"OF MEN AND SKIES" "Created and Narrated by" "DE ROBERTIS" "This story, conceived and created through its raw realism,.." "even before the unjust martyrdom of the war was over,.." "is dedicated to all those who bear, even today,.." "indelible traces in their soul and flesh of that martyrdom." "How did it go?" "Damn luck!" "For a hair's breadth we didn't die!" "And you, how did you get by?" "The skin is safe, but the hull is full of bullets!" "Better in the hull than in the skin!" "Hi Giorgio, how are you?" "I see that you have put the jalopy into operation, huh?" "Yeah, have a laugh, you!" "The hull is leaking from all over!" "Then there's no hope to take off!" "What take off!" "Thank God that Giorgio made it to touch down!" "Look, look at the state of the tail!" " Damn bad luck!" "And to that one, how did it go?" "Beats me!" "He fell down all of a sudden!" "How come it's still afloat?" " Who knows!" "Come on." " Slowly, guys." "Throw!" " Give me the other one." " Get the bag!" "Careful, there's the maps!" "It's the only thing I had time to..." "Damn, they've chipped well the tail!" "Come, come, climb!" "It's nice to put my feet on something!" "It was really bad!" "The distress signal?" " With what?" "The transmitter was put out by the first volley!" "The receiver works?" " Yes, it works." "Hold!" "Put everything in place and then come aboard!" "Lieutenant, we moor the raft here?" " Yes, oars inside!" "Hi Giorgio, how goes it?" " Giorgio's always fine." " I see!" "Look at Tommaso!" "He's even happy to accommodate us and do the honors, right?" "Excellent!" "Count Franz of Varna Valdena hangs his relics,.." "and so, we're all settled!" "Yessir!" "Hic manebimus optime!" "Here, we'll be just fine!" "Ha!" "You two are fine and don't give a damn to know that,.." "if we weren't so dumb to land, we wouldn't be here!" "Who asked you to?" " What do you mean!" "Giorgio saw that you were sinking, and so here we are all four!" "Count Franz of Varna Valdena..." "is settled!" "He saved the photos of his women, and hasn't soiled his silk shirt!" "Giorgio, has already said the three and a half words he says per day!" "I, yes, I would have something to say, but I have no wish." "Thank goodness!" " Yeah!" "But I'd like to know from you,.." "how you see our affairs now, huh?" "The same way you see them." " That is?" "That is, tonight at the airport they'll say..." " I know what they'll say!" " What?" "They'll say "what suckers!"" "Well, suckers or not, before tomorrow no one will come looking for us." "The point is, if it turns out badly, will we stay afloat until tomorrow?" "The only hope is the 506, that comes every night from there, the Beta zone." "If it passes before sunset,.." "our affairs will resolve well." "If it passes!" " And if passes one of those... our affairs will resolve in a concentration camp in Kenya,.." "or in India!" "Damn it!" "It's rising." "The pump alone is not enough." "Go on with the pump, and you guys help with the buckets." "In an hour we'll relieve you." " Okay." "What's up there on board?" "Take a look!" "How come I don't see anybody move?" "Damn!" " It's listing lot!" "Left wing in the air and right one in the water." "But can't see anybody outside." "Must all be inside to drain the water." "Or playing bridge." "They too are waiting." " I'd send them a signal." "Be careful!" "Watch out, because in five minutes,.." "we start fighting again!" "Say!" "You're out of your mind?" " Calm down Tommaso, just kidding!" "Yet, how weird is war!" "A short while ago, they were trying to kill us, and we, to get rid of them." "Now, since we're all gone into the water,.." "we nearly exchange Greetings and bunches of carnations!" "Well, what's so strange about?" " Well!" "That in the end,.." "men are less inhumane than war would like them to be, because war says.." "Destroy people and vehicles at any cost!" "And the planes, aren't destroyed already?" " Ah, but not men!" "Since we're still alive, both us and them,.." "and we still have weapons to kill each other!" "Yeah!" "But given how we're reduced, both us and them,.." "if nobody comes to save us, where do you think we will end up, both us and them?" "Ah, in the blue sea waters!" " So, what's the use to kill each other first?" "Will you stop with this talk?" "You have no more to say?" "Yes!" "I can tell you that the issue of killing.." "will become urgent the moment we spot a rescue." "What's rescue got to do?" " If the rescue is for us,.." "those gentlemen should immediately begin to shoot and kill us before we're saved." "Kill us?" "And why?" " Of course!" "Because in that case we are re-usable as fighters,.." "while they are eliminated as prisoners." "But who says that they'll shoot?" "And why they stay hidden?" " Oh, stop it!" "Come on, cheer up, guys!" "If we make it back home, we won't set foot on these wrecks of hydroplanes,.." "and I am sure that when we return..." "By the way, Ubaldo, tell me, when did we send our application for the fighters?" "On October 2nd." " And what's today?" "16." "You need else?" " Today is October 16?" "But then today is..." "The very day of our dinner at zio Peppone's restaurant!" "Oh, guys, look at the coincidence!" " Nice coincidence!" "Well, since we are back together, if we had at least one of those bottles.." "that Zio Peppone kept stashed for us, we wouldn't be that bad!" " Sure!" "Why?" "You're not fine, Tommaso?" " You think you're funny!" "Finally, don't you think what to do?" "Tommaso, you'll see that next year, we'll all meet..." "Where, where we meet?" "At Zio Peppone's." "Guaranteed!" "There!" "I guarantee!" "He guarantees, as if we here were..." "We're only kidding!" "You two want to joke because it went well for you!" "But if Georgio had listened to me and hadn't moored,.." " Stop it!" "you wouldn't be kidding now!" " Cheer up, boys!" "Look at that wonderful sunset!" "The other years, October 16, ever thunder, lightning and deluge." "Remember?" "We arrived at the restaurant with sodden shoes and uniforms." "But zio Peppone lit the fireplace for us in the private room." "Before entering, we checked the coat rack outside the door,.." "to see who was already there." "Tommaso was always the first to arrive." "Yes." "He hung his coat at the last rung.." "and started to draw our caricatures on the walls." "An artist!" " And while waiting, he had himself served a plate of spaghetti, for starters!" "Georgio arrived very annoyed, instead!" "He said "Good evening!"" "Then, tired for speaking so much, he sat by the fireplace,.." "and scraped the mud from the shoes." "Damn it!" "It's dark already!" "Keep ready on deck rockets and light signals for the night." " Okay." "Ubaldo, look through the binoculars!" "Under the dark cloud, over there!" "That's a plane!" "What?" "Where?" "Where, it's ours?" " Yes, it's the 506!" "Comes right here, saw us!" "We're OK, guys!" "Damn!" "Careful there, Ubaldo!" "They shoot!" "Take a look there!" "What'd you see?" " Nobody's moving there!" " 506 really?" "Yes, let's get ready!" "Guys, come right up!" "Hurry!" "The plane is here!" "Tonio!" "Listen to the radio!" " Go, go, call the others!" "Quick, there's a plane!" " It's ours?" " Yes, it's 506." " Well!" "Ready with the raft!" " Okay." "Jump in!" "Half hour later they wouldn't see us." "You believe now that next year we'll meet at Zio Peppone?" "Until then there is another year of war!" "Aircraft signaling!" " See what it signals!" "What they say?" "What does it signal?" " Get ready, touching down." "Eh!" "Get ready, touching down, and he lands down there?" "Stop that!" "Wants to wake up those guys!" "But we come first, no?" " Damn!" " What is it?" "What's he doing?" " I don't get it." "It's flying above it." "But, nobody moves nor shows up there on board!" "It's comeing back here!" "Pay attention if it signals!" "Aircraft signaling!" ""On Blenheim all dead."." "In a few minutes, you'll leave this seadrome.." "to reach your new destinations in the fighter units,.." "and I gathered you to say goodbye." "You're here from the onset of the war." "On leaving, you'll draw a long sigh!" "I know." "In the maritime reconnaissance, war is ungrateful." "But then, done with these inconceivable museum devices,.." "to the pilot remains nothing but the bitter sense of an unequal struggle,.." "and sadly, the resignation to a fate already sealed,.." "beyond all will and courage!" "So then!" "In half an hour will depart four aircrafts that go towards your areas,.." "you can use them, at least for part of the trip." " Thanks Commander." "So, will still be your old wrecks,.." "to take you towards new fates, on the fighter planes." "Nurus, for personal matters, you will stop in one place during the trip." "I'll tell you later." "I put them there for you." "The calendars of your seaplanes squadron." "Soon, we come out into the second year of the war." "Keep them with you." "They'll bring you luck." "Thanks Commander." "Now, to the last topic." "What I think of you as a pilots, you already know!" "But I want you to know also what I think of you as men." "Let us begin." "Oh, Renzi and Varna." "You are two sort of idealists." "Yes, let us say more precisely, two enamored." "You, Renzi, you're enamored of the future." "And in fact, your key word is..." " Program!" " Program!" "Right!" "Our dear Varna instead, does not make programs." "He is a poet of the present." "He delights with the motto "War on engines, shirts and pajamas!"" ""And loves", Commander!" " I even wrote it, you know!" "Listen..." ""Tenacious lover of the form, even in war hasn't renounced his silk shirts.." "and uniforms of impeccable cut!"" "Say, in what lies a man's best quality?" "In a jacket with sleeves that fit good and without creases!" "Certainly not like yours, Commander!" "And.. couldn't you just wear a jacket like mine?" "No, Commander, rather a dignified death in battle!" "Taddei and Nurus!" "You are instead, two deniers of idealism!" "Taddei, you shouldn't be a pilot." "And I think you're the first to admit it." "True?" " Yes, Commander!" "And, hadn't been there a war, now..." " War has nothing to do." "You're still here because you didn't have the chance to change job,.." "but if you'll have it, I'm sure you won't let it slip!" "Anyway, as fighter, I haven't judged you certainly below your comrades!" "Indeed." "Maybe there is more merit in risking one's neck for just sense of duty.." "than for the zeal of the ideals!" "This I acknowledged it sincerely." "Just as sincerely as I'm wishing you, at war over, to find your right track." "Nurus!" "You're definitely the best pilot I've ever met in 15 years of experience!" "But I could not get to know you as a man." "And I think that even they could not, although your friends for years!" "You have just enough time to get ready." "Go on, go!" "I'll greet you on the chute." "OK, Commander." " Nurus!" "Excuse me, stay here a minute!" "A phonogram from Group command." "Authorizes you to stop at Perugia during the journey." "On request of notary Vanzetti, Perugia." "Sounds familiar?" "Vanzetti?" "Ah yes, commander." "I think it is about a testament!" "Did you have any relatives in Perugia?" " Yes, I had an uncle." "I think he was ..." "the last family member still alive!" "I was reading this morning the old notes by your officer at the academy course." ""Character closed and arid." "When he entered the school at 18, was already a denier of the family ideals." "And in the academy he was unable to create even a professional ideal,.." "because his non common instinct as pilot.." "and the consequent confidence with which he felt supported in the air,.." "since the first flight,.." "made him appear useless the search for spiritual support." "Nurus thus became a man without a faith in the family,.." "and became a pilot with only a materialistic conception of the flight."" "Those who judged you later, as an officer, have all written:" ""War has not changed anything in him." "For Lieutenant Nurus the sky is only made of air, and so, to rise,.." "suffices the force of a motor."" "Here guys!" "Program." " Program!" "On October 16 next year, appointment at Zio Peppone!" "And who's missing, cuckold!" " Good luck!" "NOTARY" "No, lawyer, I know nothing on the matter." "If I understand, my uncle named me his heir on condition that I... yes, I marry, in short!" "Is that so?" " No, Lieutenant." "It is not a condition." "It's only a wish,.." "and even human, because you must think that your uncle has worked all his life." "Now, finding himself without a family, he felt all the futility of his work,.." "and hoped that after his death,.." "could be of use at least to the family of his nephew!" "It may be a wish, and even human, as you say, but to me,.." "accepting my uncle's annuities means accepting also his wish!" "But consider that a family, sooner or later..." "But I never thought about a family!" "And I should think of it today, with a war?" "No, no." "I have no desire to assume obligations of the sort!" "And thank God, I have no need to!" "Of course, Lieutenant, you live.." "in a world so different from the study of a notary,.." "that I myself feel embarrassed, by having to..." "But it is, in fact, my duty!" "And if you allow me to speak by my experience of man, besides as notary,.." "I say there is no reason to give up the inheritance." "If accepting the annuity appears as a moral commitment, let's say,.." "you can always accept the will.." "with the reserve to allocate the annuities to good works!" "At least until the day when...who knows!" "War, my dear lieutenant, changes many things!" "Who knows today what will become of us and our ideas in a month, a year..." "Lawyer?" " What?" " There is Miss Valeri." "Just wait." "I'll call you." " Okay." "Eh, dear lieutenant, you only know one aspect of the war!" "But there are many others, you know!" "This young lady, for example, today forced to interrupt her studies.." "to get a modest job in the Taddei factory,.." "because her family conditions don't allow..." " Taddei?" "Yes, a food factory for the Armed Forces." "And who is he?" " Who, the owner?" " Yes." "Taddei." "Antonio Taddei." "Why?" "You know him?" "Must be the father of a comrade." "Indeed, his son is a pilot, and I think of your age!" "Yes, it's him." "But strangely, he never told me about this factory!" "Oh, because it's a factory... well... one of those factories..." " ...born with the war!" " Yeah!" "Fine." "What are the formalities for acceptance?" "Well, Lieutenant, go with him." "You just have to read and sign the document." "Good." "It's ready, right?" " Yes." "Please, Lieutenant, will you come along?" " Thank you." "Good morning, lawyer!" " Oh, hello!" "Please, sit down, miss!" " Thank you." "So, I looked over the entire situation." "Here!" "Your father already had an advancement for merit of war.." "when he was wounded in April 1918, right?" "Yes lawyer." "Well, the gold medal assignment was in June of that year." "The recognition as great invalid of war is instead of March '19." "The amount of the allowance and the checks thus is what it is!" "And at least for now there's no hope of increases." "That's why I helped you in your desire...indeed, I'd say, in your need.." "to find work!" "Right?" " Yes, lawyer!" "The Taddei factory manager is willing to give you a job." "It isn't much, but after all, it's always something!" "Are you glad?" " Ah, I don't know how to thank you!" "Rather, I know that you do everything at home,.." "divided among the invalid dad, the little brother, your degree,.." "and I don't know if..." " Oh, don't worry about me, because I..." " May I?" "Come in, Lieutenant, please." "Lieutenant Nurus, Miss Valeri, daughter of Colonel Valeri!" "Here, lawyer!" " Thank you." " And..." " Tell me!" "I wanted to know if you can take care of the rest." "Ah, of course, Lieutenant!" "I already have your proxy!" "Let me know the institution or person to whom you wish to pass the annuities,.." "and I will execute, keeping the receipts at your disposal!" "Thank you." "And to continue, you have a train in an hour, and another in the afternoon." "Thank you." "I have nothing to do in Perugia." "I'll take the first." "Lieutenant, you spent your childhood in Perugia, right?" "Yes." "Up to...to the age of twelve, I think." "But I remember so little!" "It's like a new town to me." " Very well then!" "Miss Elena lives near the station,.." "and since you must do the same route, you will find in her an excellent guide!" "That is the new sports field." "Since a few years." "Before there was a meadow... and kids went there to play football." "But maybe you don't remember." "Yes, yes, I remember." "I've been there a few times." "...but he postponed to stay with us for lunch." "No, no medals, I don't know, I didn't notice." "Listen to me, Carletto!" "Tell dad I bought everything and we're arriving." "Put the water to boil and go get some bread." "Two kilos!" " Miss?" " Yes, give 3 days worth of coupons." "Miss!" " Wait." " This is a month's ration!" " Well, okay." "Then pick the flowers on the balcony and put them in a vase on the table, get it?" "Do you want?" " No, no, thanks." "I am ready, Lieutenant." "Shall we head home?" "I'm sorry, miss, but I looked over my travel schedule and.." "I cannot stay for lunch." "Please, make my apologies to your father also." "I would have met him with pleasure, but..." "I've just barely time to get to the station." "Lieutenant, load the suitcase?" " Yes, thanks." "Please do not take offense, miss, if I give..." "I mean..." "Watch out, it leaves now." " Okay." "I wanted to say that ... that there are people, like me for example,.." "who have more than enough to live..." "Whistles are annoying!" "while other people, I was saying, bear sacrifices and limitations, and..." "The notary will explain later!" "Come in!" "On Caserta, weather report gives high clouds with rain." "The plane is ready." "Good, I'll be right." "October 16" " Zio Peppone restaurant." "TRATTORIA DA ZIO PEPPONE" "Giorgio!" "What surprise!" "You find me here by miracle!" "I was waiting for my train at Caserta, so I gave it a try!" "But I didn't hope..." "I wrote you 3 times with no reply." "Where were you?" "On a special mission, and didn't receive mail." "You on leave now?" " No, just passing, headed to the Aegean." "Torpedo Bombers." "And, are you happy?" "Yeah!" "Zio Peppone set the seats, but... they won't come!" "I had written it in my last letter." "Varna has lost an arm." "And Renzi, has lost a leg." "To Varna, it happened three months ago." "It was in a splendid action, yes, but..." "useless!" "One of his usual gestures of poet!" "I saw him at the hospital, after the surgery." "He has not even a stump left." "Remember how much he cared about his jackets' sleeves?" "Now he must resign himself to see some creases in that sleeve!" "Renzi was in the air to test a viewfinder, studied by him." "He had little to test." "Found himself alone against five!" "And, they rescued him at sea after twenty hours!" "With a gangrenous leg, and almost completely deaf!" "Yes, two, bronze." "But I have risked the skin just like you." "Even if you have three silver ones!" "That's enough though!" "If mine was a duty, I've done it!" "And I won't keep on risking anything for a busted war!" "A war for no reason, without ideals, and no purpose." "Yours...is not a matter of idealism." "It's fear!" "Yes, it's fear!" "And if you must know, it wasn't the war that brought it!" "I always had it." "Since the first flight." "But I never refused to fly, until before yesterday, until yesterday!" "73 war actions in 17 months!" "Stuff for... good God!" "Only I know what I went through!" "And you talk about fear!" "What do you know, you, who in flight feel like God Almighty!" "Big deal, to do the hero!" "You were born a pilot!" "Not me!" "So what?" "But I don't feel coward at all, as you think!" "Because I'm not afraid to loose my life!" "I'm afraid to find myself thrown out like those two poor bastards!" "Without a leg or without an arm!" "Without hope to rebuild nor a life nor anything!" "Poor Varna!" "The poet of the present." "And then Renzi!" "Man of the future and of the programs!" "There they are!" "What has war made of them?" "Two finished men." "Two wrecks!" "Taddei!" "There's a coach to the city." "You want to take it?" "OK Peppone, thanks!" "Coming now!" "I beg your pardon, but I can't stay for dinner." "I have to run to the station!" "I didn't expect to meet you, and I made a commitment." "At my father's death his factory in Perugia passed to me,.." "and I have to see a person who's taking care.." "of my exemption from military service." "You understand..." "Mr. Taddei, hurry up!" " Coming!" "Sorry again." "I hope to see you soon, more calmly." "Bye Giorgio, good luck!" "Behold, coming!" "Thanks!" "Go down, there's a surprise!" "Who's there?" "Who's there?" " Go, go!" "Can you bring me to the station?" " Come on, climb up!" "Hurry up, mister!" "October 5, 1935 ACADEMY Admission" "October 15, 1939 Pilot's license" "October 15, 1938 And ever" "Mr Nurus!" "Jesus, Jesus, what a pleasure!" "You are here!" "How are you, Zio Peppone?" " And how are you, sir?" "You used the main door, right?" "Cause I didn't...and you're all alone?" "And Mr. Taddei returns?" "No, Zio Peppone, he won't." "And Mr. Renzi, Mr. Varna, are not coming?" "No." "They cannot come." "But .. but are they alright?" "Yes." "Is...everything's ready in the kitchen." "And also last year everything was ready." "Another year has gone by." "What an ugly war this is, Mr. Nurus!" "I made clam chowder." "Do you remember?" "Come, sit, merrily on!" "Eat a bite!" "This is the last, you see." "I had kept it for all four." "It means that..." " Thank you." "No!" "Leave those." "Renzi and Varna.." "are still here with us." "Further on, the trolley!" " Slowly!" " Forward!" "Not the trolley, huh?" " That way, careful." "Why do you always bring that broken badge, on flight?" "Oh, I inherited it from an uncle!" "Well, your uncle has not wasted much, dying!" "No, joking." "I say so because it broke at the station of Perugia.." "when I went for the inheritance." "I almost missed the train too, because I was trying to explain to a girl..." "And you keep it since?" "Yes, I think..." "I think it brings good luck!" "Well, that's something." "You didn't believe in anything!" "By the way, any news of Renzi and Varna?" "No." "Only what Taddei told me last year." "I didn't even have the heart to write." "I don't even know about Taddei." "Torpedoes ready!" " Away the trolley!" "Away from propellers!" "Let's go!" "Guys, watch out!" "It's reported a strong flak reaction!" "Okay!" " Good luck!" " Bye!" " Close the hatch!" "Wedges away!" " Removed!" "Dear Captain, I am enclosing the receipt of Ms. Elena Valeri,.." "who in the past 2 years has regularly received.." "the annuities from you destined to her." "Kind regards and wishes." "Notary." "Here!" "That's your splinter." " Ah, thank you." "Take a look, that's the heart." "See where was the splinter?" "How you found the strength to stay in flight, I didn't understand!" "My dear, the sky is made of air!" "Until the engine or the heart of who's in control don't stop, one stays up!" "Here!" " What?" "Ah, it's the association of disabled veterans of Perugia." "See, they send you a statement of the payments made by you in 2 years." "I haven't made any payment!" "Well, someone has done it for you!" "You have anyone at Perugia?" "I don't understand anything." "Okay, my notary will explain it to me!" "And you got those news?" " Oh, yes!" "Here!" "These are the current addresses of Renzi and Varna!" "But, for Tommaso Taddei I wasn't able..." " I don't need it." "I found it over there." "Sterilized milk." "Supplies for Armed Forces." "Factories Tommaso Taddei." "Perugia." "When is my leave to Italy?" "You're listed for the first plane." " That leaves when?" " On October 15." "15, and 1 of travel, 16." "I'll arrive just in time!" "Why?" "What have you got to do on Oct. 16 in Italy?" "The past years, we always spent it all four together!" "Last year, we found ourselves in two, and this year..." "Dunno!" "War changes many things!" "It also changed our meetings." "I'll go find them!" "One by one, wherever they are!" "He's there!" "Ubaldo!" "Ubaldo!" "Giorgio!" "How are you?" "What a nice surprise!" "Didn't expect you today." " I got a car." " What?" " A car." " Great!" "You can't believe how..." "One moment, while I finish tying this." "Sure!" " You see this little tree?" "It's a three years old almond tree." "I grafted it to peach." "Eh!" "Wonderful thing, a graft!" "Just think, Giorgio." "This is a tree created to give you almonds, right?" "At a certain point in its life, you cut it a limb,.." "and graft on it the bud of another fruit!" "And the tree, that was destined to live as almond, is a peach!" "Understand?" "It changes of life!" "Isn't it miraculous?" "Eh, how some men resemble trees!" "And how they owe to nature, dear Giorgio!" "Because no example is more convincing than the example that nature offers us!" "Look!" "Look Giorgio, look what..." "what sense of strength,.." "faith, life, plants give off!" "They're all young trees, all transplant." "Acclimated perfectly in this land!" " Excellent!" "Nice growth huh?" "Look at the colors!" "I'm trying a fertilization.." "that should bring them to fruition with at least one year ..." "Hear how they sing?" "They are birds of passage." "You hear them?" " Yes, I hear them." "And...this is soil already prepared." "Irrigation, fertilization, everything." "I plan to set up a breeding ground for home-grown vines." "That is tough soil, but I'm tilling, and I plan to seed it in a couple of years." "I see, I see!" "You are ever..." "the man of programs!" "My dear, in the the countryside you live on the future!" "When... you see seedlings, a sprout, a newborn lamb,.." "you don't think what they are, but what they will be!" "Anna?" " Eh?" " This is Giorgio!" "That old inveterate misanthrope of Giorgio!" "Here he is!" "Down from heaven for a close look at how we manage, us poor mortals!" "No way!" "There was no way to convince him!" "He says that he must continue tonight because.." "he has other unavoidable commitments, you know?" "Then it's best not to inquire and not force him." "No, no." "You have no reason to think badly, they are innocent commitments." "Should we believe him?" " Yes, because ..." "Oh, here's my aide de camp!" "What is it, Luigi?" "If you want to see the corn..." "Yes." "You meanwhile, show the house to Giorgio." "I'll join you soon." "This way." "Please, want to give me...?" " Thank you." "This is the so-called living room!" "But please, come..." "Oh, sorry, you were watching this strange table, right?" "It's always like this here!" "Seeds, baskets, bags, farming tools ..." "Look, look how he reduces the house!" "But you can't thwart him." "He thrives on these things!" "Please, sit down!" "Think that, when we came here, you know that better than me,.." "Ubaldo had never seen up close a hoe!" "I recall that the owner, before signing the lease, called me aside and said,.." ""Ma'am, I admire your husband, but for the land,.." "one must be born within." "I don't think he will endure a lot here!"" "And yet..." "he managed to create a whole world here!" "And of the world that he left,.." "he never thinks?" "No." "And it seems to me a miracle." "He's full of life, enthusiasm, as was then." "As if in him, nothing had changed." "Of course, this isolation.." "must have helped him forget." "No, indeed, airplanes pass often over here." "But they fly high,.." "and he doesn't hear them." "One day, by chance he was looking at the sky, and saw one." "Since that day, he did not look at the sky." "Giorgio?" "Tell me if you are not proud of your rural friend." "This is the last year's corn, and this is this year's." "See the difference!" "Well, you showed the house to Giorgio?" "Yes." "He really liked it." " It's just beautiful." "But I bet that you didn't show him that room there, right?" "I'll show it to him!" "Come Giorgio, come!" "There it is!" "Watch and tell me what you think." "Look, look!" "A program this too?" " No." "This is not a program." "It is a hope!" "Military censorship 5th Sector" "Do go in, captain, it's here!" "Giorgio!" "Oh, but look what a surprise!" "It's really you!" "What brought you here?" " It's no accident." " For me?" "Why, you're surprised?" " No, just..." " How are you Franz?" " Well." "But tell me about you." "Are you on leave?" "What are you up to?" " Nothing special." "And you?" "You've always been here?" " Yes." "Since when..." "but I followed you, you know!" "When you pecked the 5th silver medal I meant to write you." "But then I said:" "What does he care, the cynic, of his medals and my blabbing?" "Well, how do I look?" " The same." " Does it fit well?" "Eh, this sleeve will never make creases!" "And, have you seen Renzi?" "Yes." "He said you write each other often." " Well, we keep each other some company." "Indeed, in spring, I'm going to spend a few days by him!" "I assure you that I can't envision him as farmer!" "Want to leave your things?" " Thank you." "Imagine!" "Just yesterday,.." "among the academy mementos, I found our caricatures made by ..." "By the way, what about Taddei?" "You know what has become of him?" " No, I do not know anything." "Strange thing, war!" "Divides people who were always united, like us and Taddei,.." "and in return, it unites others.." "who didn't even know each other!" "For example, Renzi and his wife." "You think that without the changes, let's say, brought by the war,.." "they would have found the spiritual climate to meet.." "and unite?" " Ah, I'm no expert, I." "Oh yes, you are ..." " Well, let's talk about you." "You've been here a year?" " A year, yes." "And, I must confess that, the first days,.." "I felt like suffocating." "Then, little by little, this air of closed, dust, paper, has disappeared." "As if the space between the table and these shelves expanded every day,.." "to become large and airy as a world!" "A world of images, of course, where this is not a table,.." "but the meeting point of the currents of two rivers." "Here the combatants, and their families there!" "Their women, their homes!" "Here pass the stories of all." "Pass true feelings and false feelings, disappointments, joys, hopes." "Tears!" "I assure you, Giorgio, that it's as if I lived among them!" "And I also have the joy to do something for them." "For example, this is a pilot officer who writes to his mother!" "Nothing to censor." "Just a word, a bit too harsh and too bitter!" "You remember?" "One of those words that escaped from the pen at times, like that,.." "without a reason, and without anyone had guilt,.." "besides the war, of course!" "I've deleted it!" "A stroke of pen has spared an undeserved tear to a mother!" "These other, see, are two love letters that a girl sends to two sergeants." "But by mistake, she swapped the envelopes!" "I put everything in place, sparing two disappointments." "Always the same poet and knight, you." "Yes!" "Straddling a chair, however, dear Giorgio!" "And, can I ask you a question?" "Amid this flood of emotions, you've always remained extraneous, or..." "These are the only letters that don't go on with the flood." "They arrive here and they stop, because they are directed to me!" "It's a good and dear girl." "I had noticed her letters as soon as arrived here." "She wrote almost every day to an officer,.." "who, at one point, did not answer her more." "She continued to write." "Letters that clutched your heart!" "She just wanted to know if he was alive, did not ask anything from him." "But she never got an answer." "Dead?" " No." "He wrote to another woman!" "I felt so sorry, poor girl, that in the end I answered myself." "You!" " Yes." "A white lie." "And that is, that he always wrote, but the letters.." "were retained by the censorship for the military news that they contained." "She.." "thanked me, touched,.." "and asked me more news about him." "I replied, and..." "In short, after a while, in our letters,.." "the name of that other, was gone!" "And how long has this story lasted?" "Exactly,.." "142 days." "But today ..." " And what's today?" "It's a special day, because she will soon be here to meet me." "And you,.." "must help me!" "Me?" "And what have I to do?" "Nothing, but you may want to..." " No!" "No, no, no." "I know nothing of sentimental problems, and I wouldn't know what to do." " All you have to do is.." "stand up here, near me, when she appears at the door." "That's all!" "Come on, Franz!" "Maybe even holding a candle, right?" "But Giorgio, come here." "Listen to me." "Angela doesn't know anything about me." "She knows me only.." "for what she could.." "imagine from my letters." "She may have noticed that they are written with the left." "But she may also think that I'm normal, as you are." "And if, just entered, she will look at you,.." "it means that she imagined me such as you are." "See?" "I'm only asking you to spare her, and me,.." "any disappointment of the first meeting." "Then there will always be a way to clarify and..." "Mr Varna?" "Eh?" " There is a lady." " Let her in." "Come in." "TADDEI COMPANY" "Captain!" "The Director said to please come in." "300 quintals and price up to 2,000." "Yes, 6b is urgent." "It's an order for 2 million." "Hoard what you can, and at any price, okay?" "I must get rid of that batch..." "Have you got it?" "Yes Yes, yes, yes, of course!" "All at my own risk, all right, yeah!" "What?" "No, not a chance!" "In production 3/9, I'm at stake.." "with 10 million worth of machines, and all in red!" "What?" "Keep those gentlemen quiet, I will fight to the end, even at the cost of..." "Ah, please, Giorgio." "Yes, I'm in fact waiting to hear from Schulzer!" "Okay, call me later!" "But blessed boy, why so unexpectedly!" "Had you told me a few days before,.." "I'd have kept a couple of hours free, while now... you see!" "Sit down." "Thanks, but..." "Yes?" "Try to get immediately the long distance that I asked!" "Solicit!" "Well, Tommaso ..." " Come in!" "Come in, Nardini, what is it?" "Some urgent signatures, sir." " On with the signatures!" "Sorry Giorgio, be patient, if I stop for a moment, everything stops!" "Take off your coat." "Everything here is my work!" "All pulled up in less than a year." "On credit risk, of course, because funds...!" "Imagine, the whole factory consisted of two rotten sheds!" "But, this is that dispute for the rotten fats?" " Yes, sir." "I pointed out that the percentage used..." " C'mon, c'mon, Nardini!" "You believe that the control offices are run by ingenues such as you?" "No good!" "Call the secretary!" " Now, sir!" "Ask again!" "I must absolutely speak with this Schulzer!" "I can not delay!" "Excuse me?" " Come in." "You must type this letter." "I'll give it to you now." "Here, Miss, write it here!" "Giorgio, where are you?" "Come, come here!" "So, let's talk a little..." "Hello?" "Not here today, is traveling." "Yes?" "Yes, yes, but it's a batch that my wife dealt." "Okay, I take note." "Yeah!" "I got married." "Well, why that face?" " Don't know, I can't picture you..." "Oh, rest assured!" "No romance!" "I found a smart woman and we didn't even need the usual pretenses!" "We went to the essence." "Equal financial contribution, equal work and equal freedom for both of us." "Love!" "It's a capital that finds no use today." "No, we're going towards shipwreck, dear Giorgio!" "And everyone tries to prepare in time the only lifejackets left to stay afloat!" "Those stuffed with pounds!" "Yes sir!" "This is the reality of a country that was thrown to suicide!" "The essential thing, my dear, is to feel at peace with one's conscience!" "Have you seen from that window how many workers?" "And how many wagons go away loaded with goods?" "Well, I feel much more useful to the country today, than when I was pilot,.." "because today, providing food, I at least help to make live,.." "while, when I was a pilot..." "How strange is life!" "These two ribbons, they gave me when I was a pilot." "That is, for a courage that I never had." "But no one will ever give me ribbons for the courage that I actually have today!" "Schulzer?" "But no, try again, it is most urgent!" "One of these rings may be a signal that opens ten new avenues for my industry." "But it it can also be the signal of a catastrophe!" "You, with your courage, would not resist even one hour at this desk!" "But I wouldn't call you coward for that." "I'm only saying: this calls for my guts!" "And I can repeat today what I said a year ago!" "I'm not a coward because, even today, I'm not afraid to lose my hide!" "So much so that, if an unfortunate day.." "I should see destroyed everything I built,..." "Oh, thank you, Miss." "So..." "Here!" "Pass it to the accountant!" "With that one, nothing doing!" "She's a dreamer." "It seems she always has her mind after an officer she met a few years back." "And doesn't even know if he's still alive or dead!" "She even rejected the serious proposals,.." "and honest millions, of one of my suppliers!" "Ah, lives on air and dreams, that girl!" "And, if she were born a man, I think she would have been.." "an aviator officer!" "Giorgio, what are you thinking?" "What?" "Oh, nothing!" "Well, tell me, what news have you got of Renzi and Varna?" "Yes, I know they're fine." " Fine?" "I don't know how they can continue to live." "Wretches!" "And the others, have you seen or heard anyone?" "Yes I met the engineer and the radio operator of your hydro 5, you remember?" "Mannuzzi and Vico!" "And what did they say?" "Tell me!" "They spoke about you all the time and remember you with much..." " Oh, yes?" "Oh, Schulzer?" "Yes, put him on!" "Sorry Giorgio, do you mind waiting outside?" "Be patient, and then we go to lunch together." "Hello?" "Hello?" "Schulzer?" "Taddei speaking!" "Yes, yes, Taddei plants!" "What?" "No, no, operator!" "I was already in line!" "Yes!" "Perugia!" "Taddei factories!" "Ah?" "Schulzer?" "So, what do you say about that matter?" "Yes, yes, I wired you!" "Have a good lunch." "Will see you later." "Excuse me, miss, could you have this note delivered to the manager?" "Please!" "You may read it." "I beg your pardon." "I can not stay with you for lunch." "I forgot to have, since a long time, another invitation." "Giorgio." "PAULINE CASTLE" ""Oh fair in its fair days, Rocca Paolina with the long bastions and spurs askew!" "Paul third had devised it one morning between the Latin of the Missal and that of Bembo."" "How good!" " School memories." "And don't you remember anything else?" "Yes, but not all." "A few verses here and there." "Let's hear!" ""And Sangallo to the fortress the flanks rounded such as of a thriving bride." "Flung around it a veil of white marble, encircled the proud with a wreath of towers." "So he did in Perugia, where the haughty mole of a vast shadow encumbered the soil." "And..."" ""Now laughs love and laughs spring prattle women and children in the sun."" "Clitunno springs." "I don't know how many, but he's got medals!" "Listen..." "Miss, 3 ects?" " Tell dad I bought all... 3 ects, yes!" " And the coupons?" "Alright, I'll give you them!" "Listen, then put the water on the fire, and go get the bread!" "Understand?" "What?" " It's the same aviator than last time?" "But, is he really coming, or will he make us eat hard bread for three days?" "Yes, yes, he walks." "Walks with a limp, of course." "Of course, he cannot move like once, but.." "but he has no way of realizing it, I'd say,.." "because in the countryside he has no need to rush." "Indeed, he likes to move slowly, among his plants,.." "because he can treat them better and enjoy them better, as he says!" "His deafness then, it's weird, but it's like a blessing, because it prevents him.." "from hearing the engine of passing aircrafts, and makes him hear.." "the sound of birds instead of an organ out of tune!" "And Varna and is proud of his sleeve..." "that will never make a crease!" "He says it jokingly, of course!" "But it's true that, without right hand,.." "he managed to write to a woman.." "what he wasn't able to say before to any of his women!" "Their life, does not have the bitter taste.." "of anything that smacks of surrender!" "It seems indeed, the ideal continuation of the other one that they left." "Indeed, Varna lives even today the poetry of the present." "And Renzi, continues to make programs." "Except that, unable to fly,.." "he took them on the ground, among his plants, his house,.." "and a cradle." "Carletto?" "It's time, it's 2:00!" " He must return to school?" " Yes, Dad." "Well!" " You go and get changed." "Let's go on the terrace then." " Thanks." "As you see, Nurus, we welcomed you familiarly." "Making you follow all our habits!" " But I'm grateful, Colonel." "Here." "See this little terrace full of sun?" "It's my corner and my world since 20 years." "Once, the sight was more beautiful, and the air cleaner,.." "because there wasn't yet the factory built by your former colleague." "Won't you sit down, Dad?" " No, thanks, I'll stay like this." "By the way, Nurus,.." "you haven't said anything about your morning visit to your old friend Taddei!" "Oh, yes." "Taddei!" "He quickly found his way!" "And he built, he too." "Yes, but only with bricks, and nothing stable." "Varna, maimed by the war, has managed to turn an office table into a whole world!" "While Taddei, left unharmed, has reduced his whole world to an office table,.." "with two telephones and a revolver!" "Please." " Ah, thanks." "Going back to factory?" " Yes, I'm getting ready." "To your aspirations, Nurus!" " To yours, Colonel!" "Would you like to sit down, Colonel?" " Yes, thank you." "Thank you." "Oh, yes!" "Today, as in my day." "Wars change, but men do not." "They're still the the same." "Either are born idealists like Renzi and Varna,.." "or are born like Taddei!" "Sure,.." "the battles are won mainly with canned meat!" "And the likes of Taddei are needed, in a country at war." "But they represent only a guarantee of the moment." "Renzi and Varna instead, guarantee the future!" "Because, you know, wars can be won, but can also be lost" "But if those who fought, who represent the healthiest part of a people,.." "will one day find the strength to forget all bitterness,.." "and the confidence to rebuild a life,.." "no one can deny to that people its right to life!" "But...but want to stay still, I can't make you the bow?" "!" "Oh, good!" "Come on, get your books so we go!" "Elena, look here, your pin!" "Don't you wear it today?" " Oh, thank you, yes." "Elena?" "Did he tell you how he got the five silver medals?" "No, he didn't tell me." " And why don't you ask him?" "Here are my children, Nurus!" "That is, the proof of the confidence in life.." "that a poor wreck like me had after the last war." "Oh, good!" "All ready?" " Yes, Dad!" "Goodbye Dad." " Bye dear." " Do you need anything?" " No, thanks." "I am sorry to leave you alone, Colonel, but..." "Of course, Nurus, you have to leave!" "I've always waited here for my children, ever since Elena was a child,.." "and was already a mommy for Carletto." "When memories are beautiful, no one is ever alone." "Yes, Renzi and Varna are really happy.." "because they were able to rise above their own suffering,.." "and above all unnecessary rancor." "What a strange thing, Elena!" "For many years, one believes that the sky is only made of air." "Then one day, right two comrades who can no longer take flight,.." "tell us that, to stay on, one needs other forces beyond those of an engine!" "Captain, I put the suitcase up here?" "I beg your pardon." " Please." "So then,..." "Listen." "Where will you spend the next 20 days of furlough?" "Well, in one place or the other, as I have always done." "And then, you'll go back to fight?" " Yes." "And without any hope!" "It takes much more strength,.." "true?" "Oh, yes!" "It takes much more strength!" "Aren't you going to be late, Elena?" "At the second whistle, one must already be in office!" "But there still is a little time." "But, rather,...your train?" "But!" "..." "How annoying whistles are, aren't they?" "THE END (for those who don't know it)" "Script, dialogues, screenplay, direction,.." "set design, editing and music by De Robertis" "Collaborators:" "Officers, NCOs and Air Force personnel, as interpreters,.." "along with Mrs. Anna Bianchi and Misses Anna Mancini and Doris Hilde."