"'Only God Can Stop Me'" "It's a true story which took place in a corner of the south of Italy..." "The real person, Don." "Salvatore D'Angelo..." "Still continues the splendid work he started long ago in 1947." " Bye, Nottolola." " Wait, Nanetta!" "It's late." "But with that street light, it doesn't seem so late." " Where are you going?" " To eat." "Coming!" "You're Jesus Christ, couldn't you have built a bigger roof?" "Now we're both getting drenched." " What are you doing up there?" " It's raining." "Isn't there somewhere you can go?" "You're a priest, why are you walking around at night?" " Come down." " Where will I go?" " I'll take you home." " I don't have a home." " What's your name?" " Nottola!" "Where do you sleep?" "The roof is small, I get drenched when it rains." " Come down or I'll use force." " You go and I'll come down." " Why?" " I don't trust priests..." " You'll send me to the nuns." " I won't, I promise." "Then swear with a kiss." " I swear." " That's okay then." "Thank goodness!" "Be careful." "Slowly." "There..." "You can't see it from here, but you really do get drenched!" "Come on, I'll help you find shelter." " Do you know anyone?" " Nanetta lives there." "And who's Nanetta?" "I'd tell you but you're a priest, you doesn't understand certain things." " Is there anyone else?" " My aunt." "But she's only happy when she doesn't see me." " At least it's dry here." " Find somewhere warm." " You're leaving?" " Yes." "I'm scared to stay here alone." "You have to stay!" " Me?" " Who told you to come?" "I was okay before, I'm not scared outside." " Then tell me what I have to do." " Sit yourself down." "No, we'll cover ourselves with this." " You don't pray before you go to sleep?" " Come on, this isn't a church!" "Okay, no prayer." " Who is Nanetta?" " Listen..." " I whistle and she sings." " You perform in the inns together." " No, you don't understand a thing." " Then explain yourself." "Nanetta's mother gets upset with her when she talks to me..." "So I whistle outside her house." "And she sings, to show me that she heard me." "So her mother, who doesn't know why she sings, doesn't get upset." " Now do you understand?" " I understood everything." "Finally!" "We're going to get married when we're older." " You'll need a job." " I'll steal." "Now I only steal food, because I'm little..." "But when I'm older I'll steal lots of money." "And I'll buy lots of dolls for Nanetta." "And I'll get Jesus a bigger roof..." "You can't see it, but he was all wet..." "Even his eyes, it looked like he was crying." "What's going on?" " They're from my tribe." " Thank God!" "Lower your weapons." "He's a friend." "We can smoke the peace pipe." "This place is real comfortable." "Then it's yours, there are five you, you can also clean it up." " And you?" " I'm going to say mass..." "There's no point asking you to come with me, right?" "You said it!" "Let's do this, I'll get you something to eat while you clean this place up." " Agreed?" " You can trust him, I know him." "In that case..." "But make that mass short!" "Forgive me, Lord, if my thoughts aren't with you..." "I have a Jesus that cries in my heart..." "Someone left him out in the cold..." "And I'm thinking of him." "Lord, forgive me." "He's a good priest." "The latest model..." "He's stubborn, he runs, plays, drinks, and..." "And?" " Supplies for a private parish." " You don't know what Laurina told me..." " What?" " That priest has a man's eyes!" "What will happen to the clergy's prestige, Don." "Bartolomeo..." "With people like him?" "Look at him, parcels, packages..." "He doesn't stop!" "And I also saw him talking to someone from over the way!" "The children think the world of him." "But he isn't a bad sort." "He'll find his way in time." "Who goes there?" "Idiot!" "It's Don." "Salvatore." "A door as well!" "This is my tribe." "There won't be enough to go around." " Something for you." " Thank you." "Places, everyone!" "They're all here except Gino and Cicco, they've gone out." " Where?" " To get blankets." " That isn't yours, is it?" " It's for you." "I put the Virgin Mary there so you don't need to go around praying." "Nottola, I can't stay here." "I knew I couldn't trust you." "First you make us work, and then..." "You mark my words!" "He's a traitor!" "Very well..." "I'll stay." "Brisco's here!" " They're clean, they were in the sun." " Where did you get them?" " Near the soldiers." " In the fields." " Put it back where you found it." " But it's far!" " I said put them back!" " Then I'll sell them." "I won't allow it." "If you want me to stay..." "You'll be our ruin." "Let's do as he says or he'll sulk." "Here, eat." " Do I have to carry all of them?" " Sure..." "I'm in charge, he knows the way..." "And you'll carry them." "Come on, let's go." "Kids..." "Anyone who has a home to go to must return before dark." "Only Rino has a mother." " And you, Pupino?" " I've only got him." "I don't have a mummy." "I've only got him and my brother." "We're all like that." "No one looks for us." "What's going on?" "You made us run for that?" "Look over there." "Just need to cover them." "They even have windows." "We might even find a table." "Over there!" "I'm not going anywhere." "You keep guard, while I rest." "Start putting the tiles on the roof." " Bad start." " Why?" " Making us work!" " Go on, hurry!" " It's too much work!" " Then run..." "You'll get there sooner, and work less." "Rino!" "Come on." "Luisa." "Not even a hello?" "We used to play together." " You weren't a priest then." " Then just look at my face." "You don't fool me." "I'm taking Rino away..." "I don't want him hanging around priests..." "You're with the gentlemen." "I'm on the other side." "Do they look like gentlemen to you?" "My robes don't create barriers, they erase them." "You're praying to the wind." "They don't create barriers, they erase them." "I thought about it, it isn't true if I run I'll finish sooner, I make more trips." " Has Nottola returned?" " Yes, but without blankets." "But it isn't true I'll work less." "Don." "Salvatore!" " Mother." " You're here." "My child." "We were so worried." "We couldn't find you." "Your father is downstairs." "Why didn't you come home?" "Jesus lead me to another one, I obeyed." "Forgive me, mother." "No, my son, you don't need to ask for forgiveness..." "I'm the one who can't see you differently, since I held you in my arms." "I should thank the Lord, for your vocation." "But then I feel my arms are empty..." "And I feel so alone." "To not hear you call me mother." "What's a mother to do when her children have gone?" "No, mother, I'll always be your son..." "But in these robes I also belong to everyone Christ died for." "But I'm not asking you for anything." "When I can only see you for a minute, I feel so empty inside." "Why don't you show me what you're doing?" "At least I'll know where to find you." "They've been abandoned." "They don't have a home." "We fixed it up and cleaned it." "But it isn't enough..." "I want to build a place where I can house thousands of these kids." "And I'll make men of them, so they can stand proud." " How will you do it?" " I don't know, mother..." "But I'll do it." "Cover yourself, you'll get malaria in this weather." "No, mother." " Why didn't you thank her?" " I'm cold, you do it." "Good evening, father." "It's a bad evening for me every time I see you..." "To listen to everyone saying, Giovanni your son is crazy, he's out of his mind..." "And not only that, Giovanni, your son sleeps with the worst kind." " Please, Giovanni." " What for?" "I have to work off my anger, and I wish I could do it with a whip!" " If you believe, father." " I believe, I believe!" "This isn't what I dreamed of for you." "Now you can even say good evening, if you like." " Where have you been?" " Rico, Gino, come quickly!" "Where have you been?" " Where did you get them?" " In a cottage, far away from here." " Who's cottage?" " You can't tell at night, it's all black." "You shouldn't have done it." "You promised you wouldn't." "Then it really is pointless." "You eat as well." "It's too late now, anyway." "Take it, I saved it for you." "Do you think it will rain?" "He's gone." "Rico..." "What do you say?" "Will it rain?" "It's all pointless!" "And I'll get Jesus a bigger roof." "You can't see it, but he was all wet." "Even his eyes, it looked like he was crying." "Quick, it's all falling down!" "Run!" "It's all falling down!" " We worked so hard, and it's all broken!" " Help us." "It's all falling down!" "Cicco and Pupino are missing, they're under the rubble!" "I don't have a brother any more." "Pupino is dead!" "Say something!" "Open your eyes!" " He's alive!" " It's nothing, just a scratch." "We're going to rebuild it and make it nice again." "Help!" "It's falling down!" "Let's go to the old place." "Don't be afraid!" "Light the way." "You're cold." " Where are you going?" " They're cold." " We don't have any blankets." " Will you let me deal with this?" " Okay." " You're finally starting to see sense." "Rico, Gino, let's go." "You weren't scared, were you." "You're a brave little man." "They're in there." "It's a good thing I think of everything!" " Do you trust that priest?" " He's a good man..." "But he doesn't know how to live!" "Let's go." "So you gave them back." "Don." "Salvatore there are some things you priests don't understand." "You went away, because I stole." "I won't do it again." "Because I know it upsets you." "But if we didn't have those blankets now, Pupino, and the others..." " That's why I take stuff." " We'll pay for them tomorrow." "You'll pay, I don't have any money." "You can't go!" "What will we do if you leave?" "If you don't like me then I'll go, so you can stay for the others." "Pupino, Faletto, what will they do all alone?" " And you?" " I'll make do." " Bye." " Are you going to Nanetta?" " She's asleep, children sleep at night." " And what are you?" " I don't know." " I thought you were a child as well." "Me?" "What are you talking about?" "The ones with a mother, a father, a house..." "They're children." "You know something." "The other night..." "When I stayed with you." "I wanted to call you daddy." "Then I fell asleep." "And you know what I dreamed of?" "My mummy." "But I don't know her." "I never had a mummy." "She looked like you." "But without the beard!" " Where are you going?" " You know the big house for everyone..." " That you mentioned before." " Yes." "I'd better be going." "or I'll steal again." "You'll get upset, and you'll leave everyone." "Stay here." "Then you love me?" " Tomorrow I'll give you a bird." " But without stealing it." "No, they fly in the sky." "They belong to everyone." " Good morning." " Good morning, have a seat." "How much would it cost to repair a wing in the old barracks?" "Off the top of my head, it would be quite a sum." "The land I inherited from my uncle, does it hold much value?" " That should cover it." " Good, then I'll sign the transfer deeds." "We'll put it up for auction, and who stands to gain, will gain!" " But that's state property." " So?" "How will we deal with it?" "I don't know who the children I'll bring here belong to..." "But given that they were born, and they don't fly..." "I believe a little slice of the state also belongs to them." "Either way, let's start the work, God will take care of the rest." "I waited all morning for you in the forest, then I thought..." "Spies!" "My mother's calling, bye!" " Is that why you were hiding them?" " I only wanted to talk to Nanetta..." "And you come looking for me." "You don't understand anything." "And you two." "What friends you are!" "Take them, I wasn't going to keep them to myself." "Are you happy now?" "Nottola." " Did I upset you?" " Sure!" " I didn't do it on purpose." " Really?" "I swear." " This aunt of yours." " She never looks for me..." " And I don't look for her, either." " But Nanetta loves you." "Tell her she doesn't need to be afraid of me, and to come and see me." " Go and join the others." " Don." "Salvatore, last night..." "Yes, I know, some of you went without food." "But tonight we'll all eat." "Here he comes." "The Don Bosco of the Mafia!" "I'm going to laugh when the army finds out." "They'll kick him out, along with all those other peasants." "We knew how to treat them!" "We bought them for 10 lira, from families who were happy to let us sort them out!" "In the stables, behind the cattle..." "They learnt to live without vices with little bread and lots of work!" " That was an education!" " We can't find any kids for the fields." " He won't last long." " We'll do something..." "First, because I hate priests and religion..." "Second, because I'm on your side..." "So come rain or shine I'll destroy those barracks!" "He always comes out dirty!" " Poor thing!" " No more credit for you!" " Look at where he's going." " He's got a nerve!" "To Don." "Luigi Cricco." "See what he wants." "Father." "Have a cigarette." "Thank you." "Don." "Salvatore." "The poor folk like you." "How can a priest get away with that?" " No regard for state property." " It's an insult!" "Charity is a precious virtue..." "But it comes from tough love and deep pride." "You've spoken a great truth." "We must write to the bishop." "Your name's Perio, right?" "Come here." "You were saying you haven't eaten since yesterday." " It's true, everyone wants to run away." " And the priest is forcing you to steal." " Actually..." " Today, you'll dine with me, and tomorrow!" " If only!" " It's done." "But now you must repeat all of this to the marshal." "I'll take you to him." " There are at least three crimes here!" " Three crimes!" "Don't worry, I'll testify as well." "I heard everything." " It will be the end of him." " Let's hope so!" "I'm leaving, and Carlo is coming with me." "Me too, I didn't eat home but here it's worse, I can hardly stand up." " Are you coming as well?" " Yes." "No, none of you are leaving." "No one's leaving from here." " I'm leaving because I'm hungry." " What?" "You've done okay so far, and now you want to leave him all alone?" " I can do what I want, let's go." " No, don't go..." " What will he do if you go?" " Let go of me!" "The police!" "The troops are mobilised for a gang of kids?" "There's something much more serious..." "Someone's reported you." "For being unable to support these children..." "And forcing them to rob." " Yes." " But I haven't stolen anything!" "Let's leave this point, he'll have time to explain himself in court..." "The fact remains, these kids haven't eaten since yesterday!" "If you can't provide this basic requirement then I suggest you leave!" "This is serious and if you can't provide an explanation...." " Explanation?" " No, I won't deny it." "We made a promise to the Virgin Mary to fast until she blesses our work." "If that's the reason, it seems clear enough that..." "As an officer of the law, you can't believe this old wives tale." "Especially coming from him." "Ask them!" "You, come here." " You're hungry, right?" " Yes." "Louder!" "Let the marshal hear that you're hungry!" "Tell him it's true, and what he says is a lie." "We'll all go and eat afterwards!" "I can't." "I made a promise to the Virgin Mary." " Me too!" " And me!" "Well if that's the reason, there's nothing to add." "Lawyer, your lunch must be getting cold." "This isn't over." "It's between me and you!" "When you want, but not in front of the children." "I'd rather they were kept out of this." "Father, I'm very happy it all finished well." "Thank you." " I'm hungry." " And you?" " Me too." " You as well." "My children, I believe the Virgin Mary has blessed us..." "Now, I'm going to look for something to eat!" "I'm afraid your suspicions were correct." "You can go, I'll deal with this." "Would you like some?" "You're serving up pasta and beans to the children at four in the morning?" "Yes, the fast finished now." "Bon appetit!" "Leave it." "Well?" "Well..." "Shall we tear it up?" " Tear up what?" " This warrant." "Tear it up!" "With everything they've taken from me?" "Four sacks of beans, two of chickpeas..." "Six of potatoes, ten of flour, and they didn't take the grain!" "No, that fine flour was more than enough..." "And you let them get away?" "As if it were nothing!" "What kind of marshal are you if you can't catch the thief who emptied my warehouse!" "But I did find him!" "That's why I said to tear it up." "Thank you." "I couldn't have done it." " Is that what it's come down to." " Yes." "But he's a good lad." "I wouldn't have done this for anyone else." " Is he in trouble?" " He has a lot of difficulties to overcome." "Don't let him know it's from me, understood?" "Understood." "You really are worthy of each other." "Good day, lady." "You're the best father a mother could want for her children." "Yes..." "But one of these days..." "My mother won't recognise me in this uniform!" " You have a mother?" " Yes, but she's always away." " You're a traitor!" " Don't you like it?" " It's the same as all the others." " Well?" "I'm the leader, I should at least have an arm band!" "Wait..." "One for the mayor, and one for the honour guard." " I'll take both!" " No, only one of them's for you." "You'll be the mayor, but with the understanding that all your friends agree..." "Because you'll be the ones who choose your leader." " Like grown ups?" " Yes, like grown ups." "This way you'll learn from a young age to respect the needs of the majority..." "And the rights of the minority." "To not step on the weakest, and not be intimidated by the strongest..." "Because no one is strong forever, nor is anyone weak forever..." "Only the power of God is unchangeable." "I'm the mayor, and that's okay!" "And you can say whatever you want if I make a mistake or I'm naughty!" "I'll try not to make any more mistakes..." "But no little groups or talking behind my back." "If anyone does that I'll poke out their eyes!" "You got that, Brico?" "You do it to annoy me..." "Not only you, but everyone else." "So, do you want me or not?" " Why aren't you clapping?" " I want to be mayor!" " It's my turn now, wait your turn." " Will you clap?" " Sure!" " Okay, in that case..." "Long live the mayor!" "That man is a maniac, making them scream like savages!" "It's time to fight back." "We must act!" "And we must be firm!" "I have great news..." "His holiness has sent me quite a sum..." "And one of the factories sent seventy instruments for my band." "Then there's the government that provides me with a decent monthly wage." "The only problem is the army." "The can kick me out at any time, but I won't go." "I noticed the kids all lined up..." "Why?" "What are they doing?" " We're going out." " I'd like to ask you a favour..." "At least for today, don't let them out." " You came here to tell me this?" " Yes." "Don." "Salvatore, you've upset a lot of people..." "For good reason, I know." "But they don't see it like that..." "They'll do anything to hurt you." " So?" " So they've decided to scare the kids..." "They want to isolate you." "This is only what I've heard, I don't know where, how, or when?" "But I'm worried." "I'm going out." "Then give me time to prepare an escort." "No, because then I'll always be forced to go out with your protection." "Okay, then tell your kids to be on their best behaviour." "No, I don't want the kids to be exposed to the ill deeds of adults." "Don." "Salvatore, you're killing me here!" "Dear Marshal, does God exist?" " Yes." " Well, then?" "Kids..." "Let's go!" "Come down!" "The Garibaldini are attacking." "Not interested?" "They'll win anyway, I chose the weakest ones to play the Bourbons." "Gino's mother is here." "I haven't seen you for so long." "And you don't say anything?" "I'll go." " You never come to see me." " Did the priest bring you here?" " Isn't he scared you'll get an infection?" " Don." "Salvatore is a good man." "And I'm evil, right?" "Father!" "I'm taking him away." "He's my son..." "Mine!" "Go and play with the others." "Doria!" "I'm leaving!" " I didn't come here to cause a scene!" " Wait!" " Stay with me." " Go and play." "Do you think that's a good way to greet your son?" "You've turned him against me." " Your son is always your son." " I'll never see him again." " You've taken him away from me." " Your son will look for you..." "And I will bring him to you." "All I ask is that when he arrives at your house, he finds a mother." " Fire!" " You fools!" "The orphanage is on fire!" " Fire!" " Help!" " The children!" " Help!" "The orphanage is on fire!" "It's on fire!" "Kids!" "To the orphanage!" "Leave me alone." "Go away..." "Go!" "Everyone out!" "Go!" "God..." "You've abandoned me as well!" "Don." "Salvatore is crying." "I know who did it." "I saw them running away." "I told the Marshal as well." "What shall we do?" "We'll burn down their house, we'll burn everything!" " Tell the others." " Come here." "Nottola agrees, we'll burn down the houses of the people who started the fire." " Their livestock and their trees!" " Wait, I'll tell Don." "Salvatore..." "Then he won't cry any more." "God..." "Forgive them for they do not know what they do." "Forgive them, Lord, for they do not know what they do." "Forgive them, Lord." "Forgive them." " Well?" " We're not burning anything." " What?" " Don." "Salvatore doesn't want to." "He understands certain things." "But it's for the best..." "This way we show them we're good, and the others are bad." "And I said no!" "We're not burning anything, and that's it!" "Father, we want to say that prayer about bread." "Our Father who art in heaven." "Give us this day our daily bread." "And forgive us our trespasses." "As we forgive those who trespass against us." "Amen." "Marshal..." "I heard everything." "Thank you." "Thanks for coming." "The mayor and the president of the committee would like to organise a party..." "To help raise funds to rebuild the store house." " Great!" " I know, but they're scared to ask." "I'll pay them a visit." " What about those two?" " They're in the cell." "We'd like to get our hands on the people who paid them to do it..." "But they're not talking." "But give it time." " May I?" " What do you want to do?" "But I..." "Very well, we'll try." "Antonio." "We know each other." "I remember we shared a cup of coffee together on occassion." "You were looking for work, if I'm not mistaken." "How are you now?" "Have you seen how many children I've taken in?" "They're doing well." "I have big plans for them." "Now I think about it, your sister's boy is there..." "The one who's married in Naples." "Her husband died." "Why don't you come and see him?" "Do you want to come tonight?" "Ten minutes." "I'll even offer you something nice to drink." "I have a wine..." "That's a peach!" " Well?" " Can we end this?" "Can we end this?" "Thank you." "One of these days he's going to make me resign!" "You see the delinquents?" "Uncle, will you bring me the toy train?" "He'll bring it, in a few days." "You play it." " What is it?" "A song?" " No, what song?" "I was just whistling for Nanetta." " What will you do when you grow up?" " I wanted to steal, but now?" "Play." "Keep playing." "Always play!" " Elio is fighting with the others!" " Stay with him." "Go away, all of you." "I want to be alone." "I want to be alone!" "I won't let you laugh at me because my brother is black." "You!" "Why do you keep me in this prison?" "Go as well." "Go!" "Are you going to laugh at me as well because my brother's a Negro?" "You keep me locked up here." "Then why are you taking it out on them?" "It's like a prison." "I don't want to be here." "You can leave." "I want to go up in the mountains." "I want to see the snow." "Then go." "It's open." "Shall I follow him?" "No." "Send the children to bed." "It's time to sleep." "Lino as well." "Why aren't you asleep?" " And Lino." " He's there." "Don't let anyone sleep there." "It's Elio's bed." "It's been his bed since he arrived, but he prefers to sleep on the floor." "I knew them before." "They're brothers." "Their father isn't black and their mother died a long time ago..." "When Lino was born." "A friend of mine told me." "Elio's father killed three Negros who were really bad!" "That's why he isn't here." "He went to Africa." " Don't worry, Elio will be back." " You think so?" "Yes, I know he'll be back, he was never allowed to see his black brother." "Fairy godmother, make Elio come back!" "No, I don't love my black brother." "I'll make it to the mountains!" "No, I don't love you!" "Elio, come back!" "I never want to see you again!" "No, I don't want a black brother!" "Lino!" "Elio's in trouble!" "Hurry!" " You stay here." " He's in trouble!" "Tell me where he is?" "Help!" "Where am I going?" "There's no snow any more." "What will I do all alone?" "You should be in bed!" "Go away!" "Go away!" "Go away." "Did you hurt yourself?" "Elio, will you come back and sleep in the bed next to mine?" "Yes." "Elio's coming back with us." "Father!" "Father!" "I..." "I walked around here all day, but..." " The kids never came out." " Why didn't you come in?" " Because..." " This is also your son's home." "Gino would have been happy." "Mothers do come every now and then..." "And when it happens many of them dream that it might be theirs." "In all these years, I've never looked at Gino as he sleeps." "Does a mother do these things?" "Yes." "And they also tuck in their blankets." "You ironed your son's trousers, but not mine!" "I can't go to the party like this!" "Don." "Salvatore got you a nice new uniform for today." "You're the mayor, you have to make a good impression." "I'll be right back." " We're going to talk to Don." "Salvatore." " Where is he?" " In the lounge, but you do the talking." " Okay, let's go." "Who gave you permission to come in?" " Are the girls coming to the party?" " Of course!" "Then you have to teach us to dance, otherwise we'll look bad!" " I must confess I hadn't thought of that." " You don't know how to dance either?" "Well we can always try, but it certainly won't be a competition!" "Maestro, a waltz, if you please." "Bow." "Now a nice spin." "And another bow." "That isn't quite a waltz!" "The president of the committee has arrived..." " Kiss her hand and ask her to dance." " What if Nanetta comes?" "Hurry." "May I have the honour of asking you to dance?" "Thank you!" " You can't come in." " Why?" " Authority figures only." " I'm almost the mayor's wife!" "Okay, but not so loud or my wife might cause a scene." "Nottola!" " So this is your mayor?" " Yes, why?" "Nothing!" " I'm leaving." " Why?" "You just arrived." " It didn't take you long." " You're kidding!" "She's too tall for me!" " You were dancing with her." " I saw you arm in arm with that man." " So what?" "He's the mayor." " I'm the mayor as well!" "Let's go and buy some sweets." "I've got the money, 50 lira!" "I was saving it for our wedding but now I'm going to spend it all on sweets." "I only want a sweet for 10 lira." "As long as you're spending money you're happy!" " Excuse me..." " Quite a gentleman, your mayor." " His girlfriend arrived, she gets jealous." " Girlfriend?" " You allow..." " The law of nature, promoted by God." "Besides, at that age, it's just a bit of fun." " Silvia's here, what shall I do?" " You know her, right?" "Just from the window, and a couple of messages." " Go to her." " I'm scared, her father's here." " Will you talk to him?" " Me?" " Who else?" "I don't have anyone." " He can't take that responsibility..." " We're in a boarding school." " No, lady, a corner of the world..." "If they call me father then that's also part of my duty as a father." " Don." "Salvatore!" " Very well." "Excuse me." " I hope you weren't talking politics?" " No, we were just chatting." " At our age we don't dance." " What about you?" "Your name's Silvia, right?" "I remember when you were this tall!" "Don't be shy." "Mario, show her around." "I always said this was a marvellous idea!" "Modestly speaking, we've always given him our full support." "Yes, it's true..." "You've always supported him, morally and materially." "But I didn't." "I really didn't believe in him..." "But instead..." "Didn't you want to say the things we'd written?" "'I saw you through your window and I like you, what do you say?" "'" "That's what you wrote in your first message." "What about yours?" "'I'll never reply to you, I won't talk to a man who won't tell me his name.'" "Then you sent me a scrap of paper with 'Mario' written on it." "And you?" "'I won't tell you my name...'" " 'Find out for yourself.'" " You didn't waste any time." " Because I love you." " How much?" " How many times I've dreamt of you." " What does that mean?" "I often dream of chickens and trains, does that mean I love them?" "The train, yes, it travels the world and sees so many things." "There's one thing we haven't tried." "We've fallen out with everyone..." "Don." "Salvatore's the only person who still says hello to us." "I've got it!" "The army!" " I want no part of it." " He's a colleauge..." " We were in the same regiment." " You go, I'm off." "The barracks is to your right, Colonel." "Colonel!" "It's a pleasure to see you again!" " I preferred you in uniform." " I bet you're here to evict them." "It seems the barracks have been turned into a pigsty." "They're a gang of urchins!" " Regiment headquarters must return here." " That's why you built the barracks!" "Naturally." "Goodbye." "Shall we go?" "They've got a nerve!" "They even put up a sign." " I can have it taken down." " Take care of it." "Reporting for orders." "Good." "At ease." "At ease!" "May I have the honour of knowing who I am addressing?" "The village mayor." "Unanimously elected." "Aside from those kids, are there others here?" "No, sir." "And this what lawyer calls a gang of urchins." " The village lawyer?" " That's the one." "He's bad, and the Marshal knows as well." "Don." "Salvatore saved him, or I'd have tanned his hide!" " But now?" " I still have to do it!" "Welcome, Colonel." "I have orders to inspect the barracks..." "Our regimental headquarters should return here." " And them?" " That doesn't concern me." "Would you do me the courtesy of showing me around?" " Are they going to send us away?" " Shut up, I'm thinking!" "Wait here." "I'm busy." "You've turned this old building into a modern boarding school..." "But I must warn you..." "That these barracks may still be needed by the armed forces." "Come on, let's go, Marshal." "Tell them to lower the flag." "Open the doors." "We've come for the rations you distribute every Sunday, we're hungry today." "I wish I didn't have this rank so I too could be one of your soldiers." "Not mine, Colonel..." "But a Christ that's cold, and cries." "We'll give you our homes!" "Colonel, you're sending the priest away on the day I'm meant to be going in." "Go to Don." "Salvatore, tell him to let you in." "I'll tell them these barracks aren't fit for military use any more." "Goodbye, Marshal." "Don." "Salvatore, I think of these things and you should listen to me..." "Because there are some things you don't understand." "I'm a priest." "Will you marry me and Nanetta?"