let me tell you once was enough." "I've had it." "My guests arrive in a half hour and you must know your parts." "What?" "Know our parts?" "And the script?" "Dear Sir, you talk too lightly of an art you don't understand." "There's no need for a script, don't worry." "You only have to dine with my guests and maintain a lively conversation." "I said "my guests", but I should just say "my guest."" " I got it." "I'm expecting a young lady who should arrive soon." "This young lady.." "I'll be honest.." "I'm in love with her." "It'd be.." "too long now to explain the reasons, but I had to lie to this girl." "Nothing bad." "I don't have any parents." "I told her they were alive and lived on the outskirts of Rome." "Why?" "To explain certain absences in which I was obligated many times by a relationship I couldn't confess." "But that's not all." "I have no friends and you know how weak a man in love is." "You're telling me." " And to a woman?" "Because this girl is very innocent, very pure and believes in friendship, she'd wonder why a guy my age doesn't have any friends." "So.." "I invented them from scratch." "I invented a perfect friend:" "loyal, sincere, devout." "I know about these things." "Love!" "Once in Montecatini, I let a lovely laundress think I was a soccer player." "But in creating these imaginary beings, the lady soon fell in love with them." "She's amazed she hasn't met them yet." "I put her off 1000 times with excuses, but she's leaving tomorrow." "I had no excuses left." "She's coming here tonight to dine with my parents and best friend." "I'm starting to get it." "Then you want us to play the part of the parents?" "Precisely." "And you'll say what they would say if they existed." "Magnificent!" "I think is going to be fun." "Very." "Who has the role of the friend?" " No one." "To play the parents isn't hard but a friend is something else." "We'll place the setting, wait a little, the chair will be empty.." "This way, he'll be the ideal friend." "I love to do the mothers they're always the best parts." "When you're young, it's like a kind of coquetry." "And I have in mind a very interesting father." "We need to agree on your characters." "I've described them to her in every detail." "I don't have part of a bad mother, do I?" "I couldn't play that." "No, a very good mother who loves her son." "And yet who's remained a woman:" "daring, unrestrained, dynamic." "Not at all!" "You must be a quiet woman, calm, a little provincial, who loves her house.." "Good evening." "Good evening, my dears." "Good evening." "What the heck is that?" "It's me, by Jove!" "Great." "She'll fall for it too." "You're not dining like that?" " Oh, no!" "I'll use better makeup!" "It's only a sketch to give you an idea." "No fake beards." "I thought I was clear." " Let's be clear then, do you want me to play the leading man or a father?" "Because if you want, if I understood correctly, a father, then here he is." "You're not teaching me my craft now, are you?" "It's not about teaching you your craft." "This isn't the place for it." "These characters exist." "They're half alive." "A person believes in them, expects from them certain words, certain gestures." "a certain atmosphere." "Come on, be nice." "Help me bring these characters to life just for one night." "You must believe," "I'm waiting for this father, this mother, this friend." "I wait for them, as if they were returning from a long trip." "You know, dear, a lady is always ready to help love." "We're at your disposal, dear Sir." "As for my words, a bit heated a moment ago.." "Thanks." "But don't call me "dear Sir"." "We need to start right away." "I'm your only son, Giorgio." "Sir." " What is it?" "Sir, please.." "Excuse me a moment." "I apologize, Sir." " What?" "The meal was ordered for four, but since our company.." "does things generously, how many settings should I place?" "Put five." "Fine." " Don't worry, there'll only be four at the table." "The fifth guest will not eat." "I think I get it." "This is undoubtedly the setting for the poor." "The setting for the poor?" "At the home of the Duke Canestracci, where tradition was respected, on feast days there was on the table an extra setting for the poor." "And did the poor ever show up?" "No, Sir." "Never." "There was always a plate." "But nobody ever told the poor." "That's her." "Go get the door." " Right away, Sir." "Your places!" "Your places!" "Ma'am, begin to play the piano.." "Dad, the paper." "No, you listen, I read." "Improvise with great caution." "Always look to me." "If there's trouble, I'll interrupt." " What about you?" "What?" " She'll ask us about you." " Me?" "You haven't told us about your character, your past life." " God, it's true!" "How can we talk about him if we know nothing?" "Emilio, a moment!" " Sir, I was about to open." "It's the lady." "Don't open it just yet." "Head her off." "Keep her in the hall." "Draw her out as much as possible." "Make up something." "Listen both of you." "I.." "Sir!" "Sir!" " What is it now?" "I forgot your name, Sir." " Giorgio!" "Oh, Mr. Giorgio." "Thank you." "This time it's imprinted here." "My name is Giorgio, my friend's Roberto and she's Isabella." "I'm 24, I'm shy.." "You start to play." "And.." "I'm not very imaginative." " I wouldn't say that." "Deep down, I'm a nice guy." "Yes.." "A little provincial, a little naive.." "but.." "but brave and good." "Brave and good." "Got it." "As a child I was a little wild and rough but when spoken to with kindness, I blushed and cried." " Magnificent!" "I believe in love and friendship." "I'd kill for my friend and he for me." "She should've entered by now." "So, I was saying that.." "I did my military service in Civitavecchia, Second Infantry." "Second Infantry." "You sent me every week, sponge cake and chocolate." "Sponge cake and chocolate." "I studied at the University of Milan and graduated in.." "in Agriculture." " Agriculture." " Agriculture?" "Let's set..." "the clock." "I had the measles." " All children do." "Here she is." "I don't have time to tell you everything." "I'm loyal." "I don't know how to lie." "Hold on!" "This was me when I was eight." "I liked to climb trees a lot." "Sir." "What?" "What is it?" "Sir.. there's a hunchback." " A hunchback?" "Yes, Sir." "He's come on behalf of a Miss Barbara." "Throw him out immediately!" " Oh, Sir.. the handicapped!" "He's the town tobacconist, who has the phone." "He says he has a message for you." "What is it?" " Mr. Zanetti?" " Yes." "I am the town tobacconist." "A certain Miss Barbara has called." "She said she tried to call here to no avail." "She wants you to call her back." "It seems something has happened about what you know well." "She says that if she doesn't hear from you, the jig is up!" "That's what she said, "the jig"." "Wait, I'll go with you, I have my car." "Emilio, my raincoat." "That lady will arrive shortly." "If she wasn't on the 8:00 train, she'll be on the 8:30." "Please, welcome her." " Who, us?" "But.." "If I'm not back soon, it means I was forced to go to Rome." " You're leaving?" "Then begin the meal with her without me." "Thank you and goodbye." "Wait for me, I hope I won't be long." "The jig?" "I wonder if it would've been better to have been paid upfront." "After all, we could refuse to do this tomfoolery." "Certainly, but we have made a commitment and if we don't play along.." "Tell me this, what's upstairs?" "If we don't act, he would have the right not to pay us." "And in that case, legally, we'd put ourselves in the wrong." "This situation is odd, don't you think?" "Why put on a play for a girl?" "To seduce her?" "To rob her?" "To strangle her?" " Please, don't be silly." "My dear, you never know." "Nowadays, you have to be prepared for anything." "Didn't you notice that the hunchback winked?" "Winked?" " Yes, like this." "Tell me.." "When Cartiero hired you, it seemed to you that he knew this young man?" "It seemed to me that it was the first time he ever saw him." "It's night now." "The villa is secluded." "Indeed, one would say in the countryside." "I'm not armed, unfortunately." "What if we need help?" "I don't know what we'd do." " Let's make a call." " To whom?" "Cartiero." " Yes." "Help!" " Eh?" "What is it?" " Nothing." "The phone's not working." " Give it to me." "Hello." "Hello!" "Hello!" "Maybe they're repairing the line." " Oh, no." "But.." "It's been cut!" "Where's the phone?" " Over here." "You may dial the Rome number, it's a direct line." "Ah, thank you." "Miss, please, 421." "Barbara?" "Yes, it's me." "How did you know I was here?" "Very simple." "I followed you." "Yes, Giorgio, a terrible scene." "This time Lina's made up her mind." "Yes, to leave with Giandomenico and dump you." "Yes." "Giandomenico is beside her now." "So..." "If what you're doing tonight isn't too important, it'd be better for you to return." "Of course, I know it's not my business." "No, I'm speaking from the closet." "Is Roberto there?" "I bet you told him where I am." "Cigars." "Sometimes, you lose your head and don't know what you're doing." "You're a fool, my love." "Well, do as you want." "Yes, call me in a little while." "I'll tell you what's going on." "What are you doing here?" " Nothing." "Any news of Giorgio?" " No." "Who were you calling?" " I wasn't." " You can't fool me." "I'm going to look for him." "I'll try the "Ambassadors"." "Miss, please, we were interrupted." "How much?" "250, Sir." "Why are you always winking?" "Ah, no, Sir." "It's a nervous tic." "Keep the change." " Thank you." "Good evening." "Let's hope they'll entertain her until I return." "Miss Isabella?" " Yes, that's me." " This way, Miss." ""Autumn Leaves"." " By the poor Tosti." "Miss Isabella." "Dear young lady." "Please come in." "Look how pretty she is!" "Giorgio has spoken so much about you." "Yes." "Dear, dear!" "We wanted so much to meet you." "We thought you'd never come." "You must excuse me, but I wasn't on time to catch the 8:00 train." "Indeed." "Giorgio.." "Giorgio isn't here yet, right?" " No." "Not yet." "But he phoned from Rome saying that he'd be a while at the plant." "Sit down, dear." " Thank you." "It's no good, that boy works too much." "You must absolutely make him turn over a new leaf." "But you know Giorgio?" "He's good, naive." "His superiors know that and take advantage." "He works like a dog." "Have you known Giorgio long?" " Not long." "For two and a half months." "That's when he started to talk about you." "Yes, all the time." "Elisa.. er.." "Isabella this, Isabella that.." "He's such a good boy." "So good!" "He was a little wild when he was young, but if you spoke to him kindly, he'd always blush." "Exactly." "I was the same when I was young." "Look at this." "Look!" "Look at this." "Here, look." "Look." "Here he was eight years old." "How cute he was." "Very cute." "He wouldn't want us to show you this." "Ah, good times!" "We were vacationing at Civitavecchia." "Yeah, er.. where he did did his military service." "Every week we sent him sponge cake and chocolate." "Exactly." " Oh, Lord.." "And here she is." "She's finally met us." "Yes, before leaving for Rovigo." "Huh?" "Yeah, yeah." "Rovigo." " Ah, Rovigo." "Because you're going.." " To my parents' home for the holiday." "Yes, the holidays." "I imagine you'll be sad to leave your students." "My students?" "Ah.." "you mean my schoolmates?" "Her schoolmates, of course." "Of course!" " Yes." "Sure." "Miss Isabella isn't a teacher, right dear?" "Right." " Because you go.. to the university." "Of course." "Her students!" "My husband.." "What can I say?" "It's his age!" "What are you talking about?" " He's always mixing up his words." "You must be joking?" " Her students!" "Giorgio's late, isn't he?" "How lovely everything is here." "So peaceful, calm." "Just as I imagined it." "Even you, Ma'am, are exactly what I imagined." "Really?" "And me?" "How did you imagine me?" "Well, really.." "actually I'd imagined.." "excuse me, with a beard." "I knew it!" "The salts!" "Hurry!" "Edmea!" "Edmea!" "She said the "salts"." " Oreste!" "Oreste!" "The dog!" "The salts, for God's sake!" "The salts!" " Oh, God!" "Barbara." "She knows where the salts are." "The coffee!" " Go, Roberto!" "The dog!" "Look for the dog!" " And you?" "You go too." "Go." "Move." " When my time comes." "Salts!" " What is it?" "Salts for Donna Lina." "The dog!" "The dog!" "Where's the dog?" " One at a time." "The dog's under the bed, the salts are in the closet." " Gimme!" " You get them." ""You get them!" "You get them!"" "You don't budge because you're guarding the phone!" "I'll do as I please." " Keep giving him a hand!" "You'll only be happy when Dona Lina marries Giandomenico." "I don't care if she does." " Great!" "We'll be on the streets!" "An honest family on the streets, eh?" "Bring her the salts." "Barbara!" "What is that klutz doing?" "Take the salts." "Here are the salts!" " Barbara, get rid of that boring Giandomenico." "He's rooted there with the air of a successor." "I'm not moving from here." " Yeah, the damn phone!" "Then I'm not moving either!" "Scram!" " She knows where Giorgio is, but she won't say." "And we'll be ruined!" "Here, bring it to her, or it'll be a tragedy." "Give me the dog!" " You know where Giorgio is, why don't you tell us!" "Would you knock?" " When my time comes." "Here's the dog." " No dog!" "Here are the salts." "If your son doesn't return soon, it'll be the end!" "Is she calm?" " Not a chance." "She must calm down or else we'll miss the Opera." "The Opera?" "Thoughtless!" "One would think that this didn't concern your son." "Edmea said that if he's not back pretty soon, it's the end." "We must warn him." " We don't even know where he is." "And that idiot there is waiting for Lina to call him." "How about that opera now?" "But come on, do something." "Go down to the bar, check if he's come." "I have an idea!" " Oh, God." "A wonderful idea!" "A wonderful idea!" "Where are you going?" " A wonderful idea!" " I'll go to the bar." "It's not very nice, what he's doing tonight, your friend Giorgio." "Your friend Giorgio, Roberto." " Well, let's say our friend Giorgio then." "He really hasn't told you anything?" "He likes you a lot." "You often go out together." "Is that a reproach?" " No, dear, just an observation." "Look, baby, we're husband and wife." "Not for real, but it's the same." "They all think so." "Or if they don't, they still continue to call us so." "In short, we are two good friends." "And I'm convinced that you know where Giorgio is." "You're wrong." "I have a wonderful idea!" "There,.. behind that door, the future of us all is being decided." "If Donna Lina dumps Giorgio and throws us out.." "you'll have to go back to typing, my child." " Fine." "I'll go back to typing, my child." "It'll all be normal again." " What?" "What are we here?" "We're guests." "So?" " No, like hell we're guests!" "I'm an employee." " Nice joke!" "Give me a break!" "So what?" "I'm a childhood friend of Giorgio." "If I'd had the good luck, to be the boyfriend of the owner of one of Italy's biggest cheese factories," "I'd say, "My dear, you're a friend without a cent, come and be my secretary." "I'll give you so much a month."" "Roberto, get off!" "Get off!" "You hear me, I forbid you to answer." "Coward!" "Hello." " Coward!" "No, it isn't Cristina." "No, it isn't Edmea." "Yes, room 421." "What?" "Who is this?" "Bottaccini." "Precisely the famous soccer player." "Can you have Miss Edmea call me at the bar?" "Yes, the "Extra Bar" that she knows." "Thank you." "OK." "I'll tell Miss Edmea." "It's not nice what you're doing, Barbara." "Not for him either." "If Lina goes and marries Giandomenico.." "you think Giorgio would be happy without her?" "And you?" "Where would you be tomorrow without him?" "Down in the dirt, just like him." "That's not news, dear." "And that's why I'm humble and don't say anything." "Even when it's hard not to say anything." "Even when you leave a little too often with him in the afternoon." "Because when you don't have it, money is sacred." "And so are those who give it to you." "So we have to be good and quiet, and be silent." "Like I do." "Roberto, stop it!" "At least you can say you bear all this because you love him." "While I.." " Because you're his childhood friend." "Bull!" "We must have the courage to face reality." "Giorgio's father, for example, would be very surprised, if you told him he lives off his son." "There he is." "We were just talking about you." "The bar's atmosphere is unbreathable." "I don't know why they all stare at me." "If my son doesn't sleep at home, is it my fault?" "Are we still going to the Opera?" " That seems a bit doubtful." "I bet." "For once, we were going to have a nice evening.." "I adore the Loreley." "With De Sabata!" "Then there's no news?" " No." "I don't understand that boy!" "He has a woman who loves him,.." "what could he want more?" " He says he's unhappy." "Why should he be unhappy?" "Me.." "I'm an old failed artist." "My life has been hard!" "But am I unhappy?" "Are you two unhappy?" " I'm very happy." "There, you see!" "Guys!" "Guys, great news!" "Have you come from the police?" " No, the fortune-teller." "The Spanish lady downstairs." "I brought her Giorgio's hat." " And?" "Well, Giorgio didn't go away from Rome." "Unfortunately, he gave me this hat a month ago." "See, you never left Rome." "That woman never fails." "Here's Edmea." " Well?" " What happened?" "She's made up her mind." "What did she decide?" "Edmea dear, you scare me." "The lady.." "is leaving." "Edmea, it's not possible!" " There's nothing left to do." "She leaves tomorrow for Capri with Mr. Giandomenico." "No, it's impossible!" " Are you happy now?" "No, this is too stupid." "I'm Giorgio's mother." "But I'm Lina's friend first." "I'll talk to her." "Her door is locked, she won't answer." " We'll see." "Lina has always adored me." "Love is beautiful." "Very beautiful, but if it's not reciprocated.." "the moment comes when patience is lost." "But why?" "Why doesn't he love her?" "Why?" "In short, if Giorgio doesn't come home tonight, tomorrow morning she leaves." "And you'll have to clear out." "So suddenly?" "The next day?" " Mrs. Lina said that when she's gone, nobody can stay here." "And as for the car, Giorgio must bring it back and hand the keys to me." "But it's absurd." "It's irrational." "Even waiters are given a notice." "Fact is, you're not waiters." "Waiters work, earn their keep and have accident insurance." "It's not the same thing." " This girl is insolent!" "Who do you think we are?" "We're your betters!" "My betters?" "Don't make me laugh!" "Better at pimping!" "I don't know what that girl means!" "Lina dear, how are you?" "Finally." "How are you?" "Hi." "The porter, please." "Fontana?" "Dear Fontana, can you call the Taverna for me?" "Yes, Ma'am, I'll book a table." "Absolutely." "A table for how many?" "For two?" "Yes, Ma'am." "OK." "Not now." "Wait here." "Stay here for five minutes." "In five minutes, join me at the bar." " As you wish." "This is the end." "Misery!" "I'll never have the courage." "I'm too old." "Oh no, I'm too young to give up." "Handsome Giorgio, who never wore a tie three times in a row." "The gentleman was so refined, he needed different hues." "His ties will make good nooses now!" "Alright." "But this at least will force us to buy them!" "I don't care!" "I'd go around without a collar and patches on my ass just for the pleasure of seeing him get it!" "May the gentleman drop dead!" "And he can forget custom shirts and clothes!" "Three shirts a day!" "And the triple-soled shoes?" "Custom made!" "Routine shirts, everyday shoes." "Farewell, high places!" "Golf, Excelsior, Grand Hotel, flower bouquets, Rosati bar, twenty poker games at Pupetto's, custom-built cars lined in red leather.." "Jackets by Caraceni!" "Bye-bye!" "On the bus, after eating, breathing in the smell of the collective digestions, and a boss in the ribs!" "He will burst, the lord!" " You will too, my dear." " Yes, but first him." "Your Giorgio has accustomed me to having a boss, for the last two years, I've been his secretary." "And I had to sweat for my keep, I guarantee you." "But now he will sweat too." "Stop it, you're annoying!" " No, I won't stop." "You don't know what it's like having a friend nicer, prettier than you!" "And then he gets rich too!" "If we only knew where he is we'd go to him and tell him that he's playing his last card!" "Giorgio.." "I know where Giorgio is." "What?" "You know?" " Yes." " What'd she say?" " Where Giorgio is.." "Where is he?" " Why didn't you say so?" " Quiet!" "Where?" " I followed him." "He's in love with a student." "Where is he?" " Let her talk!" " Yeah!" "Quiet!" "We've only minutes left." "Where is he then?" "He rented a house." "He's there now." " A house?" "Where?" "Yes, where?" " At Albano, Via della Pineta." "Why didn't you say so?" "To Albano, hurry!" "Oh, hi, Giorgio." "I saw Lina go out." " Oh, really?" "I think he left, Sir." "Try calling." "333, please." "Has Donna Lina gone out?" " Yes, a little while ago." "Where did she go?" " I don't know." "333 is not responding, Sir." "Where did she go?" "Would you like to leave a message?" " Yes, a sheet of paper." " Here." "Fontana, where did she go?" " She booked for two at the Taverna earlier." "Good evening, Mr. Giorgio." "Dear Dino, something strong." "I think you're expected." " I know." " The Duke asked about you." "He says that you owe him a game of dice." "He's back from Switzerland." "He's with that girl who was in Biarritz." "The one that's petite, blonde, part Spanish." "Do you think in a half an hour, one can calm an angry woman?" "Win her back and get rid of an opponent?" "Reestablish a situation that seemed to be lost?" "And all the while thinking that your life should be different?" "Mr. Giorgio, I know you from Deauville." "I've seen you do more." "One more double." " Thank you." "Bravo!" "Thank you, darling." "Your music has done me good tonight." "He's a great artist." "It reminds me of Paris, my Bohemian period." "Thank you, Sir." " Bravo." "Bravo." "Look who's here!" "Hello, darling." "Hello, baby." "Honey, you're beautiful." "You snub us now, eh?" "You look like you've been spooning at Villa Borghese." "Am I right?" "Marcello, you're a hoot." "It's been a month since we've seen you at golf!" " Eh, what can you do?" "Ah, you're here." "I see you've calmed down." "It means it's not so serious." "Maestro!" "Play "Signorinella."" ""Scetateve, guagliune 'e malavita"" "You do it on purpose just to ruin everything." "I want you to realize that in order to come here tonight.." " Silence!" "I had to drop that bodywork deal." "Yeah." "And I'm supposed to believe that?" "Ssh, dear!" "It wasn't necessary to make all the fuss that you did." "I told you I was busy." "You think you're dealing with the usual little girls of your class." "I'm different!" " Eh, different." "I know, that's the problem." " I taught you how to live, my dear." "Look.." " Don't touch me." "Hypocrite!" " Quiet." "This doesn't have to be so difficult." "You shouldn't overdramatize." "Let's stay good friends, OK?" " Not at all." "It's about trust." "Tonight, I find you here with him but I don't say anything." "Please!" "What does this fool have to do with it?" "Enough!" "You think you're so interesting.." "You're a petty bourgeois.." "very much so.." "Silence!" " Silence!" " Silence!" "Don't mind them, Sir, they're ignorant." "I'm sorry, dear, I'm so nervous tonight." "You know very well that you're the one I prefer." "Thank you, dear." "Get off." "Bravo!" "No, I detest Capri, Gio." "You know that I love Brioni instead." "Just imagine poor Giando's face when he finds out we'll be gone for a month." "And there I don't want you to worry about anything." "No more obligations, no more business." "It makes you nervous." "Gio!" " Yes, you're right." "Dad was just telling me that you and I should go away for a while." "You won't worry about anything anymore." "Will you, Gio?" "Next time, try to be on time." "I couldn't before." "There was a meltdown tonight." " I thought so." "Say, who's that character who always answers the phone?" "Oh, that's Roberto." "But by tomorrow, none of them will be answering again." "The lady's cleaning house." "Oh, God." "Hurry!" "Hurry!" "Come on!" "This way, hurry!" "Get in here." "What is it?" "It's her." "I don't know why she's already back." "And with him too." " Why are you afraid she'll see us?" "It's your night off, right?" "But I don't want her to see the dress." "Turn it off!" "Didn't they fight?" " They did." "But he knows the game." "Oh, I know him!" "He probably told her some story." "What drama." " Ssh." "Oreste!" "Ah, you have no idea how happy I feel." "It's not even 10:00, and we're home already." "Oh, all those people, the noise, the music." "Darling.." "They're kissing." "Yeah, it's not even 10:00." "Now you're calm, you should go to bed." "I'll go back to those people so they won't think me rude." "Oh, no!" "What do you take me for?" "You came home with me to put me to bed like a baby?" "No, Lina." "Look, I'll be right back." "Stop!" "You think I don't get it?" "The same story for two months!" "That's enough!" "You stay here or.." "Or what?" " Or we're finished." "I'm tired of putting up with this!" " You're tired?" "What about me?" "You're tired of me, but not of my money!" " Stop it, Lina!" "I've been too much the lady with you!" "I was wrong!" "It's time to start treating you differently." "To make it hard." "And it won't take much." " Stop it!" "It won't take much for me to tell what you are!" " By God!" "Coward!" "Coward!" "Stop it!" " You're not going!" " Get off!" " You're not going!" " Get off!" "Is the phone far?" " Oh.." "It's in the piazza." "It's about 10 minutes away." "Then Emilio should be back by now." "I'll go see." "You stay here." "Dear, dear Isabella." "I'll be back." "You're the owner." "You'll be responsible." "I've been upstairs." "He told me not to be seen." "He went to Rome, at least I think so, from the direction he took." " I'm going to Olivieri." " Well?" "The hunchback said the gentleman left for Rome after the phonecall." "The call was a ploy to not pay us." "I knew this business wouldn't end well." " We'll see." "I'm going to Olivieri." "I subscribe to the union." "Won't my furniture serve as a guarantee?" "How should I know, lady?" "What I do know is that before renting to someone you should get their information." " But who could imagine?" "He had the air of a good family." "A good family!" "Don't make me laugh!" "We're that family." "You couldn't be anymore foolish." " She guessed it all." "Listen, Miss.." "we have here.." "Yes, let's say.., a misunderstanding." "That is a.." "regrettable situation." "If you were deceived, we were as well." "Well, we.." "Miss, you're maybe too young to remember the Ghislanzoni-Bracci company." "Indeed, when the poor Ghislanzoni died you probably weren't born yet." " Imagine if she wasn't!" "Ghislanzoni died in '28." " No!" "When did Bracci die then?" "Bracci isn't dead.." " You're actors, I know." "I figured it out right away." "But if you act on stage as you did when you received me," "I'm afraid you won't have much success." " I feel sorry for you, Miss." "I feel sorry because I know how you feel." "We have acted poorly." "I mean.." "At one point we couldn't act anymore." "Because.." "because we know that something fishy is going on." "Mr. Giorgio is a guy capable of anything, Miss." "If you were my daughter, before accepting his courting.." "I forbid you to talk like that about him." "And you?" "He entrusted you with the role of the old faithful servant?" "Yes, ma'am." " That's scary." "I served Duke Canestracci Menotti for 17 years." "If I had been notified ahead of time I would've introduced myself.." "well, otherwise." "But I came just as I was straight from the "House of the Palms"." "If all had gone well tonight, what was your fee?" "150 lire each." "The county's tariff." "Minus expenses, no one ever includes them." "Here." " Thank you." "Of course I find it ironic that it's you that winds up paying." "And how much do I owe you?" " Right away, Miss." "Poor Giorgio." "He invented such a beautiful story." "What time is the train to Rome?" " I don't think there's anymore tonight." "No more trains?" " Not until tomorrow morning at 5." "Do you have a schedule?" " A schedule?" "Perhaps upstairs." "Let's see it." "Here, Miss." "Meal for four?" "Why four?" "It had to be 5 with Roberto." "Excuse me, Miss, but since you are finding out.." "that is to say, the guilty secrets," "I'll say that the fifth setting was not to dine." "His friend." " A fake friend." "Roberto?" " Yes, Roberto." "He wouldn't dine?" " Of course." " He doesn't exist." " What?" "Do we exist, us?" " A car!" " Giorgio!" " I told you he'd come back!" "No, Miss, it's not him." "It's a taxi." "Roberto exists, I'm sure." "We talked every day about him for two months." "Inventions!" " But I saw his photo." "Fake photography!" "That guy is something else!" "But then what could be true, if Roberto.." " Thank you." "if even Roberto is a lie?" "I'm sorry, the door was open and.." "Roberto!" " I wanted to talk to Mr. Giorgio Zanetti." "Good evening, Roberto." " Who told you my name?" "I guessed." " Oh!" "Bravo, you've got talent!" "Can you also tell fortunes with cards?" "Before anything, tell me if you're an actor." "Speak without fear." "I know all." "Excuse me, Miss.., This is Albano, via della Pineta?" "Yes." " Number 32?" " Yes." "Miss, I'm a friend of Giorgio." "Indeed, his friend from childhood." "Your name is Roberto Capellini, you're 26 and here to dine with me." "Wrong, I already dined." " I'm sorry, Miss, but since you have, so to speak, taken care of things, since it's late, I ask permission to return back." "At most I may leave here in the pantry a cold soufflé, for those who stay." "Right?" " That's fine." " Thank you." "Excuse me." "But, finally..." "Come over here." "So, Miss, can you tell me what this all means?" "I was hoping to know it from you." "From me?" "First of all, where is Giorgio?" "And where are we?" " In a house that Giorgio has rented to host me." "Uh!" "A two story bachelor pad to host you, at Albano?" "Not a bachelor pad." "It had to appear as his father's house." " Father's house?" "And you?" "Who are you?" "A friend of his." "A friend?" "Giorgio has many friends." "A friend from where?" "A friend from nowhere." "At least I'd be different from the others." "I met him at the Villa Borghese museum." "The Villa Borghese museum?" "Rascal." "We're cruising museums now." "Why do you talk about him like that?" "Aren't you his friend?" "Oh, yes." "His only true, intimate friend." "Even more than intimate." "But.." "isn't it true that.." "you saved his life on a boat?" "Boat?" "I can't even swim." "But once you sold your furniture just to buy him a suit." "My furniture!" "Did he say so?" "My furniture?" "Ah, the young gentleman has a very vivid imagination." "To please the girls he invents a devoted friend, with whom he has the nerve to give my name." "But the truth.." "The truth is otherwise." "Giorgio and I.." " Don't say another word." "I don't want to know." " But you must hear me." "Giorgio told you that we love each other like two brothers." "Well.." "Giorgio hates me, dear Miss." "And I hate him." "We were childhood friends, it's true, but the hatred came later." "And believe me, we've made up for lost time." "Then what are you doing here?" "Why are you around him all the time?" "Forget waiting, let's go." "Did Roberto call?" "He hasn't because he must've found him." " Sure he did, where else could he be?" "It's 10:45." "At the opera, they're probably up to the "Dance of Ondine"." "What I'm saying disgusts you?" "That's my specialty." "But what Giorgio does, he does like a gentleman." "Where's Giorgio?" "What are you doing?" " Wait a minute." "I understand." "The parents, the old house, the butler, this environment." "Well Roberto?" " It's nearly 11." "Where's Giorgio?" " Who's that?" " This girl is "The Mysteries of Paris."" "The victim your son has dragged into the darkest of adventures." "But where are we?" " In his birth home." "Yes, Giorgio, to conquer a student, has invented a custom-tailored family." "Model parents, a faithful servant and a friend who adores him." "That would be me." "Everything in place." "It's only missing one thing:" "Prince Charming." "Maybe someone can tell us why he's missing." "Did you phone here?" " Yeah, you mind?" "That's business between me and him." "Yeah, it's my fault." " Who's that lady?" " She's my friend." "Excuse me, I don't know where my head was at." "Miss Josephine Balacici." "Called Barbara, it sounds better." " Miss, I do understand." "This is as painful for you as it for us." "But it's as a mother, I speak to you." "You have the air of young lady, you'll understand, I'm sure." "Our son lied to you." "We need him back." " He's breaking up the family home." "You have the happiness of all of us in your hands." "Let me explain." " No ma'am, please." " Why not?" " I don't want to know." "But this is absurd!" " I'm going to wait for him in the street." "But I won't listen." " Our son is ruining himself on your account, Miss!" "On my account?" "No, don't worry, it won't be because of me." "When I arrived, he was gone." "I haven't seen him since yesterday." "Gentlemen!" "The police!" "Police!" "What police!" " At least, I think it's them." "A car stopped on the street corner." "But no one got off." " Don't be silly!" "But who is he?" " Who are you?" "I'm Febo Marcantoni, one of the greatest artists.." "You are Giorgio's lover, aren't you?" "Miss, a word of advice." "Deep down, I don't dislike you." "You know what I would do in you place?" "I would go back before Giorgio returns." "Really?" "And why?" "Giorgio is in love with you, that's understood." "It's a thing of the moment." "But he's not so crazy as he sounds." "He always returns to the kennel when it's time." "At least until now, after so many little adventures like this, he's always done so." "I believe this time is different." " Why should it be?" "No, honestly, Miss." "You believe Giorgio loves you so much to become a good boy from a good family?" "Yes, I believe it with all my heart." "Miss, I know Giorgio through and through." "You are definitely not his type." "I bet your life is straightforward, clear cut." "You're from Rovigo, right?" " Yes, and so what?" "And tomorrow you must return home for the holidays." "Well, go back." "So this romance will end nicely, the years will pass.." "and you'll remain in his heart the sweet little provincial." "You think I'm impressed with your words?" "You're wrong." "I'm sure of one thing." "I'll teach him to be happy." "As if happiness can be taught." "But it'll take more than that, my dear." "Giorgio!" "Giorgio!" " Giorgio!" "Giorgio!" "Giorgino, we've looked everywhere for you." "It's absolutely necessary you return home." "Absolutely!" "Do you understand?" "Calm down, Dad." "I went back home." "Everything is in place." "Everything is fixed." "And this time forever." "But I see that it doesn't matter, presentations are superfluous." "Why did you lie?" "Haven't they told you?" "No, Giorgio." "Know that your parents have all the tact which you lack, my boy." "We didn't say anything." "I was.. yes, let's say, engaged.." ""Was"?" "He "is" engaged!" "He is!" "I was engaged for 3 years to a rich woman I didn't love and whom I was to marry." "A very rich woman." "You explain, Dad." "You explain it so well." " I explain well?" "Me?" "Well, I'm proud of your future marriage." "Who wouldn't be?" "Miss, ever hear of the famous national cheese, Rigotti?" "Bel Paese Rigotti." "Stracchino Rigotti." "Robiola Rigotti." "Gruyère Rigotti." "Alpino Rigotti." "You know those round boxes, showing cows grazing in the mountains?" "Ring a bell?" "How couldn't it?" "The Rigotti." "Rigotti." "There are the posters in trains, in trams, on street corners." "It's not possible you don't remember." "Maybe, I think.." " Well, I was to marry Rigotti cheese." "It's one of the most important dairies in Italy." "Miss, a dairy means a large, humongous cheese factory." "Is that all, Giorgio?" " No, not nearly." "In our walks, I've told you many nice things about my life and my family." "But the reality exceeds imagination." "All of us, including Roberto and Barbara, lived off my future marriage." "If you see them so worried, anxious.." "and if they've come here tonight looking for me, it's because.." "because she decided to throw us all out tonight if I didn't come back for dinner." "What is it?" "You're sick." " Giorgio!" "No, no." "It's nothing." "It's late." "We must go away at once." "I can't wait any longer." "Isabella, I need to talk to you right away." "Before it's too late." "I ask only for five minutes." " OK." "I think I can't stay any longer." "You return to Rome now by taxi." " And you?" "Only 5 minutes exactly." "Now you can rest easy." "It's all over." "Go." "And whatever happens, don't panic." "I beg you.." "What a meltdown, right?" "A boy from a good family!" "A young man who had all qualities.." "Why did you lie to me?" " Who knows?" "To seduce you, maybe." "After so many dates, after all the tea you made me drink, tea at cafes in Prati, in the rooms at the Spanish Steps.." "And to think that I hate tea." "Hate it." "But what could I do?" "You think furtive kisses in a taxi would be enough for me?" "With our hands that touched between the meringues?" "Now you know who I am." "They told you." "And so, I decided to seduce you, that's all." "I invented a house, my family home, the ideal parents, an old faithful servant." "Why did you lie to me?" "Here it is:" "the first day I lied because.." "because I lied." " And after?" "And then I kept on lying because I didn't lie enough on the first day." "So that the nice guy.." "towards whom you felt so much liking, was.. was kinda true." "But why tonight's comedy?" "Ah, the comedy tonight was another thing." "I succumbed to a temptation, the pleasure of having a real family night with you." "You think it's so much fun, a real family evening?" "I don't know." "How come you don't know?" " Well, I can guess." "Didn't you parents raise you?" " Yes, of course." "Perhaps, your parents.." "didn't get along." "Was that it?" " Yes, maybe it was." "Mom.." "came home very late every night." "She was returning from tea, cocktails with friends." "She had many friends." "We waited long for her before dining." "Then, when it was really too late, and I was falling asleep, the maid made me eat, furious." "Then, Dad shut himself in the room.." "with his lead soldiers." " With his lead soldiers?" "Yes, in our house, it was Dad who had the collection of toy soldiers." "Ah, a strange house, you know." "A disorganized family, full of quarrels." "Traveling from city to city, from hotel to hotel." "Your father and mother were strict instead?" " Yes, Giorgio." "And at home, was everyone at the table on time, at the set hour?" "Naturally, always." "How nice that must've been." "Maybe, among so many lies, Giorgio, it is true that you loved me a little." "Yes, it's true." " Then I'm happy all the same." "You're right." "Let's try to be happy." "How demanding we always are." "In the beginning, we want a lifetime of happiness." "then we realize that a few years is enough." "In the end, we resign ourselves." "We content ourselves with just one night." "And then, suddenly.." "you only have 5 minutes left." "Do you really love me all the same?" " Even more so." "That's a shame." " Why?" "Because.." "Because it's too late." "Excuse me, I look like the jailer in the old tragedies." "But the 5 minutes have passed, and.." "No, Giorgio, I don't want you to go away." "You think I don't understand?" "Even before, I knew that there was something in your life you weren't telling." "But now you must stay with me." "Don't worry.." " Don't leave me Giorgio!" "Giorgio!" "Don't be afraid, Isabella, It's not all over." "Leave me alone with them for a moment." "I'll take care of it." "Stay here, angel, I'll be right back." "Roberto and I are going to Rome." "You come later." "You'll stay here and tell Isabella that I lied again because I didn't have the heart to see her suffer." "You will tell her I never loved her." "It's better for her to go home, and forget this sad story forever." "But why be a hypocrite?" "Why make me believe what's not true?" "You think I don't know?" "You're crazy for that young girl." "Admit it." "It's obvious., Why would you think I care?" "Or maybe, you're afraid of hurting me too?" "Don't worry." "This is nothing new to me." "I noticed it right away." "I followed you." "To the university, to the Villa Borghese.." "to the small cafes." "Every afternoon at 5." "This has been going on for 2 months." "Why aren't you honest?" "The truth burns, eh?" "You don't care about me anymore, that's the truth." "You've changed Giorgio." "You've changed." "And now you can't leave that little girl." "Now you must continue until the end." "And you must leave." "Go away, far away." "Far from us." "And you have to begin to work, because you've changed." "What you say, maybe it's true." "And I'd continue like this to the end." "I'd work, I'd marry her." "Ah, but now.. by now it's useless." "Why is it useless?" "What is it?" "Are you hurt?" "It's nothing." " Take off my raincoat." " But it's full of blood!" "Don't touch my shirt, it's sticking." "Why didn't you say so?" "We need a doctor!" " It's nothing, I said." "Just a scratch." "It was Lina." "You know, the gun she pulls out all the time?" "Well, this time she used it for good." "Ah, it was a terrible scene." "I tried to disarm her." "She shot me the same time I was pushing her." "She fell suddenly, and hit against the marble fireplace." "Everybody began to scream, and I ran away to return here." "I think.." "I think I killed her." "Giorgio." "Where's Gior..?" "Giorgio!" "Giorgio!" "Lina!" " Lina!" "Lina, you made us so afraid!" "What a fright!" "Holy heaven, how did this happen?" "We just found out." "Giorgio." "Where's Giorgio?" "Gio?" "You hear, she's still calling for Gio!" " How moving!" "Giorgietto is coming." "He was so upset." "The poor dears!" "I knew it, we must never leave them alone, never." "It was terrible." "It was all my fault, you see." "All my fault." "He didn't hesitate for a moment." "He flung himself on me without fear and removed the gun from my hands." "He pushed me down." "Giorgio?" "But think, Giorgio might've died." "Yes." " So he risked his life for you?" " Yes." "Then he loves you!" "Loves you madly!" "You're right!" "You're right!" "No, he doesn't have a fever." " Let him rest." "The doctor said it's better." "And then Roberto could return any moment." "Come over here." "It's the fatigue that makes him sleep." " No, he always sleeps when he's unhappy." "Thanks." " It's one of his tricks." "A trick?" " Yes, you don't know Giorgio." "Or at least don't know my Giorgio." "Well?" " Where's Giorgio?" " In there, sleeping." "So?" "Go figure, a bump." "And more in love with than ever." "She's waiting with open arms." "They've already set the day of the wedding." " No, don't go in." "The doctor said he needs rest." "When he knows everything is over, he'll feel much better." "Are you sure?" " He will rush to Rome." "Giorgio." "Giorgio." "Getty up!" "Good news." "Good news." "No harm done." "Everything is fine." "She's waiting for you." "Happy?" "Give me a cigarette." " Here." "Mom and Dad are with her." "They all agree." "Dad had a great idea." "He convinced her that you love her very much." "You're happy, eh?" "Happy?" "Aren't you happy?" "Aren't you happy?" "Go talk to him." "Try to convince him." "No, I have nothing left to say to Giorgio." "Don't worry." "Giorgio will change his life and leave with you." "You seem to enjoy giving him to me." " I'm no saint." "It's not about that." "I'm no longer holding the winning hand." "The Giorgio that is mine, all mine, you wouldn't have wanted him." "You think so?" " I'm sure of it." "He was not a good boy, my Giorgio." "He was someone you would hate:" "frivolous, immoral, selfish." "You lie." " He lied too." "He would make dates and forget to go." "He never kept his promises." "But what's the use to speak evil of him?" " It's not evil." "I loved him like that." "The end of the month will be very tough for us." "Do you have.." "2000 lire to lend?" "You think I'm rich too?" "I'm almost poor." "1000?" "Yes, maybe." "Since I have to leave tomorrow to go back home," "I have a bit of money." " Roberto, sorry, but please don't." "What is it?" "Have you gone mad?" " Not at all." "Ah!" "The gesture is so chic!" "With which we'll pay the joints where we'll eat from tomorrow on." "I'm sure that in return they'll give us a discount." "But now that you've made the nice gesture.." "Miss." " No, Roberto!" "But the Miss only wants to help us during a rough time." "I don't want her to help us." "But if we all act like nobles, we'll never get out of this." "It's OK to act noble, but don't overdo it!" "You're right, dear." "I'm an idiot." "If we all act like nobles, we'll never get out of this." "Above all, he'd never get out of it." "Watch out." "Giorgio, Giorgio, you must rest." "Why did you get up?" "I'm fine." "Come on." "Let's get out of here now." "I won't even go back to the hotel, I want nothing there." "I'm leaving today." " Leaving?" "Where to?" "Tell mom and dad that I'll return to Rome later, to find a way to settle them." "That I'm going to work and that I'll help them." "Well, maybe dad will have to find something to do." "He'll try, don't you worry!" "He's been trying for 30 years." "And tell them to forget the Excelsior, the Grand Hotel.." "Let them get a boarding house." "In short, make them understand that it can't go on like this, to be reasonable." "That's all." "That's all." " What will you two do now?" "I'll answer with a joke from your dad:" ""We'll cast our nets, dear."" "Barbara.." "She'll be forced to work.." "That's not your concern." " True." "There's one thing I want to know." "Why did you tell her that I saved your life?" "Have you forgotten that day in Viareggio?" "When I thought I wasn't going to reach the land." "You were green with fear, but you had the courage to bring the boat out to sea." "We were 15 years old.." "Remember?" "How time passes." "Look, it's no longer time for pettiness." "If I'm an annoyance and you want to say goodbye to Barbara," "I can leave." " No, Roberto, don't go." "That girl must be getting impatient, Giorgio." "I wanted to say goodbye, before." "When you leave a woman, you promise her friendship to soften the separation." "I won't promise even my friendship." " Not even your friendship?" "All of us lived ignobly behind Lina's back.." "but especially us two." "They only thought about the money, but we.." "we in the midst of those little schemes, in the midst of those.. collusions, we acted out the comedy of love." "The comedy, yes." "Forgive me, Barbara." " Why?" "For the life I made you lead." "Oh..." "You don't have to." "It's me who should thank you, for that life." "Come on, let's go." " Barbara." "What do you want me to say?" "That I was doing great.." "just because I was in love with you?" "Give me a break!" "Here's the car key." " Aren't you coming with us?" " No, we go by train." "Bring the car back and give the key to Lina." " Don't worry." "You can count on my meticulous testamentary execution." "Goodbye, Roberto." "Goodbye, Barbara." "Goodbye, Giorgio." "English subtitles by sineintegral@KG"