"A WOMAN HAS KILLED" "What's wrong, miss?" "Calm down." "Sit down." "You are very young." "At your age, when something serious happens one sees the end of it all." "I'll take this." "It's better." "Leave me alone." "Don't be like that." "You can't." "You see, you're still in time to save yourself." "Oh, God, it's so hard to say..." "I know what happened to a friend of mine." "I couldn't stop her." "No, don't speak." "Don't say a word." "If someone had caught her by the shoulders, as I did with you, she would have saved herself." "It happened some time ago." "Her name was Anna." "She lived in a town not far from Naples." "She worked in an allied office." "Every day she returned home with her sister and one evening, on that short journey from the station..." "I know since long that he's in love with me!" "But he's still in high school!" "What can he know about love?" "Not that he's ugly..." "On the contrary, he's a handsome boy." "But Adriana told me that he tried to kiss her this summer." "He assured me he doesn't even know how to kiss!" "So I told him: "Listen, Alberto, ever since we met..."" " Carla!" " But..." " Be careful, miss!" " He's an ally, let's go." " You could have apologized." "Me?" "I almost fell because of him!" "They tease us just because they have a car!" "Miss!" "Please..." "Excuse me..." " Could I wash my hands?" " Come in." "Thank you, miss..." "Thank you in the name of Her Majesty." "My name is Prescott." "Captain Roy Prescott." "Anna Castelli..." "I'm sorry, Mrs..." "I asked them the permission to wash my hands." "You're welcome." "You don't need to apologize." "Very kind of you." " Goodbye." " Goodbye." "Listen, don't tell me he's the same guy as before." "He's a handsome young man, and very distinguished." "What a lot of stuff!" "How beautiful!" "There's also chicken in jelly." "We'll keep it for Christmas." "Let me have the tinned carrots, they're good for the skin." "But why didn't he add some night lotion?" "He says he's very thankful and hopes to see us soon." "He expects an invitation to tea, it's obvious..." " Count me in!" " Carla!" "What's so strange?" " Look!" "Pineapples!" " They're so good with cream!" "We'll get some milk cream from Giovanni." "I'll prepare them!" " Hi." " Hi, Gustavo." " Hi, daddy." " Who sent all this stuff?" " You know, that officer who asked to wash his hands." "He says we're very kind." "Why did he send it to you and not to mommy?" " I don't know, but I think I'll send it back." " You must be crazy!" " Are you afraid of compromising yourself?" " You must be joking!" " But Gustavo..." " This parcel must be sent back!" "But Gustavo..." "Damn!" "You're really hungry!" "Don't be silly!" "She sent it back!" " Without even a note?" " Without a note, ok?" "Sure!" "But she must be a smart girl." "Give me a match." "Listen, now scram." "You're getting more and more unbearable." "And buy yourself the matches!" "Yours is a vice." "Everyone has its own." "And mine is one of the less innocuous." "Women..." "Right, Roy?" "I'm too busy to even consider you." "Good on you." "Next month I'll be appointed Major." "Roy, I'll have so much fun when I'll be your superior." "I knew that in times of war quadrupeds are useful, but among these I did not include donkeys!" "Here, to celebrate your appointment!" " Hello." " Hello..." "I would have imagined anything, but not that you were so close." "Do you know I looked for you all around the city?" "All around the city?" "Why?" "To know why you sent the parcel back." "There was no reason to do so." "There was no reason to accept it." "You are right." "Let's just forgive and forget!" "Good gracious!" "Let's just make it up and call for peace." "Peace?" "We've never been at war!" "But now please excuse me, I'm busy." "TRAFFIC OFFICE" "It's 14 km from here to Pozzuoli." "I'll leave after lunch." " These are the inspection cards..." " By the way," "I'll need someone from the Traffic Office." "Last time I had a few hassles with the traffic procedures." "Hassles?" "But what has the traffic to do with your inspections?" "Alright, forget it." " I'll have to manage on my own, as usual." " Ok, then." "If you also want the accountancy, the statistics, the military police," "I'll send you those too!" "It's midday." "How about...?" "I can't talk about private matters on duty." "If you mean it that way!" "Then I'll tell you that..." "Closing time!" "Oh, why did you wait for me?" "Waiter!" "The coffee." "Let me introduce two new friends." " Lt. Lengton and Lt. Moore." " Nice to meet you." " Hello." " We've heard a lot about you." " Really?" "By whom?" "By the women of Cairo." "Have you got a light, Roy?" " So, you've been to Cairo too?" " Yes, for a few months." "Ouch!" "Waiter!" " An ice-cream!" " Strawberry, I suppose." " Why?" " Because the lady you're looking at ordered one." " Am I really looking at her?" " Yes." " Who is she?" " Rumanian..." "A new conquest of Major-General Sir Wellington George Richard Blush." "He's sitting right in front of her smoking a cigar, what an ox!" "He commanded the tank corps in the battle of St. Raphael." "That's why they all died, except for him." "Some say he's bad luck." "Anyhow, now they've assigned him to the services." "Excuse me, I'm Captain Prescott, you don't know me but I know you." "My brother served you," "Sgt. Bill Prescott, he died in the battle of St. Raphael." "Does he have brothers and sisters?" "No, he's an only child!" "A real genius of the armoured war, he used to say." "Yes, I think I remember him, a true valiant soldier!" "I'm in Naples, at the military inspectorate." "But I live at the hotel "Moderno"." "Really nice, isn't he, my dear?" "Really nice." "Hello, miss!" "Please, have a seat." "Come on, get in!" "You really are boring..." "Do you know I have an appointment?" " Yes, with me!" " How funny!" "If you want to know, it's a job appointment!" "Exactly, we're going together to inspect the camp in Pozzuoli." "Here are the documents." "What a coincidence... you!" "Yeah, what a coincidence." " You know what...?" " Anything you have to say doesn't interest me!" "You look just like my sister!" " I'm sure you've got a sister..." " Two!" "Both very blonde!" " But I'm brunette!" " Yeah, sure..." "They bleached their hair." "When they were small and lived in the country my mother used to say..." "Please tell me..." "Hello!" "Tell me why you made me waste the whole day?" "You didn't need me at all!" "Listen, don't worry." "I'll drive you home." "No, otherwise I'd have to give too many explanations to my parents." "It's work, isn't it?" "If you want I'll explain everything!" "No way..." "You can drop me at the station." " Roy..." "Roy!" " Eh?" "I've got a doubt..." "Are you good with women?" "What do you mean?" "Just that I don't know if your conquest plans are always effective." "Are you crazy?" "Women!" "If you want to know, I..." "You!" "But what about them?" "You can't assault a Neapolitan the way you do with northern girls!" "You've been here too short a time." "Emotion, dinners by the sea, and then... boat trips, songs..." "That's what you need for a Neapolitan." " Is that all?" " Yes, sir." "Boat trips at night, songs..." "If you think I'll start singing, you're wrong." "But here you'll find someone who'll sing for you for a dime all night long!" " I wrote this just to see what you would end up with." " Yeah, sure!" "Of course!" "Of course..." "An advice: champagne!" "It cheers up!" "You're telling me?" "I bathe in champagne!" "Hello... hello?" " Woman or guard?" " I'm sorry, I didn't understand." " You ask me if I remember?" " He doesn't remember!" "I've only thought of you..." "Why should I think so?" "No, it's very nice..." "It's a beautiful name..." "Giorgiana!" "Sure!" "No, now!" "Why wait?" "I want to see you at once." "Ok." "Goodbye, Giorgiana." " Do you have a bottle of Champagne?" " Champagne?" "How dear you are..." "I found something that you'll like." "Oh," "Giorgiana!" " Hello?" " Yes..." "Transport services?" "Please pass on this communication to Anna Castelli tomorrow morning." "Tomorrow at midday in front of the inspection office at the camp of Capodichino." "Yes, thank you..." "Goodnight." "Ah..." "I'm the aide-de-camp of General Blush." "Ok, thank you." "Listen, I forgot to eat." "Let's have a bite." "No..." "I'm not hungry." "I don't want to eat." "Sure..." "Good..." "As you wish." " Please..." " No." "When I think of my country, my foggy land... if you only knew how oppressive the thought is that there's nobody thinking of you." "When, at any moment, your name can be written on a white cross." "In the shade of a helmet..." ""Captain Roy Prescott, born in London"." "But I don't want to afflict you, let's talk about something else." "No, go on, please." "Whereas you have your family and your home..." "But don't your sisters write to you?" " Sisters?" " Yes, Gladys and Catherine." "Oh..." "Gladys and Catherine!" "Sure!" "Well, they have their families..." "They write from time to time." "Once a letter has been read, it's useless." "Instead..." "A present friendship..." "Waiter!" "Come here." "Yes, sir?" "Come closer..." "Now fetch a bottle of champagne..." " I'm sorry, sir." "But we don't..." " Listen to me." " It's in the jeep parked outside." " Ah, ok..." "It's a surprise." "Here it comes..." "My surprise." "Here it is!" "Here it is!" " Real champagne!" " But we don't have ice." "Champagne without ice?" "Never mind." "It's a bottle I've always taken with me on the battle fields." "It survived to four bombings." "But now..." "the time has come to use it." " Oh, no!" "It's a shame..." " But this is a special occasion." "But why?" "You're so fond of it." "It's such a precious bottle." " Exactly!" " No, don't!" "If you open it I'll leave." "Don't tell me you didn't need it!" "No, she didn't want me to open it." "Nothing happened, alright?" "DINNER, BOAT, CHAMPAGNE" "What a lovely evening..." "So calm and peaceful..." "How silent." "Not even a voice." "Not even a voice!" " I almost feel like crying..." " Anna..." "Don't speak." "I shouldn't have come with you at this time of the day." "Bit it's only 6 o'clock in the evening!" "Besides, I'm your friend." "Why do you turn round?" "Look at me." "Don't you want to be close to me?" "Don't you?" "Answer me." "No... please..." "Please." "It's late." "I'll miss the train." " I'm a true idiot." " Yes." "It's the first time it happens to me." "And when you start being afraid for what you didn't do, it's a bad sign." "But maybe you're the idiot, and your stupid advices." "No, Roy." "You're the idiot!" "Might be..." "Let's try with the trip to Capri, I want to see what happens." "The sea fills me with boldness." "So I'll take the occasion to invite you out for dinner on Thursday." " What do you say?" " No." "There are many navigators among my ancestors." "Do you mind if we turn around?" " How do you feel?" " Really well." " Hey, how long to Capri?" " Very long!" "Cognac!" "Who'd like a cognac?" " Sir, would you like a cognac?" " No..." " But it's French!" " No, thank you..." "Cognac!" "Who'd like a cognac?" "It went perfectly!" " I can't tell you how helpful the seasickness has been!" " Poor girl." "To be honest..." "I've been seasick." "Idiot!" "Listen..." "You know what, Roy?" "When you'll find a proper woman I'll give you this frame." "You'll put her picture in it and leave it there for all your life." "But I was forgetting that you are irresponsible, so I'll tell you when you've found her." "Ok?" "Cheers." "By now I think I've won the battle." "But..." "I did a stupid thing." "I accepted to go this evening..." "Mommy, listen." "One of these evenings can I invite one of my superiors?" " You know how your father is..." " But I..." "We'll have time to talk about it." "Now help me lay the table." "Come on, quick." "You see..." "The fact is that I invited him for this evening." "What?" "This evening?" "Who's going to tell daddy now?" "Alright, I will." " Why on earth did I accept?" " No, no." "You did well!" "One needs, from time to time, to restore one's soul in a healthy bourgeois family!" "Daddy..." "Daddy..." " Aren't you going to change?" " No, I'm fine like this." "And then, after dinner, the relatives will arrive." "Lots of them." "Italians have loads of relatives." "Daddy..." "Can I ask you a favour?" "When you eat your soup, try not to be too noisy." " What do you take me for?" "A Zulu?" " Thank you, daddy!" "Carla, watch that the cake doesn't burn!" " Is it done, already?" " It's half past seven!" "Gustavo?" "Gustavo, my dear..." " Can you do me a favour?" " Yes." "When you eat your soup..." "And after dinner they'll play bingo and you don't know how to." "And you'll make a fool of yourself." "Do you have a light?" " Go to hell!" "There's plenty there." " Oh, plenty there..." "You know what?" "I'm not going!" "And I'm not shaving!" "That's enough!" " It's 9 o'clock!" "Let's eat!" " But..." "And that man will never set foot in this house again!" "Hello, Anna." " These are for your mother." " Thank you." "I guess I'm a bit late..." "Have the others arrived?" "The others?" "But we invited only you." "In that case I'm really late!" "Ok..." "Anyhow, I'm here now." "Yes..." "Nice day, isn't it?" "Yes, not bad." "It's been a nice day." " Oh, how silly..." "It's night." " Yes." "Would you like to see the garden?" "As you wish." " Don't you think we'll be late?" " Just a moment." "Besides, we always eat late." "My father hasn't returned yet." "This way." "There's a bench there." "I always sit on it." " Shall we sit down?" " Sure." "Sorry..." "Those are roses, and those are tulips." "It must be lovely... when there are flowers." " But aren't you cold?" " Cold?" "No." "You see... over there I'd like to plant begonias." "Do you like butterflies?" "No." " Why?" " In a garden in summer they are everywhere." "We'd better go in." "I wouldn't want them to be waiting for us." "What happened?" "You spoiled everything!" "Go away!" "Why did you come so late?" "It's not true that daddy hasn't returned yet." "We expected you at 8 o'clock and you show up now." "Daddy said that you'll never set foot in our house again." "That's why you're crying?" "You think it's nothing?" " No, I think it's a lot!" " I'm crying because you make me angry!" "You make me angry too." " Where are you taking me?" " Far away." "Wait, let me put on something." "If you go in, they won't let you out." "I'll take care of it." "I'll stumble at every footstep." "I'll hold you." "I told you I would stumble." "If you did some sports, I'm sure you'd stop drinking." "Because sports..." "Excuse me, I'll be right back." "Hello..." " Hello!" " Oh, Larry!" "You, here?" "It's 11 o'clock and you're still not in bed." "Captain Fitzgerald, miss..." "I know." "The miss of the Traffic Office." "I couldn't be wrong." "You're just like I imagined." "Very kind of you, Captain." "But I know you too." "Roy has told me a lot about you." "Then I suppose you didn't imagine me like this, and that it is a pleasant surprise." " May I?" " Sure." "It would be a nice trip." "Let's arrange it tomorrow." "Excuse me, why are you looking at me like that?" "I was thinking that I'm very glad to have met you." "And so is Roy." "I'm sorry that you met him before me." "By now I'm sidelined." "It's sad." "You made me loose the sacred terror of women." "Larry, I'm starting to think that you're a dangerous being." "Gentlemen, it's midnight!" "Roy, I never told you, but I'm Scottish!" " Who died in here?" " When are the funerals?" "To old Scotland!" "Hurray!" "We'd better leave." "You're still not up?" "How can you still be in bed at this time?" " Go away, Carla!" " Excuse me..." "Anna... it's late." "You'll miss the train." "I'm ready, daddy." "I'll be going now." "I'm sorry about last night, Anna." "I've been too..." "I didn't want to..." "Well... forgive me, ok?" "Anna." "Anna?" " Don't leave without having breakfast." " I'm not hungry, mom." "And you're leaving without even saying hello?" "Oh... the milk!" "Anna, don't forget to have a café au lait when you get to Naples." "Please." "Yes, alright, mom." "Alright..." "Thank you." "1... 2..." " I bet 20 pence that you'll fall flat, sir." " Accepted!" "Two and a half..." "Three?" "Three!" " You owe me 20 pence." " Yes, sir." "What a luck, sir!" "Art!" "Listen, Roy..." "What are we going to do about that revision thing?" "Here..." "Read this." ""...therefore, seeing your merits, you'll be transferred to Rome to a post of higher responsibility..."" " Good, you've been transferred." " I know..." "I can read!" "I don't give a damn about a responsibility post!" "I don't want to be transferred, understand?" "Looks like the revenge of General Blush." "You bothered him over here." "And I'll complain!" "It's an abuse of power!" " I'll get to Marshal Alexander, if necessary!" " Hurray!" "You know..." "I was thinking that Larry is very nice, but if we could go out alone on Sundays, it would be better..." "Don't you think?" "I didn't dare tell you, but we spend so little time together!" "When a stranger is around" "I feel he's stealing precious moments from us." "You see, when I met you... something told me that you would enter my life for good." "Maybe that's why I defended myself." "Because I felt that I'd let myself go completely." "That I'd remain bound to you." "And that nothing of myself would remain." "And now that it happened, I'm no longer scared," "I stopped fighting it, I'm happy." "Take me with you, Roy." "Anna..." "I want to come with you." "I can't live at home anymore." " Oh, my God!" " Are you hurt?" " No." " That was close!" " We could have died now that we found each other." "Now that I love you." "Roy, I'm glad you exist." "The parish priest said we should embroider something... or make one of those objects that they sell in charity feasts." "Check in the attic, there should be a few ceramic pots." "They should go well." " They're horrible!" " They're more than good for charity!" "I was thinking that this afternoon we should go..." " Alberto finally wrote." " Carla..." "Well?" " Thank you." " You're welcome." "Anna, they're for you." "Anna!" "Anna... what's wrong?" " Anna, what happened?" " Come on, tell us." "He left..." "He left..." " Was it the postman?" " Yes." "Anna, you'll see that he will write." "But you can't go on like this." "How about going to Castelletto to aunt Clara for a few days?" "There are those two boys with a boat, and we could go dancing in the evening." "Traveling helps to forget." "Oh..." "Alberto..." "Well, for once I can forget about him!" "Anna, get dressed." "Come downstairs to eat." "No, daddy!" "Carla, go help mommy." "And you write these kind of things?" "You are able to humiliate yourself to this extent for a man like him?" " Disgusting!" " Daddy, I don't allow you..." "You don't allow me?" "You don't allow me what?" "What dignity do you have?" "You like complicated things." "You like running after a man who doesn't care about you, and who, at this very moment, is probably saying to other girls the same things he said to you!" "I was concerned for you these days." "I knew you had to suffer, but I never would have imagined that you couldn't suffer in your home!" "I didn't imagine you could write to him that you felt like going crazy at home!" "Why didn't you also tell him that you hate your mother and father?" "But who is this man to enter like that in our home?" "Who is he to put my daughter against me?" "No love can do this." "No love can destroy a family like this." "Why did I allow you to go to work?" "It was the first thing that detached you from us." "You felt free, independent..." "But you are not!" "You're not!" "You'll stay at home till I give you the permission to go out!" " We'll have dinner together and then..." " Captain." "Just a second..." "What does it say?" "Man or woman?" " Woman." " How is she?" "I'm sorry, darling, there's a little hitch." "Tonight I'm busy." "I'll call you back tomorrow." " So?" "You're still here?" "Let her through." " Yes, sir." "Come in." "Thank you." "Anna!" "It's you!" "Wait..." "Give me the time to realize that I'm here in your arms!" " Let me look at you." " No, I must look so bad." "As soon as I got off the train I rushed here without tidying myself." "Well done." "I didn't want to miss a single minute before seeing you." "And then I thought that you had to see me bad-Iooking..." ""So if he wants to walk out on me it'll be easier for him..."" "Let me look at you." "Let's see..." "No!" "That's not fair!" "Finished?" "So... was it easy?" "You frightened me." " Did you come with your sister?" " No... alone." "And your parents let you leave?" "I couldn't wait." "I couldn't live any longer far from you." "So... you came to stay?" "Listen to me, Roy." "Right now my parents are sitting at home." "You know them... and you know what I mean to them, and what they mean to me." "But I abandoned them." "I went away secretly to come to you." "I want you to think hard about the decision you're going to make." "I can still go back to Naples." "I wouldn't reproach you anything." "I would just be thankful for the happiness you gave me." "But if I stay, tomorrow it will be too late." "I want you to think it over." "Think about it, you're still in time." "I already have." "Let's go." " I'll open!" " No, I will..." " Let me be, I'll open..." " I will..." "See?" "I opened it!" "Mommy!" "The newlyweds are here!" "Celestina..." "Celestina..." "Celestina!" "Here you are, come!" "Excuse me..." "I was tidying up the room." "Celestina, take the suitcases of the Captain." "This way, please." "The room is very well oriented." "It gets sunlight all morning!" " Aren't there other rooms?" " Yes, one." "But it's currently occupied." "I'll take everything away, miss." "I didn't have the time." " Your husband?" " Yes." "This used to be our room." "I was waiting for him to return from war, but he was captured." "He's in India now." "I've never put anyone in before, but the way things are these days..." "Roy, we're staying, aren't we?" " If you are happy." " Thank you." "This one or this one?" " This one!" " No, first you have to choose." " Then this one." " Too bad." " I was hoping you would choose the other one." " Why?" "Because this one was made before, and this one after I met you." "How was I supposed to know?" "I thought you could tell from the face." "Ok, I choose all 3 of them!" "No!" "I want to turn the room inside out till it becomes ours!" " You'll see how I'll transform it." " Yes, but not now." " Aren't you tired?" " Not at all." "Or maybe yes." "A little bit." "You are sleeping so well that I don't want to wake you up." "I gave you a kiss but you didn't even notice." "I left you some money to transform the room." "It'll be enough." "Are you ready?" "I thought I'd find you in the hall." "I'm ready indeed!" "Come in." " What does this mean?" " That from now on we'll eat at home!" " Do you want to economize?" " Of course!" "This, for example..." "If I feel like doing it at a restaurant, I can't." "Right, but I can't choose anymore!" "What is it?" "Spaghetti with clams..." "Sole with butter..." "Isn't it what we ate the first time in Naples?" "Really?" "I don't remember..." "Pardon..." "Madame est servie..." "And now... a surprise." " Champagne!" " You like it?" "I remember that back then you didn't want to drink it." " But today I will..." "Captain,a phonecallfor you ." "Excuse me, darling." "Hello?" "Now?" "Can't it be postponed?" "The Colonel... the Colonel..." "Alright, I'm coming." "I have to rush to the office." " Can't you wait till we open the bottle?" " I'm sorry." "It'll be for another time." "There'll be plenty of occasions." "Alright, Roy." "We'll keep it for the 15th of March, ok?" "Sure, my dear." "March the 15th..." "It'll be a year already that we know each other." "Gosh..." "A year already." "Roy, why don't you take me to work in your office?" "What possesses you?" "I can typewrite and I know English fairly well." " I won't let you make a bad impression." " It doesn't depend on." "Put me to the test, you'll see." "We'd always be close to each other." "And I'd contribute to the expenses." "I don't want to be a burden." "I got it." "If I don't shut your mouth, you'll never stop." "And I don't want to hear about this anymore!" "I almost forgot!" " I have two tickets to the opera." "Shall we go?" " Sure, what's on?" " I don't know." " Never mind, as long as you're there." "Roy..." "Roy!" "Do you mind if we leave?" "No... as you wish." "I'm sorry, Roy." "I didn't feel like staying till the end." "It's alright, darling." "I didn't say anything." " What's wrong?" " I was thinking." " About what?" " But..." "It isn't hard to imagine." " Madame Butterfly?" " No, Pinkerton." ""The waters will dry up, and the rivers will dry out, and the land will crumble before your image vanishes from the heart."" " Nice words!" " Of course, they're in the Bible!" "How come do you remember them?" "How can you forget them once you've read them?" "Or is it because you repeated them so often like you did to me now?" "Anna, what's got into you tonight?" "I don't recognize you anymore." "Forgive me, Roy." "I'm so silly..." "I didn't tell you something." "This afternoon I met Larry." "Larry?" "What did he tell you?" "He was very surprised to see me in Rome." "I wonder why, since he knows everything about us." "Nothing else?" "Yes." "He told me that... he works at the NAAFI, so I asked him if there's a job for me there." "You're still thinking about a job!" "No, I stopped..." "Because I already found one." " You must be joking." " Not at all." "Larry said that we could give it a try and I found one immediately." " And when do you start?" " Tomorrow or the day after." "Larry was sure that you'd agree." "Well..." "I don't know." " Do you have a champagne bucket?" " As many as you like!" "Just one." "I'm sorry, but shops are closed..." " I'll bring it back tomorrow morning." " Ok." " Thank you." " You're welcome." "I'd also like some ice, please." " One-piece or in pieces?" " One-piece." " Thank, thank you very much!" " You're welcome!" "And best wishes, miss!" "The Captain's on the phone." " Mrs, shall I bring on the food?" " Yes, sure." "Hi, Roy, I thought you had left already." "Why aren't you already here?" "Be quick!" "Anna, let me speak." "I wanted to tell you that I won't make it." "I was hoping that you would have done your best to..." "Darling, it's not my fault." "I did all I could." "I'll try to call you later on." "Don't wait for me." "Yes..." "Yes, Roy, as you wish." " Bye, Anna." " Roy!" " Hello?" "Captain Prescott, please." " Hold on..." " Hello?" " The office doesn't answer." " But it's impossible." "He called me a minute ago." "He said he wasn't going to move..." " He probably changed his mind." " Try again, please." "Ok, hold on." "Listen, nobody answers..." "They're all gone." "Joe!" "I told you to remind me the flowers for the 15th!" "I did more." "I sent a bouquet of roses with the usual note." "Great!" "The usual note?" "You idiot!" "To September Rd.!" " Another bouquet to September Rd., immediately!" " Yes, sir." "Roy, sweetheart!" "What happened?" "Nothing, dear..." "What should have happened?" "But you left me alone all night without giving me any news." "If you only knew all the things I though..." "I was so worried!" "I was afraid something had happened to you..." "I felt I was dying." " Come on, Anna." " You promised to call back." "But you didn't..." "So many people called." "It seemed as if they were doing it on purpose." "At the first ring I'd run to the phone, but it was never you." "Darling, I told you I was very busy." "And I sent you the flowers..." " Didn't you receive them?" " No." "Larry sent me some flowers." "I threw myself on the bed fully dressed." "I also cried." "Listen, we can't go on like this!" "I have my job and I'm a military." "I can't do everything I'd like to do!" "You're making your life impossible, and mine as well!" " But Roy!" " Sorry, darling." "How can I work serenely if I know that you torment yourself like that?" "Continuously." "You're right, Roy." "But do you know what it meant to me to be together yesterday?" "And I didn't tell you everything." "After your call I felt really bad." "So I called you back straight after just to hear your voice." "They told me you weren't there." "I had ordered to say that I wasn't there for anyone." "For me too?" "How could I imagine that you'd call back?" "Please don't start with suspicions, and don't be absurd." "Forgive me, Roy." "I believe you." "Anna, someone might come in." " When did you learn?" " Last night." "Major Steven gave us..." "the wonderful news." "You can imagine everyone's face." "Especially mine." " But why so suddenly?" " The order existed since long, but nobody ever really cared to follow it." "Someone must have had the brilliant idea of telling the superior command and..." "While he was reading the circular he was addressing me." "Unfortunately I'm the oldest in rank and have to set the good example." "He looked like he was having fun." "All the officers of the Ebo Office have to lodge and eat in the building assigned to them." "Violators will be immediately transferred." "Roy, enough!" "Please!" "Darling, if I don't complain with you, with whom should I?" "Why didn't you tell me last night?" "You're reproaching me for saving you a few hours of happiness?" "Roy, do you mean we'll never be happy again?" "But Anna, don't lock on to words!" "It was just so to speak." "Take it easy." "For the first days I'll just have to live with it." "But then I'll find a way..." "You'll see, with a little patience everything will get back to normal." "Does the Superior Command allow me to accompany you to the office?" "Better not." " When will I see you again?" " Very soon, darling." "I'll call you." "Roy... why don't you look at me?" "I'm just a fool." "Go... go." " Hello?" " I'd like to speak to Captain Prescott." "Hold on." " Hello?" " Roy, is it you?" "Captain Prescott said that he'll call back soon." "Thank you." " The phone?" " No, madam." "I've come to bring you a candle." "So that you don't stay in the dark." "Mrs, now it's the phone." " Roy?" " Hello, Anna?" " Is it you, Roy?" " Why do you ask?" " I don't recognize your voice." " It must be the phone." "Sorry I made you wait, but I was in bed with a strong headache." " I'm sorry, did you take something?" " Yes, but it was useless." "I'll have to see the doctor because lately I'm having it too often." "And you didn't tell me anything." "And moreover there's this music!" "Can you hear it?" "Yes, I do." "I also heard it before." "I felt so bad, I thought I'd die." "For a second I thought that you..." "You know, when you're in love you're afraid of everything." "When you told me you had a headache I said I was sorry, but it's not true." "I felt happy." " Thank you!" " Oh, Roy." "You know I'd want to be sick instead of you." "But in that moment..." "You understand, don't you?" "To a certain extent, I think you're exaggerating a bit." "Now go to bed and sleep well." "I'll try, my dear, if you promise to do the same." "Tomorrow morning I'll pop by before I go to work." "Only a second." " Just to see you and see how you are." " It's not the case." " I'll call you." "Goodnight, Anna." " Wait, don't leave me like this." "Roy!" "A wonderful evening." "And very nice people, very nice." " And that tall officer..." " You mean Prescott?" "Yes!" "They talked a lot about him with regard to a girlfriend of General Blush." " Great humor, a true gentleman." " And lucky with women." " I saw it yesterday." " Two whisky." "What a brunette, what a pair of eyes!" "After a few dances Prescott disappeared with her." "I wanted to take her away from him, but didn't have the time." "Poor deluded!" "You think you can pinch a girl from Captain Prescott?" " It can't be that impossible!" " Cheers." " Cheers." " Does Captain Prescott live here?" " Yes, but he's out now." " Too bad." " Are you here on behalf of the lady" " who forgot her bag here yesterday?" " Yes." "Oh, the Captain called me." "Please, come in." "He told me that you'd come to take it." "This way." "Miss, what about the bag?" "Mrs, there's a surprise for you." "Someone's waiting for you over there." " Anna!" " Carla!" " Thank you for coming." "I longed for it so much!" " Really?" " And you ask?" " When you saw me you didn't look very happy!" "Sorry, but they told me that someone was waiting for me, for a second I thought that... should have know that it couldn't be him at this time." " How long are you staying?" " I'm leaving this evening." " Oh, really?" " Anna, listen, I..." "Come." "You've become prettier." "And Alberto?" "Alberto?" "I would have talked to you about him even if you hadn't asked." "He found a job, in the municipality." "So he came home and soon we will..." "Anna, you lost weight!" " Didn't he tell you?" " No, he didn't." " I bet he wants you like this." " Yes, he does." " And you pay heed to him?" " You know, when you're in love..." "And... daddy... mommy?" "They've suffered a lot." "Me too." "But then they understood, and daddy... you know him." "If you want to come back..." "you can do it anytime." "That's why I'm here." "Nobody will reproach you." ""Everything will be just like before." That's what Daddy said." "Of course I'll come back." "With Roy." "We're getting married." " And you didn't tell us!" " We decided it in these days," "Roy is waiting for the papers which are almost ready, his sisters are waiting for me in London." "If you knew how happy I am!" "Happy..." "Could I please... speak to Captain Prescott?" "Captain Prescott?" " You are...?" " Miss Castelli." "Hello?" "Give me the office of Captain Prescott." "Miss Castelli is here." "Ok..." "He's not there." " Can I wait?" " Have a seat." "He said: "Do you know why?"" ""Because I'm in the service of her Royal Majesty!"" "This one was told to me by my driver yesterday." "During coronation day colonel MacLeglin reviews the troops, Scottish, obviously, and notices that soldier Mackintosh keeps his front bag on the back." ""Soldier Mackintosh, why are you keeping your bag on the back?"" "I..." "Listen to this one!" "One evening a policeman is strolling in Piccadilly Square." "In that precise moment Lord Shamley walks by." "He had no trousers on." "So the policeman approaches him and says to him..." "I loved it!" "I have an even better one!" "Can I offer my umbrella?" " A token..." " Token at the cash desk." "A token." "An espresso." "Hello?" "Yes, hello..." "Could you please see if Captain Prescott is there?" " Tell him it's Miss Marina." " Hold on..." " The Captain is at the Colonel's..." " He's busy..." "Never mind, I'll drop by." "How long will he stay there?" " Till one." " Thank you." "Of course." "She's got nothing to do with it." "You acted on your own free will." "Oh, come on." "It's not a question of misunderstandings anymore." "It's about something else." "I'm fed up!" "With a little more dignity she would've accepted the situation and gone away long time ago!" "But she's just like ivy." "Wherever it attaches itself it dies." "I'm not an elm." "Why?" "Because I want to be free, and live in peace." "She's one of those women who conceive love as a church wedding, or a means to torment herself and the others." "The only and eternal love, beyond life and death!" "She always wants to live on the peeks, you get it?" "But I like living on the plain." "Yes, sir, in the bog, as you call it." "I had to understand that she wasn't like the others?" "And she had to understand that I was like the others." "What I told her was true, but in that moment." "Never cling to words, so many are spoken..." "Spare me the usual sentences..." "You're wasting your time, Larry, and forget the conscience..." "Alright, if you prefer you can call it..." "Cynicism." "But what else do you want?" "There's nothing left to do!" "It's over, over, how many times do I have to tell you?" "Tell her to leave me alone, and to leave you alone as well!" "To see her one last time?" "No." "I know how it would end..." "And it wouldn't be the last time." "What for?" "To explain to her what she already knows?" "She didn't understand it with facts, let alone words!" "Excuse me, Larry, I think someone just came in." "I was wrong, nobody came in." "Go on..." " Roy!" " Maybe you're right." "Maybe I should explain." "Alright..." "She has to understand that it's over." "We've been happy together, but now it must end because she's spoiling also the memories of those days." "She has to understand that you can't force a man to be happy." "No, Marina's got nothing to do with it." "No, she's been the effect, not the cause." "I said the truth." "I see you got it, Larry." "There's nothing left to do." "I hope she understood it too." " It's over." " Roy!" "Roy..." "Roy..." "If it's hate we have to talk about, if the public prosecutor talks about hate, then I wonder: who provoked this feeling in the accused?" "This terrible feeling that heralds a revenge." "Who?" "If not Captain Prescott himself!" "Every tenderness was fake, every single word was a lie!" "He calculated everything in order to bind the accused to him." "He considered love as a sport." "Just a sport." "And very sportively he destroyed an existence!" "How can such a man not provoke hate?" "No, I didn't hate him." "And I don't hate him now." "I love him more than before." "To know him meant to love him." "And he loved me too." "You can say what you want to save me, but I know that he loved me." "When he said so to me he was sincere." "His tenderness was true." "His tenderness was irresistible." "Why do you want to save me?" "I killed him to keep him with me forever." "But now I know that killing him, I killed myself." "I'd give 20 years of life for not having done it." "Even if he had left forever." "Even if I hadn't seen him anymore." "By killing him she thought she'd keep him with her forever." "But it was impossible, because killing him she killed herself." "This is my stop." "Now take your bag." "My friend would give 20 years of her life for not having done it."