"THE BUTCHER" "Do you think we should say everything?" "How do you mean?" "Like that it was your idea originally and I was against it" "No, better not - we ought to be a bit more diplomatic" "You'd better do the talking then" "No, it might look suspicious" "We have to act naturally" "It isn't easy for me" "I'd rather be honest and say it was your idea originally" "That doesn't mean you don't go along with it, does it?" "So what?" "That's not the point" "What's the problem then?" "Now we must stop to think... about a fundamental aspect of our decision" "The child of our dreams... can never correspond to a real child" "It's one thing to dream, quite another to live" "A well-balanced person doesn't get depressed" "When the dream inevitably turns out different from the reality" "We all agree about that, don't we?" "You, for instance..." "Granted that all of us, of course" "Would like an attractive, tall, bright, endearing child" "But since love isn't measured in aesthetic terms do you think... you would agree to adopt and love a child who is not particularly attractive?" "Well, sure... when you want a child you can hardly go to a supermarket and pick one" "A child is a child, so..." "Well, yes, I think we should take him" "Should take or... would want?" "Would want, sure... would want" "Would you like to say something?" "I picture him blond, with green eyes in a bright, airy room with all his toys" "I'm standing there watching him." "And as he plays..." " I can hear him singing" " What is he singing?" "No, I can't actually hear the song but he's singing softly, like we all do when we're content" " It happens, doesn't it?" " Sure" "Alina What?" "Nothing" "Well?" "Well what?" "Did I sound convincing?" "Very" "Why do they say these sessions are just to get to know us to exchange experiences and all that bullshit" "when it's obvious they're testing us?" "Who the hell do they think we are?" "A bunch of idiots?" "What's up?" "Miss Alparti is one of the many well-connected young people... her father is a university baron and powerful art critic who wake up one fine morning and conceive a whim to be an artist" "She could have been something else - a poetess, a writer a musician..." "But unfortunately for us she took it into her head to be a painter with the deplorable results we can all see" "I appreciate that an exhibition of her work in our gallery could be of some..." "diplomatic benefit to us" "However, the immediate result that I can see is a vertical drop in the style and image of our gallery the only gallery in this city with international prestige" "So I wonder, dear Alina, why on earth... you want us to make such a bad impression?" "Lorenzo, why do you turn everything you say into an ideological statement?" "Giulia Alparti is no Picasso" "She's no Guttuso, we all know that but I found many interesting aspects in her recent work" "Now that is a brilliant example... of pitifully groping for arguments!" "Congratulations, Alina, you outdid yourself," "Bravo..." "Listen, don't you dare speak to me like that!" "We're friends but show some respect" "I've listened to your bullshit all morning which is more than you did with us" "I'm in charge here anyway, so I'm telling you officially that" "Giulia Alparti's show will be held here on the date" "I'll let you know tomorrow" "If nobody has any comments, the meeting is over." "Thank you" ""Dear Alina, generosity prompts me to shrug it off"" ""as a case of power going to one's head"" ""it happens in the best families"" ""For the sake of our old friendship and ideals"" ""you can affectionately get stuffed"" ""Good luck, hopefully many miles away"" ""your darling ex-manager, Lorenzo"" "What was your answer?" ""Resignation accepted" And tomorrow I 'm seeing Giulia" "I'll get more things" "From Lorenzo?" "Come on, from Giulia" "Believe me, I really like her work" "Don't you So, so" "How much is so-so?" "I told you at the meeting" "Aside from the politics, which you know leave me cold I quite like Giulia's work" "I just think you're overestimating it" "If Lorenzo slated it it was for ideological reasons, that's all" "Let's change the subject" "Yes maybe we'd better" "When does Daniele leave?" "Tonight" "Where did you say he was going?" "Ex-Russia?" "Kazakhstan Tadzhikistan, those places..." "Samarkand too" "Not bad I wish I could go with him" "What's the weather like there?" "Beautiful..." "Summer, nice and cool" "How do you feel about him going?" "Normal And after?" "A complete washout Why" "I don't feel like going out any more..." "people bore me..." "The weeping widow More or less" "You know what we should do?" "We should revive our snappy spinster tandem." "We're cute, we're shapely..." "No, spare me that." "I'd rather be a widow" "Do you think Daniele plays the weeping widower too?" "Or does he lay the Samarkand girls?" "Nice, very funny..." "I'd bust his face if he did" "Attagirl, that's it!" "No, look, I honestly don't think he's the type" "Sure?" "Positive?" "What time is he going?" "9:20" "Our sauna's off today then?" "Why?" "I thought you'd want to be with him" "No such luck!" "He rehearses right up to the last minute" "He'd rehearse on the plane if he could" "You're here at last!" "Everything okay?" "It is in here, outside it's sweltering!" "Let's see what you've got for us." "Come on" "There's more room here" "Yes but the light's poor." "What a pity..." "They're beautiful!" "What do you think?" "This one's great" "The reflection's terrible, let's go outside" "How nice and cool it is here!" "And the light's very good too" "Maybe round here... that's better" "Now we can appreciate it." "This is beautiful Nice line that" "Alina" "The tests show you are very run down physically" "It's one of two things you don't sleep enough or you don't eat enough." "Or both" "How much sleep do you get?" "A normal amount." "More than normal, I'd say" "I could sleep 20 hours a night" "That's not a good sign either" "Can you tell me what you eat?" "Milk... yoghurt..." "lots of fruit... vegetables" "Are you a vegetarian?" "No, not exactly" "What do you mean by that?" "I eat meat occasionally when I go out to dinner but I'd rather not" "Would you have any objections to an animal protein diet?" "You mean I'd have to eat a lot of meat?" "A normal amount." "Regularly" "Yes, it would be a problem" "I won't go into the logic of that, it's none of my business" "My job is to prescribe a diet consisting of 200 grams of red meat per day" "Freshly cut, to be eaten rare and never boiled" "Plus this vitamin complex to be taken twice a day before meals" "Your problems... of conscience, let's say, are your business but you should know that your usual diet seems poor to me and totally inadequate" "Do you eat many oranges?" "No, not many" "There, you should have a lot of oranges too, if you don't mind" "There we are... for Mrs. Emilia" "Always pretty as a picture..." "Young... and bubbly yes, like mineral water" "If I wasn't married, I'd jump at the chance!" "Why let marriage stop you?" "There's always divorce" "How can I do that?" "I wouldn't know which one to pick" "I'd jump at the chance with you too" "Jump with who you like, they're welcome to my place" "You don't know what you're missing" "It's nice and cool in there, huh?" "Like to come in with me?" "If it wasn't for you, I'd stay in there all day!" "Give me the usual, Bruno" ""This is 5798961"" ""You have 30 seconds to leave a message" "or send a fax after the beep, Thank you"" ""Alina, this is your erstwhile vice-manager Lorenzo Viliani"" ""who misses you terribly"" ""Don't worry, I'm not asking you to hire me back"" ""Hey, this is the third time I've called!"" ""When will you stop being so snobbishly anti-cell phones?"" ""It's only a matter of time you'll give in like the rest"" ""I want to talk to you." "Can you call me?"" ""I have a cell phone - although you banned it in the gallery"" "Any news of the engineer?" "Yes, I called him..." "We met up too" "Really?" "What did he say?" "The kids, the family the poor things..." "Wasn't he the one whose wife lets him have sex once a month?" "That's him" "He's a real jerk then" "Every time he went home he was so stricken, poor guy" "I'm so sorry for him" "You know what?" "He can take his thing and put it on ice" "Yes, but..." "he wasn't bad" "What, him?" "The engineer" "Don't tell me you liked him Well, yes actually" "Would you have gone with him?" "If I hadn't been happily married, yes!" "Well, you can keep him Provided you don't bug him you let him have it when he wants, and you leave him..." "the evenings, Sundays," "Christmas, New Year's Eve... apart from that, he's the best guy in the world" "Honestly, though, I can't see what you were expecting" "Nothing in particular" "But they can both go to hell, him and his wife" "He's always moaning that they never screw, they never talk" "They went on a trip and didn't say one word to each other" "What a shit marriage!" "You always said you liked married men - it left you free" "Yes, but not assholes like him!" "After all, though, he could have been a distraction for you" "Listen, I'll take care of my own distractions!" "Well, I just hope you're being honest" "You seemed more relaxed when you were seeing him" "Alina, please!" "Let's change the subject" "Okay, let's do that You choose the subject" "By the way, I've been wanting to ask you" "Did you ever go to that butcher's I told you about?" "Yes How did it go?" "Okay... how else could it go?" "Your diet?" "Fine" "And how do you feel?" "Okay?" "Yes" "Aren't you tired of eating meat all the time?" "There you are, Mrs. Margherita My prettiest client!" "I'm homely then?" "No, you have all the charm" "All right, give me ten sausages." "The usual mind" "Here you are." "Fresh and tasty" "Miss?" "Mrs., actually" "Same as yesterday Two steaks, not too thick" "Half a kilo of minced beef, lean" "Lean as can be!" "Is there a time you're less busy?" "I have to come every day for the diet I'm on and you have so many clients that..." "There's nobody here at 8 when we open" "Well, that's a bit too early" "When we're closed for lunch then" "From 2 to 3, but we make up the deliveries then" "If that suits you, there's nobody here then" "That's ideal." "It's just the time I leave the gallery... where I work, here by the sea" "Good, If you see the door closed, come in anyway" "We're always here" "Thank you..." "Goodbye" "Haven't you finished yet?" "Nearly, ma'am" "Did anybody call?" "Your husband, not long ago" "What did he say?" "He left his phone and fax numbers" "But he says it's better if you send him a fax they don't speak much English there" "Giulia!" "How wonderful!" "Isn't it great?" "All thanks to Alina!" "Congratulations!" "It's none of my doing." "This is all Giulia and Federica's work" "Thanks, Alina." "Hello, you came just in time" "Please don't ask me to talk about this artist" "I'm not here in my usual capacity, as an art critic but as a father - a shamelessly excited one at that" "I know very well the problems my daughter had to overcome to be here today, because of my... bad temper" "That is why I intend to embrace the manageress, Mrs. Regis both physically and metaphorically for overlooking our past and recent disagreements and for assessing Giulia's work dispassionately" "I want to thank you all for your enthusiasm and interest in this exhibition" "Which I hope will be the first of a long, successful series" "My sincere thanks to all of you" "Where were you?" "Hiding huh?" "Professor!" "How are you?" "Is anybody there...?" "Is anybody there...?" "Hello...?" "Yes, it's me" "Listen, my phone card's nearly run out" "Can you make it tomorrow night outside the gallery?" "Yes, okay..." "See you tomorrow then" "Good morning..." "I came at 2:15" "Didn't you find us?" "We were here or in the cold store" "Doing the cuts The cuts?" "I was helping Bruno with the deliveries" "If you'd waited a minute or called we would have come" "Where else could we be?" "Two chicken breasts for the lady." "Will you do it?" "See?" "There's hardly anyone here now too" "Two nice beef steaks, not too much fat." "The usual" "Shall I sit here?" "Under the Madonna?" "Wherever you like" "News from Daniele?" "Yes" "Everything Okay?" "Yes..." "Come on, help me cook No, let's talk" "Want to tell me the secrets of your new job?" "Well, no, if it's secret, it's secret" "What do we talk about then?" "Us, right?" "I've got a little speech all ready." "Sit there" "Joking aside, Alina..." "I think our decision to split up professionally was the wisest thing we could have done" "Two cocks ruling the roost..." "I mean, one hen with ambitions to be a hen-cock and one cock who rightly aspires to be a cock couldn't have stayed together" "It's wrong to think that two people... can work well together just because they're friends" "Work is something, friendship is another, right?" "That's why, since we're intelligent people we solved the issue brilliantly" "Very brilliantly" "Exactly, so I think this is the right time to build something" "What?" "Our new relationship!" "The fact that we were friends and we also worked together made us grow apart because of the quarrels and tension" "Right Look at this" "The old days" "Where did you find them" "I never throw anything away" "They're fun, aren't they?" "Admit it" "It seems an age, but it was only four years ago" "My, what a good time we had!" "Even then, it isn't that things went terribly well, but..." "Terribly well?" "It was a regular disaster!" "Oh no, not the physical side" "That was just great, if you remember" "Yes, but that's not enough Better than nothing, though" "Listen, Alina, I think we we can keep one another at arm's length but to get the best out of ourselves" "I think we should start to I don't know... see each other..." "on a regular basis, say have an affectionate relationship..." "Let's go and cook, come on." "We'll do something useful" "But I'm serious" "I'm fine like this, that's all." "I'm very attached to Daniele" "I couldn't really say why" "He's so serious, so different to me" "But sometimes he's like a child" "I think a lot of it is due to the fact that we moved here to Palermo." "I'm more relaxed..." "And this adoption thing..." "Imagine, only a few years ago the thought of having a child terrified me but since I've realized how much it means to him" "it means a lot to me too" "Get it?" "I can't bear the idea of having an affair with anyone let alone with a guy like you" "Why?" "What's wrong with a guy like me?" "You know what our relationship makes me think of?" "Those two-month stories kids have, that mean nothing" "Our story lasted a lot longer than two months" "How long?" "Three months?" "Four?" "At least four months" "Okay, sold for four and a half months" "Yeah, that's better" "Why take it like that anyway?" "Didn't you have... that Danish..." "Finnish girl?" "The tall one?" "She left me No!" "Why?" "I wasn't her type" "Poor Lorenzo!" "Listen, Alina... can't I stay here at least for tonight?" "Absolutely not" "Why not?" "I even brought my pyjamas and toothbrush" "I appreciate the effort, but it's no" "Not even on the sofa?" "Not even on the carpet" "Sweetheart, it's 4 a.m. And I can't sleep" "I don't want to spoil your dreams by calling you" "When you wake up, you'll find this" "Only three days to go before I'm home but I think of you all the time." "Sleep safe" "Always remember I love you." "Daniele" "Good morning, Mrs. Regis." "How are you?" "Fine, thanks, and you?" "Please sit down" "Everything all right?" "I wanted to inform you personally that your adoption application has been accepted" "I also wanted to say that we were pleasantly surprised by the fact that a busy couple like you made this difficult decision" "Congratulations, then, and good luck" "Let's get to work right away" "I see from your meetings with the psychologist that you're completely amenable" "You made no issue of sex or age and that does you great credit" "So we'll get down to business" "I want you to meet the head of our social services" "She can't wait to meet you either" "Yes, we're here Can you come right away?" "Here I am!" "Mrs. Regis." "What a pleasure!" "Please don't get up" "Pleased to meet you." "Your husband's on tour it was in the paper but I asked to meet you anyway to exchange first impressions between women" "Yes, we have a very sensitive case we want to submit to you" "A five-year-old girl..." "beautiful child and so affectionate!" "Her name is Robertina" "She lives with her elderly grandmother" "Her mother's dead and her father... well, never mind" "Unless we find a family for her she'll go to an orphanage Why is that?" "Well, like I said, her granny is getting on" "She loves the child very much, but Robertina is nearly six" "She'll have to go to school, and her granny isn't reliable" "We wanted you to meet them both, with no commitment" "The child is a real darling, so cute and affectionate" "I sure she'll throw her arms around you!" "I can see it already!" "But that mustn'tinfluence you in the least" "We're only asking you to call on them at their house, with no commitment" "Yes, because..." "Of course, your husband being away..." "These are big decisions that must be considered at length." "We're aware of that" "Would 11:30 tomorrow be all right?" "In the square in the Vucciria?" "Do you know the area?" "Not really, but I'll find it" "It's easy, you can reach it from Via Roma or San Domenico" "It's on the map..." "orjust ask anybody" "Where are you going?" "The Vucciria square" "Jump on, I'll take you" "What's the problem?" "She wants to go to the square" "I said I'd take her, but she doesn't trust me" "He's a good boy" "I know, but the problem is the skirt" "I always go on my husband's scooter" "Where is it you have to go?" "The Vucciria square." "They said it was around here" "It isn't, it's on the other side" "Go with Toti, he's a good boy Don't you trust me?" "No, no." "I believe you Go on, take her" "Don't speed!" "You'll be there in a sec" "Looking for somebody?" "No, no, thanks" "What are you after?" "She's looking for somebody" "Can I help you?" "No, no, thanks" "She doesn't need anything so beat it." "Scram!" "If you need me." "Miss I'm right here" "Mrs. Concetta!" "Here I am!" "Coming!" "How are you?" "So-so" "See what a pretty lady I brought you?" "How's it going?" "So-so" "Here we are." "Robertina?" "She's asleep" "What, still?" "It's noon" "Well, she stays up late watching TV" "That won't do, we've told you before" "The child must go to bed early" "You mustn't let her stay glued to the TV" "We've told you that time and again" "She won't listen to me You're not firm enough" "But what can I do?" "Now don't make me angry" "Come here, sweetheart" "See what a pretty lady I brought you?" "Would you like to meet her?" "Say hello to her" "Come on, sweetheart" "I'll give some candy like the other time" "Hello." "Miss" "Here we are Isn't anybody here?" "There's a customer!" "He goes and cools off in the cold store" "This is when we do the cuts for the deliveries" "It's nice and cool there" "Bruno, hurry up!" "Two steaks, same as usual" "Baby, you're a featherweight compared to me" "I'll have to take your clothes off gently or you'll break" "You'll take my clothes off too" "You've got no option" "I'll have a hard-on and you'll be slavering with the urge to touch it and suck it and ride it like a cowgirl on heat lt'll be just great" "I'll give you everything you want." "I'll knock you out" "Mrs. Emilia, I'm all yours" "You mean that?" "Absolutely!" "How's the diet going?" "Fine, thanks" "You're looking well I mean that" ""Roberta here." "A fax came for you from the Rotterdam Artfest"" ""I tried to send it on you, but something's out of order"" ""Call you tomorrow." "No, sorry, tomorrow's Sunday"" ""See you on Monday then." "Bye"" ""Hi, sweetheart." "I'll be home a day early tomorrow night"" ""I found a flight right after the concert." "Happy?"" ""Send me an answer by fax." "I'll call you in the morning"" ""Always remember I love you"" ""I'll knock on your door tomorrow morning at 10"" ""If I've got it all wrong, don't be in"" "Sweetheart, I'm so excited that you'll be back tomorrow" "I can't wait to be in your arms again" "I'll be at the sea all day with Federica" "Let me know when you're arriving" "I'll pick you up at any time" "Good luck for your last concert" "I love you, Alina" "The air conditioning's out of order" ""Alina, sweetheart, I'm on my way to the concert"" ""It's been raining all day, but I know it's so hot there!"" ""Nothing, I just needed to hear your voice"" ""even if only over the answering machine"" ""I guess you're at the sea already"" ""I love you"" ""This is 5798961"" ""You have 30 seconds to leave a message" "or send a fax after the beep"" ""Alina, what's going on?" "Found a message from Daniele"" ""He thinks we went to the sea"" "I've just got in." "Where are you?" "What are you doing?" ""Call me, we can have dinner together"" ""I'll be in all evening." "Bye"" ""This is 5798961"" ""You have 30 seconds to leave a message" "or send a fax after the beep"" ""Hi, sweetheart it was a triumph"" ""The audience begged for an encore"" ""but the manager said no as usual"" ""I'm in Moscow, waiting for the connecting flight"" ""Be with you in three hours" "Don't expect any sleep tonight""